Here's where your 10% tithing goes!

Preachers of L.A. is coming this fall.   Can't wait to see this beauty and invite my "Church Lady" friends/relatives over for a "Superbowl" type party!

Tithing is an Old Testament concept.   The tithe was a requirement of the law in which all Israelites were to give 10 percent of everything they earned and grew to the Tabernacle/Temple.

In fact, the Old Testament Law required multiple tithes which would have pushed the total to around 23.3 percent, not the 10 percent which is generally considered the tithe amount today.   Some understand the Old Testament tithe as a method of taxation to provide for the needs of the priests and Levites in the sacrificial system. The New Testament nowhere commands, or even recommends, that Christians submit to a legalistic tithe system.

The New Testament nowhere designates a percentage of income a person should set aside, but only says it is to be “in keeping with income” (1 Corinthians 16:2).   Some in the Christian church have taken the 10 percent figure from the Old Testament tithe and applied it as a “recommended minimum” for Christians in their giving.

More details here for you 10 percenters!

ps. Some "Christian" groups are already urging a boycott!

Hot fun in the summertime!

Source: Buzzfeed

Happy 4th of July!

Granted...as an American, there's a lot to be grateful for!   Folks are lining up to enter this country.   However, there's still a lot of stuff that needs to be fixed!   The greatest country on earth?   We need to rethink this!   There is so much more to be done and I still remain convinced that we are two separate countries here in the good ol' US of A!   Us versus them or them versus us?   A great country...yes!   The greatest on earth?   Hmmm?   Regardless of where you stand as an American, please don't forget our Veterans on this 4th of July!

It's not just what you say...it's how you say it!

Often, I want to express (communicate?) to folks exactly what's on my mind in a direct and frank manner.   But, in the back of my head, I know I can't.   I believe I have to be diplomatic, non-confrontational and take into consideration my delivery and the thoughts/reaction of the recipient.   I would like to be frank and forthcoming...but I know I can't.   Why?   In some circumstances, what I have to say may be perceived/received as hurtful/confrontational/argumentative and that's not me...so I just shut the f*ck up!   Again...maybe it's my delivery...or the ears of the recipient.   I just don't know.   So, like I said... I just shut the f*ck up!

Then again...there's this old saying, "if you don't have anything nice to say...don't say anything at all!"   Again...just shut the f*ck up!

Dean & Deluca is doin' da' Pipcorn!

OK folks...I've been tellin' y'all 'bout Pipcorn.

You betta' get you some!.   It's over the top!   Here's what Dean & Deluca has to say about Pipcorn!

"This all-natural, preservative-free, hulless popcorn is popped in small batches with olive oil and seasoned by hand. Because the popcorn has virtually no hulls it has a delicate crunch, is easy to digest, kind to the teeth, and is a trendy spin on a traditional favorite. An artisan wooden crate comes filled with four fabulous flavors: Sea Salt Pipcorn, Signature Rosemary Pipcorn, Sweet and Salty Pipcorn, seaside spicy-ish Crabby Pipcorn."

Take it from me...it's awesome!   Rosemary is my favorite!

Chicken, Race & Racism in America!

Y'all can can say what you want to say about Mrs. Paula...but her "Lady & Sons' Chicken in Wine Sauce" kicks *ss!   It's a family favorite!

Ingredients:

• 4 large skinless boneless chicken breasts
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted, plus more for casserole
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 6 ounces (about 8 slices) Swiss cheese
• 1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 cup herb-flavored stuffing mix, crushed

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Add the chicken to a shallow buttered casserole and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
• Layer the cheese slices on top.
• In a medium bowl, add the soup and the wine, season with salt and pepper and pour over the cheese.
• Sprinkle stuffing mix on top and drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake for 45 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve.

Video is here...unless the Food Network takes it down!

The Wackos respond to the SCOTUS rulings!

DOMA is unconstitutional and Prop 8 is dead!

WOW!   I think this is as big as Loving versus Virginia!   I've already voiced my thoughts on this topic!   Love is love!

SCOTUS & The KKK!

Isn't that Clarence "The Clown" under one of those hoods?

The usual suspects!

F*cking Punks! These *ssholes always get away!

GOP - Demographic Death Spiral! Yeah baby!

Hey Lindsey!   Have your people call Michele's people and maybe you two can do lunch!

Wacko-job Bachmann. She just won't go away!

"If this current iteration of immigration reform passes through Congress, there will never again be a Republican president; and, instead, the United States will be governed by a permanent liberal progressive majority."

Speaking with WorldNetDaily (more wacko-doodle craziness!), Bachmann warned that while her beliefs “may sound melodramatic,” she insists the dire consequences of immigration reform would be “that big and that important” to warrant sounding the alarms.

The Butler!

Dayyum!   I'm definitely gonna see this!   The cast alone will pop your brains!

Happy Fathers Day!

I don't remember much about my Dad being a father.   He moved out of our small South Bronx apartment back in the 1950s.   I was a young kid back then...maybe six or seven?   I don't even remember him actually living with us at all, but when he left, my mother told me that he moved out so that there would be more room for the rest of us (my Mom, grandfather and two siblings).   I bought that answer hook, line and sinker!   After all, he did stop by for a visit every so often...and even took us on a few trips to the Bronx Zoo.

Divorce was unheard of back in those days.   I didn't know anyone else whose parents were divorced.   Not at school, not in the neighborhood, not at church, or anywhere else!   And, as my mother said...he moved out because there was not enough space!   No mention of the divorce word!

