Tag: #georgefloyd

Choosing Heros

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

What are the qualities of a hero? What classifies a person as a martyr? The dictionary defines a hero as “a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” It describes a martyr as some who “who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs.” Here in America, we create our heroes from people who have personas, wealth, and tragedy. And we are not too picky in our choosing either, for in a moment of poor decisions and dreadful actions any situation can form a hero or martyr for us.

Since these are the individuals we use to model our own behaviors from and hold them up in a place of honor for our children, along with building our social beliefs and actions around, I think a set of guidelines should be followed. I am the first one to tell you that my own life is not one to emulate, honor, or even notice. My rocky path has been fraught with bad decisions and a huge learning curve. I did not come to know Jesus as my Lord and Savior until my children came along. Oh, as a child I longed for Him, I knew He was there and deep in my young heart was love and kindness. But my family was a more of a hit or miss type of Christianity, with more misses than hits.

Before I go on, I want to tell you a bible verse which if you read it each day, it will help you to move on from your destructive or cursed past and move forward into the path God has prepared for you. I recently found it and it is becoming my daily mantra.

“Nevertheless, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam, but the Lord your God turned the curse into a blessing for you because the Lord your God loves you.” Deuteronomy 23:5. And as a side note, Balaam was a sorcerer during early times. The sorcerer for you could be anyone who has done harm to your life. Always remember, the Lord your God loves you!

Moving on concerning choosing our heroes and martyrs. You know me, I found a bible verse that I believe is a great guideline for their selection. It comes from the Apostle Paul in Philippians where he is describing how they should live their lives as Christians.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything of worthy praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received, and heard, seen in me, practice these things and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:8-9

The guidelines are that a person must be true, honorable, just, pure, lovely (kind), commendable in actions and beliefs, excellence, and is praiseworthy. And they must also put into their words, actions, and beliefs these qualities, not just one time or moment in their life but every day. Now I am not saying they must be these superhumans of biblical perfection, for they are fallen humans like you and me. But they strive to attain these qualities every day, even on the days they fall deep into the valley floor. Martin Luther King Jr is one of these individuals who comes to my mind and he had his human side too.

So before we take an individual and exalt them to the position of hero only because we so desperately need or desire one, step back, look at the whole picture and write the truth for history!

Defund the Police, No: Instead, Disperse the Money Properly!

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

Like you, I have been watching the television news reports concerning the protests and rioting occurring throughout our nation.
While watching a peaceful protest, a young woman caught my eye with her sign, which read, “Defund the Police.” If it had not been so sad of a statement, I could have laughed out loud at the nativity and ignorance of her statement.

As a writer, I am going to write a story for you to consider.

Story Begins

A light spring breeze blew through the new green leaves on the aged oak trees lining Americana Avenue in the New Way neighborhood. A year had passed since COVID 19, the senseless murder of George Floyd, the protests and riots in America. The vaccine for COVID was developed in record time, as promised. And big cities, along with their suburban neighbors, were once again resting easy in the land of prosperity and dreams.

Porch lights went off one by one on Americana Avenue, as each homeowner locked their front doors and retired to their comfy, cozy beds. Deep sighs echo throughout suburbia streets as citizens touch their heads down into caressing pillows, propelling them into a deep sleep filled with mythical dreams.

The American people had decided to bring about drastic reform in America and met the demands of the rioters, protesters, and varied groups. A new administration was elected, new laws were written and initiated, and the old laws of order and justice were wiped clean from the books. People genuinely believed in this Kumbaya moment, peace was achieved, and total equality realized.

But like all fairy tales, the tail follows the fairy, and then the truth presents itself. And tonight reality was rising along with the moon, about to shatter the fairy tale into a million shards of razor-sharp pieces beginning with the New Way neighborhood. The plan of America’s destruction was not an in-the-moment plan, but one devised years ago.

It was around one am, about the time when the night creatures were emerging to roam their domain that cars and vans assembled at the entrance of the suburban neighborhoods. Humans dressed in all-consuming black began to materialize from their vehicles and started the assembly of their weapons for the carnage, which was about to occur. Only hand signals were utilized for communication purposes as they put on their gear. One last check of the watches and then the “go” signal. Evil descended upon American suburban neighborhoods like Satan’s cloak thrown across the land.

Sounds of breaking glass and front doors kicked in begin to fracture the night. Suburbia awakes to a night of horror; they will never live to retell. The panicked citizens reach for their cell phones and dial 911, only to have a recording tell them 911 is no longer in service. Realizing their only hope is a ragtag police department left behind from all of the government’s defunding. They search for weapons among the moonlight shadows while the screams for help grow louder within the pounding of their chests to defend their homes. It is too late for action.

In helpless horror, they see their spouses, children, pets, and neighbors dragged out to the front lawns to view the executions. The perpetrators want fear to claim the night, and some even stop along the way to rape or torture their victim before tossing their bodies out onto the soft, misty, green grass. As the water droplets of the earthen dew begin to turn a bright red, one by one families, mothers, fathers, children, grandfathers, and grandmothers are mercilessly killed.
It is nearing sunrise, and the assassins have accomplished their plan. A whistle signal is given to leave, and they casually walk by their victim’s bodies displaying the horror of the night frozen on their dead faces, strewn throughout the neighborhoods.

