Word of the Post
Today's word is: pugilist
/pu"gil*ist/ noun
One who fights with fists for sport.
~~~~~~~~~~
My body is putting up the brave fight against bronchitis. I am coughing a lot, to get the junk out of my chest. I am feeling like I have been hit by something. A belly-flop into a pool, a stampede of children, a co-ed soccer team pushed me into a wall. It is a workout to get to the other side of our house. I looked up the antibiotic that they gave me on WebMD. Its first two uses are to cure.... STD bacterial infections. Fun. Oh, and by the way, it will work on bronchitis too. OK. Sure. I can't really complain. The doctor knew I was uninsured, and gave me samples. It makes me happy to know that someone out there is watching over me.
I have very little else to discuss today. I don't have the energy to get into a political Q & A, I don't have the desire to bother with a religious discussion. I apologize to my faithful few readers, I hope to get back into this soon. For now... nap time.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Surrounding myself with warmth
Word of the Post
Today's word is: ablution
/ab*lu"tion/ noun
The act of cleansing all or part of the body, usually in a religious ritual washing; ritual of cleansing, as in morning pattern.
~~~~~~~~~~
I know that you don't want to hear me complain. But this is a diary, of sorts, so I have to share a bit. I am sick. I have a headache, fever, ear infection, and chest cold. I feel dizzy, sleepy and drowned. I have a doctor appointment this afternoon. This is big for me, because I have not been to a doctor in something like five years. Not for colds, ear infections, or even personal annual visits. And I have been chastised thoroughly, so please don't yell at me. Besides, the headache makes me irritable with loud noises.
Suffice it to say that I do not like doctors. I hate needles. I don't like being pinched, poked, prodded, or measured. I get the "you need to lose weight" speech enough from other places, so I don't like hearing the medical reasons again. I know that, of course. I don't appreciate being a guinea pig. Please, doc, don't try the "newest wonder drug" on me. I need the old, cheap standby. 10 days worth of it, not 7, or I will end up with 14. My ear infections are just as stubborn as the rest of me.
So I am sitting here, playing on the computer, because it takes less energy than even reading a book. That is a good thing, because I don't have very much energy. I may be able to clean up and eat lunch before the appointment, but I am convinced that those will be my only active motions today.
Last night, my poor Dear Hubby had to try to sleep through my nose sounding like a creaking ship. I have seen a musician who stood up on his Bass and, with his weight and bow, made it creak like an old boat. Very cool. Mutiny on the Bounty, and Pirates of the Caribbean come to mind! I couldn't decide if it was better than snoring or not. I usually snore when I am sick, and that wakes me first, but still bothers DH. Toss and turn, all night, and DH has to work today. I feel bad. I may sleep on the couch for a night or two, until the medications kick in, and I can sleep and breathe at the same time.
Today's word is: ablution
/ab*lu"tion/ noun
The act of cleansing all or part of the body, usually in a religious ritual washing; ritual of cleansing, as in morning pattern.
~~~~~~~~~~
I know that you don't want to hear me complain. But this is a diary, of sorts, so I have to share a bit. I am sick. I have a headache, fever, ear infection, and chest cold. I feel dizzy, sleepy and drowned. I have a doctor appointment this afternoon. This is big for me, because I have not been to a doctor in something like five years. Not for colds, ear infections, or even personal annual visits. And I have been chastised thoroughly, so please don't yell at me. Besides, the headache makes me irritable with loud noises.
Suffice it to say that I do not like doctors. I hate needles. I don't like being pinched, poked, prodded, or measured. I get the "you need to lose weight" speech enough from other places, so I don't like hearing the medical reasons again. I know that, of course. I don't appreciate being a guinea pig. Please, doc, don't try the "newest wonder drug" on me. I need the old, cheap standby. 10 days worth of it, not 7, or I will end up with 14. My ear infections are just as stubborn as the rest of me.
So I am sitting here, playing on the computer, because it takes less energy than even reading a book. That is a good thing, because I don't have very much energy. I may be able to clean up and eat lunch before the appointment, but I am convinced that those will be my only active motions today.
Last night, my poor Dear Hubby had to try to sleep through my nose sounding like a creaking ship. I have seen a musician who stood up on his Bass and, with his weight and bow, made it creak like an old boat. Very cool. Mutiny on the Bounty, and Pirates of the Caribbean come to mind! I couldn't decide if it was better than snoring or not. I usually snore when I am sick, and that wakes me first, but still bothers DH. Toss and turn, all night, and DH has to work today. I feel bad. I may sleep on the couch for a night or two, until the medications kick in, and I can sleep and breathe at the same time.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Pardon, Do You Have The Time?
