FOSSIL HUNTING
Thursday January 31, 2013 12:01 pm
It is very cold outside today with
light snow flurries. I was by the water's edge earlier and looking
for some rocks. I ended up finding five of them between ten and
twenty minutes after I recorded my video. There is one in the group
that has several small fossils embedded, but it is too large for what
I am looking for and that would be a fossil which has a nice shape to
it and one that is small enough to set atop a desk and not be in the
way. There was one in the group this morning that has potential... at
least it is the right size and there is an obviously embedded fossil.
However, once I clean it good (it is soaking right now) and polish it
up I will better be able to tell if it has enough color to be
interesting? If not, I'll keep looking.
I had to break my video down into two
parts because I talked longer than I intended. Because of that there
could be something missing or even a bit of an overlap, I don't know?
I am also including two pictures of one of the rocks I brought
home... it is the one that is too big to be considered for my gift.
Besides, it doesn't have enough color and it is rather clunky
looking. (I took a picture of it from two sides.)
For a long time I would collect and
save whatever small and interesting things I came across whenever I
was hiking or exploring. I don't really do that much anymore, because
I figured there would come a day when I am no longer around and the
stuff would get tossed anyway. So, systematically for awhile now I
have been giving away things I had around for a long time instead of
waiting for another to do that for me. Now whenever I find things I
like I give them away to different people instead of keeping them,
that is if I think they might like them? The good news is even if
they really couldn't care less about some old rock or fossil I found,
because they like me they will sometimes feign interest and accept it
with a smile :)
That's better than the scenario I
imagined might happen once I'm gone. You know, “... Why in the
world did he have this box full of rocks?” (Someone asks this
question as they are disposing of them in a large trash can.) And the
inevitable answer: “Who knows... he was always a few crayons short
of a full box anyway.”
I Hope all who reads this has a great day! And please, for the love of Pete on this wintry day... keep those hands and feet warm :)
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO A VACATION!!!!!!! + VIDEO & PICTURE
Wednesday January 30, 2013 9:54 am & 12:19 pm
I am not planning on using my blog only
to write a menu... but every so often I might record what I am eating
as an indicator of what I am changing in order to try and become more
fit. By midnight tomorrow night I will have completed my first full
month eating only vegan foods. Even now for breakfast I am eating
(and between bites typing) a bowl of Bear Naked fruit and nut natural
granola cereal. I also cut up two fresh strawberries to add to the
cereal and I used almond milk. (The complete breakfast is only 250
calories.)
Originally I had thought about hiking
today at a state park in Madison but we had a lot of rain last night,
although it was not a particularly bad storm in our area. Anyway,
even on a dry day the trails there can be pretty rough and now they
would be sloppy as well. If I had an entire day to hike I wouldn't
care, but I have a few other things I need to do so after I run a few
errands I will take Virgil to the flood wall and I will just take a
walk with him today.
Yesterday at work I was putting in for
some vacation time and I had thought about an upcoming holiday I
would like to put in for, but I was told by my store manager that he
was blacking out that time and not approving any vacations during
that time. So, I put in for an alternate date and I will probably
have an answer in a couple of weeks. Vacations are fun!!!!!!!
Probably sometime in the early
afternoon I will upload today's video. Maybe I can find a nice spot
somewhere on the flood-wall to record there and I can get Virgil in
my video today :)
I hope all who reads this has a
wonderful day today! To all my friend(s) I just want to say that I had a nice time yesterday... even though I did have to work.
I took this picture of the Louisville skyline (in the distance) from atop the flood-wall in Jeffersonville. We were on our way back to the car at this time.
I was thinking after I got home a
little while ago that my life (on any average day) is so very
exciting and always so much fun that I don't know how my old heart
stands up to it... let me give you some examples of what I mean.
After I left here this morning I
stopped at Watson Water to pay a bill: then it was off to Clarksville
and the AT&T store so I could make my payment. When that was done
Virgil and I were able to get in a few miles walking on the
flood-wall. Now, after I post this I am supposed to take Roger to
pick up his car and when I get back home I will have to do some
school work. Probably around that time I will fix something for
lunch, then I will head to the gym and workout a little.
Later, once I am back home I will do
some more school work and then there is a movie my brother gave me
(weeks ago) and he keeps asking me if I have seen it? Until now I
haven't... so I will probably do that tonight. I mean surely, isn't
that how rock stars live? Fun and exciting things to do all day long.
Wait... I almost forgot: I also stopped by the post office to check
my mail! (Glad I didn't forget to tell everyone about that little
nugget of fun.) I mean... the frivolity never ends :)
JUDE 1:12b + VIDEO
Tuesday January 29, 2013 8:50 am & 10:50 am
Two of our three grandsons were given
middle names after me. Ethan was given Robin as his middle name (poor
guy) and Manny was given as a middle name, Samson. (If you read this
blog and know my real name, but other than that don't know me well,
the name Samson will probably not be understood as my own? Yet, it
was a name given me by my dad when I was about four-years-old and it
has stuck with me my whole life. (Except most people just use the
abbreviation, “Sam”.)
Everyone in the family always says that
of the three grandsons we have that the two with my namesake must
have been given that name by some grand design... for of the three
boys, those two are the most like me? Seriously, if that is true... I
feel badly for them. Yet, even I have to reluctantly admit I do see
it.
The other night at Steph and Roger's
vow renewal after the service we were in another room where the food
was set up and all of the kids were running and playing. At every
gathering the kids outnumber the adults by a wide margin and they
were all running (literally) laps around the room and having a good
time. Manny kept running out of that room to the doors that lead to
outside and he wouldn't stop it even though he was repeatedly told to
quit by his mom and some other people also. Finally I decided to make
him quit so I picked him up and sat him in a folding chair facing me
and I kept my hands on his thighs and I wouldn't let move.
He squirmed and begged and struggled
with all his might but I kept him there and kept talking to him and
explaining why I couldn't let him up. This lasted for at least five
minutes as he sat there with tears streaming down his face but he
wouldn't give up. All he had to do was promise me that he would stay
away from the doors and I would allow him to go play. Instead, he
just stared at me and kept blinking trying to make the tears stop and
still with every muscle in his small body tight, he kept struggling.
I wanted to laugh but I couldn't let
him see that. Because I thought of myself when I was young and in
school no matter what any teacher did to me they couldn't make me
quit or give in. I realized at that time that he and I had reached a
Mexican standoff. I couldn't just let him up because he would know he
had won, and in his young mind I am sure he was determined to sit
there and struggle either until he could finally break loose or he
would completely wear down and fall asleep. Of course, whipping him
would be an option... however, as a grandparent I don't want to do
that even though all of my girls and their husbands say that it is
fine for me to do that. I just figure that part of parenting is for
them and not for me.
