Make Way for the Terrorists! NOT.

Israeli children play for the last time (?) on their beautiful (and fully legal!) homeland in Israel... before they are evacuated and it is destroyed... BY OTHER ISRAELI'S!!!

25 neighborhoods to be torn down to make way for the terrorists!

Picture this:

Husband looks up from reading newspapaer. Sees commando outside his window violently motioning he vacate the premises. A hungry bulldozer waits behind the commando.

"Uh, honey. The army is here to destroy our house!"

Wife responds, "WHAT???!!! What on earth are is their reason?"

Husband, in disbelief, "Dunno, really... Perhaps our peaceful coexistance with the terrorist entity?"

In case you don't care about what's going on in Israel today, please be aware of the complete dismantling and demolition of 25 Jewish communities. Here is some reliable background on the legality and history of the Jewish communities in question.

[FYI - The Jewish Virtual Library is the most balanced and comprehensive archive of all things Jewish that I know of... I highly reccomend taking your questions there before you trust CNN or the New York Post! Also see Honest Reporting!]

This from www.israelnn.com article: "The first group of communities slated for destruction includes only three: Morag, Netzarim and Kfar Darom - the more isolated of the Gaza towns. Morag is appended to the east of the southern tip of the Gush Katif communities, while Kfar Darom is three kilometers to the north of Gush Katif. Netzarim is another ten kilometers further north, in central Gaza; residents and visitors travel to and fro Netzarim accompanied by military convoys roughly every hour."

"The second group of communities to be forcibly transferred includes the four in northern Shomron – Ganim, Kadim, Sa-Nur and Chomesh. The third group is the largest, including all 15 communities within the approximately 85-square kilometer (33 square miles) area of Gush Katif. The fourth group is the three secular communities of northern Gaza – Elei Sinai, Nisanit and Dugit. The final order of the groups' expulsion has not yet been set."

Isn't it interesting that our own Condoleeza Rice calls for a "contiguous Palestinian state within the borders of Israel," thus rewarding the very entity, the Palestinian Liberation Organization, aka The Palestinian Authority, created and nurtured by the godfather of terrorism himself, Yasser Arafat, with EVERYTHING THEY WANT!!!

But Condy and the rest of our good American representatives didn't react so kindly to al Queda when our own towers were "bombed"! We took to whoopin their butts as I recall!!!

So why the double standard with Israel? Why are they being forced to REWARD the terrorists in their land?

Really.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. AND for the peace of Gush Katif!

I'm a POST "post-modern" kinda guy.

I vehemently disagree with the following statement:

" The nice thing is that since we're all post-modern now anyways, you can choose anything you want and it can be your 'good'! :) "

It was discovered on an email list I'm a member of... a bunch of film industry gurus from Hollywood (and elsewhere) were arguing about the new HD technologies versus film. The statement was slightly tongue-in-cheek but it clarifies my suspicion that "post-modern" thinkers use their intellectual gymnastics to excuse all sorts of philosophy and behavior as acceptable in the sight of God.

But it ain't necessarily so!

I firmly believe that, although there is some value in questioning tradition, there is infinitely more value in doing so with a whole-hearted study of the ancient scriptures of the Hebrew peoples! The Bible is more than another world-wide bestseller (tops the charts every year, in fact!). It's the Truth written by a Being who exists outside our time-space realm - and also, thankfully, within it.

Israel is OBVIOUSLY the center of attention in our planet and for what reason? It is more than coincidence that a bunch of people (for the first time in history) who were scattered across the globe are re-united and see resurrected their dead, ancient language and participate in restoring a barren wasteland of a desert to be the only non-oil-producing democracy in the Middle East. It is providence. At least Leo Tolstoy saw it.

Look at the ancient scripture and ask your heart if it's applicable to today's sleepy, over-indulgent and EVER SO POST-MODERN Hollywood, er, I mean.. America -

2800 years ago (and does that, therefore, mean "less relevant"? Ask your heart. I pray for your insight.) Isaiah spoke and it was written and indelibly communicated in chapter 5, points 20 through 23 -

20 How horrible it will be for those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness into light and light into darkness, who turn what is bitter into something sweet and what is sweet into something bitter. 21 How horrible it will be for those who think they are wise and consider themselves to be clever. 22 How horrible it will be for those who are heroes at drinking wine, who are champions at mixing drinks, 23 who declare the guilty innocent for a bribe, who take away the rights of righteous people.

And Paul's letter to the Ephesians (circa 57 AD), chapter 2, in verses 1-5, makes the point that the Maker cares for us in this condition -

1 You were once dead because of your failures and sins. 2 You followed the ways of this present world and its spiritual ruler. This ruler continues to work in people who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us once lived among these people, and followed the desires of our corrupt nature. We did what our corrupt desires and thoughts wanted us to do. So, because of our nature, we deserved God's anger just like everyone else.

4 But God is rich in mercy because of his great love for us. 5 We were dead because of our failures, but he made us alive together with Christ. (It is God's kindness that saved you.

Give up on making up your own rules with absolutely no regard for the writings of those who have gone before you! And, I beg you, look at the writings of the apostles of Jesus, Yeshua, King of the Universe, who was so busy healing people and doing good things on this planet that He didn't have time to write, only to speak and love and do. Read the gospels of John, Mark, Matthew and Luke.

Ask how post-modern a thinker was Yeshua!

You might find yourself chucking the whole (supremely cool) post-modern ideology and clinging gratefully to ...

THE TRUTH IN YESHUA.

The Downtown KC Ramp is for Riders. (vlog06)

Skating the downtown ramp has been very satisfying for this oldschool dog. I can't thank the city of KC enough!!! Thank you Kansas City!!! You ROCK!!! ALSO Baruch atta Adonai Elohaynu, Melech HaOlam... who give us RAMPS TO RIDE and WHEELS on which to RIDE THEM!!!!

Also posted here. back in Feb. 2005.


Downtown Ramprider (vlog06)

Aspiring Vlogger... (vlog05)

Been reading about VLOGS lately. A "vlog" is a "video web log." There are various people doing it. Like this guy.

And me!

One stop shop for vlogs.

How to do vlogs.

A convention about about vlogging.

A note about the FIRST VLOGGER... perhaps it was Edison Carter (or Max) of the infamous sci-fi show, Max Headroom! Note the "in-the-face" style so characteristic of vloggers... the "on the spot" stream-of-consciousness... hmmm....

And, hey, where are all the CONSERVATIVE ARTISTS out there?

Aspiring vlogger (vlog05)

Vision Quest Until You Get It!

The Emergence of my Strongest Steps

Visions are born out of necessity.

There is a sense of terrible, shaking, beckoning purpose on your horizon... or perhaps right there in your chest as you read this.

