John 4

John 4 is an interesting chapter in that Jesus pretty much manages to offend just about everyone.
Cultural and social morals have nothing to do with God's work.
A point not appreciated during his lifetime, nor today.
Nor in those of his followers whom to reach the lost must bear the wrath of the "religious" ie: pretend Christians.
Even Christians can choke here as well.
Everyone knows better than God it seems.

Samaria was populated by Jews born "on the wrong side of the tracks", so to speak.
Their ancestors were left behind by the Babylonians during the evacuation from Judea and Israel.
They were uneducated and therefore of no social or economic status.
And this has changed little with time as we advance to Jesus' day!

The town is a place called, Sychar.
Meaning "drunken".

First WHOOPS, good Jews avoided Samaria.
Jesus purposely went there.

Next WHOOPS, a Rabbi would never be found in the presence of a woman!
Jesus sat, waited for her and talked with this one!

He declared himself to her - and she believed!
This was SACRELEDGE to the Jew!
Plus women were not considered worthy of having valid opinions!

He was to stay two days here, and many came to belief because of this woman's spreading the tale of what happened - and Jesus' teaching while there.

Some points seem to stand out here:
- You have to choose to listen to Jesus
- You will have to overcome prejudice, tradition, cultural bias to witness to those in need
- God will change you in the process to be effective
- You must see the need of those without God
- You may sow, while another reaps
- And visa-versa, another sows and you may reap
- It is all of God, you are just allowed to participate in His work.
- Expect condemnation
- (and know that you will be blessed accordingly ...)


Jesus' Second Miracle
Jesus and his troop of Deciples now traveled to Cana.
This was where He had changed the water into wine earlier.

Now an official in Capernaum heard Jesus was now in Cana.
As his son was dying, with a fever, he went to Jesus.
Hoping to persuade Jesus to come with him to heal his son.

Jewsus rebukes the faithlessness of this generation,
Tells the fater to go home,
As the son would now live!

And, he and his household now all believed in Jesus ......

But, really, how few come to God without direct intervention by God?
Jesus said that number would be, none .....

Indiscreet

Boy you are not going tp believe this one!

So, I am uncomfortably sitting in the over-stuffed hospital chair, listening to the constant alarms going off.
Yeah, sleep is out of the question ...

Now a redheaded nurse walks up and starts talking to me ....
"I have your blood work up from last week's draw ..."

"Yes?"

"Now, you have significant inflammation indicators.  So, you are a good candidate for the study."

"Cool...."

She continues, "No Hep A, B, C, D, or F!"

(F? where heck did that one come from?!!?)

I notice several of the Filipino woman have wandered over and are listening.

She continues, "In fact you do not have any indicator for any sexually transmitted disease!"

I gasped!

How utterly indiscreet!

One of the women echoed many of the comments, but in Spanish,"Nothing?  He is clean!"

And the chattering was off to the races!

Now, the nurse realizes what she has done.
Turns redder than her hair.
And slinks off between the groups of women.

The real test would come next Friday ...

So, Friday came and I go through the usual squealing as I get stuck by needles four times.
I settled back to read an archaeology magazine.
And eight nurses and/or technicians kept interrupting my reading.
Finally it smoothed out to only two.

One I know is single and was overly very chatty.
However, the married one, was over the top with me!
She had put on false eye lashes and other such adornment as befitting a mighty hunter!
I kind of felt sorry for her.
Somewhere along the way she was taught that her self-worth is completely linked to her looks.
And ability to strike a pose.

Sigh
I run into women like her all of the time in this vacuous culture.
I would much rather have a discussion on the merits of Filipino life versus American ...
Not be forced to view her!
sigh ...

But then we all know I am not exactly a human....
Or an American male.

I just hope Friday's weirdness will not be repeated .....

As for yesterday?
Well, the big cahuna of the needle ladies, did me, hovered over me and drove all away.
:)
So, it seems it is now safe I think ......

Catch Up

What a past week!

