To have a well functioning church under the best of circumstances is not an easy task and in this day and age of electronic communications and unbelieving public, is harder than ever. When I began attending my former church there were very few of us but there were already tensions. I went out of my way to make everyone feel welcomed and after the two warring parties left the church we became a loving church. The members came early and stayed late because we got along so well.
Of course there was the occasional oddball that popped in who thought the church should cater to their whims; like the lady who wanted the attendance board placed ion the wall although all 17 members were at ever service. Then there was a lady who wouldn't come because we took the old broken pews out and replaced them with comfortable chairs.
But even then, the preacher would say or do something to offend someone. One lady complained that the church was too cold so the preacher cut the air conditioning off completely and we all suffered as a result. The worse part was when he announced that he had done so to be accommodating to one member. Of course she knew it was her and neither her nor her husband ever came back.
Then there was the time the four ladies who were best friends started coming and they always seemed to be having a good time. The preacher started referring to them as the "fun girls" which some of them found offensive. Instead of doing the proper thing they did the convenient thing and just quit coming. Maybe if they had talked to the preacher many problems done the road could have been solved.
In spite of the preacher occasional lapses in judgement the church grew and we moved into a new building. The pastor had a charismatic personality and people were drawn to him likes moths to a light bulb but he also had an ego as big as Texas and a stubborn streak two miles wide. A neighbor got upset with the church and her and the pastor disagreed over the incident. She said she was going to hire someone to fix the problem and was sending the bill to him. He said he would go to jail before giving her one red penny. I know he would have.
I purchased the new building for the church after the preacher said he would sign a document acknowledging the church's debt to me but after I handed over the deed he refused to do so. One time he became upset and thought he had the right to close the church down and sell off the property.
It is his ego and not his short sightedness or stubborn streak that keeps the church from really growing.
One day a man decided to join the church. He brought along his wife and two grown children, his brother-in-law and his wife and their three children. From that day forward it was like we had two churches. The older more faithful members were cast aside in favor of this new group. One was made the youth pastor and the other a deacon. As time went on the preachers insensitive remarks offended people and his stubborn streak and ego made him refuse to admit his error. One family could do no wrong and the rest of us could do no right.
Many of the things I did around the church were taken away from me and my position as deacon was being disrespected and I began to feel like an outsider. After about three years I was finally forced out as Sunday School teacher and informed I was no longer a deacon.
I am not one to go to church and do nothing so I left and reunited with another church. There I am again teaching Sunday School, am the assistant treasurer, the church videographer, and take care of the outside message board. We have a loving church, are growing, have meek pastor who welcomes input from the members.
Meanwhile my former church just had a big split caused by the pastors insensitivity. His granddaughter and her fiancé just started attending the church. The couple are living together yet said God called him to preach and the pastor allows him that privilege. His former can do no wrong youth pastor has left the church along with a group of other members (not together but about the same time).
One lady that had been a long time member left also but she has decided not to attend church anywhere. She made the statement "All churches are the same." What is sad is her brother got his feeling hurt in church and at her request we visited him numerous times to no avail and now she has the same attitude he does.
No, not all churches are the same. All church members are human and all pastors are human and people make mistakes and sometimes people make things, even church, about themselves instead of about God. I go to church to worship my savior and my God and I look for opportunities to spread the gospel to others. I don't look at the faults of others. The only reason I left the other church is because it became about the preacher and not about Jesus and if I talk to someone about Jesus but don't feel comfortable inviting a new Christian to the church I am attending then it is time to change churches.
Never, ever, have I ever considered not attending church. No one could ever offend me enough to turn my back on my Lord and savior. He died for me and I am going to live for him.
Friday, June 29, 2018
Miising spouse
Just received my new disability rating for my service connected disabilities but I'm listed as single when I am indeed married. A website is provided to correct this but it doesn't work so I went to the VA center in Asheboro but had to make an appointment for two weeks out.