Most of us live our lives in a stale mediocre existence. We live in the flow of humanity as the fortunate cow - grunting and shuffling in and out of the corral - the same way sun up as we do sun down.

We don't think to live wildly. We don't think to listen to that fantastic challenge that calls us to greatness from inside and outside.

But call to you it does... that voice inside says "There is MORE to LIFE than this ... PLAIN EXISTENCE. And it's muffled call to you is of the grist of your purpose - grand purpose in life.

Each of us is born with a specific set of potentialities and must recognize those unique values and enhance them with all our focus and energy. We have heard of a "vision quest" of the Native Americans. I would like to relate that to the way of the ancients of the Middle East, the Hebrews. They have a way of teaching their children from the ancient scripture most thoroughly and profoundly. This is the vision quest we seek. It is one that first wishes to be "washed with the pure water of the word." It seeks to rest in God's promise the way the native american youth would rest alone in the wilderness as he sought the direction of the Great Spirit. But the promises of God in Christ Jesus are "Yes!" and "Amen!"

2nd Peter 1:19 - So we regard the words of the prophets as confirmed beyond all doubt. You're doing well by paying attention to their words. Continue to pay attention as you would to a light that shines in a dark place as you wait for day to come and the morning star to rise in your hearts.

And these core talents or gfitings in our beings will coalesce as we strengthen them into various steps... sequential endeavors profoundly predestined for us in Christ Jesus -

Epheseians 2:10 . God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do.

This is the vision for our lives. And once those steps are clear, the strongest steps for achieving that vision of destiny specifically tooled to fit our being... our loved ones, acquaintances and complete strangers will follow that birth with rapt attention... even the invisible angel beings will long to look into our lives as we walk that vision path!

1st Peter 1:11 So they (students of the Word from ages past) tried to find out what time or situation the Spirit of Christ kept referring to whenever he predicted Christ's sufferings and the glory that would follow. 12 God revealed to the prophets that the things they had spoken were not for their own benefit but for yours. What the prophets had spoken, the Holy Spirit, who was sent from heaven, has now made known to you by those who spread the Good News among you. These are things that even the angels want to look into.

Sometimes fears can hide your vision
The loss of purpose chains you down
You think I’ve forgotten all you’re dreaming of
But how could I forget the one I love
And it’s...

Not by might, not by power
But by my spirit says the lord
Not by might, not by power
But by my spirit says the lord

Before the vision can be seen, we must go through a process of LEANING!!!

Picture again that native american lad, if you will. He returns from his vision quest - alone in the wilderness for weeks - leaning upon his Source, the Creator, the Great Spirit. So does the Jewish boy who prepares for his coming-of-age - his bar-mitzvah - by casting his whole soul into the "wilderness" of the Word - until he is one with the Voice of the Lord who alone speaks Truth. And we - in our modern various pursuits (ANYTHING sincere that leaves the TV OFF and is in pursuit of Truth!) - we must come from our vision quest LEANING on GOD ALONE!

Song of Solomon 8:5 Who is this young woman coming from the wilderness with her arm around her beloved?

Once the mind has left the comfort of the old paradigm and embraced the possibility of extraordinary achievement, the question that never fails to ignite the necessary creativity and passion is; what do we need to do to get there? Pay attention to all of the ideas and methods produced during your vision-gestation period and don't prejudge them. The winning steps will emerge, and often will do so, from the unlikeliest of places... from the very mysterious space of God's vast, eternal horizon!

Ephesians 5:13 Light exposes the true character of everything 14 because light makes everything easy to see. That's why it says: "Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 So then, be very careful how you live. Don't live like foolish people but like wise people.

25 Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He did this to make the church holy by cleansing it, washing it using water along with spoken words. 27 Then he could present it to himself as a glorious church, without any kind of stain or wrinkle--holy and without faults. 28 So husbands must love their wives as they love their own bodies. A man who loves his wife loves himself.

Autistics are observing more than you think!

"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.

He to whom this emotion is a stranger,

who can no longer wonder and stand rapt in awe,

is as good as dead:

his eyes are closed."

--Albert Einstein

I was gonna write about Autism... but, altho I highly identify with autism myself, I really know so little about that aspect of me, I decided not to.

But that quote (from an Autism page) HAD to go in here!!

First Black President of the United States of America! (vlog04)

[post script - This accounts for my 4th vlog... published before I knew what vlogs were!]

Mae C. Jemison is, quite likely, going to be one of the first women to be president of the United States of America!

On this Martin Luther King Junior Day, I'd like to let her speak to you about dreams.

You have dreams to better the planet and the condition in which its people live life on it... don't let anyone tell you to stop!

1st Black President movie (vlog03)

An Atheist in a Mouse Suit

Following is my "sorta-kinda" film review of the Israeli movie, Broken Wings, by Nir Bergman -

I don't subscribe to self-delusion although I'm probably more prone to use the word, I, than the next guy.

But, seriously, self-delusion (in or out of a mouse suit) isn't only limited to atheists. I'm prone to it, actually (probably? maybe? - better to suspect I am than to ignore the possibility, wouldn't you think? especially considering the nature of self-delusion? but I digress...). And I don't want to live the separated, muffled life that such a mouse suit imposes. So I continue to search for less selfish ways to live... while maintaining a vibrant sense of self that I can liberally share.

And I'm not talking about not living in fear... that's a whole nother battle that is no longer daily fought by those who have "died to self" (1st Peter 4:1).

I'm talking about the battle to cling to life after death has shaken your hand and greeted you with its grisly "Hello." This is the battle to (once again?) regard others in the sphere of life ... life ... with childlike wonder and respect.

The character in Broken Wings, Yair, dresses in a mouse suit to "preach" the hopelessness of existance... "We're all meaningless specks of dust," he drones as he shuffles along without hope... in his complete self-absorption. He is in deep pain of loss over the recent, utterly surprising death of his father.

And it takes a moment of naked conversation with someone who probes him deeply for a shred of honesty to shake him awake from that slumber.

But don't we all need a moment of naked awareness... utterly vulnerable to our surroundings... and, much more, the people in our spheres of sight and thought?

Without these moments of repentance... moments of realization of the deep need we have of those who love us most... we are sad, shuffling mice.... nay, specks of dust!

May we all wake up to love... love for God, yes... first and mostly! But isn't that love expressed by our love for those whose rays of reflected light enter our eyes daily?

Yes, first let's take off our mouse suits so we can better see them... and hear them... and hold them.

So, check out Ephesians 5 in that light...

13 All things having their true character exposed by the Light and are made manifest; for that which makes everything manifest is Light.
14 Therefore He says, "Wake up, you who sleep, and arise up from among the dead, and the Messiah shall shine upon you."
15 Watch carefully therefore how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 For this reason don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
18 And don't be drunk with wine, because it is needless indulgence in sensual pleasures; but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to each other in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and chanting with your heart to the Lord;
20 giving thanks at all times for all things to Him who is God and the Father in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah,
21 submitting yourselves to one another in the reverence of Messiah Yeshua.