So, you tear your diaphragm - breathing is all but impossible and lifting my right arm is also impossible!
So, why not throw your back out, as well?!?

Yeah, Swede and I went to Barnes and Nobel bookstore, I dropped my cane on the floor,  bent over ...
and that was all she wrote concerning my back!
And would anyone help me?
At all?
Heck no.
I  even had to shuffle over to a book rack, kicking my cane!
So, I could steady myself while leaning and stretching and squealing like the little piggy I am to get my cane!
Poor Swede finally had to kick my folded over body to the curb.

So, back on codeine, aspercream and ben-gay!
Oh that minty fresh old people scent!
Yeah, I am in the twilight zone.
And everybody is a fuzzy bunny ...

But, doing better - sort of.
Lots of pain but at least I can sit upright at the moment.

Musical Saturday Morning

Sorry

Living on codeine for the back injury.
Have ten minutes to do this in before my brain goes numb again.
This has been six days of misery, let me clue you!
I am certain my detractors are cheering
:)

And if this torn muscle was not bad enough,
I sliced my ankle badly,
Running into a tool box of all things!
Well, with my diaphragm damaged I can't exactly bend over or pick anything up!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So, I will take it very easy this week, with my back muscles!
And hopefully recover quicker.
sigh

I really do hate being down!

Musical Saturday Morning

Comments

I had several comments sent my way, as to why I have said nothing about Paul Allen's death.

History is written by the victors.
A  semi-truism.
Defining our age where "political correctness" erases truth.
No one really wants to remember truth.
It is so inconvenient.

So why my silence?
Because I have nothing positive to say concerning him.

I knew him and his cohorts back in the 1980's.
Socially and professionally.
'nough said.

It is interesting that my readers think I should say something.
Yeah the people of Seattle whom saw what he did in business were impressed with him.
People whom worship wealth were impressed with him.
But get passed the superficial ... not much there.

The only real question is, what was his relationship with Jesus?

When I knew him well, he was an atheist.
When last we crossed paths, he was so full of himself - there was no room inside him for any but him.
But when you are one of the richest men in the world - you are free to believe your own press.
And maKe really dumb mistakes.
While calling all others morons.
Yeah a narcissist.
And if you are a long time reader, you know how I feel about them!

Locally, I have heard him called Jewish, Methodist and Mormon.
But if so, I am unaware of it.

One hopes all people will make their peace with their Creator.
To face Him, without doing so, only guarantees eternal tragedy.
And, honestly, I really do hope Paul did do so at some point.

Eternal separation from God has some profound implications .....

Injured Again!

Lord, this is getting old!
And it wasn't even my fault!

One of the unshared joys of dialysis is cramping.
Across my 87 "runs", I have cramped all but twice!
And I have no idea what made those two times special!

Yesterday was a run through the depths of hell.
Cramping for four hours straight!
I finally cramped so hard that I tore part of my diaphragm muscle!

Yeah, breathing is such joy now.
And moving my right arm, only a memory today.
And codeine is not cutting the pain.
ah the joys of life.

So watching really horrible 1950's sci-fi on ROKU.
And reading a book by Christopher Lane.
I let you know if I like him ....

Life - Do Not Miss It!

We are too busy to live life.
We live in the past's glory or shame.
We worry about the future, which we can not control.
We are easily distracted by toys.

1 John 2:28 - 3:3

Know Who You Are
You are alive here and now.
You are a child of God.
God does love you.
John writes so you can be certain of His love.
As a  believer, you are God's child now.

Remember Where You Are Going
Jesus IS coming back!
We must have confidence, not shame.
Two thousand years of waiting.
Too many false expectations.
Too many false prophets.
Too many predictions of His return.

Wait, watch, and be ready!

Change How We Live
You are NOT called to live apart from this culture.
You are not called to be a part from this culture.
You are called to a light of God's change in this culture.

Live without shaming Jesus' name .....

