Be careful signing that secession petition

The following is a contribution and preparation post only and not to be deemed as an original opinion.

I am currently working on a piece for my paper on the topic of  the current "post election" secession petitions which are being completed and signed and placed innocently on the White House server.  Wow, it is hard to believe people can be so naive.

My colleague and writer friend Michelle Travis (over on Hub Pages), wrote a simple but most excellent article on the topic titled, Can States Secede From The United States Of America?  It contains interesting information, opinion and comments on this subject. I invite your attention and direction to this article.

In preparing for my own article, I discovered a few things many might be surprised to know: All 50 states have signed petitions requesting "Peaceful secession" from the United States.

Although that might sound good to some, as reported in the Blaze, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia recently weighed in  on the subject previously and pointed out that: 

" the answer is clear. If there was any constitutional issue resolved by the Civil War, it is that there is no right to secede. (Hence, in the Pledge of Allegiance, “one Nation, indivisible.”) Secondly, I find it difficult to envision who the parties to this lawsuit might be. Is the State suing the United States for a declaratory judgment? But the United States cannot be sued without its consent, and it has not consented to this sort of suit." 

He went on to say that the Supreme Court would ultimately have to agree to even hear such a suit and it is highly unlikely that the Supreme court would even agree to hear the case or rule upon it. As such although in principal and (at least implied) based on many of the words of our founding fathers we have the right of "Peaceful secession" from the Union (as Michele correctly states in her article), the reality is that the only practical way of secession would be the same path as that which our founders ultimately had to take; REVOLUTION. In short, there is NO Peaceful Right of Secession. 

One last word, with the current administration in power, citizens might want to think twice before signing such a petition; it might come back to haunt you.

More coming soon in my column on the Examiner.com.

© 2012 Dr. Lee W. Outlaw III

 

Missing the tree for the forest

Jesus Is Coming Soon

Allot of clatter

The Bible is filled with information about the second coming of Christ and there is much chatter these days speculating the when, why and how. Allot of this clatter is often argumentative and even mean spirited. Many people seem to be more interested in the “event” of Christ’s return than Christ Himself.
The following poem is my attempt to give a simple perspective of what is important about the return of Christ.

Missing the tree for the forest

I ponder about
So many thoughts

Some more, some less
It is there He says,

But I couldn’t see it
He says again,

It is there,
It is really there
I keep looking, looking
He says listen

I say I can’t hear
Louder please, louder

There is clatter everywhere
Everyone talking

Everyone saying this is it
Or this is that
Still others’ say wrong,
Wrong and wrong again

Bla, bla, bla and more bla
What does it mean?
Why is everyone so mean?

He says, I am the song
Listen, look and learn

But the clatter continues
Everyone argues

My way, the right way
Be sure you don’t burn

He says keep watch,
I am still the way
I can come most any day

Only when,
I cannot say

Don’t give worry of how,
What or why;
Just know this,
For you, my tears cry

Be not confused by matters small
Just be assured I will come for all

Yes, it’s me who died upon that tree
So as you look,
Through the forest so tall

Do not miss,
The return of me

©Copyright 2012 Dr. Lee W. Outlaw III

Books by Billy Graham

	Nearing Home: Life, Faith, and Finishing Well Amazon Price: $9.95 List Price: $19.99
	The Holy Spirit: Activating God's Power in Your Life Amazon Price: $5.95 List Price: $14.99

Books by Deborah Brooks-Langford

My Heart I give This is a collection of poems written by Deborah Brooks Langford, mirroring her life, loves and love of God. She always liked to write, but, never thought she could do ... Amazon Price: $12.95 List Price: $13.99

Books on Christ Return

	The Second Coming: Signs of Christ's Return and the End of the Age Amazon Price: $6.95 List Price: $16.99
	Until Christ Returns: Living Faithfully Today While We Wait for Our Glorious Tomorrow Amazon Price: $1.44 List Price: $14.99
	Preparing for Christ's Return (Life Principles Study Series) Amazon Price: $3.94 List Price: $9.99
	The Hope of Christ's Return: Premillennial Commentary on 1 and 2 Thessalonians Amazon Price: $2.02 List Price: $17.99

amazon

Books by Ellen McKinney

	Santa Fe Son Past memories can be wonderful, but sometimes sad for Corinne her world was rocked by the seemingly senseless tragic murder of a close and lifelo Amazon Price: $16.98 List Price: $17.95
	Best of Intentions Guy Hewitt is a decorated undercover police officer, who after suffering the tragic death of his partner, is convicted of his partner's murder.Guy is innocent of this crime. ... Amazon Price: $18.99 List Price: $20.95
	A Rose for Liliana Liliana Jacobs the city's Assistant District Attorney is gaining a reputation as a winner in the courtroom. But on a personal level all the men in her life seem to have ... Amazon Price: $14.33 List Price: $20.95

