A story is told of the peasant with a troubled conscience who sought the advise of a monk. He told the monk he had circulated a vile story about his friend, only to find out the story was not true. The monk told the peasant, "to make peace with your conscience, you must fill a bag with chicken down, go to every dooryard of the village and leave them each a fluffy feather to find. The peasant did as was advised and then returned to the monk and told him his penance was completed for his erred ways. "Not yet," exclaimed the monk. "Take your bag and retrieve each of those feathers you have dropped." The peasant replied, "but the wind surely has blown them all away." "Yes my son," said the monk, "and so it is with gossip. Words are easily dropped, but no matter how hard you try, you can never get them back again."
And so is told the parable of the gossip. We too must remember the power our words hold, and how difficult it is to undo what has been said. Filter your thoughts and save yourself the difficult task of penance for a quick tongue....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
(Story borrowed from "Resolved" 13 Resolutions for Life-Orrin Woodward)
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Out Of The Zone!
"Think of your comfort zone as a prison you live in- a largely self created prison. It consists of a collection of can'ts, musts, must nots, and other unfounded beliefs formed from all the negative thoughts and decisions you have accumulated during your lifetime." -Jack Canfield
I've heard it said, by Chris Brady I believe, that the disease that is eating at the core of America is comfort. How does one reach his or her potential without leaving their comfort zone? It's not possible to sit on the couch and achieve greatness, despite what X-box or the Playstation manufacturers tell us. Cable TV has never been the formula for success. We have to step outside what we deem comfort and entertainment to serve our fellow man. And isn't that what leaders do?
Get off the couch and step on to the path to greatness. There are no lines, or traffic jams there, but there is a sense of fulfillment like no other. And as the saying goes..."That's entertainment!!!"
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
I've heard it said, by Chris Brady I believe, that the disease that is eating at the core of America is comfort. How does one reach his or her potential without leaving their comfort zone? It's not possible to sit on the couch and achieve greatness, despite what X-box or the Playstation manufacturers tell us. Cable TV has never been the formula for success. We have to step outside what we deem comfort and entertainment to serve our fellow man. And isn't that what leaders do?
Get off the couch and step on to the path to greatness. There are no lines, or traffic jams there, but there is a sense of fulfillment like no other. And as the saying goes..."That's entertainment!!!"
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Some Common Sense!
So many issues to talk about today. The healthcare bill is being reviewed for constitutionality, a man is having trial by media for shooting another, our leader is making questionable promises to a friend/enemy over a microphone he thought was off....Where do I begin? Perhaps a tad on all!
First the shooting incident in Sanford, Florida. There is just so much wrong here it's hard to know where to begin. The first thing that bothers me is in this great nation we are guaranteed a trial by a jury of our peers, if a crime has been committed. In this case we have a trial by media without actual fact. Has there been a crime committed? All we know for sure is a young man is dead and another shot him. Is this a crime? It's certainly a shame, but without evidence it's not yet a crime. The media is trying to make a case it's a crime, and there are those who imply it was done because of race, which would make it a crime, but all that is speculation, void of fact. It's wrong to accuse anyone without all the facts, and we have been misled by many about what the actual facts are. In fact they are playing on the general public's emotions and we rarely make good decisions based upon emotion. How about the media reports the facts and keeps the sideshows out of it. If the man has committed a crime, it'll come to light. There are enough investigating agencies with "no agenda" following up on this to assure us of that.
Now to healthcare. Is it constitutional to create a market and then propose government force to make the citizens use that market? Not in this country! Even if you deem it "for our own good," that's not how it works. You see we are free, and a free people get to decide what is and isn't in their best interest. When decisions are made for your own good that's called tyranny. Perhaps you remember this from your youth? Mom or Dad imposed there will upon you, "for your own good." I never liked it, I don't believe anyone does when they are told something is "for their own good." Freedom, which is what this country is founded upon, is based on the individual's ability to make choices. This doesn't fit that model, case closed!
Now the President's gaffe. When you work in secret to achieve your agenda, your going to be exposed. Does anyone else remember President Reagan calling out the Soviet Union before the whole world? Did he hide his policies or agenda with anyone? Did we trust him? Do you trust anyone in a position of leadership who makes backroom deals? What is it President Obama doesn't want the world to know? Why were those words uttered in confidence? As a leader you should be capable of writing everything you do and say in the clouds for all to see. That's the only way you'll ever gain trust, to never do anything without first considering the implications of exposure. If you don't want it exposed, don't do it, or say it....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
First the shooting incident in Sanford, Florida. There is just so much wrong here it's hard to know where to begin. The first thing that bothers me is in this great nation we are guaranteed a trial by a jury of our peers, if a crime has been committed. In this case we have a trial by media without actual fact. Has there been a crime committed? All we know for sure is a young man is dead and another shot him. Is this a crime? It's certainly a shame, but without evidence it's not yet a crime. The media is trying to make a case it's a crime, and there are those who imply it was done because of race, which would make it a crime, but all that is speculation, void of fact. It's wrong to accuse anyone without all the facts, and we have been misled by many about what the actual facts are. In fact they are playing on the general public's emotions and we rarely make good decisions based upon emotion. How about the media reports the facts and keeps the sideshows out of it. If the man has committed a crime, it'll come to light. There are enough investigating agencies with "no agenda" following up on this to assure us of that.
Now to healthcare. Is it constitutional to create a market and then propose government force to make the citizens use that market? Not in this country! Even if you deem it "for our own good," that's not how it works. You see we are free, and a free people get to decide what is and isn't in their best interest. When decisions are made for your own good that's called tyranny. Perhaps you remember this from your youth? Mom or Dad imposed there will upon you, "for your own good." I never liked it, I don't believe anyone does when they are told something is "for their own good." Freedom, which is what this country is founded upon, is based on the individual's ability to make choices. This doesn't fit that model, case closed!
Now the President's gaffe. When you work in secret to achieve your agenda, your going to be exposed. Does anyone else remember President Reagan calling out the Soviet Union before the whole world? Did he hide his policies or agenda with anyone? Did we trust him? Do you trust anyone in a position of leadership who makes backroom deals? What is it President Obama doesn't want the world to know? Why were those words uttered in confidence? As a leader you should be capable of writing everything you do and say in the clouds for all to see. That's the only way you'll ever gain trust, to never do anything without first considering the implications of exposure. If you don't want it exposed, don't do it, or say it....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Fifty Five!
Today is a cause for reflection, as I've reached a milestone in my life. As of today I've experienced fifty five years on this earth, and what a ride it's been. I can't help but look back on the great friends and family I've been blessed with, which is just one of the wonderful things God has chosen to use to influence my life. Now seems like an appropriate time to thank all of them for being such a great support mechanism to someone who, quite frankly, didn't deserve their love many, many times.
As I look forward to the next fifty five years, I can't help wonder what challenges and adventures God has in store for me. The one constant I am assured of is they all happen for a reason. So for each and everyone of you that bless my life, you have a purpose; as do I for you. Thank you all for being influencers in my life and as always......
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
As I look forward to the next fifty five years, I can't help wonder what challenges and adventures God has in store for me. The one constant I am assured of is they all happen for a reason. So for each and everyone of you that bless my life, you have a purpose; as do I for you. Thank you all for being influencers in my life and as always......
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Monday, March 26, 2012
The Difference Maker!
Frequently our attitudes follow our behavior rather than causing it. Have you ever witnessed this phenomena? Perhaps you've met the individual who perpetuates the rumor that they are a tough guy, or difficult to work with; then they go out of their way to prove it to you. This attribute can be used to acquire outstanding results, as well as being a creator of negative. Speaking a positive goal into existence then following it up with the necessary actions to make it so, is a great way to self motivate.
