Moving to Mexico

Someone forwarded this to me this morning and it is just too good not to pass along. I DO NOT KNOW WHO THE AUTHOR IS.... but it's a must read! :-)

Dear President Obama:

I'm planning to move my family and extended family into Mexico for my health, and I would like to ask you to assist me.
We're planning to simply walk across the border from the U.S. Into Mexico, and we'll need your help to make a few arrangements.
We plan to skip all the legal stuff like visas, passports, immigration quotas and laws.
I'm sure they handle those things the same way you do here. So, would you mind telling your buddy, President Calderon, that I'm on my way over?
Please let him know that I will be expecting the following:

1. Free medical care for my entire family.
2. English-speaking government bureaucrats for all services I might need, whether I use them or not.
3. Please print all Mexican government forms in English.
4. I want my grandkids to be taught Spanish by English-speaking (bi-lingual) teachers.
5. Tell their schools they need to include classes on American culture and history.
6. I want my grandkids to see the American flag on one of the flag poles at their school.
7. Please plan to feed my grandkids at school for both breakfast and lunch.
8. I will need a local Mexican driver's license so I can get easy access to government services.
9. I do plan to get a car and drive in Mexico , but, I don't plan to purchase car insurance, and I probably won't make any special effort to learn local traffic laws.
10. In case one of the Mexican police officers does not get the memo from their president to leave me alone, please be sure that every patrol car has at least one English-speaking officer.
11. I plan to fly the U.S. Flag from my house top, put U S. Flag decals on my car, and have a gigantic celebration on July 4th. I do not want any complaints or negative comments from the locals.
12. I would also like to have a nice job without paying any taxes, or have any labor or tax laws enforced on any business I may start.
13. Please have the president tell all the Mexican people to be extremely nice and never say critical things about me or my family, or about the strain we might place on their economy.
14. I want to receive free food stamps.
15. Naturally, I'll expect free rent subsidies.
16. I'll need Income tax credits so although I don't pay Mexican Taxes, I'll receive money from the government.
17. Please arrange it so that the Mexican Gov't pays $4,500 to help me buy a new car.
18. Oh yes, I almost forgot, please enroll me free into the Mexican Social Security program so that I'll get a monthly income in retirement.

I know this is an easy request because you already do all these things for all his people who walk over to the U.S. from Mexico. I am sure that President Calderon won't mind returning the favor if you ask him nicely.

Thank you so much for your kind help. You're the man!!!

WHAT is going ON?!

We get up every morning now to news that blows our minds. High numbers of priests abusing children, Illegal immigrants crossing the border and killing Americans, disease, earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes! I don't know about you but I almost flinch before I pull up a news site to see what happened while I was away! Politics alone can scare you half to death! Mothers killing children, husbands killing entire families, bullying and hatred is rampant. What is going on?

The bad news is, this isn't going to get any better. According to Scripture, it is going to get worse. (Don't leave me just yet). Whether you are a believer in Jesus or not, these same end times still apply. I don't know if you've ever read the Bible before but there is a FASCINATING chapter about what is supposed to happen during the end times! We are all curious about those times and Hollywood is making bank because of our curiosity; however, instead of finding out the truth for ourselves, we rely on Hollywood for the truth. (and quite frankly, how's THAT been workin' out for us?) Many suppose that we are headed into a beautiful time of unity and peace, but that is not Biblical.

Don't you want to KNOW? I mean, seriously... don't you want to KNOW what's supposed to happen to us? Where can we go for the truth? I want some SERIOUS authority on this issue! I don't want to accept guesses and speculation. Where better than the Bible to get this answer? How about from Jesus Himself? You don't have to believe what He says, but you will be amazed at His accurate account of the times we are living in!

Find a Bible and look for the Book of Matthew, go to the 24th chapter. The story begins when Jesus comes out of the temple and His disciples point out all the beautiful architecture of the buildings nearby and Jesus tells them they won't be standing forever... and then He tells them about "the end of the age". He tells them what signs we will see, the things that will be happening and what to expect. That's it. That's chapter 24. All about the end times. These are Jesus' words, not man's. Who would know the answer to this, if not Jesus?

