Arnell 's Creative Writing

Male Friendships - Not easy to maintain?

This month I have seen two of my  "friendships" get sodelined.  The common thread was that each "friend" was only able to view life from their perspective and not listen to any other perspective.  Their was no 2 way dialogue.  All things had to be their way in terms of what was correct.  So, I stepped away from a continuing friendship with them.  I don't know if their views are correct or erroneous.  The bottom line with me was that if we can't have a civil dialogue about our differences then you go your way and I will go mine.  But, don't continue to push your narrative onto me and think I have to accept it.

I was reading the introduction to Numbers in the bible.  I thought to myself, maybe as in Numbers we are going through a generation of people that is  just rebellious and cannot be saved?  They will eventually die off as did the generation did in Numbers.  The key seems to maintain a set of believers in God and Jesus Christ to carry on the spreading of the true Word.  We cannot focus on the Satanic people.  Put forth positive spiritual behaviors and thoughts and let the evil generation do what it does.  Out live the madness.

 

September 11, 2024

Watching the "Presidential" debate last night was mentally and physically exhausting.  At one point when 45 went off point, again, and started making comments that did not pertain to the question, I found myself yelling at the TV, "Answer the damn question!  Really?"  We have had enough of his hijinks.  2016 and 2020 was enough.  Send this bully away forever.  He gets his chapter in American History as the Disruptor in Chief.  We are stuck on one angry hamster exercise ball making a lot of noise but going no where in terms of progress as a country.  Leave the bufoon behind, gas up, and let's leave him in the restroom talking to himself, while we speed over the horizon.  He is the relative you dread seeing coming to a family function because you know he simply brings chaos with no drinks to wash it down.  So, we all wind up choking under the torment of his bad behavior.  It was a pre disaster to the disaster of 9/11 years ago.  I wish he had copied Job Biden and also decided to step down and let some other Republican carry on the leadership of their party.  So now the drama train continues to roll towards its destination on November 6th.  As with Obama in 2008, I pray that an announcement of the electoral college winner will cause a happy dance amongst the righteous people of the world.  

 

 

September 2024

What a difference a month makes.  The point being much can happen over the course of a day, a week, a month.  A sitting President decides to face the reality of his physical and mental circumstances and step down from running for re election to the position he now holds.  The Vice President is poised to complete the mission that Hillary Clinton was unable to complete in 2016.  That mission being to infiltrait the boys leadership club that has been status quo for the position of President of the United States.  A woman President is long overdue. The stronghold of the white men's leadership club apparently is finally coming to an end.  But we shall see if white males collectively ban together to maintain the only thing they have left that a woman has never had.  The fact that the United States is one of the few major countries not to elect a woman as the leader of the country in itself says much about the mentality of  the citizens of this "country".  Kamala Harris.  I think she has been ordained to be in the position she finds herself in now.  Her viewpoints at times speak of the rights of women.  But, I believe the office of the Presidency will open up her thoughts to seeing things the way God wants her to see things.  Maybe she will bring a spirituality to the office of the President that we have not seen for years.  God knows, our leadership definitely suffers from Godly principles.  Loving God and loving your neighbor are not major proponents of the government of the United States.  It's not all about having human rights and freedoms.  It's about understanding we did not create ourselves.  We owe God our respect through following the guidelines God layed out for us thousands of years ago.  Would life be much better if we were not so selfish and thinking of self gratification all the time?  The election result this November will not bring instant change in how our government conducts itself.   I just pray it is the start of a return to rationale behavior.  Bi partisanship.  A focus on making conditions better for people.   A focus on creating an environment where people do not have to worry about human problems every day.  Where they will live?  What will they eat?  Will they be attacked or killed?  A start to where we can discuss and resolve issues without weapons and violence.  Kamala, start making plans and every day pray that God will guide you in making decisions that impact millions of people in this country and many around the world.

