7-8-3034

The Battle is to Control the Mind

Our minds are susceptible to influences and suggestions seemingly from out of nowhere and to my knowledge the power of the mind has never been fully comprehended or explored. In fact creation began in the mind of God and “in the beginning” we are told it was spoken into existence by God, which is too hard for the human mind to even begin to understand.

In essence “we think – we do” is how we operate every day. When we get up we don’t say we’re going to be famous, rob a bank or make a million dollars. Instead of going out to buy a new car, television or a house, we go out looking for it. That may be why we have such a hard time finding the right one.

When women go shopping for clothes they go through almost every item on every rack in their size. Not only does size matter, but so does color. The item must be color coordinate-able.

Send a guy to the store for some milk, eggs and tomatoes – that’s probably what he’s going to bring back – some of everything, plus a few things you “forgot” like ice cream, a chocolate bar and a cold drink (once it’s in the refrigerator).

Send a guy to an auto junkyard with a pair of pliers, an adjustable wrench and a couple of screw drivers all in a tool box and he’ll bring back every imaginable part he can find after looking at every car, truck or van on the lot.

The mind is a very fragile part of the body. A broken heart begins in the mind and perception is often greater than reality. We think somebody wronged us, we react accordingly. That is how road rage incidents can turn into catastrophic events in a fraction of a second.

Humans were created by God for God, and yet we think it’s all about us. Maybe that’s why we don’t feel emphatic unless you have felt the pain ourselves and can relate.

Sin begins as a mind thing, God said don’t do thus and such, and when we do it anyway it leads to a spiritual death and unrepentant sin leads to eternal separation from God.

John 3:16 – For God So Loved Christian Standard Bible (CSV)

“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.

In the overall scheme of things we should consider ourselves no more important than anyone else, no matter what “stage” of life we or they are in. God loves each of us as he created us for himself.

Forgiveness of sin is not something we can earn or buy with our good works, it is a gift from God which we can ignore or accept, our choice – your choice.

The way the world thinks, acts and operates through the mind says “I’m okay, you’re okay – we’re okay”.

God is waiting for you to believe, his words are true and while his gift of salvation is free it will cost you everything this world has to offer. – RTM

7-7-2023 (Updated 7-8-23)

Without A “Part M” Leg To Stand On

During a recent hail storm in Colorado Springs my 15’ triple canopy umbrella was shredded by the baseball size hail. Prior to the storm I folded up the umbrella and secured it so that it wouldn’t get damaged. After the storm which lasted 20 minutes or so I looked out the window and saw my poor little umbrella hanging in shreds.

Buying a replacement canopy is made easy by amazon, however there is one thing you must know for certain – the size. Since I bought it a few years ago I had forgotten was it a 14’ or a 15’ triple canopy umbrella?

Not wanting to make a fatal mistake of ordering the wrong size I headed down to the local store where I purchased my umbrella. Not seeing any on the floor or on shelves I walked around until I found someone I figured must know what’s going on.

I told him my situation and without hesitation he said it was a 15’ triple canopy, the only one that they sold. Furthermore the store had one that was missing “Part M”. If I wanted it he would see how much of a discount he could mark it down to. After calculating the original purchase price and the marked down price, he was able to get it down to slightly more than a 50% reduction. I paid for it, not really knowing what “Part M” looked like, but knowing (hoping) I had gotten a good deal – I think.

He told me to unscrew the bottom leg section from my old umbrella and screw it into the new on and then throw the old one away. Not totally taking his word I carefully unpacked the new umbrella and found out what “Part M” was (the bottom section of the leg). I followed his instructions and just like he promised I had a new umbrella. The old one goes out in the trash tomorrow.

The moral of this story is be careful what you wish for because you could be missing part “M” and not have a leg to stand on. – RTM

7-6-2023: So cocaine was found in the White House by federal agents and well known drug user HB is suspected but not arrested, versus MAGA supporters who admitted being at the Capital Building on January 6th are suspected and arrested and held indefinitely still without proof of wrong doing or evidence and it doesn’t make you say HUH???? – an RTM (short)

7-5-2023

Premeditated Coincidences

I don’t know about you but I often wonder how in the world we can have a toilet paper shortage, followed by food shortages, baby food shortages and eggs must be from free-range chickens. Are these shortages the by-product of global warming or is someone really high up in the food chain simply misinformed?

During the height of the virus while watching Alaskans living off the grid were boating in the open waters while wearing masks because apparently (I don’t know because I wasn’t there) there are villages above the Arctic Circle that wouldn’t let anyone in unless they were properly masked.

Can you say HUH?

I mean a virus that has been around for years before being mutated by humans is able to spread across vast stretches of ocean waters or icecaps and raise hoopla in the arctic regions of Alaska.