Word of the Post
Today's word is: recidivism
/re*cid"i*vism/ noun
A tendency to relapse into a former pattern of behavior; an habitual return to criminal ways, especially after conviction and punishment.
~~~~~~~~~~
I am habitually ignoring the computer for days on end. I have spent months, years, in my past without a computer. I try to make sure that the time I have to spare is not completely consumed by the computer. It is an addiction for me, and I try to limit my exposure. Somehow, I always come back. Drugs, tobacco and alcohol have no pull on me like the sweet hum of the tower next to my feet, the lulling harmony of the streaming radio, the divine or irreverent revelations of the email, the smooth roll of the mouse on the cartoon printed mouse pad.
You will never see a clock in a casino. They don't want you to know how much time you really have spent there. I have a clock on the screen, and I pay no attention to it. I forget to check when I am in "the zone" with my surfing. I have spent long hours doing virtually nothing, virtually.
I get out nearly every weekday morning, and go walking with a friend. It is a good habit that I have a hard time explaining to my aching muscles. I come home, and sit on my backside, and read, type, and play my way through the rest of the day.
Please save your children from this horrible tragedy of health! Make them go outside and play with sticks. Teach them to run, skip, jump and dance. Remind them of the fun of puddle-jumping. Show them that the world is bigger than the flat-screen panel they see every day. Read with them, and have them share the movie from their imaginations. Make sure to turn on the "television" of the front window, and be certain that they know the animals in your yard better than the countless characters of Pokemon, Ben 10, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or whatever the kids watch these days. Play the movie of life WITH them, and don't forget to replay it all at dinner.
Today's word is: recidivism
/re*cid"i*vism/ noun
A tendency to relapse into a former pattern of behavior; an habitual return to criminal ways, especially after conviction and punishment.
~~~~~~~~~~
I am habitually ignoring the computer for days on end. I have spent months, years, in my past without a computer. I try to make sure that the time I have to spare is not completely consumed by the computer. It is an addiction for me, and I try to limit my exposure. Somehow, I always come back. Drugs, tobacco and alcohol have no pull on me like the sweet hum of the tower next to my feet, the lulling harmony of the streaming radio, the divine or irreverent revelations of the email, the smooth roll of the mouse on the cartoon printed mouse pad.
You will never see a clock in a casino. They don't want you to know how much time you really have spent there. I have a clock on the screen, and I pay no attention to it. I forget to check when I am in "the zone" with my surfing. I have spent long hours doing virtually nothing, virtually.
I get out nearly every weekday morning, and go walking with a friend. It is a good habit that I have a hard time explaining to my aching muscles. I come home, and sit on my backside, and read, type, and play my way through the rest of the day.
Please save your children from this horrible tragedy of health! Make them go outside and play with sticks. Teach them to run, skip, jump and dance. Remind them of the fun of puddle-jumping. Show them that the world is bigger than the flat-screen panel they see every day. Read with them, and have them share the movie from their imaginations. Make sure to turn on the "television" of the front window, and be certain that they know the animals in your yard better than the countless characters of Pokemon, Ben 10, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or whatever the kids watch these days. Play the movie of life WITH them, and don't forget to replay it all at dinner.
Friday, February 16, 2007
'Ere You Left Your Room This Morning, Did You Think To Pray?
Word of the Post
Today's word is: expiation
/ex'pi*a"tion/ noun
The act of making satisfaction or atonement for a crime or fault by suffering or a penalty; compensation for wrong; sacrifice or offering for removal of sin; blanketing the bad things with the good. When Jesus died to take our punishment for sin from us onto himself, it was expiation for you and me. He's got it covered.
~~~~~~~~~~
A word of warning, this will be a monster post, longer than I have done so far. I know that some will disagree with me, and that is OK. Please do not hesitate to post a comment here. I want to hear what you have to say about my pondering. I will reserve the right to delete any comment that is foul in word or nature, but I won't delete you just for debate. Also note, I am not as negative as this all seems to sound.
Maybe I am a bit jaded, but sometimes public prayers are not saying what I want to say to God. I find it hard to say "Amen" when someone prays like God is human. There are several little things that bug me about the prayers I hear. Not to say that I am against public prayer, because I am not. I am also not saying that this happens all the time where I am. Each worship service is different for me. I could hear the same prayer three weeks in a row, and take something different home each week. It can depend on my mood, my health, my humor, my attention span of the moment, or my sleep or lack of it the night before. These are just things I have thought about over the last 15 years or so, and I thought I might compile a list, and see if you have heard these same prayers, and what you thought of them.
