ColorMEreal

You have a point there, but that's not what I was referring too. True, certain Muslim countries have come a long way in how they treat women and children, but some have not. My grandfather lived in Bahrain for many years. I still remember the horrible conditions he'd describe to me (not necessarily about Bahrain) but in nearby countries he'd visit such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, Oman and Yemen. Some of his descriptions in his letters and in his visits back home have always haunted me.

Although to some it maybe a kinder, more gentler Islam from their perspective, the practice of Islam still demoralizes women in their traditional roles. In most Islamic influenced countries women still cannot vote, make financial decisions, go to school, marry without permission and women must submit to her husband in all things. It sadden me to see such a religion grow from that kind of foundation...

I'm so sorry KC if this have taken over your topic. The Writer's Conferences is an important topic to stay on...

When I make mistakes, and boy can I make some doosies as you well know, let me introduce you to the Savior that miraculously heals my ugly stripes. He makes me feel welcomed again in the light. His Love for me, for us all, is no small miracle. Repentance is ours To the dreams Never endeavored, To all the chances Thrown back, Let God’s mercy heal the stripes For the repentant heart. For the tired traveler A Savior awaits A place made ready. The miracle of the atonement … Our bridge to eternity. God Is … My eternal comrade, My gentle king, My eternal round, My lost hopes, dreams saver, Where in my safe harbor’s found. My shelter awaits My refuge prepared Wherein my hurting soul Has place to run. My beloved, The Holy One! Who wills me fine drink and bread. Oh, omnipotent treasure! I shall come to thee and find You’re the song that I sing, The verse upon my lips, My epiphany, Sweet everything! The good Shepherd Watching over me.

When I write, I write about my successes and my failures both. I do not write as one who is perfect, as Jesus Christ is to the world. What I did was wrong and I should not have shyed away from exposing my identity to the world. But if you're going to hold me accountable solely and leave the atonement totally out of the equation, then what good is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that we belong to? The atonement is not just for the seemingly perfect amongst us, but it is indeed for people like me who are human, who can act human at times and who can also learn and grow through their very human mistakes. I feel that the Savior also tells a very telling story, when we learn that even his own apostles who lived with him, who walked with him, who ate with him and slept alongside him where also human too. Two of his apostles betrayed him. One repented and one did not. It's a telling example that when we make choices in this life that we can either rise above those choices, or we can choose to fall from Grace...I don't want to fall from Grace. I'd like to learn and grow from this experience and even become a better person from it. I have plenty of life in me yet and I'd like to live it.

The Obama Administration has burned years and years of a good union, a really good relationship that we once shared with Israel. Even president Clinton hand fostered a delicate relationship with Israels leaders. This issue is really simple. The Obama Administration sympathizes with the Islam world and Iran. Israel is not dumbafied to this fact.

Yeah, your right. I needed to eat some humble pie on this one. I should not have let the fear get in the way of my choices. But I did mean what I said earlier, about downloading my book ( free of charge ) to anyone who is interested and that offer will always stand on this site. :)

I love Guam and I think Guam is going to be just fine...

Well flippidy flippin doo-daw! Some people say thats the same as cursing. But when my hammer misses the nail and hits my finger, it sure feels good to say! Perhaps I shall burn???

