PawPa Dog's e-Den

Hypocrites-R-Us and Oh Yeah, God Hates Fags?

2011-12-09T09:19:00.001-08:00

Hypocrites-R-Usand Oh Yeah, God Hates Fags?

Mainstream religions seem to have bought into the sick andtwisted theory that somehow God hates anyone or anything. Some in more politically correct ways than saythe lunatics of the Westboro Baptist Church, but just about all of them in somedegree. At best, Christianity as a wholehas chosen to alienate the homosexual segment of the population because it is illogicallyand unfairly deemed “an abomination to the Lord” beyond other “sins” we allindulge in.

This whole Hoo-ha is based on a grand total of 3 scripturesfrom the Bible:

Leviticus 18:22

Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it isabomination.

Romans 1:26-27

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: foreven their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature

And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of thewoman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that whichis unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error whichwas meet.

Now this one is interesting because the haters seem toconveniently omit the fact that also included in the same group of “sins”warranting DEATH in the subsequent verses are the following:

029: Being filled with allunrighteousness, fornication,wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,malignity; whisperers,

030: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters,inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

031: Withoutunderstanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable,unmerciful:

032: Who knowing the judgment of God, that theywhich commit such things are worthy of death, not only dothe same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

So if you lied, or debated, deceive, backbite, are proud,boast, or disobey your parents, you are in the exact same degree of “sin” ashomosexuality – and that pretty much includes everyone on this planet.

And last but not least…

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit thekingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators,nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves withmankind,

Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards,nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Again we see that included in the abominable group arealmost every college student, politician, cop, and business owner in America.

So WHY are homosexuals singled out of a group that seems to includethe whole of the population?

Why is it that mainstream religions selectively target theone aspect ignoring completely those that include most of their priests,pastors, bishops, elders and followers?

So, we have 3 (yes that is three) references to homosexualityin the whole of the bible – NONE of which were spoken by God or Jesus but bymen (Moses and Paul) - and in 2 of them it is listed among such “sins” as envy,deceit, coveting, boasting, pride, disobedience to parents and other suchunthinkable, abominable and unholy practices that all but describe everychest-pounding, god-bothering, church-going, hypocrite in America.

And yet, somehow we fail to recognize that Jesus himself isquoted as saying “Judge not that ye not be judged”. So who exactly are these people that feel sostrongly against homosexuality worshipping or following – Moses, whose lawswere overturned by the teachings of Jesus; Paul who among other chauvinisticand hateful comments, also stated that women should just shut up and just bearchildren; or Jesus?

If the Bible makes absolutely NO distinction between thegravity of “sins” of homosexuality, deceit, pride, disobedience to parents,boasting, all of which according to Paul merit death – why then do we singleout just one and somehow deem it “worse” than the others? Where did that categorization appear? And ifhomosexuality was such an “abomination” why did Jesus not address it even oncein his ministry? He certainly touched on other aspects and sins he deemed ofrelevance – why would he choose to omit this particular one if it was soabominable?

But just for the sake of continuance, let’s follow the wholescenario to its logical conclusion and be honest with ourselves and ourbrothers and sisters we seem to have chosen to selectively persecute, hate andalienate.

The Bible states that many “sins” merit death and not justthe electric chair, hanging or firing squad, but stoning to death, or burning. So …

· When will we start stoning our children to deathfor disobeying us, eating too much or getting drunk (Deuteronomy 21:18-21)?
· When will we start stoning prostitutes to death(Deuteronomy 22:13-21) and what will our fearless leaders do without them?
· When will we start killing our brothers if theyconvert to another religion that is not Judaism (Deuteronomy 13:6-9) And wouldn’tthat include all Christians?
· When will we start stoning to death anyone thatworships another god than the jealous, vengeful, all-smiting Hebrew god(Deuteronomy 17:2-6)?
· When will we start putting to death those whocommit adultery and who then will lead our churches, nations, scouts and PTA’s(Deuteronomy 22:22)?
· When will we start stoning to death any womanwho is raped within the city limits for not screaming loud enough to prevent it(Deuteronomy 22:23-24)?
· When will we finally start burning our wives andtheir mothers to death after we have sex with our mother-in law (Leviticus20:14)?
· When will we start stoning to death anyone whoblasphemes (Leviticus 24:15)?
· When will we start cutting off the vile andwretched hand of a woman who dare grab a man by the balls (Deuteronomy 25:11-12)?

My point is that all of these things are not only ridiculousbut obviously overlooked by those who choose to judge and persecute thehomosexual segment of the population and with good reason because eventually everyonewould be stoned to death or otherwise smitten, destroyed or outcast forsomething, and the harsher judges usually have more to hide. This is evidenced by the long list ofEvangelical preachers involved in sex scandals over the past 10 years, not tomention the thousands of cases of pedophilia perpetrated by the catholicclergy, the cases of Mormon leaders and sexual abuse in the media, etc., etc.,etc.

So, what if we actually chose to follow some of theteachings of Jesus and recognize that what he taught was Non-Judgment (5references in the New Testament), Love (263 references in the NT) andforgiveness (appearing 61 times in 47 verses of the NT) rather than focus onsomething that only appears in 3 verses in the entire Bible and was neverspoken about by Jesus himself?

Is it not contrary to the teachings of Jesus to judge andalienate anyone regardless of what they choose to do? Who then is really thebigger sinner if all of us commit any number of the “sins” grouped in with andconsidered as serious as homosexuality and yet choose to condemn one singled-outbehavior?

Jesus DID say this:

Woe unto you, scribes andPharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make longprayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. (Mathew 23:14)

…And shall cut him asunder,and appoint [him] his portion with the hypocrites: there shall beweeping and gnashing of teeth. (Mathew 25:51)

And he said it17 times!

My friends, we all have our own problems and if we think fora minute that we are better than anyone else, or more righteous than anyoneelse or live closer to God than anyone else, then we do NOT understand thenature of God and we delude ourselves in order to feel warm and fuzzy in spiteof our severe self judgment.

Maybe we should not worry so much about what goes on behindclosed doors at the neighbor’s house and more about how we are implementing thebasic principles of our respective spiritual philosophies which should be love,forgiveness, non-judgment, peace and kindness to all without regard for what wedo but based on who we are – a part of God.

Love and peace my friends.

David Reuben

The Scariest Event in My Life.

2011-12-01T11:12:00.001-08:00

As a child I was born into a family that had a definedreligion with certain beliefs and the social behaviors that this entails. I was taught that it was the only truth andthat all other belief systems were “the philosophies of man mingled withscripture” and inspired by the devil. Of course I believed this and adopted itas my truth from a very young age like anyone who is brought up in a rigid socialor religious environment. In my case Iwas a “Mormon” or a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saintsbut the phenomena and process is the same for any religion or philosophy.

I was taught to seek knowledge but I was also told that whenthe leaders spoke it was the same as if God had said it, so questioning was notonly frowned upon but a mild form of blasphemy or disrespect for God’s “anointed”. Later in life I found that asking questionsthat are uncomfortable in church will get you asked to stay with the intent ofthe lesson or not join the Sunday school class in the future, which reinforceseven more that real questions are not welcome.

I became very proficient at not asking the hard questionsand accepting the rationalizations for some of the more controversial aspectsand history of my religion. I went on amission where I taught people about my beliefs and told them that if they wouldpray and ask God if it was right, that He would confirm it to them through theHoly Ghost – they would feel an overpowering joy or sensation and that was Godspeaking his confirmation to their heart and mind. Did it work? Sure it did. People looking for something more, as we allare, are told that God will confirm that what we are telling them is better andeveryone wants that. With 2 lessons onMormonism 101 under their belt and a chapter or two of the Book of Mormon read,they pray with a desire to know its true and they feel something because a lotof them are baptized. I did it too butwhat I felt, I have felt since and God had nothing to do with it.

So we accept what we are given at birth and we ask forconfirmation, we casually look around and determine that there isn’t anythingmuch better – if at all – out there, so we proceed to cement our beliefs. We experience small miracles, answers toprayer, we see the priesthood heal and strengthen the weak, we see lives changefor the better and it all confirms that we are right – we have the truth. At this point it becomes automatic and a wayof life – comfortable if you will. IKNOW I have the truth, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that thechurch is the ONLY true church on the earth, so I have pretty much got itmade. Honestly – why would I questionthat? Why would anyone that believesthat, (or whatever they “know” to be true) question anything about it –especially if it will only get you in trouble or labeled as weak in your faithor worse yet a potential apostate? Thenif you have taught your kids the same things, it might not look so good if youshow any signs of doubt, or questioning because that could be interpreted asweakness, destabilize your teachings and worse yet, cause them to do the samething and how will that reflect on you in the ward or neighborhood?

So we recite our mantras on fast and testimony Sunday, we “testify”or “witness” and we go through the motions of righteousness and convinceourselves that we are headed to a celestial kingdom with lots of wives toboot. Meanwhile we go about our dailylives acting like an asshole, neglecting our spouse and children to provide asgod would want, or in a job where we hurt others to get what we want and maybewe are perfectly nice people but our minds betray our beliefs as we strive toimplement a set of standards that we are unable to reach fully so we tellourselves we are tackling one principle at a time while we chew Prozac like Rolaidsand grovel on our knees for forgiveness for our weakness.

Enter guilt – again. I say again because it is the sameemotion that was used to keep me from asking the hard questions or fromquestioning another man’s inspiration for my eternal salvation, the samemotivator that kept me going to what in reality were very boring meetings andwhat in essence was the true motivator along with fear for keeping the faith.

Could guilt and fear be motivators for staying strong in myreligion? Hell no – I have a testimony, I know it’s true and that’s why Iendure the boring meetings and the Prozac. Wait a minute, something isn’t makingsense. Well, there is something to think about.

Meanwhile back in Zion, my logical brain has questions that can’tbe answered in church because nobody wants to address them in public. Could itbe that I am the only one as weak as to have these doubts and questions? Thenthere is the all sacred untouchable subject of Joseph Smith because we teachand are taught that if he is not a prophet, the church is not true. Oops – who knew we would discover DNA andprove that the story about the Native Americans being descendents of Jews waspretty much made up? The Bible is the literal word of God – has anyone thatbelieves this, read that foul book with a half open mind? What about theletters in Joseph Smith’s own hand telling a woman married to another man tocome get some holy loving because his wife Emma was away and to not tell herhusband she was married to him in the temple? Or that he had thirty some-odd wives one as young as 14 but did not tellhis wife about them. Then there are somepretty serious inconsistencies in his story about the first vision regardingdates and events. Blacks – the seed ofCain? I was not taught about blood atonement and when I heard about it, I wasasked to leave the class on Brigham Young for asking about it. Then when Ilooked into it, I was amazed at the contradiction in theology. Then we have emasculation for disobedience,the Mountain Meadow massacre; the temple ceremony and its evolution (I’m gladthey didn’t actually cut the marks into your skin any more when I wentthrough); The churches (Mormon and Catholic) and their participation with thegovernment in Operation Paperclip/MKUltra and the mind control projects of DrMengele, etc etc.– I won’t go into it because I have no interest in making thisabout accusations or specific questions – its about asking the hard questions.

It was not until I was out of the church that I felt I couldask them and that brings me to the scariest thing I have ever done in mylife. I have been in some scarysituations, I have been through separations, divorces, shot at, losing myrelationship with my children, kicked out of schools, put in jail as a minor,had a contract on my life – twice… and yet none of it was as scary as leavingthe church and questioning my beliefs. In fact, it was so scary I went about it in a chicken shit way. I was taught that you did not say no to achurch calling because it was like saying no to God (100% pure Mormon Doctrine). I wasa Stake President and I was made aware by an apostle that I was about to becomea Mission President. I was asked aboutwho could run the businesses in my absence and where I stood financiallyetc. After that informal interview, Iwas put in a place where I had to make some hard decisions. I recalled mymission and the effects of an immature asshole president on my life, I lookedat the effects of harsh judgment of young men by my father in his mission andthe effect on their lives and then I realized that I would be leading an armyof good intentioned young men to affirm things I had unanswered questionsabout. Not to mention questioning my own maturity at 30 and there was no way inhell I was going to risk that one.

This is where the chicken shit comes in. Rather than justsay no, I felt the only way was to be unworthy so in a nutshell, I lied to mywife about an affair that hadn’t happened, she left me and I wasexcommunicated.