It really shouldn't be this hard.
It really shouldn't be this hard.
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Wednesday, June 20, 2018
Spiders and secirity cameras
My house is surrounded by security cameras and one camera in particular is loved by spiders. The camera shows my two cars parked under the carport, the driveway and the mailbox. This is an important area. I once has someone back over my mailbox and some one else pushed by neighbors ATM down into the creek bed that runs beside the drive. This camera, had I had it in place, would have captured these incidences.
For years spiders have been building webs around this camera but the spider in residence this year has out done all of the predecessors. The web now is directly over the lens inside the lens cover and effectively blocks the view. I sprayed poison yesterday and cleaned the lens with a broom but to now avail. I will make another attempt to encourage the spider to move on later today.
For years spiders have been building webs around this camera but the spider in residence this year has out done all of the predecessors. The web now is directly over the lens inside the lens cover and effectively blocks the view. I sprayed poison yesterday and cleaned the lens with a broom but to now avail. I will make another attempt to encourage the spider to move on later today.
Fishing at City Lake
Randleman Lake is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays so I usually go to City Lake on Tuesdays. When Mom was alive I seldom got to go fishing because her hair dresser didn't work on Tuesdays either so I took her on Thursday. Mom passed away the end of October 2017 so now I can go fishing more often. I still prefer Tuesdays but Randleman Lake is still closed then so I still have to go elsewhere.
The church is having a fellowship fishing trip this Saturday, the 23rd, and I wanted to try out some new bait. The catfish bait stayed on the hook but drew no interest from the fish. Plastic worms were ignored, and only the small fry were interested in night crawlers. But the crap/catfish bait (strawberry flavored) drew a lot of interest from the fish.
I brought my saltwater pole with me this time and rigged up a large hook with this bait and my first hit was a big one, perhaps the largest fish I had ever hooked. but it will forever have to remain in the category of "the big one that got away" since my line snapped. I supposed the filament was old since it has many in the reel for many a year.
The church is having a fellowship fishing trip this Saturday, the 23rd, and I wanted to try out some new bait. The catfish bait stayed on the hook but drew no interest from the fish. Plastic worms were ignored, and only the small fry were interested in night crawlers. But the crap/catfish bait (strawberry flavored) drew a lot of interest from the fish.
I brought my saltwater pole with me this time and rigged up a large hook with this bait and my first hit was a big one, perhaps the largest fish I had ever hooked. but it will forever have to remain in the category of "the big one that got away" since my line snapped. I supposed the filament was old since it has many in the reel for many a year.
MRI cancelled
My cancer doctor is new and when he wrote the order for me to receive an MRI so he can more accurately know exactly where my cancer is he inadvertently left a phrase out of the order and the Imaging department kicked my appointment time out.
My wife has been working hard to get me another appointment and despite the repeated run arounds she finally succeeded only to discover I'm supposed to be in two different cities at almost the same time so she had to reschedule my MRI and succeeded in getting one two days earlier. She said she deserves a raise. (I call her my secretary since she does much of my phone calling for me due to my hearing impairment).
My wife also got my next appointment with my cancer doctor set up so I'm good to go for now.
My wife has been working hard to get me another appointment and despite the repeated run arounds she finally succeeded only to discover I'm supposed to be in two different cities at almost the same time so she had to reschedule my MRI and succeeded in getting one two days earlier. She said she deserves a raise. (I call her my secretary since she does much of my phone calling for me due to my hearing impairment).
My wife also got my next appointment with my cancer doctor set up so I'm good to go for now.
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Garden Pictures
Tiger lilies
Lamb's ear in bloom
Duplicate
strange flower from the NC Zoo
Husky Cherry Tomato
Jalapeno peppers
Butterfly Garden
Roma tomatoes
Celebrity
Hibiscus Tree
Lemon Boys
Catawba Pink grapes
Blackberries
Hostas
?
