Good morning, friend. Come on in, and since I’ve been at this for several hours, you have an unusual gift this morning: two different types of coffee to enjoy while we visit.
The coffeemaker has some fresh Grizzly Peak blend from a Montana roaster, and the silver carafe with the black top has some great Columbian Supremo dark roast. Feel free to help yourself; the cups are right over there on a converted bookshelf, and there’s sugar and creamer for those who ruin their first cup. Yeah, I’m kidding; somewhere about the fourth cup, I often add both real cream and sugar, along with a dollop of smooth caramel syrup. G’head. Help yourself while I find the right thread to pull . . .
Pardon? ‘Goulash’?
Sure. Unless you can’t stand it, you’ve eaten that. What’s usually in it is whatever’s handy. Right?
Super. I’m already seeing your knowing glances, at least those of you who are seasoned 2nd Cuppers. Good-good. Those of you who aren’t? Ask one near you who is. Or just keep reading.
Usually I have a good idea as to my writing subject. One seems to, ah, trump the others. I jot notes for the also-rans down for another time, focus on the winner, and soon emerges another blog post.
This morning, I woke to all sorts of tidbits – not to be confused with chunks – along with snippets of this or that idea. The more I tried to adjust my mental reticle, the more they all scampered away, laughing like kid cousins at a summer family cookout. By the way, watch the one in the green paisley shorts. He’ll kype your hot d–
Goulash.
from an old friend ~ “If some people would be a little more careful about where they step, those who follow them would not stumble so much.”
“Nothing lies beyond the reach of prayer except that which is out of the will of God.” (His personal note: ‘You get nothing that Daddy doesn’t approve of! Simple and straightforward.)
“Any honest examination of the national life proves how far we are from the standard of human freedom with which we began. The recovery of this standard demands of everyone who loves this country a hard look at himself, for the greatest achievements must begin somewhere, and they always begin with the person. If we are not capable of this examination, we may yet become one of the most distinguished and monumental failures in the history of nations.” ~ James Baldwin (1924 – 1987, American author)
from a new adopted daughter ~ “Due to the coin shortage, I will no longer be accepting people’s 2 cents!”
“If you have the will to win, you’ve achieved half your success. If you don’t, you’ve achieved half your failure.” ~ David Ambrose
Organizations and relationships are built on trust. When betrayed, that trust is never the same, though you spend a lifetime attempting to rebuild it. Old wounds have long memories. A glare, a comment, even the tone of voice can needle old scars; and anyone who’s had someone poking around scar tissue can tell you it hurts. Betrayal and rejection never completely goes away. Ever. ~ 2nd Cup files
- There’s an island off the Australian coast where a pair of trained Maremma sheep dogs were placed to protect a colony of tiny penguins so foxes wouldn’t wipe them out. None of the penguins have been killed by foxes since that program began. The penguin population on the island has increased from fewer than 10 to nearly 200.
To be responsible, keep your promises to others. To be a man or woman of excellence, keep your promises to yourself. ~ 2nd Cup files
Psalm 133 ~
How good and pleasant it is
when God’s people live together in unity!
2 It is like precious oil poured on the head,
running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
down on the collar of his robe.
3 It is as if the dew of Hermon
were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
even life forevermore.
I’m including this in response to watching and listening to everyone from Rev. Franklin Graham to Nancy Pelosi quoting Scripture in support of their views relative to the whole CoVid-19 “pandemic” hoo-ha, and how it affects our upcoming election – and, by association, what America will turn out to be afterwards.
No preaching. Just a few salient observations.
- The term used is unity – not uniformity. God’s okay with us being different; after all, He created us that way. Strangely enough, all the screaming, spit-spewing ‘protesters’ claiming solidarity and oneness are only further dividing and splitting.
- Aaron was God’s choice for the Israelites’ first high priest. Such special appointments were publicly celebrated by anointing them with highly-fragrant oil. That anointing wasn’t a polite dipping of one’s finger in the oil and touching the person’s forehead. That oil – more like pricey cologne – was poured over the person’s head so it ran down over their face, into their beard, and down over their clothing. Nobody within smelling range had any doubt who’d been so honored!
- That is how special and important God sees you and I living, working, serving, and worshiping together: in UNITY. And this Psalm says He blesses it, too!
So the whole point here is that since God blesses unity, all this rhetoric about Him being on OUR side by amoral, conscienceless political types and their Socialist minions/handlers isn’t worth the breath needed to make that claim. All they’ve been doing is attempting to tear down the thing God says He always blesses: our unity.
So. What’s the answer to the destruction, mayhem, looting, burning, killing, and Congress spending our tax dollars doing little but hurling misused and abused Biblical texts at each other?
You and I, American brother and sister, pushing aside all further attempts to drive and keep us apart and narrowing our eyes at one another. It’s linking arms with one another, celebrating the differences that history’s proven to be an unbeatable force. The answer is for all America’s citizens to once again stand up as one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. It’s past time to reestablish who is in charge – and it’s NOT anyone else but American citizens, being responsible to show up, speak up, and when the time comes, to proudly cast our votes according to our conscience and knowledge.
Well, 2nd Cup friends. that’s more than enough goulash for now. It’s time to make the weekly foray into grocery and essentials shopping for the week.
It’s always great to—- ungh?
Kype? I’m smiling, for those of you who are younger likely never heard the term.
Here’s an idea. If you know, drop me a reply and tell me what it means. I need to go get publicly presentable.
Yeah-yeah-yeah . . . including masks.
For now.
© D. Dean Boone, July 2020