Eureka

I have been watching a TV cable show called Eureka.
A bizarre comedy about a town of geniuses without a drop of common sense amongst the lot of them!
Oh how we have been cracking up!
It is like secretly watching my friends, only they can't hear your laughter!
Unfortunately, there are plenty of representations of my escapades.
cough-cough ....

Put out by the SYFY channel, about a decade ago.

Acting is randomly rather good.
Albeit a few of the cast are quite out of their depth.
Hard science is just that.
And if you can not understand the topic - it shows.

Writing is quite creative, catching us off guard often.

Props and CGI are quite good.
So far.
Of course I am only in season 3 of 5 seasons!

A guarded thumbs up, since I have not completed the full series yet.

:)

Return of the Wunschmädchen

Wunschmädchen, that Germanic mythical perfect woman for you.
She is perfection in motion.
Whom loves you freely and openly, without reservation.
And kisses your boo-boos to make them better.....

---------

Friday, when I posted the music video for Saturday, little did I know it would trigger something!
Talk about a restless sleep!
The Wunschmädchen returned with a vengeance!

I have mentioned the dream and dream like state many times, because this is so unlike me.
And here it is!
Replayed in my damaged mind several thousands of times now ....
Maybe it might make a book?

-------------
I am by a river.
There are many large rocks, by and in the river.
I stand between two of the rocks on the bank.
All I can hear is the roar of water.
For some reason, I can not go forward nor backward.
The rocks are slick and there are no hand holds.
I am stuck.

Suddenly, a woman appears from above my line of sight.
And lends me her hand to help me retreat from my predicament.
I gladly accept and she escorts me back to a large rock where we sit and dry out.
And we talk.
For hours.

Seems we have much in common.
And she is complimentary to me.
No names, no judgements.
Uplifting conversations.

-----------
In real life:

I realize this could be allegorical.
Women have never treated me nicely.
I am just the nerd to be abused.
My history with females is abysmal!
I used to have a niece whom commented - that with my history, she is surprised I not gay!
In contrast here is one whom treats me special.

As the dream continues,
I drop all of my walls.
To a painful point of being completely open and transparent.
In love ... as if my first and only love.

The wrap-up of the dream is her becoming like every other woman I have ever known.
Lies upon lies to cover the problem I am not supposed to see or know.
Disjointed accusations, which make no sense, and hatred is poured over me.
And I truly do not know why.
I am caught unaware and clueless.
Then she just vanishes.

No conclusion.
She just stops interacting or communicating.
And I am abandoned once again.
Yeah too close to real life.

But those dreams, at the beginning, are all that carried me through seven surgeries.
I was valuable to someone ... if only in a dream.
The termination of the dream is unfortunate.
I like happy dreams.
But, it was only a dream - etched upon my memory now after thousands of forced viewings.

It is so weird!

As with any encounter with a Wunschmädchen, a small part of you wishes it was real.

I am sure a psychologist would have a hay day with this one.
But she is no one I know since the memory loss.
And I doubt she is real.
I would never have let her go ......

Yeah, the eternal romantic.

Musical Saturday Morning

Answer To Musical Questions

One of the surprising aspects of blogging has been the feedback I get.
Whether it is the continual flame-wars over my blog about my father - it drives history revisionists crazy it seems (over 3,000!).
And the attacks against that blog to shut it down!
To my comments about the blimp in, The Great Race (over 900 now!).
Or my weekly music video posting, I get emails!

Okay so, about music:
I have NO musical ability.
Purely monkey hear, monkey copy.
On my own I really could not tell one note from another heard or written!
As poor Mr. Elliot, my 7th year music instructor was to discover.
But I could copy sheet music like there was no tomorrow!  (no xerox machines back them!)

I won lots of awards in barbershop quartets, because I could follow the lead in the group.
I was a tenor, but these days more of a horrible baritone.
I was part of a Maranatha group for many years.
I knew the original members of the Paul Revere and the Raider's group, Mark Lindsay was a friend
And Momas and the Papas.
And Santana, knowing Carlos better.
Many, many others.
So, I was a bit exposed to the music scene.

