Technology and Freedom

 

After those nine wrecks I told you about in a previous blog, I learned to drive, well, sort of, anyway. Technology helps me.

Vehicles make driving easier because they come with safety features. The backup camera is handy, and my car beeps when I’m close to a curb or another vehicle.  After a few hours of driving, my ride tells me it is time for coffee.

Do you like riding in a car with no driver? I’ve never done that yet, but it looks scary.

Technology is changing the way we do everything. I haven’t learned how to operate all the old stuff before the new comes along.

I heard Elon Musk say that in a few years, cell phones will be extinct. Wow!  Really? He says we will use AI. How will we get to AI? Will we have a chip in our bodies so we can talk to AI any time we need to?

I don’t care for that idea. The Holy Spirit lives within me, and He’s enough. I don’t want an intelligence residing in my body, other than God’s or mine.

I have found AI useful in my design work. I can ask AI to bring a room into existence with my specifications, and it does. This helps me show clients what their space will look like with my ideas. If they don’t like it, I can change it. Before AI, I had to convince them with color boards and sketches.

When it becomes possible to have AI inside your brain, will you allow it?  I hope when that day arrives, we still have a nation of freedom, and you can say no.  However, during Covid, we received a government mandate to take a vaccine. Many lost jobs because they refused the vaccine.

Our government should never force citizens to take a medicine or substance. It should be a choice. I believe in vaccinations, and I’m happy they exist. Polio was wiped out because Jonas Salk discovered the answer. People chose to take it.

Schools soon required students to receive it, and it saved lives. Having said this, I continue to say this: I believe it is better to have a choice about what protects our lives than authorities forcing us into taking it. Most of us will choose the medicine.

But! I will not choose to have a chip with AI placed into my body or brain.

When my husband needed a heart procedure, his team of doctors discussed the situation. Hubby told them what he wouldn’t allow, and they told him what else was available. Together, they made a good decision.

Technology is changing! Don’t give up your freedom to choose!

In my new book, Kade uses technology to kill men.

Kade's Worth

 

Driving in Houston

 

Pixabay

I failed my driving test twice before I passed it. I was sixteen at the time and had a beginner’s license. The written test proved a breeze, but with the grading officer as a passenger? Well, the experience grew brutal.  After starting the car and maneuvering fifteen feet ahead, he had me drive around the block and park back at the DMV office. I don’t remember what I did or didn’t do in that short ride, but mortification joined me that day.

My mom, sister, and cousin were waiting to congratulate me on getting my license and witnessed my quick return. With wide eyes, they asked, “What happened?”

I shrugged. “I failed.” Humiliation clung to me without limits. Why couldn’t the Earth open a hole so I could crawl into it? My mom drove us home.

I never had a chance to practice driving before the test. My mom refused to let me take her vehicle because she feared I’d wreck it. Her prediction came true when we moved to Houston. I had nine wrecks that first year, but it wasn’t in her car. Yes, you read that right. NINE!

But I’m getting ahead of myself. At the age of 18, I married. Hubby’s ten-year-old clunker became my wheels, too. The thing didn’t even have heat or air conditioning. We sweated torrents in the summer and broke icicles away from our noses in the winter, but I gained experience as a driver while we lived in Oklahoma.

When we moved to Texas and pastored a small, country church, we bought a stick-shift sedan. It heated us in the winter, but it had no cooling for summer. The temperature registered 116 F for days at a time during the summer months. When we exited the car, we looked as though we had been swimming in our clothes. The land cracked under this brutal heat, but we watered it with dripping sweat each time we went outside.

Winter or summer, I drove our stick-shift around country roads and didn’t see other vehicles for miles at a time. Not one accident in the five years we lived there. I’ve learned, right? Wait till I move to Houston! Remember? NINE in one year!

From the north plains of Texas, we moved about 100 miles east and arrived in Irving, TX. Uh oh! It is the city where I failed my first driving test, but now I have my license, and I’m experienced. I’m familiar with streets and locations, and I don’t drive into the big city of Dallas. No worries.

But! Houston is ahead of me. NINE is in my future.

After almost four years in a lovely Irving church where my hubby was pastor, a church in Houston wanted us as their first family.

So, we headed south.

