Get Out of the Norm

I thought the democratic convention was ostenatious. Obama’s speech left me flat and I felt like I was being manipulated by the Hollywood machine. Oprah said it changed her life? If that changed her life, it doesn’t take much folks! Although many are saying it is historic a black man is running for President, many of us don’t notice or care. Also, he is half white but we don’t hear anything about that. Is he down playing his white heritage? If so, why would he do that? I don’t like his platform and that is why I am not voting for Obama.

Larry King said the worst injustice is prejudice. He was concerned about those who would not vote for Obama because he is black. I agree that is wrong but I also think that is the minority at this point. A good retort back to Larry was, is it just as wrong to vote for him because he is black? We don’t hear any conversation on that point but well said.

This is the party that has run on the idea that capitalism is bad and Big government is good. Their gaudy performance on Thursday night did not resemble their rhetoric. I felt like I was watching a scene out of a big budget movie. I believe less is more especially for my government! Obviously they think it is OK for them to spend millions of dollars but the rest of us should be punished for our hard work and wealth.

This was no Martin Luther King #2 speech. He spent the first 1/3rd of it attacking Senator McCain, and the last half telling us how he doesn’t do that sort of thing. The next day as soon as his camp heard about McCain’s pick for VP the old attack machine was up and running. Which is it Obama change or the same?

True Change would be found on the Republican ticket. We have two mavericks this time round. One moderate and one conservative. One a man with wisdom and the other a woman with conviction! We don’t need a brainwashing mantra because we think for ourselves. We actually educate and look at the issues and decide. We don’t want government to be our daddy or mommy. We want freedom, pursuit of happiness and right to bear arms. We want small government, small taxation and a good economy. We want rid of special intrest groups and those that impede home drilling and future uses of new energy.

I find it odd that we all have been saying we want change and now here comes a woman who did it on her own in the State of Alaska. We see the media and Obama’s camp crucifying her. They should champion her for she is a voice for change. It looks like someone is running scared.

Obama you keep saying change but bigger government, more taxation, and the promise that you will heal our ills is not change. It is more of the same. I am calling a foul Obama and as far as I am concerned you have struck out! Which is it Obama because I can’t keep up!

Lenny

I think taming the mouth can only include taming our thoughts. Our thoughts in turn create our emotions and our emotions are what get us in trouble every time. When we have had the experience of being up on the Mountain we can detach from the world around us. When we become part of the system again, we get pulled back in. Jesus said be of the world and not in it. When I was very ill, I did just that. That was my mountain top. Although it was the hardest time of my life, it was also the best. I was removed from this world and spent 2 years in a world of prayer and communion with God. As I got better, I came back into the real world. Soon I was combating all those emotions, thoughts and angers I thought I had left behind.

We all tend to react more then be in action. This only takes away our power. We also don’t like to be excluded or have our feelings hurt. Our origin is to hurt back. I find the human condition and the way we have set it up to be taxing. The more authentic I become the more liberated I feel. I am now climbing a new mountain. My choice now is to remove myself from the system and say it like it is. We are so unaware of all the games and untruths we have created to get by in this world.

My taming the tongue is about trying not to gossip or speak ill of others. It has nothing to do with not speaking my mind or truth. I think if we would all be more honest with one another, no matter how uncomfortable, life would be so much easier. The human condition has set it up that we are so sensitive to the smallest slight. I am saying no to the rules of this ego driven world. Of course, it will be a daily struggle as I am as sensitive as the next. The more I say yes to me though the better my life becomes.

Blessings, Lenny

My mouth is my adversary as much as my friend. Whether I am telling it like it is or gossiping, my mouth is my formidable opponent. Since I have been focusing on the flesh, my biggest problem is my tongue. My problem is I like to gossip and it is considered a sin. It is a delicious sin and I enjoy a good who did what as much as the next guy! When we look deeper though we know we only talk about others so we can feel better about ourselves. Often times, we have been hurt by the people we are dissing. Frankly, I think the tongue is much stronger then the sword.

This week my challenge is taming the tongue. It is hard to say goodbye to one of my favorite past times but Na Na Na Na, hey hey hey, goodbye. I will attempt this week to only say nice things of others or say nothing at all. The telling like it is directly to the person stays. I always use wisdom in that regard.

To all those gossips out there lets give our tongues a rest. Lenny

I am really relating to Paul’s conflict of Spirit over flesh. Like the rest of us, he wants to come up higher but is still a slave to flesh. He wants to be like Christ but is vexed by his ego. This has been an ongoing theme for me this summer. The divide of Spirit and Flesh. No matter how we like to dismiss our weakness it stares us in the face daily. I seek to come up higher but find myself in petty thoughts and judgements.

Leaving this world behind is such an invitation yet so hard to manifest. Each day, I find myself saying the same prayer. Release me from thoughts of the ego. The more I protest the worse it becomes. Of course, this is because I am trying to move the mountain and we are reminded that only Faith can do that. Letting go is the call of the day, the week, the year. Trying it on our own is a miserable attempt that will only conclude in failure.

I am asking to let go of my petty flesh and wanting to come up higher. I fight the thoughts and perceptions of my sin. I find my ego persistent in its affect. I continue to climb asking God to give me the faith to push this mountain aside. The Holy Spirit is just waiting for me to get out of the way so He can move the mountain. I know this yet I continue to meddle. This week, I will let go. This week, I will let go. This week, I will let go!

Blessings, Lenny