First, I despise the "salesman" prayers: "Oh, Father God, we ask you, Father, to be with, Father, the sick, Father, the tired, Father, the oppressed, Father. Father, we plead with you, Father, to heal them, Father." and on, and on, for fifteen minutes of rambling and dramatic pauses. I have to try not to giggle. Do you suppose the guy up there even realizes what he is doing? How does he like it when people speak to HIM that way? "Hey, Joe, I am so glad to see you Joe, how are the wife and kids, Joe? Have you, Joe, been to see the latest movie, Joe, and did you, Joe, like it, Joe?" It makes me wonder if God gets irritated by it, or just thinks we are silly.
Second, I like to think of these as the "faithless" prayers: "Oh, God, heal the affliction of this child, and give his family peace, if it be Your will." Now this one is very subtle. I know that people want to pray in the will of God. I know that people do not want to effectively jump on God's toes and tell Him what to do. Except that this prayer is a sneaky way of saying to the family, basically this: "If your kid does not get better, then it is the will of God. We can do nothing about it." God said in the Bible that where two or more are gathered, He is there. He also said that whatever we asked in faith would be granted us. Now, I know that asking God for the winning ticket to the $240 Million Lottery this week is really stretching it. God also said that the one who actively seeks riches will fall. But when two or more are gathered, and a child is hurting, we feel we need to add the "if it be your will" so that we save face in the face of death or harm. I would rather we rephrase that. "God, we love this child and can't stand to see him hurt. We know that you can heal. We want you to heal this child." Adding later that we will honor what happens as God's will is fine. I don't know how to correctly pray for these things. It just feels mean to say it so flippantly in a public prayer.
Third, are the "lecture" prayers: "God, we know you said 'Thou Shalt Not Lie', and little Joe here lied to his daddy today. God, teach little Joe here to be a good boy and not to lie to me, because when he lies to me, he lies to You." If you feel you have to teach your lying child a lesson, please do not make it a prayer over dinner. Take the child out back, spank his bum if you feel it necessary, and then discuss with little Joe the importance and God-given direction of telling the truth. Make sure, while you are at it, to tell little Joe how much you love him, how much God loves him, how much easier it is to tell the truth, and don't forget to hug him! Verily, I say unto you, ye shall have a better child, and happier dinners.
Fourth, are the "scripture" prayers: "God, we know that You said in (Book, Chapter, Verse) that..." If you really feel that the congregation needs to hear the Word of God, please read it to US, don't quote it back to God. He knows what He said, and depending on whom you talk to, you might be quoting it wrong. (little poking fun here at the King James ONLY EVER crowd, which I am not) I mean, you really can't speak Hebrew, can you? Greek? Maybe Latin? These are very close cousins to the "lecture" prayers.
Fifth, and this was pointed out to me by a friend, are the "announcement" prayers: "Dear God, please be with...(basically read the bulletin that was already read to the church in the Announcements time of the service, both at the beginning, and at the end)" Depending on the size of your church, this prayer can be two minutes, or twenty.
Sixth, with the cute little segue, are the "marathon" prayers: These prayers, while they may employ any number of the other irritants, seem to drag on for 15 or 20 minutes. However, they lose their focus and pace after about 2 minutes. These people seem to forget that there are small children in the audience, who have an attention span the length of a grain of rice. They never took speech and debate classes, or they would know that you lose more than half your audience after only 5 minutes, especially if you don't include the slide show. I was in a service one time that the Opening prayer took almost 42 minutes. I was timing it, so you see where my mind was focused. (Mind you, the Sermon was usually only 20 or 25 minutes) The late arrivals were piling up at the door to the auditorium. When he finally quit, a visitor I knew wanted to leave. He felt he had acquired enough church for one month, thank-you-very-much.
Seventh, and the last picking for this post, are the "pattern" prayers. In the church of Christ, there is a phrase that is overused from ages past: "Guide, guard, and direct us." This has actually become one word to some people. It sounds odd when people change the order, but still use all three. I pick on this one because of Matthew 6:7, describing God not liking the vain and repetitious prayers of the heathens. Every time I hear that, I think of the rosary prayers of the Catholic church, and people reciting the "Lord's Prayer".
Prayer is to be a conversation with God. Public prayer should be focused on God. Praise, glory, honor, and humility. Requests can be made, but the main point should not be, "gimme what I want, God". These prayers need to be taking the individual thoughts and combining them, and sending them to God as a group. Care needs to be taken in what the collective is saying.
The words are not nearly so important as the relationship we should have with God. God is listening, and will answer, if we take the time in quiet places to listen to what He has to say.
Today's word is: expiation
/ex'pi*a"tion/ noun
The act of making satisfaction or atonement for a crime or fault by suffering or a penalty; compensation for wrong; sacrifice or offering for removal of sin; blanketing the bad things with the good. When Jesus died to take our punishment for sin from us onto himself, it was expiation for you and me. He's got it covered.
