St. Germain

WSI - Hot Brand

2011-12-14T15:46:00.001-08:00

Woodland Stewardship Institute

presents

Wood Source Identification

Where the Brand is Hot, because the Wood is Cool!!!

The Only True

Wood Supply of Integrity

In Co-ordination With the;

WSI - World Wide Wood - Registry

Wood that is hot, is no longer cool!!! Not only that, but poached wood is getting harder to come by. Especially exotic imports. When we established the Woodland Stewardship Institute LLC, in 1996, (the WSI-LLC partnership was disbanded a few yrs. later) the certified wood programs were being consolidated and controlled by the conglomerates. They were begun by grass roots initiators like myself. We participated in the Woodnet 98 event in 1998. I gave a presentation there on our ideas for basic principles of sustainability. I was basically told by the newly formed FSC (forest stewardship council) that there was no room for any independent wood brand systems! This resonates with the same vibs as the certified organic food labels that started several years ago. Now they are all under the jurisdiction of the government National Organic Program! In other words it would be illegal for you to grow a true organic crop and sell it as such!

Guess what? We own the only true standard in wood identification and qualification!

Listen to how simple it is. This is the world wide, Wood System of Inventory, of the people, by the people, for the people! The first rule is, we will never qualify any huge company or conglomerate. We Support Independence! This is the first rule of sustainability. This is the first pre-requisite to getting back to the land. This is why people are starving, and this is why we are sick. Everyone thinks they want to be an aristocrat, so they give up the land and go to the city.

It's your wood, and it's tracked from your doorstep! It would be impossible to steal this system away from the people! Like Amazon.com selling books, the World Wide Wood registry is the ultimate networking and marketing tool for small independent wood workers and suppliers.

All you need is a wireless connection to the world wide web. Here is the link for the World Wide Wood registration form. http://wonderfulwood.blogspot.com/2007/12/world-wide-wood-registration-form.html. Also, here is the link to the simple common sense, basic criteria for WSI - What Sustainable Is. http://wonderfulwood.blogspot.com/2007/12/world-wide-wood-registry.html If you are a wood worker, small land owner, or wood collector, who is willing to learn basic safety and environmental principles, you will qualify!

If you produce much wood on a regular basis you will want a WSI - Hot Brand. At least you will need the aluminum metal label maker to make the permanent tags with your assigned numbers.

Each brand needs to have a changeable date feature. That will eliminate the possibility of pirating. All you have to do is look at our data base to get a fair idea of what was branded on that date, to be able to tell if there is a mess of wood that is not accounted for. On specialty pieces of wood, each peace can be assigned a number and of course the date. Obviously, if you are producing a lot of lumber from say, a horse logging operation, you will only tag piles.

A lot of wood suppliers now you will notice advertise the FSC logo, however I have never seen a piece of wood with any actual way to trace it's history. Can you imagine the credibility and notoriety this program will give quality craftsmen?

This also applies to salvaged wood. Imagine if you salvage wood from a thousand year old shipwreck. Then it was crafted into part of a world class violin. I knew a man who did this. His name was Dale Brock. He retired up on the Clearwater River here in Idaho. It must have been 25 yrs. ago that he died. He made violins andf he claimed that every part was over 1000 years old! The nut for the strings was made from Mastodon ivory that (he claimed) was millions of years old! He also claimed that at one time he was acclaimed to be one of the 10 best violin makers in the world.

I for one, will not support any form of plundered wood, or sponsor any form of exploitation. Trees are the answer, getting people back to the land is the solution. EVERYTHING depends on quality natural logging and farming!

Animal Control

2011-11-03T19:09:00.003-07:00

Woodland Stewardship Institute

"Aint Gonna Play War No More!"

"Control Freaks Always Loose Control"

Goodness tends to perfection.

Demand perfection and,

Goodness begins to go away.

Is there a better solution to the dog problems than 24\7 confinement? By the way, 24\7 confinement is inhumane and should be illegal. In fact this is the source of all the trouble. This is why dogs bark, and bite, and are out of control. They don't learn anything tied up. A dog that is on a leash or tether has to be considered dangerous. In other words the leash law is counter productive. This is serious. We need to pay attention here. Our society is going to the dogs, so to speak. There seems to be more and more people with more dogs that have no idea how to manage them. I see children and adults drug around by their dogs on a leash with no control. The more trouble they have the more they try to exercise absolute control, which of course is disastrous. Is there a better solution? Naturally, you know the familiar quote from Albert Einstein, "You cannot accomplish peace by force, it can only be achieved through understanding." It's time to quit playing war, and learn about getting along with true freedom.

