Mother's Day 2012 ~ It's All About Choices :)

Happy Mother’s Day! ♥

I spent nearly my entire morning doing things that were needful…which included spending a good portion with the husband of all husbands, the boyfriend to end all boyfriends, a friend above all others, and the lover of my soul, God.

Now I’m not sure how your conversations with God are, but mine are always real, thought provoking, heart rendering, soul edifying, often include humor, and sometimes down-right funny. It never ceases to amaze me how thirsty the soul is to have alone time with the Living God.

I walked out to Burke Rd- to Fairmont- to Strawberry- past Vista and Spencer to Strawberry Park, made one huge circle around the park, back up to Spencer, stopped and picked up a few things for homemade blueberry muffins for Beta Academy Muffins with Moms tomorrow, walked down to Burke and back up to my apartment—all in 1 hour and 12 minutes!

During that entire walk, you know what God spoke to me about? God spoke to me about dried plums (I’m a recovering prune hater) and life's choices. It's a weird combo I know, but that's what we talked about. Here’s a very shortened version of it…
As I left for ‘our’ walk, I downed four sizable dried plums for quick energy. I hadn’t looked at them straight out of the bag, which is a normal ritual for me…but the last one felt a little dry but when I stuck it in my mouth I could immediately tell that it was different. It was unusually dried out..at first I thought it was just a really-really dried out plum. Then it was crunchy; dried plums are not supposed to crunch! More importantly it didn’t taste like all the other dried plums I’ve ever had…and BELIEVE me, I was WAY too scared to spit it out and find that I may’ve been chewing on who knows what!
All I could picture in my mind was a Madagascar hissing tree roach or something and fought to choke it down with a bottle of water as I was walking down the street. It was that or spat it out and find out that it really was some horrid insect, which would cause me to be throwing up all over the sidewalk in broad view of every person driving…and then risk someone stopping to help the poor old, throwing-up, chubby lady...only to find she had really been throwing up a dried plum. Can you tell I have quite the active imagination?! (Hence, you can see why my food ritual usually includes a visual inspection before throwing things into my mouth.)

So, I made a choice and swallowed something when I had no idea what it was. (Yes. I prayed as it went down, and I am fairly sure it moved in my stomach...then again, that might’ve been my overly active imagination.)

Anyway, it was quite the sight as I walked and worked to keep it down. I'm pretty sure my guardian angel was chuckling at the sight.
And then God spoke. He spoke straight to my heart and asked "What are you doing?" Embarrassed I said :Um, Lord, you know I can't stand the thought of eating bugs and I think I swallowed one. He then explained that our lives are like that dried plum.

We go about daily living…often in the pace of habits and fast living and we swallow things that may or may not be good for us. We make a choice to willfully chew and swallow, or willfully chuck it up and spit it out. The bottom line of God’s conversation came down to choices...we choose to live under His grace and follow-after and search-out His perfect will and receive his blessings...or we choose not to.
It’s our choice.

What a wonderful Mother’s Day!

"I Choose This"

A friend sent me a link to a ‘wedding proposal’ that she thought was sweet and entertaining, and while it was, there was one line in it that has stuck with me all day. In the video the young man dances and sings songs to his intended fiancé. Then the words from one line says something that seems at first so simple… but when you really think on it, it is quite profound… “I Choose This”

We’ve all heard people go on and on about the need to hear those ‘three little words’…but I believe those three little words should not be “I love you.” You see, the word ‘love’ is so often misused today…’love’ has been used so commonly for ‘like’ that we “love” everything.

While God’s love is pure and all fulfilling, man’s love often falls short or is confused with like. However, everything we do, we choose. In fact, it’s the powerful act of choosing that sets our reasoning minds above the animal kingdom. Our ability to choose means that we do the things we do- with purpose. Good or bad, out of love or lust- we choose on purpose.

We cannot control what happens outside ourselves. We can control who we are, what we become, how we face difficulties, and overcome trials…it all comes down to a choice…even love- we choose it.

“I Choose This” is a powerful statement- one that states a purposeful, personal choice. In hard times, we choose to hold on or let go. During the days that roll black and thunder roars, you must choose to embrace your trust in God or turn your face away from it. When your relationships seem shaky, you’ll need to choose what is really important. You see…we can choose to hold onto anger or walk without that heavy burden. We can choose a lesser walked road or we can walk the road that is comfortable and well-worn. We can choose which future to build on or leave it all to chance. We can choose to hold onto hatred or we can choose to extend love.

God has given you the ability to choose…the next time you make a choice remember how profound every choice is. When you get ready to tell someone you love them, remember it’s a choice…”I Choose This.”

