THE BLAME GAME

Some of you commented on the last post where I said, "facts create feelings"(a person does NOT like a negative fact about themselves because negative facts about ourselves create negative internal feelings; people are then forced consciously or subconsciously, to rewrite the facts in their minds so negative feelings can be avoided). The following is more to this story.

One common response by people when hearing a negative report (about themselves) is to shift the blame, reason or responsibility for the situation onto someone else. (There are certainly countless other responses). No one wants to hear negative things about themselves but reality is reality. One reality in my life is that NO significant life or behavioral change that I had to make was ever my idea. Life changing decisions I have made came by way of someone saying to me, "Bill, you may not want to hear this but..." When it comes to hearing reality about ourselves the image of a lighthouse might be helpful. A lighthouse (a friend who brings you truth) provides ships (you) with a warning of oncoming peril and, a sure direction to safety. The lighthouse never moves off its foundation and out into the water to warn the oncoming ship. The lighthouse, rooted and founded (on 'The Rock of Truth') sends out a message of peril and direction--it is the responsibility of the oncoming ship to either go its own way (to destruction) or, change course.

When hearing negative things about ourselves it is easy to fall into the 'victim role' (poor, poor me; best known as, whining). Caught up in this emotional state people commonly feel powerless, misunderstood or attacked. People would do well to remember what Eleanor Roosevelt once said, 'No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.' When I have needed to receive a healthy dose of reality I have been encouraged by Reinhold Niebuhr's Serenity Prayer that reads, "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."

Bottom line: Resist the blame game and follow Niebuhr's prayer.

Moment of Truth

I have wondered for some time why people, even when confronted with the truth, continue to do things they know are flat out life or relationship or job threatening. When I have been the one to bring the truth about unhealthy behavior or poor choices to a person the bad news has never been new news to the person. For those of you who avoid conflict hear this, the needful truth you bring to someone living unhealthily has either already been heard before or, the person knows that what they are doing is wrong. People who selfishly live life and recklessly roll the dice with others lives need to remember, there is no right way of doing a wrong thing.

This morning I got new understanding to this emotional and relational and spiritually suicidal behavior. First, no one likes to be corrected or disciplined. Period. Being told, 'what you are doing is wrong' ain't fun. (And we all want fun!!). Second, most of us have at least one blind side in our thinking or behavior that we have no idea exists. Someone has said, 'you do not know what you do not know'. Third, there seems to be an unspoken belief system in many people today that says, "I am above the rules" (Bernie Madoff, lest I say more ..ugh!!). This 'above the rules' mentality is voiced with two common sayings: 1) no one will ever know and, 2) no one is getting hurt by this. These three observations are key to unlocking chronic negatived behavior: attitude towards correction, personal self-awareness and arrogance.

So, here is my understanding of why anyone continues to do what they KNOW they should not do. You might want to think about something in your life right now that you think might be wrong.... First, someone brings THE truth along with substantiating facts to you about something that you should not be doing. Here is a key principle, facts create feelings. Jesus taught, "You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free." What Jesus did not say (but I will) is that when anyone of us first hears the ugly truth about ourselves it makes us angry before it sets us free. A dead giveaway that the truth dispenser has hit a nerve with the truth receiver is that the truth receiver often emotionally overreacts, denies, rationally explains (spin) their behavior in great detail or artfully changes the subject. Second, in 'the moment of truth' (confrontation) a person must decide if they are going to change or continue with the "same ol, same ol". Knowing that facts create feelings, the unhealthy person (who does not like the truth) will recreate or reframe the truth in their own mind so that they restore good feelings (which is all about them). Therefore, it is easy for unhealthy people stay in unhealthy behavior because unhealthy people reframe or rewrite their perception of the truth so they can have life, their way. With a changed and faulty perception of reality in place, it is very easy to reengage unhealthy behavior....and the cycle repeats and repeats until there are greater losses that no one can imagine.