To begin with, the number one problem is too many dogs. If you don't have time to teach and train and build a quality relationship, you need to downsize or eliminate your stock. Every dog we've had here we have been able to teach not to bark, not to chase the chickens, and to know their place, etc. It seems the large majority of people now are incapable of any of this. Part of the trouble of course is, they think this is what dogs are for. How pathetic. Mean barking dogs are for people who put their faith in mean barking dogs! Having a dog is like having a gun. Too many today aren't responsible enough to have either. There is no way you can justify disturbing your neighbors, disturbing the peace, or risking an attack or bite. A big problem here is, "Love is Blind". I hear this all the time. "Oh they won't bite." or "They wouldn't hurt a flea." While you are being accosted with deafening noise and barred teeth. Nonsense. Dogs are vicious carnivorous killers. Do you know how many people have been scarred for life, bitten by their own dog, or their friend's? You all know they're going to be protective. Here is another danger, "The smaller the dog, the sharper the teeth." Little kids should never be left unattended with the wienie dog!!!

Next. I find it hard to understand why people are so cruel. Why are they so worried that some animal other than their own would come in their yard? It's a fact that no matter what policy you adopt, your going to have loose dogs. If they are so worried, about visitors, why don't they put up a fence? Who do they think should camp in their yard and make sure nothing ever goes there!!! Neighbors need to be tolerant if you are going to have a healthy free society.

Now this is important. Puppies need to be free. This is the only way they can learn their boundaries, and to come and begin to learn basic manners. If the neighbors just get after them when they are little, they will learn not to go there.

How do they learn voluntary, unaware, complicity? In other words how do they learn to expect to be tied up without resentment? NEVER tie up a dog in anger or retaliation. This is the time I give my dog a special petting. He looks forward to that affection and he remembers it till I come back.

Now. Why can't dogs and people get along like they used to before all of our great so called intelligence came along? Why don't they address the real problem, confinement and neglect, and ignorance, instead of more Nazi control??? If you want to live like that, move to the big city where you belong! Dogs can be extremely dangerous and vicious. Do you really think a town full of confined, barking, neglected, over populated, uncontrollable dogs is safe? This is what the police should be concerned with. Not an occasional loose dog.

Do you get the picture? Control freaks are everywhere, and they cannot understand that a dog, especially your dog would ever be free. I know people that need to be locked up 24\7, but I am not aware of any animal that deserves it. Instead of being so worried about a dog that might be loose, as if that is the one and only big sin, look at the cause. I guarantee you will start to change things if you start turning people in for neglect instead. No one should have to live in a neighborhood full of incessant barking dogs that are complete freaks when they do get out. Officers should not hesitate to inform people that they are out of compliance when their dogs are neglected, overly confined, and uncontrollable.

If this kind of freedom sounds too scary for you and your dogs, just remember you are not likely to have any trouble if you just learn how to keep them quiet. That will be my next chapter. There are some simple tricks to learn. The most important is to never bark (yell) at your dog. You can always tell a good trainer by their voice.

Chapter 3 will be, TRAFFIC CONTROL. Is your dog streetwise? Should dogs be allowed on residential streets? It's inevitable!!! Small young children will invariably end up there unexpectedly!!! Never apologize for making people slow down!!! Kids and dogs and horses are allowed on city streets!!! Streets are not just for speeding vehicles!!! Never apologize for making people slow down.

Wood Stock - Part 3

2011-04-18T15:06:00.000-07:00

Woodland Stewardship Institute
Presents
Wood Stock Investments
Business Plan

I have realized that you don't need anything to start a business, but a good plan of action. Good ideas, experience, and a strategy for implementation.
As I mentioned in parts 1 & 2. We have a 20 plus year collection of wood that keeps growing, with an unlimited supply where that came from! People pay us to take it! Every kind of wood that grows here, and some you've never heard of.