We also have to be careful not to fulfill the negative that constantly bombards our head. Maybe you've encountered this example....a child goes to great lengths to inform all that will listen how needy and spoiled they are, then takes great pains to live out that description. "Little Lord Faultnoroy", or "Daddy's Princess" are great titles for this personal deception, the actions that follow the coronation reinforce the premise. How great would it be if all that effort were applied to becoming someone who earned a title worth of respect?
This is a great tool when used for positive results, and I certain you can see how easily it can also be abused. We alone are what determines our outcome, and behavior and attitude are primary dictators of our results. Exude exemplary behavior and an attitude that matches, the results will follow!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
We also have to be careful not to fulfill the negative that constantly bombards our head. Maybe you've encountered this example....a child goes to great lengths to inform all that will listen how needy and spoiled they are, then takes great pains to live out that description. "Little Lord Faultnoroy", or "Daddy's Princess" are great titles for this personal deception, the actions that follow the coronation reinforce the premise. How great would it be if all that effort were applied to becoming someone who earned a title worth of respect?
This is a great tool when used for positive results, and I certain you can see how easily it can also be abused. We alone are what determines our outcome, and behavior and attitude are primary dictators of our results. Exude exemplary behavior and an attitude that matches, the results will follow!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Home Sweet Home!
So many of my friends and readers are on the road during this Easter season. Here's a little reminder of what they left behind....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Home's not merely four square walls,
Though with pictures hung and gilded:
Home is where affection calls,
Filled with shrines the heart hath builded!
Home! go watch the faithful dove,
Sailing 'neath the heaven above us;
Home is where there's one to love!
Home is where there's one to love us!
Home's not merely roof and room,
It needs something to endear it;
Home is where the heart can bloom,
Where there's some kind lip to cheer it!
What is home with none to meet,
None to welcome, none to greet us?
Home is sweet, -and only sweet-
When there's one we love to meet us!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Home's not merely four square walls,
Though with pictures hung and gilded:
Home is where affection calls,
Filled with shrines the heart hath builded!
Home! go watch the faithful dove,
Sailing 'neath the heaven above us;
Home is where there's one to love!
Home is where there's one to love us!
Home's not merely roof and room,
It needs something to endear it;
Home is where the heart can bloom,
Where there's some kind lip to cheer it!
What is home with none to meet,
None to welcome, none to greet us?
Home is sweet, -and only sweet-
When there's one we love to meet us!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Liberty And Charity!
If a corporation, or a union entity makes a donation or a contribution, it prevents the share holder, or the union member from deciding how they should dispose of their income.
Now usually a corporation and a union are not seen in the same light, but this is a great case for abolishing charitable contributions by both. You see that money is usually directed toward political causes, often not in step with those who should have actually made their own decision. The money "donated" is actually profit due the shareholder, or dues paid that should have gone to benefit the enrollee. The larger overseeing body, (corporation or union) took it upon themselves to make that decision for the actual owners of that income. In a free society, shouldn't that option be granted to those who actually own the funds?
Now the first objection to abolishing the deduction of the corporate and union tax is that it would hurt the charities. Now what I'm thinking is if the charitable donation deduction is still intact for individuals, the income passed down to the shareholders in the form of dividends, or the lower union fees will be directed as charitable contributions by the individual, which is what this country is all about anyway. We work on the principle of individual liberty, and allowing a larger entity make decisions for us, robs us of the ability to make our own choices, or strips us of some of our liberty. Because liberty is the ability to make choices. Don't you feel best when you've made the decision of how your money is spent?
BINGO!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Now usually a corporation and a union are not seen in the same light, but this is a great case for abolishing charitable contributions by both. You see that money is usually directed toward political causes, often not in step with those who should have actually made their own decision. The money "donated" is actually profit due the shareholder, or dues paid that should have gone to benefit the enrollee. The larger overseeing body, (corporation or union) took it upon themselves to make that decision for the actual owners of that income. In a free society, shouldn't that option be granted to those who actually own the funds?
Now the first objection to abolishing the deduction of the corporate and union tax is that it would hurt the charities. Now what I'm thinking is if the charitable donation deduction is still intact for individuals, the income passed down to the shareholders in the form of dividends, or the lower union fees will be directed as charitable contributions by the individual, which is what this country is all about anyway. We work on the principle of individual liberty, and allowing a larger entity make decisions for us, robs us of the ability to make our own choices, or strips us of some of our liberty. Because liberty is the ability to make choices. Don't you feel best when you've made the decision of how your money is spent?
BINGO!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Better Dead Than Red!
While growing up way back in the 60's, my generation was reminded daily of the threat of Communism. We had physical reminders of the oppression that Communism inflicted upon it's citizens with the Berlin Wall, the very near and real threat during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the invasion of South Vietnam by the North, and the stories of our Grandparents as reminders of their service in the wars they served in. While very young we were drilled in school with Civil Defense procedures in the event of an attack. Communism was a very real threat and we were taught to respect that threat and do everything to preserve our freedom. That process always began each and every morning by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Fast forward into today's society. The White House celebrates Christmas with ornaments honoring Chairman Mao, children wear tee shirts celebrating Chez Guevara, there are avowed members of the Communist Party actively participating in the administration, and Red China holds a great deal of our debt. It also seems to offend citizens of the great nation to pledge an oath of freedom to our flag, somehow that's become politically incorrect. Is it any wonder we have slowly lost our individuality and our freedoms have eroded? We drift ever closer to the abyss of Socialism, and further from the principles that guided the founding of this incredible political experiment. We've trampled the rights of the individual to secure the will of the many.
We cheered when Ronald Reagan brought down the Berlin Wall and Germany tasted freedom throughout. It was a blow for a free society when the Soviet Union fell and collapsed under the weight of entitlements. But all those reminders of the evil Communism brings are but a faded memory, and our newest generations have forgotten. In fact they are beginning to celebrate and embrace the principles of Communism. The Greatest Generation had a saying, "better dead than red." Somehow I don't think we still understand how important that was, and still is....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Fast forward into today's society. The White House celebrates Christmas with ornaments honoring Chairman Mao, children wear tee shirts celebrating Chez Guevara, there are avowed members of the Communist Party actively participating in the administration, and Red China holds a great deal of our debt. It also seems to offend citizens of the great nation to pledge an oath of freedom to our flag, somehow that's become politically incorrect. Is it any wonder we have slowly lost our individuality and our freedoms have eroded? We drift ever closer to the abyss of Socialism, and further from the principles that guided the founding of this incredible political experiment. We've trampled the rights of the individual to secure the will of the many.
We cheered when Ronald Reagan brought down the Berlin Wall and Germany tasted freedom throughout. It was a blow for a free society when the Soviet Union fell and collapsed under the weight of entitlements. But all those reminders of the evil Communism brings are but a faded memory, and our newest generations have forgotten. In fact they are beginning to celebrate and embrace the principles of Communism. The Greatest Generation had a saying, "better dead than red." Somehow I don't think we still understand how important that was, and still is....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
No Goal, No Results!
The Bible says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish!" Proverbs 29:18
That was absolutely true in Biblical times as it is today. Just for an example take our federal government, there is, and hasn't been, a financial budget approved in many, many months. Is their spending not totally out of control? I think we can all agree the answer is yes, and that's a direct result of no vision. The refuse to set a goal to keep them on track and our nation's fiscal well being is teetering on the brink of collapse.
