One Down, Two to Go

FROM: Campaign for Children and Families Newsletter

Sacramento, California -- According to today’s Sacramento Bee , Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has promised to veto SB 1437, one of three transsexual-bisexual-homosexual “education” bills in the California State Legislature.

The newspaper, which contacted Campaign for Children and Families for response late Wednesday, wrote in Thursday’s edition that, according to the Governor’s communications office, Arnold Schwarzenegger will veto SB 1437 if it reaches his desk.

“We’re very pleased that Schwarzenegger is listening to the concerns of parents,” said Randy Thomasson, president of Campaign for Children and Families (CCF), a leading California-based pro-family organization that strongly opposes SB 1437. “Now the Governor needs to pledge to veto the two remaining sexual indoctrination bills, AB 606 and AB 1056. Parents and grandparents are demanding it.”

All three bills rely upon the strange definition of “gender” in Penal Code, Section 422.56, reading: “Gender” means sex, and includes a person's gender identity and gender related appearance and behavior whether or not stereotypically associated with the person's assigned sex at birth. “This terrible trio of bills would promote cross-dressing and sex-change operations to children as young as kindergarten,” said Thomasson. “Schools should be about academics, not about promoting alternative sexual lifestyles to impressionable schoolchildren.”

SB 1437 would prohibit textbooks, instructional materials, and school-sponsored activities from “reflecting adversely” on transsexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality; it requires positive portrayals of these sexual lifestyles in curriculum in all grades in all public schools. Consequently, schools would have to promote “same-sex marriages” and even sex-change procedures. STATUS: Assembly Education Committee, no hearing scheduled.

AB 606 would authorize the California Superintendent of Public Instruction to arbitrarily withhold state funds (around 2/3rds of a school district’s budget) from any district that does not adequately promote transsexuality, bisexuality, or homosexuality in its school policies. AB 606 repeals the current state law prohibiting transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual curriculum from being forced upon local schools, and authorizes the state Superintendent to develop new curriculum that affirms transsexuality, bisexuality, and homosexuality in all its forms. STATUS: June 21 hearing scheduled in the Senate Education Committee.

AB 1056 would spend $250,000 in taxpayer dollars to promote transsexual, bisexual, and homosexual lifestyles under the banner of “tolerance education.” STATUS: On the “suspense” file in the Senate Education Committee.

Jack and the Bluejay

This is no mutual admiration society. It's the fur against feathers ritual that's played out daily worldwide.

Our feathered friend has been appropriately harrassing furry Jack for the past few days. Jack would lay on the sidewalk by the house and calmly twitch his tail while being scolded by Mr. Jay from the lawn. Closer and closer came the bird, hopping here and there, flying to the roof gutter for a better vantage, then back to the lawn. Jack remained unmoved and disinterested . . . until this morning.

Fed up with the scowling, our brave little lion climbed the birch and tried his darnedest to launch a retaliatory assault, but could barely keep his balance. In fact, one blunder found him hanging from his two front paws, rear legs dangling. A bit of monkey bars expertise and he pawed his way over to the tree trunk to get a safer grip. Poor guy!

There are those things in life that keep nagging at us. We don't pay much attention to them at first, but they get closer and louder and finally unbearable. Then we react with heated abandon and find ourselves hanging by our two paws, trying to find a place to stand again. Better to use a good set of earplugs and deal gently with the disturbance. Or sometimes it's just better to walk away and shut the door behind us.

Beware of Hungry Horses

Poor Dolly meets a sad end at the museum as Blackie takes her hand and keeps munching. Please! Do not let your children see this!

This Morning's Surgery

This morning's date with my doctor at 10:00 proved worth noting. No mention of what HMO I belong to, but it rhymes with 'miser.' The assistant put me in a regular room after taking my vitals. Then she came back in and said, "We need to have you in another room. Sorry." She was really nice about it. Then, while in the little (and I mean little) surgery room, another assistant came in and said, "We need to have you in another room. Follow me." This room was right across the hall. A little bigger room and nicer bed to lie on, I think. So the second assistant, who used to be my doctor's assistant for years, told the first assistant (who was just filling in and was having problems) to do this and that, get this and that for the tray. The tray ended up a few inches high with scissors, pliers, syringe, scalpel, gauze, plus lots of other stuff. Mostly 2 or 3 apiece items. Must be major surgery today.

