Jonathots Daily Blog
(3751)
A. They are called stars without doing great or being known
B. They take hush money but don’t hush
C. They have colorful names–and STDs
D. They bonk and tell
E. A strong return to the word “allegedly”
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3750)
There are matters that are too important to ignore or leave to chance. These are salient moments.
Anita Bryant.
I would guess, to my average reader, the name neither rings a bell nor stimulates any particular memory.
But back in 1977 (when a few determined dinosaurs still roamed the Earth), Anita Bryant was voted “The Most Trusted Woman in America.”
She was a former Miss America contestant who had a singing career and was well-known as the pitch person for Florida orange juice.
She was vibrant.
She was youthful.
And she was, as we gradually discovered, quite political.
For you see, when the Fort Lauderdale City Council passed an ordinance removing all limitations on lodging and civil considerations for the homosexual community, Anita objected.
And we’re not talking about an op-ed letter to the newspaper. She hit the streets, held rallies, and turned a local situation into a national debate over the issue of whether people who pursued a homosexual lifestyle should be granted all of their civil liberties.
She was in demand. Her performances were packed. She did interviews on all the Christian talk shows, and even one for Playboy Magazine. She was America’s sweetheart.
For you see, at that time in our country, the jury was not only out on the gay community, but was leaning toward the “rejection penalty.”
It was popular to be anti-gay.
It was considered patriotic to be against them.
As we arrived in the 1980s, and the horrific AIDS epidemic spread across the land, those who believed homosexuality to be an abomination to God also whispered that perhaps this new virus was the Almighty’s punishment.
Things changed.
Suddenly a little boy in Indiana got AIDS from a blood transfusion–and it was no longer merely an infection of the flaming queens. Ryan White, with his generous spirit, refused to believe that his particular AIDS was any different from the AIDS contracted by those in San Francisco.
He was humble, he was non-judgmental, and he was strong until the day he died.
He made those who condemned their brothers and sisters look foolish–especially Anita Bryant.
She is still alive, but unfortunately, her name is equated with intolerance instead of righteousness–or orange juice, for that matter.
An interesting fact that you may want to tuck away in your memory: lepers are remembered more favorably than Pharisees.
So here is your salient moment:
You can’t defend God or morality by attacking behavior and hurting people.
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(3748)
Awake.
Lying flat on his back, Carlin stared up at the ceiling. He tried to remember. Where was he? How did he get here? What was the last thing he remembered?
Being in an airplane.
This was not an airplane, so he obviously had been drugged.
Looking down, he discovered he was wearing a blue cotton robe, which fell just below his knees. Glancing to his right, a wall–painted pure white. To his left, another, colored the same. He gradually eased up onto his elbows to observe his surroundings.
A small room, about the size of a one-car garage. There were no doors, no windows, and upon careful inspection, the walls were made of steel.
He was lying on a twin bed–fairly comfortable–with a pillow. Pulling up to a seated position, he discovered that behind him was a night stand with a Bible and a porn magazine lying side-by-side, with a not-so-subtle bottle of lotion perched nearby.
He got to his feet, surprised that he wasn’t woozy. Actually he felt pretty strong.
There was a toilet in the room and a small basin. Also one of those apartment-sized refrigerators and an ice machine. He opened it up to discover it was filled with food. There were cookies, candy, power bars, bottles of beer, soft drinks and even some vodka.
The ceiling was about twenty feet high–obviously to discourage any attempt to climb up and escape.
He looked for a telephone or any means of communicating with the outside. None.
About nine feet up, running along the steel walls, was a series of air vents. He counted. Eight in all.
He sat back down on his bed, and before he knew it, he was sound asleep.
The next time he woke up, he was very hungry. Carlin discerned that there must be some sort of gas flowing into the room. Part of the time it provided rejuvenating pure oxygen, and other times, some gas inducing sleep.
Clever. Otherwise the terror might cause insomnia, which could soon drive any prisoner insane.
Days passed–at least Carlin thought so.
It was difficult to determine. The only thing that made him fairly certain that a new day had come was when he realized that his robe had been removed and replaced with a clean one.
So there was obviously a way to get in and out of the solid, steel walls. But though he carefully examined each rivet and bolt, he was unable to discover an opening.
On one awakening, Carlin found that the refrigerator had been removed. The food was gone, as was the ice machine. In its place was a water cooler.
Upon the next awakening, he lost his bed. Just a blanket and pillow remaining. Also, the porn magazine and lotion disappeared.
On yet another rising, all the cookies, power bars and anything resembling food was removed.
He found himself in this room with a Bible, a toilet, water and a sink.
Days passed.
