OK. This post is going to be a little sarcastic. (Hint: Those without a sense of humor probably should skip this post.)
As I was reading about Earth Day celebrations in the local newspaper with the article detailing how different people were saving this and recycling that so Mother Earth will not grind to a halt some time in the next 5 million years, it struck me how the Filipino's are inherently more green than us here in the good 'ole USA.
Every time we flush the toilet we expend 1.2 gallons of water. What if we take our cue from the Filipinos and have the male population simply go outdoors to "water the wall?" Each trip outside will save 1.2 gallons of water. Factoring in at least twice a day (2.4 gallons saved) multiplied by 150 million males in the USA brings a conservative estimate of 348 million gallons of good, clean water saved per day! This greening of the planet takes so little effort.
Mom, just send little Johnnie outside and you will be helping Mother Earth and feel better about yourself. But wait, if we do this won't our cities smell like Manila? Well, yes, of course. But we all are asked to make sacrifices for Mother Earth. So tomorrow send your men folks outside to "water the wall" knowing you are saving 1.2 gallons of water each and every time.
This way we can save enough water that we can all take 20 minute showers each morning!
Blessings
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Let the Warrior Arise
April 22, 2009. It is birthday time for a young man I have known for 19 years. This young man has walked through life with a steadfastness that is rare in our times. As a result of his resoluteness to live for his king, his heart is unmixed (the Greek word for innocence has this meaning of a heart unmixed with things that cause impurity) and he is happy and fulfilled. It is possible to be in this state of heart even when we find ourselves in the midst of uncertainty, even if we do not always get things right, and even when there is no concrete goal set before us. So, Happy Birthday Elijah! And well done for your first 25 years!
Speaking of birthdays, it is my sister-in-law has a birthday today as well. Though it is impolite to mention how old a lady is, let's just say she was my classmate in school. (This means she is still young!) She, too, is a light that shines forth brightly with the love for her king!
Happy Birthday to Colleen!
How blessed I am to have been surrounded by such awesome people my whole life.
In chapter eight of Wild at Heart by John Eldredge , there is this statement.
I love this statement. It inspires me to live for and fight for the higher, nobler cause of my king. On the opposite side of this is the sadness of observing the warrior who refuses to pick up his weapon and fight when there is a battle being waged all around him. Concern for personal safety, comfort, and ease; aversion to the ugliness of battle and blood; ignorance of the cause for battle; all produce withered, atrophied arms unfit for the fight.
God, spare me from such a fate as this. I do not want to be found on the sidelines when there is a battle to be fought.
Lord, give us courage and let the warrior arise!
Blessings
Speaking of birthdays, it is my sister-in-law has a birthday today as well. Though it is impolite to mention how old a lady is, let's just say she was my classmate in school. (This means she is still young!) She, too, is a light that shines forth brightly with the love for her king!
Happy Birthday to Colleen!
How blessed I am to have been surrounded by such awesome people my whole life.
In chapter eight of Wild at Heart by John Eldredge , there is this statement.
"Every man is a warrior inside. But the choice to fight is his own."
I love this statement. It inspires me to live for and fight for the higher, nobler cause of my king. On the opposite side of this is the sadness of observing the warrior who refuses to pick up his weapon and fight when there is a battle being waged all around him. Concern for personal safety, comfort, and ease; aversion to the ugliness of battle and blood; ignorance of the cause for battle; all produce withered, atrophied arms unfit for the fight.
God, spare me from such a fate as this. I do not want to be found on the sidelines when there is a battle to be fought.
Lord, give us courage and let the warrior arise!
Blessings
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Stained Glass
It is so beautiful right now. The sun has one more hour to strut its stuff here before blessing the other side of the world. After two days of clouds and much needed rain the sunshine broke through bringing refreshing rays to this guy who hails from the land "where the skies are not cloudy all day." As I write this the weather news has radar showing that in about 2 hours another round of clouds and rain can be expected here. So I will enjoy the beauty of the moment.
Well, I am now down to the last 2 days of my puzzle. It is going so easily now. People are coming out of the shadows to "help" now that it has gotten easy due to the lack of options left of the table. So I have to chide them for coming to my rescue when the light at the end of the tunnel is as big as the sun shining outside. Where were these friends when it looked impossible to complete?
On another note, a different kind of beauty is seen in the lives changed from self-centeredness to other-centeredness. I had the opportunity to visit this week with a man who struggled for 26 years trying to overcome his addiction to alcohol. Today, he is finding that his life isn't wasted and that there is purpose for his life. He is even falling in love with people whom he has known for many years. This man is as beautiful as the stained glass found in the Cathedral of Notre Dame. How joyful it is to watch this change occur.