But, twin occurrences drove me from it.
My musically talented high school sweetheart ditched me.
At the same time, I found that people started treating me "special" after a few awards.
This REALLY bothered me!
I would get invites to hang with groups when they came to town.
My value as a human was because I could sing?
When in fact I had NO ability what-so-ever!
I did not "get" it.
And, I simply walked away.
Though 20 years later it was fun to hang with the Newsboys a few times.....

Okay, no there is no favorite song that describes me.
I like 1980's music, as long as we are selective about groups and songs!
The message is everything.
(sorry Bangles)

I have no favorite group, save for the old Newsboys.

But I also was a Herman Hermit's fan.
And the Dave Clark 5.
Face it the Beatles were showboaters!
They barely got play time on the air in Germany.
Of course, with time everyone loves them now.
sigh.

If I had a favorite song, it would be:


But also in contention for favorite is;\:



So, if you can understand these two songs, you might have an insight into the real me.
Which I guess is what was behind the questions in the first place.
And being as I am a total romantic by nature, from my favorite Bond film:



Never mind that my father was part of this worst kept secret operation in 1967 ...

Now what to do about all of the hacker attempts against this account?
No idea.
But, Google has protected me pretty well, leastwise no one has been successful since they took over Blogger.
But, I do get monthly notes from them telling me about the attempts!

Flu Season

Yes, it is apparently that time of year.
Hitting a few months early here in the Pacific Northwest.
Being dutiful, I msw my appointment for tomorrow to get the flu shot.

Back in 1977 I caught A-Victoria strain of the flu - darn near killed me!
Then in 1980 it was B-Victoria that took out my entire office complex.
And totaled me out again!
So, I am a stickler on getting the shot.

Of course, as we now know, both A and B varieties were the product of human engineering.
No one will admit whom did this though.
It is thought either the Chinese or the Americans were playing with disease delivery approaches.
Unfortunate side effect is that avian base flu origins have continued since 1977.
Beginning in summer, in the Orient, it usually hits the PNW about late November every year.
And lasts through February of the following year.

Unfortunately, I came down with the flu on Tuesday!
geez louise!

All I can say is that this year it is a real killer!
13 hours of straight bathroom time!
aaaaaaaargh!
Been about two decades since I have been that ill!

So recovering today, but lifeless still.
And tomorrow I can get the shot.
And probably do this again.
Yeah, I do not do well with the flu shot.

So seriously, consider getting the shot this year!

Barry Brierley

When I was in Florence, Colorado, this past summer, I was walking down the row of shops and rather bored.
My sister was going crazy buying stuff for her shops in Minnesota while I was just standing around.
Finally, I just went out onto the street to see if there was a bench I could sit on.

There was a man leaning on a store front looking bored.
So, I stopped and asked if he was shopped out as well.
He said no, that he was a writer just watching people.
So, we got to talking.

Turns out he wrote Westerns, 16 of them!
Won a bunch of awards and now sells them out of his daughter's shop in Florence.
Well, we had to check this out!

Then I find out he is also an artist.
So since I was interested, he showed me his paintings for each of the book covers!
We really burned up an afternoon!

In the end, I bought one of the hardcover editions of his first book, Wasichu.
He happily signed it.
Admittedly, I have only skimmed through it.
But, it looks interesting.

I am a Western snob.
As a rule I discount all Westerns after 1964.
Because Leone's Western movies completely corrupted the entire genre.
Of course Ray Hogan's books were already doing this at the time!
Like I said, I am a snob.
I much prefer real life situations to John Wayne wanna-bes!

Having said that, one of my most favorite books is, Haunted Mesa.
Don't ask me, Western plus time travel - gaaaack!
But it is entertaining and makes for interesting dreams.

I also am reading back through all of the Thurlo Western novels.
Though Tony Hillerman ranks as my all time favorite writer.
His daughter, Anne, has attempted to continue his work, with a few good books well.
Gonna be a great fall for reading!