I had been talking at length during the
time I held him so now I stopped talking. Ahhhh, this was something a
little different for Manny so he temporarily ceased struggling, but
he kept his eyes on mine... with tears still streaming he waited. I
decided to be the threatening clouds without water that the Bible
speaks about. I told him I was going to let him up to play, but if I
saw him even near the door, not through it... just near it, that I
was going to do something he really wouldn't like? I then told him to
think real hard about things his dad might do as punishment and
something he feared. I saw him swallow hard. Then, I nodded a little
and told him to think about Grandpa doing the same thing? For several
more seconds we looked at each other and then very slowly I let my
hands relax from his legs, and he was up and racing toward the other
kids.
Every little bit I would see him glance
toward me and the door at the same time. I guess he was trying to
weigh the fun of running through the door against the possible
punishment that might follow? There are only a very small and select
group of people in all the world that I never want to tell a lie
to... and my grandchildren are part of that group. So, I didn't want
to tell Manny that I would whip him when I don't want to do that...
so, I just gave him the thought that such a thing was possible for me
to do? (Apparently it worked.)
Aaron is more of a gentle boy... Ethan
though is rough-and-tumble: yet, he wears his heart on his sleeve. If
he loves you he wants you to know it and he says it often. About 20
minutes ago Tammy stopped by to pick Deb up to take her to school.
For the most part Tammy home-schools her children, but two days a
week she takes them to classes at the school.
I stepped out on the stoop this morning
to see them off and Aaron had gotten out of the van to let Deb in and
he threw his hand up and said, “Hey Grandpa.” I smiled and said
hello to him. On the street side I heard the van door fly open and
Ethan's head shot above the roof as he was standing on the running
board and he shouted, "Hey Grandpa... I love you!” I smiled and told
him that I loved him also. I watched them until they were out of
sight and I thought that I guess none of us can really help who we
are?
He can be so headstrong and he does
ornery things and he gets into more trouble than the rest of the kids
combined, but if he loves you he lets you know it. As they left this
morning I thought that down the line somewhere he might have great
heartbreak? Because I have noticed that even young as he is, he uses
those words sparingly and only for certain people. However, at some
point in his life he will give his whole heart to a girl and he will
find that (apparently) with certain types of personalities, once that
is done... there is no way to ever take it back. (I can only pray
that he will find his love returned.)
I will upload whatever video I take
after I get back from work tonight. If it is after the gym also, then
it will be very late. I hope everyone has a great day!!!
(I was able to record during my car ride this morning... so, I am uploading it now.)
JUST SAYIN'
Monday
January 28, 2013 9:43 am
Today
is four weeks since I began trying vegan fare again. As of this
morning I am down 16.4 pounds. I still have a long way to go as this
time I am trying to get back to the weight I was when I was 27 years
old. Periodically I will keep everyone apprised where I am and what I
still need to do in order to reach my goal weight.
This
morning for breakfast I had a vegan pancake with Maple syrup and
fresh strawberries and one veggie “sausage” patty. I also had
coffee w/soy milk. After I upload this I will work out with my small
barbells I have here at home, then this evening after work I will go
to the gym before I come home.
I
thought that for today's blog I will include one of my DB posts from
a different class I am taking. This particular one was commented on 8
times. I will try and record something this morning before I leave
for work (as I close the next two days) and upload it before I leave.
Otherwise, it will probably be pushing midnight before I get my video
on for this blog.
(For
this DB we were supposed to be discussing who should hold power in
America, versus who actually does hold the power?)
“I
suppose that I am a complete naiveté for believing what seems so
obvious in a true democracy. That is, “We the people...” ought
to be the only group in America who should wield real power. However,
in practice the American voting bloc seems to be impotent. It is
because life-long politicians do not fear the electorate, all they do
is get their own television stations to feed misinformation and spin
stories and people will believe it simply because it was stated on
TV. In essence they can buy all the votes they need to remain in
power.
“In
reality if there is enough PAC money to go around then votes and
politicians are bought and herded much like cattle. Of course, that
makes the average American voter nothing more than sheep being led,
at times to their own slaughter. I am 57 years old and never have I
believed more fervently in my life that any resemblance to the
America we were taught about when I was young and in school... is
today, nothing more than a failed dream. (16 + trillion dollars in
debt... our troops spread thin on many fronts of war, with new war
being threatened in other countries... kids killing kids in
classrooms... and more than a million babies being aborted every single year!
It seems painfully obvious that we are a dysfunctional society with
no respect for the life of a helpless baby, to the innocent children
sitting in a classroom, to soldiers dying in un-winnable wars.
“Yeah,
the people who should hold power... us the electorate: sat at home to
the tune of 90 million Americans who cast no ballot in this last
election. Alexis de Tocqueville famously said, “… we get the
government we deserve.” If that is true, then America, and
Americans must not be a very deserving people?
“Naturally
the groups who do have power are large corporations, certain unions,
lobbyists, Hollywood celebrities, appointed federal and state judges,
and politicians: who seem to be of the worst sort of humankind as
most have no real convictions about anything? It seems that most of
them, and on both sides of the aisle make statements which are
nothing more than trial balloons in order to see how people feel
about a topic. Then, if the mass of people are against it they will
backpedal.
“Then,
there are those who have strong beliefs but they completely misuse
their power. Examples are the many activist judges and courts who are
only supposed to interpret law, instead... they overreach and try to
make law from the bench!
“
To
me it seems like for the last many years it is a case of the tail
wagging the dog. The only group who ought to have power doesn't...
and the groups who should have very limited power... control
everything.”
After I uploaded this video I watched it again and realized in its stark bleakness the day is still beautiful. I thought of a famous Longfellow poem and decided to add it here for everyone's enjoyment. I would be willing to bet that almost everyone has heard at least one famous line from this poem, even if you didn't know where it came from? "... Into each life some rain must fall..."
THE RAINY DAY (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow)
The
day is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains, and the wind is never
weary;
The vine still clings to the moldering wall,
But at
every gust the dead leaves fall,
And the day is dark and
dreary.
My life is cold, and dark, and dreary;
It rains,
and the wind is never weary;
My thoughts still cling to the
moldering Past,
But
the hopes of youth fall thick in the blast
And the days are dark
and dreary.
Be still, sad heart! and cease repining;
Behind
the clouds is the sun still shining;
Thy fate is the common fate
of all,
Into each life some rain must fall,
Some days must be
dark and dreary.