July 2024

The events of last weekend were reminiscent of what Solomon said in Ecclesiastes.  Life merely repeats itself.   Their truly is nothing new.  When I grew up in the 1960, assassination attempts were not uncommon.  Several assassins achieved their goal.  President John Kennedy, Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, Dr. King, Robert Kennedy, Governor George Wallace, and President Gerald Ford were all targeted by people with guns.  I recall attending a 2008 campaign event of candidate Barack Obama in downtown Indianapolis and seeing security snipers on rooftops ready to end the life of anyone targeting the candidate.  I personally thought the event and the reaction by the 45th President would help define the outcome of the Presidential election.  Did anyone else notice that the 45th President did not thank God for his surviving the attack?  Who else doesn't acknowledge God?  The situation that exist now with the Presidential election of 2024 is a drama train special event.  An elderly President under pressure to step down.  A deranged former President who has made it clear that being graceful and spiritual is far from his intentions.  We're all waiting for the next chapter to start. 

June 2024

The year is almost to the halfway point.  I have several writing projects going at the same time.  The hot summer offers opportunity to work on them all when it's too hot to bbe outside!  The world events are  more of the same.  Continuous drama all over the world.  At times it makes you think what purpose does it serve for the world to continue in the state it currently is?  Sure, there will be some events where we as people behave as God intended us to behave.  In harmony with Him and in Fellowship with him and each other.  Regardless, the world will never be "heaven on earth".  So, the best advice is to live a Godly life, so you can have eternal life beyond the disaster of living as a human being.

 

March 2024

The first 3 months have shown no major world life surprises.  As Solomon states in Eclessiastes, life events repeat themselves in terms of general topics.  Wars are still going on.  The most publicized are those in Urkaine with the Soviet Union the protagonist.  The next noticeable war is in the Middle East between Israel and supposedly a group called Hamas which attacked Israeli civiians some 2 months ago.  The United States Presidential office political combatants appear so far to be the same as in 2020.  Health of the candidates and the court system could have major impact prior to the actual election in November.  The proliferation of drugs continues.  Now it's something call fetanyl?  That will change in 4 years to be replaced by another man mande product designed to carry out damage. Immigration.  The attempt by people in other countries to flee adverse conditions in their past home of record continues to be a problem.  The lack of sanctions against those countries from which people are fleeing, continues and I don't know why.  Humans continue to argue amongst ourselves what we as humans have the right to do.  Acknowledgement of our "God" and whether we have to follow religious/spiritual rules continues.  Personally, I continue to seek ways to free my mind and think for myself.  Each day is repetitive.  There is no doubt about that.  So creating different results, new results is my personal goal for my life..

Christmas 2023

Well, this year is coming to closure.  I have much to be thankful for.  Food to eat, a place to live in day to day, the ability to manage my own life versus someone else managing it for me.  My health is relatively good for someone now on the other end of my 60th year on this planet.  I am still getting focused spiritually, which is a lifetime journey.  Around me my fellow brethren and sisthren continue to do what we do as human beings.  Some good and much bad, with the bad getting the most publicity.  Maybe 2024 can be a year where the good subdues the bad?   Let's all try to do our part to make good news in 2024.  Let's steal the headlines from evil!

 

What's New?  Not much!

The human year 2023.  Two thousand and twenty three documented years of life on earth.  Plus the years before our current numbering system received widespread human acceptance.  How far have we advanced over those two thousand plus years?  Not much.  We still settle conflicts via a totally ridiculous and wasteful method that we call "War".  It's by far one of the more stupid human tricks we have developed.  We destroy the essence and body of another human being under the guise that we are settling conflicts via human death.  How stupid can we get?  By our continued actions, I think we have much more stupidity to display.  We have only touched the surface of our  idiocy.  And we do all of our barbaric actions under the label of being civilized.  