Eight of Barry's are available through:
Spirit Riders Western Emporium
111 W Main St
Florence, Colorado
81226

Barry can be reached at:
brierleybarry@yahoo.com
719-784-2231

Firearms

I grew up in a country where firearm ownership was virtually unknown.
Even possession of a crossbow was strictly forbidden!
And don't even imagine having a long bow!
Yeah no toys for a growing young boy.
sigh

Last year my little town had:
50 deaths due to firearms
200 injuries
and 600+ discharge violations!

In follow ups, the police have found that almost all of the weapons had been stolen!

So, sitting with friends, we tried to look at this analytically.

At home:
A safe will only slow the bad guys down.
But it will at least keep all but the pros away from your weapons.

However, the point of any firearm is quick access and usability.

Quick Access
Forget trigger locks, they only slow you down!
Forget bore locks for same reason!
That leaves a personal safe.
Usually these can be opened by finger or palm prints.
And attached to some part of your bed.
Less expensive models will have buttons you push in a certain order.

Car
In a car, boat or plane, they make personal safes as well.
Dutchman lost a pistol this way many years ago.
Police were less than helpful.
After-all, what was he doing with a gun in the first place?


There is no actual fool-proof way to protect your firearm from theft.
But you can at least slow the bad guys down!


For me, I have four safes, which are difficult to locate.
So good enough.
For self protection, I learned in the Army how to effectively use a knife.
In numerous attempts, our drill sargent  proved over and over - if you have a knife at under 12 feet from a bad guy with a gun - you own him!
Good enough for government work ... good enough for me ... I guess.
I am rarely without my Victorinox pocket knife.
Besides a wicked blade, it has tweezers and a toothpick as well!
LOL

Redneck Medical Terminology

Artery - The study of painting
Bacteria - Cafeteria back door
Barium - What happens when doctors lose a patient
Benign - What comes after you are eight
Caesarean Section - Neighborhood of Rome

Cat scan - Searching for your kitty
Cauterize - Made eye contact with her
Colic - Sheep dog
Coma - Punctuation mark
Dilate - Live a long time

Enema - Not a friend
Fester - Quicker than others
Fibula - Small lie
Impotent - Well known
Labor pain - Work place injury

Medical staff - Doctor's cane
Morbid - Higher offer
Nitrates - Usually more pay for night shift
Node - I knew it
Outpatient - Fainted during doctor's exam

Pelvis - Elvis' cousin
Post Operative - Letter carrier
Recovery Room - Upholstery business
Rectum - Nearly killed him
Secretion - Something you are hiding

Seizure - A Roman Emperor
Tablet - Small table
Terminal Illness - Getting sick at the airport
Tumor - One plus one more
Urine - Opposite of Urout

Musical Saturday Morning

Hesed

So, one of my acquaintances just came back from a retreat.
One of the classes was called, Hesed.
What follows is my understanding, of his understanding.
So may be confusing.
Or less than understandable.
If so, my apologies!

Hesed is God's loving kindness.
His covenant.
His loyalty.

Hesed is best understood in God
God and his character are essential to understanding Hesed.
It is beyond our understanding.
We must understand who God is.
Jesus lived God's Hesed.

Hesed is what moves us to worship God.
Give thanks for He is slow to anger.
Steadfast in His love for us.
Moses was lead to worship the "I Am, Whom I Am".
His love endures forever.

We must cultivate a heart of gratitude.
Being truly thankful for All.
Acknowledge God in All things.

Hesed teaches us to love God.
By his example in loving others.
By sacrifice.

Hesed brings us to the person of Jesus.

Todays Effort

Tried to think of what to write today, so I went back and reread the past week.
Well, no shock and awe there.
More like shlock and ...

So, spoent my time rewriting into English sentence structure.
And correcting spelling errors!
You would believe that I do proof read three times before publishing!
Sometimes you gotta wonder.

Did some random checks from months back.
And shuddered.
Really, I am not an idiot.
I don't think ...

