On The Second Day Of Christmas.......

On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.....sanity! Finally we've found a judge that understands the Constitution. It's not a surprise that it took so long, 43% of Americans found favor with mandated healthcare. That's a great indicator that 43% of our fellow countrymen don't understand the Constitution. Don't get me wrong, it's a noble cause to make sure everyone in the nation is under the safety net of quality healthcare. But demanding people purchase something, anything, under penalty of a fine imposed by those in power is tyrannical, and a direct violation of the principles this country was founded upon. In fact it's down right dictator like.

The freedom of choice is a wonderful thing, but it does come with responsibilities. One of those is to protect that which insures our freedom. That's the only insurance the government should offer, and to violate that mandate should be punishable by a fine or prison, because it is a crime to limit our God given rights.

There is a way to offer healthcare to those who cannot afford it in this country and stay within the boundaries of our Constitution. It's called charity. Charitable foundations like St. Jude's Hospital for Children, or The Shriner's Children's Hospital are fine examples of how society deals with this issue properly. No fraud, no waste, innovation, and quality healthcare at no cost to the needy. They employ a multitude a fantastic staffers and offer opportunity for the community to volunteer. And the best part is....not a politician in sight. Want to bet that has something to do with the impressive quality and lack of waste?

Christmas is a time of giving, be sure to consider a contribution to one of these fine charities. They keep government out of the mix, and provide a much needed service to those in need. They are spectacular examples of how a free market society, solves and provides for those in need.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

On Christmas Day!

Today is the official start of the Twelve Days of Christmas, so in honor of that, I thought I'd pass on George Washington's favorite Christmas poem.

ON CHRISTMAS DAY
Assist me Muse divine to sing the morn,
On which the Savior of mankind was born;
But oh! What numbers to the theme can rise?
Unless kind angels aid me from the skies?
Methinks I see the tunefull Host descend,
Hark, by their hymns directed on the road,
The gladsome Shepherds find nascent God!
And view the infant conscience of his birth,
Smiling bespeak salvation to the earth!
For when the important Aera first drew near
In which the great Messiah should appear
And to accomplish His redeeming love
Resign a while His glorious throne above.
Beneath our form every woe sustain
and by triumphant suffering fix His reign
Should for lost man in tortures yield his breath,
Dying to save us from eternal death!
Oh mystic Union! Salutary grace!
Incarnate our God our nature should embrace!
That Deity should stoop to our disguise!
Than man recovered should regain the skies!
Deject Adam! From thy grave descend
And view the Serpent's Deadly Malice end,
Adorring bless th' Almighty's boundless grace
That gave his son a ransome for thy race!
Oh never let my soul this Day forget,
But pay in grateful praise her annual debt
To Him whom 'tis my trust adore,
When time and sin and death shall be no more.
-Circa 1743

It's my guess not many of us were aware this Christian verse was a childhood favorite of our first president. To enlighten the population of this would debunk the myth George Washington was a deist and not a Christian. So as a present on the first of the Twelve Days of Christmas, I bring to you the truth!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Relationships, 101....

Now that we understand love, the next step is relationships. How man of us go through life with fractured relationships? How many regret what was never said after a loved one has passed? That which is left unsaid haunts many people. Why be a victim of something so simple to solve?

Let's start with the first part of the word...relation. That's defined as the "art of restoring," bringing back. The definition defines exactly what you need to do to hold a relationship together. It's a daily struggle to restore. Some people in your life are easier to keep the bond restored with than others, and some are more of a challenge. A relationship by definition takes, wait for it,......effort! And it takes effort on both parts for a great relationship.

The second half of the word...ship. Defined as "to transport" or " a means of conveyance." It cements the definition of the root of the word. You are responsible in a relationship to send your love toward the other. So if there is a failed relationship in your life, are you holding up your end of the definition of the word?

Do you want to know how to develop and keep great relationships in your life? Here's the answer.....
Add value to that person's life everyday! It's foolproof, I'm a living example!

It always makes me wonder why this simple stuff wasn't taught in school. Then it struck me, I'd defined the school experience wrong. My mistake was, I thought education was there to prepare me for life, when in fact it was simply there to teach me how to get a job. But then, that's a whole other topic.............

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

What Love Is!

Have you ever tried to describe the meaning of love? While most people know it when they feel it, and they find a way to express it, it's not easy to describe. I liken it to trying to tell someone who's never tried a banana what that tastes like. So I did some research. Where else would you look for a definition but the dictionary.Here's what they said....

A deep, tender, ineffable feeling of affection and solicitude toward a person, such as that arising from kinship, recognition of attractive qualities, or a sense of underlying oneness.
A feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person with whom one is disposed to make a pair; the emotion of sex and romance.

