Shrimp Scampi Oxymoron

I just had Shrimp Scampi for dinner at a friend's house. My friend asked if I liked my favorite meal.

"Favorite meal? What do you mean?" I asked. Then my friend reminded me that I used to delight in buying Shrimp Scampi from Trader Joe's for Bodine family dinners.

Wow. That was more than ten years ago! Amazing that my friend would remember how much I used to enjoy that. My ebullience back then must have made quite an impression. How sad that the death of a family can kill your memories so subtly. I had totally forgotten how much I used to enjoy buying Shrimp Scampi for the Bodines (had to buy a few boxes at a time), how much I used to enjoy bringing it for dinner. But today, it holds no special memories for me, to the point that, perhaps as a coping mechanism, I had forgotten it all.

See, the Bodine family used to invite me to overnight with them before Sunday worship. Under their father's headship, they were very hospitable and often entertained guests. The high point of the visit, at least for me, would be family dinner.

I know most American families have lost sight of  family dinner, where the entire family sits around the table, prays together, eats together and fellowships together. But the Bodines would always begin dinner by reciting a memory Scripture verse for the week. It was always refreshing to be at the Bodine household.

In fact, I always thought that was oxymoronic. And I told others so. See, the Bodine's had seven children. Yet it was always refreshing to visit the Bodines. Refreshing with seven children? Yes, even with seven children.

Now, in my family, we only had three kids. But we were not Christian and I would never describe being with our family as "refreshing." (I admit, a lot of that was due to me, my sin. I wasn't a believer in those days.) We were the typical American family, full of discord and disrespect. I suppose it was somewhat merciful that we never entertained guests. But the Bodine family was Christian. Or at least the kids were raised Christian and, under their father's headship, were orderly and respectful.

Under their father (with Mrs. Bodine and older children willingly helping), the children were always well mannered, and always very friendly. Words cannot describe the joy I felt as we would talk around the table, laugh about my special words (like "pejorative") or my Monty Python-like screechy imitation of  a woman friend of mine. They would graciously make me the center of attention at dinner and I would steer the conversation around to all the children, asking them how they would apply the Word of God to various situations in life. What a wonderful, wonderful time of fellowship. Mrs. Bodine even quoted Scripture, reminding me once that "The two shall become one flesh." (Ha! Apparently she never really believed that.) Their oldest seemed wise beyond her age and carried herself well. (Apparently an illusion too.) Even the youngest was well behaved, thanks to family discipline, and rarely threw tantrums.

But, I'm sad to say, those days are gone. The Mrs. Bodine we knew (or thought we knew) is gone, never ever to come back to us again.

Ordinarily, old memories are cheerfully remembered or at best forgotten. But these memories are painful now.

It's not just the emptiness death leaves in its wake that makes the memories painful now. We can remember the fun times we had with people who have departed as a result of natural means. But here, Mrs. Bodine has been replaced with the overtly evil Melody Thomas-Morgan. The current reality has killed off the pleasant memories, illusionary though they were, never to be revisited or relived again.

See, as often happens in divorce, while Mrs. Bodine was dying, she poisoned the children. She poisoned them against God, against their father, their grandfather, and others. She took her children with her. As of this writing, it appears most of the children (at least the daughters) are still with her in death. (Spiritually speaking, for those of you who aren't Christian and are taking 'death' literally.)

While I believe in confession of sin and restoration, none of the kids have been forthcoming. (I would have heard.) Nor am I optimistic that any of the older will be resuscitated. See, the longer you remain in sin, the likelier seared your conscience. So for now, the Bodine family—what little remains—is just like every other godless American family. They're normal. Worldly. (Carnal.) No more reciting of Scripture verses before dinner.

Ironically, that's exactly what the late Mrs. Bodine intimated she wanted during her divorce trial. Now she has it. (As the saying goes, "be careful what you pray for. You just might get it." And there's some Scriptural basis for that saying.)

Well, at least the kids don't present an oxymoron anymore. No more fellowship with them around a meal anymore. Instead, as they are now, they make Jesus want to vomit.

Me too.

Talking about death IS constitutional

I plan to develop this post more later, but for now, a "Melody Thomas-Morgan" posted in the local Prescott newspaper that "death threats are unconstitutional." She is wrong.

