What is the sign of a friend? It is that he tells you his secret sorrow? No, it is that he tells you his secret joys. Many people will confide their secrets sorrows to you, but the final mark of intimacy is when they share their secret joys with you. Have we ever let God tells us any of His joys? Or are we continually telling God our secrets and lies, leaving Him no time to talk to us? It is so hot in here. Oh, it is so hot, and I need some air. And boy, do not stop because I am halfway there. It is not complicated, we are just syncopated, we can read each other’s minds. One love united, two bodies synchronizing. Do not even need to touch me, Baby. Just breathe on me, yeah, on Baby just breathe on me. We do not need to touch, just breathe, on, yeah. Oh, this is way beyond the physical (it is a way beyond the physical). Tonight, my sense do not make sense at all. Our imagination, taking us to places we have never been before. Take me in, let it out, do not even need to touch me, Baby, just breathe on me. Monogamy is the way to go, just put your lips together and blow. The total being of our life inside and out is to be absolutely obsessed by the presence of God.

If anything is a mystery to you and is coming between you and God, never look for the explanation in your mind, but look for it in your spirit, your true inner nature, that is where the problem is. Once your spiritual nature is willing to submit to the life of Christ, your understanding will come to the place where there is no distance between the Father and you, His child, because the Lord has made you one. Skepticism can never be thoroughly applied; else life would come to a standstill: something we must believe in and do, and whatever that something may be called, it is virtually our own judgment, even when it seems like the most slavish reliance on another. It is half the battle to fight a just cause.  Human depravity may oftener justify those who judge harshly than human rectitude can those who judge favorably. Many people speak about justice, but I do not think they know what it means. I think it is just a word they hear and it sounds good to them. Justice is good behavior or fair treatment. Justice means to express fairness, fair play, fair mindedness, equity, evenhandedness, impartiality, objective, neutrality, honesty, righteousness, morals, and morality.

Therefore, justice starts with each and every one of us and how we treat others. In the cold courts of justice the dull head demands oaths, and holy writ proofs; but in the warm halls of the heart one single, untestified memory’s spark shall suffice to enkindle such a blaze of evidence, that all the corners of conviction are as suddenly lighted up as a midnight city by a burning building, which was every side whirls its reddened brands. If people understood justice they would be the first to proclaim, that when two are tied together, the one who does the other serious injury is more naturally excused than the one who calls up the grotesque to extinguish both. Seldom do they prove patient martyrs who are punished unjustly. Strong minds perceive that justice is the highest of the moral attributes; mercy is only the favorite of the weak ones. Calling sternness justice, one extolled that for strength of mind which was only callous insensibility. Justice does not the less exist, because her laws are neglected. A sense of what she commands lives in our hearts; and when we fail to obey that sense, it is to weakness, not to virtue, that we yield. When justice happens to oppose prejudice, we are apt to believe it virtuous to disobey her.  

Half justice is injustice. I may not be unjust to myself and certainly not have the right to be unjust to anybody. Who does most injustice, a prodigal man or a saving man? The one saves his own money; the other spends other people’s.  If the World is unjust, or rash, in one individual’s case, why may it not be so in another’s? Nothing can be polite that is not just. Is not the man guilty of a high degree of injustice who is more apt to give contradiction than able to bear it? Justice is a severe thing. To do justice in another’s case against oneself is making at least a second merit for oneself. Mercy to a criminal may be gross injustice to the community. Though we cannot overcome, our cause is just. Justice teacheth us not to love punishment, but to fly to it for necessity. Nothing, to the noble heart, is so afflicting as the consciousness of having done injustice. A just medium prevents all conclusions. Justice pays all the debts of yesterday, and nothing else will. A man must be an idiot or else an angel who, after the age of forty, shall attempt to be just to his neighbors. Justice may be purchased too dearly. The Spirit of God witnesses to the redemption of our Lord and to nothing else. The Spirit witnesses only to His own nature and to the work of redemption, never to our reason, it is no wonder that we are in darkness and uncertainty. Throw it all overboard, trust in Him, and He will give you the witness of the Spirit.