There are certain lines, especially in the second and fourth stanza that he could have been writing about me. Or, perhaps if I had the skill I could have written them myself. I suppose though that is what makes good poets and those who are good at writing songs so famous. In almost all such works... they speak to the secret places of our own hearts. Those places that no one, save for perhaps one or two know anything about?
Well, Deb just left to go somewhere with Tammy and I need to shave and get ready for work. I hope everyone has a good and happy day today on this rather bleak Monday :)
PC IS ALWAYS BAD + VIDEO
- Sunday
January 27, 2013 6:52 am & 6:15 pm
-
- Political
correctness, (PC) what an absolute joke that liberals (with their
odd thinking) has foisted upon America! I am reproducing what I
wrote for one of my classes in our week two DB. Our assignment was
to give a working definition of ethnocentrism and to write about
problems such thinking has caused? (At present there are 20
students, plus professors, teacher assistants, etcetera.) In this class
it is part of our weekly work to read what other students have
written and to make comments about whether or not we agree with
their assessment of the weekly assignment. I have to be honest and
tell you that PC has made cowards out of many people: most
especially the young? I know what it means when the Bible states
that people are like sheep. Many only know how to follow and they
never try to take the lead or stand on their own two feet... it's a
shame.
- Normally what I
write is well read, and commented upon. As I type this blog, mine
(so far) has been read 27 times... without a single comment. Even
though other things I write will have many comments. Do you care to
know why? All of the others I read were in lockstep agreement that
there is no country, lifestyle, choices, etc. that are better than
any other? Hogwash!
- So, after
reading what was written by some of these students and knowing they
are simply repeating what some liberal author or teacher has stated
I decided to point out that certain choices, lifestyles, and even
countries are “superior” to others.
- Keep in mind
that whenever I write I am never looking for people to simply agree
with me. I actually like it when there are those who don't and then
I can engage them to find out why they believe what they do, and see
if (with a reasoned argument) they can win any person over to what
they believe? Apparently, what I wrote (now reproduced below) made
people afraid to agree... or disagree? This is nothing but PC at its
worst!
“Ethnocentrism
is a belief in the superiority of one's own ethnic group. That, of
course, is both wrong and infantile. To imagine that simply because
of birth, and one's skin color or the fact that a person is either
male or female makes someone superior to another is almost
laughable... were it not for the fact of the horrors such wrongheaded
thinking has caused. Beginning with slavery in America, to Hitler's
holocaust of the Jews, to Arab men flying planes into buildings in
2001: those and countless other examples of tragedy abound simply
because of the false belief in one's own superiority.
“However,
to believe that one way of life is more desirable and therefore
“superior” is not necessarily wrong. Example: how could any
person go to college seeking a degree and yet not believe that a
person who is formally educated is not better off than one who isn't?
If you do not believe that college education results in a 'superior
life', then why are you in college?
“To
believe that one country is superior to another is, again, not
necessarily wrong. Example: why do some countries have to build high
fences and place armed guards there to keep people from breeching the
fences and breaking in... like North America. However, there are
other countries that also build high fences and place armed guards
there to keep those fences from being breeched as well. But, it is
for an entirely different reason: they are trying to keep their
people from breaking out... like North Korea.
“It
is more than okay to have a sound belief that certain lifestyles and
choices are superior to others. It is not okay to out-of-hand condemn
those who have either chosen a life, or has had a life thrust upon
them that is inferior. I mean, if having a home to live in is not
superior than living on the streets, then why doesn't every person
who believes that all lifestyles are neutral and none superior... why
do those people not quit college, jobs, etcetera, give up all worldly
possessions and just live in an alley somewhere?
“What
is always troublesome to me, especially in an age when many people
tiptoe around all issues in the interest of political correctness is
that they never seem to take a stand on any issue. Naturally such
thinking leads to apathy. Alexander Hamilton famously said, “Those
who stand for nothing fall for anything.” (I have never been
interested in being a part of that continually 'falling down group'
that he spoke about.)
“
I
think in order to help curb the problem with people who take some
special pride in how they were born is to simply remind them that all
people were created by God. I know it sounds old fashioned to say it,
but once it is believed that helps to give respect for all life:
white, black, Arab, Jew, guys, girls, babies, (birthed or not) and
etcetera.”
I sat for awhile today at the counter of Starbuck's with a grande' mocha light frappuccino
with soy substitute and watched shoppers come and go. I contemplated life in general and I dreamed a dream. You know, sort of like MLK... except, unlike his "dreams" ... my dream was actually an important one :)
Well, it's time I write a three page paper for school, then after that I am going to go to the gym later tonight. I hope everyone has a great night!
TMI??? & TWO FAVORITE PLACES IN ONE!!!
Saturday January 26, 2013 5:43 am & 5:17 pm
I guess there are many things that
happens in my life that I either witness, or am a part of and for
myriad reasons I choose not to write about them. This thing that
happened to me at work on Thursday might just be one of those things
I should have kept to myself? (lol)
I will tell about a couple of different things
that have happened in the past (as examples) which although they are not common...
they are not completely unusual either. About 18 months ago and within
a couple of weeks of having transferred to the store I am presently
at I was approached by a young girl who was probably in her thirties?
She was attractive and we talked for a little bit as I was trying to
find out what it was that she needed? I could tell by the way she was
beating around the bush that there was something else on her mind.
Finally, she leaned in sort of close and lowered her voice and said
what she was really looking for was something she could hook up to
her toilet so she could, “... wash a butt.” So, for the next
several minutes I found different hoses and fittings that I thought
would work for 'butt washing'. (Hahahaha) After she left I thought to
myself... welcome to the plumbing department :)
Recently I had a young black guy holler
out and ask me if I could help him in the aisle the toilets are in...
I told him I would be right there. As soon as I showed up, and in a
loud voice with animated facial and hand gestures he wanted to know
if we sold a toilet that went “whooooosh” when it flushed? He
said, “I don't know if you have ever been in jail or not... but I
want a toilet like they have there that goes, 'whooooosh' when it
flushes.” Of course with his hands he is also showing what that
sound means as the toilet is flushing. So, for the next several
minutes I tried to find a toilet for him that flushes like they do in
prison :) I only wrote about those two to show that in retail you are
likely to run into all kinds of people. However, at least for me
personally... Thursday was the guy who took the cake for special
weirdness.
At work there are certain pieces of
equipment that sales specialists are supposed to acquire license for
as they are needed to assist customers. One of the pieces I operate
is called an order-picker. It is a type of forklift that allows the
operator to ride on a moving platform to the top of our highest
racking and retrieve merchandise that is too large or too heavy to be
brought down on a 17' ladder. (I think most of the sales people in
the store have a license for this machine, except those few who are
afraid of heights.)
