JESUS LOVES YOU!

Interview Video

2012-01-18T00:11:00.001-08:00

Food Not Bombs - Las Vegas from Michael Zayas on Vimeo.

Five Feet from the Finish Line

2012-01-14T23:49:00.001-08:00

The Devil & Me
By Cliff Harrison

I shouldn't let the cat out of the bag and go spoiling a good story prematurely, but I'll tell you why I chose the title, "Five Feet from the Finish Line." That's what it feels like.

One of the stories I'll publish one day in an up and coming installment of The Devil & Me is about a snowmobile race I was in back in the 70s. There I was leading the pack darn near a half a lap ahead of the nearest snowmobile coming up on the finishing line. Five feet before the finish line my drive belt broke, stopping me dead in my tracks.

There I sat unable to even push my sled across the line for a win. I was clearly ahead for most of the race and I only had sixty inches to cross the finish line and be the winner to take home the trophy. Sixty inches!

I just shook hands with the devil and thanked him as sled after sled passed me by as if poking fun at me for being that close to a winner only to be the worst loser of the entire race--dead last.

I feel like that now. Five feet from the finish line.

I've got so many writing projects that I just know are winners but I can't even get up enough energy to get them put together and published in the organized order they need to be in. Five feet from the finish line is where I am at stuck with a broken drive belt that went just like that.

I guess today I'll make more than one entry in my journal.

I can see the finish line. I can touch the finish line. I just can't get across the finish line. It's like in my mind as if I'm a cowboy in one of those old western movies and I'm crawling in the desert trying to reach the watering hole that is really nothing but a mirage while buzzards circle overhead. I'm just about there. But almost isn't good enough and those birds of prey are starting to call out to one another communicating about the bodacious dinner that's coming up.

Better men than me would have committed suicide by now. Just end it. Put themselves out of their misery. But not me. I like hanging around and giving the devil a hard time.

There are too many demons in this world to just up and leave them. It's more fun hanging around and making their life miserable like they do God's Children.

So, I guess I'll just have to plug along and do what work I can. My writing could be so much better if I didn't have this demon inside of me holding me back while draining my energy.

Well, what do you know? I meant this to be an entry for my journal. But you know what? I just wrote a piece for The Devil & Me. Why not? Maybe I can push my sled over the finish line.

The Devil & Me is a syndicated column by Cliff Harrison

The Little Drummer Boy (Perfect Version)

2011-12-23T05:36:00.001-08:00

Merry Christmas

The Little Drummer Boy

2011-12-23T05:24:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas

God Is Good

2011-07-09T19:43:00.000-07:00

By Cliff Harrison

Sometimes our life is so busy, so noisy that we fail to see the dark clouds in our environment until they are already hanging over our head threatening to raise havoc with our lives.

This morning I heard thunder and decided to go outside and videotape some of the cloud formation that was gathering in the sky. Then I came back inside and opened Windows Live Movie Maker and put together this video with music from Kevin MacLeod at www.incompetech.com.

Sometimes clouds seem to represent our lives. They can be emotional. They can be black and full of anger of which thunder and lightning explodes above us. They can be pure white, puffy as... well a cloud. Soft and bright. Cheerful and happy instead of sad and hateful.

Too, the wind can be be calm or it can rage wildly. In less than two minutes I put my thoughts on this on video. Native American Indian instruments provide the music backdrop. Heavy drums, the kind war drums sounded from, rattles and shakers to give the impression of Nature's thunder and man's anger.

God, through Jesus Christ, can remove whatever dark clouds hang over our lives. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior can bring peace to a heart that is troubled. When one believes in Jesus Christ and obeys Him, one will see their life is good, too, and full of rewards and understanding for those times in our lives when things aren't as perfect as we'd like them.

God is good. Trust God. Obey Him. And pray for the world to be free of black clouds and warring people. Pray for yourself. Pray for your love ones. Pray in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Protesting Inhumane Local Governments

2011-07-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

Food Not Bombs Las Vegas Shoutout at Las Vegas City Hall Today at 5:00PM-6:00PM. Shoutout about Orlando's inhumane ban on feeding the hungry. No limit on how loud you can shout.

Friday, July 1 · 5:00pm - 6:00pm

City Hall
400 Stewart Ave. (at Las Vegas Blvd)
Las Vegas, NV
Created by Sean D. Daily, a Las Vegas Author
For Food Not Bombs Las Vegas

From Sean's Facebook Page:
We're going to meet outside City Hall to bring attention to the City of Orlando's ban on the sharing of food with hungry people and to show solidarity with Orlando Food Not Bombs members who have been arrested as a result.

We'll have signs and flyers available detailing the issues surrounding the ban and the subsequent arrests and will be asking people to let the Orlando mayor's office know how they feel about them. You are welco...me to participate in any way you feel comfortable or to simply be there to show your support. You are also free to bring your own signs, if you should feel the urge to do so. Please tell everyone you know and encourage them to spread the word to ensure that we have as big a turnout as possible!

It's especially important that we here in Las Vegas support those in Orlando. Back in 2006, our own city government passed the same sort of ban on offering food to hungry people. Many of the members of Food Not Bombs Las Vegas, as well as FNB members, who had traveled from other cities to support us, were ticketed and even arrested for the simple act of sharing food with someone in need.

Message from Sean D. Daily
Here's contact information for Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. Please put this on any flyers or placards that you make for the Friday action. If you can't make it on Friday, take a few minutes out to call, e-mail or tweet Mayor Dyer.

Phone: 407.246.2221
Fax: 407.246.2842
E-mail: buddy.dyer@cityoforlando.net
...Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/orlandomayor
Twitter: @orlandomayor
City Twitter: @citybeautiful

Food Not Bombs Las Vegas Website

Message from Cliff Harrison: Remember in 2006 we had the same unconstitutional ordinance crafted by Mayor Oscar Goodman and the Las Vegas City Council until the federal courts struck it down and ruled the ban unconstitutional.

Amazing Grace - Rhema Marvanne 7-Year-Old Gospel Singer

2011-05-28T07:16:00.000-07:00

Please visit www.RhemaMarvanne.com, "favorite" and "subscribe" to Youtube.com/RhemaMarvanne and "like" FaceBook.com/RhemaFan

Martina McBride singing "God Bless America" at the 2002 Rose Bowl Parade

2011-05-28T05:56:00.000-07:00

Christy Nockels: Waiting Here For You

2011-03-22T03:18:00.000-07:00

Rhema Marvanne

2011-01-18T12:44:00.000-08:00

The Torch Has Been Passed
The Eternal Flame of the Singer of Angels

Secretariat

2011-01-16T11:38:00.000-08:00

It's Who You Are
By AJ Michalka

East to West

2011-01-15T09:58:00.000-08:00

Casting Crowns

Down to the River to Pray

2011-01-14T07:26:00.000-08:00

Alison Krauss

You Raise Me Up

2011-01-11T03:52:00.000-08:00

By Celtic Woman

A Child Cites The Lord's Prayer

2011-01-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

God Bless!

The More I Seek You

2010-06-04T13:03:00.000-07:00

Kari Jobe
A Gateway Worship Production

PraiseCharts Article

Saddle Up, Boys!

2009-05-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

It's Time to Ride!

Yes, saddle up, boys, and get ready to ride hard. Get ready to ride hard and fast.

In the land of the free and the home of the brave, we have a nation to defend.

From ashes and dust, the Christian Right will rise up and take back our land.

For more than fifty years the left has taken down our high flying proud flag.

They have sold out America and they've sent our most precious resource--God--down the river.

For more than fifty years our honor, our pride and our dignity has been lost to those who do not want to see us survive.

Over the years, I have lost readership. I spoke my mind. I speak my mind. I hold no convictions to no one other than God and country.

More than two years ago, I found myself homeless. I had many readers supporting me, giving me encouragement. Then when I recovered and wrote and spoke of what I saw from my times while living on the streets of Las Vegas, and how I blamed most of the problems on government and government employees, and large nonprofit agencies doing little or nothing to help the homeless, I lost readership and support.

The subject of homelessness isn't a happy subject, it is difficult to find anything joyful to say. Some couldn't bare the endless sadness to the true stories being told. The events of the streets and the evilness that dwells there is often repulsive.

I was accused by some of being "radical". I defended myself and claimed I wasn't radical, but traditional. The world around me is radical.

I stand firm. I hold my ground. I won't budge for evil. I won't falter for sin. Evil can not tempt me. Temptations of the flesh can not induce my soul nor can it persuade my heart, encourage my mind or influence my spirit.

Some didn't like what I had to say. Others actually hated what I had to say. Perhaps, they felt threaten because I spoke the truth. The truth of what I saw and lived through while out on the streets homeless.

If I lose readers because I speak the truth, then so be it. I shall not lie in order to gain readership of those who cling to a false glory.

I was there, on the frontlines and I saw what was broken in society and I knew why it was broken and I knew how to fix it.

Some wouldn't like what I thought. Some didn't like what I thought. Some didn't want to know the truth. Most had no clue of what it was like, and didn't care to know the truth. The truth may threaten them, or their livelihood.

I can't help it if I water down someones campfire. The flames of justice needs to burn brighter. The ambers of glory needs to flicker longer. But campfires which burn for evil need to die out less we all burn to hell.

Hope needs to spark our future.

The morality of a nation has faded away and the corrupt and greedy have taken the forward charge.

It is time to lead, follow or get out of the way.

Christians must lay down their adversary for their Christian brothers and sisters of whom they may not agree to the doctrines of their opposing denominations.

Christians must lay down their opposition for one another and join forces against the true opposition.

We are at war. We are at the frontlines of a war which will wage on battle after battle.

Our democracy is at stake. It is no time for brother to be fighting brother. It is no time to be disputing opposite Christian philosophy.

It is time to unite. It is time to ban together. It is time for brother to stand beside brother and sister beside sister. There is enough feuding to be done with the common enemy--the enemy of God.

There will be time enough to oppose those with opposite Christian views later. But now is the time to join forces and let differences slide toward the back burner.

We need every available Christian there is to join our struggle and unite with us to counter the great enemy of God.

For far too long the far left radicals have conquered ground and infiltrated our great land by instilling social-communist agendas on our people. While Christians were battling and bickering with each other, the enemy of God rose to power.

Christians are still bickering with each other while the liberal left invades and conquers our homeland.

For more than forty years our educational system has fallen to the powers of liberal propaganda. Our nation's students were brainwashed to think like them. They couldn't speak a word of God nor say a prayer, but it was Okay to speak freely of abortions, same sex unions, atheist agendas, liberal power.

We are silent no more. The silent majority has risen. The silent majority will finish the war the liberal, social-communist minority began.

So, saddle up and ride hard and fast and tight. We have a mission to accomplish. That mission is victory. We need to raise our flag high and let Old Glory wave.

Saddle up, boys! Let's ride.

In the name of Jesus, let's ride.

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.

And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!

RIVER,

Las Vegas, Nevada

Sunday, 17 May, 2009

We The People Stimulus Package

2009-05-05T16:17:00.000-07:00

We Want Our Country Back!

In the videos below, Bob Basso, plays the role of the author of "Common Sense", Thomas Paine, to ignite the fire of change in America. Patriotism and Pride for America lead Thomas Paine to help take back America!

Igniting brushfires in the minds of Americans is something we all must do.

America is at perils of losing its democracy. We must unite and stand firm against tyranny.

I don't agree with everything these videos advocates, but it is as good of a start as any to keep the brushfires in the minds of a free people burning and the torch of freedom glowing.

We The People

Taking America Back In Progress....
The Second American Revolution

The Declaration of Independence
This is the second part of "A Powerful Performance."
The Short Version Only 9:17 Minutes

My Country, 'Tis of Thee (AMERICA)

Don't Give Her Up! Once She Is Gone, She Will Never Come Back....

RIVER Organization Christian Church Official Website: Standing Up For Christians & Americans

Pick up the torch of liberty and pass it on to those who inherit freedom from our Creator.

God Bless America!

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER,
Las Vegas, Nevada
Tuesday, 05 May, 2009

Is The Declaration of Independence In Danger of Being Repealed?

2009-05-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

Dick Morris: Obama has repealed The Declaration of Independence

As our nation becomes ever so divided, so it is that the left-wing radicals try to oppress right-wing Conservatives.

Divided we are, radicals against traditionalist. But united we are, Conservatives joining forces to push back the aggression of liberal tyranny.

The liberals have gained complete control of the House, Senate and the White House. Soon, they may completely control the Supreme Court.

America always stood because of a two-party system. In modern times, Democrats and Republicans, provided the checks and balances of government. Neither side could be too powerful. Both sides had to compromise.

That could all change. A one-party system, a one-party rule can effectively dominate our nation. Some see our nation as already being a Socialist state. Others think we have entered into a full-blown Communist state.

Tyranny is something which appears to be on the horizon. A government which rules without the voice or will of the people is a government of tyranny.

How long can America stand? With every passing day our liberties have been evaporating. With each new rising sun, we dread the bad news coming out of Washington. With each new dawn we see darkness moving deeper into our lives.

Darkness and evil moves swiftly over our land casting a dark cloud of disparity and fear over us.

God is denied in America, except for those of use who hold the truth.

Evil rises up and looms over our nation like a thick, dark cloud which grows darker by the hour.

We wonder, will America survive?

Or, will America die?

How much longer can America continue to take the wounds which come from within before she succumbs to the fatal blow?

This country is ripping apart at the seems.

Can she last? Can her people hold her together? Can a free people protect her in the face of destruction which comes from within?

Can a free people convince those of opposing political views the damage which is imminent? Can we display the truths that we are indeed on the eve of destruction? The answer is blowing in the wind, as the singers of the old song sang.

One thing for certain, those of us of Christian values must stand together and we must stand firm. If we do not, then we will most certainly be defeated and America as we know her will die.

She will fall and never again be the nation she was born to be.

She will fall unless we stand firm and rise up to take back the nation tyranny's agression pulls from us.

Listen to what Dick Morris has to say about Obama (BO) repealing the Declaration of Independence. It stinks like Body Odor.

DickMorris.com

Dick Morris' Vote.com

In The Crosshairs on Beltway Blimps, We Mean Blips

The Obama presidency: Here comes socialism

The Hill: Dick Morris Tells How Obama’s socialism works

Dick Morris has published other videos at YouTube and is a regular guest on the Sean Hannity show as well as many other political outlets. He is a Great American!

RIVER Organization Christian Church Official Website: Standing Up For Christians & Americans

God Bless the U.S.A.

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER,
Las Vegas, Nevada
Tuesday, 05 May, 2009

Declaration of Independence

2009-05-05T11:31:00.000-07:00

Learn the Declaration of Independence In Less Than 15 Minutes.

As the political environment rapidly changes in America, it is a good idea for Americans to understand the founding documents of our nation.

Our founding fathers set forth documents of laws and creeds to protect us as citizens of the United States of America.

Our basic founding laws are being challenged today in a rapidly changing political environment which threatens American principles and traditional values.

By viewing the video below will give you a clearer understanding of just one safeguard--The Declaration of Independence--our founding fathers installed for us during the birth of our great nation.

We the people, must safeguard ourselves from tyranny by teaching our fellow citizens the basic core values and fundamental principles our nation was founded upon.

You don't need to be a lawyer or scholar to understand these simple protections, you need only a will to listen and an effort to allow yourself a minimum of time to study basic American documents.

Complacency is the great enemy of freedom. Complacency can lead to tyranny. Complacency and the feeding of emotions is what brought Adolf Hitler to power to create the evil Nazi Germany. A free people with a will and knowledge of the laws which protect them can safeguard their liberty.

They can protect their liberty by refusing to fall victim of complacency when they know their government is doing wrong. They can protect their liberty by becoming involved and by letting their voice by heard.

In only such way can the bells of freedom ring.

The bells of freedom which our founding fathers created during the Declaration of Independence is testimony our liberty comes from God, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Take less than fifteen minutes and learn the Declaration of Independence by viewing the video.

After viewing the video, spend some time viewing the others available in the same category at YouTube.

Declaration of Independence

RIVER Organization Christian Church Official Website: Standing Up For Christians & Americans

God Bless America!

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER,
Las Vegas, Nevada
Tuesday, 05 May, 2009

Glory Be To God

2009-04-21T21:42:00.000-07:00

Frank Wright Plaza as it looks today, a barren

wasteland, empty and unfruitful. Behind the fenced-off former park is the DTC (Soon to be moved bus center) and to the far left of the photo is the "Mob Museum", Mayor Oscar Goodman's pet project. (Click photo to enlarge.) In the entry below is a photo of the park as it once looked when the homeless had a daytime place to go.

