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November 30th: A Day of Sadness and Joy

11/30/2017

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PictureMy dad: Dr. Murray Dick, 1904-1956
November 30th has been a day of sadness for me for sixty-one years. On that day in 1956, it was a Friday, I lost my dad as a little boy and I was heartbroken and it has always had its impact on me at this time of year.  But, of course, time heals us and now I just find myself melancholy on this day as I remember him and what a great father he was to me, if only for too short a period of time. But it's also a great time of joy since I know that one day I'll see him again, my mother, too, and it will be a joyous reunion.  Some people laugh at me when I say that but it's what I believe and it's what I've been taught. My faith is strong and I'll always stick by what sustains me.

And there are other joys as well.  I have outlived my dad at this point in my life by eighteen years and I am still going strong.  And as those of you who have read my blogs know I love to write.  It is my avocation and I take great joy in putting down my thoughts on paper, whether they be in book format or blogs or whatever.  Now granted, sometimes when you publish something you become very disappointed if others aren't enthusiastic about your work as you are, but that's to be expected.  So, what do you do?  You labor on, working at it and refining it and you write some more.  Nobody said it would be easy, good things aren't.

Life is for the living and it's to be lived to accomplish whatever God's purpose is for each of us. Search within and it will be found.  Be lazy and just go with the flow and that's what we end up with: a flowing brook of nothingness.  My dad wouldn't accept that for himself, the son of a recently arrived immigrant.  He worked hard and became a successful doctor and he would expect no less than my best in what I do as well.  Life is a time when we are expected to strive to be the best we can be at each and every stage we go through.  I intend to do no less as long as I breathe.

And today I'm excited about my latest book, a story of the things that a man will go through for the love of a "Horse Lady."  It's the story of my last seventeen years of life as I've successfully passed the tough standard of the Horsey School of Husband Training.  I've been stepped on, bitten and pushed to the ground but through it all I've developed great respect and yes, even love for those great big animals known as the horse. And now they also respect me as well.  And I've done it all to be the best that I can be, working with them and writing about them, but all for the love of their "Horse Lady."

It's Christmastime, we can be melancholy for special reasons at this time of year but we can't  deny, if we have faith and believe, the joy that this blessed season brings. God bless you all.

Here are the best links to my book, Confessions of a "Horse Husband":  amazon.com/author/jamesdick or https://www.northfloridawriter.com/my-book-page.html. I hope you will check them out.



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ANIMAL FRIENDS: THEY ARE GOOD FOR THE SOUL

11/29/2017

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Jerry: Waiting for his breakfast
As Christmas approaches, living out here in one of Florida's remaining lightly populated lowland areas, we have many family friends living around us and I truly think even they understand the call of the Christmas Spirit.  The horses sense it, the dogs sense it, but none of our big and little friends grasp things any better than Jerry, the Maine Coon Cat.  Jerry has been with us for over eleven years and through it all he has been calm, reserved, but always standing by while waiting for just  a little bit of love.

We adopted Jerry at the time we were putting in our new house.  He was hanging around the sales center and the office manager put food and water out for him, not knowing where he came from.  When my wife, "The Horse Lady" saw him, she went over to pet him and he acted like she was his best friend.  He just rolled over on his back and purred and purred and I knew he was coming home with us.  His name, Jerry, was the name of the office manager and my wife said she would honor him with the name.  Now, I'm not sure if the man thought she was crazy or what, but she was dead serious and when he saw the look on her face he knew if he wanted the sale he'd better wise up quickly.

Jerry is probably the least trouble of any of the domesticated animals we've ever had.  He has no desire to come into the house, preferring going to his still unknown hideaway in the thickets beyond the fence.  We gave him his shots for rabies and general good health and he's a happy fellow.  And there is never a day when he doesn't show up near the garage in the early morning and again late afternoon for food and water.  But there's something else he wants even more and that's just a minute or two with us.  I usually kneel and pet him and talk softly while he just rubs up against my legs and sits very still.  Then, after a few minutes, he's off and about.

He's now beginning to show signs of age, so he doesn't wander as much and often I find him sleeping in the garage.  He's smart enough to know that his senses aren't as keen and he knows he is safe on our grounds where our two Great Pyrenees, Val and Sal will guard him just like they do their master and mistress.  Coyotes are known on occasion to roam these parts but they are smart and know that our two big boys are more than a match for them in the crunch.