Houston, TX

Huge Houston contains zillions of highways with multiple loops to ring the city, and it is widespread. The Med Center is well-known, but it requires a good car to get through the maze to visit sick parishioners, and our stick-shift had seen its better days.

We left Houston and drove south to Dickenson, Texas to buy a Gay car.  Yeah, yeah, I know my name is Gay, but the dealership in Dickenson is also named Gay. The dealership isn’t homosexual, and neither am I, but we are both Gay.  I drove a Gay Pontiac with my name, Gay, on the back fender. Crazy, huh?

Then the accidents began.

My name on the car had nothing to do with the collisions. I had never been forced to drive defensively, but Houston requires that style of motoring, and I hadn’t learned that technique yet.

The first catastrophe was my fault. Yes, I admit it. I did it. Fortunately, I was alone when a driver, who had the green light, zoomed into the intersection and crashed into my passenger side.

Police

The officer asked me to sit in his squad car. We needed to get out of traffic, and he wanted to ask a few questions.

“Officer, my light was yellow when I went through it. I didn’t know it was about to turn red.”  He issued me a warning. Nice guy, really nice.

I drove home to show my hubby. The entire passenger side of my station wagon was caved in. I assume the other driver’s car took a big hit too, but at that moment, my sympathy was for myself.

We took our beautiful, blue and white Pontiac back to the dealership for repair. A costly repair.

The next month, to the day of the first accident, I had crash number two. Yep. You read that right. Month to the day. But I was innocent!  Except for that defensive driving thingy. When in Houston, one must anticipate someone running a stop sign. (Bear in mind, the driver who hit me didn’t think about me rushing a yellow light. turning red)

A lady ran a stop sign, broadsided me, backed up, and fled the scene. I chased her in my car, and a kind man followed us. When the police arrived, the Good Samaritan explained how the woman ran the stop sign and barreled into me. The lady was not a citizen and had no license. That’s why she bolted. She got a ticket. I later learned she never paid for it.

When we returned to the dealership for repairs, the head honcho scratched his head, “Didn’t we just replace the side of this very car?”

Bright red with embarrassment, I turned around and left hubby to explain. Now get this! The repair bill was less than $100 of the first restoration. Wow! They gave me the preferred customer discount!

 

To Be Continued. Stay tuned. You don’t want to miss the next wreck.

Sarah Series

Digging into the Past and Finding Worms

 

 

I recently signed up with Ancestry, the online business that helps build family trees and solve mysteries.

Why didn’t my folks share stories about their past? Why don’t I ask questions about our ancestors? If they had shared, I might not have signed up for this DNA place.

My family seemed to take pride in keeping secrets.  Years ago, I wrote a book about family secrets. It’s a good read, even if I say so myself.

                                                            On Amazon

I wrote a blog previously about my aunt. She told me she would go to her grave without revealing a family scandal. I asked her to tell me what or who it involved, but she refused. And so she did what she said she’d do…died without telling me. But why mention it to me at all?

I’m discovering a few crazy people in my ancestry tree, but I already knew my aunt was one of them. This lady kept a picture album, and underneath a photo of a barn, she wrote, “This is where my heart was broken.”

Did my aunt’s heartbreak have something to do with the family scandal she mentioned? I doubt Ancestry will have the answers to that question. I want to know about the lives of my family, not just their names.

While searching Ancestry, I discovered the name of my dad’s first wife. I knew he had one, but I haven’t learned the year they married or the year they divorced. Evidently, they had no children. I think I would have known about their possible offspring, but then again, maybe not. 

My dad, in his elder years, had a stroke and lived in a facility. After my mom died, he told me his first wife came to see him. He told her he would never marry again. Was this story true, or was it imagination in his challenged brain?  He also spoke about a son he had by a woman other than my mom, or his first wife, but he couldn’t tell me anything about the guy. So now, I’m looking for answers in Ancestry.

My lineage came from England and Ireland. This, I knew already, but I want to know when they came to the United States and their stories about living in their new country.

So far, I’ve discovered they farmed after their arrival, but farming was a common occupation back in the formative years of the Republic.

I have a niece and nephew who are interested in our family background, but other members of my family don’t care about it.

