... and granted, the relationship is fairly distant (my great-grandfather's uncle's grandson, I think), a lot of things in my life are starting to come together (sort of). It explains a lot about my thinking as a boy, attending a Lutheran church. This isn't some "recovered memory," it's a long held set of beliefs that just happened to be significantly different than what I was learning from my beloved Pastor Zeltin. Make no mistake, the Reverend Pastor John Zeltin played an enormous part in the development of my spiritual nature. His pronounced Russian accent, although clearly understandable, made me listen more intently on what he was saying, to try and find his meanings.
It was because of this that I discovered a dichotomy that even Pastor Zeltin couldn't explain. This was my thinking (and it holds to this day): If God was, indeed, our Maker, our "Heavenly Father," as He instructed us, how was it possible for Him to come "with hate," and "with vengeance," against his more wayward children? When I was young, even though our family wasn't very demonstrative, affection-wise, I knew that because I was his son (Charles Scott Martin), he would do anything, even if it meant his own life, to save me. My dad never had to say it (although in retrospect, it would have been pretty cool), it was understood. Simple fact. Done deal. When I became a father, I knew I would do anything to save one of my children. I also know the pain of having one turn his back on me, but I would still do anything to save him, if he would just say he was sorry... to his mom. Theme sounds kind of familiar, huh?
I couldn't get that idea out of my head, other ordained ministers, like Cotton Mather, write epistles like, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," and I wondered how that could be. Yeah, I made my Earthly Father angry a couple of times... you buying that?... but never to the point of wanting to inflict any actual harm on me. Yes, my children have made me angry as well, and it isn't any shock to them, either. Yet I would do whatever I can possibly do to help them.
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Am I the Only One...
... that has noticed a distinct pattern in the differences between the Democratic and Republican administrations in the last 75 years, or so?
Democrats win the White House, the US gets embroiled in a World War, a continuation of his policies brings us through the World War, only to get caught in a war of ideology in Korea.
In 1952, a Republican is elected, the country lives in a non-war era that leads to the greatest progress and prosperity the world has ever known.
In 1960, the young and energetic Democrat wins, the nation becomes embroiled in another ideological war in Vietnam. His legacy live on through his successor, following the assassination in 1963, and continues through the former Vice President's re-election in 1964.
1968 brings the Republicans back to the White House, the US begins a new strategy in Vietnam, eventually leading to an extremely abrupt end in 1974. In those six years, American prosperity has continued at a rapid pace, that is, until a scandal forces the resignation of the Republican, and the appointment of an oafish Vice President to the Office.
1976 finds the people skeptical about the Republicans, and a former Governor and peanut farmer gets to sit in the "big chair". Gas lines (people waiting to buy gasoline) grew ever longer, as relations in the Middle East go south, leading to the taking of the American Embassy in Tehran, along with 416 hostages. Americans are having to deal with double-digit inflation, and double-digit interest rates.
1980 put a Republican (converted Democrat and former Hollywood actor) back on the seat of power. As he was being sworn in, the Iran Hostages were being freed. "Trickle-down economics" became a new source of prosperity, and once again, Americans lived in peace. Despite an assassination attempt, and a suspected battle with Alzheimer's, "Regan-omics" would continue with the election of the Vice President in 1988.
1992 shuffles in a new Democrat, a former Governor and alleged jazz-saxophonist, and blatant philanderer. Despite massive increases in taxes, the economy continues to grow, and Americans still know peace. What they don't know is that the administration's refusal to deal with a known terrorist, once and for all, would set-up one of the greatest acts of mass murder ever known on American soil.
2010 -
Democrats win the White House, the US gets embroiled in a World War, a continuation of his policies brings us through the World War, only to get caught in a war of ideology in Korea.
In 1952, a Republican is elected, the country lives in a non-war era that leads to the greatest progress and prosperity the world has ever known.
In 1960, the young and energetic Democrat wins, the nation becomes embroiled in another ideological war in Vietnam. His legacy live on through his successor, following the assassination in 1963, and continues through the former Vice President's re-election in 1964.
1968 brings the Republicans back to the White House, the US begins a new strategy in Vietnam, eventually leading to an extremely abrupt end in 1974. In those six years, American prosperity has continued at a rapid pace, that is, until a scandal forces the resignation of the Republican, and the appointment of an oafish Vice President to the Office.
1976 finds the people skeptical about the Republicans, and a former Governor and peanut farmer gets to sit in the "big chair". Gas lines (people waiting to buy gasoline) grew ever longer, as relations in the Middle East go south, leading to the taking of the American Embassy in Tehran, along with 416 hostages. Americans are having to deal with double-digit inflation, and double-digit interest rates.
1980 put a Republican (converted Democrat and former Hollywood actor) back on the seat of power. As he was being sworn in, the Iran Hostages were being freed. "Trickle-down economics" became a new source of prosperity, and once again, Americans lived in peace. Despite an assassination attempt, and a suspected battle with Alzheimer's, "Regan-omics" would continue with the election of the Vice President in 1988.
1992 shuffles in a new Democrat, a former Governor and alleged jazz-saxophonist, and blatant philanderer. Despite massive increases in taxes, the economy continues to grow, and Americans still know peace. What they don't know is that the administration's refusal to deal with a known terrorist, once and for all, would set-up one of the greatest acts of mass murder ever known on American soil.
2010 -
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