Love, she said, was a woman’s first necessity. For wise and good reasons, God made the knowledge of Himself scarce any otherwise attainable by us, than that of the existence of other beings absent. The will is placed in the soul, and who can enter there but he that created the soul?  Human life partakes of the unrevealable inscrutableness of God. Women’s special mission is supposed to be drying tears and bearing burdens. Every complete man embraces some of the qualities of a woman, for Nature does not mean that sex shall be more than a partial separation of one common humanity; otherwise we should be too much divided to be companionable. Romance lives by repetition, and repetition converts an appetite into an art. Each time that one loves is the only time one has ever loved; differences of object does not alter singleness of passion. My only wickedness is that I love you; my only goodness, the same. As nature has made a great difference in the external appearance of man and woman, we may reasonably expect to find as remarkable a one in their moral character. A female who is at the same time useful and agreeable is as rare as sincerity in a statesman, or humility in an author. It is the highest compliment to give every man his own way; to a lady it is an infallible one.

Women are usually bred up in too low, narrow, and servile a manner of thinking, by being made to believe that their principal objects are to ornament their person, improve their fortunes, and marry rich husbands. As few husbands have little more knowledge than qualifies them for their professions and employments, they seldom require more in their wives than fits them for useful servants. Women love themselves in men. Women, the most beautiful of nature’s flowers, is the most recreant to her laws, and starves with cold and unnecessary forms that divine flame her beauteous system was designed to kindle. The powers of women’s minds are not derived from their bodies; women, in general, think and reflect as well, and quicker than men. Virtue alone is true honor, true freedom, and solid, durable happiness. Virtue is the only nobility. Virtue is God’s empire. A ship is not counted strong by biding one storm. At any time, and under any circumstances of human interest, is it not strange to see how little real hold the objects of the natural World can gain on our hearts and minds. Of love and marriages, coarse men speak with sneers and obscene jests, while serious men express themselves in hints, with apologetic smiles, as if they were betraying a weakness. I chose my wife, as she did her wedding gown, not for a fine glossy surface, but such qualities as would wear well. A proposal of marriage can never be an insult.

Marriage hath saved many a woman from ruin. A woman who hath given her consent to marry can hardly be said to be safe till she is married. The vindication of the loved object is the best balm affection can find for its wounds: A man must have so much on his mind is the belief by which a wife often supports a cheerful face under rough answers and unfeeling words. Wives set one on to abuse their husbands and then they turn round one and praise ‘em as if they wanted to sell ‘em.  A woman can always be satisfied with devoting herself to her husband, but a man wants something that will make him look forward more. Domestic happiness is the end of almost all our pursuits, and the common reward of all our pains. Will any woman hesitate a moment whether she shall ride in a coach, or walk on foot all the days of her life? All things fulfill their destiny. Happiness must be something solid and permanent, without fear and without certainty. Nature seeks happiness. The human heart is so fond of happiness, that we give easy credit to what we wish. Happy are they who are blessed with the power of making happy. Love is a passion which kindles honor into noble acts. Luck is all. Where wit and ingenuity, vivacity, delicacy, and quickness are required, women manifestly excel men. The greater good a man does, in proportion to what he is capable of going, the more manly he is. The drawing room is woman’s element, realm, rather than man’s. Woman is a very peculiar and delicate organism; a sensitive and highly organized women is especially peculiar. It would require an inspired psychologist to deal successfully with them. And when ordinary fellows attempt to cope with their uniqueness the result is bungling. Most women are complicated and whimsical, but flowers, and diamonds will always warm her heart.