Holy shit! No garments to protect me from the dangers oflife or Satan! I was in the hands of the devil now and surely going tohell. I could see the movie from thetemple where satan looks stait into the camera and says “if these people don’t liveup to these covenents made this day, they will be in MY POWER” – fuck merunning! I’m in Satan’s power!!! Well, my friends – not so. First of all, the garments work because webelieve they will – just like a cross or holy water in an exorcism (yes itworks). The priesthood works because webelieve it will, just like the numerous faith healers of other religions and nothey are not possessed by the devil nor do they use his power – they use thesame power everyone else does – the faith of a mustard seed as taught by Jesusto everyone. The Holy Ghost as it may be still guides me as needed and I havefelt no absence of his constant companionship because I never had it any morethan I do now or than anyone else does. Would a parent really limit counsel andguidance to a child because they chose the wrong football team to cheer for?Think about it. Am I going to hell? Idoubt it. I am a far nicer person today than I ever was as a recommend holdingMormon. Does that make Mormonism or any religion bad or wrong? Of course not - Itswhatever you want to make of it. We cango blindly forward in ANY belief we choose and convince our self that we areright and we can masturbate the hell out of our ego with our mantras and ourrituals and social capitulation and ease through with the help of some Prozac andlearning to turn off the guilt. Peopledo it every day and die in the same routine – sure that they didn’t quitemeasure up but hopeful that it was enough to get their God’s approval andforgiveness. But is that really who weare?

Are we so mindless and accepting that we don’t dare ask why?Are we so afraid of God that we won’t question our concept of him? Are we soafraid of the social and family ramifications that we would rather livemediocre lives by accepting what was taught to us as truth rather than findgreatness in the discovery of truth? Do we really believe that God is the punyinsecure, jealous, vengeful asshole we have been taught to fear? Or are weconfused by the dogma that flip flops from that to loving kind, and all-powerful? Which is he? Is God a he? Do you REALLY knowanything or do you just REALLY WANT to? Is there really shame in saying I don’tknow but I want to – meanwhile I will study, learn, ask and listen? Are we so afraid that we may have been wrongin the depth of our conviction that we would rather fanaticize our life thanlive it? Is it wrong to be wrong or isit part of the process?

Sure I can ask that now, after going through the scariestyet most eye-opening, mind liberating and all around freeing experience of mylife. But I honestly believe that if weare less chicken shit than I was at 30 that we can question, ponder, learn andget in the face of control without having to divorce one’s self from corporate churchand social Sunday.

I’m not saying don’t be part of a religion or church, I’msaying dare to question what was fed to you as part of the inevitable humandomestication process and ask the hard questions, look for the weaknesses aswell as the strengths and have the courage to say maybe I don’t KNOW because I can’twith what I have, but I want to and will. Maybe it doesn’t make sense thatthere is one holder of truth and everyone else is wrong – as egoistically eroticas that may feel. So we choose somethingthat isn’t perfect, does it have to be perfect to be good? I don’t think so –but to be in integrity, I believe we need to not bury our head in the sandabout certain things and fight to the death over others in the name of all or nothing. That doesn’t make sense.

Is questioning man made concepts of god really placing yourfaith in the arm of the flesh or is following mindlessly because that was whatwe were taught?

It is no secret that I have lost a lot of respect fororganized religion in general and as you study the history of them and see the currentreality, it is difficult to maintain that respect because it is seldomdeserved. But does that make me anatheist apostate shit eating sinner that is going to hell for denying God – no. I have a better concept of God than everbefore in my life and a love for creation and all aspects of God that I havenever felt before I dared question my byzantine beliefs. Could it be that we can have a spiritualcomponent to life without a church? Could it be that we really shouldexperience joy in life? Does that mean eat drink and be merry – no – it meanslive in the now, be true to yourself, be honest with others about your fears,your weakness and your questions. It may surprise you who steps up to help you.It may surprise you that help is exactly what you need and there is no shame inthat – that is what life is about.

There is a healing comfort in surrender of ego and admittingwe don’t have all the answers, we don’t know as much as we want to portray andwe aren’t as strong as we let on. Thereis a lot of peace to be found in honesty with our children, our spouse and ourclose friends. There is an exciting componentto life through honest discovery and while it can be disappointing at times tofind we were lied to or deceived, at least we are discovering and that isexciting.

Do you really believe we have anything to lose byquestioning the controversy, the dirty laundry and looking at it for what it is?Not only in our beliefs but in our daily lives.

Life is a beautiful, fun, challenging, exciting, event andwhen it is based in love, honesty and humility, it doesn’t get sweeter thanthat. Trust me and try it – then decidefor yourself. What we think is true –seldomis.

Lay down the "armor of god" and pick up the mantle ofhumility and love. Dare to be fragile,trust to be cared for and enjoy the process of discovery rather thanregurgitation.

Love and Peace

Dave

Illegal Immigration

2010-11-01T13:28:00.000-07:00

The buzzword of the new millennium seems to be “illegal immigration”. Arizona made a stellar step in the wrong direction and politicians spew rhetoric and utter bull shit to appear like there is actually anything they can do about it – or would if they could.

Illegal immigration is just a scapegoat to distract our attention or the government would actually conduct raids that rounded everyone up. But they don’t – because they are in bed with the corporations who rely on the immigrant workers for cheap labor. The largest food processing plants and corporate chains in the world employ mostly illegal immigrants. Then these companies have the workers that begin to get too much seniority, wages or join a union systematically deported. But the bulk of them are left in place or the whole system would fall apart. What would Wal-Mart, Marriott, Hilton, Con-Agra, Tyson, (just to name a very few) do if suddenly 60-80% of their labor was deported? If something was really done about illegal immigration, these companies would cease to receive the highest profits in the history of earth like they are this year. If the lawmakers actually did something about it, they would bite the hand that feeds and owns them.

If you haven't already, watch a documentary called "FOOD INC"

Lets face it, the government knows where they are, they know what it costs and they know that it makes economic sense (at least to who matters) to leave things alone and just give the impression of doing something about it. Anyone with a brain cell knows that the economy and basic social order would collapse if they deported everyone that is "illegally" in the country.

Imagine the lost revenue in taxes and unclaimed tax refunds - The government does - yes many pay taxes (automatically deducted from their wages) and few of them file a return.

Who will do the jobs they do? Not the Anglos- period. Don’t even think about asking an African American to work in a field – that’s a touchy subject.

Imagine the riots when fast food shuts down and we can’t get our super size fix, meats aren't processed, food isn't packaged, produce is rotting in the fields, sheets go unchanged and bathrooms stink at the Hilton, Holiday Inn, Marriott, and every other hotel in America; and who in the name of god will mow our lawns? (The Samoans and Tongans all cut trees now.) Who is going to do all this if there are no "illegal" immigrants? And how much will it cost in an economy that is already in the toilet if we have some lazy-ass toothless white dork wearing a shiny polyester "Live Union-Live Well" jacket pretending to do it?

Since there is no logical answer to any of these questions and many more, "illegal" immigration will be a part of life and a necessary one that we should embrace and rename. I'm certainly not going to do the shit they are willing to do, and neither are any of you. So anyone in this country whining about it and bitching about the woes of the economic impact is just an idiot capitulating to a system of perception wagging the dog and living on the mental planet of idios or retardia.

And in the end, all this bloviating from all sides including mine - is just that - hot air and smelly opinions. All we can really do about it is look for the positive side of what is, and appreciate it - or bitch about it and stew in our puke.

If you think your vote counts and you can make a difference that way, well you just keep voting and bless your simple little heart to heaven, and God bless America, her troops and all the virtue and beauty she stands for to you because voting has had such a stellar impact on these issues so far.

After all is said and done, our life reality is our perception and life will be as stressed out or as blissful as we want it to be. Nothing we do on the outside will affect or change that, and yet everything we do within - starting with how we choose to perceive life, its events and challenges and consequently create it for our selves ... will.

So bless the people that are willing to do what I am not so I can have the things I enjoy and I hope they get the things they enjoy for it in return - including a warm comfortable bed and freedom to keep doing it without living in fear.

As for the government’s role - what role? Its inconsequential, so bless them for trying to make us all warm and fuzzy and for "protecting" us from the terrible-terrible aliens, terrorists, deadly flu viruses, gremlins and boogie monsters in such a fine ethical, godly, loving, Christian, moral, fashion and for being such a beacon of integrity to the world.

So, in conclusion, we owe every "illegal" immigrant that is gainfully employed in whatever job, a big ass hug and a sincere "THANK YOU"; and as far as I recall God meant for us to love everyone regardless of migratory status.

I say we get over our self righteous selves and practice what we preach - holy shit wont that be novel.

Who Would Jesus Bomb?

2010-03-10T09:03:00.000-08:00

This question is an obvious take-off from the adage “what would Jesus do?” that is so over-displayed and under answered in actions in our society these days. I saw this bumper sticker on a car you would expect to see such a question posted on – an old Subaru with a myriad of bumper stickers promoting peace and tolerance that most fish touting minivan drivers would actively run off the road just for the rainbow sticker in the back window and the dread locks in the driver’s hair.

We all know the picture and I don’t believe I need to go into any more detail for most of us to have a clear image of the car and person I’m describing. And if we are honest with ourselves, many of us have felt that contempt with the rolling of the eyes as we glance at the cacophony of liberalism pasted all over the tree-hugging vehicle as we drive away with a tinge of indignant disdain. Be honest with yourself because my job is not to judge – frankly I don’t give a shit what reaction anyone evokes in your gut, because the only person it has any effect on is you. I just like to ask the questions most people don’t have the courage to answer honestly – and that includes myself - which is why I pose the questions I do.

I consider myself to be fairly well versed in the basics of most of the main stream religions and I have a very extensive background in what is termed Christianity so I feel that my questions are well founded. However, I don’t mind being wrong because it’s how I learn and evolve intellectually and spiritually. So, if I’m wrong, I hope it will be pointed out to me and if I’m not, I hope I make us all think a bit about who we really are.

Jesus taught that the representations of the petty deity of the old testament and the “law of Moses” with its barbaric nonsense were obsolete and to be replaced by the law of love as Jesus taught it throughout what we know as his ministry. Love one another, forgive those who offend you, turn the other cheek, etc. We all know it and we claim to believe and be followers of those teachings if we profess to be Christian. Many non-Christian religions teach the same in differing ways but the same concepts none the less.

So, why do we feel that the Law of Moses was only repealed until we feel like we are too pissed off or too offended and somehow there is a referendum to the teachings of Jesus?
Is there a clause in His teachings that makes exceptions to the rule or were they merely suggestions for his followers to feel warm and fuzzy while spewing them about in church meetings?

I have heard on many occasions where self proclaimed Christians have publicly prayed for our troops to prevail over those of our brothers and sisters who somehow became “the enemy”. My understanding was that we were to forgive, love and adopt apparently sissy shit attitudes like that – ouch huh? So what is it? Love and forgive or kick their ass in revenge? So who are we following here, Jesus or Moses? And either way do you REALLY believe a God that as Christianity claims created ALL of humanity would help one group of children destroy another? How many loving parents promote fighting among siblings much less help one sibling kill another? Does that really even remotely make sense to you? Isn’t that fratricide no matter how you look at it? Hell, even the vengeful, almighty smiter from the Old Testament frowned on Cain killing Abel – didn’t he?

Yeah, I heard the argument “better that one man perish than a nation dwindle in disbelief” and lame as that strikes me, it was a specific directive from God to one many consider a prophet, in a specific scenario - not as a rule of thumb to justify murder. And even if it was a blanket statement, When did George Bush or Obama get promoted to prophet?

If the image of the dread lock wearing peace mongering alternative lifestyle, kind, loving person with a bumper sticker that says “my karma ran over your dogma” in a Subaru gets your nose in the air and inspires images of hell fire and damnation wrapped in Old Glory, maybe you should think about who is more “Christian” in this scenario.

Maybe we should sincerely ask ourselves as we support this travesty of a war with the blood and entrails of our children and our blasphemous prayers for death to the enemy through prevalence of “righteousness” – Who would Jesus REALLY bomb?

Love and Peace all! Pass it on!

Pawpa Dog

Be in the Mystery - Not in the Know

2009-04-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

This subject touches on some very sensitive and deep seated concepts related to our belief system and even some of the fundamental issues of what we perceive as truth. In true fashion, I am very direct in my approach and somewhat matter of factual which can come across as harsh, overly opinionated or judgmental. My intent is NOT to sway anyone in their faith or their beliefs as I have no agenda in that realm. My intent IS to open up some possibilities that will relieve some stress and anxieties related to faith as well as provide a more open view on what faith and truth can be to us.

Most of us subscribe to a delineated belief system or in other words a religious organization that outlines in somewhat linear terms what the truth associated with that organization is or should be. We accept these concepts and adopt them as an integral part of our personal belief system. Many organizations encourage study of the scriptures to validate these concepts and as we relate to what we learn, it becomes more a part of who we are and how we conduct ourselves, view ourselves and interact with others.

As our belief system becomes stronger we hold the associated concepts as “the truth”. We may have spiritual experiences associated with our pursuit of this understanding that further cement the fact that the path we are on is the true path or based in the true religion or church. This is a double edge sword for several reasons. On the one side, it is comforting to feel that we are right and that we are on the right path. On the other side, this comfort can lead to a limiting complacency.