Turns out that the Ninth Circuit recently ruled that one can talk about the death of another, even talk about 50 caliber bullets and a candidate for President of the United States, but that is Protected Speech under the First Amendment. See this article, "Threatening To Kill Then-Candidate Obama Is Protected Speech."

Now, I would never condone threatening to kill someone. But if such a threat is protected speech under the First Amendment, then surely other speech that someone might not like—for example, suggesting someone might have committed the sin of adultery—must also surely be protected under the First Amendment.

I remember someone explaining this to cheating judge Mary Hamm at an Injunction Against Harassment hearing. Our guys said,

Yes, ma'am, since Mrs. [Melody] Bodine just opened the door for religion and God, and the Court has shut me down each time, but you've allowed her to go, I would like to state for the record, ma'am, that this is a very dangerous First Amendment issue. The Court knows from the evidence submitted that I am a Christian evangelical minister.

Yes, it is my job to tell people unpleasant things in the name of God. I have not threatened anyone with any physical violence. That would be un-Christian and un-Biblical.I have, as Mrs. Bodine said, I have not approached her at all. I've been very circumspect because I believe in Biblical headship to stay out of her marriage. It's not my place. Where others have gone to rebuke her, long time family friends, I have not.

It seems to me that we're on a very dangerous edge here of First Amendment, not just freedom of speech but freedom of exercise of religion. It is my religious duty as an evangelist, and as a Christian who loves other Christians, to warn people when they err. That is in the Bible, the Bible is full of people rebuking. In fact, it's a command in both the Old and the New Testament that we are to rebuke our neighbors when they were in sin and error.

Rebuking for sin may be uncomfortable. We do it because we love others. We believe they are on their way to hell if they do not repent.

Yes, sometimes you get punched in the face because you tell people the truth. That is not harassment.

It would be harassment if they said, "I don't want to hear it anymore." Mrs. Bodine has never approached me, and never needed to because I never approached her, and told me, "Don't talk to me. Don't come near me." I never have, and she has testified to that.

Have I written to others about her? Yes. I could write my comments about, pardon me, but the judge on her website. That is not harassment I'm entitled to my opinions, as unpleasant as they may be to some.

Wow! How prophetic! I could be a judge in the Ninth Circuit! (I read in the Bible I will be a judge someday. Might as well start practicing now.)

Yet the cheating judge Mary Hamm pulled out the ol' stupid "You can't cry fire in crowded theater" analogy.

I say she is "Off Point."

There is currently a federal civil rights lawsuit against judge Hamm for this.

Hey, judge Hamm? You've been overruled.

Food Stamp fraud and First Baptist of Prescott

There's been a lot of local (and national) news about food stamp fraud in Arizona. And that made me remember a similar fraud perpetrated on all the good saints at the First Baptist Church of Prescott, Arizona.

You need to know two things. First, the late Melody Bodine, who had served divorce papers on her husband, went to their church (First Baptist) and told them her husband was starving her and their family. And so, without investigating further, the good saints at the First Baptist Church there in Prescott started giving Mrs. Bodine food.

Now, wouldn't you think the first thing the good saints at the First Baptist Church in Prescott should have done was to gone to Mr. Bodine to see if he was indeed starving his wife? If he was, they should rebuke him. If he wasn't, they should rebuke her. They did not investigate.

As many of you men can probably identify when your wives leave, it turns out that poor Mr. Bodine was going deep into debt paying the mortgage on the family home, his new rental, family insurance, giving his wife money for FOOD, paying for her and his attorneys, etc.

It turns out that the late Mrs. Bodine was a little crazy (her attorney said so in court). She had developed a lie that she had to "protect herself financially" from her husband.

Hmmm... what was it God said about "The love of money"? Actually, at trial it came out that her husband had made the mistake of listening to her in their later financial decisions, going into debt via interest only loans. The former judge hinson called it a "scheme."

In her weird obsession, after thrusting her husband from her, she decided that she needed to be debt free, and tried to pay off all her credit card debt. All at once. And that's what she did. Which left none of the money Mr. Bodine was sending her for food. Even her kids were suffering.

And this despite money she took from him. It appears she forged her husband's signature on their joint Vanguard account and stole their money there. (That the money was gone is not at issue. It stands to reason she forged his signature to get it.) And she allegedly stole his piano (sole and separate property before marriage?) selling it for cash after asking for a few more days to move property from the family domicile she had earlier abandoned. What a piece of work.