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
tyreatment more complicated than I thought
Prostate cancers treatment is more complicated than I thought it would be. First of all, there are too many choices, or options , if you will. After the initial counseling session during which a doctor lays out your treatment options and answers questions. Next I will need an MRI. Not every patient receives an MRI. In early stage MRI are not given. In fact doctors may do nothing but watch for years before a choice has to be made. also, if a patients life expectancy is less than 10 years chances are there will be no treatment.
In my case, the MRI will determine exactly where the cancer is in my body and if it has spread. Based on the results, I will make my final choice of treatment options. Then I will begin a series of hormone shots to help reduce the size of the prostrate thereby making the radiations treatment more effective if my preference for treatment is used.
In any case this procedure is going to take awhile, is going to bring about so undesired changes, at least for awhile, and will require many treatments. It could involve up to a years worth of shots and then 40 radiation treatments and tests every three months.
If the cancer has not spread outside of the prostate I have a chance. If it has then my odds are greatly reduced.
When I was young I always thought that healthy habits were only for older folks and that I had plenty of time to live healthier once I got older. I have learned that eating and living healthy lifestyles begins when one is young. We are all going to die but what we do throughout our lives has a big impact on how well we function when we get older and what we suffer from. I know a few people in their nineties that do better physically than many people in their sixties and seventies.
There are some decisions we think we can make later: exercising, healthy diets and living for Christ. Often times by the time we really need to exercise our knees are bad, our back hurts or we are just too fat to do much of anything. I have seen many people with diabetes eating stacks of deserts are buffets and who are way overweight. Don't complain that your diabetes is out of control while stuffing your face.
Putting off making that positive decision for Christ is one of the worst things we can do. None of knows how or when we will die. I know of some that thought they would put off living for Christ until they got old but when that time came they had dementia and could no longer make any kind of decision. 50,000 people and more die in automobile accidents each year. For those that had not accepted Christ, it is now too late. That thought they had many more years to live, much more time before they had to accept Christ. Just like avoiding heart disease, diabetes, and some forms of cancer, the process begins when we are young. Waiting too long can be deadly.
In my case, the MRI will determine exactly where the cancer is in my body and if it has spread. Based on the results, I will make my final choice of treatment options. Then I will begin a series of hormone shots to help reduce the size of the prostrate thereby making the radiations treatment more effective if my preference for treatment is used.
In any case this procedure is going to take awhile, is going to bring about so undesired changes, at least for awhile, and will require many treatments. It could involve up to a years worth of shots and then 40 radiation treatments and tests every three months.
If the cancer has not spread outside of the prostate I have a chance. If it has then my odds are greatly reduced.
When I was young I always thought that healthy habits were only for older folks and that I had plenty of time to live healthier once I got older. I have learned that eating and living healthy lifestyles begins when one is young. We are all going to die but what we do throughout our lives has a big impact on how well we function when we get older and what we suffer from. I know a few people in their nineties that do better physically than many people in their sixties and seventies.
There are some decisions we think we can make later: exercising, healthy diets and living for Christ. Often times by the time we really need to exercise our knees are bad, our back hurts or we are just too fat to do much of anything. I have seen many people with diabetes eating stacks of deserts are buffets and who are way overweight. Don't complain that your diabetes is out of control while stuffing your face.
Putting off making that positive decision for Christ is one of the worst things we can do. None of knows how or when we will die. I know of some that thought they would put off living for Christ until they got old but when that time came they had dementia and could no longer make any kind of decision. 50,000 people and more die in automobile accidents each year. For those that had not accepted Christ, it is now too late. That thought they had many more years to live, much more time before they had to accept Christ. Just like avoiding heart disease, diabetes, and some forms of cancer, the process begins when we are young. Waiting too long can be deadly.