It makes me wonder if Native Alaskans were bothered by toilet paper shortages too. How is that possible? What do THEY do and they have to do do rush behind an igloo?

I could go on about the villages in the inter regions of Africa or the vast Sahara sand dunes too…..

In tropical regions there are leaves, trees and bushes, but in the desert there is…….SAND and above the Arctic Circle there is SNOW.

All I can say is there sure are a lot of premeditated coincidences or something fishy going on. – RTM

7-4-2023

Celebrating Our Nation July 4^th 2023

Where is our national pride? Has it suddenly gone missing or has this occurred over time? I’m reminded of the remarks made by Michelle Obama while First Lady that “America was never great” and “For the first time I’m proud to be an American”.

Then when President Trump began touting America First and Make America Great Again we were told those statements were un-American and patriotism was anti-American. When Trump made his remarks after observing of a military parade overseas, the fervor went even higher because “Trump wanted to parade tanks through the streets of Washington DC”.

It icing on the cake was when Trump announced a national celebration at Mount Rushmore for July 4^th 2020 bringing patriotism front and center for all to see and enjoy. The critics were all over it, and not in a good way.

Completely opposite was President Biden’s cancellation of the national celebration, but not changing North Dakota’s schedule of events that are taking place as planned.

Since when has being an American become un-American?

This is our country, love it or leave it still rings true.

The push to change America has included a push to replace July 4^th with June 19^th as our national day of celebration, not of the creation of the United States, but the so-called equality of black Americans and making “Lift Every Voice” our new national anthem, clearly placing the focus on racial division.  Publicly declaring that it is racist to be white.

Let me be clear, God created everyone equal. It is men who use racial, ethnic or region to control and limit other men and women.

It is in America where self-government of the people, by the people and for the people – called the Great Experiment draws migrants from around the globe. Do they come here to bring or continue in their state of fear and confusion?

I think not!

It is what America stands for – Freedom.

Freedom draws the masses to our shores. People want to work hard, raise their families with freedom to settle down, worship God and live out their lives in peace. They begin as migrants but have the ultimate goal of becoming AMERICANS.

To them we say WELCOME! – RTM

7-3-2023

The Hummingbird

Admittedly the hummingbird is a prime example of God’s creation at its finest. There are about 320 species of the Trochilidae family, with only 12 species found in the United States and Canada. They are small weighing slightly more than 1.2 ounce and beat their wings at an average rate 10 – 80 beats per second (depending on size). All hummingbirds are small, and many are minute (my-knute).

https://www.britannica.com/place/Philadelphia-Zoological-Gardens

In my neighborhood I have seen very few hummingbirds, yet it is common to see hummingbird-moths in the wee evening hours 7 – 8 pm doing what hummingbirds do.

Let me address briefly my thoughts on hummingbirds. I see them as somewhat hyperactive as they continuously hover around flowers, sticking their long skinny beaks inside to retrieve nectar. That’s a lot of activity without seeming to go anywhere, yet just as quickly they zip off to flowers elsewhere.

I don’t know the lifespan of hummingbirds but I get dizzy just thinking of how many times they beat those wings over their lifetime.

As I watch various people moving around non-stop from before daybreak until well after dusk I wonder if they had been hummingbirds in another life (just kidding)?

Which brings me to the real heart of this story, when we as Christians become too busy doing “stuff” for God we quite often miss the mark on what it means to tell others that God loves them, just the way they are.

Just think of it, God created EVERYTHING for a reason, and that is to draw creation to Him. Although we don’t understand why we have spiders, snakes, insects and bugs of every type, size and shape, they all serve an important part of God’s plan for creation.

In the bible we read of religious leaders striving to insure that everyone obey the letter of the law, first of God, of Moses and of Abraham. Assuming one could do that every day of their life (they can’t) there is really one thing that could prevent you from entering the pearly gates, and that is not believing that Jesus is who he said he is or that he came to do God’s will to save mankind from sin.

Something to think about. – RTM

7-3-2023

Nosey Neighbors (Updated 7-8-23)

You know exactly what I’m referring to, those who is so far up in your business that they have to be surgically removed before you can receive any medical procedure. Yeah, you know…

I’m not talking about the “Howdy Neighbor” and a wave guy next door, or the “Hi Joe” from the lady across the street either. Those are greetings from friendly neighbors who when they see you either wave or sound off with a greeting, hoping for but not necessarily needing a response in return.

In certain cases friendships can “cross the line” until it becomes down and outright meddling. I mean who needs to know who came over; what did you talk about; and what did you eat. It’s almost like someone is standing behind a curtain watching your every move and the telegraphing it to others who have no business being in your business.