Another burst of brilliant sunlight!!!!
Can God not be good? I don't think so because it is not in his nature. Lord, let me live up to my nature which you have place within me. Let your goodness and beauty be seen in and through me.
Blessings!
Well, I am now down to the last 2 days of my puzzle. It is going so easily now. People are coming out of the shadows to "help" now that it has gotten easy due to the lack of options left of the table. So I have to chide them for coming to my rescue when the light at the end of the tunnel is as big as the sun shining outside. Where were these friends when it looked impossible to complete?
On another note, a different kind of beauty is seen in the lives changed from self-centeredness to other-centeredness. I had the opportunity to visit this week with a man who struggled for 26 years trying to overcome his addiction to alcohol. Today, he is finding that his life isn't wasted and that there is purpose for his life. He is even falling in love with people whom he has known for many years. This man is as beautiful as the stained glass found in the Cathedral of Notre Dame. How joyful it is to watch this change occur.
Another burst of brilliant sunlight!!!!
Can God not be good? I don't think so because it is not in his nature. Lord, let me live up to my nature which you have place within me. Let your goodness and beauty be seen in and through me.
Blessings!
Thursday, April 16, 2009
The Tease in the Tea Parties
Reflections on the April 15th Tea Parties.
The Tea Parties were a great success in giving people a voice of dissent. There were many reasons why so many people showed up to the Tea Parties. It struck me how diverse were the objections of the people. Because there were issues ranging from the policies of President "O" to the 'bailouts' begun by President Bush, it held a little bit of something for everyone who were mostly on the the losing side of the past election.
Only a few of the participants really voiced the true reason for the Tea Parties. That reason being: The federal government going beyond the legal powers it possesses through the Constitution. This is at the core of the protests and the frustration of so many people. If this is true (and I believe it is) then this is not a President "O" problem. This problem has been around longer than our current President has been alive.
Now the seeds of the future demise of the Tea Parties were sown on April 15th at the Tea Party events. The seeds which will produce the demise of the Tea Parties are the Republican Party. Let me explain. Name the practical difference between the Democratic and Republican Parties. I know what the two parties say they stand for (and at least the Democrats act on what they say they stand for) but when we look back the last 20 years, the only real difference between the two parties is described like this. The Democrats desire to kill something quickly while the Republicans desire to kill something slowly. It is akin to having both wrists slit (Democrat version) verses having only one wrist slit (Republican version.) Either way, death comes.
The Republican party says they for limited government. Yet, where have the Republicans limited government when they were in power and had opportunities to do so. The problem seems to be that Conservatives who hold to a Constitutional view of government try to link up with a Party that does not in itself hold to a Constitutional view of government. This brings us back to the Tea Parties. The Republican Party is (and will be) at the Tea Parties for one reason only - to get back in power so they can go the same direction as the Democrats (only at a slower pace.) Why would anyone at the Tea Parties even dream of the Republican Party getting back in power?
Those at the 2009 Tea Parties, if they are coming in the spirit of the original 1773 Tea Party, will not look to the Republican Party but look to a new party that will act as radical as the signers of the Constitution no matter the cost. This is the only way the change which the Tea Party dissenters are looking for will come about. Expecting it to come through Republicans in power will only bring demise in slow motion.
So my fellow compatriots - let us look elsewhere to a new party. Why waste time and effort on a party that has left the Constitution as surely as the Democrats? Spend your effort in bringing forth a viable new party. When you do this you will really be embracing the spirit of the 1773 Tea Party.
The Tea Parties were a great success in giving people a voice of dissent. There were many reasons why so many people showed up to the Tea Parties. It struck me how diverse were the objections of the people. Because there were issues ranging from the policies of President "O" to the 'bailouts' begun by President Bush, it held a little bit of something for everyone who were mostly on the the losing side of the past election.
Only a few of the participants really voiced the true reason for the Tea Parties. That reason being: The federal government going beyond the legal powers it possesses through the Constitution. This is at the core of the protests and the frustration of so many people. If this is true (and I believe it is) then this is not a President "O" problem. This problem has been around longer than our current President has been alive.