Saturday, June 09, 2018
Brick and mortar versus on-line
For the most part, brick and mortar stores can no longer compete against online retailers. In order to shop traditional retailers, one has to get dressed (some just wear their bed clothes but most people do put on clothes) drive to a store, look around and if one doesn't find what they are looking for, then on to the next store, or the next town in many cases. Often it is a return trip home empty handed because one could not find what one was looking for, found the price to high, or the quality lacking. Or one can sit at their computer, search for an item, compare prices among different competitors, place an order, and wait a day or two (at most three in most cases) and the item will be delivered to ones doorstep.
There are notably exceptions: when an item in known to be in stock locally at a good price, when one is unsure how an item looks, feels, or fits, when an item is needed now, when an item is perishable (and this is changing) , and as an excuse to get out of the house.
Shopping by not going to stores is not a new concept. Sears and Roebuck built a big business through catalogue sales. JC Penny did also. Big retailers often make fatal mistakes. WT Grant
closed down after their credit card fiasco. Montgomery Wards was well on their way out by the time I reached adulthood (I can't remember why). K-mart and Sears were both hurt by poor customer service. Roses was did in by not having adequate in stock conditions, especially of sale items.
I don't like Walmart. They have come to small town America and changed the face and character of the towns that they locate in. I'm leery of buying certain items there because they are only sold at Walmart. Often the items are good items are a good price but if something (or rather when) goes wrong, no one has the parts to fix the item. If it's broke it is no bargain.
Sears should have been the one to jump into online sale with both feet but they were too busy figuring out how to make their customers shopping experience a big hassle. No, retailers have waited on Amazon.com to get too large to be able to compete with them. Customers still need to be careful though. I love Amazon but not everything is a bargain. I recently ordered an item that locally sold for $110.00 and Amazon wanted $69.99 for for only $29.99. It was the exact same item, same mfg.. It was not one of those to good to be true buys.
No one can be the cheapest on everything. Not Walmart and not Amazon. And yes, there are people who will figure out how to rip you off. A company has to learn how to deal with them without making life harder for all the honest folks. I'm rather tired of the minority dictating to the most of us how we live and shop and think and feel.
If many of our traditional stores are to survive, they need to adapt their way of doing business.
For example, I'm in need of a new mower. Their is a dealer I pass often and I looked on line to see their selection and prices but they only show their bigger mowers. I know they sell lawn tractors
as well as zero turn but the lawn tractors are not featured on their website. How convenient for me if I could survey their entire selection , be able to compare quality and price, order the product and arrange delivery without actually driving to the store, writing down the model numbers and prices, then coming back home, doing the research, then driving back to the store to make my purchase. it would be doubly frustrating if I returned to the store and my selection was no longer available.
Companies, big and small, have to learn that in order to survive, they have to learn to do business the customers way and quit trying to force the customer to do business their way.
There are notably exceptions: when an item in known to be in stock locally at a good price, when one is unsure how an item looks, feels, or fits, when an item is needed now, when an item is perishable (and this is changing) , and as an excuse to get out of the house.
Shopping by not going to stores is not a new concept. Sears and Roebuck built a big business through catalogue sales. JC Penny did also. Big retailers often make fatal mistakes. WT Grant
closed down after their credit card fiasco. Montgomery Wards was well on their way out by the time I reached adulthood (I can't remember why). K-mart and Sears were both hurt by poor customer service. Roses was did in by not having adequate in stock conditions, especially of sale items.
I don't like Walmart. They have come to small town America and changed the face and character of the towns that they locate in. I'm leery of buying certain items there because they are only sold at Walmart. Often the items are good items are a good price but if something (or rather when) goes wrong, no one has the parts to fix the item. If it's broke it is no bargain.
Sears should have been the one to jump into online sale with both feet but they were too busy figuring out how to make their customers shopping experience a big hassle. No, retailers have waited on Amazon.com to get too large to be able to compete with them. Customers still need to be careful though. I love Amazon but not everything is a bargain. I recently ordered an item that locally sold for $110.00 and Amazon wanted $69.99 for for only $29.99. It was the exact same item, same mfg.. It was not one of those to good to be true buys.
