We wrestle not

I am thinking about the state of affairs in this nation, how we grieve again for the dead as well as the living. I am fearful, not fearful only for myself, or those who support the second amendment or those who would like to see gun ownership highly controlled.

I am fearful for the decline in civility, rightousness and kindness. I am fearful for how we treat those we do not agree with, because we lack simple gentleness in our disagreements.

Scripture says not to be puffed up when someone we disagree with stumbles or falls, yet we are joyful when that heppens. Scripture again says to not allow corrupt conversation to come from us, yet we choose slanderous words to hurt others to win our arguments.

We try to fix things by angry arguments and strong words. We call out transgressions 40 years old and ignore the ones which happen recently, because they do not help our political beliefs. We lie about heritage to get a better job, and cheat the poor and needy from life giving foods and medicines. We are willing to sacrifice the beauty Gods creation for a few dollars and call it progress.

We are all corrupt. There is none rightous, not one.

Ironically, we all do want a better country, a better society, a better life. We cannot get it by passing laws, but rather by turning to God and asking to change each of our lives. Because within each of us is the ability to change not only our country, but our world. But we cannot do it our way, we must follow the prescription God has given us for the needed change:

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Then we must realize that we cannot legislate the change of heart, but again realize this:

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

And then know that our enemy is not the liberal Democrat or the Tump conservative, but the one who wants to destroy us all.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life, and have it in all its fullness.

We dont have to give up our individual beliefs for government, politics or business, yet if we simply listen to God He Will change our lives, country and world for the better as we follow him, regardless of our faith traditions.

Tarnished by a few...

In my lifetime I have been privileged to know some of the finest police officers you could ever find. Men and women who risked their lives to protect families from gun violence. Others who have kept whole apartment buildings safe when fire erupted, simply because they had the foresight to ask all officers to turn their sirens on- BEFORE they went into the burning building and before the fire department arrived on the scene. Last week my former neighbor, Steven Olson from Douglas County Wisconsin saved two families from the sorrow of loosing their twelve year old’s to drowning when for some reason he just choose to check out a certain bay with his jet ski. He pulled those children onto his jet ski and brought them safely to shore.

I am so very proud to have known the many men and women who wear the uniforms of law enforcement, they indeed serve us well.

I also am deeply disappointed by the militarization of our police departments, the use of swat teams to serve minor warrants where no threat is expected. Today I heard of a man in Missouri who was taken from his car by an assault weapon armed local police officer arrested “Because you didn’t listen” { He was sitting in his car to escape the tear gas which had been fired into a crowd.} News video showed police from Ferguson Missouri dismantling the video equipment of Al Jazeera American news then threatening to confiscate others news cameras because they recorded those actions. If you have done nothing wrong, why are you afraid for our country to see what it is that you have done?

There is a difference between civil disobedience and looting and rioting. The Supreme Court of this land protected peaceful protest including marches on streets and high ways back in the 60's- I have not heard of them over ruling themselves recently. I understand that here are those who seemingly attempt to ratchet up the rhetoric in Missouri, and the niece of Martin Luther King has asked they change their speech to healing rather than inciting. Our Constitution allows for public redress of grievances through peaceful protest. It is not the responsibility of Law Enforcement to arrest and threaten peaceful protesters- or lump them together with those who willingly break the law by looting and damaging property.

My two cents worth.

My word processor told me I wrote this three years ago. Its still relevant today.

A Real American hero

They are all around us, and come from all colors and occupations.
Today I would like to talk about those heroes I have actually met who served in the US Military, and focus on one in particular.

My cousins son is a medic in today’s military. Three or four years ago you may have watched as CNN showed helicopter being shot down in Afghanistan. Most of the crew were killed. Danny’s buddy landed on top of him, the rotor hit and killed him instead of Dan. After several months at Walter reed hospital, he told the Dr the only discharge he would take was back to his old outfit, where he eventually wound up.

Another Televised hero was on national news one night during the Iraqi war. It was during the time of the Abu Ghraib scandal, this young mans Humvee was patrolling the streets around the prison when an IED went off. You wouldn’t know he was disabled unless you were in a conversation and he told you he was retired with a traumatic brain injury.

I have met vets who were amongst the Chosun Frozen in the Korean war, as well as marines who watched their buddies die in the Dominican Republic in the early 60's. In the past month I have done funerals for Vietnam vets who served more than one tour of duty, when they returned, they were not the same young men who left Duluth. One dear friend spent nearly a year in a fetal position back in 1970, he watched as two buddies died trying to rescue him.

The list goes on and on, PT boat Captains. Paratroopers from 'Nam and WW2. Two men who flew with the Flying Tigers. Some were men who found faith easy until they lived one thing too much. Hero’s all.
I have had the opportunity to thank countless Native Americans who wear the Vietnam Service ribbon colors on their hats. They have the look of those who lived one day too many in the bush.

For a moment I want to focus on Joe, one of the nicest kindest men I have ever met. He was a customer of mine 20 years ago when I worked at Sears. I saw him again yesterday and took the time to thank him properly. Joe flew P 51 mustangs in the war, protecting Bombers as they flew into Germany. He was a Tuskegee Airman,one of the bravest squadrons of the war. If I recall correctly, his outfit never lost a plane under their protection. They were men of color, Black Men who as Joe said, fought a tougher battle here in the states to defend Our Country then they did in the skies over Europe. I told him how wrong that was, how sorry I felt about it happening. we continued to talk, I promised to pray as his name came to mind. He is a true gentleman, a real American hero.

I have another friend who was in the marines. We go to church together and infrequently get the chance to talk. A few months ago I asked him what It was like to live as a gay man raising a child here in Duluth. I have seen he and his partner with their son, they do such a great job as parents It has brought me to tears. They struggle with everyday family stuff like all parents. Plus the unkind looks of those who disapprove.

My friend Liz is a lesbian, she has been in a solid committed relationship for over ten years now. There has never been a time when she hasn’t supported me. I was a real shit when she came out to me six years ago. I made her tell me, instead of allowing me to guess and understand. I think it was because I wanted her to know how much I loved her for who she was, not a label someone may put on her.

One of my oldest best friends best friend died four years ago. He was stationed at the base here in Duluth, ran the flight line for the aircraft as they returned. He married a girl from Superior, and had two kids in addition to her one. He cried when he heard how his bi racial son was treated by some teachers at the elementary school. A real hero still fighting the battle.

When I worked at Sears  I worked with CC, a man whose home was South Central Los Angeles. Our conversations covered many areas, including racism and stereotypes. One day CC asked me what I would call 10 teenage boys who wore the same colors, walking down the street jumping shouting and laughing at unheard jokes. Well says I, "A Gang". "Did the words basketball team ever cross your mind? Sadly no, in fact it never came close.

It really hurt to acknowledge Joe's words they other day."The battle here was tougher than what we faced over there." I am still thinking about it nearly two days later. It is not just the fact of the color of a mans skin, the gender of ones partner or the type of job one does. Hatred is still alive and well here in America. I still stereotype others I done know, even tho I hope to be genuine in my Christianity. Too often I think "street gang" or "Punks" instead of kids just hanging together having fun. Being loud kids just as I was. When I am afraid of another, then I use whatever tools I can find to protect myself. Unfortunately too often it is a stereotype that demeans the other.

I don't like the fact that at times I am an opinionated ageist sexist dominant culture male with a need to be right. I am that sinner.

The Love Chapter, 1st Corinthians 13 convicts me each time I read it. Unless I have love, I am nothing at all. I, we need to get out of our box and touch another. Regardless of OUR race, color or creed. Perhaps then we all can join celebrating those real American heroes who live next door.

Thanks to my friend who challenged me to write again.  

Note: Joe Gomer passed away October 10, 2013. His lovely wife Liz passed away a year previous. tThey were wonderful folks, Duluth is better for their presence.