~~~~~~~~~~
A word of warning, this will be a monster post, longer than I have done so far. I know that some will disagree with me, and that is OK. Please do not hesitate to post a comment here. I want to hear what you have to say about my pondering. I will reserve the right to delete any comment that is foul in word or nature, but I won't delete you just for debate. Also note, I am not as negative as this all seems to sound.
Maybe I am a bit jaded, but sometimes public prayers are not saying what I want to say to God. I find it hard to say "Amen" when someone prays like God is human. There are several little things that bug me about the prayers I hear. Not to say that I am against public prayer, because I am not. I am also not saying that this happens all the time where I am. Each worship service is different for me. I could hear the same prayer three weeks in a row, and take something different home each week. It can depend on my mood, my health, my humor, my attention span of the moment, or my sleep or lack of it the night before. These are just things I have thought about over the last 15 years or so, and I thought I might compile a list, and see if you have heard these same prayers, and what you thought of them.
First, I despise the "salesman" prayers: "Oh, Father God, we ask you, Father, to be with, Father, the sick, Father, the tired, Father, the oppressed, Father. Father, we plead with you, Father, to heal them, Father." and on, and on, for fifteen minutes of rambling and dramatic pauses. I have to try not to giggle. Do you suppose the guy up there even realizes what he is doing? How does he like it when people speak to HIM that way? "Hey, Joe, I am so glad to see you Joe, how are the wife and kids, Joe? Have you, Joe, been to see the latest movie, Joe, and did you, Joe, like it, Joe?" It makes me wonder if God gets irritated by it, or just thinks we are silly.
Second, I like to think of these as the "faithless" prayers: "Oh, God, heal the affliction of this child, and give his family peace, if it be Your will." Now this one is very subtle. I know that people want to pray in the will of God. I know that people do not want to effectively jump on God's toes and tell Him what to do. Except that this prayer is a sneaky way of saying to the family, basically this: "If your kid does not get better, then it is the will of God. We can do nothing about it." God said in the Bible that where two or more are gathered, He is there. He also said that whatever we asked in faith would be granted us. Now, I know that asking God for the winning ticket to the $240 Million Lottery this week is really stretching it. God also said that the one who actively seeks riches will fall. But when two or more are gathered, and a child is hurting, we feel we need to add the "if it be your will" so that we save face in the face of death or harm. I would rather we rephrase that. "God, we love this child and can't stand to see him hurt. We know that you can heal. We want you to heal this child." Adding later that we will honor what happens as God's will is fine. I don't know how to correctly pray for these things. It just feels mean to say it so flippantly in a public prayer.
Third, are the "lecture" prayers: "God, we know you said 'Thou Shalt Not Lie', and little Joe here lied to his daddy today. God, teach little Joe here to be a good boy and not to lie to me, because when he lies to me, he lies to You." If you feel you have to teach your lying child a lesson, please do not make it a prayer over dinner. Take the child out back, spank his bum if you feel it necessary, and then discuss with little Joe the importance and God-given direction of telling the truth. Make sure, while you are at it, to tell little Joe how much you love him, how much God loves him, how much easier it is to tell the truth, and don't forget to hug him! Verily, I say unto you, ye shall have a better child, and happier dinners.
Fourth, are the "scripture" prayers: "God, we know that You said in (Book, Chapter, Verse) that..." If you really feel that the congregation needs to hear the Word of God, please read it to US, don't quote it back to God. He knows what He said, and depending on whom you talk to, you might be quoting it wrong. (little poking fun here at the King James ONLY EVER crowd, which I am not) I mean, you really can't speak Hebrew, can you? Greek? Maybe Latin? These are very close cousins to the "lecture" prayers.
Fifth, and this was pointed out to me by a friend, are the "announcement" prayers: "Dear God, please be with...(basically read the bulletin that was already read to the church in the Announcements time of the service, both at the beginning, and at the end)" Depending on the size of your church, this prayer can be two minutes, or twenty.
Sixth, with the cute little segue, are the "marathon" prayers: These prayers, while they may employ any number of the other irritants, seem to drag on for 15 or 20 minutes. However, they lose their focus and pace after about 2 minutes. These people seem to forget that there are small children in the audience, who have an attention span the length of a grain of rice. They never took speech and debate classes, or they would know that you lose more than half your audience after only 5 minutes, especially if you don't include the slide show. I was in a service one time that the Opening prayer took almost 42 minutes. I was timing it, so you see where my mind was focused. (Mind you, the Sermon was usually only 20 or 25 minutes) The late arrivals were piling up at the door to the auditorium. When he finally quit, a visitor I knew wanted to leave. He felt he had acquired enough church for one month, thank-you-very-much.