It's just a simple thought.
†=♥

Abolish Planned Parenthood- Give My Taxes to Ethical Oragnaizations

The following were two recent post from a Planned Parenthood (PP) dire-hard, Kathryn Aberle on the Facebook page of GovPeeper at  http://www.facebook.com/pages/GovPeeper/174994805873425 :

“We at Planned Parenthood would like you to adopt and pay for the kids that people can't afford.” …and… “Stuff it! Get off the Planned Parenthood website! We're not interested in the garbage you're mired in.”

The following is my reply:

Get off it Kathryn Aberle! The tax payers are already paying for 1) PP and 2) for children with no parents and single parent as well as two parent families---it's called Welfare and Medicaid!

3) Please stop throwing around false information. "Every day 1000 women die of complications of pregnancy and childbirth. This leaves over a million children motherless every year." Where on the earth did you get these numbers? Really- over a million from just 1,000 women? Do you know how to use a simple calculator? That would be 1000 babies per woman!

Sadly, millions of women do die every year globally. The truth is that the majority of these precious women do not die for lack of abortion choices! They die in the actual process of labor or pre-labor care...because they do not have or get proper medical care or nutrition during their pregnancy. Here's a note for you-- get credible sources! My word!

The lifetime risk of women to suffer from this tragedy, in industrial countries, 1 in 4000! Of ALL the world's pregnancy related deaths, 99% occur in underdeveloped countries..that leaves only 1% for all industrial countries and that includes the U.S.! 1%! Let's remind our selves that PP is not a global organization so it is focusing on less than the U.S.'s share of that 1%.
http://www.unicef.org/factoftheweek/index_39707.html

PP loves to tote the life and death issue banner as their harrowing act of humanitarian service, but the absolute truth bears out the facts- the vast majority of abortions are elective NOT life or death choices.
Here's a better plan, help these woman and children to have better health care during pregnancy and in their lives then we will see a serious decline in the problem. Instead of throwing energy and resources into a murder-mill, they should be put to work helping women survive and thrive. Join a movement that is ethical and one that helps improve the quality of life and reduces true suffering. There are several great organizations- PP however is neither an ethical organization nor a true help to women who have no choices; death is never an option and again, don't throw up the life or death choice because we already clarified that the vast majority of PP abortions are elective.

You further show duplicity when you state that "These children are far more likely to die..." again, it is not right that PP propagates these things because deaths by starvation is a sad condition in other nations, but not in the U.S. Do we have far too many children who live in poverty and who will go to bed hungry many nights, yes. Again, join an organization working to stop this and to improve the daily nutrition and lives of these children and their families.
http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-facts/child-hunger-facts.aspx

PP does ZERO to help with child poverty and malnutrition so please spare us your diatribe about how abortions solve this problem. One more time, the majority of U.S. abortions are elective!

You also stated "Why don't you focus your energies on correcting this situation instead of restricting others' rights?
Really? PP is being funded by my tax dollars and the tax dollars of ALL tax paying Americans! It is against our will, but PP gets those federal funds. How dare you say such a ridiculous thing! SO not only are my tax dollar being wasted on PP, but the good citizens are also funding out of our own private resources, organizations that DO make a difference and are working to help pregnant women have healthier pregnancies and finding loving homes for "unwanted" children, and are feeding America's poverty stricken communities.

And do not even start about how PP is correcting anything! If they are "correcting" things then how on THE earth is it that they are servicing more women and teens than ever yet the problem with "unwanted" pregnancy is at an all time high...yet PP is receiving unprecedented funding! WHERE is all that PP money going then? It is not because more women are finally liberated to get an abortion, the money is funneled into the pockets of its employees and its chief officers.

Lastly, at least for this moment...
PP ranks with one of the single worst decisions our government has ever made and I for one an tired of funding it. I want a choice where my tax dollars go when used to help Americans and it is not PP.

The Anti-Corruption Pledge

Click here to take: The Anti-Corruption Pledge

We must make our government be a government of the people, responsible to the people of America and not to corporations or career politicians.

Each of us must act in good conscious to work toward a positive tomorrow or no doubt there will not be a happy tomorrow for our children and grandchildren, and all future generations.

Stand up- speak out. Do what is right, not what is easy.

Click here to take: The Anti-Corruption Pledge

A Reflection

We live in a world filled with turmoil and woe, a time when folks' hearts are in one of two conditions- deception or anticipation...daily my heart focuses upon God's goodness and His ultimate act of love. During Easter, when the world looks toward and celebrates a bunny, my heart turns toward the only occasions that are marked by more controversy than any other single event...the birth and death of a Savior.

It's officially the Sunday before Easter. The Sunday Jesus entered Bethany. 

Thank you Lord...for doing what I could not.

"The Promise came in the form of a baby.
The baby's cry broke the silence between the Testaments.

In that very moment the tide of all history turned; the long-awaited promise had been fulfilled.