The contemplation of beauty, the inherently corrupt soul could transform its love from the physical and material into a purely spiritual love of God. The first representation of the goddess represents innocence itself, a divine beauty free from any hint of physical and the sensual. It is this form of beauty that the soul, aspiring to salvation was expected to contemplate. Woman is the most admirable handiwork of God, in her true place and character. The heart of true womanhood knows where its own sphere is, and never seeks to stray beyond it. This woman’s view, a woman’s, whose whole sphere of action is in the heart, and who can conceive of no higher nor wider one.  And man’s desire of Earthly experience draws him to rebirth, and he is born into a form that fits nature as a glove a hand; the soul of a warrior passes into the robust form of a warrior; the soul of a poet into the sensitive cerebral form of a poet, he is still in development. I have know’d that sweetest and best of women ever since afore her First, which Mr. Harris who was dreadful timid went and stopped his ears in a swimming pool, and never took his hands away or come out once till he was showed the baby, wen bein’ took with fits, the doctor collared him and laid him on his back upon the airy stones, and she was told to easy her mind, his owls was organs.

And I have know’d her when he has hurt her feelin’ art by sayin’ of his ninth that it was one to [sic] many, if not two, while that dear innocent was cooin’ in his face, which thrive it did through bandy.  Artist of genius and inspiration were considered to be different from everyone else, and to be guided in their work by insight that was considered divine in origin. Many believed that the goals of truth and beauty were not reached by following the universal rules and laws of classical antiquity, notions of proportion and mathematics. Nor would fidelity to visual reality guarantee beautiful results; in fact, given the fallen condition of the World, quite the opposite was more likely, studies of fellow citizens had demonstrated. This represents a divine frenzy, of the creative act, to transcend the conditions of everyday life. Art now exceeded reality. It is a window, not upon nature, but upon divine inspiration itself. It is a pleasant thing to reflect upon, and furnishes a complete answer to those who contend for the gradual degeneration of the human species, that every baby born into the World is a finer one than the last. Like busts in marble, so does out individual fate exist in the limestone of time. Change and change love to deal with men’s settled plans, not with their idle vagaries. This luxuriant and conspicuous display of wealth is deliberate. And through we might want to read into this image our own sense of its decadence, fortune loves to mingle himself in all events.

I realized that it is more important for a writer to say whatever one has to say than to worry about form. It is what one says, not how one says it, that matters, although a writer must know the rules in order to break them effectively. Time is important to the writer. There is so much I want to do, so much I will never have time to do now. I have an enormous amount of drafted stuff I will never be able to finish. Life just is not long enough! Globalization exposes businesspeople to a variety of cultures and business practices. What does it mean for a business to do the right thing in China? In  Japan? In Africa? What may be considered unethical in one country may be an accepted practice in another. Consider bribes, for example. In the United States bribing officials is illegal, but to get something done in Mexico, it is common to pay officials una mordidia (a small bite).  In China, businesses pay huilu, and in Russia, vzyatka. Although the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act makes it illegal for U.S. businesses operating abroad to pay bribes, U.S. companies are allowed to make small payments under certain conditions.  To crack down on illegal payoffs, the industrialized nations have now signed a treaty that makes bribes to foreign officials a criminal offense. Still, bribery will not end just because a treaty has been signed or because it is illegal. Currently, Mayor Kevin Johnson, of Sacramento, California, and the owner of the Sacramento Kings, Vivek Ranadive, are in court fighting a legal battle.

A lawsuit against the city of Sacramento and the Sacramento Kings basketball team claims that  $447 million was given to the Sacramento Kings as part of a deal to build a new arena, and $223 million of that was taxpayer money. Not only that, but after financing, the new arena will cost nearly $1 billion. So the Sacramento King’s and the city of Sacramento knocked down the mall in Downtown Sacramento and even destroyed some historical buildings to make space for the new stadium. To add insult to injury, it has been verified that at least $223 million taxpayer dollars were used to fund the arena, without public consent, and that there is no parking for fans when they go the arena. The arena will have no parking lot. The public already believes that they are paying too much in taxes, and Governor Brown wants to increase taxes to pay for roads and health care. Governor Jerry Brown wants at least $1.3 billion annually to help fund Medi-Cal (medical insurance) and homecare services for the elderly and those with limited mobility, and about $5.7 billion to pay for road repairs, when costs are already included in the price of gas and vehicle registration fees. As a result, the public is being double and tripled taxed. Other problems with the Sacramento King’s arena are that the infrastructure, crumbling roads, and highways will not support the substantial traffic congestion and environmental degradation that the sports complex will attract, in addition to the current traffic overcrowding.  Many also fear that a medical emergency may happen or some other debauchery, and that emergency service will not be able to respond. Therefore, many are calling the funding of the arena fraud. Crimes cause their own detection.