House of Invention

This morning I had a dream that gave me the same sense I get often when I spend time with the saints of Kansas City ("saints" defined as "average people who stumble but get up and get under the Blood of Jesus... again and again...") in their prayers and praises to the Most High. It's the sense of invention and wonder. It's that scintillating atmosphere you feel in higher institutes of learning... but without the hubris and anxiety that often attends those. It's that sense of freshness you feel when stepping off the plane or the boat in those first moments of discovery in some strange, distant land.

So I wrote this song tonight to celebrate that real thing... that I happened to dream about this morning.

House of Invention

Funny. It's mysterious and dreamlike... but real... in the House of Invention, His "House of Prayer for All Nations."

Mark 11:17 Then he taught them by saying, "Scripture says, 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations,' but you have turned it into a gathering place for thieves."

The religious among us steal our souls... they steal our endurance... they are thieves of our wonder, thieves of our joy, thieves of our play, thieves of our worship, thieves of hard-earned dollars, yes, but they are also thieves of creative enterprise from our homes, thieves of our family life, thieves of our adventure... and they are thieves of our inventions.

Let us become as children and explore again, shall we? There is no place safer and more expansive than in the "house" of the Maker of the Univers... He who created us has also redeemed us... for a Kingdom of Wonders Unimaginable.

If you turned out as many inventions as Nikolai Tesla... you'd just be scratching the surface.

Creed for a Unified Life

I'm an American, yes, but also a Canadian... Although I was offered Canadian citizenship at 18 and ignorantly turned it down, my Mother was born Canadian and I lived there for 3 years growing up. Not bad, eh? And it doesn't stop there.

I'm truly a global citizen. I was raised by the famous American fighter pilot, Wayne R. Chaffer, who was awarded the medal of honor by a nation from half way round the world, Viet Nam. And during his tour of duty, i lived in 4 different countries - traveling through 15 different nations altogether. And since leaving home (is that possible if I'm really a global child?), I've travelled through 2 more - that's 17.

Not that it matters, though. In today's world ANYONE can live globally through the internet and the worldwide distribution of goods and services. I have friends from several nations and am now doing business with several outside the Americas. And (like everyone else) I'm buying a WHOLE LOT of products from "Big Red" half way around the world and some other products from yet several more. I regularly play my drums which are handmade from Nigeria, for instance.

All that to say that I'm not called to have a grid for just one small little nook in this huge planet of ours. I'm called to live as I have been raised... globally.

I need to just get used to that. I tend not to want to admit it... but I'm a citizen of the world - no political manipulation meant at all - it's just the simpe and honest fact! Tonight I spent quite some time reading posts in a forum surrounding an investment opportunity I'm interested in from Malaysia - PIPS, Inc.. It's quite an amazing global community that chats there (about some pretty interesting things, financially!) and I'm so impressed by the special scent, the rich flavor of people willing to meet different cultures in one place!

The amazing outpour of horror and soul that was wrought by last week's Indian Ocean Tsunamis is an event that, alone, has probably brought more people out of their "head-in-sand-like-ostriches" reality in recent history. In much the same way that 9-11 did, as it was a "world trade" center that was hit...

And just this week, we were visited here in my house by 2 dear friends who live in Nepal. They shared the rich, ancient, fresh, soulful flavor of Nepal.

And how does that pan out? pan-continentally!

It means I need to stay outside of the little box many put on their thinking which says "think locally."

Why limit your activism for the betterment of humanity (you ARE an activist for justice aren't you?) to just your neighborhood or city? You don't have to limit the think-realm to just that! You could be acting for just your locale but still THINKING about all people everywhere! I think the more accurate popular phrase should be said,

"Think Globally - Start ANYWHERE!"

You can make a difference right where you are, but you can make MORE of a difference if you're SENSITIZED to the many cultures of people who live on this balancing-ball with you!!!

Christopher Cross, the singer/songwriter who wrote Sailing ("takes me away to where I'm going...") also wrote,

"Open your heart until - everyone's in - it's never too late to believe - and begin."

And that's my theme song for this Creed for a Unified Life. Have a sing!

6, 7, 8!

"Everything you know is wrong."

Evolution is a lie. We're not billions of years old. We're thousands of years old. Can you say "worldwide cataclysm" and "frozen munching mammoths" and "super silly geologists"? This planet has been around for 6 THOUSAND years! Period. Adjust your thinking. You've been thinking wrong.

We're heading towards the 7th millennium (see Psalm 90:4 - 2nd Peter 3:8 - Revelation 20:2-7) and the Millennial Reign of the God in Messiah Yeshua who made it all! And that "7" is there for a reason. It's not coincidence. It's not overtly mystical. It's just a fact of perfection, completion and maturity - the essence of the "7th day!"

Isaiah 2:3 - And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

And after the 7th millennium is the 7000th year and the dawn of the 8th Day Reign. (Year 0000 - 1000, being the first Millenium)

The Jews understand the "8th day" very well. They look forward to the "eternal day" when all is summed up in God. The number 8 has such extreme significance for eternity and the infinite nature of the Creator of the Universe and what He wants to ultimately impart to humanity.

Us humans feel deep inside we are meant for so much more - more emotion - more understanding - better living conditions - better stewardship of the world around us. And what we're MEANT for - our ETERNAL NATURE - will come to pass! We are eternal in the ETERNAL ONE who MADE us "in His image" (male and female)! And we're being brought tenderly and relentlessly into that eternal perspective, wisdom, and nature.

And, friend, this eternal nature, in it's very essence, is not sprinkled with evil or tainted with defiling, deprecating features. Our destructive choices and lifestyle will be put aside as boring, passe and quite a ridiculous waste of time! We're not meant to bring destructiveness ("sin") upon ourselves in ANY capacity. And God's eternal nature unveiled and patiently taught by Yeshua, the Prince of Peace ((as it's scope reaches ALL ASPECTS of our humanity) will COMPLETELY DELETE that destructive thinking and behavior! Because we are meant to be a people filled with INVENTING and CREATING - unhindered by exploitative, selfish and oppressive corporations and individuals - with no more need for war!

Isaiah 2:4 - And He hath judged between the nations, And hath given a decision to many peoples, And they have beat their swords to ploughshares, And their spears to pruning-hooks, Nation doth not lift up sword unto nation, Nor do they learn any more--war.