Sexual passion.
Sexual intercourse.
A love affair.
An intense emotional attachment, as for a pet or treasured object.
A person who is the object of deep or intense affection or attraction; beloved. Often used as a term of endearment.
An expression of one's affection: Send him my love.

A strong predilection or enthusiasm: a love of language.
The object of such an enthusiasm: The outdoors is her greatest love.
Love Mythology. Eros or Cupid.
often Love Christianity. Charity.
Sports. A zero score in tennis.
Honestly? None of that explains love, it describe the results of feeling love toward someone, but it does not tell the seeker exactly what love is. So I began to wonder, if you can't define love, how can you truly express love? Everything these definitions lay out is the result of being in love. No wonder this world is in the shape it's in!

So being a man who seeks to understand, I set out to define love so everyone can understand it. Once something is understood, it can be easily explained and a course of action can be taken to achieve it. To explain love should be a boon to humanity! This, I thought, is a service to my fellow man, and a very worthy endeavor. So here it is in the simplest of terms........

Love= to give!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

The Wealth of Information!

I sit here as an average citizen of this great country, and watch Washington debate how much of the top 5%'s income they can commandeer to redistribute. It frustrates me on so many levels, and the one that irks me the most is the flagrant disregard of the mantra issued in The Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal. Well, that is, unless you become financially successful, then we have to penalize you and redistribute your wealth.

Using the penalty logic, we could make the absurd argument that illegal aliens, making income and using services in this country, should be taxed at a higher rate than naturalized citizens. I'd no sooner have those words out of my mouth and most people would say that is racist. So why is it okay to be an income-ist? (Note: the spell check hated that new word, watch this one...). Washington is practicing income-ism. ( Hated that one too!) So how do you justify different tax rates for income or skin color? In America, you don't. We are all created equal and deserve equal protection under the law, that includes the tax law. Shame on you Washington!

If you want to "take" something from the wealthy and successful of this country and redistribute it, take something of use. Redistribute their work ethic! Or even better, redistribute the thinking they used to become exceptional! Now that would be something of value, and I dare say they might not find it as abusive of their God given rights. It's no secret they think differently, share that wealth, and change the entitlement attitude. That's far more valuable than any income you can tax them out of. That's why they call it a "wealth of information."

That my friends is a viable exit strategy to the "war on poverty." The battle we've been in for decades, and losing. Yet nary a word from our politicians about a plan to end this expensive battle. Yes, expensive...It's the information you don't know that costs you the most!

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Working Our Priorities!

I was pondering the art of relationships the other day, when I again realized how important and relevant our list of priorities are. Most people I've talked to begin this list with...

God

Family

Friends

Yet while they speak this as important, it seems that generally the category of "I" supersedes all of the above. They tend to act based upon how a situation affects themselves, rather than working their list of priorities. Perhaps if they considered how does this affect my relationship with God as the first question they might find guidance. Then consider the adage, "what would Jesus do?" Then move down the list to how does this affect my family? Followed by how does this affect my friends? All of this should be considered before the selfish question is asked, "how does this affect me?"

We should put a higher value on our relationship with God, family, and friends, before self is considered. While something may cause a rift in your life, is it a big enough issue to place a relationship in jeopardy?

Put yourself in the back seat and let your priorities navigate your life. You'll find the road becomes smoother, and the destination you seek will have a defined course.

God Bless!
Capt. Bill

Ya Gotta Have Faith!

I ran across this in the Bible the other day, I thought it might bear repeating as a reminder.....

I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me.
I said , "Here I am, here am I,"
To a nation that did not call on my name.
I spread out my hands all the day to a rebellious people,
who walk in a way that is not good,
following their own devices;
-Isaiah 65:1 - 2

I don't know how one could improve on that, but it serves as a great reminder our nation was founded in faith. Our mission statement was, and I hope still is, freedom of religion. A nation founded in morals, character, and integrity. We've perverted those values to freedom of non-religion, bending to pressure because we lost our conviction.

Our forefathers based their revolution on the God given right to worship their maker, a conviction they were willing to die for. How many of us can say they hold their faith so dear to them, that they would put their life on the line for it? When that passion is lost, so to the original mission statement of our beginnings here in America. Faith has become to many, a vehicle of convince, rather than the passion of commitment. That's why we've permitted the absence of Christ in Christmas, the lack of prayer in school, and the decay of morals in politics.

Which brought to mind a question or two. What exactly does an Atheist or an Agnostic commit to? What is the purpose that would give them the conviction to die for?

God Bless!
Capt. Bill