WOW, ITS BEEN THREE YEARS...

I actually think about lots of things, just hardly ever write them down for this page. Well, here's one now that we are approaching election campaign ad season 2014: The thought that corporations may be entitled to the benefits of citizens I guess could cause consternation for some, not so much for others. I see them as vehicles to present a "corporate" identity, which will in effect protect the founders or owners of said corps from legal repercussions. I think that's why many banks are incorporated in Delaware or the Dakotas, to have the advantage of those state laws on their behalf. Sometimes that is quite frustrating My thoughts are that if an individual is quite upset about corporate identity being defined as person hood, they should stop yapping about it and put their money where their mouths are and walk away from them. Of course, almost everyone would have to forgo pensions then, because that money was generally earned, managed, multiplied or paid out by corporations. You would also have to give up your home, because AIG, the monster insurance company was saved by the government because nearly every home mortgage in the United States is guaranteed by them. I don't like their wastefulness a few years back, but had they folded most mortgages would have defaulted because their was no mortgage insurance as required. Forget about your cell phones, Ibooks Iphones and most MP3 players,  made or maintained by large corporations. Bernie Sanders dislikes larger corporations, he is not evil as some might say. We need guys like him to prevent excess on the right. Though he doesn't like corporations, his re-election campaign makes fill use of PACS supported by unions, themselves incorporated. as evidenced  HERE

Senator Al Franken doesnt like coroporations, he posts regularly aboput on Facebook. He  likes lawyers though, he even has Massachusetts corporate law firms supporting him. More info here

OK, heres my thing. Its OK to support or work against any subject you may choose to. When you are being a cheerleader for your cause, and doing your best to smear or shake out others, please have the integrity to not quietly depend on that groups income or resources, unless you are willing to forgo them also. This goes for liberal or conservative.

I ripped this from WIKIPEDIA today and have in no way contributed to the content. I first heard this term perhaps 8 years ago. and of you know me you know that I fit in most of the cases. *************************************************************************************************************** Dyssemia is a term coined by psychologists Marshall Duke and Stephen Nowicki in their 1992 book, Helping The Child Who Doesn't Fit In, to decipher the hidden dimensions of social rejection, and describe difficulties with receptive and/or expressive nonverbal communication. The term comes from the Greek dys (difficulty) and semia (signal). These difficulties go beyond problems with body language and motor skills. “A classic set of studies by Albert Mehrabian showed that in face-to-face interactions, 55 percent of the emotional meaning of a message is expressed through facial, postural, and gestural means, and 38 percent of the emotional meaning is transmitted through the tone of voice. Only seven percent of the emotional meaning is actually expressed with words.”[1] Dyssemic persons exhibit difficulties with the acquisition and use of nonverbal cues in interpersonal relationships. Dyssemia represents the social dysfunction aspect of Nonverbal Learning Disorder. Contents 1 Symptoms of childhood dyssemia 2 Dyssemic adults 3 A difference rather than a disability 4 See also 5 References Symptoms of childhood dyssemia Jane E. Brody of The New York Times describes in the back cover of the Nowicki-Duke book[2] the sufferers of this condition: “We’ve all known children like this: they stand too close and touch us in annoying ways; they laugh too loud or at the wrong times; they make stupid or embarrassing remarks; they don’t seem to get the message when given a broad hint or even told outright to behave differently; they mistake friendly actions for hostile ones, or vice versa; they move too slowly, or too fast, for everyone else; their facial expressions don’t jibe with what they or others are saying, or their appearance is seriously out of step with current fashions, they don't dress well for the occasion, etc. they are known to stare at people, stalk people, or do something that annoys other people or make them feel uncomfortable they have problem dating and interacting with the opposite sex in a romantic way. Many dyssemics are love-shy." Children with dyssemia fail to appropriately read (decode) and/or produce (encode) nonverbal communication or interpersonal information, the language of relationships, as asserted by Nowicki and Duke.[2] Dyssemic individuals exhibit problems with facial expressions, gestures, body posture, pitch and tone of voice, touch and interpersonal space, mood, adaptive manners, punctuality, functioning and performing in rhythm with the environment, clothing, make-up and hairdo style. Dyssemia sufferers tend to lack various skills indicative of emotional intelligence (EQ). Dyssemia is the nonverbal communication aspect of Nonverbal Learning Disorders. More often than not, dyssemia concurs with dyspraxia a neurological aspect of nonverbal disorders consisting in a lack of coordination of body movements and mannerisms. Depending on the symptoms, dyssemia could be diagnosed as social anxiety or Communication Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Dyssemic adults The social interactions of dyssemic adults tend to be immature and complex, even though their nonrelational reasoning ranges from normal to gifted. Dyssemic individuals exhibit varying degrees of social awkwardness and various types of nonverbal communication difficulties. Some might only have trouble with reception or expression alone, while others struggle with both. Severity fluctuates among individuals; difficulty does not necessarily equate to total inability, nor occur in all situations. Occasionally, expressive difficulty may only be a delay between the emotion and the facial muscles. Socially awkward adults suffering from nonverbal shortcomings often report feeling "a little out of it socially" or feeling "left out."[3] There is always a danger that over time, these frustrations could exacerbate a sense of grief and despair. Dyssemic adults frequently experience success in temporary or accidental situations, but their sense of success can be short-lived, returning to an often common pattern of disappointment and self-reproach. Many times dyssemic individuals may say something in a way they had not intended and worry about the consequences. Dyssemic adults may sometimes struggle with interpreting the feelings or social interests of new acquaintances, causing potential resentment and/or rejection. They also may have difficulty with subtler aspects of social interaction, for example, timing and opportunity. This may aggravate the situation, baffling acquaintances, coworkers, and even relatives. Dyssemic individuals may also become targets of adult bullies. If dyssemic adults are in an environment or situation with adequate verbal input or other cues, however, they have a frame for understanding or constructing appropriate responses, and these problems can be greatly reduced. There is presently little research on adults with dyssemia/NLD compared to the research on children, making it difficult to treat medically. Until more adults are included in the research on diagnosis and treatment, misperceptions may occur and their quality of life may deteriorate over time into loneliness, isolation, anger, and even aggression as a result of a lack of understanding on the part of both populations. However, it may be treated socially to some extent. Through intense observation or asking questions, as of a supportive friend or colleague, the individual with dyssemia can often eventually "pass" in most situations once he or she has learned the typical gestures for a given situation. Since many adults with dyssemia or NLD are quite competent in reading or writing, it is often helpful to clarify one's communication using fully worded sentences, or supplementing gestures or facial expressions with a verbal clue as to meaning. Social anxiety or social phobia are medical classifications that can be used to designate nonverbal communication problems; however, dyssemia is not an anxiety or phobia when it applies to NLD or specific brain damage, for example to the right hemisphere. Chronic dyssemia is a condition that some neurologists term social-emotional processing disorder (SEPD). A difference rather than a disability Dyssemia is considered a difference rather than a disability; as such, it is not classified as a standard medical condition. Many times dyssemia springs from cultural differences; other times, dyssemia constitutes an offshoot of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). However, the differences can be devastating. Problems associated with dyssemia in the establishment and maintenance of interpersonal relationships are often at the root of people's social and occupational troubles. Sometimes, persons affected with mild Asperger syndrome or (AS) or social anxiety disorder also struggle with characteristics of dyssemia. Dyssemia can be remediated through a variety of programs designed to assess its presence and alter its adverse impact. Such programs, not unlike acculturation, emphasize virtual and social learning.

For my friend as she enters the Kingdom of God.

What are you praying for?

I just read a note from a friend’s daughter. “Mom is moving to hospice tomorrow.” Several face book replies were”Praying” or “Prayers”

I have to wonder, what are you praying?