The Middle East currently is displaying some of the worst of humanity.  Innocent people are being slaughtered due to acts of violence perpetuated by groups and a country that thinks they are both settling differences.  No, all you are both doing is providing more support that the coming destruction of life as we see it on this planet is overdue and ending of all this human drama will be a welcomed ending when it happens.

But, yes let's give credit to all the good acts of kindness and generosity that are buried beneath the news of the evil sins we commit as disciples of our buddy, Satan.  I hope you are proud of yourself.  All the active shooter actions, school shootings, so on and so on are our human testament to how we love to act a fool and desire to continue life after our human death with you.

Well, take me out of the line for those marching steadily to Hell.  I have no desire to spend eternal life with Satan and his dominions. Yes, the narrow path to God is difficult to navigate with all of Satan's billboards advertising options to having "fun on earth" always in our face.  But, let's at least give it a try people!

When you find yourself about to do something stupid, evil, and totally unwarranted....stop!  Rethink that behavior and try, or pretend to make a decision as Jesus Christ would have.  This is the season we are supposed to be thinking of Him and what his coming to Earth meant.  So, let our actions, let our kindness, let our spiritual decisions overcome our evil human decision making.  Get to work!

 

The Holiday Season in the United States

Well, we have just passed the traditional Thanksgiving Day holiday in the American culture.  For years we were lead to believe it was a common day where Native Americans and Europeans who traveled to the "new world" gathered to give joint thanks for all that they had in life.  But now we know such was not the case.  The myths and traditions of a country can be powerful.  Lies dusted off and dressed up in clothing of innocence and purity, hiding the evil truth.

Around the world chaos continues.  Human "stupid trick" wars in Ukraine and now in the middle east between Israel and Hamas.  It is endless and a total waste of our human efforts.  As I have asked before, I simply turn to our Creator and ask, "What were you thinking, when you made us?"  I see it from a human standpoint as "an experiment that went wrong".  Some human history shows that our Creator destroyed all of his creations and did a reboot.  A restart.  But, even that did not correct whatever is wrong with us as humans.  So, what is our motivation to continue?  From my standpoint there really is none.  There will be acts of true kindness that meet the intent of what our Creator meant for us.  But, evil will overcome all of those good actions.  Our continuing human drama that is the system our Creator gave us, marches on.

 

No Need to Push Jesus Forcefully on People

I had a dialogue with several men on Saturday evening.  The conversation went well for about half an hour.  Then we got into discussing how to share our spirituality with others.  One of the men said that we had an obligation to tell someone that if they did not get Jesus in their life and repent, they would go to hell.  I and another gentleman felt that was a rather direct and somewhat harsh method to tell someone about Jesus.  We stressed that we would rather just dialogue with the other person and not tell that person they would go to hell if they did not change their lifestyle.  The "you will go to hell" person is a Deacon in a church, bible study leader, and was trained to think and speak the way he does. This after a life of not being a model citizen.  He is very sincere in his beliefs which is his right.  But me and the other man felt it was a somewhat rigid attitude to take towards someone else.  My thoughts were to just continue a dialog with the non believer and listen to what they have to say, and why they think the way they do.  I personally would rather take that approach. When the time was right, I would then bring up the "technical" aspects of giving your life to God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit.  Whatever I become in my spiritual walk, I do not ever want to become a "one way or the highway " Christian.

 

The hopes of a new month

It's October 1st.  A new month.  A new start. We are into the season of Fall.  Changing landscapes and temperatures.  In some areas of the country, the temperatures are starting to become cooler each day.  A restful respite from the summer heat.  Our thoughts, for some, will soon turn to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays ahead.  For some of us, long gone are the memories of Covid and how it impacted our lives.  For some, there will be memories of family and loved ones lost to Covid and them not being present for the holiday.  This is the landscape of our lives.  We deal with it and for most of us, we move on.  For some, these fluctuations in life become unbearable and they decide to end their life.  My hope is that no one ever reaches that point where the frustration and drama of life will bring you to the point of giving up.  Our Creator built this world, us, and the system of drama we live in.  We just have to accept it, look the drama right in the face, give an acknowledging smile, and continue staying alive.