As a boy I didn't like cats; we always had dogs.  But it's true when I say we probably don't like cats until we have one or at least it is for me.  And living out here where horses routinely spill grain from their feed buckets, it's a good thing we do.  They have a special purpose around here and they do it well.  So here's to Jerry, one of our wonderful outdoor cats,  a very loyal and undemanding feline who has stolen our heart like so many animals have over the years.  He makes us smile when we see him, gives a warm feeling when we are up close and personal with this gentle fellow and we know that he is good for the soul.

If you want to know more about my world of writing, cut and paste the following links into your browser to check out what's on my mind in the writing world at  https://www.northfloridawriter.com/my-book-page.html,  facebook.com/northfloridawriter and amazon.com/author/jamesdick. 

Animals: They are truly gifts from God.
 

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REMEMBER THOSE 1950'S CHRISTMAS GIFTS?

11/28/2017

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Tudor Tru-Action Football. In 1956 we thought it was special.
It's truly amazing when we look back at the past knowing what we know today and see the advancements in technology. Nowhere is it any more noticeable than in games and things that kids use.  They've become so elaborate and fancy that they've lost the interest in going outside to play, instead opting to play with their electronic gadgetry. A little bit of that is okay, but they need to exercise their entire body not just their fingers.

Boys back in the good old days loved outdoor sports. And none were more prevalent than football, a game that was played from early fall well into the springtime when football kicked in. Even in basketball season, football gave it a run for the money. But even then kids were enamored by the electronic games that were new, albeit quite limited in what they could do, and they were great for a rainy or excessively cold winter day. 

At the age of nine I received a Tudor electronic football game as an early Christmas present and I spent many hours with friends on gray dreary days imagining that these clumsy plastic magnetized players were real.  We pretended it was the national championship college game, or the NFL  championship, or maybe even the classic Newport News-Hampton High School Thanksgiving classic in the old hometown. We could dream up  anything to wile away the hours when we couldn't go outside.

Tudor was the first company to create these games beginning in the late 1940s, I received mine in 1956 from a neighbor who was trying to cheer me up.  It was early Christmas month and my dad had died suddenly right after Thanksgiving and I needed some cheering.  It helped a lot and it was a magnet for friends in our sun room and that cheered me even more. 

But when I think back about that game, the clumsy bouncing of the magnetized players as they moved about, collapsing in a heap on contact and only changing direction through contact, I wonder how we ever got a score.  And a bunch of little boys arguing over holding?  Oh, please.  But it did spark the imagination and back in those ways it made us yearn for a sunny day so that we could play the game ourselves outside instead.

It did help me to forget my fears and make it through some bad days.  That and a loving mother, good friends, adult men in the neighborhood who offered a kind ear if i needed, and a minister who treated me like a son.  I'll always remember that old clunky game, not for the game itself but what it did to boost the spirits.

And for those of you who read my blog yesterday about a sad little Scottish boy in 2017, you'll know why I wrote it. I wasn't going to dwell on my own father's death way back in 1956, exactly two days from tomorrow, but I'll never forget how it changed my life.

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SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN: Where's the Line to See Jesus?

11/25/2017

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This week's Sunday Morning Coming Down is a change of pace.  We're not going to offer Scripture to start but merely ask readers to ponder the question in the commentary headline: Where's the line to see Jesus?  It's a simple question and it's one we should carry with us as we go about our Christmas activities.  We'll find that many have been secularized to the point where they have almost lost connection between the holiday itself and the Man and God who was born and lived to die for us.

We are now at the start of the Christmas season and that means lots of shopping, children laughing and giggling, and long lines to stand in while they wait to see Santa in person. It will likely be a long wait for children and parents alike, but it is important for them to give the big, jolly fellow their wish list.  Their hopes and dreams for what should be under the Christmas tree come Christmas morning depend on it.

But before we get started on all the hustle and bustle, the excitement and the good cheer, let’s think a moment about that very simple yet important question that was posed.  Where's the line to see Jesus?  After all, Christmas celebrates His birth, the beginning of a life to teach us the way to live and the way to achieve salvation through true freedom which is freedom from sin.  He is the answer and the way to eternal life over everlasting death.  So, why do we stand in line for hours to see Santa when so many barely give lip service to Jesus, the true reason for the season?