A goal, or a vision, is the enemy to be conquered with the battle strategy and the commitment of a warrior. It's a leader's responsibility to first supply the vision, or goal, then apply the resolve necessary to bring it to fruition. The leadership process is founded on resolve and commitment. I think we can therefore come to the conclusion that we have a leadership problem, specifically in government.
Without a budget or a goal to go by, there is no motivation to stay within the guidelines. If we were playing a sport, there would be no way to score points because we have no goal to achieve. Without an end zone, or a home plate to cross, or a basket to swish the ball through, we have no means of keeping score of how we are doing. That's on purpose. The politicians don't have to admit they are losing the contest if there is no scoreboard to measure them by.
Can you see why it is so important for us all to understand and practice the principles of leadership? It's imperative to any nation, organization, or family unit to have a grasp on the how and why of leadership.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
That was absolutely true in Biblical times as it is today. Just for an example take our federal government, there is, and hasn't been, a financial budget approved in many, many months. Is their spending not totally out of control? I think we can all agree the answer is yes, and that's a direct result of no vision. The refuse to set a goal to keep them on track and our nation's fiscal well being is teetering on the brink of collapse.
A goal, or a vision, is the enemy to be conquered with the battle strategy and the commitment of a warrior. It's a leader's responsibility to first supply the vision, or goal, then apply the resolve necessary to bring it to fruition. The leadership process is founded on resolve and commitment. I think we can therefore come to the conclusion that we have a leadership problem, specifically in government.
Without a budget or a goal to go by, there is no motivation to stay within the guidelines. If we were playing a sport, there would be no way to score points because we have no goal to achieve. Without an end zone, or a home plate to cross, or a basket to swish the ball through, we have no means of keeping score of how we are doing. That's on purpose. The politicians don't have to admit they are losing the contest if there is no scoreboard to measure them by.
Can you see why it is so important for us all to understand and practice the principles of leadership? It's imperative to any nation, organization, or family unit to have a grasp on the how and why of leadership.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Ole Tim Had It Right!
I'm coming to the realization that there has never been a more important time to know the truth than this blip in time. It's ironic because we were forewarned in the Bible way back in 2nd Timothy....
"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."-2 Timothy 4:3-4
Doesn't that sum up society today? News organizations spinning the events of our time, politicians twisting the truth to fit their agenda, even people with the title "Reverend," distorting the Bible so their message fits the cause. This is the reason we need to know what we believe, and why we believe it. Otherwise we become the deceived sheep 2 Timothy was describing.
So where does one find the truth? Well I for one look to the teachings of the Bible. Like anything in society today it has it's critics and those who scoff, but the Bible was as they say, why are it's predictions accurate? Is there a better way to live than to follow the Ten Commandments? When I find a critic, and you usually don't have to look far, I always ask them; which one of those ten turned you away? Then the show begins, a free song and dance avoiding the subject. it's a great form of entertainment! But when you hold their feet to the fire, as God will, they have to admit those ten guidelines are outstanding principles on which to live.
It's important today to find and live the truth. The example we set has an impact on others, and we were put here with just that purpose, to serve others!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
"For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths."-2 Timothy 4:3-4
Doesn't that sum up society today? News organizations spinning the events of our time, politicians twisting the truth to fit their agenda, even people with the title "Reverend," distorting the Bible so their message fits the cause. This is the reason we need to know what we believe, and why we believe it. Otherwise we become the deceived sheep 2 Timothy was describing.
So where does one find the truth? Well I for one look to the teachings of the Bible. Like anything in society today it has it's critics and those who scoff, but the Bible was as they say, why are it's predictions accurate? Is there a better way to live than to follow the Ten Commandments? When I find a critic, and you usually don't have to look far, I always ask them; which one of those ten turned you away? Then the show begins, a free song and dance avoiding the subject. it's a great form of entertainment! But when you hold their feet to the fire, as God will, they have to admit those ten guidelines are outstanding principles on which to live.
It's important today to find and live the truth. The example we set has an impact on others, and we were put here with just that purpose, to serve others!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Monday, March 19, 2012
The Hell Bound Train
An American classic! Enjoy!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
A Texas cowboy lay down on a barroom floor,
Having drunk so much he could drink no more;
So he fell asleep with a troubled brain
To dream that he rode on a hell-bound train.
The engine with murderous blood was damp
And was brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp;
An imp, for fuel, was shoveling bones,
While the furnace rang with a thousand groans.
The boiler was filled with lager beer
And the devil himself was the engineer;
The passengers were a most motly crew—
Church member, atheist, Gentile, and Jew,
Rich men in broadcloth, beggers in rags,
Handsome young ladies, and withered old hags,
Yellow and black men, red, brown, and white,
All chained together—O God, what a site!
While the train rushed on at an awful pace—
The sulphurous fumes scorched their hands and face;
Wider and wider the country grew,
As faster and faster the engine flew.
Louder and louder the thunder crashed
And brighter and brighter the lightning flashed;
Hotter and hotter the air became
Till the clothes were burned from each quivering frame.
And out of the distance there arose a yell,
"Ha, ha," said the devil, "we're nearing hell!"
Then oh, how the passengers all shrieked with pain
And begged the devil to stop the train.
But he capered about and danced for glee,
And laughed and joked at their misery.
"My faithful friends, you have done the work
And the devil never can a payday shirk.
"You've bullied the weak, you've robbed the poor,
The starving brother you've turned from the door;
You've laid up gold where the canker rust,
And have given free vent to your beastly lust.
"You've justice scorned, and corruption sown,
And trampled the laws of nature down.
You have drunk, rioted, cheated, plundered, and lied,
And mocked at God in your hell-born pride.
"You have paid full fair, so I'll carry you through,
For it's only right you should have your due.
Why, the laborer always expects his hire,
So I'll land you safe in the lake of fire,
"Where your flesh will waste in the flames that roar,
And my imps torment you forevermore."
Then the cowboy awoke with an anguished cry,
His clothes wet with sweat and his hair standing high
Then he prayed as he never had prayed till that hour
To be saved from his sin and the demon's power;
And his prayers and his vows were not in vain,
For he never road the hell-bound train.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
A Texas cowboy lay down on a barroom floor,
Having drunk so much he could drink no more;
So he fell asleep with a troubled brain
To dream that he rode on a hell-bound train.
The engine with murderous blood was damp
And was brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp;
An imp, for fuel, was shoveling bones,
While the furnace rang with a thousand groans.
The boiler was filled with lager beer
And the devil himself was the engineer;
The passengers were a most motly crew—
Church member, atheist, Gentile, and Jew,
Rich men in broadcloth, beggers in rags,
Handsome young ladies, and withered old hags,
Yellow and black men, red, brown, and white,
All chained together—O God, what a site!
While the train rushed on at an awful pace—
The sulphurous fumes scorched their hands and face;
Wider and wider the country grew,
As faster and faster the engine flew.
Louder and louder the thunder crashed
And brighter and brighter the lightning flashed;
Hotter and hotter the air became
Till the clothes were burned from each quivering frame.
And out of the distance there arose a yell,
"Ha, ha," said the devil, "we're nearing hell!"
Then oh, how the passengers all shrieked with pain
And begged the devil to stop the train.
But he capered about and danced for glee,
And laughed and joked at their misery.
"My faithful friends, you have done the work
And the devil never can a payday shirk.
"You've bullied the weak, you've robbed the poor,
The starving brother you've turned from the door;
You've laid up gold where the canker rust,
And have given free vent to your beastly lust.
"You've justice scorned, and corruption sown,
And trampled the laws of nature down.
