Still trying to get over this sickness. I hate being sick, who doesn't? The bad part about being sick is being lazy. You don't want to do anything but stay in bed. I don't know if I mentioned this buy last month I think my mother was in the hospital. Maybe it was two months ago I can't remember but her tests came back and the Doctor wants one of her children to come with her so we can discuss her issues.
I love my mother very much. I will update more this afternoon.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Where Have All the Christians Gone?
The number of people who claim no religious affiliation, meanwhile, has doubled since 1990 to fifteen percent, its highest point in history.
Christianity is plummeting in America, while the number of non-believers is skyrocketing.
A shocking new study of Americans’ religious beliefs shows the beginnings of a major realignment in Americans’ relationship with God. The American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) reveals that Protestants now represent half of all Americans, down almost 20 percent in the last twenty years.
In the coming months, America will become a minority Protestant nation for the first time since the pilgrims.The number of people who claim no religious affiliation, meanwhile, has doubled since 1990 to fifteen percent, its highest point in history. Non-believers now represent the third-highest group of Americans, after Catholics and Baptists.
1) The number of Christians has declined 12% since 1990, and is now 76%, the lowest percentage in American history.
2) The growth of non-believers has come largely from men. Twenty percent of men express no religious affiliation; 12% of women.
3) Young people are fleeing faith. Nearly a quarter of Americans in their 20’s profess no organized religion.
4) But these non-believers are not particularly atheist. That number hasn’t budged and stands at less than 1 percent. (Agnostics are similarly less than 1 percent.) Instead, these individuals have a belief in God but no interest in organized religion, or they believe in a personal God but not in a formal faith tradition.
The implications for American society are profound. Americans’ relationship with God, which drove many of the country’s great transformations from the pilgrims to the founding fathers, the Civil War to the civil rights movement, is still intact. Eighty-two percent of Americans believe in God or a higher power.
But at the same time, the study offers yet another wake-up call for religious institutions.First, catering to older believers is a recipe for failure; younger Americans are tuning out.
Second, Americans are interested in God, but they don’t think existing institutions are helping them draw closer to God.
Finally, Americans’ interest in religion has not always been stable. It dipped following the Revolution and again following Civil War. In both cases it rebounded because religious institutions adapted and found new ways of relating to everyday Americans.
Today, the rise of disaffection is so powerful that different denominations needs to band together to find a shared language of God that can move beyond the fading divisions of the past and begin moving toward a partnership of different-but-equal traditions. Or risk becoming Europe, where religion is fast becoming an afterthought.
That was an article by Bruce Feiler. I found it very interesting. I wonder if he knows that there is a difference between those who are Christian and those who claim to be Christian. To be a Christian means to be Christ Like. It means to follow the steps of Jesus himself.
The question then becomes, how do I follow the steps of Jesus? Can I follow? Of course we can never be Jesus but we can be like him in a sense that we follow what he was taught. That is what it means to be Christ Like. To understand what he was taught, you have to look into scripture and understand what he taught. You have to look at scripture to understand what kind of man Jesus was or is...
Did Jesus fight in wars while in Earth? No
Did Jesus use Foul Language? No
Did Jesus commit fornication? No
Did Jesus get drunk? No
What the world does today Jesus would not do. Instead what he taught was love. Notice what is mentioned in the book of John starting at chapter 5.
Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.
“Happy are those who mourn, since they will be comforted.
“Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.
“Happy are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, since they will be filled.
“Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.
“Happy are the pure in heart, since they will see God.
“Happy are the peaceable, since they will be called ‘sons of God.’
“Happy are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.
YOU heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say to YOU that everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
There is so much more in that wonderful chapter. To understand what Jesus was like, you have to study what Jesus was like. The fact that he came to Earth to Die for us should tell you what kind of man he was.
Compare Jesus to men today
Jesus the son of God who has power = not corrupted.
Man who receives power = corrupted
Jesus who has more power did has never allowed his power to hurt anyone, only to help. Men on this planet have murdered, raped, stole, you name it.
The title of his Article is " Where have all the Christians Gone? Well, maybe you aren't looking in the right place.........
7 million plus and growing...........
Till tomorrow.
Christianity is plummeting in America, while the number of non-believers is skyrocketing.
A shocking new study of Americans’ religious beliefs shows the beginnings of a major realignment in Americans’ relationship with God. The American Religious Identification Survey (ARIS) reveals that Protestants now represent half of all Americans, down almost 20 percent in the last twenty years.
In the coming months, America will become a minority Protestant nation for the first time since the pilgrims.The number of people who claim no religious affiliation, meanwhile, has doubled since 1990 to fifteen percent, its highest point in history. Non-believers now represent the third-highest group of Americans, after Catholics and Baptists.
1) The number of Christians has declined 12% since 1990, and is now 76%, the lowest percentage in American history.
2) The growth of non-believers has come largely from men. Twenty percent of men express no religious affiliation; 12% of women.
3) Young people are fleeing faith. Nearly a quarter of Americans in their 20’s profess no organized religion.
4) But these non-believers are not particularly atheist. That number hasn’t budged and stands at less than 1 percent. (Agnostics are similarly less than 1 percent.) Instead, these individuals have a belief in God but no interest in organized religion, or they believe in a personal God but not in a formal faith tradition.
The implications for American society are profound. Americans’ relationship with God, which drove many of the country’s great transformations from the pilgrims to the founding fathers, the Civil War to the civil rights movement, is still intact. Eighty-two percent of Americans believe in God or a higher power.
But at the same time, the study offers yet another wake-up call for religious institutions.First, catering to older believers is a recipe for failure; younger Americans are tuning out.
Second, Americans are interested in God, but they don’t think existing institutions are helping them draw closer to God.
Finally, Americans’ interest in religion has not always been stable. It dipped following the Revolution and again following Civil War. In both cases it rebounded because religious institutions adapted and found new ways of relating to everyday Americans.
Today, the rise of disaffection is so powerful that different denominations needs to band together to find a shared language of God that can move beyond the fading divisions of the past and begin moving toward a partnership of different-but-equal traditions. Or risk becoming Europe, where religion is fast becoming an afterthought.
That was an article by Bruce Feiler. I found it very interesting. I wonder if he knows that there is a difference between those who are Christian and those who claim to be Christian. To be a Christian means to be Christ Like. It means to follow the steps of Jesus himself.
The question then becomes, how do I follow the steps of Jesus? Can I follow? Of course we can never be Jesus but we can be like him in a sense that we follow what he was taught. That is what it means to be Christ Like. To understand what he was taught, you have to look into scripture and understand what he taught. You have to look at scripture to understand what kind of man Jesus was or is...
Did Jesus fight in wars while in Earth? No
Did Jesus use Foul Language? No
Did Jesus commit fornication? No
Did Jesus get drunk? No
What the world does today Jesus would not do. Instead what he taught was love. Notice what is mentioned in the book of John starting at chapter 5.
Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.
“Happy are those who mourn, since they will be comforted.
“Happy are the mild-tempered ones, since they will inherit the earth.
“Happy are those hungering and thirsting for righteousness, since they will be filled.
“Happy are the merciful, since they will be shown mercy.
“Happy are the pure in heart, since they will see God.
“Happy are the peaceable, since they will be called ‘sons of God.’
“Happy are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.
YOU heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say to YOU that everyone that keeps on looking at a woman so as to have a passion for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
There is so much more in that wonderful chapter. To understand what Jesus was like, you have to study what Jesus was like. The fact that he came to Earth to Die for us should tell you what kind of man he was.
Compare Jesus to men today
Jesus the son of God who has power = not corrupted.
Man who receives power = corrupted
Jesus who has more power did has never allowed his power to hurt anyone, only to help. Men on this planet have murdered, raped, stole, you name it.
The title of his Article is " Where have all the Christians Gone? Well, maybe you aren't looking in the right place.........
7 million plus and growing...........
Till tomorrow.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sick
I hate being sick. I hate when my head hurts so bad that it feels as if someone is pounding on my head with their hands. Not much fun at all. I thought about all the things that could come our way within the next few months and I've read many interesting things.
Swine Flu of course has been on my mind because of the possibility of them making it Mandatory. It does make me nervous. For example, pregnant woman are on top of the list of those who should receive the swine flu shot. Mercury will be in the swine flu shot.
Here is a video of what Mercury does to the brain.
This will be in the swine flu shot. Our brain fibers being destroyed by mercury. This is in the shot. They want to give this to pregnant women? Interesting isn't it. I read an article in the New York times which DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. wrote and I quote " Don’t Blame Flu Shots for All Ills, Officials Say "
In his article he writes and I quote " As soon as swine flu vaccinations start next month, some people getting them will drop dead of heart attacks or strokes, some children will have seizures and some pregnant women will miscarry. "end Quote.
The article goes on to stay and I quote " But those events will not necessarily have anything to do with the vaccine. That poses a public relations challenge for federal officials, who remember how sensational reports of deaths and illnesses derailed the large-scale flu vaccine drive of 1976.
This time they are making plans to respond rapidly to such events and to try to reassure a nervous public — and headline-hunting journalists — that the vaccine is not responsible.
Every year, there are 1.1 million heart attacks in the United States, 795,000 strokes and 876,000 miscarriages, and 200,000 Americans have their first seizure. Inevitably, officials say, some of these will happen within hours or days of a flu shot. " end quote..
Isn't it interesting that we forget the very beginning of the article that states and I will quote again " As soon as swine flu vaccinations start next month, some people getting them will drop dead of heart attacks or strokes, some children will have seizures and some pregnant women will miscarry. "end quote.
I've always said that if Adam and Eve never ate from the tree that they would be alive today. Its common sense isn't it. Isn't it safe to say that the opposite will happen then if they don't get the swine shot?
Now you don't know me but if I came with a cup of something and I told you to drink it and I told you it was good for you, would you drink it? Isn't it the same thing when it comes to those telling us these vaccinations are good for us? We don't know what's in it. Heptavax-B contains blood to break it down
Immunizations Not Derived From Blood
Baby shots (DPT, OPV, MMR)
Hib vaccine
Pneumovax
Toxoids
Flu shots
Recombivax-HB
Immunizations Derived From Blood
Heptavax-B
Rhogam
Antitoxins
Antivenins (for snake and spider venom)
Immune globulins (for various diseases)
Gamma globulin
Hyperimmune serum preparations (antirabies serum, for example)
So as a stranger can I come up with a drink without letting you know what's in the drink? All I ask is that you tell me what's in it. There is no long term study done on what vaccinations do to our bodies. Is it possible that this is what causes most of our cancers we get today? Who knows there isn't a study done.
Anyway I have a bit more info on swine flu shots besides it containing mercury....Till tomorrow.
Swine Flu of course has been on my mind because of the possibility of them making it Mandatory. It does make me nervous. For example, pregnant woman are on top of the list of those who should receive the swine flu shot. Mercury will be in the swine flu shot.
Here is a video of what Mercury does to the brain.
This will be in the swine flu shot. Our brain fibers being destroyed by mercury. This is in the shot. They want to give this to pregnant women? Interesting isn't it. I read an article in the New York times which DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. wrote and I quote " Don’t Blame Flu Shots for All Ills, Officials Say "
In his article he writes and I quote " As soon as swine flu vaccinations start next month, some people getting them will drop dead of heart attacks or strokes, some children will have seizures and some pregnant women will miscarry. "end Quote.
The article goes on to stay and I quote " But those events will not necessarily have anything to do with the vaccine. That poses a public relations challenge for federal officials, who remember how sensational reports of deaths and illnesses derailed the large-scale flu vaccine drive of 1976.
This time they are making plans to respond rapidly to such events and to try to reassure a nervous public — and headline-hunting journalists — that the vaccine is not responsible.
Every year, there are 1.1 million heart attacks in the United States, 795,000 strokes and 876,000 miscarriages, and 200,000 Americans have their first seizure. Inevitably, officials say, some of these will happen within hours or days of a flu shot. " end quote..
Isn't it interesting that we forget the very beginning of the article that states and I will quote again " As soon as swine flu vaccinations start next month, some people getting them will drop dead of heart attacks or strokes, some children will have seizures and some pregnant women will miscarry. "end quote.
I've always said that if Adam and Eve never ate from the tree that they would be alive today. Its common sense isn't it. Isn't it safe to say that the opposite will happen then if they don't get the swine shot?
Now you don't know me but if I came with a cup of something and I told you to drink it and I told you it was good for you, would you drink it? Isn't it the same thing when it comes to those telling us these vaccinations are good for us? We don't know what's in it. Heptavax-B contains blood to break it down
Immunizations Not Derived From Blood
Baby shots (DPT, OPV, MMR)
Hib vaccine
Pneumovax
Toxoids
Flu shots
Recombivax-HB
Immunizations Derived From Blood
Heptavax-B
Rhogam
Antitoxins
Antivenins (for snake and spider venom)
Immune globulins (for various diseases)
Gamma globulin
Hyperimmune serum preparations (antirabies serum, for example)
So as a stranger can I come up with a drink without letting you know what's in the drink? All I ask is that you tell me what's in it. There is no long term study done on what vaccinations do to our bodies. Is it possible that this is what causes most of our cancers we get today? Who knows there isn't a study done.
Anyway I have a bit more info on swine flu shots besides it containing mercury....Till tomorrow.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Interesting
Should a person be concerned with what kind of Job they will have in the future? Should a person be concerned with college? My oldest sons plans at a time did include being a firefighter but those plans have changed because he noticed that being a firefighter would require to much of his time and since it would require to much of his time, time would be taken away from the preaching work, time would be taken away from the meetings. He changed his mind.
Keep in mind that Jesus himself received his education from Jehovah himself. What did Jesus do with what he learned? Throughout his three-and-a-half-year earthly ministry, he tirelessly shared with others what he had learned. Jesus said What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him that sent me. If anyone desires to do His will, he will know concerning the teaching whether it is from God or I speak of my own originality. Back then they wanted to know who taught Jesus. They wanted to know by whom Jesus was educated, and he told them plainly that his education was from God!
How much secular education should we pursue? This may vary, But if the job market calls for training in addition to the minimum required by law, it is up to parents to guide their children in making a decision about supplementary education or training, weighing both the potential benefits and the drawbacks of such additional studies.
What, though, should be one’s motive in choosing further education when that may appear necessary? Certainly not riches, self-glory, or praise. Remember the lesson we learned from Jesus’ example—education should be used to bring praise to Jehovah. If we choose further education, our motivation should be the desire to support ourselves adequately so that we can serve Jehovah as fully as possible in the Christian ministry.
As for my son, what is his plans then to support himself and his wife and maybe future children? Well Jesus said this found at Matthew chapter 6 verse 33 - he said: Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. Anyone who truly appreciates the importance of this is going to give the Kingdom first place in his life. Everything else will fall into place. That doesn't mean that jobs will fall into your lap. It does require work on your part.
Today, People in general are more interested in other things. They eagerly pursue riches and the clothing, food and other material possessions and pleasures that money can buy. Their way of life reflects preoccupation with self and pleasure. In their lives, God is put in second place if they believe in him at all.
But to his disciples Jesus gave the counsel: Stop storing up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, because none of such possessions last forever. Rather, he said, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, by serving Jehovah. He urged his followers to keep their eye “simple,” focusing their attention on just one thing, the doing of God’s will.
Jesus said that You cannot slave for God and for Riches. But what about material needs food, clothing and shelter? Jesus said to Stop being anxious. He directed their attention to the birds, and said that God feeds them. He encouraged his followers to take a lesson from the flowers, God clothes them beautifully.
Are not Jehovah’s intelligent human servants worth more than any of these? Again, Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness,and all these other (necessary)things will be added to you. To what extent do we personally share the Kingdom good news with others? That depends, in part, on our circumstances and, to a large extent, on the depth of our appreciation.
Keep in mind that Jesus did not say, Seek the Kingdom when you have nothing else to do. Neither did he say, ‘As long as you talk about the Kingdom once in a while, you are doing all that is necessary.’ Nor did he say, ‘Start out with zeal for Kingdom interests; but if Paradise Earth seems long in coming, keep doing something in God’s service but live more like other people.
Knowing well the importance of the Kingdom, he expressed his Father’s will in the matter, saying: “Seek continually his kingdom.” Or, as the apostle Matthew recorded it: “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness.” Most of us find it necessary to do some kind of work to care for the physical needs of ourselves and our families, if we truly have faith, our lives will revolve around the work that God has given us in connection with his Kingdom. At the same time we will not neglect our family responsibilities.
Some of us are able to devote more time than others can to the field ministry. But in his parable concerning various kinds of soil Jesus showed that all whose hearts are like fine soil will bear fruit. To what extent? The circumstances of individuals vary. Age, health and family responsibilities are all factors. But when there is genuine appreciation, much can be accomplished.
Exampe: A SKILLFUL artist knows how to create depth. The details in the foreground are given greater prominence than those in the middle ground and background. It is much the same with our priorities in life. Some of them merit more prominence than others. Jesus said: Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them. Thus, spiritual values should be right up front. In contrast, material possessions should be of less significance.
I call them the wants and needs in life. Maybe you noticed that bright new TV in your house. It was purchased with cash. You sit on the couch and you are ready to watch a movie on your new tv. You want to get a snack. You open the refrigerator and notice there isn't any food. You ask mom or dad did they go shopping. They reply " I haven't received a paycheck from work yet " Eat a cup "O" noddle. They get paid in about 4 days so I hope you enjoy the noddles.
Wants and Needs. Did you need that TV? Do you need Food?
You finish school and you got a job. You are working Monday through Friday and it doesn't interfere with the meetings or service. The boss at work comes up and wants to give you a promotion but it means you will work on Sunday. You could use the extra money to purchase that brand new car you always wanted plus the extra money in your paycheck wouldn't hurt. What do you do?
Wants and Needs. Do you need spiritual food or no? Is the promotion going to cause you to lose your relationship with Jehovah by missing meetings? You want the job but do you need the job? Wants and Needs
I'm not saying that you should not take care of yourself in terms of education or looking for a job. What I'm saying is if you select anything that is going to get in the way of your personal relationship with Jehovah...Well....Wants and Needs......
A Christian’s view of the future should affect his or her choice of career. With the world passing away, a career based upon worldly ambitions is most unrealistic. Bible prophecy indicates how short-lived such a career would be. For this reason, many young people are choosing a career in full-time Bible education/volunteer work of helping people to understand the Bible.
