It Is Well With My Soul

Our church hasn't held public services for the last two Sundays because of the corona virus and our governor's instructions. But the services are online. We watched this morning.

Near the end of the service our pastor, Dr. Carroll Marr, spoke about the history of one of my favorite hymns - “It Is Well With My Soul.” I had absolutely no idea about the history of the lyrics so after listening to what Dr. Marr said I looked it up for myself.

The author of the lyrics, Horatio Spafford, was a successful attorney and Real Estate investor in Chicago in the late 1800s. He lost a fortune in the great fire of 1871. Around the same time he lost his four year old son to Scarlet Fever.

A short while later Mr. Spafford decided his wife and four daughters might benefit from a vacation abroad and put them on a ship to Great Britain with plans to join them as soon as he got some of his affairs in order. Somewhere in the Atlantic the ship they were on collided with another ship and sank. His wife survived but his four daughters all perished. When his wife arrived in Great Britain she sent a telegram that began “Saved alone. What shall I do?”

Spafford soon boarded another ship to join his wife in Great Britain. During the journey, the Captain of the ship knew of the tragedy that had struck the Spafford family. Upon Spafford's request, when the ship neared the sight where the tragedy had occurred, Spafford was summoned to the deck. As he looked down at the water where his daughters had died, words of hope and comfort filled his heart. He wrote them down and they have become a well-loved hymn.

I can't say whether or not Spafford wrote all six verses himself or had assistance, but this song has been one of my favorites since I was a kid - not only the words but the melody. As one who has experienced the loss of a child this song now means more to me than ever. I cannot imagine Mr. Spafford's pain and devastation at losing all of his children. Or maybe I can since my son was an only child.

Anyway, the song reads as follows:

“When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know

It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:

It is well... with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come

Let this blessed assurance control -

That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well... with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.

My sin – oh, the bliss of this glorious thought

My sin, not in part, but in whole

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, oh, my soul.

It is well... with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live;

If Jordon above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

It is well... with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal.
Oh, trump of the angel, Oh, voice of the Lord –

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

It is well... with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when the faith shall be sight

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend

Even so, it is well with my soul.

It is well... with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.

This is one of the most beautiful, heartwarming performances of the song that I've ever heard. It is sung by Ben Waites, who is a member of the New Speer Family gospel group. I got to hear Ben sing it live last year. Amazing is the only word I can think of.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L45ydkGcl9U

If the link doesn't work, copy and paste it. It's worth it.

Stop Being Offended By Everything

Calling Covid-19 the "Chinese virus," because that's where it originated, (you know - like the Hong Kong flu, the Spanish flu, etc.) has been deemed racist and Xenophobic by the left and the media. Even though the reference has nothing to do with the Chinese people but merely the country of the virus' origin, saying it is apparently evil.

Starting today I would appreciate people not calling foods by their country of origin. Kung Pow Chicken, fried rice, Lo Mein, etc., should no longer be called " Chinese food." Spaghetti, lasagna eggplant Parmesan, etc. should not be called "Italian food." Sushi should not be called "Japanese food." Russian dressing should not be called Russian.

All of these terms can be deemed racist and/or Xenophobic and people should cease and desist from using them, finding instead a less offensive description. Obviously p, in this politically correct world, things should not be named after their city or country of origin since leftists and the media are so easily offended for other people who don't much care about it one way or another.

Another important food - hummus - shouldn't be called Mediterranean or Middle Eastern because that includes numerous countries rather than just one. We could start a war or something.

Obviously I'm being satirical but in a country, half of whose people demand political correctness at any and all cost, it's easy to see just how ridiculous things could get if left unchecked. My advice - stop being offended by everything - particularly by things that don't directly affect your life. Calling the Covid virus "Chinese" doesn't hurt you. It doesn't hurt the Chinese. Let the little things go. You'll live a happier life.

Dear main stream (left-wing) media...

