GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION AND THOSE WHO BENEFIT

 There has been an outcry from some, particularly from the left, over the ongoing reviews and recommendations from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as being too large and wide sweeping. To his credit, the President met with DOGE and his cabinet and cautioned them to make cuts with a scalpel rather than a chainsaw approach. DOGE recommends to the head of the Department being audited and then the department head makes the actual cuts, being careful to retain those essential workers and programs. 

Yet the outcry continues... It makes me ask myself, "Why? Who is, or has been benefitting from the status quo?" In a past blog I shared one "expense" found by DOGE from USAID, where two billion dollars were granted to an NGO started in 2023 with Staci Abrams as a principal (she failed in her governor's race bid in Georgia a few years ago- she protested, claiming she won only to be cheated out by voter fraud). In 2023 this NGO had revenues of one hundred dollars- what have they done to deserve two billion now? 

Here's another, recently found by DOGE while auditing the GSA, the department that is basically the government "checkbook".  You submit a receipt for monies expended, and they reimburse you. That's the protocol for re-imbursement. So, in 2009 Michelle Obama submitted a receipt for a state dinner for one hundred twenty-two thousand dollars. Fine, except for one little bookkeeping problem. Someone, and I'm not pointing any fingers, checked this little box that says "Reoccurring", so each and every month thereafter the GSA issued and sent a check to Michelle Obama for $122,000 until the audit put a stop to it. So, what does that look like, over 15 years? How about twenty-two million dollars! Twenty-two million dollars taken fraudulently over the last 15 years, as reported by Dunning-Kruger-times.com. And this was not the only case like this! Is it any wonder that Congressmen and Senators, being paid an annual salary of $174,000 to $223,500, or the Vice President ($235,100), or President ($400,000) enter public office with modest means only leave public service as millionaires, or multi-millionaires? I would venture a guess that those who are complaining the loudest have to most to hide, and the most to lose. 

We aren't just spending wildly and recklessly to government programs and NGOs; we are feeding the very people who are supposed to protect us from graft and corruption with the mechanisms to help themselves to unaudited wealth. Only consistent auditing and transparency in government will we be able to begin to curb this graft. Another way to help curb this problem is to term limit all our politicians to eight years, like we do our presidency. And for those non-elected bureaucrats in government, limit them to ten years maximum employment, then back to the private sector. Plus, once you've served in government for your eight years (or ten years for non-elected bureaucrats) you are ineligible for ANY future federal office. You could still run for state offices, if desired, but you served your time on the big stage. 

A plan such as this would allow fresh perspectives, new outlooks, and more efficiency from our elected officials, for their time will be limited going in. No more "lifer" politicians, like Biden, Schumer, Reid, Pelosi, Grassley, Durbin, Sanders, et al. The longer people are in a job the less efficient they tend to become. Instead of complaining about Trump and Elon Musk being dictators, about them out for only themselves and their "billionaire buddies" as the left and mainstream media are touting, let's examine the facts.

First, until this last year, Elon Musk and his "billionaire buddies" were all members of the Democratic party. It was not until the massive shift to the left and towards progressive socialism did they begin to leave a party that they felt deserted them. There was never any outcry from these same Democrats in past years about these billionaires that donated and supported to them and their party. Second, it should be noted that Musk is volunteering his time to run DOGE, taking no salary, just criticism for his efforts. Still, he has uncovered billions in fraud and waste, with billions more waiting. He is intent on lowering our debt and obligations. As to the criticism that his businesses get millions every year from the government, they forget to add that it is in the form of loans, and he has repaid them, many early. 

The complaints about Trump are far ranging, but we will examine a few. First, he's a Russia lover, or is Putin's puppet. The facts are, under George Bush Putin took Georgia. Under Obama Putin took Crimea. Under Biden Putin took the Donbas, and the war has dragged on for more than three years. Under Trump Putin took- nothing. Further, the toughest sanctions applied to Russia were placed by Trump. When Biden came in he eased those sanctions, he allowed Putin to build the largest pipeline in the world, that Trump had blocked, while blocking the building of our US pipeline and halting the export of natural gas to Europe. This forced countries like Germany and France to look elsewhere for fuel and they turned to Russia. They paid Putin far more for fuel than they donated to Ukraine in war support. In essence, they have funded Putin's war effort. The Ukraine war started when Biden said to Putin, that he would probably do nothing if Putin did a "minor excursion" into Ukraine. The fault for this war lies directly at his feet.

Trump has been criticized for the way his televised conference with Zelenskyi went. I wrote about this earlier, so I won't go into much detail here. However, depending on who's numbers you use, we have supplied 283 billion to 350 billion dollars given to Ukraine in cash and weaponry. "Given", not loaned, like the $100 billion supplied by the rest of NATO combined. Trump saw the inequity of this and proposed the rare earths treaty with Ukraine, to allow US access to Ukraine's deposits, to develop them and split them with Ukraine equally, to help us recoup some of our tremendous expenditures in their war. Zelenskyi had agreed and then, on TV he recanted and demanded other guarantees before committing. So Trump left and told them to tell Zelenskyi to leave. Not the reaction Zelenskyi expected, nor the following actions by Trump. And he apologized and came back to the bargaining table. Trump vowed to stop the war, to stop the killing, and clearly he's shown, both past and present, that he's nobody's puppet.

As to the criticism over tariffs, those complaining need to do some homework on tariffs we use, versus those applied against us. Trump has used tariffs in the past against China, because they tariffed our goods and we had a trade deficiency of several hundreds of billions of dollars. Thanks to those tariffs we recouped billions against our trade deficit. This presidency Trump has focused on trade inequities across the board- friends and foes alike. He has proposed that we apply reciprocal tariffs on those who tariff us, in the same amounts. This has created quite the stir, and promises of retaliation, to which Trump replied that we will match any retaliation. Let's look at Canada- on our dairy and agriculture products they tariff us at 200 to 300 percent! India tariffs our cars at 100% and Harley Davidson motorcycles at over 150%. The EU tariffs our cars at 103%, plus blue jeans, liquor, and others. We currently reciprocate at virtually nothing. Trump wants equal tariffs, or equal no-tariffs but things will be the same when he's done. In the end we will have a return to manufacturing, both country and individual opportunities for wealth, and increased stability as we reduce our debt thru reduction of waste, fraud, and government. Thru 50 days of his second term, inflation is down to 2.8% (from 7% at inauguration), gas prices are down to $3.03 /gal national average (from $3.30 /gal in 2024). Oil is down to $60-65 / barrel (from about $80 /barrel). It seems that we are headed in the right direction, despite all the seeming instability or uncertainty. 