My poor doctor comes in, ready to go. I'm sitting there in my 'modesty' gown, smiling and enjoying the routine. He raises the bed and flattens it. "Okay, we'll have you lie on your stomach. I hate lying on my stomach for anything. But, hey, I'm the patient, he's the doctor. He looks at the cyst. "I'm going to need a razor to shave around the area first. Where are the razors?" Uh-oh. No razors. The assistant goes out to look for one. "There aren't any razors," she reports. "Well, go over to Dermatology and get some," he says politely. I asked how they work their inventory system here. Obviously not very well.

Next comes the local, then the cutting, then the visual proof that he'd actually removed the cyst (nice and bloody, of course), then the suturing, then the gauze pad without adhesive in place, then "Okay, you can get dressed." I could feel the excess blood dripping between my legs (the cyst was fortuitously located on my right gluteus minimus). Okay. That was fun.

After the doctor left, the nurse was apologetic for her clumsiness. I consoled her. I was thinking earlier: All of this high tech, modern marvel medicine and expertise and was only costing me a small co-pay. I forgot about the sky-scraping monthly payment 'miser' receives from its members. But I guess it's better than do-it-yourself surgeries.

Thirty Five Years

It will soon be our 35th anniversary celebration in another week or so. I'm looking forward to looking backward over all the years and remembering the winding road to 2006. This is a picture of Jacob and Rachel, of Old Testament fame. Rachel was the love of his life and there is quite a story about their wedding night you just have to read if you missed it! Genesis 29.

After Jacob's son, Joseph, is sold into slavery by his brothers, Joseph lands in prison after being falsely accused of adultery. In time, he's brought before Pharoah in Egypt and interprets a dream. Pharaoh makes him prime minister, so he sends for his family in Canaan. Old Jacob is brought before Pharoah and says, "Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life." He was 130 years old at that time, but not as old as his ancestors had been. He had experienced great love and great sorrow.

Getting old with the one who is your life-long love is one of this world's greatest blessings.

Sego Lily

A poem by Laurie Wagner Buyer

Cowboy, the world turns too fast anymore.

Firelight brightens your bowed head and clasped
hands that others may mistake for prayer
or contemplation.

Only I know it's longing, loneliness that weights
you so.

High in the hills the horses' night bells ring peace.

But always, the return: the steep rock and sage
covered slopes down to the valley, the weary
ways of those who don't know the meaning of
a sure-footed mule, a sand-bottomed creek, or
a flat, grassy place to unroll a bed.

You know I know. Our descent is difficult.

No words pass between us but in one dancelike
movement
you dismount and take from the sandy soil

a sego lily

trumpet-shaped and fragile, three white petals

tell me how pure the wanting is.

The Iceland Poppy

Papaver nudicaule is its formal, scientific name. Easy to grow and 'wow' your friends with, this multi-color specimen will bloom all summer if you cut its flowers every day. And how do I know that? From reading this info-packed webpage: Poppies International. Oriental poppies are featured also (those are the ones with 8" to 10" wide blooms!)

You will find beauty in the most humble and unexpected places. Your eye just needs a little help from a close-up lens.

"There is a thing called beauty, which prevails upon the hearts of men. Mighty men, not a few, have bowed before it and paid it homage; but if you want true beauty, look into the face of Jesus, for there you have the concentration of all loveliness. There is no beauty anywhere but in Christ. O sun, thou art not fair, when once compared with Him. O, fair world and grand creation of a glorious God, thou art but a dim and dusky blot compared with the splendors of His face. When we shall see Christ, we shall be compelled to say that we never knew what loveliness was before. When the clouds are swept away, when the curtains which hide Him from our view are drawn aside, we shall find that not anything we have seen or heard of, grand or graceful, in the wide universe, will bear a moment's comparison with Him, who was once seen as a root out of a dry ground, but shall presently fill heaven and earth with lustre and gladden all hearts with His glory." --- Charles Spurgeon, 19th century pastor.

Earthy Day By All Accounts

In addition to the conservation theme, our local Earth Day's festivities included a panoply of cultures taking stage throughout the day. The most bizarre was the Belly Nation's tribe of colorful and non-exotic dancers. Indian music blared as a backdrop to these ladies' midriff-drops. I was too embarrassed to take a picture of the poor girl who needed liposuction. Apparently, she wasn't embarrassed enough to refrain from displaying her elasticity.

