Were scientists to discover a single cell in a distant galaxy, what do you suppose they would proclaim they found? Life. Why is it then that a single cell residing in a mother's womb not proclaimed the same? Mark Jordan While I've got you here, I thought to enclose a few more of my personal musings, which, though my kids are tired of hearing, they promise to be new to you: • Those who believe in miracles are forever mindful they are one. • The fullness of God is most transformative in those who see the emptiness in everything else. • It's been said that the two ways to get enough out of life are to either accumulate more or desire less. I propose a third: be content with what you have while polling the other two. • A brighter tomorrow begins the moment yesterday is dimmed. • Marvel at the everyday moments of life...as years past you'll see that the treasures for which you toiled were yours all the time. • Since the person observed in your mirror is at best an illusion, why not identify the attributes you wish most to behold and then grow into them? • FUTILITY: trying to love others without believing how profoundly precious you are to God. • FORESIGHT: cherishing what you have while you have it - not when it's gone. Should you be interested in reading more, and to quote a star from a long gone era, Jimmy Durante, "I've got a million of them..."
CREATION EXPLAINED: IN THE BEGINNING... God Created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the
Earth with cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, and green, yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, ensuring that
Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.
CREATION EXPLAINED: Then using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream,
and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan whispered, “Want chocolate with that?" And Man said “Yes!”
And Woman said, “As long as you are at it, add Sprinkles.”
And they gained 10 pounds.Satan smiled.
CREATION EXPLAINED: And God Created the healthful Yogurt that Woman might keep the Figure that Man
found so fair. And Satan brought forth White Flour from the Wheat, and Sugar from the Cane, and combined them.
And Woman expanded from Size 6 to Size 14.
CREATION EXPLAINED: So God said, "Try my fresh Green Salad." And Satan presented
Thousand-Island Dressing, butter croutons and garlic toast...
And Man unfastened his belt following the repast.
CREATION EXPLAINED: God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil, which to cook them.” And Satan brought forth deep fried fish, hamburgers, and chicken-fried steak so big it needed it’s own platter.
And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.
CREATION EXPLAINED: God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it "Angel Food Cake" and said, "It is Good." Satan then created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's Food."
CREATION EXPLAINED: God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds.
And Satan gave cable TV with remote control so Man would not toil in changing channels.
Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.
CREATION EXPLAINED: Then God brought forth the Potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition.
And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep fried them.
Man gained pounds.
CREATION EXPLAINED: God then gave Man lean beef to consume fewer calories yet still satisfy his appetite.
And Satan created McDonald’s and the $.99 Double Cheeseburger. Then said, “Want fries with that?”
And Man said, “Yes, super size them!” And Satan said, “It is good.”
And Man went into Cardiac Arrest.
IN THE BEGINNING... God Created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, and green, yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, ensuring that Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.
THREE. Then using God’s great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan whispered, “Want chocolate with that?” And Man said “Yes!” And Woman said, “As long as you are at it, add Sprinkles.” And they gained ten pounds. Satan smiled.
FOUR. And God Created the healthful Yogurt that Woman might keep the Figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth White Flour from the Wheat, and Sugar from the Cane, and combined them. And Woman expanded from Size 6 to Size 14.
FIVE. So God said, "Try my fresh Green Salad." And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, butter croutons and garlic toast... And Man unfastened his belt following the repast.
SIX. God then said, “I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil, which to cook them.” And Satan brought forth deep fried fish, hamburgers, and chicken-fried steak so big it needed it’s own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.
SEVEN. God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it "Angel Food Cake" and said, "It is Good."
Satan then created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's Food."
EIGHT. God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with remote control so Man would not toil in changing channels. Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.
NINE. Then God brought forth the Potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep fried them. Man gained pounds.
TEN. God then gave Man lean beef to consume fewer calories yet still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald’s and the $.99 Double Cheeseburger. Then said, “Want fries with that?” And Man said, “Yes, super size them!” And Satan said, “It is good.” And Man went into Cardiac Arrest.
ELEVEN. God sighed and created Quadruple Bypass Surgery.
TWELVE. Then Satan Created the Obama Health Care System. Amen
P.S. There's only one thing we can say as we watch the Obamaburgcome crashing to the ground, "Oh the humanity!"
Only at the wildly inept Democratic Convention does a 50-50 vote (at best) equal 2/3 majority. How? Read on:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Democrats, chagrined by both Republicans and a national wide backlash for their newly adopted convention platform, attempted to amended it on Wednesday, but not before creating yet another uproar and national embarrassment.
What at issue was the redaction of the words "God" and "Jerusalem" from the DNC platform. The repercussions were wide and deafening - clearly beyond anything the bumbling DNC organizers could image. Thus, the business at hand was to restore the mention of God and Jerusalem to their convention platform.
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa was handed the simple tasking of presenting and amendment to the DNC delegates and asking for the obligatory Ayes and Nays votes, which necessitated a 2/3 majority.