Seventh, and the last picking for this post, are the "pattern" prayers. In the church of Christ, there is a phrase that is overused from ages past: "Guide, guard, and direct us." This has actually become one word to some people. It sounds odd when people change the order, but still use all three. I pick on this one because of Matthew 6:7, describing God not liking the vain and repetitious prayers of the heathens. Every time I hear that, I think of the rosary prayers of the Catholic church, and people reciting the "Lord's Prayer".
Prayer is to be a conversation with God. Public prayer should be focused on God. Praise, glory, honor, and humility. Requests can be made, but the main point should not be, "gimme what I want, God". These prayers need to be taking the individual thoughts and combining them, and sending them to God as a group. Care needs to be taken in what the collective is saying.
The words are not nearly so important as the relationship we should have with God. God is listening, and will answer, if we take the time in quiet places to listen to what He has to say.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
On Second Thought...
Word of the Post
Today's word is: February
/Feb"ru*a*ry/ noun
Named for the fifteenth of this month, for the great feast of expiation (probably the next word this month) and purification; said to have been introduced to the Roman calendar by Numa. Commonly mispronounced as /Feb"you*a*ry/. The dictionary I use for these things has a little computer/man voice that pronounces words, and the WRONG one was first! What IS this world coming to? I think we should call it "Secondary".
~~~~~~~~~~
Since I told you already about Sibling Day, I will just say Happy Sibling Day to the Siblings in question, and leave the rest of that alone. However, one of the comments posted was that Jared said he knew I didn't like holidays. I wouldn't say that I don't like holidays....
OK, I don't like holidays. Many of them, anyway.
New Year's Eve (and it spills into New Year's Day) used to be a neat thing to me. I was the kid who was so happy to stay up all night and watch TV. Dick Clark never aged; the church group did puzzles, games and pulled taffy; the world was right if only for a minute or two after midnight. Now I am just too tired by the time the ball drops to even enjoy the toast with my friends. I get headaches, I get cranky, and I am a general grouch. I am not having fun, nor am I fun to be around. Maybe I can get that magic back when my niece or my future children grow to have the same wonder about what happens to adults after bedtime.
Valentine's Day had been a matter of much consternation. I hated it in High School, when I seemed to be the only one I knew without a date or an invite to the Sweetheart Dance. I saw teens hanging on each other, and honestly all I remember thinking was, "Eeeww! She is kissing HIM? YUCK!" Never even crossed my mind that I should want not to be lonely. Recent years have given me different views on that... but I still think it silly to support the greeting card industry by paying them to say "I Love You" for me.
I have grown to like Christmas, even though many of the rituals and reasons behind it make my skin crawl. I enjoy knowing that the government has not yet taken away the one day per year when people close their businesses (even the All-Big, All-Evil Wal-Mart closes!) and pay their workers for a day off ~ to recognize JESUS. What an opportunity given to me as a Christian!
I happen to enjoy Cinco de Mayo. It makes for a lovely birthday. That day is the one day a year it is OK for me to want an adult beverage. It is a national holiday in Mexico. It is a boy's kite day (also known as children's day) in Japan because of an emperor who was born on the 5th of May. My best friend and her daughters call me each year, and sing to me. "Happy Cinco de Mayo to you..."
Besides, if you are going to get a year older each time you pass it, shouldn't it be a holiday?
Today's word is: February
/Feb"ru*a*ry/ noun
Named for the fifteenth of this month, for the great feast of expiation (probably the next word this month) and purification; said to have been introduced to the Roman calendar by Numa. Commonly mispronounced as /Feb"you*a*ry/. The dictionary I use for these things has a little computer/man voice that pronounces words, and the WRONG one was first! What IS this world coming to? I think we should call it "Secondary".
~~~~~~~~~~
Since I told you already about Sibling Day, I will just say Happy Sibling Day to the Siblings in question, and leave the rest of that alone. However, one of the comments posted was that Jared said he knew I didn't like holidays. I wouldn't say that I don't like holidays....
OK, I don't like holidays. Many of them, anyway.
New Year's Eve (and it spills into New Year's Day) used to be a neat thing to me. I was the kid who was so happy to stay up all night and watch TV. Dick Clark never aged; the church group did puzzles, games and pulled taffy; the world was right if only for a minute or two after midnight. Now I am just too tired by the time the ball drops to even enjoy the toast with my friends. I get headaches, I get cranky, and I am a general grouch. I am not having fun, nor am I fun to be around. Maybe I can get that magic back when my niece or my future children grow to have the same wonder about what happens to adults after bedtime.