Here is where I delve into touchy territory, so as what I say rubs you the wrong way, strive to be open to your heart and soul and not so much to the ego (who enjoys comfortable warm and fuzzy) as we explore possibilities. If we allow for “possibilities” the threat to our ego is minimized – we always have the option to accept, reject or just allow as an option anything we learn or are exposed to.
As a child I was taught that I belonged to the true church that taught the true gospel of Jesus Christ and that it was the only way for me to reach exaltation or return to the presence of God. I heard many people testify how they know what they have is true and through the years, I too developed my own testimony of what was true to me which I shared openly with statements beginning with the words “I know”. I not only knew but would have gladly made the ultimate sacrifice for what I knew to be true my conviction was so deep. Like myself there are many who have similar convictions of what they believe – regardless of the denominational label or philosophical principles – it is a human characteristic.

The down side to knowing something is several fold in itself. A mere 500 years ago we knew the world was flat and along comes a new discovery to show that we now know the world is round and yet as our discovery continues and evolves we find that the world is not exactly round and so it goes. The truth about my car to many is that it is green and yet the color of my car is merely the fact that of the full spectrum of light, it happens to reflect a limited spectrum of green. So maybe my car isn’t TRULY green – it reflects green. The fact that I perceive it as green doesn’t make green the truth no matter how convinced I may be it is.
Again, as our discovery continues and evolves and we are open to the mystery, our understanding grows and evolves as well.

So, do we really KNOW anything? Certainly we want to think we know, we want to feel secure in our knowledge and we are comforted in believing we know which feels really good. But, do we actually know or are we still at the level of “the world is flat” and convinced that we are right?

After receiving a spiritual confirmation of truth, it is difficult to question that confirmation as it could be interpreted by a less loving god as a doubt or a wavering of faith, a denial of personal revelation or a weakness in our devotion to his omnipotence. This is a frightening thought and more so if your belief system includes a jealous or vengeful god. However, allowing possibilities is not a denial of anything – including what is or has been our belief system to this point. It is merely that – an allowing of the infinity of possibility without judgment or malice. Would a loving God really object to that – in essence having an open mind?
What if we don’t REALLY know – is that bad, wrong or sinful? Is it a sign of weakness to say “I don’t know, but I want to learn”? And is it wrong to allow that maybe we can learn from all sources rather than limiting our research to a narrow source of information just because it is what we know?

My argument is that not only is it healthy, positive and enlightening, but it is not stressful or offensive to anyone – including God.

By admitting that we don’t REALLY know, (and frankly why would you really want to?) we open the universe of mystery and we have an unlimited field of exploration to enhance whatever has worked for us in the past or to replace it. The beauty is that there is no agenda other than discovery and understanding which becomes enlightenment. If history is any indication, chances are pretty sound that we don’t actually KNOW much of anything and isn’t that wonderful?

As this relates to our religious beliefs, we don’t need to denounce what we have nor should we. However, as we allow for the fact that we may not know as much as we want to think we do, we open our minds and hearts to sources of information that may just resonate with us in ways we never expected. Jesus NEVER taught that there was only one book to read – politicians did, popes did but not Jesus. No truly great prophet or avatar ever said to limit our quest for enlightenment to only what they said or taught – and those that have or do have an agenda that is not of spiritual enlightenment but power and control.

Being in the know or thinking that we know, breeds arrogance and complacency while being in the mystery promotes humility and unlimited possibilities for growth and understanding. When we KNOW something, it is like saying we are a “master” at something and we cease or greatly limit any further learning, growth or progress of any consequence in that realm or endeavor. When we are humble enough to admit we don’t know but want to understand, it is like saying we are an apprentice – and maybe we have a lifetime of experience but we are open to continue learning.

We don’t really know what church, religion or philosophy is true. We may believe, we may want to know, we may have faith to die for, but we don’t know. We can argue about the attributes of God, the residence of God, the religion of God but in the end we don’t know. We want to know, we believe we know, we even fight wars over what we believe - thinking we know – but in the end, we don’t know. I have felt God and I believe that God exists but my quest to know God cannot be limited to what I have been told because if that is what I believe then that is all I will find.

Many concepts resonate with my soul and as I explore them deeper I add them to my repertoire but by allowing for the possibility of evolution of my understanding I am able to remain in the mystery and that my friends is a wonderful place to be. While we may have faith that transcends logic, and we may be ready to die for that faith, it is still just that – a hope we are right. And is being right so important? Is being right more important than being enlightened or being inspired or being in the moment and truly connected to God? The most exciting part of this is the fact that what I believe God is and what you believe God is doesn’t change what God is. The fact that one person believes his view to be correct and therefore the other persons view to be wrong means that the reverse applies as well. And what if… just what if we allowed for more possibilities. What if we allowed for the possibility that our texts and schools, religions and churches are all right in the sense that they are attempting to put in 3-dimensional terms things that are multi-dimensional and the differences are merely explanation, redaction, description, metaphor, verbiage, culturally oriented and their inherent limitations as they apply to the projector and the recipient who are both limited by a 3 dimensional frame of reference.

When we are in the mystery, we cannot judge anyone or anything because we admit we don’t actually know and therefore we are not necessarily right so others are not necessarily wrong. We are too busy absorbing the new wealth of information that is opened up to us to worry about comparing what others do, think or believe compared to our frame of reference. When we look at it like that it just seems silly and a waste of time. But if we know we are right, we cant help but compare and judge and yet in the end we just think we know, we may want to know and we may be clinging to the security being able to say “I know” gives – but we don’t know.

So why not give being in the mystery a try and relax the rigidity of perceived knowledge for the vastness of understanding? All of a sudden we don’t have that many differences and we can focus on what we have in common and what a world that would be.

You wont offend God and you wont be thrown out of your church or synagogue, but you will be open to a new world of understanding, love and compassion that may just show you paths that you never considered walking before but by being true to your heart will lead you directly to God. Not because anyone told you but because you experienced, discerned and chose for yourself.

Be in the mystery and let arrogance and narrow mindedness vanish in its light.

Love & Peace All

The Power of Fear

2009-03-29T12:50:00.001-07:00

Very few of us make it very long in this world before the human domestication process engrains a deep seated sense of fear of non-compliance with what we are taught by otherwise well meaning parents, siblings, teachers, ministers and society in general as the “proper way” to live our life.

These teachings that range from how we should behave to what we should believe and how we should worship are all part of that human domestication process and we ignorantly accept whatever is spoon fed to us. It doesn’t take long before that domestication that was fed to us becomes a fundamental part of our belief system and consequently our “truth”.

Many books have been written on this and related subjects that do a magnificent job of explaining the dynamics of our domestication, our ego, etc. so my intent is not to re-write them but merely refer to the facts and information they share as a basis for setting the stage for my approach to finding out if what we have accepted as truth is still valid.

“Would you like to go to church Dave?” was not a question I ever remember hearing as I grew up but I was at church every Sunday of my life until I was well into my 30’s with very few exceptions. My father was a convert from Catholicism to Mormonism and my mother was a descendent of the founding prophet of the Mormon Church so needless to say I was raised with very strong Christian beliefs.

Contrary to some ignorance based misconceptions, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (a.k.a. Mormon) is, as it’s name implies a Christian religion that believes in the Bible as the “word of God” as well as the Book of Mormon which is what invokes a fair amount of repudiation from other mainstream Christian groups that feel that the Bible is the ONLY word of God.

As a devout Christian, I lived my life based as closely as I could in the principles of Christianity with the additional requirements of Mormonism and as most of us do with what we are given, I adopted it as my truth. I spent 2 years in Spain as a missionary teaching people what I believed and working every day to bring more people to the truth – my truth – but in my mind and heart it was THE truth. I was married in the Mormon temple and my children were taught as I was and their children will likely follow the same pattern.

The fact is that we will all follow the same pattern as we were fed because it is exactly what we have been programmed to do regardless of our religious affiliations or lack thereof. Our domestication and programming runs deep and it is an integral part of society. Fear of “the consequences” is what motivates most of us to remain blindly in the path we were given or in some cases rebelliously in what we feel is no path at all. Both extremes are actually very similar in their basis and that is fear in one form or another. In my case as with many, I was afraid to question my domestication. To question my faith, the scriptures, my religion, or my beliefs would be offensive to God. So, I chose to not question any of these things for many years.

It wasn’t until I was close to 45 years old that I was telling my wife who although was baptized Mormon at 8 years of age, really had no religious background about the story of Abraham and Isaac. As I told her about the trial and the tying the kid up to sacrifice him, she was appalled and kept saying “WHAT?!” By her using that simple single word in an interrogatory fashion, she forced me to think about what I was saying. “Doesn’t that seem a bit twisted to you?” she asked. “I guess it does. Hmmm, maybe I got it wrong.” As I sat there contemplating her very troubled reaction to the story, I got to thinking maybe I had not read the story accurately or maybe I misunderstood it. As I thought more about it, I was struck with the reality that I knew many Bible stories but only because they had been told to me. I had never actually read the biblical verses in their entirety. So, I did – and I did so from my wife’s perspective – with an inquisitive mind. I read about Abraham and Isaac, then I read all of the stories I grew up with and I honestly did not know what to do with the emotions. So I cried. I sat in my office with the online version of the King James Bible on my laptop screen as the tears ran down my face as I realized that I had never wanted to see what was TRULY there.

It doesn’t take long for sadness to evolve into anger and in my case it turned into a rage like I had not felt in a long, long time. I was pissed, I was raving mad and I did what I do when I am in pain - I made it funny. I wrote what I titled “Righteous Indignation – Who Wrote The Bible Stories?”, a compilation of the classic Bible stories with my angry humor bleeding through in a shameless way. I wrote raw, irreverent, often vulgar at times and controversial reference as I questioned the blatant contradictions between what I thought Christianity was and what I was actually reading in the text that all Christian religions embrace with such affection.

I stopped writing the stories before I could address all of them because if I were to continue, I would have exhausted myself emotionally. However, I did manage to illustrate my point which at the time was to question if God would really behave like that. The problem I encountered was that while my inquiry was sincere, it was lost to the reader who was generally in shock at my irreverence and ashamed for laughing at my humor as it was perceived as being at god’s expense.

Time has passed and I am no longer angry. As I look back at the underlying cause of my initial anger, I realize that the judgment and harshness I portrayed was merely a reflection of how I was feeling about myself. For years I have written, taught and preached the fact that when we judge or criticize, we are merely reflecting what we feel about our self. This was no exception as there are none. I was angry because for so many years I had never had the courage to question what I believed. I chose to accept and defend in ignorance rather than face the possibility that I may be wrong in my perceptions. I was angry that I had accepted the stories as they were told to me by others and never took the time to study them myself – knowing full well that if I had, I would likely have rationalized them away and settled back into my blissful complacency anyway. I was angry that the God I loved was by his own word (the Bible) a tyrant, a petty deity and far less than perfect as I believed. I was angry that I was a coward and that I had not dared to accept that maybe we don’t have to swallow the whole ball of wax. Maybe ambitious men have corrupted the text to use it to further their control. Maybe, the Old Testament ISNT Christian after all – it is Jewish.

After the whole 9/11 tragedy and the dreadful wars that followed, I began to see myself in those we were told are the enemy. We look down our nose at the “heathen fanatic fundamentalist Muslims” that strap bombs to themselves in the name of what they believe to be truth and yet their conviction of their truth is unquestionable. They believe as firmly as we do – if not more so – that they are right and we are wrong. It troubled me how familiar that seemed as lunatics like Falwell and others on the Christian front spewed rhetoric that rivaled the “enemy’s” in fanaticism. This scenario made me ponder on the possibility that maybe we all just get domesticated, indoctrinated and programmed, and many of us internalize it, own it and embrace it as the only possible truth thereby closing our minds and hearts to what actually is true.

With the passing of time and after forgiving myself for being a spiritual coward, the anger is gone and I am ready to re-address my inquiry to those that profess to be Christian and yet embrace the Old Testament.

What good can possibly come from asking someone to question their faith or the fundamental text it is based on? Why would I do such a thing and what underlying motives could I have for it? To say none at all is a blatant lie – of course I have motives, just not what one would expect.

As I have questioned my religious roots, my belief system and the domestication that was provided me and I bought into, I have experienced a spiritual awakening that has opened up horizons that I never dreamed of. As I have challenged the nature of god I have discovered God and my relationship with God has become truly intimate. Before I questioned it all, what I thought god was seemed separate from me and far away reachable by prayer and strife toward perfection yet unattainable due to my imperfections and “sinful” nature. As I have challenged the old paradigms, I have discovered the unconditional love of God, the perfection in myself and more importantly the godliness and utter perfection in everyone else. In spite of what the Old Testament says, our Muslim brothers and sisters are as much a part of God as we are. Our Hindu, and Buddhist brothers and sisters are children of God as much as we are and none is loved more or less, none is more or less important and none is more or less right. Why would I want to encourage people to challenge their beliefs? Because when we do so with an open mind, we strengthen our understanding of truth. When we see that God is not the petty tyrant of the Old Testament and that we are all connected and an integral part of God, it becomes difficult to judge another and easy to love everyone. I have never been so free nor experienced more joy than when I see myself in every person I come in contact with. I was unable to do that until I tore down the misconceptions I had of God and allowed love and peace to replace the fear of hell or disillusioning a deity that I clung to from my domestication.

