When I retired 2 1/2 years ago I was given a passel of books. Those of you who know me, know that I am a voracious reader. I have read almost all of those books and all other books by those authors, at least in that series.
I started again this past week "Lincoln," an historical novel by Gore Vidal. As I began reading, I began to notice the similarities between then and now.
I don't have at my fingertips all the statistics, but the root cause of the Civil War was not slavery, but states' rights. The Southern states wanted the right to determine whether or not to retain slavery as a way of life. Today's issue is federally mandated health "care."
Last I heard, 13 states' attorneys general have suits ready, if not already filed, questioning the legality of the bill under the Constitution. Many states have declared that they will not enforce this law. At what point did the Federal Government acquire the right to mandate that a citizen purchase a product or service provided by a private corporation that the citizen may not need and/or want and/or be able to afford? Do we work for them? Or do they work for us?
There has been talk among individuals of secession. There has been talk among individuals of war if this product is forced upon us the citizens of these United States. I don't know how many, if any, of the people saying these things are serious. It doesn't really matter. This issue has become one that needs further consideration rather than the standard assurance by the government that they know what they are doing and that they can do what they have never done before: run a business profitably. Or at least not at a loss.
Does anyone really know what is in this bill? The bill that the president talks about seems to be different than the one that Congress has now passed. Our "representatives" in Washington need to at least read the whole bill and consider the long term ramifications before they vote. Oops! Too late!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Jefferson Bass
We went tonight to see/hear Jefferson Bass, represented by his real life authors, Dr Bill Bass of UT's Body Farm and John Jefferson. They were accompanied by Art Bohannon, the nationally renowned finger-print expert, who appears in all their books.
They spoke for about half an hour about their new book, The Body Thief, which is based on the real-life problem of crematoriums that harvest body parts before cremating the rest of the remains, and about how the Body Farm came to be.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first three books in the series and highly recommend them to anyone who likes murder mysteries and/or forensic anthropology.
They have videos of the Body Farm itself at their website:www.jeffersonbass.com
They spoke for about half an hour about their new book, The Body Thief, which is based on the real-life problem of crematoriums that harvest body parts before cremating the rest of the remains, and about how the Body Farm came to be.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first three books in the series and highly recommend them to anyone who likes murder mysteries and/or forensic anthropology.
They have videos of the Body Farm itself at their website:
Another Saturday Night at the V
Another Saturday Night at the V
This week at the V was just another tag-team message. When Pastor Mark got up to share his
message for the week, the Holy Spirit told him no, not that message today. So he opened the
floor and several people got up to share what was on their minds. As always, it turned into
a really coherent message.
Ally - Do I come here to fill up my tank? Or am I here for Him? If filling my own tak is the
primary reason I'm here, it won't last me all week. If I'm here for me, it's just not enough.
If I'm here for Him, I'll want to continue worshipping.
Jeff - When we were kids and there was a dirt pile, we would always go play King of the Hill.
We'd get all dirty and run home where Mom would clean us up. We weren't ashamed. We had no doubts that we might not be acceptable. We don't wonder if she will still love us. We just
go home and get clean.
MarkO - Be children before Him. "We love you, Daddy!"
[My comment - Jesus called the Father Abba, the Aramaic form of the most familiar address of
a father - Daddy!]
Pastor Mark had a tape in the car that he had planned to play and it fit in right here:
"We got the Best Daddy in the Whole World."
"Don't try to be the next Who's Who, Only try to be the best you. He loves me like I am."
Pastor Mark - There are three ways to love the Lord and they all have their place.
1- Out of duty
When you're feeling down and really don't want to. We all have those days.
Should be the exception not the rule.
2- Out of Fear
Hellfire and brimstone. Can get people reconciled, but, again, not the best way
Should be the exception not the rule.
3- Out of Love
The best way. [I Cor 13] Out of affection. If we do this we will endure the hard
times, and there will be hard times.
Robin - This love is not obedience per se as much as trust. As we learn to trust we have
no more doubts that God will support, strengthen and protect us.
?? - Applied to a marriage, this is the same love. It becomes trust. My wife will
support me and trust me to care for her as she learns that I will do so. If someone attacks
your kids, what is your reaction? Will our Heavenly Father do less?
Robin - Esther: Prepared herself for 12 months to be beautiful before her King.
Jeff - Peace, as it is used in all places in the bible, always refers to coming into unison
with God.
Some of my thoughts:
Is this situation to big for God? Can I do it better? Is it just too routine to bother Him?
He does care for me, so why shouldn't I do it His way? Why should I not check in with
everything that I do? And that means everything, not just the "big decisions." you know the
ones that I take to Him because I can't do it myself. The ones that we tend to ask about so we
can get His affirmation that we have already made the right decision.
***
On the way home I heard a song on WIVK (the Frog) that moved me. I've already
screwed it up so bad that will you please turn the wine back into water.
T GRAHAM BROWN TURN THE WINE BACK INTO WATER LYRICS
You've heard a multitude of prayers on my behalf
I pray one more is not too much to ask
I've tried to fight this battle by myself
But its a war that I cant win without your help
Tonight I'm as low
As any man can go
I'm down and I can't fall much farther
And once upon a time you turned the water into wine
Now on my knees I'm turning to ya Father
Can you help me turn the wine back into water
So many times I've hurt the ones I love
I've pushed them to the edge of giving up
They've stood by me but how much can they stand
If I don't put this bottle in your hand
Tonight I'm as low
As any man can go
I'm down and I can't fall much farther
And once upon a time you turned the water into wine
Now on my knees I'm turning to ya father
Could you help me turn the wine back into water
I shook my fists at heaven
For all the hell that I've been through
Now I'm begging for forgiveness
And a miracle from you
Cause tonight I'm as low
As any man can go
I'm down and I can't fall much farther
And once upon a time you turned the water into wine
Now on my knees I'm turning to ya father
Could you help me turn the wine back into water
Could you help me turn this wine back into water
yeah yeah
Lyrics > T. Graham Brown Lyrics > T. Graham Brown Wine Into Water Lyrics
http://www.justsomelyrics.com/615011/T-Graham-Brown-Turn-The-Wine-Back-Into-Water-Lyrics
This week at the V was just another tag-team message. When Pastor Mark got up to share his
message for the week, the Holy Spirit told him no, not that message today. So he opened the
floor and several people got up to share what was on their minds. As always, it turned into
a really coherent message.