How can somebody make a living that way? In order to support themselves financially, many have first received practical training in a trade. Choosing a successful career is therefore a result of getting advice from the right people, getting trained in courses that will help you reach your goals, and being realistic about your future. With Jesse my oldest son, we will both sit and think of what he can do without it getting in the way of his spiritual relationship with Jehovah. Of course that means that he will need to sit and pray to Jehovah to make sure his moves are guided by Jehovah's holy spirit.
What if Jesse wanted to devote his full time to support the organization meaning full time preaching work. I fully support that idea and will support him and his family financially if he chooses to do so. After all family takes care of each other no matter what and that includes money which isn't going to matter in the new system anyway.
What have Jesse and I talked about. Well, we were thinking of a trade of some sorts. Maybe a plumber like Joe?
Maybe an Electrician
Maybe a construction worker.
Maybe work at walgreens.
Maybe Jack in the box
Who knows but whatever he does, it will not and should not get in the way of his relationship with Jehovah. What about for a woman? Is it wrong to stay at home and take care of the home? That is a blessing. Thinking about it. While the husband is at work, the wife can devote her time to the ministry. If the wife wants to work the husband can devote his full time in the ministry. If they both work, they can devote what they can but point is, not to devote to much time to things that don't matter anyway. Remember wants and needs......
Folks till tomorrow....Have a great day....
Keep in mind that Jesus himself received his education from Jehovah himself. What did Jesus do with what he learned? Throughout his three-and-a-half-year earthly ministry, he tirelessly shared with others what he had learned. Jesus said What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him that sent me. If anyone desires to do His will, he will know concerning the teaching whether it is from God or I speak of my own originality. Back then they wanted to know who taught Jesus. They wanted to know by whom Jesus was educated, and he told them plainly that his education was from God!
How much secular education should we pursue? This may vary, But if the job market calls for training in addition to the minimum required by law, it is up to parents to guide their children in making a decision about supplementary education or training, weighing both the potential benefits and the drawbacks of such additional studies.
What, though, should be one’s motive in choosing further education when that may appear necessary? Certainly not riches, self-glory, or praise. Remember the lesson we learned from Jesus’ example—education should be used to bring praise to Jehovah. If we choose further education, our motivation should be the desire to support ourselves adequately so that we can serve Jehovah as fully as possible in the Christian ministry.
As for my son, what is his plans then to support himself and his wife and maybe future children? Well Jesus said this found at Matthew chapter 6 verse 33 - he said: Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you. Anyone who truly appreciates the importance of this is going to give the Kingdom first place in his life. Everything else will fall into place. That doesn't mean that jobs will fall into your lap. It does require work on your part.
Today, People in general are more interested in other things. They eagerly pursue riches and the clothing, food and other material possessions and pleasures that money can buy. Their way of life reflects preoccupation with self and pleasure. In their lives, God is put in second place if they believe in him at all.
But to his disciples Jesus gave the counsel: Stop storing up for yourselves treasures upon the earth, because none of such possessions last forever. Rather, he said, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, by serving Jehovah. He urged his followers to keep their eye “simple,” focusing their attention on just one thing, the doing of God’s will.
Jesus said that You cannot slave for God and for Riches. But what about material needs food, clothing and shelter? Jesus said to Stop being anxious. He directed their attention to the birds, and said that God feeds them. He encouraged his followers to take a lesson from the flowers, God clothes them beautifully.
Are not Jehovah’s intelligent human servants worth more than any of these? Again, Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness,and all these other (necessary)things will be added to you. To what extent do we personally share the Kingdom good news with others? That depends, in part, on our circumstances and, to a large extent, on the depth of our appreciation.
Keep in mind that Jesus did not say, Seek the Kingdom when you have nothing else to do. Neither did he say, ‘As long as you talk about the Kingdom once in a while, you are doing all that is necessary.’ Nor did he say, ‘Start out with zeal for Kingdom interests; but if Paradise Earth seems long in coming, keep doing something in God’s service but live more like other people.
Knowing well the importance of the Kingdom, he expressed his Father’s will in the matter, saying: “Seek continually his kingdom.” Or, as the apostle Matthew recorded it: “Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness.” Most of us find it necessary to do some kind of work to care for the physical needs of ourselves and our families, if we truly have faith, our lives will revolve around the work that God has given us in connection with his Kingdom. At the same time we will not neglect our family responsibilities.
Some of us are able to devote more time than others can to the field ministry. But in his parable concerning various kinds of soil Jesus showed that all whose hearts are like fine soil will bear fruit. To what extent? The circumstances of individuals vary. Age, health and family responsibilities are all factors. But when there is genuine appreciation, much can be accomplished.
Exampe: A SKILLFUL artist knows how to create depth. The details in the foreground are given greater prominence than those in the middle ground and background. It is much the same with our priorities in life. Some of them merit more prominence than others. Jesus said: Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them. Thus, spiritual values should be right up front. In contrast, material possessions should be of less significance.
I call them the wants and needs in life. Maybe you noticed that bright new TV in your house. It was purchased with cash. You sit on the couch and you are ready to watch a movie on your new tv. You want to get a snack. You open the refrigerator and notice there isn't any food. You ask mom or dad did they go shopping. They reply " I haven't received a paycheck from work yet " Eat a cup "O" noddle. They get paid in about 4 days so I hope you enjoy the noddles.
Wants and Needs. Did you need that TV? Do you need Food?
You finish school and you got a job. You are working Monday through Friday and it doesn't interfere with the meetings or service. The boss at work comes up and wants to give you a promotion but it means you will work on Sunday. You could use the extra money to purchase that brand new car you always wanted plus the extra money in your paycheck wouldn't hurt. What do you do?
Wants and Needs. Do you need spiritual food or no? Is the promotion going to cause you to lose your relationship with Jehovah by missing meetings? You want the job but do you need the job? Wants and Needs
I'm not saying that you should not take care of yourself in terms of education or looking for a job. What I'm saying is if you select anything that is going to get in the way of your personal relationship with Jehovah...Well....Wants and Needs......
A Christian’s view of the future should affect his or her choice of career. With the world passing away, a career based upon worldly ambitions is most unrealistic. Bible prophecy indicates how short-lived such a career would be. For this reason, many young people are choosing a career in full-time Bible education/volunteer work of helping people to understand the Bible.
How can somebody make a living that way? In order to support themselves financially, many have first received practical training in a trade. Choosing a successful career is therefore a result of getting advice from the right people, getting trained in courses that will help you reach your goals, and being realistic about your future. With Jesse my oldest son, we will both sit and think of what he can do without it getting in the way of his spiritual relationship with Jehovah. Of course that means that he will need to sit and pray to Jehovah to make sure his moves are guided by Jehovah's holy spirit.
What if Jesse wanted to devote his full time to support the organization meaning full time preaching work. I fully support that idea and will support him and his family financially if he chooses to do so. After all family takes care of each other no matter what and that includes money which isn't going to matter in the new system anyway.
What have Jesse and I talked about. Well, we were thinking of a trade of some sorts. Maybe a plumber like Joe?
Maybe an Electrician
Maybe a construction worker.
Maybe work at walgreens.
Maybe Jack in the box
Who knows but whatever he does, it will not and should not get in the way of his relationship with Jehovah. What about for a woman? Is it wrong to stay at home and take care of the home? That is a blessing. Thinking about it. While the husband is at work, the wife can devote her time to the ministry. If the wife wants to work the husband can devote his full time in the ministry. If they both work, they can devote what they can but point is, not to devote to much time to things that don't matter anyway. Remember wants and needs......
Folks till tomorrow....Have a great day....
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Wednesday
It's amazing the kind of language you hear today. It's not just from our adults but also from our children, our teenagers. Can they not complete a sentence without using foul language?
There’s no doubt that swearing is widespread. In fact, some youths would say that if they could have a dollar for every vulgar word they heard at school, they’d never have to work and their parents could retire.When you hear that kind of talk all day, it’s hard to keep from joining the crowd.
All of us are surrounded by swearing. Question is, have you picked up the habit yourself? If so, take a moment to examine just what motivates you to swear. Once you identify that, you’ll be in a better position to eliminate the habit.With this in mind, try answering the following questions.
In most cases, why do you swear?
□ To express anger or frustration
□ To get attention
□ To fit in with peers
□ To appear tough
□ To challenge authority
□ Other …………………………
In what circumstance are you most inclined to swear?
□ At school
□ At work
□ In e-mails, instant messages, or text messages
□ When by myself
How do you excuse your swearing?
□ Peers do it
□ Parents do it
□ Teachers do it
□ Entertainment is saturated with it
□ It’s no big deal—they’re just words
□ I only swear around people who aren’t bothered by it
□ Other …………………………
Why conquer this habit at all? Is swearing really that bad? Notice what Jesus said found Luke chapter 6 verse 45 says. It states: A good man brings forth good out of the good treasure of his heart, but a wicked man brings forth what is wicked out of his wicked treasure; for out of the heart’s abundance his mouth speaks.
Note that what we say doesn’t simply reflect the type of person we would like to be it reflects the type of person we already are. Even if you use bad language simply because others do it, copying their example reveals that you follow after the crowd and that you’re not your own person.
Swearing hurts your reputation. Like most youths, you probably care about your appearance. You want to make a good impression. But did you know that how you speak can have a greater impact on others than how you look? The fact is, your speech can determine such things as:
▪ Whom you will attract as friends.
▪ Whether you will be hired for a particular job or not.
▪ The amount of respect you will receive.
It’s true, often the initial impression people form of us based on our appearance quickly fades when we start talking.Swearing shows disrespect for the Creator of speech. Suppose you gave your friend as a gift a shirt or a blouse. How would you feel if you saw your friend using that garment as a rag or a doormat?
Think of how our Creator feels, then, when we misuse the gift of speech. No wonder that God’s Word states: “Let all malicious bitterness and anger and wrath and screaming and abusive speech be taken away from you along with all badness.” Found at Ephesians 4:31.
There’s good reason to stop swearing. If it’s become a deeply ingrained habit, though, how can you overcome it? First: See the need to change. You likely won’t stop swearing until you understand how you will benefit from altering your speech.
Which factors below would motivate you to stop swearing?
□ Pleasing the Creator of speech
□ Gaining greater respect from others
□ Expanding my vocabulary
□ Bettering myself as a person
Second: Figure out what’s behind the swearing. Maybe you reasoned, swearing made me feel tougher in a way. I didn’t want people pushing me around. I wanted to have the upper hand, to tell people off the way all my friends did.
Understanding why you swear is a key to determining how you will address the problem. For example, if you swear just because everyone else does it, you need to learn to build confidence in your own strengths. Taking proper pride in being your own person is a vital part of growing up—and a big help in eliminating the habit of swearing.
Third: Find alternate ways of expressing yourself. It’s not just a matter of biting your tongue. Conquering the bad-language habit involves putting on “the new personality.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) This will help you to gain greater self-control and self-respect—as well as respect for others.
The following scriptures will help you to put on—and keep on—the new personality.
Colossians 3:2: “Keep your minds fixed on the things above.”
Application: Train your mind to value things that are upright. Your thoughts influence the way you speak.
Proverbs 13:20: “He that is walking with wise persons will become wise, but he that is having dealings with the stupid ones will fare badly.”
Application: The language used by your associates can rub off on you.
Psalm 19:14: “Let the sayings of my mouth and the meditation of my heart become pleasurable before you, O Jehovah.”
Application: Jehovah notices how we use the gift of speech.
Still need help? Why not use the chart above to track your progress by noting how many times you used a bad word? You may be surprised at how quickly you improve your vocabulary!
Till tomorrow.....
There’s no doubt that swearing is widespread. In fact, some youths would say that if they could have a dollar for every vulgar word they heard at school, they’d never have to work and their parents could retire.When you hear that kind of talk all day, it’s hard to keep from joining the crowd.
All of us are surrounded by swearing. Question is, have you picked up the habit yourself? If so, take a moment to examine just what motivates you to swear. Once you identify that, you’ll be in a better position to eliminate the habit.With this in mind, try answering the following questions.
In most cases, why do you swear?
□ To express anger or frustration
□ To get attention
□ To fit in with peers
□ To appear tough
□ To challenge authority
□ Other …………………………
In what circumstance are you most inclined to swear?
□ At school
□ At work
□ In e-mails, instant messages, or text messages
□ When by myself
How do you excuse your swearing?
□ Peers do it
□ Parents do it
□ Teachers do it
□ Entertainment is saturated with it
□ It’s no big deal—they’re just words
□ I only swear around people who aren’t bothered by it
□ Other …………………………
Why conquer this habit at all? Is swearing really that bad? Notice what Jesus said found Luke chapter 6 verse 45 says. It states: A good man brings forth good out of the good treasure of his heart, but a wicked man brings forth what is wicked out of his wicked treasure; for out of the heart’s abundance his mouth speaks.
Note that what we say doesn’t simply reflect the type of person we would like to be it reflects the type of person we already are. Even if you use bad language simply because others do it, copying their example reveals that you follow after the crowd and that you’re not your own person.
Swearing hurts your reputation. Like most youths, you probably care about your appearance. You want to make a good impression. But did you know that how you speak can have a greater impact on others than how you look? The fact is, your speech can determine such things as:
▪ Whom you will attract as friends.
▪ Whether you will be hired for a particular job or not.
▪ The amount of respect you will receive.
It’s true, often the initial impression people form of us based on our appearance quickly fades when we start talking.Swearing shows disrespect for the Creator of speech. Suppose you gave your friend as a gift a shirt or a blouse. How would you feel if you saw your friend using that garment as a rag or a doormat?
Think of how our Creator feels, then, when we misuse the gift of speech. No wonder that God’s Word states: “Let all malicious bitterness and anger and wrath and screaming and abusive speech be taken away from you along with all badness.” Found at Ephesians 4:31.
There’s good reason to stop swearing. If it’s become a deeply ingrained habit, though, how can you overcome it? First: See the need to change. You likely won’t stop swearing until you understand how you will benefit from altering your speech.
Which factors below would motivate you to stop swearing?
□ Pleasing the Creator of speech
□ Gaining greater respect from others
□ Expanding my vocabulary
□ Bettering myself as a person
Second: Figure out what’s behind the swearing. Maybe you reasoned, swearing made me feel tougher in a way. I didn’t want people pushing me around. I wanted to have the upper hand, to tell people off the way all my friends did.
Understanding why you swear is a key to determining how you will address the problem. For example, if you swear just because everyone else does it, you need to learn to build confidence in your own strengths. Taking proper pride in being your own person is a vital part of growing up—and a big help in eliminating the habit of swearing.
Third: Find alternate ways of expressing yourself. It’s not just a matter of biting your tongue. Conquering the bad-language habit involves putting on “the new personality.” (Ephesians 4:22-24) This will help you to gain greater self-control and self-respect—as well as respect for others.
The following scriptures will help you to put on—and keep on—the new personality.
Colossians 3:2: “Keep your minds fixed on the things above.”
Application: Train your mind to value things that are upright. Your thoughts influence the way you speak.
Proverbs 13:20: “He that is walking with wise persons will become wise, but he that is having dealings with the stupid ones will fare badly.”
Application: The language used by your associates can rub off on you.
Psalm 19:14: “Let the sayings of my mouth and the meditation of my heart become pleasurable before you, O Jehovah.”
Application: Jehovah notices how we use the gift of speech.
Still need help? Why not use the chart above to track your progress by noting how many times you used a bad word? You may be surprised at how quickly you improve your vocabulary!
Till tomorrow.....
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tuesday
Life = Prison
Life = Pain
Life = Sadness
Life = depression
Life = Death
Is life really that bad? Well it really depends on who you ask. If you ask someone that's rich the answer might be different but even the rich today suffer. Even the rich are killing themselves or getting themselves into double. Our Youth feel so depressed that at times they even feel like killing themselves. They feel at there is no other way out. Is life really that bad?
Imagine the death of a loved one. Picture how would you feel if you didn't have the one you love anymore. Picture if you lost your child. There are no words on how a person would feel. We only see these things and more on a small scale compared to Jehovah who can see it all.
Because of the pain and sadness a person goes through for various reasons will lead to depression and through depression can lead a person to death. Is life really that bad? Sadly it is. This system of things in one way or another causes all to have pain in one way or another. We all lose someone in Death and Death is the ultimate pain someone can feel.
What if you are away from the one you love? Yes this can hurt very much and although there isn't much that I could say to take that pain away I can at least help with the words found at Revelation 21:4 which states many wonderful things.
It states that Jehovah will wipe out every tear from our eyes, Jehovah says that death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.
We will not suffer a single thing. We will be with the ones we love. We will see those we have lost. Isn't that a goal worth fighting for? When you feel sad or lonely, when you feel hurt or lost someone in death. Remember that Jehovah is going to make things better. That's a promise....
Keep those eyes dry because we are close.
Life = Pain
Life = Sadness
Life = depression
Life = Death
Is life really that bad? Well it really depends on who you ask. If you ask someone that's rich the answer might be different but even the rich today suffer. Even the rich are killing themselves or getting themselves into double. Our Youth feel so depressed that at times they even feel like killing themselves. They feel at there is no other way out. Is life really that bad?
Imagine the death of a loved one. Picture how would you feel if you didn't have the one you love anymore. Picture if you lost your child. There are no words on how a person would feel. We only see these things and more on a small scale compared to Jehovah who can see it all.
Because of the pain and sadness a person goes through for various reasons will lead to depression and through depression can lead a person to death. Is life really that bad? Sadly it is. This system of things in one way or another causes all to have pain in one way or another. We all lose someone in Death and Death is the ultimate pain someone can feel.
What if you are away from the one you love? Yes this can hurt very much and although there isn't much that I could say to take that pain away I can at least help with the words found at Revelation 21:4 which states many wonderful things.
It states that Jehovah will wipe out every tear from our eyes, Jehovah says that death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.
We will not suffer a single thing. We will be with the ones we love. We will see those we have lost. Isn't that a goal worth fighting for? When you feel sad or lonely, when you feel hurt or lost someone in death. Remember that Jehovah is going to make things better. That's a promise....
Keep those eyes dry because we are close.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Monday
Life can at times feel like you are in prison. You can feel as if you are trapped with no way out. How to find peace in a world full of madness can be difficult. Maybe you feel alone. Maybe you feel as if nobody truly understands you.