Now, I could go on for paragraphs about what we need to do and how to do it, but no one would likely listen.  And who can blame them, for no one wants to be lectured about a subject that is really quite personal and is based upon a decision of free will.  So, instead I will offer a beautiful song, a Christmas song, not a hymn, which was first sung by a very talented young woman, Becky Kelley of St. Louis. Her strong voice made the song go viral back in 2010 when it was first shown on U Tube.  I personally love the song as it is set to video. It does indeed give meaning fit for a thousand words and no other words are necessary after it’s been watched.  The message it imparts is very clear and to the point.

View it, listen to the words and remember the message while you are doing your shopping.  The kids need gifts, yes indeed, but always remember to put the primary thrust on Jesus, The Christ Child, in all that you do this Christmas. After all, He is our Savior and our promise from God if only we believe.  Isn’t He worth the effort this Christmas?

Here’s the link to the song; you may have to copy and paste it into your browser to view and listen.  Here’s hoping from the very start of the season that all have the best Christmas ever. Let's put Him first; He will see to the rest.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OExXItDyWEY




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Black Friday?  Not in My Memory Book

11/24/2017

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Christmas Downtown 1950s: Anytown USA
Remember the day after Thanksgiving when you were a youngster?  It was no letdown after the turkey dinner and the fun of family, friends, and the local high school football rivalry. Instead, it was quite the contrary.  Christmas was just around the corner and since it was a long weekend, early preparations began in earnest.  There was decorating, planning for parties ans such and shopping to be done since the traditional season back in the 1950s began on this day. There were no sales for Christmas beginning in August, no, the big push began only after Thanksgiving.

And what about Black Friday? Well, it didn't exist like it does today, instead many of the local stores had a short period of high discount sales, usually for three or four hours to get things kick started.  And there were none of the brutality in the stores that we see today as respect for the law and for our fellow citizens ruled the day.  It was by no means perfect, but it was a kinder and gentler time and we were much better off for it.

In our house back in Newport News,Virginia, Mom was the task master.  After seeing so many decorations up and shining brightly the night before, she directed the bringing down of the Christmas decorations and getting them in order.  The tree wouldn't come for another week since early up meant early demise, but we did start to decorate the house itself.  And there was one special living tree outside that would get some special attention later in the day. There was, however, an annual problem that bringing the boxes out cause; it was the dog, first Laddie, then later Radar, getting into the decorations and making a mess of what remained in the box.  Mom quickly retired the box under lock and key in a nearby closet.

Now, I don't know when Mom did her shopping for us, but it must have been after we went back to school the following Monday.  She and her good neighbor friend would do it under the guise of going to Nachman's Department Store for lunch (everybody loved that place) but we all knew what she was up to.  And Dad, well, since his office was downtown he just slipped out when needed to carry out her instructions. We made sure we slipped little hints while they pretended to ignore us.

That Friday after Thanksgiving when Dad came home was the highlight of the day.  We had a large evergreen in the front yard and he loved to decorate it. Big, oversized decorations and large bright lights adorned it.  Mom thought it was way overdone but Dad told her that he didn't have much of a Christmas as a little boy and,by golly, he was going to create a masterpiece the way he liked it.  She always relented and chuckled while he muttered under his breath as he moved the big ladder around to adorn that big old tree.  She knew he loved it and she loved him dearly so we all stood out after dark and admired his handiwork, tackiness and all. We kids just thought it was the greatest tree in town.

Then we'd have a late bite to eat before a group from the neighborhood would go out for Christmas caroling. The cold, brisk air was invigorating and we hoped it was an omen of snow to come.  Only once that I remember did that happen. When we got home, there was hot chocolate and then, what a surprise, we found ourselves sleepy and a great day came to a close.

It's very true that we had a lot more than sugarplums dancing in our heads in our sleep that night and even though we hated the thought of school on Monday, we knew what the near future had in store. Christmas, glorious Christmas, the most wonderful time of the year would not be long in the coming and it was a subject of many discussions in the days to come.

Black Friday?  Who needed it. We did just fine without it.  The season was upon us and we were taught the true Spirit of the occasion, something that sadly we seem to have lost.  Maybe, just maybe, we can screw our heads on and get back to that way of thinking, even today.  Miracles do happen, you know.