The light seen in front, on a long way is hope, and the light seen in hot Summer warmth, my friend, you are that light on the way of life, which gives me peace and hope. You devoted heartfelt gratitude and would I, if I could, supplant one of the affections that I know to have taken in you, that great and solemn one, for instance. I feel that is I could get myself remade, as if turned to gold I would not even desire to become more than the grand setting to that diamond you must always wear. The regard and esteem you give me, in the letter, and which I press to my heart and bow my head upon, is all I can take and all too embarrassing, using all my gratitude. I cannot exist without you, I am forgetful of everything, but seeing you again, my life seems to stop there, I see no further. You have absorbed me. I beseech you now with all my heart definitely to let me know your whole mind as to the love between us; for necessity compels me to write you for a reply, having been for more than a year now struck by the dart of love, and being uncertain either of failure or of finding a place in your heart and affection, which point has certainly kept me for some time from naming you my love with an ordinary love the name is not appropriate to you seeing that it stands for an uncommon position very remote from the ordinary; but if it pleases you to  do the duty of a true, loyal love and friend, and to give yourself body and heart to me, who have been, and will be, your very loyal servant (if your rigor does not forbid me), I promise you that not only the name will be due to you, but also to tale you as my sole love, casting off all others than yourself out of mind and affection, and to serve you only; begging you to male me a complete reply to this my rude letter as to how for and in what I can trust; and if it does not please you to reply in writing to let me know of some place where I can have it by word of mouth, the which place I will seek out with all my heart. No more for fear of worrying you. Written by the hand of him who would willingly remain yours, I can neither sever my affection for you nor forget the dreams of love. I will remember forever your beautiful looks even when I travel to the Heavens and ends of the World.

Love righteousness, you who judge the Earth; think of the Lord in goodness, and seek him in integrity of heart; because he is found by those who do not test him, and manifests himself to those who do not disbelieve him. For perverse counsels separate people from God, and his power, put to the proof, rebukes the foolhardy; because into a soul that plots evil wisdom does not enter, nor does it dwell in a body under debt of sin. For wisdom is a kindly spirit, yet it does not acquit blasphemous lips; because God is the witness of the inmost self and the sure observer of the heart and the listener to the tongue, for the spirit of the Lord fills the World, is all-embracing self-esteem, and knows whatever is said. Therefore, those who utter wicked things will not go unnoticed, nor will chastising condemnation pass them by. For the devices of the wicked shall be scrutinized, and the sound of their words shall reach the Lord, for the chastisement of their transgressions; because a jealous ear hearkens to everything, and discordant grumblings are not secret, as that is the case, guard against profitless grumbling, and from calumny withhold your tongues; for a stealthy utterance will not go unpunished, and a lying mouth destroys the soul.

Do not count death by your erring way of life, nor draw to yourselves destruction by the works of your hands. Because God did not make death, nor does he rejoice in the destruction of the living. For he fashioned all things that they might have been, and the creatures of the World are wholesome; there is not a destructive drug among them nor any domain of Hades on Earth, for righteousness is immortal. It was the wicked who with hands and words invited death, considered it a friend, and pined for it, and made a covenant with it, because they deserved to be allied with it. It is really important that we have a safe and happy holiday weekend, be sure to enjoy the independence that we have, there are men and women, who fight and die every day so that we remain free and many take it for granted. My only beloved Spouse, my most sweet friend, and faithful companion of my pilgrimage, the happy and hopeful supply (next Christ) of my greatest losses, I wish thee a most plentiful increase of all true comfort in the love of Christ, with a large and prosperous addition of whatsoever happiness the sweet estate of holy wedlock, in the kindest society of a loving husband, may afford thee.Being filled with the joy of thy love and wanting opportunity of more familiar communion with thee, which my heart reverently desires, I am constrained to ease the burthen of my mind by this poor help of my scribbling penny. Being sufficiently assured that, although my presence is that which thou desire, yet in the want thereof, these lines shall not be unfruitful of comfort unto thee.