We the people who support the Second Amendment want to apologize to you for the fact that the pro-gun rally in Virginia  on Monday didn't end in violence and bloodshed. We know you were salivating for any report of such behavior by the "gun crazed right," and your day was ruined when it didn't happen. Many of you probably already had most of your lead stories written and were just waiting to hear that an incident had occurred so you could fill in the details. Sorry to disappoint you. You couldn't even report on how the protesters left trash and litter all over the place because they didn't. They cleaned up after themselves and probably left the streets of Richmond cleaner than they were on Sunday. Next time, if you want violence and trash, cover a left-wing eco protest or a pro-abortion protest. Those of us who watch news reports that are not provided by you have seen the results of those protests. I'm sure you get good ratings from your viewers by showing women dressed up in vagina hats/costumes but you don't show the trash and litter left behind by them and by those protesting for the environment while they throw their trash and "Save the Earth" signs on the ground. The violence you wanted was averted not because of Governor Northam's "teams" but because the violent left-wing extremists apparently didn't show up. Perhaps they were afraid of all those gun toting right-wingers. If so... good. They didn't need to be there anyway. I'm sure you all were disappointed when the protesters inside the fence didn't storm the capitol building. That would have made for some great reporting. But that didn't happen either. Those inside the fence were peaceful and mostly quiet. They were simply sharing their belief in the Second Amendment and were doing it in numbers. Wait for your headlines. My prediction is that despite so many people being opposed to Governor Northam's plan to further restrict the Second Amendment in Virginia, he and the Democrats will go through with it. There will be more protests and when the sanctuary counties and various law enforcement agencies refuse to comply things will likely get interesting. It will be the first time in a long time that law enforcement refused to follow the laws of the land because they believe them to be unconstitutional. So just wait for it. You'll get your headlines.

Dear Megan Rapinoe....

Like other professional athletes you play a game for a living. You like to pretend that what you do is important but in the long run, if you look at it realistically, what you do doesn't really contribute anything to society rather than a little entertainment for a handful of people.

You say you won't go to the White House if invited. And? Do you think anyone but you is going to care? It won't affect the President or nearly 100% of Americans. Oh, sure... the media will be all over it. But at the end of the day no one is going to lose sleep over it.

You say you kneel and/or ignore the national anthem to protest against President Trump. Guess what? The national anthem isn't about President Trump. It's about the great nation that gave you the opportunity to be the international celebrity you are today. But still you are, when all is said and done, a woman who plays a game for a living. Granted, you play it well. But you contribute nothing to society.

As a veteran and someone who served his country (including you) for 30 years I'm offended by your selfish behavior. You dishonor the country that you play for even as you take a paycheck that is, at least partly, paid by me. You are the epitome of self righteousness. "Look at me - I'm important" is your attitude. This narrative, when finished, will be the only attention I give you. And I'm giving you this attention only to tell you I think you're acting like an arrogant and petulant child.

Apparently some of your teammates are inheriting your arrogance. I read yesterday that two of them stated publicly that employers should give their employees time off to watch the games. Really? That's just stupid. It's a game. It's not going to change world affairs. It's not going to fix hunger or poverty. It's not going to stop nuclear proliferation. It's not going to solve the homeless problem or stop illegal immigration. It's going to entertain some Americans for a short time. And I'm not one of them.

Do the country a favor and just shut up. Not going to the White House is your choice. And your childish attitude about it doesn't surprise me. But guess what? No one really cares. Play your game, win if you can, and stop dishonoring the country that pays your salary. Otherwise - quit.

Kirsten Gillibrand: Pro-Lifers Are The Same As Racists

I haven't written anything of substance recently for various reasons, but felt compelled to write about some recent comments by Senator, and Democrat Presidential candidate, Kirsten Gillibrand.

Yeah... there are some who would say I rarely write anything of substance but that's OK. My psyche doesn't bruise easily.

I'm writing this because it's difficult for me to believe or understand how a Senator and Presidential candidate can say such ignorant things.

In an interview with the Des Moines Register in Iowa on Monday, Gillibrand compared pro-life people, particularly judges, to racists, anti-Semites and homophobes.

“I think there’s some issues that have such moral clarity that we have as a society decided that the other side is not acceptable,” Gillibrand said, responding to a question about pro-life judges.

“Imagine saying that it’s okay to appoint a judge who is racist or anti-Semitic or homophobic.”

“Asking someone to appoint someone who takes away basic human rights of any group of people in America — I don’t think those are political issues anymore.”

With all due respect, Senator - when did abortion become a "human right?" It may be a right in this country but in most other countries it is not. Because most people in the world don't believe that it's OK to kill the unborn - or as in the case of the United States - even those who are born alive. It's not a human right. It's a selfish practice adopted by the American left.

And second - you do know the history of the abortion industry don't you? Margaret Sanger, the founder of Planned Parenthood and the "mother" of the abortion industry, opened Planned Parenthood in mostly black neighborhoods with the intent of keeping black people from successfully procreating. She was a known racist and wanted to minimize the growth of the black population.

So who are the racists - those who want to prevent abortions of all babies, regardless of color or ethnicity, or those who think it's OK to kill babies anytime?

Gillibrand went on to show how little she knows about the Constitution when it comes to "separation of church and state."

