Remember Orlando

The largest mass shooting in US history. It happened during pride month. It happened because a maniac saw two men kissing. A maniac that followed Islamic terrorism and pledge his allegiance to them. A maniac that obtained his guns legally. A maniac that the FBI deemed unimportant. When will we stop this kind of violence.

First of all, ISIL must be destroyed. It's extremists must be driven from US soil. It's extremism needs to be driven from this earth. The United States is not the only country that ISIL has attacked. We are not the only nation that has seen the terror that their extremism brings.

Second, America needs gun control. No one except the military needs military grade weapons. People are not going out hunting with these weapons, they are merely killing others with them. Those who aren't killing others are compensating for their small little dicks. They say that they are protecting their families but who among them protected the 50 people killed or 52 people injured in Orlando? Who among them protected the children who died in Newtown, CT?

I hate guns. I hate the feel of them. I hate the recoil when they are shot. I hate the noise that they make. I hate everything about a gun. I was raised to know how to shoot one, and I am good at it, but it doesn't make me want a gun. It doesn't make me want to fire a gun. It makes me hate them more.

I agree we need laws to protect Americans, but those laws need to limit the kinds of guns that are sold in America. We need to accept that mental illness is real, and people can be easily led by bigotry. Think of the number of people following Trump, a bigot and a fool. There is much to be done and Trump's strategy of creating more bigotry is not the answer, neither are guns.

The Holy Spirit

 "I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” John 16:12-13

“Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” John 21:25

Jesus says in John 16:12-13 that He still has many things to tell us, but we can’t handle them now. However, the Holy Spirit will take us by the hand and guide us into all the truth there is. One of the things I always pray for is that God will show me the path that He had chosen for me. The Holy Spirit will not draw attention to himself, but will make sense out of what is about to happen and what has happened, indeed, out of all that Jesus has done and said, the Holy Spirit will help make sense of it.

The thing is that if we believe that the only truth is in the Bible, then we will be lost. The Holy Spirit is there to guide us to the truth. John 21:25 says that there are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, John could not imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books. Imagine the things we don't know. Jesus was so great that the gospels cannot contain all the things he did.

John readily admits that he cannot provide a full biography of Jesus and all the things he did. John is clear that his writings are not a final and complete statement of truth. The Bible is a guiding force for our lives. It is something that we can turn to in times of trouble, but not all of the answers will be readily apparent. We have to let the Holy Spirit guide us to the truth. 

I think that if anyone tells you they know the absolute truth, other than faith in God and his love, then they do not really understand God.  Taoism is all about finding the Way (Tao) and finding a balance in the world. The same is true of Christianity. Taoism says that those who speak of the Way do not know the Way. In Christianity, those who speak of absolutes and leave no room for interpretation do not understand the true meaning of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit has many roles some we cannot even fathom.

In John 14, for example, Jesus says the Holy Spirit will comfort us when we're hurting. "I will not leave you as orphans," Jesus says (14:18), promising that the Spirit will bring us peace (14:27). Jesus also says the Spirit will help us recall the things we've learned about God (14:26)—which also means the Spirit will help us when we tell others about our faith. In John 16, Jesus refers to the Spirit as a "Counselor" who will guide us in our everyday lives.

Now, the Holy Spirit can't do all the work for us. We're still responsible to do our part—especially to consistently have faith and pray, asking the Spirit to show us the truth and teach us how to live a life consistent with God's love.

Moment of Zen: Butts

Summer Cold

Not only was the high yesterday a chilly 55 degrees here in Vermont, but I seem to have come down with a cold. I need some NyQuil or DayQuil for this because it is the sniffling, sneezing, aching, coughing, stuffy-head, fever, so you can rest medicine. Luckily, I don't seem to have a fever. Since I wrote this last night, I am hoping that I feel better by the time this posts in the morning, or else, I'll have to call in sick to work.

Enemies of the State: The Executive Office

I'm very happy that my good friend Susan brought this book to my attention. It is exactly the type of book I like. I love mysteries, suspense, and political thrillers like those written by Dan Brown, Tom Clancy, or Steve Berry, but they never have any gay characters in them, not even secondary characters as there would be in real life. So it was great to see this kind of book written with gay main characters.

Enemies of the State: The Executive Office by Tal Bauer ranks right up there with anything by Brown, Berry, or Clancy. It’s a masterpiece of political intrigue and plot twists set in the near future, and is terrifyingly possible. It builds slowly although I loved the first half of the book as much as the second half (maybe more). And once you hit the halfway mark, hold onto your seat and make sure you have no other plans, because you will not want to put this book down.

This story will have you laughing and crying, but every word is worth it. You’ll fall in love with Jack and Ethan as they are the rollercoaster that brings this wild ride home. A rollercoaster is a great way to describe this book with all it's twists and turns that build you up and up to the pinnacle at the midway point and then it's a fast ride to the finish. The whole ride is thrilling. Enemies of the State: The Executive Office is book one of a three-book series, and I cannot wait for book two to release in the fall.