There is one verse in this chapter that really disturbs me. It's verse 12: "And because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold." That should send chills up your spine. When our love grows cold we begin to hate and doubt. We become bitter and distrusting of one another. I submit to you that THIS is why mothers are killing their own children and why bullying is rampant. Our love is fading. We must cling to the love we have! What we need to realize is that love only comes from one source; God. Rumi has some great quotes but he won't get you to heaven. He can give you a "feel-good" moment but it isn't true love. To make it through these times we need to have the real deal and the only way we can get it is from Christ.

After reading this chapter in Matthew, you will see that we are living in these prophetic times. What Jesus said would happen, is happening now. People's love is growing cold. My prayer is that we come to Jesus as our Savior and Provider and ask for more love so that we can fulfill His command to love one another. Now THERE is a love story!

Another great book to read about the end is Revelation. It's a difficult book because there is SO much symbolism but Revelation is the ONLY book ever written that promises a blessing to everyone who reads it. Imagine that?! You have been promised a blessing merely by reading this chapter! (I am now in a study of Revelation and it is amazing!)

You can clearly see what is happening around us and it clearly coincides with what Jesus said would happen. But maybe, you want more proof? There has been an, as yet unfulfilled prophecy concerning the utter destruction of Damascas. Read Isaiah chapter 17. The prophecy is that the city of Damascas will be utterly destroyed within a 24 hour period. This has not happened yet, but it will happen.

Please look at the signs around you and see what God is saying! Is there hope at ALL for us? YES! Jesus is our hope! He has promised His children that He would spare them from His coming wrath. Jesus is the God of love...turn to Him, don't let your love grow cold. Ask for more love and remember to love one another. We need each other in these times. I thank Jesus for His protection and I beg you to consider these prophecies that are being fulfilled right before our eyes. Come to Jesus.

A Rich Story about Being Poor

My father was the the youngest of three boys. His father was in the military and they were stationed in Germany. It was a tough time. "Plenty" was not an option. He tells stories of walking down train tracks to gather coal to help heat their house. One year a family friend handed down a raccoon coat to the oldest son. It was used but in great shape. The two younger brothers coveted it. Another year went by and the coat was handed down to the middle son, who wore it constantly in the German winter. Finally, the coat was passed down to the youngest, my father. By this time, the coat was in horrible shape, missing clumps of hair with patches in various places. Dad was mortified! He refused to wear the coat at all because he didn't want to be seen by his friends. It was getting colder and dad stuck by his guns that he wouldn't be seen in public with the coat. One day he was home alone. Everyone in the house was out somewhere and it was just him. A knock sounded on the door and when he opened it, he was thrilled to see that it was Germany's equivalent of the Salvation Army. He immediately donated the old, nasty coat and was nearly glowing with the realization that he was done with it forever. NOW, he could get a new coat!

Would that life were so easy! It was a month later when another knock came at the door and his mother answered it. Dad was sitting nearby and heard a gentleman say, "Your family has been chosen as one of our needier families and we have some things for you." His mother stepped away from the door and Dad watched as they brought in several sacks of clothing and food items. Excited, he began rummaging through the bags, only to discover that he had received back the very same old, raccoon coat he had earlier donated. While dad was devastated, I'm sure God had a good laugh about that! What were the ODDS that this could happen?! A good lesson for us all: be satisfied with what you have. God knows what you need.

My Grandmother Was a Poor, Black Woman

Mary Gertrude Hagen met Thomas Eslie Hampton in Ronceverte, West Virginia. Thomas, more commonly known as "Jack" edited and published the Ronceverte Times there. He was 20 years old. Mary worked for him. She operated the linotype machine. They were married in the late summer of 1912. They had seven children, the last born of which, was my mother.

Jack and Mary were quite a pair. Mary, beautiful and Jack, handsome; both very intelligent, always stimulating their children with stories and tales. Jack, always suggesting books for them to read and Mary (who was Irish) always telling fairy stories.

"The story" was everything to Jack; the meat, the details, the whispers. He loved his work. He left for work everyday in a crisp white shirt, black trousers and a newspaper under his arm. A man who knew his business. Rumor has it that he stopped a lynching one time. People loved him and he loved them back. For Jack, there were no racial boundaries. He despised it when anyone was disrespectful to black people. He began to be known as the person you could go to for help. Jack Hampton was your man. There are hundreds of great stories about him and Mary. But the best story to me was what happened after their death.

