S.O.S.?

Welcome to "TAINT"

I use this familiar Kentucky term, "taint", to describe this period between the two major winter holidays. You know that in between time when it "taint" Thanksgiving and it "taint" Christmas.

The time we are given a break to fall back into our lives of unthankfulness and just hope we can survive till time comes for our next selfish endeavor of gluttony. But next time we'll add the selfish treat of gift giving. This next season of over abundance we blame on the birth of Baby Jesus.

The fact is this special time that we set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus, (who was the man God choose to come to earth in), has become just another holiday instead of the Holy Day it was intended. But why fret the same is true with the beloved Sabbath, (whatever day your day of rest maybe), as well as the day the resurrection of Christ should be celebrated. 

So for the next 29 days we can return to screwing our neighbors, killing our brothers and sisters, choosing not to love, loving not to be publicly responsible to be thankful or show love to our fellowman. Yes we can return to life as usual in the rat race we call life.

I have come to the awareness, just this morning that what we have called life is not life at all. It is mere existence. Existing until the next occasion presents itself and we put on the faces we are supposed to wear year round. Funny isn't it? Most of us enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas and the really cool part is...they can be lived everyday. Oh but the limits we place on the good or shall I say the God that lives in us.

Think I may experiment, live a life of thankfulness and remembering the coming of God to earth in the form of man (ME & YOU) everyday. I think I'll try just being ungrateful and self centered on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Happy Day After Thanksgiving,
"i am",
Babu Lonnie

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is the day that we who live in the United States celebrate what we call thanksgiving. I am excited about spending time with some family and friends but it is historically one of the most self centered days of the year for most of us. We consume enough food at one table to feed a village, no wait we throw away enough food to feed a village. We use resources to decorated, buy trivial things to satisfy our selves. 

We call ourselves recreating the first day of celebration that our forefathers shared with the Native Americans. But we prepare a feast and share mostly with only our families. I discovered something very disturbing about life on our planet. We feast with each other then steal from our fellowman his right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Sorry I forgot that's just for US!

We have been told that the United States of America has six percent (6%) of the worlds population and ninety two percent (92%) of the worlds wealth. Not being a rocket scientist or even a semi smart guy I did the math. Ninety four percent (94%) of the worlds population lives on eight percent (8%) of the worlds wealth.

What we proclaim as thankfulness is nothing more than greed. When a minimum wage worker in the U.S. ranks as wealthy by a vast majority of the worlds standard, I'm thinking something is wrong. Here is what I see as wrong. We have ceased to care for and love our fellow man, we have elected politicians to ease our conscience and buffer our lives from the reality of personal responsibility.

We have bitched and moaned ourselves into a corner and now there is no one out there to help or even would help if they could. We have paraded around the world as the superpower and now we seem to neither be super or powerful. We are on the fast track from the head to the tail, from the lender to the borrower, from the steward to the one being managed.

I am thankful that God is still God and we just guests in His universe, but He will someday say that's enough raping and pillaging of my planet and my crowning creation called man. This life will close it's doors and we will step into a new life, that life will be an eternal one with God or an eternal life without Him.

I am truly thankful that I know where and with whom I will spend eternity. It is determined in part by how we serve our fellow man. Please read Mathew chapter 25 verses 31 through 46. It's about receiving HIM.

"i am"
Babu Lonnie 

YES "i am"

My last post I was in quite a quandary over the "i am" thing, but now I got it and am on my way to a life of bliss...

"i am" a member of the body of Christ on earth today. "i am" filled with the same God that Jesus was filled with while He was here on earth. "i am" a human being not a human doing. "i am" only part of the body of Christ not the whole body, therefore "i am" responsible for  only the things my particular part of the body was created to do.

In times past I have been taught and taught each individual had to "DO IT" all or they were something less than what God wanted or expected of them. But over the last few days sitting in my comfortable Lazy Boy recliner being thankful for what I have, I begin to see that I should be thankful for the part I have been ordained to be in His Body.

The Declaration of Independence of the Thirteen United States of America said in the opening sentence of the second paragraph, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

I believe the independence we gain by declaring our allegiance to God and independence from the bondage of religion also insures us the right of equality in God's sight but here's the rub, we aren't all created to do or be the same member or part of His Body.

"i am" what i am by the power of the creator. However "i am" what I should be by knowing my place or part in The Body and making choices to be the best at what I have been created to be. God's Kingdom is not a welfare state it is a work state. You don't work your way into the Kingdom but you work your way INTO Him while serving in the Kingdom.

Depending on the conditions surrounding me I will adapt my part and BE applicable to the world around me so they may get a glimpse of the God that lives in me. HE IS LIFE...LIBERTY... and better than happiness...HE IS MY JOY. His Life, Liberty and Joy can never be taken by anything or anyone. For that I am eternally thankful

This year "i am" still thankful for family and stuff but "i am" most thankful that I have discovered the GREAT I AM gives me the privilege and responsibility of being (Him in me and me in Him) just cause "i am".

