Jason E. Fort's Blog, page 8

A One of a Kind Soul

We were on opposite ends of the spectrumAs anyone could see...You the Loves-life-to-the-fullest Bartender And then there's straight-laced Me.You the short little scrapper,And me, the big Teddy Bear -Yet whenever someone used to want to fight youYou bet your Butt I was there.Back in my Days at Chicora AlleyYou were one of the ones who welcomed me mostYou always tossed me the Red Bulls,And you rooted for our Tigers the most!Your smile welcomed me every weekend;It didn't matter what kind of mood I was in...I could always count on ol' JacobTo Cheer me up with a Grin!In a time back when we were strangersPeople would never guess we'd be friends;Funny how a place like ChicoraCan change ALL of our trends.You helped me feel like one of the guysInstead of just a bouncer looking over the crowd.You always laughed at my weird facesWhen I thought the crowd was too loud!Though after I left ChicoraAnd it could be months 'fore I'd see you again,Somewhere downtown I'd spot you,And you'd still Cheer me up with a Grin.Jacob, I don't know why you left usBut I have an idea or two.Somewhere the good Lord needsMore one-of-a-kind souls like you.So you take that Grin of Yours,Go where the Angels are Loud.You Cheer up all those Folks in HeavenAnd you wear your Tiger colors proud.We're gonna miss you down here on EarthAnyone on Facebook knows it's True.Me- I'm Thankful I got to KnowA One-of-a-Kind Soul like You.I don't even know the details my friend, but I sure wish I could have seen you again. Maybe one day...Jason E. Fort3/25/2015

It's September 11th again...

I always found the above picture so disturbing. The finality is so evident. And none of us really know the man's story. There may be some loved ones that do; I didn't want to delve too much into research on the actual person's identity. But this image is so telling, isn't it? I mean, if you want to commit an act of terrorism, and want to make people afraid of what may happen next, create a scenario as hopeless as this man's physical fate. That is exactly what some diabolical men did that day.Now before the conspiracy theorists get all tangled up in a knot, I am not claiming that the United States government is entirely innocent in the horrible incident. But while some people think the entire thing was orchestrated from within, there is still too much evidence that I have found in research that points to the evident plan to attack by Islamic radicals. However, I also believe the US government to be more guilty of one particular thing than perhaps almost any other system in existence; guilty of complacency. And then covering up complacency by starting a war with the wrong enemy. But I digress, that is not why I am posting.I try to remember September 11, 2001 every year because it had a profound impact on my life. I daresay it had me think deeply about the future of my family, and perhaps my future with my wife. Would we have become so serious, so fast, if not for 9/11? I sometimes wonder. My wife was on an airplane coming back from Orlando when the first plane hit. I was 'teaching a class full of innocent children', as the Alan Jackson lyrics say. You can bet I was wondering if the girl I had already considered marrying was safe while stuck in an airplane somewhere between Florida and Charlotte. So there is the first bit of impact that comes to my mind related to the events of 9/11. Of course I called all my family that day, mainly to tell them how much I loved them. But something else happened that day.My interest was piqued back then to find out more about this enemy that attacked us on our own shores. Back then, I knew very little about Islam. I knew the basic premise, and I knew they had their sacred prophet Muhammad, but that was really all I knew. When I saw images like the one above, or the videos that play in my head over and over again of entire planes crashing full speed into skyscrapers, I began to read more information about the religion of Islam. I didn't do the research I do now. But any article I came across about the Middle East - I read it. Anything about terrorism - I read it. Nothing like the attacks that day had occurred in my lifetime, and I wanted to know how someone could do something so terrible - to people who had nothing to do with their ideals or political or religious ideology.Look once again at the picture I inserted on this post. The man in the photo is plummeting straight down, no turning back, most likely nowhere else to go when he was still up top, nothing to stop the inevitable impact and physical end to his life at the end of the fall. I like to think the man had faith in Jesus, but I don't know if I will ever know that. But at the point the man is in this photo, there is absolutely no physical hope for survival.And that man did nothing to the terrorists on the plane that hit his tower. For all I know, the man could have been a regular participant in debauchery, or beat his wife, or never committed any crimes whatsoever; but he never harmed a hair on any of the terrorists' heads. If I were a betting man, I would probably put money down that the man didn't know much about the shahada - the Muslim belief and statement that there is but one God; that his name is Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.But with the men that committed these heinous acts, there are two choices:Convert or Die, or Convert AND Die.I read somewhere today that there were some 31 confirmed Muslims killed among the other almost 3000 people. The ideology of true original Islam, which is what these guys emulate, is what killed all those people that day. As much as I'd like to believe otherwise, Muhammad himself committed similar atrocities all the time. And I just started to touch the surface of that truth when I wanted to know more back then. There is a reason I used the events of 9/11 to start a snowball of events that has resulted in 5, going on 6 fictional novels now. And because there are millions of Muslims who are peaceful, mostly because they are misinformed or choosy about which parts of the Quran to follow, my novels that I write follow the constant battle within that I have with the yearning to lead Muslims to Christ on one hand, but to take out all the originals, or 'radicals', at once - on the other.What if the man in the picture were your boyfriend or husband? What if he were your brother, or son, or cousin, or best friend? What if you were looking so forward to seeing him later that day, not knowing what was going to happen between 8 AM and 10 AM that morning? Thanks to the senseless violence of 19 men, many people lost 3000 of their closest friends and family that day. Ask yourself, how would you feel about the people you knew who did it? Would you be satisfied knowing that the men involved perished in the flames and rubble as well, even if you knew those men were part of something so much bigger? I have often asked myself that question.Ah, but here's the kicker. Now ask yourself - what is the right way to see the group those men represent? It is not an easy answer internally speaking due to our sinful nature... but the right thing to do according to God's Word, is pray for them. Pray for them to see the light of Jesus Christ. That is actually my goal, but I also do not mince words. I don't hide from the darkness of Satan's influence on this world. He is very real, and I am realistic in describing his influence on the forces and darkness around us. I am also realistic in describing man's nature; revenge being a potent motivator for some of my characters. I also try to show justice in my writing as well; justice for the villains I have concocted based on research on some of the most radical beliefs in existence. But the truth be told, God is the only one who can provide true justice.Go ahead, take one last look at the man falling. Envision all the helpless others who came to a tragic end that day. And now I ask you to do one last crazy, impossible, no way - what are you thinking Jason-thing - and forgive.But never forget: September 11, 2001

