Clear Views Make Prettier Pictures

A picture is worth a thousand words, correct? In most cases that holds true, unless you can't see the picture. To those of us with a warm place to stay, the snow might appear to be beautiful. To those less fortunate, it's not so pretty. Imagine not having a fogged window to look out of. Imagine your eyes being chilled and your vision blurred due to being exposed to the elements.

Now imagine a soul being in the same condition. Exposed to the elements of corruption or heartache.

We are quick to judge unless we've been underneath that bridge, or in that abandoned shack, or car with no heat. Quick to judge unless we were that lonely single mother, or fatherless son. You know the people that battle anxiety on the norm and face a new adversity with every breath, a breath that they are fortunate enough to take. The things we take for granted.

Imagine working for a corporation with a CEO that never worked for, or earned a single penny of his/her money. Imagine that CEO having never partook in any manual labor, or made an attempt to experience what their employees work experience was like.

Someone posed the question, "Wonder what it would be like with a president that had never eaten any 'oodles o' noodles?'

Imagine a president that has never been where you are right now. Wondering if he has enough money to pay for a fuel source. Wondering how those noodles taste after HAVING to feast on them for a week solid.

The imperfect Christian watched "Undercover Boss" a few times and thought of how awesome it would be to have such a privilege to give back to those that work hard, and have eaten the oodles of noodles and not be fortunate enough to have whatever they wanted. To have the privilege to show some of their employees that a clear view might very well be a state of mind at times, and not just with the physical eye.

I see Jesus as an/THE Undercover Boss.

He was introduced by John, and only a certain few there took heed. Then there was the encounter at Emmaus. He walked with the Cleopas and another, talked with them the whole way, even ate with them, and only after He blessed the bread and broke it, did they know who He was. Because unfortunately, the disciples, like today's iGeneration only concentrated on the physical.

The one clear picture is certain. HE said HE would never leave us nor forsake us. HE is faithful and just even when we fail Him and fall short. My confidence in Him is not lacking, although, as Grandma Sweetie said, "You (people in general) I'm not so sure about."

Pray for the sick and shut in on this cold snowy day, pray for the homeless, pray for one another, love one another. The imperfect Christian reporting live from Snowville,

Peace, Blessings, and Joy... That real PB&J

What Did You Mean By That?

Female David and Goliath! This could never happen because women wear there slingshots, and have to accessorize! That doesn't qualify for a "What did you mean by that!" If it does, then it's too heavy to handle right now...

How many times have you ever asked the question, "What did you mean by that!?" Ever felt like that question is followed by the person in front of you trying to tower over you like the very tall woman towering over the petite little lady in the picture?

Well if you want honesty, here's three places you can start...
1. The kiddy corner, because pre-schooler's are brutally honest.
2. The Corner Liquor store, or
3. Skip the corner and just inherit a drunk brother-in-law. Yes, a brother-in-law, because a sister-in-law will tell you what she thinks of you even when she's sober.
4. But wait there is the 4th option... You can be a man or woman of integrity, and no matter how bad it hurts you can just accept the truth, and be honest with yourself!

Paulie Pennino a.k.a. Rocky Balboa's brother in-law. Broke down and said, "I can't do this no mo' Rocko! You's was good ta her (Adrianne), I wasn't! I can't do this no mo'!" Paulie told the aged figther/best friend/brother-in-law that it was best to get the beast out! Let that fire burn one last time, but to get it out!!! Rocky had to move past Adrianne, and his will to get in the ring. Paulie was the God send to help him move on. (If you haven't seen Balboa -the final Rocky movie- you need to!)

Imperfect Christian's sometimes need to get the beast out! (Philippians 2:12) "Therefore, my beloved as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling..."

Shep (a pastor/confidante/great friend/spiritual brother) once said, "We are truly who we are, when we are truly alone."

Another best friend writes, "The best proof of love is trust..." and the imperfect one would have to say also that the best proof of trust is love. That has to work both ways to make a secure bond. Insecurities breed unnecessary fear. Unnecessary fear leads a hurt person, to hurt people. The cliche's are endless. But at the end of the day, "What did you mean by that?" What are you really saying, or trying to say? Rock didn't want to get old, and see the most important things in his life come to an end. His wife had gone on, his career had gone on, and now it was time to accept the twilight. But he had one last fight in him. So what did he mean by still having a fire in the basement? "What did he mean by that?"