This machine is very handy but there
are ceratin requirements in using it (during store hours anyway) that
make it cumbersome and time consuming to operate. First, every person
operating it has to put on a full-body harness so if something would
cause you to fall from the top no one would be hurt because the
tether works like a seat belt, and a person's fall would be slowed
before they could hit the floor. That is a good thing, but still time
consuming. Also, aisle blockers have to be set up in two aisles: the
one you are working in and the one that is adjacent to the aisle
where the merchandise is being pulled. In addition, an escort
(spotter) is also needed so it can be driven through the store. (I am
writing all of this for a reason... that way you will understand why
I used a ladder in the first place.)
-->
Thursday we were very busy, and a lot
of people were waiting and I had been working with this one guy for
the past 30 minutes. Finally, everything was pulled but he decided he
wanted one more thing: a 49” vanity from the top shelf. In reality
it is a little too big and heavy to bring down a ladder, at least for
me. However, I did it anyway because the order-picker would have just
taken way too long. So, I put it on his cart and I was now back at my computer
and processing this last item when he said, “I like your arms...
they're strong.” WHAT??? I mean, what do you say to something like
that?
When I write this next part I don't
want any person to imagine that I think I am smooth with girls... I'm
not. But, with the rare exception of a couple in my life I have always been comfortable around girls, and whenever they say anything
I am at ease conversing with them. This though was totally different.
Do you know what I said... nothing! However, and this was hilariously
stupid on my part. I found myself nodding my head like I might if
someone had just said it's cold outside. Nod, meaning: “... yep,
it's cold outside.” In reality I was dumbfounded, because I am never prepared
for something like that.
So, I am still mute with my head doing
a bobble-head deal and I am trying to figure out if this guy is
homosexual? I mean, he was overdressed but sometimes people come in
from other jobs still dressed up. Anyway, several seconds have passed
and I am now figuring he is a young guy and probably just a mama's boy and he doesn't
know anything about boundaries between guys. I mean, I could never
even imagine one guy telling another guy he likes his shirt... let
alone a body part!
Then, he speaks again... no doubt now:
HOMOSEXUAL!!! This time I finally found my voice and I told him that I
wasn't interested. Now, for the last dumb thing I almost did! I
actually had to catch myself as I started to say, “... but thanks
anyway!” (HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA) In the past whenever someone offers to do something for me and I don't want it I finish by saying something like,
"... no, but thanks anyway," or "I appreciate it... but no," etc.
I did make a mental note to myself...
two actually. Start wearing a wedding band. Maybe these guys see
someone my age and figure I am not married so I must be light on
my feet? The second thing, maybe ... stay off ladders! lol
This video shows two places that are pretty popular with some people :)
Well, I have to go out in a few minutes and do a little shopping. I need to find some special vegan fare I have been reading about. Then, after that I will be on my computer until probably late tonight as I still have some schooling to catch up on. I hope all who reads this has a great night!
TIME PASSAGES... AND A GREAT PHILOSOPHER!
Friday January 25, 2013 7:26 am & 9:13 pm video & pictures
Today is slated to be a busy day for me
as I have an errand to run this morning and from that being a
starting point I have several different things I am supposed to be
doing today. Having said that... almost any day I am off work is a
good day :)
My video post will be late this evening
as I am planning on recording a clip from Steph and Roger's vow
renewal. After that we are taking everyone out to dinner, so by the
time I get home and have this uploaded it could be 10:00 or so?
Is it alright to tell everyone that
even at my age... I still have goals and dreams? I know that some I
have are impossible, yet I still dream them. Although I understand
what he means, there are times certain people can make things easier
than they sound. In a book called, Conversations With God: Walsch
wrote, “Here is the Divine dichotomy... the way to 'get there' is
to 'be there'. Just be where you choose to get! It's that simple.”
Although I like the sentiment and on
one level I completely concur: however, were it really that “simple”
than I am not really sitting here typing in my darkened office this
morning... for I must already be somewhere else? (lol)
Thinking about Walsch's dichotomy I
will also give you one of my own this morning. I was thinking when I
awoke that being able to actually see time pass before
your eyes can be sweet, but also heartbreaking. Last evening three of
Missy's girls came to spend the night: Morgan, Erika, and Leni.
Driving home from work I picked up some pizza and candy treats for
them. When I got in all three of them rushed to me and hugged my neck
and I told them I was glad they were all having a sleep over.
However, in my mind I was pretty confident that either Missy or I was
going to be taking a late night drive and returning Leni to sleep in
her own bed. (She has never before been away from her mom for a whole
night.)
Anyway, they ate: Leni got her bath,
and then all of them played games and watched movies. After that,
Leni and her two older sisters fell fast asleep and all of them are
still snuggled in bed and asleep :) I guess there was one point last
night that was close? Brian always prays with the girls before they
go to bed so he and Missy called them on the phone and talked to
them. After Leni heard her mom's voice she was thinking she might
want to go home? (lol) However, she settled in between her sisters
and soon fell asleep.
I was going to send Missy a text this
morning and tease her that Leni is becoming a big girl... but I
thought better of it :) Because this passage of time that to me this
morning is rather sweet, to her mom might be a little more of a
heartbreak ):
My reluctance to tease her about
something so very personal stems from something that I would never
want to be teased about either. For I am always cognizant of another
passage of time that is also another of life's many and varied
dichotomies. I am well aware of the possibility of knowing a life of
making sweet memories and at the same time knowing complete
heartbreak!
Why can this life that at times seems
so great as to be unable to imagine such perfection... can at other
times be so hard that one might wonder... why? Why any of it? Is
there any one out there who has only known the wonders of the world
without the other things in life that spoil it? If so, please write
me as all I would like to do is to just congratulate you on having
such a blessed life. Really, that's all I would like to do.
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both...” That, until I take my last
breath will be my life's lament. Why was there not a way that I could yet be one man... and still travel both roads? I think I will end my
blog this morning with words from one one of life's great
philosophers... Joey: “Why God, why?” (I have even included a
clip from this great man showing his angst, believe me I have both
felt what he felt and asked the same question of God: albeit, for a
much different reason :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTm6Ekub7I8
I hope all who reads this has a great
day and I will upload my video later tonight.
I will first post the video and then two pictures of a potential wedding cake fail and then a pretty good salvage of the same cake. I got an early morning text from Missy saying she needed a "plan B" because of the cake she had just pulled out of the oven. However, she was able to patch it up and if a person didn't know any better they would have never known there was a problem.