Phase one is done while phase two is waiting in the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific oceans for their “go” signal. Foreign battleships begin to come into view along the horizon of America’s coastline, while the sun rises on the East Coast. Reports of their successful night begin resounding throughout the main organizers, and their institutions. Initiation of Phase two is only hours away because, along with the police defunding, the military was also included. And America’s military was left stripped bare like the pandemic storage facilities from past administrations.

The End, But Not The End.

Ok, so you are probably thinking, “Joni, you have gone off the deep end.” I don’t think so, and I could have made it more graphic and more in-depth, but I thought this would be enough to get you thinking. When people utilize a man’s senseless death to benefit their own disgusting agendas for the procurement of money and wealth, these people, this person, or groups will stop at nothing! Evil is a bottomless pit of darkness, and there is no cushion at the bottom to stop you when you fall because there is no bottom!

What stands between democracy and anarchy is our laws and those who enforce them! You defund them, and America is gone forever! We should be providing them with more funding and better pay! That goes for our Military, Firefighters, Paramedics, and Teachers! And what we should be demanding is our elected official’s salaries come down to the average American’s income. Cities that have large police budgets probably have the higher-ups making more money than you can imagine and none of it trickles down to the workers!

If you want to research the “worth” of our elected officials here is one location and I am sure you can google to find the ones within your locale.

https://www.rollcall.com/2018/03/02/every-member-of-congress-wealth-in-one-chart/

The most important change which needs to be made is that Jesus Christ has to be put in the middle of all of it! If we had been teaching our children to love others as they love themselves, this would never happen. Homegrown terrorist groups, and power-hungry, wealthy individuals would have no footing here!  We have been lazy about protecting our rights, our families, and our communities from opportunists who use us, abuse us, and then throw us out with the trash.

So, what is next? That is for you to answer!

God Bless You and God Bless America!

My Prayer for Pentecost

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

As fires burned throughout America last night, bringing about more grief and destruction, there is another fire given to us today that can quench the burn of the other fires. God gave us the fire of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday not to promote the dominance of one skin color over another skin color, intelligence over simpler minds, or perfect physicality over malformed bodies. But this fire, the Holy Spirit, is the transformative power of God’s love. And He gives it freely to you and me.

Today is the day we desperately need to put God’s power into action with prayer. America needs it, and the world needs it too!

My Prayer for America

Heavenly Father,
I come before you today with praise and thanksgiving for Your gift of the Holy Spirit. Thank you, Father. I ask for forgiveness of my sins, the ones I do knowingly, and the ones I do unknowingly. Please remove any obstacle that I may have created between You and me. I cannot live without you and need to come before You today upon my hands and knees.

Father, You know the situation in America right now. Satan has vigorously stirred the pot of racism and hate among the people. Evil has possessed the hearts of those who are burning city buildings, destroying property, and stealing. Forgive them, Father. Please take their angry hearts in Your hands and open their eyes to Your ways. Turn them away from their evil ways and bless them with your Holy Spirit.

Please send a cool healing mist across America today, Father. And touch all of us with it, to walk in love. For we are all one in You, and this is how we must learn to live. Could You help us to learn?

And Father, could you please bring healing and hope through the sowing of Your seeds of love? Show us what You require us to do to bring about America’s change and then send us out in Your Holy Name.

Thank you, Father, to listening to me
In Jesus Christ’s Name.
Amen!

George Floyd Protests

Posted on by jonithetentmaker

Being brought to an area and paid to protest tells me that you have no clue what real justice is all about! As I watch the news reports from major cities across the United States tonight, my stomach churns, and I want to physically puke.  The scene resembles demons dancing in the street carelessly hurling solid objects meant to harm others and then spewing obscenity from the sewage of their foul mouths.  Kudos to you protesters because you just regressed on the food chain to a level lower than a slug!

I am upset that our country came so far helping one another during the Coronavirus pandemic, only to have Satan start his temper tantrum plots to destroy the good that was done. Obviously, it did not take him long to find his proxy and begin whispering in his ears, “show how powerful you are, make them be afraid of you, you are the man,” until there was a point of no return. Instead of protesting, we should be praying for hedges of protection from these demonic attacks America is experiencing. 

And also pray for those who watched the police officer kill George Floyd. I am angry with those who stood around and filmed the whole incident too.  Could not one person have used their cell phone and dialed 911? Then reported that a police officer was physically killing a civilian and the other officers were standing and watching.  What were you thinking, spectators?

Paul, my oldest son, reminded me of a bible verse tonight, Galatians 3:28.

“There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

If we are all “one” in Christ, then why do we act like we are the only one who matters in this world? We are not a party of one, but a party of many made into the One who died for all of us!  And when you meld into the party of many, race, sex, handicap, healthy and the rest of the things which are minor differences do not matter.

And if you want to know what really matters, I will tell you.

Jesus Christ matters!

It is time to come together as the body of Christ and love one another!

 

May God Bless and Protect You and Your Family!