Rocky said, "Don't let anyone else tell you that they're better than you!" Are you hearing and believing the voices of others, or are you stead fast on hearing the voices that count? No one can blame anyone else, for a lack of communication. The pastor misread a verse. The study group had a misunderstanding with the group leader. Did you go to be blessed, or did you go to judge, and falsely accuse? You lose members that way, or force them to move on. So what did YOU mean by that. The imperfect Christian means, if you have to say it, or if someone has to ask you to say it, then you are probably too late! Apple got ahead of the curve, by showing you what to need, showing you what to want, showing you what to love. If you have to wait for an explanation, I am afraid what you meant, might be understood, a little too late.

There is nothing that you can do so bad, that it can't be fixed. Not encouraging any serial killers to spring forth, or thieves and the sort, just saying that even the thief on the day of the Cross was forgiven. Joy stealer, material possessor, destroyer of your own family... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, He listens, and He cares. From the fire in the basement, to the fire in the sky, get that beast out, and don't let anyone tell you that you are of no value!

Peace, blessings, and joy... that real PB&J

Danger Keep Away!

Have you ever watched City of Joy with Patrick Swayze? It was a movie about a doctor (Swayze) visiting Calcutta, India. He went on vacation for a spiritual enlightenment, and wound up in the poorest sector of Calcutta, and becoming a hero of sorts. He was an advisor, defender of the people, and a doctor to a lepers colony. It was a very sad, but an aw inspiring movie that everyone should see!

Those that were not leper's condemned those with leprosy. They would not allow those stricken with leprosy to go outside of their own sector more or less. Treated them like they were not human, and were just down right disgusting in some of their actions toward the poor, and disadvantaged people. Until you've been treated like a leper you usually do not think much about it. I have never had any diseases, or disfiguring that made people not want to be near me. However, some people see skin color as a deformity, and some see deformation as a horrible thing.

As a child I was afraid of people with handicaps. I was afraid until I learned that they needed to be loved just like me, and wanted to give their love just as much as they wanted to be loved. I grew out of my fear with knowledge. But with increasing knowledge also comes increasing sorrow. (Ecclesiastes 1:18) I learned that not everyone cared for other people only themselves and what they believe in. Now I am not going to get on my political soap box, because I am not a politician, but an imperfect Christian that is an American Citizen. My ethnicity like all branches back to some ancient Hebrews, my detour takes place on every continent, until it stops right here in the good ol' US of A. Nothing presents my feeling like the lepers feel more than when I have someone tell me above all other things that they are not prejudice. Not a "Hey man that's a nice jacket," or "Hey that's an awesome haircut," just "Now I don't have a prejudice bone in my body! You know that, how you been doin'?" I have bit my tongue nearly in two attempting to prevent asking how many times they have said that to a person that was not connected to African descendants.

Every time someone speaks about our President not being a US Citizen like they were the doctor that delivered him, it gives me that same feeling. When they say that he's not a Christian, like they are God Almighty themselves it gives me that feeling. I didn't get worked up over John McCain saying, "That one." But I got that same nasty feeling, when others tried to make a huge race war out of his comment. We could talk abortion, genocide, right vs. wrong all day long, and it still does not remedy the problem that we have. Bridging the communications gap peacefully and rationally would be nice, rather than barking out you're not like me, you're going to hell! I do not hate Muslims, Buddhists, or Jehovah's Witnesses, in fact I am going to invite a non-Christian to have lunch with me in the very near future. Wow, wonder how it will pan out when we eat lunch together and realize that we both need nourishment, that we are both human, and we can sit together peacefully, and not worry about our differences, but find the common ground that allows us to be civil!? I'm praying that our nation comes to that conclusion also. When we can celebrate the day that we allow our President to speak to our children and not have the school officials treat him like the strong arms of India treat the lepers!