Disappontment with Friends

Recently I was disappointed by a person who I thought I knew fairly well. Acting independently, this person told others of a decision they had made, not taking into account that their independent decision could affect the lives of several dozen people close to them (including me). Upon hearing about this decision I did not act like an invincible super-hero action figure (complete with bobble head). I ranted to Kris but for not as long a time as in my earlier years. I want to offer below some ideas that may be helpful to you when you get disappointed by a trusted friend.

First, when you get hurt by someone you trust do everything possible to avoid falling into the victim role. Victims are often quite sincere about how they see their situation but they are often sincerely wrong. Don't forget, on first hearing, a victim's story can sound quite convincing (only to find out later they are filled with deep fried okra). Additionally, experienced victims tend to feed on a steady diet of self loathing, defeatist thinking, run-a-way negative emotions and isolate from healthy sources of help. The victim role can initially pay great dividends (victims love the attention they get from others and, they do not have to do a thing!). Bottom line on victim oriented living: when disappointed by a friend resist defaulting into the victim role. Second, move beyond disappointment from friends by taking action and personal responsibility for your life (don’t just whine about the event or the person). Know you do have choices and options--they are there! I found that when I took action (and it was a small action) for my situation my hope began to get restored. Granted, when someone has been blindsided, betrayed or deeply disappointed it is hard to get up and dust oneself off. But I am telling you-- take action in your distasteful situation and you will gain a sense of empowerment. A renewed feeling of empowerment will replace previously recorded self pity and personal devaluation tapes but only after.....you take action.

Two other ideas on overcoming disappointment. Jesus once said,‘...why do you look at the speck in your friend’s eye and do not see the log in your own eye…’

My spin on Jesus' words is that when a friend disappoints you you must take a closer look at your life before becoming an expert on someone else’s life. Disappointment, whether on the part of the innocent or the guilty party involves unexplored expectations. The innocent party never thought they would get hurt by the guilty party and the violator never thought their actions would bring pain to their friend. The other idea I offer is from the Apostle Paul, ‘…I do not see through the glass clearly just yet, but someday I will…’ My application of this thought as it relates to any disappointment is that we never see the whole picture or situation, clearly. When caught up in the pain of disappointment it is very hard to slow down, ask for help and, put our emotions on hold. Instead, we speed up, act out and spew our venom on anyone who will listen.

Final comment, the picture attached with this posting is of Cape Disappointment. Cape Disappointment is the oldest functioning lighthouse on the west coast. This lighthouse was erected in the late 1800's to warn sailors of the hideous fog, tremendous undertow and unseen rocks that were the cause of countless sea wrecks and fatalities. See a connection? We all need the light of a Lighthouse that will steer us clear of emotional and relational fatalities. No one can navigate deep disappointment alone. We all need help. We all need light. I know I got help this week and I hope this posting has been a light to you.

ALONE

This week I have been counseling with numerous people who see themselves as alone...but they not alone. Loneliness and its cousin abandonment are common emotional twins in today's culture. Some people may be physically alone in their homes as I am tonight. However, their fears, their pain, their unaccomplished dreams and emotionally unavailable family members create a devasting loneliness. These out of control thoughts dog them, hunt them, whisper and yell at them. People who suffer this deeply many times have an unresolved or unattended issue that has become one of the loudest skeletons in their emotional closet.

Loneliness is a place where I fall into from time to time myself. Loneliness has nothing to do with the absence of people but rather, loneliness has much more to do with the presence of unresolved issues that crowd into our lives. Times of loneliness come upon us (seemingly out of nowhere). Unresolved issues remind us of things we should have done, ought to have accomplished,the person we could have been or the person we will never be. My own reflective thinking has led me to believe that the loneliness and the frustration that comes from not addressing issues honestly comes from a condemning and confusing spirit that is not of God. Afterall, God wants us to be with Him...with others...in companionship with the very Spirit that cast the bright stars into the blackness of night and called the light good. The Spirit of the living God never asked isolating Thomas, "where have you been?" The Spirit of God in resurrected Jesus did not ask Peter, "You did not deny knowing me, did you?" To Mary, the closest negative thing that God could to say to her was, "Let go of me, Mary.." Mary may have thought in response to this statement, "Let go!..but why? I love you."

