Keep the US strong and united

Due to all variety of fears, discontentment and disenfranchisement, our country today is a tinderbox, just waiting for a spark. Don’t be that spark.  Don’t be one more tear in our nation’s fraying fabric. Be one more stitch. Be the thread that binds a tattered seam. Be the hope, faith and charity that down through the ages has celebrated freedom and advanced American ideals. Honor our veterans, be worthy of their sacrifice, cherish your liberty, and keep America strong. SC   

A powerful force for good

Hatred is extremely contagious and too often spreads exponentially through people whose misplaced passions infect other victims and result in a virtual plague. We suffer today from an epidemic of fear mongering and phobias, fanned deliberately into a major conflagration for the financial gain of a few unscrupulous entities. Our society has been deliberately inflamed and polarized for partisan political purposes.  If one turns on any media, especially during this election year, they are quickly drawn into the darkness, negativity, contempt and hatred which have been proven to influence voters and determine elections. This deliberate exploitation of our people has consequences.  We see these consequences everyday as this deliberately created wave of darkness and negativity washes across our country. We see it with increased and frightening frequency in isolated incidents of violence, and in waves of additional violence which spread exponentially as a result. Don’t fall victim to it.  Don’t contribute to it. Don’t participate in it.  Don’t fan the flames by sharing inflammatory posts. Each of us walks a different path, revealed in a different light. As a result, we each have different perspectives, different convictions, and varying points of view. Share your convictions. Voice your opinion. Participate in the process, but find positive ways of influencing others through optimism, hope and constructive behavior. Sadly, there are those among us who are pathological haters. They can’t be reasoned with and they can’t be shouted down.  Our best hope is to simply ignore them or find them help.  You don't extinguish hate by fanning its flames. The only way to combat hate is to come together as a powerful force for good. SC

Do you ever find yourself in one of those discussions where you put in your two cents worth, and then once you've received your change you just back away? I’ve saved the change from all those transactions and created a pretty good nest egg. SC

The saddest aspect of the Presidential campaign of 2016

To me, the saddest aspect of the Presidential campaign of 2016, and the problem which underlies and exacerbates the growing partisan divide in the USA, is the number of professed Christians who’ve been conditioned by their media and even the pulpit, to believe they’re required to back the conservative Republican candidate, even if its Donald Trump. As someone who has endeavored to follow Christ for over fifty years, it’s extremely difficult for me to see how anyone professing to follow Christ, by doing justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with their God, could possibly reconcile any aspect of their Christian walk with following Donald Trump. Sad does not begin to cover it.

Have ya got a minute?

I began posting to this blog in 2010.  Since then I've posted much of my historical novel, two small photo/poetry books, much of my genealogy, hundreds of my photos, dozens of my poems, countless thoughts on religion and politics, and a variety of odds & ends.  This blog has received thousands of page views from all over the world, but has very few followers and rarely receives a comment. Suffice it to say I'm bored and discouraged.  I'm going to post a link at which you may contact me if you'd like.  I'd appreciate any encouragement you might offer. I'm also looking for a reputable publisher and would appreciate suggestions.  If you occasionally enjoy any of my posts, I'd love to hear from you.
stcasebeer@gmail.com

An Unchristian Reception

Just as in every other aspiring metropolis here in the good ol’ USA, Independence Day in Willow Springs is a big deal!  There’s always a big parade down Main Street, and the organizers of the festive and time-honored event collect and decorate all the locals they can muster, to parade through town portraying historical characters. Suffice it to say, these colorfully costumed impersonators achieve this hoodwinking in varying degrees. For a number of years now, I’ve gladly seized this opportunity to impersonate Mark Twain. While I am at best a pale, pasteurized facsimile of Mr. Twain, minus the wit and wisdom, everybody loves Mark Twain, and I gladly accept their affection on his behalf. Sunday night I laid out my freshly laundered, off white suit and groomed my appropriately white, wispy whiskers in preparation for the big day.  During the wee hours of the morning I was awakened to find my right eye feeling as though it was packed with broken glass and glued shut.  Pinkeye again! This of course, curtailed my participation in all the day’s festivities, with the exception of sitting in quiet seclusion and pouting. This I did, as my family and much of humanity enjoyed parades, picnics and fireworks. Tuesday morning, I struggled from bed, dutifully administered my eye drops as instructed, donned my bathrobe and shuffled to the porch, to collapse on the bench and commiserate with the cat. All at once something scampered up my neck and into my ear.  Several seconds of frantic flailing and colorful colloquialisms eventually dislodged a brown recluse spider that had evidently been seeking refuge in my robe. Despite his unchristian reception, the good natured little Arachnid chose not to bite me, and I should have been more appreciative of his restraint.  I was not.  I squished him anyway! I’m generally quite mild and forgiving, but he caught me on a bad day.  SC    

Dear God,
I thank you tonight that my old heart and soul are still stirred by America’s grand old flag and our patriotic songs. I ask your blessing tonight on our union, our military, our citizens, and all our leaders, past, present and aspiring, all those who choose a life of service. Reinforce our bonds, dear Lord, strengthen our faith, and God bless America.
Amen