After I post this tonight I will probably stop and perhaps on another blog I will add a few photos I took this evening.
BREAKFAST IS SERVED + VIRGIL PICTURE + LOL???
Thursday January 24, 2013 8:18 am and 8:35 pm
(I might... I say I might... on some future blog tell something that happened today at work: although I think it's hilarious, some might not? Anyway, we'll see?)
I will begin with a disclaimer. In my
drink this morning I mixed coconut water, and not coconut milk. What
I had is just the fluid found inside a coconut without the processing
of the flesh of the coconut. Not that such a fact might matter to
anyone else... but I just wanted to state the difference between the
two. Had I actually been using coconut milk, my low-calorie drink
this morning would have been more like 700 calories instead of 150.
I already know that tomorrow's video
will be posted rather late. It is because I am planning on recording
sometime during Steph and Roger's vow renewal. They are doing this on
their tenth anniversary date. However, I might write something early
in the morning (because it's my day off... yayyyy) and then just
update it later that night with a video.
Virgil is fast asleep near my chair,
and snoring deeply! I just took his picture. Ever since he was just a
puppy anytime I would move he always would get up and follow me: he
still does. Now though, because he is older and sleeps more I try not
to move around a lot whenever I am home. Because somehow he still
senses I am not there and he gets up to follow. Only now I know it's
harder for him to do this so I try to watch what I am doing :)
If the picture I just took of him makes
it to my mail before I post this I will include it now. If it doesn't
I will add the picture tonight when I get home from work.
Everyone try and have a good day
today... okay :)
PARTY + VIDEO & PICTURES
Wednesday January 23, 2013 6:44 am & 7:54 pm
I thought that I would go ahead and write my blog this morning and then this evening whenever I get home I will update it and add my video. Right after work I am going to a restaurant in Clarksville for a retirement party for one of the guys from work.
To be completely honest I am only going because I was invited and it is between work and Planet Fitness. So, after I clock out I will go there for a little while and then workout before I go home. I am curious to see how many will show up from work? Grumps was not universally liked. Even in the retirement party announcement I was given, his real name wasn't used. It simply stated that a retirement party for "Grumps" was going to be held at Rooster's in Clarksville.
I suppose there are some curmudgeon's who carry it off and are still well liked... Grumps wasn't one of them. Having said that, I did like him because I thought it was funny that he just didn't care what any person thought. Customers, associates, management, they were all the same to him, he didn't like any of them. (lol) And if any person reading this believes I am making any part of this up... that only means that you have never met him.
He always reminded me of one of the grouchy muppets... you know, one of the three that always sat in a balcony. Physically he even looks like one of them. I am probably going to record this evening's video at the party. I thought of trying to record Grumps for a few seconds but I am fairly confident I would not be able to post it... at least if I made an audio recording? it always proved difficult for him to say more than a few words in a row without swearing. I will try though to take a still picture of him. At least that way no one can tell if he is cussing or not.
Oh well, at least Rooster's has an entertaining staff who usually aren't too hard on the eyes :) I hope everyone has a great day today!
This first picture is Grumps (Rich) it turned out he smiled a lot. Perhaps it wasn't people or life he hated... just his job :)
The next one is of the party room he had set up and we were now ready to go in. After I first got there I went straight to the enclosed bar area to wait until the room opened.
The last one is the video for today. I didn't realize it until I got home and watched it to be certain it came through... anyway, I gave the wrong date. In my defense I was distracted. I guess it was good that I at least got the day of the week right.
E IS SLEEPY
Tuesday January 22, 2013 5:47 am
The picture I am going to upload is one I took of the Moon and Jupiter last evening. Actually you will have to take my word for it that Jupiter was also in the picture because the aperture on my phone does not stay open long enough to capture the light from an object which is that far away.
Although last evening it was obvious that the two gave the appearance of being close, this sight was even better this morning about 3:00, but this time the distance between them also appeared to be greater. (I hope my friend(s) all got to see this last night also?)
With the extreme cold and the many ice crystals in the air both late last evening and early this morning the Moon appeared to have a halo surrounding it: all-in-all it was a pretty good show.
Today's video, of all things, is my local post office. I know, I bet all of you are eager with anticipation to see this one! It is now 4:55 am and all that I am waiting on (and have been now for 30 minutes) is for my video to upload to my email so I can forward it and finish my blog. I am not sure why... but sometimes my video will upload withing seconds and there are other times (like now) when it takes a very long time to come through. There is probably a better way for me to do this, but I am not sure what it would be?
Sometimes Deb sleeps in the playroom and I keep my door closed on my office so I don't bother her. Just now I heard a soft scratching and when I opened my door it was Virgil pawing on it. He's such a funny little guy, when I smiled down at him he looked up at me and yawned great big! What I really like is as he is finishing one of these big yawns he also makes a chuffing sound in his throat: then, he shakes his head sideways. Sometimes he does this so hard that his front paws lift a little from the floor, so he looks like he's doing a two-step dance. (I think that maybe he is trying to come fully awake?) Perhaps it is the hour of the morning only, but when I was describing Virgil yawning it caused me to yawn also. I just yawned again. This time I did what Virgil does and I tried to imitate the sound he makes in his throat... then I shook my head sideways to see if that helped? (It didn't, although now I do feel a little dizzy!) Maybe I shook my head too hard? lol
Well, it is now 5:03 and I am finished but my video is still not ready. So, I am going to go and fix breakfast and wait until it is time to leave for work. Hopefully this will come through before I have to go in. If it doesn't I will upload it after I get in from work this afternoon. I hope everyone has a great day!
COLD & WINDY
Monday January 21, 2013 5:09 pm
Well... where's the snow? If the weather is going to get this cold, I want snow! I hope everyone bundles up tonight and enjoys this wintry weather.
I am going to tell everyone my favorite fantasy in all the world... almost? However, I am going to end mine like a certain soft drink commercial does by asking one question.
There is a cabin in the woods, very secluded... an unexpected snowstorm with blizzard conditions has left two travelers stranded. Inside, the cabin is well stocked with food and drink and it is warm and comfortable. No trouble with the power so there are lights, now turned low and someone has even left some old records there with a phonograph so they could be played.
There is a roaring fire in the fireplace and a large, thick, rug in front of the hearth: "...and..."
I hope everyone can hear okay on the video because the wind was blowing pretty hard and I wasn't sure if the microphone on the phone would pick up the audio very well.
BLUE MONDAY???
