God wants you and loves you! It's time to stop beating around the bush with excuses.

 John 1:14 (NIV)

The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

 

As a Christian, I never work alone. God is always with me. If you are not a Christian, stop working all by yourself. If your byline is I do my best work alone, stop lying to yourself. I don't take my car repairs to a Christian Missionary. Stop taking your spiritual needs and problems to atheists who know absolutely nothing about that which they are giving advice on.

Who's your mama? Who's your God? From your actions, it looks as though your God is a telephone,  drugs, or maybe sex. You laugh at God, then take orders from a phone. Who's the more intelligent person in the room? Stand up and be a real man - accept Jesus Christ as your savior while there is still time.

Come to God and find real love and comfort. You'll never be alone ever again. Christianity isn't just sitting in church, nodding off on Sunday. With faith, it can be the most exciting and dangerous occupation on earth. God is going to ask you to save lives in some of the most dangerous places, cities, and countries on earth. Boring Christianity - hah! You haven't got the guts to be a Christian. Neither did I. That's why I must have our Lord by my side, giving me constant courage and feeding me words. But boring? No way! 

Before you publicly proclaim the ignorance of something, educate yourself - READ!

Love you all!

     You want something or someone to change your life, improve your situation. You are tired of the cool crowd, the in-crowd, modern tech that is all so shallow and full of dead ends. Listen, carefully, Rose Carter, the devout wife of ex-President Jimmy Carter, said, "A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go but ought to be." Jesus Christ wants to take you where you ought to be. All he asks is faith in Him. Ask Him in faith to come into your life, and your life will begin to change. Serving is a really cool thing to do. Serving fulfills your life. Bowing down to serve lifts you up to our Lord's level. He doesn't want to lose even one of us.

Mark 9:35

     Sitting down, Jesus called the twelve and said, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all."

    For sure, some of the things you will be asked to do will seem difficult, but think of the reward of eternal life. Keep your eye on the prize. Love you all!

 

 

 

War!

      As one who has experienced war firsthand and up close, war is not the answer to any problem. I loved war, but it merely creates more problems: refugees, destruction, death, and more hate. However, there are times when countries are forced into wars. The bells of zealous patriotism cloud our vision in the beginning. Then, as our vision begins to clear, we see the horrors of war, but it is too late by then. Many are the wise men that see the easy solutions of preventing war after the war. May God have mercy on us all for what is about to transpire in this world of human absurdity. I am certain of my faith, but, to those who are not, you had better hope our God, the God of Israel, is genuine. With malice toward none, love you all!

Suffering (a short story I wrote about suicide)

 

Oh, Lord, it's me - again.

Are you too busy for a talk with this sinner -

The sinner that's on his knees - again?

People tell me a person can't go any lower than hell,

but, by the way I'm feeling, they may be wrong.

As you likely know, I'd have to climb up to reach worthless.

You must be aware of the fact that I'm loathed by friends, so-called and otherwise.

Ah, yes, let's not forget that I'm so pathetic as to not even have enemies.

You know my style - I've stuffed my life-pockets with good-for-nothing playthings.

Yes, Lord, add the fact that over the years I have mixed my clean spirit with polluted waters.     

Now - life has become purposeless, futile, pointless - all of the above.

There is no denying that I've knowingly fed my soul with sin-infected foods.

Yet - here I am Lord, on my knees talking to you - again!

Yet - here I am, Lord, asking not for what I deserve - again!

Yet - here I am Lord, with that last breath you talked about - again!

I guess you know that you are causing me a great deal of distress - not badmouthing - not lecturing.

Yeah, alright, I get you, what I meant is it makes me feel so good.

Uh-uh, no way, I can't put you and me through this again, but I have no other choice but to...

Lord, do you think I could put on a new self?

Lord, do you think I'm worth saving?

Lord, seriously, do you think I can change for real this time?

To be truthful, I just don't know if I can - I'm tired, oh, so tired.

I can hardly get out of bed in the morning.

You might as well hang a vacancy sign on me.

My soul has been vacated.

How did it all come to this?

Seriously, Lord, I don't suppose you would be up to giving me another one-more chance?

Please, Lord, I have no one else to turn to - all my bridges are burned.

You really weren't my last option - I was just too embarrassed, too scared to ask again.