You have drunk, rioted, cheated, plundered, and lied,
And mocked at God in your hell-born pride.
"You have paid full fair, so I'll carry you through,
For it's only right you should have your due.
Why, the laborer always expects his hire,
So I'll land you safe in the lake of fire,
"Where your flesh will waste in the flames that roar,
And my imps torment you forevermore."
Then the cowboy awoke with an anguished cry,
His clothes wet with sweat and his hair standing high
Then he prayed as he never had prayed till that hour
To be saved from his sin and the demon's power;
And his prayers and his vows were not in vain,
For he never road the hell-bound train.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
We're All Irish Today!
If your lucky enough to be Irish, your lucky enough!
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and trouble avoid you wherever you go!
May the Lord keep you in his hand and never close his fist too tight!
May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows your dead!
Do not resent growing old, many never get the privilege!
God is good but never dance in a small boat!
May the hinges of friendship never grow rusty!
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God!
May the Irish hills caress you,
May her lakes and rivers bless you,
May the luck of the Irish enfold you,
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you!
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
May your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow, and trouble avoid you wherever you go!
May the Lord keep you in his hand and never close his fist too tight!
May you be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows your dead!
Do not resent growing old, many never get the privilege!
God is good but never dance in a small boat!
May the hinges of friendship never grow rusty!
Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God!
May the Irish hills caress you,
May her lakes and rivers bless you,
May the luck of the Irish enfold you,
May the blessings of Saint Patrick behold you!
Happy Saint Patrick's Day!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Friday, March 16, 2012
The Smoking Gun!
There has much to do about the price of gasoline lately. Some blame the President, some point fingers at the speculators, and all are suspicious of the oil companies. I think you'll find the culprit is a less than specific entity. History offers ample evidence that what determines the average level of prices and wages is the amount of money in the economy and not the greediness of the businessmen, nor if the workers. You see we have printed ourselves into this situation, it's a sign of inflation contrary to the reports of economic prosperity spoon fed to us from Washington.
Governments ask for the self-restraint of business and labor because of their inability to manage their own affairs, which includes the control over the money supply, and the natural human tendency to pass the buck.
Truth be told, if gasoline prices were a public decision, then it would not be permitted to be made privately; and the same government that has spiraled inflation to raise those prices would in effect control the market. No sane individual living in this country wants that. If you need a historical reference of how it turns out, read up on the war on US Steel waged by the Kennedy administration. I'll save you the reading, we now have no steel industry where as it was once a vibrant industry after President Kennedy decided US Steel asked too much for it's product.
You want gasoline prices to go down and stay down, quit printing money and take some out of circulation. When you double the money supply, you cut buying power in half, raising prices. If you've been alert, you'll realize during this administration the Federal Reserve has ramped up the printing of money to buy back our own debt. There is your smoking gun.....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Governments ask for the self-restraint of business and labor because of their inability to manage their own affairs, which includes the control over the money supply, and the natural human tendency to pass the buck.
Truth be told, if gasoline prices were a public decision, then it would not be permitted to be made privately; and the same government that has spiraled inflation to raise those prices would in effect control the market. No sane individual living in this country wants that. If you need a historical reference of how it turns out, read up on the war on US Steel waged by the Kennedy administration. I'll save you the reading, we now have no steel industry where as it was once a vibrant industry after President Kennedy decided US Steel asked too much for it's product.
You want gasoline prices to go down and stay down, quit printing money and take some out of circulation. When you double the money supply, you cut buying power in half, raising prices. If you've been alert, you'll realize during this administration the Federal Reserve has ramped up the printing of money to buy back our own debt. There is your smoking gun.....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Shhhhh!
The art of communication is a priceless tool, but in order to be enriching it has to be shared. We'll focus on dialogs between people, not self talk today as that's a whole different subject! We're going to focus on a conversation where an individual gains insights that simply could not be achieved individually. Where people participate in a pool of common meaning that often times brings about development and change.
The important part of any process of sharing ideas is to drop your prejudices. You have to open your mind and the cloud of prejudice shapes what you see and how your going to act during this exchange of ideas. This is the only way you can grow to see how incoherent your thoughts have become through the act of a pre-judging. When you open yourself up to other possibilities a free flow of ideas can be exchanged and a pool of knowledge commonly forms. You can't achieve this plateau by defending your opinions! That's the death gargle to growth while sharing information. If you hold your ground on what you've come to assume the flow of dialog is blocked. Choosing adversaries as colleagues with different views has the greatest benefits!
This leads us to the real key in maintaining a great dialog, being a good listener! This reminds me of the old saying,"even a fish would have no problems if they learned to keep their mouth shut!" My father always used to remind me not to tell everyone everything I know, listen and learn. That was a difficult lesson for me as I always wanted every one to know just exactly how smart I was, which probably was my dad's point. There was no reason to allow everyone to know where my intelligence ended. Fortunately time and the ingestion of books have curbed that urge a little. I've learned to enjoy the benefits of dialog more than the privilege of attempting to be the smartest person in the room. Join me in learning from others, it's surprisingly entertaining and always enlightening!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
The important part of any process of sharing ideas is to drop your prejudices. You have to open your mind and the cloud of prejudice shapes what you see and how your going to act during this exchange of ideas. This is the only way you can grow to see how incoherent your thoughts have become through the act of a pre-judging. When you open yourself up to other possibilities a free flow of ideas can be exchanged and a pool of knowledge commonly forms. You can't achieve this plateau by defending your opinions! That's the death gargle to growth while sharing information. If you hold your ground on what you've come to assume the flow of dialog is blocked. Choosing adversaries as colleagues with different views has the greatest benefits!
This leads us to the real key in maintaining a great dialog, being a good listener! This reminds me of the old saying,"even a fish would have no problems if they learned to keep their mouth shut!" My father always used to remind me not to tell everyone everything I know, listen and learn. That was a difficult lesson for me as I always wanted every one to know just exactly how smart I was, which probably was my dad's point. There was no reason to allow everyone to know where my intelligence ended. Fortunately time and the ingestion of books have curbed that urge a little. I've learned to enjoy the benefits of dialog more than the privilege of attempting to be the smartest person in the room. Join me in learning from others, it's surprisingly entertaining and always enlightening!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
"Even The Rudder Begs Direction!"
"Even the rudder begs direction!"
What an outstanding quote! The mightiest of battleships, the commodity laden tanker, the most majestic of tall sailing ships, or your personal watercraft is dead in the water without a firm hand on the rudder. The rudder is a key component to the operation and the direction of every ship, yet it's useless without someone to point it in the right direction. It has to humble itself to guidance to keep the ship on course. Without that guidance those vessels are just adrift, wandering aimlessly upon the sea, never able to arrive at their destination.
So too are we. Who supplies you your direction? What is the firm hand on the tiller in your life? Are you adrift upon the sea at the mercy of shifting tides and prevailing winds? The phrase moral compass comes to mind, because without morals you have no discipline, and without discipline you have no direction, and without direction you don't get the results you desire. It's a great argument to have with yourself, who has their hand on your rudder?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
What an outstanding quote! The mightiest of battleships, the commodity laden tanker, the most majestic of tall sailing ships, or your personal watercraft is dead in the water without a firm hand on the rudder. The rudder is a key component to the operation and the direction of every ship, yet it's useless without someone to point it in the right direction. It has to humble itself to guidance to keep the ship on course. Without that guidance those vessels are just adrift, wandering aimlessly upon the sea, never able to arrive at their destination.
