I know this is personal and not a interesting subject but then this is my personal journal. I had one bag removed yesterday but the G-bag, the one on my side that captures the drainage from my side is still there but the discharge seems to finally be declining.
Every time I think I'm making progress I cough (suffer from allergies) which makes me squirt. But I have made it from the cough to the bathroom which is great. The only thing is I have to think and concentrate in order to do it. That's something we take for granted because, as adults, we have been doing it so long it no longer requires thought. But think back to when you were a baby.
That's what I thought. The muscle that controls the flow was detached during surgery and then reattached The gland that surrounded that muscle has been removed so the sensation one has is totally different and the brain and that muscle have to be trained to work together. The doctors say it could take up to a year but the more dedicated I am to doing my exercises, the faster I will improve.
It's like our relationship to our heavenly father. The more we talk to each other the closer we grow. Any relationship takes work, including a spiritual one.
Saturday, August 04, 2018
Friday, August 03, 2018
One Step forward, two steps back
We have all had days in which we feel we are making no progress and somethings feel as if we are going backwards. Well, that is me this week. I was excited Monday when the tubing in my body was removed even though I am unable to exercise full control of my bladder, I have learned how to dress to minimize the effects and am doing my exercises to strengthen the necessary muscles to regain control.
I took my first shower Tuesday Morning and it felt so good to be clean from top to bottom. Things were fine that first day. Wednesday after I got dressed I noticed a wet spot on my shirt. I couldn't remember splashing water on myself but thought that must have been what happened so I continued with putting on my socks and shoes. Once I was fully dressed I noticed the wet spot had grown larger. I pulled up my shirt and noticed that a stream of liquid was squirting from one of the incisions on my left side so I grabbed a change of clothes and headed to the Emergency Department at the Salisbury VA.
It was 8 am when I left home and I was released from the ED at 3:30, catheter back in place in addition to another bag attached to my side. If that wasn't miserable enough, I arrived home just in time to change into my church clothes. I was leading the services. It had been my plans to spent part of the day putting the finishing details on my message. Even though the main body of my message was one of the best of my life, I realized I had not had sufficient time to work out the close so I just had to stop.
Even though I had made notes, I looked at them only once and decided I was fine without them. Although my message was briefer than normal and without a sufficient closing statement, I do believer it was a powerful message and the small congregation was visually moved, some to tears. God has a way of taking the inadequate and making something significant from it and He did so with that message Wednesday.
Today I am heading to the Salisbury VA again to have what was installed Wednesday removed so maybe, I can start the healing process in earnest today.
I took my first shower Tuesday Morning and it felt so good to be clean from top to bottom. Things were fine that first day. Wednesday after I got dressed I noticed a wet spot on my shirt. I couldn't remember splashing water on myself but thought that must have been what happened so I continued with putting on my socks and shoes. Once I was fully dressed I noticed the wet spot had grown larger. I pulled up my shirt and noticed that a stream of liquid was squirting from one of the incisions on my left side so I grabbed a change of clothes and headed to the Emergency Department at the Salisbury VA.
It was 8 am when I left home and I was released from the ED at 3:30, catheter back in place in addition to another bag attached to my side. If that wasn't miserable enough, I arrived home just in time to change into my church clothes. I was leading the services. It had been my plans to spent part of the day putting the finishing details on my message. Even though the main body of my message was one of the best of my life, I realized I had not had sufficient time to work out the close so I just had to stop.
Even though I had made notes, I looked at them only once and decided I was fine without them. Although my message was briefer than normal and without a sufficient closing statement, I do believer it was a powerful message and the small congregation was visually moved, some to tears. God has a way of taking the inadequate and making something significant from it and He did so with that message Wednesday.
Today I am heading to the Salisbury VA again to have what was installed Wednesday removed so maybe, I can start the healing process in earnest today.
Monday, July 30, 2018
One Week After Surgery
Everyone was surprised to see me at church Wednesday night but I figured if I had to get up and walk the hospital hallways the day of surgery and again the following morning then there was no legitimate excuse for not walking the shorter distance from the car to the church. It really bugs me the excuses people use to stay home from church. I.e., a lady sprained her ankle Saturday night and her husband stayed home from church both services to take care of her.
Anyway, I didn't go to church to show off or to find things to criticize but to worship my savior and it was a really good service.
Friday I had my first bowel moment and I feel like Hunter from Hill Street Blues. I had one Saturday that was more water than mud. The one this morning was more solid.
I took one pain pill yesterday before heading to the morning services and haven't taken one since. Everything went as planned yesterday and I had no unpleasant incidences until after I retired. Somewhere around midnight one of my tubes became disconnected and I woke up a soggy mess. I stripped my bed, fixed the problem, cleaned myself up, and slept on the recliner until breakfast.
