Conservative Christian

CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN

I would like to make myself clear.  I want GOD to be a nurturing and powerful presence in my life, not an idea or belief system.  When I speak out against the Democratic party it isn't about politics.  I am speaking against a platform.  A government, social, and cultural system that I believe is wrong and destructive.  A system that destroys individuals, families, and countries.  

Because of my beliefs, I can never be in unity with the current Democratic platform even if the majority of Americans vote for it.  My belief system is based on Christ and Him crucified.  That no one comes to GOD except through Him and that the Bible is GOD's word on how we should think, speak, act, and even dress (modesty). 

In the future, I will try and write more about the kind of people GOD wants us to be and less condemning of the beliefs of others.  Jesus said, "Lest ye be born again..." 

Marshall Kimbrough-Warren

 

 ICE AND WATER

The ice cube slipped from my hand and landed on the floor.  I picked another from the tray and put it in my glass.  I like ice in my wine.  Just do that's all.  I added water to the tray and returned it to the freezer.

As I leaned over to pick up the errant cube I stopped and looked at it.  A tiny puddle had formed around it on the warm floor.  It moved slightly.  The puddle grew larger.  Not a sound.  Before my eyes ice was turning into water in complete silence. 
I straighten up and thought about the water I had put in the tray.  Opening the freezer I slid out the tray and looked at it.  Yes, the water was becoming ice.  I put it back. 
I glanced at the cube on the floor.  It was smaller and the puddle was larger.  I stood there and watched the cube slowly disappear and become water without making a sound.
I opened the freezer again and pulled out the tray.  The water had become ice.  The wonder of it.

Marshall Kimbrough-Warren 

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

Anonymous

HOW HIGH IS UP?

This morning I shouldered my pack, picked up my .416 Taylor, and headed into the woods to shop for fresh meat.  As I walked along the clouds began to clear and I could see blue sky.  The sun was just above the treetops; its light fighting through the clouds trying to warm the earth.  I stopped in a clearing and watched the sun and incredible blueness of the sky.  I tried to remember why the sky is blue, but being a few months shy of 80, the memory was gone.

I stood contemplating the enormity of the universe for several minutes.  Then as I continued shopping the thought came to me, "What keeps astronomers from going nuts?"

Marshall Kimbrough-Warren

DULL LIFE?

Listen up, fellow isolationists.  There is no such thing as a dull life.  Every one of you has had interesting experiences and adventures.  One time, when I was stuck living in a town, I marked off a square yard in my backyard lawn.  I then got a magnifying glass and a macro lens for my camera and moved into a completely new universe right under my nose.  Life is exciting and adventure is all around us.,  The only thing dull is our perception.    Remember how you used to stand outside in the rain looking up with your mouth open, just for the heck of it?  The other day Carolyn and I put a plate, glass not paper, in the freezer.  Then we took it outside with a magnifying glass and marveled over the collection of snowflakes we caught.  Incredibly beautiful. I did this to remind us how beautiful snow really was.  That it was far more than the 18 inches of slushy mess that is on the ground.  I guess I mean life is not about looking, life is about seeing.  Just like talking is not the same as communicating.
During this time of self-isolation let your mind become a resource of wonderful imaginations.  Stay away from the TV and things on the Internet that dull your senses.  Explore new areas.  I really like seeing you write about yourselves.  You're all wonderful people that are still enjoying the gift of life.  If your situation is bad tell me about it. I want to share that with you also.  I want us all to enjoy the life we have left as best we can.  If you truly are a couch potato, write about that or make something up.  At this time of our lives who cares if the stories are true or not as long as they are entertaining.😍
Ya'll have a blessed day,

Marshall Kimbrough-Warren

TIME FLYS WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN

Allow me to say straight off that, unlike most of you, I never grew up.  It's important that you understand that.  After graduation I moved to Lubbock; got a job pumping gas and enrolled in Texas Tech.  Sitting in class looking out the window I thought, "What a bunch of crap."  I had no interest in education, career, money or in fact, anything I saw around me.  So, US Army here I come.
Basic and Advanced infantry at Ft. Ord, CA.  Jump school and assigned to the 2nd/503rd of the 82nd Airborne Division, Ft. Bragg.  I no sooner unpacked than we were ordered to Okinawa as a Rapid Deployment force.  On leave before deployment, I met Carolyn in Lubbock.  In the spring of 1960, we were engaged and I left for 26 months of saving Asia from communism.  My outfit was later redesignated the 173rd and made history.
August 26th, 1962 I married Carolyn.  She was a class of '59 graduate of Highland Park in Dallas.  We lived in Lubbock where I again tried college.  No change, so I quit again.  Carolyn worked and supported us while I tried working.  After multiple failures, I determined I was unemployable.  I had developed an interest in flying early in life, so I decided, if I can't work maybe I can fly.  Life has never been about money for me.
For the next 2+years, Carolyn worked while I flew.  In 1964 we moved to El Paso to pursue my flying.  In the meantime, our son Devlan was born.  I flew from can to can't, anything, anytime, anywhere while I continued to upgrade my licenses.  By the end of 1965, I had the minimum requirements for the airlines.  I started sending applications.  I interviewed with Delta and they hired me in December.  I finally found someone that appreciated me.
I spent the next 20 years flying for Delta.  Over my years of flying, I have flown most of the more common light planes.  I have owned four, including a Bonanza and Cessna 310.  The 310 is a twin-engined aircraft that I converted into a flying camper which we explored the Bahamas, Mexico, and Central America in.  (More on this later.)  For Delta, I flew the Convair 340/440.  The Douglas DC-6, DC-7, DC-8, DC-9.  The Boeing B-727, and Lockheed L-1011.  In the first ten years, I was a Second Officer and First Officer.  The last ten I was a Captain.  I have Flight Engineers licenses for turbine and piston aircraft, Flight Instructors rating, Multi-engine Airline Transport Rating with a type rating.  I was 25 years old when Delta hired me.  Only two other pilots were that young.  I had finally found a way to make a living for my family without working.
To be continued...
Marshall Kimbrough-Warren

ARMED AND AWAKE

They are wonderfully dexterous, but when I go to bed at night they vex me robbing me of sleep.  The problem is my arms.  I don't know what to do with them.  I can only sleep on my side so when I lie down my bottom shoulder is scrunched against the side of my head, my arm wraps itself around my neck, and my hand dangles limply from my wrist.  And all the while my top arm flops about futilely looking for a comfortable repose.  Of course, I could put my arm around my wife, but that raises another sleeping issue.
If I could sleep on my back the problem is easily solved.  I could just place my arms on my chest, but that position seems coffinish and gives me the creeps. Sleeping on my stomach is out of the question.  It's unnatural and suffocating.  It makes me feel like a bug flattened on a car windshield.  So I lie in bed night after night armed and awake.

Marshall Kimbrough-Warren