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Thanksgiving 2017: Be Thankful for What He Has Given

11/23/2017

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Once again Thanksgiving is here and millions have traveled to visit family and join together in a traditional dinner of turkey and all the trimmings.  Others have remained home and have a similar type of local gathering, considering themselves fortunate that they won't have to face a long trip back home.  And there are those who have avoided the festive occasion almost completely by shopping for specials instead, choosing to use the day to ship for specials now that so many stores are open for business on this day.

But whatever you do and wherever you go, it's important that all of us take the time to remember what this uniquely American holiday is all about.  It's a day to thank Divine Providence for the blessings and the bounty that we have been given.  Nowhere on the face of this earth has a nation been given so much as we have and it is for that reason that George Washington issued his first Thanksgiving proclamation in 1789. He issued another one in 1796 and these documents make it clear that the new nation acknowledged the leading role that the Great Creator had in her founding.  Things could have easily fallen apart, yet the Founding Fathers were resolute in their pursuit of freedom from The Crown under the watchful eye of God.

It's only appropriate on this day that we look again at the words of the new President George Washington to see without question why he and his fledgling government thought it necessary for the new citizens to spend a day of thanksgiving to God.  It didn't become an official holiday for many years after but Washington set the tone as the new leader for this recognition of God's grace.  Here are the words he wrote in his proclamation, words that signal the true purpose of this day.


By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and—Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me “to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:”

Now, therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favor, able interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted; for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations, and beseech Him to pardon our national and other trangressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations (especially such as have shown kindness to us), and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally, to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best.

Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.

Go. Washington


We need to think about these words in whatever we do today. It's the basis for the day and all that goes with it.  May God's guiding light continue to shine on the United States of America.  Happy Thanksgiving, America. Have a wonderful day.

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What's Good for the Goose is Good for the Gander

11/22/2017

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PictureFinger pointing really gets you nowhere
Don't worry.  On this eve of Thanksgiving Day 2017 I am not going to talk about substituting goose for turkey at the  Thanksgiving table.  No, I'm talking about the double standard in American politics and I will be brief. And this will be my final political blog of the year as I now move into the holiday mode for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and all things about goodness, light and a bit of fun. Just like many save their vacation time for this beautiful  season, I use it as a sabbatical from snark, discontent and animosity. Besides, political happenings are easy enough to pick up again in January and get back up to speed real quick. It's kind of like an eternal soap opera.

My commentary today is very simple, really and it matches up directly with the title.  We can't honestly find fault with one political viewpoint and even individual without closely looking at the other side as well.  We can believe what we want, but when we single out one and ignore the other, the truth eludes us.  Not only that, but the longer we do that the more likely we become dogmatic in our views and close our eyes to everything else.

Now, I have my personal views, they are strongly held and they have been developed and refined over many years.  I didn't get them from professors, although it's natural that some good information was provided, but I tried to take the time to read both sides, to talk with people on both sides and thereby use my own head to discern what is true and correct.  We can't do that when we scream at others and refuse to let them speak.  What is required is listening, discussing and keeping the volume down and remaining peaceful.  It's not always easy, but it works if we give it a chance. And if we don't, well, we'll just continue to mire in ours muck while thinking we have the answers to everything when deep down inside we know we don't. 

There was only one perfect person on this earth and he died two thousand years ago.  The rest of us are just poor souls trying to find our way.  And if we don't look closely and use our God-given talents as they were intended, we'll never find it.

Notice I didn't mention any party, any particular ideology, or disparage anyone, I just told the truth.  And the only way we can find it is by breaking the chains of political correctness.  Political correctness is anathema to truth.  Just look at what goes on in the political world and that's very easy to discern.

So, that's it, the end of my political discourses and commentaries for 2017. Now we move to lighter, more positive things as we open the most wonderful time of the year.  Enjoy, be at peace, and I hope you'll keep reading my blog right here on North Florida Writer.


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THE FALL: A Time of Year for Joy and Thanksgiving

11/21/2017

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Canoeing on a Fall Day in North Florida
 It doesn't matter where I am at this time of year, down here in Florida or back in my hometown of Newport News. There's just something about the nip in the crisp  cool air after the long summer ends that is invigorating.  It's not nearly as beautiful as it was back home with the beautiful turning of the leaves, but the sky is clearer and the air is fresher.  I can also accomplish my barn chores and stay fresh and dry, unlike during he long summer days when a fresh shower is required upon completion, day or night.