The one thing that comes to mind is this: my folks didn’t want people to know their secrets.

But then, who does? How many secrets will you take to your grave? In the future, if a relative digs into your past, will they find a half-brother you didn’t know existed?

Or you might find no records of your parent’s marriage. Perhaps you will discover your father was a polygamist.

DNA connects us to people, but those people may not want to be found. My daughter used a different research company and found a perfect DNA match. This guy has the name of my grandfather, and he looks like a young version of my grandfather. I sent him two private messages, but he doesn’t want to correspond with me. I know he is a relative. Perhaps he doesn’t want to hurt someone or know his ancestor’s secrets. But why sign up with a company that helps you find info?

I suppose digging into the past can open a can of worms.

worms

https://foxmind.com/games/can-of-worms/

 

Cusomter Service

 

Where Did Customer Service Go?

Are you lost in cyberspace? Trying to figure out what to click on next?

Yeah, me, too.

Why do sites make it so hard? Is that fun for them? Do they enjoy frustrating us? YES! I  think they do! 

Young people have this problem too. It isn’t just us senior citizens. Why else would humanity be groping around and paying for extra help to get to the right place? Is it humorous? As a question, I’m asking, do sites enjoy this humor? 

And what is the business of AI entering my workspace? If I type a sentence, and AI finds fault with it, AI underlines my words in red. When did we allow AI to take over our lives?

Big woopty do!

Oh well, the reason for my tirade isn’t AI invading my documents. Not today, anyway.

At my husband’s earlier suggestion this morning, I enrolled in Ancestry.com today. He received an advertisement stating that one of their programs was on sale for $34.00.

WRONG!

That’s another thing. Why do we receive so many emails with the intent of scamming us?

Anyway, I digress.  I clicked on Ancestry, and it was way more than $34.00.  More like $54.00.Yeah, right. At least it was after I added another part.

I’d been wanting to investigate this site, and now that my book, Kade’s Worth, is finished, I have time. Kade’s Worth is found here.  https://www.amazon.com/Kades-Worth-G-N-Lewis/dp/B0GNJG1QS6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=GOP8TCLYRWQW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4f6ekZWAujUKJrDZcFgIlpcW4h87S6EMy2uMhJ0Wp7qXVT0x4zrGaJG0e0ec66AbEEjMxrI6eOrVe4Wg5pOjZ9805qlS69nhDbCoSaPHfK0J7uwE3x4h87Z8AWEA_MFCaD2pjeYe0Q1o9SF-Rayi0DhZPXUja4Gr2bSQ3EloqTdL9kboIb_WZ0jxhOY0m8jd.xYztgU6iQRtk4NyeT9EFJvYJzAgPL6_TVyx0AnyUg0E&dib_tag=se&keywords=kade%27s+worth&qid=1773783639&sprefix=%2Caps%2C167&sr=8-1

I inserted my email into the Ancestry.com site, but the site claimed I already had an account. Well, Poopty doopty! Who knew? I don’t have a record of enrolling, but I must have done so long ago. Maybe I forgot.  Either that, or someone else used my name.  Anyway, I requested a new password.

One came back, and it was for my mom! Oh my! I must have used her name with my email address, and it was too many years ago to remember.

How do I change this account to my name?  No information on that topic. Okay, I’ll go with my mom’s name. I click on the site. After all, we have the same DNA, and she’s the one I wish to research.

On the site, there are “free clues.”  Wait? Whaaat?  I paid a lot of money to subscribe to this site, and now it says, “two for free?” If there was an explanation for these "free clicks," I missed it.

Must I pay for each additional click?

I quickly open a new window to YouTube (I’m on there as Gay N. Lewis. (By the way, I have figured out how that site works. Sort of, anyway.)

On YouTube, I ask for Ancestry. I found a nice guy. He gave me basic information for that site.

He didn’t help me at all, but he seemed knowledgeable and friendly.

So, now, I need to call customer service and ask someone at Ancestry for help.

But customer service is a dinosaur of the Dark Ages.  It no longer exists anywhere in the world today.  Too bad. I believe a company would make millions of dollars and do the population a favor if it restored the old customer service.

I’ll email Ancestory.com. Maybe. However, most sites don’t have emails. So then, what? Perhaps they have a "help center." I have a lot to learn.