Valentine's Day had been a matter of much consternation. I hated it in High School, when I seemed to be the only one I knew without a date or an invite to the Sweetheart Dance. I saw teens hanging on each other, and honestly all I remember thinking was, "Eeeww! She is kissing HIM? YUCK!" Never even crossed my mind that I should want not to be lonely. Recent years have given me different views on that... but I still think it silly to support the greeting card industry by paying them to say "I Love You" for me.
I have grown to like Christmas, even though many of the rituals and reasons behind it make my skin crawl. I enjoy knowing that the government has not yet taken away the one day per year when people close their businesses (even the All-Big, All-Evil Wal-Mart closes!) and pay their workers for a day off ~ to recognize JESUS. What an opportunity given to me as a Christian!
I happen to enjoy Cinco de Mayo. It makes for a lovely birthday. That day is the one day a year it is OK for me to want an adult beverage. It is a national holiday in Mexico. It is a boy's kite day (also known as children's day) in Japan because of an emperor who was born on the 5th of May. My best friend and her daughters call me each year, and sing to me. "Happy Cinco de Mayo to you..."
Besides, if you are going to get a year older each time you pass it, shouldn't it be a holiday?
Monday, February 12, 2007
Remember the Second Month!
Word of the Post
Today's word is: syzygy
/siz"i*gee/ noun
The nearly straight line configuration of three celestial bodies (as the sun, moon and earth during a solar or lunar eclipse) in a gravitational system. The intimately united and apparently fused condition of certain low organisms during conjugation; so closely united that the line of union is obliterated on the outer, though visible on the inner, side. The preacher who gave me this word used it to describe what marriage should be like. Two becoming one.
~~~~~~~~~~
There have been two days recently when I got to babysit my niece. She is an ornery little squirt, but so much fun! She usually goes to a babysitter who has two older children, but their family has been sick, so I got the grand honor. She would eat her weight in cheese if I let her. Cheese, bananas and raisins. She is pretty handy with a fork. She is only 17 months old, and has a very clear vocabulary of over 100 words, can say the alphabet with some prompting, and can count to ten. We think she is a genius, but I suppose the family is biased.
Today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday. He was born in Kentucky, but was moved at an early age to Indiana (now referred to as the "Land of Lincoln"). I know this because when I was 7 years old, my mom helped me lose a radio contest with this question. And I just found that again on Wikipedia.
"30 days hath September, April, June and November. All the rest have 31, except for February, which only needeth 28." ~ Shoe comic from many years ago. February is a month to remember, I suppose because it has so few days to remember with. There are many holidays and remembrances to celebrate this month. Black History Month, the birthday of Susan B. Anthony, birthdays of former presidents Lincoln and Washington, Presidents' Day, Valentine's Day, Fat Tuesday a.k.a. Mardi Gras right before Ash Wednesday beginning Lent, the Chinese New Year, and the soon-to-be-famous Sibling Day.
At our house, the 15th of February is a big deal. Jeff's sister and my brother were born on the same day, in different states, but only 10 minutes apart. Since I am older than Jeff by two and a half years, I think it only fitting that my brother is the older of the siblings. I used to give my brother Susan B. Anthony dollars for his birthday, because it was hers as well. If you count that Lady Liberty on the Liberty Dimes isn't really a person, Susan B. and Sacajawea make up only two ladies on U. S. Currency. The rest of the faces are men or animal. Susan (born in 1820) did much work for women's suffrage. The coin was released in 1979 (the year the siblings were born) because of the centennial of Rutherford B. Hayes signing a bill into law that allowed female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court. If you are a woman, and you vote, you can thank Susan and her friends of the late 1800's for the privilege.
Today's word is: syzygy
/siz"i*gee/ noun
The nearly straight line configuration of three celestial bodies (as the sun, moon and earth during a solar or lunar eclipse) in a gravitational system. The intimately united and apparently fused condition of certain low organisms during conjugation; so closely united that the line of union is obliterated on the outer, though visible on the inner, side. The preacher who gave me this word used it to describe what marriage should be like. Two becoming one.
~~~~~~~~~~
There have been two days recently when I got to babysit my niece. She is an ornery little squirt, but so much fun! She usually goes to a babysitter who has two older children, but their family has been sick, so I got the grand honor. She would eat her weight in cheese if I let her. Cheese, bananas and raisins. She is pretty handy with a fork. She is only 17 months old, and has a very clear vocabulary of over 100 words, can say the alphabet with some prompting, and can count to ten. We think she is a genius, but I suppose the family is biased.
Today is Abraham Lincoln's birthday. He was born in Kentucky, but was moved at an early age to Indiana (now referred to as the "Land of Lincoln"). I know this because when I was 7 years old, my mom helped me lose a radio contest with this question. And I just found that again on Wikipedia.