Simeon held the infant and declared, "For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."~ Luke 2:30-31

The Promise keeper had kept his promise."*

For thirty-three years, God in Christ walked among men. And then...

He arrived in Bethany on Sunday and went on to His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Monday He irritated the chief priests, protesting the exchange of money within the temple.
 

On Tuesday, He explained the Greatest of the Commandments and announced the day of his execution while in secret Judas agreed to betray him.

He called the religious leaders out as hypocrites and vipers and then mourned Jerusalem's rejection and impending destruction on Wednesday.
 

By Thursday, He sat for a Last Supper and then prayed alone in Gethsemane.
 

Early Friday morning He was betrayed and stood trial six times before ungodly men.
 

He was beaten, ridiculed, and rejected.
The Creator was accused by the created and condemned to die; the sinless One for the sins of all men.

He endured humiliation on the path that led to a criminal's torture and put on public display on Calvary.

"It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining." ~Luke 23:45-45

 

At the same hour when sacrificial lambs were slaughtered, the heavens darkened, the earth shook and trembled, and the King of all Glory, the sacrificial lamb, died.

 "At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split" ~ Matthew 27:51

"When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”~Matthew 27:54

That same evening godly men buried Him in a borrowed tomb.

By Saturday, soldiers were ordered to guard it.

And then... all creation held it's breath in anticipation of Sunday...

* E. Hindson (2003). Courageous Faith. AMG Publishers. TN: Chattanooga 

Reducing and Removing Chemicals from My Diet

GUILTY~ For years we’ve all known that there are all kinds of chemicals in our foods. Even me...I feel a bit guilty for buying things when I had no idea what long-term effect the products would have on our health. I, like millions of others, did what was convenient and cost efficient.

Let’s forget that the FDA regulates these chemicals for us to eat—they let us ingest all kinds of junk for one reason- food is a BIG business…period!
Just one tiny example is yellow 5…found in hundreds of products such as commercial eggs (it’s the dye in poultry feed to make the yolks yellower), most candies, cake mix, gum, sports drinks, and on-and-on...anyway, it is tartrazine, a benzene product…benzene is naturally found in, and synthesized from, the processing of petroleum, which of course comes from crude oil. It used to be used in gasoline but The Fed made them stop using because it is a known carcinogen. But they can put it in our food—right?!
Enough of that for now, back to the point…

Well, I recently really applied myself to making an all-out consorted effort to eat freshly cooked meals and reduce chemical in-take as much as possible. Of course, unless I make everything from scratch and make sure to use one hundred percent organic (not in my budget) foods, I won’t be able to remove every chemical, but buddy…I can greatly reduce what we’ve been putting in our mouths. Hopefully I can be rid of some horrible headaches that I get every once in a while and help our bodies cleanse out the build-up of chemicals in the process.

For the sake of JMC and what growth time he has remaining, my grandgirls and grandson as well as my own health, I have made changes for a better, healthier living.

I found this awesome website, Center for Science in the Public Interest, that has a ready list on their Chemical Cuisine page…a “Summary of the Safety of All Additives”, which helps me to look for chemical that are safe, chemicals to cutback, some to use with caution, and those to avoid altogether. Click here for their Chemical Cuisine page:  Center for Science in the Public Interest

If this small post helps even one other person, it has served its purpose.

Healthier choices mean healthier, longer lives. =}

To President Obama - Come on!

Dear President Obama,
(Not formal formatting in order comply with a White House limit of 2,500 characters.)

I am an American citizen, & I have never been more ashamed of the office of President. I’m still shaking my head in disgust & bewilderment. Just how foolish & ignorant do you believe the American people are? How many insults are we expected to take? 

I don’t believe a single word that came out of Ms. Fluke’s well-versed “testimony” & neither do most Americans; that you would call her is embarrassing! 

The law students at GT can’t afford contraceptives? Really? There are numerous places to obtain contraceptives around GT. Some young women suffered incomprehensible harm from lack of access to contraceptives, really? She WAS a law student- show us the well-disciplined study & research that proves her claims. I'd like to ask their families "Your daughters & sisters were so gravely ill & you didn’t help pay for medicine that would have kept them healthy? Really?"

I’d tell those families, Ms. Fluke, & you, Mr. President about my sister. When she was ill we, her family, stepped up to help ease the financial burden so that she & her husband could pay for other parts of her medical care. No one called my sister anything, but she sure would have felt better if the President had called her to give her a word of comfort...she was FAR more worthy of a call from the you than Ms. Fluke will ever be. My sister died on the day she was to have a double lung transplant because there was not enough coverage left on her insurance to go forward with the surgery. (And no, I do not want mandated insurance!) 