Monday January 21, 2013 6:35 am
I just want to say to my friend(s) and those who read my blog and whom I love most that I hope today is a happy day for you in spite of its designation as the "saddest day of the year?" This date each year, though it changes by a few days every calendar year, was first calculated by some doctor, who I believe must have too much time on his hands. I suppose the reasoning behind it is sort of sound? The number of days since Christmas, people noticing the passing of time, Christmas (credit card) spending is now showing up on bills, it is a MONDAY... etc. etc. etc. There are several different things that go into predicting which Monday it is in January... but I think my favorite one is this one: new year resolutions have already been broken! HAHAHAHAHA Anyway, I hope none of you subscribe to this and all of you have a happy Monday today!
This evening after I get in from work I will post my video for the day. Hopefully I will not break any of my resolutions because I have a "soft" target date for something I want to have accomplished and I am working toward that. I do it because my soft target date will in the near future become a "hard" target date and then I will begin counting down on my calendar.
Today is my 21st. day being vegan and so far everything is going pretty good. I have steadily progressed with my goals, but I still have a long way to go before I am where I want to be: however, I am going down the right path. And if I can keep up with no more than I have been doing at present I will get to where I want to be well ahead of my projected date.
I do not yet have all of the particulars but I believe with the start of the new month I will step it up another notch with what I am eating and I believe that will help me even more.
Anyway, instead of thinking along the lines of a depressing day just think of this date as the first for this new year of a pretty spectacular night-sky event. For some this can be seen without a telescope. The Moon and Jupiter will be the closest they will be until 2026. I invite those I love to join with me and we can sort of watch this "together." I like the sound of that word,
together :)
Have a great day!!!!!!!
SPIDER JUMPING
Sunday January 21, 2013 4:28 pm
The first picture is after everyone had their turn jumping and then it was off to a small kiosk for cookies. It was really cute watching them jump on this thing. Every single one was very timid at first... but after a little while when they knew they couldn't be hurt, all of them were doing better.
The second picture is Erika and the third one is little Savvy.
Bob took a lot of pictures and sent them to my phone, over the course of the next few days I will be including some of those as well.
I HAD FUN
Sunday January 20, 2013 6:57 am
Probably sometime after church today I will post my video for the day. I already know what I want if it works out? However, this morning I just wanted to write something brief. I don't know who said, "The best things in life are free" but whoever it was they were right.
Anyone reading my blog recently will know that I have been looking at pictures a lot lately. Anyway, I had such fun again last evening looking at pictures. I was up for awhile even into the early morning hours doing that again. I had more fun doing that a few hours ago than many times when I go somewhere and spend considerable money trying to find something that is enjoyable.
Many years ago I had a friend tell me that they didn't need money in order to have fun... I was thinking about that this morning and I was (again) reminded that they were right. The very best things in life really are free.
I hope all who reads this has a great day!
I had already posted this a couple of minutes ago and I decided to edit it to type one more thing. Mostly I don't look because I don't keep track of this blog like I used to do. This morning though after I published this I looked at my counter for the month to see how many hits I had gotten. Within the last 30 days there have been 13 different countries that have browsed my blog. Some are regular, but I am posting this because there are at least two that I don't remember having seen before.
United States
United Kingdom
Germany
Brunei
China
Ireland *** (I don't remember seeing them before)
Malaysia
Poland *** (I don't remember seeing them before)
Russia
France
Venezuela
Bangladesh
Brazil
I began imagining who it was from these far away places who might be reading this blog and I had a few ideas. My best guess is that from Venezuela it is Hugo Chavez who was reading. I think this because as he is recovering from cancer surgery he probably has nothing else better to do.
From Ireland I bet it was Kathy Ireland... I mean, that's a no-brainer: right? What??? you mean she might not be from Ireland just because her name is "Ireland?" No way, I mean how is that even possible :)
From Poland I bet it was Pope John Paul II. What??? you mean he is dead. Now, when did that happen?
From Brazil I bet it is some hot model who is reading. This one I feel pretty sure about because it seems that Brazil has nothing but hot models... right?
Anyway I just wanted to welcome some new people to my blog, Hugo, Kathy, Paul (I still think he is alive, maybe just hiding out with Elvis) and I especially wanted to give a shout out to ildi Silva or one of her pretty friends... whoever it was from Brazil?
Of course, I admit that I could be wrong about who might be reading this blog. Instead of ildi I suppose it could be the guy standing beside Miley in this picture.
Yeah... that makes me want to have a big breakfast this morning, how about you? If I ever meet that girl I will try to remember not to shake her right hand :)
LONG DAY :)
Saturday January 19, 2013 6:37 pm
I am finally home. After getting off work I had several errands to run and I just walked in. At least the video today I think will be fun because it is some of the kids. I wish I had known they were all on the basement steps (already coming up) before I opened the door because had I been filming it would have been really neat. Almost as one the whole throng of kids shrieked, PAPAW! And that included two of the children that Steph has babysat since they were first born. So, they probably really do believe I am their papaw.
In only 20 hours I had gone from feeling incredibly good... to unbelievably low, to back to good again. And, no... I am not bi-polar and no meds had kicked in :)
Anyway, I hope everyone has a great night tonight and a very nice Sunday tomorrow.
WHO NEEDS SLEEP ANYWAY?
Saturday January 19, 2013 5:59 am
I work today from 7-4 and if I were a normal person I probably could still be laying down yet. But, I'm not... normal I mean. For a person like myself who has always admired strength in others, I seem to have little of it myself. At least the only type of strength that really should count, that of character and self-discipline. It seems that in that area I am the quintessential 98 pound weakling.
To my friend(s) and those I love with every ounce of my whole being... could I please have a mulligan/do-over/second chance, etc.etc.etc.
Sometime after I get home today I will find something to video and I will upload that after I get in from work.
I was thinking early this morning as I lay in bed tossing and turning and trying to find rest that I hope I am able to take Virgil to the beach before the end of this summer. If I do that, he will be the only creature I have ever loved in life who loved me back that I haven't broken some promise to. Of course, with my track record I am pretty certain that I will not do that either and I will still be batting 100% for disappointing and hurting those I love.
Sometimes I amaze myself at my own stupidity... and that's pretty good, because I am not easily amazed. I hope everyone who reads this has a really good day today!!!
IT'S COLD THIS MORNING
Friday January 18, 2013 8:30 am
I tried to record something much earlier this morning but it just wouldn't come through. Maybe there are camera phones that can pick up ambient light better than mine and with those I could record in the dark a little better?
I finished my blog about copyrights sveral hours ago and after I upload this I will get a shower and make breakfast and then (among other things) I have to get some school work done today. Today I am off work, but I need to go back in tomorrow and then I am scheduled off Sunday.