But "starving?" Even if true (she didn't look any thinner to me), that was her own doing. I recall her acknowledging in court after she left her husband that one of the major financial decisions at issue that day wasn't reasonable.

So she filed an emergency application for food stamps. I have a copy somewhere. At issue is whether the form was fraudulent. There is some question about whether she truthfully reported the money her husband was giving her and some question as to how many dependents she claimed were in the house at the time. (She had kicked out one of her daughters and one had left sometime during this time.)

The other thing you need to know is that God, in the Bible, is quite specific about burdening the church with supplying food to women who claim to be starving. Specifically, God commands

Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.No widow may be put on the list of widows unless she is over sixty, has been faithful to her husband, and is well known for her good deeds, such as bringing up children, showing hospitality, washing the feet of the saints, helping those in trouble and devoting herself to all kinds of good deeds. As for younger widows, do not put them on such a list.

First, notice this applies only to widows. Mrs. Bodine was not a widow, but a married who had served papers on her husband. (i.e. was in sin). Second, Mrs. Bodine had a family. Even if her husband was really starving her, her kids could have gotten part time work to buy food for their poor, starving mother. Nor, apparently, did Mrs. Bodine tell the good saints at First Baptist about her sugar daddy. (Literally. Her rich dad. How could she buy a house while on food stamps?) Third, Mrs. Bodine was not over 60. Nor was she faithful to her husband. (Even if she hadn't committed adultery, she left him. That's not being faithful to God or her husband) At one time, I would have said Mrs. Bodine was known for good deeds, bringing up the children right (even spanking them Karen Sullivan !), showing hospitality, etc. But as God said in Ezekiel 18, when you go to the dark side, all your good deeds are forgotten.

Did the good saints at the First Baptist Church of Prescott obey God's command here?

No.

May the Lord judge them and remove their lamp stand.

Hurray for the First Amendment + Bad Phoenix Cops

I'm late posting this (in Internet time, anyway), but do you remember the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month upholding the First Amendment and our right (among other things) to free speech? Freedom to exercise religion too, as the instant case was about both, Fred Phelps' group's right to exercise their religion by exercising their free speech. (As here.)

Free speech, even if considered "hateful" by some, is a cherished right in our county. (Unless your name is judge Mary Hamm. Then you believe free speech is "dangerous" and you cheat, engaging in ex parte communication to silence people with bogus Injunctions based on what you "imagine.") The Westboro Baptist case about free speech was so obvious, it's sad it had to all the way to the Supreme Court to be sustained with a 7 to 1 vote.

Even a legal group associated with Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, Liberty Council agrees, saying

Sanctions such as the civil damages pose a significant threat to First Amendment freedoms by chilling the very kind of controversial speech our Founding Fathers sought to protect. Liberty Counsel does not endorse the message contained in the protesters’ signs and other communications and even expressly condemns the offensive tactics of Fred Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church and the content of their rhetoric. However, Liberty Counsel stands with the Founders in supporting the right of protesters and other citizens to present messages of their choosing, even offensive messages, without the chilling effect of tort or other liability or governmental censure.

As another example of protected free speech, see the blog badphoenixcops. While I applaud the spirit of badphoenixcops, their language, photos and style are very coarse. And while it's true that unless you repent, you'll pay in hell, it's not my place to give you hell. So my blogs aren't as abusive as theirs.

Anyway, these guys have targeted now former Phoenix police chief Jack Harris (among others) in a relentless negative publicity campaign. (So the First Amendment right for redress of grievances is invoked too.) To the point that they have achieved "critical mass," where police officers from inside the Phoenix PD anonymously sent photos, tapes, memos, tips, etc. Someone from within the Phoenix PD even left a nice present at their door.

As a result of their blog (in part), Jack Harris finally left office.

So hurray for free speech. The funny (ironic) thing about free speech is that those who would silence our free speech (generally those on the Left) are the same who say anything they want about us who are right, as in Wisconsin Union protests and Chris Matthews on Hardball.

Sex in the City (of Scottsdale)

I still can't get over the amazing parallels in my new found brother's story (Brian) about his ex-wife and my friend's late wife, Mrs. Bodine. Specifically, Brian's wife decided to commit adultery when she decided to divorce her husband. Women, is this typical? Never having been married myself, and never having known anyone as a long time friend who divorced before, I'm new to all this and still shocked. So you tell me.