You don't have to like Trump as a person or agree with all he says or does. Just keep in mind that that the majority of Americans believed in his vision and remembered things were better the last time he was in office, and voted him back in. Personally, I find some things he says offensive. Some thigs he says are exaggerated. He tends to repeat himself a lot when wanting to make a point. I'm personally more than tired of hearing how he was cheated out of the 2020 election. It's history, it's in the past. It's time to let the past be in the past and look forward to a better, more successful America. To those who didn't vote for him I ask you to give him a chance. It's time to curtail the hate rhetoric, the constant name-calling and disparaging remarks. We may be two parties politically, but we are one country, one people. Let's work for each other for a change. 

Food for Thought...

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OR THE PARTY OF PROGRESSIVES?

 Let me begin by saying that I am a registered Independent, a fiscal conservative and a social moderate. I believe in voting for that person or candidate that seems best suited for the office they are pursuing. That said, I have voted for both Republicans and Democrats, and once, even a Libertarian. With that said, there are currently only two Democratic Congressional members that I would consider voting for, had they been in my district, and not one Democratic Senator currently serving. They are, all but the two, an embarrassment to their party. 

I'm basing these comments based on the voting to codify the Title IX executive order signed by President Trump. The order gives protection to girls and young women by disallowing biological men from participating in women's sports or allowing them access to women's locker rooms just because they "identify" as female. Only two House members voted with Republicans to pass it on to the Senate, then not one Democratic Senator voted to protect women's sports. Then, later that evening all the Democratic women who showed up for the President's address to both houses of Congress. came wearing pink in a show of solidarity for women's rights- perhaps the biggest display of hypocrisy ever shown by our "public servants". My question to these Democrats is, do you all really believe this wasn't good for our young ladies, or is your distain or hate for Donald Trump stronger than your desire to protect and honor the will of your constituents You see, national poll after national poll shows the American people are for this bill to the tune of 80% for vs !6-17% against. Strictly among Democrats the percent who favor is still 68%. So why are you choosing to almost unanimously defend the minority position?

While you answer that question, let's add these- Why didn't even one Democrat show appreciation for any of the courageous Americans or the Gold-Star families that were honored at the President's speech last night (March 4,2025)? Is your hate for the President, after eight years or more of trying everything possible and failing to keep him out of the White House so great that you would rather disregard the will of your constituents who voted you into office to vote their will just to rob Trump of a possible political "victory"/ Or are the majority of you, despite knowing in your gut that many things being done are, or should be, bipartisan supported, are you too afraid to vote the will of your constituents over the will of a small but loud minority of progressives in your party? Are you human sheep who can't make a decision on your own? The question you need to answer is, are you the party of Hate, or the party of Progressives? And I might add, the hate seems to be rooted in your progressives. 

You are no longer the party of the people- Republicans, thanks to the drawing power of Donald Trump, has wrested that title from you. You have lost your identity, and you have lost your direction. You are sliding further and further to the left, to the views and policies of Socialism, and losing those centrist members that appeal to main-stream America to either Independence, the Republican party, or retirement. And the left gets louder, and the rest of you follow, either not realizing the hypocrisy of your party, or simply not caring. Our last election was repeatedly highlighted with the Hollywood elites telling America to vote for you, not from the heart but because you spent millions to buy their message. These aren't the people of the "Party of the People", they are the millionaires and billionaires, the elites that you have said were the party of the Republicans for decades but that you own now. You have lost your direction and your message, and all America is hearing now is hate, hate, hate. And the left grows louder. If there are any of you left in the Democratic party that have a spine and a sense of right and wrong I challenge you to stand up and represent your constituents, to take a chance and buck the left, and vote to protect our women's sports, to find fraud and eliminate waste in government and government funded programs, to protect our border and complete the wall, and support peace before we end up in world war three. Dare to be bipartisan! You might just find others following your lead, and you might realize your direction once again. 

Food for Thought...

DID ZELENSKYY KILL HIS GOLDEN GOOSE?

 By now everyone is probably aware of the blow up in the Oval Office between President Trump, JD Vance, and Ukranian President Zelenskyy on Friday, February 28th. However, if you get your news from the mainstream media, or the far-left talk shows alone there is no way you have the entire picture of what actually happened. Let's examine what the media is portraying versus the actual facts, is one takes the time to do a little investigative digging. 

First, the contentious part of the meeting, the only part aired on media outlets, was preceded by about 35 minutes of the three, Trump, Vance, and Zelenskyy in a meeting where Trump and Vance were continually gracious toward Zelenskyy despite his continued comments and barbs about not doing the mineral deal without military security promises, despite the deal being all done except for the signatures. Military security guarantees were not part of the negotiated deal, which had already been accepted and ratified by the Ukraine government and signed by their Minister of State. The only thing lacking was Trump's signature. However, Zelenskyy wanted to be a signature also and Trump agreed. Zelenskyy first agreed to sign it before the Munich conference, but after leaving a US delegation waiting well over an hour he showed up, (claiming to have overslept), and refused to sign it, saying he would sign in Munich. Again, in Munich he refused to sign with Secretary of State Rubio, saying he would come to the USA and sign with Trump. 

After traveling to the US and prior to his Oval Office meeting Zelensky met with a bi-partisan group of US Senators. The rumor started that those Democratic Senators present convinced Zelenskyy to reject the minerals deal, a claim hotly denied by those Democrats present. It flowed from a post made by Senator Chris Murphy where he said, "Just finished a meeting with President Zelensky here in Washington. He confirmed that the Ukrainian people will not support a fake peace agreement where Putin gets everything he wants and there are no security arrangements for Ukraine." So, whether they encouraged Zelenskyy to reject the deal or not, it is abundantly clear they were aware Zelenskyy was going into the Oval Office meeting with no intention of signing a deal he clearly didn't like, despite its acceptance by his government. It wasn't Trump and Vance "bushwhacking" Zelenskyy, as the mainstream media screamed, it was Zelenski who Bushwacked America. His intention was to bypass The President and make his case directly to the American people, believing his position considerably stronger than it was. Instead, he ran into a buzz saw, for Trump was not the same easy pushover as Biden had been, even when there were arguments. 

Second, Trump ran on a platform of "strength through peace" and promised to end the wars that were started under the previous administration. Zelenskyy took umbrage at Trump for not calling out Putin and aligning himself firmly on Ukraine's side. We saw how effective Biden was, calling Putin virtually every negative name in the book, and it didn't get us any closer to peace or a resolution to the war. Trump tried to explain that, as a peacemaker, an arbiter, he was trying to stay impartial in the middle, to bring both sides together. Zelenskyy said he wasn't interested in peace several times, I believe thinking that Putin would get concessions that he wanted for Ukraine. Zelenskyy had no intention of signing the mineral treaty unless it was on his terms, especially after the European Union approached him the week prior, after the deal was all but ratified by the US and Ukraine and offered to make a minerals deal "mutually beneficial" to both the EU and Ukraine. This was a direct slap in the face to the US for we had supplied about three and a half times the money and resources to Ukraine as the total EU combined, and their monies were in the form of loans, while we just "gave" under the previous administration. 