Sunday, April 8, 2007

8:50:00 PM PDT

Feeling Hopeful

GLORY BE TO GOD

Glorious Holy Pascha (Happy Easter)

Sunday, 8 April 2007, Holy Pascha, Day 90 Homeless

GLORY BE TO GOD

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of age." -- St. Matthew 28:19-20

"My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins." -- St. James 5:19-20

"But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." -- 1 Corinthians 15:57

"Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." -- 1 Corinthians 15:58

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His Child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." -- 1 St. John 5:1-5

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us. - 1 St. John 4: 7-12

PRAISE JESUS

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER,
Las Vegas, Nevada

Tags: God, Jesus, Christianity, Bible, Homelessness, , Homeless

This entry has 3 comments:

#3 Comment from aimer Email aimer

4/9/07 10:54 PM

As always, you are in my prayers.--Sheria

#2 Comment from rdautumnsage Email rdautumnsage

4/9/07 9:34 AM

Wishing you love and peace in your travels my friend! (Hugs) Indigo

http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/

#1 Comment from bgilmore725 Email bgilmore725

4/9/07 8:51 AM

Happy Easter to you, my friend in Las Vegas. I hope you are well. I know you have an Easter story for us when you come back. Bea

http://journals.aol.com/bgilmore725/Wanderer/

[Publisher's Note: This post first appeared in AOL Journal on 8 April 2007.]

A Palm Sunday Gift

2009-04-21T20:31:00.000-07:00

Photo of Frank Wright Plaza with the City of Las Vegas City Hall looming in the background. Mayor Oscar Goodman's office is on the tenth floor overlooking the park. The park was closed down by the city because the homeless people used it for a day refuge. The park is now dust in the wind, completely desert and sits unused and wasted. Even the trees were wasted and bulldozed down. (Photo by Cliff Harrison
Copyright © 2009 used by RIVER Organization Christian Church with permission.)

Sunday, April 1, 2007
10:18:00 PM PDT
Feeling Frustrated

A PALM SUNDAY GIFT

A PALM SUNDAY GIFT FROM A NATIVE AMERICAN

PALM SUNDAY, 1 APRIL 2007

Tuesday, 27 March 2007 8:00AM DAY 78 Homeless

I write this from my notes which occurred last Tuesday when I arrived at the Frank Wright Plaza, a city park used by the homeless to rest during the day. It was a cold, windy morning. This entry tells just one story of that day. A good day!

I nod to an old Comanche sitting on a concrete park bench sunning himself. He waves back. The park benches in the City of Las Vegas are built of concrete with a divider, arm rest, between the seats. They aren't built for comfort for obvious reasons. The homeless should not try to get comfortable. I've seen twisted bodies on those benches. Old men, old women, trying to get a little sleep since they had none the night before.

Coming toward me up a path, riding his bicycle, is a medium-built man perhaps in his late 40s or early 50s. His long black hair streaked with gray flowing free in the wind. He stops beside me. I stand tall. One must never show weakness. For the weak are prey.

"You got any shampoo?" He asks. I look over his bike, his back pack is fasten to his bike. His dark brown eyes focused upon mine.

"What are you going to do with shampoo?" I asked, smiling.

"I'm going to go take a shower at the pool." He spoke.

"The pool?" I said, hooking my thumb over my shoulder. The city public pool, gym and senior center was a short walking distant behind me. "They let you take a shower there?"

All over town are signs, "No Bathing, No Shaving, Violators will be prosecuted."

"Yeah," The Native American nodded, "For a dollar fifty."

"Hmmm, and they know you are homeless and treat you okay?"

"Yeah, they don't give me no problems."

"Yeah, I've got some shampoo," I said, swinging my back pack down on the empty seat of the park bench next to that of which the Comanche was sitting on. I fished through my back pack to find a half-empty 2oz bottle of shampoo. "Will this be enough?"

"Yeah, that's plenty," he said, "My name is Squirrel, I'm Apache."

I handed Squirrel the shampoo and told him my name. He handed me a palm leaf Cross he had made by hand as an exchange give, "Here, this is for you, you can sell this."

I took the beautiful palm-leaf Cross and admired it, "I could never sell this," I smiled, "It is beautiful. I'll keep this forever!"

Squirrel took the Cross back out of my hand and stood square before me, holding the Cross level in both of his hands. I was puzzled until he spoke.

(I wish I had a photo to show you, but it was lost. Using all palm leaves, there was a Cross, a rose and other art work, Squirrel made in design.)

As he spoke, Squirrel moved his finger along the Cross from the center, to the top, and back down to the center again to illustrate his words.

"Christ died on the Cross. In three days He rose to sit on the right-hand side of His Father. From the top of His Heart to the bottom of my heart, I present this to you!" He spoke with determination and then reached his arms out for me to receive the Palm-leaf Cross as a gift from him to me.

I could feel the peace of Jesus shining upon us. This was going to be a great day.

"Thank you," I said, "I shall never part with this gift you give me, Squirrel!" I said, admiring the Cross.

Then Squirrel placed his hand on the inside of my arm and my hand was placed on the inside of his arm, the Apache handshake.

Then Squirrel told me a story about his bike. He had asked some lady to help him because he needed a new rim for his old bike. Instead she took him to a store and bought him a brand new bike. After his story he left to go shower and I sat with the Comanche for a moment admiring the Cross together before I parted.

I've seen knife fights some of the Indians get into when drinking. But like all people, I can usually communicate with them. Racism is alive and well on the streets of Las Vegas and one never knows when a fight will break out. The Native Americans are just as much targets of racism as any other race. But this morning illustrates the humanity and love most homeless people have for each other, regardless of race. The few always spoil it for the many. It's always better to make friends than enemies. On the streets, like off the streets, we are all God's children. And we all live in the same house. His House. God's House.

Thank you for joining me. God Bless You!
And always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

Tags: homeless, homelessness, God, Jesus, Christianity, Native Americans, Cross
This entry has 5 comments:

#5 Comment from jilla29680 Email jilla29680
4/3/07 9:59 PM

River, I heard about you from reading someone else's journal. That's such a sad word-homeless. Many people are afraid of homeless people, because a number of them are mentally ill (you can thank the government for that). My maternal grandmother was half Cherokee, so I guess that makes me one-eighth. I am very proud of that part of my heritage. You are very courageous and I admire you greatly. And I am infuriated, because there should not be one single homeless Native American.
Your new found friend,Deb

#4 Comment from bgilmore725 Email bgilmore725
4/2/07 7:27 PM

Hey, River... from NC... this is a treasure of a story. I'll be thinking of you all week, and during the Passion Week. I'm praying that you find safety, and a place to lay your head, and that you'll have food to eat. I pray that God walks with you on the streets of Las Vegas, and that you are shown compassion as is shown by you. Christ's peace to you, River. Bea
http://journals.aol.com/bgilmore725/Wanderer/

#3 Comment from aimer Email aimer
4/2/07 9:02 AM

Just stopping by to say hello.--Sheria

#2 Comment from kirkbyj05 Email kirkbyj05
4/2/07 5:43 AM

May your palm cross stay close to you always. May God Bless you and keep you safe. Jeanie

#1 Comment from rdautumnsage Email rdautumnsage
4/2/07 1:15 AM

Osiyo (Hello) Another wonderful tale. I have always said among the ugliness if you look hard enough you will find the beauty. The Racism you speak about has been around as long as I can remember........I love to say I was an indian long before it was popular to be a Native American. (Hugs) Keeping you in my prayers on the smoke dear one. Indigo
http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/

[Publisher's Note: This article was first published in AOL Journals on 1 April 2007 by Cliff Harrison during his 78th day homeless. He used the pen name, River. The article was held in the "Junkyard" after AOL Journals closed down, until it was transferred today to this site. The story took place on 27 March 2007 and was published on Palm Sunday, 1 April 2007. Cliff still has the gift his homeless friend gave him in the park.]

A Miracle

2009-04-21T18:40:00.000-07:00

Photo of the bus stop in front of the Las Vegas Rescuse Misson.

Saturday, March 31, 2007
6:04:00 PM PDT
Feeling Worried

A MIRACLE
Sat. 31 March 2007 DAY 82 Homeless

What I believe is a miracle many might think is a tragedy. The reason I believe a miracle has occurred is because I am homeless. Something I thought could never happen. It did happen. Something I thought was not possible. It was possible.

I became homeless in the meanest town in America. Sin City. Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

I lost everything I owned, and during Epiphany, I was packing my bags for the streets. Two days later, at 3:30 PM, 8 January 2007, I stepped off the 215 West Bonanza Citizens Area Transit bus onto Bonanza and "D" street in front of the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. It was a warm, sunny afternoon as I looked up at the large blue Cross with the words "JESUS SAVES" above the mission complex.

The coldest weather Las Vegas had experienced in decades was moving in, but at that moment, I was actually sweating from tugging a fifty pound satchel in my right hand and maneuvering a cane in my left. I wasn't exactly crippled, but my knees and legs were in severe pain.

The events which unfolded after that moment I tried to document the best I could. Where or when I could write down my notes I did. But much had been lost in the last eighty-two days of being homeless due losing my notes, having too much occurring too quickly and not being able to write everything down, or to remember everything that happen. The information input was just magnificent. Too, a friend had given me a cheap digital camera and without a memory card I twice lost two full sets of internal memory photos. Photos capturing life on the streets with the homeless... and death on the streets.

I have been blessed by God many, many times since that first day I stepped off the bus and into homelessness. So many unfortunate ones had not received the blessings I received. They were the unlucky ones. And for that, I feel guilty.

It's difficult for me to reveal private things about my life. I am a private person. But in the future of the journal I need to reveal private things in order for the true story to be told. In order for others to understand.

Some of my notes are in a secret hiding place and I am at the mercy of using the tools I have to work with to record the events and log them in my journal. Therefore, unfortunately, I can not start at DAY 1 and place the events in order. Things are going to be mixed up. Perhaps one day in the future I will be able to edit my work and rearrange it. But for now, I think the importance is to get it all entered and documented.

At Christmas time in 2005 I experienced another death in my family. I don't handle deaths well and God knows I had plenty of them in my own family. And they always seem to die at Christmas time. That was the beginning of the events which spiraled me downward financially. I was earning nearly $70,000 per year, managing five different departments at work at the same time and working 12 to 16 hour days, minimum. I had planned on retiring in three years and what did I plan on doing when I retired? Helping the homeless, feeding the hungry and helping the poor. My computer was filled with my notes of my intentions, all kinds of ideas and things to do to benefit these social problems which seemed to have no improvement than when I was in my 20s back in New York.

In early, January 2007, I told some of my friends, on the web, I was going on a "mission". And that is what I believe. I believe Jesus sent me on this mission so I could see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears just what is happening on these mean streets of Las Vegas to these poor people who survive and die here. The humanity among the homeless. The violence against the homeless. I've seen it all. God educated me. He didn't want me to wait until I retired three years later from job. He wanted for me to go to work on this Mission now. And, that is why I believe a miracle has occurred rather than a tragedy in my life.

I will tell my own experience and I will tell the stories of other homeless people. They are not all drunks or drug addicts. Many have no addictions. There are many veterans. Many mentally ill. Many dangerous felons. Many criminals. Many sick. Many disabled. Many older men and women. Many families with children, even babies. And many with medical problems. And those who simply fell through the cracks financially with no addictions or other problems other than simply losing their jobs and being unable to pay their rent or mortgage. They are, the entire spectrum of American citizens, and some illegal mixed in. They come from every race. Every age. Both genders. Every ethnic and religion. They are about as American as you can get. Diverse and individual. But their stories will be told here.

I will be limited in time on borrowed computers or library computers, and what not. I'll try to make it interesting and keep your attention. But I need to tell this story. I'll have to write fast. I won't be able to edit like I would at home. Forgive me for this and just try to understand and realize I have what I have to work with. Many times it will be hit and run. Sometimes, hit and miss.

I couldn't stay at the Rescue Mission because I had no addictions. I don't do drugs nor alcohol and I have no gambling addiction. Medical problems, yes. Financial problems, yes. Addictions, no. And that is the way it is with many homeless people.

Tomorrow, 1 April 2007, two of the three homeless shelters will close, The Salvation Army and St. Vincent Catholic Charities. The Rescue Mission , is the smallest and by far the best. But they only have 46 overnight beds in the men's bunkhouse and you can stay only for seven nights and you must leave the complex each morning by 7:30AM. After your seven day stay you can not return until 60 days for another seven night stay. The other two shelters have approximately 200 beds each and place several hundred others, during winter shelter, on mats on the floor or just blankets.

The rest of the 15,000 homeless in Las Vegas sleep outside. After tomorrow, only the Rescue Mission will shelter. The winter shelter of the other two are said to close. Food lines or soup kitchens may remain open. There are rumors that Las Vegas Metro Police Department and The City Marshals are going to round up the homeless and transport them to a fenced camp at Nellis Air Force Base to keep the tourist of the Grand Prix races from seeing them. I hope this is not true, but we'll see. Nothing could be more shameful to our homeless American Vets than to put them in a concentration camp. Let's just hope it is an April Fools joke.

I pray for D from Wyoming. D has helped me survive on the streets. He has been missing now 9 days. We were suppose to meet at a meeting place and he never showed. I ask God to look over him and send him a Guardian Angle.

I pray for the thousands others out here, the unfortunate ones. I ask Jesus to show mercy over them and guide them away from harm.

I thank those who have helped the homeless. Those who have brought food and hygiene supplies and things like that and those who have done what they could to comfort the homeless. I ask God to bless them.

I thank God for the many blessings he has given me. I thank Him for those who showed me how to survive. And those who have helped me and others.

I'll try to make things as brief as I can. Thanks for bearing with me. The more I get down, the less that will be lost.

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER
Las Vegas, Nevada

Tags: Homelessness, Homeless, Jesus, God, Christianity, Las Vegas, Humanity

This entry has 3 comments:
#3 Comment from rdautumnsage Email rdautumnsage

4/1/07 5:37 PM

I was directed to your journal, from Sheria's "On My Mind". I have tears running down my face right now. I know those streets, I was there when I was 16. I had to work some unsavory jobs just to survive. But I also know the kindness that runs among those who look out for one another...... I remember at 3 in the morn. walking out the back door of where I worked at the time and seeing an elderly man, curled up in a corner with a box covering him. I walked over to him and took the tips I had earned that night which where considerable, and placed it in his side pocket. Before I could move away, I saw his tears and he said thank you, god bless you. I did what I had to survive.....the scars left on my heart won't ever heal. But that was one of the the better moments in a harsh life. I was already old before I reached 17. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm keeping you in my prayers on the smoke. I'm a deaf Cherokee woman, who knows your voice and wisdom. (Hugs) Indigo

http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/

#2 Comment from yeolecontractor Email yeolecontractor

4/1/07 5:29 PM

I applaud your breavery in exposing your circumstances and those of others. In St Louis city where the most funds are available for homelessness many are complaining that the homeless gravitate to the city because shelters and food are rare in the surrounding communities and counties. It is appalling to me the number of vets who are without homes and the limited services available for all homeless. Spencer

#1 Comment from aimer Email aimer

4/1/07 4:12 PM

I am so glad that you are willing to share your story. Thank you for being willing to open up your life for us. I think that it is important that the true stories are told. If we are to ever take steps as a society to eradicate homelessness, we have to open our eyes and understand that we are all collectively responsible for one another.--Sheria

http://journals.aol.com/aimer/on-my-mind/

[Publisher's Note: This article was first published in AOL Journal "JESUS LOVES YOU" on 31 March 2007 during the 82nd day of homelessness of it's author, Cliff Harrison, who then used the pen name, River. It was held in the "Junkyard" until re-published today.]

Diversity

2009-03-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

Thursday, April 5, 2007
7:48:00 PM PDT
Feeling Hopeful

DIVERSITY

Thursday, 5 April 2007 Day 87 Homeless

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." Revelations 3:20

While at the University Medical Center (UMC) hospital the other day I saw a photo-art exhibit which had no copyright notice nor author signature. There was a head and shoulder photo with a diverse group of about 15 persons of different races, gender, ages, etc. It looked like a puzzle with all the pieces fitting into a perfect picture. I found the exhibit touching. These following words were written below the puzzle-photo.

DIVERSITY

Great achievements are not born from a single vision, but from the combination of many distinctive viewpoints. Diversity challenges assumptions, open minds and unlocks our potential to solve any problem we may face.

* * * * *

Thank you all for your support. As soon as I find more computer time I will reply to each of you. But remember, this isn't just about me. It's about the 15,000, more or less, homeless people in Las Vegas. All of God's children. I love you all and appreciate your support.

THE RIVER OF LIFE

"Then the angel showed me the River of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb..." Revelations 22:1

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You!
And always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER
Las Vegas, Nevada

Tags: Homelessness, God, Jesus, Christianity, Las Vegas, Nevada

This entry has 3 comments:

#3 Comment from aimer Email aimer
4/6/07 9:24 PM

I haven't read Revelations in many year. I think that I will do so. The passages that you cite speak to me. Be safe, my friend.--Sheria

#2 Comment from rdautumnsage Email rdautumnsage
4/6/07 12:08 PM

I think I would of enjoyed the exhibit on Diversity. Thanks as always for sharing hon! Stay safe and loved! (Indigo)
http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/

#1 Comment from bgilmore725 Email bgilmore725
4/5/07 7:55 PM

I think you are clear as crystal in your plea. I'm praying that you find what you seek there, and that those of us standing on the other side of the door hear the knock when it comes. I pray that you find open doors this week, and this year. bea
http://journals.aol.com/bgilmore725/Wanderer/

HOLY WEDNESDAY

2009-03-16T15:44:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, April 4, 2007
12:02:00 PM PDT

HOLY WEDNESDAY
Wednesday, 4 April 2007 DAY 86 Homeless

At 7:30 AM I walk through Frank Wright Plaza. I see James and Alfred sitting at a concrete table and join them for conversation. It is a warm day already.

