From Beneath the Surface: Compilation of Writings by Karen Maddox Featuring “Christian Corner” Cartoons--Also “A Mere Woman,” “Excuse Me While I Be Myself” and “From One Who Thirsts” Are Included in Each Book’S Entirety.

CONTENTS

PREFACE

THE PHENOMENON

EXCUSE ME WHILE I BE MYSELF

A MERE WOMAN

GOING OFF IN ALL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS

REACHING OUT IN VARIOUS LANGUGAGES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT THE BOOK …

Preface

As this book is about God’s love and forgiveness in the author’s life journey—not understanding the why or how of things happen at times, the following opinion is presented.

GOD’S LOVE AND FORGIVENESS

In this civilized world, torts, crimes, and sins occur. Spiritually, guilt convicts the wrongdoer who can choose to repent (to stop, changing from wrong to doing right and work to amend damage done’ or to be sorry—cease and desist from wrongful ways replacing the negative with positive, good and correct ways); or continue. God’s law of love and forgiveness offers the worst sinner the opportunity to come clean and start anew.

When people are found guilty of wrongdoing, punishment is set forth by the laws governing this land. When government makes mistakes, it seems the people pay. Taxes are taken from workers paychecks before the people get these. This money is supposed to be used to assist with the various projects that benefit our

society as a whole and keep our nations great. However, back in the 80’s when the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives began substantial salary increases (taking away from benefits to the whole) an equity breakdown began. Mayoral conferences birthed new ways to burden people with more parking structures, meters and privacy-invading laws in the guise of safety or based on fear. (The safety belt law, for example, imposes on a person’s right to choose whether to buckle-up or not in the privacy of their own vehicle. Buckled or not, there is a 50/50 chance of survival from a crash either way. A safety belt can pin a person down in a manner causing broken ribs, choking or other injuries. On the other hand, it can prevent one from being ejected from a crash of that type. Another example, after 911, rather than taking the opportunity to help bring people together through open communication, understanding and working toward united peace; war was declared (resulting in people loosing retirement savings), access of the people to government buildings was stifled; and airports also began security procedures invading people’s privacy on the most personal level. Mandatory curfews (many companies followed suite with mandatory overtime, pay schedule changes and paycheck automation— disrupting peoples’ freedom of choice to spend time with family or decide if automatic deposit was wanted or not). Inalienable rights (covered in the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution) like: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness … all are infringed. Somehow, courts can overrule the family’s right to be a family. Laws can create further division and the family is destroyed. Government takes over designated family income to pay bureaucratic agencies to support the income recipient— leaving dependent family members to dwindle and die (like blossom end rot on a tomato or watermelon plant—a developing plant can begin formation while attached to blossom from which it began at the end of the plant—if the blossom rots, eventually the whole plant is consumed, effecting the entire vine—plants either fall off or rot on the vine if something is not done to prevent it or continued diligent care is given to avoid blossom end rot altogether.) Bottom Line: People mess up people pay. Government mess up—people pay.

Government influence on some churches is prevalent as well. Government is supposed to represent the people as a whole—not control. Only God is sovereign. God is love— compassionate, caring, kind, understanding, forgiving, trusting, honest, wise, guiding, sincere and true.

Government is made up of people who are supposed to represent all people within their designated jurisdiction. As people, government can choose to repent by ceasing and desisting from wrongdoing and working toward repairing the broken families, decreasing exorbitant salaries—putting these monies into Social Security or assist homeless/displaced families or something along those lines. All people have been blessed by God with free will to believe in God or not; choose right or wrong; be good or bad. From the Holy Bible: St. John Chapter 3, Verse 16 reads For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. This is how much our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of His children (all people in all of the world)—equally. All are precious in God’s sight. All should be encouraged to choose God and do right.

Speaking as a peon in this society—a speck in the universe—a drip on the bucket—a grain of sand—or just a mere woman; I believe in Jesus, the Son of God who was crucified on the cross—died for our sins—resurrected to live with our Heavenly Father—Lord God Almighty. The Holy Spirit of Jesus’ love lives within every heart. Believer or not, God’s rain falls on the just as well as the unjust. Love resides in every heart.

Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. The Holy Bible (King James Version), Romans Chapter 14, verses 11 and 12 read: For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one shall give account of himself to God.