My friend is dying; her body will soon be leaving this earth. Her spirit will live on forever. Soon and Very Soon she will go to see the King, as the old song goes. Soon and Very soon she will hurt no more, cry no more, worry no more. Soon she will walk on streets of Gold and be dressed in robes of white. Are you praying to keep her here? Soon she will be in the presence of God and know Love as that she couldn’t have imagined.
Soon.

I visited her yesterday; I do believe she knew I was there. Each time she had been in the hospital she asked for me to come. Not because I was some spiritual guru, but we had been connected for thirty years. Her first Sunday in church then was met with a prayer request for me. I lie in a hospital bed unable top move, surgery scheduled for the next day to remove a shattered disc. As prayer was offered, in her mind or heart- I don’t know which, she saw something move. She knew I was healed. Each time we spoke since she reminded me of Gods faithfulness shown in what she had seen. Each time I questioned because It didn’t make sense to me. But that’s not important, it made sense to her. Period.

We never spent a lot of time together. Thirty years could be measured back in several hours. But for my part, it was always nice to catch up.

I am challenged by her desire to take classes at DBU, to learn design and editing and page making. She was in her fifties and she went back to school! How cool was that. When they warned her she was missing too many classes she replied she didn’t care. She was learning and doing what she loved. Often times from her bed because she couldn’t breathe.

What are you praying for?

Her life wasn’t perfect, in many ways she was better than most. Her love for others was amazing. Another friend says, “I walk, I fall down. I pick myself up and walk again.” I dont know how many times my friend fell down but I do know this, She always kept walking, even when it was painful.

What are you praying for?

She was exuberant when ever she talked of her kids or grandkids. Her face would light up and a smile was cast around the room. Her voice stepped up a notch or two. Oh how she loved them so. Now, they are hurting, badly.

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. There is a time to live and there is time to die. That’s what the good book says. Psalm 62 also says, “Twice I have heard this said, that Power belongs to You Oh God. But likewise does mercy.

God has chosen to not use His power to raise my friend from the bed. He regularly helped her through each day of her life, providing for her and her children. Watching over her in times of Crisis. Holding her closely when it was just the two of them, alone and together. So close that as she awakes in heaven she will say excitedly, “Oh, THIS is how I remember it!”

I pray that I will have your exuberance for live and love for others that you had, and can face this passing to the next with the courage you have shown.

I will miss you my friend.

Oh ye foolish Galations! My statement of faith and works.... and an Angry God

If Grace be Grace, and Faith be Faith, then there is no part in works for our salvation. Ephesians Two says that "you are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God has prepared beforehand for us to walk in". So even the really neat things we get to do have nothing to do with our abilities and everything with Gods desires for us and others.

I remember going to a Jesus People meeting at UW Superior in 1972. They had a rocking concert and then presented a gospel message following the concert. A man my age approached me, asked If I had questions. I had plenty. What I heard just didn't make sense to me. We talked for a while, he sense something was wrong when he asked the question, I answered. I had been involved in the occult for several years, since I was 14 or 15. It had been a couple years since I had done anything, mostly because I got the crap scared out of me when a girlfriend wanted me to “conjure up a ghost” I think we both nearly lost our sanity. During those years I became acquainted with the demands and fear associated with the occult. I don’t often say much about it, no need to dredge up the past. That said I also know the reality of the “dark side” and the price demanded for favoritism. I cringe when anything close to that form of pay for acceptance is conjoined with the Grace of God.

I was told today by a friend that God was scourging him, I repulse at that idea. My response was not gentle. You mean the Blood of Jesus and that of your own will bring your salvation? Nonsense I continued. My friend began to show the look of someone who had been deeply wounded. I realized how wrong my expression was. I am so sorry for hurting my friend. I cannot accept his doctrines, even for a moment.

Its in scripture I was told. I don’t doubt that it can be found somewhere in the Old Testament. It is also true that God has apparently chosen to operate at this time in an age of Grace. Jesus Christ is the Propitiation of our Sin, meaning He became the substitute for our payment due for sin. Many books have been written on the subject, by man and women far more scholarly than I. With Christ’s death, the penalty of our sins was paid. To say or believe anything else needs to be added to that ultimate price is Anathema.

Galatians chapter 3~ vs. 1~14 reads:


You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.

For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law. Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Amen.

Oklahoma Earthquakes: God or Fracking?

Found on Alter net.com here:

http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/721875/oklahoma_earthquakes%3A_god_or_fracking/


Oklahoma Earthquakes: God or Fracking?

Oklahoma had the largest earthquake in its recorded history Saturday, a 5.6 on the Richter scale. It appears that Oklahoma has always had a few quakes each year -- on average though they were few in number and small in intensity. Since 2009, however, things have changed:

Oklahoma typically had about 50 earthquakes a year until 2009. Then the number spiked, and 1,047 quakes shook the state last year, prompting researchers to install seismographs in the area. Still, most of the earthquakes have been small.

That is a remarkable increase. In 2010, earthquakes increased by 2100% over a typical year. And now they are gettingbigger, too:

Fourteen homes were damaged late on Saturday in the largest earthquake to hit Oklahoma on record, emergency management officials said on Sunday.

Now some may blame God (are there a lot of Gays in Oklahoma, I wonder--Pat Robertson wants to know). However there is another possibility, one with which the folks of Arkansas are familiar: Injection wells by oil and gas companies. It just so happens that there are 181 injection wells in the county where most of this weekend's seismic activity occurred. And some of those atheistic scientists and environmental whackos are suggesting that hydrofracking just might be the cause of Oklahoma's ground shattering events like this one:

A previously unreported study out of the Oklahoma Geological Survey has found that hydraulic fracturing may have triggered a swarm of small earthquakes earlier this year in Oklahoma. The quakes, which struck on Jan. 18 in a rural area near Elmore City, peaked at magnitude 2.8 and caused no deaths or property damage.

And these ecofreaks are also claiming fracking is the cause for the, shall we say, unprecedented, earthquake activity in Oklahoma:



I’ve drawn the link between natural gas hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) and earthquakes numerous times, long before the Oklahoma or Blackpool (Lancashire), England earthquakes. I started doing so early in 2011 when the Arkansas earthquakes were all the news and I got word that it might be related to fracking.

The case has only gotten more clear since then. As reported last week, even a fracking company in England has now stated that fracking is the “probable” cause of recent earthquakes there. In September, we reported that the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission has banned fracking disposal wells for unconventional gas drilling wastes due to earthquakes. This was months after fracking in the area was put on hold, a temporary moratorium was put in place, as an investigation into the matter took place. [...]

How did they get the idea to study the link? Well, in 2010, after fracking started in [Arkansas], the number of earthquakes was over 600 — about as many as in Arkansas in the last 100 years! Connection? [...]

OK, now, how can fracking be related to earthquakes? It’s actually the disposal wells that seem to cause the problem. Fracking involves high-pressure injection or pumping of fluids into the ground,.. in order to open up cracks in the rock for natural gas to escape and be capture.

Hmm, open up cracks in the rock….

While it seems fracking doesn’t cause earthquakes immediately, it lowers the barriers to earthquakes happening, loosens up the rocks enough that it is more likely to happen.

Of course, the Oil and Gas companies deny that there is any connection between their injection wells and fracking operations, and these earthquakes. I suppose we could take them at their word. Which begs the question: Why is God attacking the good God-fearing people of the Bible Belt with so many earthquakes all of a sudden? Because if human activity by the oil and gas industry cannot possibly be responsible for this sudden and massive increase in earthquakes activity in places that normally don't incur a lot of earthquakes what other answer can there be for a Good Christian believer but the Mighty Hand of God? Guess Rick Perry better hold another Massive Prayer Event to ask God to stop shaking up God's country like Vodka and Vermouth in a Martin shaker. God knows how well Perry's official proclamation for rain prayers worked to stop the droughts in the Southwest that led to all those wildfires this last year.