Excerpt from Misled: The Klansman

This is a section from one of my favorite segments I ever wrote. To set things up, even if you never read the book, Tyree is a 10 year old witness of terrible crimes. Tyree is struggling with bad dreams because of the things he has seen, and he gets to spend some time with my main protagonist, Agent John Knox. Knox shares some info with the kid to help him whenever he is afraid. I just enjoyed writing this story, and trying to envision things from a child’s perspective. Please read, share, and enjoy:“Agent John – I mean John – do you ever have nightmares?”“I sure do. As a matter of fact, I had some bad dreams when this Klansman that you saw started appearing on the news.”Tyree’s eyes opened wider.“You have dreams about this Klansman, too?” he asked his temporary babysitter.“Well, not exactly. But I had dreams about a similar group of men that wore white hoods, just like the man you saw, that killed those people in their cars.”“There’s more than one man in a white hood?” Tyree asked in great consternation.“Well, there is only one killer like the man you’ve seen. No – these men were scary fellas I saw when I was just a little older than you…a long time ago. They won’t be bothering anyone anymore.”“Did you have bad dreams about them when you were a kid my age?” Tyree asked.“As a matter of fact, I did. And I still got a little scared for a while when I would see movies about those men in the white hoods – all the way up until I was about 15 years old. But I was used to some of those scary dreams by then.”Tyree was impressed with Agent Knox; he had looked up to the man ever since he saw him the first time he and Malik had visited the apartment. He was even in awe of the two FBI men when he had seen them at that first crime scene, before he cut and run on them. He wanted to know what made men like Agent Knox and his partner so brave.“So Agent – err, um – John…what did you do to stop having the nightmares?”John had been thinking of what to tell Tyree; he knew this question would come.“Well Tyree, my dad was a preacher…and he told me about a certain verse in the Bible,”- Tyree interrupted.“John – my grandpa; my mean dad’s dad – he is a preacher, too. He’s the one who told us to get away from his son…because he was so mean to me and Mom.”John raised his eyebrows; that would have to be a story for later, probably told by Tara.“Anyway, Tyree, he told me about Psalms 23 in the Bible. Do you know what it says?”Tyree answered, “Mom and I read the Bible at Christmas sometimes, but I don’t know if I have heard that or not. The Bible’s a big book!”Knox smiled at the innocence in the boy. Then he recited the verse from Psalms 23 from memory.“Tyree, Psalms 23 was written by a King named David. David was a shepherd when he was young, so he knew a thing or two about shepherding a flock. And this is what he said:The Lord is my shepherd; I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me by still waters, He restores my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of shadow and Death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.So you see, Tyree, the Bible tells us that God is our shepherd, and he protects us from evil – just like a shepherd would protect his flock of sheep.”Tyree sat on the edge of the bed that was almost too high for him; it was the first time Knox noticed he was pretty small for a ten year old. He kicked his legs back and forth a couple of times, then spoke up again.“Mmm-Hmm, I get that…but what does all that other stuff mean, John?”“Ha! I had a feeling you’d ask that, too. Well it kind of means the same as the other thing that my dad used to tell me. Tyree, do you know who Jesus is?”The ten year old boy looked up in the corner of the room for a second.“Well I know He was supposed to be God’s son; I learned that at my grandparents’ church. But there was something else special about Him…oh yeah! He was supposed to be dead, but came back to life. Is that what you’re talking about?”“That’s right Tyree; Jesus died on the cross for all of us; for you, for me, for Malik…anyone who chooses to believe. But the fact that He came back to life – that was God already conquering evil. So you see, Tyree, there’s no reason to keep being afraid of this Klansman guy. Sure, he is scary, and would be even scarier if you ran into him…but it doesn’t matter. God has already won; he beat all evil when Jesus came back after dying on a cross. So take this,” he was saying as he unwrapped a small extra present he had kept in his front pocket. He stood up to give the small gift to his host.“Take this and read it every night. It should help you, whenever you’re scared.”Tyree looked down at the small book. It wasn’t a whole Bible, but it was meant to be the most comforting words from the Bible – the Book of Psalms, and the entire New Testament. It was in a green, fake leather binding and cover, and had gold lettering on the outside. Tyree got a little excited just because John had given him another surprise. Then he jumped off the bed and wrapped big John Knox’s legs in a tight bear hug.“John – thank you so much for my presents!”Then the small framed kid jumped back on the bed and Knox sat beside him once again.“Mr. John – I have another question,” the rambunctious boy started again.“Sure, fire away!” John let the ‘Mr.’ title slide this time.“If God is the shepherd protecting us all from evil…what does that make people like you, and your partner, and the police outside my apartment?”John hadn’t thought about that, but he went with an old law enforcement adage.“Tyree – we’re the sheepdogs. When shepherds have to go wondering further away to chase after a lamb or sheep that wonders off, he sometimes leaves a sheepdog behind to protect the other sheep from the wolves. That’s us, Tyree. See – Jesus left us after He died and came back…He left us for a time to be in Heaven. So sheepdogs like us are still here to watch over you, and to be the peacemakers. But do you know what else the Bible tells us?”“What?” the boy asked with intense curiosity.“He said that He will come back one day. That’s good news, right?”Tyree nodded. He seemed content with John’s answers, and he changed the subject. The next forty-five minutes or so, the two of them watched Power Rangers. Then John told the boy he would have to catch up with him again soon, and he patted him on his almost bald head and said good night. He bade Mr. Willingham farewell, and then Agent John Knox left Tyree with his neighbor, Mr. Willingham. He told Tyree before he left that whenever he was afraid at night, to just open his new mini-Bible to the page Knox had marked, and read the words highlighted in yellow. He told Tyree to read those words over and over, until he got sleepy.So later in the evening, when restless Tyree was finally tired, he started to close his eyes, but began to see the Klansman’s face once again. He flipped on his night light and opened the book John had given him. He read Psalms 23. When he finished, he read it again…and again…and again. Finally the young boy went to sleep – and little Tyree slept soundly for the first time in days.