God wants people with a 'Mary tendency' to know that there is no way of holding onto the past. Holding onto the past is a certain way to enter into a hellish loneliness. People will isolate like Thomas did; people do live in denial of reality, like Peter did; people do look for the meaning of life in dead places, as Mary did. These are all tragic choices. In our aloneness we must remember that we are not alone...never alone. This posting may be more of a ramble and if so, I am sorry. But again, I am alone tonight. Why did I write?...to cast sounds into the quiet of my house by way of my keyboard? Probably. My bottom line for you is this, if you find yourself on what appears to be the loosing end of something--don't isolate. Further, don't deny the reality that is before you. Enjoy the posted song on my Facebook..I loved it tonight and I hope you do too. GN .

Wedding Days

It was our wedding day and I remember when
I saw you
You saw through me and--
Nothing could touch me like
your smile, your voice
and given second choice I'd
do it all over again and again.
I need you ~

like a heart needs a beat
like darkness needs the light
like the sand needs the sea
like a man needs his wife.

Its wedding day again and
my daughter walks her aisle.
Flashing smiles
so far from home, no longer alone and
I want her to know that,
I still need her like ~

a dad needs his daughter
a thirsty man needs water
passing years need only a moment
for healing to come, again and again.

Another wedding day is coming when ~
time gives way to eternity
confusion will be silenced by certainty
Light will forever eclipse the darkness and then
and only then.

How do you love?

I rarely do this but after reading, what you will soon read, I am posting a brief writing by David Ryser which challenges people to consider and possibly rethink how they 'love' Christ and His Church. If James Taylor (one of my 1970's folk heroes) were to read this he might offer his words, "Love is just a word I heard when things were being said." Read on but you had better be sitting down...

A number of years ago, I had the privilege of teaching at a school
of ministry. My students were hungry for God, and I was constantly
searching for ways to challenge them to fall more in love with
Jesus and to become voices for revival in the Church. I came across
a quote attributed most often to Rev. Sam Pascoe. It is a short
version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this:

Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise. Some of the students were only 18 or 19 years old--barely out of diapers--and I wanted them to understand and appreciate the import of the last line, so I clarified it by adding, "An enterprise. That's a business." After a few moments Martha, the youngest student in the class, raised her hand. I could not imagine what her question might be. I thought the little vignette was self-explanatory, and that I had performed it brilliantly. Nevertheless, I acknowledged Martha's raised hand, "Yes, Martha." She asked such a simple question, "A business? But isn't the church supposed to be a body?" I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was, "Yes." She continued, "But when a body becomes a business, isn't that a prostitute?"

The room went dead silent. For several seconds no one moved or spoke. We were stunned, afraid to make a sound because the presence of God had flooded into the room, and we knew we were on holy ground. All I could think in those sacred moments was, "Wow, I wish I'd thought of that." I didn't dare express that thought aloud. God had taken over the class. Martha's question changed my life. For six months, I thought about her question at least once every day. "When a body becomes a business, isn't that a prostitute?" There is only one answer to her question. The answer is "Yes." The American Church, tragically, is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we love Him? We don't even know Him; and I mean really know Him.

I stand by my statement that most American Christians do not know God--much less love Him. The root of this condition originates in how we came to God. Most of us came to Him because of what we were told He would do for us. We were promised that He would bless us in life and take us to heaven after death. We married Him for His money, and we don't care if He lives or dies as long as we can get His stuff. We have made the Kingdom of God into a business, merchandising His anointing. This should not be. We are commanded to love God, and are called to be the Bride of Christ--that's pretty intimate stuff. We are supposed to be His lovers. How can we love someone we don't even know? And even if we do know someone, is that a guarantee that we truly love them? Are we lovers or prostitutes?