Thanks for the kind words Pam. "The once grim soul" There once lived a soul, So lost and cold, Who felt no way out Of his fears and self-doubts. The path was long, The journey grueling, Without the slightest hints of mercy For one who felt Like such a lost and forgotten fool. Oh, what an awful, dark place For one to put their fate. He hadn’t a friend in the world To brighten up his day. “Why me? Why Me?” He bellowed to himself. “So pathetic I must be, To arrive at such a place Where my life is but a waste!” As he lay in his wasted puddles of dreams, Awaiting his fate on some hellish estate. A chance encounter not of his making Appeared out of nowhere, There to awake him. For standing above him Was a kind old man, With a pleasant disposition Who extended his hand. He was short and stubby And even a bit chubby. With old, ragged clothes And a large, crooked nose. With a gleam in his eye And a soft lofty smile He extended his hand And asked to stay awhile. The tired old soul That wallowed below him Slowly looked up With a look so grim. “Go on your way!” Muttered the grumpy, old soul. “You cannot help me. You have nothing to offer For the life I’ve been dealt!” “I’m unpleasant to be around, I’m mean and I’m sharp! I’m worn out and old, And my heart has grown cold! I’ve sinned more sins Then you could ever be told.” “There’s no need to stay, So just go on your way! I’m not worth your time For here an unpleasant fate you shall find!” But the happy old man That stood just above him Remained right where he would. For you could see in his eyes, That he so clearly understood. He did not see before him The unpleasant old soul just described. No, something more glorious Illuminated in his eyes. Looking past all the ugliest anger and sin, That, trust me, was most definitely and most certainly within. He saw a hunger and a thirsting. A starving, deprived soul, That was all caved in. He saw a wanting, A needing inside, Hidden and lost, In a deep pit of pride! And within that lost pit Lived a glorious thing! The greatest of all human potentials, Laying idle, awaiting its heavenly aim. As he saw this great potential, So forgotten within. He saw lost dreams Still alive, though very dim. And he recognized the poor soul As a lost and cherished friend, That he did once know. But it saddened him so That his lost and cherished friend Hadn’t even noted or recognized him. Though wounded and bleeding upon the ground, Oh, how delighted the kind man felt That his lost friend had been found! For he knew his soul was priceless, Worthy of all heavenly love, But sadly the lost soul Failed to recognize his Lord that stood above. But the more the grim old soul Looked at the kind old man, The more his soul And his mind did expand. So the grim old soul Began to sit and ponder, Searching his mind As his thoughts did wander. He had a funny, quaint feeling That he’d met this stranger before. Somewhere deep down in the center of his soul Whispered a knowing feeling As his thoughts did flow. A feeling that had been lost And forgotten in time, From some far away past That he couldn’t quite find … Something so deep And something so stirring, From a story he somehow knew. A feeling of truth that now rang true! And then suddenly he felt His old heart melt As he looked yet again At the kind old man, A much different scene Began to unravel … Began to redeem! ’Twas not the old man Who once stood before him With old, ragged clothes And a large, crooked nose. Now someone most divine And most glorious arose! Someone so loving, So tender and mild. Suddenly he felt so little Like a little child. He now understood With full measure. That it had been but impossible before To recognize this kindly stranger. Being that he, himself, was so lost, And so dark within. Without a doubt now, So suddenly and so quickly, The realization came— He once knew this heavenly stranger, Who once came into this world As a babe in a manger! The King of all kings, The most adorned on high, Stood so lovingly above him. But why me? The grim soul marveled why. With both arms stretched out Towards his shivering soul, Loving him regardless Of all he did know! The grim man’s world Suddenly began to grow brighter. His heavy soul Even felt a bit lighter. The air began to sparkle; The sun began to come out. Indeed, It was almost too glorious, Too spectacular to believe! The once grim man’s soul Began to rattle and shake. His heart did surrender, As he fell into the arms Of his Savior and defender. “Forgive me, dear Lord, for I knew you not. My life I did waste, In such deceit and such haste! And I’m sure I’m the biggest sinner there is, But from this time forth, I do promise you Lord, I will live my life with more purpose, To your accord.” “Forgive me, my Lord,” He plead on and on. Then he fell to God’s feet, Overwhelmed in remorse, As they both did weep. The Lord then knelt Beside his weeping soul. And as he held out his hands His touch healed him so! His anguish and torment He no longer did owe … Suddenly he had a great desire, A great desire for others to know. “Others must know of your healing touch too! Others must know of all that is true For so many are lost and simply have no clue.” “Will you tell them?” The Lord then turned to him and asked. “Will you awaken those that sleep On my behalf? Will you extend your hand To those broken down, who are in need? To those who have fallen in pain, in fear, or in greed? Will you visit the hungry, the sick and the poor? Would you be willing to knock on your neighbor’s door? Will you feed them and teach them and hold them For me … Serve them with love, so they too might see?” “Yes, my master, my Lord, my friend,” He answered, feeling meek and lowly as He knelt nearby. New vows were then made. And promises born, Dreams redirected, And many lives were affected. From that time forth His promises he kept. A new man was born, With each new step. Never to fall back Into that dark, dreary place, Where he once thought his life To be but a waste. Reborn by faith, Restored by God’s grace, He now lived his life At a more spiritual pace. You may still see him Every now and then, Visiting the lost And those plagued in sin. Visiting the forgotten ones, Found in dark places. Pleading with old men, With angry, grim faces. Extending his hand, To as many friends as he can. Spreading the feast of God’s amazing grace To those who fall into that very dark place. Jenny Ann Tibbetts

Thanks for the brownie points. I was in a hurry when I posted earlier and did not take the time to write proficiently. Though I claim to be a writer, I never claimed to be perfect. That glory is reserved for the man upstairs. :)

I guess I get a little over excited about sharing my message/my testimony with others. So I'd like to apologize and offer a free downloaded copy of my book to anyone who'd like one. I've just had a lot of miserable luck on other writing or poetry forums. To me real poetry is dead to this world and I've made it my life's mission to bring it back. Unfortunately their isn't a writing (poetry) forum out there that I'd like to be a member of anymore. If your writing/poetry doesn't support whats political correct, your out spoken sometimes ten to one. The most offensive subjects on some of the forums I've joined were subject relating to Christ, morality or patriotism. The very subjects I desire to write about most often. So as you can imagine, i often stuck out like a sore themb! So I've learned to keep a very low profile and give as little information out about myself as possible. I've gone through two computers in a year in a half after my computer's were infected with viruses. Although I'll never know where the viruses actually came from, it's made me very weary on certain web sites. I am very weary about coming right out and saying Hi, my name is such and such...I write poetry, wanna hear some? LDS.net is very different on a large scale. In hindsight I should have joined this site with a bit more faith and trust and for that, I'm sorry.

It's a common thing on this forum and on many other writing forums I've belonged to, to not give out your personal information to the whole world. Most folks on this site do not shed light on their true identity and I can't say I blame them. I've had some pretty bad experiences on other forums when used my real identity, so I've made it a priority to never do so. From a safety stand point it's where I feel comfortable. Simple as that. :)

It's my way of sharing. I do not charge for copies of my work. If you'd like a full copy of my book, I'd be happy to give it to one and all for free. It's my way of sharing my testimony. :)

yep. :)