Let me be clear about this – I am not pretending to tell anyone who God is because I can’t do that – nobody can but one’s self. I could attempt descriptions of attributes, qualities, theories and my perception but in the end that’s all it is. Every person needs to experience it for themselves in order to begin to comprehend who and what God is. What I am attempting to do is illustrate what God is NOT by bringing up questions that will shake the foundations of pseudo faith based in domestication and programming. If we can honestly answer the questions, we will find truth. The problem most of us have is that to ask the questions requires courage and courage has been scared out of us from our first ass spanking when we dropped into this realm to the last time you watched the network news on TV.

Jesus is said to have stated the following in Luke 11: 9

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Jesus is telling us to challenge by asking. He doesn’t specify who to ask, he just says ask. Question, seek, knock and find. That is what my motive is for the questions I pose, for the seemingly irreverent and sacrilegious satire I make of the OT in my writing as well as for my purpose in pursuing a ministerial albeit irreverent path. I have met God and I am getting to know God more every day. All that is needed is the courage to see the darkness for what it is and to turn on the light of love by being willing to accept that we may not be as right as we want to believe we are and open up to more possibilities.

Shake It Up!

I have been asked many times “If I don’t believe in part of the Bible, how can I believe in the rest?” or “How can I be part of X religion if I don’t believe all aspects of what they teach?” and as one contemplates what I am asking you to do, many other questions arise along the same lines.

I was taught that my religion had ALL the truth and that everything I needed for my spiritual growth and ultimate realization was within the structure of that religion and its programs. By the same token, part of the basic Articles of Faith of that religion state that more truth is yet to be revealed – and it’s true. Many parts of all religions are true and fundamentally good. Where I get nervous is when any group attempts to position themselves as all encompassing and the only way for the whole of humanity and I am not picking on just one religion – I am referring to most religions. You may believe that Jesus is the ONLY way to God and that is great – for you, not for my friends that happen to be Jewish or Buddhist for example.

Do we really need or even benefit from having everything conveniently handed to us in a neat little package with a complete guide to self-realization as bundled and marketed by mere mortals in the name of God?

Could it be that religions are a tool for self realization in the tool shed of life rather than the shed itself?

Along the lines of the tool analogy, lets revisit the questions I hear like “How can I pick and choose – isn’t religion all or nothing? How can the OT not be the word of God and not invalidate the whole book?

We have this all or nothing fetish when it comes to spiritual matters that translate into absolutes because we are insecure so we create absolutes to hold on to, to provide security.

I have two lawn tractors on my little farm. I could make do with one, but one of them cuts the lawn better than the other while the other one works better with implements. They are similar tools but each with different advantages. The first tractor has no head lights and less horsepower and the switch under the seat is broken - parts of it just don’t work. Does that mean I should throw the whole thing away? It cuts the lawn better than any mower I have ever owned. Do its defects make it useless? Not to me – not yet.

So it is with the Bible. My arguments may or may not invalidate or highlight “damaged parts” that “don’t work” but that doesn’t mean it is a useless tool. It just doesn’t do it all perfectly – nothing does and that’s the beauty of life.

We have a myriad of tools at our disposal these days and in the spiritual realm, we have more and more each day. Why not be open to the fact that the old tractor while it does some things well, needs to be complemented with tools that do other things better?

The time has come to stop the idiocy of finding and accentuating our differences and start focusing on what we have in common. Our divine heritage is pretty much universally accepted - just not by each other. The fact is we are all connected at the quantum level and we are all part of the same divine plan.

What promotes the accentuation of our differences is our fear and insecurity. The people who most aggressively defend their beliefs are those who are most insecure in them. This statement has a way of irritating everyone which tells me it is on the mark. When we are secure in who we are and what we believe, we have no need to defend it because we won’t perceive an attack on it in the first place. This is a profound principle that an entire book could be written on, but in a nutshell, when we are secure in who we are, we understand that attacks are not a reflection on us but on the attacker. Just like I said about my stories – the anger and judgment was about me not Christianity. I don’t blame Christianity nor do I attack it because of its belief in the Old Testament. All that spewing, controversial statements, anger and sorrow I reflect in my writing cloaked in humor or the attempt at it is merely reflective of my insecurity and fear as I discovered that I had slept through my own spiritual development in terms of my relationship to the Bible. That’s all. The questions I ask are sincere and are what I am attempting to find answers for. They are questions – not attacks on anything.

The interesting thing is that people that read my stories that can laugh at them, ponder the questions that are clearly asked and reach their own conclusions are those that are secure in who they are or open to new possibilities and concepts. The irreverence, profanity and direct challenge to this deity we have been taught to fear creates terror in the mind of the less secure. Those that get hung up on the perceived attack would benefit from some introspection as to why that is. My theory is that insecurity promotes fear which promotes aggression in defense of whatever we feel insecure in.

I am not touting myself as having the answers – I’m touting myself as having some of the questions that when asked truthfully with an open mind will produce the answers in each person’s heart. That is the way it works and the only way to know truth.

So let me begin with a few in response to the questions I cite above:

Who wrote the Bible?

Who decided what books would comprise what we today know as The Bible?

Who determined what part of those books to include?

While it isn’t pleasant to most believers, the fact remains that the compilation of books and the Cliff Notes version thereof we now know as The Bible was overseen by Constantine. Google it friends – he was not a Christian, he was a politician.

I am not in any way shape or form saying that the original texts of the books that comprise the Bible were not inspired – I am sure they were.

How much was lost in translation and how much was blatantly manipulated for socio-political reasons?

One may not be Catholic but does that make Mother Teresa less of a modern avatar?

One may not be Buddhist but does that make The Buddha less inspired and enlightened?

One may not be Christian but does that make Jesus less of a prophet?

I don’t believe the OT is the word of God but does that make my religion useless or ineffective?

My point is that when we allow our foundation to be shaken, the fragile structure will fall so we can rebuild a new, stronger one. The strong structure will be tested and remain to be added upon. We have nothing of value to lose and everything to gain. But fear is a strong motivator as it is a strong paralyzer. Fear of bringing down the weak structure we have called home for so long can be intimidating but a weak structure wont weather a storm and spiritual storms are brewing. Wouldn’t it make sense to risk bringing it down in a controlled fashion to rebuild something better rather than wait until we need it for shelter and have it come crashing down around us? There is some obvious but very true metaphor there – think about your answers.

This is what I mean when I say “shake it up”. It is time to shake our house from the foundations up and find the weaknesses so they can be replaced. If the whole thing needs to be replaced, then let’s get to work on it – it won’t happen on its own. If it is generally sound needing minor repairs, excellent – get to it. We can’t strengthen anything we choose to ignore.

Down to Brass Tacks

I said I ask the questions for you to ponder but I also ask with a sincere desire for someone that after reading, pondering and asking with an open mind that still believes the OT to be the word of God, to help me see how they reach that conclusion. I have no interest in judging or criticizing anyone’s beliefs, but I do have an insatiable curiosity about the process both mental and spiritual that leads one to that conclusion.

You see, as with any dilemma, theory or belief, there is always the other however many billion that believe otherwise, so all we can do is understand and reach our own conclusion. I want to understand all points of view and beliefs in the hope that parts may add to my structure. So, while my questions may seem sarcastic, even derogatory, they are sincere. I ask because I no longer see it but just because I don’t see it doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t there. So, if you are ready to strap a bomb to your back or your convictions go so deep you would die for them, I admire that and want to understand it – truly understand it - not blindly accept it because someone said so.

My hope and intent is that we can all find security in who we are and in our beliefs through constantly challenging what we think is true.

As we look back on our history, we have done a fair job as a race at making fools of ourselves through absolutes we clung to that were nowhere close to the mark.

The world was supposedly flat for a long time – did that make it flat?
Blood letting was a cure all for disease – did it really cure anything?
The atom was the absolute smallest particle – not any more. Did something change?
The Vatican endorsed the Malleus Maleficarum (Latin for "The Hammer Against Witches", or "Hexenhammer" in German) and by so doing murdered thousands of innocent women. Did the Papal Bull (endorsement) make them witches and desrvant of torture and death?

We could make a very long list of what we now see as ridiculous beliefs and yet we continue to remain in the same mind set when it comes to our spiritual beliefs. If history is any indication, we are in for some disappointing revelations or we can chose to be open to discovery.

Inquisition or exploration and discovery – we get to choose, but one requires effort, courage and willingness to find things that contradict what we think we know. So let’s go down the rabbit hole if you have the guts.

My position is that The OT is NOT the word of God but the contrivances of a very warped and sexually deviant society or group of people that represents a god that is a tyrant, petty and blood thirsty to the point of horror. I don’t doubt it was inspired; I just question the deity that provided the inspiration.

But that is just my opinion. Here is where it gets good.

What is your opinion and why?

Have you actually read the story of Abraham and Isaac? (starting at Genesis 12)

Have you actually read the story of Moses and the freeing of Jerusalem from the Egyptians? (Exodus) Read it!

I don’t even want anyone to read my stories about it until they have read the actual text strait out of their Holy Bible word for word. No slick pictures or sanitized Bible Stories for children but the actual “word of god” as provided by our Jewish brethren of old or those that would rule them.

When you have read just these two stories to start with, I hope you would ask yourself – “Is this the god I love and worship?” “What lessons of love, peace, beauty, paradise or for that matter anything good did I take away?”

I challenge my fellow Christians to find anything that supports the principles of Christianity that promotes love, tolerance and forgiveness in any way shape or form in the OT.

Then I ask – why do we cling to it as if it were of validity use or value?

Don’t take my word for it. Paul the apostle says the same thing in 2 Corinthians 3:1-8 (read it!)

These are honest, sincere questions – not an attack on anyone or their faith – merely a challenge to bullshit we have been fed and choose to ignorantly gag down as if it somehow tasted good.

The dichotomy between the two sections of the bible is exactly what promotes such hate, repression, bigotry, chauvinism and war in the world. If we subscribe to them as one, we are adopting mixed messages that conveniently justify and endorse our wars, discrimination, hatred, separateness, intolerance, etc. Whose plan is that?

It is time to evolve people! It is time to claim our God given right to think and choose! It is time to question the ancient energies that make us feel gloom inside and renounce them. By so doing we will be free to truly live as Jesus and other great avatars of the world have taught – in love, acceptance, forgiveness and peace.

Read it with an open inquisitive mind. Ask the questions and come to YOUR OWN conclusion. Then if you so conclude, let it go and embrace the light. Embrace the God energy in whatever form you like – it doesn’t matter how, as long as we release the energies and philosophies that promote and justify war, hatred, oppression, chauvinism, murder, mutilation, incest, animal sacrifice etc. and that is just what the so called prophets engaged in and taught – READ IT FOR YOURSELF!

Then read my book and tell me it isn’t one of the funniest most assertive and accurate commentaries on the Old Testament you have read short of the mastery of course of Mark Twain who’s league I am not intellectually nor literarily even close to.

Let us be the beginning of stopping the hypocrisy and throw out that which conflicts with the values and moral principles of love, peace, forgiveness, beauty, respect, acceptance and a global sense of family in God is my prayer this day.

Amen.

David R. Moreno, Minister

Things That Make Me Go Hmmmmmm... 1

2009-02-05T12:56:00.000-08:00

Don't you find it interesting that most of the religions on the planet see you as being born dirty?
It's an odd posturing, is it not, for a creature of divine creation?
Does it even sound reasonable that you would be born into a spiritual system where you didn't have a chance when you arrived because of something that happened eons before you got here?

Does this really sound like being "made in the image of God?"

Kryon, Book 10, page 234

Truly Change Your Life

2009-02-01T14:55:00.000-08:00

There have been millions of books and articles written on this subject and certainly many more are forthcoming. The fact is that this is one of the most prevalent and gnawingly calling goals of every human being in one way or another.

As we work through our existence on this mortal realm, we have epiphanies that hit us all in different ways and by different means, which is part of the reason we have so many religions, philosophies, books, and articles revolving around the same core subjects.

Life as we know it or as we have come to accept it, has managed to convince us that we are far away and removed from God. Many of our religious and cultural teachings reinforce that concept when in reality every philosophy teaches the complete opposite at its core. It just seems that we tend to get caught up in the politics of society and we choose to overlook the fact that we are not separate from God. In fact, we are not only not separate but we are an integral part of God and as such, we are God.

Whether you choose to believe that in a literal or a figurative sense, that belief will completely change your life and I am anxious to share how.

Some of us believe that we are literally a part of God in the sense that the essence of who we are, the “observer” the “Ghost in the machine” the spirit or whatever you wish to call it is in effect an integral part of the divine creative force we call God. This means that as a part of God, we are all God. Others believe in a heavenly father that created us as his children so we are children of God. In this scenario, we have a spiritual father (God) and as his offspring, it only makes sense that we would grow up to be just like him. Either way, we are God.