"30 days hath September, April, June and November. All the rest have 31, except for February, which only needeth 28." ~ Shoe comic from many years ago. February is a month to remember, I suppose because it has so few days to remember with. There are many holidays and remembrances to celebrate this month. Black History Month, the birthday of Susan B. Anthony, birthdays of former presidents Lincoln and Washington, Presidents' Day, Valentine's Day, Fat Tuesday a.k.a. Mardi Gras right before Ash Wednesday beginning Lent, the Chinese New Year, and the soon-to-be-famous Sibling Day.
At our house, the 15th of February is a big deal. Jeff's sister and my brother were born on the same day, in different states, but only 10 minutes apart. Since I am older than Jeff by two and a half years, I think it only fitting that my brother is the older of the siblings. I used to give my brother Susan B. Anthony dollars for his birthday, because it was hers as well. If you count that Lady Liberty on the Liberty Dimes isn't really a person, Susan B. and Sacajawea make up only two ladies on U. S. Currency. The rest of the faces are men or animal. Susan (born in 1820) did much work for women's suffrage. The coin was released in 1979 (the year the siblings were born) because of the centennial of Rutherford B. Hayes signing a bill into law that allowed female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court. If you are a woman, and you vote, you can thank Susan and her friends of the late 1800's for the privilege.
Friday, February 9, 2007
Coffee, Anyone?
Word of the Post
Today's word is: ubiquitous
/yu*bik"wi*tous/ adjective
Being present everywhere at once; omnipresent. God's Love for You is ubiquitous.
~~~~~~~~~~
God's Coffee
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -- porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite -- telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said the following.
If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was the coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups. Then you began eying each other's cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee. The jobs, money and position in society are the cups; they are just tools to hold and contain Life. The type of cup we have does not define, nor change, the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us.
God brews the coffee, not the cups. Enjoy your coffee!
The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you for letting me put random stuff out there. I have been thinking a lot about my coffee cups, and forgetting the coffee is burning. Bad analogy for me... I don't like coffee. It matters little. I need to focus more on the brewing.
Today's word is: ubiquitous
/yu*bik"wi*tous/ adjective
Being present everywhere at once; omnipresent. God's Love for You is ubiquitous.
~~~~~~~~~~
God's Coffee
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups -- porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite -- telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said the following.
If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was the coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups. Then you began eying each other's cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee. The jobs, money and position in society are the cups; they are just tools to hold and contain Life. The type of cup we have does not define, nor change, the quality of Life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us.
God brews the coffee, not the cups. Enjoy your coffee!
The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
~~~~~~~~~~
Thank you for letting me put random stuff out there. I have been thinking a lot about my coffee cups, and forgetting the coffee is burning. Bad analogy for me... I don't like coffee. It matters little. I need to focus more on the brewing.
Thursday, February 8, 2007
Life in the Fast Lane
Word of the Post
Today's word is: genuflect
/gen'yu*flect"/ verb
To bend the knee as in worship. It is a amazing how much advanced language Disney uses in their films. This one was used in Aladdin, in Genie's song to Al, who wished to be made a Prince. "Genuflect, show some respect, down on one knee." Cute that they explained it, too.
~~~~~~~~~~
Several (OK, only two) of my buddies have asked where I am. Was. Whatever. So, here comes the explanation. I have been busy.
I have no other explanation. Just excuses.
Today's word is: genuflect
/gen'yu*flect"/ verb
To bend the knee as in worship. It is a amazing how much advanced language Disney uses in their films. This one was used in Aladdin, in Genie's song to Al, who wished to be made a Prince. "Genuflect, show some respect, down on one knee." Cute that they explained it, too.
~~~~~~~~~~
Several (OK, only two) of my buddies have asked where I am. Was. Whatever. So, here comes the explanation. I have been busy.
I have no other explanation. Just excuses.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Tell me, Whose side are you livin' on?
Word of the Post
Today's word is: mendacious
/men*da"cious/ adjective
Given to deception or falsehood; lying; intentionally untrue. Has anyone listened to a politician lately?
~~~~~~~~~~
For several days, I have been contemplating and revising this entry in my head. I do a lot of scribbling before I actually post anything. Sometimes, I am given to long fits of typing. Today, those scribbles and fits were for naught. I am still at a loss for what to say.
I recently found out that the side of Good has lost a valuable team member. I can't really call him my friend, for I only met him a few times. Since I did not know him well, I don't feel comfortable calling him "brother". Yet, in the spiritual sense, he was. God's warrior, Adam Langford, passed away in January. He died in a car crash in Uganda. He was ministering to the people there, a missionary for the Lord. Adam had just turned 28. He leaves behind family in the U.S. and Uganda, churches supporting the continuing work, and a great cloud of witnesses to his short time here. He touched many lives for God, and his death is a loss that has been felt the world over. I humbly ask that if you pray, please pray for Adam's family. For more information about Adam's recent work in the mission field, please visit here. I think you will also be inspired by his insight, zeal, and faith.