amazon

Books by Susan Joyner-Stumpf

	Grief Shards and Other Remains I have been writing since a young child. Coming up abused like I did, I looked toward writing as My Savior, it literally saved me. There, I was transported to another world ... Amazon Price: $29.90 List Price: $34.95
	Tortured Light I am considered a dark poet. I am often channeled from spirit animals or people trying to get a message through—hence, this explains my often uncanny ability to be able to Amazon Price: $31.98 List Price: $29.95
	The Ragdoll Chronicles: Poems and Short Stories What does Ragdoll Chronicles mean, you ask? Growing up abused, the word “ragdoll” has, sadly, much symbolic meaning for me, i.e., “lifeless as a ragdoll,” “beaten like a ... Amazon Price: $27.61 List Price: $27.95
	Crimson Whispers Crimson Whispers is my Third Book of Published Poetry. Welcome to my world of darkness; a world where abuse was left behind and I see the light of being a Survivor. Also in ... Amazon Price: $11.06 List Price: $11.99

Most Every Man’s Obsession

Hank Williams Jr - Are You Ready for Some Football?

 Monday Night Football Theme

It attracts like nothing else

It attracts like nothing else
Emotions stirred in every way

Time is an issue
Two or three hours or more

It could be almost any day
Sixteen, nineteen, even twenty two
Meetings they say,

August, September, October
November, December also
January and February too

Sunday or Monday always
Thursday and Saturday sometimes

It moves and stirs
The appetite hungers

It wants him more and more
As he longs for it as well
Addiction sets in, taking both mind and soul

His woman often wonders
What’s wrong with him?

He gathers with others,
Obsessed with this thing,

indulge in rituals, chants and grunts
Is this a cult she observes?

Gluttony, o gluttony
Unbelievable amounts of food
Drinking and frolicking too

A near religious experience

A near religious experience
The casual observer,
Seeks to understand

Colors, identities and titles too
Their only salvation,
Winning will see them through

This, every man’s obsession
The absolute of absolutes,

Near a screen or a stadium seat
Peanuts, popcorn, hotdogs too
To some just a game
But for this man’s obsession
A loss is pure shame

Not to win, not to win,
Oh what could have been?
A near win, just pure sin

This, every man’s obsession
For some, a personal possession




On any given Sunday
Sunday, the day the Lord hath made
Sunday, the day the NFL hath remade

This every man’s obsession

Called Football

©Copyright 2012 Dr. Lee W. Outlaw III

NFL Videos

	NFL-Greatest Superbowl Moments I-XLV Amazon Price: $7.83 List Price: $14.93
	NFL Top 100: Nfl's Greatest Players Amazon Price: $16.89 List Price: $44.99
	NFL Greatest Follies Complete Collection Amazon Price: $6.80 List Price: $14.93

Books on Football

	The Everything Kids' Football Book: The all-time greats, legendary teams, today's superstars--and tips on playing like a pro (Everything Kids Series) Amazon Price: $4.19 List Price: $8.95
	Sports Illustrated The Football Book Expanded Edition Amazon Price: $16.04 List Price: $29.95
	Take Your Eye Off the Ball: How to Watch Football by Knowing Where to Look Amazon Price: $7.31 List Price: $16.95

NFL Fan Interest

	Rico Mini Pennant Set - NFL 32 Piece Amazon Price: $9.62 List Price: $19.99
	EA Sports Active NFL Training Camp Amazon Price: $9.99 List Price: $39.99

Sports Equipment

	Wilson F1415 NFL MVP Football (Official Size) Amazon Price: $12.99 List Price: $9.99
	Wilson Pro Kick Amazon Price: $23.50 List Price: $34.99

Books by Deborah Brooks-Langford

My Heart I give This is a collection of poems written by Deborah Brooks Langford, mirroring her life, loves and love of God. She always liked to write, but, never thought she could do ... Amazon Price: $13.99

Books by Ellen McKinney

	Santa Fe Son Past memories can be wonderful, but sometimes sad for Corinne her world was rocked by the seemingly senseless tragic murder of a close and lifelong friend. The murder ... Amazon Price: $16.98 List Price: $17.95
	Best of Intentions Guy Hewitt is a decorated undercover police officer, who after suffering the tragic death of his partner, is convicted of his partner's murder.Guy is innocent of this crime. ... Amazon Price: $18.99 List Price: $20.95
	A Rose for Liliana Liliana Jacobs the city's Assistant District Attorney is gaining a reputation as a winner in the courtroom. But on a personal level all the men in her life seem to have ... Amazon Price: $14.33 List Price: $20.95

Books by Susan Joyner-Stumpf

	Grief Shards and Other Remains I have been writing since a young child. Coming up abused like I did, I looked toward writing as My Savior, it literally saved me. There, I was transported to another world ... Amazon Price: $32.40 List Price: $34.95
	Tortured Light I am considered a dark poet. I am often channeled from spirit animals or people trying to get a message through—hence, this explains my often uncanny ability to be able to Amazon Price: $32.10 List Price: $29.95
	The Ragdoll Chronicles: Poems and Short Stories What does Ragdoll Chronicles mean, you ask? Growing up abused, the word “ragdoll” has, sadly, much symbolic meaning for me, i.e., “lifeless as a ragdoll,” “beaten like a ... Amazon Price: $27.73 List Price: $27.95
	Crimson Whispers Crimson Whispers is my Third Book of Published Poetry. Welcome to my world of darkness; a world where abuse was left behind and I see the light of being a Survivor. Also in ... Amazon Price: $11.06 List Price: $11.99

Enough about Friday the 13th

OK, so here’s the deal, all day long and all weekend long most of the cable networks and pay per view channels will be emphasizing every Friday the 13^th movie ever made as well as all the Jason, Alien and Psycho franchise movies as well. The whole emphasis will be about evil, murder, mayhem and people becoming psychotic. In so many ways and on so many levels this is both sad and wrong.