The brain guy says that as you learn language, it hard maps your brain.
They theorize.
So, German being my first language, mapped my brain oddly.
When compared to an English speaker.
As I have been relearning everything, I am tripping over that hard mapping of the brain.
At least according to the brain doctor.
(no I would not buy a usewd car from him!)

So thank you for bearing with me.
Perhaps this silly old mind will continue to heal.
And I will have something chew again to write on.

Baptism

My little study group has an interesting mix of ex-Roman Catholics, ex-Lutherans, ex-Baptists of various persuasions and a scatterings of Christian subgroups.
Of course, I am the only "-ite".
The sole reformation viewpoint.

So, one asked about, "why the importance on Baptism in the various Christian sects?"

Well, John 3 ...

Is this Belief + Baptism ?
Or, Belief + evidence of the Holy Spirit ?

Yet, Peter needed to go baptize the new convert ......

Obviously, it is important to God.

If we consider Ezekiel 36:24-27
and John 3:16-19,
Then it is obvious that belief alone is basis of our salvation!

Yet, we are told that baptism is necessary.

Is it a matter of ritual cleansing?
Obedience?
Identification with other believers?

I suppose that the answer is yes to all of the above.
Based on the Bible.

I know in my life that I went 2 years before I was baptised.
The result of doing so was the opening of my mind to understanding more than just the words I rfead in the Bible.
It is very weird contrast.

Others I know experience nothing ....
Go figure

Yah, Gotta Love It!

So, Monday, I go into my cardiologist for the official readout from the angio-whatever .
It was as already known - open heart surgery required.
"But, I will not be able to do it ...."
Naturally, I wond.ered why.
"I have decided to retire in October ..."
"But, here isa referral for you, he is a great cardiologist."

I look at the piece of paper, an obviously Dutch name.
Whatever.
I call - no answer for the whole of the day.

Monday, I call and got an answer.
"Oh, we can not make an appointment for you - we have no referral for you in the system.
I explain I have a hand written referral.
Nope, it has to be in the "system".

So, I called my cardiologist and repeated all of this.
Turns out, the lady I was talking to is part of an internal team looking into this rules problem.
She loved it!
A cardiac patient, in need out surgery, unable to even make an appointment!

But the best part -
I have to have a referral from a different doctor!
Yeah, my cardiologist has already resigned.
So he can not make any referrals!

So I called a third doctor, to get an appoiintment.
I thought the lady on the phone was going to die from this one!
By the time this was all accomplished,
I found out I have to and sign a release to send my data to the new, prospective doctor ...

Dear God, I thought I going to laugh myself into a coughing fit!

Anti-Christ Time

Continuing the thought:
How do we know that we know?

1 John 2:18-27

1. Live It
2. Love Differently
3.Listen to it

Watch Out
Its Anti-Christ  time!
The term Anti-Christ is only found in John's writings.
Seven times in his letters.

There has been lots of conjecture since the first century as to what or whom this is!
Lots of theories.

Here the term is plural - Anti-Christs.
Whom will judge you for not worshiping them.

Listen Up
Its all about Jesus.
An Anti-Christ denies Jesus is the Messiah/Christ.
Unity of believers in Jesus.
Anti is all those against Jesus.
There is no middle ground.
No reinvention of whom Jesus is.
We each must get Jesus connected.

Stay Put
Live out the story.
Some will fall away.
Some will not reach Heaven.
Some will appear to be our brethren.
To abide means to be transformed, to follow.

****
I have a real problem with the term Christ.
It is used as if a last name for Jesus.
But it is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew term Messiah.
And in spite of bad Roman Catholic documentation, the New Testament was written in Aramaic.
Should Erasmus have paid attention to the earliest Syrian writings, this mistake would not have occurred.
The oldest copy of the New Testament is in the American Library of Congress - a gift from the Turkish government.
It predates all of the Greek fragments in existence!
So ... I try to avoid the term Christ all together.