I have received a few e-mails attempting to give me (or my devotional program) money. Much as most of us could use extra cash in this day and age, my ministry through these blogs is free. I receive no money for the work that I do here.
Neither am I able to help the individuals who write and ask for financial assistance. I am a retiree who writes because that is who and what I am and have been since high school. I live on a shoestring budget.
I hope that my three blogs are of benefit to others. Much as I get discouraged sometimes, I believe that enough people read them to make my efforts worthwhile.
My blogs are as follows:
louhough.BlogSpot.com This is a political blog. Many of my readers might disagree with my positions, yet I pray that they find a new way of interpreting and understanding their own political beliefs. Personally, I tend toward being a liberal Democrat. Yet, surprisingly, I occasionally agree with Republicans, such as in matters concerning the right to bear arms. I strongly believe that we should improve our public schools and see that they are controlled at the national level. That way we can be more sure that all students are presented similar materials and have equal opportunities to learn. I believe that we should continue to support education at the highest level we can afford. These children are the future for ourselves as well as later generations.
lousissues.BlogSpot.com This is a place where I vent my hurts, angers, observations and knowledge to anyone who feels they can learn and benefit from the work. If I offend others with my interpretations of their behaviors, I consider it poetic justice for them offending us. As President Truman once said, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." If you don't want others criticizing you, don't make waves in their lives. It is time we demand that others treat us with the same dignity and respect that they expect and demand of us.
lousdevotes.BlogSpot.com These devotionals are often based on life events. They are meant to give others my spin on the world as interpreted by Bible passages and/or things I have learned from living seventy-five years.
I believe that each of us can learn from each other. I believe strongly in God. I've had experiences that some would consider ridiculous, yet I know they are real because I have lived them. I have survived much.
Many of my beliefs are based on the Golden Rule and on my strong feeling that neither government nor religious preferences should ever interfere with individual rights. Government and organized religions are meant to help masses of people be better organized and more considerate of each other. They are supposed to help us survive, not interfere with our quality of life. I seldom hear a liberal or conservative in either group who does not use his position to bully others into his/her own way of thinking.
I hope each individual who reads my work finds help, entertainment or becomes introduced to new perspectives. My point of view is presented from the Main Street perspective. That is how I started my political blog.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Friday, April 18, 2014
From Sadness Comes Great Courage and Purpose
Unless you have been out of the country or live in a complete vacuum, you no doubt have heard of the recent terrors wrought on people of the Kansas City area.
For several weeks, a phantom shooter has been targeting vehicles on some of the more traveled highways across western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Approximately twenty incidents have happened, making drivers who use the highways experience at least high anxiety as they went to work. Police and other law enforcement agencies worked together to find the shooter and possible copy cats. They believe at least twelve of the incidents are linked. There is sufficient evidence to support an arrest and arraignment of a suspect for nine of them. He is currently in jail with a million dollar bond -- cash only.
In the midst of all this craziness, a shooter opened fire at two Jewish facilities last Sunday afternoon. When the probable shooter was arrested that afternoon, he yelled anti-Semitic slurs and hailed Hitler as he was put into the police car. These two incidents have been labeled as hate crimes. A no brainer, really.
As a young college student, I remember praying that our world could become more ecumenical. Over the years I've felt we were making progress internationally. There are inter-faith councils. Priests and Rabbis talk with each other. People attend each others celebrations where possible.
My ex and I sent two of our three children to preschool at the Jewish Community Center when it was still in Kansas City, Missouri. Several of their teachers took university classes from my ex. (My daughter then spent three years of her elementary education in a Catholic school.) My wishes for a more ecumenical world sometimes seems to be close at hand. Then the Arabs and Jews will go at it again. Or, horror of horrors, the radical Muslims will strike out at someone. In Africa, Christians and Muslims alike, have been killing each other. One step forward, two steps back.
The killings at the Jewish Community Center and the Jewish nursing home actually killed three Christians, not Jews. Today, a Memorial Service was held by Jewish people honoring the fallen Christians. They are also grieving one more attack on themselves. Christians, Muslims and Jews all joined together for the service today. Voices were heard to say we will all just grow stronger despite these types of attacks. Hear, hear.