So Rick, ready to call upon the Lord for help again? It's what a man running for President who doesn't know much about Science should do, don't you think?

The 5.6-magnitude earthquake's epicenter, located 44 miles east of Oklahoma City , was felt as far away as Wisconsin and South Carolina, but there were no serious injuries, officials said. The Oklahoma health department reported two minor injuries, neither requiring hospitalization.
By Steven D | Sourced from Booman Tribune
Posted at November 7, 2011, 9:38 am

Not frickin, Fracking!

Those Christians who are avid readers of scripture may well remember that one of the first things God did was give Adam dominion over the earth. I do not believe dominion is intended to be domination, but rather nurturing care. With that in mind I offer the following definition, and plan to do a followup on FRACKING. For full disclosure, I am a minimal holder of oil rights in several counties in the United States, including Illinois and Oklahoma.
From Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia:
Hydraulic fracturing is the propagation of fractures in a rock layer caused by the presence of a pressurized fluid. Hydraulic fractures may form naturally, as in the case of veins or dikes, or may be man-made in order to release petroleum, natural gas, coal seam gas, or other substances for extraction, where the technique is often called fracking[a] or hydrofracing.[1] This type of fracturing, known colloquially as a frack job (or frac job),[2][3] is done from a wellbore drilled into reservoir rock formations. The energy from the injection of a highly-pressurized fluid, such as water, creates new channels in the rock which can increase the extraction rates and ultimate recovery of fossil fuels. The fracture width is typically maintained after the injection by introducing a proppant into the injected fluid. Proppant is a material, such as grains of sand, ceramic, or other particulates, that prevent the fractures from closing when the injection is stopped.

The practice of hydraulic fracturing has come under scrutiny internationally due to concerns about the environment, health and safety, and has been suspended or banned in some countries.[4]

From Treehugger.com, a discovery company. Boy, thatll turn some folks off!

In a surprising turn of events, Cuadrilla Resources, a British energy company, recently admitted that its hydraulic fracturing operations "likely" caused an earthquake in England. Predictably, this news quickly sent a shockwave through the U.K., the oil and natural gas industries, and the environmental activist community. And it certainly feeds plenty of speculation that the same phenomenon could be occurring elsewhere.

Speculation that would be well-founded, evidently. Right on the heels of Cuadrilla's announcement, news is spreading that the United States Geological Survey has released a report (pdf) that links a series of earthquakes in Oklahoma last January to a fracking operation underway there. Evidently, a resident reported feeling some minor earthquakes, spurring the USGS to investigate. They found that some 50 small earthquakes had indeed been registered, ranging in magnitude from 1.0 to 2.8. The bulk of these occurred within 2.1 miles of Eola Field, a fracking operation in southern Garvin County.

The U.S.G.S. determined that "from the character of the seismic recordings indicate that they are both shallow and unique."

From the report:

Our analysis showed that shortly after hydraulic fracturing began small earthquakes started occurring, and more than 50 were identified, of which 43 were large enough to be located. Most of these earthquakes occurred within a 24 hour period after hydraulic fracturing operations had ceased. There have been previous cases where seismologists have suggested a link between hydraulic fracturing and earthquakes, but data was limited, so drawing a definitive conclusion was not possible for these cases.

The report is still under peer-review, and even then, the correlation between fracking and the quakes is inconclusive. The U.S.G.S. notes that region has historically been seismically active, though the summary states that the "strong correlation in time and space as well as a reasonable fit to a physical model suggest that there is a possibility these earthquakes were induced by hydraulic fracturing."

Needless to say, it's become much less far-fetched to presume that fracking has a serious impact on seismic activity. And so, yet another reason emerges to be wary of the secretive processes that underly the nation's most controversial gas-extraction process: Fracking earthquakes.

Enangelical Christianity and Conversion, taken from CNN

I ncopies this directly from CNN's page, all credit is due them. Somehow I have come to similar conclusions in the past years. Go God!

Emphasis added are mine!


Editor's Note: Carl Medearis is an international expert in Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations and is author of the book Speaking of Jesus: The Art of Not-Evangelism.

By Carl Medearis, Special to CNN

Let’s do an exercise. I want you to fill in the blank on what you think you know about me based on what I’m about to tell you.

Here goes: Twenty years ago, I became a missionary. My wife and I left our home in Colorado Springs, Colorado to move to Beirut, Lebanon. Our job description was to plant churches and evangelize to Muslims.

Based on what I just said, Carl Medearis is a ______________ .

Depending on your background, the blank may look something like this:

Carl Medearis is a... hero of the Christian faith, a saintly super-man willing to sacrifice the comforts of home in order to share the love of Jesus Christ with those who have never heard the gospel.

Or this:

Carl Medearis is a... right-wing extremist who destroys cultures, tears apart families and paves the way for neo-colonialist crusaders to invade, occupy and plunder the resources of local populations.


Quite a range, isn’t it?

For one group of people, the words “evangelist” and “missionary” bring to mind pious heroes performing good deeds that are unattainable for the average Christian. For another group, those same words represent just about everything that’s wrong with the world.

I understand the confusion.

Based on my experiences of living and traveling around the world, I know that religion is often an identity marker that determines people’s access to jobs, resources, civil liberties and political power.

When I lived in Lebanon I saw firsthand how destructive an obsession with religious identity could be. Because of the sectarian nature of Lebanese politics, modern Lebanese history is rife with coups, invasions, civil wars and government shutdowns.

When I tell my Christian friends in America that some of the fiercest militias were (and are) Christian, most are shocked. It doesn’t fit the us-versus-them mentality that evangelism fosters, in which we are always the innocent victims and they are always the aggressors.

This us-versus-them thinking is odd, given that Jesus was constantly breaking down walls between Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, men and women, sinners and saints. That’s why we have the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Jews in Jesus’ day thought of the Samaritans as the violent heretics, much the same way that Christians think of Muslims today. The idea that a Samaritan could be good was scandalous to first century Jews.

Jesus was the master of challenging religious prejudice and breaking down sectarian walls. Why do so many Christians want to rebuild those walls?

Even the Apostle Paul insisted that it’s faith in Jesus that matters, not converting to a new religion or a new socio-religious identity.

What if evangelicals today, instead of focusing on “evangelizing” and “converting” people, were to begin to think of Jesus not as starting a new religion, but as the central figure of a movement that transcends religious distinctions and identities?

Jesus the uniter of humanity, not Jesus the divider. How might that change the way we look at others?

This is more than just a semantic difference.

When I used to think of myself as a missionary, I was obsessed with converting Muslims (or anybody for that matter) to what I thought of as “Christianity.” I had a set of doctrinal litmus tests that the potential convert had to pass before I would consider them “in” or one of “us.”

Funny thing is, Jesus never said, “Go into the world and convert people to Christianity.” What he said was, “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

Encouraging anyone and everyone to become an apprentice of Jesus, without manipulation, is a more open, dynamic and relational way of helping people who want to become more like Jesus — regardless of their religious identity.

Just because I believe that evangelicals should stop evangelizing doesn’t mean that they should to stop speaking of Jesus.

I speak of Jesus everywhere I go and with everyone I meet.

As founder and president of a company called International Initiatives, my work is aimed at building relationships among Christian leaders in the West and among Muslim leaders in the Middle East.

It may come as a surprise to many Christians that Muslims are generally open to studying the life of Jesus as a model for leadership because they revere him as a prophet.

But now that I’m no longer obsessed with converting people to Christianity, I’ve found that talking about Jesus is much easier and far more compelling.

I believe that doctrine is important, but it’s not more important than following Jesus.

Jesus met people where they were. Instead of trying to figure out who’s “in” and who’s “out,” why don’t we simply invite people to follow Jesus — and let Jesus run his kingdom?