Surrounded by Experts

     I just got back from my second Killer Nashville Writers Conference, and I am once again astounded at the people who have the same passion that I do for telling a a good story. Not only was everyone there passionate, but it seemed like everyone there was an expert in their own right; and I mean that in the most positive way possible. I think it is awesome when 200+ people from all walks of life can get together and learn from some of the more notable authors, but then also learn from other people who have other important information to share. It was just a lot of fun for this big oaf to call people at the conference my peers. Sure, there were many people there who had lives nothing like the one I have led, but there were people who come from what may seem to be the most mundane circumstances, who for a brief time, got to share the spotlight with people passionate about their craft, and give their input on their particular experiences; and the listeners at the different panel sessions listened eagerly, offered questions, and sincerely took something from the sessions whenever they could.     Some of the experts were experts in things unique only to them, according to their day jobs, such as law enforcement officers or military veterans. I was blessed to be in this ilk. And the authors that attended, some of whom I know have had their share of high selling books, were attentive and respectful, listening to various officers or former soldiers as we shared our knowledge; their creative minds I'm sure were weaving a tale in their heads as we spoke, determining which way they would spin some morsel of information or detail into their epic thrillers or mysteries. But the experience was humbling and fulfilling all at once. Yet in spite of the fact that I was on panels of former pilots of gunships or department heads in some state bureau of investigations - I really felt like I contributed my part. That was one of the the best parts of the conference for me. Some folks go to these things just to learn from others on how to make it big - but I go to meet new people and discover better ways to make my writing more meaningful to me. If I can make it more meaningful to me, then I think it will be that much easier to make it meaningful to my reader...as long as I am never just satisfied with the status quo.      But now I am going to take this in a different direction, because something happened today that took me back to the last panel, on the last day. See - today, my father had a little scare and ended up in the hospital to have some tests done because of mysterious numbness in his face; sometimes an indicator for stroke! And the family all gathered around him in the room, and because he has had a scare or two before in the hospital ER, a heart attack, and a battle with cancer (whose ass he kicked, thank you very much, with a little bit of divine intervention), there were some emotional moments for him. And for a brief moment, my life with my father flashed before my eyes, and I realized I've taken some of my time with him for granted over the years. And that time with my father, the man who I thought was an expert in everything when I was a kid, took me back to that last panel session on the last day of the conference. The panel was about Self Publishing Advice, and I will never forget as my emotions got away from me for a second, when the moderator asked each of us, "How do you measure your success as a self published author?"     When I paused to answer the question once it was my turn, my memory flashed back to the first time my dad took his first official copy of my book from my hands, at a book signing on December 19th, 2014. He looked at me in front of a few other people gathered at the very bar where I used to bounce, and he said, "Son, I don't care if this is the only book you sell. As far as I'm concerned, you're a success in my book."     Yeah - I know; tears, right? I even have to sniff a little as I finish typing this. So while I tried to throw everyone off at the beginning of this post by giving credit where credit was due at the awesome writers conference in Nashville (Thanks, Clay and staff!), I just felt like putting these words down in reflection of the man in my life whose expertise has mattered more to me than I ever thought it would as a teen. My dad is a special expert in figuring out how to raise me and my two brothers, when he really didn't have an example to follow. And yet, he would probably give the credit to God, because that is just who dad is.      Who knows? Maybe one day, I can go back as a key note speaker to one of these conferences, after I have earned my stripes, and sold more than just a few books. And years from now, when I am once again surrounded by experts, I can tell them how, although a lot of people for some reason thought I might be an expert in telling a good story, there was one expert whose opinion mattered more than anyone else's. So even though I may one day make some best sellers list, or high sales rank on some website somewhere, that one expert's opinion was how I measured my success. And there is nothing anyone can ever do to take that away from me.Thanks, Dad - you're the best.

Self-Control? Who's in Control?