There is nothing wrong with feeling this way and in truth its a common feeling. We can all feel that way from time to time and for some, maybe you feel this way all the time. Question now becomes: Are you talking to Jehovah about how you feel? Do you let him know what you are going through?
If you are then continue doing so because really Jehovah is there to give you strength but remember that Satan will test you. Notice at times in life where nothing seems to go right. Nothing you do seems to go right. You might have problems with friends, maybe parents, maybe you have issues at school, maybe you are away from those you love, maybe you have issues with your wife or husband. All of this maybe happens during one week, one after another. You will be tested....
Remember Jehovah did not stop Jesus from being tested. Jesus depended on Jehovah but Jehovah allowed Jesus to be tested. It did not mean that Jehovah did not love Jesus. We know Jehovah does. The simple fact that Jesus came to Earth shows that Jehovah loves us and Jesus knew in advance what he came to the Earth to do shows that Jesus loves us. Jesus wasn't clueless. He knew he would die, he knew he was sent to die. Did Jesus give in to this system of things? Of course not. Did Jesus accept Satan's offer for all the kingdoms of the world? Of course not.
Jesus was loyal to his father. He loved his father but he also knew that he himself would be tested and that it was this system that would test him. It was Satan that would test him. It was not Jehovah that would test him. There is a difference between allowing something to happen and causing something to happen.
Today, we will be tested but how we come out of it can make us or break us. Its up to you. Continue to be strong. Pray to Jehovah for strength. Think about the future and it's promises. Till tomorrow....
There is nothing wrong with feeling this way and in truth its a common feeling. We can all feel that way from time to time and for some, maybe you feel this way all the time. Question now becomes: Are you talking to Jehovah about how you feel? Do you let him know what you are going through?
If you are then continue doing so because really Jehovah is there to give you strength but remember that Satan will test you. Notice at times in life where nothing seems to go right. Nothing you do seems to go right. You might have problems with friends, maybe parents, maybe you have issues at school, maybe you are away from those you love, maybe you have issues with your wife or husband. All of this maybe happens during one week, one after another. You will be tested....
Remember Jehovah did not stop Jesus from being tested. Jesus depended on Jehovah but Jehovah allowed Jesus to be tested. It did not mean that Jehovah did not love Jesus. We know Jehovah does. The simple fact that Jesus came to Earth shows that Jehovah loves us and Jesus knew in advance what he came to the Earth to do shows that Jesus loves us. Jesus wasn't clueless. He knew he would die, he knew he was sent to die. Did Jesus give in to this system of things? Of course not. Did Jesus accept Satan's offer for all the kingdoms of the world? Of course not.
Jesus was loyal to his father. He loved his father but he also knew that he himself would be tested and that it was this system that would test him. It was Satan that would test him. It was not Jehovah that would test him. There is a difference between allowing something to happen and causing something to happen.
Today, we will be tested but how we come out of it can make us or break us. Its up to you. Continue to be strong. Pray to Jehovah for strength. Think about the future and it's promises. Till tomorrow....
Friday, September 18, 2009
Oh really?
Parents do we listen to our children? Do we hear them when they cry out? Do we spend the time to listen to them when they have issues? Sadly most Parents don't and even if they did make the time, they may not listen. As a Parent myself, I know I make mistakes but I know my children can teach me things. It's important as a Parent to listen to our children. It's important to take into consideration what our children are saying.
Today we are slaves to technology. We are slaves to entertainment. Parents don't spend enough time with their children. They teach their children by putting them in front of a TV and push play on the DVD player. They put them in front of a computer and surf the net or play games.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with watching tv or surfing the internet, but what I am saying is this, there is something wrong if your child is learning language by playing a dvd. There is something wrong when a child is searching the internet for advise on life.
Often times the advise given is the wrong advise given and can lead them down a road that you wish they wouldn't have taken. This is because of the limited amount of time being spent with our children.
I will repeat, our children can teach us things. We just need to hear them when they say it............................
Till Monday, have a great weekend.
Today we are slaves to technology. We are slaves to entertainment. Parents don't spend enough time with their children. They teach their children by putting them in front of a TV and push play on the DVD player. They put them in front of a computer and surf the net or play games.
I'm not saying there is anything wrong with watching tv or surfing the internet, but what I am saying is this, there is something wrong if your child is learning language by playing a dvd. There is something wrong when a child is searching the internet for advise on life.
Often times the advise given is the wrong advise given and can lead them down a road that you wish they wouldn't have taken. This is because of the limited amount of time being spent with our children.
I will repeat, our children can teach us things. We just need to hear them when they say it............................
Till Monday, have a great weekend.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
It's all about me!!!
Do you have friends that require all the attention? They act certain ways, they dress certain ways, and talk certain ways. All of this is for attention. The center of attention so to speak. Doing what it takes to become popular. Even though it is desirable to do one’s best to get along with others, there is danger in blindly conforming to what is popular. Why? It is because what is popular with the crowd often runs contrary to what is acceptable to God. Just look at what they do.
Scripture tells us that The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one. Satan cunningly uses every means at his disposal—materialism, low morals, racial prejudice, religious bigotry, nationalism, and so forth—to influence the masses and to turn them away from God. To conform to such practices would, in effect, put one in opposition to Jehovah God and his purposes.
Notice this scripture found at Romans 12 verse 2 which states: “Quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Living in this system of things, Christians are under constant pressure to conform to what is popular. Youths are particularly vulnerable in this regard. The desire to look and act like their schoolmates is extremely strong.The Bible gives us much straightforward counsel when it comes to following the crowd, acting like the crowd, and being around the crowd.
In the coming new world under Christ’s rule, the popular thing to do will be the right thing to do. Until then, we will have to be on guard against the urge to conform to what is popular. We can draw encouragement from Paul’s admonition: “Because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also put off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Found at Hebrews 12:1.
When issues and challenges come your way, what will you do? Will you succumb to fear of men and give in to doing what is popular? Or will you turn to God’s Word, the Bible, and follow its principles? Taking the latter course will not only benefit you now but also give you the prospect of being among those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Makes sense doesn't it?
Scripture tells us that The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one. Satan cunningly uses every means at his disposal—materialism, low morals, racial prejudice, religious bigotry, nationalism, and so forth—to influence the masses and to turn them away from God. To conform to such practices would, in effect, put one in opposition to Jehovah God and his purposes.
Notice this scripture found at Romans 12 verse 2 which states: “Quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Living in this system of things, Christians are under constant pressure to conform to what is popular. Youths are particularly vulnerable in this regard. The desire to look and act like their schoolmates is extremely strong.The Bible gives us much straightforward counsel when it comes to following the crowd, acting like the crowd, and being around the crowd.
In the coming new world under Christ’s rule, the popular thing to do will be the right thing to do. Until then, we will have to be on guard against the urge to conform to what is popular. We can draw encouragement from Paul’s admonition: “Because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also put off every weight and the sin that easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” Found at Hebrews 12:1.
When issues and challenges come your way, what will you do? Will you succumb to fear of men and give in to doing what is popular? Or will you turn to God’s Word, the Bible, and follow its principles? Taking the latter course will not only benefit you now but also give you the prospect of being among those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Makes sense doesn't it?
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tuesday
My son turns 17 next month. We are very open with each other. It's safe to say that his heart belongs to a very special girl. I can see marriage in their future. I gave him my full support but at the same time giving him my examples in life and how my relationship has lasted for more than 20 years.
Everyone that I knew in the world isn't with the same person who they had children with. Everyone in the world has been and continues to be with multiple partners. I have been with my wife through the good and bad times but must say that if Jehovah did not come into our lives, we would not be together today and as mentioned would be in jail or dead.
Marriage is something that should remain sacred. What God has yoked together let no man put apart. I recall those words as my spiritual mother told them to me which is found at MATTHEW 19:6.
In the world today, there is very little regard on the part of the people for the marriage arrangement and for continuing that which God has yoked together. Divorce has reached what could be described as epidemic proportions in country after country. In lands where divorce is not legally permitted by the government, the picture is no brighter, for in such lands people often leave marriage mates and take up living with someone else.
So the worthy advice of Jesus at Matthew 19:6 is not being heeded by millions of people in Christendom and elsewhere. Is this because the advice Jesus gave is bad, or is it because people do not listen when Jesus speaks, and they care little about the advice of Jesus in this regard?
The evidence is that a large percentage of people do not view marriage as a lifetime contract if it interferes with their own life-styles and desires. To such ones, a marriage need be only a temporary arrangement if it interferes with one’s pursuits, likes, or dislikes. So it would almost seem that as easily as one sheds a coat or a hat, others shed a marriage mate, never thinking for a moment about the advice Jesus gave to those who enter into the marriage relationship.
With this everybody’s-doing-it attitude so prevalent, those wishing to follow the secure advice of the Bible can be influenced in a manner that leads them away from the good teaching of God’s Word. Fine counsel is given by the printed page and orally, but failure to heed the Bible’s advice can lead to marriage problems.
If we adopt the attitude that anything in marriage interfering with our life-style, our pleasures, our desires, can be changed by our not abiding by God’s directions on marriage, then we are in danger. To have such an attitude brings us face to face with one of mankind’s greatest problems, that of selfishness.
Men and women, offspring of Adam and Eve, are born in sin and imperfection. This means that because of the inheritance of sin, man misses the mark and is lawless to one degree or another. The apostle Paul spoke of the tremendous burden sin places upon mankind, for he found himself doing what he did not want to do and not doing what he should do.
Anyone deliberately breaking God’s law is selfish. With some individuals it may be selfishness on a small scale, but with others it becomes the total way of life, and their selfishness becomes gross. In the arrangement of marriage instituted by God, it is selfishness that is often at the root of a problem between marriage mates. The woman who wants to be waited on hand and foot, as the expression goes, as she may have been spoiled by her mother or father, is basically selfish.
The man who wants to continue a life-style of singleness, that of always being with the “boys” after his marriage, is basically selfish. Think about all the ways in which husband and wife have differences, and you will see that selfishness is at the root of so many of the problems. In striving to cope with the problems occurring in marriage, how does one overcome this inborn tendency toward selfishness? There are a number of things that can be done and which, when applied, can help a marriage that is foundering. But each partner in the marriage arrangement has to be willing to do his or her share. It is not a one-way street.
Marriage is a sharing, meaning that neither marriage partner can take the other for granted and feel that only as long as one of the partners gives and the other takes will all be well. That will not work to the blessing of either. For example, the relatives on both sides have to be taken into consideration. This should not be allowed to become a sore point in the marriage arrangement, so that one’s own parents or other relatives are taken into consideration and not those of one’s mate. Where a family will spend vacations or other periods of relaxation should not always be one-sided decisions. Thoughtful concern shown in such matters will help make a marriage successful. Never take each other for granted but display unselfishness.
Because of the prevailing view among many of this generation that if a marriage does not work out it can be terminated in divorce, many young people start out with that light view of the marriage arrangement. This can and does lead to breakups of many teenage marriages. It also leads to bringing many unwanted children into the world. These young ones often grow up never knowing what it is to have a mother and a father who deeply love and care for them.
Question then becomes - how old should a person be before considering marriage? It would not be the course of wisdom to make rules on this score. Yet the Scriptures give good advice on what constitutes mental and spiritual maturity the kind of maturity needed by those entering married life. Please read Galatians 5:22, 23, wherein you will find listed the fruitage of the spirit. Examine carefully each one of the fruits there mentioned. Those are the qualities that one needs to cultivate in life. It is not after marriage that a person should begin showing such qualities but long before in his daily life as a Christian.
For example, are you a person who is joyful in life, happy to be alive, serving the interests of the Kingdom of Christ? Are you at peace with others, promoting peaceful relations with them? Or are you contentious, given to fits of anger and abusive speech? Are you long-suffering, able to put up with the weaknesses of your brother or sister, mother or father? Or are you short-tempered and prone to anger if others do not immediately line up with what you want? Do you find that you show kindness to others in your dealings with them, being mild and doing good to them? Or are you selfish, egotistical, lacking in self-control, apt to fly off at others with the least provocation? Have you genuine love for others, wanting to help them, going out of your way, giving of yourself and your resources to bring happiness to others? Or do you want others to show love toward you, always giving to you from their resources?
It is correct to say that none of us have these qualities in a perfect way. However, the man or the woman who has been molded by some years of life, and who has had an opportunity to cultivate such spiritual qualities, is in a fine position to make a success of marriage—a much better position than that of the person who does not start trying to master these fruits of the spirit until after the marriage vows.
Why not honestly examine yourself, your likes and dislikes? Do you not see that your appreciation for life has been enhanced by the passage of time? Did you have the same values at 13 that you had at 5, or the same values at 20 that you had at 13? Has your understanding and appreciation for life grown or lessened as you have gained greater experience over the years?
Do you now, as an adult or becoming an adult, look for the same qualities in people that you did as a child? Is it not often true that the “only” boy in a girl’s life when she is 16 or 17 years old is long forgotten as she grows to womanhood and attaches greater importance to a man’s godly traits and personality? Her view at 22 or 23 years of age will likely be centered more on the spiritual, mental, and emotional aspects of a man than on the physical characteristics.
The same can be said for the young boy growing to manhood. His hopes and aspirations as far as a wife is concerned ripen as he matures. In his later years, as values change, what he will look for in a marriage mate is someone who is understanding and kind, who has ability to be a homemaker and a mother, and who has in her heart a deep-seated desire to please first her Creator, Jehovah, and to do his will.
The point of the matter is that time changes a person’s outlook on values. Therefore, rushing into matrimony at a young age is fraught with many dangers. It may not be possible to persuade two very young persons to wait for some time to pass before entering into a marriage. But parents, especially in the early years of their children’s lives, can encourage them to think seriously about life, about being spiritually, emotionally, and mentally prepared for marriage before entering into a lifetime contract with another individual for better or for worse.
This is not to say that marrying when one is older is the total answer either. There can be problems then as well, especially if the attitude of selfishness is allowed to creep in and drive a wedge between two people. The mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of each one in the marriage bond must be taken into consideration. Some Christians have allowed themselves to become deeply involved in secular work, to the exclusion of congregational activity, including attending meetings and sharing in the preaching and disciple-making work. Then they try to make up for what they feel is a lack in their lives by indulging in a lot of recreation.
They seem to think that as long as they are occupied, their problems will somehow be solved for now, and then in the New Order of things they will get around to each other’s needs emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. But life does not work that way. Paul’s advice was that a man should care for his wife as he does for his own body. That means giving attention now to the needs of his mate, even as he daily gives attention to his own needs. The same can be said for the woman.
I was 15 years old when I met my future wife but again the only reason it worked is because we have Jehovah in our lives. Marriage can work with those who are young. I am proof that it can but it requires a great deal of respect and understanding of each other, love and I mean true love not puppy love, and of course having Jehovah guide your steps. It cannot fail if you follow Jehovah but it takes work from both involved.
My son wants to get married when he reaches 18. He is looking forward to that day. I support him. I think the difference between my son and others is because he does have Jehovah in his life and he is more mature than most I know. He is very responsible and loving. I can truly thank Jehovah for that........
2 more years and counting....
Everyone that I knew in the world isn't with the same person who they had children with. Everyone in the world has been and continues to be with multiple partners. I have been with my wife through the good and bad times but must say that if Jehovah did not come into our lives, we would not be together today and as mentioned would be in jail or dead.
Marriage is something that should remain sacred. What God has yoked together let no man put apart. I recall those words as my spiritual mother told them to me which is found at MATTHEW 19:6.
In the world today, there is very little regard on the part of the people for the marriage arrangement and for continuing that which God has yoked together. Divorce has reached what could be described as epidemic proportions in country after country. In lands where divorce is not legally permitted by the government, the picture is no brighter, for in such lands people often leave marriage mates and take up living with someone else.
So the worthy advice of Jesus at Matthew 19:6 is not being heeded by millions of people in Christendom and elsewhere. Is this because the advice Jesus gave is bad, or is it because people do not listen when Jesus speaks, and they care little about the advice of Jesus in this regard?
The evidence is that a large percentage of people do not view marriage as a lifetime contract if it interferes with their own life-styles and desires. To such ones, a marriage need be only a temporary arrangement if it interferes with one’s pursuits, likes, or dislikes. So it would almost seem that as easily as one sheds a coat or a hat, others shed a marriage mate, never thinking for a moment about the advice Jesus gave to those who enter into the marriage relationship.
With this everybody’s-doing-it attitude so prevalent, those wishing to follow the secure advice of the Bible can be influenced in a manner that leads them away from the good teaching of God’s Word. Fine counsel is given by the printed page and orally, but failure to heed the Bible’s advice can lead to marriage problems.
If we adopt the attitude that anything in marriage interfering with our life-style, our pleasures, our desires, can be changed by our not abiding by God’s directions on marriage, then we are in danger. To have such an attitude brings us face to face with one of mankind’s greatest problems, that of selfishness.
Men and women, offspring of Adam and Eve, are born in sin and imperfection. This means that because of the inheritance of sin, man misses the mark and is lawless to one degree or another. The apostle Paul spoke of the tremendous burden sin places upon mankind, for he found himself doing what he did not want to do and not doing what he should do.
Anyone deliberately breaking God’s law is selfish. With some individuals it may be selfishness on a small scale, but with others it becomes the total way of life, and their selfishness becomes gross. In the arrangement of marriage instituted by God, it is selfishness that is often at the root of a problem between marriage mates. The woman who wants to be waited on hand and foot, as the expression goes, as she may have been spoiled by her mother or father, is basically selfish.
The man who wants to continue a life-style of singleness, that of always being with the “boys” after his marriage, is basically selfish. Think about all the ways in which husband and wife have differences, and you will see that selfishness is at the root of so many of the problems. In striving to cope with the problems occurring in marriage, how does one overcome this inborn tendency toward selfishness? There are a number of things that can be done and which, when applied, can help a marriage that is foundering. But each partner in the marriage arrangement has to be willing to do his or her share. It is not a one-way street.
Marriage is a sharing, meaning that neither marriage partner can take the other for granted and feel that only as long as one of the partners gives and the other takes will all be well. That will not work to the blessing of either. For example, the relatives on both sides have to be taken into consideration. This should not be allowed to become a sore point in the marriage arrangement, so that one’s own parents or other relatives are taken into consideration and not those of one’s mate. Where a family will spend vacations or other periods of relaxation should not always be one-sided decisions. Thoughtful concern shown in such matters will help make a marriage successful. Never take each other for granted but display unselfishness.