No one can be the cheapest on everything. Not Walmart and not Amazon. And yes, there are people who will figure out how to rip you off. A company has to learn how to deal with them without making life harder for all the honest folks. I'm rather tired of the minority dictating to the most of us how we live and shop and think and feel.
If many of our traditional stores are to survive, they need to adapt their way of doing business.
For example, I'm in need of a new mower. Their is a dealer I pass often and I looked on line to see their selection and prices but they only show their bigger mowers. I know they sell lawn tractors
as well as zero turn but the lawn tractors are not featured on their website. How convenient for me if I could survey their entire selection , be able to compare quality and price, order the product and arrange delivery without actually driving to the store, writing down the model numbers and prices, then coming back home, doing the research, then driving back to the store to make my purchase. it would be doubly frustrating if I returned to the store and my selection was no longer available.
Companies, big and small, have to learn that in order to survive, they have to learn to do business the customers way and quit trying to force the customer to do business their way.
Thursday, June 07, 2018
Agent Orange
For those Veterans who served boots on the ground in Vietnam, you are fully aware of Agent Orange. For those of you who do not know what Agent Orange is, or was, just be glad you didn't have to deal with it. Agent Orange was a chemical compound used to defoliate the forest and fields in Vietnam. Jungles were thick which made fighting difficult and gave the enemy many places to hide.
But Agent Orange did more than defoliate Vietnam: It affected the troops there and caused health problems and continues to do so. I had one and now I have been diagnosed with another. My civilian doctor discovered the potential problem and referred me to a specialist who confirmed my doctors suspicions. When setting up a treatment schedule I informed them that I may prefer to be seen by the VA (mainly for financial reasons).. I asked for an estimate of my out of pocket expenses if they did the procedure.
When I hadn't heard in a week I called and they had not done the analysis yet because the doctor forget to ask for one. Then I was told they couldn't give me one because the VA had not sent an authorization yet. I don't think the woman understood I was trying to make a decision as to whom was going to treat m: them because of convenience or the VA based on cost. An authorization means that the private sector provider does the work at VA expense.
I then sent an e-mail to the civilian provider explaining the situation. I think they understand now. I just wanted a simple answer to a simple question.
I will have to make 40 trips to the hospital in 8 weeks regardless of who treats me. I can go to Randolph County Hospital 10 minutes from the house or make the trip to Winston-Salem every day.
The trip to W-S will only cost me car expenses and time. To be treated at Randolph County Hospital will cost me some cash. I just need to know if the amount is small enough to offset free care and the drive to W-S on a daily bases.
In the mean time, I'm not getting any healthier, except for the AMD in my right eye. The blood buildup is now gone.
But Agent Orange did more than defoliate Vietnam: It affected the troops there and caused health problems and continues to do so. I had one and now I have been diagnosed with another. My civilian doctor discovered the potential problem and referred me to a specialist who confirmed my doctors suspicions. When setting up a treatment schedule I informed them that I may prefer to be seen by the VA (mainly for financial reasons).. I asked for an estimate of my out of pocket expenses if they did the procedure.
When I hadn't heard in a week I called and they had not done the analysis yet because the doctor forget to ask for one. Then I was told they couldn't give me one because the VA had not sent an authorization yet. I don't think the woman understood I was trying to make a decision as to whom was going to treat m: them because of convenience or the VA based on cost. An authorization means that the private sector provider does the work at VA expense.
I then sent an e-mail to the civilian provider explaining the situation. I think they understand now. I just wanted a simple answer to a simple question.
I will have to make 40 trips to the hospital in 8 weeks regardless of who treats me. I can go to Randolph County Hospital 10 minutes from the house or make the trip to Winston-Salem every day.