I was pondering Martha's question again one day, and considered the question, "What's the difference between a lover and a prostitute?" I realized that both do many of the same things, but a lover does what she does because she loves. A prostitute pretends to love, but only as long as you pay. Then I asked the question, "What would happen if God stopped paying me?" For the next several months, I allowed God to search me to uncover my motives for loving and serving Him. Was I really a true lover of God? What would happen if He stopped blessing me? What if He never did another thing for me? Would I still love Him? Please understand, I believe in the promises and blessings of God. The issue here is not whether God blesses His children; the issue is the condition of my heart. Why do I serve Him? Are His blessings in my life the gifts of a loving Father, or are they a wage that I have learned or a bribe/payment to love Him? Do I love God without any conditions? It took several months to work through these questions. Even now I wonder if my desire to love God is always matched by my attitude and behavior. I still catch myself being disappointed with God and angry that He has not met some perceived need in my life. I suspect this is something which is never fully resolved,but I want more than anything else to be a true lover of God.

So what is it going to be? Which are we, lover or prostitute? There are no prostitutes in heaven, or in the Kingdom of God for that matter, but there are plenty of former prostitutes in both places. Take it from a recovering prostitute when I say there is no substitute or unconditional, intimate relationship with God. And I mean there is no palatable substitute available to us (take another
look at Matthew 7:21-23 sometime). We must choose.

Rescued for a Reason

I have been thinking about the word rescue and I'll tell you why in just a moment. The word "rescue" (or rescued) is translated from the original Greek or Hebrew word: to be cut free from (some translations include, with severity) a besetting, perplexing or confusing condition; to set at liberty with rejoicing. Additionally, to be rescued carries with it the idea that there is no way out of a situation. The one idea I found most interesting about rescue is that a person is rescued as a "commissioning or a being set a part for" a work yet to be done. Hmmmmm.

You may be able to relate to at least one aspect of rescue. I know I have been rescued from distasteful situations. I also know I been left "holding the bag" and was not rescued and have paid a price for someone else's situation. In scripture we know Paul's friend Aristarcus helped Paul escape a city during a riot. Paul escaped the riot successfully but Aristarcus was identified as Paul's accomplice and Aristarcus did Paul's prison time for him and was eventually released to help Paul later...Aristarcus was rescued for a reason.

I have been interested with the word rescue because of an experience I had this past weekend when I spoke at men's conference in a neighboring state. While at this conference I was drawn to pray for a man. I believe the Lord said to me, "I have rescued him from many dangers, some of which he has no knowledge of...tell him, 'You have been rescued for a reason'. I spoke these words to him. He told me the following about his life, "My mother conceived me out of wedlock. On the day of her scheduled abortion she met a Christian and she gave her life to Christ. She changed her abortion plans. One day, years later, my Mom and I were driving and a drunk driver came bearing down on us. My mother says 'something took over my driving' and she was able to get out of the way of the drunk driver." (I thought, "Wow!").

BUT (big but here), this past week this same man was doing a drug deal and a Christian friend who had been reaching out to him called him and said, "I do not know where you are or what you are doing but you are in danger and you need to get out of the place you are in right away!" He said something 'came over him' and he ran into some nearby woods. By his own testimony within two minutes the house where he had been doing the drug deal was surrounded by police and everyone in the house was busted--except him! He then said to me, "Once in the woods I realized I was not just running from the house but I was running to something but I did not know what it was." He later said, "I think that I was not running to something but to Someone. Truer words have never been spoken.

Many times in life we let pain and our circumstances define who we really are--especially pain (of our own making?) that we want to escape. I want to close by saying to you that you do not need to let your present pain or difficult circumstances define who you are. However, the healthy and godly choices you make while facing difficulty can FOREVER define your future. If you are needing to be rescued right now and you wonder why it is taking God so long....you just may need to remember that your rescue has a reason.

Mountains

I cannot imagine what Peter and Thomas must have felt like after Jesus was placed in the tomb. These two would-be friends of Jesus had either denied or, isolated from those who could of helped them work through the death and betrayal of their friend. And of course there is Judas...he 'killed' any opportunity he may have had to right himself with God. In just a few hours--in less than a day, their Lord would raise in glory and power. Life would be forever changed! The lyrics from a Barlow Girl and Rebecca St. James song (Forgive me) echoed in my head and my heart and my ears tonight (do not listen to the song unless you want to invite God to deal with issues in your life; it's on our playlist)...