We have the largest capacity mill anywhere. We can cut logs up to 8 ft. diameter and 32 ft. long! We have one slab of wood here that we cut on this mill that is 7 ft. wide, 5 inches thick and 10 ft. long!
The problem is, we have never sold any, to speak of.
The first order of business, the first step, has been, identification.
Every job is assigned a number, so every log has a number, and therefore, every piece of wood stock. Embossed aluminum tags are attached to every piece. This we have done since 1998.
All the work and expense of hauling, milling, moving, stacking, and stickering, we have done.
We have not implemented any computer inventory program. The wood needs to be cataloged according to species, dimensions, job number, date, and section where it is stored. Also, photographs of the better material. This has to be done to start marketing, which will require a qualified secretary with some knowledge of computer science.
The next big step is, storage. We want to use the mill to produce the material to build the wood shelters. This of course is softwood from our horse logging operations.
I anticipate that the shelters will sell also, and be a good market themselves.

As I said in parts 1 & 2, we need investors. Wood workers who want to be a part of this local co-operative, and financiers interested in a risk free investment with real tangible value, and in supporting local enterprise and jobs. Anyone who purchases stock can redeem it's value in wood at a rate equivalent to the estimated minimal wholesale value. The other option of course is, when the wood they have invested in, at just half that wholesale rate sells, they can make a good percentage on their investment.
You can see the need for capitol to make this work. It will take a few yrs. to get established with enough variety of inventory to attract buyers. Also, it takes 5 to 20 yrs. for certain hardwoods to season and stabilize enough for certain applications. This kind of wood is expensive and hard to find. That is why our many years of head start is so valuable.

Our location here in Deary is the ideal spot for a central wood yard, close enough to the quad cities and all the surrounding towns and their crops of trees. We have over a half mile strip along the old R.R. bed that intersects Main st. Most of it is zoned industrial commercial.
So, the first thing to do, as soon as we have people willing to support this kind of local utilization, and value added, wood project, is to start to inventory the wood here. In other words, the money is not appropriated until the product is listed and confirmed.
The first wood to be counted is the premium large cants that are stacked and stickered. This is because they are the least perishable. Even at the aforesaid half of minimum wholesale value, would give us enough operating capital to start building the shelters and organizing the rest of the wood and of course the new wood that is coming in every week.

Woodland Stewardship Institute

2010-07-29T14:34:00.000-07:00

"Ain't Gonna Play War No More"

Common Dog Gone Sense
Dog Control, Gun Control, or Self Control

You can be sure this will be a touchy subject!

But something needs to be done. There seems to be more people with more dogs in more places, who know less and less of how to treat them, handle them, or train them. Everywhere I see the results of our society having lost what they used to call basic, common "HORSE SENSE". In other words, a lot of people don't know how to be neighborly or how to raise children! Naturally, education is the solution. When we start to learn our manners (good old country "horse sense") everyone will be healthier and happier.
OK, the number one issue!!! --- "CONFINEMENT"---

Control Freaks always lose control !!!

Confinement is the root of all the other problems; barking, biting, and being out of control. There is a growing majority of "City Slickers" with the legalistic "Barney Fife" mentality that all dogs should be locked up or tied up at ALL times. This is inhumane. There are people that need to be locked up, but I'm not aware of any real animal criminals or perverts. Everyone knows about the typical hard core "dog control," but the results are disastrous. In other words, a strict leash law is not the solution but the most significant contribution to the problem! You think I'm crazy? We are about to find ourselves in the same predicament as a herd of animals, because of our stupidity. It's called "MARTIAL LAW." Most city people aren't responsible enough to have a gun or a dog! I'm not talking about people that live in the city, I'm talking about city people that are everywhere! Fortunately, this is still a free country. That is because our country was built on Laws, but it is based on freedom. True freedom is based on obedience. "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom." Ben Franklin.

What is the solution? If you don't have the time and the space, your critter is going crazy! They can't learn anything if they are never free. That means that YOU the owners are OUT of CONTROL! It's time to downsize, or phase out your stock. Why make them and your neighbors suffer?

I know what you are thinking. We can't have dogs running lose everywhere. Listen, a dog on a leash has to be considered dangerous and uncontrollable. I'm not talking about letting your dog run. I'm talking about tolerance. Especially the process from puppy to adulthood. Puppies, colts, children, all need a happy, free, atmosphere growing up. Until they learn self discipline. You start introducing them to the rules positively. You strive for voluntary, unaware, complicity in their own confinement. They learn that obedience equals freedom. In other words, they come when you call, and want to follow you wherever you go. It all has to be built on a relationship. A relationship where you are the Master, the Good Shepherd, not the tyrant. Not a relationship based on fear and coercion. "Perfect Love casts out all fear."