Trump made the comment in the Oval Office that the US was going to pursue peace and, after Zelenskyy said he didn't want peace, said that if Zelenskyy and the Ukraine didn't want peace, they could go it alone, or with the Europeans backing them. Personally, I think this is the stand we should take, toward Ukraine, toward the EU, until they affirm the deal with the US that was originally proposed. After the Oval Office fiasco Zelenskyy went to the UK where the leaders of the EU declared their unwavering support and puffed their chests and acted like we don't matter. However, after their meeting they said that "they couldn't do this thing "without the aid of America. The bottom line is America is done funneling billions of dollars and weaponry to Ukraine without any attempts at peace. And Zelenskyy and his oligarchs are balking at peace, claiming that Putin needs to retreat out of all their country, but the reality is probably far simpler. Zelenskyy is in the 6th year of his 5-year term, after canceling elections because of the war, and his popularity is at an all-time low in Ukraine. Compound that with the news that, without an audit, they cannot account for over 60 billion dollars of monies given them and you get a real good reason to keep the war machine running. Someone is getting that money! But now President Trump has turned off the money spigot, halted all weapons sales and deliveries. It will be difficult for Ukraine to maintain their war footing without US weaponry, especially because Russia is out-producing the total out-put of the entire EU. 

Third, where is Russia getting all the money to fund their war economy? This is hard to believe, but after scrapping our own oil/gas pipeline, the last administration okayed the Russian pipeline, which has supplied energy to Germany and other EU countries. The EU has paid more for gas and oil to Russia, literally making Russa rich, than they have given to the Ukraine war effort. So, for all their puffery, for all their blustering support for Zelenskyy and Ukraine, it's easier to make the case that the EU has done more damage than good to Zelenskyy's war effort, and a big part of that blame is directly on President Biden's shoulders, for shutting down American energy production and exports and emboldening Russia's energy development.

If Trump holds his line on his peace talks, and the mineral deal that would help repay America for the billions we've invested in this war, and Zelensky and/or the EU don't come around then I hope America decides to withdraw from the ensuing endless war (with our support) to a much shorter war without it. However, there will be no Ukraine without America's support. Perhaps Putin will strike a mineral deal with the US after the war is over... 

Food for Thought...

AUTHORITARIAN VS AUTHORITATIVE

 In the early days of my fatherhood, I was once criticized by an in-law family member for my parenting style. She accused me of being an authoritarian, to which I politely corrected her by saying, no, I was authoritative. Her response was, so what's the difference? It occurred to me then than there were probably many who didn't know the difference and confused the two as the same. What is the difference?

An authoritarian person is one who favors, or enforces, strict obedience to authority (usually themselves), at the expense of personal freedoms of the subjugated. Dictators are usually authoritarians without fail. An authoritative person, on the other hand, by definition is able to be trusted as being accurate, true, and reliable. He is commanding and self-confident, likely to be respected and obeyed. That's a huge difference between the two, and one that I felt I needed to be sure my in-laws understood. My children respected me, and they obeyed me, yet they also had their personal freedoms.

My reason for sharing this personal insight is to highlight the difference between the two, for our President has recently been called an authoritarian as well as a dictator, and yet a far more accurate assessment of his personality is that he is authoritative, for he is commanding and self-confident, respected by his party, as well as many Independents and even some Democrats, and he is restoring many of the freedoms that were infringed upon by the last administration. There are things I believe you could be critical of our president, however, the biased attacks that are and have been levied against him bear no element or truth or accuracy. A suggestion would be, stop attacking every little thing and look for those areas that have common ground, then work together to make those changes come to pass. Both sides can claim victories in bi-partisan deals. 

Food for Thought...

TITLE IX...

 Who could forget that iconic picture of Donald Trump sitting at the desk, ready to sign his Executive Order to restore Title IX safeguards for our female athletes, with all the young girls crowded closely around? It was one of the most real, heart-warming scenes of his second presidency so far. But the impact of the EO is worth examining. Our society, during the Biden administration, welcomed the transgendered population with open arms, including transgender athletes, allowing men to participate in women's sports, to use women's locker rooms, to transfer from men's prisons to women's, all if they just say they identify as a woman. Several questions have not really been answered in the public forum, but we'll seek to address them here. How big is the transgender community, and how many transgender athletes does Title IX affect? What are some problems caused by transgender men and transgender athletes?

First, the adult transgender community is approximately 0.5%, or about 1.3 million people. Among adolescents the number is somewhat higher, at 1.6%, or about 4 million, due mainly to the WOKE and Diversity agendas incorporated into our school curriculums, rather than English, Math, or History that used to be taught. Athletes, of course, are a considerably smaller subset of this. We don't have statistics on adolescent transgender athletes, but we do know, according to Charlie Baker, President of the NCAA, that the number of transgender athletes is fewer than 10 out of over 500,000 NCAA student athletes. So, the Biden Administration decided to cater to a handful of student athletes at the expense of several hundred thousand female athletes. 

It needs to be noted here that there is little to no dispute that there are significant physical differences between males and females. Men are biologically stronger, larger, and have significant advantage over their female counterparts. For example, Lia Thomas, a transgender swimmer competing in the NCAA first as a male, was ranked 66th. After declaring his identity as female and switching to women's sports, Lia shattered women's record after record, proving the physical differences are very real. Males that can "transgender" to female while remaining completely 100% biologically male is just wrong.

Second, allowing anyone who identified as female, (because the issues don't seem to be females identifying as males), access to all the female facilities, despite the fact that they are 100% biological males allows those who may be sexual deviants a platform to prey on young women. Now before you get all upset at that comment, there are a number of recorded cases of just such occurrences. In one, a 6'1" male identifying as a female tried out for the swim team, and after practice was reported to be watching the naked girls shower and dress while he masturbated. More recently, in September 2024, in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a girl's swim club went into the locker room after class, to find a naked man standing in the middle of the floor watching all the young girls change, many with their mothers' present! The police were called, but the perpetrator wasn't apprehended until December, then in court in February 2025. Clearly, if you find women stimulating it should question your commitment to your transgender identity, versus your desire to sate your sexual perversions. 

As for male prisoners, they have discovered that "identifying" as female can result in a transfer to a women's prison. Since this "transgender boom" over these past few years female pregnancies are up 35% among female prisoners. According to one prison official pregnancies are up from two instances a month to over twenty per month, mainly due to the influx of transgender inmates. Costs to care for pregnant inmates, or to cover abortion if desired by inmates, far exceeds the costs for regular inmates. 

