Pat,Pat,We Hardly Knew Ye

I am still in shock after Pat Robertson made a statement in answer to an audience question on "The 700 Club" about divorcing a spouse who has Alzheimer's disease. The question was apparently along the lines of is it OK for a spouse to divorce a husband or wife with Alzheimer's disease? Robertson apparently answered "yes" to the question. Robertson's answer goes against the Holy Scriptures. "What God hath joined together,let not man put asunder", Jesus tells us in Mark 10:9.

If a person is seriously ill,especially with a terminal illness, that is when they most need their spouse and their family. God commands us to care for and comfort the afflicted. The concept of abandoning somebody who is seriously ill is obviously cruel and heartless. Most people remember the traditional wedding vows, "in sickness and in health" and "til death do us part".

I pray God makes Robertson think about what he said. We`must obey God's holy,inspired,and inerrant Word.

Bugliosi Blasphemy

Now attorney and author Vincent Bugliosi has jumped on board the "Jesus really did not mean it" bandwagon. Bugliosi prosecuted Charles Manson after some of Manson's followers committed a string of murders in Los Angeles in the late 1960s,and wrote a book about it, titled "Helter Skelter". He has also written books about other crimes, such as "Reclaiming History", which debunks conspiracy theories surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963.

In his latest book, "Divinity Of Doubt:The God Question", Mr.Bugliosi tries indoctrinating readers into denying the Virgin Birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, that humanity is here by "chance", and not by intelligent design, meaning God. Mr.Bugliosi proceeds to attack the Holy Scriptures on these topics, as well as life after death.

I had a lot of respect for Bugliosi until I learned about this garbage he wrote. Bugliosi said or at least strongly hinted that the Bible does not promise life after death,when God's Word says clearly and plainly that we go to be with the Lord forever after our mortal bodies expire. Jesus said,"I am the resurrection,and the life,he that believeth in me,though he were dead,yet shall he live. And whosoever believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" (John 11:25 and 26). John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son and whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life". "To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord" (2nd Corinthians 5:7 and 8),the Apostle Paul writes.

Could this be a way of the secularists getting back at the popularity of best-selling books such as "90 Minutes In Heaven",and "Heaven Is For Real"? Sounds like it. Do not argue with God, Mr.Bugliosi. That is one case you will undoubtedly lose.

Happy 100th Birthday,Lucy!!!!

August 6th marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of actress and comedienne Lucille Ball. October 15th is the 60th anniversary of the debut of "I Love Lucy",which was a weekly series until 1957 and a series of specials titled "The Lucy/Desi Comedy Hour" that ran until 1960. Lucy co-starred with her real-life husband,actor,businessman,producer,and orchestra leader Desi Arnaz. Why is the Lucy phenomenon stronger than ever and her shows as popular as ever? I think the question can be answered simply. Lucy's shows were and are good,clean fun,period.

When Lucille Ball was pregnant with her and husband Desi Arnaz's second child, the standards and practices department at CBS would not let the word "pregnant" be used. Even though Ms.Ball and Mr.Arnaz were married in real life,on "I Love Lucy",they slept in separate beds. Inevitably,it comes up which episode of "I Love Lucy" is somebody's favorite. One favorite of mine is when the Ricardos and the Mertzes,the Ricardos' landlords and best friends played by Vivian Vance and William Frawley, arrived in Hollywood for Ricky's motion picture debut. Lucy,Fred,and Ethel dined at the Brown Derby restaurant,then a well-known Hollywood landmark,and were joined in the next booth by actor William Holden. Lucy's constant staring at Mr.Holden prompted him to turn the tables so he stared at Lucy while she and the Mertzes ate. Humiliated,Lucy tried sneaking out but accidentally bumped into a waiter who accidentally hit Mr.Holden in the face with a pie. Later,when Ricky,without Lucy's knowledge,brought Mr.Holden back to their hotel suite,Lucy disguised herself. Lucy accidentally set her plastic nose on fire trying to light a cigarette.