My friend Niki mentioned on her blog a "Yes Path to God". I have a tough time stopping long enough to listen for God. I do a lot of nothing, and I let even my depression and laziness get in the way of what God has to say to me. I do good works for my friends, and I am a good person. Those sound like the excuses that non-believers give to me when I ask why they don't make time for God. Excuses won't get me anywhere on the day my judgement comes.
I remember as a child, praying my hardest that God would change the path my parents were on. We were in the process of moving to Ghana, Africa. We were going to be one of two families going there to help the missionaries. My family was four ~ Dad, Mom, me and my brother. The other family was also four ~ Dad, Mom, and two boys. I remember being angry that my family would make such a huge decision without consulting me. (I was very selfish for my eleven years.) I prayed like I have not prayed before, or since. I told God that I didn't mind going, if only He would make the trip happen for another family to accompany us. I didn't like the boys. I was moving to a totally foreign place, and the only people I would know were hideously rude, ugly, MALE. I was exaggerating, but I wanted God to see my plight more clearly than my parents seemed to.
My parents had sold our home, had packed most of our things, and had even purchased plane tickets. At the eleventh hour (how funny that seems now, matching my age), we got word that the church in Texas that was planning to sponsor us had backed out. We were out on the street. My father found a job in another city, and we moved there.
Now, I see that the prayers of a selfish little girl are surely not the only reason that trip was canceled. I understand that something else influenced Him to move us in a different direction. I know that this direction is in His will as much as any other He might have guided me to. Except... the child in me still wonders. Was my request the right one? Did I harm God's work in Ghana? Did I avert disaster somehow? Why did God listen to ME?
The child in me wonders. The adult in me prays.
Today's word is: mendacious
/men*da"cious/ adjective
Given to deception or falsehood; lying; intentionally untrue. Has anyone listened to a politician lately?
~~~~~~~~~~
For several days, I have been contemplating and revising this entry in my head. I do a lot of scribbling before I actually post anything. Sometimes, I am given to long fits of typing. Today, those scribbles and fits were for naught. I am still at a loss for what to say.
I recently found out that the side of Good has lost a valuable team member. I can't really call him my friend, for I only met him a few times. Since I did not know him well, I don't feel comfortable calling him "brother". Yet, in the spiritual sense, he was. God's warrior, Adam Langford, passed away in January. He died in a car crash in Uganda. He was ministering to the people there, a missionary for the Lord. Adam had just turned 28. He leaves behind family in the U.S. and Uganda, churches supporting the continuing work, and a great cloud of witnesses to his short time here. He touched many lives for God, and his death is a loss that has been felt the world over. I humbly ask that if you pray, please pray for Adam's family. For more information about Adam's recent work in the mission field, please visit here. I think you will also be inspired by his insight, zeal, and faith.
My friend Niki mentioned on her blog a "Yes Path to God". I have a tough time stopping long enough to listen for God. I do a lot of nothing, and I let even my depression and laziness get in the way of what God has to say to me. I do good works for my friends, and I am a good person. Those sound like the excuses that non-believers give to me when I ask why they don't make time for God. Excuses won't get me anywhere on the day my judgement comes.
I remember as a child, praying my hardest that God would change the path my parents were on. We were in the process of moving to Ghana, Africa. We were going to be one of two families going there to help the missionaries. My family was four ~ Dad, Mom, me and my brother. The other family was also four ~ Dad, Mom, and two boys. I remember being angry that my family would make such a huge decision without consulting me. (I was very selfish for my eleven years.) I prayed like I have not prayed before, or since. I told God that I didn't mind going, if only He would make the trip happen for another family to accompany us. I didn't like the boys. I was moving to a totally foreign place, and the only people I would know were hideously rude, ugly, MALE. I was exaggerating, but I wanted God to see my plight more clearly than my parents seemed to.
My parents had sold our home, had packed most of our things, and had even purchased plane tickets. At the eleventh hour (how funny that seems now, matching my age), we got word that the church in Texas that was planning to sponsor us had backed out. We were out on the street. My father found a job in another city, and we moved there.
Now, I see that the prayers of a selfish little girl are surely not the only reason that trip was canceled. I understand that something else influenced Him to move us in a different direction. I know that this direction is in His will as much as any other He might have guided me to. Except... the child in me still wonders. Was my request the right one? Did I harm God's work in Ghana? Did I avert disaster somehow? Why did God listen to ME?
The child in me wonders. The adult in me prays.
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