So, here's my dilemma: Why are so many progressive lawmakers so willing to sacrifice the rights of the vast majority to sate the desires of the so very, very few? What is the purpose of living in a Constitutional Federal Republic with a democratic system of government, where the will of the majority supposedly rules, yet a good number of our elected officials continue to try to force the will of the few on the rights of the majority? Clearly those elected are not following the will of the majority of their constituents, rather choosing the "squeaky wheel" over the welfare of the many. It is time that the silent majority, the everyday people- our friends, and neighbors, stand up for what is right. We may differ in our opinions politically, religiously, or other ways, but we all live in the same neighborhood, attend the same churches, shop the same grocery stores, go to the same dentists or doctors- and we tend to get along well with each other despite our differences. If our government wasn't so divisive much of the animosity would disappear from our nation. Our nation is so polarized, so divided, and it starts with all the divisiveness of our elected officials, and their inability to work together...

Food for thought... 

THE DEMON NAMED DOGE...

 Donald Trump and Elon Musk have been moving at a tornado pace searching for fraud and financial abuses in our federal government, going department by department and slashing contracts, employees, and freezing payments that appear to be fraudulent or abusive. To date they list about $55 billion in cuts and savings. They face massive resistance from the Democratic side of the aisle, or at least the far left of their party.  As of February 14th, 2025, less than a month into his presidency Trump has been served with 74 lawsuits from the left (79 as of the 20th), trying to slow or stop the impetus of his actions. 

The left has filed at least 58 of the suits in Federal District Courts in Washington DC, Boston, Seattle, and suburban Maryland, all courts with majorities of liberal, left leaning judges appointed by Democratic presidents. They feed into Appellate Courts with similar ideological bents. The lawsuits focus on new immigration policies, the cutting of federal agencies or employees, civil rights protections, diversity programs, birthright citizenship, and the Department of Government Efficiency. Yet of all those lawsuits filed in what has been labelled "lawfare" only 17 resulted in judges issuing temporary "stays" until the issues can be litigated fully. As of this writing several of those have already been overturned. 

DOGE maintains a website showing what fraud and abuses they've found, and it is constant fodder, or fuel, for attacks from the left. They claim DOGE claims are exaggerated, and indeed they may be, but at the same time their attacks are fully exaggerated also. Let's take a look at just one claim by DOGE and the resulting responses from the left, then we will try to apply the facts, as best we know them, to the situation...   

DOGE listed on their website that they found about 18 million Americans who were born in 1920 or before, intimating that there was a large number of fraudulent payouts happening and they needed to stop them. Democrats immediately responded with statements claiming the Trump administration and DOGE were trying to cut social security benefits to seniors- a very scary sentiment to a large number of our population. So, what is the truth? 

According to a high-level Social Security Administrator that high number of people do exist on the SSA roles, however, it is a bookkeeping issue- they haven't been able to purge them because the "Deceased" box was never checked so the system won't remove them. According to SSA 98% of all those people do not receive any benefits from SSA, so DOGE is misrepresenting the problem. However, no benefits cuts to existing recipients have been suggested, making the Dems' claims false scare tactics. But, knowing now what we know, what is the fraud or abuse happening at SSA in this instance alone? Let's do the math...

Two percent of eighteen million is 360,000 recipients that SSA says are actively receiving benefits. According to the latest census figures in 2021 there were 89,739 people alive who were 100 years old or older. Let's call it 90,000 to keep numbers simple. If there are 90,000 receiving benefits legally then that means there are 270,000 fraudulent payments going out each month. If we conservatively assess a claim at $1500 monthly, times 270,000 we get $4.05 million dollars a month in fraudulent payments in this category alone, or $4.86 billion dollars a year in waste. Yet the question we need to ask, and find answers to, is, "Who is receiving and cashing these checks"? The other fact to remember is, this is just one category of many, spanning numerous departments. 

One more example I'll share is as follows: Staci Abrams, once Georgia hopeful for the office of Governor, started an NGO and in 2023 they had revenues of $100. In 2024 her NGO received a grant from the Biden Administration for TWO BILLION DOLLARS! That's BILLION, with a B!!! Clearly some sort of explanation is needed, an accounting of these funds, for it looks like political cronyism at its best, outright fraud at its worst. There are far too many similar examples that we need explanations for or retributions for those who receive such payouts...The American people deserve to know how our tax monies are being spent.

Food for thought...

WELL, I'M BACK...

 It has been some time since I've really intentionally blogged and, quite honestly, I've missed it. If you read any of my past blogs, or viewed the webpage, you may have noted that I authored a couple of books since retiring. I also took to writing magazine articles for a couple trade magazines and, some 20+ articles later I'm done with that. So it's time to revisit my initial love, blogging, where I can express my ideas as they flow, the purest form I've found of writing from the heart.

Today I'm going to address a very difficult and polarizing topic, but one to which I've given a lot of thought. First, let me address where my perspective comes from: I'm a Christian, I'm a registered Independent, a fiscal conservative, and a social moderate. Here's what really bothers me- Trump Derangement Syndrome. There may be nothing more illuminating to the polarized divide in our country than Donald Trump. Now I'm not a "Trump-er", nor am I a "Never Trum-er", rather choosing to weigh the pros and cons of each party candidates and vote my mind accordingly. With that being said, our country has been in a downward spiral ever since the pandemic hit, and both parties contributed to it to some degree. However, after careful consideration I came to the conclusion that our country could not survive 4 more years of the tract we were on and, with a majority of Americans, I voted for the promised change of Donald Trump and the Republicans.

On July 13th, 2024, in Butler PA Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt on his life. He turned his head just as a sniper fired and the bullet meant for his brain just grazed his ear. However, the impact of the situation, the near-death experience he experienced brought Donald Trump to a "Meeting Jesus" moment in Donald's life. While he claimed to have accepted Christ some years before during a meeting with Billy Graham, and often verified by Graham's son Franklin, he didn't really exhibit a change in his words or actions to convince many Christians of his authenticity. Yet after the Butler incident there was a noticeable change in both word and attitude. Trump openly expressed his faith in God and his belief that it was only thru God's grace that he was spared. He felt God spared him to serve and turn our country's direction around. 

Here's my problem with all this: Trump claims to be a Christian. He now is living out a softer, gentler demeanor, he has openly proclaimed no desire to treat those who have attacked him for years, dragging him into court after court, impeachment after impeachment, negative news story after news story, etc., etc., etc., and still there are Christians who are still unwilling to accept the fact that he may be saved thru his faith. They hold up example after example of his faults and failings from years and decades past and declare the man unfit. I always thought that we were to love and accept our brothers and sisters in Christ despite their past sins, if they've turned from them and are following God now. I think of Jesus, as he hung on the cross between two thieves, and as one recognized him and asked forgiveness Jesus told him he would be with him that very day in paradise. I don't read anywhere that Jesus said sorry, your past is too sketchy, I can't believe you now. No, he forgives and welcomes. Are we, as Christians, not called to do the same? How is it we are better able to judge a man's heart than our Heavenly Father? I seem to recall Jesus preaching, "Judge not, lest you be judged" (Matt. 7:1 KJV) in his greatest teaching ever- the Sermon on the Mount. Are we any better Christians if we cannot, or choose intentionally to do not forgive and accept our brother in Christ? I ask the question: What would Jesus do?" 