So "sin" (that perennially misunderstood concept) is destructive and God is teaching us now and will teach us exponentially more in the 7th day how we ultimately and completely LIVE OUTSIDE of destructive thoughts and behavior and live in the VAST, OPENNESS AND WONDER OF INFINITE CREATIVITY AND INVENTION - ALL SEEDED, INCUBATED AND HARVESTED IN LOVE!

So, thinking about where we're at at now - the END of the 6th millennium (due in 245 years by the uncorrected Jewish calendar) - we're seeing an era of "666, a number representing mankind's will. But it's very symbolism indicates there is a 667... and a 7th millennium of wonder and maturity and fulfillment just around the corner!!! The ignorant and proud, fallen nature of mankind is passing. God's full original intention is coming and will be manifest here on Terra Firma in a neighborhood near you!

And beyond that 7th epoch, the thousand years of tutoring and "higher education" by the Maker of Everything... there is the 8th Millennium!

The 8000th year will bring the new beginning - having unlearned everything that was WRONG with our thinking and living, we will begin anew, being fully trained and fully READY for the PERMANENT, NON-EXPLOITATIVE TRUTH that lays ahead of us!

No more exploiting women... No more exploiting children... No more exploiting the earth's resources... No more exploiting the tender biological balance of the animals and plants... and no more exploiting the naivete of humanity to achieve the above!

I'm just so fascinated to explore the aspects of this new beginning, this 8th, eternal DAY. What will we do when technology and humanity have reached their pinnacle in perfection of maturity and, truly, not even the sky will limit us! Neither the sky of the earth nor the sky of the soul...

To infinity and beyond! Boldly going where no one has gone before!

Not only is OUTER SPACE and it's innumerable stars the "final frontier," but the space within us - our unlimited ability of inventiveness as restored humanity - is the means to get us into that final frontier!

And WHO will guide us? Who will restore us to "original concept design"?

The same One who has inspired "EVERY good and perfect gift" -

Yeshua, the Son of God, from above!

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Worship Him alone and not yourself (or your local inventor!)!

REST ASSURED, these things WILL come to pass... Isaiah 28:15 says, "Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone , a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste."

Hebrews 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Original material © 2004 by Tom "Toma" Chaffer and AtomSoundMedia

Why a menorah in the window on Chanukah?

.. because it is the Jews' proudest moment of declaration .. "This house dedicates itself to God alone! In the spirit of Matithius!"

Quick! Name ONE thing Alexander the Great believed in! Ok, ok... name one thing believed in by the tiny band of strange devotees numbering only to only a few million and largely confined to a meditteranean country the size of most large cities...

they're usually known as Jews.

Ah... lot's of things spring to mind - "One God." "Thou shalt not commit murder..." "And God said, 'Let their be light..' " And you didn't even have to go to Yeshiva to learn all that, did you?

The tiny nation of Jews has shaped the world we live in.

And this is the season of Chanukah - Kislev 25 - Tevet 3, 5765 (December 8th - December 15th, 2004, on the Greek Calendar). You may have heard of it... but what is it all about?

In brief, Alexander strolled over to Israel and bowed (according to historian, Josephus, and unrelated Jewish accounts) before the High Priest of the temple in Jerusalem... and bowing wasn't something Alexander was prone to do!!! The reason he did this, the accounts state...

"I did not bow before him, but before that God who has honored him with the high Priesthood; for I saw this very person in a dream, in this very apparel."

But that strange introduction began a unique relationship which began with both parties being enamored with each others brilliance and resolve... the Jew with the Greek and the Greek with the Jew... until, that is, one named Matithius changed the affair!

Matithius basically said, "No." We won't allow you to CHANGE our TEMPLE for your zeus-god! And he proceeded, with a comparitively TINY band of warriors to defeat 3 Greek armies and reclaim the temple.

The temple was defiled by greek occupation, so the priests had to re-dedicate it according to scripural directives. One requriement being purified, blessed and sanctified (set-apart) oil for lamps inside the temple. Most of the oil had been ransacked by the greeks except one small flask - enough for 1 day of temple service.

And yet it burned 8 days... just long enough to properly sanctify more oil for the ongoing service.

Jesus (Yeshuah) celebrated this "temple-re-dedication day" -

John 10:22 "And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. 23 And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch."

The comparitively larger miracle is that such a small band of priest-soldiers fought off the Greek Empire, though. And it is with the same spirit that Jews today, all over the world set their Chanukah menorahs in plainly visible places in front of or in the front window of their houses. Timidity causes many (like my family) to light them inside away from the window. But it is for this cause that Chanukah is celebrated! And that cause is this alone -

FREEDOM TO WORSHIP THE ONE TRUE GOD AS HE DESIRES WE DO - WITHOUT FEAR AND WITH COMPLETE SANCTITY AND DEVOTION ... AND JOY!

So, I'm learning...

And perhaps tonight (Night #7) I'll get it right and you'll see the Chanukah candles in our window.

The Hope for Jerusalem - an atomsoundmedia flik (vlog03)

My wife woke up one morning and during her prayer (for me - she's so awesome!), she felt like the King of the Universe was prompting her to look online for movie contests. The Lifeway.com contest came up first in her Google. And this movie resulted. That was only 2 days before the close of the contest so I did this little guy in a day and a half.

[This is a retroactive posting. I originally submitted this video to an online posting site sponsored by lifeway.com and emedialink.com in November of 2004]

Hope for Jerusalem - an Atomsound Flik

Mechanisms of Love

Question: Why does humanity struggle with evil and will evil ever be eradicated?

Answer: First the natural, then the spiritual ...

Answer (Natural): I believe child abuse is at the center of the answer.

We struggle with darkness in ourselves... because of some unfulfilled soul-hole or life-requirement.

These life-pieces are attainable by various means but usually are first fulfilled by parents. Parents, then, have the opportunity to fail in this human requirement... and we do fail.

Our failures, as parents, stem from our traumatic or deficient experiences as children.

And whoever takes the role of mentor in the life of a young mind can also traumatize a child or omit needed affection, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual

physical - in terms of the sharing and training in coordination and athleticism as well as the sharing of and training in physical, non-sexual love.

emotional - as the brain is prepared to activate muscles for movement, so is the brain and heart trained to understand (by positive experiences) and maintain healthy expressions of love. We must "gaurd our hearts for from it flow the issues of life."

mental - the ability to concur using logic ... to devote a process of thought to a problem and arrive at an amiable answer ... so necessary and so neglected by many.

spiritual - love is ultimately spiritual and responsibility to care well is wholly granted by the same One who gives us all the above.

Answer (spiritual): I believe we neglect our most fulfilling and completing life-search, the search for God ... the One God, Yaweh.

We must exhibit and speak to our children concerning the utmost important aspect of love -

God gives us the ability to love when we have none to give.