Inviting people to love, trust, and follow Jesus is something the world can live with. And since evangelicals like to say that it’s not about religion, but rather a personal relationship with Jesus, perhaps we should practice what we preach.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Carl Medearis.

Our lost Memorial day....

I have copied this in full from ANOTHER SITE,and cannot take credit for the literary work. the original work can be found here:

http://www.usmemorialday.org/backgrnd.html

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service. There are many stories as to its actual beginnings, with over two dozen cities and towns laying claim to being the birthplace of Memorial Day. There is also evidence that organized women's groups in the South were decorating graves before the end of the Civil War: a hymn published in 1867, "Kneel Where Our Loves are Sleeping" by Nella L. Sweet carried the dedication "To The Ladies of the South who are Decorating the Graves of the Confederate Dead" (Source: Duke University's Historic American Sheet Music, 1850-1920). While Waterloo N.Y. was officially declared the birthplace of Memorial Day by President Lyndon Johnson in May 1966, it's difficult to prove conclusively the origins of the day. It is more likely that it had many separate beginnings; each of those towns and every planned or spontaneous gathering of people to honor the war dead in the 1860's tapped into the general human need to honor our dead, each contributed honorably to the growing movement that culminated in Gen Logan giving his official proclamation in 1868. It is not important who was the very first, what is important is that Memorial Day was established. Memorial Day is not about division. It is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all.

General John A. Logan
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, [LC-B8172- 6403 DLC (b&w film neg.)]

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, in his General Order No. 11, and was first observed on 30 May 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The first state to officially recognize the holiday was New York in 1873. By 1890 it was recognized by all of the northern states. The South refused to acknowledge the day, honoring their dead on separate days until after World War I (when the holiday changed from honoring just those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war). It is now celebrated in almost every State on the last Monday in May (passed by Congress with the National Holiday Act of 1971 (P.L. 90 - 363) to ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays), though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19 in Texas, April 26 in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10 in South Carolina; and June 3 (Jefferson Davis' birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

In 1915, inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields," Moina Michael replied with her own poem:

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madam Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms.Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The League disbanded a year later and Madam Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the US Post Office honored Ms Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it.

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Many Americans nowadays have forgotten the meaning and traditions of Memorial Day. At many cemeteries, the graves of the fallen are increasingly ignored, neglected. Most people no longer remember the proper flag etiquette for the day. While there are towns and cities that still hold Memorial Day parades, many have not held a parade in decades. Some people think the day is for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

There are a few notable exceptions. Since the late 50's on the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 1,200 soldiers of the 3d U.S. Infantry place small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery. They then patrol 24 hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. In 1951, the Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts of St. Louis began placing flags on the 150,000 graves at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery as an annual Good Turn, a practice that continues to this day. More recently, beginning in 1998, on the Saturday before the observed day for Memorial Day, the Boys Scouts and Girl Scouts place a candle at each of approximately 15,300 grave sites of soldiers buried at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park on Marye's Heights (the Luminaria Program). And in 2004, Washington D.C. held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years.

To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to 'Taps."

The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day. What is needed is a full return to the original day of observance. Set aside one day out of the year for the nation to get together to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.

But what may be needed to return the solemn, and even sacred, spirit back to Memorial Day is for a return to its traditional day of observance. Many feel that when Congress made the day into a three-day weekend in with the National Holiday Act of 1971, it made it all the easier for people to be distracted from the spirit and meaning of the day. As the VFW stated in its 2002 Memorial Day address: "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day."

For my medical friends: You are so worth it!

I just sent this to the Duluth News Tribune:

I have been following the recent news articles on synthetic Marijuana and now Bath Salts for some time, and find the potential for physical abuse or government meddling to be interesting. Serving as a Chaplain in both local hospitals, and speaking only for myself, I am forced to say that the side effects I have seen both in my workplace and on the streets are heartbreaking.

It was with much disdain I read the following comments from Mr Jim Larson, owner of THE LAST PLACE ON EARTH in the Duluth News Tribune this week: " he has a concern for people’s health, but he wasn’t sympathetic to the emergency room doctor’s complaint.
“My advice to them is that they should hire some more help,” he said. “We’re supposed to be a free country. ... The bottom line is everybody likes to do different things.”
Several years ago local news reported on a story where an Emergency Room staff member was held against her will by an unstable patient who held a knife to her neck. If that were Mr Larson’s daughter in that situation, I believe he would have a different story to tell.

I have seen friends and coworkers assaulted, had knives pulled on them and threatened infection with HIV by out of control patients. Though I don’t believe he would endorse use of controlled substances, I have seen the deadly effect of First Time use on young adults. Even when those events don’t result in fatality, they do clog the medical facilities ability to treat those who are not suffering from self ingested poison.

That is part of the price which is paid by those suffering bad experiences from legal and illegal products. Medical staff at our local hospitals, as well as Paramedics and EMT's in the field are left to face the abuse and then deal with the emotions of having an otherwise normal individual die a death too early.

So, while Mr Larson does have a right to sell his products, I do wish he could see the effects misuse of them has on others. Oh, and by the way don’t blame the ER staffs when they are over worked. I ask him to consider leaving his wife and daughters to face those threats and attacks. Will you then be so quick to allow others to be placed in that harm?

Robert Saunders

Real American Heroes

A Real American hero

They are all around us, and come from all colors and occupations.
Today I would like to talk about those heroes I have actually met who served in the US Military, and focus on one in particular.

My cousins son is a medic in today’s military. Three or four years ago you may have watched as CNN showed helicopter being shot down in Afghanistan. Most of the crew were killed. Danny’s buddy landed on top of him, the rotor hit and killed him instead of Dan. After several months at Walter reed hospital, he told the Dr the only discharge he would take was back to his old outfit, where he eventually wound up.

Another Televised hero was on national news one night during the Iraqi war. It was during the time of the Abu Ghraib scandal, this young mans Humvee was patrolling the streets around the prison when an IED went off. You wouldn’t know he was disabled unless you were in a conversation and he told you he was retired with a traumatic brain injury.

I have met vets who were amongst the Chosin Frozen in the Korean war, as well as marines who watched their buddies die in the Dominican Republic in the early 60's. In the past month i have done funerals for Vietnam vets who served more than one tour of duty, when they returned, they were not the same young men who left Duluth. One dear friend spent nearly a year in a fetal position back in 1970, he watched as two buddies died trying to rescue him.

The list goes on and on, PT boat Captains. Paratroopers from 'Nam and WW2. Two men who flew with the Flying Tigers. Some were men who found faith easy until they lived one thing too much. Hero’s all.
I have had the opportunity to thank countless Native Americans who wear the Vietnam Service ribbon colors on their hats. They have the look of those who lived one day too many in the bush.

For a moment I want to focus on Joe, one of the nicest kindest men I have ever met. He was a customer of mine 20 years ago when I worked at Sears. I saw him again yesterday and took the time to thank him properly. Joe flew P 51 mustangs in the war, protecting Bombers as they flew into Germany. He was a Tuskegee Airman,one of the bravest squadrons of the war. If I recall correctly, his outfit never lost a plane under their protection. They were men of color, Black men who as Joe said, fought a tougher battle here in the states to defend Our Country then they did in the skies over Europe. I told him how wrong that was, how sorry I felt about it happening. we continued to talk, I promised to pray as his name came to mind. He is a true gentleman, a real American hero.

I have another friend who was in the marines. We go to church together and infrequently get the chance to talk. A few months ago I asked him what It was like to live as a gay man raising a child here in Duluth. I have seen he and his partner with their son, they do such a great job as parents It has brought me to tears. They struggle with everyday family stuff like all parents. Plus the unkind looks of those who disapprove.

My friend Liz is a lesbian, she has been in a solid committed relationship for ten years now. There has never been a time when she hasn’t supported me. I was a real shit when she came out to me six years ago. I made her tell me, instead of allowing me to guess and understand. I think it was because I wanted her to know how much I loved her for who she was, not a label someone may put on her.

