Wearing your Mask Backwards.

They say that everyone wears a mask or puts up barriers, protection from embarrassment. We never laugh the same in front of strangers as we do in front of friends. We try not to cry in front of anyone except our closest friends or family. We usually play it safe and reserved  until we know what others will say about our actions or our feelings.

For years I have lived my life thinking I was different then I am. People generally like me, they trust me they confide in me. In school I was often one of the favorites, one year in high school we actually had a cake for my birthday during class. I can't remember this happening on anybody else's birthday. I usually have a better relationship with my bosses then the other employees. The list goes on, parents of friends, friends  and neighbors. I'm not bragging. just stating the facts. But despite all this evidence I have seen myself differently. I thought people were wrong about me. I don't know, I just didn't like me as much as other people seemed to. I've seen myself as lazy and I've been afraid that people would find out how wrong they were about me.

Now we come to recent events. The other day my wife was telling a humorous story about me to a friend of mine. The story so caught my friend by surprise that for just a moment he let down his guard and I could see the real him, I liked what I saw. Now for just the briefest instance I could see what he saw in me, I was flattered, he saw through to the truth. And then it hit me for nearly fifty years I've been wearing my mask backwards. How could I be right about me and everyone else be wrong? I haven't been hiding myself from others I've been hiding myself from me. Well if you think I was nice before look out because now I know I'm nice. I'm going to try and use the fact that people trust me to be more helpful and generally to try and be a better friend and just a better person.

Simplified

Years ago I posted this blog...

Creation

This seems so simple, if you believe in creation you must find away to make it fit.

My thoughts are this, when God created Adam was Adam a newborn  No. I don't know his exact age, but for sake of argument let us say he was 21. Adam was one second old but he was 21 as compared to you & I. His body had a past built into it. His skin wasn't newborn, his hair, we can presume, could be cut, as if it had not just appeared brand new.

Now take that thought & transfer it to all of creation. The universe was created with a past, not a past that actually happened but a past created by God.

The Earth was created with a past. Scientists can say the Earth is such & such old, but only because God created it in that first week with a built in past.

I have simplified it. 

If at the moment of his creation, a scientist were to examine Adam he would declare him a man of (for sake of argument) 21. Same with the universe. Billions of years? Big bang theory? Just a calculation with God removed as a factor. Scientists can't help but come up with the wrong answer because God does not allow himself to be a factor in logic.

New Theories

Today it was theorized by me after practically no research, that Ohio was first colonized by Vikings in 1025 a.d.. I believe they settled in the Sandusky area and if we could excavate enough of the area we would surely find evidence of their settlement.
 It was also theorized by me that deep in the bottom of lake Erie a passage leads to the lake on the other side in the hollow earth.

These theories came to me after spending time watching just as well thought out theories on You Tube.

My Dad

Stuff I remember about my Dad: Stuff he said. He used to say, when heading to the shower, "I've got to sh*t , shower , shave & shampoo". He used to say while smacking you in a upward motion on the back of your head, "sizzling rockets". He would say while clenching his fist, "Pow, right in the snot locker".  More to come...

Behind the Twelve Days

I've been reading a book called Stories Behind The Great Traditions Of Christmas By Ace Collins. This book is full of explanations of how and why we celebrate the season the way we do. I find this kind of thing interesting. Any way I thought you mite be interested in the story of the Twelve days of Christmas. I was quite surprised.

 

In sixteenth century England all religions except the one of the King were outlawed. To practice another faith could mean prison or death, so the Catholic clerics of the time created poems that were written in code. Now the code translated.

 

First the Twelve Days of Christmas started on Christmas day and ran to the January 5th, Epiphany.

 

The words "My true love: is code for God. So these are gifts from God.

 

A Partridge in a pear tree Stands for Jesus, remember the first day is Christmas. And a partridge is used because a partridge will die to defend its young.

 

2 turtle doves... the Old and New Testament.

 

3 french hens... Faith, Hope and Love.

 

4 calling birds... the four Gospels- Mathew, Mark, Luke and John

 

5 golden rings... the first five books of the Old Testament-The Pentateuch

 

6 geese a laying... the six days of creation

 

7 swans a swimming.. the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit- prophecy,ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading and compassion.

 

8 maids a milking...  8 people who are blessed- the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemakers and those persecuted for righteousness sake.

 

9 ladies dancing... the 9 fruits of the spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentelness and self-control.

 

10 lords a leaping... lords were also the judges, judges keep the law, Ten Comandments.

 

11 pipers piping... the eleven disciples

 

12 drummers drumming... the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles' Creed.

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

3. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.

4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

5. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again.

6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

7. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,

9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,

10. the forgiveness of sins,

11. the resurrection of the body,

12. and the life everlasting.

So there you have it. The meaning to the song The Twelve Days of Christmas.

 

Remember this is from,Stories Behind The Great Traditions Of Christmas By Ace Collins.

 

A Good Hare Day

Easter Morning: as I look out my back window, glancing over the yard and into my neighbors back yard, where the neighbors children are collecting eggs. That no doubt were put there by Grandma or perhaps Mom. I am able to tell that something has gone amiss with there  Easter festivities. Curios, I wander  outside to eaves drop on there conversation.

 It seems that all the eggs can't be found. They have gone over the yard several times and they are still missing an even dozen eggs. Now one or two eggs, even three or four, this I could call understandable. But an even dozen,
hard to believe. How hard does this neighbor hide these eggs?

Now from my vantage point I see a curios thing, perhaps not curios in itself. but given the day and what happened next, well  I leave it to you. I am just stating the facts. Now as I was saying from my vantage point I see a rabbit. Just your run of the mill average rabbit. Run into my neighbors bushes, at quite a rapid speed. Not twenty seconds later I hear one of the children exclaim that they found one of the missing eggs. And the eggs continue to be found in the yard in rapid succession. all except one.

At about this time I see the rabbit leave the bushes just as quickly as he came. Again I say nothing unusual about a rabbit running out of some bushes.

I found that last egg where the rabbit left the bushes.

To quote Alice from her adventures in wonderland "Curiouser and Curiouser".

Disclaimer:

This next writing is a work of fiction. I am not claiming that this is what happened, or am I even saying this could of happened. I have done little to no research on this story. The Biblical account given in the story is taken from The Gospel of Luke, King James Version.