James, 39, is reading his library book as usual. Alfred, 67, has an unopened bottle of Coke-Cola sitting in front of him. I tease him that he must have run into some money in order to buy such luxury.

"I was sleeping down in front of the funeral parlor and some lady came along and gave me two dollars," he chuckles.

"On Foremaster, near you, James?" I ask.

"Yeah," James nods with a grin. "You know where."

"Alfred, that's my spot! See what happens? I leave my spot and money comes along and I missed it." I joked. We all laugh.

"Yeaaah," Alfred chuckles, "See what happens... I get it."

The three of us are all from New York. Alfred is what I call a Lifer. He's been homeless a long time. He tells of his being homeless in New York City. I tell Alfred, James is from New York. James asks Alfred where about?

"Manhattan," Alfred boost.

"Brooklyn," James counters.

"Alfred was a rich bum," I said, getting the morning humor going.

"Yeaaah, I was a rich bum! I was too!" Alfred boost, his light blue eyes beaming.

We talked about three NYC mayors and how the city changed its views toward the homeless since the old days. I gave James a copy of The Forgotten Voice to read. I promised Amanda I would pass them out. We talked about New York and news about the local shelters and the up coming Grand Prix races which are to be held over the Holy Pascha (Easter) weekend. Qualifying and practice runs should start tomorrow. Barricades are up and bleachers. One block over from the park is a street in the race course.

Soon a black family I have seen before comes along and sits with us on the benches of the park table. A woman I assume is the mother and another woman, a very disabled and mentally ill lady I assume is her sister. Three children, two older girls and a young boy. They say nothing originally. Two or three times I try a conversation with the woman. She simply answers and doesn't engage in conversation. She wears a troubled face. She appears protective of her family and distrusted at first. One certainly can not blame her.

Eventually I ask her if she has read The Forgotten Voice. She says she has not, so I open my back pack and give her one. She is thankful. I'm careful not to pry, yet desire to learn their status. I ask if she and her family are homeless.

"We're staying at the Mission," She nods. I will withhold the family's name, but they have been in Las Vegas for only two months. The homeless woman cares for her ill, 38-year-old, sister. The oldest daughter is 19. The youngest 17. The little boy is only 8 years old.

Alfred starts talking about, Brian, the homeless clinic doctor I had referred him to. Alfred has a series of serious medical problems and Brian is now managing his medical care. I tell the woman if she or her family needs medical assistance, Brian is the one to go see. She asks for directions and I explain his office is on West Wilson and "D" street, the little shack in the corner of the Rescue Mission property. Brian deserves another entry all of his own. He has helped me medically. Brian is not even a doctor. He is a PA-C. But for the sick homeless, he is the man to see.

James decides to go to the library and says his good-bye. Alfred and I stand up and move toward the sidewalk, giving the lady more room to spread out with her family. None of the shelters allow people to stay at them during the day unless they are in a program like drug or alcohol addiction programs. The rest must move to the streets and hang out where ever. The park is the choice of most up until feeding time. Then they get in long lines and wait for food and/or beds if beds are available. With some 400 regular beds and 15,000 plus or minus homeless people in Las Vegas, beds are at a short supply. For tourist who have recently moved to Las Vegas, or used up there get-back-home-money, here on the streets they see the real Las Vegas.

Joshua joins Alfred and I. Joshua was sleeping along the wall in the park, taking a nap. Joshua is a friend I met through other friends. He is an amazing person. You see, Joshua, 33, was a math teacher. He is homeless, by choice. Joshua preaches the gospel. He is responsible for bringing many lost souls to Jesus and helping those out on the street with spiritual needs. I'll make an entry about Josh later. But God bless him and all the work he has done for Our Savor.
As Josh and Alfred and I converse City Marshals start moving into the park. First two. Then four. Before long there is about seven or eight marshals on foot and three patrol cars parked on 4th Street and Stewart. They converge on a table where some men and women had been drinking. Cody gets pulled to one side by a marshal grabbing his shirt sleeve. A black woman in a black dress is handcuffed. In the next hour or so several of those who had been sitting at that table drinking are ordered out of the park. Some are written tickets and let go. Two are handcuffed and placed in patrol cars to be taken downtown and locked up in jail. With Cody being the last one, with about four or five marshals talking with him he is finally released. He was ordered out of the park and the marshals disperse.

As a couple of the marshals pass Josh, Alfred and myself, they are polite and kind. They are only doing their jobs. No alcohol is allowed in the park and most of the homeless agree this is good policy and those violators should not break the rules. They should know better.

Josh, Alfred and I talk about these men and women. Someday they will find Jesus. But for now, through their troubles, they are lost. They weren't starting any trouble, but they were drinking.

Alfred tells how when he was homeless in NYC, his god was the bottle. One day a church helped him get sober and he hasn't drank since. That was 12 years ago. He's sober now, but he's still homeless. He was raised by a foster mother and he is the only one left in his family he says. I pray for Alfred, his medical problems are sever and he needs a bed to stay in. It's time for him to get off the streets. His body is getting old. Thankfully, Alfred talks with God. So, as bad as things are going wrong with his old body, his soul is in good hands.

We also talk about how some of the marshals are kind and friendly. Like any other group of people. You have the good and you have the bad. As I pointed out a good one I see often speaking kindly to the homeless I say this, "It's hard to show kindness when the boss with the Sargent stripes is standing right behind you." The others agree. Not all men and women of public safety are evil. Their orders come down from the top. In the case of the City Marshals, the boss is the Mayor. Today, most could agree, the marshals acted according to what should be expected with no foul play involved.

Josh went to use the computer. A black man walked up to the family and set down several bags. The family waved Alfred and me over, offering us free donuts. Alfred had one. I had two and we thanked the family and wished them luck. I told the mother, if she needed any kind of help, I'd help her find what she needed. We all God Blessed each other and Alfred and I went our own way. I headed to the senior center or adjacent gym to use the computer to write this. It's almost 12:00 noon and I'll go back to the park to get something to eat.

For me, things are getting better. I've made contact with some I used to work with. Different people are doing what they can to see what can be done to help me get back into productive lifestyle. I have friends out there who learned but couldn't believe I was homeless. Some of these people out here have no friends and no family to care about them. For them, things won't get better. At least not any time soon. Until then, they can only rely on one another to get by. Of course, Joshua is showing them, and teaching them how Jesus is the way to salvation. Bless him.

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER
Las Vegas, Nevada

Tags: Homelessness, Homeless, God, Jesus, Christianity, Las Vegas,

This entry has 4 comments:

#4 Comment from fisherkristina Email fisherkristina
4/11/07 1:46 AM

I found my way here through Sheria's blog. I am very impressed with you, River. While you are looking for a job for yourself, you are still helping others get their lives together. How amazing. What an amazing ministry! I pray for you and for them. God bless you,
Krissy
http://journals.aol.com/fisherkristina/SometimesIThink

#3 Comment from aimer Email aimer
4/4/07 9:21 PM

Even in the midst of all the upheaval in your life, your talent as a writer shines through. You paint such a clear picture of your friends and their lives and your own. It is good to be able to read your words again.--Sheria
http://journals.aol.com/aimer/on-my-mind

#2 Comment from rdautumnsage Email rdautumnsage
4/4/07 5:21 PM

Dearest River, whenever I see you have been online I breathe a sign of relief you are safe. I hope your prospects work out for you and you soon find a stable life. As for the other homeless, I have a feeling you won't forget them even when you get yourself straightened out. I continue to keep you in my prayers on the smoke.Stay safe and loved! (Hugs) Indigo
http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/

#1 Comment from kirkbyj05 Email kirkbyj05
4/4/07 1:24 PM

Good luck with your future prospects River. I hope everything works out alright for you and the others too. I will pray hard for a positive outlook for all of you. God Bless. Jeanie

[Publisher's Note: This journal was transferred from AOL Journals to the RIVER Organization Christian Church Family of Websites. This writing was posted on AOL Journals JESUS LOVES YOU! in April 2007. It was held in "The JunkYard" on this site until it could be posted today.]

You Know You Are Getting Old When...

2009-03-15T01:55:00.000-07:00

Thursday, December 14, 2006
2:08:00 PM PST

You Know You Are Getting Old When:
By RIVER

^
Waitresses and others call you a "Young Man" or "Young Lady".

^Kids call you an "Old Man" or "Old Lady" or "Gramps" or "Grandma".

^AARP tells you they’d love to have you join their membership.

^McDonalds servers give you the senior citizen discount on beverages even though you didn’t ask for it and even though you are not a senior citizen.

^Social Security tells you it will be years before you can collect because you are not "Old enough" because the age limit keeps going up and up and up.

^Your entire life you thought you could never die, but now you think it is a possibility you could.

^You start telling those brothers and sisters you never got along with how much you love them.

^The price of a house is what you figured your entire life’s earnings would one day be and the price of a car is what mansions used to cost.

^You know the grass is greener on the "other side" but you want to stay in your pasture a little bit longer, just the same.

^You start reading the Bible more and start getting MUCH closer to God.

^You start doing your spring cleaning in the winter time just in case you’re not around come spring.

^You talk to yourself and know someone is listening.

^It doesn’t matter anymore if someone steals your identity for you know God knows who you are.

^You are no longer afraid to walk those streets you used to be afraid to walk.

^You can wait until school gets out.

^You are never in a hurry to get anywhere.

^You start throwing things out that you used to enjoy just so your estate never finds them.

^You clean all the skeletons out of your closets and check every day to make sure they didn’t come back.

^You are positive someone called your name but when you look around and see no one, you look up at the sky and say out loud, "Hold on, I’ll be right back" and then don’t show.

^You can call a police officer a "boy" and get away with it. (And today, not get shot.)

^Little boys call you "Old Man" and older men call you "Mister" or "Sir".

^You clean more everyday than you ever had in your entire life.

^You send a long letter to a dear old friend and get it back in the mail, addressed to you!

^You start going to church at least twice a week and always try for three.

^You volunteer for everything no matter what.

^You used to only want to learn now you only want to teach.

^You find time for things you never found time for.

^You forgive those you never forgave.

^You love those you used to hate.

^The worst noise you ever heard were the receiving end of gun shots and the best sounds you ever heard was someone telling someone else they loved them.

^You start giving away your "Secret Recipes" and signing your name to them, too.

^You start holding doors open for kids hoping they might learn a lesson of kindness.

^You start saving things you always threw out and start throwing out things you always saved.

^You remember the things you have long forgotten.

^You hate to see another birthday come, but are sure glad it did.

^You can’t remember seeing the price of gas so high and you remember when it was only a nickle a gallon and wondering if it was ever lower.

^Horsepower meant that there were at least two horses pulling the wagon.

^You remember yesterdays like they were tomorrow.

^You stop putting mouse traps out for mice and instead start leaving food out for them.

^You start sweeping your neighbors steps because you know one day you’ll need pallbearers.

^It doesn’t matter rather it is noon or midnight so long as the clock keeps ticking.

^You think you smell flowers or see candles before you get up in the morning, and then get right up faster than you ever did.

^You thank the tax collector and hope he calls again even though you know it’s the only lie you ever tell. You finally learned what "half-truth" means.

^You start seeing those little crosses on pine trees at Christmas time or is it Easter (?) even though they were always there at that time of year.

^You start taking "No" for an answer.

^Your priorities take a drastic change and the things that used to be on the bottom of your list are now on top.

^You start making sure everything is perfect, even if its only the way you place the garbage bag in the garbage can. You never know if you’ll get to do it again.

^You start wanting to stay up just a little bit longer just in case it’s the last time you go to bed.

^You start showing up early for things you’ve always been late for your entire life.

^Every day is a good day, even bad ones.

^You never sweep things under the carpet or put dirty pots and pans in the oven anymore.

^You start hanging more crosses and crucifixes on your walls and wish everyone did the same.

^You start keeping the Bible nearer you when you sleep wishing everyone did the same.

^You start mailing out Christmas cards before Thanksgiving.

^You start sleeping less and doing more and wonder why you didn’t do that when you were younger.

^You find yourself meek when you were never meek.

^You start thinking long conversations with friends and love ones are always too short

^You can’t read those eye tests at the Department of Motor Vehicle, but pass because you remembered them from years of practice.

^You start wishing they had family reunions again and formal dinning rooms.

^You stop walking the dog and he starts walking you.

^You start petting the dogs that bite and bringing stray cats that you used to chase away into your home.

^You remember the first time you ever saw a two-hundred dollar bill was when your doctor gave you one.

^You start eating old-fashioned oats cereal for breakfast, dinner and supper and sometimes you get up in the middle of the night for another bowl, just in case.

^You say "People our age," and everybody looks at you like you are from another planet.

^You start using and setting two alarm clocks on your night stand instead of just one.

^You are very glad to need to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, thinking, at least you could get up.

^You start leaving your blinds and curtains open all the time instead of keeping them closed like you used to.

^When "going home" means to be with God.

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER
14 December 2006
Las Vegas, Nevada

This entry has 2 comments:

#2 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld
12/27/06 9:23 PM
This was great!
I am hoping at 70 I will be hiking in the mountains. If getting old means I can still do what I love, I am all for it. Not to say, that life unfolds as we think but, I cant see rocking chairs for me. ~Raven

#1 Comment from aimer Email aimer
12/15/06 12:42 PM
A wonderful list, some humorous and others very thoughtful. Having turned 51 this year, I can identify with your list. It made me smile.--Sheria

[Publisher's Note: This journal was transferred from AOL Journals to the RIVER Organization Christian Church Family of Websites. This writing was posted on AOL Journals JESUS LOVES YOU! in December 2006. It was held in "The JunkYard" on this site until it could be posted today.]

Suicide-Bombing Massacres

2009-03-14T23:47:00.000-07:00

Monday, July 28, 2008
5:23:00 PM PDT

This morning female suicide bombers murdered a total of at least 57 people and wounded nearly 300 more.

Three female suicide bombers detonated their explosive vests inside a crowd of pilgrims in Baghdad killing at least 32 people and wounding 102. Iraqi police and health officials said most of the dead were women and children.

In the northern city of Kirkuk, another female suicide bomber reportedly killed another 25 people and wounded 185. The blast tore through crowds of Kurds during a protest rally.

Al-Qaida is blamed for the Baghdad attack and other terrorist groups may or may not be responsible for the attacks on the Kurds.

The Islam power play is just as deadly for Arabs as it is for any other group of people.

The continued violence in the Middle East can only be stopped if the Arab people themselves stop it.

The senseless killing of women and children, especially by women and children can not be considered a religion. It is absolutely anything but a religion. It is something of a cult. A cult run by murderous psychopaths who hide in the shadows, distances from harms way. Psychopaths, who prey upon those with low self-esteem and those with low self-control, recruiting them to become suicide bombers.

There is nothing religious about these suicide-bombing massacres. These are criminal psychopaths that issue or carryout the attack orders, using religion as a means to justify their barbaric thinking. The Arabs and the world need to understand that and respond with absolute deadly force against the terrorist.

The Arab nations stand by and allow such widespread terrorist to continue. Terrorism which kills their own people. The Arab nations could end the Middle East daily killings simply by tracking and hunting down various terrorist groups such as al-Qaida.

The global killers, the murders of innocent men, women and children, are the brothers and sisters of Arab people. The Arab people know where these global gangsters live and hide and they could go after them and end their killing spree.

Until such time they do, then all Arab nations must be held responsible for the international terrorist attacks committed by members from their communities.

The Arabs can no longer hide from responsibility and let the western nations wage war against their own. The Arabs must be more aggressive than the west if there shall ever be peace on that side of the world.

The Israelis can not be blamed for the deaths of innocent women and children as have occurred this morning.

Only the Arabs themselves can be blamed, since it is the Arabs who are allowing violence to spread while they do nothing whatsoever to end it.

Thank You for Joining Me. God Bless You!
And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
River
Monday, 28 July 2008
Las Vegas, Nevada

Tags: Suicide Bombers, Iraq, Mass Murder, Terrorist, Terrorism, Women, Children, Islam, Arabs, Middle East

This entry has 6 comments:

#6 Comment from tschuckman Email tschuckman
7/29/08 9:37 AM
Hi River,
Good news worthy post ! Yes, the beat goes on as Satan's henchmen [and women] continue to slaughter the innocent for their sadistic agenda. IMHO, what the Arabs can or will not do is somewhat irrelevant -- compared to what God Almighty has in store for the world in the fast approaching future [see Revelation].

I post things about my favorite pet subject matter too-- but I try hard to balance the daily/ weekly news of mankind's fallen flesh with God's clear promise to wipe all pain and tears from the earth! But before that comes the RAPTURE followed by the grand daddy of ALL TRIBULATIONS... and I would not want to be "Left Behind."