People with an Eastern philosophical background have fewer problems embracing this concept, as it is an important part of their faith. However, in the west, we struggle with it a bit more thanks to the fact that our religions have been almost as much of a political and power based influence on our societies as a spiritual one. However, all of Christianity embraces the New Testament as the word of God and one of my very favorite scriptures is found in Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

This well-known scripture has been the poster verse for feel-good altruism as we associate it with doing kind and charitable deeds on behalf of the least of these (anyone else) and its primordial intent may well have been just that. However, we seldom look at the other side of the coin that this verse implies – If when we do good things to our fellow beings we are doing so to God, when we do evil things to our fellow beings we are doing them to God as well. Think about that for a minute – that verse is reiterating very clearly to every living soul that we are all God – regardless how you choose to look at it.

So, how does our life change when we believe that we are God? We find it harder and harder to be judgmental, critical, spiteful, hateful, antagonistic, sarcastic, mean or in any other way anything but loving towards everyone. Suddenly a person’s choices no longer represent or have anything to do with their Godliness. In an instant, people we thought ill about no longer provoke any reaction of any kind because there is no judgment to promote anything but love. This does not mean that we necessarily agree with others choices – it simply means we cease to judge - and it works.

When we understand and truly embrace the fact that we are God and so is everyone else on this planet, we cannot spew ill toward anyone because anything we do or say to, feel toward or think about others, we do so to God. Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Dr. Wayne Dyer says, “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” This insightful, clever statement when applied has transcendental implications of life changing proportion. If we will allow ourselves to accept even the lowest level of our truly divine stature and accept our divine nature – our God essence - however we choose to see its attributes, and we accept that if they are in me, they are in thee regardless of who thou art – we will experience one of the greatest changes of our life.

The difficult part is getting past our domestication, which our ego holds to with its very life that tells us that we are dirty, broken, sinners, unworthy, etc. The secret to implementing this is as simple as looking within and feeling whether it resonates as true or not. We are all God and by so accepting and honoring, living any set of rules, philosophy or walking any path to discover our potential just became a whole lot easier. Regardless of our dogmatic views, there is no down side to this concept. As we search our hearts and begin to look at everyone differently, the things we see will change and our reality will be the joyful loving, spiritual, fun, abundant life we all want.

Love & Peace

Pawpa Dog

2008-12-25T13:25:00.000-08:00

I posted the following message on The Independent Faith Church blog and while I try not to mix the two, the message I wrote for the church site was from my heart so pretend it's signed PawPa Dog...

Christmas has come and gone and typically with the New Year, the feelings that the holiday stirs in our heart seem to dissipate as our focus shifts from the “magic” of the season to the daily and sometimes seemingly harsh reality of life.

Regardless of our religious affiliation or spiritual inclination, this holiday season has one of the most diverse backgrounds of any world event or celebration spanning thousands of years and virtually every civilization of the human experience in one way or another. Absolutely none of the celebrations associated with this time of year have/had any kind of negative intent but quite to the contrary are/were a celebration of season, life, God or the God in all of us in one way or another at their core. These celebrations all have some form of ritual or tradition with them and invariably there is a common denominator that is a spirit of hope, good will, love, enjoyment and giving.

The Independent Faith Church recognizes that the ritual of celebration is ultimately irrelevant, but the power to the spirit behind the season lies in the intent of the celebration and those participating in the same. As the many festivities come to a close, it is a wonderful time to appreciate the traditions and rituals we each enjoy as individuals, families, societies and cultures. This month our Message of Hope & Love is that we actively and consciously appreciate and send love and gratitude to the traditions we have adopted while we allow that very same love to open our eyes and hearts to embrace the fact that others who choose to celebrate differently love and enjoy their celebration in the same degree.

As we begin to realize as a global community that we are indeed one and that our differences are not nearly as many as the things we all have in common – including our Divine heritage – it only makes sense that we would feel less need to be right and more to DO whats right by making a resolution of peace, love and goodwill toward ALL men this season and always.

Brothers and sisters, remember while there may be those that think we are their enemy, it doesn’t have to make them ours. In fact Jesus taught otherwise, so did Buddha, Krishna, Mother Teresa, Gandhi, Martin Luther King and millions of others that “got it”.

I mention in the first paragraph that the spirit of the season tends to fade but I want to challenge all of us to do a few simple things this year:

1. Recognize and embrace the fact that we are all connected, we are one and we can not judge, look down at, malign or hate our brother or sister without doing the same to ourself.

2. Celebrate the diversity of our planet and find joy in the fact that all of our brothers and sisters have some form of celebration, rituals, traditions etc. that bring us all closer to God in ways that we identify with and relate to making their energy and power more effective regardless of the dogmatic differences.

3. Commit to extending the spirit of the holidays to the rest of the year to truly strive to make it the spirit of humanity.

Whether you await the coming of a Messiah, a return of one, a rapture, a global crystalline transformation or whatever it may be, by accepting our challenge, we can only be more prepared for whatever we expect, create or otherwise believe comes next.

On behalf of The Independent Faith Church, my wife Rachel and our many friends and companions I want to wish everyone a truly happy new year and may our creations in 2009 be full of love and light and may the spirit of the season become the spirit of humanity - one willing soul at a time.

Love & Peace,

Rev. David R. Moreno

Is it Spring?

2008-08-26T16:47:00.000-07:00

I feel like a bear coming out of hibernation it has been so long since I have even looked at my blog, much less anyone elses.

Ah, the intricacies and holy shit - so many facets of life are fascinating.

Last week my world tumbled down around me and crumbled at my feet (with my help - granted - and a bit dramatic).

This week I get to decide who, what and where I will be.

Funny thing is, I just realized that I could have saved a lot of crumbling since I had the same ability 3 weeks ago and continue to every waking moment of my life.

Last week I felt forced to make choices by the events in my life. But we can make the very same choices without creating the factors in our life that seem to force the choices upon us. I'm certain it will contribute greatly to the process of stress elimination for me - among other things.

That's all I have to say today.

Love & Peace
PawPa Dog

I did publish a theory I have about sleep and wake states on http://barbequia.blogspot.com/

check it out if you get bored

Born Again

2008-07-16T22:50:00.000-07:00

Today I was contemplating the first tenet of the Founding Principles of our religious philosophy as a result of my last post and I found myself expounding on the tenet to clearly include non-violence as an integral part of respecting all life as sacred.

My intent is not to make this a forum of my beliefs as I have a Blog and web site for that purpose and this isn’t it. But as a personal Blog I do tend to post events and things of an important or certainly those of a transcendental nature from time to time and this just happens to be one of them.

No, I am not born again in the conventional religious sense nor am I joining a fundamental Christian denomination, but I have a better understanding of what the phrase actually means. As I was discussing the concept of non-violence with Rachel this afternoon and how it applies to the first tenet, it hit me right between the eyes that love and violence can not coexist and violence is a desecration of life and therefore a desecration of all that is.

My entire life I have justified violence in the name of god and country or in the preservation of peace, liberty or justice. I have prayed publicly and privately for those representing my “interests” or country to prevail in war against my brothers and sisters I somehow deemed “the enemy” because someone told me they were. While I was preaching love and god on one hand I was endorsing the ultimate desecration of life on the other.

Today, it hit home – Love can not exist with violence in any way shape or form towards other people, creatures, objects or our self in action, word or thought – period.

As I realize that there is no valid justification for violence of any kind, the need to shift some fundamental beliefs and core programming and domestication became ominously evident. As I sat in overwhelm, I thought about people I truly admire and want to emulate like The Buddha, Jesus, and Gandhi, and I realized that justification is a self defeating ego based narcotic that has dulled my senses for far too long. And yet it is frightening to let go of some things even when we know they no longer serve us. As my discussion with Rach further clarified what I truly want to be, I understood that to be born again isn’t necessarily a religious thing but something we can benefit from in all areas we want to change and truly renew by releasing the old beliefs and embracing the new with sincere and deep conviction.

So as I take my spiritual philosophy deeper down the rabbit hole, I find it isn’t as scary as it seems – and today, I have released those old beliefs that somehow violence is acceptable, justified or necessary and I bury them along with that deity of jealousy, vengeance and smite to make room for patience, love and gentleness as I strive to emulate the avatars that embodied what God truly is and honor all life through non-violence.

If anyone cares, feel free to check out the IFC Blog post where I clarify our position on non-violence as a part of the first tenet.

Love and Peace All

It's Easier Said Than Done

2008-07-15T01:21:00.000-07:00

It is always easier said than done. Living the Founding Principles, the commandments or any moral code is no exception - in fact it’s the rule.

Our Service Project last Sunday definitely put to test the first Founding Principle (All Life is Sacred) as we helped haul trash and old furniture to the dump for those without the means. While we were loading the truck the person we were helping pointed out that she had a window in her basement that was loose and she was afraid could be used to gain entry to her home and asked if we could remove it and replace it with solid wood. We did just that but as we removed the old window, the earwigs that had made a nest there for years came pouring to the floor like a scene from “Men in Black” and proceeded to climb up our shoes and pants.

While we will likely experience a slight case of delusory parasitosis (the feeling of bugs crawling on you when they aren’t) for a few days to come, I am happy to announce that no earwigs were harmed in the making of this Blog or the execution of our project – at least not intentionally.

I was asked by an employee I was sharing the experience with where I draw the line as he expressed how ridiculous he thought it was that we would gather literally hundreds of bugs and put them outside rather than just spray them with bug spray and sweep them up. That is a good question and the truth is I don’t know where the line is or if there is one. The only thing I can do is ask myself - When is life no longer sacred? I can’t answer that question because just like anything else there are levels to any philosophy and it boils down to how far down the rabbit hole you choose to go.

We all get to choose what level of any law we are willing to live. What I can say is having worked for and owning my own pest control company, I find that the business is an oxy moron to begin with. (Obviously I don’t have anything to do with the industry any more.) Pest control is as ludicrous as wildlife “management” or military “intelligence”. I could write a book on each of these subjects but wont - Today it’s about bugs.

There are natural ways to keep “pests” at bay not the least of which is clean up and they won’t want to hang out.

We all want to protect our homes and be as comfortable and safe as we can and my intent is not to indoctrinate or convince anyone of my life choices but to get you to think of other options that might be more in line with respecting what God took the time to create. The level we take this or anything to is a personal choice and not up for scrutiny by others – just our self and our concept of God.

What I can say from experience is that bugs don’t like a clean environment that is disturbed regularly by say a vacuum or a cloth. And those that venture indoors do so looking for food or a mate both of which they will find more successfully if they are merely helped back outdoors where they were designed to live. They don’t prey on humans!

We share this planet with some beautiful, interesting and VITAL creatures. One of the movies I was unable to bring myself to finish watching was DreamWorks B-Movie. However, it did make a good point about how seemingly insignificant things can make a huge impact on the whole. I do not recommend watching the movie but my invitation is that we be stewards and protectors of what we have been entrusted with – not usurpers or tyrants. If we start with small seemingly insignificant things, it’s bound to grow.

Love and Peace All

I Love My Town & I Love My Friends

2008-07-13T16:31:00.001-07:00

Portland, OR like any large city has its pros and cons and politicians are politicians anywhere you go so the level of corruption is what it is anywhere else in the country.

With that minor disclaimer, I have to say I am very proud to live in such a beautiful, progressive, bicycle and dog friendly, eco conscious, diverse city.

With beautiful bridges spanning the Willamette, the Columbia and the Tualatin rivers, a bustling downtown, ferns and forest anywhere you look, people walking in any neighborhood you visit, tattooed punk rockers and suited business people chewing the fat with each other at the local coffee shop - it is just a damn cool city to live in.

Another aspect I love about our city is the fact that it seems to attract some of the nicest people on earth and we are home to some of the best public and private social programs for the homeless and needy anywhere. Unlike the city I moved here from where they rounded up the homeless like cattle with Mad Cow disease and shipped them off to Denver Colorado to maintain a certain appearance for the winter Olympics which is disturbing being a predominantly "Christian" culture. Sure, we have a lot of homeless and socially challenged people here but we aren’t ashamed of them and we certainly don’t ship them off to Boise, we help them - we have a lot because we are a friendly environment - if such a term can be used in such circumstances - and I’m proud of that.

It takes caring loving people to run the programs, the shelters, the soup kitchens and such and we happen to be blessed with a good number of these. Bless them and may we have the courage to be more like them.

Yesterday was a hot day for these parts and we were visited by our neighbor, friend and sister Jeanette and her partner Susan. We enjoyed some cold drinks and a soak in the pool to cool off a bit while we did as we do in Barbequia - get to know each other. I know Jeanette quite well, but hadn’t had the opportunity to get to know Susan so yesterday as we chatted for a while I realized how proud I am to consider her among my friends as she shared with me what she does for a living.

Susan works for our county in HIV testing, counseling and one program that particularly caught my attention was the needle exchange program. Now I admit my first reaction to handing out clean needles to drug addicts struck an uncomfortable chord but fortunately I was able to shut the hell up, check my old religious ways and listen with a semi open mind to how it all works.

Our county has a program that exchanges clean needles for used needles - no questions asked - one for one so there is incentive to bring them back and not leave them where someone may re-use them or accidentally get stuck by one, and they give out free condoms.