But while the participants turn sadness into courage and purpose, the psychologist in me feels the need to say: Let's spend some time, some dollars, some effort trying to figure out why such hate and psychosis grows inside the individuals who perpetrate such crimes. What are we doing that keeps different races and religions from growing together and melding into one greater nation? One greater world? How can a man in his seventies have been able to live in this beautiful country all these years and still fester with hate that was spawned from a war fought when he was a child? How can a young black man live in such turmoil that he needs to drive around the city breaking out windows, making holes in cars, shooting individuals and just plain scaring people? When we get these and similar questions answered, then we may be able to communicate with each other. Once we are able to tell each other that this or that behavior makes me feel bad or hurts my feelings, perhaps we will see the humanness in each other. When nobody is labeled as racist or anti-Semitic or any other negative label for speaking truths, maybe we can begin to love and trust each other.
I hurt personally this weekend for many people from my past -- the three doctors who took care of by children, my OB-GYN, my University of Kansas adviser, many of my children's teachers, my former neighbors on Holmes road, etc. How can such lovely, intelligent, gifted individuals be so hated? How can we, after all the progress we have made in racial matters, still be breeding isolates who lash out in anger and hate?
The world has come a long way in answer to my request from God. We still have a long way to go. But that Memorial Service today, where at least three major religious groups came together, brings hope that we may some day be able to bring universal sadness to joy.
For several weeks, a phantom shooter has been targeting vehicles on some of the more traveled highways across western Missouri and eastern Kansas. Approximately twenty incidents have happened, making drivers who use the highways experience at least high anxiety as they went to work. Police and other law enforcement agencies worked together to find the shooter and possible copy cats. They believe at least twelve of the incidents are linked. There is sufficient evidence to support an arrest and arraignment of a suspect for nine of them. He is currently in jail with a million dollar bond -- cash only.
In the midst of all this craziness, a shooter opened fire at two Jewish facilities last Sunday afternoon. When the probable shooter was arrested that afternoon, he yelled anti-Semitic slurs and hailed Hitler as he was put into the police car. These two incidents have been labeled as hate crimes. A no brainer, really.
As a young college student, I remember praying that our world could become more ecumenical. Over the years I've felt we were making progress internationally. There are inter-faith councils. Priests and Rabbis talk with each other. People attend each others celebrations where possible.
My ex and I sent two of our three children to preschool at the Jewish Community Center when it was still in Kansas City, Missouri. Several of their teachers took university classes from my ex. (My daughter then spent three years of her elementary education in a Catholic school.) My wishes for a more ecumenical world sometimes seems to be close at hand. Then the Arabs and Jews will go at it again. Or, horror of horrors, the radical Muslims will strike out at someone. In Africa, Christians and Muslims alike, have been killing each other. One step forward, two steps back.
The killings at the Jewish Community Center and the Jewish nursing home actually killed three Christians, not Jews. Today, a Memorial Service was held by Jewish people honoring the fallen Christians. They are also grieving one more attack on themselves. Christians, Muslims and Jews all joined together for the service today. Voices were heard to say we will all just grow stronger despite these types of attacks. Hear, hear.
But while the participants turn sadness into courage and purpose, the psychologist in me feels the need to say: Let's spend some time, some dollars, some effort trying to figure out why such hate and psychosis grows inside the individuals who perpetrate such crimes. What are we doing that keeps different races and religions from growing together and melding into one greater nation? One greater world? How can a man in his seventies have been able to live in this beautiful country all these years and still fester with hate that was spawned from a war fought when he was a child? How can a young black man live in such turmoil that he needs to drive around the city breaking out windows, making holes in cars, shooting individuals and just plain scaring people? When we get these and similar questions answered, then we may be able to communicate with each other. Once we are able to tell each other that this or that behavior makes me feel bad or hurts my feelings, perhaps we will see the humanness in each other. When nobody is labeled as racist or anti-Semitic or any other negative label for speaking truths, maybe we can begin to love and trust each other.
I hurt personally this weekend for many people from my past -- the three doctors who took care of by children, my OB-GYN, my University of Kansas adviser, many of my children's teachers, my former neighbors on Holmes road, etc. How can such lovely, intelligent, gifted individuals be so hated? How can we, after all the progress we have made in racial matters, still be breeding isolates who lash out in anger and hate?
The world has come a long way in answer to my request from God. We still have a long way to go. But that Memorial Service today, where at least three major religious groups came together, brings hope that we may some day be able to bring universal sadness to joy.
Saturday, March 29, 2014
It Can't Be Told Enough
"For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16
Go tell it to everyone . . . everywhere . . . that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was born on this earth so that he could die to pay for our sins. Not his sins, but ours. After the weight of this burden, I'm sure the weight of the cross itself felt like nothing. But it was really something!