So too are we. Who supplies you your direction? What is the firm hand on the tiller in your life? Are you adrift upon the sea at the mercy of shifting tides and prevailing winds? The phrase moral compass comes to mind, because without morals you have no discipline, and without discipline you have no direction, and without direction you don't get the results you desire. It's a great argument to have with yourself, who has their hand on your rudder?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
"It Didn't Work!"
Tenacity comes from the right thinking. What a great statement! One thing that hit me about this, and other affirmation statements is they never say left thinking! When things are correct they are defined as right. Anyway, the greatest gap between those who achieve success and those who lack it, is the thinking gap. The successful have a different mind set, especially when it comes to their unsuccessful attempts.
The physician/research scientist, Jonas Salk, who developed the polio vaccine framed it like this...
" Not infrequently, I go to the laboratory, and people would say something didn't work. And I would say, Great we've made a discovery!"
It's the art of failing forward. Once you eliminate what doesn't work, you find yourself that much closer to what will work!
"Begin no day where we have ended another day; and no sunrise will find us where sunset left us."-Kahill Gibran
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
The physician/research scientist, Jonas Salk, who developed the polio vaccine framed it like this...
" Not infrequently, I go to the laboratory, and people would say something didn't work. And I would say, Great we've made a discovery!"
It's the art of failing forward. Once you eliminate what doesn't work, you find yourself that much closer to what will work!
"Begin no day where we have ended another day; and no sunrise will find us where sunset left us."-Kahill Gibran
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Monday, March 12, 2012
Distraction!
The enemy of us accomplishing what we need to do is the devil name distraction. He lurks everywhere, trying quite successfully to deter us from our mission. He has no purpose but to see that we don't succeed in ours. He wears a cloak of importance but it's really a thin veil of deceit.
So how do recognize when we are being deceived by distraction? This is one of distraction's greatest weapons. You see you can't define distraction unless you have a written, stated goal. Otherwise the distraction blends right in, camouflaged as important and as undefined as your goal. The only way to put a spot light on a distraction is to have you and others know what your stated mission is. Defining that exposes distraction, and it's evil mission.
End your distractions, put a shade on the shiny object that lures us away from what we need to accomplish. Make a list of what you need to accomplish daily so distraction cannot feed on your lack of organization.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
So how do recognize when we are being deceived by distraction? This is one of distraction's greatest weapons. You see you can't define distraction unless you have a written, stated goal. Otherwise the distraction blends right in, camouflaged as important and as undefined as your goal. The only way to put a spot light on a distraction is to have you and others know what your stated mission is. Defining that exposes distraction, and it's evil mission.
End your distractions, put a shade on the shiny object that lures us away from what we need to accomplish. Make a list of what you need to accomplish daily so distraction cannot feed on your lack of organization.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Houston We Have A Problem!
The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. We live in the greatest nation in the world, empowered by freedom, and challenged daily by those who wish to strip it from us. I think we can all agree, something is wrong. It's not with the country, it's with the people. Are we going to sit around and allow this to continue, or make a difference so our children and grandchildren can enjoy the same liberty?
Let me remind you of something. The education system of the 1700's produced people like Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, and the list goes on. Our population was around three million people, today we have three hundred and twenty plus million and how many scholars like those have we produced? The problem is we passed the responsibility of our education system to people who train us to work for others.Even our "thinkers" are not entrepreneurs. They work for a "think tank."
Houston we have a problem, and the answer lies deep within us. Are you up to the challenge?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Let me remind you of something. The education system of the 1700's produced people like Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Franklin, and the list goes on. Our population was around three million people, today we have three hundred and twenty plus million and how many scholars like those have we produced? The problem is we passed the responsibility of our education system to people who train us to work for others.Even our "thinkers" are not entrepreneurs. They work for a "think tank."
Houston we have a problem, and the answer lies deep within us. Are you up to the challenge?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Saturday, March 10, 2012
How Your Sovereignty Is Evaporating!
"Today we celebrate the mystery of American renewal. This ceremony is held in the depth of winter. But by the words we speak and the faces we show the world, we force the spring."- Bill Clinton first inaugural address.
"This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal." -President Barak Obama's nomination victory speech, St. Paul, June, 2008
What is this obsession with liberals and the belief they can control nature? Perhaps it's their statement to contradict this...
When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the "LAWS OF NATURE" and of "NATURE'S GOD" entitle them.- Declaration of Independence
It's no secret that the left believes that man is in control. We are responsible for the climate, deciding what is and isn't moral, and ultimately building the bureaucracy that defines the laws man lives by.
That's not how our nation was envisioned! We separated the powers so there was a system of checks and balances. If you give power to an agency,( a bureaucracy if you will), you've subverted the object of how our nation works. They make the rules, enforce them, and has sovereignty over the application.
For instance, when the national labor relations board told the Boeing Corporation they couldn't manufacture engines in South Carolina, didn't they subvert the powers of the executive office, the legislature, and the judicial branch? In effect they became accuser, law, judge and jury. As does the EPA, The DOE, and every other agency created by Washington that defies the principles this nation was founded upon. The power was suppose to be in the hands of the people, who elected and funded the government. Now the power is in the regulatory agencies, funded by the government, who rapes the people for the funds to do so without say.
Where did the Constitution go?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
"This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal." -President Barak Obama's nomination victory speech, St. Paul, June, 2008
What is this obsession with liberals and the belief they can control nature? Perhaps it's their statement to contradict this...
When in the course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the "LAWS OF NATURE" and of "NATURE'S GOD" entitle them.- Declaration of Independence
It's no secret that the left believes that man is in control. We are responsible for the climate, deciding what is and isn't moral, and ultimately building the bureaucracy that defines the laws man lives by.
That's not how our nation was envisioned! We separated the powers so there was a system of checks and balances. If you give power to an agency,( a bureaucracy if you will), you've subverted the object of how our nation works. They make the rules, enforce them, and has sovereignty over the application.
For instance, when the national labor relations board told the Boeing Corporation they couldn't manufacture engines in South Carolina, didn't they subvert the powers of the executive office, the legislature, and the judicial branch? In effect they became accuser, law, judge and jury. As does the EPA, The DOE, and every other agency created by Washington that defies the principles this nation was founded upon. The power was suppose to be in the hands of the people, who elected and funded the government. Now the power is in the regulatory agencies, funded by the government, who rapes the people for the funds to do so without say.
Where did the Constitution go?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Friday, March 9, 2012
Stress Relief!
"In those places where the rich and powerful are assembled together, the weak and indigent feel themselves oppressed by inferior conditions." - (to be revealed later in the post)
Interesting comment, especially in this day and age. The first thing that came to mind is the location of the "Occupy" movements. Wall Street, Los Angeles, and other places where people of wealth are known to frequent. Funny, you never hear of "Occupy Caribou, Maine" or "Occupy Bismark, North Dakota."
The quote goes on to say that the weak and indigent are unable to perceive a single chance of regaining their equality, they give up to despair and allow themselves to fall below the dignity of human nature. Again the "Occupy" movement just jumps into my head.
The author also notes that in aristocratic areas people are more rude than elsewhere, in opulent cities rather than rural districts. This struck me as true,being originally raised in an area near New York City and having experienced first hand the attitude of "New Yorkers."
Where did all this wisdom come from? These observations are from a book written in 1835 by Alexis De Tocqueville titled "Democracy In America." It's his observations of the fledgling democracy after touring the Americas for nine months and jotting down his thoughts. The book has been hail as... No better study of a nation's institutions and culture than Tocqueville's Democracy in America has ever been written by a foreign observer; none perhaps as good. And for good reason, his observations are as pertinent today as they were almost 200 years ago.