My mother, Jeannie, was Jack and Mary's youngest. When Jeannie was 6 months old, Mary died of cancer. This left Jack alone with his work and seven children. Jack knew a young black woman who was in need and he offered her work, to help raise his children. For seven years, Zeltha stayed on. She cleaned the house, she raised and loved the children and she taught them how to love without color-blindness. She told them stories and taught them how to work. Zeltha was the only mother that Jeannie ever knew.

When Jeannie was seven years old, her father, Jack died too... also from cancer. The children all worked to stay together during this time and Zeltha never left them. (Keep in mind that Zeltha was married and had a family of her own. She would spend all day with Jack and Mary's children and then go home to care for her own. This was an AMAZING woman).

Jeannie learned so much from Zeltha. How strange would it be for a baby to have never known her own mother and barely, her own father. But Zeltha kept her intact. She gave her security, hope and love. Jeannie grew to be, herself, an amazing woman who carried what she had been taught and passed it down to her own children. After a time, Zeltha went to be with the Lord and by then, the family was grown and self-sufficient.

Jeannie died 16 years ago. I'm her daughter. I only met Zeltha one time in my life when the family gave her a thank-you party for her love in their lives. She was an old, small, thin, black woman with eyes I will never forget. She took my face in her hands and said, "My Jeannie," (thinking I was my mother).

What I would give to be able to sit with her today and hear all the stories of Jack and Mary and Jeannie. How I would love to hear her speak about racism and integrity and honor. I pray that this woman somehow lives inside a part of me today and makes me respectful and kind and accepting of others, my grandmother.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Finger-pointing and name-calling. Haven't we grown beyond that? Are we still impulsive babies demanding our own rights, with no regard for others? You are a cop. You are called to a scene where breaking and entering is suspected. You come upon a man who appears to be trying to enter the house. When confronted, he becomes loud and "tumultuous". He says, "You have no idea who you are messing with!" How would you respond in this situation? Your job as a cop is to get control of the situation.

Mr Gates, I pose this scenario to you. You are obviously a very intelligent , learned man. Do you realize that those cops responded to YOUR house to protect YOU from vandalism?! And THIS is the way you treat them? How should you have responded? What was that verse..."Do unto others as you would have others do unto you". Mr. Gates, you were not arrested because you are a black man, you were arrested because you were disrespectful.

THE COLD WITHIN

Author Unknown

Six humans trapped by happenstance in the bleak and bitter cold,

Each one possessed a stick of wood, or so the story's told.

Their dying fire in need of logs, the first man held his back,

For of the faces round the fire, he noticed on was black.

The next man sat in tattered clothes, he gave his coat a hitch,

Why should his log be put to use, to warm the idle rich?

The rich man just sat back and thought of the wealth he had in store,

And how to keep what he had earned from the lazy, shiftless poor.

The next man sitting cross the way, saw one not of his church,

And couldn't bring himself to give the fire his stick of birch.

The black man's face bespoke revenge, as the fire passed from his sight.

For all he saw in his stick of wood was a chance to spite the white.

Their logs held tight in death's still hands was proof of human sin

They didn't die from the cold without....

They died from the cold within.

The Way of Haiku

by James Hackett

1) Beneath white roses

on a polished table

petals lie in dust

2) A bitter morning

sparrows sitting together

without any necks.

3) A distant dog

is adding another shade of gray

to the morning.

4) Still on this bath tub

the tiny bug that I had

promised a flower.

5) Empty the night seems

and yet endless flights of birds

caligraph the moon.

6) In this empty web

left by a will to be free

a pair of small wings.

7) The ant's great burden

becomes his bridge across

crevices along the way.

8) Now free in the world

the old parakeet just perches;

his loneliness.

9) Loneliness: for the

child, an opportunity

to play Let's Pretend.

10) The hopscotching child

kneels to the beetle and asks

to be forgiven.

11) Her child exclaimed:

"See this lovely caterpillar?"

but she never came.