Slam dunk, right? One would think for all the talk about Democrats being just a God fearing as Republicans. Well, this is according to at least one prominent Democrat leader, Dick Durbin. His now infamous tirade directed at Bret Baier was partly responsible for the sudden change in the DNC's about face.
Bret Baier had only asked for Dick Durbin to comment on the purpose for the redactions of God and Jerusalem in the DNC platform. However, from Durbin's perspective, Baier was expressing a litany of sordid implications, none of which were evident in Baier's single question.
Baier's insistance that no inferences of any sort were being made and that he was simply giving Durbin the opportunity to to express his party's platform would mollify Durgin. The resulting interchange went viral and subsequently precipitated the DNC's platform amendment.
I'd like to think Democrats had a change of heart once they reflected on the fact that America was founded as a land where God was not redacted but where freedom to worship the God of one's conviction was protected. This is what made America great. Is it that Democrats suddenly remembered America's roots or something else, like political pressure? Regardless, the process of reinserting God back into the DNC platform was not as perfunctory as one might have imagined.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's first of three unforeseen vote calls appeared to have the Nays as victors. Not satisfied whether Villaraigosa heard correctly, and after a bit of confusion, he called for a second vote. Again, even more apparent, the Nays were just as loud, if not more so. At this point Villaraigosa was beside himself and sought advice. He was instructed to try once more, and as before the Nay's either tied or were louder than the Ayes.
No matter how the casual observer looked at it, the Ayes were far quieter that the 2/3 mandated to enact the amendment. Regardless, Chairman Villaraigosa approved the measure, giving the call to the Ayes.
Understandably, the audience booed and threw their hands in the air in disgust. Disgruntled faces were seen plastered throughout the large groups of delegates and the voices of discontent were not easily silenced.
In short, the party reinstated language from the 2008 platform that stated: "We need a government that stands up for the hopes, values and interests of working people and gives everyone willing to work hard the chance to make the most of their God-given potential."
The non-Aye votes also reinstated by fiat the original language of 2008 regarding Jerusalem: "Jerusalem is and will remain the capital of Israel. The parties have agreed that Jerusalem is a matter for final status negotiations. It should remain an undivided city accessible to people of all faiths."
What began the tumult was a decision Democrats made the Tuesday before their convention, which eliminated God and Jerusalem from their platform. God was removed from describing one's potential, and in place of Jerusalem they inserted an "unshakable commitment to Israel's security."
Because of nationwide backlash from eliminating "God" and "Jerusalem" for the DNC platform, Democrats were forced to hold a party vote to add the two words back in. The additions would recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and allow a mention of God. To pass the measures, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa had to call for three voice votes. The consensus in the hall was that the Nays at least equaled the Ayes if not louder, but nowhere in the vicinity of a 2/3 majority.
The country reacted swiftly to both omissions. GOP officials also were quick to comment, arguing that not taking a position was detrimental to Jerusalem, demonstrating that America's support for Israel was weak - inferring the sentiment was tied to President Obama and his party.
Presidential nominee Mitt Romney also spoke on the matter, stating that the omission of God from the DNC platform "suggests a party that is increasingly out of touch with the mainstream of the American people....I think this party is veering further and further away into an extreme wing that American's don't recognize."
Mitt Romney's spokeswoman, Andrea Saul, noted that, "Mitt Romney has consistently stated his belief that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel. President Obama has repeatedly refused to say the same himself. Now is the time for President Obama to state in unequivocal terms whether or not he believes Jerusalem is Israel's capital."
The DNC responded that the Democratic Party's decision to restore Jerusalem to the platform "reflected the president's personal view," according to the president's advisors. However,
the White House was silent and neither confirmed or denied whether the change in the Democratic platform language reflected a change in administration policy.
Regardless of not hearing a word out of the White House, Democratic leaders have been out front putting a positive spin on the fiasco. While Debbie Wasserman Schultz, National Committee chairwoman, is touting the reinstated party language as "the policy of both Republican and Democratic administrations for decades," former Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland is telling reporters that the amendment is "an effort to bring clarification."
Be that as it may, many Democratic delegates don't share the views of it's leaders. One such delegate, Noor Ul-Hasan, a Muslim from Salt Lake City, felt that the change in the platform violates the principle of the separation of church and state. Ul-Hasan went on to say that, "There are people who don't believe in God and you have to respect that as well."
Other delegates questioned whether the DNC had enough of a quorum to actually amend the platform. Their concerns were largely concentrated on not having thorough discussion and feelings of being "blindsided."
Angela Urrea, a Roy, Utah delegate, said she felt the platform change was sprung on her and her fellow delegates without any sort of examination or consult. She was decidedly dissatisfied with the outcome, stating that, "The majority spoke last night. We shouldn't be declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel."
Officially, the DNC will reflect not only a mention of God, but that they recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, a declaration the Republican party platform approved last week at its convention in Tampa, Florida.
