Tuesday, March 29, 2016

When Doctors Don't Know

And what this mother figured out. Long but interesting read.

A Journey to the Medical Netherworld

Sunday, March 27, 2016

About Jesus of Nazareth

17 He [Jesus] asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him,and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
-- from Luke 24 (NIV, from Bible Gateway)

Friday, March 25, 2016

What Happened in the Temple


"With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

The curtain of the temple of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."

from Mark 15

Monday, March 21, 2016

Eighty-Six Years Married in May

Relationship Advice from the oldest living couple on earth

http://yourblackworld.net/2012/02/24/oldest-living-couple-on-earth-gives-great-relationship-advice/

Saturday, March 19, 2016

Losing Well

Perhaps one defining thing about a man's character is how he handles it when he loses, or when he is told "no."

Marco Rubio's concession speech

One portion towards the end: 
"And so I am grateful to all of you that have worked so hard for me. I truly am. I am grateful to my family, to my wife, Jeanette, who has been phenomenal in this campaign. To my four kids who have been extraordinary in this campaign. And I want you to know that I will continue every single day to search for ways for me to repay some of this extraordinary debt that I owe this great country. And I want to leave with an expression of gratitude to God in whose hands all things lie. He has a plan for every one of our lives. Everything that comes from God is good. God is perfect. God makes no mistakes. And he has things planned for all of us. And we await eagerly to see what lies ahead. And so I leave tonight with one final prayer, and I use the words of King David because I remain grateful to God:
Yours O Lord is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth. Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and you exalt yourself as head overall. Both riches and honor come from you and you rule over all. And in your hand is power and might and it lies in your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone."

All Your Strength

An insightful discussion of the Shema and what it means to be Whole rather than fragmented, and to love God with all your strength. "Are You a Fragmented Person?"

When you think of loving God "with all your strength," do you consider "strength" to be merely physical or financial, or is it more than that? In what areas do you have influence, natural or acquired? How you wield your strength is an expression of your heart.

I just took my truck to the shop for a lube and a check up. They looked at the systems and reported on those which were compromised, so that I could have things repaired or improved, that my car might continue doing what it was meant to do: Drive.

In this article, the author (my brother, by the way!), refers to performing a spiritual "diagnostic" to determine Wholeness, a consistency between my heart, self, and actions.

Perhaps, for me, it might looks something like this:

1. What do I treasure in my heart -- really? How am I actually living and what does this tell me about what I treasure?

2. Do I set my mind on the things my heart treasures or ought to treasure? Do I actively develop habits that nurture healthy heart treasures?

3. Do I use my strength -- my influence -- in a stingy or squandering or careless way, or generously and prudently/advisedly, as a wise rich man would use his money?

What is the special treasure you have to give? How can you use it in a way that expresses what is in your heart?

I know a busy woman who has a knack for languages who tutors kids in the summer in hard-to-grasp languages. I know a man who is skilled in helping people making connections with each other, and he uses his time to personally connect people sharing worthy goals. I know a man who has a highly regarded reputation and title, and he gives his endorsement, but advisedly, knowing his word carries extra weight with people and must be trusted. I know two different happy couples with loving, healthy family lives who have opened their doors to a variety of needy teens, misfits, and oddballs in search of a warm example of family life and marriage. I know a lady who makes a particularly succulent pork chops and baked apple dish, and she brings it to everyone who has a baby.



Hard to Find

An audio recording of Flannery O'Connor herself reading "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" to an audience. Love the audience responses and the humor which can be missed in a careless reading of the text.

A Good Man Is Hard to Find

Disciples of the Nations

It's Not the White Man's Religion