My sister, Lisa, 1958-2007

Why did you call Ms. Fluke? 'Cause she was called a bad name, because her feelings were a little out of twitch? Really? Then WHY didn't you call Michele Bachmann after she had (and continues to be) called slanderous names publicly; by multiple media personalities as well as many members of the democratic party?? Both of these women are U.S. citizens who should be able to give their opinion as well as express their thoughts without being shredded to pieces by defamation of character. Yet Michele Bachmann, a mother of small children and a member of the United States House of Representatives for crying out-loud gets nothing? Where are the apology and call to comfort a woman who truly has been morally based, truth bearing, & patriotic?

Our government has become a big business & is way off of its plum line. Is it any wonder our government is so far off center when you are so far out of touch with the vast majority of Americans & care little for Constitutional liberties?

Lord Jesus Christ, help our country!

Stop All Bullying

My sweet young friend, Megan White, posted this onher FB status a short while ago and it bears repeating...it may sound harsh, but bullying is nothing more than hatred with a lesser name. Bullying is a harsh reality for those who know its pain and is all too often brought to public attention after after the fact. As we've witnessed in many school shooting cases, the root cause of escalated revenge has been bullying. Thank you Megan for reminding all of us.

From Megan (not the original author):

"The boy you punched in the hall today.
Committed suicide a few minutes ago.

That girl you called a slut in class today.
She's a virgin.

The boy you called lame.
He has to work every night to support his family.

That girl you pushed down the other day.
She's already being abused at home.

That girl you called fat.
She's starving herself.

The old man you made fun of cause of the ugly scars.
He fought for our country.

The boy you made fun of for crying.
His mother is dying.

You think you know them.
Guess what? You don't."

The only way to turn the tide is to stop the insanity. If you witness bullying (this includes adult bullying) and do nothing to intervene you are part of the problem. If you know a bully and you don't try to reach them with understanding and wisdom or at least tell an adult or someone who can help, you are part of the problem. Silence is the worst enemy-- speak out for the sake of those who are too fearful to speak out for themselves. Situations do not change on their own- people make choices first and then things change.

I am a teacher and I've been teaching a long time. I have always had a zero tolerance policy against bullying. How about you?

 

Children learn to bully and that their poor behavior will be tolerated well before they begin attending school. If you know a parent whose child is exhibiting bullying behaviors, talk with the parent or redirect them to professional parental counseling to get help. Let's stop bullying before it reach kindergarten.

Citation Note: Ok, I do not know who the originator of the poem is; however, should it be you and you can prove it, simply message me the proof and I'll be more than happy to give you the appropriate credit due. But it nevertheless deserves to be shared.

Yes- The Government Gives Free Phone and Cell Phones to Entitlement (Welfare) Recipients

There's a big hew-rah-rah on FB about the free phone program for those on entitlement (welfare.) It is a real program, but it is not a new program.

Peeps, we've got to educate ourselves and stop saying things that make us appear ignorant. We cannot settle for complacency to appease our laziness and keep from being involved as well as uneducated. We, Christians, are not called to stick our heads in the dirt or carry a government banner, but we are called to carry God's banner of righteousness (not self-rightness)... but truly- how can it be righteous to allow ones self the failed and vain luxury of ignorance. You're not a Christian? Well, you still have a responsibility to your families and your fellowman to follow after what is right for the sake of the future.

Discussing the Federal free phone program (Lifeline Assistance and Lifeline Link-Up) the editor from NewMediaJournal.com sates:
" 'Editor's Note: We would like to see the citation to the Bill of Rights that denotes the right to "peace of mind." We know that the inalienable rights to Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness are enshrined, but we haven't seen anything about cellphones. This is a perfect example of how the federal government wastes money under the guise of "helping the poor.' "

Just to clarify...the actual phone program was launched under Clinton and remained intact under Bush because the Democrats would NOT budge to have it repealed. Since our current president took office this program has bloated to an unprecedented size; as have all other welfare entitlements.
It’s another extremely sad commentary of our times.

If you are an unbeliever-- go read it for yourself; here are some links to save you a little time:
http://newmediajournal.us/indx.php/item/2462
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_749344.html

A Socialists’ twist on the continuance of the program? Here you go: http://www.freegovernmentcellphones.net/faq/obama-phone




Become part of the solution in helping America to return to her greatness once again! Vote to reform our government by limiting its power, reducing our national debt, giving states back their Constitutional power, limiting political terms in office, removing politicians' lifetime benefits, and maintaining a free market economy.

Speechless - NO WAY!

Ok. So y'all know me by now. A friend shared this video link with me via Facebook and I HAD to...I was compelled to respond to the video-- not my friend :). So here is my reply to what I have entitled--> What's really at the heart the socialist democrat.movement? Watch, listen, and learn!