I for one as a pastor, theologian, counselor and psychologist absolutely resent this whole evil emphasis about a very important religious and historical event as well as the associated negative mental health connotations.

Now that doesn’t mean I dislike the occasional walk on the dark side or the good horror movie from time to time. I saw all of the Alien movies, loved Attack of the Killer Tomatoes as well as The Birds and original Psycho; so don’t think I’m simply seeking out the proverbial “rainbows and unicorn”  genre for everyone.

Just because it's Friday the 13^th however, does not mean the day is bad, evil or that you're more likely to have a major accident.

For those who are extremely paranoid, they do have a more significant chance of minor to large accidents happening throughout the day. Their chances for impending doom are greater personally because they’ll be so busy trying to avoid calamity that they’ll walk right into it.

Authorities tell us that just like a full moon, due to this paranoia of Friday the 13^th mentality, emergency rooms are fuller, emergency response teams and first responders are busier, DUIs and DWIs increase and violence as a whole is more prevalent due to Friday the 13^th parties, bar and pub specials,etc.

In other words, these increases have nothing to do with the date and yet everything to do with the date simply because of the fear and anxiety of people over the day itself. Most of the fear however in recent years is the result of movies on impressionable young minds.

Historically and religiously Friday the 13^th is a very sad and serious day which many tend to forget. Although the facts were a bit distorted and exaggerated, most wouldn’t even be aware of the historical side apart from the movie, “The DaVinci Code” based on the book of the same name by Dan Brown. It was on Friday, October 13^th, 1307 that Politics and Christianity had one of the greatest confrontations ever.

Although the historicity is often unclear, the basic facts are these:

King Phillip IV of France set his sights on the fabled riches of the Knights Templar (by all accounts the first bankers of the western world) who were constantly traveling back and forth to the mid-east, Holy Land and some think possibly even North America near Nova Scotia.

The Templar’s, although often at odds with the church were also loyal to their belief in Christ and as such (at least to some degree) their allegiance to the Pope.

King Phillip IV of France set a trap for the Templar’s issuing warrants for their arrest on Friday, October 13^th, 1307 in which the original plan was to torture them, get confessions out of them forcing Pope Clement the V to issue more arrest for others and ultimately find the Templar treasure and King Phillip and France to become the ruling bank throughout Europe.

The Templar’s true to their faith refused, accepted torture and only acknowledged partial facts never leading to the location to this day where the treasure was.

Here is where the history gets somewhat unclear.  Although apparently 625 Knights Templar were arrested, by many accounts, not all were imprisoned, many escaped and some were even freed.

In a second attempt to get hold of the treasure, King Phillip ordered the slow and agonizing execution by burning at the stake of fifty four of the Templar. Some historians state this did not happen until 1310 while others want to put the event within the Friday, October 13^th, 1307 date.

Regardless, of what or how things went down for the Knights Templar, Politics and the Christian church it was a very bad and sad day.

So that's the “skinny” as they say on Friday the 13^th.  Have a safe and wonderful day.

©Copyright 2012 Dr. Lee W. Outlaw III

My New Wizzley Page

Please visit my NEW Wizzley Page

My New Wizzley Page

Wizzley

I found a wonderful new writing site called WIZZLEY.

I will utilize my Theological background to write about the increasingly seen relationship

between Ufology and theology.

Photo via The History Channel 

©Copyright 2012 Dr. Lee W. Outlaw III

Change, emotion’s custodian

Change continues its push

Love the curious emotion
We want it, we need it

Our heart absorbs it
It challenges and clings

It tickles and trembles
A feeling like none other

We feel trapped, captured
We laugh, we cry, we even sing

Life uncertain but love seems sure
Then it happens, her thoughts

They depart, she departs
Change now inevitable

Hurt, emptiness, emotions pile high
The heart is now crowded,

Clutter is everywhere
No room for new emotion

Change continues its push
Pain, sorrow all move in

Breathing is difficult
No room for lungs to expand

The heart now clean

Change continues its push
The heart even more crowded

This custodian of emotion
Tugs, pulls, moves

Change cleans, removes
Finds space, makes room

Happiness, laughter all gone
Emotion’s custodian, change

Hurt, disappointment, sorrow
The heart now clean

These new tenants move in
Change continues its push

The new tenants,
Thankfully, short term
New love is found

Change, the custodian of emotion
Pushes on

©Copyright 2012 Dr. Lee W. Outlaw III