I’d like to find my distant Alabama relatives. They don't live in Alabama these days. They moved to Texas, but why did they pick up and go west? I don't care about family trees. I want stories and pictures, if they exist.

 Stay tuned. I’ll let you know if I succeed in finding ancestors.

Sigh. I hate this. Come back, Customer Service? Make it easier on clients! 

Gay N Lewis

My New Book!

 

She surrendered her son. Now she wants revenge on his father.

Natural beauty Kade, a nonbeliever in God, read at the age of two and designed computer programs at the age of four. But her intelligence doesn’t save her from a sexual assault at the age of thirteen, ending in pregnancy. Though she loves her baby, she must give him up.

Seven years later, she meets and marries Toby, keeping her baby a secret. After Toby dies in a car crash, Kade’s self-worth vanishes again. She can’t bring her baby or Toby back, but she can find the two men who assaulted her and vows to kill them.

She moves back to the Denver area, where her parents live, and the attack of her youth occurred. She hides her shame, her looks, and her intellect by day and surfs the dark web at night.

Then Kade meets David Worth, a Christian therapist and radio host. He attempts to convince her she is valuable and worthy. The rape and Toby’s death are not her fault.
Can he succeed, or will Kade become a killer?

Kade’s Worth is an edgy, provocative Christian book filled with suspense, trauma, and a touch of romance.

On Amazon

Unexpected Kindness

 Hubby and I traveled to Arlington, TX, this past week and stayed in a hotel near Six Flags, The Hyatt Place located on 360.

This hotel is about to undergo a renovation. Despite needing one, it provided a comfortable stay.

The staff made us feel welcome. The morning lady at the front desk was friendly and helpful. So was the night lady on duty. We asked for the engineer to check our A/C unit, and this woman turned out to be Johnny-on-the-Spot available. She knew her stuff and fixed us up quickly. No grumpy attitudes here. Everyone seemed pleased to take care of our needs.

Like most hotels, this one provides a free breakfast. We enjoy a good first meal of the day, but most affordable hotels don’t produce a high-quality one. They serve bagels, pastries, boiled eggs, and oatmeal. 

The first morning I arrived at the Hyatt Place hotel’s buffet, my eyes feasted on a beautifully arranged display of tempting foods. Vivid colors and organization gave me a clear sense of freshness to the cuisine.  Spotless surfaces made the spread look inviting. Yum!

I chose a mixture of blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, and raspberries. The chef surrounded these berries with an ample amount of juice. I lathered this red berry mixture with yogurt.  I don’t care for Greek yogurt, but the sweet berries made this one unforgettable, and I enjoyed every bite.

Arranged at the subsequent venue, I found a platter of assorted melons and grapes beckoning for my attention. I added those morsels as well. I really like ripe cantaloupes.

I set my bowl of fruit down on a table and returned to the buffet for a new plate. I like keeping foods separated.

Protein came next. I selected a flour tortilla and filled it with scrambled eggs, bacon bits, salsa, and cheese.  Link sausages winked at me from the following container. How could I resist one or two of those little critters? Well, you know, I couldn’t, and so I didn’t. I also added the breakfast potatoes. I’ll diet at home, right?

I set my taco down near the fruit and headed for the fresh coffee. Then, to the juice bar for apple juice.

Now I’m ready to indulge in a great feast, but I waited for my hubby.

He busied himself with choices. Hubby skipped the berries and yogurt and went for the taco, sausage links, potatoes, and then headed for the pastries. He added a bagel, cream cheese, and jams. 

We sat across from each other, held hands as we asked God to bless the food and the one who prepared it.

I think Hubby went back for seconds on several items while I savored my coffee. If a waffle maker had been on site, he would have made one.  If we had stayed long enough, I’m sure the chef would have had pancakes.  She prepared a different variety of choices each day so stay-over guests don't tire of the same thing. Hubby doesn’t get pastries at home, so he indulges in them while away. 

The next morning, my husband headed to the gym for his workout. While he exercised, I chose not to join him. I prefer to get dressed and do my makeup before seeing people. Once he finished walking two miles on the treadmill, we both made our way to the breakfast area together.