"For all the times I've held you Lord and yet fallen short--
Lord, forgive me now. God I am so in need of grace,
I've fallen from from your face , forgive me now.
I feel the tears fall down my face, forgive me.
Take my fear Lord, take my shame. Lord, forgive me now.
Glorify me and make me new... my calling sure, only you can do.
Forgive me now.

As I heard this song anew tonight Kris and I enjoyed a sunset on our back deck and watched the foothills disappear as they were swallowed up in the colored sky. I was thinking about our foothills. The Bible also speaks of foothills and mountains (26 mountains is all). I mention only four of these mountains to you. Mt. Ararat was a place where fallen humanity and the righteous lineage of Noah would get a fresh start after the flood. EVERYONE, at some time in life, will need a fresh start. Mt. Sinai was a place where God spoke to Moses and outlined ten ways people should live their lives. EVERYONE, at some time, needs guidance or help. The Mount of Olives, a place that Jesus went to often, was a place of prayer and betrayal. No one ever wants to be betrayed but EVERYONE of us needs a place where we can get away to pray.

There is another mountain I am thinking of right now. Jesus said, "I tell you with certainty, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this (YOUR) mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you."(Matt, 17. 20). Most of the people I listen to in my counseling office have needed to have a mountain move out of their lives. Your mountain may be a ten pound mountian; a job-sized mountain; a finance-sized mountain; an emotional mountain; a chemical mountain; an intellectual mountian; a health-sized mountain or, a mountain in the form of righting a relationship that has gone bad. Once you climb your mountain (a smart climber never climbs alone) you get a vista view of your future that you cannot imagine!! But I warn you as God warned Lot's wife, do not look back! Do not go back! There is only one thing to do-- journy on and, give witness to the goodness of God--yes, God still moves mountains!!

His Hands, His Way

In His left hand He holds pain
In His right hand He holds shame

and the blood flows . . . the blood covers
and the beloved knows . . . as the Spirit hovers
genesis out of chaos

This is the way
Walk in it

Milton Road

out along the dusty road
stones cut the weary feet

drops of blood leave a trail
they leave a tale

are they from striving?
are they for healing?
are they perhaps not even mine,
for You are here

And in the air
BLUE AIR
with angel clouds
trumpeting across the sky

jet stream vapors
appear to be
winging on a course of collision
but, they pass on to the sea

Windchimes~~Windwaves~~Wind of Your Spirit
out along a dusty road

LOVE's Ligature

Don't ask how I got there, it's just what Holy Spirit does when I ask Him to take me. Between 2 Corinthians 5 & 6 and Random House Dictionary I was all over "ligature".

Ligature is a combining, blending, uniting, tying up, connecting and bonding. You can see it in typesets and graphics, a "slur" in music, a thread in surgery and even a wedding.

For this reason they will be united and become one flesh.

Remain in Me and I will remain in you.

So that they may be one as we are one.

Flesh of my flesh.

I have tattooed a picture of you on the palm of My hand.

He who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit.

So that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

We are called to be peacemakers, to reconcile and bring healing as LOVE's ligatures. The surgical threads that make good again, repair and restore. The written threads that tie the Truth to hearts, binding us to His promises. The musical threads that bring the sounds of heaven to ears on earth, songs of delight and assurance. The lifelines that declare we are accepted--sin's dispute is settled, we are compatible with our Abba (He even calls us His friends). There is no opposition. There is no condemnation. Only His guarantee of unending love.

Courage

I don't do this very often but I was so moved by this brief story I pass it onto you. You will be reminded how good we have it. By "good" I mean, you and I usually do not get threatened because of our faith much less put to death for our faith. (Maybe, just maybe, we should not have it as good as we do have it?) The next time you are tempted to start whinning about the economy, a slow checker in the check out line, poor service at a restaurant, too long a sermon, your roomate's inability to pick up after themselves or 'whatever' remember the story of the man below....

In 1980 a young man from Rwanda was forced by his tribe to either renounce Christ or face certain death. He refused to renounce Christ and he was killed on the spot. The night before his execution he wrote the following, which was found in his room:

“I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made- I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap giving & dwarfed goals.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me and when He comes for me He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.”

