This Christians View on Trump

When I was about 9 years old, my Grandma Maggie was visiting.  She came into my bedroom, sat on my bed, and told me about Jesus.  My parents were not religious.  We did not go to church.  But when she told me about him, I knew it to be true.

For nearly 60 years now, I have been a believer.  I have gone through seasons of doubt, but I have never stopped believing.  In fact, I believe that God has talked to me.  Not in a way that I actually heard anything, but a strong impression on my heart.  I strongly believe in the power of prayer.  I have witnessed and been given true, inexplicable miracles in my life.  If anyone wants to know about them, just ask.  

I am not a bible scholar.  I have read the bible - to greater or lesser degrees - throughout my life.  Sometimes I understand it.  Sometimes I do not.  But the tenants of my faith are those that would label me as "born again".  I am not ashamed to state that I am a born again Christian.

In 2016 and again in 2024, huge numbers of evangelical Christians supported Donald Trump to lead our
country.  He had the full support of most of our most nationally recognized faith leaders.  I could not understand this.  The thought of Donald Trump as our president filled me with fear.  Like I had put my

 BLASPHEMY!

hand into a bag of spiders.

I understand that the primary reason in 2016 was his alleged stance on abortion as well as his support of Israel.  Not that his opponent was against Israel.  She was not.  But he promised to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, something his predecessors backed away from.  And with that, the Word was spoken, and evangelical leaders followed.  And with them, millions followed.

Trump had much bigger plans but a parade of cabinet members and advisors pulled the reigns in, as best they could.

In 2024, something much more sinister was happening.  Without saying it directly (although many of his supporters did), his campaign rhetoric smacked of messaging to a white, Christian nation.   And out came millions of Christians wearing MAGA hats and t-shirts saying:  Jesus is my Savior.  Trump is my President.  As though the two were a political team.

As Christians, we turn to our faith leaders to help us understand God and His word, and understand how we can honor God with our lives.  But there is a danger leaving all the answers up to our leaders.  Faith leaders are human, and a great many of those who have been most celebrated have fallen in disgrace by the trappings of notoriety, success, and wealth.  They have fallen to hypocritical and immoral behavior.  And haven't we all?  But remember that 1Timothy 3:1-7 is very detailed about what a church leader should look like and when he falls, what should be done.  Yes, we are to sincerely forgive, but those leaders need to be stripped of their leadership and not guide followers to the voting box.

My point is, in faith and in politics - and in life, take responsibility for your own beliefs!  Do the work and seek the truth!!

There are many things that have gone very wrong with this country that need immediate attention and change.  We have immigration problems.  We have corruption.  We have abuses.   And no one denies this.  Trump is a human being.  He is subject to error and mistakes. We are to pray for him.  But let me respond to this presidency from a biblical perspective.

Trump is NOT the new King Cyrus.  He did not create peace in chaos.  In fact, he is creating chaos and alienating our closest allies.

Trump is dismantling our government.   Jeremiah 23:1 says: "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture".   

Trump is surrounding himself with unqualified and dangerous "yes men" and women.  Proverbs 14:7 "Stay away from a fool for you will not find wisdom on their lips".  And to those who confirm these appointees, Proverbs 25:16:  "Like a muddied spring or a polluted well are the righteous who give way to the wicked".

Trump's antipathy toward immigrants and refugees is shocking.  Christians must see this.  Trump has consistently said that immigrants are are drug dealers and rapists and criminals and murderers and "losers" implying that all who come to this country for a better life and/or seek refuge are people to be feared.  Proverbs 16:28: "A perverse person stirs up conflict".  James 4:11-12: "Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another.  Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them, speaks against the law and judges it."  And to those who will not speak up for "the least of these": Psalm 101:5: "Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly, I will destroy".  Remember, the meek will inherit the earth.

Trump is going after anyone who had anything to do with July 6th rioters and his own prosecution and conviction.  Romans 12:9:  "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written 'vengence is mine, I will repay', says the Lord."

Ask yourself, would you have given grace to Biden or Obama and stated that "we forgive", if either of them had made the "grab 'em by the pu**y" comment or had a close friendship with Jeffrey Epstein?