No sausage links today, but the chef had sliced ham.

Oh good! There’s a food I can skip. I thought this to myself.

I eat ham, but when so many other items are waiting for me, I’ll pick something else. This time, I chose crumbled chorizo sausage to accommodate my taco. The biscuits and gravy tempted me, but I didn’t yield. Can I get a pat on the back?

The chef came out each morning to make sure we had everything we wanted or needed. I complimented her on the beautiful presentation and told her how much I appreciated her organization and attention to detail. The yummy food is even more delicious when presented well, and I told her so. This lady loves her job, and it shows.

This beautiful woman and I became instant friends. On our last day there, she gave us a goodbye memento! Talk about surprise!

We’ve never had a hotel employee offer us a keepsake before, and I’m sure it will never happen again. This lady typically does not give gifts to hotel guests, but she made an exception for us. In our conversations, she discovered we are Christians. Her amazing gesture included some of our favorite Bible verses, and she knocked it out of the park with her selections. Hubby and I will return to this hotel because of her.

I’m sure hotel workers aren’t appreciated as much as they should be. It’s a hard job, folks! It can be a disgusting, unappreciated job! These workers don’t receive enough unexpected kindness, compliments, and gratitude gestures from consumers, so give them some!

When I offered her genuine compliments, I was sincere, and she didn’t expect them. 

This small act of kindness seemed to leave a positive impression on her. In return, she surprised us by expressing her gratitude with a thoughtful memento, leaving a lasting impression on us!

You never know where you’ll find new friends because of a smile, a compliment, or an act of unexpected kindness.

                     Gay's Author Page

 

 

 

Subtractions and Additions

 

In my hallway, I have two family pictures. I pass by them often, but I stopped and looked at them today. I stared until I grew tired of standing in one spot.

One photo is ten years old. The second one is two years old. There are eight years between the images, and they remind me of the changes in our lives.

With the dawn of 2026, I wonder what the new year might bring, let alone the next eight. There will be lots of modifications, and I won’t like all of them.

In the oldest picture, three family members are missing today. Two left Earth by death, and one exited by divorce. Everyone is smiling. We had no idea of the challenges to come to the eleven people in the photo. Thoughts of cancer, dementia, and death never occurred to us.

We are standing in a forest, and the trees provide a tranquil scene. As I gazed at the photo, the piney fragrance came wafting back to me. The day supplied happiness and laughter. Lots of food, too. My hubby and I presumed we’d shove off to glory before any of the others.

The future doesn’t always agree with our plans, does it?

Burying a child is not easy. Grieving with a daughter over the loss of a husband who walks out of her life isn’t fun either.

But God never promised humanity a trouble-free life. He promised to be with us in dark times. So, despite the shadows of the last eight years, we enjoyed sunshine, too.

In the newer photo, twelve people stand together. Four new members joined by marriage, and a new baby by birth. The four new members and the sweet baby bring happiness.

As I gazed at the framed photos, I also noticed other losses. Several members lost hair. One lady lost fifty pounds. Three teenagers lost their look of innocence. Several members knelt on their knees, but eight years later, they are standing. Knees lost their ability to bend.

Our bodies change with the years, and we don’t notice them until we look at old photos.

Losses will continue. So will additions. The primary addition I would like to see is that all my family add God to their lives. Some members walk with the Lord, and others do not.

We can’t see God in the photos. He lives in hearts.

If you are reading this and haven’t added God to your life. Do it now. He comforts during the dark days and gives hope for the subtractions and additions to come your way.

   Gay's Author Page

 

Thanksgiving Again

 

It's that time again! My favorite holiday. 

I plan to bake a ham, buy a smoked turkey breast, and make my mom's southern dressing and gravy.

Mashed potatoes, corn pudding, salad, green beans, rolls are also on the menu. 

Desserts will include Lemon Ice Box pie, pecan pie, and Three Berry Pie.

We will have six guests, so there will be lots of leftovers.

My tree is ready, and the house is clean. Yay! It's a beautiful day to appreciate blessings.

The first Thankful meal was not anything like the one we prepare today. 

The surviving members of the 1621 gathering probably ate venison and fish. Perhaps someone supplied a wild turkey or two.  The celebration lasted about three days.