Good to hear from you again! Keep up the good work.

Cordially,
Tom Schuckman
"Old Soldier Tom's Journal"
tschuckman@aol.com
Wisconsin

#5 Comment from bgilmore725 Email bgilmore725
7/29/08 7:41 AM
I hadn't heard this news...TV was off all day, and the radio. I agree, the Arab nations have a responsibility (and the ability, and the funds) to stop these acts of terrorism against their people. By not taking action, they act. All the more reason for our military to leave Iraq and let the Iraqi military defend and their government order. Good to see you writing again! bea
http://journals.aol.com/bgilmore725/Wanderer/

#4 Comment from sybilsybil45 Email sybilsybil45
7/28/08 11:43 PM
Good Morning River, It sure was that for me when I saw your journal pop up. I have missed you. It gives us such grief this sensless killing...Oh why why does it continue. As you so rightly say it is certainly not done in the name of religion. when will it end? how will it end?..will it end ? all unanswerable questions unless ALL factions would agree that each have their own oppinions and that neither is all right or all wrong..surely in the end LOVE ONE ANOTHER will at the very end win. Much Love Sybil xx try not to stay away too long next time X

#3 Comment from rdautumnsage Email rdautumnsage
7/28/08 7:53 PM
Like Sheria, I was delighted to see an alert from you dear friend. This news of the suicide bombers is distressing. They are psychopaths...I can't imagine a religion would support such senseless killing. I have a SIL who will be deploying to Iraq in Sept. I hope Creator goes with him...(Hugs)Indigo
http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/

#2 Comment from riversharkiEntry Author Email riversharki
7/28/08 5:56 PM
Thanks, Aimer. I've been busy. but well. Soon I'll come back and break some good news, or at least news. Take care, and as always thanks for the support you and the others always give me. Like we say, we may not always agree with each other but we agree with your right to say it. Later,
River

#1 Comment from aimer Email aimer
7/28/08 5:50 PM
Hello River, this is the first alert that I've received for you in ages. Glad that you're still out there.

I was also saddened to read about the suicied bombers. My friends who are Muslims definitely do not support this type of behavior, any more than I, as a Christian, support those in this country who blow up abortion clinics and assassinate the doctors and nurses who work their. What people do in the name of religion often bears no connection to any religion. The problem lies not with the religion but with those who persist in perverting its teachings. Keep writing, your words are always needed.--Sheria

[Publisher's Note: This journal was transferred from AOL Journals to the RIVER Organization Christian Church Family of Websites. This article was posted on AOL Journals JESUS LOVES YOU! in late July 2008. It was held in "The JunkYard" on this site until it could be posted today.]

JESUS LOVES YOU! all about me

2009-03-14T22:45:00.000-07:00

All About Me

Updated Oct 29, 2008 4:23 PM

The doors to JESUS LOVES YOU! comes to a close here. AOL is shutting down Journal Land. This journal has been moved to the RIVER Organization's group of Family of Websites where we will continue to be active in the community of friends we have met here at AOL J-Land.

I've maintained this journal, under the pen name of River, for the past two years. When I began this journal, I had never experienced homelessness. During the course of this journal I became homeless and found myself on the streets.

When I could, I wrote in this journal about my experiences with homelessness.

Now I devote my life to helping the homeless. Thus, I founded the RIVER Organization Christian Church which was established on 6 January 2007, the day of Epiphany and the day in which I prepared to become homeless and fulfill a mission for Jesus Christ. From the streets I learned the plight of the homeless in the knowledge taught to me by God. I continue to do what I can to raise public awareness about the realities of homelessness and do what I can to help those who have been left behind by society.

With the closing of AOL Journals, It is a day of sorrow, yet it is also a day of hope.

I thank each and every one of you who have supported me while I experienced the trials of my life as a homeless man living on the streets of Las Vegas, Nevada USA.

You gave me strength during my weakest hour, just as our Lord has. You and He was always there for me.

For that, I am most grateful.

Thank You for Joining me. God Bless You All.
And, always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
River
Las Vegas, Nevada USA

[Publisher's Note: This journal was transferred from AOL Journals to the RIVER Organization Christian Church Family of Websites. This article was posted on AOL Journals JESUS LOVES YOU! in late October 2008 as a farewell to those readers of this journal. It was held in "The JunkYard" on this site until it could be posted today.]

Common People with Common Sense

2009-01-27T19:26:00.000-08:00

Bringing People Together.

That is what this church organization; the RIVER Organization Christian Church is all about. No matter who you are, or where you live, common people, with common sense and having a common cause is what we stand for. That cause is—eradicating homelessness--the humanitarian cause that homelessness is something we can do without.

From our own community, to our own state, to our nation and around the world, people-- human beings--ought not to live in the harshness of being homeless.

Human beings ought not to live on the streets. Human beings ought not to live without shelter or to be exposed to the elements. Period! No exception! No excuses!

Human beings ought to live indoors, or at the very minimum in shelters that protect them from the elements. Even if those shelters are tents to be used as a temporary staging area.

We as a people, common people with common sense can ourselves eliminate homelessness when governments around the world and when large organizations around the world have been unable to do so.

We stand to unite, and unite we will.

We stand to achieve what others have failed to achieve, and achieve will shall.

We need not spend millions and billions and trillions as those before us have done with failed programs and failed systems that do not work.

We simply need to devise a workable plan, not for our own income but for the people we serve, the homeless.

In that last half-century there is no less homelessness, or those in dire poverty, now than there was at the beginning of those fifty long years. Yet trillions of dollars have been spent wastefully upon a cause that has fostered nothing but the livelihood of those who had sworn to eliminate homelessness and destitution.

Fat lies and greed has swallowed those trillions of dollars spent over the last half-century.

Ignorance and mismanagement are also contributing factors.

With each new political year and each new political administration we hear the same old promise that the War on Poverty will be waged. Yet we grow deeper into poverty and more citizens become homeless. More government agencies are created to challenge the same wage of war and more organizations grow in the same cause. More dollars are spent, yet the cause itself—homelessness-- grows.

I say they had their fifty years, now it is our turn.

For more than a half-century they have failed. If every church, every government agency and every nonprofit organization entitled in public welfare had done their jobs in attacking poverty there would be no poverty today.

But they have not done their jobs and poverty prevails. Homelessness, the worst end of poverty prevails.

There ought not be a single homeless person in the world, let alone in America.

Therefore, shouldn’t we agree, somebody or a bunch of some bodies have failed to do the job they have promised to do?

Is incompetence not standard then? I believe incompetence is evident. Overwhelmingly evident.

They had their turn, now it is our turn. If every government agency, every church, every nonprofit organization chartered with public welfare had done their jobs, not a single American citizen would be homeless today. Yet, the homeless citizen population is growing by the hour.

It is time for change. And that change will not come from our government. It will not come from most nonprofit organizations. It will not come from churches alone. For there is too much greed in those entities we mention.

There are too many high-level managers who have neither the will nor the experience on how to solve such a magnificent social problem. There interest is solely self-serving.

Ten-year plans have come and gone. Still, communities claim to follow still more “Ten-Year Plans”. We are now several years into the latest ten-year plan and there is more homelessness than there was at the beginning of the latest ten-year plan.

Why? Because those who move to the drawing board have no idea what it is that they are to draw.

Change can only come from and by the people, the common people.

It’s been said, if there is a will, there is a way. We have the will; now let us together find the way.

We must take the reins from others and begin to eradicate homelessness once and for all.

The old saying still goes, “If you want something done, then you have to do it yourself!”

That is the love of the common people.

River's JukeBox
Paul Young: Love of the Common People

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
River
Las Vegas, Nevada
Tuesday, 27 January 2009

Merry Christmas

2008-12-21T14:30:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas
Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
River
Las Vegas, Nevada
Sunday, 21 December 2008

The Power and Glory of God

2008-11-30T15:29:00.000-08:00

Revelation
Chapter 22
AND he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and the Lamb.
2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
4 They shall see His face, anf His name shall be on their foreheads.
5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.
6 Then He said to me, "These words are faithful and true." And the Lord God of the holy prophets sent His angels to show His servants the things which must shortly take place.
7 "Behold, I am coming quickly! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book."
8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
9 Then he said to me, "See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God."
10 And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand.
11 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be right righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still."
12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
13 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."
14 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
16 "I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" and let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;
19 And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Revelation Chapter 22: 1-21 NKJV

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
River
Las Vegas, Nevada
Sunday, 30 November 2008

LOVE, From the Viva Las Vegas! King

2008-10-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

LOVE

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.
For we know in part and we prophesy in part,
but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child.
When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.

The above is one of Elvis’ favourite Bible passages, 1 Corinthians 13.
This is taken from the New International Version
http://www.ag.org/ was his Pentecostals church.
Many of these congregations sought to partner with existing religious movements, such as the Christian and Missionary Alliance, but many Pentecostals left following controversy over the doctrine of "The Initial Physical Evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit."
These early leaders where licensed as ministers by Charles Harrison Mason, founder of the Church of God in Christ, a predominately African-American denomination.

http://godtube.com/

[The Homeless Native, a friend of mine, sent me the above text and links by email. I thought I'd pass it along to you, after gaining his permission.]

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
River
Las Vegas, Nevada
Monday, 27 October 2008

A Miracle

2008-10-17T00:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday, March 31, 2007
6:04:00 PM PDT
Feeling Worried

A MIRACLE
Sat. 31 March 2007 DAY 82 Homeless

What I believe is a miracle many might think is a tragedy. The reason I believe a miracle has occurred is because I am homeless. Something I thought could never happen. It did happen. Something I thought was not possible. It was possible.

I became homeless in the meanest town in America. Sin City. Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

I lost everything I owned, and during Epiphany, I was packing my bags for the streets. Two days later, at 3:30 PM, 8 January 2007, I stepped off the 215 West Bonanza Citizens Area Transit bus onto Bonanza and "D" street in front of the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. It was a warm, sunny afternoon as I looked up at the large blue Cross with the words "JESUS SAVES" above the mission complex.

The coldest weather Las Vegas had experienced in decades was moving in, but at that moment, I was actually sweating from tugging a fifty pound satchel in my right hand and maneuvering a cane in my left. I wasn't exactly crippled, but my knees and legs were in sever pain.

The events which unfolded after that moment I tried to document the best I could. Where or when I could write down my notes I did. But much had been lost in the last eighty-two days of being homeless due losing my notes, having too much occurring too quickly and not being able to write everything down, or to remember everything that happen. The information input was just magnificent. Too, a friend had given me a cheap digital camera and without a memory card I twice lost two full sets of internal memory photos. Photos capturing life on the streets with the homeless... and death on the streets.

I have been blessed by God many, many times since that first day I stepped off the bus and into homelessness. So many unfortunate ones had not received the blessings I received. They were the unlucky ones. And for that, I feel guilty.

It's difficult for me to reveal private things about my life. I am a private person. But in the future of the journal I need to reveal private things in order for the true story to be told. In order for others to understand.

Some of my notes are in a secret hiding place and I am at the mercy of using the tools I have to work with to record the events and log them in my journal. Therefore, unfortunately, I can not start at DAY 1 and place the events in order. Things are going to be mixed up. Perhaps one day in the future I will be able to edit my work and rearrange it. But for now, I think the importance is to get it all entered and documented.

At Christmas time in 2005 I experienced another death in my family. I don't handle deaths well and God knows I had plenty of them in my own family. And they always seem to die at Christmas time. That was the beginning of the events which spiraled me downward financially. I was earning nearly $70,000 per year, managing five different departments at work at the same time and working 12 to 16 hour days, minimum. I had planned on retiring in three years and what did I plan on doing when I retired? Helping the homeless, feeding the hungry and helping the poor. My computer was filled with my notes of my intentions, all kinds of ideas and things to do to benefit these social problems which seemed to have no improvement than when I was in my 20s back in New York.

In early, January 2007, I told some of my friends, on the web, I was going on a "mission". And that is what I believe. I believe Jesus sent me on this mission so I could see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears just what is happening on these mean streets of Las Vegas to these poor people who survive and die here. The humanity among the homeless. The violence against the homeless. I've seen it all. God educated me. He didn't want me to wait until I retired three years later from my job. He wanted me to go to work on this Mission right now. And, that is why I believe a miracle has occurred rather than a tragedy in my life.

I will tell my own experience and I will tell the stories of other homeless people. They are not all drunks or drug addicts. Many have no addictions. There are many veterans. Many mentally ill. Many dangerous felons. Many criminals. Many sick. Many disabled. Many older men and women. Many families with children, even babies. And many with medical problems. And those who simply fell through the cracks financially with no addictions or other problems other than simply losing their jobs and being unable to pay their rent or mortgage. They are, the entire spectrum of American citizens, and some illegal mixed in. They come from every race. Every age. Both genders. Every ethnic and religion. They are about as American as you can get. Diverse and individual. But their stories will be told here.

I will be limited in time on borrowed computers or library computers, and what not. I'll try to make it interesting and keep your attention. But I need to tell this story. I'll have to write fast. I won't be able to edit like I would at home. Forgive me for this and just try to understand and realize I have what I have to work with. Many times it will be hit and run. Sometimes, hit and miss.

I couldn't stay at the Rescue Mission because I had no addictions. I don't do drugs nor alcohol and I have no gambling addiction. Medical problems, yes. Financial problems, yes. Addictions, no. And that is the way it is with many homeless people.

Tomorrow, 1 April 2007, two of the three homeless shelters will close, The Salvation Army and St. Vincent Catholic Charities. The Rescue Mission , is the smallest and by far the best. But they only have 46 overnight beds in the men's bunkhouse and you can stay only for seven nights and you must leave the complex each morning by 7:30AM. After your seven day stay you can not return until 60 days for another seven night stay. The other two shelters have approximately 200 beds each and place several hundred others, during winter shelter, on mats on the floor or just blankets.

The rest of the 15,000 homeless in Las Vegas sleep outside. After tomorrow, only the Rescue Mission will shelter. The winter shelter of the other two are said to close. Food lines or soup kitchens may remain open. There are rumors that Las Vegas Metro Police Department and The City Marshals are going to round up the homeless and transport them to a fenced camp at Nellis Air Force Base to keep the tourist of the Grand Prix races from seeing them. I hope this is not true, but we'll see. Nothing could be more shameful to our homeless American Vets than to put them in a concentration camp. Let's just hope it is an April Fools joke.

I pray for D from Wyoming. D has helped me survive on the streets. He has been missing now 9 days. We were suppose to meet at a meeting place and he never showed. I ask God to look over him and send him a Guardian Angle.

I pray for the thousands others out here, the unfortunate ones. I ask Jesus to show mercy over them and guide them away from harm.

I thank those who have helped the homeless. Those who have brought food and hygiene supplies and things like that and those who have done what they could to comfort the homeless. I ask God to bless them.

I thank God for the many blessings he has given me. I thank Him for those who showed me how to survive. And those who have helped me and others.

I'll try to make things as brief as I can. Thanks for baring with me. The more I get down, the less that will be lost.

JESUS, TAKE THE WHEEL

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER
Las Vegas, Nevada

Tags: Homelessness, Homeless, Jesus, God, Christianity, Las Vegas, Humanity

This entry has 3 comments:
#3 Comment from rdautumnsage Email rdautumnsage4/1/07 5:37 PM

I was directed to your journal, from Sheria's "On My Mind". I have tears running down my face right now. I know those streets, I was there when I was 16. I had to work some unsavory jobs just to survive. But I also know the kindness that runs among those who look out for one another...... I remember at 3 in the morn. walking out the back door of where I worked at the time and seeing an elderly man, curled up in a corner with a box covering him. I walked over to him and took the tips I had earned that night which where considerable, and placed it in his side pocket. Before I could move away, I saw his tears and he said thank you, god bless you. I did what I had to survive.....the scars left on my heart won't ever heal. But that was one of the the better moments in a harsh life. I was already old before I reached 17. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm keeping you in my prayers on the smoke. I'm a deaf Cherokee woman, who knows your voice and wisdom. (Hugs) Indigo
http://journals.aol.com/rdautumnsage/ravens-lament/

#2 Comment from yeolecontractor Email yeolecontractor4/1/07 5:29 PM

I applaud your breavery in exposing your circumstances and those of others. In St Louis city where the most funds are available for homelessness many are complaining that the homeless gravitate to the city because shelters and food are rare in the surrounding communities and counties. It is appalling to me the number of vets who are without homes and the limited services available for all homeless.
Spencer

#1 Comment from aimer Email aimer4/1/07 4:12 PM

I am so glad that you are willing to share your story. Thank you for being willing to open up your life for us. I think that it is important that the true stories are told. If we are to ever take steps as a society to eradicate homelessness, we have to open our eyes and understand that we are all collectively responsible for one another.--Sheria
http://journals.aol.com/aimer/on-my-mind/

War of Words

2008-10-16T22:48:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, December 13, 2006
1:00:00 AM PST

War of Words

13 December 2006

While Iranian hard-line leader, President Mahoud Ahmadinejad, claims the holocaust was a myth, he advocates creating another holocaust.

