The Month That Followed

Here is a summary of the month after the migraine/seizure/stroke/spell episode thing, as gathered from Facebook status updates or such:

The Month That Followed

Here is a summary of the month after the migraine/seizure/stroke/spell episode thing, as gathered from Facebook status updates or such:

I spent a few days in the hospital

I spent a few days in the hospital this weekend, and I had some Deep Philosophical Personal Rambling Ponderings that I would also like to share with y'all:

By the stroke of the weekend...

So, here's the story. First off, THANKS to y'all who made connections and compassion!

Philosophical Ramble 130327

Do you ever think to yourself that you don't know anyone who is on welfare, who has had an abortion, is gay? Do you ever wonder how many close friends or family who are on public assistance, who has struggled with making the difficult decision to abort their pregnancy, or is LGBTQ but are simply terrified to admit such to you and are scared to dare be authentic with their life around you because they full well know your disdain and condemnation? For those of us who have the Christian faith and have received YHWH's deep grace and mercy, why do we cling to such belittling of our fellow humans when Yeshuah came to save and not to condemn? Does our piety draw any one person closer to YHWH?

Twenty Five Years

Twenty-five years ago today, after fifteen months and eighteen days of service with the U.S. Navy,

Rambling Journal Entry 130316

 Oh NOrth Dakota, these tears I shed for thee as the SuperMajority clamors against the elderly, women, children, LGBTQ, the needy and gives favor to dogma and to oil, these tears do they drive me to depart thy borders, or do they empower me to stay and fight, or do they relinquish me to a perpetual status of meh. If it were not for an engaging job, the inclusive family of performance artists, and the energized progressives, I would be gone. For the lack of romance, is that a reason to depart? Add that with the Republicans marching against the citizens of NOrth Dakota, I wonder.

Rambling Journal Entry 130304

So, there I was at lunch today minding my own business, was reading a book Torn: Rescuing the Gospel from the Gays-vs.-Christians Debate, and this quote from Roger Ebert was in the chapter and clobbered me:

SENATE BILL 2252 Testimony

SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2013

SENATE BILL 2252: Relating to discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation

Committee members and fellow citizens of North Dakota, Greetings. My name is Kevin R. Tengesdal, a native of North Dakota now living in Bismarck.

KEVIN R. TENGESDAL, SOLE PROPRIETARY PERSONAGE
RESOLUTION NUMBER: 2013-01-01-01
SUBMITTED: BY KEVIN R. TENGESDAL
SUBJECT: SOCIAL IMPROVEMENTS
 ***************************************************************

Rambling Disconnected Rant 121215

Shouldn't we address morality and ethics in our society before we ban all guns lock, stock, and barrel? What about addressing better access to mental health care? Drugs are illegal, yet still are consumed. Smoking is banned for the purpose of reducing smoking, yet people still smoke. Underage drinking is banned, yet kids still drink alcohol. Speed limits are enforced yet people still speed even after getting ticketed. Will banning guns or restricting their relatively easy access actually stop the shootings?

What makes you happy to be gay?

Sometimes just need to remind myself the blessings of living as a gay male in a heteronormative society...

Radishes

Let me share a horror story of radishes. Yes, the sweet and innocent red vegetable from summertime. Radishes.

Buy All The Presents!

Luke 2:8-15ish In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”

When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began to be filled with stress, panic and worry saying to one another, “Oh good grief, what are we supposed to buy for him? We need to find that perfect gift. The gift that will be so much better than all others! BUY ALL THE PRESENTS! Hurry! We must stampede the marketplaces in search of the greatest everything! We need an entire new wardrobe too! Can we remodel the house before too?”

Is that the true nature of the birth narrative? Is that what God was expecting for us in remembering the birth of His Son in human flesh on earth?

Luke 2:15-20 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.

I have written in another post before: "The humble circumstances of the birth scene was quite appropriate for the One “who for our sakes became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9). God was demonstrating true, eternal values in his arrangements for the incarnation of his Son, values that emphasized family relationships and being culturally relevant. As well, the circumstances of his birth imply that Yeshuah understands and identifies with the poverty in which most of the world lives today and always has lived. Finally, the simplicity of Yeshuah’s birth demonstrated the fact that though He was God in human body, He could be approached by anyone and would welcome all who would come to Him."

It's Christmas. Don't panic. Don't stress. Seek and enjoy the simplicity of the quiet of the Season to remember the birth of God With Us.

Rambling Journal Entry 121103

Being single for 43 years of my 46? Miserable? Ha! I've learned to be independent, exploring the many ways that I am me, full of self-worth as well as enjoying a healthy career, community theatre, and financial stability. Spectacular times. I may have missed out on a lot of the trial and error on the dating scene that many experience when they're younger. That being said I've got a pretty good understanding on what I'm looking for in a guy, knowing what works and what does not. I have a lot to offer my future husband and he had better match up.

Roxy

My sister-in-law died yesterday after ten months with lung cancer. I just wanted to share with y'all a blip from an email from her showing how great of a lady she was:

"Some StraightBros get it" Case #121019

One of my girlfriends messaged me this regarding her husband:

Rambling Reasoning 121016

I am 46 years old and I have traveled life well. I know about being abandoned, and I survive. I mainly survive by mostly sharing the good and primarily bottling up the bad. For when you've been abandoned enough, you know that keeping it inside is the safest and most secure as you are the one standing there. And guess what, the sun rises and life continues.

Doc lowered my Lexapro

My primary care doctor has allowed me to reduce Lexapro because of the increased endorphins I have been getting from working out at the gym. But, he also said that I need to ask friends to observe me and to let me know of any changes whatsoever, so as to not have any repeat of last winter. Well, the friends that saw what happened last year, they walked away. So, lesson learned. Shan't, shall just remain my simple quiet self, and post such ramblings on random blogs.

Aged Wine

A friend observed: "Ever thought that you're like wine, just aging for the right moment? You're in better shape now than you have been in years, financially better now than you have been in years, you look a decade younger than you are. Just saying..." Guess they are correct (-;