My People ROB Me

I read today about TIME being a gift from God with limitations, and blessedly so. When times are good, pleasant or even euphoric they are limited. They will come to an end. Do we try to elongate them or just embrace them for the sweetness they are? When our times are painful, maddening, confusing do we try to escape, or lean upon others or the One who is ready to be leaned upon? Hoping (hopefully knowing) they will come to an end.

Take DISAPPOINTMENT. Ugly. Seemingly not a biggy, yet it can drag you dowwwnnnn. When we allow disappointment to overextend it's limitation, it's boundaries, we are robbing ourselves of the time that was purposed for peace or happiness.


But I began to wonder if we are the only one we are robbing when we remain in disappointment, self-condemnation, devaluing ourselves and thinking how we can never do or be ENOUGH.

NO, WE ARE ROBBING GOD, WE ARE LIKE THE father WHO ONLY COMES TO STEAL, KILL AND DESTROY.

It is so hard for us to relax in God's love. To be at rest and rest easy. And in my unease I waste so much of the gracious TIME He has given me. I confess that that is my greatest self-condemnation . . . I waste His time, our time. I hate it. I still do it. But I believe in His transformation work of me. (I'll give Him time).

I also believe in giving yourself (maybe it's actually receiving for yourself) HIS
grace because He has promised to continue His work until the end of time. Picture yourself there . . . how great do you look, because He is a Master artist!

Think of yourself as He does. You are loved and loved and loved and loved and loved

Getting Victory

I have been reading about giants. Anyone who has gone to Sunday school has heard the story of Kid David vs. Goliath. The after battle commentary on the ESPN of that day would have included the mention of the unlikely placement of one smooth stone to the head of heavily armored Goliath. The article would have also said something about an unprepared boy doing a man's job (David fought Goliath only because his older brothers did not have the wherewithal in them to even try--they only muttered discounting words under their breath like so many cowards do). The afterbattle commentary might have also included the fact that David not only knocked Goliath down and out but also, chopped his head off! The after battle commentary might have also asked the question, "Why did he choose five stones?" Let me tell you....

Goliath had four other brothers. Goliath's brothers were, Isbi-Benob (which means, "Discouragement"), Saph (which means, "Fear") and Lahmi (which means, "Evil Desires"). These three brothers represent three common giants many people face: the giant of discouragement, the giant of fear and, the giant of having evil or wrong desires. There was also a fourth brother. His name is not mentioned but a description of him is--he is described as a giant of a man with six fingers on each hand (2 Sam. 21. 20-21). This fourth brother represents those things in a person's life that have a stranglehold with an unshakable grip. EVERY reader of this post has something in their life that at some time has had a strange stranglehold on them. The Apostle Paul taught, "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". Paul also confessed, "the very things I do not want to do I find myself doing." It is so easy for me to look at Judas, the betrayer of Jesus and say, "I would never do that." But I have to confess, I've betrayed God and others too many times to count. I am humbled beyond words to know and hear and experience his loving forgiveness.

If you want to defeat a behavior, an attitude, overcome a painful secret or a habit of any kind you will need to have a battle plan. You will need to ignore the naysayers in your life (especially those closest to you!). You will need to fight your own fight and use your own equipment (this is not to say you enter this fight alone!). MOST importantly, once you have knocked your giant down (initially) you will need to do what David did--you will need to cut off your giant's head. If your giant is indecisiveness you will need to cut yourself free from indecisiveness by following through on what you said you would do. If your giant is mediocrity you wil need to cut yourself free from hanging out with other 'bottom feeders'. If your giant is ungodly thoughts you will need to get serious enough to ask someone for help. If your giant is unforgiveness you will need to remember that Jesus said, "if you do not forgive others I will not forgive you."

The giants I have mentioned are not uncommon. Scripture says what we experience is not uncommon and that, God will provide a way of escape from our giants. Remember you are not alone. You have resources and, you have the one thing that no one can "pour into" you--you have God's Spirit that whispers, "It's time, it is finally time...together, you and me, we can defeat this thing!" Yes, YOU can!!