The Wussification of America

Since the early days of the New World, which later became America, people worked hard. You work in order to eat. You had to hunt for meat. You had to plant, then later harvest, all your fruits & vegetables. There was no Wal-Mart to go grocery shopping. Both men & women were not afraid of getting blisters on their hands. And knowing how to use a gun was second nature.

There was no thing as welfare, disability & unemployment insurance. If you were able bodied, you work. Whatever job you could find. If there was no jobs where you were, or any way to support yourself, you moved somewhere else. It was that easy. You felt pride in putting in a full day's work. There was honor back then. When someone gave you their word, it was as good as gold. There was trust in fellow man.

Case in point. At the time of the Great Depression, people would leave their doors unlocked so others could come in for some shelter and maybe something to eat. Nowadays, you lock your doors and shoot before you share your food.

Getting away from my subject. Used to be, people knew you by your character. This is greatly lacking. America has become a country of 'Me'. Out for yourself. Why should you work hard for anything, when the government can hand it to you? Manners in the same way have gone away. The rudeness & classlessness of late is most likely making Emily Post roll in her grave.

You want to know what I blame some of this on? The removal of God in our society. Think about it. From Him we got our morals. He taught us how to treat one another. America's so-called 'leaders' have made us so relient on them, we don't rely on God. We have lost any sense of pride. Sense of honor. Sense of real worth.

It is hard to find real men in cities. If we ever had to go back to living like they did in the 1910's, so many Americans would die from starvation, let alone have clothes! We rely too much on government and on companies that don't employ Americans. We have become babies. We cry at the slightest hint of pain. Don't know how to go more than 4 hours without food.

The sad part is we allowed it to happen. The good news is we can change this fact. We longer have to be wusses. We can become independent once again. It won't be easy, but nothing that's worth it is.

Hope this makes sense. I'm still working on having linear thinking. God bless.

Death of Common Sense

An Obituary printed in the London Times -"Interesting and true." Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: - Knowing when to come in out of the rain; - Why the early bird gets the worm; - Life isn't always fair; - and maybe it was my fault.

 

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

 

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

 

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights I Want It Now Someone Else Is To Blame I'm A Victim Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

My church experience

So I've been thinking of why I go to church. I've been thinking about how the corporate church treats someone like myself. So with that, I'll have to start at the beginning.

The first church I went to, and later became a member of, I never truly belonged. After first grade I started going to public school because its expensive to send 3 kids to Christian school. That didn't help me fit in at all. 99% of the kids went to Christian school. The other ones that didn't go fit in because of family. The only family I had in this town was my immediate family. Again didn't help. Everyone was related somehow.

So when I was old enough, I started to go to another church. It was a little happier place. I saw some smiles there. Another plus, they had a youth group that met on Wednesday nights. It was fine for awhile, but it wasn't the same after my friends started graduating.

Luckily, during high school I was going to another youth group. This one met on Sunday nights. I liked it. I had friends there. Though no one else talked to us, we had each other. We were good friends with the youth pastor. (We still talk sometimes.) After high school, I stayed at this one for a long time. I became a youth leader myself. Though I never taught one lesson. I even became a Sunday teacher, a VBS leader, and ran the computer for service. During that time, the youth pastor got called to another church and my friends went on to other ministries. I was left alone.

I got my brother & his kids to go to church there for awhile. It was nice, but my brother left because no one talked to him. You see, he had long hair & dressed like a biker. How dare he go to church looking like that? (Please note the sarcasm) I stayed for awhile. I told myself it was for the kids I was helping. It really wasn't. I got complacent. I started noting how many people would sit near me. On most Sundays, if you didn't know better, you would think I had leprosy or bad body odor. The row behind me - empty. The row I sat in - empty. The row in front of me - empty. It's enough to make you feel loved. So from an urging from a friend, I found a new church.

I started going to this very small church. It had about 20 - 40 people on any given Sunday. They had a praise band and the pastor was okay. But I quickly found out it was an 'Alcoholics for Christ' church. It didn't bother me at first. After a year, I decided to to go to their Bible study after church. It was fine at first. Then I started to get attacked because I didn't believe the same way they did. I like to help people, they told me its because I was a 'people pleaser'. If you know anything about me, that isn't the case. Luckily, one of my friends invited me to her church.

So here I go again. I went to a new church. I liked this one at first. It was freeing. If I felt like dancing I could. If I just wanted to be, I could. I like the way the did communion. Grape juice in a wine glass and the most flavorful bread. We all came forward. Words would get spoken, we would clink on glasses and drink up like it was a celebration. Well, because it is!

Things were going well, then it happened. The pastor and his wife became controlling. I don't think they meant to in a mean way. Everything had to be just so, when before, it was more Spirit led. Next thing I knew, they decided to move church to Saturday nights at their condo. Two problems at the beginning. #1 - I work second shift, so Saturday night is my one night to see friends and go out. #2 - Their condo. 30+ people in one condo. New cork floors. Too controlled of an enviroment for me.

So I went in search of another church. Luckily, I remembered a church from a New Year's Eve service. So I started going there. It's okay. I don't really talk to a lot of people. They have their cliques. I do like that I am able to worship the way I want. Its not always the way they would like though, but its not up to them.

So why did I write all this, you ask? It's simple. Corporate church will never accept me. They say they do, but in reality, when I don't show up to church, no one misses me. No one talks to me during the week. That's not the reason I go to corporate church. I learned a long time ago, that I am the church. Jesus lives in me. He uses me as a vessel when needed. Wherever I am. I go to church to get that little boost I need to go out into the world.

I try when I'm at church, if I see someone new or sitting alone, to talk to them. Let them know that someone cares. I have to remember not to be bitter. I'm a work in progress. Though there are times I want to scream at people, that's not what I'm called to do. So if you're reading this, and you go to church, please think of the people who don't fit in. Don't pity us, but talk to us. A lot of us of walls built up, so you might need to help us tear them down.

Thank you & God bless!