Several times he has stated to the world body, "Israel will be wiped out." and "Israel will be wiped off the face of the map." and "The great fire will consume Israel.

"The Soviet Union did not go by way of the great fire. Nor has the Soviet Union been totally dissolved or "wiped out". Russia has never paid for its war crimes which under Stalin and communist rule committed against members of its own USSR. Russia continued to imprison and execute millions of people prior to and after Hitler's defeat. Nearly one-quarter of Ukraine's population alone, some 10 million people were exterminated by Stalin and Hitler. Russia has been involved in every major war or conflict with the United States since World War II.

Three times since the end of WWII the world has been on the brink of WWIII. Russia was involved in all three occassions. The United States military has three times been at least at level DEFCON 2 involving Russia. In fact, the DEFCON 3 level caused Russia to back down in two instances and DEFCON 2 caused Russia to back down during the Cuban Missle Chrisis of '62.

Germany admits to the holocaust and even has laws making it a crime to deny it. Germany has also provided evidence for those who weren't there to prove millions of innocent lives were lost. Russia has not been as willing.

60 million people perished during World War II, over 30 million were innocent, unarmed civilians who lost their lives to both Hitler and Stalin.

That war, World War II, started with the War of Words. The words of hatred. The words which are consuming the world now with the clever construction created by Iranian's president. And Russia is making no attempt to stop it. In that regard, Ahmadinejad, may very well discover a holocaust first hand.

RIVER

This entry has 1 comments:
#1 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/27/06 9:48 PM

Loved this! Loved this! Ahmadinejad, is a foolish man. His lacking in mirror talk is to deny the Holocaust and yet to support it for his hate endeaors. One of the characteristics about him that could work in favor for the United States is he doesn't want a poor nation wrapped up in a long winded war. He wants to be a superpower where North Korea Kim Jong could toss it all just to have his day in war. Ahmadinenjad could be capable of bending here and there to profit his nation but the day will come where he will make his move. Just my opinion's. The guy is evil. Russia plays chess with everybody. They spark problems for another nation and then play innocent. Russia being in support of Iran will have its backlash on them too. They are neither friend or an in your face foe, to anyone and yet they shake a whole lotta hands,lol. ~Raven

LOST for WORDS

2008-10-10T16:22:00.001-07:00

LOST for WORDS

Well, if it were anyone else other than me, the writer might say he was lost for words. You my dear friends know I’ve never been lost for words.

Did we wake up in Soviet-era Moscow this morning?

What did I tell you?

Around six o’clock or so, this morning before I went to bed, I read news headlines that investigators discovered AIG insurance company executives went on a party with taxpayers picking up the tab. The cost?
$440,000, for a party they went on after they received $85 Billion federal bailout money. (This was before the $700 Billion pork bellies.)

A half-million for a party! Some party, huh?

CNN news

AOL

And the day ain’t over with.

And, that only includes AIG. Where did the rest of Wall Street crooks go for their party?

From dust to dust, ashes to ashes….

“The International Monetary Fund”, news reports this morning, “Predicts America will go into a recession.”

Pssst. IMF, catch up with the rest of the class, will you? We’ve been in a recession. What we are heading for is a full-blown depression.

* Retirement accounts lose $2 trillion….

* Laugh at this one, “As Congress investigates the causes and effects of the financial meltdown…” (Would anyone in class like to explain to congress the causes and effects of this meltdown?)

….and a funeral!

America as we once knew it, has vanished.

My uncle, a farmer would say, “That’s what happens when you let the fox guard the chicken coop.”

“I’d call that a Milking-Party,” same uncle.

Another relative of mine would have said, “If you look down the barrel of your own gun once too many times, sooner or later you’re going to blow your own head off.”

“If the shoe fits, wear it,” is what my older brother would have said.

“I told you so,” would have echoed another brother.

“If you make your own bed, then sleep in it,” is probably what my Mom would have said.

“Haste makes waste,” Is what Mrs. Hate, my third-grade elementary teacher would have chimed in.

"That's what I call having your cake and eating it, too" Ma, my grandmother would say.

"It's time someones shoves that silver spoon down his [deleted] mouth!" Adds Grandpa.

“You’ve got to take the bull by the horns,” the same farmer uncle would say.

“The wheel that squeals the most gets the oiling,” is what Dad would have said.

Me? “That light you see at the end of the tunnel is a fast-moving freight train, my friend!”

Me? “Please allow me a moment of silence while I mourn in prayer.”
RONNIE

BIRDIE

With a half-million dollars, the RIVER Organization could launch well beyond the start-up phase into the expansion phase. Just think what we could do with $5 million, just one executive’s exit salary.

It’s just a short one today, folks. So, rest your teary eyes. (Maybe I should have deleted this.)

Pay Back? CEO Knocked Out Cold!
AOL

The New America won’t have polls or voting nor a voice from the people.

Wish we could have moved on a brighter note, but we’ll all meet at Blogspot, I’m sure. Better days are coming, just ask "Gunner".

This is the Final Entry at AOL Journals.
JESUS LOVES YOU! Has moved to: JESUS LOVES YOU!

I truly appreciate all of the support everyone has given me! THANK YOU!

If anyone needs help converting to blogspot, contact me at JESUS LOVES YOU! there and I'll hook you up.
Thanks for joining me. God Bless You!
And Always Remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
River
Las Vegas, Nevada
Wednesday 8 October, 2008
GOING HOME

Tags: Soviet-era Moscow, AIG, Bailout, Funerals, Military Funerals, Pork, CEO KO, Corruption, Greed, Evil

Quotes About Stress Management

2008-10-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, December 12, 2006
9:10:00 PM PST

^
QUOTES ABOUT STRESS MANAGEMENT
Someone sent this lovely piece to me and so I share it with you.

Stress Management

A lecturer, when explaining stress management to an audience, raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long you try to hold it. If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.

In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes. He continued, And that's the way it is with stress management.

If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later, as the burden becomes increasingly heavy, we won't be able to carry on.

As with the glass of water, you have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.

When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.

So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down.
Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now, let them down for a moment if you can.Relax; pick them up later after you've rested. Life is short. Enjoy it!

And then he shared some ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

^ Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.

^ Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.

^ Always read stuff that will make you look good in case you should die in the middle of it.

^ Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

^ If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

^ If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

^ It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.

^ Never buy a car you can't push.

^ Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

^ Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.

^ Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

^ The second mouse gets the cheese.

^ When everything's coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

^ You may be only one person in the world, but you may also be the world to one person.

^ We could learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.

^ A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

^ Have an awesome day and know that someone has thought about you today.. . . . . . I did.

Author Unknown

Why don’t people sign their names to things like this?

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER

This entry has 3 comments:
#3 Comment from riversharkiEntry Author Email riversharki12/28/06 12:34 AM

Raven, I like your quote. You are welcome, Aimer.

#2 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/27/06 9:53 PM

Yes, I carry my burdens too...when the door is narrow, hope gets tested. Its quite heavy,lol....here is one of my quotes I wrote awhile back...Victim mentality is like your standing in a fire surrounded by people with empty cups and you're the one with the cup full of water. ~Raven Smith

#1 Comment from aimer Email aimer12/15/06 12:46 PM

Thank you for sharing, I'm going to print it out and post it in my office as a reminder to myself to exhale and let stress go.--Sheria http://journals.aol.com/aimer/on-my-mind/

Native American Quotes & Historical Remarks

2008-10-08T22:16:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, December 12, 2006
8:51:00 PM PST

Native American Quotes & Historical Remarks
[During World War II]

...There were many disappointments as well-intentioned Indians were rejected for the draft. Years of poverty, illiteracy, ill- health, and general bureaucratic neglect had taken its toll. A Chippewa Indian was furious when rejected because he had no teeth. "I don't want to bite 'em," he said, "I just want to shoot 'em!" Another Indian, rejected for being too fat to run, said that he had not come to run, but to fight.

Source: DoD; Native American Heritage Month, The Pentagon, Washington DC.
^
Remarks as Prepared for Deputy Secretary of Defense John Hamre to the American Indian/Alaskan Native Veterans Recognition Ceremony, November 10, 1998

...World War II veteran Raymond Nahai had this to say: "Many have asked why we fight the white man's war. Our answer is that we are proud to be Americans, and we are proud to be American Indians. The American Indian always stands ready when his country needs him." Truer words were never spoken -- the American Indian and Native Alaskan have always stood ready and stood strong for America. And I am proud to stand here today to salute you and to congratulate you on this celebration of service and sacrifice.

Source: United States Department of Defense; Speeches, Native American Heritage Month, The Pentagon, Washington DC.
^
[Ira Hayes, Full Blood Pima Indian, One of Six who raised the American Flag At Iwo Jima.Three of the flag raisers died in action soon afterwards.]

...At the White House, President Truman told Ira, "You are an American hero." But Ira didn't feel pride. As he later lamented, "How could I feel like a hero when only five men in my platoon of 45 survived, when only 27 men in my company of 250 managed to escape death or injury?"

[Later, referring to the photographer who took the famous photograph of the Iwo Jima Flag Raisers.]

...Ira Hayes asked to be sent back to the front lines, stating that "sometimes I wish that guy had never made that picture".

"I was sick. I guess I was about to crack up thinking about all my good buddies. They were better men than me and they're not coming back. Much less back to the White House, like me."

[At the age of 33, Ira Hayes died of exposure and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was remembered by the Pima and others as,]"a hero to everyone but himself".

Source: United States Department of Defense, Native American Heritage Month, The Pentagon, Washington DC.

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And, always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER

This entry has 1 comments:

#1 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/27/06 9:58 PM

I applaud the African Americans and Indians that fought in a war for a country that thought little of them. I have too much pride for such giving. Back in the days, I wouldn't have lasted a day,lol. ~Raven

Fallen Soldiers II

2008-10-08T21:50:00.000-07:00

Monday, December 11, 2006
4:21:00 PM PST Hearing Taps

^ ^ ^
May God Open His Gate For Them

The Fallen Soldiers II

^ This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
St. John 15:12-13

Links To The Stories And Sites Continued:

American Heros:

The Combat Nurses:
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/72-14/72-14.htm
The Ardennes - Battle Of the Bulge:
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/wwii/7-8/7-8_cont.htm
Rhineland:
http://www.army.mil/cmh/brochures/rhineland/rhineland.htm
Staff Sergeant Jesse R. Drowley:
http://www.americal.org/moh1.shtml
Medal Of Honor, WWII:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/living/living_war_wwii.html
23rd Infantry Division , Medal Of Honor:
http://www.americal.org/moh-ad.shtml
Corporal Michael J. Crescenz:
http://www.americal.org/moh2.shtml
Sp4 Jaime Pacheco:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/godisgood/index11.html
Blackhawk Down:
http://inquirer.philly.com/packages/somalia/sitemap.asp
Delta Force:
http://www.specialoperations.com/Army/Delta_Force/
HALL OF HEROES:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/hallofheroes/index0.html
The Brotherhood of Soldiers At War; "God Is Good":
http://www.homeofheroes.com/godisgood/index.html
God Is Good:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/godisgood/index6.html
In Christ, Your Brother:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/godisgood/index5.html
"Doss Prayed":
http://www.homeofheroes.com/profiles/profiles_doss.html
World War II Statistics:
http://www.infoukes.com/history/ww2/page-29.html
http://www.hitler.org/ww2-deaths.html
http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/statistics.htm
http://www.teacheroz.com/WWIImaps.htm
http://historylink101.com/1/world_war_II/research.htm
Ukrainian Statistics & Stories of World War II: (Ukraine Lost More People In WWII Than Any Other Nation– As High As One-Quarter of Its Population)
http://www.infoukes.com/history/ww2/page-29.html
http://www.infoukes.com/history/ww2/page-01.html
http://historylink101.com/1/world_war_II/research.htm
http://www.infoukes.com/history/ww2/page-19.html
http://www.infoukes.com/history/ww2/page-18.html
Kiev Waitresses Murdered: (Viewer Desecration Advised)
http://www.infoukes.com/history/ww2/page-15.html
Ukraine’s Long Fight For Freedom:
http://www.ukemonde.com/bandera/index.htm
http://www.theserpentswall.com/
http://www.theorangerevolution.com/orangerevolution.html
http://www.ukemonde.com/mayday/index.html
US Veteran Statistics:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/memory/statistics.html
Vietnam War Statistics:
http://my.eiis.net/cmart/vietwarstats.html
http://www.mrfa.org/vnstats.htm
Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/memory/unknowns.html
TAPS:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/memory/taps.html

No matter what their ancestry, their gender, their age, their political conviction or their faith, their language, the color of their blood was all the same color. Many American heros died in the wars of our nation without ever receiving their medal of honor for there were no witnesses left standing, or crawling, to bare witness of their heroism. Others died around the world as innocent, unarmed victims of hatred. The above is a mere few examples of the heroes who served this country or the stories of innocent civilians who became casualties of war. As proof and evidence has been presented, they came from all races and ethnic groups, all cultures, both genders, all generations and all languages. Babies served or paid the price when they lost their mommies and daddies in the wars of the world. Or as helpless victims. All people are affected. None are immune of the affects of hatred. Those nameless heroes or nameless victims, uncounted, unknown are nevertheless equally honored and remembered.

Hatred took nearly 60 millions lives in World War II alone. More than half, or over 30 million lives lost, were non-military civilians. Multiply those numbers significantly to arrive at a figure of survivors hurt from the lost of their love ones. Survivors whose lives would never again be the same.

The content of the above are from my archives and some may be out of date or not yet updated. Some are recorded historical events as they unfolded.

We can correct our mistakes of yesterday and we can improve today to make a better tomorrow. Not just for ourselves, but for all people, American citizens and world citizens.

^ This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
St. John 15:12

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER
11 December 2006
Las Vegas, Nevada

This entry has 3 comments:

#3 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/28/06 2:46 PM

I am not a TBN fan but I do enjoy Jessie Duplantis. He has a few quirks in his beliefs but he is funny and teaches a real intimacy with God. He said this joke one time and I havent forgotten it. He had this near death experience on an airplane and he said something like, " I am talling yah. At the last minute before you die, it doesnt matter what you beleive, no-one says, "Help me, Buddha," I laughed. ~Raven

#2 Comment from riversharki Entry Author 12/28/06 1:58 AM

True. But one of the things I tried to establish, not that anyone would check out all those links, but in each one or almost every one, the Soldiers prayed to God repeatedly. God was right beside them at all times and they state this. Over and over and over again. Yet they didn't set out to talk about God, they set out to talk about the wars and the fighting for freedom. The point being, the Supreme Court kicks God out of America, and the soldiers who fought and died or fought and survived... well...

#1 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/27/06 11:56 PM

River, this is quite a list. Wonderfully written- Part 1 and 2. We dont know the faces of our heroes. It would be impossible to know each one but the challenge to just dig further and see how grand it is that the melting pot has fought for its existence here. ~Raven

Fallen Soldiers I

2008-10-08T20:46:00.000-07:00

Monday, 11 December , 2006
1:38:00 PM PST
Hearing We're All God's Children: Alan Jackson

^ ^ ^
May God Open His Gate For Them

The Fallen Soldiers I

^ This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
St. John 15:12-13

"My friends, before I begin the expression of those thoughts that I deem appropriate to this moment, would you permit me the privilege of uttering a little private prayer of my own. And I ask that you bow your heads:

Almighty God, as we stand here at this moment my future associates in the executive branch of government join me in beseeching that Thou will make full and complete our dedication to the service of the people in this throng, and their fellow citizens everywhere.

Give us, we pray, the power to discern clearly right from wrong, and allow all our words and actions to be governed thereby, and by the laws of this land. Especially we pray that our concern shall be for all the people regardless of station, race, or calling.

May cooperation be permitted and be the mutual aim of those who, under the concepts of our Constitution, hold to differing political faiths; so that all may work for the good of our beloved country and Thy glory. Amen.

My fellow citizens:

The world and we have passed the midway point of a century of continuing challenge. We sense with all our faculties that forces of good and evil are massed and armed and opposed as rarely before in history.

This fact defines the meaning of this day. We are summoned by this honored and historic ceremony to witness more than the act of one citizen swearing his oath of service, in the presence of God. We are called as a people to give testimony in the sight of the world to our faith that the future shall belong to the free." – Dwight D. Eisenhower 34th President Of the United States of America, 20 January 1953.

(Abstracts of Presidential inauguration speech.)

"The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own." – John F. Kennedy 35th President Of the United States, 20 January 1961.

(Abstracts of Presidential inauguration speech.)