Carlin tried to figure out what had brought him to this place, and what possible interest anyone would have–for them to go to such trouble to care for his every need, and then restrict him.
And then, one day he awoke in a chair in another room which was also painted white. But it was larger.
He was wearing a bright red pair of pants with white tennis shoes and a red Nehru jacket–nothing he would ever purchase for himself. He was fastened to the chair by a set of hand-cuffs. Once again, he felt refreshed, fully alive, but bewildered.
Suddenly, a door in the back of the room opened and a portly fellow appeared. He was dressed in black pants, and like him, wore a Nehru coat–black.
The man was short, round, and more rolled his way to a chair placed about fifteen feet from Carlin’s. He sat. The Nehru jacket was a poor fit, and so stuck out like he had candy bars stuffed in the pockets.
Carlin smiled. But even more bizarre was the fact that this rolly-polly visitor was wearing a mask. Carlin squinted at the mask.
“Do you like my mask?” The stranger spoke up. Carlin observed that he had a bit of an Eastern European accent. He chose not to answer.
“I thought you would like it,” the visitor continued. “Wasn’t it your favorite as a boy? ‘Casper the Friendly Ghost.’ Remember? When you were just seven years old, and your daddy would not let you have the costume of Casper because he said that Halloween was of the devil?”
Carlin took a deep breath. He did not know this man. He did not recognize his voice. The surroundings were completely alien to him, yet the visitor seemed to know details of his life.
Carlin decided to use his usual weapon–his wit.
“Yeah, I had to trick the old man. I told him it was Casper the Holy Ghost.”
The fat man laughed. “Joshua Mensterhall was his name, am I right? That was your father.”
Carlin did not respond.
The intruder continued. “He was a preacher of sorts–very poor. I mean, money-wise. Always upset your mother, Myrtle, didn’t it?”
Carlin was unnerved, but had learned long ago that keeping your cool was the best way to stay out of hot situations.
“And then there was trouble,” continued the stranger. “Your mother divorced your father, your father fell into some dementia, if I’m correct. And you ended up being the ward of a family named Canaby. Missionaries. They decided to take you in as their new son.”
Carlin interrupted, perturbed. “Actually, they had three daughters and they needed a boy to work with them. You know–to lift things, run errands and all the other things the girls refused to do. I was a well-fed slave. Similar to today, sir. Except you won’t let me eat.”
“My name–for purposes of this day–is Frank,” said the man. “We shall call me Frank because that’s what I plan to do with you. Be frank. I wanted you to know that I was aware of your life. I am fully up-to-date on the fact that you still maintain a personal belief in God though you find all the systems of the world devoid of value. That’s why you started your company, Liary–trying to find a better way to lie, which hurt fewer people.”
“Listen, Frank,” inserted Carlin, “I wouldn’t phrase it that way. And if you’re so concerned, why do you have me handcuffed to this chair?”
Frank slowly stood up and headed over to Carlin. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize it was so uncomfortable. I did buy the velvet cuffs to ease any pressure on your skin.”
Frank took a key and unlocked the cuffs on the one end which held them to the chair.
Carlin quipped, “Why don’t we just take off the whole damn thing?”
“Never abandon what you might need later,” said Frank, waddling his way back to his chair.
Staring at the very vulnerable back end of his adversary, Carlin challenged, “How do you know I won’t jump up here and attack you to make my escape?”
Turning around to sit, Frank laughed. “Oh, my dear friend. There are at least a dozen ways you would be killed before you got within a foot of me.”
Carlin quickly looked around the room, horrified. “Good response,” he said. “Let me ask you this. What would keep me from jumping to my feet and running out the back door, getting away?”
Frank chuckled. “I suppose the best answer to that would be months and months of not exercising.”
Carlin had to laugh. “Well, there must be a reason you have me here. So sensing that I’m not going to hurry you, let me sit back in my ridiculous outfit and become as pliable as I possibly can.”
Frank nodded his head. “That’s what I liked about you. I mean, when I studied you. You aren’t afraid of dealing with reality and taking it as it comes.”
Carlin stood to his feet. “Is it alright if I stand?”
“Surely,” said Frank. “Just don’t move. My snipers are a bit peckish.”
Once again, Carlin looked around the room, baffled, in terror.
“Is there any way I could get you to take off the mask?” inquired Carlin.
“Not on our first date,” said Frank. “Maybe someday. But now, onto matters that concern you. Soon you will be back to your home, and because of the particular chemicals we have mixed together, this entire event will seem like a dream rather than an actual occurrence. That’s good. You will discover that while this is happening to you, other members of your team are also being welcomed and taken care of in like manner. Five of you in all.”