To my friend(s) and loved ones I hope today is a happy day for all and everyone is able to have some fun today!
I don't know for sure why I am including this part at all? And when most of you read it you will not understand either :) Anyway, after I got home this morning it was still dark outside so I lay down on the couch in a darkened room and I just was thinking about "things."
Anyway, I had a thought that made me smile. Perhaps I am a little like Anthony Hopkins after all: especially when he played his roles as Hannibal. (Except I am not doing anything gruesome.) However, I too am using different body parts of another for my own enjoyment. I am making a tapestry, or a collage if you will? There are lovely hands, exquisite feet, a beautiful face... if only I had all of the middle parts to go with them... sigh (:
KJV & COPYRIGHTS
Friday January 18, 2013 1:36 am
Before beginning I
just want to say that I am not the most qualified person to be
speaking on this subject, nor am I saying that just because there is
something I do that it ought to be followed? The best I can say is
that I am going to try and present a case for the KJV and just one of
the many reasons why I think it ought to be the Bible that is used in
churches today.
At least for now
this will most certainly be the last thing I am going to write about
whether or not the KJV has a copyright and why that would even
matter? I think I am going to start this with two verses. As usual, I
will only be quoting from the Bible, the 1611 KJV. Romans 3:4a: “...
yea, let God be true, but every man a liar...”
The second verse I am going to quote is II Timothy 2:9: “Wherein
I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds, but the word of
God is not bound.”
When Paul wrote this
epistle to Timothy this would have been during his second
imprisonment in Rome. By now Paul fully understood what it meant to
not be free. So, he understood full well the meaning of bonds or
chains. So, he was merely stating that although he was bound, “...
the word of God is not bound.”
Now, let's see if that is true of the KJV, and if it is also true of
all other versions of the Bible?
Bound
and chained both mean the exact same thing: restricted! I will
basically be comparing three other versions of the Bible because
these three are fairly popular right now. However, if you are using
another version besides these three I am naming... please look your
copyright up on-line and you will see that it also carries the same
restrictions, as do all of the modern Bible translations.
I
will primarily be speaking of the ESV, NKJV, and the NIV. II timothy
2:9 in the ESV the verse is not much different than the KJV and it
finishes with the same eight words: “But the word of God is not
bound.”
The
NKJV also finishes the verse with eight words with not too much
changed: “... but the word of God is not chained.” Again, very
easy to understand as Paul had been both bound in prison and held in
chains, so he was saying that he was restricted, but God's word could
not be.
The
NIV states: “... But God's word is not chained.” A few less words
than the KJV but all three of them making the exact same claim. That
is that the (true) word of God can not be bound, chained, restricted,
etc. Up to this point do you agree? If not, why not... because up to
now all I have been doing is copying verbatim words from the KJV and
three other translations.
My
part in all of this started when I made a statement that I have a
Bible (KJV) from Thomas Nelson publishing company that has no
copyright. At that point I was informed that I had to be mistaken
because all Bibles, including the KJV had a copyright? Of course, I
knew better so I had an idea how I could prove that, and at the same
time prove that all other modern translations not only had copyrights
on them, but because of that it made II Timothy 2:9 become false in
their Bibles.
Other
than my girls or grandchildren, the number of people I would not lie
to could be counted on one hand and you would still have four fingers
remaining. I say that (hopefully) to make all who might read this do
their own research. If I do it and just hand it to you, it's less
likely to have the same impact on you then if you do this on your
own. Besides, in this same paragraph I have already stated that there
is only a small number of people in the world I would not lie to,
so... unless you are on that short list, do some searching on your
own because I could be lying to you.
The
first call I wanted to make was to the Copyright Office of the United
States. Now, they are not on my short list of those I will always be honest
with so I was already prepared to tell them a lie in order to get the
information I wanted. However, it turned out I didn't need to. I
called: (202) 707-3000 and the girl who answered the phone I gave her
a hypothetical situation, and she listened patiently before stating,
“That's a good one... hold on a second.” (She really said, that's
a “goot” one... but that's another story.) When her supervisor,
(Page Miller) came to the phone I began the same way and repeated my
story. I told her to please not hang up as the question that I was
asking I really needed to know the answer. I explained that were I
not a serious caller I would not have remained on hold for the last
20 minutes.
Here
was my hypothetical situation I told her. I imagine she stayed on the
phone because she thought my “hypothetical” had happened and I
was just using that phrase in telling her the story. I said to
imagine a small church in a small town who bought air time on the
radio in order to tell the Christmas story. They did this simply by
reading verse-after-verse and they used their entire airtime doing
nothing but reading from the Bible.
I
asked her to imagine a trouble making lawyer from the ACLU contacting
this church and asking them to present proof that they had received
permission from Crossway, the company who holds the rights to the
ESV. So, I said what if this man was now threatening to bring a suit
against the church... when all that the church had done was JUST READ
many verses in a row. Could he really sue?
The
supervisor for the United States government (copyright office) said,
absolutely! She said that, “...public performance is the exclusive
right of the copyright holder.” So, without prior written
permission a lawsuit could be brought and some of the penalties are
severe! Anywhere from arrest to fines and (or) imprisonment. However,
she was very nice and even offered me some help and what links and
sites to go to so I could download different forms in an attempt to
fight the charge if it went to court?
So,
I went to the copyright page of Crossway and found the following.
There is a doctrine of “fair use,” but in order to argue that and
be successful you must be able to meet all four criteria listed. In
my above hypothetical... that church would have failed in three of
the four. The case would be won by the ACLU without ever going to
court! After learning all of this I guess I am waiting for the day
when the ACLU will attack the big mega-churches using many liberal
translations and force them to show prior written permission for all
of the fund raiser letters which have been sent out, TV, radio time,
etc.
I
am providing their link so you can look these things up for yourself.
The first link I am going to post will be the copyright page
for the ESV (English Standard Version) which is owned by Biblica Inc.
This book was started by Howard Long, an engineer from General
Electric. The idea behind this book was that when Howard Long shared
his faith with his friends using the KJV, of which he was, “a
life-long devotee” ... Long was distressed to find that it {KJV}
just didn't connect. What is always riotously funny to me is that all
of these people, EVERY SINGLE ONE all were saved and grew in grace
and knowledge using the KJV, but now they found that “it” KJV
just doesn't connect, resonate, work, blah
blah blah blah blah with everyone else. Silliness, absolute
silliness!
Unless
of course they imagine that their intellect is far superior to
everyone else they know and the KJV could be easily understood by
them, but none of their friends? Think about it. How could all of
them be saved, learn, grow in grace and knowledge with the Lord using
the KJV... but no one else apparently can? Crazy, huh?