I realize that I'm asking a lot by imploring your forgiveness, much less your Love.

I take full responsibility for letting the evil-one drag my soul through his vile domain.

I'm so sorry for letting him ravage this once-holy temple when I could have simply said, no.

Maybe it would be better for both of us if I would just slink quietly away while I am still able.

Father - why are you so silent?

Your silence intimidates me.

Is your silence saying go away, or has my lifestyle deafened me to your words?

Ha, I think you at long last have washed your hands of me?

How can I blame you?

Oh, come on, you can't turn your back on me.

I plead on my knees to you, the God of the living.

Oh, please, be listening, be here, Lord.

What is wrong with me, Lord!

I cannot hear nor see You! - Am I both blind and deaf?

Ah - once upon a time I was able to see and hear You - to feel you - to pour out my soul to you.

Where and how did I take that wrong turn - away from you?

How did I part ways with you?

Oh, but I did - oh, but this world - but my weaknesses!

I'm becoming melancholy - me.

Am I alone in these - oh, what does it matter, but it does.

I remember long ago during my childhood when at night my Mother made me kneel beside my bed and talk to You?

How fondly, I recall your comforting voice when my room was dark and full of scary shadows on the walls.

Well, Father, there are horrifying shadows surrounding me, now.

Where are you?

The time is rapidly approaching.

The wind - I'm so very cold - the night is chilling me with hopelessness.

Oh, my Lord, where did that simple child go?

Remember, the child you used to speak to?

I can't blame you for casting me away.

In truth, I'm just feeling sorry for myself - I'm good at that - as you know.

At least, I have had a smile on my face for a small-passing moment with these thoughts of You.

They have given me the courage to do at least one good thing for this once-loved world - to rid it of myself.

I'm not backing away from the deed this time.

If you're around, Lord, please, turn your face away - I think You too soft to watch.

Quickly, my Lord, I must go before this new-found bravery turns its back on me.

And please, forgive me!

And remember me not as I die, but as that innocent child who lived every day for you - my loving Lord.

Where are you, my Father?

I don't suppose - no - I will be forever obliterated from your sight, for this sin is the icing on the cake.

I can't see you!

If you are this oh-so-powerful God, why can't you say a few simple words before I go away - forever - if you please?

Speak up. I can't hear you.

You know, I sincerely did, do love you.

This is goodbye.

Oh, Father! - What have you done?

What - have you robbed me of even this small act of contrition?

Who's this bleeding-heart telling me I'm loved and sticking his nose where it

doesn't belong?

Who have you sent to spoil the one good act I was capable of?

Who is this thief trying to rob me of ending this pain?

Lord, once again I have turned you from more noble deeds.

I beg your forgiveness.

I know my past promises, but this time I'll make good use of this last chance.

But, out of all this, Father, I now know - you still hear me - you still love me.

After all, isn't that what I wanted - needed?

Father, I thank you, love you, hear you, and feel you - once more.

After all, isn't that what you wanted?

 

My Native Land, Oklahoma

     Yes, we have thousands and thousands of oil wells. Yes, we have cowboys and cowgirls and millions of horses and ranches. Yes, we harvest more wheat here than all of Russia combined. Yes, we have many American Indians of most tribes from across the U.S. Oklahoma means land of the Red Man. Oklahoma's American Indian population thrives and many are well-educated, patriotic, and fiercely independent, as are most Oklahomans. Most have integrated into society. My wife's family is listed on the Cherokee Dawes Rolls. Going to a Pow Wow is the experience of a lifetime. We are the heart of America, the God of Israel is king, and we the people are strong and welcoming. During these wild times in societies all across my country and, most likely yours, people are moving here by the buckets full. We have the lowest unemployment rate ever recorded in this country. Our capital, Oklahoma City, is the fastest growing city in America. We celebrate morals and good values. Our state constitution does not allow the government to operate in the red. Love you all!

Family!

      Family is very important to my wife and I; the good, the bad, and the ugly. Someone that tells you their family and themselves are perfect are not being truthful. Love your family and help the ones that need it as best you can for who else should they turn to in difficult times?

Let's Get Personal

        

 

 

 

Let's Get Personal

     Though writing since I learned to spell, I did not  begin to do this full time until age 59. I will not annoy you with all the sordid details of my life, but will advance to the Vietnam War.