I can see why Maxine Waters is speechless (she has no 'right' answer)..., but I am not speechless! THIS--- this is NOT the kind of government our ancestors imagined when they fled socialist-theocratic-monarchy forms of government- NO WAY!

Let’s get this straight and keep it straight—AMERICA fought and won its independence during the Revolutionary War to be FREE from the form of government that the socialist are attempting to re-shackle Americans into again!

Millions of Americans are making it clear they will neither fade into the night nor go down peacefully with the ship; they are not in agreement with a government bent on stripping away our freedoms. We are not about taking from the rich and redistributing anything-- if you want something go after your dream, do not steal what you did not earn or pour your financial investment into. 

A government cannot run a free market better than the citizens of its country...just look at Greece, Syria, Egypt, the former Soviet bloc, Indonesia, Nigeria… just to name a few of many countries who have mistakenly gone down that well beaten path.

Still a non-believer that governments can't operate business efficiently and effectively? I am not making this up-- use the governments own information. Look at the numbers for yourself at http://www.bls.gov/ or http://www.bea.gov/ and then balance it out with a bit of reality from http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/. We're spending nearly as much on welfare as on the entire budget for national defense! The U.S. government is trying to be a business and it is an utter failure. 

Our government is larger than at any other time in history yet it is the most unproductive and the most expensive! When is the last time you went into a federally run office? The service is horrid, attitudes pretty much stink, and only the employees are considered worthy of any true value or worth...they are the only incentive they get. Government employees, unlike employees in the free market place, get no incentives...promotions are not incentives in the dog-eat-dog world of government career growth.

Do you know how many federal agencies there even are? There are approximately 479! Still don't believe it? Go count them for yourself at http://www.usa.gov/directory/federal/index.shtml-- but be prepared. There are so many that they are listed A-Z and only one letter loads up at a time! In addition, this does not include any of the hundreds and hundreds of small agencies that subsist under these agencies. 

Not including the U.S. Post Office or those enlisted in military service, there are just under 2 M federal employees! TWO MILLION civil employees! The best thing the government is doing is employing people while providing worse and worse service and/or service related products. What's worse? Most federal employees make ridiculous salaries, have equally ridiculous benefits, and pensions.

Me, stay silent? NO WAY!

The end of January 2012

I can hardly believe it is the end of January 2012 already! I'm thinking it's probably just me and getting older, but time doesn't crawl along anymore. My days are filled with teaching and night classes, finishing the raising of my seventeen year old son...all truth be told, he's pretty independent--except for the occasional reliance upon me for eating and a bit of sage wisdom... it seems life after 50 goes by far too quickly.

Anyway. I kind-of eased in January 2012 with my boys (Matthew is 26 started with now and soon to be wed in April) and my very best friend, Ahmad (Mod- as we refer to him now since that's what Punkpunk calls him.)

It's been a busy month of helping Mod pack..ok, watching Mod pack and move his things into storage. He's lived at this complex for twenty years and is forcing himself to give up his apartment because he wants to be serious about finding a house to finish growing old in. Anyway, he got all of his "junk"-- that's what I call everyone's stuff...if mine is good enough to be called "junk" then so's everyone else's. I drove him to the GBIA (airport) on Sunday. He'll be in Iran tying up loose ends, selling family property, finding a new house for his sister and mother-- who by the way is 91! Red tape in America is a pale shade of pink compared to the red tape in other countries so he'll probably not be state side again until nearly summer break. But we're both hoping, and I prayed before he left, that he would be home in time for Matthew and Belinda's wedding in April...we'll see.

My students are in full swing working on projects for open house, daily assignments and generally attempting to not drive me insane. That...in-and-of-itself...is pretty difficult to master for middle school students-- they thrive on driving their teachers nuts. But I bear it like a badge of honor because I love these kids! They'll be singing Glucose, Glucose (with the music from the Arches Oh Sugar, Sugar song... check out this link it's pretty cute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C78BMJ7D68I) for the parents and guest.

College classes drag on. I think I know what it feels like to be a professional student. June 2014 will not arrive soon enough! 51 and trying to get your degree is not the optimum way to securing a career future. lol My current classes, macroeconomics (yes- yuck..it is as awful as it sounds) and business communication have offered little in the excitement department. I'm ready to sink my teeth into some serious business classes but all good things in their own time.

Well, that's the prattlings-- a bit boring, but then again, my mind is partially fried from sitting here far to many hours already. I have to go take the Lily-monster for a walk. She's 87 pounds now so some times it's more like she is walking me.

Night. =]

Next time we have to discuss our republican president nominees.
Oh boy!

Wisdom w/Age -- Really?

Does wisdom truly come with age?

This is a question that’s been rolling around in my head for a few weeks.