This begs the question, "Who's gonna keep the dogs out of my yard?" The answer is YOU! No one else is going to camp in your yard and make sure nothing ever goes there! It is a well established fact that no matter what kind of a policy you try, there's always going to be dogs loose. If you can't get over it, move to the big city where all the paranoid control freaks can get together in one big pile until they get murdered, robbed, or mugged. If the neighbors puppy wanders into your yard, you don't have to call the City, just get after the little squirt, they are real sensitive at that age. They are just like children. They don't need discipline, as much as they need training.

You can see this is turning into a book already. I need to talk about manners though. Here the number one issue is obviously mean and vicious dogs. In order for any of this to work, and for there to be any freedom and tolerance, we have to eliminate the attitude of having a dog as a weapon. Or even having one as a guard or an alarm. Mean barking dogs are for people who put their faith in mean barking dogs. It is a pathetic excuse because they are a very poor insurance. You can go into any hospital emergency room and they will tell you the most common situation is people with dog bites. We have known several beautiful young people who were scarred for life, bitten by their own dogs or their friend's. I'm coming down real hard on this, the same way I do with my dogs. You cannot tolerate any form of aggressive behavior. I know it's probably impossible to even dream of correcting the problem, because people think, that is what dogs are for. They are supposed to be protective and bark and maybe they will save your life. FORGET IT. What a bunch of crap!!! There's no other solution!!! Other than Martial Law.

There is no reasonable excuse for bad manners. Or for going to someone's house only to be accosted by their dogs. We need to keep the 3 R's in the right perspective, Respect for God, Respect for people made in His image, and Respect for Nature.

Now it appears I have raised more questions than answers, so I have to commit to writing the book. I will begin with a series of hypothetical situations that, believe it or not, are at the same time, true stories. While we are at it, let's try to imagine a better system of government for the way we relate to the people and pets in our rural neighborhoods.

It all started when we began learning about natural horsemanship 30 years ago. You know the old proverb, "If you want something to come back to you, you must first set it free." The first sign of poor horsemanship is when you can't catch your horses, and when you do catch them they are looking for the first chance to escape. We live on Main street, but we are also on the edge of town. The horse pen extends a quarter of a mile out back, beyond the City limits. When we bring them up to the house they are loose most of the time. When I go back to gather them, they come running and put their noses in the halter. When it's time to load them, they go right in the trailer. They are content to mow the lawn right next to the Main street. They know that if they cross the street they will be out of favor and I will just bring them back. The funny thing is when city people (which are everywhere) that don't know us, drive by they freak out. "Oh no, look, your horse is loose!!!" That's not all, some complain to the City. Barney Fife (not his real name) the town clown (who also so happens to be the town drunk) says, "These horses can't be on the sidewalk, or the street, or even in town for that matter. City streets are only for vehicles." (speeding with impunity). I say, "You're full of it, horses are allowed on the streets, so are children, and dogs. This will slow them down!" He's not impressed, but of course he doesn't have a leg to stand on.
This brings us to the next relevant incedent. This is another true story. I watched a big German Shepherd dog give his life for a child! I stopped at the old gas station at another small town near here. After filling up I was getting ready to pull out on to the highway when the school bus stopped right there. There were a few cars that stopped behind it. A little girl got out and proceeded to walk in front of the bus to cross the road. All of a sudden I heard tires squeal when this small import pickup, with three guys in the seat, screeched to a stop, just missing her. I looked back behind the bus to see the big dog splatted in the middle of the road. I stomped on the throttle to try and get in front of the knotheads in the little pickup, but I had my big trailer on behind with three big horses. They just drove on, a little wild eyed! Of course they were speeding and were going to pass everyone.