Because of the prevailing view among many of this generation that if a marriage does not work out it can be terminated in divorce, many young people start out with that light view of the marriage arrangement. This can and does lead to breakups of many teenage marriages. It also leads to bringing many unwanted children into the world. These young ones often grow up never knowing what it is to have a mother and a father who deeply love and care for them.
Question then becomes - how old should a person be before considering marriage? It would not be the course of wisdom to make rules on this score. Yet the Scriptures give good advice on what constitutes mental and spiritual maturity the kind of maturity needed by those entering married life. Please read Galatians 5:22, 23, wherein you will find listed the fruitage of the spirit. Examine carefully each one of the fruits there mentioned. Those are the qualities that one needs to cultivate in life. It is not after marriage that a person should begin showing such qualities but long before in his daily life as a Christian.
For example, are you a person who is joyful in life, happy to be alive, serving the interests of the Kingdom of Christ? Are you at peace with others, promoting peaceful relations with them? Or are you contentious, given to fits of anger and abusive speech? Are you long-suffering, able to put up with the weaknesses of your brother or sister, mother or father? Or are you short-tempered and prone to anger if others do not immediately line up with what you want? Do you find that you show kindness to others in your dealings with them, being mild and doing good to them? Or are you selfish, egotistical, lacking in self-control, apt to fly off at others with the least provocation? Have you genuine love for others, wanting to help them, going out of your way, giving of yourself and your resources to bring happiness to others? Or do you want others to show love toward you, always giving to you from their resources?
It is correct to say that none of us have these qualities in a perfect way. However, the man or the woman who has been molded by some years of life, and who has had an opportunity to cultivate such spiritual qualities, is in a fine position to make a success of marriage—a much better position than that of the person who does not start trying to master these fruits of the spirit until after the marriage vows.
Why not honestly examine yourself, your likes and dislikes? Do you not see that your appreciation for life has been enhanced by the passage of time? Did you have the same values at 13 that you had at 5, or the same values at 20 that you had at 13? Has your understanding and appreciation for life grown or lessened as you have gained greater experience over the years?
Do you now, as an adult or becoming an adult, look for the same qualities in people that you did as a child? Is it not often true that the “only” boy in a girl’s life when she is 16 or 17 years old is long forgotten as she grows to womanhood and attaches greater importance to a man’s godly traits and personality? Her view at 22 or 23 years of age will likely be centered more on the spiritual, mental, and emotional aspects of a man than on the physical characteristics.
The same can be said for the young boy growing to manhood. His hopes and aspirations as far as a wife is concerned ripen as he matures. In his later years, as values change, what he will look for in a marriage mate is someone who is understanding and kind, who has ability to be a homemaker and a mother, and who has in her heart a deep-seated desire to please first her Creator, Jehovah, and to do his will.
The point of the matter is that time changes a person’s outlook on values. Therefore, rushing into matrimony at a young age is fraught with many dangers. It may not be possible to persuade two very young persons to wait for some time to pass before entering into a marriage. But parents, especially in the early years of their children’s lives, can encourage them to think seriously about life, about being spiritually, emotionally, and mentally prepared for marriage before entering into a lifetime contract with another individual for better or for worse.
This is not to say that marrying when one is older is the total answer either. There can be problems then as well, especially if the attitude of selfishness is allowed to creep in and drive a wedge between two people. The mental, emotional, and spiritual needs of each one in the marriage bond must be taken into consideration. Some Christians have allowed themselves to become deeply involved in secular work, to the exclusion of congregational activity, including attending meetings and sharing in the preaching and disciple-making work. Then they try to make up for what they feel is a lack in their lives by indulging in a lot of recreation.
They seem to think that as long as they are occupied, their problems will somehow be solved for now, and then in the New Order of things they will get around to each other’s needs emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. But life does not work that way. Paul’s advice was that a man should care for his wife as he does for his own body. That means giving attention now to the needs of his mate, even as he daily gives attention to his own needs. The same can be said for the woman.
I was 15 years old when I met my future wife but again the only reason it worked is because we have Jehovah in our lives. Marriage can work with those who are young. I am proof that it can but it requires a great deal of respect and understanding of each other, love and I mean true love not puppy love, and of course having Jehovah guide your steps. It cannot fail if you follow Jehovah but it takes work from both involved.
My son wants to get married when he reaches 18. He is looking forward to that day. I support him. I think the difference between my son and others is because he does have Jehovah in his life and he is more mature than most I know. He is very responsible and loving. I can truly thank Jehovah for that........
2 more years and counting....
Monday, September 14, 2009
Monday
This weekend in San Francisco we had Thunder and Lighting. It was very scary. I've never been used to it. As a child I recall times when I would sit by the window and pray that everyone was safe. I would pray for hours.
I was nervous about getting hit and others getting hit by lighting. I learned as a got older that the chances are low. Last week I posted 50 questions which I feel should be asked. Many to believe the official story and that's fine you can believe the official story but please don't get upset for those who have questions.
If the questions were answered along time ago people wouldn't continue to ask. Till this day, the questions posted have yet to be answered. I'm sure there are more questions other than what was posted.
No one in Government takes time out to answer so expect the questions to continue. Is there anything that could be done about it? I'm sure there won't be but one thing is clear. That day changed everything.
There have been times where I would hear brothers gives talks and blame what happened on Osama and while he may have had a hand in it, I felt that the brother giving his talk didn't do all the research. Research shows that there is evidence that our own Government was behind it.
Don't deny it without looking at the evidence. 3000 + people died that day and since that day millions have died and continue to die as a result of what happened on 9/11. It isn't wrong to question anything. It's wrong that questions haven't been answered.
I'm not alone in these thoughts and I know I'm not crazy. Anyway, till tomorrow. Have a great day.
I was nervous about getting hit and others getting hit by lighting. I learned as a got older that the chances are low. Last week I posted 50 questions which I feel should be asked. Many to believe the official story and that's fine you can believe the official story but please don't get upset for those who have questions.
If the questions were answered along time ago people wouldn't continue to ask. Till this day, the questions posted have yet to be answered. I'm sure there are more questions other than what was posted.
No one in Government takes time out to answer so expect the questions to continue. Is there anything that could be done about it? I'm sure there won't be but one thing is clear. That day changed everything.
There have been times where I would hear brothers gives talks and blame what happened on Osama and while he may have had a hand in it, I felt that the brother giving his talk didn't do all the research. Research shows that there is evidence that our own Government was behind it.
Don't deny it without looking at the evidence. 3000 + people died that day and since that day millions have died and continue to die as a result of what happened on 9/11. It isn't wrong to question anything. It's wrong that questions haven't been answered.
I'm not alone in these thoughts and I know I'm not crazy. Anyway, till tomorrow. Have a great day.
Friday, September 11, 2009
50 Questions
Fifty questions
1) How come dead or not dead Osama bin Laden has not been formally indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as responsible for 9/11? Is it because the US government - as acknowledged by the FBI itself - has not produced a single conclusive piece of evidence?
2) How could all the alleged 19 razor-blade box cutter-equipped Muslim perpetrators have been identified in less than 72 hours - without even a crime scene investigation?
3) How come none of the 19's names appeared on the passenger lists released the same day by both United Airlines and American Airlines?
4) How come eight names on the "original" FBI list happened to be found alive and living in different countries?
5) Why would pious jihadi Mohammed Atta leave a how-to-fly video manual, a uniform and his last will inside his bag knowing he was on a suicide mission?
6) Why did Mohammed Atta study flight simulation at Opa Locka, a hub of no less than six US Navy training bases?
7) How could Mohammed Atta's passport have been magically found buried among the Word Trade Center (WTC)'s debris when not a single flight recorder was found?
8) Who is in the possession of the "disappeared" eight indestructible black boxes on those four flights?
9) Considering multiple international red alerts about a possible terrorist attack inside the US - including former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice's infamous August 6, 2001, memo - how come four hijacked planes deviating from their computerized flight paths and disappearing from radar are allowed to fly around US airspace for more than an hour and a half - not to mention disabling all the elaborate Pentagon's defense systems in the process?
10) Why the secretary of the US Air Force James Roche did not try to intercept both planes hitting the WTC (only seven minutes away from McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey) as well as the Pentagon (only 10 minutes away from McGuire)? Roche had no less than 75 minutes to respond to the plane hitting the Pentagon.
11) Why did George W Bush continue to recite "My Pet Goat" in his Florida school and was not instantly absconded by the secret service?
12) How could Bush have seen the first plane crashing on WTC live - as he admitted? Did he have previous knowledge - or is he psychic?
13) Bush said that he and Andrew Card initially thought the first hit on the WTC was an accident with a small plane. How is that possible when the FAA as well as NORAD already knew this was about a hijacked plane?
14) What are the odds of transponders in four different planes be turned off almost simultaneously, in the same geographical area, very close to the nation's seat of power in Washington, and no one scrambles to contact the Pentagon or the media?
15) Could defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld explain why initial media reports said that there were no fighter jets available at Andrews Air Force Base and then change the reports that there were, but not on high alert?
16) Why was the DC Air National Guard in Washington AWOL on 9/11?
17) Why did combat jet fighters of the 305th Air Wing, McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey not intercept the second hijacked plane hitting the WTC, when they could have done it within seven minutes?
18) Why did none of the combat jet fighters of the 459th Aircraft Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base intercept the plane that hit the Pentagon, only 16 kilometers away? And since we're at it, why the Pentagon did not release the full video of the hit?
19) A number of very experienced airline pilots - including US ally Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a former fighter jet pilot - revealed that, well, only crack pilots could have performed such complex maneuvers on the hijacked jets, while others insisted they could only have been accomplished by remote control. Is it remotely believable that the hijackers were up to the task?
20) How come a substantial number of witnesses did swear seeing and hearing multiple explosions in both towers of the WTC?
21) How come a substantial number of reputed architects and engineers are adamant that the official narrative simply does not explain the largest structural collapse in recorded history (the Twin Towers) as well as the collapse of WTC building 7, which was not even hit by a jet?
22) According to Frank de Martini, WTC's construction manager, "We designed the building to resist the impact of one or more jetliners." The second plane nearly missed tower 1; most of the fuel burned in an explosion outside the tower. Yet this tower collapsed first, long before tower 2 that was "perforated" by the first hit. Jet fuel burned up fast - and by far did not reach the 2000-degree heat necessary to hurt the six tubular steel columns in the center of the tower - designed specifically to keep the towers from collapsing even if hit by a Boeing 707. A Boeing 707 used to carry more fuel than the Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 that actually hit the towers.
23) Why did Mayor Rudolph Giuliani instantly authorized the shipment of WTC rubble to China and India for recycling?
24) Why was metallic debris found no less than 13 kilometers from the crash site of the plane that went down in Pennsylvania? Was the plane in fact shot down - under vice president Dick Cheney's orders?
25) The Pipelineistan question. What did US ambassador Wendy Chamberlain talk about over the phone on October 10, 2001, with the oil minister of Pakistan? Was it to tell him that the 1990s-planned Unocal gas pipeline project, TAP (Turkmenistan/Afghanistan/ Pakistan), abandoned because of Taliban demands on transit fees, was now back in business? (Two months later, an agreement to build the pipeline was signed between the leaders of the three countries).
26) What is former Unocal lobbyist and former Bush pet Afghan Zalmay Khalilzad up to in Afghanistan?
27) How come former Pakistani foreign minister Niaz Niak said in mid-July 2001 that the US had already decided to strike against Osama bin Laden and the Taliban by October? The topic was discussed secretly at the July Group of Eight summit in Genoa, Italy, according to Pakistani diplomats.
28) How come US ambassador to Yemen Barbara Bodine told FBI agent John O'Neill in July 2001 to stop investigating al-Qaeda's financial operations - with O'Neill instantly moved to a security job at the WTC, where he died on 9/11?
29) Considering the very intimate relationship between the Taliban and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and the ISI and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is Bin Laden alive, dead or still a valuable asset of the ISI, the CIA or both?
30) Was Bin Laden admitted at the American hospital in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on July 4, 2001, after flying from Quetta, Pakistan, and staying for treatment until July 11?
31) Did the Bin Laden group build the caves of Tora Bora in close cooperation with the CIA during the 1980s' anti-Soviet jihad?
32) How come General Tommy Franks knew for sure that Bin Laden was hiding in Tora Bora in late November 2001?
33) Why did president Bill Clinton abort a hit on Bin Laden in October 1999? Why did then-Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf abort a covert ops in the same date? And why did Musharraf do the same thing again in August 2001?
34) Why did George W Bush dissolve the Bin Laden Task Force nine months before 9/11?
35) How come the (fake) Bin Laden home video - in which he "confesses" to being the perpetrator of 9/11 - released by the US on December 13, 2001, was found only two weeks after it was produced (on November 9); was it really found in Jalalabad (considering Northern Alliance and US troops had not even arrived there at the time); by whom; and how come the Pentagon was forced to release a new translation after the first (botched) one?
36) Why was ISI chief Lieutenant General Mahmud Ahmad abruptly "retired" on October 8, 2001, the day the US started bombing Afghanistan?
37) What was Ahmad up to in Washington exactly on the week of 9/11 (he arrived on September 4)? On the morning of 9/11, Ahmad was having breakfast on Capitol Hill with Bob Graham and Porter Goss, both later part of the 9/11 Commission, which simply refused to investigate two of its members. Ahmad had breakfast with Richard Armitage of the State Department on September 12 and 13 (when Pakistan negotiated its "cooperation" with the "war on terror") and met all the CIA and Pentagon top brass. On September 13, Musharraf announced he would send Ahmad to Afghanistan to demand to the Taliban the extradition of Bin Laden.
38) Who inside the ISI transferred US$100,000 to Mohammed Atta in the summer of 2001 - under orders of Ahmad himself, as Indian intelligence insists? Was it really ISI asset Omar Sheikh, Bin Laden's information technology specialist who later organized the slaying of American journalist Daniel Pearl in Karachi? So was the ISI directly linked to 9/11?
39) Did the FBI investigate the two shady characters who met Mohammed Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi in Harry's Bar at the Helmsley Hotel in New York City on September 8, 2001?
40) What did director of Asian affairs at the State Department Christina Rocca and the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salam Zaeef discuss in their meeting in Islamabad in August 2001?
41) Did Washington know in advance that an "al-Qaeda" connection would kill Afghan nationalist commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, aka "The Lion of the Panjshir", only two days before 9/11? Massoud was fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda - helped by Russia and Iran. According to the Northern Alliance, Massoud was killed by an ISI-Taliban-al Qaeda axis. If still alive, he would never have allowed the US to rig a loya jirga (grand council) in Afghanistan and install a puppet, former CIA asset Hamid Karzai, as leader of the country.
42) Why did it take no less than four months before the name of Ramzi Binalshibh surfaced in the 9/11 context, considering the Yemeni was a roommate of Mohammed Atta in his apartment cell in Hamburg?
43) Is pathetic shoe-bomber Richard Reid an ISI asset?
44) Did then-Russian president Vladimir Putin and Russian intelligence tell the CIA in 2001 that 25 terrorist pilots had been training for suicide missions?
45) When did the head of German intelligence, August Hanning, tell the CIA that terrorists were "planning to hijack commercial aircraft?"
46) When did Egyptian President Mubarak tell the CIA about an attack on the US with an "airplane stuffed with explosives?"
47) When did Israel's Mossad director Efraim Halevy tell the CIA about a possible attack on the US by "200 terrorists?"
48) Were the Taliban aware of the warning by a Bush administration official as early as February 2001 - "Either you accept our offer of a carpet of gold, or we bury you under a carpet of bombs?"
49) Has Northrop-Grumman used Global Hawk technology - which allows to remotely control unmanned planes - in the war in Afghanistan since October 2001? Did it install Global Hawk in a commercial plane? Is Global Hawk available at all for commercial planes?
50) Would Cheney stand up and volunteer the detailed timeline of what he was really up to during the whole day on 9/11?
.....................................................................................
After years of asking, questions have yet to be answered. 9/11 changed everything. Is it wrong to ask questions if your not sure? Is it wrong to question the official story? Is it truth because they said so? Remember Iraq had WMD's right......right......
It's not wrong to ask questions but it also shows that there is no trust between the people and government. One poll showed that 80 percent of Americans question the official story and what's even more interesting is that those on the 9/11 commission don't even believe the official story.
Till Monday. Have a great day!!
1) How come dead or not dead Osama bin Laden has not been formally indicted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as responsible for 9/11? Is it because the US government - as acknowledged by the FBI itself - has not produced a single conclusive piece of evidence?
2) How could all the alleged 19 razor-blade box cutter-equipped Muslim perpetrators have been identified in less than 72 hours - without even a crime scene investigation?
3) How come none of the 19's names appeared on the passenger lists released the same day by both United Airlines and American Airlines?
4) How come eight names on the "original" FBI list happened to be found alive and living in different countries?
5) Why would pious jihadi Mohammed Atta leave a how-to-fly video manual, a uniform and his last will inside his bag knowing he was on a suicide mission?
6) Why did Mohammed Atta study flight simulation at Opa Locka, a hub of no less than six US Navy training bases?
7) How could Mohammed Atta's passport have been magically found buried among the Word Trade Center (WTC)'s debris when not a single flight recorder was found?
8) Who is in the possession of the "disappeared" eight indestructible black boxes on those four flights?
9) Considering multiple international red alerts about a possible terrorist attack inside the US - including former secretary of state Condoleezza Rice's infamous August 6, 2001, memo - how come four hijacked planes deviating from their computerized flight paths and disappearing from radar are allowed to fly around US airspace for more than an hour and a half - not to mention disabling all the elaborate Pentagon's defense systems in the process?
10) Why the secretary of the US Air Force James Roche did not try to intercept both planes hitting the WTC (only seven minutes away from McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey) as well as the Pentagon (only 10 minutes away from McGuire)? Roche had no less than 75 minutes to respond to the plane hitting the Pentagon.
11) Why did George W Bush continue to recite "My Pet Goat" in his Florida school and was not instantly absconded by the secret service?
12) How could Bush have seen the first plane crashing on WTC live - as he admitted? Did he have previous knowledge - or is he psychic?