I was fortunate that when I purchase my new mattress I bought along with it several layers of mattress protection. There is a 90 guarantee on the mattress but only if it is stain free so I wanted to insure the guarantee stayed in force.
It is really surprising how quickly most of the pain has gone away. My blood sugar is settling back towards normal and my appetite has finally begun to return. My pancakes tasted a little too sweet yesterday morning but we went for Mexican at lunch and I enjoyed evert bit of it, including a heavy dose of my Texas Pete. I skipped supper.
The biggest thing I notice is that I tire easily and want to sleep more than usual.
Anyway, I didn't go to church to show off or to find things to criticize but to worship my savior and it was a really good service.
Friday I had my first bowel moment and I feel like Hunter from Hill Street Blues. I had one Saturday that was more water than mud. The one this morning was more solid.
I took one pain pill yesterday before heading to the morning services and haven't taken one since. Everything went as planned yesterday and I had no unpleasant incidences until after I retired. Somewhere around midnight one of my tubes became disconnected and I woke up a soggy mess. I stripped my bed, fixed the problem, cleaned myself up, and slept on the recliner until breakfast.
I was fortunate that when I purchase my new mattress I bought along with it several layers of mattress protection. There is a 90 guarantee on the mattress but only if it is stain free so I wanted to insure the guarantee stayed in force.
It is really surprising how quickly most of the pain has gone away. My blood sugar is settling back towards normal and my appetite has finally begun to return. My pancakes tasted a little too sweet yesterday morning but we went for Mexican at lunch and I enjoyed evert bit of it, including a heavy dose of my Texas Pete. I skipped supper.
The biggest thing I notice is that I tire easily and want to sleep more than usual.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Surviving Cancer
It wasn't until I woke up in the recovery room that the gravity of the situation really began to sink it. When I was first told I had cancer it didn't come as a surprise or shock to me. I had known for years that there was something wrong but doctors always said my problems were due to an enlarged prostate but never made any recommendations for treatment.
A PSA test is an indicator that cancer is present in the prostate but because of the nature of prostate cancer PSA tests are seldom given to those of us over the age of 70 unless we have been diagnosed with cancer then it becomes part of our regular treatment. The idea is that after 70 you are more likely to die of something other than the cancer and the cure is often worse than the disease.
My situation isn't any different except that I did have a doctor give me a PSA test who, based on the results, sent me for a biopsy. Asa result of the biopsy I was scheduled for an MRI which informed me of the gravity of the situation.
I consider myself to be in good shape, especially for a 71 year old, but I had an extraordinary large prostate. The average prostate of a healthy male is 7 to 16 grams with the average size at 11. An enlarged prostate is normally measured at around 40 grams. Mine was measured at 100 grams. Not only was it large but it was cancerous, considered to be in the intermediate stage. That meant I had options.
Option number one is radiation seeding. In this procedure around 80 isotopes are implanted into a prostate and as they dissolve the cancer is killed off. It is a one time procedure.
Option number two is radiation treatments. One makes 40 trips to the doctor for a shot of radiation. Each treatment takes about 15 minutes, 10 of which is changing clothes.
Option number three is surgery.
In most cases, doctors like to take and wait and see approach or wait and observe, in which a patient come in every three months for a PSA test to see if there has been any change. Sometimes the PSA scores will drop. Often nothing ever needs to be done. The patient is most often better off skipping the options as often the cure is worse than the disease. What the biggest danger is if the cancer spreads outside of the prostate then things can get rapidly worse for the patient.
When a person has an enlarged prostate, the radiation seeding option can be taken off the table because the area to be treated is just too large. In that case, hormone shots are given for one to two years to shrink the prostate.
In my case, it would have taken a two year program of hormone treatments ( I could grow man boobs) before my prostate would shrink enough to treat. Considering my state (intermediate) and the fact that my MRI showed that the cancer was at the walls of the prostate, I thought that if I waited two years for my prostate to shrink the cancer might not be contained to just the prostate.
I decided the best option for me was surgery.
A PSA test is an indicator that cancer is present in the prostate but because of the nature of prostate cancer PSA tests are seldom given to those of us over the age of 70 unless we have been diagnosed with cancer then it becomes part of our regular treatment. The idea is that after 70 you are more likely to die of something other than the cancer and the cure is often worse than the disease.
My situation isn't any different except that I did have a doctor give me a PSA test who, based on the results, sent me for a biopsy. Asa result of the biopsy I was scheduled for an MRI which informed me of the gravity of the situation.