Next story. We have an old dog here, his name is Buddy. Now he is 14 or 15, in other words about 100 in dog years. His mother was Australian Shepherd and his father was a Lab, Rottweiler cross. He is so indifferent it is funny. When he was a pup we did the usual, taught him not to bark, taught him to get along with the chickens, taught him to be nice to strangers, etc. Also, like every pup we have had, I taught him right away to be street wise. This begins early. When the pup gets in the way, HE GETS STEPPED ON! When he tries to run in the door to the house, HE GETS PINCHED. When he gets a little bigger, he has to learn to watch out on the street. When he tries to follow the car, I spin some brodies, make a lot of noise, and start chasing him! If I catch him in the street when I'm driving, I TRY TO RUN OVER HIM! Is this discipline or training? Maybe they aren't much different. This is the basic principle of horse sense that is sadly deficient. I'm sure all the animal worshipers think this is unthinkable. The fact is, it is just a fact of life, and this is how you preserve their life. I have actually seen the ultimate example of the opposite of this, and I'm sure you have too. That is people stopping and getting out of their car and picking up their dog when they come home. You know what happens when a visitor comes and doesn't see the dog. Believe me I know! Now Buddy the wise old dog has made his retirement business that of playing with the traffic. He is kind of an extension of myself, you know how that can be. When we are working and playing around here with the horses and the kids, he guards the street. The funny thing is, he has almost all of the people buffaloed. He hears them coming. He knows from the sound of their throttle, what they are going to do, before they do! One time just recently, while working with the horses, logging next to a county road, he had a loaded logging truck completely stopped!!! Now that is proficiency! What has happened with the majority of people now. I guarantee you this was never a problem in the not so distant past. Maybe it is linked to the same ridiculous idea of having dogs in the house. I read a recent article which stated that 62% of people with cats and almost 50% of the people with dogs, SLEEP WITH THEM!!! The just of the article though was the fact they are finding serious disease problems with people because of it.
Now I know this is a lot to take in. What do you think? Should we learn about these things, or should we just make sure ALL critters are confined and contained at ALL times?

Next true story. Having horses on the edge of town has been trying. The worst problem we've had was vandalism. At first we thought it was kids, but as time went on, it became apparent that it was adults. Letting the horses out, cutting up the fence, destroying the fence charger, terrorizing the horses, etc. Any time there were horses loose anywhere around town, everyone assumed they were ours. Once a neighbor (drunk) called from just a quarter mile away. His house is in the middle of a small field. He said, very belligerently, "Do you have three horses? Well, they are in my field and you better get them the blankety blank out of here!" I knew they weren't mine, so I said, "What makes you think they are not going to come in your yard? Do you have a fence?" He said, "I don't have a fence, but I've got a gun!" I said, "They are going to take our guns away because of idiots like you! Go ahead and shoot them, you have my permission! THEY'RE NOT MY HORSES!!!"
Now what do you think? Should we build our community on tolerance, hospitality, and understanding, or "Drinking, fighting, and gambling"? Again, "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom." The other alternative is MARTIAL LAW!!!

The next true story. One Sunday afternoon, a few years ago, a young couple came strutting into our yard. They had a black lab that they said was ours. It had just killed one of their chickens along with an accomplice that happened to look just like our other dog at that time. I said they weren't ours, they called me a liar and started mouthing off. They said, you must have just tied that dog back on it's run. I said, she's been there all day. He had a gun, and said, "I'm going to shoot your chicken killing dogs that run loose." Like everyone else they knew that any critter that was loose had to be ours. I said, "Go ahead, there they are, have at it!" They left. Those two dogs had the run of the town for the next four or five days.
The other day, two big dogs that keep jumping the fence, came straight into our yard and got off with two nice hens. The City maintenance man was going by and saw it. He and I followed them home, just a block away. I think he couldn't understand why I wasn't upset. I said, "There's always going to be dogs loose, and they are always going to like chickens. I took the risk when I let the birds out of their pen."
Now what do you think? Is the problem the animals, or the people?

Next. Several years ago, we took the horses and the two dogs and went for a ride. Over the mountain and back around by Brush Creek, about five miles. Coming back into town, Buddy gets in a fight with a neighbors dog in the trailer park. Male dogs love to fight and there wasn't much that could be done. A friend up the street had 21 stitches in his leg, bitten by his own dog, when he tried to break up a dog fight. We had just dismounted and went in the house to get a drink, and here comes the neighbor with a pistol, calling me an idiot. He says if he sees my dog any where near his place he's going to shoot it. He kind of gave me the impression he would just as well like to shoot me! I just went out to face him, didn't say a word. He left and never came back. You don't have to go get your gun to stand up to people, unless you are a coward. The worst thing about having a gun is, you might have to use it. The only solution is for stronger men to come and overcome. Men that are spiritually, and morally stronger.

We are not the only ones that have been threatened by stupid ignorant people over stupid animals! Our society is going to the dogs!

Now what do you think is the solution? Lock up all the critters all the time, or just lock up the people and take their guns away? If you value your freedom and independence, I hope you value obedience, to all of God's Laws, Natural laws, moral laws, physical laws, laws of science, laws of diet and health and fitness, they are all His Laws. For the third time, "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom!"