When you meet that neighbor for the first time, do you expect to be required to declare where you live, where you work or if in the military what your pay grade or occupation is? They want to know what kind of car you drive, how much money you make and how much you have in the bank. 

They become annoying really fast.

Now buy a new house, a new car or a new television and the inquisition begins all over again. Let alone make a new friend or acquaintance and see who that goes over.

Then when friends come in from out of town, it’s like “party time” over at your house as the planning begins – without your knowledge or consent. In this age of working from home, it doesn’t really matter that you have clients, business meetings or other things going on.

It’s like having a bridge party over at your house – and you don’t even play bridge.

It doesn’t end there. What if they win the lottery, they plan it all out where they’re going to build an entire little community so all YOUR kids, grandkids and so can live in a neat little row, right next to this nosy neighbor.

Ain’t that a hoot?

That’s why I removed my “Welcome” mat from in front of the door and stopped telling people to make themselves at home.

I’d rather they “take themselves back home” and leave me alone.

Maybe my brothers had the right idea – live so far up in the mountains that nobody comes to visit. If they do venture over, there is no B & B or KOA campground nearby, so they have to go all the way back home.

I often ask myself, what would they think if I did that to them? What if I invited myself over to their family gatherings, so I could get into their business? I could maybe chase their friends and family away so that they would never want to come back to their house.

What do you do or say when they become so ingrained in your life? Do you just suck it up, take a deep breath and just ignore their rudeness? Or do you blow your stack, tell them off and watch them leave?

“Do unto me what you want me to do unto you” comes to mind or “don’t ask if I don’t tell you”.

Is that the Christian thing to do? I mean Jesus said to go unto the ends of the earth and tell everyone about him.

Like Jonah, did he really mean Niniva? 

Did Jesus really mean my nosy neighbors, really?

For God so loved the world……. And Jesus did say love thy neighbor as you love yourself.

Does this mean I don’t love myself or my neighbor?

I’m old and a red-head and I’m asking you…….hummm? – RTM

7-1-2023

Call Me Old School

I may not be Albert Einstein (pictured here),

But let me start the new month with a few thoughts about my take on life as we knew it prior to 2019. You may recognize what I’ve written in the past now that we’ve had time to let things cool down.

The whole virus idea has not been a new one. We’ve had coronaviruses for years and have been injecting and treating animals for it. I wonder how we have been affected by meat that has been injected for a myriad of these types of viruses. One thing you haven’t seen are those same animals wearing those ridiculous disposable facial coverings we call masks. Nor have we seen farmers and ranchers donning temporary shoe coverings or plastic gloves, and why not?

When the push came for everyone to wear a mask or facial covering at home, even if you lived alone or to self-isolate away from any outside contact, and like many others I decided to play it safe for 14 days.

However when my military training told me that these “precautions” were nonsense and totally without merit I began noticing the pitch and frequency began increasing in an attempt to drown out logic altogether. In the military before entering an area with the suspected presence of biological agents training says to “suit up” with chemical masks, suits, boots and gloves and to remain so until given the all clear signal. After getting the all clear, everyone is to self-decontaminate by washing (soap and water) all exposed clothing and body parts before taking a shower and changing into clean clothing.

Did any of that happen?

I can see if entering a hospital isolation ward, doing precisely the same process – suit up and wear a mask. It protects the patient from some outside source of infection.

If you are sick (flu, coughing or feverish) I can see wearing a suitable protective mask that tells everyone you are sick and warns them to stay away from close physical contact.

What about anti-viral treatment and preventive measures or instructions (prescriptions) given by a medical doctor? Are they not the experts in their chose field? Did they not study medicine for a lengthy period of time before obtaining their medical degree? Can we trust them with our lives (I only have one)?

What we saw was a total blitz of sanity. In the US doctors were fired, licenses invalidated and they were blocked or banned from social media or by main stream media from speaking out or issuing sound medical diagnosis and/or treatment. In some countries these “rebellious” doctors simply disappeared or died of a mysterious virus, illness or disease or possibly by lead poisoning.

The hysteria over the source of the virus became more of an issue than the issue of the virus. The initial outbreak came from Wuhan, China yet saying so was seen by some as prejudicial against the Chinese. Yet investigative research showed that scientific laboratories in the USA with invited guests from various countries, including a team from Wuhan conducted experiments with lab specimens from Wuhan, in a controlled environment in the USA just a few short years before the outbreak. Here we are a few years after the virus outbreak and we’re still wearing masks visiting hospitals, traveling on public transportation and even staying at home alone – in the dark, like mushrooms.