Would you have given grace to Michelle Obama or Jill Biden had they posed naked but for 6 inch heels for publication and would you have defended it by saying that it was "art" celebrating the beauty of God's creation?  I saw the photo.   I don't think God was on anyone's mind.  

And then his blatant lies, tax evasion, misuse of his own charity's funds, non-payment for services, and outright fraud (Trump University).  Really? Y'all are cool with this?

Did I cherry pick scripture?  Perhaps.  But it says what it says.  And I feel I could write a book.

Finally, yes, the bible also says to obey your rulers because God has given them their authority.  But when a leaders is asking us to abide by laws and philosophies and corruption that are not in sync with what God has said, does he expect us to line up with the political leader?  

I think not.  We must resist.  If nothing else, pray for God's will.  And only His.  Do not be deceived.

The Color of Age

Well, after years of professional "couch potato-ing", I was awarded for my lack of effort, with the internationally recognized "double-arm bat wings".  Since then I have upgraded to general loose skin of the arms.

Don't be jealous.

I am by nature a modest person so I normally I wouldn't flaunt such an achievement but in this case, I have never been comfortable in long sleeves so I haven't the wardrobe to conceal it.

There are a few things I can do to partially mitigate the appearance but the years of couch potato-ing has kept me from developing the skills I need to do this.  Namely, exercise.  My husband literally walks around the house, working the muscles in his arms with 15lb weights several times a day so I always figured he was doing enough for both of us.  Imagine my surprise when I found it doesn't work that way.

I have beginner weights - 2 pounders - to help me get started.   Let me tell you - to exercise the biceps, triceps, and myriad of other muscles in the arms is painful and complicated.  Painful because waking them up after years of hybernation is not easy.  Complicated because it requires that you be aware of relaxing every other part of your body and not to strain your neck and back muscles to compensate.  My therapist (yes, I have one), tells me that I am not good at taking care of myself.  So I must continue with this practice.  Tomorrow. 

Completely unrelated but relevant to the topic of my arms, is a brand new development.

I am a very fair skinned individual and to my daily surprise, I am aging.  And seemingly overnight,  I have developed something called - I kid you not - senile purpula.  While not exclusive to fair skinned individuals, if shows up predominantly in people like me.  Mostly effecting arms, hands and legs (and sometimes under your eyes), it is caused when your skin becomes thinner and bruising happens right below he surface.  AND, bruising like this happens very easily.  You often don't have any idea what you did to cause the bruise.  In my case, it appears I get it from breathing.  And the color?  Deep purple!  Never my favorite color.

There is nothing dangerous about this.  But apart from some supplements you can take to help, there is no cure for it.  

So I've got to laugh about it all.

For the most part, I love my life and I do not feel old - even with knee, ankle, and hip surgeries looming in my future (arthritis).  The truth is, while I may not be good at taking care of myself, these things just don't keep me up at night.  Seeing what is naturally happening to my body doesn't make me happy but oh my God - there are so many more important things to worry about.  Like my memory.  And our future.

I have often thought about cosmetic help.  Getting braces again, tummy tuck, breast reduction, neck lift -  all of these have all been on my radar.  In fact, I had my eyelids done about 10 years ago and now they look like they did before the surgery.  Please understand, I am not against these procedures at all!  In fact, I'm not going to say that I will not have any or all of these procedures done sometime in the future but as the years go by, it seems less and less likely.

So to the high school Class of 1975, join me in accepting that our bodies are completely acceptable - warts and all.  We may be seniors but we are not old by a long shot. Focus on health, not youth.  Do what you can toward that end, even if you've just started.  And do not be ashamed to let those bat wings fly!

And in Today's News...

Okay.

I needed to take a day to clear my mind.  

I want to begin by stating that I do NOT intend for this blog to be all about our current administration. But my decision to begin writing again and the start of a second term for the current president,  coincidentally aligned.  When literally daily, the entire nation is seeing and reading the most outrageous edicts and acts of "the-one-who-shall-not-be-named",  its hard to ignore.  