One of my oldest best friends best friend died four years ago. He was stationed at the base here in Duluth, ran the flight line for the aircraft as they returned. He married a girl from Superior, and had two kids in addition to her one. He cried when he heard how his bi racial son was treated by some teachers at the elementary school., A real hero still fighting the battle.

When I worked at sears I worked with CC, a man whose home was South Central Los Angeles. Our conversations covered many areas, including racism and stereotypes. One day CC asked me what I would call 10 teenage boys who wore the same colors, walking down the street jumping shouting and laughing at unheard jokes. Well says I, "A Gang" . "Did the words basketball team ever cross your mind? Sadly no, in fact it never came close.

It really hurt to acknowledge Joe's words they other day."The battle here was tougher than what we faced over there." I am still thinking about it nearly two days later. It is not just the fact of the color of a mans skin, the gender of ones partner or the type of job one does. Hatred is still alive and well here in America. I still stereotype others I done know, even tho I hope to be genuine in my Christianity. Too often I think "street gang" or "Punks" instead of kids just hanging together having fun. Being loud kids just as I was. When I am afraid of another, then I use whatever tools I can find to protect myself. Unfortunately too often it is a stereotype that demeans the other.

I don't like the fact that at times I am an opinionated ageist sexist dominant culture male with a need to be right. I am that sinner.

The Love Chapter, 1st Corinthians 13 convicts me each time I read it. Unless I have love, I am nothing at all. I, we need to get out of our box and touch another. Regardless of OUR race, color or creed. Perhaps then we all can join celebrating those real American heroes who live next door.

Thanks to my friend who challenged me to write again.

Essentia Health purchased by Muslims! No Nativity scenes allowed!!!

Essentia Health purchased by Muslims! No Nativity scenes allowed!!!

That’s what I learned yesterday when I came to work. A friend that I have known for 30 years made that announcement to me, as I entered the lobby of St Marys Hospital - Superior. "Look around, where is the nativity scene?" You don't see His name anywhere. Is it true they sold out to the Muslims?

I was embarrassed. Not for my employer or the hospital we stood in, but for my friend and others who believe what seems to me to be foolish rumors. I told her so.

No. Outright point blank no. Essentia Health hasn't been sold, not to anyone. I am not familiar with the Christmas decorations in St Mary’s Hospital in Superior, yet I know that St Marys' Duluth has a nativity scene which stretches out perhaps 20 feet. It is on display as I write this, the day after my friend spoke with me.

Why is it that everything Anti - Christian needs to be Islamic in nature or origin today? I don't know a lot of Muslim folks, the ones I do I think very highly of. They are wonderful loving folks who work hard, study their scriptures {oftentimes more than I study mine} and live outstanding moral lives. Granted, if you are a conservative evangelical christian, you believe their traditions are wrong. My friends and I have acknowledged the differences in our beliefs. We pray for each other, that God leads us through the day. I believe our prayers are answered.

Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the Gates of Hell SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT! {my emphasis} It seems to me that so many Christians need to live in an alarmist state to be happy. It appears that the eleventh gift of the Holy Spirit is rumor mongering, the tenth being condemnation. In today’s world we cannot imagine the atrocities early Christians were forced to endure. A father walking with his family could be forced to carry a roman soldiers armor and arms a mile, with no recourse except for the fact that Jesus said “Carry it two miles.” I remember Proctor and Gamble being boycotted for their corporate star symbols, the fear was that it was satanic. Yet Paul stated that if we had clear conscious, we could eat meat purchased market place, even knowing that it was offered to idols. Abstain only if it may offend your neighbor. Be upset because your employer deducted your bible study time from your paycheck, or lose your life for not bowing to worship the Emperor who was paying your salary.

Dow we lose the right to have concerns for the course of our society? Absolutely not. But instead of spreading and believing wild stories, lets consider using scriptural examples to guide our lives. Chronicles 7:14 says “Humble YOURSELVES, Pray, seek my face, cease YOUR wicked ways, Then I will heal your land.” Galatians 5:22 states: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control ... Against such things there is no law! Allow the work of the Holy Spirit to be seen in your lives, worry less about losing your rights. Even those impressed into service by soldiers were told to willing serve more than expected. Matthew 5:41. Should I do less?


Many times in my life I have struggled with keeping the rules. In this sense, if I have to, why don't others? Believe me, I can make the arguments well. But that is not how Christ wants me to respond. Jesus was talking with the disciple who said he would follow Him anywhere. Peter didn’t like hearing what Jesus was saying and almost immediately asked, “What about him? Inferring the apostle John. The response was “You let me worry about him, you take care of your self”

Let the Lord worry about what religions are where, we need to worry about how we walk with him. If indeed this is a personal belief, it should be replicated personally in our lives. Jesus said “Tarry ye here in Jerusalem until you receive the Holy Spirit ... you shall be my WITNESSES” The Greek word for witness is martus, for which we get the word Martyr. The implication is a lifestyle apparent in a culture where death was possible for your beliefs, not the ability to see who could speak the loudest.

I don’t so much need to defend God with my words, as I need to display His love in my actions.

Nuff said.

I HATE THOSE ROOMS

Most of the time family rooms are good things. just for those reasons. You can laugh and cry, sleep or pray. In fact all the time they are good things.


I remember bringing a mom to our ER room one night. Her daughter would be OK, the injuries were far less than originally conceived. All was well until she heard someone say. "The Chaplain is bringing her to the family room." Both arms were thrust out towards sidewalls, a scream filled the air. "YOU ARE NOT TAKING ME INTO THAT ROOM. YOU AREN'T GOING TO TELL ME MY DAUGHTER IS DEAD!" Its the screams I remember the loudest.


And the tears.


Last night I had to bring a man and his wife to one of those rooms. His father was My age. He had just came from surgery and passed away quite unexpectedly. "Lets go in here, it's more comfortable ... and private. Please sit down. Here is your fathers nurse. I am so sorry... we have some difficult news for you...


I hate those rooms.

Recycling and the green movement at Wally World

Hey Wal-Mart, Gimme a Break!!!


For the record, I enjoy shopping at Walmart. I find generally good merchandise at reasonable prices. Even better prices in the past month with renewed rollbacks in many areas around the store.

So whats my complaint? No, it isn't the fake “Was” pricing shown next to new the selling price. {tho there oughta be a law against either putting such foolishness on a sign or being one who believes it was actually sold for that price to begin with.

No, its not the fact that most meat has anywhere from eight to twelve percent fluid {water} added. Supposedly for tenderness or whatever. To my recollection, except for smoked hams which are naturally dry, this is not an industry practice other than coming from Bentonville. The deceptive practice doesn't bother me, I just don't purchase meat there. No problem.

I went to my local wally world tonight. First to make a return, then to purchase some other items. {35 bucks worth it turned out. Bruce the greeter was sorting through plastic bags, you know, the kind that get recycled at the main doors. Sorting them out. White Wally World bags in one cart, brown Super one bags along with anything NOT from Wally World going in the other cart. “Watcha doin?” I asked. “Sortin bags” says Bruce. Watcha gonna do with those bags in that cart? Asks I. “Garbage” says Bruce, “they get thrown out.”

Ok, I can take the truth being stretched on pricing and water added chickens, but why, when Wal Mart professes to be oh so green can't they be honest with their customers and say, ” We ONLY recycle Wal Mart bags” I understand why the practice is done, the scrap price for clean sorted bags is higher than mixed color bags. {My Brother in law was in the plastic film business for thirty years.} I'm just asking, why cant you be honest here Walmart? We all can bring our Bags to Super One Grocery when we shop there. {Aye, Thats the rub!}

OK, my rant is a small bit in the ecological movement. Or the honesty movement. But is this gets under your skin like it did mine, call the Superior Walmart at 715-392-6060 and ask to speak with the store general manager. Her name is KarenLee something. Let her know what you think, just be polite. You could {as I also can} contact the Regional manager or National headquarters in Bentonville Arkansas and ask they they present an honest approach to being green.