You could also see a solar cooking demonstration and get blinded if you looked directly at the pot of ? she was cooking. Let's see --- from now on, all hot meals will be provided during daylight hours between noon and 4:00. And plan on cold cereal during the winter three times a day.



The vendor list also included a vegetarian trailer. Most of the other food venues had long lines. But this one only had a few people in it, so it was my choice when I needed a Diet Pepsi. So does this mean that most environmentalists believe it's okay to further maim the planet by consuming beef, pork and chicken? Something doesn't calculate here.



The highlight of our short visit was getting to meet and talk with Pete McCloskey, former House of Representatives member and co-founder of Earth Day back in the early 70's. He's coming out of retirement (rancher/lawyer) to run against Richard Pombo of the 11th District. McCloskey is one of the Democrat's favorite Republicans. (Pete campaigned for Johns Kerry and Edwards). He answered our questions while sitting in his campaign motorhome. He was trying to get our friends (Democrats) to fill out an application for voter registration (with the "Undeclared" box checked so they could vote for him in the Primary). Pretty sneaky, Pete.

Pete's a nice guy, I guess, but after reviewing his website, I probably won't be giving him my endorsement in June. Pombo's got some problems, but voting for Kerry isn't one of them.

Ol' Yeller

There's something about a yellow t-shirt that I'm crazy about. And I don't know what it is. According to one 'expert'---

"Put some yellow in your life when you want:

--Clarity for decision-making
--Relief from 'burnout', panic, nervousness, exhaustion
--Sharper memory and concentration skills
--Protection from lethargy and depression during dull weather"

This 'expert' also says --- "Yellow symbolizes wisdom. Yellow means joy and happiness. People of high intellect favor yellow. Yellow is full of creative and intellectual energy. Always use yellow note pads."

Sorry, I'm using white notepads and chrartreuse stickies, but I certainly need sharper memorty and concentration skills.

I've collected three shirts already. One Old Navy, one Duke's Canoe Club and a plain Jane variety that cost $1 at the flea market.

I think it's more likely a mental disorder than a cry for clarity and creativity. But I'm not the 'expert.'

Hardly a Gospel

Quick to placard a recently purchased discovery that contradicts traditional truth, the National Geographic Society aired The Gospel of Judas April 9. After experts reconstructed over 1000 fragments, and with 45 lines of text still missing, NGS bought the document (which included three other apocryphal writings), banking on showing it right before Christianity's most revered celebration of Jesus' rising from the dead. What are we to think about these spurious works?

First, let's make no mistake: This is NOT a Gospel. There are only four true Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. All other writings have long since vanished from acceptance because they don't agree with the fundamental beliefs echoed in the Old and New Testaments. The Bible is not an unrelated collection of dissimilar opinions: It is divinely revealed, God-breathed history and doctrine, providentially preserved through the centuries. It is 66 books with a single theme - the salvation of sinners by a loving God. St. Paul says, "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief." I Timothy 1:15. This is the "good news" or Gospel. The Judas document says nothing of forgiveness of sins, redemption or Christ dying for sins. In fact, what it says contradicts the basic teaching of Christ and his apostles.

It claims that Jesus appeared to his disciples in the form of a child, long before he began his ministry and chose them personally. This is no where taught in God's Word.

It claims that Jesus would not be known by the people of his generation. He would only be know by secret permission after attaining a certain level of spirituality. This heretical view was called Gnosticism in the days of the early church. Gnosticism is a "mystery religion" which is "found in all religions and religious philosophies, from Upanishads to the wisdom of ancient Egypt, and from the Gathas of Zarathustra to the mystery-cults of Greece and Rome." Gnostics promised salvation through an occult knowledge of truth that they claimed was revealed to them alone.

The Judas document further claims that Judas' death was revealed to him - stoning by the other disciples. The New Testament record tells us that Judas, in a fit of remorse, hanged himself.

It claims that Jesus created angels for the purpose of instructing Judas. It also declares that angels helped create Adam and Eve. This contradicts all the biblical teaching about angels. An example is in Hebrews 1:14, "Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister to those who will inherit salvation?"