13) Bush said that he and Andrew Card initially thought the first hit on the WTC was an accident with a small plane. How is that possible when the FAA as well as NORAD already knew this was about a hijacked plane?
14) What are the odds of transponders in four different planes be turned off almost simultaneously, in the same geographical area, very close to the nation's seat of power in Washington, and no one scrambles to contact the Pentagon or the media?
15) Could defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld explain why initial media reports said that there were no fighter jets available at Andrews Air Force Base and then change the reports that there were, but not on high alert?
16) Why was the DC Air National Guard in Washington AWOL on 9/11?
17) Why did combat jet fighters of the 305th Air Wing, McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey not intercept the second hijacked plane hitting the WTC, when they could have done it within seven minutes?
18) Why did none of the combat jet fighters of the 459th Aircraft Squadron at Andrews Air Force Base intercept the plane that hit the Pentagon, only 16 kilometers away? And since we're at it, why the Pentagon did not release the full video of the hit?
19) A number of very experienced airline pilots - including US ally Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a former fighter jet pilot - revealed that, well, only crack pilots could have performed such complex maneuvers on the hijacked jets, while others insisted they could only have been accomplished by remote control. Is it remotely believable that the hijackers were up to the task?
20) How come a substantial number of witnesses did swear seeing and hearing multiple explosions in both towers of the WTC?
21) How come a substantial number of reputed architects and engineers are adamant that the official narrative simply does not explain the largest structural collapse in recorded history (the Twin Towers) as well as the collapse of WTC building 7, which was not even hit by a jet?
22) According to Frank de Martini, WTC's construction manager, "We designed the building to resist the impact of one or more jetliners." The second plane nearly missed tower 1; most of the fuel burned in an explosion outside the tower. Yet this tower collapsed first, long before tower 2 that was "perforated" by the first hit. Jet fuel burned up fast - and by far did not reach the 2000-degree heat necessary to hurt the six tubular steel columns in the center of the tower - designed specifically to keep the towers from collapsing even if hit by a Boeing 707. A Boeing 707 used to carry more fuel than the Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 that actually hit the towers.
23) Why did Mayor Rudolph Giuliani instantly authorized the shipment of WTC rubble to China and India for recycling?
24) Why was metallic debris found no less than 13 kilometers from the crash site of the plane that went down in Pennsylvania? Was the plane in fact shot down - under vice president Dick Cheney's orders?
25) The Pipelineistan question. What did US ambassador Wendy Chamberlain talk about over the phone on October 10, 2001, with the oil minister of Pakistan? Was it to tell him that the 1990s-planned Unocal gas pipeline project, TAP (Turkmenistan/Afghanistan/ Pakistan), abandoned because of Taliban demands on transit fees, was now back in business? (Two months later, an agreement to build the pipeline was signed between the leaders of the three countries).
26) What is former Unocal lobbyist and former Bush pet Afghan Zalmay Khalilzad up to in Afghanistan?
27) How come former Pakistani foreign minister Niaz Niak said in mid-July 2001 that the US had already decided to strike against Osama bin Laden and the Taliban by October? The topic was discussed secretly at the July Group of Eight summit in Genoa, Italy, according to Pakistani diplomats.
28) How come US ambassador to Yemen Barbara Bodine told FBI agent John O'Neill in July 2001 to stop investigating al-Qaeda's financial operations - with O'Neill instantly moved to a security job at the WTC, where he died on 9/11?
29) Considering the very intimate relationship between the Taliban and Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and the ISI and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), is Bin Laden alive, dead or still a valuable asset of the ISI, the CIA or both?
30) Was Bin Laden admitted at the American hospital in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on July 4, 2001, after flying from Quetta, Pakistan, and staying for treatment until July 11?
31) Did the Bin Laden group build the caves of Tora Bora in close cooperation with the CIA during the 1980s' anti-Soviet jihad?
32) How come General Tommy Franks knew for sure that Bin Laden was hiding in Tora Bora in late November 2001?
33) Why did president Bill Clinton abort a hit on Bin Laden in October 1999? Why did then-Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf abort a covert ops in the same date? And why did Musharraf do the same thing again in August 2001?
34) Why did George W Bush dissolve the Bin Laden Task Force nine months before 9/11?
35) How come the (fake) Bin Laden home video - in which he "confesses" to being the perpetrator of 9/11 - released by the US on December 13, 2001, was found only two weeks after it was produced (on November 9); was it really found in Jalalabad (considering Northern Alliance and US troops had not even arrived there at the time); by whom; and how come the Pentagon was forced to release a new translation after the first (botched) one?
36) Why was ISI chief Lieutenant General Mahmud Ahmad abruptly "retired" on October 8, 2001, the day the US started bombing Afghanistan?
37) What was Ahmad up to in Washington exactly on the week of 9/11 (he arrived on September 4)? On the morning of 9/11, Ahmad was having breakfast on Capitol Hill with Bob Graham and Porter Goss, both later part of the 9/11 Commission, which simply refused to investigate two of its members. Ahmad had breakfast with Richard Armitage of the State Department on September 12 and 13 (when Pakistan negotiated its "cooperation" with the "war on terror") and met all the CIA and Pentagon top brass. On September 13, Musharraf announced he would send Ahmad to Afghanistan to demand to the Taliban the extradition of Bin Laden.
38) Who inside the ISI transferred US$100,000 to Mohammed Atta in the summer of 2001 - under orders of Ahmad himself, as Indian intelligence insists? Was it really ISI asset Omar Sheikh, Bin Laden's information technology specialist who later organized the slaying of American journalist Daniel Pearl in Karachi? So was the ISI directly linked to 9/11?
39) Did the FBI investigate the two shady characters who met Mohammed Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi in Harry's Bar at the Helmsley Hotel in New York City on September 8, 2001?
40) What did director of Asian affairs at the State Department Christina Rocca and the Taliban ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Salam Zaeef discuss in their meeting in Islamabad in August 2001?
41) Did Washington know in advance that an "al-Qaeda" connection would kill Afghan nationalist commander Ahmad Shah Massoud, aka "The Lion of the Panjshir", only two days before 9/11? Massoud was fighting the Taliban and al-Qaeda - helped by Russia and Iran. According to the Northern Alliance, Massoud was killed by an ISI-Taliban-al Qaeda axis. If still alive, he would never have allowed the US to rig a loya jirga (grand council) in Afghanistan and install a puppet, former CIA asset Hamid Karzai, as leader of the country.
42) Why did it take no less than four months before the name of Ramzi Binalshibh surfaced in the 9/11 context, considering the Yemeni was a roommate of Mohammed Atta in his apartment cell in Hamburg?
43) Is pathetic shoe-bomber Richard Reid an ISI asset?
44) Did then-Russian president Vladimir Putin and Russian intelligence tell the CIA in 2001 that 25 terrorist pilots had been training for suicide missions?
45) When did the head of German intelligence, August Hanning, tell the CIA that terrorists were "planning to hijack commercial aircraft?"
46) When did Egyptian President Mubarak tell the CIA about an attack on the US with an "airplane stuffed with explosives?"
47) When did Israel's Mossad director Efraim Halevy tell the CIA about a possible attack on the US by "200 terrorists?"
48) Were the Taliban aware of the warning by a Bush administration official as early as February 2001 - "Either you accept our offer of a carpet of gold, or we bury you under a carpet of bombs?"
49) Has Northrop-Grumman used Global Hawk technology - which allows to remotely control unmanned planes - in the war in Afghanistan since October 2001? Did it install Global Hawk in a commercial plane? Is Global Hawk available at all for commercial planes?
50) Would Cheney stand up and volunteer the detailed timeline of what he was really up to during the whole day on 9/11?
.....................................................................................
After years of asking, questions have yet to be answered. 9/11 changed everything. Is it wrong to ask questions if your not sure? Is it wrong to question the official story? Is it truth because they said so? Remember Iraq had WMD's right......right......
It's not wrong to ask questions but it also shows that there is no trust between the people and government. One poll showed that 80 percent of Americans question the official story and what's even more interesting is that those on the 9/11 commission don't even believe the official story.
Till Monday. Have a great day!!
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Thursday
I woke up very early this morning so I could look at the skies as the sun came up. I heard the birds sing their morning songs. I thought of those who have helped me in life as well and those I've helped. The thought always crosses my mind " Did I do enough "
Should I gave gone back even though they showed very little interest in the truth? These and many other thoughts pop in my mind at any given moment. There have been times when I woke up early in the morning because I had a random thought.
I would write down what my thought was and come back to it. What caused me to wake up early to see things is simple and yet powerful. It was a thought that popped in my mind that was already told to me. It was the fact that Our time on this version of the Earth is short.
I say this version of the Earth. This version which is full of pain, full of sadness, full of death, sickness, homeless people, drug addicts, STD's, etc..
You name it, this version of the Earth has it but yet there are moments like the sunset or the birth of a baby or holding the one you love that could make you think that everything is ok. This is the part where I pinch myself and remind myself that as soon as I step out the door of my home, evil can begin.
I say Evil because you hear it all around you in terms of foul language. You see it all around you in terms of people fighting, you smell it all around you in terms of people smoking or doing drugs. It can even come from those who are our friends or family. Even in our own home there could be reminders on just how sick this world is.
And I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth........
I think of that scripture and remind myself that like Death, it's only temporary. Real life has yet to begin. Real life folks. Where you can leave your door open without having to worry about someone stealing anything from you. Where you can leave your children to play outside and without having to worry about someone taking them.
Where you can walk down the street and not worry about anyone hurting you. Many in the United States put hope in Obama. Truth is, he may mean well but he cannot solve all our of problems. Don't put your faith in any man for he cannot solve all your problems.
They can't even cure the common cold. Imagine a world where nobody is sick. Imagine a world where everyday you wake up next to the one you love without having to worry that one day you will never see them again. I mentioned this before and I'll say it again. I can't imagine my life without my wife. She feels the same but the both of us know that we don't ever have to say goodbye. Imagine a world with no death. I already miss her just typing this.
After 20+ years we are still very much in love and look forward to our future. Till tomorrow... Have a great day.
Should I gave gone back even though they showed very little interest in the truth? These and many other thoughts pop in my mind at any given moment. There have been times when I woke up early in the morning because I had a random thought.
I would write down what my thought was and come back to it. What caused me to wake up early to see things is simple and yet powerful. It was a thought that popped in my mind that was already told to me. It was the fact that Our time on this version of the Earth is short.
I say this version of the Earth. This version which is full of pain, full of sadness, full of death, sickness, homeless people, drug addicts, STD's, etc..
You name it, this version of the Earth has it but yet there are moments like the sunset or the birth of a baby or holding the one you love that could make you think that everything is ok. This is the part where I pinch myself and remind myself that as soon as I step out the door of my home, evil can begin.
I say Evil because you hear it all around you in terms of foul language. You see it all around you in terms of people fighting, you smell it all around you in terms of people smoking or doing drugs. It can even come from those who are our friends or family. Even in our own home there could be reminders on just how sick this world is.
And I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth........
I think of that scripture and remind myself that like Death, it's only temporary. Real life has yet to begin. Real life folks. Where you can leave your door open without having to worry about someone stealing anything from you. Where you can leave your children to play outside and without having to worry about someone taking them.
Where you can walk down the street and not worry about anyone hurting you. Many in the United States put hope in Obama. Truth is, he may mean well but he cannot solve all our of problems. Don't put your faith in any man for he cannot solve all your problems.
They can't even cure the common cold. Imagine a world where nobody is sick. Imagine a world where everyday you wake up next to the one you love without having to worry that one day you will never see them again. I mentioned this before and I'll say it again. I can't imagine my life without my wife. She feels the same but the both of us know that we don't ever have to say goodbye. Imagine a world with no death. I already miss her just typing this.
After 20+ years we are still very much in love and look forward to our future. Till tomorrow... Have a great day.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Wednesday
I can only imagine how brothers and sisters felt being away from those they love. Well, that goes for all when they are away from those they love. I know it hurts. Recall that I was away from my wife for months due to jail. Nothing to do with the truth but everything to do with mistakes or should I say choices I've made.
Point is, I was away. It felt like an empty hole in my heart. It was only for a short while compared to those who are away from those they love for years. The only thing that kept me going is the fact that they could not erase her face from my mind.
Notice this story from Fernando Marin. This is his story.....
TEN years in prison in Franco’s Spain—ten years that enriched my life. That might sound like a contradiction; yet that is true in my case. Not because those years were full of the comforts of life. On the contrary, there was all the cruel reality of a military prison. But along with all of that, there was also the real evidence, at times amazing, of divine protection. I can recall the events as if they happened yesterday.
I was raised a Catholic and had studied at Catholic schools in Barcelona. I grew up with a morbid fear of hellfire torment and purgatory. Then when I was 16 I studied the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses, and those terrifying teachings were wiped from my mind. I saw clearly from the Bible that there is no immortal human soul. In that case, how could there be places of torment and purging for such?—Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10.
In 1961, at the age of 18, I symbolized my dedication to God by baptism in Paris, France, at the first large convention that I attended. I was one of a small group of Spaniards who had been able to arrange the trip to France in spite of our poor economic situation and the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Spain at that time. Our preaching work was underground during most of the Franco era (1939-75).
I was so grateful to know Jehovah and his truth through Christ Jesus that my dedication was made without reservation. I wanted to be a full-time pioneer minister. My wish was fulfilled in February 1962. I have been in that service ever since—even when I was in prison. But why did I have to go to prison?
In February of 1964, at the age of 21, I was drafted for military service. I was prepared for what was to come. For years, like other young men of my generation in the congregation, I had two goals in life—to be a full-time pioneer minister and to keep my integrity on the issue of Christian neutrality.—John 17:16; 18:36.
When I left home to go to the barracks, I went with an air of expectancy, with a kind of cold nervousness, but with my convictions very clear in mind. On my arrival at the local army quarters, I explained my position as a conscientious objector—something that was hardly understood at that time in Spain and certainly not tolerated. I was given a travel pass and told to present myself at the barracks in Tenerife (Canary Islands)—over a thousand miles (1,600 km) from my home in Catalonia.
In Tenerife the military authorities thought I was mad. Who in his right mind would refuse to do military service under a Fascist dictatorship? I was assigned to a psychiatric hospital for treatment! Fortunately I was examined by a doctor who knew of the Witnesses, and I was thus saved from treatment that could have done permanent damage. They soon locked me up in a military prison. For how long would I be there? I had no idea, as there was no fixed sentence in those days for conscientious objectors.
During the years that followed, I came to know the inner emptiness of loneliness and the degradation of debased cell mates. I passed through life-threatening situations, and I was made tempting offers to break my integrity and neutrality. Slowly I came to realize that the small rectangle of a cell could also be a universe when one enjoys an intimate relationship with God. I developed an overwhelming trust in Jehovah as my God.—Psalm 23.
From Tenerife I was sent to the dread military prison of San Francisco del Risco on the island of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria—dreaded because of the reputation of the prison commandant—a short, stocky, sadistic type who enjoyed beating up the prisoners personally. His nickname was Pisamondongo (Guts Treader).
I was put in solitary confinement, and all my belongings were removed, including my Bible. I was only briefly allowed out at night—to empty my latrine and to pick up my supper bowl. Yet, in all those months of solitary confinement I was never truly alone. (Psalm 145:18) Like missionary Harold King, who for years was in solitary confinement in China, I cultivated my relationship with Jehovah. (See The Watchtower, 1963, pages 437-42.)
One Sunday my meal included a slice of lemon. As I squeezed it onto the rice some drops fell on the red tile floor of my cell, leaving a slight stain. This gave me the idea of using lemon juice to inscribe a text on the cell floor. Once a week the meal included a slice of lemon. Thus, little by little, I was able to write across the floor of my cell: “El nombre de mi Dios es Jehová.” (“The name of my God is Jehovah.”) Those words were a constant reminder that I was not entirely alone. That simple truth at my feet triggered my mind to recall deeper truths about man’s relationship to God. Later, using the wax from a candle, I polished the whole of the cell floor until it was smooth and shiny like a mirror.
Brothers imprisoned in El Aaiún, in the Sahara, heard about my isolation and the fact that I was denied any Bible or Bible literature. By means of another prisoner who was being transferred, they managed to send some pages from a Watchtower magazine and a copy of one of the Gospels. The problem was, how could he get them to me while I was in solitary confinement?
That night when I went to empty my latrine a small package was dropped over the lavatory wall. I grabbed it like a starving man grasping bread. Back in my cell, I passed the night reading those pages again and again. It was the first literature speaking of Jehovah that I had seen in a year! Dawn came. With what ravishing hunger I had devoured those articles and Jesus’ comforting words from the Gospel!
The following night, as I returned to my cell with my supper bowl in my hand, I saw the prison commandant, don Gregorio, waiting for me. He had a menacing look on his face and his short bull neck swelled with rage. In his hand were my magazine pages. My cache of precious Bible literature had been discovered! Using gross insults against Jehovah’s name and threats of death, he called me over. I immediately offered an intense and silent prayer to Jehovah, asking that he help me to bear what was to follow with the dignity of a true Christian.
The commandant opened my cell door. I ran to the corner of the cell and tried to cover my vulnerable parts against the onslaught that I knew must come. Furious and screaming, with his eyes bloodshot, he hurled himself at me. The floor was highly polished. He slipped and fell on his face. Wild with rage, he tried to get up. As he did so, his eyes fell on the words written on the floor, “El nombre de mi Dios es Jehová.” He was very superstitious. When he got to God’s name, he said incredulously in a low tone, “Jehovah!” Then his voice rose as he began shouting again and again “Jehovah! Jehovah! . . . ” Then, almost on all fours he fled from the cell! I was spared a thrashing, and he never bothered me again.
This experience strengthened my faith in Jehovah’s protecting hand. Here I was totally alone and yet not abandoned. I was persecuted but not destroyed.—2 Corinthians 4:7-10.
Eventually I was transferred to the prison of Santa Catalina, in Cádiz, where there were soon about a hundred brothers. We organized ourselves as a congregation, one of the largest in Spain at that time! We maintained our schedule of meetings and personal study and even repeated the circuit and district assembly programs right there in the prison.