It is now a given that inexpensive KN-95 masks are the mask of choice to use and they are made in – you guessed it – China. Remember when communist dictators made those about to be executed pay for their own bullet? – RTM

6-30-2023

Thoughts from a Rambling Mind

Does anyone else have days when it seems that the mind is chugging away at 100 MPH with no letup in sight?

Years ago after my heart attack, my doctor told me that walking 30 – 40 minutes is enough time to get the heartrate up to a safe level. We measured a route that is exactly 2 miles and takes 38 – 42 minutes to walk. I feel good, am awake and ready for almost anything coming I encounter, except stupid – I don’t do stupid well. Life is hard enough, but really hard if you’re stupid. (John Wayne?)

My wife and I like to start our day with a brisk 2 mile walk through our unincorporated neighborhood of Cimarron Hills in the suburbs of Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Each walk is usually far from boring or routine.

This morning I said to myself “I’m rich” as I picked up a shiny penny. Sometimes it’s a dime or a quarter or on 2 different mornings there were 4 or 5 dollar bills blowing across the road in front of us each morning.

Further along this morning a neighbor had put a small BBQ gas grill out on the curb. I considered dragging it home and figuring out whether to switch out my newly acquired from a family member charcoal grill.

Early yesterday morning we came across a young deer watching us as it contemplated crossing the road. We continued on past and when I looked back it was gone. Deer are quite frequently spotted in groups of 3 – 5 heading to some unknown destination.

We have come across skunks, raccoons, foxes, dogs, cats and an occasional owl or hawk perched on an upper tree branch. One morning we watched as a family of 5 raccoons ran across the road and into a storm drain – single file.

Probably the most intriguing was coming across an actual crime scene where two county sheriff’s squad cars were aimed toward a parked van just over a ½ mile from our house. Inside was the body of a woman, sitting in the passenger seat. No idea what happened or what has become of that?

A few years ago (near the same area) when we were doing morning walks there was another crime scene where a young man was gunned down the night before in front of his house, during his birthday party earlier that night. It was after this incident we decided to do our walks in the early morning hours.

Another incident occurred literally in view from our house. The sheriff’s office had sealed the street at our corner while they investigated one of our neighbors shooting another neighbor during the night. I don’t think it was life threatening but that morning we decided to just stay home.

What could have been a potential incident occurred when a young girl walked out of a dark corner of a neighborhood church building, holding her stomach and complaining of pain. I pointed to the fire station which was literally 20 steps away and told her to ring the bell and they would help her. It wasn’t until later that morning we heard on the news that some young people had stolen a car, went speeding down a street they were not familiar with and crashed into a brick wall, approximately 1 mile from where the girls approached us.

There is a saying that most accidents occur within 1 or 2 miles near the home. That being the case I guess I’ll put my house up for sale and move……… lol – RTM

6-27-2023

The Father of Lies

Jesus said in Revelations 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

Satan is the great imitator, a liar and the father of lies. His sales pitch boils down to “try it you’ll like it”. His catch phrase “sin is fun” makes it look so attractive and nice in order to entice and draw man away from God.

Satan is no equal to God. He never has been. He never will be.

The Bible tells us that Satan goes about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. In reality he is a tiny, puny and pitiful fallen angel committed to roam about on the earth until his appointed time into the fiery pit. Bottom line like Jesus Satan must be let into your life. You have to invite him in so he makes sin look so appealing.

Satan is that unwanted guest who never wants to leave. So remove that welcome mat and when he tempts you – just say no!

The bible tells us that “greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.”

Satan has no stronghold unless it is willingly given.

I’ve seen believers who have been so browbeaten down until they doubt themselves and God’s ability to keep his word. Don’t fall for it.

If we’ve faith the size of a mustard seed (really tiny) we can move mountains. We must believe and not doubt. We are told it’s not by might, not by power but by MY Spirit says the Lord of Hosts.

When the road ahead looks bleak and dim, we know that God will make a way. Question God, sure, but never, ever doubt that God will do what he said he would.

There are only 2 constants in life: Change is constant; and the Faithfulness of God.

Oh and nobody gets out of here alive and there are no U-Hauls in the gravesite.

Seriously, if you are not a believer that Jesus is the Son of God, his blood on the cross paid for the sin of the world, and he was raised on the third day, just as he said – you have NO HOPE. If you think it’s bad now, you haven’t seen anything yet. (Find a bible and begin reading the words of Jesus in the book of John). The very worst you can experience is to spend eternity without God. Only God is good. Without God there is nothing good. There is nothing you can do to change God’s love for you.

God loves you just the way you are. He created you for himself. You are special. You are unique and wonderfully made. There is only one you, so strive to be the best you that you can be.

Nobody else can be you.

Salvation is free, but the cost is EVERYTHING, to lay down your own life with all its burdens and follow Jesus – 100% commitment. – RTM