Indian Prayer

2010-06-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

Oh Great Spirit

Adapted by M. St. Germain - 06 - 18 -10

Oh Great Spirit.

Whose voice I hear in the winds.

Whose breath gives life.

To every living friend.

Can You hear me?

I am so small and weak.

It is Your strength and wisdom.

That I want to seek.

Let me walk in beauty.

And may I always see.

The red and purple sunset.

Glowing through the trees.

May my hands respect.

All Your creatures.

Let my ears be sharp to hear.

All the sounds of Nature.

Make me wise.

So that I may understand.

The things You want to teach.

Each and every man.

Let me learn the lessons.

There in every leaf and rock.

May I survive the winter.

And find Spring, without a loss.

I seek strength.

Not to be greater than my brother.

To fight my greatest enemy.

Myself, and not another.

May I always come to You.

With clean hands and straight eyes.

And a tongue.

That doesn't split and lie.

So when life fades.

As the sinking, setting sun.

My spirit may come to You.

Without shame. No matter what ever else I've done!

Do Not Wait

2010-06-13T16:28:00.001-07:00

I Love You Now !

Words M. St. Germain and Traditional - 1975 - Music M. St. Germain

If you love a person, tell them so.

Do not wait until they go.

Share your love, while you still can.

You may never meet again.

Chorus:

I love you now, I plainly state.

I want you to know, before too late.

And will, till the end.

It's a better world.

'Cause I called you friend.

If you love a person, tell them so.

Do not wait, until they go.

Say the words, they need to hear.

Tell them while they are still near.

Chorus: repeat.

If you love a person, tell them so.

Do not wait, until they go.

Then heap some flowers upon their bier.

And cry and say they were so dear.

Chorus: repeat.

Maintaining Relationships

2010-06-09T08:21:00.000-07:00

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Just Say No, to a Bad Relationship

"The one who cares the most.

Is always held hostage.

By the one who cares the least."

"Love is a many splendored thing." "It's so easy to fall in Love." "Love is blind." "Love without faith is superficial." You can see the downward progression. I'm sure you know how easy it is to fall in love, especially at that certain age. Young people desperately need education in knowing how to choose a mate, today more than ever. What is the first prerequisite for a relationship to work? Spiritual compatibility. Then intellectual compatibility, then physical compatibility, then sexual compatibility. I'm sure most of you know also, that most couples, first get it together, backward from this.

Please don't misunderstand me. This is not about ending, it's about maintaining, fixing, and improving relationships. This is kind of like the ultimate challenge. I've strained and strained my brain for years, thinking about it, and wondering if I should ever attempt it. It seems like people fall in love and then learn to live in misery and perversion, or they get divorced and enjoy even more misery and perversion. What this is really about, is saying no to the bad things that make bad relations, identifying them, and never going back. Bringing heaven down to earth, so to speak.

First we have to identify. I know it's painful, but let me start with this illustration about the three types of women. The good, the bad, and the ugly. You could turn around and tell it about men too, but it would be a little different.

There's the good woman, she'll love you to death, and follow you anywhere. Remember, "A man needs a woman to love him ALL the time." Johnny Horton song, 1960. She's content to have a man, and babies. She has faith in life, in God, and in you. She's too busy to worry. She always knows what time it is. She's usually married to some useless, shiftless, no account, arrogant, knothead!

Now the bad. She's a workaholic. There's only time to work or sleep. She has no faith, so a husband is just someone to harass, because he's not rich enough, perfect enough, or affectionate enough, and never works hard enough. She's insecure and makes up for it by working till 9 or 10 every night. Work is her drug of choice. Instead of the children learning to do things, she does them for them. She's always the martyr, no one else ever does enough. Her first priority is keeping up appearances. She's jealous of any friends you might have, that might absorb your time and money. She doesn't know how to tell time. She's married to her job, her parents, her house, her idols, and you, in that order!

Now the ugly! She's lazy and spoiled. She was born and bred to be a princess. Marry a doctor or lawyer and have a maid and a butler. The American dream. Only slaves work. A husband is just someone to hate because he's not rich enough and makes her have to work. She has no self-control so she resorts to food and drugs. Consequently she's overweight and temperamental, and hates herself. Children are a nuisance, and in the way.