Who is in control exactly? Folks who are believers such as myself know ultimately, God is in control. But this can be misconstrued by those who do not believe the same as Christians. This can give someone the idea that God is up there like some Omnicient and Omnipotent puppet master from on high, fidgeting his fingers, pulling the strings and manipulating the exact circumstances and events that take place at all times.Well, then why would God say He created us in His image? Why would He ever mention or care about a Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil? Perhaps Thomas Jefferson and others had it right, when they declared that we have all been endowed by our Creator with certain UNALIENABLE Rights? Free will, Anyone... anyone... anyone - Bueller?I digress. But God inspired many writers down through the centuries to write about this little thing called self-control. He even tells us Himself of the Fruits of the Spirit. And guess what - self-control is one of them.Now one may ask, why would I want to write a post on the matter of Self-Control? And what does it have to do with what's happening in the world today?EVERYTHING!I was reading about a new study that said certain so-called experts claimed spankings caused mental illness. This is speculation at best, impossible to test a large enough sample to determine if this is true or not, and in my own personal experience - a complete falsehood. I can vouche for the fact that I had to take a mind-numbing mental evaluation just to be able to become a police officer. The same experts that do these studies perform these evaluations, and they deemed me to be sane enough to carry a gun and a badge. And I will go ahead and tell you, I faced many spankings growing up. I faced switches, I faced my dad's bare hand, and I even faced the dreaded belt (that one was the worst). And somehow, I passed the psyche test.Here's the part that may really rub people the wrong way - and I don't really care. But at some point, IN ALL OUR LIVES, we have to accept the fact that every single one of the decisions we make have consequences. If we choose to break a law, there are consequences. If I lose control of my emotions and haul off and break some criminal's arm, there will be consequences. If someone commits a crime of passion in the heat of the moment, there will be consequences. And certain respected figures of authority enforce those consequences in society. But they are not there to CONTROL society, but help maintain order. And spankings, when you compare them to the things I just listed, can help someone understand that, when carried out at a young impressionable time in our lives, for the right reasons, and with reasonable amount of force. Spankings are not the same as child abuse, though many of those not blessed with common sense would argue with that. Spankings can be the early form of law enforcement; not to control the child, but help them learn self-control... order.The real conundrum occurs when someone becomes confused on who really is in control. Self-control, when not mastered by some, results in violent encounters with those trying to maintain order. And if enough people who refuse to control themselves and their actions threaten the safety of others, those who enforce rules and laws of ORDER have to step in and TAKE CONTROL. Self-control, when not mastered, can result in some people not being able to take criticism. Self-control, when not mastered, can result in us not being able to hear the word - wait for it - NO! And self-control, when not truly mastered, can make certain other things impossible - like self-sufficiency. And if people cannot become self-sufficient, and become too dependent on things like say, oh I don't know - THE GOVERNMENT - then that government can step in and control those who depend on that government.Control...control... we all want to be in control at some point. It is in our nature. But if we don't ever learn how to truly control ourselves, in balance with others around us, then we are not the ones in control. And at that point, God's not in control of us, because He wants us to have free will. And so if God isn't controlling us, and we aren't... just who exactly is running this thing?The world is getting crazier. The other reason I wanted to post this today is because I saw several sources on the world wide web point to the first American company that is going to place microchips inside their employees. That's right - they will implant these chips to keep track of their employees. At what point do you let someone assume that much control over you? Please understand, if someone can keep track of where you go; can find you whenever they want; can hunt you down if they need to; can even predict things you will do from the patterns observed by monitoring said microchip... THIS IS A FORM OF CONTROL. This is what they do when you are under house arrest. Only, we are talking about something you can't just take off like a bracelet or anklet. Oh no; this sucker is planted up under your skin, inside your tissue!Do you want someone having that much control over you?What about free speech? I have often said, and I believe it's true - that political correctness will be the downfall of the great experiment once known as the United States. See, when people want you to change your feelings and your opinions because it makes them feel uncomfortable, and then you do it - you have just relinquished some control to that individual. And if this happens more and more frequently, pretty soon, those people whom you made so uncomfortable will be dictating to you what you are to say; what you are to believe. Enter Islam, stage right. Now the peaceful Muslims can hate that implied statement all they want, but coercion and determining what people will believe is what Islam is all about. The only being that should determine what we decide should be the One that created us; certainly not another person or group of persons.Look, as usual, I don't claim to think for everyone. But ask yourself, who do you want to be in control of YOU? God says He wants you to be in control of yourself. Are you letting someone else take the wheel?