So I had another thought...If the inferior are so distressed by the flagrant display of wealth in the areas where the wealthy flock, why not relocate to a rural area where their mental health is better satisfied? It certainly appears that alone would give them a renewed sense of hope and worse case scenario; the people would be less rude. Just a thought!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Interesting comment, especially in this day and age. The first thing that came to mind is the location of the "Occupy" movements. Wall Street, Los Angeles, and other places where people of wealth are known to frequent. Funny, you never hear of "Occupy Caribou, Maine" or "Occupy Bismark, North Dakota."
The quote goes on to say that the weak and indigent are unable to perceive a single chance of regaining their equality, they give up to despair and allow themselves to fall below the dignity of human nature. Again the "Occupy" movement just jumps into my head.
The author also notes that in aristocratic areas people are more rude than elsewhere, in opulent cities rather than rural districts. This struck me as true,being originally raised in an area near New York City and having experienced first hand the attitude of "New Yorkers."
Where did all this wisdom come from? These observations are from a book written in 1835 by Alexis De Tocqueville titled "Democracy In America." It's his observations of the fledgling democracy after touring the Americas for nine months and jotting down his thoughts. The book has been hail as... No better study of a nation's institutions and culture than Tocqueville's Democracy in America has ever been written by a foreign observer; none perhaps as good. And for good reason, his observations are as pertinent today as they were almost 200 years ago.
So I had another thought...If the inferior are so distressed by the flagrant display of wealth in the areas where the wealthy flock, why not relocate to a rural area where their mental health is better satisfied? It certainly appears that alone would give them a renewed sense of hope and worse case scenario; the people would be less rude. Just a thought!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Thursday, March 8, 2012
"The Law Of Supply And Demand!"
When someone needs correction I've been told it's best to remind them than to tell them. The problem in this next situation is I'm just about certain they never knew in the first place, so we'll make this a teaching moment.
For some unknown reason America has decided to elect to it's highest office in a time of great economic strife a man qualified and taught in the skills necessary to become an ACLU lawyer. This became evident yesterday when the President offered up a speech in North Carolina at a truck manufacturing plant, where he decided to inform the nation that "those who tell you the answer to higher gas prices is more drilling either don't know what they are talking about or are attempting to deceive you. We have to lower the demand by finding new technology and that will lower the prices." Let's examine that....
There is a basic principle in business called "the laws of supply and demand." They are called laws for a reason, the same reason the "law of gravity" is also called a law. They work 99.9999999999999% of the time. There are four laws of supply and demand, they are as follows...
If demand increases and supply remains unchanged, then it leads to higher equilibrium price and higher quantity.
If demand decreases and supply remains unchanged, then it leads to lower equilibrium price and lower quantity.
If supply increases and demand remains unchanged, then it leads to lower equilibrium price and higher quantity.
If supply decreases and demand remains unchanged, then it leads to higher equilibrium price and lower quantity
We will focus on #3. When you drill for more oil, you increase the supply. When you find alternative sources for energy you also increase the supply by lowering the demand. Law # 3 states that if you increase the supply and the demand remains the same, the price lowers. So drilling for more oil domestically will lower the gas prices, as will finding alternative sources of energy. So the President's statement is in effect false, because truth tampered with is truth lost.
If we were to find an alternative source that was viable to operate our vehicles on tomorrow, the threat of the new technology would lower gas prices, as would the threat of drilling to increase the supply to exceed the demand. While both are necessary, the only logical and immediate response to high gasoline prices is to increase the supply which he can do with the stoke of a pen. Ergo, immediate relief. He could also approve the pipeline from Canada to America, and any number of things that will increase the supply threat to cause speculators to back off their raising price bids.
Let's also look at this from a cause and effect standpoint. All the ideas, drilling and building a pipe line, and finding new technology creates employment, which this country desperately needs right now. Wouldn't it be logical to enact all means of employment in the face of a crisis? If my ship was sinking would I assign just one person to bail water? No, I'd hand every able bodied passenger a bucket and expect them to participate.
We don't need anymore lawyers in Washington. Could we have some commonsense individuals who understand basic principles and the laws of cause and effect? The supply of ivy league lawyers in Washington exceeds the demand, lowering the value and the quality (see law 4).
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
For some unknown reason America has decided to elect to it's highest office in a time of great economic strife a man qualified and taught in the skills necessary to become an ACLU lawyer. This became evident yesterday when the President offered up a speech in North Carolina at a truck manufacturing plant, where he decided to inform the nation that "those who tell you the answer to higher gas prices is more drilling either don't know what they are talking about or are attempting to deceive you. We have to lower the demand by finding new technology and that will lower the prices." Let's examine that....
There is a basic principle in business called "the laws of supply and demand." They are called laws for a reason, the same reason the "law of gravity" is also called a law. They work 99.9999999999999% of the time. There are four laws of supply and demand, they are as follows...
If demand increases and supply remains unchanged, then it leads to higher equilibrium price and higher quantity.
If demand decreases and supply remains unchanged, then it leads to lower equilibrium price and lower quantity.
If supply increases and demand remains unchanged, then it leads to lower equilibrium price and higher quantity.
If supply decreases and demand remains unchanged, then it leads to higher equilibrium price and lower quantity
We will focus on #3. When you drill for more oil, you increase the supply. When you find alternative sources for energy you also increase the supply by lowering the demand. Law # 3 states that if you increase the supply and the demand remains the same, the price lowers. So drilling for more oil domestically will lower the gas prices, as will finding alternative sources of energy. So the President's statement is in effect false, because truth tampered with is truth lost.
If we were to find an alternative source that was viable to operate our vehicles on tomorrow, the threat of the new technology would lower gas prices, as would the threat of drilling to increase the supply to exceed the demand. While both are necessary, the only logical and immediate response to high gasoline prices is to increase the supply which he can do with the stoke of a pen. Ergo, immediate relief. He could also approve the pipeline from Canada to America, and any number of things that will increase the supply threat to cause speculators to back off their raising price bids.
Let's also look at this from a cause and effect standpoint. All the ideas, drilling and building a pipe line, and finding new technology creates employment, which this country desperately needs right now. Wouldn't it be logical to enact all means of employment in the face of a crisis? If my ship was sinking would I assign just one person to bail water? No, I'd hand every able bodied passenger a bucket and expect them to participate.
We don't need anymore lawyers in Washington. Could we have some commonsense individuals who understand basic principles and the laws of cause and effect? The supply of ivy league lawyers in Washington exceeds the demand, lowering the value and the quality (see law 4).
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Living The Dream!
It's hard not to be a proud Dad while being blessed with having sired two outstanding young men. They just keep attaining accolades and one of them is about to see his life long dream come to fruition. On Friday March 9th, my baby is going to play in his first professional football game. Since that young man was seven years old, he's been pursuing that dream. He's been very vocal about it, and never has he been deterred by the setbacks thrown his way. It's been the very essence of the dream, struggle, victory process.
I can vividly remember as a seven year old, he was chatting with 3 players from the Chicago Bears. They asked him what sports he was playing and he proudly told them he was a football and baseball player. So the advice they gave him was to pursue a baseball career, because he's play longer and make more money over his career. It was then I knew by his response he was a focused young man. He stared at them with great determination and proclaimed, "I'm going to play professional football, I'm not in it for the money!" Those three giant humanoids were just sacked for a loss by a seven year old with a dream. From that day forward, he's never looked back.