Now many, (mostly the holy crowd that tout Jesus on their mini van) are in an uproar because they say that the county is wasting tax dollars "enabling" drug addiction and the sex trade. I admit, had I not shut the hell up and chosen to listen, I may have concluded similarly but as I understand the program and the beautiful logic behind it, I realize that my immediate (yet short lived in my defense) narrow mindedness is exactly why some cities ship the homeless to Denver.

Susan kindly pointed out that people with addictions will get whatever they are addicted to no matter what - it is available and legal or not, they will satisfy their addiction. There are programs to help those that want help but what about those that don’t or aren’t ready or don’t realize where they are at? My mini van friends have said things like "throw them in jail where they belong" which as everybody knows is not "what Jesus would do" nor does it solve anything but appease a sense of self-righteousness in those of us not willing to be a part of the solution.

Susan is a part of the solution and I am proud to know her and associate with her because she does exactly "what Jesus would do" by spending her time testing for HIV, exchanging from 15-30,000 needles in a single Friday night at one location and truly saving lives. She has no need to judge, just help in the ways she can from counseling to testing to distributing condoms and exchanging needles. In my studies of the New Testament and as a Minister myself for about 23 years in one denomination or another it seems that Susan would make Jesus very proud and she certainly is an example of what service to one's fellow beings is all about.

For the mini van crowd that are ranting over the few thousand dollars spent every year on prevention, I can only say do some math and use some logic before you give in to the unquenchable desire we seem to have to judge that which we don’t understand or know anything about.

If our county keeps 100 people from contracting HIV or hepatitis by exchanging needles and providing condoms to the addicts and those in the sex trade, they just saved the taxpayer millions of dollars in medical care and treatment in the future. Most of our brothers and sisters engaged or trapped in those circles don’t have Blue Cross Blue Shield or whatever HMO to bitch about how the co-pays keep rising. Our county and this program that so many love to hate actually makes economic sense on top of being the right thing to do - it doesn’t get better than that.

Portland is just a great place to live and I will point out specifics as I go, and I love my city. I have the privilege of knowing and associating with kind, uplifting, wonderful people I consider my friends and you are likely one of them if you bothered to read this far – so thank you for inspiring me to be a better person.

Love and Peace All
PawpaDog

Pictures courtesy of http://www.portlandground.com Portland Ground in no way endorses the contents of this page.

Please visit their site to support them and view more of our beautiful city.

Did You Bring The Camera?

2008-06-30T01:06:00.000-07:00

Sunday morning and for once in a long time we are actually looking forward to going to church. The truth is, it has been years since we have darkened the halls of a church and our last experience was so sad that I didn't think we ever would again. Never say never.

Its a dash to get the yard watered, lunch ready, the kids dressed (yes we have to dress the hairless ones or they get sunburned) and everything packed in the trunk for the ride to Rockaway for our first ever IFC church service and service project.

After a quick sword/pinch fight in the road in front of the house with the trash tongs I purchased for the occasion at Harbor Freight - from which I emerged incontestably victorious - (say what you will Rach, the pinch bruises speak louder than words.) we loaded the Moreno Pack in the car and headed down the road to Rockaway Beach.

A quick inventory of all the items we needed and packed in the trunk as we hit the Sunset Highway and I eased into a complacent sense of false preparedness as I hit my mental "auto-pilot" switch to enjoy the beautiful drive to the coast.

A bit nervous and anticipatory of our first little IFC meeting but looking forward to meeting the nice people we invariably meet at the beach and of course our favorite setting for any occasion - we sail down the road commenting on this cute house, that field, how the plants grow from tree stumps etc. but I can tell Rach has something on her mind that's bothering her.

Finally she says "I wasn't going to say anything because I figured we cant do anything about it now anyway, but did you happen to bring a camera?" That peaceful mental version of Vivaldi's 4 seasons that was playing ever so softly in the background of my mind as we meandered down the fern laden pine forest road came screeching to a horrid halt as if one of the cats had jumped on the record player riding the needle across the vinyl and flailing madly as cats do when they jump on such things (yes I'm that old). I don't even know how many digital cameras we have between us but at least 3 or 4 not counting phones and PDAs and do you think we had 1 between us? Nope.

My first reaction was of course in true male fashion why the hell did you forget the camera? But I'm getting smarter in my old age and I only thought it but didn't say it which is a good thing since the camera would have been an item on my list and in my department - not that such details would have shut my mouth a few years ago but it seems age does mellow the asshole in most of us.

So, as my face contorted and I went through this butt shuffle/quasi yoga routine at the wheel of the car to keep the thoughts racing through my mind where they belonged - deeper in my mind - I managed a smile and said "maybe we should make a list next time". No, I'm not a saint and while I wont say it was one of my more Zen moments, anyone that knows me will say "he didn't spin a tapestry of vulgarity and sacrilege from Portland to Tillamook? to which I will proudly reply - "nope".

So, we have no camera but that's OK, how much could we miss?

We arrive at Rockaway and having already put harnesses on the kids, we unload for a picture perfect leashing up and off to pick a spot on the beach to set up. Did someone say beach? as all 4 dogs go into a spastic frenzy the minute they hit the pavement of the parking lot. Usually I would have all 4 retractable leads ready and set to a short setting but hell I forgot the camera...

Rach had 2 kids and I had 2 and we aren't sure exactly how we got tied in the knot we did, but within a minute we were pretty much bound to each other with 4 dogs going every which way and ending up with 13 feet of lead each wrapped around each other, Rach and I with about 2 feet left to keep them just far enough away that we cant reach over to unhook them without falling over in the middle of the lot in a lump of twisted Moreno Pack wrapped in dog lead. Fortunately we gave up on maintaining dignity when we adopted our third pack member so we are used to the comments, laughs and offers of help from kind people who invariably lose composure in spite of their most politically correct efforts.

Once we got that knot untied, it was off to find a spot which we did and a fire was still smoldering from the night before - perfect. I re-stoke the fire and go back to the car for the rest of our things while Rach watches the kids. Somehow I manage to carry the cooler, a day pack, the beach bag, a tent for the kids and a bag of food because somehow my religion prohibits more than one trip to the car or something and I waddle across the sand and we set up.

It was a perfect day, the setting was awesome, the experience was unforgettable, the food was delicious and the beach was pretty clean - I love Oregon. It was my perfect day at church!

As we decide to call it a day and we begin to clean up, take down the tent, and pack everything up, we decide we will do it the easy way and each will take 2 kids and a bag and we will carry the cooler back between us.

We get everything ready, the leads on the kids - this time set to about 4 feet - and we pick up the cooler between us which just happens to scare Chacko who scares Blinkie who trips Chacko who is then struck by the cooler who then freaks the hell out and deja vu.

At this point we are laughing so hard we cant get up but we somehow manage and try again. This time I hear Rach say "my straps" as I look over to see both straps of her blouse off her shoulders and the blouse on its way down to the sand which requires another stop for some personal adjustment and more composure. Off we go again as I hear Rach say "Dave, you are dragging Blinky" and sure enough in my haste to get this load to the car with Rachel's boobs still covered, I forgot how short his little legs are and he was leaving quite a wake in the sand. Laughing so hard that Rach started to loose control of certain functions we stopped and started our journey across the sand about 8 times. After wrapping a blanket around her waist to conceal the effects of our little vaudeville show on the beach we put Blinkie on the cooler and start off again with a surfing Chihuahua and 3 sled dogs pulling like they wanted to get the hell out of there with the two of us in tears as we made our way through the masses that had accumulated over the time we were there. One super nice gentleman came running over and said "why don't we do this... let me carry your cooler to your car and you can get the dogs and the bags". Now, anyone in their right mind would just give in and say "bless you" and accept the help, but I never claimed to be in such a state. "Oh thank you, but we have it now" was my obviously dishonest reply as we entertained the majority in the vicinity with our final push to the parking lot balancing Blinkie on the cooler and herding the other three looking like canine kites now that their leads were all the way out and I wasn't stopping again to readjust.

We made it to the car laughing so hard we both had cause for Depends but in one piece and Rach managed to keep her body parts covered the whole way too. As we set the cooler down we could hear an applause from the beach - waving like a politician, we threw everything in the car and drove onto the 101 in awkward silence.

The kids were pooped out so they immediately settled in and slept for the ride home. we didn't say much but as we drove along highway 6 and admired the beauty of the Tillamook National Forest, we would spontaneously crack up, shake our heads and look back out the window.

What a perfect day! For the first time in my life - I LOVE CHURCH.

Peace & Love All

Its Off To Church

2008-06-29T07:11:00.000-07:00

It has been a long time in coming but we are on our way to church - on the beach - and then a lunch and beach cleanup service project.

And so it begins...

http://www.ifc.barbequia.com

Love & Peace All

A Grandpa Moment

2008-06-27T12:32:00.000-07:00

Today I came home early to finish up some loose ends from work at home and get an early start on the weekend.

I was sitting at my desk listening to some of my favorite music and Joan Baez came on singing "Forever Young". Anyone that knows me knows I'm a hippie at heart and I happen to particularly love that song and Joan's voice (for that matter there isn't much I don't love about Joan Baez).

I am admittedly getting a bit sappy in my old age but imagine if you will, the beauty of Joan's voice, the sincerity of that song and me looking up on my computer screen at this picture of the most beautiful baby girl I have seen since her mom and aunts were born.

May God bless and keep you always,
May your wishes all come true,
May you always do for others
And let others do for you.
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung,
May you stay forever young.

May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the light surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young.

I don't see this beautiful child near as much as I wish I could and I'm not as close as I wish I was but my soul's prayer for her couldn't be better put than that song.

This grandpa never grew up and while I definitely hope she does do that more gracefully than me, I hope she will always be forever young.

This sappy old fart loves you Little Miss.

Her parents are pretty OK too :)

The Mad Scientist DID IT!!

2008-06-19T21:06:00.000-07:00

It has been a while and in that time, the mad scientist has learned tons about colloidal silver and seen its benefits first hand. I have built several prototypes improving the design and I have finally made a unit that looks good, works beautifully with current limiting to maintain bioavailable particle size yet provide a wide spectrum of sizes in that range for a hell of a price.

I posted a web page I am still working on at http://www.cs.barbequia.com/

I should have the shopping cart and minor tweaking finished by next week.

Check it out!

Love & Peace all.

PawPaDog

The Mad Scientist Strikes Again!

2008-06-08T19:40:00.000-07:00

Sunday in Barbequia and Im hustling to get the lawn mowed and trimmed so I can start on my Colloidal Silver maker.

I dusted off the old soldering iron, broke out the Fluke multimeter and spread out the collection of components and wire on my desk.

Back in the day I was pretty handy with a soldering iron and I could whip up an amplifier, timers, transmitters and things like that from paper and pencil to finished product in a few hours. 30 years later… well, lets just say I’m surprised I found the soldering iron.

A colloidal silver generator (misnomer but that’s what they call them) is a very simple circuit, so I am feeling confident I will be enjoying colloidal silver in a couple of hours. I decide to wire it first and make sure it works before I put it in a box and make it look like I meant to make it. I start soldering component to component and after a while I have a nice little spider web that would make Dexter proud. I prep the electrodes and solder the holder to the leads, put the electrodes in my glass of water and breathe deep before I flip the switch.

Mesmerized by the eminent production of liquid silver the anticipation of seeing my latest creation at work, I flip the switch and hear a strange buzzing. Hmmm must be a bad transformer – lets get a closer look - sure sounds like a trans…BANG sizzle pop flitz bloody hell as I flip backwards and hit my head on the chair that was ejected behind me when the fireworks went off. I laid there stunned with enough adrenaline coursing through me to kill me but the sparks and smoke were pouring out the damn thing like one of those stupid roman candles. 30 years ago, I would have regained my composure, reached over to the power strip and turned off the juice. Today I screamed like a girl and ran leaving my office to some pyrotechnic doom.

A funny thing about direct current circuits is that polarity matters and so do voltage ratings of components. So when the mad scientist hooks up an electrolytic capacitor from his grandfathers collection with a date of 1943 backwards and applies more voltage than its rated for, it tends to explode and literally shoot sparks in the air.

After the smoke cleared and I turned the main breaker back on (slight over reaction) I start the forensic salvage mission to see what got fried besides my pride and dignity. Fortunately it was just the capacitor so I decide maybe it was a bad idea to try and save the $2.49 and return the new capacitor to Radio Shack. Still shaking I open the package and begin replacing the smelly vintage M80.

This time I double – triple – ok, I really checked a lot to make sure everything was hooked up right and its time to flip the switch. As a superintendent for a large construction company, one of my responsibilities is to ensure a safe job site. Safety is huge where I work and I buy in 100%. I make my final safety preparations and Im ready to flip the switch. Rach comes in to make sure no animals are in the room and starts laughing at me. Hey I about had my face blown off by a damn WWII land mine disguised as a capacitor – Im not taking any chances – yes, Im scared ok.