America First; (Insert your country here) First... It's Not About Being Selfish

It's not about being selfish. Many countries in Europe and around the world think the United States, and Poland, are selfish because they would dare say something like 'America first', or 'Poland, first'! But they are missing a part of the bigger picture. First of all, try not to look at the USA, or Poland, or Russia, or anyone else as a single person. Look at them as a large family. People who were born into the family; people who were brought up in that family, with the benefits of being in that family, are not exactly going to understand if the leader of the family decides, 'You know what, these strangers from other lands, they want us to honor their wants and needs; I believe their needs and wishes will now supercede my family's needs.' Because that is really what it amounts to. I know some people who know I am a Christian will cite Jesus Christ and His teaching, and how in especially the New Testament, there are many references to humbling yourself before others, and putting others' needs first. But if one takes a look at the bigger picture from the scripture in its entirety, it is not saying placate to all these OTHER groups before your family; do what these groups tell you because their goals are more important than yours. Placating to OTHERS' desires is not the same as selflessly serving to help someone, or humbling oneself to serve another. Yet the world would like those who get suckered into the mainstream to believe that they are one and the same. And as far as serving others, since when is it okay to superimpose will on another because they have a different opinion or point of view? See, I know I disagree with some folks out there. But I am not forcing anyone to read this. You can choose, right now, to stop at this point in the post. But just because my opinion may be different than yours doesn't mean you get to just shut me up. Since when is just agreeing with folks and nodding right along with them considered a service? People have disagreed with each other since the beginning of time. But there is merit to the old adage, 'agree to disagree'. Yet globalist thinking would have us think that we are being selfish for even having our own opinions.Now let's go back to the family analogy. Let's take two families who may live in a bad neighborhood. Both households have young teenage daughters. We will pretend that one family's head of the household, be it mother or father or both, took it upon themselves to protect their home with an alarm system, a Beware of Dog sign on the fence, and even a big guard dog for a family pet. This family locks their doors at night and lets 'Rover' roam the front and back yard. The other family chooses to leave doors unlocked overnight, open their windows, and they have no guard dog.One given night, a prowler comes to the house with unlocked doors and open windows. He happens to see their teenager primping up in her bedroom through an open window with the light on. Later in the night when everyone goes to sleep, the prowler sneaks into the home and assaults the daughter.Now take the same said prowler who thinks he wants to have a go at the house down the street. But as he comes to this house, he sees a fence. He also happens to notice the Beware of Dog sign on the fence. He even sees a large dog walking around in the front fenced in portion of the yard. He notices all the windows around the house are shut. He takes a little bit of risk and goes up on the front porch. He tugs on the door and realizes that the door is locked. He decides to move on.Now, what if he happened to visit the secure house before the unsecured home? Does this mean that it was the selfish concern of the other home owner for his own household that caused the second home to have a member of their family suffer an assault?Ummm... NO!Yet this is exactly the approach America and its current leadership have decided to take as it relates to secure borders, putting up a WALL (instead of a fence that says Beware of Dog), and making it harder to get in. And if someone is in need of a place to stay, and they knock on one of these two families' doors and ASK to come in - hmmm - maybe, just maybe, either homeowner is apt to welcome in a guest in need. See, this is what used to be called common sense. This is how I approach most safety and security concerns. Yet more and more people, especially the higher the supposed education or the higher the position or status in community, want to put certain assets at risk, because it is politically correct to do so; because the masses don't want to HURT FEELINGS by, wait for it - DISAGREEING.This is what we have come to.All for the sake of how it might appear to others, and how you might, Heaven forbid, look like that 'selfish homeowner' who dared to protect his house. I have seen it everywhere.Hospitals that don't want to protect their staff from violent patients...Cities that don't want to protect their police officers...Mayors that don't want to protect their LEGAL citizens...Chancellors or Presidents that don't want to protect their LEGAL citizens...supposedly competent people or groups of people in important positions that choose the reputation of their bureaucracy over the safety of their 'family' in the name of putting others first - in the name of political correctness.Once again, I don't claim to have all the answers. But if you are one of those who has always said that people concerned about security are just selfish and worrisome - put yourself in the scenario I described above. What if you were the head of that household who chose to just have that open door, open window policy?If your daughter were the one that got assaulted, somehow I think most of you would really be wishing you'd taken those other precautions.Food for thought.

Good, Wise, Strong

A Good Man...A Wise Man...A Strong Man...I stood there in front of my wife and son, and those words stood out from the simple Father's Day card - and for one brief moment, I was paralyzed by a tear. It took a second for me to realize that my son had never really seen me cry much before, and my wife could see the tear glisten in the corner of my eye. But those words were from a sweet, thoughtful card single-handedly chosen by my son. I couldn't help but think of when I always told myself what I wanted to be if I ever had a son, and those three descriptors are the very words I used in my head.Now if you have never met my son, and actually get him to say a few words, you'd eventually come to the conclusion that he is one smart cookie. You'd also come to realize that he is his own man, and doesn't really care much about what other people think about him. He is happy in his own skin, and when he tells you something about the way he feels, you can pretty much take him at his word. Oh, and another thing - he has always been able to pick out the perfect card for any holiday occasion. So when I saw the same three words I used to picture in a future description of me as a father, after having my own father to look up to all those years growing up, emotions kind of got away from me. I composed myself, and wrapped my son in a hug and thanked him for the card. But my eyes went back to the small gold plate stuck to the top of the front of the card.Good. Wise. Strong.My dad was always the most ethical man I knew. He taught me to tell the truth. He taught me that it was wrong to fight. He taught me to treat other people how I wanted to be treated. He taught me to not be a braggart (and I am not bragging about this in this post; just sharing an emotional moment that made a lasting impression). He taught me to love Jesus. He taught me to share things with my brothers (ok, that one was tough). He taught me what it was like to be the leader of the family. He was always what I thought to be just a good man.My dad always fixed problems. My dad gave me a lot of advice that I could always look back on after my mistakes and wish I had listened. My dad was a man who other people would come to with problems, from other men in the neighborhood to men in the church, and they would ask my dad what he would do in this situation or that. My mom counted on my dad for the big decisions in the family when I was growing up, and my dad always seemed to take careful measure about every financial decision I remember him undertaking. He was always what I thought to be a wise man.My dad could lift me up over his head when I was a kid, and I thought he was Superman. I watched him working in the yard sometimes when I was little, and I remember wondering how he could pick up those big bags of mulch, or carry all those bricks he used to layout on our patio. As I got older, I discovered how to gain strength slowly but surely by lifting weights that my dad bought for me right after my twelfth birthday. And I tried almost on a monthly basis to see if I could take my dad in arm wrestling. When we first started this little contest, he would toy with me and act like I was competing with him, and then turn it on and slowly guide my wrist back the other way to a slow and painful defeat. As I got stronger, I finally got to where I could keep us in a dead heat for a while, before I guess his 'old man strength' would kick in, and he'd outlast me. I think I was 19 or 20 years old before I could finally beat my 'old man' in arm wrestling, and by then I had to get bigger than him to do it. Yep - my dad was always what I thought of when I tried to picture being a strong man.It's funny as the years go by, looking back on the way you saw the world. But I think it is safe to say that I learned a few things from my father. After all, something made my own son pick out that very Father's Day card with those same words. Something made an impression on my boy along the way that somehow, if not for a moment, made him think of his own 'old man' when he saw those words. Am I being a little melodramatic? Sure, but then again, I once knew another good, wise, and strong 'old man' who, once you cracked the tough outer shell on the outside, could sometimes write a letter to bring you to tears.If you are a father, and you took the time to read this - please don't take those times with your children for granted. Make the most of them while you can. I know I certainly will try, and I had one hell of a role model to set the example. Happy Father's Day to my 'old man', and to all the other good, wise, and strong fathers out there.