Wisdom is generally thought to be acquired as you get older. You know, each year brings new experiences and ideas that are either proved true or false and we all learn from this and move forward…thereby increasing in wisdom.

I’m a people watcher. Have you been any place where middle aged or older adults gather? At the mall, the Walmart, the airport, a park…pretty much anywhere?

I’ve watched a lot of adults who should have gotten a lot of wisdom, but I’ve noticed that they don’t often use it if they have it. How is that?

So maybe wisdom comes with age, but it has to be applied to be of any use.
I have more thoughts on this, but as always not enough time to get enough out, so I will get back to you… more later.

 

CHANGE YOUR HEALTH - CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Hey Everyone...I'm leaving. That's right- I've had it. I am sick and tired and I cannot and will not take it any more!

That's right, I'm going on a journey. I am not sure exactly how long it will take me to get to my destination. It's a journey of discovery, BUT I do know this- when I arrive there (OH- I will make it there!) I will not return the same. I will leave behind old habits and a ridiculous lifestyle. I will not spend the second half of my life as I did the first.

What's even weirder is that some of you-- yes, you my sweet friendsn feel EXACTLY the same way. You also long to stop a vicious cycle and want to change the direction of your life. So-- what is keeping you from going with me? We can go on the journey with each other and help each other reach our goal-- to be healthier, feel better, and look better when we see ourselves in the mirror.

Those who know me know how I burn my candle at both ends and in the middle. I have been drinking the AdvoCare Spark energy drink and taking the Max-e vitamins for a few weeks and can really feel the difference. This weekend I am going to kick it into high gear and begin the 24 Day Challenge.

Take a look. A look is free (see my link below and go ready my 'story'.) It doesn't hurt, and you may find exactly what you've looked for all these years. =]

I will be chronicling my weight loss- healthier life change there on my website so free to visit back as often as you'd like. If you have any questions, please feel free to message me and I'll be happy help you any away I possibly can.

Now, on with the journey...

Here's my personal weblink: www.advocare.com/111114164/

Occupy-- please go home!

So let me get this right…the Occupy people—

They want freedom to speak and act as they wish—but they dishonor then men and women fighting to defend their right to enjoy it.

They want equal access as long as they do not have to give it-- just ask them to leave the areas they are illegally squatting on.

They want everyone to have an equal share—but they can’t even share their food with homeless people—“How dare they take what we worked so long to get together and prepare.” How IRONIC is that!?

They want a share of the corporate pie but do not want to contribute a financial stake in the company just reap the profitable reward for their paid labor.

They want to take out loans for an education, get the education, and then cry when they have to pay back the money they borrowed for an education they received.

They profess peaceful protest—yet a dead man was found within their camp and they didn’t even notify anyone, another shot himself and the emergency personnel were blocked to get to his aid by other Occupy demonstrators, a rare strain of TB has broken out within the ranks in one of their camps and is getting so bad the health officials are calling it an outbreak, another camp poses a public threat because of the rampant STD’s being transmitted, and theft, robbery, and rape crimes have gone up in all of the areas they occupy.

They cry out against the injustices happening to the “little man”—yet their determination to holdout and occupy means they are putting local mom and pop shops out of business because their customers are too afraid to do business where the Occupy demonstrations are— and can we blame them!?

They want to lay around, living off the backs of the working class and then cry that they aren't getting enough.

They have an agenda and are not leaving until they get what they want—seems like they have no real agenda at all and they claim the Tea Party was worse. ? That the Tea Party is actually the bad guy.

Really? You gotta be kidding me!

The Tea Party came, rallied, set an agenda, reached a consensus and went about establishing a respectable organization that is striving to change what they do not like. There were no out of control mobs, no rare outbreaks of TB, no rampant STD’s running amuck, no dead people lying in their mists, no shootings, no thefts, no robberies, no rapes, no businesses had to close down, and no veterans had to be dishonored.

I cannot spend another iota of my time on your foolish games— I am a busy working, single mother who is putting myself through college, paying my fair share of taxes, struggling to make ends meet, raising my son and putting him through college, I live without insurance, and do not live off the backs of anyone else. I may not have all I desire right now, but at least I can take pride in what I do have and the accomplishments I continue to make.

So here’s my FREE $0.03 worth

Stop your senseless belly aching, pull up your big girl panties, wipe your nose, apologize to our veterans and those you ran out of business as well as those who have been injured, stop the stupidity train, go get a job because at this point even a job at McD’s is gonna help (considering you haven’t been working in months), become a productive member of the United States economy, carry your share of the load, and pay your taxes… maybe THEN we’ll have something worth discussing.
Until then, stop saying you are representing all Americans because it is obvious you only represent those who wish to have a free ride. Nuff said!

NEW PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION

All I can add is.."Well said!"
The following has been attributed to State Representative Mitchell Kaye from GA; this guy should run for President one day...