One of the most neglectful things that can be perpetrated by us as parents is neglecting guide our children concerning their perception and responsiveness to the Creator of the Universe. World Views vary as widely as there are individuals on the planet. And that doesn't change when children are trained to perceive and worship God as well as to serve humanity in the Spirit of the Most High. Variations in perception and service will continue to fragment and kaleidoscope ...

througout all time.

But it must be taught that He is the Source of all love... even when we have none. For that is the most important building block of all felt purpose. And the Person of that Love must be exhibited highly - Yeshua Himself said -

"14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

And "Messiah loved us and gave His life for us while we were yet sinners." and "We love because He first loved us."

God is not just the "factory worker" who spits out one human with perfect freewill and goes on to the next. God, the One Maker of everything seen and unseen, is ultimately concerned with the eternal working of the mechanism of love in each of us.

"Simon Peter, do you love Me?" was Yeshua's primary concern with Peter... and it is with us also.

And if Yeshua really did make the universe at the side of His Father (Proverbs 8:20-36), then what would we be as humans if we never asked the questions concerning His way?

So the ability to train a child to ask that question herself is, itself, a divine skill... and the God of Wisdom loves to grant it to those parents...

who will ask for it.

Question, then, again: Will evil ever be eradicated?

Answer: Yes.

If it were "No," there would never again be hope for smiling and the sharing of unhindered love.

And we can be so fatal in our wounded and traumatized, confused and crushed emotional states, that we wonder if evil will prevail. This author has been to the depths of despair so many times that it has become a familiar plunge - although now the heart of darkness is only plumbed some special - hurting - loved one could be rescued by my identification with that darkness.

But it is Yes.

And we all feel that "Yes" as a glimpse of hope in our hearts

or we would not continue to remember how ...

to share with another an innocent and unmerited ...

childlike and free ...

smile.

And this is the key to understanding God, the God of good who punishes evil ...

He will do EVERYTHING to secure unhindered love amongst humans - humans who will always have freewill.

We will live in a world unhindered by the myriad of traumas caused by evil-doing ...

and we will live in a world unhindered by the selfish and relentless ommissions of love in our families... when love was supposed to be first.

16 Whoever asks for a blessing in the land will be blessed by the God of Truth. Whoever swears an oath in the land will swear by the God of Truth. Past troubles are forgotten. They are hidden from my eyes.17 I will create a new heaven and a new earth. Past things will not be remembered. They will not come to mind. 18 Be glad, and rejoice forever in what I'm going to create, because I'm going to create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people to be a joy. 19 I will rejoice about Jerusalem and be glad about my people. Screaming and crying will no longer be heard in the city. 20 There will no longer be an infant who lives for only a few days or an old man who doesn't live a long life. Whoever lives to be a hundred years old will be thought of as young. Whoever dies before he is a hundred years old will be cursed as a sinner. 21 They will build houses and live there. They will plant vineyards and eat fruit from them. 22 They will not build homes and have others live there. They will not plant and have others eat from it. My people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will enjoy what they've done. 23 They will never again work for nothing. They will never again give birth to children who die young, because they will be offspring blessed by the LORD. The LORD will bless their descendants as well. 24 Before they call, I will answer. While they're still speaking, I will hear. 25 Wolves and lambs will feed together, lions will eat straw like oxen, and dust will be food for snakes. "They will not hurt or destroy anyone anywhere on my holy mountain," says the LORD.

Turkey Day Thanks

So it's 5 am and I've been through all (what is it?) 800 tunes in the U2 box set on iTunes... ah, the memories. U2 really was a soundtrack for my life in the 80s and 90s. And still that guy, Bono (Paul), seems to be doing healthy things to our planet. And I'm glad for that - Matthew 5:16 style!

Reason I'm so excited (not cos of U2, altho that was pretty cool rippin through the iTunes store grabbing tiny audio snippets and experiencing an amazing amount of input in a small space of time - so it didn't take long, and I really only sampled about 40 of those 800) is cos I just spent some ROCKIN time with my buddy, then came home and worked on "Grand Entrance" (lyrics below) which I wrote last night (over 24 hours ago).

And today I was also able to finish ver. 0.2 of the website tomasound.net...

And today I was also SUPER blessed by my wife's AWESOME nesting - she set up the computer station downstairs, made the Thanksgiving blueberry dessert my Mom, the Betty, made for all my growing up years, and built a snowman with the chilluns... while I built my TOMASOUND.NET site (I'm actually rather proud of it, such as it is)! THANKS, SWEETYPIE!!! YOU SO ROCK!!!!

And today I was also able to congratulate my bro, Don (which I know about as well as I know ol' George W., these days... and that sucks... but, anyways, it was good to write him successfully), on his MOST AWESOME new online record store - selling mainly his own stuff - see waterdeep.com. I'm real proud of that guy! Thanks for him, God! (But keep him writing the beautiful music with his testimony of Jesus in tact! Don't let him get so 'relevant' that he can't find his own beautiful soul in the soup of it all!)

And today I was also blessed by my BESTEST friend in the whole wide world (after my wife, of course), Tom Celli, the SUPREMO guitarist-songwriter-wizkid!!! We jammed in his new studio and we DREAMED DREAMED DREAMED of lives being creative and being paid being that way.

I was able last Saturday to help him set up THIS STUDIO -



... including helping to cut that desk out - pretty, huh? (I'm proud of that desk!)

And today I was also able to contemplate the plight of Kansas City's mostly corralled black population and ask God for an answer to the poverty, drugs, violence, lack of self-respect/dignity they endure and feel that what I'm doing with songs like "Grand Entrance" could actually help... if I keep the music real and reach out to 'em with it.

So I'm thankful today... turkey day... for all that.

Here's where you can download that song (and some other stuff) and here're those lyrics.

Grand Entrance
(11-22-04 - thx Todd Ganovski's newest album, "Some trust in Chariots" and the Ezekiel 47 map which I've been studying and HEBREW LESSONS!)

This is the Grand Entrance
The prince of Peace has come
I see Him shining so...
like the sun - like the sun!

I see the Kingdom
finally coming down
Bright and Glorious Justice
Granted to the Lost and found

I see His bride at His side
She's standing glorious
Who is that grand woman?
She found her place amongst us!

She is the precious Bride
He poured forth from His side
Ripped from Him
like being ripped from Adam

She is His people in white!

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead... But Not Arafat's Hatred.

Ding Dong the Witch is dead! Which old witch? The wicked witch...

Arafat!

But then why does the world MOURN the passing of Arafat, the godfather of terrorism as if he were some ... Nobel Peace Prize winner? And, unfortunately, Arafat was not the only "wicked witch"... there are MANY more being conditioned by the "Society of Shahids (sucicide bombers)" which is the so-called "PALESTINIAN" in Israel.