Now mind you he's never been an atypical football prototype. He was thin, but fast. He knew he had no control over his body size other than to build muscle, which he dedicated himself to doing. He constantly worked on his speed, and made incremental advances. That was a skill that could not be taught! He perfected his vertical leap, so no one could outreach him in an attempt to catch the ball.He's studied the game, and possesses the knowledge of a coach, he's a student of his craft. Where he could make a difference, he concentrated his efforts, where he couldn't he left in God's hands, and wisely so. God rewards dedication. He built himself into a football player, and a fine one at that, honing the gifts God blessed him with.
Friday night that blessed football machine takes the field wearing #21 for the Florida Tarpons of the UIFL. All that hard work will continue as this is but the first step toward his ultimate goal. You see once your goal has been achieved you need to set another, and his has been set. We'll see Stephen Howard in the NFL, I'm certain of it!
There have been his critics who've tried to squash his dream. They are all enjoying a serving of crow right now. When you turn your negatives into motivation, you supply yourself a powerful force to achieve your ambition. Some will be in the stands to see if it's true, some will be there to supply more motivation to move forward, but I and many, many others will be there to see him achieve his dream.
Live your dream!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
I can vividly remember as a seven year old, he was chatting with 3 players from the Chicago Bears. They asked him what sports he was playing and he proudly told them he was a football and baseball player. So the advice they gave him was to pursue a baseball career, because he's play longer and make more money over his career. It was then I knew by his response he was a focused young man. He stared at them with great determination and proclaimed, "I'm going to play professional football, I'm not in it for the money!" Those three giant humanoids were just sacked for a loss by a seven year old with a dream. From that day forward, he's never looked back.
Now mind you he's never been an atypical football prototype. He was thin, but fast. He knew he had no control over his body size other than to build muscle, which he dedicated himself to doing. He constantly worked on his speed, and made incremental advances. That was a skill that could not be taught! He perfected his vertical leap, so no one could outreach him in an attempt to catch the ball.He's studied the game, and possesses the knowledge of a coach, he's a student of his craft. Where he could make a difference, he concentrated his efforts, where he couldn't he left in God's hands, and wisely so. God rewards dedication. He built himself into a football player, and a fine one at that, honing the gifts God blessed him with.
Friday night that blessed football machine takes the field wearing #21 for the Florida Tarpons of the UIFL. All that hard work will continue as this is but the first step toward his ultimate goal. You see once your goal has been achieved you need to set another, and his has been set. We'll see Stephen Howard in the NFL, I'm certain of it!
There have been his critics who've tried to squash his dream. They are all enjoying a serving of crow right now. When you turn your negatives into motivation, you supply yourself a powerful force to achieve your ambition. Some will be in the stands to see if it's true, some will be there to supply more motivation to move forward, but I and many, many others will be there to see him achieve his dream.
Live your dream!
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
You Can't Hang The Truth!
I sit here this morning and pictures of a pastor in Iran in the process of being hung are circulating the Internet. Some say they are false and he's still alive, but we don't know the truth. In any case you'd have to not have a pulse to lack outrage at the thought of this event taking place. What type of society allows religious persecution in this day and age? What type of society even allows the threat of an event like this?
So I recline in my chair and reflect. What is the purpose of this cleansing? Why would one religion impose itself on the world over any other? The only answer I can arrive at is to silence all other competition, and if your goal is to silence someone, your probably afraid of the truth in their message.
This is not unlike the days long, long ago when the Bible wasn't allowed to be printed. The elite, who held and coveted power, had the only copies, and passed down their interpretation of it. Then the art of printing opened up the same resources to the minds of all the classes. The information was not only available to those who dwell in the palace, but those who lived in a cottage. Information enables, and freedom of speech is a God given right for a reason. It levels the playing field. That event changed the face of society.
We have incidences of groups in power who are, to this day, in this country, trying to shut down our freedom of speech. They use boycotts on sponsors, and threats of legislation to attempt to silence those they disagree with. How does this differ from those who threaten to hang the Christian pastor to silence his message? Truth be told, it doesn't. They are both doing it to hide the truth and protect their power. Never expect cooperation from those who control the system if your trying to upset the apple cart on them. You may disagree with the message, the message might not even be true, but it must be heard. The truth has a wonderful way of revealing itself and exposing those who's agenda was to conceal it.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
So I recline in my chair and reflect. What is the purpose of this cleansing? Why would one religion impose itself on the world over any other? The only answer I can arrive at is to silence all other competition, and if your goal is to silence someone, your probably afraid of the truth in their message.
This is not unlike the days long, long ago when the Bible wasn't allowed to be printed. The elite, who held and coveted power, had the only copies, and passed down their interpretation of it. Then the art of printing opened up the same resources to the minds of all the classes. The information was not only available to those who dwell in the palace, but those who lived in a cottage. Information enables, and freedom of speech is a God given right for a reason. It levels the playing field. That event changed the face of society.
We have incidences of groups in power who are, to this day, in this country, trying to shut down our freedom of speech. They use boycotts on sponsors, and threats of legislation to attempt to silence those they disagree with. How does this differ from those who threaten to hang the Christian pastor to silence his message? Truth be told, it doesn't. They are both doing it to hide the truth and protect their power. Never expect cooperation from those who control the system if your trying to upset the apple cart on them. You may disagree with the message, the message might not even be true, but it must be heard. The truth has a wonderful way of revealing itself and exposing those who's agenda was to conceal it.
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Monday, March 5, 2012
Rush To Judgement!
A little political commentary today. I just finished reading the scuttlebutt concerning what Rush Limbaugh said about the Congressional testimony of Sandra Fluke, highlighted by the fact that some advertisers are abandoning ship from sponsoring his program. I never rush to judgement on these matters, (pun not intended), so I researched thoroughly what each individual has said in this matter, and here are my thoughts.
First and foremost how Rush got his point across could have, and should have been done better. Now I realize this has garnered him much attention, though negative, and that might have been the point, but it's detracting from the issue. It's easy to get incredibly frustrated by the antics of the left, but I'm here to tell you it's likely by design. The left has successfully moved the conversation from government intrusion into religious beliefs, toward a hate campaign aimed at a talk show host. They simply paraded a pawn in front of the national spotlight and baited conservatives to react. What Miss Fluke said was absolute nonsense and I suggest it was done intentionally.
We have abandoned the topic of government intrusion into religious belief. It's the old shell game and the nation is busy watching the wrong shell. When our outrage should be focused on a kingly mandate pronounced by his majesty President Obama, it is instead distracted by our attention to the belittling of a thirty year old college student. Perhaps that's why her testimony was denied by the committee designed to investigate the propriety of the mandate in the first place?
Is Sandra Fluke off base when it comes to her presentation in front of Congress? Personally, I don't even think she's in the right stadium. What a sad testimony of how our youth has been subjected to propaganda to the point of what they think they are entitled to. I feel strange calling a thirty year old woman a youth, but she represents the atmosphere of college life, and that aspect is a sad commentary.
Finally, this is a wake up call. The agenda of the left is to overwhelm us with deception. They dance from issue to issue without resolution, but it's all by design. Where do we start? Is it correcting the overreach of the federal government? Do we promptly address the misconception of our youth that someone else holds the responsibility for the care, feeding, and recreational activities of the citizenry? Or do we pronounce loudly that Rush Limbaugh isn't as sensitive as we'd like on the public airwaves?
If those people who are complaining don't listen to Rush anyway, how does what he says offend them?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
First and foremost how Rush got his point across could have, and should have been done better. Now I realize this has garnered him much attention, though negative, and that might have been the point, but it's detracting from the issue. It's easy to get incredibly frustrated by the antics of the left, but I'm here to tell you it's likely by design. The left has successfully moved the conversation from government intrusion into religious beliefs, toward a hate campaign aimed at a talk show host. They simply paraded a pawn in front of the national spotlight and baited conservatives to react. What Miss Fluke said was absolute nonsense and I suggest it was done intentionally.