I ran the power across the room, put a blanket over my chair, sat behind my chair with my back to the hot zone using a mirror to see what happens behind me. Hard hat in place, safety glasses on, my Carhart jacket with the hood over my head under the hard hat, nitrile gloves (I don’t know why), a big deep breath and the countdown begins…
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ignition…

What the Sam hell?! Not a peep, no noise, no smoke, certainly no fire – just an idiot dressed for a nuclear test cowering behind a blanket covered chair (spark protection you know) with his wife’s makeup mirror looking at – well – nothing over his shoulder.

Pathetic comes to mind but doesn’t do the scene justice.

But hey, it worked! Yes ladies and gentlemen, I designed and successfully built a colloidal silver maker and it actually works!

Damn I’m a geek!

Love & Peace all

PawPaDog

Damn I'm a Geek!

2008-06-07T16:21:00.000-07:00

When my mom spent some ungodly amount of money for a Rife Machine, I was intrigued and anxious to try it out. When she came to Portland to visit last month, she brought it with her and true to form, I took it apart.
I was surprised to see that it is basically a programmable frequency generator and an amplifier connected to electrodes that are placed in the users hands and under their feet.

The geek in me said “I can make that for a lot less than $2000” and as of last night, I did. In fact, using my laptop and conjuring up an amplifier circuit, some home made electrodes and a pile of frequency scripts (frequency, wave type, duration, sweep range etc.) the mad scientist took it for a test drive.

The theory behind this in a nutshell is that all organisms and maladies have a fatal or resonance frequency at which they fail or die. These frequencies have been experimented with since the 1920’s so I decided to start with a potentially helpful one – bone spurs. I hooked myself up, programmed the frequency script, ran the script, flipped on the amplifier and HOLY SHIT! It is a good idea to make sure the amplifier is turned all the way down at first so you can gradually increase the power and not have a full 200 Watts zap the holy bejesus out of you. I thought lightning was going to shoot out my eyes and my ass! (Thank heaven I wasn’t treating prostate or testicular cancer or something along those lines).

OK, so its just enough juice to be real uncomfortable and not really hurt you, but it startled the hell out of me!

Well, once I recovered from the unnecessary defibrillating effect of 670 Hz at 200 watts coursing through my circulatory and lymphatic system, I tried it again with a slightly more intelligent approach. It is too early to tell what the results are, and Rachy ran a parasite script that made her sick all night but we were warned of that potential and failed to heed the recommendations of those that have gone before and she is paying dearly. (Apparently some Herxheimer chap inflicted an effect named after him on her or something.)

Updates on effectiveness of the device or my self inflicted brain damage through electrocution will be forthcoming – or not if I lose the ability to type or spell.

The mad scientist isn’t stopping there though. After having the virtues of colloidal silver preached at me for years, I looked into buying some and was appalled at the price at the health food store. I was told there are devices that can make the stuff for pennies a cup – hmmmm devices eh? So, I looked it up and sure enough but they want $100 and up for them. The geek in me said “I can make that for less than $100.” How hard can it be, it seems like the same concept as used in plating printed circuit boards but what I wanted to keep was what we threw away in that industry – the conductive fluid between the anode and cathode.
In this case 2 pieces of pure silver that deposit minute particles of silver as a direct current passes between them through the water. Hell, I can do that.

So yesterday I armed myself with transformer, diodes, capacitors, resistors, and spent hours running around finding .9999 pure silver wire and today and tomorrow I will put it together and fire it up.

After the Rife fry, I’m skeptical about line voltage and my makeshift device sitting precariously on a glass of water, but nothing ventured – nothing gained. Notice I didn’t say “no pain – no gain.” I guess I just did.

I will report on the success of my venture when my TDS (total dissolved solids) meter arrives and I verify at least 5-10 ppm of silver colloid.

Next venture – a water ozonator!

God Im a geek!

Love and Peace All

PawPa Dog

Another Beautiful Weekend in Barbequia

2008-06-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

Plans for the weekend are merely ideas or possibilities at our house. We reserve the right to alter our plans at any stage of execution for any reason or none at all – so we stayed home.

My lily pads have begun to surface and they are damn cute. If I didn’t think the raccoons would eat them, I would buy frogs for the pond.

Bark-bequia has been in need of some attention, and since we got a replacement yard swing for the front deck, we decided to give the kids our old one. I dug up some grass by the bamboo and spread hemlock mulch (no splinters in paws with hemlock) where the swing is and made trails between the bamboo - now they have what we call their oriental meditation garden. So far it’s a hit with everyone but Chacko who thinks it’s an oriental out house.

I took on the opposite corner and started what will be a continuous work in progress – BirdBequia. So far just a few feeders, a bird bath and some houses, but next week the wild flowers get planted and more feeders placed. We haven’t even officially opened our little ornithological retreat yet and we have had hundreds of customers.

Then I made a small brick patio for the fireplace out by “The Coffee Spot” in the Barbequia side of the yard. It makes it nice for roasting marshmallows in the Adirondacks as the sun goes down or just spacing out in front of the fire watching fire faeries fly around.

Sunday eve and time to call it quits over a nice pile of smoked mussels (grey area for sure but technically no eyes) huge artichokes bathed in garlic butter, cheese and cracker plate, relish plate, brown rice, mozzarella stuffed Anaheims and for those who can appreciate the simple yet finer things – an ice cold bottle of an American classic. Fat Tire Ale - the perfect balance of flavor, crispness and slightly hoppy which compensates for my ignorant red neck American lack of culture and culinary finesse by damn near freezing my beer. I’m sorry ok – I enjoy it very cold.

A few marshmallows over the coals and in to watch “Waiting For God” and Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium for the goknowswhatevereth time.

Our poor little Simon (our house) is old, run down, tiny, very small, did I mention miniscule, but damn we love him. It is nice to WANT to be home and to create the little cottage we always wanted – even if it is in Felony Flats and not exactly on the coast – YET.

PawPa Dog says “Aint life grand when you can be happy as a pig in shit for a weekend with $20 worth of pavers, some mulch, some recycled wood and absolutely no plan or blueprint other than 'lets see what we come up with'?”

Peace and Love all.

PawPa Dog

Vegetarian - Me?

2008-05-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

I have gone the rounds with the possibility of being vegetarian but the smell of bbq chicken or steaks on the evening air has always convinced me otherwise.

It is no secret how I feel about killing things. I relocate spiders and will not intentionally kill a house fly. Basically, if it has eyes I will not intentionally harm it, and if it doesn’t but it’s alive, I will tend to be reverent about it even if it’s a weed.
My feelings on respecting all life are very strong and I live by it – for the most part.

So, how can I not hurt anything with eyes but not have a problem eating them?

Well, we are omnivores and we are designed to eat meat. We are at the top of the food chain. We derive essential amino acids and vitamins – especially cianocobalamine – from red meat. We have developed a taste for it…

But just because I can doesn’t mean I should – (someone needs to inform Bush of that tidbit of info). It turns out that there are actually many natural vegetarian options for the same amino acids and vitamins.

I have no intention of running around chaining myself to trees or setting farm chickens free, joining PETA and/or becoming an eco-terrorist, but I am going to work on practicing to a fuller degree what I preach. So, yep – I’m a vegetarian.

Does that mean I will never eat meat or become a vegan – probably not. Hell, I have every intention of eating whatever is left in the freezer. We won’t buy any more, but I wouldn’t want the critter to have died in vain either.

So, here we go – this time it isn’t just because it is healthy (that didn’t work). This time I have some conviction behind my reasons and I am working on eradicating the inconsistencies between my beliefs and how I live.

I would say “wish me luck” but I don’t need or want any of that. Wish me guts.

Love & Peace All

PawPa Dog

Happy Birthday to Me!

2008-05-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

I never make much of a fuss over my birthday – I had little to do with the event but show up, so I figure my mom should get the party.

Most years Rachy will plan some kind of getaway or party or something which is great and loads of fun, but this year was different. She hit it dead on – exactly how I enjoy celebrating my birthday. No parties, no trips, no fuss – just a quiet weekend at home with lots of good food and my favorite crowd. Did I mention good food?

Breakfast was the most delicious eggs benedict I have ever had. Now coming from an eggs benedict junkie that happens to live in the Mecca of crab eggs benedict, that’s a huge statement. Vegetarian no less! Swiss cheese, hollandaise, poached eggs, avocado, tomatoes, green onion, more Swiss cheese. Damn they were good!

This year’s gift was unexpected but most welcome. I had been doing some comparisons on laptops and though I usually buy a new laptop every year, my last one was still in excellent condition and more than adequate so I decided to wait another year. I’m a big fan of the Dell XPS series so that’s what I buy, but I’m a picky bugger when it comes to my toys.

To make a long story short, Rach had stolen my comparison sheet and she ordered me an ass kicking screaming machine that I would never have purchased on my own. I have to hand it to her – she got it – she figured out the whole Venus/Mars thing and came through in grand form. Thanks Rachy!!

Miracle on Lexington St.

2008-05-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

Any of the 3 people that read my nonsense probably know that Sunny our cat has been missing and that today he came home after 12 days trapped in a crawl space below the neighbors house. I understand that cats are resilient and scrappy survivalists but Sunny went into a tomb when the excavation crew dug under the house to sever a sewer line and back-filled the trench sealing Sunny inside. Sunny has a speech impediment of sorts – at least for a cat – he cant meow which comes in real handy when trapped under a house.

After 12 days of relentless searching, going door to door, traveling to Troutdale every other day to check the shelter, posting numerous “lost cat ads on craigslist and every animal shelter and vet clinic in the greater Portland area, Rach had begun to resign to the fact that Sunny had moved on to bless another family. But she felt like she should continue to canvass our block and the two adjacent blocks within 2 houses of our home – so she did – calling and listening for Sunny. Last night Rach knew that the 2-week mark was near and his chances of survival would be cut dramatically so she did what Rachel does – she created the results (reality) she wanted. Rach has a way of creating whatever she can put thought, feeling and emotion into and in a very dramatic way, and last night was no exception. She reached out to Sunny and told him to make an effort and do whatever he could to get home. Now roll your eyes if you must, but Rach not only communicates with animals directly and quite successfully but she can connect to just about anything that breathes in ways I don’t even begin to understand – just admire.

This morning our neighbor across the street and down 2 doors showed up on our porch with what looked like Sunny in her arms. Last night and early this morning, they heard a faint noise under their house. She mentioned it to her husband who dismissed the possibility knowing the foundation was sealed and no animal could get in and yet the noise continued. Finally, this morning she removed all the items from under her sink, removed the flooring, and shined a flashlight into the crawl space. Shortly thereafter Sunny put his head through the floor and climbed out from under the house. In tears, the neighbors gathered to discuss the Sunny miracle and how happy everyone is that he is among the living – albeit on his ninth life.

It is amazing what an effect a loveable little cat can have on a family and a neighborhood. But it’s amazing how the effect spread to and from people with no idea who we or Sunny are, that emailed with ideas for locating him, advice, encouragement, pictures of possible matches they came across and sometimes just an “I’m so sorry” from absolute strangers. Sunny is weak, dehydrated and really freaked out, but he is home, safe and we are all a lot wiser. It took a lost cat to see that cynicism and distrust are wasted emotions when there are so many people that are all about love, compassion, help and trust whether it be over a lost cat, a lost person or a lost soul. It seems to me that we will find and see exactly what we expect to and thanks to Sunny our outlook just improved exponentially.

Thanks to so many people I don’t know and will never meet for changing my life by helping me to expect the good in them by showing it in our time of need. And thanks to Sunny for being a part of this and many lessons as well as many more to come.

Aint life grand when it is so simple a cat can change it for good?

Love and Peace Family!

PawPa Dog

PEACE - Pass It On!

2008-05-16T16:19:00.000-07:00

Let’s be truthful with ourselves, you just can’t play both sides of the fence and maintain personal integrity – life just doesn’t work that way.

We cannot be pro-life AND pro-war.

We cannot love God AND support killing any of his children regardless of what you perceive they may have done to you.

The fact is that the bulk of the people our soldiers are killing or helping to kill, as well as the people that are suffering intolerable living conditions and the presence of invaders in their country are just every day people like you and I. The war on Terror has become terror itself and yet there is this insane notion that somehow God (or Allah) could possibly sanction it.

I cannot help but imagine if say Russia were invading the U.S. to get Bush out of power because of the human rights atrocities committed on his watch, the same people that support our legal killing abroad would be the first to devise and deploy roadside bombs and take pot shots at the Russian invaders. Yet the very same people are indignant and mad when others take that stance with American troops.

What the hell is wrong with us?

Sure, Al-Qaeda blew up the twin towers, it was a tragedy of huge proportion, and it provoked anger in us all. With that anger, we shamefully justified supporting a “war on terror”.

My question is – what happened to the concept of turn the other cheek?

Did the Christ so many supporters of war claim to worship not teach that very lesson to the very end of his mortality? What were the last words he uttered before he commended his soul to his Father? “Forgive them for they know not what they do.”

So, how can we say we love and follow Christ when we support something that is contrary to ALL of his teachings?