NEW PREAMBLE TO THE CONSTITUTION

"We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional. We hold these truths to be self-evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."

ARTICLE I: You do not have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth.
More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do not have the right to never be offended.
This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm.
If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing.
Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes.

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care.
That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people.
If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others.
If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job.
All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. (AMEN!)
(Added by MChannon: If you get financing for your education, you will repay the loans yourself- you’re the one that got the loans and the education.)

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness.
Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an overabundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country.
We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from! (Lastly.....)

ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage.
This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!”

If you agree, share this with a friend. No, you don't have to, and nothing tragic will befall you if you don't. I just think it's about time common sense is allowed to flourish. Sensible people of the United States speak out because if you do not, who will?

To Torture or Not ...Part 2 (cont'd)

I again was shocked after several of my fellow classmates also stated that they would willfully, with or without regret, torture an innocent seven year old girl to possibly save millions. I might stop now to explain that I received the maximum amount of points for both my original post and my replies to fellow students.
The follow are two of my replies in regard to their decision to torture (I have changed their names):

Dear Margaret,

While I do respect your opinion, I continue to assert that the preservation of greater good (the lives of many for the sake of one) is a product of humanistic thinking that is rooted in "the ends justifies the means." This type of thinking is not built upon Biblical principles rather it is the result of our human nature. This is an age old philosophy debate between utilitarian (what is best for the greater number) or deontological (moral principles prevail) philosophers. However, as an individual with a Christian worldview, there is no way that I can make a moral decision based on the thoughts of men, I must take into account what God's Word has to say about it.

In addition, what is the greater good to one man may not be the greater good to other men. Who defines what is the greater good? Who in society sets this moral code of conduct? What price do we place on the value of human life? If the value of one human life is important, then is it only important when the number of people is large enough? What then is the value of a human when the number is reduced, is a person worth less?

There are precedents that have proven this way of thinking is wrong. History is full of examples of people who believed they were serving the greater good, and some of these believed it with strong moral conviction. A primary example is Adolph Hitler. He truly convinced himself that he had a moral obligation for the greater good to rid the world of the Jewish Nation. The early Roman Catholic Church felt it had a moral obligation to persecute and kill the small number of Christians present at that time in order to save mankind (the greater good) from what it believed as blaspheme.

For me, the final outcome of my moral decision boiled down to this… This moral dilemma is not so much based upon whether I could actually kill someone as much as would such an action be socially acceptable if I did. I would rather do what I believe is acceptable before God rather than to do what men perceive as acceptable.

Again, this has been a great discussion and I appreciate your thoughtful insight. May God bless your home, your health, and your studies.

Dear Frank,

I noticed that you concluded that the young girl would not die from being tortured because the scenario did not state this. However, it did not state that she would live either. How much torture is too much for a seven year little girl? How long would you have to torture her to see if her father would break. I contend that she would die? After all, her father is the leader of the terrorist cell and with such a sinister nature it seems evident that he places little value on human life.

Your decision included how you believed all fathers would react if it were their daughter. However, I do not believe it can be argued here that this father is like all other fathers who would feel compassion for the suffering of his little girl. In addition, he should not be compared to all other men for the most obvious reason; most other men are not intent on the mass destruction of human lives. I conclude that perhaps he would feel bad for his daughter, but he would not relent. In many terrorist religions and/or radical beliefs, it is honorable to die or have one of your family members die for what is believed to be the greater good- for the cause.

I do though agree that there is no easy answer to this or most situational ethics questions. Howbeit, at the same time, I believe there resides a deeper moral issue here. That is, should an innocent person be tortured so that other innocent people are allowed to live. This is not a simple matter of numbers but it addresses the of value of all human life. How valuable is one life in the eyes of God?

In closing, you stated that though the act of torturing her would haunt you for the rest of your life, you would torture her nevertheless. I believe the reason you know you would be haunted by such an act is the same reason I believe it is morally wrong- because a seven year old girl is an innocent victim. Myself, I would not want her life whether by torture or death to be required at my hands.

To all who read this blog...
One last thought on this subject of greater good (the ends justifies the means.) When faced with any moral dilemma, before you act, ask yourself..."Just what would Jesus do?"
-

To the Lady Screaming Over the Radio...

To the Lady screaming over the radio in an attempt to persuade Houstonians to join the out-of-touch folks at Occupy Houston:

I don't care how many people agree with your opinion- numbers don't make you right. I don't care how loud you can scream- screaming loudly doesn't mean I should believe you. I don't care how much you think you know- it doesn't mean you know what you're talking about. In fact, the more ill opinionated you are as you scream at the top of your lungs regarding things you are obviously wrong about-- the more likely I am to ignore what you are saying as I group you in with the mentally hapless wondering the streets. And stop saying you are speaking for all Americans--- you are NOT speaking for me!