"We believe in this country in the separation of church and state. And I respect the rights of every American to hold their religious beliefs true to themselves, but our country and our Constitution has always demanded that we have a separation of church and state, and all these efforts by President Trump and other ultra-radical conservative judges and justices to impose their faith on Americans is contrary to our Constitution — and that’s what this is."

Senator - I'm just a high school graduate with a lot of life experience but I can tell you that the Constitution says nothing about separation of church and state. The First Amendment says that the government cannot mandate a particular religion on the people nor prevent people from worshipping as they choose. There is nothing that says anything about separation of church and state.

Contrary to popular belief - the Constitution doesn't even prevent government officials from praying while performing official duties, praying publicly, or referencing God in the performance of their duties. Judges often get it wrong because they rely on the "separation of church and state" clause that cannot be backed up by the Constitution - because it's simply not there.

And I'm not sure what planet you've been living on but no one in the Trump administration or in the courts is trying to "impose their faith on Americans." It's not about faith. It's about right and wrong and the rights of unborn human beings. Speaking publicly of one's faith does not impose it on anyone. Even politicians are entitled to their opinions, whether you agree with those opinions or not.

Gillibrand finished by saying "For all of these issues, they are not issues that there is a fair other side, there is no moral equivalency when you come to racism, and I do not believe there’s a moral equivalency when it comes to changing laws that deny women reproductive freedom."

"They are not issues that there is a fair other side." In other words - if you disagree with my views you have no valid point and are to be ignored.

Instead of calling it "reproductive freedom" why not call it what it really is - non-reproductive freedom? Admit the truth. "We want the right to have unprotected sex when we want to but we want a way out if we get pregnant through our own careless behavior." That's the truth about the entire thing. And that's pretty sad.

Gillibrand is polling at 0% right now. She's trying to boost her popularity in any way she can. But telling lies is probably not the way to do it. Perhaps I'm wrong.

"Enough With The Victimhood" by Sylvia Thompson

Millionaire Athletes and Their Lost Cause 

I must admit I have never in my life purchased a ticket to a sports event. I am not a sports enthusiast. But I am an American black citizen, and I have had it up to the gills with black people who embrace victimhood. I also highly resent my being expected to do the same in order to affirm my "blackness."

Black victims these days, for the most part, are the product of decades of Black Americans being used primarily by white progressive leftists to advance an anti-American agenda.

The current brouhaha surrounding the despicable behavior of NFL athletes toward the National Anthem and the American flag is a prime example of what the Left has done to my race.

One must assume these players and their guilt-conflicted white coaches and owners (and victimhood-inflicted black coaches) are being manipulated by the Left, because no intelligent, thinking people would deliberately cut themselves off at the knees. Essentially, what these young misguided mostly black men are doing is ensuring the demise of their lucrative paychecks.

Further, I would wager that if these teams consisted of all white athletes, none of this idiocy would be allowed. We are witnessing this travesty because the vast majority of players are black and can whine "oppression" if appropriate action is taken against them for their unconscionable behavior.

The twisted reasoning that claims these protests are to highlight "injustice" and "police brutality" is a laughable crock. What they do in fact is dishonor valued symbols of this nation's heritage and cover over truth about black crime.

Black males bear the brunt of police encounters because black males commit disproportionately more crimes. Police encounters with black men are so often confrontational because so many of these men, especially the young, don't think "compliance" applies to them. They foolishly assume they are above the law and disrespect for police officers is an act of honor.

These young blacks, sadly, took much of their direction from racists Obama and Eric Holder during Obama's destructive, eight-year regime and Holder's corruption of the Justice Department. These two men, abusing their federal powers, gave young blacks the impression they need not heed the law, because laws are somehow unjust when they are applied to black Americans. The NFL lot, and any other athletes taking a similar stance, are also influenced by Obama's and Holder's disdain for law and law enforcement.

I am not familiar with one case where a black suspect to a crime was not proven legally to have caused the behavior against him, particularly in cases where the police officer involved was exonerated by facts. Michael Brown of "hands up, don't shoot" infamy is one good example. Blatant lies were spread to cloud the truth about Brown's case.

Back in the day when I was growing up in the racially segregated South, the opposite prevailed in many cases. There was much injustice particularly toward black men, but not today. Today, too many blacks have been fed the notion that it is now "pay-back" time, and they can flaunt their lawlessness because some whites flaunted theirs during an earlier time in our nation's history.

Although Obama and Holder no longer wield power in this country, some of their minions continue on the pernicious path of "paying back" American whites for wrongs, real or imagined. But as the saying goes, there is a new Sheriff in town and he is not guilt-conflicted. He expects fair play under law and tolerating pay-back is not part of his agenda. Black Americans, when they break the law, can no longer claim victim status simply because they are black. Those days are over.