Head Phones Or Speakers On Please:

TAPS:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/memory/taps.html
Fighting Soldiers From The Sky:
http://www.sfalx.com/h_fighting_soldiers_from_sky.html
Green Beret Magazine - October 1969
http://members.cox.net/rlhtribute/green_beret_magazine.htm
1st Cavalry Div. First Team Blackhorse Production Trailer: (Viewer Discretion Advised.)
Click View The Trailer > Movie Trailer.
http://www.1cda.org/
1st Cavalry Division Association Memorial:
http://www.1cda.org/Division_memorial.htm
1st Cavalry Division Association Homepage:
http://www.1cda.org/
The Soldier’s Creed
http://www.1cda.org/soldiers_creed.htm
American Heroes:
Native American Warriors of World War II:
http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/nativeamerican01/wwii.html
http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/nativeamerican01/inner.html
http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/nativeamerican01/flag.html
http://www.army.mil/CMH-pg/topics/natam/natam.htm
Native American Women & Women Of All Ancestry Go To War: (Many Never Came Back Home Again.)
http://www.nativewomenveterans.org/
http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/
http://userpages.aug.com/captbarb/lives.html
http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/americanindian/women.html
http://www.defenselink.mil/specials/nativeamerican01/women.html
Dr. Martin Luther King:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/quickquiz/040101_MLK.html
Blacks In Military:
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmmilitary1.html
Tuskegee Airmen of World War II:
http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/Tuskegee.html
Tuskegee Airmen Shoot Down Myth:
http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/HOYT/breaking.html
Robert L. Howard:
http://members.cox.net/rlhtribute/index.htm
Father & Son Heroes:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/quickquiz/050101_sons.html
Baa Baa Black Sheep Squadron Hero:
http://www.freewebs.com/blacksheepone/
Combat Ace Shot Down At Home:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=48808
Pappy Boyington:
http://www.acepilots.com/usmc_boyington.html
http://www.acepilots.com/misc_tigers.html
Hispanics In American Defense:
http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/unit10.htm
http://www.neta.com/~1stbooks/unit1.htm
http://www.houstonculture.org/hispanic/memorial.html
Mexican-American Heroes:
http://www.utexas.edu/utpress/books/rivmex.html
http://utopia.utexas.edu/explore/latino/background.html
Hispanic Invaders or Savers?:
http:// http://utopia.utexas.edu/explore/latino/index.html
http://www.hispaniconline.com/hh02/contests.html
http://vva.org/TheVeteran/2001_11/minority.htm
Military Chaplains:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/quickquiz/030101_chaplains.html
Profiles In Courage:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/
The Right To Fight No Matter What Your Ancestry profiles/index.html (Japanese-American Combat Unit):
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/nisei/index3_442nd.html
Go For Broke (Japanese-American Heroes) :
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/nisei/index.html
"The Purple Heart Battalion" (Japanese-American Heroes) :
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/nisei/index2_100th.html
"The Lost Battalion" (Japanese-American Heroes) :
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/nisei/index7_lost_bn.html

More Links in Fallen Soldiers II

FOUR CANDLES

2008-10-08T18:48:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, November 29, 2006
6:21:00 PM PST

Here is a nice piece of shareware I pass on to you to share with others. Don’t forget to put on your headphones or turn your speakers on. Enjoy!

http://i.euniverse.com/funpages/cms_content/2529/4candles.swf

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And, always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER
Las Vegas, Nevada

This entry has 2 comments:

#2 Comment from aimer Email aimer 11/30/06 12:21 PM

I just went to the site. This is so beautiful and inspiring. We must always have hope. Thank you for sharing.--Sheria http://journals.aol.com/aimer/on-my-mind/

#1 Comment from aimer Email aimer 11/30/06 12:21 PM

I just went to the site. This is so beautiful and inspiring. We must always have hope. Thank you for sharing.--Sheria http://journals.aol.com/aimer/on-my-mind/

HOMELESS NOT HEROES TODAY

2008-10-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, November 29, 2006
5:56:00 AM PST

HEROES ONE DAY, VILLAINS THE NEXT

Las Vegas continues pushing homeless and arresting those who help them.

No matter where the homeless go, the police are right behind them, uprooting them again. Hostility escalates as they continue pushing homeless into areas claimed by other homeless people.

Several times this year police have raided areas the homeless have set up camp and drove them out. With the homeless having fewer and fewer places to go this causes mixing people with people that don't mix. Violence and crime escalates.

Countless Las Vegas citizens trying to help the homeless have been arrested. The city had passed a law making it illegal to bring food to the homeless. People who were feeding the hungry or helping the the homeless went to jail. Fortunately, that law was recently ruled unconstitutional.

Imagine, being arrested for feeding hungry homeless people. But you could still feed the pigeons.
"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Now you know why.

Police shooting to death unarmed homeless people because they thought they had a reason to. It's just another day at work in the Wild, Wild West.

Nobody wants the homeless in their neighborhood. Push them to some other neighborhood, or drive them out of town. And arrest those that are trying to help them. Teach them a lesson, too. But don't solve the problem.

In a town where they tear down multi-million dollar casinos only to build in their place billion dollar casinos, any wonder why some people end up in the streets? Those casinos aren't growing because they are losing money.

You read the story. In yesterday's paper a few were heroes... even "unlikely". Today they are driven out of their foxholes. Tomorrow there will be more fights, more killings, more rapes, more robberies and more hatred against the people who hate them. That's the way it is on the streets. Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas! Have fun! Come back when you can.

Type this link into your address bar to read the story.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Nov-29-Wed-2006/news/11111689.html

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER
Las Vegas, Nevada

This entry has 4 comments:

#4 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/28/06 3:06 PM

Las Vegas has a weather climate year round perfect for the homeless. Its so sad and I can see the why the numbers of homeless are growing. I went there once with a friend of mine whose a stripper. I love her and I have known her for years but she is choosing to live her life for the dollar and there is nothing I can do about it. I thought the city was uninteresting. The desensitization to the value of women is perpetuated by the dollar. I remember one night there were these millionaire guys who wanted to take me and her to some posh VIP places. They were not in my age range and my friend was upset that I wasn't interested in entertaining someone for the sake of having them spend money on me. Its so easy if your in that environment long enough to think nothing of that compromise. I did enjoy the shows. I love theater and musicals but other than that, the city really does create a higher level of insensitivity towards thy neighbor. Dont get me wrong, its not just Vegas, its everywhere. But, in Oregon, where I am from you dont get much respect dressing seductively where in Vegas, its the accepted standard. ~Raven

#3 Comment from River, Author 12/28/06 1:05 AM

Las Vegas is the meanest city in the nation toward homeless people. In 5 days one can be evicted. There are 400 beds in shelters in a town of 1.8 million people and 15,000 homeless people, many children and families. Nevada, (Las Vegas is the main population,) has the highest crime rate in the nation. It has the highest violent crime against women except for Alaska. It has the most brutal climate, with being the 2nd hottest desert in the world, as high as 125 degrees in the summer, dropping to freezing in the winter. And, the list goes on. It is a complex problem. During the Reagan years the mentally ill were dumped on the streets to save money all across the nation. I saw that impact in New York. It has never been reversed. Those that are kicked around like they are here, and most places are not going to have self-respect, let alone repect for other's property.Still, they deserve the basic survival supplies and I know more could be done to get more field workers out there to deal with the problem instead of office sitting. It is a tough, tough situation. But unless it is dealt with, the homeless population is only going to double again like it has in the last few years.

#2 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/27/06 11:50 PM

Its sad. The homeless do cause problems but they should never be dismissed. Its a complicated problem because if you set aside land for them, the city would be legally challenged by any violence. The homeless dont take care of the land they dwell in. Plenty of litter, fecal matter and garbage they leave whereever they go. People dont want to pay taxes to house them. It either becomes a forced situation to get your life together or be moved from place to place.Its wrong for any law to ban feeding the homeless. I always give when I see anyone homeless but I do think its good to have tough laws where you make it difficult for people to give up for years and years. I believe there should be a monthly program to house, feed, educate anyone who wants another life. The other problem is the mental issues with the homeless which is a big problem. For those situations, we should care for them. Just my thoughts. ~Raven

#1 Comment from aimer Email aimer11/30/06 12:25 PM

It is unfathomable that people would be arrested for feeding others! I am glad that the law didn't pass constitutional muste. Under this law, Jesus would have been arrested.--Sheria http://journals.aol.com/aimer/on-my-mind/

HOMELESS HEROS

2008-10-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, November 29, 2006
1:42:00 AM PST

Not all homeless people are the scum of the earth as some have written. Readers, check this story out about homeless men saving a 9-year-old girl's life after she was hit by a car.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Nov-28-Tue-2006/news/11087042.html

Thanks for joining me. God Bless you.
And always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER
Las Vegas, Nevada

This entry has 1 comments:

#1 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/27/06 11:27 PM

Quote- I never stay anywhere for more than a few months so people don't get used to me and beat me," he said. That is just so sad.....oh my..."Quote-The sky and the land are mine," he said. "So I'm really not homeless." I could relate to that statement. Its actually a dream of mine to live in the mountains. A selfish dream but one nonetheless one of mine. I would count myself blessed if I could have that six months out of the year and then serve, the other six. Somehow, I think God doesnt have that for me,lol. ~Raven

WORDS

2008-10-08T17:23:00.000-07:00

Monday, November 27, 2006 10:29:00 PM PST

WORDS
BY RIVER

Words. Words are like feelings. Words are like gunshot wounds. Words are like love. Words hurt. Words hate. Words heal. Some of us use too many words. Some of us don’t use enough of them. Words are like a big blow right between the eyes. Or a knife straight though the heart. Words are like a big warm hug, squeezing us so tight. Sometimes words are empty. Sometimes they are so full. Sometimes they are so meaningless, other times they mean so much.

It depends on which words we select. Sometimes we say something and hurt others without us even knowing it, even if we didn’t mean to. And sometimes, we know they hurt and don’t care. Maybe, we wanted our words to hurt. Sometimes we just don’t think before we say them. Or write them. Or don’t care. Some of us hurry our words. Some of us take our sweet time and think before we use the words we choose. And then, sometimes we never use any words at all. We never call that special someone and tell them we love them or that we were just simply thinking about them.

Some of us, we are strong. Words never hurt us. Well, not really. We’ve been through worst. Flying bullets? Yeah, now that hurts, if one hits us. Burns and sizzles right to the bone. Oh, so painful. To some, words are flying bullets. Words hurt them for the rest of their lives. They never heal. Their wounds just never close up. And you can’t always see those scares that came from hurting words. Sometimes we say or write things that hurt somebody and we can never bring those words back again. Never. We shot them. We can say we are sorry. But sorry just doesn’t heal. Sometimes, that person we hurt passes on to the other side and with them goes those words we said to them. They never forgot, those hurting words, even though we may have forgotten we ever said them. They remembered those words, even years down the road and they took those words with them when they moved on. Then we feel guilty. We wish we never had said them. We feel so bad, so sorry. But it’s too late. Our words will never come back. The only thing we can do is think before we say those hurting words to someone else next time. In that, we grow, we learn, but somebody else paid the price. But words of love, we never have to bring them back. We have plenty more were they came from. And no matter how many times we say words of love, we just never seem to say them enough.

Words. Words can be like music. Sometimes they sing. Sometimes... well, sometimes, they boom. Like a drum. Pounding and pounding and banging and banging. Over and over again. Words can be a lot of noise. Or, words can be like magic to someone’s ear. They long to hear those words you say. Other times, they already know what you are going to say. Because, they’ve heard those words before. Like the drum. The drum that never changes its beat. Never makes a song, just all that noise. Like some households were there is never music in the words, just beating drums with the same old beat.

We use words toward complete strangers. We use words to those we love. We use words with those we just happen to know because they are in our lives. Family, friends, complete strangers and all those in between. What would we do without words? A lot of us would be lost. Others, well... they might enjoy the lack of words. And still others might miss those words they enjoy seeing or hearing so much. Like words of love, and kindness and joy. Words of compassion. Words expressing care. Words that just say, "Hey, I’m here... I’m your friend, I’ll listen to your words anytime!" Words that tells stories. Words that sing a song. Words that teach and words that tell us how to get along. Words we learn from. Words we share. Oh, there are so many words. And words, can make or break a heart.

We use words to express ourselves. Some of us do a better job than other in selecting our words and telling someone what we think. Some of us don’t express ourselves very well. And, sometimes, someone else takes what we said completely different than what we meant.

Words are like paintings. They are like music. They are like art. Some of us have a way with words. We can be so creative. Others, well, just need tokeep trying,that’s all. But one thing for sure, words, like paintings and music and all sorts of art mean different things to different people. Three people can look at a painting and have three different opinions or ideas of what the painter was trying to express. The same holds true with words, sometimes.Sometimes as readers or listeners we agree with the writer or one speaking and sometimes we don’t. And then, of course, we may be undecided.

Words have so much meaning, if they are the right chosen words. Sometimes they are so full of just the right things to make somebody feel good. Other times our words are empty and the only thing that someone else feels is a great big ache in their heart.

I remember a long time ago, this public message came on TV at the end of the broadcast day, late at night. Back then, you were lucky if you had all three TV stations. Rabbit ear antennas and lots of snow. Absolutely black and white. Why color wasn’t even in someone’s mind yet then. TV itself hadn’t been around all that long. Radio was the way you heard things before TV came along. So, a TV was a big deal. There were lots of public broadcast messages at the end of the day in those early decades of TV before the station signed off for the night. Like, "Have you hugged your kids today." and "It’s eleven o’clock, do you know where your children are?"

The one I really liked, it went something like this, "Have you told someone you loved them, today?"

I can’t improve on those words, folks.

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER

This entry has 8 comments:

#8 Comment from bhbner2him Email bhbner2him12/30/06 10:57 AM

Enjoyed this entry! Found you via CarnivAOL. I've always felt that if God spoke the world into existance, then words have to have farther reaching effects than we usually give them credit for. Although we aren't God, and our words (thankfully) can't create or wipe out a universe, they can create perseptions of reality. Shape feelings. Mold character. And many more things we can't entirely understand. -Barbara ://journals.aol.com/bhbner2him/LifeFaithinCaneyhead/

#7 Comment from princesssaurora Email princesssaurora12/30/06 9:44 AM

Quite right... beautiful entry.be well,Dawn, a fellow CarnivAOL blogger

#6 Comment from bgilmore725 Email bgilmore72512/30/06 7:16 AM

Hi River. Good entry. I learned the hard way what words can do. I learned it's better to hold my tongue before responding to something that makes me angry or disappointed. Words of wisdom are far better received than words of criticism or judgment. Hurtful words are like toothpaste... once you squirt out the toothpaste, you can't push it back into the tube. Once spoken, once heard, there's no taking them back... even "I'm sorry" doesn't erase them from one's mind. Yes, our words are powerful, and we who write know this better than most, that words can inspire, cause action, change, and transformation. Well written. I found this entry at CarnivAOL, too. A great submission. Bea http://journals.aol.com/bgilmore725/Wanderer/

#5 Comment from bobandkate Email bobandkate12/30/06 5:02 AM

'Words' are everything. I enjoyed this entry. Found it through CarnivAOL,Kate. http://journals.aol.co.uk/bobandkate/AnAnalysisofLife/ http://journals.aol.co.uk/bobandkate/20062007-journal-index/

#4 Comment from riversharkiEntry Author Email riversharki12/28/06 1:18 AM

Thanks! All three of you. I'm glad you liked it.

#3 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/27/06 11:20 PM

I will have to promote this. Words are forces! Amen! My father, my sister and my ex-boyfriend are clueless in the power of words. Shame, condemnation, bulling are their standard. Luckily, for me, I cant be in love with an illusion but my pride to stand up, change someone can keep me banging a insight drum to the denial ones. I have thus learned. For me, its shocking to hear what people say. I am not personally easily offended but I can be for someone else. In the past, its that cheerleader in me that needs to appear strong and if you do that long enough, you get good at it. Its a mixed blessing. Confrontation tends to stir me into "You can say anything to Raven, lol." Serving takes so much especially when you see so much further. Not trying to sound arrogant in that but its not a gift thats easy. I see why people say their blinders and its frustrating. I used to be able to use humor which I still do but either I quiet up and leave or I call it what it is. That calling it what it is - is a new box for me. Its being straight forward and as I wrote in one of my poetic dialogues, I cant communicate an illusion. It feels toxic to do so. ~ Raven

#2 Comment from caromarls Email caromarls12/9/06 5:06 PM

So true - I know myself that I often use words before thinking and hurt others or say things that I regret later. They are so powerful! Hugs, Caroline http://journals.aol.com/caromarls/ANewAdventure

#1 Comment from aimer Email aimer11/30/06 12:27 PM
Well said.--Sheria

GOD'S REWARD WAS PUNISHMENT

2008-10-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

Sunday, November 26, 2006 9:02:00 PM PST

In 1947, in the shadows of World War II, before the world could repair the destruction of Adolf Hitler, the United States Supreme Court pushed God out of America.

The wall separating church and state reversed 160 years of rulings set by the founding fathers of this nation.

America continues to fall from greatness, year after year. God's law has been replaced with the laws of the few. We the people, are to blame. It is not one race, one gender, one political party. It is all of us who are to shame for God’s departure from American culture.

For 60 years the works of God has been chiseled away to comfort only the very few. Each year since 1947, as a nation, America’s appreciation and acceptance of God has faded.

