A bit of the news: "Open Doors", an organization that keeps an eye on religious persecution issued a story of how in 7 out of 10 of the countries on their watchlist have seen a rise of 14% in religious persecution. Primarily, they report this is coming from Islamic oppression under Sharia Law. Said law allows for the treatment of Christians and Jews, and women to be 2nd class, discrimination to the point of out right violence being allowable. Yet, Sharia Law is spreading being allowable in several European countries, including parts of Canada, and France. Sections of Germany allow for it in those locations where the police are told to stay out. How long before this happens in the U.S.?
Anti-Semitism is also on the rise in the USA, based on news reports of business practices, acts of violence and other behavior patterns being seen.
I observed a report through the Washington Free Beacon, one of the news sources I trust, of how our Federal Government has spent $228, 636 of our tax dollars to find out why obese lesbians binge eat, and another $1,487, 703 to study the sleep habits on the Mexico Border. Yes, our tax dollars are at work.
If you've noticed I've forwarded to everyone who receives the journal certain stories in the news, as I feel you might want to read the whole story. If not, just click it off. I trust Gatestone and have found their reports verifiable, or I wouldn't have bothered forwarding particular items on to you.
Book Report: I'm in the process of wrapping up my last editing for "The Final Challenge", this is the long awaited conclusion to my first novel- "A Coming Storm". A thousand plus years following the imprisonment of Satan, his human army is now at the Walls of Jerusalem, battling for control of the city against the joint Christian armies who hold the defense. A major naval battle was fought off the shores of Israel, where Satan's Black Fleet, has defeated the much smaller Christian fleet and now the land battle is underway. Once I finish this project I will undergo the last editing of my next installment of the "Badge and the Cross" series. This book is titled "Stronghold" and set in Skagway, which was my 2nd police department. I arrived on the February night in the middle of a blizzard and it seemed to set the bizarre events that took place over the next 3 years. Again, I use many of my actual police cases, including a tragic suicide and a Christmas night murder that both rocked the community, along with a sudden drop overnight of unemployment when the mines shut down and 67% of the men and women in town lose their jobs with the White Pass Railroad. The bars were sure packed that night, believe me.
Patrick, Canaan's hubby, is soon coming home. He's been in Valdez working and she, and the two kids seriously miss him. Mona and I have begun attacking the mold problem in our home, but it will be a full summer job as this old house has serious trouble with mold. The 4 dogs are all in heat again, making for some raging tempers amongst them. Fun-fun-fun. So, life goes on as 9-people struggle to get along in this somewhat crowded homestead. Truthfully, we do okay as we've learned to give each other our needed space. Mona and I have had house guests for most of our marriage- it just happens. The Lord, will He moves in ways I cannot understand, but Mona and I follow His will.
One of my strange morning habits, before starting to work on my manuscript, is going to the Etsy used and handmade items shopping sight and window shop. I've always been a window shopper, but almost always never buy anything. I just like to think of whether or not I could use this, or need this, or think of someone else that might enjoy it. Yesterday, I was checking out the vintage posters they had in their site and was blown away by the prices some of these posters went for. Can you imagine paying close to $2,000 for an old Beatle's "Let it Be" movie poster? These are all copies, thousands were made of each poster, but WOW! Are they costly. Others, they can go for as low at $5.00. I of course prefer the John Wayne movie posters, especially the ones that show him wearing a badge. He played a sheriff in "Rio Bravo". But I am under strict orders not to buy anything, so I just window shop. I even found an original "Star Wars" poster printed in Japanese.
I look forward to spring and summer, as I always do and think about the various projects I've planned. I need to build a new barn, about the size of a two car garage and have set aside more than a dozen cottonwood trees for supports, that were cut down last summer and have now dried out. My old storage sheds need to come down, but I'll make use of the wood next winter for firewood. We have to redo the roof of the house, which should've been done several years ago, but we keep patching it. Prepare a new woodshed, using an old coal bin attached to the house. Yes, this old place used to burn coal for heat, but the wife back then grew weary of the smell and had her husband bring in a furnace. With the cost of fuel up here, we haven't used the furnace in 9 or 10 years, but now thinking about going to propane for next winter? I have school bus to unload we use for storage and will probably have a couple yard sales from that project. And there is always the garden.... Odd how we plan and plan and less than half the stuff gets done. I imagine you all have your own summer projects planned, too. Good luck.
Our son, James has received his new orders. He is a captain in the Air Force and as much as he and his wife Becca, plus their 3 girls, seriously wanted to go overseas, the Air Force has decided to send them to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. This is somewhat near St.Louis, but I forget how close. Tornado alley for some people, but this whole area is. I went through 3 tornadoes while living in Missouri and stationed at Whiteman AFB. Two at a distance and one hit our trailer park, but we'd already evacuated and we're at the local high school. One trailer was flattened like a pan cake because the owner failed to open all his windows before leaving. That was a weird sight to behold. Some of us were standing outside talking when it got weirdly silent, then a bolt of lightening lit up the tornado within 150 yards of us. We all hit the dirt. Scary thing, an estimated Class 3.
I guess it's time to hit the manuscript, so a very good morning to all of you and may the Lord bless your day. BILL