I consider myself to be in good shape, especially for a 71 year old, but I had an extraordinary large prostate. The average prostate of a healthy male is 7 to 16 grams with the average size at 11. An enlarged prostate is normally measured at around 40 grams. Mine was measured at 100 grams. Not only was it large but it was cancerous, considered to be in the intermediate stage. That meant I had options.
Option number one is radiation seeding. In this procedure around 80 isotopes are implanted into a prostate and as they dissolve the cancer is killed off. It is a one time procedure.
Option number two is radiation treatments. One makes 40 trips to the doctor for a shot of radiation. Each treatment takes about 15 minutes, 10 of which is changing clothes.
Option number three is surgery.
In most cases, doctors like to take and wait and see approach or wait and observe, in which a patient come in every three months for a PSA test to see if there has been any change. Sometimes the PSA scores will drop. Often nothing ever needs to be done. The patient is most often better off skipping the options as often the cure is worse than the disease. What the biggest danger is if the cancer spreads outside of the prostate then things can get rapidly worse for the patient.
When a person has an enlarged prostate, the radiation seeding option can be taken off the table because the area to be treated is just too large. In that case, hormone shots are given for one to two years to shrink the prostate.
In my case, it would have taken a two year program of hormone treatments ( I could grow man boobs) before my prostate would shrink enough to treat. Considering my state (intermediate) and the fact that my MRI showed that the cancer was at the walls of the prostate, I thought that if I waited two years for my prostate to shrink the cancer might not be contained to just the prostate.
I decided the best option for me was surgery.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
Death at the Asheboro Y
One of the long time members, Walter. passed away from a heart attack. Walter was a simple fellow liked by everyone, and suffered from arthritis in his hip. He had a special shoe made that he hoped would limit his pronounced limp but he didn't much care for it. His best option was hip replacement which he had done. Two or three days later he died of an heat attack.
As far as I understand it, the two events were not related. He is missed.
As far as I understand it, the two events were not related. He is missed.
Prostate Surgery
In todays way of thinking prostate surgery is considered the last option. There can be so many complications and cancer of the prostate is considered a slow growing cancer. A man can live for a decade or more with no treatment. Often, seeding and/or radiation can take care of the problem. Even so, prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death among men.
Doctors us a test for PSA which is an indicator that things aren't as they should be. An exam can also help determine the size of the prostate. As men get older their prostate gets larger. The prostate is a small organ, about the size of a walnut and in normal healthy males weighs around 11 grams but can vary from 7 to 16 grams.
I knew my prostate was large and was causing me problems. I had never has a PSA test before and once a man reaches my age they are rarely given but my doctor decided to give me one anyway. It came back high (6.4) so I was sent to have a biopsy. The biopsy showed that I had an unusually large prostate, weighing 97 to 100 grams and certain parts of it was hard and proved to be cancerous. The doctors discussed treatment options with me. First option was surgery to remove the prostate. The second was radiation and the third was radiation seeding.
Due to the size of my prostate the radiation seeding was off the table. That procedure entails the surgeon depositing around 80 radiation seeds in the prostate and the long lasting isotopes will destroy the cancer. The second option was radiation and that required hormone treatments to shrink the size of my prostate and then 40 visits to the radiologist for 40 quick radiation treatments. In my case, the hormone shots would take a year to two years to be effective. My testosterone would fall to zero and I would likely experience other changes to my appearance. There was also the danger that while attempting to shrink my prostate the cancer could spread outside of the prostate. If it did then surgery would not be an effective treatment.
After much prayer and weighing all my options I chose surgery which was performed on my sons birthday, July 23rd. Recovery is painful and inconvenient but progressing well.
Doctors us a test for PSA which is an indicator that things aren't as they should be. An exam can also help determine the size of the prostate. As men get older their prostate gets larger. The prostate is a small organ, about the size of a walnut and in normal healthy males weighs around 11 grams but can vary from 7 to 16 grams.
I knew my prostate was large and was causing me problems. I had never has a PSA test before and once a man reaches my age they are rarely given but my doctor decided to give me one anyway. It came back high (6.4) so I was sent to have a biopsy. The biopsy showed that I had an unusually large prostate, weighing 97 to 100 grams and certain parts of it was hard and proved to be cancerous. The doctors discussed treatment options with me. First option was surgery to remove the prostate. The second was radiation and the third was radiation seeding.
Due to the size of my prostate the radiation seeding was off the table. That procedure entails the surgeon depositing around 80 radiation seeds in the prostate and the long lasting isotopes will destroy the cancer. The second option was radiation and that required hormone treatments to shrink the size of my prostate and then 40 visits to the radiologist for 40 quick radiation treatments. In my case, the hormone shots would take a year to two years to be effective. My testosterone would fall to zero and I would likely experience other changes to my appearance. There was also the danger that while attempting to shrink my prostate the cancer could spread outside of the prostate. If it did then surgery would not be an effective treatment.