As we come up to the month of our Easter celebrations, we are constantly reminded of Jesus' great gift to us all. Even with all the commercialization of the Easter holiday, we still hold a debt of gratitude to God for the gift of his son. We also owe Jesus for his great gift.
We Christians are blessed beyond ordinary belief! To you, Jesus, and to God, the father, we give our heartfelt thanks.
Shall we pay a little less attention to the Easter bunny and a little more to our salvation as we enter the Easter season?
Go tell it to everyone . . . everywhere . . . that Jesus Christ of Nazareth was born on this earth so that he could die to pay for our sins. Not his sins, but ours. After the weight of this burden, I'm sure the weight of the cross itself felt like nothing. But it was really something!
As we come up to the month of our Easter celebrations, we are constantly reminded of Jesus' great gift to us all. Even with all the commercialization of the Easter holiday, we still hold a debt of gratitude to God for the gift of his son. We also owe Jesus for his great gift.
We Christians are blessed beyond ordinary belief! To you, Jesus, and to God, the father, we give our heartfelt thanks.
Shall we pay a little less attention to the Easter bunny and a little more to our salvation as we enter the Easter season?
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Forgiveness
"But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." Mark 2:10
Jesus was healing a man of palsy. His friends had broken open a roof to let the man down for the healing. Jesus said to the man that his sins were forgiven.
Some of the Scribes were on the scene and questioned why Jesus said this. They thought that only God could forgive sin. They accused him of blasphemy.
Jesus assured them that on earth he, the Son of Man, had the power to forgive. As proof, he told the man to stand, pick up his bed and go home. The man did as instructed.
This also was an example of how forgiveness, though it may not immediately heal our palsy, etc., surely can heal our hearts and souls.
Modern Christians tend to believe that if we confess to an offence or error, and claim it as a sin, we can be forgiven if we ask for it.
Jesus has power on earth to heal and forgive. Why don't we take advantage of this gift from God through Christ more often?
Jesus was healing a man of palsy. His friends had broken open a roof to let the man down for the healing. Jesus said to the man that his sins were forgiven.
Some of the Scribes were on the scene and questioned why Jesus said this. They thought that only God could forgive sin. They accused him of blasphemy.
Jesus assured them that on earth he, the Son of Man, had the power to forgive. As proof, he told the man to stand, pick up his bed and go home. The man did as instructed.
This also was an example of how forgiveness, though it may not immediately heal our palsy, etc., surely can heal our hearts and souls.
Modern Christians tend to believe that if we confess to an offence or error, and claim it as a sin, we can be forgiven if we ask for it.
Jesus has power on earth to heal and forgive. Why don't we take advantage of this gift from God through Christ more often?
Saturday, March 1, 2014
The Spirit Will Speak For You
Matthew 10:19-20 "But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."
I fancy that it is every Christian speaker's wish or prayer that the Father will use him/her as a vessel to share God's will with others. Why else would anyone want to do Christian work, if not to be God's disciple?
Here, Jesus was instructing his disciples in how to behave as they ministered to others. He felt it was important for them to know that if they fell victim to arrest for preaching the gospel, God would speak for them. They didn't have to grope for what to say.
How marvelous it would be if everyone who shares God's word with others would ask for the Father's help in saying what is needed. That way, no needs would be left to chance. God's will would be automatically spoken.
I fancy that it is every Christian speaker's wish or prayer that the Father will use him/her as a vessel to share God's will with others. Why else would anyone want to do Christian work, if not to be God's disciple?
Here, Jesus was instructing his disciples in how to behave as they ministered to others. He felt it was important for them to know that if they fell victim to arrest for preaching the gospel, God would speak for them. They didn't have to grope for what to say.
How marvelous it would be if everyone who shares God's word with others would ask for the Father's help in saying what is needed. That way, no needs would be left to chance. God's will would be automatically spoken.
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Are You Where God Wants You?*
Matthew 10:14 Any city or home that doesn't welcome you -- shake off the dust of that place from your feet as you leave.
I've told you before about buying and rehabbing an old house during the early 1980s. Right toward the end of the needed repairs, I had an hankering to move to the Tampa, Florida, area where I had a brother. I knew at the outset that God didn't want me to go. I remember telling him during one of my prayers that I had received the message, but that the house still needed to be sold. I wanted or felt that I needed to move on to another situation.
I put the house on the market, but for reasons totally unknown to me, I forgot immediately that God had impressed upon me His will that I not go south. So, when the house sold and closed in about three months time, I took it as a sign that God approved of my going to live near my relatives.