I am not proposing anything anti-anything. I am just saying we would benefit from awakening from the darkness we have allowed ourselves to wallow in and be FOR that which is good, peaceful, joyous and love. Maybe we would benefit from quoting Jesus less and being more like him.

What will it take for us as a society to see that our shit stinks as bad as anyone else’s, we bleed the same color and we love and are loved equally as much?

When will our actions be in line with our philosophy or religious “beliefs”?

PawPa Dog says, “Let’s be FOR peace – peace in our home, our neighborhood, city, state, country and around the world. However, it starts with being peaceful in our hearts.”

We cannot be “pro-life” AND be pro-war.

We cannot love God AND support killing his children.

WE CAN BE FOR PEACE and be in line with everything all the great avatars and sages of the world have taught. Jesus never said, “Be Christian”. That is a religious affiliation and he had no use for that. He said things like be as a child…, be ye therefore perfect…, be as I am (Christ-like).
Buddha never said to be Buddhist – he said, “Be the Buddha” (The Enlightened One)

Peace and Love Family

PawPa Dog

Lessons From My Wife on the Crap That Matters

2008-05-06T01:13:00.000-07:00

I frequently check Rachy’s blog but noticed lately that it hasn’t been updated. I asked her why she had not posted anything and she just said, “I am not that into it lately”. After 11 years, I know there is more to it than that so I pry. “OK, so what triggered your not being into it?” Tenaciously I prod and…

I have always been a believer that you should not ask questions you are not ready to hear the answers to. As I sat at my desk typing up some story about something or other, she proceeded to answer my question.

“I was typing a post for my blog when one of the dogs climbed up on me for some love and I pushed him away so I could attend to my “important task”. After a second, I looked over to see the pain in his eyes as he looked at me not understanding the rejection. I got to thinking about the time I spend writing about how important my family is and when one of them came to me with a need, I pushed him away so I could tell the world how much I love him. It hit me how ironic and hypocritical that is. I sat there and looked at the pile of crafts on the table and the room full of creatures I invited into our home and I realized my priorities need re-thinking. So, from now on, I’m going to blog when I have time.”

Just then, Gadgette jumped right in my lap and I instinctively pushed her off. I even had the nerve to say, “PawPa is busy right now”. Rach was still standing in my office doorway when I realized what I had just done. I told her thanks for telling me why she had not been blogging and invited Gadgette on my lap. As I sat at my desk holding this strange looking creature that is just one of many that have taught me so much about love, patience and living in the moment, I couldn’t help but think back.

How many times did I push my children away when they needed a love because dad was “busy”? How many times have I overlooked or sacrificed the needs of those around me, close to me or even in passing because I was so absorbed by shit that seemed important to me at the time but ultimately does not matter?

It is interesting how sometimes the answer to a simple question can be so hard to hear. By the same token, it is interesting how those seemingly hard to hear answers are exactly what we need if we will listen.

Later, as the tears ran down my face and the pain in my chest bore a hole in my heart, I held Gadgette as I realized that its too late to change the past - but I aint dead yet.

Yes, I’m almost 46 and I’m figuring things out I should have known a long time ago but at this point all I can do is say

Thanks Rachy for getting it and sharing it with me. Your example and the many things you teach me may just help redeem my sorry ass after all.

And to everyone else – I’m sorry – for a lot of things but I’m getting it figured out and I aint dead yet.

Love & Peace Family

Happy Barbequia Birthday Blinkie!

2008-05-05T15:58:00.000-07:00

Blinkie Chipotle came to us without an official birth date so it only seemed right to give him an appropriate one. I have always thought that 5 de mayo celebrations were idiotic since it isn’t a holiday of any importance in Mexico, but here it seems the wannabe cultural crowd makes it a big deal. Being a Chihuahua and all … hmmmm

So, as of this weekend I have 2 reasons to celebrate cinco de mayo and get into the spirit of it. We established May 5th as Blinkie’s birthday as well as the official opening date for Barbequia (our back yard and patios) for the season. Being that the 5th is on Monday, we decided to celebrate Sunday since it is after all, an all-day event.

Mom was up early preparing the puppy party favors and preparing the feast that would shortly ensue. I got the lawns mowed and got the last of the flowers planted in the yard, cleaned the fountains and put the final touches on Barbequia.

The smell of carnitas, thin Mexican steaks marinating, cilantro, fresh tomatoes, Serrano peppers, garlic, onions, being chopped; rice and refried beans, the pounds of tortillas, queso cotija, crema fresca – holy crap! – It would be a feast to remember.

The atmosphere is set with a collection of about 250 mp3s of Mexican music: Mariachi Vargas, Vicente Fernandez, Ana Gabriel, Los Panchos, Maria Conchita Alonso, Sonora Dinamita, Cumbia Kings, Lupillo Rivera, Pandora, Juan Gabriel, you name it – I got it and it’s playing today – all day and loud.

Mom wears her chili apron and her tri-color ribbons to match the birthday boy’s hat she made.

The music is playing, the drinks are flowing, the guest and their puppies arrive with more drinks in tow. The grill is sizzling and the food and beverages are endless, the blender is smoking as the puppies tear up their dog park in the back yard (Bark-bequia) chasing each other and rolling on the trampoline.

Just one small tantrum when Gadgette found out that because Sophie just had liver surgery, we wouldn’t be eating puppy cake until the guests left. – She struggled with the whole concept of not eating cake in front of guests that cant. But she recovered shortly as the favors were passed out and the chase for the dog toys began.
Mom breaks away from the grill to model her new matching sun glasses she bought herself and Gadgette.

This is the good life folks!

Good food, good drinks, good friends and surrounded by unconditional love.

¡Viva el 5 de mayo!

Contemplating our Violent Reaction to Challenges to our Beliefs

2008-05-02T14:43:00.000-07:00

Today I had an interesting experience at work.

My company is signatory to the Union so my employees are union members. Today there was an informational picket (not a strike) staged against one of our sub contractors and some of my guys chose not to cross the picket line. With a tight schedule and the knowledge that this was not their fight, I questioned their loyalty and priorities to find a very amusing yet violent reaction. As they struggled to argue their point, feeling the courage instilled by their picketing “brotherhood” they tried to engage me in argument about how I felt about their position and plight. (Frankly, it just shows me who I will promote and who gets laid off next time it slows down, so they actually did me a favor.) But try as they might, I wouldn’t engage. I would just say, “Do what you need to do. I am salaried, it is not my fight and I really don’t care” which really seemed to steam their clams. What amused me was the anger behind their argument and it was reminiscent of engaging a fundamentalist religious fanatic in conversation (to not name denominations) as a missionary. It struck me that the underlying factor in both scenarios and whenever we respond in anger to a challenge to our beliefs, faith or ideals is the fear that we might not be as right as we want to think we are - insecure in our beliefs if you will.
In the case of my employees, they knew it was not their fight and they were just using it as an excuse to take a 3-day weekend. In the case of our spiritual beliefs… well I had a lot to say on that but not on this page. Here I will just say lets lighten up and not be so afraid to be wrong. Hell if we are wrong and don’t want to see it, we can’t get right.

Pawpa Dog says "show me where I’m wrong – if I concur - I want to change it". But I hope I’m never an a#$hole to anyone that cares enough to show me. And if I am, kindly rub this post in my arrogant face.

If you care to see my views on the matter of gauging how secure we are in our beliefs go to my other blog where I do write on topics of this nature.

Love & Peace Family

The Perfect Saturday on a Warm & Sunny Day

2008-04-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

It is 5:30 am on Saturday and with 60 minutes before the alarm goes off, we are up and at it. Grabbing backpacks, checking contents, counting leads and harnesses before throwing everything in the trunk of the car for the ever favorite of all outings – The Oregon Coast.

Rach makes breakfast burritos and coffee to go as we pile the kids in the car singing our traditional “We’re Going to the Beach” song that invariably sends the dogs into a frenzy of anticipation. Chacko, Gyzmoe and Gadget are Oregon beach veterans and they know what that song means, but Blinky doesn’t have a clue what the hell is going on, he just barks because the rest of them are.

One hour and 20 minutes later, after driving through one of the most beautiful rain forests in the world, Chacko and Gyzmoe have their noses out the window smelling the “seafood” as we call the sand crabs they chase and the crisp salty air – with the exception of a disturbing section outside of Tillamook that literally smells like shit - which just excites the cattle dog in Chacko.

Today is Blinky’s first trip to the beach – probably ever – and we aren’t sure what to expect – and neither is he.

As we unload the pack and gear up, the inevitable remarks from other beach goers about our strange family and how full our hands are, remind me how much I really enjoy this exercise. It’s off down the trail to the sand. Walking a short distance to an area with no one about, the leads come off and the kids take off like someone lit their tails on fire. Few things bring a smile to my face like when I see a smile on my dog’s faces – yes, they smile – and at they beach they smile a lot.

Blinky is a bone fide member of the Moreno Pack and is quickly promoted to micro-goat with honors after scaling numerous rock formations and trails. You would think he had lived with us his entire life. He loves his pack and fits right in - in spite of his vertical and well... spacial challenges.

After tiring out the troops, a stop along the Wilson river for a short hike to collect walking sticks and take in some Northwest grandeur and home to Barbequia for a barbeque and some Maná at a considerable decibel level.
Garden Burgers, turkey burgers and beef ribs with a bottle of Corona in the shade of the patio while the kids lie about and recover from the beach - yep, life is good.

As the sun goes down in Barbequia, I just look around and chuckle as I relate to Sponge Bob Squarepants – it was “my best day ever”.

The Perfect Sunday on a Cold & Rainy Day

2008-04-20T13:35:00.000-07:00

No alarms, no phone ringing, nothing but the urge to pee quickly and get back to bed where it’s warm disturbs my sleep.
The rule of the roost is “you snooze you lose” so during my absence from bed Chacko claimed my spot leaving me about 1 ft at the edge of the bed and no pillow.

What the hell, its 9:30 a.m. and coffee sounds delicious about now.

The smell of organic, bird friendly, fair trade coffee brewing is enough to make any tree hugging greenie brave the cold long enough to kick on the heat, nestle into my overstuffed recliner, kick back and wait for my lovely bride to pour the perfect cup and join me on the couch for our weekly ritual of Arabica appreciation.

By this time, Chacko has claimed his spot on the floor in front of the TV at my feet, Gyzmoe is perched on the couch next to Rach, Gadget has groggily meandered in and landed her face on mine as she stretches out down my side and Blinky somehow appears in my lap. He is so tiny and light you never notice him and unlike the stigma of his breed, he doesn’t yap – he is like a zit on your back – you don’t notice him until you bump him and then he just kinda gurgles something out at you.
After coffee, some time at the PC while the aroma of cinnamon multi-grain French toast and fried eggs fills the air creating the anticipation in everyone of brunch to come. The kids love French toast, so the pack congregates again for breakfast as soon as Mom gives the mess howl. Chacko prefers boysenberry syrup on his, Gyzmoe likes the Trader Joes pure maple syrup, Gadgette says “just butter please” and Blinky doesn’t give a damn – he just wants toast. I take whatever is left, enjoy a gourmet breakfast and crash in my chair. Gadgette and Blinky re-claim their spots on my stomach and we doze off dreaming of warmer days on the beach and chasing Sasquatch through the rain forest.

Awakened by Rach removing my shoes for a foot rub, King Canine here is in heaven.

Later in the day, the smell of homemade rolls permeates the house as we enjoy the newly discovered quiet of not having Direct TV – The best uninvestment we have made in years. The chicken in the oven begins to compete with the rolls as the dinner menu makes itself conspicuously known as the aromas add to the already perfect atmosphere.

With the movie line-up selected, a matinee of The Bird Cage with a showing of Mars Attacks for dinner will be the end of our vigorous activity schedule before setting out clothes for Monday. Making a mad dash to the bed to beat Chacko for our favorite spot and reading until I fall asleep as the perfect Sunday on a cold and rainy day in the Northwest comes to an end.

I don’t need to die to be in heaven.

It's a Fountain Fetish

2008-04-18T23:25:00.000-07:00

I can't help it. If I cant be out by a river, lake or the beach, I have to have the sound of it by me.

If it were up to me, there would be a stream running through the back yard connecting any number of ponds and fountains. For now I am happy with the real estate I have managed to commandeer.

This one was simple - Just pay the lady at check-out.

This one was more fun and a bit more entailed.

This Springs addition went from bare ground to this in a weekend. I cant wait for the plants to fill in and the lily pads to grow.

Summers edition will have to be bigger and more complex as I figure the art out. If there is a support group for my condition, dont tell Rach cuz I aint goin'.

If it Doesn't Breathe, it Doesn't Matter!

2008-04-17T16:36:00.000-07:00

It has been a long road figuring out that simple tid-bit of information and a painful one at times. But as I like to say - "I aint dead yet"! So, I keep plugging along at figuring out what to many seems to be the obvious.

After so many years of stress about creating or accumulating, providing and living "the dream", I finally realized that the dream is now - and every moment I spend thinking, stressing or fussing about the when, I rob myself of the only time that is - right now.

Surrounded by unconditional love - what could possibly be more important or more rewarding?