It would have been easy to dramatize our situation, but our brothers and sisters on the outside were also facing tests of loyalty and integrity in their daily lives—in some cases tests that we did not have in prison. At least we did not feel cut off from Jehovah and his organization. His principles were vital to us, especially when psychological fatigue took over, and the days, which seemed endless, fell on us like the relentless blows of a hammer, crushing the flower of our youth. But we did not allow such despair to overcome us.—Psalm 71.
In our cramped surroundings, we had to maintain a good spirit of Christian coexistence, which was not always easy. Privacy was virtually impossible in communal cells even though we were separated from the other military prisoners. Unhappily, a case arose in our ranks of a gross moral sin. Action had to be taken to keep our congregation clean. Yet he had to continue living with us—we could not put him out of the prison, nor did we want to ask to have him moved to the common prison section because of the reproach it would cast on Jehovah and the rest of us. We were puzzled as to how to handle this embarrassing situation. An answer came from an unexpected source.
At about that time we received a most welcome visit from Grant Suiter, a member of the Governing Body. He was allowed to see just one prisoner in the visitors’ room. But we all wanted to see and hear him. How would it be possible? We had discovered in the workshop an unused door that led into our dormitory. It was hidden behind wallpaper. We decided to camouflage it completely by covering it with a backless cupboard. Thus one could step into the cupboard, open the door behind—and find oneself in a maze of tightly packed three-tier bunk beds!
When Brother Suiter was alone with me in the visiting room, I invited him to the workshop on the pretext of showing him some of our handiwork. Imagine his surprise at being asked to step into a cupboard—then to find himself in a dormitory with over a hundred brothers waiting to see him! We took a risk, but for us, starved for outside association, it was worth it. We could hardly believe that we had a member of the Governing Body actually in our midst.
We took the opportunity to explain our problem to him. His answer was clear: Jehovah’s organization and principles cannot be subverted by man’s rules and regulations. ‘The organization is not in prison!’ he said. Then he suggested, ‘Why not speak to the commandant and ask to have the offender transferred?’
The commandant, the sarcastic type, usually scoffed at us. I explained to him, “We do not permit transgressors in our ranks. We must keep our organization clean.” How did he react? As if he had understood some eternal principle that I had thought was beyond his ken, he tried to console me! I was flabbergasted! He said he would give orders immediately for the transgressor to be transferred and that he would not be readmitted to our section until our judicial committee requested it. He even praised our loyalty and respect for high principles.
Our test in prison was not only the endless years of imprisonment but also the uncertainty—we never knew when we would get free, if ever. Why not? Because as each sentence was completed, we were put through the process again and given an even harsher sentence. One of the brothers was condemned to a total of 26 years in prison—all for refusing 18 months of military service! What sustained us during the long test? Prayer was one of the cornerstones of our integrity.
Rumors circulated from about 1972 onward that the Spanish government might grant amnesty to the conscientious objectors who had been so long in prison. A few days before the amnesty went into effect, 70 out of the 100 who were to be released applied for full-time pioneer service! That gives some idea of the elevated sense of Christian responsibility that we had developed over the years in prison. We did not see our new freedom as an excuse to live it up and make up for all we had apparently missed. Instead, we wanted to show Jehovah our gratitude for the protection we had enjoyed over the years. And it was no fleeting, emotional reaction—many of those brothers are still in the pioneer ranks!
More than a dozen are in the circuit or district work, or in Bethel service, and that includes me and my wife Conchita. Did I waste ten years of my life in prison? Integrity is never wasted. The combined record of integrity keeping of hundreds of faithful brothers imprisoned in Spain made Jehovah’s name reach the highest circles of the government, parliament, and the Catholic Church. Even General Franco had to recognize this unusual body of unbending Christians. In 1970 Jehovah’s Witnesses were granted legal recognition by his government.
In Spain’s prisons we survived a long test of patience and endurance. But it was a unique opportunity for serious personal study of the Bible and for cultivating a close relationship with Jehovah. We did not waste those valuable years. That is why so many of us came out of prison much stronger spiritually than when we went in. Yes, for many years ‘we were persecuted, but not left in the lurch; we were thrown down, but never destroyed.’—2 Corinthians 4:9.
....................................................
This is a great story. This is what he said " Even in isolation, I had a constant reminder that I was not alone. "
We are not alone folks. With Jehovah's help we can get through anything. We can get through anything. Just keep moving forward taking one day at a time, keeping your integrity, paying attention to your conduct, and watching your association.
You are not alone.......
Point is, I was away. It felt like an empty hole in my heart. It was only for a short while compared to those who are away from those they love for years. The only thing that kept me going is the fact that they could not erase her face from my mind.
Notice this story from Fernando Marin. This is his story.....
TEN years in prison in Franco’s Spain—ten years that enriched my life. That might sound like a contradiction; yet that is true in my case. Not because those years were full of the comforts of life. On the contrary, there was all the cruel reality of a military prison. But along with all of that, there was also the real evidence, at times amazing, of divine protection. I can recall the events as if they happened yesterday.
I was raised a Catholic and had studied at Catholic schools in Barcelona. I grew up with a morbid fear of hellfire torment and purgatory. Then when I was 16 I studied the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses, and those terrifying teachings were wiped from my mind. I saw clearly from the Bible that there is no immortal human soul. In that case, how could there be places of torment and purging for such?—Ezekiel 18:4, 20; Ecclesiastes 9:5, 6, 10.
In 1961, at the age of 18, I symbolized my dedication to God by baptism in Paris, France, at the first large convention that I attended. I was one of a small group of Spaniards who had been able to arrange the trip to France in spite of our poor economic situation and the ban on Jehovah’s Witnesses in Spain at that time. Our preaching work was underground during most of the Franco era (1939-75).
I was so grateful to know Jehovah and his truth through Christ Jesus that my dedication was made without reservation. I wanted to be a full-time pioneer minister. My wish was fulfilled in February 1962. I have been in that service ever since—even when I was in prison. But why did I have to go to prison?
In February of 1964, at the age of 21, I was drafted for military service. I was prepared for what was to come. For years, like other young men of my generation in the congregation, I had two goals in life—to be a full-time pioneer minister and to keep my integrity on the issue of Christian neutrality.—John 17:16; 18:36.
When I left home to go to the barracks, I went with an air of expectancy, with a kind of cold nervousness, but with my convictions very clear in mind. On my arrival at the local army quarters, I explained my position as a conscientious objector—something that was hardly understood at that time in Spain and certainly not tolerated. I was given a travel pass and told to present myself at the barracks in Tenerife (Canary Islands)—over a thousand miles (1,600 km) from my home in Catalonia.
In Tenerife the military authorities thought I was mad. Who in his right mind would refuse to do military service under a Fascist dictatorship? I was assigned to a psychiatric hospital for treatment! Fortunately I was examined by a doctor who knew of the Witnesses, and I was thus saved from treatment that could have done permanent damage. They soon locked me up in a military prison. For how long would I be there? I had no idea, as there was no fixed sentence in those days for conscientious objectors.
During the years that followed, I came to know the inner emptiness of loneliness and the degradation of debased cell mates. I passed through life-threatening situations, and I was made tempting offers to break my integrity and neutrality. Slowly I came to realize that the small rectangle of a cell could also be a universe when one enjoys an intimate relationship with God. I developed an overwhelming trust in Jehovah as my God.—Psalm 23.
From Tenerife I was sent to the dread military prison of San Francisco del Risco on the island of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria—dreaded because of the reputation of the prison commandant—a short, stocky, sadistic type who enjoyed beating up the prisoners personally. His nickname was Pisamondongo (Guts Treader).
I was put in solitary confinement, and all my belongings were removed, including my Bible. I was only briefly allowed out at night—to empty my latrine and to pick up my supper bowl. Yet, in all those months of solitary confinement I was never truly alone. (Psalm 145:18) Like missionary Harold King, who for years was in solitary confinement in China, I cultivated my relationship with Jehovah. (See The Watchtower, 1963, pages 437-42.)
One Sunday my meal included a slice of lemon. As I squeezed it onto the rice some drops fell on the red tile floor of my cell, leaving a slight stain. This gave me the idea of using lemon juice to inscribe a text on the cell floor. Once a week the meal included a slice of lemon. Thus, little by little, I was able to write across the floor of my cell: “El nombre de mi Dios es Jehová.” (“The name of my God is Jehovah.”) Those words were a constant reminder that I was not entirely alone. That simple truth at my feet triggered my mind to recall deeper truths about man’s relationship to God. Later, using the wax from a candle, I polished the whole of the cell floor until it was smooth and shiny like a mirror.
Brothers imprisoned in El Aaiún, in the Sahara, heard about my isolation and the fact that I was denied any Bible or Bible literature. By means of another prisoner who was being transferred, they managed to send some pages from a Watchtower magazine and a copy of one of the Gospels. The problem was, how could he get them to me while I was in solitary confinement?
That night when I went to empty my latrine a small package was dropped over the lavatory wall. I grabbed it like a starving man grasping bread. Back in my cell, I passed the night reading those pages again and again. It was the first literature speaking of Jehovah that I had seen in a year! Dawn came. With what ravishing hunger I had devoured those articles and Jesus’ comforting words from the Gospel!
The following night, as I returned to my cell with my supper bowl in my hand, I saw the prison commandant, don Gregorio, waiting for me. He had a menacing look on his face and his short bull neck swelled with rage. In his hand were my magazine pages. My cache of precious Bible literature had been discovered! Using gross insults against Jehovah’s name and threats of death, he called me over. I immediately offered an intense and silent prayer to Jehovah, asking that he help me to bear what was to follow with the dignity of a true Christian.
The commandant opened my cell door. I ran to the corner of the cell and tried to cover my vulnerable parts against the onslaught that I knew must come. Furious and screaming, with his eyes bloodshot, he hurled himself at me. The floor was highly polished. He slipped and fell on his face. Wild with rage, he tried to get up. As he did so, his eyes fell on the words written on the floor, “El nombre de mi Dios es Jehová.” He was very superstitious. When he got to God’s name, he said incredulously in a low tone, “Jehovah!” Then his voice rose as he began shouting again and again “Jehovah! Jehovah! . . . ” Then, almost on all fours he fled from the cell! I was spared a thrashing, and he never bothered me again.
This experience strengthened my faith in Jehovah’s protecting hand. Here I was totally alone and yet not abandoned. I was persecuted but not destroyed.—2 Corinthians 4:7-10.
Eventually I was transferred to the prison of Santa Catalina, in Cádiz, where there were soon about a hundred brothers. We organized ourselves as a congregation, one of the largest in Spain at that time! We maintained our schedule of meetings and personal study and even repeated the circuit and district assembly programs right there in the prison.
It would have been easy to dramatize our situation, but our brothers and sisters on the outside were also facing tests of loyalty and integrity in their daily lives—in some cases tests that we did not have in prison. At least we did not feel cut off from Jehovah and his organization. His principles were vital to us, especially when psychological fatigue took over, and the days, which seemed endless, fell on us like the relentless blows of a hammer, crushing the flower of our youth. But we did not allow such despair to overcome us.—Psalm 71.
In our cramped surroundings, we had to maintain a good spirit of Christian coexistence, which was not always easy. Privacy was virtually impossible in communal cells even though we were separated from the other military prisoners. Unhappily, a case arose in our ranks of a gross moral sin. Action had to be taken to keep our congregation clean. Yet he had to continue living with us—we could not put him out of the prison, nor did we want to ask to have him moved to the common prison section because of the reproach it would cast on Jehovah and the rest of us. We were puzzled as to how to handle this embarrassing situation. An answer came from an unexpected source.
At about that time we received a most welcome visit from Grant Suiter, a member of the Governing Body. He was allowed to see just one prisoner in the visitors’ room. But we all wanted to see and hear him. How would it be possible? We had discovered in the workshop an unused door that led into our dormitory. It was hidden behind wallpaper. We decided to camouflage it completely by covering it with a backless cupboard. Thus one could step into the cupboard, open the door behind—and find oneself in a maze of tightly packed three-tier bunk beds!
When Brother Suiter was alone with me in the visiting room, I invited him to the workshop on the pretext of showing him some of our handiwork. Imagine his surprise at being asked to step into a cupboard—then to find himself in a dormitory with over a hundred brothers waiting to see him! We took a risk, but for us, starved for outside association, it was worth it. We could hardly believe that we had a member of the Governing Body actually in our midst.
We took the opportunity to explain our problem to him. His answer was clear: Jehovah’s organization and principles cannot be subverted by man’s rules and regulations. ‘The organization is not in prison!’ he said. Then he suggested, ‘Why not speak to the commandant and ask to have the offender transferred?’
The commandant, the sarcastic type, usually scoffed at us. I explained to him, “We do not permit transgressors in our ranks. We must keep our organization clean.” How did he react? As if he had understood some eternal principle that I had thought was beyond his ken, he tried to console me! I was flabbergasted! He said he would give orders immediately for the transgressor to be transferred and that he would not be readmitted to our section until our judicial committee requested it. He even praised our loyalty and respect for high principles.
Our test in prison was not only the endless years of imprisonment but also the uncertainty—we never knew when we would get free, if ever. Why not? Because as each sentence was completed, we were put through the process again and given an even harsher sentence. One of the brothers was condemned to a total of 26 years in prison—all for refusing 18 months of military service! What sustained us during the long test? Prayer was one of the cornerstones of our integrity.
Rumors circulated from about 1972 onward that the Spanish government might grant amnesty to the conscientious objectors who had been so long in prison. A few days before the amnesty went into effect, 70 out of the 100 who were to be released applied for full-time pioneer service! That gives some idea of the elevated sense of Christian responsibility that we had developed over the years in prison. We did not see our new freedom as an excuse to live it up and make up for all we had apparently missed. Instead, we wanted to show Jehovah our gratitude for the protection we had enjoyed over the years. And it was no fleeting, emotional reaction—many of those brothers are still in the pioneer ranks!
More than a dozen are in the circuit or district work, or in Bethel service, and that includes me and my wife Conchita. Did I waste ten years of my life in prison? Integrity is never wasted. The combined record of integrity keeping of hundreds of faithful brothers imprisoned in Spain made Jehovah’s name reach the highest circles of the government, parliament, and the Catholic Church. Even General Franco had to recognize this unusual body of unbending Christians. In 1970 Jehovah’s Witnesses were granted legal recognition by his government.
In Spain’s prisons we survived a long test of patience and endurance. But it was a unique opportunity for serious personal study of the Bible and for cultivating a close relationship with Jehovah. We did not waste those valuable years. That is why so many of us came out of prison much stronger spiritually than when we went in. Yes, for many years ‘we were persecuted, but not left in the lurch; we were thrown down, but never destroyed.’—2 Corinthians 4:9.
....................................................
This is a great story. This is what he said " Even in isolation, I had a constant reminder that I was not alone. "
We are not alone folks. With Jehovah's help we can get through anything. We can get through anything. Just keep moving forward taking one day at a time, keeping your integrity, paying attention to your conduct, and watching your association.
You are not alone.......
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Twenty Minutes with the President
Charlie Sheen recently had an interview with the President of the United States. I thought it was an interesting interview. Below is reported by Charlie Sheen himself.
....................................
Charlie Sheen – Good afternoon Mr. President, thank you so much for taking time out of your demanding schedule.
President Barack Obama – My pleasure, the content of your request seemed like something I should carve out a few minutes for.
CS – I should point out that I voted for you, as your promises of hope and change, transparency and accountability, as well as putting government back into the hands of the American people, struck an emotional chord in me that I hadn’t felt in quite some time, perhaps ever.
PBO – And I appreciate that Charlie. Big fan of the show, by the way.
CS – Sir, I can’t imagine when you might find the time to actually watch my show given the measure of what you inherited.
PBO – I have it Tivo’d on Air Force One. Nice break from the traveling press corps. (He glances at his watch) not to be abrupt or to rush you, but you have 19 minutes left.
CS – I’ll take that as an invitation to cut to the chase.
PBO – I’m all ears. Or so I’ve been told.
CS – Sir, in the very near future we will be experiencing our first 9/11 anniversary with you as Commander in Chief.
PBO – Yes. A very solemn day for our Nation. A day of reflection and yet a day of historical consciousness as well.
CS – Very much so sir, very much so indeed…. Now; In researching your position regarding the events of 9/11 and the subsequent investigation that followed, am I correct to understand that you fully support and endorse the findings of the commission report otherwise known as the ‘official story’?
PBO – Do I have any reason not to? Given that most of us are presumably in touch with similar evidence.
CS – I really wish that were the case, sir. Are you aware, Mr. President, of the recent stunning revelations that sixty percent of the 9/11 commissioners have publicly stated that the government agreed not to tell the truth about 9/11 and that the Pentagon was engaged in deliberate deception about their response to the attack?
PBO – I am aware of certain “in fighting” during the course of their very thorough and tireless investigative process.
CS – Mr. President, it’s hard to label this type of friction as “in fighting” or make the irresponsible leap to “thorough,” when the evidence I insist you examine regarding 6 of the 10 members are statements of fact.
(At this point one of Obama’s senior aides approaches the President and whispers into his ear. Obama glances quickly at his watch and nods as the aide resumes his post at the doorway, directly behind me.)
PBO – No disrespect Mr. Sheen, but I have to ask; what is it that you seem to be implying with the initial direction of this discussion?
CS – I am not implying anything Mr. President. I am here to present the facts and see what you plan to do with them.
PBO – Let me guess; your ‘facts,’ allegedly supporting these claims are in the folders you brought with you?
CS – Good guess Mr. President.
(I hand the first folder of documents to the President)
CS – Again sir, these are not my opinions or assumptions, this is all a matter of public record, reported through mainstream media, painstakingly fact checked and verified.
(the President glances into the folder I handed him)
CS – You’ll notice sir on page one of the dossier dated August of ‘06 from the Washington Post, the statements of John Farmer, senior council to the 9/11 commission, his quote stating, “I was shocked how different the truth was from the way it was described.”
PBO – (as he glances down at the report, almost inaudible) …. um hmm….
CS – He goes on to further state “The [NORAD Air Defense] tapes told a radically different story from what had been told to us and the public for two years….”
(the President continues to view the documents)
CS – On pages two and three, sir, are the statements, as well, from commission co-chairmen Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton, commissioners Bob Kerrey, Timothy Roemer and John Lehman, as well as the statements of commissioner Max Cleland, an ex-Senator from Georgia , who resigned, stating:
“It is a national scandal. This investigation is now compromised. One of these days we will have to get the full story because the 9/11 issue is so important to America. But this White House wants to cover it up.”