Idolatry and Adultery

It's safe to say adultery has been a common problem in today's society. Don't believe me? Look at divorce rates. Not only have a lot of marriages ended in divorce, but aside from financial situations and irreconcilable differences, spouses cheating on their husband or wife has resulted in the end of the relationship more times than I care to count. And wouldn't you know it, but God gave us a commandment not to cheat on our spouse; You chall not commit adultery. Funny how that works; it's almost like He knew it would get us into trouble. Divorces have led to the breakdown of family values, and the justification of all sorts of behaviors that at one point or another have been found to be taboo. But I digress.While I am on commandments, God also told us not to put any other gods before Him. I may be going out on a limb here, too, but maybe He knew what would transpire once His people ventured too far off course, and turned to other things besides Him to fix their worries and pass their time. Instead of striving to have a relationship with God, people have made their own gods for generations. Money, fame, other people they looked up to and admired... zip forward to modern times - television, radio, internet, their own ideology; all have become idols to many of us over the eons. I include myself as part of the problem, for I am as flawed as all other human beings. But that is why God gave us His Son. He knew we would fall short; He knew something had to happen to make up for our shortcomings, and Jesus paid that ultimate price.But does that mean we shouldn't address the problem? Of course not. We who believe should strive to have wholesome relationships with our spouses, so that those outside our faith can wonder, 'what is that couple doing right that makes them so content with one another?' Believers such as myself should also strive to make the "American Gods" like television, radio, and the internet, be a much smaller priority in life than our time we actually spend with God.God wanted our relationship with our spouse to be parallel to the relationship the Church is supposed to have with Jesus Christ. And for all the men out there, as sexist as this may start to sound, I think God gave us Jesus as the perfect example of what kind of bride groom to be for our significant other - humble, loving, caring, supportive, protective, and sacrificial. Throughout the New Testament, despite being the Son of God, fulfilling hundreds of years of prophecy, Jesus is always depicted as having humble character, and humble beginnings. He faced the ultimate humility for mankind at the cross. Of course Christ is loving, and His love was shown through what He did for us, but also in how He showed love to His disciples. Christ cared enough about his disciples to calm the storm when they were all frightened out on the Sea of Galilea, and He cared enough to heal the sick and wounded. Jesus showed His support for His friends when He would offer reassuring words to those who were worried about their loved ones when they came to fetch Jesus, and were worried He may not make it back to their loved ones in time. Jesus was protective of the people, when He expressed His frustration with the tax collectors at the Temple and turned over the tables. And Christ Himself demonstrated the perfect sacrifice when He gave all for a debt He did not owe.What if husbands did the same for our wives? I know I try to do all these things for my wife, but I also know I fall short. But I keep trying, and I know it will be something that I have to keep pursuing; keep persevering through, just as we should pursue our relationship with our heavenly Father. Of course, wives out there, this doesn't mean you're off the hook. God leaves pretty specific directions for you in the New Testament as well. "Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." Does this mean wives must be doormats? Not at all, but if husbands follow Christ's example, and wives simply show respect even when they disagree with the husband, things will usually work out in peaceful accord. A side note here... I am a police officer, and I have witnessed what happens when a spouse discovers their husband or wife just cheated on them. I have responded to scenes where jealousy led to some unfortunate decisions on the part of both parties. And jealousy has been the root cause of everything from a spouse going to jail, to a spouse killing their spouse, a lover, and even themselves. Jealousy is a dangerous force, and we should not trifle with it, so why open up the door for it by being unfaithful?Now take that a step further with our relationship with God. Although Jesus came because we are flawed and imperfect, God does tell us that He is a jealous God. So even if He may not smite us when we do place other things higher in priority than we do Him, consequences still may catch up to us, and God will stay out of the way of those consequences.Have you ever stopped to think about either one of these two major concepts? How much time do you devote to God? Where does He fall in your priority list? I am guilty of not placing Him first sometimes; I might as well pray that He keeps my heart grounded and reminds me sometimes of how short I may fall. How do you treat your husband or wife, for those of you out there who are married? God gave us some basic instructions, and great examples. Seek the answers to questions you may have on how to worship, and how to treat your spouse, and God will reveal these things to you.Just this guy's two cents.