We have abandoned the topic of government intrusion into religious belief. It's the old shell game and the nation is busy watching the wrong shell. When our outrage should be focused on a kingly mandate pronounced by his majesty President Obama, it is instead distracted by our attention to the belittling of a thirty year old college student. Perhaps that's why her testimony was denied by the committee designed to investigate the propriety of the mandate in the first place?
Is Sandra Fluke off base when it comes to her presentation in front of Congress? Personally, I don't even think she's in the right stadium. What a sad testimony of how our youth has been subjected to propaganda to the point of what they think they are entitled to. I feel strange calling a thirty year old woman a youth, but she represents the atmosphere of college life, and that aspect is a sad commentary.
Finally, this is a wake up call. The agenda of the left is to overwhelm us with deception. They dance from issue to issue without resolution, but it's all by design. Where do we start? Is it correcting the overreach of the federal government? Do we promptly address the misconception of our youth that someone else holds the responsibility for the care, feeding, and recreational activities of the citizenry? Or do we pronounce loudly that Rush Limbaugh isn't as sensitive as we'd like on the public airwaves?
If those people who are complaining don't listen to Rush anyway, how does what he says offend them?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Leadership Tidbits!
I was rereading a leadership book published in 2005, and I noticed some teaching that politicians might take advantage of, current and future politicians.
" Leaders take responsibility for their actions and for their decisions."
" The leader takes responsibility for the results. The leader does not make excuses. A leader does not blame others. A leader does not evade duty."
"Good leaders realize they alone are ultimately responsible for their failure or success of their efforts. They do not establish alibis or look to assign blame to others."
"If your talking about your effort, your results must be poor."
"If something goes wrong, leaders take the blame. If something goes well, they share the credit."
"Leaders take responsibility, period!"
All these tidbits, though apropos today were written long before this administration took office.It would be wonderful to watch both sides of the aisle learn and apply these principles. Perhaps I should send them all copies of "Launching A Leadership Revolution" -by Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward. Do you think they'd read it?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
" Leaders take responsibility for their actions and for their decisions."
" The leader takes responsibility for the results. The leader does not make excuses. A leader does not blame others. A leader does not evade duty."
"Good leaders realize they alone are ultimately responsible for their failure or success of their efforts. They do not establish alibis or look to assign blame to others."
"If your talking about your effort, your results must be poor."
"If something goes wrong, leaders take the blame. If something goes well, they share the credit."
"Leaders take responsibility, period!"
All these tidbits, though apropos today were written long before this administration took office.It would be wonderful to watch both sides of the aisle learn and apply these principles. Perhaps I should send them all copies of "Launching A Leadership Revolution" -by Chris Brady and Orrin Woodward. Do you think they'd read it?
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Friday, March 2, 2012
Truth Be Told.....
Recently I seem to encounter more and more people defending the policies of political candidates. Some currently hold office, some are vying for those positions. While it's important to highlight how a candidate would be an asset to this country, each and everyone of them has their down side. After all they are but humans, and humans are fallible. The problem I take exception to is when those issues are either ignored or spun into a positive light by using either half truths, or outright deception.
What is the Devil's work? It is deception, division, and destruction. He lurks, waiting to seize any opportunity to turn our anger into something more destructive and deadly. He works to alter our anger into a grudge, into poison bitterness, into a stubborn bitterness to forgive, and into thoughts of vengeance. Does this not describe the whole political arena?
Let's look at a politician's stance on abortion. Satan's position is extremely clear on this matter. It's not God's will to destroy one of His creations. So who's agenda does abortion serve? And it serves him well as it continues his mission to divide and destroy.
In the words of the apostle Paul, " Be aware of the work of the devil before you speak your first words. Don't give him any ground on which to stand. Do everything you can to thwart his work."
We can debate the price of gas, or the state of the economy free of the half truth and outright lies supplied by Satan. Lay the facts on the table and they will support the person who does the work of God. Stepping outside that process is surely the work of the Devil himself.....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
What is the Devil's work? It is deception, division, and destruction. He lurks, waiting to seize any opportunity to turn our anger into something more destructive and deadly. He works to alter our anger into a grudge, into poison bitterness, into a stubborn bitterness to forgive, and into thoughts of vengeance. Does this not describe the whole political arena?
Let's look at a politician's stance on abortion. Satan's position is extremely clear on this matter. It's not God's will to destroy one of His creations. So who's agenda does abortion serve? And it serves him well as it continues his mission to divide and destroy.
In the words of the apostle Paul, " Be aware of the work of the devil before you speak your first words. Don't give him any ground on which to stand. Do everything you can to thwart his work."
We can debate the price of gas, or the state of the economy free of the half truth and outright lies supplied by Satan. Lay the facts on the table and they will support the person who does the work of God. Stepping outside that process is surely the work of the Devil himself.....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Influence And Winning!
You, my brother, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself!" If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you'll be destroyed by each other. Galatians 5:13
Isn't this a wonderful explanation of life in America? Well, maybe as it was meant to be. Christians are constantly called out for their lack of Christian behavior, but if we actually followed this paragraph from Paul's letter to the Galatians, we wouldn't be looked upon as hypocritical. Then what ammunition would the secular faction that is trying to destroy the morals and principles this country was founded upon have? Aren't we really fighting to survive a self inflicted injury? I wonder how many would correct their behavior if they understood that not only was their freedom at stake, but their salvation as well? While salvation is confronted down the road, your loss of freedom would have an immediate affect. Paul goes on to give us the keys to both......
The acts of sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery: idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealous, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.- Galatians 5:19-21
It's like Paul was speaking directly to Congress! I'm joking of course, but this is certainly to be taken seriously. In today's society, how much of that paragraph rings true? The moral decline of America and the acceptance as a normal event is exactly what Paul is speaking to.
My brothers and sisters, it's time to be the example and reverse the trend of moral decay. One person can make a difference! God has ordained us to be people of influence. A husband influences his wife, parents their children, friends their friends, pastors their flock, politicians their voters, leaders their followers. Live by example, and use your words to encourage others to do the same. Freedom and salvation lie in the balance.....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
Isn't this a wonderful explanation of life in America? Well, maybe as it was meant to be. Christians are constantly called out for their lack of Christian behavior, but if we actually followed this paragraph from Paul's letter to the Galatians, we wouldn't be looked upon as hypocritical. Then what ammunition would the secular faction that is trying to destroy the morals and principles this country was founded upon have? Aren't we really fighting to survive a self inflicted injury? I wonder how many would correct their behavior if they understood that not only was their freedom at stake, but their salvation as well? While salvation is confronted down the road, your loss of freedom would have an immediate affect. Paul goes on to give us the keys to both......
The acts of sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery: idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealous, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.- Galatians 5:19-21
It's like Paul was speaking directly to Congress! I'm joking of course, but this is certainly to be taken seriously. In today's society, how much of that paragraph rings true? The moral decline of America and the acceptance as a normal event is exactly what Paul is speaking to.
My brothers and sisters, it's time to be the example and reverse the trend of moral decay. One person can make a difference! God has ordained us to be people of influence. A husband influences his wife, parents their children, friends their friends, pastors their flock, politicians their voters, leaders their followers. Live by example, and use your words to encourage others to do the same. Freedom and salvation lie in the balance.....
God Bless!
Capt. Bill
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