Another favorite Lucy moment is when Lucy had hidden eggs in her blouse. Lucy and Ricky rehearsed a dance and when they got to the finish,Lucy collided with Ricky and her blouse was a gooey mess. That scene has the longest recorded laugh in United States television history.

These are but two of many hilarious moments on a series still loved by millions around the world.

Lucille Ball had another long-running hit series in the 1960s and 1970s. The first six seasons,it was titled "The Lucy Show". Lucille Ball divorced Desi Arnaz in 1960 and married comedian Gary Morton the following year. Lucy bought Desi's share of Desilu Studios after their divorce,making Lucy the first sole female studio owner in Hollywood. Desilu produced other popular shows such as "Make Room For Daddy", "The Untouchables",
"The Dick Van Dyke Show","The Andy Griffith Show","Mission:Impossible", "That Girl", and "Star Trek". Ms.Ball sold Desilu to Gulf&Western,the then-parent company of Paramount Pictures,in the late 1960s.

In the fall of 1968,"The Lucy Show" underwent some changes. This included the addition of Lucy's real-life children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr, and a new title, "Here's Lucy". The series continued until 1974. In her later years, Lucy still made guest appearances, appeared in movies such as "Mame", based on the Broadway musical, and "Stone Pillow", in which Lucy tackled a serious dramatic role as a homeless woman.

Lucy made a short-lived sitcom comeback in 1986 in "Life With Lucy". In April, 1989, Lucy was hospitalized with a heart ailment. After surgery, Lucy was on a comeback and seemed to be on the road to recovery when suddenly on the morning of April 26, 1989, Lucy's aorta ruptured and she died shortly after.

It is as if Lucy never really left us. As Bob Hope, a longtime friend of Lucy's, noted shortly after Lucy's death, God has her now but we will always have her shows to enjoy. Thanks for the laughter, Lucy. We will always love Lucy.

Cyber Cussing

In society now,it seems the use of harsh and vulgar words has become more acceptable. When my parents were young, people swore much less and if they did use profanity, it was only in a very private setting. Premarital sex was much more rare,almost unheard of. Homosexuality was an offense punishable by law (and is still illegal in some states even in the age of political correctness). The only four-letter word used in movie theaters was "exit". It was as former President George H.W. Bush might say,a kinder and gentler America and a kinder and gentler world. While there were injustices in those days such as racial discrimination and segregation,we have at least improved there.

Now the widespread and casual use of profanity today has unfortunately spread to social networks such as Facebook and Twitter,as well as Internet message boards. While blogs,Facebook,Twitter,and message boards are wonderful gifts of God and are excellent ways people with mutual interests communicate with each other,they can be abused. Sadly, it seems to happen more and more. Just recently,while posting on a NASCAR driver's Facebook page,I was offended when somebody said their driver was the "motherf***ing man". If it had been uttered in a fit of rage,I might have overlooked it,but this was somebody supposedly paying a compliment and casually using a word and using it in a way that should shock and offend normal people. I have had to delete other people's posts on my Facebook page using God's Name in vain and other hard profanities. Abbreviations such as "WTF" are self-explanatory."LMAO" is another usage that needs no explanation. Defenders of widespread profanity use cannot hide behind the First Amendment. The First Amendment only protects the exchange of ideas,not the use of foul language or the distribution of pornography. The Supreme Court of the United States made this ruling in a case involving pornographers.

This shows an obvious decline in civility in our nation. The widespread use of profanity is more evidence that we need to re-emphasize manners,dignity,and respect for others. Profanity is often used out of thoughtlessness and inconsideration of other people's feelings. It is rooted in selfishness.

We should all think before we speak or post. God bless you.

Merry Christmas,Everybody!!!!

I will likely not post again before Christmas so I want to wish everybody a very Blessed and Merry Christmas. Enjoy your time with friends and family but most of all remember the greatest Gift of all, the birth of God's Only Son Jesus Christ. Jesus gives true happiness and eternal life to all who receive Him. God bless you.