Past
I often visualize blindfolded Lady Justice balancing past and present on her scales. I know that my version of the lady portrays her in a very lopsided fashion. The past on her right hand is heavily weighted down with decency. The present on her left hand is in danger of flying over her head! The scales are definitely tipped in favor of the past being a much kinder, brighter era that is gradually sinking into spiritual darkness. One example that I can recall illustrates this point. When I was a teenager, we would oftentimes watch variety shows such as Milton Berle and Ed Sullivan. I really don’t remember which one of those we were watching one day when a young fellow named Elvis Presley made his appearance on the show singing and gyrating. My father leapt out of his chair as if he had been scalded and turned the TV off (remember, this was in the “old days” before the remote control came to be). My brothers, sister, and I looked at him in amazement! “But, Dad, that’s Elvis, and he’s cool!” My father was livid. “You are not going to watch that obscene display.” And should you think that my father was alone in those sentiments, I hasten to assure you that he wasn’t. Elvis was castigated by major newspapers, television critics, teachers and PTA associations. He was labeled as lewd and his performances were described as being fit for bordellos. As I recall, when he appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, he was only filmed from the waist up. Ah yes, the rigid code of ethics of yesteryear. Would that just a shred of it was left.
Present
I can only contribute hearsay information to the present. I became so sickened by the television fare that I stopped watching TV years ago. Like I said in an earlier post, the only thing that I occasionally see is the weather channel , and I am persona non grata amongst that crowd because I don’t believe in global warming (although I must admit that after hearing of a 163 degree temperature in Iran the other day, I may have to rethink my position). However, I do occasionally see pictures of “celebrities” on the internet. I have yet to see one of Miley Cyrus with her tongue IN her mouth. Other celebrities are constantly in the news because of addictions. Alcoholism, rehab, relapse, drugs, rehab, relapse, ad nauseum. I saw a headline near something I was reading the other day. “Kim Kardashian worried that Kanye is cheating because of plummeting sex drive. “ Even if the source had been a gossip rag, how low can people sink? I am appalled by the clothing, makeup, and general lifestyle of the rich and famous. “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Matthew 13:15). In case you feel that I am being hypercritical of the Hollywood crowd, let me state that they are a group of people whom God loves and desires, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith…” (Acts 26: 18). It is obvious that a new world cannot emerge without the destruction of the old one. And that applies to morals, values, and all that we hold dear as being good and wholesome.
Recipe
Carrot Cake
2 cups unsifted flour
1 teas. baking soda
1 teas. cinnamon
2 cups of sugar
1 ½ cups of vegetable oil
4 eggs
3 cups of grated fine carrots
Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl, add the oil and blend together. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat after each addition. Add the carrots last, blending well after each addition. Divide mix between two well-greased round cake pans and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Icing for the Cake:
1 stick of soft butter
1 8 oz. pak of cream cheese
1 box of sifted powdered sugar
1 teas. of vanilla
1 cup of chopped pecans
Cream the butter and cream cheese together. Blend in the remaining ingredients. Frost the cake when it has cooled sufficiently.
I received this recipe from a friend in San Antonio who taught third grade in a classroom alongside of mine. I enjoyed Barb, and I enjoyed her recipe. Hope you do too.
I often visualize blindfolded Lady Justice balancing past and present on her scales. I know that my version of the lady portrays her in a very lopsided fashion. The past on her right hand is heavily weighted down with decency. The present on her left hand is in danger of flying over her head! The scales are definitely tipped in favor of the past being a much kinder, brighter era that is gradually sinking into spiritual darkness. One example that I can recall illustrates this point. When I was a teenager, we would oftentimes watch variety shows such as Milton Berle and Ed Sullivan. I really don’t remember which one of those we were watching one day when a young fellow named Elvis Presley made his appearance on the show singing and gyrating. My father leapt out of his chair as if he had been scalded and turned the TV off (remember, this was in the “old days” before the remote control came to be). My brothers, sister, and I looked at him in amazement! “But, Dad, that’s Elvis, and he’s cool!” My father was livid. “You are not going to watch that obscene display.” And should you think that my father was alone in those sentiments, I hasten to assure you that he wasn’t. Elvis was castigated by major newspapers, television critics, teachers and PTA associations. He was labeled as lewd and his performances were described as being fit for bordellos. As I recall, when he appeared on the Ed Sullivan show, he was only filmed from the waist up. Ah yes, the rigid code of ethics of yesteryear. Would that just a shred of it was left.
Present
I can only contribute hearsay information to the present. I became so sickened by the television fare that I stopped watching TV years ago. Like I said in an earlier post, the only thing that I occasionally see is the weather channel , and I am persona non grata amongst that crowd because I don’t believe in global warming (although I must admit that after hearing of a 163 degree temperature in Iran the other day, I may have to rethink my position). However, I do occasionally see pictures of “celebrities” on the internet. I have yet to see one of Miley Cyrus with her tongue IN her mouth. Other celebrities are constantly in the news because of addictions. Alcoholism, rehab, relapse, drugs, rehab, relapse, ad nauseum. I saw a headline near something I was reading the other day. “Kim Kardashian worried that Kanye is cheating because of plummeting sex drive. “ Even if the source had been a gossip rag, how low can people sink? I am appalled by the clothing, makeup, and general lifestyle of the rich and famous. “For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.” (Matthew 13:15). In case you feel that I am being hypercritical of the Hollywood crowd, let me state that they are a group of people whom God loves and desires, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith…” (Acts 26: 18). It is obvious that a new world cannot emerge without the destruction of the old one. And that applies to morals, values, and all that we hold dear as being good and wholesome.
Recipe
Carrot Cake
2 cups unsifted flour
1 teas. baking soda
1 teas. cinnamon
2 cups of sugar
1 ½ cups of vegetable oil
4 eggs
3 cups of grated fine carrots
Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl, add the oil and blend together. Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat after each addition. Add the carrots last, blending well after each addition. Divide mix between two well-greased round cake pans and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Icing for the Cake:
1 stick of soft butter
1 8 oz. pak of cream cheese
1 box of sifted powdered sugar
1 teas. of vanilla
1 cup of chopped pecans
Cream the butter and cream cheese together. Blend in the remaining ingredients. Frost the cake when it has cooled sufficiently.
I received this recipe from a friend in San Antonio who taught third grade in a classroom alongside of mine. I enjoyed Barb, and I enjoyed her recipe. Hope you do too.