I haven’t read much in the last six months. My friend who passed away was my main reading partner and we loved to discuss books with one another. He was a particularly big fan of Amy Lane and as much as I love her books, I haven’t been able to pick up one of hers since his death. But I am back to reading now, and loving every minute of it.  Here are a few other books I have recently read:

The Orion Mask by Greg Herren

Dark Tide by Greg Herren

How to Howl at the Moon by Eli Easton

Superhero by Eli Easton

The Skyler Foxe Mysteries (five full-length mysteries, one novella and two collections of short stories) by Haley Walsh

All of the books are worth your time. I just happened to be so blown away by Enemies of the State that I felt it needed a good review and I hope you will check it out.

Reading

I was reading last night and time got away from me. I was almost to the end when I realized that I needed to set up my post for today and then get some sleep. I'll finish the final few pages today and have a book review for you tomorrow.

Have any of you read any good books lately?

I'm Coming Out

I'm Coming Out (Original CHIC Mix)

Diana Ross

Lyrics

I'm coming out

I'm coming

I'm coming out

I'm coming out

I want the world to know

Got to let it show

I'm coming out

I want the world to know

I got to let it show

There's a new me coming out

And I just had to live

And I want to give

I'm completely positive

I think this time around

I am gonna do it

Like you never do it

Like you never knew it

Oh, I'll make it through

The time has come for me

To break out of the shell

I have to shout

That I'm coming out

I'm coming out

I want the world to know

Got to let it show

I'm coming out

I want the world to know

I got to let it show

I'm coming out

I want the world to know

Got to let it show

I'm coming out

I want the world to know

I got to let it show

I've got to show the world

All that I want to be

And all my billities

There's so much more to me

Somehow, I have to make them

Just understand

I got it well in hand

And, oh, how I've planned

I'm spreadin' love

There's no need to fear

And I just feel so glad

Every time I hear

I'm coming out

I want the world to know

Got to let it show

I'm coming out

I want the world to know

I got to let it show

From Wikipedia:

In 1979, Diana Ross commissioned Chic founders Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards to create material for a new album after taking her daughters to see the band in concert, following the success of Ross's final Ashford & Simpson-composed and produced LP, The Boss. Rodgers got the idea for "I'm Coming Out" after noticing three different drag queens dressed as Diana Ross at a New York club called the GG Barnum Room. The lyrics hold an additional meaning to Ross, as she was leaving Motown Records and "coming out" from under Berry Gordy's thumb.

"I’m Coming Out” still stands as an anthem for the gay community. The way it is perceived and its queer significance is to celebrate who you are. It refers to coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer. Queers who had not revealed their sexuality had shut out a part of their identity. Most would find it safer to pretend that they are heterosexual rather than reveal their true sexual orientation. Queer individuals use this phrase to express that their identity is real. It is used over other phrases because it most closely describes the process of coming out from hiding who one is and exposing to the world that they are proud of who they are.

Baseball

I spent the weekend watching college baseball. It is the Regionals of the College World Series, and my favorite college team had made it to the Regionals. Sadly, my team was eliminated yesterday. With the exception of lacrosse, I think that baseball is the sexiest sport. I hate that they now wear baggier pants; I preferred the tighter firing pants that showed off their glorious baseball butts. I still love watching baseball, especially college baseball. It's a sexy sport.

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace

John Newton, 1779

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.

’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

And grace my fears relieved;

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares,

I have already come;

’Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,

Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

Than when we’d first begun.

John Newton wrote the words from his own personal experiences of "dangers, toils and snares." He grew up without any particular religious conviction, but his life's path was formed by a variety of twists and turns that were often put into motion by his disdain for authority. He was conscripted into service in the Royal Navy, and after leaving the service, he became involved in the Atlantic slave trade. In 1748, a violent storm battered his vessel off the coast of County Donegal, Ireland, so severely that he called out to God for mercy. This became his moment of spiritual conversion. He continued his slave trading career until 1754 or 1755, when he ended his seafaring altogether and began studying Christian theology.

"Amazing Grace" presents a message of forgiveness and redemption that is possible regardless of the sins we commit. It tells us that the soul can be delivered from despair through the mercy of God. "Amazing Grace" is one of the most recognizable songs in the English-speaking world. It has been sung at nearly every funeral I've ever attended and never fails to be presented with a beautiful rendition when sung in church. The beauty and simplicity of the message is one of the universal teachings of Christ.

Moment of Zen: Cats

My landlady the other day said that I could finally have a cat. Now I just have to find one. My girls back in Alabama are safe and happy and I don't want to upset their lives, so I'm going to adopt a new kitten up here. So far, I haven't found one. I'd like to get a Siamese or Siamese mix. That's what Victoria was if you remember when I used to talk about HRH. She was a great and loyal friend and I'd like to find another who will be as loyal and comforting. I'd settle for a calico if I found the right one, and I did see a calico Siamese mix, but she was an older cat who'd been in an abusive home and I'm afraid I wouldn't be what she needed. Besides, I really want a kitten who can grow up with my love and attention. Any suggestions from those who live near me? I'm willing to travel to get the right cat.