Thursday, September 28, 2017

Cemetery Horror

What happened with the grieving family in the link below must have been horrifying and entirely plausible based on a couple of my real-life experiences.

A. My Grandma in Northern California was buried atop my Grandpa who had died a few years before she did. Was it a cost-cutting measure or a lack of space?  Anyhoo, you can be sure I peeked for any sign of him before her casket was lowered.

B. There was minimal space between plots at the two  Overcrowded Cemeteries we visited within Paris, France.

C. Here are pictures from my sister-in-laws recent burial in Illinois. You can see the outline of her husband's vault right next to hers. We joked that he'd be reaching over and knocking to check on her before long.




Is cemetery space becoming more and more of a premium -- akin to the overcrowding problems of China and India??

Link:
--> An Extremely Disturbing Picture

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Dogs of Summer 4: Our DACA Dog

Two, cute, 4-legged furry foreigners:   
Café
lives in a lovely home (converted from a barn) located in a small town about 4 hrs from Paris.  He is owned by our daughter's good friend, Jeremy, whom she visited in July.
HONEY was purchased as a puppy (cheap!) in Mexico by people from Indiana and crossed the border into our country with them during the very early days of Spring, 2017. We jokingly refer to her as our DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) dog, hahaha ... j/k...

She eventually trotted into our lives at the end of May. Till we got her, we had no idea how relatively easy it is for a Dog, 4 months and older, to cross the border into the USA from Mexico.  A possible side-benefit of NAFTA, perhaps?

Also, how many other designer and/or pure-bred dogs sold in the USA are from inexpensive Mexico-based breeders?  Dig deeper into your purchase of a cute Pooch and you might be in for a surprise.

sweet Honey

Parisian pup





link:
Bringing a Dog Into the United States


 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast:
 but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.
Proverbs 12:10




17.8.28.18

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Rainbow Reclaimed!

LGBT Activists Mock Christian Ministry's Decision to Reclaim Rainbow - by T Starnes

The man behind the world-famous Ark Encounter has decided to reclaim "God's rainbow" - announcing the massive ark exhibit will be permanently bathed in rainbow lights.


pc: Ark Encounter


"We now have new permanent rainbow lights at the  Ark Encounter so all can see that it is God's rainbow and He determines its meaning in Genesis 6," Answers in Genesis founder Ken Ham announced on Facebook. 

"The rainbow is a reminder God will never again judge the wickedness of man with a global Flood—next time the world will be judged by fire," he said.  

The 500-foot-long ark is the centerpiece of the biblical theme park based in Williamstown, Kentucky. Hundreds of thousands of visitors have toured the replica of Noah's Ark.

"The Ark is lit permanently at night with a rainbow to remind the world that God owns it and He decreed it's a sign of His covenant with man after the Flood—Christians need to take back the rainbow as we do at the Ark Encounter," Ham said. 
Critics denounced the decision -- accusing him of stealing the rainbow colors from the LGBT community. 

"This is Ken Ham's sad attempt to take back the rainbow symbol from the LGBTQ community," read a headline in the Orlando Weekly. 

"It makes the ark look incredibly gay," Kentucky Fairness Campaign's Chris Hartman told USA Today. 

In 2016 Ham urged Christians to reclaim the rainbow and teach young people its true meaning. 
"The rainbow itself wasn't designed to be a symbol of freedom, love, pride or the LGBTQ movement. God created this beautiful, colorful phenomenon and designated it as a sign of His covenant with Noah and his descendants forever."
"Sadly, people ignore what God intended the rainbow to represent and proudly wave rainbow-colored flags in defiance of God’s command and design for marriage. Because of this, many Christians shy away from using the rainbow colors. But the rainbow was a symbol of God’s promises before the LGBTQ movement—and will continue to be after that movement has ended. As Christians, we need to take the rainbow back and teach our young people its true meaning."



Todd Starnes article HERE


Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Wheaton College Football: the Good, Bad, and Ugly

Oh, boy. Got this email from Wheaton College, IL .... Dear Campus Community,
Today, we learned that law enforcement will bring charges against five current Wheaton students arising out of an incident that took place in 2016 amongst members of the football team. The conduct we discovered as a result of our investigation into this incident was entirely unacceptable. The College has fully cooperated with law enforcement in their investigation. To not impede the law enforcement investigation, the College was bound by confidentiality and unable to share information until now.

Wheaton aspires to provide an educational environment that is not only free of hazing of any kind but practices our values as a Christian community, as outlined in our Community Covenant. When this incident was brought to our attention by members of the football team and coaching staff in March 2016, the College took swift action to initiate a thorough investigation, including engaging an independent external investigator to conduct a timely and impartial third–party investigation into the incident.