This startled Carlin more than anything else that had happened over the duration. Who? What? Why?
He decided to pursue the who. “What members of our team?” he challenged.
Frank scooted back into his chair. “There’s no harm in you knowing. Like I said, it will seem like a dream to all of you–except when you construct all the pieces together, a concrete message will appear.”
Frank paused. “I see I am merely confusing you. Well, to answer your question: Jubal, Jasper, Soos and Jo-Jay. They, like you, are part of this master plan.”
“Master plan?” asked Carlin.
“Well,” said Frank. “Perhaps that’s a bad name for it. Let us just say that matters have reached a point where it is necessary for–shall we call them, outside forces?–to intervene. To make sure that what you folks have begun has a fulfilling ending.”
“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about!” Carlin was suddenly furious. “What gives you the goddamn right to interrupt the lives of five adult people?”
“I have no right,” said Frank. “But for this season it’s better to interrupt the lives of five souls, with the possibility of salvaging millions.”
Carlin shook his head. “I’ve heard this bullshit all my life. The end justifies the means. The greater good. Honor the traditions. This is the best way we can handle it. Frank, let me be frank with you. Every time I’ve heard those words, human beings have gotten hurt.”
“A very astute observation,” said Frank. “And you are correct. It is a potential danger. So let me not keep you any longer with this aimless discussion. Each one of you will be given a single piece to remember. Only when you join together–the five of you–will you form the complete message that will give you direction.”
“God damn it, I’m not James Bond, you son-of-a-bitch.” Carlin stood up, walking forward. As he did a bullet whizzed by his head. He leaped back, desperately grabbing onto his chair.
Frank shook his head. “I told you my snipers were a bit overly caffeinated…”
Gasping, Carlin said, “Peckish was the word you used. I’d call them goddamn peckers.”
“Now,” continued Frank calmly, “to your piece in the puzzle.”
“Hold on, hold on,” said Carlin. “What about Matthew? He’s the one that got all of this started. Why isn’t he in this mix?”
Frank held up his hand, demanding silence. “Everyone has their place. Just learn yours.”
Carlin shook his head, wanting to be rebellious, but realizing the price he might pay for his assertive nature. “I’m listening,” he said.
“Your piece of the puzzle, Mr. Canaby, is a name. I want you to remember it. I want you to retain it for the moment you will need it. The name is Terrence Eldridge.”
Carlin interrupted. “Shouldn’t I write that down?”
Frank laughed. “Oh, no, no, no. You’ll remember it. We made sure. We’ve studied your brain for a long time.”
Carlin was about ready to object when everything went black. It remained so for some time.
At least, it must have been some time.
Because the next thing he knew, he was waking up in Washington, D.C. in his own bed, wearing his own black satin pajamas, with the sun streaming through the windows.
Once again, he was refreshed and energized. He had no idea how much time had passed.
He sat and tried to remember what had transpired, but it was like bits of the story were running out of his brain, like water from a falls. With each passing minute, he retained less and less.
Finally, there was just one thing left. A name, with shadows.
Terrence Eldridge.
Carlin was convinced he’d had a nightmare which affected his emotions greatly, but he couldn’t come up with any details.
It seemed like a bad dream.
Until he rolled over and saw the velvet handcuff dangling from his wrist.
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Jonathots Daily Blog
(3747)
Today I’m doing something a little different. I’m sitting here with the Good Book open, peering down at John the 7th Chapter.
I have no intention of trying to impress you with my Bible knowledge nor attempt to turn some passage into a magical expression of salvation.
What I want to share with you is a pattern.
I would like to find an adjective to describe this pattern. Foolish comes to mind. Perhaps dangerous. But certainly repetitive.
The pattern is the ongoing belief in every generation that you can evaluate something by the numbers–“the bottom line.”
Ironically, it was verbalized perfectly over two thousand years ago by the brothers and sisters of Jesus of Nazareth when they critiqued him on his approach to promoting the message he had chosen to share.
Their insights are frightening to read because they are so current to today’s ignorance. They spoke the following to Jesus:
“For there is no man that does anything in secret but instead, wants to be known.”
Have you ever heard that philosophy?
“Promote yourself.”
“Get it out there.”
“Showcase it.”
“Use your tools.”
“Adjust your intensity to the present flow of thinking.”
Amazingly, through the whole 7th Chapter of John, this repeats over and over again. For later on in that same passage, the audiences that come to Jesus muse whether he could be the Messiah, because they’re concerned about where he was born.
Added pressure.
Not only do you need to promote yourself well, but you need a certain look–maybe even a color. How about a culture to back you up?