Thou Shalt Not Kill

Another translation: You shall not commit murder. This is pretty straight forward at first glance. And how many problems in history could have been averted if this commandment had been followed? But this one commandment is loaded.Although death is but a fleeting moment in the great big span of eternity, whether you spend it in hell or with our eternal Father, death is something that ends life - and as so many of us know, life is precious. If God wanted us to decide who lives and who dies, does that not set humanity up to put themselves in positions of power, only to have that power go to their heads? God doesn't have to worry about that; if He smites us in the Old Testament, He doesn't need a power trip - He is ALL POWERFUL! But if it is not God letting the fallen world take its course, but mankind deciding who lives and who dies...well I think it is safe to say, if we have total say in the matter, we are destined to fail this world and find ourselves extinct. Might as well listen to the almighty God who, as usual, gave us a commandment for our own good.Don't get me wrong. I have a confession to make; I have always had a warped fascination with violence, and death, and fighting... in a fantasy sense. And that doesn't make it right. But I picked my own personal drawing from back in my teenage years, the one shown above, because I think it represents one symbol of death all of us have seen in movies or read about in stories; the assassin. I know that killing is wrong, because God tells us so. I know many reasons why it is wrong. Yet the sinful side of my imagination does not try to run from the thought. Of course, I pray I never, ever, have to take someone's life. But at the same time, I think that society has taken life for granted, and therefore people think such ideas like someone wanting to kill you is pure fantasy when it comes to themselves, personally. And yet the widespread terrorism throughout the world today, or the classic style of mobsters using hitmen, or criminals searching for retribution, or soldiers fighting other soldiers and being forced to kill, is all very real. So why do we do it? Is there ever a good reason to kill, especially when God specifically and very plainly said Don't Do it?What are some reasons people commit murder? Why does anyone stoop to the level of evil of taking another person's life? I wanted to jot down some thoughts, and just get your mind thinking about the issue.First of all, we will dive right into my apparent obsession - assassins. Are they real? Do they exist today? Well, let's see...if Osama bin Laden was killed the way we have been told, then the short answer: yes. And we have all sorts of evidence that assassins have been used for various reasons by people of wealth or people in powerful stations in life throughout history. But why? Why be an assassin? Since I try to find out what goes on in the minds of assassins, reading actual thoughts in research, or watching documentaries about hitmen for the mafia, I have seen some of the things that make them tick. But I think one thing essential to the personality of an assassin is the mindset that consequences mean very little to a killer who has perfected the practice of killing. In other words, the assassin doesn't feel like they are really taking that much risk with what they do in the grand scheme of things, because they have already made their mind up that consequences will just happen, or they won't; they will either get caught, or they won't; they will either meet their match, or not. And this boldness, though not to be admired, is still fascinating to me because the more success the assassin has, the greater their confidence, and the more dangerous they become. But make no mistake about it; the assassin trade it utterly evil. There is a reason why I made the main character of my first novel an assassin. But there is also a reason why I tried to show that I was not condoning his actions by the title - Misguided. Of course assassins are not the only dealers of death.Then you have people who commit murder out of jealousy, or people who commit murder out of retribution, or people who commit murder out of anger. Crimes of passion, death delivered from people's lack of control of their emotions either in the heat of the moment, or because they have been consumed by the onset of such emotions; these can happen on an impulse, or they can be pre-meditated. I have a hard time understanding how someone could lose total control when I think of most of the cases of these crimes of passion, but it isn't my place to judge. Oh sure, I have lost control of my own temper, and I have hurt someone out of anger. However, I don't feel like I have ever been wronged enough by any one person to begin to understand what might spur someone else to commit an atrocity like murder. Who really knows what evil they may be capable of, when according to the Bible, we have all fallen to sin? But can we really condone any of these actions? What about those that kill in the name of their religion? Well, of course, true religions like Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism - they actually do not condone killing in the name of God, or a god, these days. The exception to the rule, along with let's face it - cults - is Islam. I know, I know, the PC people out there are going to say there are moderate Muslims. Yes, that is true. But if you look at the history, and read the Quran yourself, and know what Muhammad said, then you won't need much time to realize that the 'radical' version of the religion is the one where violent jihad is NOT condoned. The original teachings and the Quran itself tell quite a different story from modern day proponents of Islam, and the very nature of the religion, whether you're a terrorist who commits violence or not, has a very coercive influence on followers. And that coerciveness comes in the form of law, and government, if true Islam is to be obtained. Good old Sharia Law. One could easily suggest that putting such pressure on individuals to be so religious and pursue piety, simply because of man's sinful nature and the impossibility of the task to be without sin, would force people to conform to a radical ideology where if people do not believe what they are supposed to believe, they must die. Since cults are really the only other place in society where such coercion is found, one could also easily suggest that Islam happens to be the world's largest cult. Oh dear, I've said too much. Oh well, truth hurts...especially the terrorists. So why do terrorists do what they do? Well, besides the fact that their tactics are quite effective at causing terror, they are also coerced into their deeds. Coercion is powerful, and also unethical. Basically you are using overwhelming influence to make someone feel like they no longer have a choice. Coercion is the simple reason for the Miranda rights for citizens in the US; to protect Joe citizen from coercion by law enforcement.Then you have War. War has been around since there were enough men to fight one. Wars have existed and occurred for all sorts of reasons, but the main reason they happen is because of disagreement. Is war murder? Not in the pre-meditating sense, but that doesn't mean that killing someone in war is a good thing. It may, in an instant, be necessary to preserve the life of another. But how does one justify one life taken for another, other than camaraderie and brotherhood - in the eyes of God? Heavy thing to think about, I know. It is one of the reasons I empathize with soldiers and Marines. It is one of the reasons I couldn't push myself to take that final step and voluntarily sign that dotted line for Uncle Sam; because I knew there would be that chance that not only might I have to kill someone, but I would feel like I had to do it for the sake of my brother. And although I could do that, how do we really make sense of it in the great big picture, because some powers that be of one side had a disagreement with powers that be of another? Please don't misunderstand me. I think because of the strong bonds of brotherhood that I know I would form with other men or women, I could act. But the answer to the question of 'is it right', in the eyes of God...that would be the conundrum. I know what I would do, and even why, but that doesn't make it right. I guess what I am saying is that I know I'd gladly take that shot if it means saving my brother. But I also know that I will just have to answer for that death to my Maker. I'd tell God what I did and why I did it, but who am I to know the mind of God and how He'd look at me afterward...if not for the blood of Jesus Christ? No, I think war is ugly. I think war is wrong. I didn't take the time to research on this small part of the blog post, but even if I participated, I would know in my heart of hearts that death would not please God. Otherwise, why would He put us here?What about those people out there who simply kill out of malice? Those folks who just kill because it pleases them to do so? Well, I think we can assume Satan has a special hold on those people, and I cannot begin to tell you why they exist, only than to maybe bring to light ways God still overcomes evil, no matter how evil that killer may seem. But this is not as common as some people may think, and I think there is a reason for that. Satan only has so much control, and I think God likes to remind him of that every so often.Speaking of reminders, what about those who do act in protection or preservation of the life of another, such as police officers, or certain security or bodyguards? Is this kind of killing, keeping a killer from killing someone else, and acting to eliminate a threat by putting it out of commission, seen as evil in the eyes of God? Although as usual, I think it is situational, I think that our God is also an understanding God. But I also think we may use the right or authority to protect as an excuse too often. I know just from training, research, and second hand knowledge passed to me from fellow officers who have experienced it, that there are times where the only thing that will protect and stop a threat is the killing of a violent or deadly enough perpetrator. But I also have learned, through additional training, and even being blessed to have as friends officers who have somehow, in the heat of the moment, when a subject had the means to kill another individual, those officers were still somehow able to de-escalate the situation enough to where deadly force was averted. I cannot tell you how blessed my life has been by getting to know so many people now who live to protect others, and I am honored to be able to work alongside them. But I also know that I will continue to pray that I never have to be the officer who has to kill someone else, in order to preserve another. I can only imagine the stress and regret and guilt. And although I think in many of these situations, God may not see the 'street justice' of the violent criminal as an evil action by the officer who fired the shot, I doubt very seriously that it is pleasing. Go back to what I keep saying; there is a reason why God told His people not to do certain things. And my how the consequences have followed from our disobedience.You shall not kill, He said - and He said it for a reason. So whether one is a terrorist, an assassin, a jaded lover, a police officer, or a serial killer - if you are a killer, your actions may seem justified to you...but in the end, God will be the judge.Told ya...loaded commandment.