From a political perspective Trump has run on a platform of change, and after an overwhelming electoral victory as well as receiving over half the votes Trump has a basis, a mandate from voters, to carry out his campaign promises on restoring our country to its former greatness. Next blog I'll address the political climate; the changes from the right and the reactions from the left Until then, I hope this has given you some food for thought...

THE COMMA

I visited a new church this morning, or to be more correct, a church new to me. The people were quite friendly, and the pastor preached a very good message, one that was scripturally accurate, at least until his final point. Now, in his defense, I've heard the passage preached and interpreted EXACTLY the same way he did this morning, and probably the way a majority of pastors would interpret it. However, just because the majority views a passage one way doesn't mean there isn't validity in a minority viewpoint. 

The passage in question was John 15:7, where Jesus says, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples." Now the pastor preached that bearing much fruit and proving to be Jesus' disciples brings glory to Father God, and I do not disagree with that, however, there is no grammatically correct reason to place a comma after "glory". If, on the other hand, you want to tie the Father's glory to a previous thought then the comma is necessary. That little comma actually changes the focal point. In what brings glory to the Father? That we abide in Jesus and allow his words to abide in us, so that we have the faith to ask for anything in Jesus' name, and it will be granted. I checked in every translation and even transliteration I had, and every one included that comma, so it must be important.

You see, when we abide in Jesus, and allow his words to permeate our lives, our desires become the very desires Jesus wants for us. Therefore, when we act in faith and ask for WHATEVER we want in Jesus' name, and we believe it will be granted God is glorified by our obedience and faithful words and actions. Further, our obedience produces fruit, and this also glorifies God, as does our actions proving to be Jesus' disciple. But it all starts with asking, in Jesus' name. That's what I believe that little comma is telling us.

Food for thought...

THE MEDETERRANIAN DIET

 The Mediterranean Diet emphasizes recipes that are plant-based with healthy fats, a moderate amount of dairy, and minimal amounts of red meats, processed foods, and added sugar. It is not necessarily a strict diet, rather it is more of a healthy living choice. As with most diets, the Mediterranean diet emphasizes daily physical activity in your routine. The Mediterranean Diet has produced a myriad of beneficial results. When science began studying the populations of the world in the 1950’s they found that those in the Mediterranean basin tended to be healthier, live longer, be better fit, and have fewer health issues, and they contributed it to diet and lifestyle. Some of the benefits they found were:

 • It is anti-inflammatory and can help maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels

 • Supports good gut bacteria 

• It is heart healthy and can reduce the risks of strokes and total cardiovascular disease.

 • It can help elderly improve brain function and longevity. 

• It helps manage Type II diabetes.

 • It helps with weight loss 

With proper diet and physical activity, it is possible for one to optimize brain function, improve cholesterol and blood pressure, ward off anxiety and depression, and defend against chronic diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. 

 DIET PLAN

 1. Eat five servings of produce a day, produce being fruits and vegetables. An example would be two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables. A serving would be equivalent to one-half cup of cooked vegetables or one cup of raw vegetables. Try to prioritize nonstarchy vegetables, like dark leafy greens, bell peppers, and broccoli. Starchy vegetables, like potatoes, can be enjoyed in moderation. A serving of fruit would be a piece of whole fruit or a half cup of fresh, frozen or canned. Some of the best nutrient-dense fruits include berries, apples, peaches, and pears.

 2. Eat at least one serving of legumes, nuts, or grain each day {or all three, if possible!) 

3. Three servings of whole grains daily is ideal. Serving ideas include a slice of whole grain bread, or a half cup of cooked oatmeal, whole grain pasta, or brown rice. Simple ways to include more whole grains would be to swap out white pastas and rice for sides like quinoa, bulgar, or wheat berries. 

4. Dairy and cheese can be enjoyed in moderation. Prioritize low fat and non-fat options whenever possible. Some healthier dairy includes feta, Greek yogurt, goat cheese, halloumi, Manchego, parmigiano, pecorino, and ricotta. 

5. Meats and seafood are allowed in moderation. Fish is one of the best options because it is high in omega three fatty acids, “healthy fats” that supports good heart health, and helps to lower your triglycerides. When enjoying red meats (I.e., beef, goat, and lamb), prioritize smaller portions and leaner cuts. Chicken is a good source of lean protein. Meat and seafood sources include: chicken, eggs, red meat, octopus, salmon, sardines, shrimp, and tuna. 

  

One of the important aspects of the Mediterranean Diet is the use of “Healthy Fats”. Using 100% virgin olive oil, which is rich in monosaturated fat (lowers your LDL) is far healthier than butter or Margerine, both high in saturated fats (a no no!). Other healthy fats are salmon (fatty fish), vinegars (apple cider, balsamic, red wine), and whole grains. It isn’t specific recipes that make the diet worthy, rather the lifestyle choice to eat fresh foods over processed foods, to limit sodium intake, and to learn moderation in those “less healthy” choices we’ve come to enjoy. We can still enjoy eating, but when let healthy choices and moderation be our guide, along with daily physical activity we are on the road to our heart-healthy lifestyle! There are numerous specific recipes available on the internet using our listed ingredients by simply Goggling “Mediterranean Diet Recipes”, as well as services that will deliver meal kits based on the Mediterranean Diet. Or, now knowing the ingredients, be creative and make your own healthy culinary masterpieces! Best wishes as you start down the road to a longer, healthier life!

RECIPES

Here are a few recipes to help you transition to your Mediterranean diet lifestyle.

 1. Mediterranean Salads:  Salads are a great choice for a meal on this diet, but salads don’t have to be boring! I use either romaine lettuce (which is darker, leafier lettuce) or iceberg lettuce (it holds up better over several days). Tear your lettuce into bite-size pieces. (Tearing keeps lettuce fresher than cutting it up with a knife, which releases chemicals that cause lettuce to brown faster). You can also add spinach to your lettuce for variety. I like to add a combination of the following: mandarin oranges, strawberries, seedless grapes, radishes, cucumber, tomato wedges, creamy goat cheese, walnuts, bacon bits, and sliced eggs. As you can see, it is easy to get all five servings of your daily fruits and veggies in one salad alone, plus, walnuts are your legumes ration. The eggs add protein. You can also boil or grill a boneless, skinless chicken breast and chop it up and add to a salad for more protein choice. This is a well-rounded choice for a meal.