Men talk.  This month I will be participating in several dialogues among average men.  Men of different races, ages, occupations, religious affiliations and background.  but one thing we will have in common is that we will be speaking from a spiritual foundation, not from a worldly knowledge standpoint.  Why?  Because the "man in charge, worldly" culture of our country approach has failed us all.  Our goal is to share our thoughts and experiences with a belief in God and how God desires us to behave.  I don't expect us all to agree on the various topics we bring up.  I just want us to hear each others thoughts instead of an academic world or a preacher/minister imposing doctrine on us that we are not supposed to question.  I look forward to open discussion, where all men truly are equal.    August 2023

Life is a series of dramatic events.  Some with positive results and some with negative results.  We define the positive results as those that meet our expectations of what is a "good" result.  Positive is often measured by the values of a culture.  If some dramatic event results in an economic gain, that may be viewed as a positive result.  But, what if that economic gain brings on negative events that follow?  Was then the event that brought on economic prosperity a positive event?  Does a positive result always involve a person feeling pleasure from the result?  If so does pleasure achieved through illegal or immoral means a positive result?

These are the questions we need to ask ourselves about our personal lives.  What criteria do you start from to measure the drama in your life as being positive or negative?  Many of us follow religious principles.  Directives, decrees, and statements in bibles or other religious books.  The Word of God is the guiding principle for many, no matter what label you assign to our Creator.  Many of us follow the values of the culture we live under.  In the United States, generally if you do not consolidate materialistic items, e.g. home, car, wealth, your life may be judged as being negative in terms of its outcome.  But, why should the absence of wealth in your life be viewed as a negative life result?

Imagine a life where everything you achieve or do is accomplished without running into any barriers or problems.  Imagine a life where you have a goal and you perform the series of tasks with no barriers in the way.  All you do is perform a series of tasks where each task encounters "positive" results.  In such a life, the expectation is that you will achieve whatever you set out to perform with minimal effort.  Do any of you have such a lifestyle?

Expect drama in your life.  Expect the unexpected.  The odds are that events in your life will happen that you never thought would happen.  This is the system that has been created for us to live under.  Why does life operate that way?  I have no idea.  Is it for the entertainment of the Creator of us all?  If so, no it doesn't seem fair from a human viewpoint that anything we do could result in a negative result.  We do not want our lives to be for the entertainment of others.  Even if you adhere to all the religious principles, directives, and guidance, you may still have health issues that threaten the quality of your human life.

So what is a person to do?  Maybe the best thing a person can do is just decide how they will approach life and interactions with other people.  Judge and evaluate how you are educated and what you are told in regards to how you want to behave and live your life.  Some type of religious foundation is needed to filter out the human rules, values, and cultures we have created.  It has to be a continuous process of evaluation.  Look at the history of humanity and notice the various phases of behaviors we collectively have gone through.  Many of our experiences involves violence, sometimes violence for no apparent reason other than hate and spiritual evil.

Laws do not make life better.  Laws do not solve human problems.  The decisions we make that leads to a positive or negative dramatic result is the life we create.  Stop and think before you act.  You are creating your own drama.  July 2023.

 

Affordable Housing.  Repeat it 3 times.  No, you do not have to click your heels together as you say it.  Affordable housing is the quiet monster  ravaging communities across the United States.  It is attacking families, individuals, and people of all classes.  It is the topic that politicians at all levels are ignoring.  Instead of addressing the affordable housing issue, they are distracting you with talk about immigration, gender rights, freedom, and fearful talk of a recession.  Why are they avoiding the topic of affordable housing?  Because they do not want to do the hard work that requires non partisan behavior to address the issue.  Next time you meet someone either currently in office or seeking an elective office, ask them how they plan to address the issue of affordable housing.  Then listen carefully to their answer.  June 2023.