I have seen the schools allow DSS officials to interrogate grade school children with no questions asked. Take a frightened child into a room alone with one (DSS Worker) adult, no aide (legal or otherwise), neither parent present, no family member present, not even a guardian ad litem, and not make one phone call. They will however, send a personal message home for the parents to sign, or call every home concerning our President speaking with our children. I have not yet to this day that I am aware of witnessed that before. It is also a first that a President has taken time out of an overloaded agenda to address every child in the country with a positive non partisan, no political gain involved, "National" message to my knowledge as well. So what did the schools message say to me? It said in my interpretation: "Parents we don't want to be held responsible for what your child hears from the President, we prefer to make it appear that we are giving you a choice to speak up before the event takes place in hopes that you will keep us from law suits by sending petitions of disapproval against our President. However, with no warning and not caring about a law suit we will allow an individual to request that a DSS worker intervene, and tell you how to discipline, feed, and raise your child. Tell you what they can, and will not learn because we are not above the law, we are the law! We have thrown out all moral and rational dealings because what we say stands, this is not the NBA, NFL or any other league, group or democracy there will be no review, you will just have to get over it. Thank you." What they do not tell you is that they will do this until enough people stand together and override their ignorance. So why are you still sitting here reading this? Go make plans to be at the next Town Hall meeting, and boycott whomever, has no sense. As Mix-A-Lot used to say, "If you help get the fool hired, help get him fired." If you sat and did nothing, now it is time to take a PEACEFUL stand! Be heard, and be seen, don't be in the herd and make a scene!

"It's not because he's Black, African American, what term should I use here? It's because he supports Pro-Choice!"

Again the imperfect Christian does not support abortion, especially partial birth abortion. I also do not support the belief that legalized abortion is the only or leading cause of death, I believe ignorance is.

A Million Ways, But A Trick Ain't One...

OK the imperfect one had a very adventurous weekend. He got to dance with the devil in the pale moon lite, and spend most of the night out. He was in a borrowed vehicle so he did not drive much just hung out on the Parkway. It was a very lonely night, it was one of the most difficult he has had to deal with. The moon was at three quarters, and the imperfect one was not in the best of spirit. Friday night was one of the worst nights he's had in a long time. He went home Saturday morning, and spent all day wallowing in self pity. Definitely not worth it. After two days of stupidity, and a day of horrible sickness, he determined that it was time to put the fatuity in full repose! Yes imperfect brothers and sisters, it is time to get the poison out of the blood stream.

Well Forrest Gump was a classic movie, and had some great, and unforgettable line in it as well.
Who doesn't know what you're saying when you say, "Run Forrest RUN!"? Who hasn't said to a fool heading in the wrong direction, "Run Forrest RUN!"?

Well good friends the imperfect one has one for you... Life is like a canned jar of Habaneros, you never know which one will burn you most!

You can do a million different things schrimotions, you can grille them, boil 'em, fry 'em, sulk in 'em... all those little emotions!

Well Forrest we knew it was real when you said, "I do love you Jenna," pronounce slowly and with a long "A." We knew it, but it was just to bad that Jenny didn't know it until was a little too late. Forrest spent his whole life waiting and Jenny was a wildflower that just didn't grow in the right gound. In fact she allowed her blossom to be exposed in full but let her blossom get wind blown and destroyed, poor Jenny? Poor Forrest? How many times have we known that there was a love their, a true love and we just ignore it? How many times can we reject the love of God and have Him take us back? Well I know that God is a God of second chances, a reconciling God, and a God that will never leave us nor forsake us no matter how much doltishness we manifest over the years.

Well Bubba, and Forrest here's to you... a team, one that only needed a verbal agreement, not lawyers. Forrest, Jenny here's to you for not needing a law enforcement officer for a second degree trespass, just a sweet goodbye when you realize in the death of it that you wish that you'd said stay. But even as hard as it was for Forrest to be turned away by Jenny he was there. No matter how many times you are turned away imperfect brothers and sisters, no matter how many times you turn from God, He is always there. I just pray that we do not wait until our death beds to see His love. He did love you Jenny, and the imperfect one does love You Jesus.