Now the seeds of the future demise of the Tea Parties were sown on April 15th at the Tea Party events. The seeds which will produce the demise of the Tea Parties are the Republican Party. Let me explain. Name the practical difference between the Democratic and Republican Parties. I know what the two parties say they stand for (and at least the Democrats act on what they say they stand for) but when we look back the last 20 years, the only real difference between the two parties is described like this. The Democrats desire to kill something quickly while the Republicans desire to kill something slowly. It is akin to having both wrists slit (Democrat version) verses having only one wrist slit (Republican version.) Either way, death comes.
The Republican party says they for limited government. Yet, where have the Republicans limited government when they were in power and had opportunities to do so. The problem seems to be that Conservatives who hold to a Constitutional view of government try to link up with a Party that does not in itself hold to a Constitutional view of government. This brings us back to the Tea Parties. The Republican Party is (and will be) at the Tea Parties for one reason only - to get back in power so they can go the same direction as the Democrats (only at a slower pace.) Why would anyone at the Tea Parties even dream of the Republican Party getting back in power?
Those at the 2009 Tea Parties, if they are coming in the spirit of the original 1773 Tea Party, will not look to the Republican Party but look to a new party that will act as radical as the signers of the Constitution no matter the cost. This is the only way the change which the Tea Party dissenters are looking for will come about. Expecting it to come through Republicans in power will only bring demise in slow motion.
So my fellow compatriots - let us look elsewhere to a new party. Why waste time and effort on a party that has left the Constitution as surely as the Democrats? Spend your effort in bringing forth a viable new party. When you do this you will really be embracing the spirit of the 1773 Tea Party.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Amazing, Inspiring, Spirit Lifting
This is two videos in a row. This one is going in my archives as there is inspiration written all over this one. You get to watch a dream become reality right before your eyes. Watch this. Enjoy this. And be inspired!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY
Blessings
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY
Blessings
Adventure Supreme
Do you have 36 minutes to spare? The following link is a fascinating look into history. It is real video of the great sailing ship Peking going around Cape Horn. The year is 1929. Warning: Once you begin you will not want to quit!
Since I have not mastered the linkage art of this craft you will have to type in the following URL instead of simply clicking on it. It is still worth the effort.
http:video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1184583933122407708&hl=en
and enjoy.
Blessings
Since I have not mastered the linkage art of this craft you will have to type in the following URL instead of simply clicking on it. It is still worth the effort.
http:video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1184583933122407708&hl=en
and enjoy.
Blessings
The Unilateralist
Congratulations to President "O" for giving the Naval forces permission to use force if necessary to rescue the American merchant captain held hostage by Somalian pirates. A giant thanks and kudos to the Navy for their precision rescue of Captain Richard Phillips. Our president was right in his decision. However, it is ironic that this right decision goes against everything our President professes to believe regarding international relations. After spending 12 months blasting President Bush for his unilateral "go-it-alone" policies and promising a "change" from this style of engagement, when it came right down to time to act, President "O" chose exactly the same policy! Clearly this was not what President "O" desired. It is desirable to have others backing you up when a tough decision has to be made. But there are times when the international community will withhold their support and blessings (for whatever reasons) and the only alternative to doing nothing is to become a Unilateralist.
A similar scenario is unfolding in Afghanistan where President "O" is pushing for a build up of troops. Involving the international community in this project (NATO in particular) has been met with a broad yawn by the Europeans who said yes but will commit only 500 combined troops. So what will our President do? It looks like we will be acting alone in this build up. My how easy it is to criticize policy only to find yourself following the same course 12 months later.
Perhaps President Bush was not so "evil" in pursuing a unilateral policy after all. But then I'm sure the unilateral policies of President "O" are more justified because, after all, he is much better able to persuade leaders to follow him than President Bush ever was. The double standard in all of this is that Bush's policies were said to be employed out of arrogance whereas President "O"'s policies stem from necessity.
In this matter Bush, the Unilateralist is now joined by "O", the Unilateralist.
A similar scenario is unfolding in Afghanistan where President "O" is pushing for a build up of troops. Involving the international community in this project (NATO in particular) has been met with a broad yawn by the Europeans who said yes but will commit only 500 combined troops. So what will our President do? It looks like we will be acting alone in this build up. My how easy it is to criticize policy only to find yourself following the same course 12 months later.
Perhaps President Bush was not so "evil" in pursuing a unilateral policy after all. But then I'm sure the unilateral policies of President "O" are more justified because, after all, he is much better able to persuade leaders to follow him than President Bush ever was. The double standard in all of this is that Bush's policies were said to be employed out of arrogance whereas President "O"'s policies stem from necessity.
In this matter Bush, the Unilateralist is now joined by "O", the Unilateralist.
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