 2. Spanish Rice Make two cups of brown rice per instructions. When fully cooked add half a can of tomato juice (about 23 oz), half of a green pepper, diced, half of a red pepper, diced, about 7 oz of a sausage or kielbasa, diced, diced tomatoes, (2 Roma), half of a diced sweet onion to the rice and simmer on low heat until the veggies are cooked.... the remaining items are enough for a second meal of Spanish rice. You can also add celery to your recipe. 

3. Tuna fish Drain two cans of tuna fish in spring water (not oil!) and empty them into a bowl. Dice two hard boiled eggs and add to tuna fish. Dice two baby gherkins and add to mix. Add onion salt and garlic powder to taste (approx. a teaspoon or so). Add olive oil mayo to mix until the mixture is somewhat creamy. Serve on multigrain bread with lettuce. 

 4. Egg Salad Take 8-10 hardboiled eggs and dice up well. Mix in olive oil mayo and mustard, in about 4 to 1 ratio, mayo to mustard. Add onion salt and garlic salt to taste. Serve on multigrain bread with lettuce. 

 5. Chicken-Broccoli casserole Boil three boneless, skinless chicken breasts until cooked throughout. Cut up two crowns of broccoli into bite size pieces and blanch in boiling water. (Don’t overcook or broccoli will get soggy.) Layer broccoli in a 9x13 dish. Cut chicken into bite sized pieces and layer on top of broccoli. In a saucepan combine two cans of cream of chicken soup with a cup of olive oil mayo and a dash or two of curry. Stir and heat until the mixture stays together and wants to slide out of the saucepan easily. Pour over chicken and broccoli and spread out evenly. Cover top with 2 cups of shredded cheese, (I usually use a mild cheddar or a co-jack). Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes, or until cheese is melted and turning brown. You can also make this recipe in an 8x8 dish, using one large chicken breast or two smaller ones, one crown of broccoli, and the sauce made of one can of cream of mushroom soup, a half cup of olive oil mayo, and a dash of curry, and one cup of shredded cheese. 

 6. Breakfast ideas:  For breakfast, some of the meals I make for variety are: 

A. 100% whole grain oatmeal with a little brown sugar and honey, with 2% milk.                                     B. A grapefruit, lightly sugared, and either two hard boiled eggs, or a banana, or grapes.                         C. A fried egg serves on multigrain bread with a slice of real cheese.                                                         D. A bowl of Honey-nut Cheerios with a sliced banana and 2% milk. 

Some things to keep in mind as you transition to this way of eating. To lose weight remember that breakfast is an important meal as it kicks off your day. Your lunchtime meal should be your biggest meal, and then a lighter meal in the evening. Eating a big meal in the evening when your activity dramatically drops off doesn’t allow that meal to help your diet. If you find yourself getting hungry between meals, snack on fruit, or trail mix, things that are far healthier than cookies or ice cream, etc. Also, it doesn’t matter how well you eat, without some exercise your body cannot properly burn your meals. Walk, swim, or choose an exercise that you enjoy. An fyi- a rowing machine gives you a full body workout and you can regulate the difficulty.

CATAGORIES OF FOOD 

VEGETABLES  / FRUITS / LEGUMES, /  HERBS/SPICES                                                                                              NUTS,GRAINS                                                                                                                                                      

  Artichokes       Apples           Barly                    Allspice                                                             Avocado          Apricots          Buck                      Wheat Basil                                                           Beets               Cherries         Bulgar wheat          Bay leaves                                                                    Bell peppers    Clementines   Cannellini beans     Cannellini                                                           Broccoli          Dates             Chickpeas               Anise                                                                  Cabbage          Figs               Couscous                Cinnamin                                                           Carrots            Grapefruit      Farro                      Clove                                                                     Celery             Melons          Fava beans              Cumin                                                         Cauliflower    Nectarines      Kidney beans          Mint                                                               Cucumbers     Oranges          Lentils                    Dill weed                                                           Eggplant         Peaches          Navy beans             Garlic powder                                                           Kale                Pears `            Oats                        Onion powder                                                         Leafy greens  Pomegranates  Orzo                       Nutmeg                                                               Spinach         Strawberries    Pine nuts                Olive oil                                                           Tomatoes       Tangerines       Pistachios               Oregano                                                             Potatoes          Bananas         Quinoa                    Parsley                                                                   Sweet potatoes                      Walnuts                   Rosemary                                                          Turnips                                 Wheat berries          Sage                                                                   Zucchini                               Yellow split peas     Sesame seeds                                                         Olives                                   Almonds                 Tahini Onions,                                                  Pumpkin,                                                              Paprika, Thyme,                                               Radishes, and scallions                                      Vinegar, and Za’atar      

"CLIMATE CHANGE" VS ABSOLUTE TRUTH

 I was reading in my devotions this morning a letter to Diognetus, a tutor to a Roman Emperor, penned by an unknown author about A.D.256. In it he writes the following: 

"For Jesus is Lord of this creation. He is the One who, with the Father, both conceived and created the heavens. He set the boundaries of the oceans and mire than that. He governs the mysterious laws that hold all elements in their delicate balance... Yes, all things - in heaven and earth and under the earth, the sea and all that passes within its currents, fire and air, spirits in the heights and depths He holds the key to their well-being and peace. The Father sent the Son to this, His own now-fallen creation, to announce the gift of new life." 

He goes on to say, "Now the worldly powers impose their government and their plans, by pressure and the use of terror. But God does not impose His will over us in this way. Take note of this for there are already false teachers among us who use fear to manipulate."

I was struck by this, for it could have been written about many of our leaders today. They preach the end of our world as we know it- melting ice caps and horrific acts of nature hurricanes, fires, tornadoes, drought, flooding, and on and on. They preach their message of gloom and doom and yet, not once have I heard them mention, for example, when we break a heat record that has stood for a hundred years, that a century ago people were experiencing very similar weather and somehow survived!

 Do I think climate change is real or a hoax? Let me say this- I do believe we do bad things to our climate, things that can affect our health, the environment, other living things, and we should work to correct them, for we were made to be stewards of this earth and all that live on it. But is the earth going to die like the doom and gloomers predict? No, absolutely not, for God owns this creation, as fallen and broken as we may be, and He has promised to heal it, to make it whole again, in His time, and no man knows the day. I don't think we should be swayed by these "false prophets" who use lies and fear to promote their radical agendas- specifically this "progressive wing" (more accurately "socialist wing") who pronounce doom and gloom unless we do things their way. 

I have a choice- listen to the fear mongering rhetoric of the left or believe and trust in God, the creator and author of all things and what he has promised. Do I want will imposed on me or life promised me? Two diametrically opposite styles, only one path that endures. Choose wisely. 

Food for thought...

CRT is Just a Symptom

 We are a mess today. Our society is so divisive, so polarized, that many don't have a clue how to fix it. The problem is, there is no quick fix, for this problem has been years, decades, in the making. A large part of the problem has been steeped in good intentions- our desire to make life easier for our children- and in doing so we have created a weaker, less resolute generation susceptible to societal inflences detrimental to our nation's founding principles.