Let me tell you a story and you tell me what you think happened. Let's say a couple is having marital problems and, right or not, they decide to try so-called "marriage counseling." (It's not right. The remedy is to confess your sins to each other, get your eyes back on God and move forward. But that assumes you're both Christian.)

And let's say that one of the things the marriage counselor draws out of the husband is that, deep down, he doesn't really trust his wife. (I don't know if that was always the case or recent as their problems rose to the surface.)

And let's say that his wife, upon hearing that, goes absolutely bonkers. She drove home like a wild woman, almost suicidal, at about 100 miles an hour. See, she believes she's a "trustworthy woman." (Actually, I would learn later that she never really trusted him, always worried about money, so maybe there's some "projecting" going on here? In any event, it's a pride problem. The proper response would have been to ask "Why don't you trust me?" listen to the answer, and try to repair the perceived or real problem.)

When they get home (without killing anyone on the road thankfully) she takes some "mad money" (2nd definition) and runs away for a few days over a weekend, not telling anyone where she's going, leaving everyone (dad and the kids) in a lurch.

It turns out she ran to a resort in plushy Scottsdale, Arizona.

Now, what do you suppose this raging woman did that weekend? Her husband said he didn't trust her, huh? Well, maybe she'll give him good reason not to trust her.

After she came back, she immediately cut her hair short. Could be Providentially Biblical. (i.e., "like a prostitute.") And she wore these goofy baseball-like caps for a long time. Shortly after that, she filed papers against her husband, got the older kids to swear out false testimonies about their dad, convinced him to move out of the house, changed the locks and got an Order of Protection against him.

Women, you tell me. What do you think happened at that fancy resort in Scottsdale? Have you done it? Know anyone who has?

Feel free to leave a comment. You can remain anonymous in you post.

Poisoning the children, with the court's blessings

I was talking to a total stranger last night (Hi, Brian) who turned out to be a brother! A brother in the Lord, that is.

Like the late Mrs. Bodine, Brian's wife had also shown her true colors. After many years of marriage (15), she broke her marriage vow before God and divorced her husband. She even committed adultery beforehand to "seal the deal."

That will be creepily parallel in another post. I'm finding that the more I hear about women leaving their husbands, the more creepily parallel these things are. I should have asked Brian if she did it with someone in his church.

Interestingly, wives, the Christian husbands I've talked to would have been willing to forgive you for that sin, even though, Biblically, your husband has the option to not take you back for that. But of course, as with God forgiving your sin, you need to ask first.

Brian also told me how mom had poisoned the mind of the children against him, Even to the point of making damning allegations in court, which were all proven to be false. (But not at the cost of several hundred thousand dollars. He was able to afford justice for the rich.)

Unfortunately, neither judges nor the police act when a woman lies in court or in a police report. Which only encourages more lying in court and in police reports by women. (Over the years, I had observed Mrs. Bodine becoming more embolden in her lies under oath.)

Remember the woman who lied in the Duke Lacrosse Rape case? She was never prosecuted for falsifying a police report.

And while I'm speaking about accountability, neither was the Prosecutor, Mike Nifong, ever held accountable for violating the civil rights of the three actual victims. There it was a case of "absolute immunity corrupts absolutely." See my blog about criminal prosecutors.

Fortunately in Brian's case, his children, after a few years of listening to mom's lies, finally saw the truth. His children have reconciled with him, his daughter even bursting out in tears one day, asking her father to forgive her for the things she had falsely said about him in court. (Although, thanks to the court system interfering in the family, mom still has custody of the kids.)

The only antidote for this type of poison is love. Unfortunately, it often takes time to act and the one poisoned has to be willing to take the antidote.

That story of mom poisoning the children reminded me of something Rush Limbaugh said way back in 2007 when Alec Baldwin's ex wife (Kim Basinger) taped and "leaked" an angry, frustrated voice mail Mr. Baldwin left his daughter. I sent a CD of this to former judge hinson to help him understand the dynamics of family law when Mrs. Bodine had begun poisoning her children and using the court to leave her husband. (What is the State doing in your marriage and family anyway? But that's a discussion for a different time.)