We experienced a national tragedy on Wednesday night.  We lost 67 people in a horrible mid air crash above the Potomac.  In the immediate hours following this event, while the country tried to wrap its mind around the loss of life, dreams, hope, and potential in the worst airplane disaster in decades, this country's leader took the opportunity to take the podium and engage in another of his mind-numbing, self-serving, rambling, non sequitur rants focused primarily on the "fact" that the crash was due to DEI hires.  Before we had ANY information, while we are still waiting for the recovery of all the bodies, before the recovery of any black box, before any information about who was working in the air traffic control tower or whether or not protocols had been followed, when asked by a member of the press how he could conclude the disaster was caused by a DEI hire, the Commander in Chief of our great nation responded: "Because I have common sense".  

Here's some common sense:  If you are a member of ANY minority, prepare yourself.

Simultaneously, we are grappling with pages of Project 2025 directives being launched with a flick of his poisonous pen.

To say nothing of those he wishes to surround himself with: 

As Secretary of Defense: a misogynistic, alcoholic, weekend "entertainment" commentator who has nothing that even nears a genuine education, experience, or qualification for the job,

As Head of the FBI: a proven liar and QAnon consipracy sympathizer, who promises to turn FBI headquarters in to a "Museum of the deep state" who has nothing that even nears a genuine education, experience, or qualification for the job,

As Health and Human Services Director: a former drug addict and aggressive anti-vaxer who stated in his hearing that citizens are unhappy with Medicade because premiums and co-pays we too high, and who apparently has a dead worm in his brain and has nothing that even nears a genuine education, experience or qualification for the job,

As National Intelligence Director: a party-jumping politician with alarming associations with traitors and foreign enemies and has nothing that even nears a genuine education, experience, or qualification for the job,

and so many more!  

And that's the latest news from what just has to be the alternative universe.

Is this Real Life??

As you might imagine, people who publish their thoughts do not publish ALL of them.  I have more drafts in my blog than those I sent out into the universe.  

Such is the case with one I started on November 9, 2016:

It is November 9th, 12:08 a.m.  I haven't written a thing in years.  But I cannot sleep tonight and I felt like going here to try to make sense of what just happened to our country, to my family.  To me.

When it became clear that we were going to elect the most unqualified person I could possibly imagine to lead our country for the next four years, I broke down and sobbed.  I was surprised at the depths from where my sobs came.  And I cried for a good long while.  My husband came and my daughter as well and we all just held each other.  We all cried.

For those who believed Hillary Clinton was "a crook", well, I haven't anything to say to you.  For those of you who believe that Donald Trump is a  brilliant visionary who will lead us into "greatness" and put us all on the road to "winning", well, I have less to say to you.

I truly am frightened about what lies ahead for our nation and the world as a result of this impossible outcome.  We are not "one nation, under God, indivisible".  We are severely divided.  What monsterous moth has been eating away at the very fabric of this country to cause such anger and fear?

So unbelievably, we brought him back, in 2024.

I can hear "delete" clicks as I type this.  You can cancel me,  cancel away.  Perhaps I'm just preaching to the choir.  But something unspeakable is happening to this country.

So much has been said already.  And it truly does feel as though I am dreaming.  In fact, I honestly DO wake up some mornings and turn on the news and suddenly remember, "Wait!  That really did happen"!  And yes, it did.  And even more bizarre, some people - in fact a LOT of people - are actually happy about it.  In fact, some people I love are happy about it.  And frankly, I just don't know what to do with that.

This was not a normal election.  It was many times more cataclysmic than 2016.  Because now, Trump is emboldened.  And he is not making the mistake of hiring reasonably qualified people to fill his cabinet.  The last time around, he hired and fired routinely as soon as his self-proclaimed "Best People"  woke up and said "Oh my God!  What unspeakable hell is this?".  No, this time he is assigning the most important cabinet seats on earth to unqualified, spineless, alcoholic, corrupt lemmings and "yes men" (and women) to help him usher in the end of our Republic.  Just because he can.