Nuff said for my rant, I gotta go back and pick up some paint. Good stuff, great price.

This land is your land, this land is my land....

This land is your land, this land is my land....

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

Shortly after I converted to Christianity, I heard an an old Wisconsin Synod Lutheran preacher speak at my new church. The mans name was A.G. Dornfeld, he often spoke and ministered on the Holy Spirit. He also carried cases of fliers with him, One said, Righteousness exalts a nation, yet Sin is a reproach to any land. The other had the familiar verse about humbling ourselves, ceasing sin, and seeking God. Then he would heal our land. This seems to be the responsibility of those who call themselves Christian, yet somehow we like to put the responsibility on those who live outside what is considered Evangelical Christianity.

For some time now, this scripture has been pricking my thoughts and prayer life. Repent, turn from sin. All that bad stuff I enjoy yet hate to have others see. I haven't been in any fights or had a drunken spell lately so obviously He isn't talking to me. Yet I do hear this quiet little voice saying, “Be Nicer to that person” “don't be so harsh. Let me be reflected in your daily life.” It is a severe challenge. I do enjoy honking the horn at those who cut me off or turn in front of me. I am close enough to 300 pounds, yet I shake my head at the 500 pounders I see walking down the street. My problem, after all, started when I was just 5. Whats theirs? Have they no self control?

A year or two ago, my cousins daughter died a month after being beaten, apparently by her boyfriend. When I saw her last, she was a vivacious, rambunctious young lady getting ready to graduate from High School. She had a professional nursing career and family. Then somehow, Meth- amphetamine found a way to destroy her. This once lovely woman had lost herself to the drug, it destroyed her persona and her vivaciousness.

Last fall I called my nephew. We spoke for a few minutes, he began to choke up. One of the young ladies he had dated in High School had recently passed away, following weeks in an ICU after a heart attack. She was a young professional, a wife and mom who was afflicted with eating disorders as a teenager. Again, a lovely young woman who was a joy to be around. Drugs and alcohol robbed her kids of a mother, a husband of his mate.

This week a bus driver on the North Shore of Minnesota has been charged with assaulting four young girls, many of them pre- teens. Another young girl has been repeatedly molested by a man known to her family. Their innocence stolen at an early age. The list goes on and on.

My friends, the responsibility is ours to bring this nightmare to an end. The work isn't hard, yet it will be life changing. Sit in your chair, or on your bed, or kneeling at your pew, and listen to that still small voice, hearing how God wants to work in your life. Follow through on the very best that there is for us. When WE continually do that, we then can pray effectively for our nation. God will heal our land, restoring that which has been stolen, revitalizing our land. I believe that is our only hope.

So, in the past months, I have been checking my thoughts regularly, and asking to be more responsive than reactive. To be a mirror reflecting Gods love to others, even those I don't really care for. In return, I am making and growing many more friendships, and having a sense of the presence and Peace of God in a gentle and intimate way. I often fail, yet I try to get up walk again.

Please join me in prayer for our region. That our women and girls and boys would be protected from those who would abuse and hurt them. That stashes of drugs would be revealed and confiscated. That the dealers would be found out. It is Gods responsibility, and our only hope. Too many have had their lives stolen away, too many cannot face a normal day. Too many cry themselves to sleep because they have been betrayed by one who should have been trustworthy, but chose not to be.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Constitutinal rights,Christian standards and Witness.

You know, I haven't had health insurance since 2001.

Not that it isn't available, I do qualify for WI High Risk insurance. Last time i checked the premium 2 years ago it was 2200+ per month. Not 22 dollars. Two Thousand two hundred plus per month.Thats a few thousand more than I make in a year as a Chaplain.

I have had something like 9 or 10 major surgeries, 12 or 14 cat scans, 4 MRI's 1 colonoscopy 16 shots of steroids and hundreds of PT appointments since 1993.

I had a cancer that only 13 others had experienced. Fortunately, it was one of the few non-lethal types.

Dad had stage 3+ colon cancer when discovered, stage 4 at surgery. It has been 8 years since my last colonoscopy, one would sure set my mind at ease. One major argument against the presidents health plan is that the government doesn't have constitutional right to institute it, or that it is a violation of our constitution to implement it.

As a country, and as Christians, we have been more than willing to give up constitutional rights, depending on who proposed that loss. {IMHO}

If anyone wants to take me to task, read through the Patriot Act,see what rights we gave up under G W Bush. More than you would ever believe.

I am getting at the point that it seem that if something is proposed by a liberal, or democratic person, president or institution, it must be bad. Be honest, look closely. Tho we may prefer conservative govt, many conservative republicans are as "degenerate" as those liberal democrats. {only half in jest} Barney Frank may be gay, but it was a Conservative rep from Florida who headed a committee to protect abused children that was in fact soliciting young male pages with texts. Bill Clinton had extramarital affairs, the Governor of one of the Carolinas' has been in adultery for several years. We hate democrats big wasteful government, yet it was under the Bush Administration that the bureaucracy grew the largest ever. Senators and congressmen of both parties have benefits which the average citizen cannot dream of. One term in Congress gives health care for life. It goes on ad finitum, ad nauseum.

There, I probably have offended a few friends and several I don't know. I have been on a "Kick" about consistency tho. Lets be honest,be real and apply the same rules, conscience or standards to ourselves first, and walk perfectly, before we expect others to live up to our standards.

I work with an incredible nurse, one of the finest ICU nurses I've ever seen. I would want her to care for myself, family or the ones I love. After 5 years of working together she fessed up, " I don't believe in God". She was expecting the worst from me. I took a deep breath and asked Why. Her response was chilling. "I have worked here 22 years. Since I started, Born Again Christians have been coming here, telling me what I had to believe, and how I was supposed to live. So I watched them, for all these years. The same folks who were telling me how wrong I was were lying, stealing, cheating on their wives or husband, not paying their taxes.I came to believe that IF THERE REALLY WAS A GOD, THEY WOULDN'T DARE SAY ONE THING AND LIVE THE OPPOSITE. THEY WOULD BE TOO AFRAID.They have proven to me by Their actions there is no God.we aren't talking about a person who is blaming Church Hypocrites, we are talking about a person who studied the most outspoken religious folks she knew, heard their words, and saw their actions.

Jesus said: Tarry ye here in Jerusalem until you are endued with Power from above, and you shall be my witnesses" the Greek word for witness is Martus, which certainly implies a lifestyle rather than a bullhorn.

Ok, so this really doesn't have a lot to do with President Obamas' denial of constitutional rights. It does however speak to evangelical Christianity's do what I tell you you need to do, not as I do attitude. If I don't like it, it must be wrong. It is an attitude I haven't seen Jesus express in Scripture.

More in the future....

STUFF: RIPPED FROM YAHOO!!!

Stop Buying Stuff You Don't Need
by Dayana Yochim
Thursday, December 24, 2009

We may be getting used to tightening our belts. But that doesn't mean we're happy about it, because, let's face it: We love stuff.

More from Fool.com

• Retail Tricks That Make You Overspend

• 5 Ways to Stop Buying Stupid Stuff

• How-to Guide: Spend Smarter

We love shopping for stuff, setting stuff up, displaying stuff, and demonstrating our stuff's superiority (in speed, capacity, color, taste, size, you name it) to the other, lesser stuff out there.

Of course, no discussion of stuff is complete without a tip of the hat to George Carlin's famous monologue about it. (Watch it here. PG-13 rating, FYI.) "The whole meaning of life is trying to find a place for your stuff," he observed. "That's all your house is ... a pile of stuff with a cover on it."

