Tried it, and it Didn't Work (Nor WIll it EVER!)

Kris Kristoffersen said Jesus was a Capricorn in one of his songs. Commies claim He was a Socialist. The amazing thing is that Socialism/Marxism/Communism has been tried and failed every single time. Capitalism hasn't failed. Rather, it was a victim of subterfuge and sabotage by radicals who try to pass themselves off as "moderates."

Socialism was tried and it failed by the closest thing to perfect people since Adam & Eve, namely, the first century , fledgling church. It didn't work then for those good people and it certainly won't work with the scum bag politicians who want to try it again.

Different Strokes...

It's interesting to see how people process things and it's all part of this thing we call life. People react to things differently. I've noticed that some cannot handle complements without their hat size increasing and it's very unbecoming but I try to be patient and see if there may be a mid course correction. When you walk with the Lord and start that mess he'll cause something to humble you right quick, that's why I try to humble myself.

I've seen hosting karaoke, of all things, transform people from humble, nice, polite people to arrogant, obnoxious doo doo heads and a few people who have had one too many compliments react the same way. The thing to remember is it could all be gone so quickly.

I guess a good way to look at it is God's not finished with me, so he's probably not finished or maybe hasn't even gotten started with them. As we say in the South, bless their hearts

Jerry Lieber, Rest in Peace

He was half of the writing team Jerry Lieber and Mike Stoller who wrote songs recorded by Elvis, the Coasters and others. They wrote "Hound Dog" "Little Egypt" and "Jailhouse Rock" and more. There's a new star in Rock'n'roll Heaven and a big hole if there is such a thing as the Rock Writers' Hall of Fame.

Elvis was accused of stealing "Hound Dog" from Big Momma Thornton but Elvis came up with his version of the song after hearing a guy sing it at a fair in Dallas TX.

(Picture: Elvis sings Hound Dog on the Steve Allen Show. Inset: Elvis with Lieber and Stoller)

Loser?

Labeling someone a loser basically makes the accuser the loser. At least that's the way I feel about it. From what I've heard from friends of mine who share this and similar forums, lots of them are tired of the how social websites have been over-commercialized. It's called networking and it is effective until it gets to the point of being obnoxious.

Let's talk about something that you won't see among MY pages and that is, anyone trying to push Amway. On two occasions I was approached about this. One time, a young friend of mine was getting his life in order in many ways, including spiritually and had invited me over to talk, I THOUGHT about his spiritual condition. This was before the cell phone and I had only known one Charlottean who had had a car phone and he had rooked our boss out of that. It turned out to be an Amway meeting. After a while, I became very familiar with the circles on the then, chalk board which today is probably the dry board or even some sort of power point presentation.

A friend had previously pitched Amway to me and I promised if he ever reached something called "Diamond Direct" I would "come in under him." More on that later. Then, years later a guy approached me with it and I told him of my promise to my FIRST friend and his reply, not paying attention to what I'd just said, was, "I'M Diamond Direct!" I made the promise to Ron White, who has long since ditched Amway, multilevel marketing and embraced his ministry calling.

The thing that is so unbecoming of these schemes is the way they instill in their inside victims (members, associates, whatever) an "us and them" mentality. They're LOSERS, because they haven't seen the light of AMWAY! There are people all over the country with attics and garages full of soap and vitamins and whatever Amway puts out. All good products, by the way.

There is a quiet, but growing roar that I believe is soon to manifest itself over these Amway-like multilevel marketing things and that is, a rejection of having them on your social website because they've heard it and are at the point of being TIRED of hearing it.

To her credit, I did see ONE friend who's involved in one of these who didn't wish to bombard people with this crap and started a separate page on a similar group. I salute her. For the rest I know you have to hear it three times, (some of you more) so here it is...No...no...NO! Okay?

Never Got a Chance...

You MAY have read about the Brewery, closing down this week. I failed to pay a visit there as most of my entrance into bars is for karaoke, but I always wanted to go check it out. Yesterday, it was demolished to make way for some new edifice to be constructed on that land. There are technicalities and legalities afoot that restrain me from just totally doing a number on the property's new owner, so suffice it to say that it is a shame my buddy Tom Taylor wasn't given adequate time for a proper "Good-bye Brewery" festival so several of the bands who have played there could do a fare well performance, etc. Let us hope that the old adage is true that what goes around will indeed COME around for this classless, opportunistic, well, YOU fill in the blank. Tom deserved much better than how he was treated.

An Outsider's Perspective

Outsider, because I have a handicap license plate but I only park in handicap spaces when I really NEED to. Sometimes I do, sometimes I do not. Courtesy is at a premium these days and rare at best.

One place where I love to hang out for several activities each week is kind enough to provide special parking spaces for motocycles. That's great. At times, there need to be additional signs above those that read "Motorcycle Parking Only." One above reading, "What part of..." and one below reading, "don't you understand?" because rude four wheelers from pick up truck drivers to those who think their cars are so special they have to park away from everyone else routinely park there. That's just wrong!

However, there recently was an incident where not all of the motorcycle spaces were used up, and motorcycles were in the four wheeler spaces. A friend of mine, not wishing to park in Chocowinity, parked in a motorcycle spot and was severely repremanded by a biker, quite rudely. Now that also was rude of the biker because there was plenty of space in the biker area but none in the four wheeler spaces. It HAS to work both ways or it just doesn't work. Of COURSE, if all the biker spaces are taken, bikers should feel free to park in other spaces, but this incident was one that required courtesy. My friend wanted to leave. One of the owners convinced him to stay. Come on, people. Grow up. As Mr O'Donnel at the Falls Church Boy's Club used to say, "ALL uh yuz!"

;-)

What's in a Name?

A name is very important. If your name was Joe and you were walking down the street, there is little chance that you'd acknowledge someone shouting, "Hey, Frank...Frank...oh Frank!!!" So it is with God. I did not say gods. I mean the One True and LIVING God Who created the universe.

His enemies and those who don't believe His Name is important wish to remove even his TITLE from the Pledge of Allegiance. The simple phrase UNDER GOD really gets under their skin.

God is real and His arch enemy, satan is as well. satan knows that God's Name is powerful probably more than any human realizes. When Thomas (the doubter) saw Jesus enter the room, not using the door seconds after loudly proclaiming he would not believe, Jesus had him examine his body, to touch the scars, put his hand in the wound in his side. Thomas' reply was a profound one. He said "My Lord and my GOD!" Jesus is deity as in God, the Son. Scripture further said that Jesus gave people the power to become children (sons and daughters) of God even to those WHO BELIEVED ON HIS NAME!

Acts 4:12 proclaims, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved."

Do NOT be amazed at satan's attempt to mess with Jesus' Name. He knows it is poweful and he knows that his days are numbered. That's why he has so many people like puppets uttering his name. After all, when was the last time you heard someone say, "Oh Buddha!" when they hit their thumbnail with a hammer?