And his wife isn't too sad. Suha Arafat's gettin 22 million a YEAR (how do you SPEND that much???) off the backs of the (truly) impoverished Arabs of the "Palestinian"-controlled areas in Israel!!! Her answer to a mere 2 million a year initial offer? "Pff!"

Funny... only 10 years ago we all referred to the JEWS as "Palestinians"!!! What's up with THAT?!!

Got this from an acquaintance of mine who lives in Hebron, Israel... a Jew among 500-1000 Jews who live amongst 10s of thousands of Arabs in a "Palestinian"-controlled area of Israel.

It does SO well explaining WHY the world hates Israel...

"Sinai, Sinah," as they say in Hebrew... or "The Hatred stems from Sinai" (where the Jews received the Commandments from God).

What’s it All About?
November 16, 2004

I recently got an email message from a reader called Mary. She was quite confused about all the hubbub with Arafat and asked me to try to clarify things for her. This was my response:


Dear Mary,

Thank you for writing. It is not at all surprising for you to be confused. Our own leaders in this country, and probably in the USA as well, are also quite confused. Either they don't know, or don't want to know the real issue. The issue is not and never was Arafat and the PLO, nor was it Afghanistan and the Al Quaida. There is a war going on but most do not have any idea what it is all about. Who is the enemy? Where is the enemy? How do you fight something if you don't know what it is that you are fighting?

Honestly and logically it makes absolutely no sense what so ever for world leaders to even notice the tiny, tiny state of Israel. Why then is this remote little fraction of a nation on the other side of the world a top priority item for the USA, England and the European nations? Are there no other problems to solve in the world other than that between Israel and the vast Arab empire which surrounds her? Why should anyone care what happens here?

The answer is to be found in the Bible. G-d created the world and planted Man in it. We are all His creations and he loves us all. He wants us all to live good and satisfying lives, but He knows that we are not perfect and quite capable of doing much damage to ourselves and all of our world. He chose the Jewish People to be a living example both of His existence, and as a model of how He wants us to behave. First of all the Jewish People must live up to our obligation to be that example, and then the nations will take note of our Blessings and seek to emulate us, thus elevating themselves to holiness as well.

G-d has always known that Mankind, in general, would try to reject the yoke of the Kingdom of Heaven. He created conditions which give all of us opportunities to go against our own nature and submit our will to that of our Creator. These opportunities are always there, but, unfortunately disregarded by most. If we fail to seize these opportunities, then conditions will be created which will give us no choice. Today, as predicted in the Bible, the nations of the world are beginning to gather together against the tiny Jewish State. It makes no sense. Israel has no gold or significant natural resources to entice anyone to attack her. So why is this happening? We all know that when world leaders talk about "peace in the Middle East" what they really mean is how can we get Israel to surrender to the Arabs. Why?

The reestablishment of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel....as predicted in the Bible, and accomplished in spite of overwhelming obstacles, is testimony to the sovereignty of G-d in this world. If she can be destroyed, that would prove that there is no G-d and that nations control their own destiny. True freedom and independence can only be achieved by accepting the yoke of Heaven. Unfortunately most people seem to think that these values can only be achieved by rejecting the yoke of Heaven. Here is the answer to your question. The war that is being waged today is between those who believe in the Living G-d of Israel, and those who reject Him. Islam worships a different god and seeks to prove that Allah is greater than the True Living G-d of Creation. G-d has given the Islamic nations power and wealth which they have used to both bribe and threaten the great nations of the world. We are approaching redemption today, and as we get closer all of
the nations of the world are being tested. Will they yield to their base nature by following their eyes rather than their spiritual hearts? Will they bow down to threats when they see vast armies and unlimited wealth teamed against a minuscule nation? Will they side with an invisible G-d, or feel safer to side with the visible majority? This is what is going on today.

The Pope came to visit Israel and cast his lot with the PLO. The reason for this is because a Jewish sovereign state in the Land of Israel denies the claims of the papacy that Israel has been rejected by G-d and replaced by the Roman Catholic Church. If the PLO can replace Israel then maybe this claim can yet be redeemed. Fortunately there are a growing number of Christians who accept historical validation of Biblical prophesy in our time and openly accept the reality that the ancient Children of Israel, who were scattered among the nations of the world, are, indeed, the Jews who are now beginning to return home as predicted.

When Bush says that "there is no choice, the Holy Land must be divided", he has given in to political pressure and backed down upon his own Biblical convictions. This must be challenged by American Christians if the USA is to avoid self destruction. The key to redemption and the key to world peace lies in Jerusalem.

The biggest obstacle today is the refusal by Jewish leaders to accept this reality. By attempting to conduct Israeli affairs as if Israel was just another nation is to defy our obligation and our very reason for being. No Jewish leader should ever talk about "territorial concessions". It is not our right to concede that which was given to us by G-d, not as a gift, rather as a Divine obligation. To try to do so is to deny G-d and to bring His Wrath upon us. This is the real cause of Terror. . . not Arafat. It is we who created Arafat and it is we who have enabled our enemies to terrorize our country. Once we have a real Jewish leader who rules as a servant of G-d we will see a speedy and glorious redemption. Until then we will suffer from our own failures.

With Blessings from Hebron, Gary

Online Empires and Legacies.

"Your website is important because it's an online storefront that is serving and selling your vision to thousands of people worldwide 24 hours a day... and that's a good thing."

That came from a conversation with my Grandma Lynn today. We were scheming our day together and she helped me come up with that sales pitch for potential customers of my webslingin skills (meager, but getting better).

And that's what strikes me tonight (as I write this blog for the second time - closed the window while researching content... again. Argh!)...

...that my website is available (depending on how thoroughly I prepare it and advertise it) to people all the world 'round.

And that's just so freakin' cool!

The way I see it, we who are entrepreneurial in spirit are called to become increasingly self-aware. We must know what worldview makes us excited about life on this funked up planet and learn to repeat that vision to ourselves, to our families and friends... and... to the world. An entrepreneur is one who shares their worldview boldly and consistently.

My tomasound.net site, for instance... if I EVER get THAT vision off the ground (it makes me think of the Kitty Hawk flight... strung out over 30 years!), it's gonna be beautiful! I have music from 1984 through today in my collection of original songs... easily numbering into the few hundreds... 80 to 100 of which are complete children... ready for broadway ... or wallstreet (as the case may be).

But having the website isn't all that... unless it's connected with a deep sharing of inner faith and conscience - the quality product or service being connected wholesomely to that worldview you believe in... so completely and whole-heartedly that even the most skeptical of "buyers" might be convinced they need a taste of what you've got.