He also described President Bush’s desire to delay the process as not to damage the ‘04 re-election bid. They suspected deception to the point where they considered referring the matter to the Justice Department for criminal investigation. Mr. President, this information alone is unequivocally grounds for a new investigation!
PBO – Mistakes were clearly made but we as a people and as a country need to move forward. It is obviously in our best interest as a democratic society to focus our efforts and our resources on the future of this great nation and our ability to protect the American people and our allies from this type of terrorism in the coming years.
CS – Sir, how can we focus on the future when THE COMMISSION ITSELF is on record stating that they still do not know the truth??
PBO – Even if what you state, might in some capacity, begin to approach an open discussion or balanced debate, I can’t speak for, or about the decisions certain commission members made during an extremely difficult period. Perhaps you should be interviewing them instead of me. Wait, don’t tell me; I was easier to track down than they were?
CS – Not exactly sir, but let’s be honest. You’re the President of the United States, the leader of the free world, the buck stops with you. 9/11 has been the pretext for the systematic dismantling of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Your administration is reading from the same playbook that the Bush administration foisted on America through documented secrecy and deception.
PBO – Mr. Sheen, I’m having a difficult time sitting here and listening to you draw distorted parallels between the Bush/Cheney regime and mine.
CS – Mr. President the parallels are not distorted just because you say they are. Let’s stick to the facts. You promised to abolish the Patriot Act and then voted to re-authorize it. You pledged to end warrantless wire tapping against the American people and now energetically defend it. You decried the practice of rendition and now continue it. You promised over and over again on the campaign trail, that you would end the practice of indefinite detention and instead, you have expanded it to permanent detention of “detainees” without trial. This far exceeds the outrages of the former administration. Call me crazy Mr. President, but is this not your record?
PBO – Mr. Sheen, my staff and I authorized this interview based on your request to discuss 9/11 and deliver some additional information you’re convinced I’d not previously reviewed. Call me crazy, But it appears as though you’ve blindly wandered off topic.
CS – Sir, the examples I just illustrated are a direct result of 9/11.
PBO – And I’m telling you that we must move forward, we must endure through these dangerous and politically challenging years ahead.
CS – Mr. President, we cannot move forward with a bottomless warren of unanswered questions surrounding that day and its aftermath.
PBO – I read the official report. Every word every page. Perhaps you should do the same.
CS – I have sir, and so have thousands of family members of the victims, and guess what; they have the same questions I do and probably a lot more. I didn’t lose a loved one on that horrific day Mr. President and neither did you. But since then I, along with millions of other Americans lost something we held true and dear for most of our lives in this great country of ours; we lost our hope.
PBO – And I’d like to believe that I am here to restore that hope. To restore confidence in your leaders, in the system that the voting public chose through a peaceful transfer of power.
(An odd moment of silence between us. Precious time ticking away).
CS – Mr. President, are you aware of the number of days it took to begin the investigation into JFK’s assassination?
PBO – If memory serves I believe it was two weeks.
CS – Close. Seventeen days to be exact. Are you aware sir, how long it took to begin the investigation into Pearl Harbor?
PBO – I would say again about….two weeks.
CS – Close again sir, eleven days to be exact. Are you aware Mr. President how long it took to begin the investigation into 9/11?
PBO – I know it must have seemed like a very long time for all the grieving families.
CS – It was a very long time Mr. President – four hundred and forty days. Roughly 14 months. Does it bother you Mr. President that it only took FIVE HOURS for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld after the initial attack to recommend and endorse a full scale offensive against Iraq?
PBO – I am not aware of any such purported claim.
CS – I have the proof Mr. President, along with scores of documents and facts I’d like you to take a look at. Here.
(I hand him another file – much thicker than the first)
PBO – I see you came prepared Charlie.
CS – No other way to show up Mr. President. When in doubt over prepare I always say.
PBO – Now you sound like the First Lady.
CS – That’s quite a compliment sir.
PBO – As you wish. Please continue.
CS – Sir, I’d like to direct your attention to the stack of documents in the folder I just handed you. The first in from the top is entitled “ Operation Northwoods“, a declassified Pentagon plan to stage terror attacks on US soil, to be blamed on Cuba as a pretext for war.
PBO – And I’d like to direct your attention to the fact that the principle draftsman of this improbable blueprint was quickly denied a second term as Joint Chiefs chairman and sent packing to a European NATO garrison. Thank God his otherworldly ambitions never saw the light of day.
CS – I wouldn’t be so certain about that Mr. President.
PBO – I could easily say the same to you Charlie.
(the President checks his watch)
CS – The next document reads “Declassified staged provocations.” Now, Honestly Mr. President I wish I was making this stuff up. I’m certain you are familiar with the USS Maine Incident, the sinking of the Lusitania, which we all now know brought us into WW1, and of course the most famous, the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
PBO – Of course I am familiar with these historical events and I’m aware that there’s a measure of controversy surrounding them. But to be quite frank with you, this is all ancient history.
CS – Mr. President, it has been often said; “Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.” And I concede to you sir, these events are the past.
PBO – A vastly different world young man, shouldering a radically disparate state of universal affairs.
CS – No argument sir, I’m merely inviting you to acknowledge some credibility to the pattern or the theme. Case in point; the next document in your folder. It was published by the think-tank, Project For a New American Century and it’s entitled “ Rebuilding Americas Defenses“, and was written by Dick Cheney and Jeb Bush. To quote from the document sir – (the President interrupts)
PBO – “Further, the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event – like a new Pearl Harbor.”
CS – Touche, sir. Your thoughts on this statement Mr. President?
PBO – I would call this a blatant case of misjudgment fueled by an unfortunate milieu of assumption. For some, the uninformed denial of coincidence.
CS – Interesting angle sir. Nevertheless, Vice President Cheney didn’t stop there. In early 2008, Pulitzer prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh and MSNBC, both reported that Cheney had proposed to the Pentagon an outrageous plan to have the U.S. Navy create fake Iranian patrol boats, to be manned by Navy Seals, who would then stage an attack on US destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz. This event was to be blamed on Iran and used as a pretext for war. Does any of this information worry you Mr. President? Should we just ignore it, until these realities can be dismissed years from now by our children, as ancient history as well?
PBO – Of course this information worries me, yet it’s not nearly as worrisome as you sitting here today suspiciously implying that 9/11 was somehow allowed to happen or even orchestrated from the inside.
CS – Mr. President I am not suspiciously implying anything. I am merely exposing the documents and asking the questions that nobody in power will even look at or acknowledge. And as I stated earlier, I voted for you, I believed in your message of hope and change. Mr. President I have come to you specifically hoping for a change. A change in the perception that our government has not yet made itself open and accountable to the people. These are your words Mr. President not mine. The lives of thousands were brutally cut short and those left behind to suffer their infinite pain are with me today Mr. President. They are with me in spirit and flesh, and the message we carry will not be silenced anymore by media fueled mantras insisting how they are supposed to feel. Deciding for them, for 8 long years, what can be thought, what can be said, what can be asked.
PBO – And I appreciate your passion, I appreciate your conviction. In spite of your concerns, in spite of what your data might or might not reveal, what you and the families must understand and accept is that we are doing everything we can to protect you.
CS – Mr. President , I realize were very short on time, so please allow me to run down a list of bullet points that might illuminate some reasons why we don’t embrace the warm hug of Federal protection.
PBO – We’ve come this far. Fire away.
CS – Please keep in mind Mr. President everything I’m about to say is documented as fact and part of the public record. The information you are holding in your hands chronicles and verifies each and every point.
PBO – You have five minutes left. The floor is yours. Brief me.
CS – Thank you Mr. President. Okay, first; On the FBI’s most wanted list Osama Bin Laden is not charged with the crimes of 911. When I called the FBI to ask them why this was the case, they replied: “There’s not enough evidence to link Bin Laden to the crime scene,” I later discovered he had never even been indicted by the D.O.J.
CS – Number 2; FBI translator Sibel Edmonds, was dismissed and gagged by the D.O.J. after she revealed that the government had foreknowledge of plans to attack American cities using planes as bombs as early as April 2001. In July of ‘09, Mrs. Edmonds broke the Federal gag order and went public to reveal that Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda and the Taliban were all working for and with the C.I.A. up until the day of 9/11.
CS – Number 3; The following is a quote from Mayor Giuliani during an interview on 9/11 with Peter Jennings for ABC News. “I went down to the scene and we set up headquarters at 75 Barkley Street, which was right there with the Police Commissioner, the Fire Commissioner, the Head of Emergency Management, and we were operating out of there when we were told that the World Trade Center was going to collapse. And it did collapse before we could actually get out of the building, so we were trapped in the building for 10, 15 minutes, and finally found an exit and got out, walked north, and took a lot of people with us.”
WHO TOLD HIM THIS??? To this day, the answer to this question remains unanswered, completely ignored and emphatically DENIED by Mayor Giuliani on several public occasions.
CS – Number 4; In April 2004, USA Today reported, “In the two years before the Sept. 11 attacks, the North American Aerospace Defense Command conducted exercises simulating what the White House says was unimaginable at the time: hijacked airliners used as weapons to crash into targets and cause mass casualties.” One of the targets was the World Trade Center.
CS – Number 5; On September 12th 2007, CNN’s ‘Anderson Cooper 360′, reported that the mysterious “white plane” spotted and videotaped by multiple media outlets, flying in restricted airspace over the White House shortly before 10am on the morning of 9/11, was in fact the Air Force’s E-4B, a specially modified Boeing 747 with a communications pod behind the cockpit; otherwise known as “The Doomsday Plane”.
Though fully aware of the event, the 9/11 Commission did not deem the appearance of the military plane to be of any interest and did not include it in the final 9/11 Commission report.
CS – Number 6; Three F-16s assigned to Andrews Air Force Base, ten miles from Washington, DC, are conducting training exercises in North Carolina 207 miles away as the first plane crashes into the WTC. Even at significantly less than their top speed of 1500 mph, they could still have defended the skies over Washington well before 9am, more than 37 minutes before Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon, however, they did not return until after 9:55am.
Andrews AFB had no armed fighters on alert and ready to take off on the morning of 9/11.
CS – Number 7; WTC Building 7. Watch the video of its collapse.
CS – Number 8; Flight 93 is fourth plane to crash on 9/11 at 10:03am. V.P. Cheney only gives shoot down order at 10:10-10:20am and this is not communicated to NORAD until 28 minutes after Flight 93 has crashed.
Fueling further suspicion on this front is the fact that three months before the attacks of 9/11, Dick Cheney usurped control of NORAD, and therefore he, and no one else on planet Earth, had the power to call for military sorties on the hijacked airliners on 9/11. He did not exercise that power. Three months after 9/11, he relinquished command of NORAD and returned it to military operation.
CS – Number 9; Scores of main stream news outlets reported that the F.B.I. conducted an investigation of at least FIVE of the 9/11 hijackers being trained at U.S. military flight schools. Those investigations are now sealed and need to be declassified.
CS – Number 10; In 2004, New York firefighters Mike Bellone and Nicholas DeMasi went public to say they had found the black boxes at the World Trade Center, but were told to keep their mouths shut by FBI agents. Nicholas DeMasi said that he escorted federal agents on an all-terrain vehicle in October 2001 and helped them locate the devices, a story backed up by rescue volunteer Mike Bellone.
As the Philadelphia Daily News reported at the time, “Their story raises the question of whether there was a some type of cover-up at Ground Zero.
CS – Number 11 – Hundreds of eye witnesses including first responders, fire captains, news reporters, and police, all described multiple explosions in both towers before and during the collapse.
CS – Number 12; An astounding video uncovered from the archives shows BBC News correspondent Jane Standley reporting on the collapse of WTC Building 7 over twenty minutes before it fell at 5:20pm on the afternoon of 9/11. Tapes from earlier BBC broadcasts show news anchors discussing the collapse of WTC 7 a full 26 minutes in advance. The BBC at first claimed that their tapes from 9/11 had been “lost” before admitting that they made the “error” of reporting the collapse of WTC 7 before it happened without adequately explaining how they could have obtained advance knowledge of the event.
In addition, over an hour before the collapse of WTC 7, at 4:10pm, CNN’s Aaron Brown reported that the building “has either collapsed, or is collapsing.”
CS – Number 13; Solicitor General Ted Olson’s claim that his wife Barbara Olsen called him twice from Flight 77, describing hijackers with box cutters, was a central plank of the official 9/11 story.
However, the credibility of the story was completely undermined after Olsen kept changing his story about whether his wife used her cell phone or the airplane phone. The technology to enable cell phone calls from high-altitude airline flights was not created until 2004. American Airlines confirmed that Flight 77 was a Boeing 757 and that this plane did not have airplane phones on board.
According to the FBI, Barbara Olsen attempted to call her husband only once and the call failed to connect, therefore Olsen must have been lying when he claimed he had spoken to his wife from Flight 77.
CS – Number 14; The size of a Boeing 757 is approximately 125ft in width and yet images of the impact zone at the Pentagon supposedly caused by the crash merely show a hole no more than 16ft in diameter. The engines of the 757 would have punctured a hole bigger than this, never mind the whole plane. Images before the partial collapse of the impact zone show little real impact damage and a sparse debris field completely inconsistent with the crash of a large jetliner, especially when contrasted with other images showing airplane crashes into buildings.
CS – Number 15; What is the meaning behind the following quote attributed to Dick Cheney which came to light during the 9/11 Commission hearings? The passage is taken from testimony given by then Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta.
During the time that the airplane was coming in to the Pentagon, there was a young man who would come in and say to the Vice President, “The plane is 50 miles out.” “The plane is 30 miles out.” And when it got down to “the plane is 10 miles out,” the young man also said to the Vice President, “Do the orders still stand?” And the Vice President turned and whipped his neck around and said, “Of course the orders still stand. Have you heard anything to the contrary?”
As the plane was not shot down, in addition to the fact that armed fighter jets were nowhere near the plane and the Pentagon defensive system was not activated, are we to take it that the orders were to let the plane find its target?
CS – Number 16; In May 2003, the Miami Herald reported how the Bush administration was refusing to release a 900-page congressional report on 9/11 because it wanted to “avoid enshrining embarrassing details in the report,” particularly regarding pre-9/11 warnings as well as the fact that the hijackers were trained at U.S. flight schools.
CS – Number 17; Top Pentagon officials cancelled their scheduled flights for September 11th on September 10th. San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, following a security warning, cancelled a flight into New York that was scheduled for the morning of 9/11.
CS – Number 18; The technology to enable cell phone calls from high-altitude airline flights was not created until 2004, and even by that point it was only in the trial phase. Calls from cell phones which formed an integral part of the official government version of events were technologically impossible at the time.
CS – Number 19: On April 29, 2004, President Bush and V.P. Cheney would only meet with the commission under specific clandestine conditions. They insisted on testifying together and not under oath. They also demanded that their testimony be treated as a matter of “state secret.” To date, nothing they spoke of that day exists in the public domain.
CS – And finally Mr. President – Number 20; A few days after the attack, several newspapers as well as the FBI reported that a paper passport had been found in the ruins of the WTC. In August 2004, CNN reported that 9/11 hijacker Ziad Jarrah’s visa was found in the remains of Flight 93 which went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
At least a third of the WTC victim’s bodies were vaporized and many of the victims of the Pentagon incident were burned beyond recognition. And yet visas and paper passports which identify the perpetrators and back up the official version of events miraculously survive explosions and fires that we are told melted steel buildings.
(The Senior aide appears again beside the President whispering in his ear. He then quickly moves off).
PBO – Well Charlie I can’t say this hasn’t been interesting. As I said earlier you’ve showed up today focused and organized. Regardless how I feel about the material you’ve presented, I must commend your dedication and zeal. However, our time here is up.
(the President rises from his chair , I do the same).
CS – Mr. President! One more second!
(The President starts towards the door – I follow him quickly step for step).
CS – Mr. President, I implore you based on the evidence you now possess, to use your Executive Power. Prove to us all Sir, that you do, in fact, care. Create a truly comprehensive and open Congressional investigation of 9/11 and its aftermath. The families deserve the truth, the American people and the rest of the free world deserve the truth. Mr. President -
(He pauses. We shake hands).
CS – Make sure you’re on the right side of history.
(The President breaks the handshake).
PBO – I am on the right side of history. Thank you Charlie, my staff and I will be in touch.
(I watch as he strides gracefully out of the room, the truth I provided him held firmly by his side; in the hand of providence.)
.....................................................................................
Kinda makes you wonder if Obama headed to the trash can or did he read it. I don't know but I did find the interview very interesting.
....................................
Charlie Sheen – Good afternoon Mr. President, thank you so much for taking time out of your demanding schedule.
President Barack Obama – My pleasure, the content of your request seemed like something I should carve out a few minutes for.
CS – I should point out that I voted for you, as your promises of hope and change, transparency and accountability, as well as putting government back into the hands of the American people, struck an emotional chord in me that I hadn’t felt in quite some time, perhaps ever.
PBO – And I appreciate that Charlie. Big fan of the show, by the way.
CS – Sir, I can’t imagine when you might find the time to actually watch my show given the measure of what you inherited.
PBO – I have it Tivo’d on Air Force One. Nice break from the traveling press corps. (He glances at his watch) not to be abrupt or to rush you, but you have 19 minutes left.
CS – I’ll take that as an invitation to cut to the chase.
PBO – I’m all ears. Or so I’ve been told.
CS – Sir, in the very near future we will be experiencing our first 9/11 anniversary with you as Commander in Chief.
PBO – Yes. A very solemn day for our Nation. A day of reflection and yet a day of historical consciousness as well.
CS – Very much so sir, very much so indeed…. Now; In researching your position regarding the events of 9/11 and the subsequent investigation that followed, am I correct to understand that you fully support and endorse the findings of the commission report otherwise known as the ‘official story’?
PBO – Do I have any reason not to? Given that most of us are presumably in touch with similar evidence.
CS – I really wish that were the case, sir. Are you aware, Mr. President, of the recent stunning revelations that sixty percent of the 9/11 commissioners have publicly stated that the government agreed not to tell the truth about 9/11 and that the Pentagon was engaged in deliberate deception about their response to the attack?
PBO – I am aware of certain “in fighting” during the course of their very thorough and tireless investigative process.