During the first week of his presidency, he has used his alarming jagged, maniacal signature to sign a stunning number of executive orders ranging from controversial and compassionless to ruthless, retributive, and unconstitutional.  His juvenile posts from his very own social media site read as though written by a petulant, spoiled, embarrassing 12 year old.  He is fearless this time around, courtesy of the unscrupulous and nefarious "justices" Trump forced onto the Supreme Court by bullying a congress of cowards set on selling their own souls rather than face the possibility of of an election without his "support".  And as a reward, we now have a president who operates above all law.  For those of you who may be offended by my rant, please understand:  The law does not apply to Trump!  Ever!  For anything!  Even Murder.  (And if you don't believe me, google it. )

And I cringe when I hear "all politicians are the same", "all politicians are corrupt", all politicians lie".  Yes, I know.  You want to know HOW I know?  Because all humans have episodes of corruption and all humans lie.  But this corruption and lying is premeditatively designed to take down a most noble experiment of governance.  And our forefathers warned us about what could happen if we voted in a tyrant.  

So when faced with what appears to be a formidable, overwhelming, and unstoppable force, what can we do?  We can fight back.

Final thought:  Beware of normal looking men (and women) who have somehow convinced you of what you need and then promised you everything.  Make sure you ask to see their teeth.

Hello! Is Anybody There?

I decided I wanted to write a little bit again.   So I was thinking: "I can't post on 'Dumping My Purse'!  Its been too long.  It would be too weird."  Then I remembered that "Dumping My Purse" was my site and I can do whatever the hell I want

Me, 2009

 On June 22, 2009, I posted my very first composition on my blog.  I named the blog "Dumping My Purse".  The last time I posted was July 22, 2014.  It has remained dormant for nearly 16 years.  

Yesterday, with a LOT of time on my hands, I re-read quite a number of my posts and in truth, they weren't bad.  Some of them were "meh" but some of them were pretty good.  And a couple of them made me laugh out loud.  I'm not embarrassed by any of them (although they do tend to be lengthy).  So here we go.  Let's see if the old gal still has some chops.

I've spent some time in review.  I have entered into an entirely new "season". (We say "season" now instead of "age" but frankly, no matter the word you use, it all says "old".)

I've posted "then and now" photos of me.  These photos were chosen to make you think: "Wow she looks great!  She's hardly aged!"  I assure you nothing could be further from the truth. The photo from 2024 was attempted about 7 times before it successfully hid a massive double chin.  And while I wore sunglasses in 2009 due to bright sun, the glasses in 2024 are also for cosmetic reasons.  Your eyes may be the windows to your soul but they also rudely scream the ravages of time.  Not that I am ashamed to be my age (ahem) but I'll need a little more courage to reveal exactly how hold I am.  Let's just say I was an adult when big shoulders, big earrings, and big hair were in fashion.  And I wore them all well.  And I learned to type when it was standard that you add two spaces between sentences.  Okay, okay.  I'm 67.

Me, 2024

If you had kids before 2014 when I last posted, like I did, they are all grown and gone now.  Some of us have married, some divorced.  Some re-married.  Some have become grandparents and some are very happily single.  Some have lived the dream, and some have lost it all.  Sadly, some have died. 

Time marches on - for better or worse.  I've had a bit of both.  The best being retirement and a great deal of wonderful travel.  The worst being that my oldest daughter, Amanda, had to go through breast cancer (she is fine now).  I image I will pull from these experiences from time to time as I write.  I still have a lot of things to talk about.  Sadly, brevity is not my strength.  I hope people who choose to read this "season" of blogging will find it entertaining but in truth, at this point in my life, I am writing it for me.  Something to leave behind for my kids someday.

One thing that hasn't changed at all?  My lipstick.  Clinique "Black Honey".  My shade forever.

Next time:  The toad that occupies the White House.

Jane's Breasts

Last week, Jane ("Reconnected", August 6, 2009) had these beautiful photographs of her gorgeous 52-year-old-but-who'd-ever-believe-it body taken.  They were taken as her "before" photos.  This week she will have a mastectomy.  Lurking behind those beautiful breasts are unwanted collections of rogue cells.  She has cancer.

Can't you tell?

Jane wanted pictures taken of her body before her surgery.  When I first saw these photos, the sight of her loveliness so distracted me from the subject at hand that the only thing that crossed my mind was "did mine ever look that good?"