That's what makes AtomSound so unique. We share the truth about the nature of the atoms that constitute who we are in the universe! We explain the "cosmological constant" and the "strong nuclear force" that physicists have such problem with (the smart ones do, at least)! We tell you about the Holder of the atoms, Yeshua, King of the Jews. Yes, the One who "For our sake was crucified under Pontius Pilate; suffered death and was buried (and) on the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end!" Unlike the Nicene Creed, however, we believe that He was not "made man" and did not "become incarnate." But that the nature of God IS "very Man" as well as utterly, transcendently God - Maker and Redeemer of the Universe... the AtomHolder. The Son of God was forever, is now and forever shall be, the Son of Man... fully God and fully Man. Ask a Rabbi about the appearances of Messiah throughout the scriptures (our "Old Testament") - it'll take him a week to show you all of them... and that's because Yeshua is the same yesterday, today and forever!

So anyways, my desire is to build tomasound.net as an example for a book I'm writing called, How to Build Your Online Business Empire. The loftiness of the title outdoes me, true. But I'm letting the writing of it teach me to do the same. That way I can't lose...

And, if I can pull it all off - Grace of the AtomHolder, be with me! - it's gonna be one nebulae of a legacy for my children!

Voting for Honest Media Coverage

This is a day for voting for a "king," I told my 5 year old... "all the people get together and give their vote to choose the next 'king' or 'president' of our country. And my wife and I, with our 5 year old, prayed together that God would help we Americans to make the right choice... even if it goes against our grain.

We asked that whoever is elected into the various offices would respect the right to life for unborn people, honor the sanctity of marriage - the kind that embraces procreation, and would fight the war against Jihad.

Michael Moore (Fahrenhype 911), of course, would tell you "there is no war on terror." How wrong he is. Wake up, Michael!

World media can and should make an alliance with their governments for protection and then they should TELL THE TRUTH, letting the world know we are in dire times regarding Jihad and then a moral response by world citizens, when they are finally exposed to the truth, would be to SPEAK OUT against the rampant abuses of Arafat's brainwashing of children with dreams of becoming a "shahid" (suicide bomber).

Somebody please - ignore Michael Moore's twisted contortions of propaganda - and vote for honesty in reporting!

Star Maker

Straight from the mouth of my 5 yr old boy, Josiah...

listen to it!



My little boy asked me tonight
"Papa, Did Jesus put that star in the sky?
The one that was there - when He was born in Bethlehem -
Did He do that Himself?"

I told him, "What a wonderful question, Josiah
But I can only hope to answer it well..."
I can only speculate about a baby boy from forever
Who made Himself known to us that day.

Perhaps it was collaborative effort
The Son shone so bright to His Father God
That the star was only a natural occurence
For on that day was born the Brightest Morning Star!

For not only was all the love - in the whole wide universe
packed into that tiny little baby boy
But also the power to heal and create a forever world
It could've been bursting out of His seams!!!

Yah...

It was also meant as a means of communication
From Israel to Babylon
Where wise men who were taught by old Daniel
Saw the message in the sky!

They saddled up and rode - for years until finally
before the young boy they kneeled down
They said, "Lord King, we bring our humble gifts to You -
You are the Star-Maker in the flesh!"

Yes, now I know He was the Star-Maker
Very God of the Star and very little Lamb
They say it's better to burn out than to fade away
But He will always remain the same...

I know He was the Star-Maker
Very God of the Star and very little Lamb...

I'll Vote for Bush!

and not just because he supports Israel instead of, as Kerry does, the terrorists... but because Bush also fights for the rights of the unborn human beings... those babies have a right to choose life, too.

For those "enraged" over the propaganda of Michael Moore and his "Fahrenheit 911" flick - check these 2 flicks, too, before you get so self-righteous about world affairs...

Mega Fix: The Dazzling Political Deceit That Led to 9/11 - "Emmy-award-winning filmmaker Jack Cashill traces the roots of September 11 to the perfect storm of disinformation that surrounded the Clintons' desperate drive for the White House in the years 1995-1996"

www.fahrenhype911.com - "I saw FahenHYPE and I htought it was wonderful. I think that it will be shocking for all of the Moore supporters who believe every word he utters. PS - Why does Blockbuster Video only carry one (1) DVD copy of FahrenHYPE and an entire 4 or 5 shelves of Moore's movie?!"

If you don't get around to watching those, then just keep on raging and repeat after me...

"There is no terrorist threat, there is no terrorist threat. Yes we've been attacked by terrorists, but there is no terrorist threat."

The following is from one of my favorite female authors and thinkers in the whole wide world, Naomi Ragen:

Why this Jewish American is voting for George W. Bush

By

Naomi Ragen

As you know, I'm going off on my book tour to talk about The Covenant, a novel that tells the truth about Palestinian terrorism, and the ordinary Israelis who have been fighting on the front lines for years. By the time I come back, the election for President of the United States will be over and done, and we won't have this bone of contention to deal with, you and I.

This is my last word on this topic.

But before I go, I'd like to tell you how it makes me feel when people on my list write me that I should butt out of the U.S. election because I live in Israel. People who write me that George W. Bush is an idiot because he doesn't care about the environment or healthcare, or abortions. That he lied about WMD, and shouldn't have gone into Iraq or Afghanistan. That it's his fault the war on terror is going badly. That they are proudly going to vote for his opponent, John Kerry, and give me a long list of reasons why.

It makes me sickeningly angry and depressed. And this is why:

I remember seeing my mother-in-law (who survived Auschwitz) and my father-in-law (whose first young wife and two babies were gassed there) wearing gas masks and sitting in a sealed room with their children and great-granchildren, because Saddam Hussein was logging bombs at us and we were afraid he'd gas us as he did thousands of Kurds, his own people.

I remember watching the families of suicide bombers who killed hundreds of Israelis in the streets of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Netanya getting checks for $25,000 from Saddam Hussein.

I remember my daughter going to get gas masks for my grandchildren in the recent war because we were afraid Saddam Hussein would do it again.

I remember Arafat and Rabin on the lawn of the White House with President Clinton smiling, forcing them to shake hands. I remember the dozens of times Arafat came to the White House and was welcomed like a world leader. I remember Clinton's silence when the Intifada started, and how I felt when he wouldn't come out and condemn the Palestinians for breaking the agreements; when he suddenly backed off, talking about how both sides in the conflict were responsible.

I remember Clinton at the Democractic Convention, shaking hands with Kerry.

I remember Jimmy Carter and his numerous attempts to harm Israel during the Intifada, trying to tie it's leaders hands at defending us, shaking hands with Kerry.

I remember how f i n a l l y, after September 11, we had a President in the White House that let us go after terrorists at home. A President that, despite the lack of support of Israel's enemies: the U.N., France, Germany, and the rest of the EU who had been kissing Arafat's backside for years while he killed our children, decided to take out Saddam Hussein, and who did it, brilliantly in a few weeks, despite all the media naysayers and back biters.