CS – Mr. President, it’s hard to label this type of friction as “in fighting” or make the irresponsible leap to “thorough,” when the evidence I insist you examine regarding 6 of the 10 members are statements of fact.
(At this point one of Obama’s senior aides approaches the President and whispers into his ear. Obama glances quickly at his watch and nods as the aide resumes his post at the doorway, directly behind me.)
PBO – No disrespect Mr. Sheen, but I have to ask; what is it that you seem to be implying with the initial direction of this discussion?
CS – I am not implying anything Mr. President. I am here to present the facts and see what you plan to do with them.
PBO – Let me guess; your ‘facts,’ allegedly supporting these claims are in the folders you brought with you?
CS – Good guess Mr. President.
(I hand the first folder of documents to the President)
CS – Again sir, these are not my opinions or assumptions, this is all a matter of public record, reported through mainstream media, painstakingly fact checked and verified.
(the President glances into the folder I handed him)
CS – You’ll notice sir on page one of the dossier dated August of ‘06 from the Washington Post, the statements of John Farmer, senior council to the 9/11 commission, his quote stating, “I was shocked how different the truth was from the way it was described.”
PBO – (as he glances down at the report, almost inaudible) …. um hmm….
CS – He goes on to further state “The [NORAD Air Defense] tapes told a radically different story from what had been told to us and the public for two years….”
(the President continues to view the documents)
CS – On pages two and three, sir, are the statements, as well, from commission co-chairmen Thomas Kean and Lee Hamilton, commissioners Bob Kerrey, Timothy Roemer and John Lehman, as well as the statements of commissioner Max Cleland, an ex-Senator from Georgia , who resigned, stating:
“It is a national scandal. This investigation is now compromised. One of these days we will have to get the full story because the 9/11 issue is so important to America. But this White House wants to cover it up.”
He also described President Bush’s desire to delay the process as not to damage the ‘04 re-election bid. They suspected deception to the point where they considered referring the matter to the Justice Department for criminal investigation. Mr. President, this information alone is unequivocally grounds for a new investigation!
PBO – Mistakes were clearly made but we as a people and as a country need to move forward. It is obviously in our best interest as a democratic society to focus our efforts and our resources on the future of this great nation and our ability to protect the American people and our allies from this type of terrorism in the coming years.
CS – Sir, how can we focus on the future when THE COMMISSION ITSELF is on record stating that they still do not know the truth??
PBO – Even if what you state, might in some capacity, begin to approach an open discussion or balanced debate, I can’t speak for, or about the decisions certain commission members made during an extremely difficult period. Perhaps you should be interviewing them instead of me. Wait, don’t tell me; I was easier to track down than they were?
CS – Not exactly sir, but let’s be honest. You’re the President of the United States, the leader of the free world, the buck stops with you. 9/11 has been the pretext for the systematic dismantling of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Your administration is reading from the same playbook that the Bush administration foisted on America through documented secrecy and deception.
PBO – Mr. Sheen, I’m having a difficult time sitting here and listening to you draw distorted parallels between the Bush/Cheney regime and mine.
CS – Mr. President the parallels are not distorted just because you say they are. Let’s stick to the facts. You promised to abolish the Patriot Act and then voted to re-authorize it. You pledged to end warrantless wire tapping against the American people and now energetically defend it. You decried the practice of rendition and now continue it. You promised over and over again on the campaign trail, that you would end the practice of indefinite detention and instead, you have expanded it to permanent detention of “detainees” without trial. This far exceeds the outrages of the former administration. Call me crazy Mr. President, but is this not your record?
PBO – Mr. Sheen, my staff and I authorized this interview based on your request to discuss 9/11 and deliver some additional information you’re convinced I’d not previously reviewed. Call me crazy, But it appears as though you’ve blindly wandered off topic.
CS – Sir, the examples I just illustrated are a direct result of 9/11.
PBO – And I’m telling you that we must move forward, we must endure through these dangerous and politically challenging years ahead.
CS – Mr. President, we cannot move forward with a bottomless warren of unanswered questions surrounding that day and its aftermath.
PBO – I read the official report. Every word every page. Perhaps you should do the same.
CS – I have sir, and so have thousands of family members of the victims, and guess what; they have the same questions I do and probably a lot more. I didn’t lose a loved one on that horrific day Mr. President and neither did you. But since then I, along with millions of other Americans lost something we held true and dear for most of our lives in this great country of ours; we lost our hope.
PBO – And I’d like to believe that I am here to restore that hope. To restore confidence in your leaders, in the system that the voting public chose through a peaceful transfer of power.
(An odd moment of silence between us. Precious time ticking away).
CS – Mr. President, are you aware of the number of days it took to begin the investigation into JFK’s assassination?
PBO – If memory serves I believe it was two weeks.
CS – Close. Seventeen days to be exact. Are you aware sir, how long it took to begin the investigation into Pearl Harbor?
PBO – I would say again about….two weeks.
CS – Close again sir, eleven days to be exact. Are you aware Mr. President how long it took to begin the investigation into 9/11?
PBO – I know it must have seemed like a very long time for all the grieving families.
CS – It was a very long time Mr. President – four hundred and forty days. Roughly 14 months. Does it bother you Mr. President that it only took FIVE HOURS for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld after the initial attack to recommend and endorse a full scale offensive against Iraq?
PBO – I am not aware of any such purported claim.
CS – I have the proof Mr. President, along with scores of documents and facts I’d like you to take a look at. Here.
(I hand him another file – much thicker than the first)
PBO – I see you came prepared Charlie.
CS – No other way to show up Mr. President. When in doubt over prepare I always say.
PBO – Now you sound like the First Lady.
CS – That’s quite a compliment sir.
PBO – As you wish. Please continue.
CS – Sir, I’d like to direct your attention to the stack of documents in the folder I just handed you. The first in from the top is entitled “ Operation Northwoods“, a declassified Pentagon plan to stage terror attacks on US soil, to be blamed on Cuba as a pretext for war.
PBO – And I’d like to direct your attention to the fact that the principle draftsman of this improbable blueprint was quickly denied a second term as Joint Chiefs chairman and sent packing to a European NATO garrison. Thank God his otherworldly ambitions never saw the light of day.
CS – I wouldn’t be so certain about that Mr. President.
PBO – I could easily say the same to you Charlie.
(the President checks his watch)
CS – The next document reads “Declassified staged provocations.” Now, Honestly Mr. President I wish I was making this stuff up. I’m certain you are familiar with the USS Maine Incident, the sinking of the Lusitania, which we all now know brought us into WW1, and of course the most famous, the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
PBO – Of course I am familiar with these historical events and I’m aware that there’s a measure of controversy surrounding them. But to be quite frank with you, this is all ancient history.
CS – Mr. President, it has been often said; “Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it.” And I concede to you sir, these events are the past.
PBO – A vastly different world young man, shouldering a radically disparate state of universal affairs.
CS – No argument sir, I’m merely inviting you to acknowledge some credibility to the pattern or the theme. Case in point; the next document in your folder. It was published by the think-tank, Project For a New American Century and it’s entitled “ Rebuilding Americas Defenses“, and was written by Dick Cheney and Jeb Bush. To quote from the document sir – (the President interrupts)
PBO – “Further, the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event – like a new Pearl Harbor.”
CS – Touche, sir. Your thoughts on this statement Mr. President?
PBO – I would call this a blatant case of misjudgment fueled by an unfortunate milieu of assumption. For some, the uninformed denial of coincidence.
CS – Interesting angle sir. Nevertheless, Vice President Cheney didn’t stop there. In early 2008, Pulitzer prize winning journalist Seymour Hersh and MSNBC, both reported that Cheney had proposed to the Pentagon an outrageous plan to have the U.S. Navy create fake Iranian patrol boats, to be manned by Navy Seals, who would then stage an attack on US destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz. This event was to be blamed on Iran and used as a pretext for war. Does any of this information worry you Mr. President? Should we just ignore it, until these realities can be dismissed years from now by our children, as ancient history as well?
PBO – Of course this information worries me, yet it’s not nearly as worrisome as you sitting here today suspiciously implying that 9/11 was somehow allowed to happen or even orchestrated from the inside.
CS – Mr. President I am not suspiciously implying anything. I am merely exposing the documents and asking the questions that nobody in power will even look at or acknowledge. And as I stated earlier, I voted for you, I believed in your message of hope and change. Mr. President I have come to you specifically hoping for a change. A change in the perception that our government has not yet made itself open and accountable to the people. These are your words Mr. President not mine. The lives of thousands were brutally cut short and those left behind to suffer their infinite pain are with me today Mr. President. They are with me in spirit and flesh, and the message we carry will not be silenced anymore by media fueled mantras insisting how they are supposed to feel. Deciding for them, for 8 long years, what can be thought, what can be said, what can be asked.
PBO – And I appreciate your passion, I appreciate your conviction. In spite of your concerns, in spite of what your data might or might not reveal, what you and the families must understand and accept is that we are doing everything we can to protect you.
CS – Mr. President , I realize were very short on time, so please allow me to run down a list of bullet points that might illuminate some reasons why we don’t embrace the warm hug of Federal protection.
PBO – We’ve come this far. Fire away.
CS – Please keep in mind Mr. President everything I’m about to say is documented as fact and part of the public record. The information you are holding in your hands chronicles and verifies each and every point.
PBO – You have five minutes left. The floor is yours. Brief me.
CS – Thank you Mr. President. Okay, first; On the FBI’s most wanted list Osama Bin Laden is not charged with the crimes of 911. When I called the FBI to ask them why this was the case, they replied: “There’s not enough evidence to link Bin Laden to the crime scene,” I later discovered he had never even been indicted by the D.O.J.
CS – Number 2; FBI translator Sibel Edmonds, was dismissed and gagged by the D.O.J. after she revealed that the government had foreknowledge of plans to attack American cities using planes as bombs as early as April 2001. In July of ‘09, Mrs. Edmonds broke the Federal gag order and went public to reveal that Osama Bin Laden, Al Qaeda and the Taliban were all working for and with the C.I.A. up until the day of 9/11.
CS – Number 3; The following is a quote from Mayor Giuliani during an interview on 9/11 with Peter Jennings for ABC News. “I went down to the scene and we set up headquarters at 75 Barkley Street, which was right there with the Police Commissioner, the Fire Commissioner, the Head of Emergency Management, and we were operating out of there when we were told that the World Trade Center was going to collapse. And it did collapse before we could actually get out of the building, so we were trapped in the building for 10, 15 minutes, and finally found an exit and got out, walked north, and took a lot of people with us.”
WHO TOLD HIM THIS??? To this day, the answer to this question remains unanswered, completely ignored and emphatically DENIED by Mayor Giuliani on several public occasions.
CS – Number 4; In April 2004, USA Today reported, “In the two years before the Sept. 11 attacks, the North American Aerospace Defense Command conducted exercises simulating what the White House says was unimaginable at the time: hijacked airliners used as weapons to crash into targets and cause mass casualties.” One of the targets was the World Trade Center.
CS – Number 5; On September 12th 2007, CNN’s ‘Anderson Cooper 360′, reported that the mysterious “white plane” spotted and videotaped by multiple media outlets, flying in restricted airspace over the White House shortly before 10am on the morning of 9/11, was in fact the Air Force’s E-4B, a specially modified Boeing 747 with a communications pod behind the cockpit; otherwise known as “The Doomsday Plane”.
Though fully aware of the event, the 9/11 Commission did not deem the appearance of the military plane to be of any interest and did not include it in the final 9/11 Commission report.
CS – Number 6; Three F-16s assigned to Andrews Air Force Base, ten miles from Washington, DC, are conducting training exercises in North Carolina 207 miles away as the first plane crashes into the WTC. Even at significantly less than their top speed of 1500 mph, they could still have defended the skies over Washington well before 9am, more than 37 minutes before Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon, however, they did not return until after 9:55am.
Andrews AFB had no armed fighters on alert and ready to take off on the morning of 9/11.
CS – Number 7; WTC Building 7. Watch the video of its collapse.
CS – Number 8; Flight 93 is fourth plane to crash on 9/11 at 10:03am. V.P. Cheney only gives shoot down order at 10:10-10:20am and this is not communicated to NORAD until 28 minutes after Flight 93 has crashed.
Fueling further suspicion on this front is the fact that three months before the attacks of 9/11, Dick Cheney usurped control of NORAD, and therefore he, and no one else on planet Earth, had the power to call for military sorties on the hijacked airliners on 9/11. He did not exercise that power. Three months after 9/11, he relinquished command of NORAD and returned it to military operation.
CS – Number 9; Scores of main stream news outlets reported that the F.B.I. conducted an investigation of at least FIVE of the 9/11 hijackers being trained at U.S. military flight schools. Those investigations are now sealed and need to be declassified.
CS – Number 10; In 2004, New York firefighters Mike Bellone and Nicholas DeMasi went public to say they had found the black boxes at the World Trade Center, but were told to keep their mouths shut by FBI agents. Nicholas DeMasi said that he escorted federal agents on an all-terrain vehicle in October 2001 and helped them locate the devices, a story backed up by rescue volunteer Mike Bellone.
As the Philadelphia Daily News reported at the time, “Their story raises the question of whether there was a some type of cover-up at Ground Zero.
CS – Number 11 – Hundreds of eye witnesses including first responders, fire captains, news reporters, and police, all described multiple explosions in both towers before and during the collapse.
CS – Number 12; An astounding video uncovered from the archives shows BBC News correspondent Jane Standley reporting on the collapse of WTC Building 7 over twenty minutes before it fell at 5:20pm on the afternoon of 9/11. Tapes from earlier BBC broadcasts show news anchors discussing the collapse of WTC 7 a full 26 minutes in advance. The BBC at first claimed that their tapes from 9/11 had been “lost” before admitting that they made the “error” of reporting the collapse of WTC 7 before it happened without adequately explaining how they could have obtained advance knowledge of the event.
In addition, over an hour before the collapse of WTC 7, at 4:10pm, CNN’s Aaron Brown reported that the building “has either collapsed, or is collapsing.”
CS – Number 13; Solicitor General Ted Olson’s claim that his wife Barbara Olsen called him twice from Flight 77, describing hijackers with box cutters, was a central plank of the official 9/11 story.
However, the credibility of the story was completely undermined after Olsen kept changing his story about whether his wife used her cell phone or the airplane phone. The technology to enable cell phone calls from high-altitude airline flights was not created until 2004. American Airlines confirmed that Flight 77 was a Boeing 757 and that this plane did not have airplane phones on board.
According to the FBI, Barbara Olsen attempted to call her husband only once and the call failed to connect, therefore Olsen must have been lying when he claimed he had spoken to his wife from Flight 77.
CS – Number 14; The size of a Boeing 757 is approximately 125ft in width and yet images of the impact zone at the Pentagon supposedly caused by the crash merely show a hole no more than 16ft in diameter. The engines of the 757 would have punctured a hole bigger than this, never mind the whole plane. Images before the partial collapse of the impact zone show little real impact damage and a sparse debris field completely inconsistent with the crash of a large jetliner, especially when contrasted with other images showing airplane crashes into buildings.
CS – Number 15; What is the meaning behind the following quote attributed to Dick Cheney which came to light during the 9/11 Commission hearings? The passage is taken from testimony given by then Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta.
During the time that the airplane was coming in to the Pentagon, there was a young man who would come in and say to the Vice President, “The plane is 50 miles out.” “The plane is 30 miles out.” And when it got down to “the plane is 10 miles out,” the young man also said to the Vice President, “Do the orders still stand?” And the Vice President turned and whipped his neck around and said, “Of course the orders still stand. Have you heard anything to the contrary?”
As the plane was not shot down, in addition to the fact that armed fighter jets were nowhere near the plane and the Pentagon defensive system was not activated, are we to take it that the orders were to let the plane find its target?
CS – Number 16; In May 2003, the Miami Herald reported how the Bush administration was refusing to release a 900-page congressional report on 9/11 because it wanted to “avoid enshrining embarrassing details in the report,” particularly regarding pre-9/11 warnings as well as the fact that the hijackers were trained at U.S. flight schools.
CS – Number 17; Top Pentagon officials cancelled their scheduled flights for September 11th on September 10th. San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, following a security warning, cancelled a flight into New York that was scheduled for the morning of 9/11.
CS – Number 18; The technology to enable cell phone calls from high-altitude airline flights was not created until 2004, and even by that point it was only in the trial phase. Calls from cell phones which formed an integral part of the official government version of events were technologically impossible at the time.
CS – Number 19: On April 29, 2004, President Bush and V.P. Cheney would only meet with the commission under specific clandestine conditions. They insisted on testifying together and not under oath. They also demanded that their testimony be treated as a matter of “state secret.” To date, nothing they spoke of that day exists in the public domain.
CS – And finally Mr. President – Number 20; A few days after the attack, several newspapers as well as the FBI reported that a paper passport had been found in the ruins of the WTC. In August 2004, CNN reported that 9/11 hijacker Ziad Jarrah’s visa was found in the remains of Flight 93 which went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
At least a third of the WTC victim’s bodies were vaporized and many of the victims of the Pentagon incident were burned beyond recognition. And yet visas and paper passports which identify the perpetrators and back up the official version of events miraculously survive explosions and fires that we are told melted steel buildings.
(The Senior aide appears again beside the President whispering in his ear. He then quickly moves off).
PBO – Well Charlie I can’t say this hasn’t been interesting. As I said earlier you’ve showed up today focused and organized. Regardless how I feel about the material you’ve presented, I must commend your dedication and zeal. However, our time here is up.
(the President rises from his chair , I do the same).
CS – Mr. President! One more second!
(The President starts towards the door – I follow him quickly step for step).
CS – Mr. President, I implore you based on the evidence you now possess, to use your Executive Power. Prove to us all Sir, that you do, in fact, care. Create a truly comprehensive and open Congressional investigation of 9/11 and its aftermath. The families deserve the truth, the American people and the rest of the free world deserve the truth. Mr. President -
(He pauses. We shake hands).
CS – Make sure you’re on the right side of history.
(The President breaks the handshake).
PBO – I am on the right side of history. Thank you Charlie, my staff and I will be in touch.
(I watch as he strides gracefully out of the room, the truth I provided him held firmly by his side; in the hand of providence.)
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Kinda makes you wonder if Obama headed to the trash can or did he read it. I don't know but I did find the interview very interesting.
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