Good point, George. Think about it...

* • Why do most people move? To find a bigger place for their stuff.
* • When someone breaks into your house, they're not interested in your fourth-grade mementos. No. They're after the good stuff.
* • Stuff is so important to us that an entire industry exists simply to keep an eye on it. (Container Store Addicts Anonymous, anyone?)

A lot of people have issues with stuff. However, all stuff is not created equal.

Your two piles of stuff: Most of what we spend our money on can be categorized in one of two ways: 1. Stuff we need. 2. Stuff we want. (A subset of No. 2: Stuff we claim to need -- for which we dream up elaborate justifications for buying to tell our spouses, friends, or bosses -- but as we all know, it's really just stuff we want.)

In the "need" pile are the obvious things like shelter (mortgage or rent), food, good health (medication and medical attention when necessary) and the means to earn a living (transportation, hot water for a shower, and appropriate shoes).

Everything else? Well, you know where to pile all that stuff -- right over there in the mountain of "wants."

Of course, stuff consigned to the "want" pile isn't necessarily bad. It's fine if it brings you joy, you can afford it, it makes your life or someone else's better, is not a choking hazard, and it's stored safely away from open flames.

What makes "wants" problematic is when you pay for them with tomorrow's dollars by putting them on a credit card and not paying them off in full, or when you acquire things simply to temporarily patch over an emotional void that no tangible acquisition can truly fulfill.

What to do when "want" is a four-letter word: If you find that your "wants" are consuming your mind, garage, and attic, there are some things you can do to cut down the pangs of acquisitiveness.

On one of our more popular discussion boards on Fool.com, "Living Below Your Means," members have offered some great tips on getting into the "want less" mind-set:

Avoid situations that make you want more stuff:

* • Put catalogs right in the recycling pile without reading them and unsubscribe ASAP.
* • Ignore the commercials on television. And whatever you do, don't turn on the shopping channels.
* • Don't hang out in shopping areas for recreation.
* • Stop window-shopping online. It's too easy to fill up your cart and click "buy."

Face the reality of acquiring that new [fill in the blank]:

* • Put the price in perspective: How many hours do you have to work to pay for the item?
* • Institute a waiting period. Often the excitement over a new gewgaw wears off after a few days -- or even hours.
* • Pay for it in cash. Studies show that forking over actual currency makes the pain of a purchase much more real than just putting it on plastic.

Realize how much junk you have now, and how much trouble it is:

* • Take a complete inventory of your house contents for insurance purposes. You might be surprised by the bounty of stuff you already have.
* • Do a weekly "27-fling boogie" a la Flylady: Go through the house and find 27 things you don't want to keep anymore)
* • Visualize moving all of your stuff to a new home, or your heirs going through everything after your death.

Appreciate the stuff you already have:

* • Keep warranties.
* • You worked hard to afford it in the first place, so perform basic repair and maintenance.
* • Lend things you don't use frequently to other people.
* • Fill your time with enjoyable -- and free! -- activities, such as spending time with family, playing sports, or pursuing a hobby. That leaves fewer hours in the day to pine for stuff!

Hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to the mall we go anyway: Of course, at some point you're going to have to replenish the pantry, replace some lightbulbs, and maybe even buy some stuff to keep the other stuff you have in good working condition.

But before you reach for your wallet, do some pre-shopping prep so you acquire only as much stuff as you really need.

After years of training, Fool.com writer Dayana Yochim is ready to enter the Ironwoman competition and triumph in the Target-shopping challenge, where every item in contestants' shopping carts that's not on their original list results in a score reduction.

hOW COOL IS THIS !!! FROM THE SUPERIOR EVENING TELEGRAM

Taken from our local paper, January 12,2010

Pair an ideas man with a problem solver. Add in technology that keeps people linked with the push of a button and a growing web of volunteers. Stir in some enthusiasm and a “can do” attitude. Then watch the momentum build.

“Lots of good things are happening in Wascott,” said Sheryl Beglinger, many of them prompted by the new Neighbors Helping Neighbors network. Since its inception in August, the group has winterized approximately 250 houses in the Gordon/Minong/Wascott area, hosted a Christmas day dinner and began developing a Neighborhood Watch Program. And more ideas are brewing.

“We’re learning more and more about the needs of the community,” said Beglinger, who lives in Wascott.

The idea for Neighbors Helping Neighbors started with Beglinger and Dean Nesley, who serve together on the town’s Community Resource Committee. After kicking options around in committee, they formed the group to work on them.

“We’re not a nonprofit, not an organization,” Beglinger said. “We’re just a network of people.” They are linked through e-mail and bursting with ideas.

The first project, lofted by Nesley, was to “Winterize Wascott.” For 20 years, he’s known that putting plastic over windows cuts heating costs. Many Wascott residents live in older homes. With a high concentration of retirees in the area, many are also living on a fixed income.

Beglinger called a company to ask what kind of plastic and tape would work best. The company searched their warehouse and found some they could donate. In September, 570 three-window kits arrived at the Beglinger’s home.

“I could not believe it,” Nesley said. “It mushroomed.”

Ads in the Northwoods Shopper touted the free kits, but the best response came when members of Neighbors Helping Neighbors brought kits to local senior meal sites and food shelves.

“I could hardly get it in the door fast enough,” Nesley said.

One Gordon resident who received the window kits and help installing them called the program “absolutely wonderful.” In total, 568 kits were given away.

Nesley noted that residents should save the plastic they remove this spring so they can put it up again in the fall.

Fresh off the success of “Winterize Wascott,” the network started developing a Neighborhood Watch program. About 30 people showed up for an initial meeting in October.

“We’re a long way from Superior,” said Steve Trainor of Wascott, who is heading up the Neighborhood Watch team, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department budget is tight. “It’s important to get information back and forth. The neighborhood watch could help immensely with that.”

By dividing the town into regions and tapping into local lakes association phone lists, Beglinger said, the program can keep residents connected. People who are out of the area can have folks keep an eye on their home, Trainor said, and neighbors can check in on elderly residents to make sure they are OK. E-mail alerts could provide a heads-up when burglaries have occurred in the area and remind people of the next meeting.

“Everybody’s watching out for everybody else,” Trainor said.

Beglinger said she hoped that the Neighborhood Watch program, once up and running, could be expanded to encompass neighboring communities.

The next project was a Christmas meal. Volunteers cooked enough hams and turkeys, rolls and cookies for 100 hungry people.

“Then the blizzard came,” Beglinger said with a laugh. About two dozen people showed up Christmas Day at the town hall, she said, and “we had a ball.”

Leftovers and funds collected were later dropped off with a local family in need. Next year, Beglinger said, they will also offer rides to the meal.

While reaching out, members of Neighbors Helping Neighbors have deepened their local ties.

“We’ve had a lot of fun,” Beglinger said, and have met a lot of great people. “I now feel like a member of the community of Wascott.”

“You get to know your neighbors a little better,” Nesley said.

And the ideas keep coming. Members of Neighbors Helping Neighbors could provide energy efficient fluorescent light bulbs for Wascott residents. Volunteers could plant flowers around the town hall or set up a playground. Members of the town – which has 900 voting members – could participate in a weight loss competition. The group gives e-mail updates on projects. Volunteers can choose to join in or sit this one out.

The group is riding a tide of enthusiasm and success.

“When people work together, you can get a lot done,” Nesley said. “Any community can do this.”

And everyone is welcome to join the network of volunteers.

“Anyone who wants to get involved can get involved,” Trainor said.

Nesley said he’d like to see more people asking “Hey, what can I do?”

Doing so can keep neighbors warm, protect communities and bring residents together.

“It turns the community into a network of people who care,” Beglinger said.

To join Neighbors Helping Neighbors, call Beglinger at (715) 466-2986 or e-mail Trainor at trainor@centurytel.net.