The prayers, the calling for God’s help, the request for His sending guardian angles, the begging for Him to shield America and the world from the antichrists of World War II were answered by God. Many American soldier from the front-line infantrymen in combat on the battlefields all the way back to the Pentagon prayed to God. Many Army, Marine, Navy, Air Force and military personnel from Generals and Admirals down to the boot camp enlistee prayed to God. Many American political leaders, and American citizens asked God to save America and save the world from the most demonic destruction ever known to modern man. Prayers to shield Americans and the world citizenship from harms way were answered and delivered by the buckler Himself, God Almighty.

[On September 11, 1941 construction began on the Pentagon, and on January 15, 1943 construction was completed. On September 11, 2001, sixty years to the day construction began, terrorist crashed a hijacked American Airlines passenger jet into the American symbol of national security, a building built during World War II. It was a day American government would remember God and once again pray as an entire nation, for at least a little while.]

The American flag, standing for One Nation Under God, was raised on battlefield after battlefield after victorious battlefield. The United States of America, a nation who’s motto was IN GOD WE TRUST, with her allies and the help of God defeated the most demonic monsters to every come from Hell. With the Glory of God, He helped us push those demons of World War II straight back into the Pit of Hell to which they came from.

Millions of people the world over had paid with their lives. They paid the ultimate price. They made the supreme sacrifice. But in the end it was the Americans with her allies and the shield of God which raised the United States flag over defeated territories of the enemy.

Then God’s reward came, His reward was punishment. Before the smoke had hardly cleared from the battle fields of World War II. Before the most destruction the world had ever before seen was even completely restored, the United States Supreme Court in 1947, nailed the coffin of American history, draped with the American flag and dropped it into the sea of fire. Sending the United States of America to Hell. The power of a few in the most trusted arena of American society tumbled our once great nation in the name of the antichrists. The United States Supreme Court defeated everything America ever stood for. Our own judicial system defeated our nation at the wake of our victory of World War II. God was punished for being our shield. Our Nation was executed. No longer could God and the United States of America stand together. The chosen few ruled America must stand alone and God nor Jesus Christ could any longer be our Savior, not as a nation. 1947, it was the year America died. For what came after 1947 amounted to grave robbery. Year after year, the United States Supreme Court ripped pages after pages of God’s work from American society. Each torn page was replaced with the desires of the Devil’s Angles.

American history was rewritten with lies, misrepresentations, misinterpretations, quotations of false origin and incomplete documentation to rule the new law and order of our nation selling it as one of traditional meaning and definition.

The cost paid with the blood of the brave and courageous ones sent tears down the cheeks of those who mourned for them. The single, most significant act which divided a nation, which was once, "One Nation, Under God, Indivisible... & United We Stand", came by rule of the United States Supreme Court in 1947. Every year since 1947 Old Glory has faded into the darkness absent of God’s Light.

PSALM 62:1-5
Truly my soul waiteth upon God:
from him cometh my salvation.
2 He only is my rock and my salvation;
he is my defence; I shall not be
greatly moved.
3 How long will ye imagine mischief
against a man? ye shall be slain all
of you: as a bowing wall shall ye be,
and as a tottering fence.
4 They only consult to cast him down
from his excellency: they delight in
lies: they bless with their mouths, but
they curse inwardly. Se lah.
5 My soul, wait thou only upon God;
for my expectation is from him.

When you ask yourself, ‘What happen to America?’, you now have your answer.

In 1947, in the shadows of World War II, before the world could repair the destruction of Adolf Hitler, the United States Supreme Court pushed God out of America.

That is what happen to America. That is why America today, is what it is. The once great nation is not nearly as great as it used to be.

Since 1947 to this present day, the United States Supreme Court has been something other than an American icon. It has shattered God’s image and American tradition with one voice of antichrist and anti-American manifestations. Only the reversal of American tradition set back to pre-1947 can this nation be the great nation the founding fathers created under God.

Although some of the phrases used above , in reference to God, did not become commonplace in the American official language until the 1950s, they have always been a part of American history unofficially prior to 1947. [President Dwight D Eisenhower, the supreme commander of allied forces in Western Europe during WWII, approved adding the words, "under God" to The Pledge of Allegiance on Flag Day, June 6, 1954 with this statement, "In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war."]

"United We Stand", invoked American patriotism and unity among allied nations during WWII. It originated in the fourth verse of John Dickinson, The Liberty Song, 1768, which also had reference to God and Heaven.

Thank you for joining me. God Bless You.
And always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
RIVER

This entry has 3 comments:
#3 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/28/06 2:53 PM

"In God We Trust"I think of this wall hanging as saying the right thing for the right reasons in the past and today, saying it quietly in hopes no-one you need for political reasons, hears you.~Raven

Comment from riversharkiEntry Author Email riversharki12/28/06 1:26 AM

Yeah, true, Raven, I wonder about that, too! This is one of my pet peevies (no spell checker lol). I really think this is where our nation went wrong and then it snowballed from there. It's still the greatest nation on earth, but how long can we hope for that to last? On the walls of the Supreme Court court hangs, (You ready for this?) a statement, "In God We Trust."

#1 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/27/06 11:05 PM

Perfect! Separation of God isnt about separation its about removal. What people dont realize is the nations that have a population for Jesus are the lands of plenty anywhere else, the lands are depleted. I wonder, how long Gods grace will last for America? ...~Raven

THANKSGIVING DAY FOR YOU, SECRET SANTA

2008-10-08T16:05:00.000-07:00

Thursday, November 23, 2006 6:35:00 PM PST

23 November 2006

My friend, Aimer, had sent me an email about generosity and kindness. She thought I might like the story she provided a link to; "Grave Illness Unmasks Generous ‘Secret Santa’. I did enjoy the story, very much indeed, Aimer. Thank you!

After reading the story, published on 17 November 2006, which you can find in the archives of AOL news, I went to the AOL message board where ‘Secret Santa’ is presented again. I read the large number of postings which resulted from this story. There are hundreds of replies. The responses continue to poor in to the message boards. But one posting, which gained the most attention and responses was a message titled; "HOMELESS ARE THE SCUM OF SOCIETY!!!" Overwhelmingly, this single posting drew more replies than any of the other messages which at the time I first read the board about ‘Secret Santa", was climbing well into the thousands.

The news story is about a man named, Larry Stewart, the "Secret Santa" who gave away millions of dollars to the needy around the country for some 26 years. This man, who deserves our prayers and thanks today, has fallen upon a grave illness which threatens his life. He gave to those in need, many were homeless due to natural or terrorist disasters of catastrophe magnitudes. 911 in New York. Hurricanes in Florida. Hurricanes and floods in Louisiana and Mississippi. Wild fires in California. He gave to many charities along the way. And more. The story even mentions about his being in Washington D.C. when it was being victimized by the serial snipers. The story and the message board are must reads for those looking for spiritual inspirations and inside views of what others think.

Following the words of Jesus, Mr. Stewart gave to those in need, anonymously, never drawing attention or publicity to himself through his acts of kindness and generosity. He managed his secrecy for 26 years as he touched the hearts of the unfortunate people, all victims of tragedy. Be that tragedy a terrorist attack, natural disaster, a financial collapse, a disease-stricken reason or some other cause for those people to be on the streets homeless, or simply poor, or in need. Mr. Stewart did not judge. They were all needy. He served his kindness upon them. And silently left as quickly as he came.

He gave. He shared. He showed kindness. He loved. He showed others, who never knew who or what he was, only that he cared. He showed them that there were people like himself out there that do care for those in need. He did everything he could to avoid drawing personal attention to himself, yet he touched the lives and hearts of people everywhere. He managed to do his secret, good deed for nearly three decades.

Today I pray for Larry Stewart and ask God to send the angles to look over him. I pray the Secret Santa fully recovers from his illness. I thank Jesus for people like Mr. Stewart. I also pray for those unfortunate people around the world who have fallen on hard times. I pray that their tomorrow may be better than their today. God Bless them all, and God Bless Mr. Stewart for his kindness and generosity. God Bless him for his love. I thank him on this Thanksgiving Day for his being there to help all those in need that he has over the years.

He who has lost everything, has nothing, except Jesus. And Jesus is all that he really needs. For with Jesus, one can survive anything. Jesus is our buckler, the One who shields us from harms way. The One who will send someone to help us in our hour of need. Someone like Mister Stewart.

A prayer for forgiveness, an appeal for compassion:

Remember, O Lord, what is come: consider, and behold our reproach.
Our inheritance is turned to strangers, our houses to aliens.
We are orphans and fatherless, our mothers are widows. – Lamentations 5:1-3

Thanks for joining me. God Bless you all.
And always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
http://journals.aol.com/riversharki/JESUSLOVESYOU/
RIVER
Las Vegas, Nevada

This entry has 2 comments:
#2 Comment from riversharkiEntry Author Email riversharki12/28/06 1:37 AM

Yeah, I'm interested. How did I miss your article. I'll read it tomorrow, ok?You are so right about not blowing your trumpet as God says when giving. Secret Santa knew that. Also what a lot of people miss, is we are suppose to pray "in the closet". Praying for ourselves we should do in private. Praying for others can be done publically, church, funerals, web, etc. Many miss that.I really hope Secret Santa recovers. He is such a great guy and it was all because someone gave him $20 once when he was down and out.

#1 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/27/06 11:00 PM

Again, profound entry. I think about why God says not to boast and I realized many years ago that whats true in the heart gets revealed when we say nothing. So much of what we do is to impress others so we can recieve recognition. When we give and its just about the person, we can get so much from that. Takes time to feel the blessing in our secret deeds but its pretty cool. I wrote an article about the homeless...if interested...~Raven http://journals.aol.com/rebuketheworld/RebukeTheWorld/entries/2006/10/23/courage-promises-an-reflection-of-the-grand-loveliness-in-hope-if-wiped-with-im-worthy./1566

Freedom of Speech In Our Schools

2008-10-08T15:48:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, November 21, 2006 3:47:00 PM PST

I wish I could locate the article that was in the Las Vegas Review Journal , June of 2006, or there about, when Las Vegas students were graduating. I must have thrown the newspaper out, or misplaced it. I do recall, however, the major elements of the article and desire to present those issues to you.

A girl, a high-school senior, gave her graduation speech using references to God.

The article had mentioned that the policy of the school district was to edit every speech the students were to use in their graduation ceremony prior to graduation. In the case of this girl, her speech had been plastered with red marks, scratching or deletions of certain passages she had chosen to use. Those passages? References to God.

Not all remarks of God were deleted, as I remember, however most of them were.

Fortunately, the savvy student had kept the original speech on her home computer. At her graduation the girl gave her speech. In that speech she used the references to God that she had originally written and which had been edited out of her speech by school officials.

The speech, the article said, as I recall, was not a preaching form of reference to God. It was of content citations of what God meant to this female student. How God affected her life. She explained (or tried to) what God meant personally to herself. She voiced what was her own experiences in her individual relationship with God. And of course, she praised God for helping her through the difficulties of her struggles as a teenager.

This faithful Christian, one so young and bright, was simply trying to convey the most important panorama of her life. Her experiences with God and what God meant to her. She was also trying to convey what she believed were her basic individual rights to freedom of speech and freedom of expression.

She never had the opportunity to finish her speech.

Standing up there, defending her right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression, in front of a crowd of her classmates, school faculty members, parents, family and friends of the student body, her words fell silent. School officials had pulled the plug to her microphone, ending her right and desire to finish her speech.

How embarrassing this must have been for this Las Vegas high-school student who was receiving perhaps the most accomplished reward of a teenager’s life, a high-school graduation diploma. Too, it must have been a shameful event for all the World War II, Korean, Vietnam, Iraq and other veterans of wars in the audience whom as soldiers offered their lives in the name of freedom. Soldiers who have lost their fellow troops in the face of the enemy during combat in the name of liberty.

Abruptly, in the mist of her graduation speech, the stones were thrown at this girl by the school officials in the act of pulling her microphone plug, effectively ending her speech.

Obviously, this case ended up in the courts. I believe the parents had filed charges of right to freedom of speech and/or freedom of expression. The school district maintained "separation of church and state laws". I believe the girl lost in the first round of court proceedings and her case had moved up a notch to the next higher court level through appeal. I do not know the results or if the case even continues in the courts. I do know the girl didn't have much of a chance of winning her case, not in today’s courts at least. And, even if she did win her case, could she go back before the very same audience and finish her speech, which she was denied? Of course not, there for, it must be judged that incredible damage was in fact inflicted upon this female high school student who was reflecting her views of God. A young girl exercising her right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression. Of course, "judgments" in the eyes of our courts of law and judgments in our own minds are entirely two different things.

I hope and pray that this girl one day publishes the entire contents of her speech and even provide a copy of the edited version of her speech. Presenting it to the world, in a forum such as this site. If she hasn't already done so, and providing the court procedures have ended, so as not to effect her case. It would be an interesting comparison. At least in a meeting place such as this one, where her basic freedoms would not be denied and she would be free to express herself.

I will write in future articles about separation of church and state issues. Today, I focus on this young American citizen caught up in the struggles of freedom. Struggles which were already fought and won on the battlefields, yet died here in the land of the free.

What are your views on this?

Do you think the students microphone should have been disconnected because she made reference to God?

Or, do you feel she had a right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression even if she was in the presence of a school activity, and she did use her original speech rather than the censored version?

How do you feel about this situation or similar ones?

I would like to see your comments and I appreciate your input regardless of how you stand on the subject. After all, that is what freedom is all about.

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And always remember, Jesus Loves You!
RIVER
Las Vegas, Nevada

This entry has 2 comments:
#2 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/27/06 10:50 PM

When we have an opportunity to speak of all that we are, it should be allowed. Surely, her speech wasnt about converting anyone but her right to express her individuality was taken away. God might be a forbidden word soon enough. Its scary and sad. ~Raven

#1 Comment from aimer Email aimer11/27/06 9:56 AM

This is a complex issue. I've done some research on the Internet to get a better sense of the content of the young woman's speech. Certainly, she is within her personal rights to express her religious beliefs; however, freedom of speech is not without limitations. The school's concern was that her speech as written contained elements of a sermon. There is nothing inherently offensive about this but I do question the appropriateness of a school sponsored activiity such as graduation being the appropriate venue for espousing an individual's religious views. What if this young woman wanted to address some religious point of view other than christianity, would you be comfortable with that? What if she were to advocate in her speech that to find enlightment, everyone needs to convert to Buddhism? The problem with allowing church and state to mingle freely is that once the door is fully opened, then we can't selectively choose which religion receives attention. The young woman made a choice to engage in civil isobedience, a long honored tradition in tis country. She knew that there would be consequences. I respect her for sticking to her principles but I think that the school had no other choice but to pull the plug on her speech. The state did not restrict this young woman's right to worhsip in her own manner or to espouse her religious beliefs; the only restriction was as to what forum she could use to present her beliefs.--Sheria http://journals.aol.com/aimer/on-my-mind/

Introduction

2008-10-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

Saturday, November 18, 2006 10:15:00 AM PST
Feeling Hopeful Hearing Amazing Grace
18 November 2006
Good Morning, Everybody!

Good Morning, God. Thanks for letting me share another day. America, how are you? Hello World, we pray for peace upon you and may your day be better than yesterday.

What Is My Journal About?

Like the seasons, the subjects will change. One thing that won't change, is God. He will be in our lives no matter where we go, or what we do. Like the morning sun, warming our days and the night moon washing the darkness away. No matter what season, or subject that interest us at the hour, Jesus will be always be there, with us. So, is the name of my journal, Jesus Loves You! Jesus loves all of us. And we welcome Him in our hearts, our minds and our souls.

This is the place to come when maybe you don't feel all that peachy someday. A place where people share ideas, goals, hopes, dreams, little tid bits of information that you might find helpful. Stories, maybe even poems or anything to lift your spirits and help you in some way. News of interests. A sharing of opinions. Prayers.

Here, We Love God

A place where God hasn't been shoved out of our lives like He has in our schools, in our laws and in our nation. A time when this great nation was far greater than it is today. A time we yearn for when the world only knows peace and enemies are something past. Yet, we know such a vision could only come when we all surrender our ways to God, our Creator, and let Him guide us in His wisdom. That's a huge dream, but unless we dream it, it would be defeated before it could bare fruit.

We can always still hope and pray tomorrow will be a better place for all of the people of the world. Let peace fall up on us.

I prefer to leave the "about me" entry blank for now. I graduated the "Most Shy" in my class. True story! As you scan my journal you'll be able to put bits and pieces together about me. This journal isn't just about me. It's about us. You and me and the people of the world. For now, you can call me, River.

I'm not a preacher, I'm simply a devoted Christian who believes strongly in Jesus Christ. I am of Eastern Orthodox faith. To learn more about that, just check your search engine. I welcome all people, no matter their faith or race, or simply put, no matter what.

I hope to share good things with everybody, and receive good things from others. "Things" might be defined as ideas. Things I'd like to know. Things good for the heart, mind and soul. Things to share. I've always stood on a milk crate and told everyone I knew the "good things" I've discovered in life. So, that's what this journal is about.

Our Changing Lives

Thanks to the AOL polices in regard to the use of our journals, we are protected, at least the best we can be, on Internet travel, from unwanted or undesirable entries. Thus, those of us with like views, and the children are filtered from the evils which rise in our daily lives. And too, for those that don't find this site to be what they are looking for, they are free to move on, thanks for stopping by, though.

