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In the 70’s he was just “Hippy” Jesus. You know, the dude with the long hair, beard, robe and sandals? Then, he was your brother. He was Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit In The Sky.” He was “Just Alright” with the Doobies. We put our “Hand in the hand of the Man from Galilee.” He was even a “Superstar” in his very own Broadway Play. He was all about PEACE and LOVE and FREEDOM. He was so mellow and cool and wanted to be everyone’s best friend. How times have changed.

Now Jesus is cosmopolitan. He’s worldly. He trims his beard regularly. He works out. He’s buff, wears nice clothes, has hip glasses, and oh yeah, he’s white. In fact, he’s VERY white; and he packs heat, wears an American flag lapel pin, and if he voted, it would definitely be Republican!

Forget that Middle Eastern Bible stuff. Surely he doesn’t look like those infidels. Hipster Jesus is All-American. He’s the kind of guy your Grandmother would love to meet. He’s much more about looks than substance. He doesn’t really care what you believe or how you practice those beliefs, or if you even have any beliefs. Tradition? Doctrine? Reverence? Forget all that. As long as you are sincere, as long as you are “seeking”, he’s totally cool. After all, in our own way, we are all trying to get to the same place.

Funny. For thousands of years he was a simple carpenter’s son from an ancient city called Bethlehem. He was the Son of God, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died for the sins of the entire world, and physically rose from the dead. He even claimed to “BE” God and dared to say He was the only way to get into heaven. All his close friends were gruesomely murdered because they followed him. Their devotion to him cost them everything: their jobs, their family, their possessions, their dignity, their very lives. They were jailed, beaten, whipped, fed to animals, beheaded and crucified. In fact, untold millions have died and continue to die for his cause. He told his friends and family there would be a great price if they chose to follow him. In the end, they all paid the ultimate price.

But, you don’t want any part of THAT Jesus! That’s too much of a commitment for you. That’s the Jesus of Bible times, not today’s Jesus. Besides, it doesn’t really matter what you believe. Its what you feel, its what you want, its what makes you happy, its all about you and finding your best life; And Hipster Jesus? Well, he’s down with that.

What is a Socialist? Seems no one who says they are a Socialist can even define the term. Most reasonable thinking humanoids  laugh when the young Bernie Sanders followers have been asked basic questions concerning Sanders proposals.

“How is he going to make college free”? “I believe he’s taking taxes from…I cant remember…” one pubescent egg head responded.

Socialism “gives the power back to the people, ” another replied. (actually that’s the opposite of Socialism)

When asked if she thought Socialism would be good for America, a young female said, “Absolutely!” (With enthusiasm!)

But just who are these budding grownups who think Socialism is the greatest thing since free condoms? Why, they are none other than your children! If you are confounded how millions of college aged students could consider voting for a Socialist, you need to look no further than your own mirror!

You see, you are the parents who raised them to believe they could have everything they wanted without having to pay. You didn’t teach them we get things in life because we work for them. They begged, they pleaded, they conned you, they shamed you, and you gave in. You couldn’t let them do without. Their poor little ego might be bruised for life. You wanted them to have it better than you. Well, you accomplished your goal. They have the best clothes, the best cars, the best gadgets, have been educated in the best schools, and it cost them nothing.

They dine out while you eat a can of Sauerkraut. They have Armani, while you wear “Your Mommy’s.” They text on their iPhone, while you are pushing buttons on the Princess phone. You groomed them to be a Socialist and didn’t even realize it, until now.

So while you scoff at the future leaders of our Republic, look in the mirror. You will see Bernie Sanders in the reflection.

As always, your comments are welcome!

Dennis Shannon

Death. Wow! Thats a negative way to begin a story! But is it, really?

Death is the subject no one wants to discuss, but everyone will experience. No one escapes death. Death is the elephant in the room. Its the forbidden word.  We don’t want to talk about dying, we don’t want to think about dying, and we definitely don’t want to see dying.

Contrary to what some seem to think, no one lives on this earth forever. We all die. Its the circle of life. We are born, we live, we die. If death is inevitable, why are we so fearful to discuss? Even among those who claim to be believers in Jesus as Savior and say they know there is a heaven waiting, if you bring up the subject, they will quickly switch to another topic. Ask a friend or family member about their Will, their last wishes, etc., they will get upset, tell you its none of your business, or dance around the subject like the late, great, Gregory Hines!

Candy Chang had a different idea about death.  After losing someone she loved dearly, she channeled her grief into an artistic project; on the side of an abandoned house in a blighted neighborhood in New Orleans. Candy covered the house in chalkboard paint and wrote on the wall, “Before I Die I Want To”. Then, she left a bucket full of chalk on the sidewalk and waited for the response.

One of the first people to write on the wall was dressed like pirate and wrote, “Before I die I want to be convicted of piracy!” ( I am guessing this was after overindulging during Mardis Gras!) Another wrote, “Before I die I want to to see my daughter graduate.” Yet another, “Before I die I want to hold her one more time.” The wall soon filled with the hopes and dreams of all who took time to write on the wall.

What happened on the “Before I Die” wall was remarkable in this way; The people who wrote on the wall didn’t speak of death. They spoke of life. You see, when one dies, another is born. When one breathes his last breath, another is breathing his first. Without the death of Winter there is no beauty of Spring. Death brings forth the resurrection of life. Dying is gain.

So today, get out a paper and a pen. Write, “Before I Die I Want To.” Finish the sentence, and then Go Live!

As always, your comments are welcome!

Dennis Shannon

It’s the first day of 2016 and since I have the day off, I decided to take a little extra time with my daily grooming regimen. As I was trimming my facial hair and overgrown eyebrows, THERE IT WAS! A hair sticking straight out of my ear that was long enough to have come from a woman’s head! How could I have not seen it? It’s not like it grew that long overnight! Even more troubling, how could others not have seen it?…or did they?

Even though I work from home, I go out everyday to walk, to the convenience store, to the coffee shop. Did others notice and laugh behind my back? “Hey, did you see that guy with the long hair growing out of his ear”? Or, were they so repulsed by the site of it they went home and dry heaved?

Now, I can understand complete strangers not wanting to get involved in pointing out personal hygiene issues to people they don’t know, (Even though they ridicule those same people behind their backs.) but how about my family and close friends? Surely they noticed! What about my girlfriend? I am confident she saw it. Why did she not say something? She never misses the opportunity to tell me I have the same shirt on every time she sees me. On New Years Eve she even laughed in derision when I shared my hopes and dreams for 2016! But nose hair? Not a peep!

We live in a world where people feel empowered to do every disgusting thing under the sun, in public, in front of us, in our face, but most of the time, we say nothing; at least not in front of them. Why is that? Do we think saying it behind their back makes it more acceptable?  Most of us would never dream of mocking and ridiculing someone in person. Why is it OK to do the same thing in private?

So, if someone you love has a long, disgusting hair growing out of his ear (or nose), don’t be silent! Don’t go home and tell everyone how your husband, or Dad or brother (or wife!) had a big hair coming out of their ear! Let them know! Be direct but speak the truth in love! I can’t speak for everyone, but for me, I would appreciate!

As ALWAYS, your comments, views and opinions are appreciated!

Dennis Shannon