We are a capitalistic society, based on the principles that anyone could succeed if they just have the drive, the chutzpah, to stay with it. My grandfather, my father, exemplified this and I learned from them. Yet society as a whole moved in a different direction. The 1960's was a decade of free love and experimentation. It churned out a generation of permissible, weak adults who didn't raise their kids as much as allowing schools and society to mold them. And our institutions of higher education were already teaching humanism and the root principles of socialism by the 1990's.

Our base problem is this; the progressive left in society now teaches that everyone should get the same opportunities as everyone else. They believe that there should be wealth equality, or the rich pay more so we have more to give to the poor. In the name of "social justice" they are undermining the very tenets that made our country great. They build social programs on the backs of these ideas to lure in the lower and middle class with promises of getting stuff "free". Well, there is no free. These tenets they are pushing are found in the fundamentals of socialism and Marxism and if history teaches us anything it us that these fundamentals are abject failures where ever they have been tried. 

Look at Venezuela, one of the richest nations in natural resources in the world. Twenty years ago Chavez promised many of these same things and today the vast majority of Venezuelans are poverty level poor and poorer, many dumpster diving for food and subsistence. The same ideology was preached in Cuba and today the country is in turmoil and ripe for revolution. Socialism, communism, Marxism doesn't work because there is no incentive to make it work. It strips the population of their self esteem, their self worth and creates a dual society of the vastly wealthy and the poor. No socialistic country has had a middle class that lasted any length of time, for it is always a casualty of socialism and Marxism.

So what is the answer? We need to return to what made us great that human spirit that said anyone could succeed if they just try hard enough. We need to quit handing people " freebies", for the bill to pay for those will one day come due. We have already mortgaged our children's economic future and the out of control spending taking place in government today is fast mortgaging our grand children's future as well. Everyone is equal, but not everyone is the same. Saying that doesn't make me racist or bigoted, or any of the -phobes the left wants to to label me with. No, it makes me honest for calling it as it is. If you work 60 hours a week and provide a good home for your family and I live off of government assistance and barely scrape by we may be equal as human beings, but we are not the same. You have taken command of your life, your future, and you are getting somewhere while I live off handouts from the government which strips me of my self esteem and personal worth.  Take away my handouts and I have nothing. That is my fault and I have it within myself to change it. We all do, we just need to be reeducated on how to tap into it. 

It is going to take time to fix our problems for we have to go back to the basics, we need to teach our upcoming generations these principles again. You are your own success story. No one can give you success, you earn it. We've lost that truth in our progressive humanistic Marxist teaching which now permeates all levels if education. We need to stop teaching our kids these lies and teach them their world is only limited by the limits of their imagination. Success isn't regulated by the color of your skin or the social strata you were born into no, success is for those who choose to stand up and take it. We are our greatest hope, and yet today we are our greatest enemy. We need to conquer ourselves to have the hope of attaining our vast potential... 

Food for thought...

Enough is enough!

I'd like to take a moment on behalf of George Floyd to say to these "protesters", " Enough is enough! " Protesting is a right of all Americans, voicing disapproval over wrongs or injustices is part of our first amendment rights. But protests, peaceful protests take place in the light of day, where our message can be heard, not at night which cloaks the actions of those wishing to loot and destroy buildings, businesses, and communities, all in the name of- what? Not the memory of George Floyd, for he would be the first to condemn their actions. Not to right social injustices, for breaking the law and destroying communities and lives never corrects a social injustice.
The violence rocking out cities, our nation,  which began as a protest over social injustice, has become an excuse for those interested in destroying what they can't have, what others worked their lives for, which these "protesters"have neither the will not the backbone to legitimately work for. They are thugs, thieves, and domestic terrorists, for their intent is to destroy America as we know it because they aren't happy with their wretched lives.
All lives matter, and what happened to George Floyd was egregious and wrong to anyone with a caring heart. It was shocking and appalling and the injustice needs to be remedied, but breaking the law by burning and looting just compounds the wrong and gives fuel to those who oppose reform. Instead of breaking the law let's assemble peacefully, make our viewpoint known, and begin to change things by working together. The vast majority of Americans are good and moral people, not condoning such a wrong such as happened to Mr. Floyd. In his memory let's work for change through peace and dialogue, not through violence and anarchy.
Food for thought...

Tis the Season...

As we approach another Christmas I'm finding this one different from ones past. This year, with the prospect of not traveling to see family up in the cold and snowy north, nor having any family coming to visit me in warm and sunny Florida I find myself facing the prospect of spending Christmas alone. Strangely, this doesn't upset me at all, for tho I love family and spending time with loved ones I am looking forward to being able to intentionally focus on the season- its meaning, its significance, and its impact on my life. All too often we blow through this season, busy with buying presents, decorating home and office, parties, baking and cooking, visiting friends and family... it can just be a blur, until after Christmas we sit back and blow a huge sigh of relief that we survived another season.

But what is lost in all the hustle and bustle is the reason for the celebration. Jesus was born. Jesus, part of our Godly Trinity took on the cloak of humanity to live among us, show us how to live, and ultimately pay the price for our sin. Jesus made it possible for me to communicate directly with my God, to seek forgiveness for my sin, and to rest assured that my eternal destiny lies safely with Him. Without Christmas there is no Easter, there is no personal reconciliation, there is no hope of eternal security. And in the light of eternity, my few years on this earth are but a  blip- so Jesus' selfless act is the single biggest gift I could ever receive. This is worthy of remembrance, this is worth the time to slow down and reflect, to appreciate, and to be grateful. It is a time to give God the awe and reverence He so justly deserves for the sacrifice He made. This season I hope to celebrate Christmas with my God.
Food for thought...

The ABCs of Intentional Living...

This year has been a busy one for me, specifically because my first book made it through the publishing gauntlet and became available to the public earlier this year. It is called "The ABCs of Intentional Living" and is a book on how to get more out of our daily lives, how to break free of living in a rut and enjoy life more. It is an easy read, not long, and available on Amazon in either print or digital format. It is also available at Barnes and Noble in print or nook format. Help me out and buy a copy!
My second book is now in the publishing stage, set to be released sometime around Thanksgiving or Christmas of 2018. It is a book on a number of issues that Christians often ponder and puzzle over and offers some new and unique insights, some serious, some fun, and some outside our mental boxes. It is called "Tackling the Toughies: Christian Issues We Ponder and Puzzle". I hope you will support me and check it out too!
Thanks to all who have followed and supported me in the blogosphere!

Hamburger or Steak?