Ally - Do I come here to fill up my tank? Or am I here for Him? If filling my own tak is the
primary reason I'm here, it won't last me all week. If I'm here for me, it's just not enough.
If I'm here for Him, I'll want to continue worshipping.
Jeff - When we were kids and there was a dirt pile, we would always go play King of the Hill.
We'd get all dirty and run home where Mom would clean us up. We weren't ashamed. We had no doubts that we might not be acceptable. We don't wonder if she will still love us. We just
go home and get clean.
MarkO - Be children before Him. "We love you, Daddy!"
[My comment - Jesus called the Father Abba, the Aramaic form of the most familiar address of
a father - Daddy!]
Pastor Mark had a tape in the car that he had planned to play and it fit in right here:
"We got the Best Daddy in the Whole World."
"Don't try to be the next Who's Who, Only try to be the best you. He loves me like I am."
Pastor Mark - There are three ways to love the Lord and they all have their place.
1- Out of duty
When you're feeling down and really don't want to. We all have those days.
Should be the exception not the rule.
2- Out of Fear
Hellfire and brimstone. Can get people reconciled, but, again, not the best way
Should be the exception not the rule.
3- Out of Love
The best way. [I Cor 13] Out of affection. If we do this we will endure the hard
times, and there will be hard times.
Robin - This love is not obedience per se as much as trust. As we learn to trust we have
no more doubts that God will support, strengthen and protect us.
?? - Applied to a marriage, this is the same love. It becomes trust. My wife will
support me and trust me to care for her as she learns that I will do so. If someone attacks
your kids, what is your reaction? Will our Heavenly Father do less?
Robin - Esther: Prepared herself for 12 months to be beautiful before her King.
Jeff - Peace, as it is used in all places in the bible, always refers to coming into unison
with God.
Some of my thoughts:
Is this situation to big for God? Can I do it better? Is it just too routine to bother Him?
He does care for me, so why shouldn't I do it His way? Why should I not check in with
everything that I do? And that means everything, not just the "big decisions." you know the
ones that I take to Him because I can't do it myself. The ones that we tend to ask about so we
can get His affirmation that we have already made the right decision.
***
On the way home I heard a song on WIVK (the Frog) that moved me. I've already
screwed it up so bad that will you please turn the wine back into water.
T GRAHAM BROWN TURN THE WINE BACK INTO WATER LYRICS
You've heard a multitude of prayers on my behalf
I pray one more is not too much to ask
I've tried to fight this battle by myself
But its a war that I cant win without your help
Tonight I'm as low
As any man can go
I'm down and I can't fall much farther
And once upon a time you turned the water into wine
Now on my knees I'm turning to ya Father
Can you help me turn the wine back into water
So many times I've hurt the ones I love
I've pushed them to the edge of giving up
They've stood by me but how much can they stand
If I don't put this bottle in your hand
Tonight I'm as low
As any man can go
I'm down and I can't fall much farther
And once upon a time you turned the water into wine
Now on my knees I'm turning to ya father
Could you help me turn the wine back into water
I shook my fists at heaven
For all the hell that I've been through
Now I'm begging for forgiveness
And a miracle from you
Cause tonight I'm as low
As any man can go
I'm down and I can't fall much farther
And once upon a time you turned the water into wine
Now on my knees I'm turning to ya father
Could you help me turn the wine back into water
Could you help me turn this wine back into water
yeah yeah
Lyrics > T. Graham Brown Lyrics > T. Graham Brown Wine Into Water Lyrics
http://www.justsomelyrics.com/615011/T-Graham-Brown-Turn-The-Wine-Back-Into-Water-Lyrics
Census
I am considering the census this morning. How much info am I required to give?
I have been greatly insulted by Census Bureau advertising this year. Why to the Feds need to know how many people are here so we can increase the number of stop lights or the number of buses? Have they ever been involved in this process before? Have they ever needed to know how many teachers we need to have next year? Haven't these things always been handled locally? Is this just a case of the Feds sticking their noses into local issues?
I have been greatly insulted by Census Bureau advertising this year. Why to the Feds need to know how many people are here so we can increase the number of stop lights or the number of buses? Have they ever been involved in this process before? Have they ever needed to know how many teachers we need to have next year? Haven't these things always been handled locally? Is this just a case of the Feds sticking their noses into local issues?
I recommend this (http://www.newswithviews.com) article -- Michael LeMieux -- Census and the Constitution. You should check this out at, http://www.newswithviews.com/LeMieux/michael118.htm
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Flats/Sprouts
I have a bunch of seeds planted in my newspaper pots and in flats. A lot of them have already sprouted.
Unfortunately, with all the cold and rain/snow over the past couple of months, the beds aren't ready yet! :-( I have the first bed turned over, but nowhere near ready for sprouts yet.
Now I need to go get a load of compost to work into the bed when it gets to that stage.
Spring is Here!
I stepped out the door this morning and saw this! The first crocuses of the season.
IT MUST BE SPRING!
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