Well, you get the picture, not a pretty one, definitely not what love started out to be. You can imagine how all these problems are compounded when drinking, fighting (idolized sports), and gambling are added. Then comes lying, and cheating, and stealing. Abe Lincoln said it best, "It appears our progress in degeneracy, is becoming quite rapid."

I'm not going to talk about all the bad and the ugly reasons you can't get along, or all the bad and ugly excuses there might be for quiting, or the fact that you are unequally yoked which makes everything bad and ugly!

I want to talk about you! The one that feels so abused and mistreated.What should you do if you find yourself in a bad relationship.

First of all, it's not about you. You are a hostage. Marriage is not about freedom, being single is about freedom. Now don't let me scare you, there is a wonderful compensation for all of this. It's called family, children, teamwork, dignity, and respect.

Second, nothing is fair. Who said everything has to be fair. If you think everything has to always be fair, you're not going to be happy. It's so easy to start playing that game. Pretty soon you have to take turns changing diapers, cleaning the toilet, feeding the horses, talking to your mother, sleeping in, partying, paying the electric bill, etc. This is childish nonsense. Don't be looking for the easy job. What goes around comes around. Everything does turn out fair in the end. The truth is, only God knows who are the good, the bad, and the ugly.

A man should be true to his calling, and not be condemned if he wants to be a poor hard working farmer, or whatever. Unfortunately it's a crime to be poor. It doesn't matter how hard you work, or how smart you are, or how talented you are, it's easy to run aground if you have any true principles. Conversely it doesn't matter how idolatrous, or despicable, or perverted you are, you are the "...sweetest guy in town.", if you have money. Laziness used to be a crime, now laziness is a virtue, only stupid people work. "There's a place (hell or prison) for people who only do what they want to do. This aint it." We still can't judge, maybe it's better to be in prison now, rather than later. Hell is the grave, eternal death.

That brings me to the next item. "Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord." Don't be a terrorist, don't be toxic, don't get even. Always remember, "...never return evil for evil." Here is another one to memorize, "It doesn't take a very big man to carry a grudge!" The worst temptation for me, is to be passive aggressive. You know, the sly underhanded little tricks to beat people over the head without touching them, or facing them, or talking to them. My name is Mark, which means warlike. I can hardly resist a fight, and I like none better than the quiet strategy for getting the upper hand. I have to constantly remind myself, "Sometimes it's a noble thing to fight evil, but this is not our task, our mission is to bring more light." It's so easy to get into a love hate relationship that can get out of hand, especially if one partner is spiritually retarded, or even spiritually dead! Maybe I better explain that a little. "....the natural man receives not the things of God, they are foolishness to him." I Corinthians 2 : 14. The problem is, "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink." "Some go in search of the truth, others can be lead to it, most will not tolerate it." What is truth? Do you know the seven things by which you judge all truth? "His creation, His Spirit, His Law, His prophets, His people, His story, History."

This is where it gets crazy. What do you do when you find the one you love rejects the truth and clings to the lie, and chooses to remain ignorant and in the dark? What do you do when you realize your in love with the devil? How long do you maintain a bad relationship? When and where do you say no, and where do you draw the line? You know how serious this can be, when children are involved, innocent victims of violence and abuse. When is a broken family the lesser evil?

Here is a little poem I made up, that goes along with this.

Family Man

Now listen close to what I say.

There's much to learn.

From the old farm ways.

I'm saying a farm aint worth much.

Without a good husband and wife.

And when the going gets tough.

You don't need trouble and strife!

Now a good team of horses.

Will do the work of three.

But if they can't pull together.

They can't do any, you see.

I fell in love with a pretty little thing.

I know love is blind.

But we're still together.

After all this time.

Now the process of multiplication.

I'm sure you know.

Children are God's gift.

To make love grow.

It hasn't exactly been easy.

Sometimes it was pretty sad.

But the good times.

Have made up for the bad!

What's the real secret?

To our success?

Lots of hard work and,

Forgive and forget.

To know how to give and take.

And try to understand.

What it really means.

To be a family man.

You know the best reward.

Though it might be slow.

Is to know your children.

Are as good as gold.

To reach a ripe old age.

With some wisdom to impart.

To know your friends and family.

On the world have left their mark.

The Golden River

2010-06-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

I Hope I See You on the Other Shore !

Words and Music M. St. Germain in 2000 and Traditional

Tell my kids to come and kiss me.

Oh, I know they're gonna miss me.