And now, my sweet Love, of which this spring time of or acquaintance can put forth as yet no more, but the leaves and blossoms, whilst the fruit lies wrapped up in the tender bud of hope; a little more patience will disclose this good fruit, and bring it to some maturity: let it be our care and labor to preserve those hopeful buds from the beast of the field, and from frosts and other injuries of the aye, least our fruit fall off ere it be ripe, or lose aught in the beauty and pleasantness of it: Let us pluck up such nettles and thorned as would defraud of plants of their due nourishment; let us prune off superfluous  branches; let us not stick at some labour in watering and maturing them: –the plenty and goodness of fruit shall recompense us abundantly: Our trees are planted in a fruitful soil; the ground, and pattern of our love, is no other but that between love and his dear spouse, of whom one speaks as one finds him, my well-beloved is mine and I am his: Love was their banqueting house, love was their wine, love was their engine; love was his inviting, love was her fayntinges; love was his apple, love was her comforts; love was his embracing, love was her refreshing: love made him see her, love made her seek him: love made him wed her, love made her follow him: love made him her savior, love makes her his servant.

Love bred or fellowship, if love continues it, and love shall increase it until death dissolve it. The prime fruit of the Spirit is love; truth of Spirit true love: abound with the spirit, and abound with love: continue in the spirit and continue in love: Christ in his love so fill our hearts with holy hunger and true appetite, to eat and drink with him and of him in this sweet Love feast [referring to the sacrament of the Holy communion, which  it was then the custom to administer to the bride and bridegroom at their marriage], which we are now preparing unto, that when our love feast shall come, Christ himself may come in unto us and supped with us and with him: so shall we be merry indeed. (O my sweet Spouse) can we esteem each other’s love as worthy the recommence of our best mutual affections, and can we not discern so much of Christs exceeding and underserved love, as may cheerfully allure us to love him above all? He loved us and gave himself for us; and to help the weakness of the eyes and hand and mouth of or faith, which must seek him in Heaven where he is, he offers himself to the eyes, hands, and mouth or our body, here on Earth where he once was. The Lord increased our faith.

Now my dream heart let me parley a little with thee about trifles, l for when I am present with thee my speech is prejudiced by thy presence, which draws my mind from itself: I suppose now, upon thy uncle’s coming, there will be advising and counselling of all hands; and amongst many I know there will be some, that will be provoking thee, in these indifferent things, as matter of apparel, fashion, and other circumstances, rather to give content to their vain minds savoring too much of the flesh and then to be guided by the rule of God’s word, which must be the light and the Rule: for although I do easily grant that the Kingdom of Heaven is not meat and drink, apparel and, but Righteousness, peace: it being forbidden to fashion ourselves like unto this World, and to avoided not only evil, but all appearance of it must be avoided, and also whatever may breed offence to the weak (from which I pray thee read for the direction the [epistle] to Rom:) and for that Christians are rather to seek to edify than to please, I hold it a rule of Christian wisdom in all these things to follow the soberest examples: I confess that there be come ornaments which for Virgins and Knights daughters, and may be comely and tolerable, which yet in so great a change as thine is, may well admit a change also: I will meddle with no particulars, neither do I think it shall be needful: thine own wisdom and godliness shall teach thee sufficiently what to do in such things: and the good assurance which I have of the untainted love towards me, makes me persuaded that those wilt have care of my contentment, seeing it must be chief to stay to the comfort: and withal the great and sincere desire which I have that there might be no discouragement to daunt the edge of my affections, while they are truly laboring to settle and repose themselves in thee, makes me thus watchful and jealous of the least occasion that Satan might stir up to or discomfort. He that is faithful in the last will be faithful in the greatest, but I am too fearful I do thee wrong; I know thou will not grieve me for trifles. May your life be filled with special moments, warmth, and happiness, the joy of loved ones near, and may the blessing of the day last throughout the year.