First Thanksgiving

None of my guests want fish, well my grandson does like sushi, but he's not getting it at my house.

I'd love a three day celebration, but we won't have that either. I'm happy to see my sweet relatives and friends for three hours. That's about all the time any of us have to spare these days.

What are your blessings this year? Be sure to count them, and above all, give the Lord a prayer of gratitude.

And after all the guests are gone and clean up is done. Read one of my books.

Gay's Author Page

A Trip to Kentucky

We left IAH Houston early one Tuesday morning (November 4, 2025) and flew to Cincinnati. Our daughter and hubby live in KY, but the CVG airport in Cincinnate is easy for them to get to. It's also a lot smaller than IAH.

We were afraid security would take a long time at Bush IAH, but the wonderful TSA personnel on duty (who worked without pay) were super nice and patient. We also feared flight delays or cancelations because of the government shutdown. All went smoothy. Yay!

I made a video while on the plane. 

Our daughter and son-in-law picked us up and took us to a German restaurant in Cincinnati. I chose spaetzle.

https://www.justataste.com/easy-german-spaetzle-recipe/

I've never had it and found it delicious. I can't imagine making all those tiny dumplings. Hubby tried a variety of sausages.

After lunch, we strode the famous walk bridge. People can rent this beauty for special events. It was fun for him to be in one state and me the other.

Our daughter took us to Berea, KY the next day. Berea is a beautiful college town, and I bought a few handmade items while we were there. Would you believe we ate a TexMex lunch while in Berea? It was as good as any in Texas, and believe me, I should know.

On day three, our son-in-law suggested going to Bernheim Forest. What a great suggestion! This 16000 acre forest exists in Clemont, KY. It features over 40 miles of trails and includes the famous Forest Giants Sculptures. The fall colors were amazing. We took the three dogs. In this picture, you can only see two. The smaller one found a place to sleep.

Giants in the forest

We are standing with our daughter next to one of the giants. He's a huge man. See his toes.

Day four came, and we kicked back at home. Our daughter cooked an early Thanksgiving dinner for us. She excelled with the meal. Turkey, ham, and dressing, plus trimmings. She didn't learn cooking skills from me! 

Day four, the return trip to Houston, and even though the governement failed to open, we had no trouble at all. 

Thanks Craig and Lanissa! You provided a great trip for us and were outstanding hosts. We enjoyed Kentucky, but we love you and wish you were closer!

Here I am talking on YouTube about the trip.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCYg1EiO6fw&t=115s

Months Vanish into Years

 

 

The Months Vanish into Yesteryear

 

A few people recover from grief quickly, even if they loved the deceased person deeply. They move on to the next phase of life as if the sorrow was a mere blimp in the road.

Others mourn for years. The sadness is heartbreaking, and they carry it forever.

Where are you in the process of grief?  We all experience it with different emotions and sometimes, the emotions repeat themselves. One day, we are okay with our loss, and the next, we are angry. Then a week later, we are sad. The repetition continues.

Grief recovery is different for each of us. We are snowflakes, unique with our perspectives and upbringing.

If we have surgery, a scar remains as a reminder of the incident. It takes days to recover from a medical procedure. After the healing, we experience health again, but a scar remains, and it jogs our memories. We’ve been through something important.

While living in the survival mode, there is no right or wrong way to feel. No magical genie in a bottle to blow grief away. We live with it. Period.

Helpful people may say to you, “Just move on.” Perhaps they can do that, but it may not work for you. I recently had a family member tell me, “Oh, I forgot about her death.” This person finds it easier to adjust that I do.

It has been a year since my daughter left this earth. During these past months, I’ve carried on with the necessary things, but I’ve also cocooned myself. I don’t answer the phone. My hubby knows I won’t answer, so he does it. I don’t go somewhere unless it is a must. I don’t dress unless I’m going somewhere. I play games on the computer. They rest my mind.

However, I’ve given suggestions below, and these suggestions continue to help me. My support group consists of two women who have gone through grief. I took medication for a brief time, and my Bible study is a godsend. 

God grant us mercy as we live with our grief.

 

Help for Caregivers

1.     Find a support group. Don’t try to go through this process alone. You want to be healthy, and a support group can help with that.