Our investigation into the incident resulted in a range of corrective actions. We are unable to share details on these disciplinary measures due to federal student privacy protections.

We are profoundly saddened that any member of our community could be mistreated in any way, and this incident has strengthened our focus on comprehensively addressing hazing at Wheaton. Our Board of Trustees has engaged outside experts to lead a campus–wide review of the level of effectiveness of our anti–hazing policy and of the culture around how students treat one another in our campus communities, athletic teams, and organizations. 

We aspire to honor Jesus Christ in our relationships with one another and we are grieved anytime the actions of any member of our community fall short of this aspiration. Each member of the College community who acts in a covenant bond with others should consciously strive to maintain relationships that support, encourage, and help others.

I strongly encourage faculty, staff, and students to utilize our anonymous hazing reporting tool at www.wheaton.edu/ethicscomplaints.

Philip Ryken
President
On behalf of the Senior Administrative Cabinet

... in response to this incident in the Spring of 2016:

link--> Felony Charges Against 5 Wheaton College Students

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Wheaton College: Dad of Ethan Roser Asks for a Million More Ethans

Mark Roser's son,  Ethan, was killed in a sport-related accident at our son's college in the Spring of 2017. A fine, upstanding, Christ-loving young man --- gone in an instant. I wept then.  I weep now. Yet ...




Link
Student Killed in Track & Field Accident


Link
Family & Wheaton College Lean on Jesus

These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Revelation 14:4-5

Monday, September 11, 2017

Warts and All

I had one common wart located on my left little finger which I showed to my Dermatologist. Common Warts are hardy and are caused by the HPV virus (ewww, sounds gross!). Since its location is on the outermost layer of skin,  Doc said my immune system is as concerned with it as much as I would be concerned for the far-away state of Alaska (I am in the Midwest, USA). That is why, if left untreated and on its own, the wart may take my immune system over a year to zap.


No thanks; I wanted quick action, so he recommended the over-the-counter Compound W Fast Acting Liquid: a bottled concentration of Salicylic Acid (17% -- at this strength, it is never to be applied to the face). I was to apply it once at night on my little finger (it stung!) and cover the wart with a strip of duct tape while I slept. Personally, I chose not to apply it every night; more like every 3rd or 4th night. I stopped after a couple of weeks. Doc says it's when skin lines are seen on the spot once again that the wart can be considered succesfully treated.




Salicylic Acid can burn-off that outer layer of skin!




How did I catch this since warts are contagious? Who knows.  My son had several warts on his dry chapped hands. And he probably got it from touching the public pianos he'd practice on while in college.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

George Washington Carver: Peanut Day 2017

No one knows the date of George Washington Carver's birth, so let me celebrate this great man on National Peanut Day which is coming up on Wednesday, September 13, 2017 

Random thoughts for the day:
1) One of my favorite heroes is George Washington Carver. He became one of my heroes not because of his accomplishments (which were many) but because of the way God worked in his life.
2) By God's wonderful Grace he overcame lots of things in life. To start with, he was born a slave from a family of twelve. Carver had 10 sisters and a brother, all of whom died prematurely. He was the only one that lived an abundant life.
3) Three years ago, I was reading some things about him and it was said that he once asked God to reveal to him the secret of the Universe. By his testimony, he said that God told him that He can not do that for him, but told him that He will reveal to him the secret of the peanut. He went on to develop over 300 peanut products.
4) George Washington Carver believed he could have faith both in God and science and integrated them into his life. He testified on many occasions that his faith in Jesus was the only mechanism by which he could effectively pursue and perform the art of science. George Washington Carver became a Christian when he was still a young boy, as he wrote in connection with his conversion in 1931:
"I was just a mere boy when converted, hardly ten years old. There isn't much of a story to it. God just came into my heart one afternoon while I was alone in the 'loft' of our big barn while I was shelling corn to carry to the mill to be ground into meal.
A dear little white boy, one of our neighbors, about my age came by one Saturday morning, and in talking and playing he told me he was going to Sunday school tomorrow morning. I was eager to know what a Sunday school was. He said they sang hymns and prayed. I asked him what prayer was and what they said. I do not remember what he said; only remember that as soon as he left I climbed up into the 'loft,' knelt down by the barrel of corn and prayed as best I could. I do not remember what I said. I only recall that I felt so good that I prayed several times before I quit.
My brother and myself were the only colored children in that neighborhood and of course, we could not go to church or Sunday school, or school of any kind.
That was my simple conversion, and I have tried to keep the faith."
G. W. Carver; Letter to Isabelle Coleman; July 24, 1931