Not
long ago I was discussing this very idea with a friend of mine and I
explained that one of the main problems with the other translations
was whether or not they subscribed to Westcott and Hort's damnable
“conflate theory” or not, all of them were guilty of blatant
attacks on the foundational doctrines of the faith: e.g., virgin
birth, blood atonement, literal resurrection, Jesus as God in the
flesh, etc. etc. etc.
He
then told me that most of his friends (and he began to name them) all
used different versions instead of the KJV and yet every single one
of them believed in every doctrine I just stated. However, I knew all
of the people he had just mentioned so I said to him that using those
people would not work because every single one of them had grown up
in churches and had sat under men who preached ONLY FROM THE KJV!
Because the Bible declares: (Romans 10:17) “So then faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Therefore, it was no surprise to me that they would believe in the
fundamentals of the faith having learned them at the feet of the KJV.
However, I told him the real test would be what do these men's
children believe once they have become adults and have sat under the
teaching from these other books instead of the KJV? (Let's give it 20
years and ask this same question again of these same men's children!)
Do
you know that in my own family, including all three sons-in law and
their families... everyone who is saved was saved listening to the
KJV. In fact, every single person that I know... let me say it again:
every single person that I know who is born-again was saved by
listening to the KJV being preached... except one person. And that
person was reading a verse which was imprinted on a wall in a
sanctuary and it was John 8:32. This verse he was reading was taken
from the Douay-Rheims. This is an exact quote from that version. “And
you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Now,
here is the exact same verse taken from the Bible (KJV). John 8:32:
“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make
you free.”
Uh... anyone else notice anything there?
One
word was updated into a more common form used in today's speech.
Nothing else, absolutely nothing else was changed, left out or
added... “ye” was changed to “You.” So, again I say, from my
friend(s) to family and everyone else I personally know and love,
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM was saved by hearing the KJV being preached!
Now,
let me point out some facts from this copyright page. Even from a
church pulpit, and during a service the maximum amount of verses that
can be legally quoted are 250 verses. Beyond that it is illegal
unless you have written permission from the publisher. But it gets
worse, far worse. It is against the law, at certain times to quote as
few as 25 verses... as few as 14 verses... and as few as 13 verses!
Do you think I am making this up? Think again. Punishable by law you
can not quote an entire book of the Bible, any book. So, Jude (25
verses) III John (14 verses) and II John (13 verses) are all against
the law for your pastor to read in its entirety during a church
service. Do you still want to pretend that you have a book that is
not “bound” or “chained.”
But,
it gets worse, far, far worse than that! This prohibition is not just
against the spoken word, but the printed word. Let's say that your
pastor is wanting to write a letter to a sick parishioner. He decides
to type this letter using church stationary. He writes: Dear, ….,
we're praying for you. (That's all, short and sweet.) However, He
decides to remind her that God loves her so he wants to quote from
the ESV John 3:16. In that book it says, “For God so loved the w...
that's it.
With the first letter of the word “world” having
been typed this pastor has now broken copyright law! From the ESV
website in speaking about reproducing any part of their book in
any type
of written form it states: “ … the verse(s) quoted {cannot}
account for 50 percent or more of the total text of the work in which
they are quoted.”
So,
you can't preach it without consent, you can't reprint it without
written permission: surely then, you ought to be able to at least
copy it on a copier machine? Nope, I called office Depot and told the manager that
I had a newer Bible translation and I needed to copy a couple of
pages? She was apologetic but stated that it was against the law for
her to copy any part of a copyrighted work, unless I could show them
I had written permission from the publisher.
(In
awhile I will show a few pictures I took of my KJV being copied by
this same girl who couldn't (by law) copy any other translations but
she made copies for me of my Bible.) Here is the link for the ESV.
The following is the
copyright link to the NKJV (New King James Version) This one is
similar but even a little more restrictive in that Scripture can
account for no more than 25% of any written work. So, in the letter
written on church stationary to the sick person... the beginning of
the second word would be the beginning of a possible lawsuit? Look, I
am not saying that these companies would ever push it that far! What
I am hoping to prove is that all of these translations are bound and
chained books, needing the permission of their publisher before they
can be used: even in a church service!
The following link
is the copyright page for the NIV (New International Version) Again,
very similar to the others.
Now, to prove I have
an unchained Bible (KJV) in my hand I emailed Thomas Nelson
Publishing Company today and I played dumber than I actually am...
and I pretended like I didn't know why my Bible did not have a
copyright even though Thomas Nelson had published it. Here is their
response.
In case you can't read what Ansley Boatman from Thomas Nelson wrote in my email she just said that all of the newer translations have copyrights except for the KJV and it is considered Public Domain. Therefore it is not copyrighted!
The above three pictures are: a. the copy center manager copying part of my KJV Bible: b. my receipt and a couple of the copied pages: c. the front of my non-copyrighted Bible... the 1611 KJV!
Now, Thomas Nelson
calls the KJV “Public Domain.” God, in His Holy Word says that it
is not “bound!” In either case it means the same thing. You can
preach it in a public forum cover-to-cover, you can type it out
word-for-word until you have completed Genesis to Revelation, and you
can even reproduce it at any copying house in America. That my
friends is an unbound, unchained, and unfettered Book... God's Holy
Word!
One more thing. I do
own a different KJV that has a copyright. However, the publisher is quick to point out that the copyright only pertains to the
commentator of this Bible and his personal notes... not to the words
of the Bible itself.
So, if you are
carrying the ESV your king-maker was a worker from GE and the group
who got behind him. And if you want to do most anything with that
book you have to get their written permission.
If you carry a NKJV
then Thomas Nelson is your King who may or may not grant permission
to use their book. (According to every single publisher: permission
is given on a case-by case basis and it usually averages $100.00 a
pop to find out if they will grant your request.)
If you carry the NIV
your king, who may or may not give his permission to use that book is
Rupert Murdoch. (Yes, that Rupert Murdoch!) The Message, is Eugene
Peterson, the NLT is Tyndale, the NASV is the Lockman Foundation, and
on-and-on and on it goes!
However, if you use
the KJV then your King is God... and He has already freely given His
permission to copy, read, or preach from that Book in it's entirety.
His permission to use His Book was granted in Matthew 28:19a “Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations...”
You have your command from your King, so lay down those translations
which are bound and chained and pick up the KJV and go forth!
(It is now the early morning hours of Friday the 18th. In a little while I am going to go to the gym and workout and after that I will find something to video. And, probably later in the morning I will upload my video blog for the day.)
