12-21-04:

11-18-04: I just read some disturbing news. Those who know me also know that I hold in extremely high regard a young man named Jase Wells. He's an incredibly nice man, and along with his husband Michael, make up a very attractive couple. Anyway, Jase just announced on his website that his younger brother is being sent to Iraq in March. As much as this bothered me I can't even begin to imagine how much this is bothering Jase and his own family. My request here is that all of you regular readers of my website to PLEASE keep Jase and his entire family in your prayers. There have been too many young men and women who have perished needlessly in this insane war that was started by this joke of a President. It is my deepest prayer that God will spare Jase's younger brother from any harm or injury while there, and if God is willing, not have to go at all when the time comes. I beg all of you reading this to please keep a prayer in your heart for Jase, his brother, and for his family.

11-15-04: Last Sunday I heard the most amazing scripture reading at church. Not only does it have a valuable spiritual lesson, but given the political climate in the country (and the world) it made this passage even more appropriate.

Luke 21:5–19

5:Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said,

6:”As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down.”

7:”Teacher,” they asked, “when will these things happen? And what will be the sign they are about to take place?”

8:He replied: “Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, “The time is near.’ Do not follow them.

9:When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened, These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away.”

Then he said to them: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

11:There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.

12:But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name.

13:This will result in your being witnesses to them.

14:But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.

15:For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.

16:You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death.

17:All men will hate you because of me.

18:But not a hair of your head will perish.

19:By standing firm you will gain life.”

I don’t know about any of you, but through the symbolism of these phrases there is a lot of truth that hits just too close to home. Given the rise of the so-called “moral politicians,” and the political unrest throughout the world, I have to pause and wonder if this isn’t the time that Christ was talking about.11-11-04: I have started reading an extremely fascinating book called “Inventing A Nation: Washington, Adams, Jefferson,” written by Gore Vidal. As you can guess it is about that turbulent period in our history where our great nation was born.

What is so extremely fascinating is how some of the concerns felt by some of our founding fathers have come true, especially those felt by Benjamin Franklin. During the Constitutional Convention Ben Franklin was too feeble to attend so he sent a friend to read the following message: “I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such: because I think a General Government necessary for us, and there is no Form of Government but what may be a Blessing to the People if well-administred; and I believe farther that this is likely to be well administred for a Course of Years and can only end in Despotism as other Forms have done before it, when the People shall become so corrupted as to need Despotic Government, being incapable of any other.”

How prophetic were these words. We now have a Despotic Government in which there is corruption in abundance, not just in the government itself but also in big corporations, which have benefited from our current administration. Does anybody remember something called “Enron???”

7-27-04: Well this past birthday really didn't have much to crow about, but it wasn't all bad either. The two big highlights were tickets to see Rush in concert, but that was also tempered with some ill feelings towards Clear Channel who brought them here to Phoenix. Clear Channel has been a vocal supporter of President Bush and their actions in the past seem to suggest that they are in favor of limiting free speech. Given all that I wasn't exactly happy that my brother's hard-earned money went towards that organization, but it was still great to see Rush celebrate their 30th anniversary as a band.

The other great thing to happen was the most amazing birthday present given to me by some very dear friends (Thanks Brendan and Gordon!!!). They gave me the Rio Karma MP3 player.

This is one of the neatest toys I've ever had and am currently spending many hours playing with it!!!

6-2-04: Recently my husband Keith was reading the book "The Art Of War" which is actually an ancient Chinese text written by the historical figure Sun Tzu. He followed his family's clan and became an expert on arms and fighting. He employed psychology, deceit, strategic power, and diplomacy as fundamental arts of combat, and through these he defeated numerous opponents and created a systematic treatiese on war. It was while reading the book that Keith found one of the treatiese rather interesting, but even more so was the commentary that followed. Here is the treatiese followed by the commentary:

"The consummate leader cultivates the moral law, and strictly adheres to method and discipline; thus it is in his power to control success."

"There is a very strong temptation...for government forces to act outside the law, the excuses being that the processes of law are too cumbersome, that the normal safeguards in the law for the individual are not designed for an insurgency and that a terrorist deserves to be treated as an outlaw anyway. Not only is this morally wrong, but, over a period, it will create more practical difficulties for a government than it solves. A government which does not act in accordance with the law forfeits the right to be called a government and cannot expect its people to obey the law. Functioning in accordance with the law is a very small price to pay in return for the advantage of being the government.

Sir Robert Grainer Ker Thompson, "Defeating Communist Insurgency: Experiences from Malaya and Vietnam" (1966)

Given everything that is going on with our government and its involvement in the middle-east, am I the only one who sees that the Bush Administration is doing the very thing that both Sun Tzu and Sir Robert warned against???