He was not expected to live past his twenty-first birthday due to failing health. He lived well past the age of twenty-one, and his belief deepened as a result. Throughout his career, he always found friendship with other Christians.
5) George had a simple faith that moved mountains. He never lost consciousness of his relationship with God, He was conscious that he is a child of the Most High God. I believe he is one of the few Christians who is able to enter into the "narrow way that leads to life".
6) The land of Israel was the promised land that was given to the Jews. For Christians, our promised land is resting in the completed work of Jesus the Messiah. Yet, sadly many have not and will not be able to enter into that rest. Why? Because they rely on their performance and their goodness to get them through. You do not enter into the gate because you are good, You enter the gate because God is good.
7) This is the reason I hate performance-based Christianity. It will rob you of your blessings and it will even kill you spiritually. There is only one gate that leads to the narrow way...It is "Grace" and it is a person....Jesus the Messiah.


-- Written by our friend, Willie P.  
05/30/2017

Friday, September 8, 2017

Hurricane Irma: Storing Drinking-Water


This is just a little PSA in case you too are having problems finding water. Buy you some gallon-size ziplock bags and freeze them standing up. It will not only help keep your freezer colder in case power outage, it also gives you good drinking water. It's also cheaper than a case of water at the moment. Please feel free to share it might help someone else out in need 
Link:
Storing Drinking-Water in an Emergency

Hurricane Irma: Helpful Hints from a Harvey Survivor


To my Florida friends and family...
Some things I learned about hurricane damage management.
Plastic bags 1/3 filled with water make  good substitutes for sandbags at doorways
Paint cans or 5-gallon buckets can support and elevate your furniture if you are going to get water in your house.
Wear clothes to bed nothing looks worse than seeing people on the news in water logged nightgowns and boxer shorts. Plus it is helpful slogging through the water at night.
If you get water up to your electrical outlets or you evacuate, trip the main breaker. A volunteer was electrocuted and died here walking in knee deep water due to power being on at a house he was going to check on.
Wear hard soled shoes and gloves if you wade in water
Use duct tape to seal your garage door to the floor to prevent water intrusion
Everyone should have an I.D., a whistle and a flashlight on them once the rain comes.
Have a queen or king sized white flat sheet to signal for help from boats and helicopters.
Map out a couple of escape paths, leave before these become flooded.

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Home School: Benefits

Scene from home school.  Youngest daughter working long and hard on assignments at her brightly-lit school desk:


I am happy that we live in a state that has these "benefits" for home schoolers:  (a) Tax Credits  (b) No requirement to submit standardized test scores.
No worries if our State were to require submission of scores. Most of our children are good at taking standardized tests. I acknowledge it as God-given ability. Each was with a sound mind, praise the Lord.  Also, the kid-friendly, informal, comfortable home school setting is conducive to promoting focus on tasks at hand: test, quiz, memorization, reading, Music practice, and so on. Day in and day out and for many hours,  their minds' muscles are occupied, challenged, "stretched" and "exercised".  Thus, brains become "strong" and intelligent. No risk of being dumbed-down as would likely happen in a crowded, noisy public school classroom.

The proof is in the pudding:  Our three older daughters have outscored their so called smarter, public-schooled cousins in standardized tests. Hoooorah! Thank You, Lord Jesus.

link Homeschool: Measuring Up

In other news ...
Mom's Education and Kid's Health

Monday, September 4, 2017

While I Was Driving, 9: Names on License Plates

The kids have been back at their ol' school routine for a couple of weeks.  What better opportunity to see interesting license plates than while I drive them out and about.
What's Your Name?
Sylvia 

Just do it, Morticia!

Maribel -- I bet you're Filipino
What?? But, it's interesting!

This was sent to me
my abreviated name -- in Germany!

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Better Than Knocking Down Confederate Statues & Memorials

Please ... I repeat … PLEASE!
DO NOT USE the $1, $2, $10, $20, $50 or the $100 bills in your possession as they have pictures of former slave owners on them!
Send them all to me and I will dispose of them properly!!!
I repeat, do not just throw them away! They need to be disposed of properly and I am Certified to do so … thanks!!!!!!!!!




(via Liviu G 08.2017)

Friday, September 1, 2017

List of Leftist Groups Against the POTUS

I say keep a very wary eye on these far left of the far left 75 Leftist Groups  who are opposed to President Donald Trump. I ask those who name the Name of Christ (i.e. Christians) to pray for the POTUS, VP, Congressmen, Senators, SCOTUS ... and, yes, even to pray for these hate-motivated, demon-influenced Leftist Groups:

In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.