The feelings of the people in Germany were perhaps reaching a peak ...beginning not that long after World War I.

Let's look back to the beginning of World War I ...though never is there consensus on beginnings, let's see what we have.

The immediate trigger for war was the 28th of June 1914, with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, heir to the throne of Austria-Hungary, by Yugoslav nationalist Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo. This set off a diplomatic crisis when Austria-Hungary delivered an ultimatum to the Kingdom of Serbia.

It's interesting how when I researched this last, it has since changed how it has been presented on the internet. I had to go to exact dates, instead of the presented narrative ...and it seemed to serve me well in doing that, as it fell more in line with what I have been previously studying.

Admittedly, One cannot know the true motivations behind one's actions, or if in fact, it was the preferred action ...sort of like a cat waiting for a mouse.  But, as talks with Serbia went nowhere, Austria declared war on Serbia.

Russia decided to take Serbia's side, and also worked their alliance with France to get them to join the mobilization.

At this point, Germany decided to join Austria.  Four nations were involved and committed to war before Germany joined.  And it seems that Germany was a force to contend with, and proven adequate fighters.  Was that reason enough to saddle their nation with the war debt ...when they were not even among the first four nations to enter the war???

Now, you could ask, "Isn't the name, Meiner, of German descent ...and aren't you subject to a bias, and possibly slanting the facts?"

Well, you could say those are my feelings, though they do not express my point.  I recently saw a movie on TV about Adolf Hitler during World War I, and then through his rise to power during world War II. France was the first to employ the use of poisonous gas in the war ...and the movie depicted Hitler almost being overcome by the gas, and that horrific feeling.  

I can see that Hitler may have been devastated, and war does get ugly ...and it is sad that World War II came about because of the poor handling of the aftermath of world War I, but that in no way makes me feel sorry for who Hitler became.  I feel sorry that he became who he became.  It's sad that he became so twisted and evil ...but he did.


Am I to be concerned for those feelings??  I am not a psychologist, though I have been part of a team that was concerned with early intervention.  How effective is it?? The problem is not in how effective it can be ...it is rather difficult to diagnose everyone, to decide who we should work with.  

Once something has already happened, it is then evident that there is a problem ...and we should use all our resources available to prevent it from happening again, but often lost in this effort is the urgency to look at the victims needs.

I am concerned for those who have to be subjected to the blistering hatred that leads to such horrific acts as the Holocaust. 


Every individual has significance.  Though what is to be said of those who feel others have no value at all. I am very concerned for the process that leads those to only value selective persons. But, let it be clear that though the person is of much value, the values of the person may not be worth much.

Certain values are wrong.  We are to value each other, yet do we do that in lessening our value of God, or of those things He has taught us to hold to??

Do we value killing??  I'd think we'd value the stoppage of killing ...or an establishment of peace.  At Jesus' birth, the angels sang, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth ..."

But, the people didn't understand what that meant.  It does not seem like they had peace on earth, and we don't seem to have it either ...unless we understand that it is a promise of a future peace, and most importantly a peace inside that allows us to look forward to that eternal peace.

The ideals of minds that became what we know as Hitler, Stalin, and any number of terrorists today ...can not be present and have peace.  

There are those who fight wars to raise not the standards, but to raise havoc ...and there are those who fight wars to stop those who will not listen or cease their evil destructiveness.

Billy Graham described sin like missing the target ...an archer shoots his arrow, and whether he misses by a little or misses by a large amount ...he still misses.

Another Pastor said,"When we believe that all sins are equal, it often causes us not to take the problem of sin seriously." 

This Pastor also list reasons why people don't take more of stance on sin:

• They don’t want to be like the Pharisee in Luke 18.
• They want to find common ground with non-Christians.
• They don’t want to be labeled “legalistic” or “judgmental” by others.

The Bible says, that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

But, the Bible also says something about sins that are of the type that God hates.  So, if all sins are equal ...then why would some be more hated than others??

Thinking about what the answer to this would be ...I have to consider what it is that God wants for us.  He wants us to draw near to Him, and we do this in many ways, not excluding obedience.  But, why does God want us to obey? ...and follow so many standards??  And why would certain sins be more hated???

I believe that those sins are the ones that are a result of having moved further away from God ...as Hitler, Stalin, and so many others have done.  God will forgive our sin, yet there is a point where, though we can be forgiven, we will cease to seek forgiveness ...we will cease to acknowledge sin.

That is why the little sins are also important ...if not dealt with, they can lead to even more sin, and to the most hated ones, which are the ones that bring us to be blinded to sin.