Happy Thanksgiving, 
"i am"
Babu Lonnie 

I Am........

I am...wish I had more to post? Guess this will have to do till I figure out what I am. Thought I had an idea but......

Babu Lonnie

 

The Dam

 
This is an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries regarding a pond on his property.   It was sent by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Quality, State of Pennsylvania .   This guy's response is hilarious, but read The State's letter before you get to the response letter. 
This is too good to be true...but it is true, just enjoy.

State of Pennsylvania 's letter to Mr. DeVries:
SUBJECT: DEQ 
File No.97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec 20; Lycoming County    
Dear Mr. DeVries: 
It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity:      
Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond.   
A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued  Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324..30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated..  
The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations.  We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel.  All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31, 2007.
Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action.. 
We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions.   
Sincerely, 
David L. Price 
District Representative and Water Management Division. 

Here is the actual response sent back by Mr. DeVries:
Re: DEQ File 
No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Lycoming County
Dear Mr. Price, 
Your certified letter dated 12/17/06 has been handed to me to respond to.  I am the legal landowner but not the Contractor at 2088 Dagget Lane , Trout Run, Pennsylvania ..    
A couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood 'debris' dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond.  While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials 'debris.'    
I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic. 
These beavers/contractors you are seeking..   As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity. 
My first dam question to you is: 
(1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers, or 
(2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request?    
If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued.  (Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Pennsylvania Compiled Laws, annotated.)

I have several dam concerns.  My first dam concern is, aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation?  The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation -- so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. 
The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event, causing flooding, is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling them dam names.    
If you want the dammed stream 'restored' to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers -- but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English.    
In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream.  They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond.  If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams).    
So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2007? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice by then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them. 
In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention to a real environmental quality, health, problem in the area  It is the bears!  Bears are actually defecating in our woods.  I definitely believe you should be persecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone.  If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your dam step! The bears are not careful where they dump!    
Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office.
THANK YOU,
RYAN DEVRIES & THE DAM BEAVERS

Let's STOP Abortion!!!

"Nothing new under the sun", words from Solomon. His wisdom has not been surpassed by any as of yet so I'm saying it still stands for today. Everything has always been here, (on earth), it is just a matter of time or season when it comes to maturity and is revealed.

As I see it some things have made attempts to break the soil of sameness only to be aborted. Abortions happen for basically the same reasons. I list some reason and not necessarily in their order of importance.

1. Destroy evidence of a moments pleasure.
2. New life forced by rape.
3. Not compatible with the father.
4. Covering up a lapse of judgment.

I submit to you that for these same reasons the things of God have not been allowed to mature and bring forth fruit and life after it's own kind.
1. We have aborted the voice of God for the temporary "feeling" of spiritual satisfaction and a moments pleasure. We'd rather feel than hear, so we abort!
2. We have had a form of godliness forced on us for so long and we sense something just ain't right. We have been timed, tithed and talented to the point our innocence has been taken. There finally comes a point when the impotence of religion and it's constant ravaging doesn't fulfill the promise of life, so we abort!
3. We are all born with a spirit. At times our spirit screams in opposition to what the "authorities" are saying but nevertheless we conclude THEY are the professionals and have been doing this for a long time, how could THEY be wrong? The part of us that is created in the image of God Himself, (our father), cries out and we opt for what THEY say and yes again we abort!
4. Finally after the acts have been committed, the apparent damage done and yet the God in us still reaches out in love to offer us freedom from what we've done, what THEY say but at long last it is easier to fall back into the familiarity of tradition and shed even the glimpse of new life...so yes we abort.

My friend, brother and fellow follower of Jesus Christ, Johnny Brooks has taught me much about simply touching and impacting those you come in contact with. My prayer is I never become a spiritual abortionist in my life or anyone I may touch. The abortion ends here! 

Babu Lonnie 

It's Me Again!

As usual it's been sometime since I have done any posting. It is absolutely amazing how busy one can get doing nothing and miss doing what they really love and intend to do. It seems to me I have spent a major portion of my life in "just busy" mode. I wish I know how to break the depressing cycle of busy. When I try to break out of the "busy mode" I find myself in a "do nothing" mode and that only adds to my weight and depression.

For those of you who know me...I neither need to be more depressed or fatter. So what is one to do? I am coming more and more into the reality of what St. Paul meant when he said in Romans 7:15 "And I have no clear knowledge of what I am doing, for that which I have a mind to do, I do not, but what I have hate for, that I do".

I am presently between doing nothing and just busy. I really have no "clear" knowledge of what I am doing and on the other hand I know what I want to do but can't get it done and I hate that. Life is like the following cartoon I saw today call Circular reasoning:  

Babu Lonnie