Lying, Cheating, No-Good-for-Nothin'...

“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor."----Exodus 20:16It can be assumed that if one chooses to commit the above, they choose to in order to deceive the person to which they are giving testimony. So a broader definition of this commandment can be phrased, 'You shall not deceive', or 'you shall not tell a lie'. Some translations will say something along the lines of 'you shall not bear false witness', or 'Do not tell lies about others.' One can see how lies can get each and everyone of us in trouble. I am sure all of us, at one point or another, told some kind of story just to try to avoid getting in trouble, or facing consequences we knew were coming, should we get caught. Kind of sounds like a pretty major story in history, doesn't it?Of course this commandment implies God's displeasure with lying to cover for someone else, or lying to implicate someone else even when they are not guilty. But there are references and lessons throughout the Bible where it is just blatantly obvious, dishonesty brings about nothing but trouble. And this dishonesty was brought about by both lying and/or ommission of the truth. In the Bible, besides the famous blameshifting of everyone's favorite first man, Adam, take a look at Cain and Abel. Cain murdered his brother, and when God questions him about it, he ommits the truth by saying, "How should I know? Am I my brother's keeper?"When we answer a direct question with a question, that can raise doubts to the questioner. If we know we did something wrong, and we deny it by just hoping nobody finds out we are the guilty party, that is just as dishonest as telling an outright lie.For example, when I was a teen, I saw this little cat walking along the side of our back yard deck, outside my bedroom window. I thought I would knock on my window to startle the cat, well, because I didn't like cats. As my knuckles hit the brittle glass (still not sure if cold weather from the dead of winter had anything to do with that or not), the small section of window pane shattered right out into the bushes in the back yard. Instead of telling anyone what I did, I used some pages of a magazine and patched up the little section. The pages I patched over happened to be similar in color to the shutters on my window. I intentionally chose to keep those shutters closed, so nobody would be the wiser. My parents would come in and out of my room for different occasions, and finally my dad went in one day and noticed a draft of cold air. Mind you, this was after a few weeks. I was somewhere else in the house when I heard my dad call out, "Jason Edward Fort?!?!?!"I went to my room, knowing in my heart, my blunder had been discovered. Let's just say, it was not what I would call a blessed confrontation. Dishonesty didn't pay. Looking back, I really wish I had just told my dad what happened right when I did it. Did I mention that this section of broken window had just been replaced previously due to a golf ball being hit through it? That's another story.So you see how this lying thing, or omission of the truth works, right? Look at our own government, or any government for that matter. What happens when this leader, or group of leaders, chooses their own reputation or agenda over the concerns of the nation? What happens when they sacrifice honesty to achieve their desires and agenda? What happens to the relationships with constituents? What happens with support from the people who voted them into office? And I do not mean for one side or the other, or partisan situations. I mean the overall corruption that has been prevalent within governments the world over for a long time now. Just like my references to other commandments so far, God knew what He was doing when He told us not to give false testimony. God told us through Jesus, He is the way, the Truth, and the Light. If He is Truth, then He is not lies. If He is Truth, than He does not and will not deceive. And who is the opposite of God? Who is otherwise known as the Great Deceiver? Satan himself.Ask yourself, what lies have you told? What truth have you withheld. Take it up with God. Pray about it. Confess your sins. In the end, you will realize honesty doesn't pay. But if you continue a lie, you cheat the truth...and at that point, what good are you doing anyone?