I applied for positions, flew down for interviews and bought a house on contingency -- contingent on my receiving a permanent full-time job. Well, the good Lord is said to work in mysterious ways. His reaction to my move was not so mysterious. I got my sons, my furniture, my car and myself moved down there only to find that I could not find permanent full time employment. I worked a series of temporary jobs, including one that lasted six months. I even found an additional permanent part time job. I just never got the one that would insure my ability to buy, instead of rent, that house.
The lovely realtor who had sold me the house and I consulted concerning the situation. She, being an avowed and practicing Christian, asked me a question I'll never forget. What Bible scripture keeps running through your mind during this time? I didn't even have to give it thought. "Shake the dust of that city from your feet" came tumbling from my mouth.
I didn't intentionally ignore God's wishes. I simply forgot. Nevertheless, He closed door after door and even a few windows to get my attention. I have never even felt so far removed from His presence as I did during that time. I was not supposed to move down there. I had promised I would not. I had forgotten my promise. He insisted.
Sometimes we need to evaluate why it is that we find ourselves being square pegs trying to fit in a round hole. It may be that we ignored God's will a long time ago, leading us to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In my case, I rented an eighteen foot U-Haul with a trailer for my car. I packed my sons and my belongings up into it and headed for home, shifting a standard transmission through those scary mountains. I'd hardly started when an angry driver honked over a mistake I made. One of my sons inquired if we were going to crash and burn. I responded with an emphatic and confident no. After all, after nine months in Florida, I was finally doing what the Almighty wanted me to do.
I found a temporary job almost at once. By the next month I had that elusive permanent position. In three months, I had recovered financially enough so that I could rent a house, instead of sleeping on my daughter's floor. God was smiling on me once more.
How about you? Are you where God wants you to be, doing what God called you to do? If things are not going well for you, you might want to shake the dust of that city from your feet.
*Thank you for your patience during the hiatus.
I've told you before about buying and rehabbing an old house during the early 1980s. Right toward the end of the needed repairs, I had an hankering to move to the Tampa, Florida, area where I had a brother. I knew at the outset that God didn't want me to go. I remember telling him during one of my prayers that I had received the message, but that the house still needed to be sold. I wanted or felt that I needed to move on to another situation.
I put the house on the market, but for reasons totally unknown to me, I forgot immediately that God had impressed upon me His will that I not go south. So, when the house sold and closed in about three months time, I took it as a sign that God approved of my going to live near my relatives.
I applied for positions, flew down for interviews and bought a house on contingency -- contingent on my receiving a permanent full-time job. Well, the good Lord is said to work in mysterious ways. His reaction to my move was not so mysterious. I got my sons, my furniture, my car and myself moved down there only to find that I could not find permanent full time employment. I worked a series of temporary jobs, including one that lasted six months. I even found an additional permanent part time job. I just never got the one that would insure my ability to buy, instead of rent, that house.
The lovely realtor who had sold me the house and I consulted concerning the situation. She, being an avowed and practicing Christian, asked me a question I'll never forget. What Bible scripture keeps running through your mind during this time? I didn't even have to give it thought. "Shake the dust of that city from your feet" came tumbling from my mouth.
I didn't intentionally ignore God's wishes. I simply forgot. Nevertheless, He closed door after door and even a few windows to get my attention. I have never even felt so far removed from His presence as I did during that time. I was not supposed to move down there. I had promised I would not. I had forgotten my promise. He insisted.
Sometimes we need to evaluate why it is that we find ourselves being square pegs trying to fit in a round hole. It may be that we ignored God's will a long time ago, leading us to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
In my case, I rented an eighteen foot U-Haul with a trailer for my car. I packed my sons and my belongings up into it and headed for home, shifting a standard transmission through those scary mountains. I'd hardly started when an angry driver honked over a mistake I made. One of my sons inquired if we were going to crash and burn. I responded with an emphatic and confident no. After all, after nine months in Florida, I was finally doing what the Almighty wanted me to do.
I found a temporary job almost at once. By the next month I had that elusive permanent position. In three months, I had recovered financially enough so that I could rent a house, instead of sleeping on my daughter's floor. God was smiling on me once more.
How about you? Are you where God wants you to be, doing what God called you to do? If things are not going well for you, you might want to shake the dust of that city from your feet.
*Thank you for your patience during the hiatus.
Saturday, January 4, 2014
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