The Fall is now approaching it's last phase and with it we prepare to celebrate a very special family holiday, Thanksgiving, this week.  It's a time when families gather for a huge meal, visit and tell the old family stories, and then groan that everyone ate too much.

And that evening traditionally ushered in the Christmas season although many now start it much earlier.  Maybe it's just me, but there's something just not right about going into a store in late September and finding Christmas decorations and advertising everywhere. It was so special as Thanksgiving drew to a close and by the weekend homes were decorated and it was almost like an instant surprise.

But think about this season with all of it's wonders in sight and sound.  Some things never change.  Children are excited and laughter fills the air as anticipation mounts.  With the celebration of the harvest on Thanksgiving, thoughts turn to things to come a month later.  We don't even think of that interim period as the Fall, but it is for another three weeks or so.  And for some, the weather stays cool but comfortable and one of the greatest times of the year for outdoor fun. 

But deep down inside, even if you hate the cold weather, there is always a wish lurking for many that finally they might experience a white Christmas.  I have done so once in m life here in the United States, but it was brief. As a boy we came out of church late on Christmas Eve to heavy snow which was sticking well. By the time we went to bed there were about four inches on the ground, only find us awaking to rain and slush. Oh well, at least I could say that I saw a white Christmas in America. I did experience one overseas, but it just wasn't the same.

So be thankful and be of good cheer.  We are now in late Fall and will soon find ourselves immersed in the most wonderful time of the year.  I can hear Andy Williams singing that song of the same name in my ears right now.  Be safe out there, forget your troubles and celebrate the goodness that Thanksgiving and Christmas, Hanukkah, too, represent. It's a time to be glad you're alive.


Christmas is different from Thanksgiving, it includes so much more and instead of American history being celebrated we celebrate the Greatest Story Ever Told. It also offers amazing sights and sounds and the aroma wafting out of the kitchen is, again, an appetite builder.  And here in rural America in addition to the other things we have the  whinnies, the crowing, barking, meowing, bleating and mooing that comes with living in a farm community.  They remind me that I am alive and life itself is such a wonderful gift. And then the stories, all of the old stories of things I have forgotten just start pouring out of my brain. I know I am blessed much more than I deserve. How about you?

If you enjoyed this, you might want to check out these links.

https://www.northfloridawriter.com/my-book-page.html

https://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Horse-Husband-Life-Lady-ebook/dp/B077BSTND5/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1973307200




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Pleasure Horses: Another Potential Casualty of Mass Development

11/20/2017

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PictureClearcutting: Not quite the picture they publicly represent.

Horses, beautiful horses, enjoyed and used by many Floridians for pleasure. They're not just a joy to the well-heeled, but also to the many middle class owners who see them as part of the family.  And they are at risk just like those of us who have small rural farms and homesteads and also own horses.

Those of you who know me and with whom I have worked heavily in the Plum Creek, now Weyerhaeuser, rezoning wars in Alachua County can attest to my sincerity on the matter. We worked hard to achieve a result that many thought was impossible, yet the heat is never off in such matters and that is the case here. Now, reasonable development where it makes sense is a very good thing, but usually developers and those who support them decide instead to go for the overkill. It's what they do; they want to maximize their profit.


Well, that's their right, but small property owners have their rights, too, and one of those is maintaining vigilance to fight for what is right. Politics is a numbers game and when people rise up with numerical strength, they can win any battle, regardless of the cause. It just has to be done within the rules of society to make it supportable. Anarchy never ends well. But developers, usually well heeled and with deep pockets, use money to drive their cause, regardless of true merit, very much like lobbyists work with state and federal legislative bodies. The big guys win and the little guys get crushed.

You might also know that my wife and I love horses. They are beautiful creatures and they can't be kept on a cookie cutter lot, yet those pushing for development just figure that we can be rezoned out of our lifestyle and existence by buying off decision-makers. The rezoning itself isn't the culprit; it just starts the process.  But the raised land value and taxes, the new regulatory requirements and the loss of lifestyle accomplishes what they want. No one thinks of anything but money in this scenario and yet they always find that in the end the money isn't sufficient for what was deemed a great idea.

Thankfully to date, we have had elected officials locally who haven't taken the bait, at least not yet. And while I don't agree with them on many other issues, after all we are frequently miles apart ideologically, I do wish them well and will continue to work with them to maintain an equitable lifestyle opportunity in this county.