911 To Be A Better Dad

Imagine you are a man desiring to be the best father that you can be. You're picking up your cell, dialing a number that you wished you'd never seen. You know on the other end of the line is a woman that hates you to the core. A woman that would stop at nothing to make you miserable! The phone is ringing and you hand it to your 13 year old son. That woman on the other end is his mother. She answers the phone, and begins to talk with her son. Her son that is with his father for the summer that has 3 states separating their states. Five states involved in the travel. Fives states away that she chose, leaving without warning, and not giving the slightest hint to her son's father, and to this day still continues to try and put division between father and son.

The little fella is 13 as I had mentioned before, and as an imperfect Christian I look back to my days at thirteen to try and understand what he's thinking and going through. I grew out of being a mama's boy round about this age. I didn't want my mother knowing what I was into everyday. The little guy is not quite there yet. I was into sports and hanging out with my friends at his age, he is into computer games and confined to an apartment all day. I hit the streets and learned them well. I was getting more interested in the opposite sex and he is now, yikes! I would have my first relationship way too early not long after this stage, and I do not want that for him. I learned about a lot of things at 13 and 15 that were tremendous eye openers! Of course my situation was much different. I was in a single parent home, and in Los Angeles. He is split between being in the rural set, and the burbs.


Meanwhile back at the imperfect Christian Ranch...the little fella saw the police at his dads house, and he has understood the consequences involved when a little boy cries wolf! (see previous blog) Well this young fella knows that he has an imperfect father and a perfect Heavenly Father. His earthly imperfect Christian dad is trying to emphasize the importance of being real, and eliminating the drama. The imperfect Christian broke it down in an imperfect Christian way, but gave him the perfect Word, Gods' Word!


His mother and imperfect Christian dad have the privilege to call three times a week. The imperfect one gets his 3 each week when he is with his mother and vice versa. His mother called on Monday July 6, 2009, and the imperfect one had him call back within the 24 hour time period on Tuesday July 7th round 7:38pm. This takes us back to the phone ringing... Hello says his mother, he replies with a hardy "Hi Mom." Sunny D is in the new rental van out in the drive readying to take the kids (which is Mac Daddied) to Sister Ne`'s house to show the van to Ne`'s family. Sunny calls into the house, "Hey is he coming or what?!" I said yeah just give him a few he's talking with his mother. When I get back into the living room the volume is very loud on the phone. Therefore, the imperfect Christian dad asked if the perfect imperfect Christian son had put it on speaker phone, and imperfect Christian son said no. Just a few seconds after asking him that question, his mother said, did you take your medicine today? Ace our son replies, not yet. She said why not, did your dad remind you to take it? Dad only knows of an inhaler, and nothing else, but will after this call. She asked how his breathing was, and then made a statement that had me shaking my head. "If your father is not taking care of his responsibilities and getting you your medicine then you need to call 911!" I just shook my head and sat down. I got on my laptop, and checked my email preparing for my conference call to better my ministry. Class would for me would follow 5 minutes after Ace's phone call. She let him talk to his sister, and her husband, and then she returned to the phone. He grew a little defensive when she asked him again how he felt. He said I am fine, and was a little stern. She was a little uneasy with that, you could tell she grew angry by the sound of her voice. Before she got off of the phone she said, I love you son, and then stressed again to "call 911" if your father doesn't fullfil his obligations and get you to the emergency room. She asked him if he still had his phone and he lied and said yes ma'am. I can only wonder what will be said, or come about when he tells her that I took his phone upon the night of his texting them and not telling me that he was sick when he seemed to be in fine shape! He had played all day, and was ready to play with Boogman until the Boog said he was showering and getting ready to watch a movie. At that point he began to text how miserable he was and that he day was horrible! Didn't tell me or any of the rest of my family at all, at any point in the day!

So good parents no one thing, he saw the police, he has been told about the importance of urgent care, and when to use 911 (for emergencies!) and he knows that he is loved. He also sees that he does not live with an imperfect Christian that is trying to kill him, and if he would not call 911 without his mothers permission when with her, why would he have to be responsible for doing it when staying with his imperfect Christian dad. If the house is burning down, if he feels like he is going to die (truly die) and not just feel bad, then he needs to call 911.

Love your children, teach them in the way of the Lord, and be there for them. Communicate!

Peace, Blessings, and Joy... that real PB&J!!!