      Anyone involved in war is affected deeply in one way or another. My service in the Vietnam War was no different. I didn't come away just angry with God for allowing such inhumanity, but declared war against Him. I fought him with all I had, which isn't much when you are talking about God. Spewing hate and filth from my mouth toward God, I rarely missed an opportunity to verbally abuse Him.

     This went on for several years. During that time, I married a special lady that God set in my path to distract me. Still, I battered Him with all the vile words I could come up with. This insanity got to the point that I joined with another person to go through the Bible to prove its fiction; like much better people than I had not attempted such nonsense. God continuously turned the other cheek, or I would have been dead with the flick of his little finger. I carried on at that project till reaching Matthew 5, Sermon on the Mount. That is when our Lord hit me with a broadside. I was finished - as a worthless opponent, anyway. I turned to my fellow delusional, saying, "This book is about nothing but love! It's a love story. Man is the guilty party. Man kills man, God loves man. It's over. I can't go on with this insanity." My friend refused to submit. We didn't hate one another, but that was the last time we saw each other.

     I was in College at the time majoring in English. I promised all my future writing to God. What an exciting prospect for God after what he had just been through with me. Furthermore, I felt I needed much more life experience to write for Him. At the time, I wasn't serious about Christianity or even belonged to a church.

     The years went by with little or no indication to our Lord and society that I was a Christian.

     One afternoon, after a severe back surgery that I thought I would never recover from, I broke down to God, saying, "I'm finished, and You have never called me to write for you."

     The next moment came a heart-stopping reply, "Get up! You're not dead. I'm the God of the living. I have work for you to do."

      I stood up, walked to the computer,  and never looked back. I thought that I was the greatest writer to ever walk the earth. Add to that the fact that I suffer from overconfidence at times and have too high of an opinion of myself at other times. God let me know just how far I had to go in my first writing contest. He laid me low with harsh comments from editors and a non-ranking. It didn't stop there, It went on for an unbearable time. Every time I got knocked down, God stood me back up and threw me back into the fray. Finally, the contest results began to change for the better.

     At that time, I was a member of a Christian international writing group named FaithWriters, and still am. Competition is the surest road to getting better. Success is built on the foundation of failure. Every time you think you are the cat's meow, enter a writing contest. That'll take you down a notch, and, if you really want it, you'll ask for God's strength and stand again.

     One day, while I sat feeling sorry for myself once again, I received an email telling me that I had a message on my FaithWriters' account.  It was a message from a very young lady in Nigeria. She said that she enjoyed my short stories and writings on FaithWriters. Working with Catholic Missions in Nigeria, her home country, she wanted me to write some articles for her Mission's work.  That was the key to the door.

     Over the next two years, I learned about  Africa and that my preconceived first-world misconceptions were way off base. These people were so intelligent and practiced Christianity that looked much more like Jesus Christ than anything in America. I was grievously reprimanded for using the word 'darn' in an article. I would lose contact with the Nigerians for weeks at a time when they were in hiding due to attacks by the ruling Islamic parties. Their lives were in serious danger if they were found. Then, I would hear from them doing business as best they could for God. I felt so deprived by not serving God under such dangerous conditions. We have no idea how strong these people are in their faith, and just how dangerous practicing their faith can be.

     After insulting these beautiful people on a daily basis due to my not being able to comprehend their over-the-top respectful ways that they address one another and their families, Rita Pam Tarachi offered me a publishing contract for my next book, WHAT DOES FAITH LOOK LIKE. It became an award-winning book of short stories. God Bless her and all the people of Africa. Too bad, the book's life was cut short due to the dangers of Boko Haram and other militant groups active in Christian suppression in Nigeria.

     This new novel began as a short story that was well accepted. It has been God's inspiration that has written the book. The first story went over so well that I wrote a sequel.  At that point, people began asking for more. The story would just not let me alone. It continued in my sleep and demanded most of my waking attention. It demanded to be made into a book. The characters became almost real. I'm currently looking for a devout young black man, preferably with a current or prior military background, to write the back-jacket endorsement. Oh, yes, I need Denzel Washington to play General Iverson in the movie. Do you think he'll work for minimum wage?

     Love you all! For God! 

A piece of my heart lies in Israel.

You can view on Twitter

https://twitter.com/i/status/1366251105148153856