American laws and law enforcement personnel will be respected in America, again; our traditions and values will not be impugned in America without consequences, again. Anybody unsettled about this turn of events is welcome to leave this country. I suggest all the black players try a country in Africa, and see how successful they will be at making millions playing games. They will all soon learn what oppression really means.

Some self-directed, independent-thinking blacks (and there are many of us) have offered that if these millionaire protestors want to tackle some real problems, they might consider the thousands of black children killed in abortions annually (by the progressive Left), or perhaps the many, many young blacks murdered routinely on inner-city streets by other young blacks

(in cities run by progressive, leftist Democrats), or the downright criminal state of education of black inner-city children, orchestrated by the progressive leftist National Education Association (NEA). The NEA's aim is to produce unintelligent pawns to feed the cause of progressivism.

I am annoyed by the expressions of "sincerity" gracing the faces of the NFL protestors-as if to convey the "hallowedness" of their cause. In actuality, they provide a picture of grown men allowing themselves to be made fools of by the progressive Left. I don't doubt, however, that some of these men have been coerced into compliance with this lost cause, either through threats of violence or shunning (from coaches and players). Alejandro Villanueva of the Pittsburgh Steelers and former Army ranger is very likely a victim of such threats. He was publicly castigated by his leftist coach for his patriotism. The coach demanded unity behind an ignorant cause.

And finally, this issue has nothing to do with First Amendment rights.  President Trump's speaking out against the clownish behavior of the athletes, on behalf of the majority of American citizens, does not mean he can or would stop any of these misguided people from making fools of themselves. To restrict them, as a government entity, would indeed be a violation of the First Amendment ... But their employers, if they were to develop even a modicum of testicular fortitude, could and should fire them for doing major damage to the bottom line of the business. The rest of us non-millionaire "Joes" would certainly be pink-slipped by an employer if we dared to be so clueless about the necessity of profits and so disdainful of the sensibilities of customers.

I will wait patiently for the true sports enthusiasts to vent their rage by simply boycotting the games. It will be sweet revenge to witness the slain goose cease producing its golden eggs.

Doing God's Work Without Even Knowing It

We just began 2nd Corinthians in our pastor's Bible study at our church. Yesterday evening we wen through the first eleven verses, of Chapter one.

When he got to verse 3 of Chapter 1, Dr. Marr began talking about how God often uses our experiences, both good and bad, to help others. God often says “You know what? I need to help this person out – and the best way to do that right now is to send you, because you know what they're feeling. You've been there.”

“3) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4) who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”

Dr. Marr talked about how only people who have been divorced truly understand the devastation that divorce can cause. He spoke of how the experience of losing a loved one can only be understood by someone who has had the same experience.

Then he looked at me and said “I pick on Glen sometimes because of his experience. He lost a son and he wrote a book about it. The raw emotion he was able to express will definitely help someone who has had the same experience. For me it's a good book but I've never lost a child so it doesn't have the same meaning to me as it does to someone who has had that experience.”

Once again he drew an emotional response from me. He often catches me off guard when he tells people about my son and my book. But I don't mind. Because as he was discussing verse 3, I was already thinking of the same thing – how I have been able to comfort and encourage other members of “the club” because of the comfort and encouragement I received from God years ago.

When the class was over Dr. Marr walked over and said “Hey – I'm sorry I put you on the spot but it just fit.”

“It's OK,” I said. “I have actually lived that scripture – more times than I want to think about.”

And it's true. I have given dozens of copies of my book to fellow club members (all members get a free, signed copy) and I have a friend who lost her Marine son in 2010 and she buys copies to give to Gold Star families.

One of the women in the class asked how she can get a copy of the book. Dr. Marr told her that it should be in the book store but if it's not they have copies in the office. I supply the church with copies so they can give them to anyone whom they believe will benefit from it.

The Apostle Paul said a lot of important, meaningful things in his writings. But this one verse, 2 Corinthians 1: 3, may be his most meaningful for me. Because without realizing it I have been fulfilling scripture. I know God has used me to comfort those with whom I share a common and tragic experience. As I have said before - I believe I was supposed to write this book, even though it started out as simply a few pages of memories.

The very best compliment I have ever received about my book has been said to me more than once. Several people have said “Thank you for putting my feelings into print. I thought I was the only one who felt this way.”

Even though I never set out to put anyone else's feelings into print (I was working strictly for me - or so I thought), what a wonderful and heartwarming comment that is. And while I still wish I had never become a club member, I'm honored to be able to “comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”