I do not want to financially support anyone other than my own family-unless you are old or helpless- and that includes all those abusing the bloated system we have now- I have no desire to live in a socialist republic. I am not asking for a free educational ride, just a reasonably priced one- again, I have no desire to live in a socialist republic. I do not believe because you become successful that you should be punished, taxed ruthlessly, or pay more than your share. I do believe we should do away with most tax loopholes but still offer corporate incentives or we can kiss many major U.S. corporations goodbye. And while I'm on taxes, I believe all the lazy slobs, from the lower class to upper class, who are cheating and lying their way out of paying any taxes ought to pay up or shut up. I work hard for what I earn and I pay my taxes. What I am tired of are those parasites who feast on the hard working classes, expecting more and more while being determined to continue doing nothing at all. I am not asking for free health care coverage and I am tired of paying for the free coverage of others when my own son, a minor, gets zilch. I like social security retirement, disability for the truly disabled, and veterans assistance programs. So stop saying you are speaking for me, because you are not.

If our U.S. economy crashed what would happen among the socioeconomic classes? The wealthy would make a way through it, the middle class and the even harder working lower middle class would make it through it, the lower class who work hard and long hours doing work no one else wants to do--they would make it too. But those that live off the backs of others...do you know what they would do? They would rob, maim, steal, destroy and do whatever they had to to get what they "believe" was theirs. Why? Because that is all they have ever done and this generation now believes it is owed to them. Work is a strange word to them. Its sound is foreign to their ears and even more foreign to their minds.

So please stop saying you speak for ALL Americans when it is clear you do not. You are speaking for those who believe America is a place to cash-in, lay around, collect all you can, and contribute nothing. Go to Greece and find out exactly how that type of society ends up!

I still advocate that we return to the rule "If you are able bodied and you don't work, you don't eat."

Nuff said.

To Torture or Not to Torture

This past weekend I posted a situational ethics question to my friends and family here on FB. The question had been assigned by my Philosophy professor (see my wall for the details- it involved torturing a seven year old girl to save millions.) I want to thank all of you who responded on FB, those that called me (lol) as well as those that I called or hunted down for additional insight. I just submitted my short response paper and felt since you so graciously gave- so should I. Here is my paper:

I believe the appropriate moral response to this situation would not include torturing the seven year old girl. I do not believe the shedding of innocent blood serves any greater good; not by God's standard anyway. Moses, in Deuteronomy 27:25, charged the people saying that the shedding of innocent blood (of people) was a curse.

I actually read this discussion board requirement last week and this situational ethics question really got me thinking. I asked my self one question, “What is the greater good- not by man’s understanding or reasoning, but by God’s?”

I posed this scenario to many of my friends, both Christian and non-Christian. I was truly surprised at the number of people, including some of my Christian friends, who said they could torture the child. The sentiment seemed to be the sacrifice of one life for the lives of many would be similar to what Jesus had done.  However, that did not set well with me because it seemed they had their thinking backwards. Jesus died for the sins of the entire world not for one man’s sin. To me, this seemed to be a human nature idea of justification. Should this one innocent child be a sacrificial lamb? Was she not as innocent as those in the city?

Then, compelled to find deeper spiritual insight, I spoke with several ministerial friends. The consensus here was a bit mixed and each side presented scripture that supported their opinion. This caused me to languish as I wrestled with what my moral response would be.  I kept wondering what would Jesus do?

I tried to think about all the people living in the major metropolitan city who would never realize the danger they were in; people, family members, and/or friends I might know myself in potential danger of being disintegrated. Next, I put myself in the interrogator’s position. I couldn’t help it; I was continually reminded that this is a seven year old girl, not an adult, not a convicted criminal, and not her father. From all understood regards, she is innocent- as innocent as the millions who will perish if she is not tortured. If the father was willing to be tortured and see millions of innocent people die, would he really be moved that his daughter might suffer? I reasoned he probably would not. Should she pay for her father's sin? Should I, a student of the Word of God and partaker of its truths, become like the terrorist and willfully engage in shedding innocent blood?  I thought of every Bible story and parable and looked up scripture after scripture to find a moral compass to direct my heart toward the best moral answer. At last, I have humbly prayed and asked God; I found my answer.

You see, I could never do it. I could never torture the child even if it meant the deaths of millions of people because her innocent blood would be required on my hands on that final Day of Judgment and the innocent blood of the millions in the city would be required on the hands of the terrorist. I was reminded by a wonderful youth pastor that God is the defender of the defenseless. In this case, not only are the millions of people in the city defenseless, but also the little girl. Would I be willing to work against God? My final answer was “No I would not.”