We have the mistaken idea that Jesus always had great multitudes following him. There were times that people hung around for a while–after all, if you turn water into wine and can take a Happy Meal and make a buffet, you will gain some attention.
But the truth of the matter is, as soon as Jesus started teaching, the crowd thinned, and on one occasion totally disappeared.
For after all, what concerned the average Jew was whether God would send a military man to destroy the Romans and establish the Kingdom of Israel.
On the other hand, Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God, which was within us, and would enable us to get along with everyone, including the Romans.
Conflict.
Yet it is best capsulized in that same chapter in a meeting among the Jewish leaders.
When they sat discussing the phenomenon of Jesus of Nazareth, what finally made them decide he was a joke, a hoax or at least a light-weight was the fact that none of the hierarchy of their religion–those considered intelligent, educated and astute–believed in him.
The premise was, “If you really are somebody, all the “somebodies” will recognize and promote you.”
“If you really are talented, you will be discovered.”
“If you really are bringing a possibility of hope and salvation, eventually you’ll be offered a platform instead of a cross.”
It didn’t work out that way.
Nowadays, I often sit around with my children, explaining to them that success is meaningless. In my lifetime, notorious people, who appeared to be powerful and everlasting, bit the dust and became cautionary tales of stupidity.
You can’t look at the numbers.
If you had lived in 1st century Palestine and looked at the numbers, the popularity, the acceptance, the blending and the support of the people in the know, you would never have found Jesus.
If you want to find out what is going to last, be helpful, truthful and carry the touch of God, do one thing–simply watch and learn.
How resourcefully does he, she or they use the resources?
*****
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*******
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Jonathots Daily Blog
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The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly donation for this inspirational opportunity
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3745)
by Jonathan Richard Cring
Ineffective
Stalled
Broken
Evaluated
Rejected
Offered
Refused
Presented
Snubbed
Condemned
Abandoned
Worthless
Available
Comical
Revisit
Curious
Concerned
Careful
Courageous
Cleanse
Scrape
Repair
Replace
Restructure
Reinvent
Renewal
Reveal
Tepid
Uncaring
Critical
Short-sighted
Persevere
Time
Chance
Music
Dance
Notice
Appreciation
Praise
Admired
Mine
Our guest reader this week is Janet, who lives in Florida with her family, and is a master musician.
*****
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*****
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| Anonymous on 1 Thing You Can Do When Your F… |
| Anonymous on 1 Thing You Can Do When Your F… |
| Anonymous on 1 Thing You Can Do When Your F… |
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 | Maxine Mantooth on Drawing Attention … Dece… |
| Steve on From the Stacks … Octobe… |
| Maxine Mantooth on Scrambles … October 20th… |
| Maxine Mantooth on From the Stacks … Octobe… |
| Maxine Mantooth on Scrambles … October 13th… |
A voice writing in the wilderness
Jonathots Daily Blog 
G-Poppers … July 27th, 2018
There are those who try to keep up by pretending they are young, vibrant and athletic–just as fresh as they were before accumulating so many birthday candles. But no matter how much one thinks one might be spry, simply knowing the definition of the word “spry” eliminates one from the present generation’s vernacular.
There is a power in staying current.
There is an extreme blessing in aging gracefully.
And there is also an essential stubbornness that needs to remain with all of us over the age of thirty–simply to remind the younger generation of the filament that holds this old world together. Otherwise, it becomes not only posh, hip or cool to stay current with the numbering of I-Phones, but also makes some people think that all traditional values should be stuffed somewhere deep in Mississippi at a Bible camp.
So today G-Pop offers three ideas that must stay current–passed on by every generation as fresh thinking, fresh action and fresh life:
1. My life is my own responsibility.
2. It’s none of my business.
3. Good comes in all colors.
Because we have not been retaining these pillars of purpose, folks have started blaming other people for everything.
We stick our noses where they don’t belong, and judge the heart, soul and mind of every creature who only has one Judge
And we have begun to believe that culture (which is often just a masking for the color of skin) is so unique that we sometimes just can’t cross the lines to understand one another.
So in closing, be as young as you want. Go ahead and water ski with your grandchildren as long as you’re good friends with Ben Gay, but teach your children these three essentials of life.
Without them, we all become selfish, bratty, inconsiderate assholes.
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on July 27, 2018 at 2:52 pm Comments (1)Tags: assholes, athletic, Ben Gay, Bible camp, birthdays, blessing, bratty, current, G-Poppers, gracefully, Grim Reaper, heart, I-phones, mind, Mississippi, pillars, selfish, soul, spry, stubbornness, thirtieth birthday, viable, water ski, younger generation