One of the things I do is write about real life and, in this instance, I've written a book which describes my life as a "Horse Husband." You see, my wife, a trained equestrian, is my "Horse Lady" and if I wanted her to marry me I had to agree with her motto, "Love me, love my horses."   And that story ties into my current commentary for we've lived here in Alachua County fort thirteen years, hence my involvement in the "land wars."

Now nearly seventeen years after meeting her, after the first nearly four ended with the loss of lifestyle in our previous location, I decided to write a book about my experiences in the horse adventure. I call it Confessions of a "Horse Husband," subtitle Life with my "Horse Lady." It doesn't really go into the land war issue, but I am using it to show what kind of man or woman needs to be involved in protecting the horse-loving lifetstyle.  After all, Florida is a huge producer of horses, one of the top states in population of these wonderful animals as well, and  not only wealthy property owners are involved in enjoying these animals.  It's the little guy who will be destroyed first. It always is.

I hope you might check out my work; I think it might explain what makes me tick and why I am committed to everyone in this area being able to live their current lifestyle without being destroyed. You can read a sample without commitment and it's available in both paperback and with Kindle Books (Kindle Unlimited). The links follow.

Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1973307200

Kindle Store: ttps://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Horse-Husband-Life-Lady-ebook/dp/B077BSTND5/


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SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN: God and Technology

11/19/2017

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Equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.    - Hebrews 13:21

We humans are quite amazing but also astonishingly arrogant.  Here we are, blessed by being given dominion   over all things on earth and the brainpower to develop new technology which offers hope for a better life for all.  At the same time. however, we somehow forget what is expected from us from God in return for those gifts.  As the unknown writer of the Book of Hebrews tells us in the verse for today, those gifts are expected to be used to do God's will.  And since all humans are sinners, bad choices are often made in our use of these gifts with results that don't measure up to His standard, in fact, they often defy Him.

Take our use of the land for one, a finite resource and one which when it is destroyed, is gone.  With all the land that man has, we often use some of it for purposes which defy the laws of nature.  Building cities in the swamp, sprawling compounds which have a foundation on water and flood easily is one. A huge, overcrowded city on the beach, located at the doorstep of the powerful sea and subject to nature's wrath is another. In such cases, we see much death and/or destruction because in our arrogance, usually coupled with greed, we put massive development in places that defy common sense.  The result of the overcrowding and risk results in much anguish as beautiful environs become another eyesore.  Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should.

Another example today is found with robotics.  Robotics can be wonderful, using machines to perform mundane tasks that are boring and uninspiring as well as tasks of compiling a wealth of information in a small space.  But we have to remember that those displaced need to find something else to do to earn a living and new opportunities and training need to be formulated. Otherwise, the welfare society becomes a permanent growth force.  God expects us to help others when they're in need, but not as a hand out but a hand up.  And then there are the uses of robotics that clearly don't measure up to what He has in mind for us, such as using robotics to serve as substitute partners in intimate matters.  When minds wander from the good to other things that are murky, His will is being defied.

And there is the use of technology in the medical field.  From creating wonderful pharmaceuticals and new surgical tools and devices to save lives and cut pain from physical suffering and death, we have devolved into the dark in so many ways.  Gender neutrality, creating designer babies and ending life before it has even had a chance to be experienced, clearly don't measure up to what He has in mind. 

Now these are just a few examples, but the point is that with our free will and our gifted minds, God expects us to use them to advance His will.  Life, human relationships, our environment, and our lifestyle are all things that He expects to be dealt with according to His way. All we have to do is read the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount and it becomes clear what His will is.  Yet we often turn away from it and use our talents instead for things that displease Him.

There will be a day of reckoning for each of us when this life is done.  When we stand before Him as He reads the names in the Book of Life, if our name is not contained therein, we individually have a problem.  When that happens it's too late.  One step in the right direction is to demand that our technological advances are used in a way which meets His standard. Since we are created in His image, it's the least that we can do.

Dear Lord, We thank you for the advances in technology that you have blessed us with. Help us to always use them to further your way, not for purposes which defy you.  In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.


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    Hi, I'm James, a writer who studies nature,  animals and all things created by God. I also write from time to time about what I think God expects of us.  I would love to hear your thoughts on these subjects. I hope you enjoy my comments.

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