The trip to W-S will only cost me car expenses and time. To be treated at Randolph County Hospital will cost me some cash. I just need to know if the amount is small enough to offset free care and the drive to W-S on a daily bases.
In the mean time, I'm not getting any healthier, except for the AMD in my right eye. The blood buildup is now gone.
Sunday, June 03, 2018
managing diabetes
Diabetes seems to be a common ailment and so many of us struggle to control this disease. It isn't a disease on gets by being fat but being overweight does increase ones risk of getting and treating this disease. The worse part of the disease is the "spikes" in blood sugar levels after eating.
A person's A1c should be 5.0 or less (that is an average of ones glucose level over a 90 period. The daily glucose reading should remain between 90 to 110. Ones blood sugar should be in the high 70's to low 80's just before a meal and should not rise above 160 during the two hours after eating.
If ones blood sugar is to low or to high one can go into a coma and their life can be endangered.
There are several things one can do.
1. Exercise every day.
2. Monitor your blood sugar levels and adjust your medication as necessary
3. Follow a proper diet.
Exercising is not for weight loss per se but to build your muscles thereby stimulating your immune system.
Without knowing ones current condition it is impossible to handle the situation. When ones blood sugar drops a person gets shaky and hungry. When ones blood sugar gets too high, one can feel tired, light headed and hungry. Sometimes it is difficult to know whether ones hunger is due to high or low blood sugar. One certainly does not want to eat when the blood sugar is high.
Following a proper diet can help control fluctuations in glucose levels. Eating at the same time each day, avoiding starch foods, not adding salt or butter, and eating proper portion sizes and portion numbers.
Work with your doctor to get the proper medication and use it like it is supposed to be used.
My A1c had been averaging between 8.8 and 9.6, way to high for anyone and I seemed to be gaining weight every month. I finally decided to take control and follow the same advise I just gave you. For the past month my average glucose reading in the morning before breakfast has been in the eighties. My spikes after eating has been to 125 except for once when it reached 172. ( I know what I did that day I should not have done).
By proper eating my weight has come down and so far I have lost 20 pounds.
My exercise program consists of doing water aerobics for an hour and a half M-W-F and walking at a brisk pace for 30 minutes T-T-S.
It isn't easy but the results makes it worth while.
A person's A1c should be 5.0 or less (that is an average of ones glucose level over a 90 period. The daily glucose reading should remain between 90 to 110. Ones blood sugar should be in the high 70's to low 80's just before a meal and should not rise above 160 during the two hours after eating.
If ones blood sugar is to low or to high one can go into a coma and their life can be endangered.
There are several things one can do.
1. Exercise every day.
2. Monitor your blood sugar levels and adjust your medication as necessary
3. Follow a proper diet.
Exercising is not for weight loss per se but to build your muscles thereby stimulating your immune system.
Without knowing ones current condition it is impossible to handle the situation. When ones blood sugar drops a person gets shaky and hungry. When ones blood sugar gets too high, one can feel tired, light headed and hungry. Sometimes it is difficult to know whether ones hunger is due to high or low blood sugar. One certainly does not want to eat when the blood sugar is high.
Following a proper diet can help control fluctuations in glucose levels. Eating at the same time each day, avoiding starch foods, not adding salt or butter, and eating proper portion sizes and portion numbers.
Work with your doctor to get the proper medication and use it like it is supposed to be used.
My A1c had been averaging between 8.8 and 9.6, way to high for anyone and I seemed to be gaining weight every month. I finally decided to take control and follow the same advise I just gave you. For the past month my average glucose reading in the morning before breakfast has been in the eighties. My spikes after eating has been to 125 except for once when it reached 172. ( I know what I did that day I should not have done).
By proper eating my weight has come down and so far I have lost 20 pounds.
My exercise program consists of doing water aerobics for an hour and a half M-W-F and walking at a brisk pace for 30 minutes T-T-S.
It isn't easy but the results makes it worth while.
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