Whether you love or hate Rush doesn't change the veracity of his observation from years of life. Here's a short version of his observation about mom's in custody battles.

Harassment, Unequal Justice & Angry White men

It's "funny"-in a sad way. We're told we live in a country with "Equal Justice Under Law." It even says so on the United States Supreme Court building.

Of course, Blacks and Hispanics know that's not true. Especially older Blacks from the Deep South. And now I, as a white man, am finding that Orwell was right. "Equal justice for all" is just an illusion in our country. Equal justice isn't even the law anymore! For the law now says women have more rights than men.

Consider my friend's plight. (Also a white man.) After his wife, Mrs. Bodine, clandestinely moved out of their primary residence (without telling him... it came out serendipitously in court. And here he is, dropping the children off unknowingly to an empty house (where they pretend they are still living) and worse, here he is, trying to make mortgage payments on an empty house while he's spiraling into debt), he eventually moved back into their house, thinking that would be best for the family when they reunited. (At the time, Mrs. Bodine was leading Mr. Bodine on about how she was willing to be reconciled. She was lying from the start. It was just a ploy to buy time. Men, if your wife is leaving you, watch for this lie. You'll want to believe it, but actions speak louder than words.)

Shortly after moving back in (and finding she took all the door knobs!), someone called the local power company, claiming to be Mr. Bodine and had the power turned off to the house. Twice!

Now, who do you suppose knew the account number info for the electrical utility and all the other identifying information? And who would have motive (i.e., spite) to do such a thing just after Mr. Bodine moved back in?

After the second time, he called the cops. For you see, in Arizona, interfering with the delivery of any public or regulated utility to a person is Harassment, a Class 1 misdemeanor. (Wouldn't it be ironic if their oldest son, who is now a cop, made the calls?)

Now, when Mrs. Bodine would call the cops, the Prescott Police would come running at the drop of their hats. Whether there was a valid claim or not. Even if she falsified a police report. However, when Mr. Bodine would call the cops... well, you see, he's a man. He's not a protected person, like his wife.

The cops (in this case, the Yavapai County Sheriff) didn't do a thing except take a report.

Yeah, that'll teach her.

I can understand why there are Angry White men.

Something's gonna blow one of these days.

As for me, I'll just have to be patient and wait for justice in the next life.

The unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit

It is said (and it is true) that beauty is only skin deep. Women, do you want to become more beautiful with age? Here's the secret: 1 Peter 3:3-5

As an aside, for Christian women reading this, I know some of you are working in a man's world, say as an assistant attorney general or otherwise in the legal profession. I've seen that you have to present some things to Boards (in your job) which are, well, vulgar and shouldn't be said.

While I know the money is good and you may even enjoy your work, is that what God really wants you saying as a woman?

Mr. Rushton's letter to David Knight at First Baptist Prescott

I wrestled last year whether to publish this private letter that I didn't write. But since the late Mrs. Bodine (now known as Melody Thomas-Morgan) and her attorney decided to enter it into the public record (despite 1st Amendment religion protections in our Arizona Constitution), here it is.

This was typical of her attorney's smear campaign against Mrs. Bodine's husband. Former judge Hinson allowed stuff like this over objections. To their credit, Judge Bluff and Judge Hess did not.

Interestingly, even though the Respondent moved to strike for religious and salacious reasons, and even though his motion nor this evidence ever came up in court, it is in the public record anyway. To paraphrase God,"What goes around, comes around."

It's case number DO-20060917 in the Yavapai County (Arizona) Superior Court if you're interested.

Below for downloading is a letter from an elder in a house church the late Mrs. Bodine used to attend with her husband and formerly lovely children. It is from Warren Rushton to "pastor" David Knight and the so-called "Board of Deacons" at the First Baptist Church of Prescott, Arizona. Click on the thumbnails to see the full sized document.

Aside from the fact that the title "pastor" does not appear in the Bible and Jesus despised such titles, this guy is a "music 'pastor'" a double negative.

The wise woman builds her house . . .

. . . but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down. Proverbs 14:1.

Sad story to come. Two (possibly three) lovely daughters have become sluts, engaging in fornication. One son engaging in porn, thanks to his fellow "christian" students at the Christian Academy. (Yes, I saw it on his computer.) Something traumatically wrong with the youngest daughter. What was once a nice house is now a miserable pile of trash.