The reality of the world today, in respect to technology is just simply incredible. The advancements in medicine, gives us hope for cures and methods to prolong life never before thought possible. Computers have been so life-changing for us, it's simply amazing. Thank God for people like Bill Gates, and companies like Microsoft, Googles, AOL and those who have made our lives easier and more advanced. One thing that hasn't changed and is still done the same way since the beginning of time, is God's Way.

Faster Than a Speeding Bullet or Even Superman

In about 4 seconds one can send an email clear across the globe in less time than one could dial a phone number and have the person they are calling answer. And it's usually FREE. I've communicated with people around the world, sharing thoughts and conversations, learning about how they live... exchanging ideas. Such a thing would not have been possible twenty, or even ten years ago. The world around us is constantly changing, sometimes for the good... sometimes for the bad.

Freedom, Thanks Soldiers!

An open forum like this gives everyone and anyone the unique opportunity to express themselves like never before. One needs not wait until some newspaper editor decides to except their work. And one needs not see their work butchered by the editors control. One can edit their own work, and reshape it, add to it, subtract, at anytime and with lightning speed. Freedom of expression and freedom of speech could never be more available. I was once fond of saying, "The pen is the most powerful weapon in the world." Today, I would say the computer is. When I say, "weapon," I mean to destroy evil, to plant the seed from one mind into another, for useful, good purposes. And... freedom is not free. Somewhere our soldiers have paid the price for the freedoms we enjoy. Thanks to all of those who paid the price to preserve our freedoms.

Well, that should give you an idea what I am about and my journal. Sometimes I'm long winded. I love words and working with them, putting them together like a little kid with a new puzzle, hoping all the pieces fit just right. Other times, I'll hardly breath... you'll be lucky if you hear a whisper.

I've enjoyed reading many of the great things I've found in other people's journals and on the Internet at large. Learning about something today is so easy and fast it's just unbelievable. Anything at all, served right to your face. Faster than one could go to the public library, one could view on their computer all the information they could possibly read. It's almost as good for us as modern-day toilets compared to having to use the old outhouse I remember needing to use on my grandparents farm. Kids, today, you just don't know how lucky you really are.

I'll let you go and rest your eyes. I hope you come back from time to time. And if I can make life a little bit easier for just one person, then I feel it will be worth it. If you should ever fall on poverty or don't have a computer, that library I mentioned has your ticket to the world wide web.

Turkey Dinner for the Hungry & Poor

If you are thinking of a way to give someone charity during this holiday season, or anytime for that matter. Many grocery stores have special holiday promotions of buy one, get one free turkeys. With the purchase of, for example $25 of groceries, you get the buy one, get one free deal. Do you know a neighbor or someone, maybe even a family member who is down on their luck, perhaps out of work? Usually these stores have limits only on "shopping trips" meaning you can make as many trips to the store as you like. You can buy your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner and give one to a neighbor, too. Don't forget to thank the store manager for having offered such a great opportunity. Your heart will feel so warm and your purse won't even feel the difference. But the difference you make in the life of the needy ones will certainly make their holiday much brighter than it would have been without your caring.

Tranquility At Home With Wanda

And last but not least. This is a place I go to frequently when I need a boost, be it spiritual, or just something nice to read and hear the music or see a recipe. It's a place called Wanda's Country Home. I've been visiting her site for over a year and have enjoyed the awesome graphics, music and stories and such about a lot of nice things. She even gives computer tips and things that's just good to know. Thank God for Wanda and bless her heart for being so nice. Many of the things on her site are free and can be shared with friends. Honor those things that are not, and ask her permission where and when you need to. If the link doesn't work, simply type the address into your address bar and you'll get there. Once there, just scroll down, and explore the gold mine of good stuff she offers for free. In the "Where would you like to go?" menu there is a treasure chest of lovely, beautiful things you'll find. There are no pop ups from her site and everything is as clean and Godly as could be.

I can't find the main link, (I'm still learning this computer stuff -- I graduated from the Caveman University of Technology) But here are a few sub links.

I think this is the main ticket in:

http://wandascountryhome.com/

Waiting for our soldiers to come home:

http://wandascountryhome.com/yellowribbon/

A House For Sale -- In Heaven:

http://wandascountryhome.com/forsale/index.html

-Stories & Poems-

http://wandascountryhome.com/stories.html

And this one you've got to read...

"United in Prayer" "God Bless America"

http://wandascountryhomeinspirational.com/unitedstand/index.html
I hope this all works, this is such a beautiful site for us Christians to share, and those who may be curious about Christian life.

And, Aimer, thanks for the flowers and the help and support in getting me started. Bless You! You are a fine teacher. There is hope for Cavemen like me having fine teachers like you in our world.

And finally, something I found on a faded bumper sticker one day on an old, rusty car:

Cry Yourself A River...

Build Yourself A Bridge...

... and Get Over it!
(My motto!)

Thanks for joining me. God Bless You.
And always remember, Jesus Loves You!
RIVER, Las Vegas, Nevada

This entry has 2 comments:

#2 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld 12/27/06 10:46 PM

Enjoyed your entry River. Technology is moving so fast and I dont even know if I can feel shocked or surprised by any future advancements. We really have achieved much and quite fast. I would much rather go back to riding horses,lol...I am a bit addicted to the Internet, though. I could tag my computer along in time travel. (smile)I shall visit Wandas site. Thanks for sharing. ~Raven

#1 Comment from aimer Email aimer11/18/06 11:02 AM

You are so right about Wanda's Country Home, it's a warm and soothing site. Great humor as well, I loved the entry called Chocolate Factory. By the way, you did great with the links; the first one is indeed the link to the main website.http://journals.aol.com/aimer/on-my-mind/

Blessed Is The Nation...

2008-10-08T15:20:00.000-07:00

Friday, November 17, 2006 11:15:00 PM PST

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom He hath chosen for His own inheritance. Psalms 33:12

The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. Psalms 18:2

For thou wilt light my candle; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. Psalms 18:28

As for God, His way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: He is a buckler to all those that trust in Him. Psalms 18:30

This entry has 1 comments:
#1 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/27/06 10:34 PM
AMEN! and AMEN! ~Raven

Speaking a Common Language

2008-10-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

Thursday, November 16, 2006 6:16:00 PM PST
Speaking a Common Language

I accidentally sent this to my own journal. It is a reply to Aimer's entry ( Illegal Aliens- 15 Nov. 2006)

Amen! Great Job, Kid! You covered all the basics as well as the more technical issues in regards to South American immigrants.

A couple of points I'd like to mention. Living here Las Vegas, there is a large population of Hispanics who live here. I've lived, worked and played in the same environment that they do. As all of your respondents mentioned, except the lone one, they are just like the rest of us. There are the good, the bad and the ugly. Most of them are good people. They want the same things we want, a good life.

I became friends or friendly with many Hispanics, not just Mexicans, for there are many Hispanics from South American countries, beyond Mexico, that come here as well. The problem? They are "illegal" because gaining citizenship is so difficult. Why? Because of our government's policies. Solution? Make citizenship easier. The reason? For better screening and tracking of criminals. A more stable way to convert to a legitimate, systematic management of people, i.e. taxation, licensing, etc. They are going to come here, anyways. Hell nor high water will ever stop them.

I'm one who frequently uses the bus lines here in Las Vegas, which means I'm always forced to be a pedestrian using crosswalks to get from one side of the street to the other. One must understand, Las Vegas has a 45 MPH speed limit on most city streets. Like anywhere else, many motorist exceed the limit upwards to 60 MPH!

There are many deaths here due to motor vehicle/pedestrian "accidents" and the high rate of legal speed limits. I can not tell you how many times I counted my prayers in close-calls with motorist violating the "must stop and yield when pedestrians are in the crosswalk" laws. Except with the Hispanics! I NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THEM! They always use caution, they are patient, polite and courtesy, allowing me to cross without fear. They aren't the ones breaking the laws here. It's non Hispanics who violate the pedestrian/motorist laws here in Las Vegas, a 24/7 drink & gamble town.

Some of the Hispanics might not know English, but they sure do know common sense! And they know how to obey the laws where someone's life could be endangered. In general, they are a very caring group of people. I would welcome Hispanics here. But I would also like to see them be fully legal. To do that, our government needs to loosen the citizenship requirements. The rewards and benefits our nation would receive is a Hispanic citizenship of hard working, dedicated, caring and generally Christian people.

This nation was founded upon the principles of all people being afforded the opportunity to immigrate here regardless of race or nationality.

A few years ago I was working with several young Mexicans at an auto dealership. I was in sales and they were low-paid porters who washed cars, working hard in 100+ degrees weather. I happen to ask this one fellow something while we were in a conversation. Earlier, he had told me he sent most of his money home, to Mexico, to help out his family. (As many Mexicans do)
I asked him, "Are your a citizen?" He paused, sizing me up with his eyes, I suppose to gauge if he could trust me or not. We knew each other for some time. He then tapped his watch and said, "My watch is a Citizen!"

God, Love 'em!

And... Christopher Columbus never discovered America, as the history books tell us. Did not the Indians shake his hand on the beach when he landed? The land we all live on has always been a land of immigration. Even the America Indians immigrated here, they were the first. Some came by choice. Some did not. But what makes this nation great, despite the fact it is not perfect, is that we are a proud nation with people from every corner of the earth.

The hatred in the world must end and we all just need to start getting along and working together with the common goal of a better life for us all. We should extend the American dream and opportunity to our neighbors as well.

Again, Aimer, excellent writing. As was by most of your respondents as well.
RIVER

This entry has 4 comments:

#4 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/28/06 2:48 PM

Well, it takes time. In a few months, you will more readers but its not for everyone. ~Raven

#3 Comment from riversharkiEntry Author

Wow, we finally made it to the last entry. Raven remind me sometime about this entry and I'll explain something to you, which I'm sure you already remember since you are so worldly wise.You know what is funny. I never ever intended to start a journal. It was my first time here at AOL and I came across Aimer's article and meant to comment and ended up accidentally creating a journal, feeling embaressed. It has been most pleasurable. You and Aimer are great!River.

#2 Comment from rebuketheworld Email rebuketheworld12/27/06 10:32 PM

I enjoyed Sheria article too. I have written quite a few articles about the Immigrant policies but I feel, the United States is becoming a poor nation. This probably sounds extreme but with our national debt and the lacking of funds to support those that are citizens, I think the immigrant issue needs moderation. We can't be a land of milk and huney if we extend and can't care for those born here. I believe there is room for more giving to others and I know God would wants this. I do think we need to honor their labor because they do the work that most of us dont want too. I am a big fan of the average joe blow blue collar. Hard work gets as many props from me as corporate America does. We are in a season that if we dont play it right, we could find ourselves as natives to what we onced owned or today, own with much debt to still pay. ~Raven

#1 Comment from aimer Email aimer11/17/06 5:23 PM

I like your solution. I suspect that many of us who are citizens of this country by birth might have trouble gaining citizenship if we had to pass a test.

Bailout or Burial?

2008-10-08T05:18:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, October 7, 2008
1:27:50 PM PDT

As Washington concludes what is called the greatest financial bailout in American history, we need to prepare for our own funeral.

The children and grandchildren of America will be paying for this one.

We rewarded white-collar criminals with a get-out-of-jail free card. Those who claimed to be “Expert Advisors”, the ones who advised Americans how to invest their money, just flushed the American Dream down the drain.

The global economy is feeling the fallout of the American financial nuclear bomb. That fallout will devastate the futures of people around the world for years to come.

The pork-laced $700 Billion plus “bailout” includes multi-million dollar special-interests perks for small groups that had nothing to do with the corporate giants of Wall Street. Something the American taxpayers are now forced to foot the bill for.

As Chuck Norris recently wrote, President Bush signed into law the 500-page bailout bill in less than an hour after he received it, “That was some speed reading.”
Most of the congressmen who voted on the bill had no clue what was inside those 500 pages of signing away America’s future.

It proves that not only Corporate America has incompetent, greedy and corrupt executives, but also our so-called leaders in government are just as incompetent, greedy and corrupt. Our leaders don’t know how to lead.

The urgency to enact the largest financial “bailout” in history just buried America. Main Street will suffer from Wall Street’s greed. The rush to do something before the economy collapsed made haste to a disastrous waste.
The hurried bill resulted in a waste of the American taxpayer’s money. It was like signing a multi-million dollar mortgage on a condemned property laced with toxic chemicals and worth only pennies.

What our leaders should have done, if we were going to bail out these mega corporations at all, that have been ripping America’s head off is this:

We shouldn’t have given them a free ticket. By pumping our money into corporations that brought down the American and global economy is wrong. It only rewards greed, corruption and incompetence.

What we could have done was give them a loan, even an interest free loan. This would have pumped the money back into the economy and in turn businesses could borrow again and gain financial strength. The mega-corporations could then regain sound standings, and recover from the mess they got themselves and us, into.

Then, if those same corporations failed, the government could have seized their assets from the collateral the government would have held on the loans. Conditions written into the bailout LOAN would have had provisions on prohibiting excessive executive salaries, severance pay perks and the like.

There wouldn’t be a need of adding pork to special interest and the American taxpayers wouldn’t be footing the bill without owning collateral.

If you do the math, with well over half-trillion dollars, the U.S. government could have given every American citizen over the age of eighteen a couple of hundred thousand dollars instead of bailing out the few criminals of Wall Street.

Some would cry ‘that’s socialism’. No, it would be giving back to the American people what was stolen from us. The bailout bill is socialism for big Wall Street business. Instead of punishing them, we rewarded them.

One thing for certain, the brains on Wall Street and the brains in Washington are brain-dead.

Both McCain and Oboma voted for the bill. Neither should have. They each should have stood alone and showed the American people their strength in not allowing us to get our heads ripped off in Round Two.

They could have showed America which side they were on, Wall Street or Main Street.

Joe Biden, Oboma’s choice for vice-president also voted for the bill, making three in the ignorant decision.

My third-grade school teacher, Mrs Hate (no less) used to tell us students when we stumbled while climbing stairs, "Haste makes waste,".

When our leaders panic and hurry their decisions without careful thought, the waste will be paid for by the American taxpayers.

The American Dream just died and the American Nightmare will haunt us until who knows when.

Now get your suits on or your black dress and get ready for America’s funeral.

(15 Minutes ago, the Las Vegas ACORN, Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, was raided by the police. Law enforcement agencies involving the FBI and other state and federal authorities have been investigating the local chapter for two months. I have some personal, inside information on this outfit that was suppose to be helping the poor, and my bet is they will go down. IT NEVER STOPS RAINING GREED & CORRUPTION!)

Thank you for joining me. God Bless You.
And always remember, JESUS LOVES YOU!
River
Las Vegas, Nevada
7 October 2008 (Transferred 8 October 2008)

Did You Support the Bailout Bill?
Yes (1 Votes)
12%
No (7 Votes)
87%
Total Votes: 8
Voting Page

Tags: Bailout Bill, Obama, McCain, Greed, Corruption, Acorn, Wall Street, Main Street, American Dream, American Nightmare

This entry has 3 comments:

#3 Comment from bgilmore725 Email bgilmore725
10/7/08 8:29 PM
Hi River... just stopping by to let you know where I am... hope you'll come by and leave your handle. I'm not Wanderer anymore. I'm A New Bridge. bea
http://anewbridge.blogspot.com/

#2 Comment from riversharkiEntry Author Email riversharki
10/7/08 8:20 PM
Hey Gunner, I was just recently informed by Dirk about the troops being taken out by friendly fire. lol. I mean AOL. ( I've been awol).

Thanks for the flowers.

I'm gonna be hastey and get this transfered while getting everybody's emails. I think most of us will go to blog.spot, I've been using it for months. It has lots of great features and you should never lose a master piece like I've done here several times. And my counter restarting almost every three months back to zero... on and on...

But then nothing that is free is much good, except Love, God, and the Bible...

I won't miss AOL machinery, I'll miss the people. AOL has been good, and I feel better they fired the friendly fire shots rather than me pulling out. (God's good isn't He?)

Will catch up and maybe we'll chat or something Gunner. I really want to stay tuned to all the people here.

I'm a Green Bay Packer fan, been so since Vince was teaching morality in the sport. (He went to school to be a Catholic Priest in New York, but switched to sports)

Just in case Charlie sneaks in over night, I can be tracked down at this email and website, which links to others.

Keep your head down.
River

email
riverorganization.org@gmail.com

website
riverorganization.org

#1 Comment from tschuckman Email tschuckman
10/7/08 2:19 PM
Hey River,
You are a person of TRUE GRIT ! I am with you 100% and guess that the majority of conservative minds are on board too. I would like to email you personally and give you my biblical take on earth's near future.... lol.

I moved/ started my new Blog too-- at Blogspot, Disabled Veteran's Journal.
Let us reason and compare notes. Great post!

Cordially,Tom Schuckman
email: tschuckman@aol.com tom_schuckman@yahoo.com

Wisconsin.