2.     See a doctor for your extreme sadness. Temporary medication can help.

3.     Join a Bible Study. Exploring how Bible characters went through grief can be enlightening. Take the story of Joseph in Genesis. His brothers sold him into slavery, and he also spent years in prison. He was totally innocent. How did he handle it?

 

Charlie Kirk: Why Lord?

 

Charlie Kirk

I never met Charlie.

Never listened to his podcasts.

Didn’t know what he believed.

I had no idea how many people followed him.

I was clueless about his TV appearances.

Failed to hear him speak at the Republican Convention.

Never heard of Turning Point USA.

I learned he employed one thousand people in his organization.

Knew none of this until an assassins’ bullet killed him.

And now I know Charlie Kirk.

I’ve listened to his speeches. I’ve seen his family. Heard him debate.

Then the grief set in.

Overwhelming mourning.

He held a passion for God, Country, and Family, and he possessed courage to tell about all three. He didn’t go to college, but he was well versed in history, law, the US Constitution, and the Bible.

At the age of 31, God allowed Satan to take Charlie out. And Charlie entered God’s Heaven as a martyr. Martyrs receive high honors up there with the Lord.

And that’s how it should be.

But why allow Satan to take Charlie now?

I’m angry about that.

When God called Satan before him at the opening of the Book of Job, He told the wily Devil, you can do anything to Job you wish except take his life.

So, the Ancient Dude gave Job a hell on Earth. But God made Lucifer spare Job’s life.

Charlie accomplished more in his 31 years than I would do if I had 31 lifetimes. People were turning to God. They embraced patriotism. Charlie’s influence reached scores of people. He wasn’t a preacher, but he preached. He wasn’t a politician, but he understood politics. He wanted to find common ground with people who didn’t share his ideas.

So, why, God?

People say Turning Point USA will expand and reach far more people. It will. But he would have multiplied it himself in person if he had been left here to do so. And his children would have a father. His wife would have a husband.

So, why, God?  Couldn’t you see this?

Yes, I know. At the end of Job, you ask Job all kinds of questions, and You never give him the answer to his. I know you won’t give the thousands down here who are hurting any answers, either.

People use traditional cliches such as these: “God is in control.” “God has a plan.”

To comfort ourselves, we quote Romans 8:28.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose. NIV

 These platitudes and verses of Scripture sound reassuring, but are they true? Will we see your plan? Will Charlie’s family see good come from this tragedy?

You expect us to trust and put our faith in You. So, we do.

What else can we do?

Nothing, we are helpless down here. There is no one to help but You.

Bad things happen. Magnify our trust. Grant us energy to carry on Charlie’s legacy. It would be a shame if we did nothing and allowed Charlie’s amazing start to go to waste.

If You had left him here a bit longer, people like me would have eventually found him, listened, and became followers. His work grew by leaps and bounds daily.

Why, Lord, why? 

Gay's Author Page 

 

Smite Your Enemies?

 

Do you have enemies? People who lie about you? Want to rid the world of you?

Most of us do or have had foes at some time in our lives.

I'm thinking of King David. He had plenty.

Samuel anointed the young shepherd boy, David, to be the future king of Israel. With this annointing, folks began to hate David. 

God planned for David to defend Israel, but David needed to learn a few military skills first.

David grew in faith and confidence as a youngster taking care of the sheep. The little lambs faced adversaries like bears and lions, but David killed these predators. He also slew Goliath, the enemy of the Israelites.

After he assumed the kingship, David faced opposition from opponents, both foreign and local. Who in leadership doesn't? From President George Washington to the present one, our presidents have faced their share of foes. And these leaders found it tough. David discovered the difficulies of hostilities, too.

I've been teaching the Psalms in my Bible Study. David wrote the majority of these songs, and he sings, prays, and talks to the Lord about his foes in the Psalms. Sometimes he wants to be delivered or protected from these evil people, and sometimes he wishes God would smite them.

How about you? How do you feel about people who oppose you?

I spoke about it last Sunday on YouTube. I tell about a few unkind people who were my enemies for a short time. 

Gay on YouTube

Have you read any of my books lately? If not, grab one and start reading. 

Gay's Author Page