Thank you George W. Bush.

For getting Saddam Hussein off Israel's back so my children and my in-laws can put away their gas masks for good.

Thank you George W. Bush.

For passing the Patriot Act, which outlaws terrorist funding, and for going after the bankers who fund the murder of our children.

Thank you George W. Bush.

For understanding there is an Axis of Evil, and for putting Syria and Iran on it.

Thank you George W. Bush.

For saving millions of women and girls from a fate worse than death by getting rid of the Taliban, so they can go to a doctor, go to school, and not be stoned publicly for not walking around like little tents.


For all those of you who haven't made up their minds. I hope this will help you.

As for those who sincerely believe they love Israel but are voting for John Kerry, I'd like to say this:


You are voting for a man who wants to bring the US closer to France

whose Ambassador to England called Israel " that s****y little country "; whose former Prime Minister called the establishment of Israel a "historic mistake" ; who has seen the most anti-Semitism of any European nation since World War Two; who willingly supplied Hussein not just with weapons but also with the nuclear reactor that Israel destroyed in 1981; and who continues to supply nuclear technology to Iran whose desire for nuclear weapons to destroy Israel is well known. A man who wants closer ties with the EU, who continues to supply funds being used by the Palestinians to commit terror attacks. A man who wants approval from the UN, whose ambulances ferry terrorists in Gaza to plant bombs to kill Israeli soldiers.

You are voting for a man who told the Arab-American Institute last year

"how disheartened Palestinians are by the Israeli government's decision to build a barrier off the Green Line, cutting deeply into Palestinian areas" and went on to say that "We do not need another barrier to peace... and that provocative and counterproductive measures only harm Israel's security over the long term." A fence which has reduced terror attacks to almost nothing in it's areas, saving thousands of Israeli lives.

You are voting for a man who denounced the "endless cycle of violence and reprisals..."

thereby equating Israel's defensive measures to root out killers to the murder of innocent Israelis by Palestinian terrorists;

You are voting for a man whose much touted "solid Senatorial record on votes for Israel"

amounts to painless offers of moral support written and introduced by others.

You are voting for a man who in 2000 didn't join 60 co-sponsors of the "Middle East Peace Process Support Act"

- a bill calling on the President not to recognize a unilaterally declared Palestinian state.

You are voting for a man who failed to co-sponsor a pro-Israel "Peace Through Negotiations Act."

You are voting for a man who in 1993 failed to join 55 Senators in signing the Grassley/Lautenberg letter to the State Department,

demanding that Hamas be listed as a terrorist organization.

You are voting for a man who did not support the assassination of Sheikh Yassin.

You are voting for a man who surrounds himself with Mideast "experts" like Sandy Berger,

who said in May 2000 that Palestinian violence was " a blessing " because it might speed up the negotiating process; Martin Indyk an ex-Ambassador to Israel who recently told Israel to unilaterally give up the strategically vital Golan Heights to Syria because it was the only way to get rid of Hezbollah violence, who is widely known as Arafat's Yes-Man .

You are voting for a slick, multi-millionaire dilettante, who in twenty years in the Senate ONLY managed to author, or co-author the following bills.

(See http://www.factcheck.org/article282.html for all bills and the details )

S.1206: Names a federal building in Waltham, Massachusetts after Frederick C. Murphy, who was killed in action during World War II and awarded (posthumously) the Medal of Honor. (1994) a..

S.1636: A save-the-dolphins measure aiming "to improve the program to reduce the incidental taking of marine mammals during the course of commercial fishing operations." (1994)

S.1563: Funding the National Sea Grant College Program, which supports university-based research, public education, and other projects "to promote better understanding, conservation and use of America's coastal resources." (1991)

S.423: Granting a visa and admission to the U.S. as a permanent resident to Kil Joon Yu Callahan. (1987)

H.R.1900 (S.300) Awarded a congressional gold medal to Jackie Robinson (posthumously), and called for a national day of recognition. (2003)

H.R.1860(S.856): Increased the maximum research grants for small businesses from $500,000 to $750,000 under the Small Business Technology Transfer Program. (2001)

S.J.Res.158: To make the week of Oct. 22 Oct. 28, 1989 "World Population Awareness Week." (1989)

S.J.Res.160: To renew "World Population Awareness Week" for 1991. (1991)

S.J.Res.318: To make Nov. 13, 1992 "Vietnam Veterans Memorial 10th Anniversary Day." (1992)

S.J.Res.337: To make Sept. 18, 1992"National POW/MIA Recognition Day." (1992)

S.Res.123: To change the name of the Committee on Small Business to the "Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship." (2001)

S.Res.133: To make May 21, 1991 "National Land Trust Appreciation Day." (1991)

S.Res.144: To encourage the European Community to vote to ban driftnets for all European Community fishing fleets. (1991 )

S.Res.216: Honoring Milton D. Stewart for his leadership and service at the Small Business Administration. (2002)

S.Con.Res.26: Calling for the United States to support a new agreement providing for a ban on commercial mining of minerals in Antarctica. (1991)

For all those of you who decide that you prefer this man to Bush... who (in the words of one list-member)

"took out Saddam Hussein,
stepped on Arafat's neck,
backed Israel's war on the terrorists, and
gave the EU and UN Palestinian apologists the mighty finger"

what can I say?

I wish you the joy of your conscience come voting day.

I'd also like to say this: If George W. Bush is elected (please God), do I expect him to do things I won't like? Do I expect him to pressure Israel into doing things I don't approve of? You bet I do, I'm not naive. But given my choice, I also expect to be around at the end of the next four years to vote again.

With Kerry, I'm not so sure.

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Neal Stephenson's Email Practices

...I'm a wannabe Neal Stephenson (but, or course, I want to be able not just to WRITE like Neal Stephenson - s i g h - but also to be able to turn those crafted gems into MOVIES or CARTOONS!)...

The following is from Neal's Website.

E-mail

Linda Stone, formerly of Apple and Microsoft, has coined the term "continuous partial attention" to describe life in the era of e-mail, instant messaging, cellphones, and other distractions. This curious feature of modern life poses a problem for a someone like me. Every thing that I do that’s worth doing requires ALL my attention.

I cannot put it any better than Donald Knuth, who writes on his website, "Email is a wonderful thing for people whose role in life is to be on top of things. But not for me; my role is to be on the bottom of things. What I do takes long hours of studying and uninterruptible concentration. "

Knuth also provides the following quote from Umberto Eco: "I don't even have an e-mail address. I have reached an age where my main purpose is not to receive messages."

In a recent review of one of my novels, I was described as "Umberto Eco without the charm" and so it should be pretty clear in what direction I am going.

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem

A little late (today is the day), but please... pray for the peace of Jerusalem. More info on my site.