It claims Jesus taught Judas to look to the stars for guidance. But astrology is specifically condemned in the Bible.

It claims Jesus viewed Judas as a great disciple because he would betray him and thereby liberate his soul from his body. This is pure Gnosticism. Jesus' own words heap judgment, not praise on this disciple. "The Son of Man indeed goes [to the cross] just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born." Matthew 26:24.

The Bible goes further and places a curse on this writing and all others that contradict it. St. Paul in his letter to the church in Galatia says, "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8,9.

This document wasn't written by Judas. Judas was dead when it was written. Early Church Father, Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons condemned this heretical gospel by name in 180 A.D. And he had the missing 45 lines! It is by knowing the Bible that we can judge these "lost" books and documents. Unfortunately, it is those who know very little that can get "lost" by reading and believing everything but the Scriptures. God has preserved what he wants us to know. Nothing else is needed. Jesus prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them [those who believe] by Your truth. Your word is truth." John 17:17. And St. Peter's words will end our argument. "For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.' And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain [of Transfiguration]. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you [believers] do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophesy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophesy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:16-21

Judas was no "holy man."

Shrouded Shell Creek

A 30 minute trip east of Paso Robles on Hwy 58 offers some of the most breathtaking color in the area. Shell Creek exploded last year thanks to the previous winter rains. This year's display wasn't as dramatic, but offered more than I expected.

Ginnie and Meg donned their smiles and big SLR's, trekked into the 'rattlesnake-ridden' fields, and snapped away. This was the perfect setting for me, since there were so many old oak trees - dead and alive - which provided the perfect 'frames' for scenics and a true sense of California's personality. We tiptoed through the Baby Blue Eyes and Tidy Tips, often getting down to eye level for close-up shots.



An overcast sky helped make truer colors, but a slight breeze resulted in some out-of-focus blooms. No big deal. Each of us got some great pictures.








A few other nature lovers and photographers joined us. The local cows joined us. The killdeer and meadowlarks chimed in. It was time to party!

This is the second post about this little-known spot. In fact, who ever heard of it when we were growing up in the 50's and 60's? Guess it was just too far a drive. The roads were terrible, and it would have been more fun to go to the beach. Thankfully, the area is still somewhat pristine, except for the occasional beer bottle left by Friends of the Junk Jungle. So don't even think about going if you're not willing to pick up a few 'souvenirs' to take home.

My Mom's Brother's Wife's Son, Cooper

[Today's thoughts come to you from Jesse]: "Um, [laughter], Okay, Um, [laughter and rolling on the floor], What should I say? This is my . . . [laugh, laugh], mom's brother's wife's son, or for short, my COUSIN, Cooper."

[We also want to hear from Mallory]:
"Um, Cooper is, um . . cute and funny, and he's almost about to walk. Jesse, please stop that!"

Maybe They Got Candy

A morning trip to Shell Creek included a few conversational cows. The driver didn't want to stop and talk, so we scooted down the road to a safer spot. "Watch out for rattlesnakes!" was the word as we meandered the blooming hills and took pictures. Not much sun, but still beautifully striking.



So get out there and enjoy all this glory before the summer doldrums keep you indoors and fat. Take a hike. Go romp on the beach. Climb a tree. Return those heavenly smiles.

TempleRobles

A current concern for some small communities is the threat of being eaten up by larger ones. Dr. Stephen Sigmund and his wife, Shirley, recently wrote a letter to the Paso Robles Press decrying the increasing rise in the population of their hometown of Templeton, CA. In two years, the town has grown 31% to almost 7,000 people. As part of Citizens Concerned for Templeton's Future, they oppose a proposed 1250 acre addition to the town's boundaries. They also opposed a 40 acre development at the Main Street exit. They definitely don't want to become part of South Paso and cease to exist as the small, historical berg they have always been.

My grandfather grew up in Templeton along with a bunch of other Skinners. I'm sure he's going to roll over in his grave (across the freeway from Templeton) when he hears the news.

Let's let Templeton continue to be sleepy, bypassed, and unseen spot on the map that it always has been.

Cry Me a River

Yes, it's still wet out there as everyone in California knows. Earthquakes are right around the corner. And after those will come the painfully high prices for local fruit and vegetables, the forest fires, and perpetually elevated gasoline costs. A good and needed dose of humble pie.