I haven't really spoken with Jane in a while so this news was very jarring.  As I have been reading her inspiring Facebook page (My Journey With Breast Cancer), I have given a lot of thought to Jane and me.  And our breasts.

I have spent a great deal of my adult life being frightened of facing what Jane is facing now.  And one day it could be me as easily as it could be any other woman, so I really tried to put myself in Jane's shoes.  It led me to focus on the importance of a woman's breasts during her life.

We see our breasts every single day of our lives.  I developed modesty about my nipples when I was about 5.  So just think - we had awareness of them even then.  At 11, I realized how much toilet paper it took to fill the space between my flat chest and my mother's bra.  At 12, I prayed that they would start to grow.  Already.  PLEASE!  At 13, when my breast buds started to develop, they hurt and I wondered if I would ever sleep on my stomach again.  At 14, I experienced the power they gave me.  Boys noticed me.  Later in my life, they were an important part of my sexuality.  As a mother, they represented life.  As a woman, they are part of me.  I have dressed to cover them properly while at the same time trying to accentuate them. There is intrigue and mystery and beauty in women's breasts.  It seems to me that if I were to lose them, I would experience true grief.  All women would.

Jane is surely feeling that too.  And I'm sure she is scared and that tears come easily.

It would be easy to be terrified and anxious and angry and paralyzed by news of cancer.  I would struggle with those emotions.  But what Jane seems to have come to terms with is that breast cancer - cells turning against her body - can be treated and overcome.  Ultimately it is temporary. Even for those who die.   What she knows is that the true terror, the real danger is cancer of the spirit.  It is eternal.  From that, Jane is safe.  For Jane, there is no other way: she chooses life.  Big life.  She has embraced this darkness and shed her own, enormous light upon it.  Nothing to fear.  There it is.  And soon it will be gone.  Without her breast, she is undiminished.

It occurs to me that Jane has been going through a season of big purse dumping.  And this week, when her surgery is over, it will be empty.  And pristine.  And she will begin to fill it again.  But with the wisdom of a life she has always to live with joy and courage, she will be selective and purposeful about what goes back in.  Because she knows she is defined not so much by what she carries in her purse, but what she doesn't.  And defeat and sorrow and self pity will not find its way in there.

And that's Jane.

So my prayer for her is that she feels herself comfortably nestled in the palm of God's merciful and loving hand, that His healing breath envelop her, that His spirit fill her and draw her nearer to Him over these next several months, and that she has written on her heart: "For I know the plans I have for you, sayeth the Lord.  Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I'm betting the "after" pictures will be equally stunning.




Jane is going to need a little financial help though - if you feel so inclined, you can give a little at this website:
https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/5345/jane-george-s-breast-cancer-fund

Battle Weary but Back

In the beginning.  No job worries.

I took some time off.   It was a tough year.

Not that everything was bad - it wasn't.  There was a lot of fun stuff too.  But I was on the wrong end of the age and weight spectrum at my job.  And it never occurred to me that that I would ever have to face something like that.

I won't pretend to know what real, lifelong discrimination is about.  I just know what my little year-long struggle was like.  I can't imagine how people survive serious lifelong discrimination without hurting someone.  I guess they have many dreams of retribution.  I did.

We got new management.  I can say without too much hyperbole that the new top dog was as dumb as hair.  Came in and fired just about everyone - but me.  But then came a year of transparent and ridiculous obstacles and attempts to cause me to fail or quit.  I know how corporate structures operate so I knew HR would not be of significant help.  And of course, I was right.   It had nothing to do with performance.  I fought back for nearly a year until they found a way to make sure I would leave.  They changed the requirements of my job.  Suddenly I was required to have more years of experience in the industry than I had.  Nothing I can do about that.  So without notice I was replaced and they moved me over to a position I was not suited for.  In spite of the fact that I was their top producer.

And all the while, they smiled warmly.  Hmmmm.

And that's all there is to say about that.

In walks God, though.  Within three weeks of deciding to surrender, I found myself at a wonderful company that I love.  Management that I love.  Product that I love.  And the package wasn't bad either. I'm into my 4th month there and still feel happy.  Happy about my job.  I had forgotten what that was like.

But for those who never get to the other side of their battle - I don't know what to say.