Sometimes we find ourselves faced with a decision- a life-altering decision- and the choice we face is, do I step out in faith that making a change could ultimately be so much better, healthier, and fulfilling for me, or do I fall back to what is known, what may have been comfortable in the past? All too often we are cowards, defaulting to the known, even though it has become unhealthy, either physically, mentally, or emotionally, because something is better than potentially nothing.
What we don't factor in, especially those of us who claim to be Christ-followers is that He has our absolute best at heart, and what we've chosen to pass on in favor of the "known and comfortable" may be abundantly greater for us had we just had the faith.
I know that in my past I have been guilty of choosing the known over the possible. I remember many years ago when I was relatively young at the business, my old boss offered me the choice of a salary and small commission or a much healthier straight commission. I had a family and I chose the salary because I could count on it. It turned out that I was the best salesman he had ever hired and he saved tens of thousands of dollars on my decision. I was a coward. I chose the known.
I know there have been times relationally that I should have walked away from a bad relationship, yet I persisted in it because it was a known quantity, rather than trust God had someone better for me- or even no one at all, if that was best for me at that point in my life. I guess my whole point is, that we need to brave potential new frontiers in our lives, that if our past has been unhealthy then we shouldn't "settle" just because it's a known quantity. Why settle for hamburger when God is waiting to serve you a steak?
Food for thought...

ONE NATION-UNDER GOD?

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United Stated of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Under God- really? In this day, in our society we have removed God from almost all aspects of our society. We deny Him in our schools, we segregate Him out of our government, and we even try to remove Him from the celebration of His birth on this earth. We try to pigeon-hole God into “religion”- confine Him to the Church, then label those who believe “right-wing” or “bigots” or “fringe”. Yet I don’t believe this is the belief or desire of main-stream America.

Our country was founded on the principal of freedom of religion, the belief that each person or group should be able to worship God in their own way. Our founding fathers were men of faith, and God played a prominent role in the establishment and structure of our country. And our Republic has lasted longer than any other, our Democracy a model that other free nations have tried to emulate. And yet we have placed our Democracy in peril, because we have listened to the voice of the few over the silence of the many. Our apathy has removed God from the very institution He played so prominently in establishing.

We wonder today why our Congress is so inept, with approval ratings in the single digits. Perhaps it is because we no longer look to God for direction or instruction. We were created to be social beings, to live in community with God and each other. However, when we stripped God from the equation – the creator of that desire for community- and we rely on our own means to get along we fail miserably. We need God in our government; we need God in our schools; but most of all we need God in our homes, for that is where revival will have to start. God has been removed from the home, the grassroots of our society, and when we choose, as individuals, as families, that we want God back it will start in the home.

Food for thought…

Relationships- Sometimes it's All About Timing

I've often said that relationships can be difficult, and for a variety of factors. Sometimes relationships have run their course, the shared desire to make one work is gone, or perhaps distance has strained it, or one side has allowed the relationship to become inequitable in an unhealthy way. There are many other factors that could lead to the termination of a relationship, but what affects the beginning of a new relationship?
One of the most damaging things to the life of a new relationship is wrong timing. If one party is not really ready to enter in then the relationship could be in trouble. Let's say, for example, that I was just in a long-term relationship- one that I invested several years in- and at the end I was the one who decided to walk away. I still need time to grieve over the loss of what was a very prominent part of my life. I am not ready to just start pursuing  a new relationship. And then there's my ex-partner, who may still desire to try and fix the dysfunctional relationship, so there will be attempts to talk, to reconcile, before final acceptance is achieved-if ever.
My first relationship after my divorce was with a woman who divorced her husband, despite his desire to try and make their marriage work. She was done, but he wasn't. During our four-year off-and-on relationship he was constantly in the picture, for she continually allowed him to do work around the house, build her a deck, et al., because he desired to be close and she was willing to use him. It caused a serious strain on our relationship. When it comes to romantic relationships one needs to be finalized- on both sides- before beginning a new one if one wants a chance at optimal success.
If you don't allow time for healing then what does that do to your new beau? He or she becomes a "rebound" relationship, a filler that helps alleviate the pain and aid in the finality of the previous one. Now, it's possible that a relationship with this beginning can survive, but it causes unease for the new beau. (Add to that the game-playing that seems to permeate the dating scene nowadays and it's a wonder we have healthy relationships at all today).
Personally, I have become accustomed to being alone, and am perfectly comfortable being single. Being single is not a sickness. Yet there are times I remember the beauty of a good and healthy relationship- the sharing, the love, the memories. I would welcome being in relationship again, but I will refuse to play the stupid dating games. I'm too old for that. I don't want to be a rebound, I don't want to be used to teach someone a lesson. I want to pour love and attention out on someone special, and have that love reciprocated. I want to know what my mate expects, what they want in a relationship. I have so much to offer, but I need to know their expectations to see if it's viably possible to achieve. I am willing to make that monetary commitment to a relationship, and the time commitment that relationships require- most are willing to do these- but I am also willing to make that emotional commitment, which is laying my heart out there to be vulnerable to hurt and devastation if my mate chooses not to protect it. Being emotionally available is perhaps the most difficult element of new relationships.
So timing is important if we want optimal success. I know a woman, a beautiful woman, inside and out, and was attracted to her from our first meeting some several years ago. At that time she was engaged in a long-term relationship, which recently she left. Now the temptation is to move in and sweep her off her feet with romance and attention, but that's not healthy for her or me. I'm sure there will be residual contact and effects from her last relationship that need time to be dealt with. I'm sure that she needs to lay that relationship to rest, and that takes some time. she needs to recover emotionally so she'll be able to give her best to the next relationship. Now I risk losing the opportunity to ever develop a relationship with her, to her old beau or another new one, by allowing her time to heal, especially if she wants to move forward immediately- but I only want the best- for her and for me, for we deserve nothing less. Sometimes it's all about timing.
Food for thought...

I have been absent from the blogging scene for a while now, and extend my apologies to anyone who had been interested in reading something new. It is not without reason however, and I'd like to explain my absence. Since even before my retirement several years ago my daughter had encouraged me to write a book- she even said she'd read it!- (which, I figured, meant two sales anyway!). Well, after a long and sometimes laborious process things finally came together and I wrote a book, submitted it to a publisher, and had it accepted. After a few rewrites, editing, and corrections it finally made it through the process and into the cover artwork and design. I'm happy to say that it is now in the"hard printing" stage and will be available in about six weeks!
The book is entitled, "THE ABCs OF INTENTIONAL LIVING" and is a practical, Christian-based book on how to live within your means, make the best use of your time, and how to be more productive and happy with your time and life. It should be available at all brick and mortar stores, like Barnes and Noble ,etc., and also from Amazon. The book is $12.95 and the e-book is $9.99. I really appreciate the years of support and if you think it may be a help to you please pick up a copy!
I'll continue my blogging and hopefully be more diligent in the future! Thanks to all who read....

~Bud