This is just one example, yet it seems to describe the cause and effect that I've tried to communicate.  To back up a bit, we seem to mostly agree that killing is bad, even though it may be necessary at times (self-defense, or trying to protect others).  We say we hate war and we say we hate killing ...yet, we do not take a stance against abortion, which is killing the baby within, while also killing the sensitivity to God's voice within.

The narrative is said to be a war against women, yet the brutalized dead victims are the babies ...truly it would seem to be a war against babies. This is just one clear example of how the blindness evidences itself. The sin is not exclusively abortion, it just further evidences itself this way. It begins much before with unrestrained and unwise desires ...it exists because promiscuity exists.
What happens, is that we say others are not concerned for our feelings ...because we have lost vision or concern for what God has for us.  We may not realize it, nor acknowledge it, but we are placing our feelings above God.

Don't our feelings help form our perspective, our attitude, and unavoidably ...our reactions to those perspectives and attitudes???

So, wouldn't happy thoughts perhaps help us be a bit more happy??

Yet, let me say there is an appearance of happiness, which is not really happiness ...and with this kind of happiness, it needs to be continually fed.  

Can a person be truly happy at the expense of others??  I think not!!  If a person seeks power, then happiness may only come through more power.

We can seek to be happy through buying things.

We can seek to be happy through being like other people ...or being liked by them.

And if we are happy as a result of something, do we continue to be happy if the situation changes??

I was told there is a book that said we should make a list of things we are thankful for, and that we should do it daily ...attempting to reach a thousand.

Well, here goes ...I am thankful for:

1. God, Our Heavenly Father
2. Jesus, God ...the Son, who died on the cross, so we can look to that sacrifice, acknowledge and accept it, and have eternal life.
3. The Holy Spirit ...the Comforter, who allows me to believe, understand His Word and discern the truth.
4. My wife, Cindy, who has given me new definition to my life and given me five wonderful children ...and also who has already reached a thousand on her list, and shared with me the idea to make my own list.
5. Shannon ...our oldest daughter
6. Leah ...our second oldest daughter
7. Josiah ...our oldest son
8. Samuel ...our middle son
9. David ...our youngest son
10. My Dad ...Grandpa Meiner, to our children
11. My Mom ...Grandma Meiner, to our children
12. Cindy's Dad ...Grandpa Leece, to our children
13. (I am also thankful for those who are so much a part of our lives who have passed away, and also thankful for the confidence I have that they are in Heaven) ...foremost on this list is: Cindy's Mom.
14. Grandma Shocklee ...Cindy's Mom's Mom
15. My Dad's Mom ...my Grandma Meiner (Alice ...and she is truly in a wonderland ...heaven, that is.)
16. My Dad's Dad ...my Grandpa Meiner, whom I never met, but, oh, all the good character stories I've heard. He died while on the way to a fire, as part of the volunteer fire department (I guess, all good neighbors were a part of that.) Alfred Elton Meiner ...whom my oldest brother is named after.
17. My Mom's Mom ...my Grandma (Josephine Rose) Hoheisel, and she truly was a rose, like no other.
18. My Mom's Dad ...my Grandpa Hoheisel, taught me a little German, of which I remember most "Ich habe genug!" (I've had enough!)  
19. Cindy's Mom's Dad ...and stories put in perspective, and the birds, of which at this time I can only think of 'Johnnie'.
20. Cindy's Dad's parents ...which I group as one, not only because it is written that 'the two become one', but mostly of the singular wholesome feeling that I have which parking at the school across from the house they had build and lived in.  Sitting in Cindy's 'mango tango' jeep, sometimes with her eating her favorite ice cream, and smelling the fragrance of the Jack Pines ...often with a sunset painting red beyond the scaly orange bark branching up to the heavens.
21. My sister and four brothers ...completing, with my parents, one happy family ...though not always happy with the struggles of a full house, it is the choice of everyone to hold on to the memories of their choosing, and I choose to look to the happy memories while hoping to form more of them.
22. Cindy's sister and family ...from Arizona, the visits are always in great anticipation for our children to see their cousins again.
23. Pastor Losen guided me along where I didn't want to go. Actually, his son who was about my age (early twenties) asked me to teach a Sunday School class.  I said I never read the Bible, but he said that was okay, they had a disciplinary problem in the class and he knew I worked with institutionalized kids, so that's what they needed me for.  It was very wise on the part of the Losens ...and I quickly read the Bible, as to not show too much inadequacy.
24. Pastor Tom ...his music and messages are really good, yet we love him as a person mostly. His hugs mean a lot.
25. Pastor Myron ...as an assistant Pastor, he's the best, and has profound knowledge on many subjects, and is readily available to give his good hugs.
26. Gary & Susan ...my first Bible study leaders.
27. Rudy & Kathy Reyes ...furthering the growth through Bible study.
28. Summer ...our dog, and companion
29. Memories of past dogs ...such as Lark, and how she forced us to remodel areas of our house.  And how those memories link to past childhood dogs, Rex and Scruffy, and Cindy's childhood dogs.
30. The Bible ...with all those whom God chose to instruct and inspire, inclusive of their reports on events and testimonies of truth.
31. The seasons that God has given us ...each holds so much meaning, especially a visual wonder in Michigan.  Many don't like the Michigan weather, but there is much beauty and character to behold ...even with the struggles, being part of the package.
32. The United States of American has also had its struggles, though often long in coming, our country has moved in many ways in the right direction with much rich heritage. And though I personally feel we are moving much in the wrong direction now, and less focus on what God would have us do, we do still have the freedoms that allow us to not only make mistakes, but also hopefully correct them.
33. Laughter ...so thankful for laughter, not the type that approaches laughing gas, or the absurd level that was witnessed during the 2012 Vice-Presidential debate.  But, we did have a laugh or two about that too.
34. Humor ...often not as direct as laughter, but becomes a part of our perspective on life. Often it can reach too far, and even dangerous levels ....but it's like the warmth of a fireplace, if moving out of that place, it can involve destructive forces.
35. Seriousness ...it often goes hand with conviction.  We can be too serious about some things, but also not good to be too carefree about some things.  There are things we should try not to fear or worry about ...and there are things we should not simply laugh about.
36. Discretion ...it involves the serenity prayer, knowing the things we can change, knowing the things we can't, and the wisdom to know the differences.
37. Experience ...much of it is good, some rightfully thankful it is over, and some I'm thankful I can learn without having to experience.
38. A rainbow ...the beautiful array of color after a passing storm, and also the promise that our stormy lives also carry the promises God has set before us.
39. A sunrise ...the beginning of a new day.  We can dread the beginning, or we can be thankful for it ...but, if we allow our senses to absorb all that is in a sunrise, perhaps we can be like the birds and sing in celebration of the new day.  The alternative is ...that no new days would ever come.
40. A sunset ...the often beautiful display, is it coloring the view of a day, blessed with satisfaction and completion. Appreciation should be a part of our rest and relaxation. 
41. Kind and friendly neighbors ...Carl & Liz, Nick & Shaun with their little one Elliot, the Simpsons down the street which are nothing like the TV show, a very kind widow named Mildred, and a father and son team of Mike and Mike.
42. Doing this ...and knowing it is a good focus & a good feeling, so I don't really need to reach a goal of a thousand any time soon, it just feels good doing it.  And I'm not in any real rush, or thinking I have to do a certain amount each day ...and it's good looking back, and reading what thing was on my mind another day.
43. Hospitals ...particularly, Crittenton and St. Joe's, where our five children were born.  They were such great moments, with an exciting story associated with each one. 
44. The Seven Dwarfs whistled while they worked ...and my wife, her Dad, and our kids do that. It is so comforting to hear them going about their daily living that way.  Of course, we all get tired and have our moods, perhaps a bit Grumpy, or partly Sleepy ...become skeptical when it's nothing to Sneezy at ...act hesitant whether Bashful or not ...and I often feel Dopey ...yet, we also have our Happy moments, and unselfishly look to help others whether we are a Doc, or not. 
45. Children's books ...aside from a few fables or stories that may be a bit scary, or not perhaps helpful just before bedtime, the 'bedtime story' has been a very meaningful and wholesome time that kids really remember.
46. I just heard sirens outside ...and I am so thankful for all those who are awaiting calls to serve in those times of immediacy.
47. Veterans Day is in a few days ...so thankful for those who have served to help protect our country and our freedoms.
48. Thankful for those legislators and those holding office to help preserve our freedoms also ...and to help distinguish between desired freedoms and the healthy type.
49. Our forefathers ...who thought well in the future to draw up a Constitution to help guard and preserve what some would so easily and carelessly simply discard.
50. For not feeling too guilty for indulging ...Chocolate.

(Okay, only 50 here, but that was just in a short period of time ...and it was not supposed to be a goal of reaching a thousand in one day.  If we focus more on the numbers, then we sort of take away from the substance of each thing we are thankful for.  I could begin each day focusing on one ...or the One I am to be thankful for.)

*****************