The Lord’s Prayer is found in St. Matthew Chapter 6, verses 9 through 15. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. Bottom line: God’s love and forgiveness.

To God goes all the glory,

honor and praise—

for without Him,

I could not be.

Amen.

Chickasaw Park 2006-Art by Karen Maddox Oil Pastel

The Phenomenon

In an environment of violence and negativity,

family love and discipline brought me through.

Poverty and all of its proclivity—

could not suppress God’s gifts so true.

A child who could see with eyes of faith—

Beauty in a desolate place—

finding truth, peace, joy, understanding—

while growing in God’s divine grace.

From beneath the surface of darkness—

Jesus’ light shined brightly through.

Like a lovely flower—between a concrete

crack—

that child, in the Holy Word, steadfastly grew.

All honor, praise and glory

to our Heavenly Father above—

for all the blessings bestowed—

enabling one to share John 3:16—living life in

love.

Described by others as outstanding,

dynamic, real, honest and pure.

The blessed know, in order to grow—

unshakable, immovable, persistent Godly faith

will endure.

Who is that?

How can it be?

An unusual, exceptional, extraordinary

person—

The phenomenon—that’s me.

(Excerpt from "Excuse Me While I Be Myself’ with

added verses from the King James Version of the Holy

Bible)

CHRISTIANITY: Have You Tried It?

by

Karen Maddox

A christian, to me, is a follower of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He set the example to follow for all mankind; experienced everything every human would be subjected to but without sin. Jesus did this knowing that being human and clinging to certain ways of the world, man would continually fall short. Jesus went through a horrible, painful transition. Being beaten, bruised and wounded, he hung on a cross to die so we would be saved from our sins. Even though, while he walked this earth, telling everybody that it was the power of love that would enable us to overcome sin—because of their disbelief and because Jesus loved mankind so—he gave his life in order for all souls to be saved. (Saint John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him would have everlasting life. II Corinthians 5:14-21 For the love of Christ constrained us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: "And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. ")

Being subjected to torture, every infirmity, disease and the depths of hell, he rose again with all power! Therefore, this enables all to equally enjoy the countless blessings— freely—God has in store for us. It also means that all that anyone would so desire is his or hers if you believe in Jesus, try to walk in His way and ask in His name. (Saint Mark 10: 34 "And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again." Saint Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.)

As christians, we are bound to love one another and try to follow Christ’s example. It may seem difficult at times because everyone doesn’t believe but we’re supposed to love them as our sisters and brothers—as is because we are all God’s children. Christianity is helping instead of hurting. If you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything until you have prayerfully a sought solution. If you can’t do good, leave that situation alone. (Saint Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him. Saint Mark 12:29, 30 &31 And Jesus answered him. The first of all the commandments is: Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; this is the first commandment. "And the second is like, namely this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." Ephesians 3:9-21 "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ. To the intent that flow unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church, the manifold wisdom of God. According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him. Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at tribulations for you, which is your glory. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. That He would grant you according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith: that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length , and depth, and height: Andto know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask of think, according to the power that worketh in us. Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." Colossians 3:16 & 17 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him. )

Being a christian, I am responsible to do my best to live according to the instruction, guidelines and principles of the Holy Bible. Thus, living in this manner, which would be pleasing to God—edifying and glorifying him daily—this is what being a living sacrifice or example is about. A sacrifice in that you will be resisting ever-present temptations—trying to live sin-free (not finding fault with others or trying to place blame for wrongs on others) in your environment; teaching your family the Godly moral standards by your example; and being truthful when you’re off to yourself. This would be taking a stand for God in steadfastness instead of going along with the everyone else does it crowd (which may not believe in anything nor care if what they’re doing is right or wrong). It would also mean refraining from doing things for the sake of popularity—helping to keep the peace rather than conforming to argumentation, envy, jealousy, hatred, prejudice, gossip and other negatives in order to patiently promote brotherly love. When everything else seems to be going wrong, it means to pray, praise God and continue to try to do your best in any given situation. (Saint Matthew 5:14 & 16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Let your light so shine before men, so they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Saint Matthew 5:44 & 45 But I say unto you. Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.") (Galatians 5:22-26 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law, And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.)

God is always watching and patiently waiting for us all to get right so that we may better understand why it is so important to