It wasn't until almost a decade later that I finally sat my Mom down for a one-on-one.   I just asked..."Mom...are you and Dad divorced"?   She broke out in tears and apologized for not letting out the truth much earlier in my life.   Like I said, divorce was unheard of back in those days.   Perhaps she didn't think we could handle it or, in those days, just didn't want to admit it.

Epilog:
My Dad went off to World War II and during the time he was overseas in France, his mother (my grandmother) died and my older brother was born.   I was born close to nine months after he returned from WWII.

I remain curious as to what led to their divorce.   My Mom always spoke highly of him and never said a bad word about him.   During our one-on-one session, she did say that she felt he wasn't the same after his return from the war.   Perhaps it was a marriage that wasn't meant to be.   They are both long gone, so I will take that curiosity to my grave.   Perhaps it's better that I don't know!

No More Samesies!

This is hilarious.   It cracked me up!   Perhaps this is the beginning of the Tea-Party wackos?   If so, this is gonna piss off Marco Rubio!   Dontcha think?

Marco Rubio...you'll never be POTUS!

Sen. Marco Rubio today vowed that he will vote against the immigration reform bill that he co-authored if the amendment allowing gay US citizens to sponsor their foreign partners is not removed.

"If this bill has something in it that gives gay couples immigration rights and so forth, it kills the bill.   I'm done," Rubio said Thursday during an interview on the Andrea Tantaros Show.   "I'm off it, and I've said that repeatedly.   I don't think that's going to happen and it shouldn't happen.   This is already a difficult enough issue as it is."   The amendment, introduced by Vermont Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, would grant green cards to foreign partners of gay unauthorized immigrants who seek legal status under new rules in the bill.   Leahy originally introduced the measure during the Senate Judiciary Committee markup of the bill, but he withdrew it under pressure from Republican lawmakers who said it would reduce the chance of the bill passing.

Wacko Palin is coming back to FOX News!

Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and self-professed 'Mama Grizzly,' is rejoining Fox News as a contributor.

The return of the outspoken 2008 vice presidential candidate, who appeared on the fair and balanced network for three years ending in January, was announced by Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes.

“I have great confidence in her and am pleased that she will once again add her commentary to our programming," Ailes said. "I hope she continues to speak her mind.”   "The power of Fox News is unparalleled," Palin said. "The role of Fox News in the important debates in our world is indispensable.   I am pleased and proud to be rejoining Roger Ailes and the great people at Fox."

Epilog: I still can't believe that 47% of Americans thought that this wacko was qualified to be Vice President of the United States.   Just goes to prove that there are a bunch of ignorant mofos in this "great country" of ours!   I'm just sayin'!!!

JFK - 50 years ago today on Civil Rights!

Why did he make this statement on this day?
Ask George Wallace..then Governor of Alabama! Just over over 5 months later...he was assassinated!

The Tooth Fairy!

via Buzzfeed on cool parents!

GOP Fund Raising by my 4 Buddies!

PS. Since Miss Michele is not running for office in 2014...will she give back all that money?
Source: Sunlight Foundation

America and Marijuana in Black & White!

According to the latest report from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) black people are 3.7 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white people despite comparable usage rates.   The report also found that marijuana arrests now make up nearly half of all drug arrests, with police making over 7 million marijuana possession arrests between 2001 and 2010.   "The War on Marijuana in Black and White: Billions of Dollars Wasted on Racially Biased Arrests" is the first-ever report to examine nationwide state and county marijuana arrest data by race.

You can view the full report here.

baby & me / the new evian film

How did they do this???   I think it's a hoot!

We are building a better world!

Today was my grandson's "Spring Concert" at pre-school.   It was awesome...but, then again, what grandfather would say that it wasn't awesome regardless of the outcome/performance?   20+ 3-to-5 year-olds sang about 5 or 6 songs...and they knew the words!   Yes...they knew the words!   Blew me away.   I was expecting 2 songs at most!

The finale was a song titled "We are building a better world".   Given the diversity captured in the picture above...yes...it's gonna be a better world!   And the lyrics are:

We're building a better world,
We're building a better world,
We're building a better world,
One person at a time.

REFRAIN:
And the world goes round and round
The world goes round and round and round!

We're building a better world with LOVE (repeat 3 times)
One person at a time. (refrain)

We're building a better world with PEACE (repeat 3 times)
One person at a time. (refrain)

We're building a better world with FRIENDS (repeat 3 times)
One person at a time. (refrain)

We are building a better world...

Epilog:
Half way thru this...a lot of parents (and grandparents) were holding back the tears!   Like I said, it was awesome!

I started this blog on the day he was born, almost four years ago!   He's an amazing kid (the one in the light blue shirt).   Again, what else would a grandfather say!!!

Question...what does he call his grandfather (me)?
Answer...DUDE!

It's gonna be a better world indeed!

Ding Dong the Witch is ... Zero accomplished!

Tried to defeat Obamacare...but that didn't work either!

And there were those who that thought she was presidential material!   It's been a while since I wrote about this wacko.   I'm probably gonna miss her...but I'm sure more stupidity will come out of her mouth!

Obamacare in 2 minutes!

• ObamaCare will not use your tax dollars to fund abortions
• ObamaCare is not and will not lead to a government takeover of health care
• ObamaCare will not increase the national debt or deficit
• ObamaCare does not hurt health insurance companies, but actually increases their business
• ObamaCare is not unconstitutional
• ObamaCare is not socialism

More details (in plain English) here at The Blue Street Journal (my newly discovered website)!