After much prayer and weighing all my options I chose surgery which was performed on my sons birthday, July 23rd. Recovery is painful and inconvenient but progressing well.
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Kidnap victims with diabetes in Hollywood verus real life
I suppose the pre surgery getters with the complications from being diabetic has me thinking about this but it always seems that people kidnapped on TV programs or in the movies who were diabetic always faced the same problem: the kidnappers didn't bring their insulin and the police had to find the kidnap victim within a certain time frame or the victim will go into a diabetic coma and die.
In real life that is not true.
There is no set time that one goes without insulin before they go comatose and die. None of these programs ever distinguish between type 1 or type 2 diabetes and all of these programs end with the rescuers shoving a bar of candy in the victims face to save her life (as almost always the victim is a female). The problem with the story line is that insulin helps lower blood sugar but most likely it is the long acting type which gentle lowers blood sugar over a 24 hour period. For immediate lowering of blood sugar one needs to take a fast acting insulin which probable isn't one of the medications the victim was taking anyway.
A diabetic can control blood sugar highs and lows through diet which is difficult enough but would seem to be a taunting task for a kidnap victim. Diabetic friendly diets are hard to come by outside the home. If one is offered a hamburger, a diabetic should eat only a small portion and none of the bun.
The biggest danger here is the added sugar to the condiments and the added salt to the burger.
The point is about these shows is that going a long time without food will drop ones glucose levels and insulin is the last thing the patient/victim needs. A candy bar will raise ones blood sugar levels too fast and will result in a serious "crash" a short time later. In other words, these shows do not reflect the reality of the situation because reality doesn't add the dramatic effects the producers feel the show needs to get and keep your interest.
In real life that is not true.
There is no set time that one goes without insulin before they go comatose and die. None of these programs ever distinguish between type 1 or type 2 diabetes and all of these programs end with the rescuers shoving a bar of candy in the victims face to save her life (as almost always the victim is a female). The problem with the story line is that insulin helps lower blood sugar but most likely it is the long acting type which gentle lowers blood sugar over a 24 hour period. For immediate lowering of blood sugar one needs to take a fast acting insulin which probable isn't one of the medications the victim was taking anyway.
A diabetic can control blood sugar highs and lows through diet which is difficult enough but would seem to be a taunting task for a kidnap victim. Diabetic friendly diets are hard to come by outside the home. If one is offered a hamburger, a diabetic should eat only a small portion and none of the bun.
The biggest danger here is the added sugar to the condiments and the added salt to the burger.
The point is about these shows is that going a long time without food will drop ones glucose levels and insulin is the last thing the patient/victim needs. A candy bar will raise ones blood sugar levels too fast and will result in a serious "crash" a short time later. In other words, these shows do not reflect the reality of the situation because reality doesn't add the dramatic effects the producers feel the show needs to get and keep your interest.
surgery countdown
In about 24 hours I will be out of surgery, alive I hope, and on my way to recovery. I have a few concerns before then though.
The instructions for most patients is a clear diet the day before surgery and nothing after midnight but my instructions are different because I am a diabetic. I can have a normal breakfast and a light lunch. What I am expected to pull off is to have my blood sugar high enough that I do not have complications from low blood sugar but low enough so the diabetes does not interfere with the healing process.
For most people this is no problem but for me this is really tricky. Not eating will lower my blood sugar to dangerously low levels. if I do eat I have to forgo my diabetic medication. It doesn't make sense to eat to raise my blood sugar while taking medication to lower it. But at a certain point I will have to forgo eating in order for my digestive tract to be clean enough for surgery.
A problem I experienced a few years ago was that often my readings were higher in the morning than they were the night before. I asked my doctor why and she explained that if my blood sugar drops at night my body can convert stored fat into glucose ,causing my blood sugar levels to rise. But that doesn't always happen and sometimes a reading will just continue to get lower during the night. If levels get too low it can be life threatening.
I suppose most people would be worrying about the surgery but I don't because it is necessary and worrying won't change a thing. But planning how to work out my blood sugar levels is a bit tricky and very concerning.
Wish me luck or better yet say a prayer for me.
The instructions for most patients is a clear diet the day before surgery and nothing after midnight but my instructions are different because I am a diabetic. I can have a normal breakfast and a light lunch. What I am expected to pull off is to have my blood sugar high enough that I do not have complications from low blood sugar but low enough so the diabetes does not interfere with the healing process.
For most people this is no problem but for me this is really tricky. Not eating will lower my blood sugar to dangerously low levels. if I do eat I have to forgo my diabetic medication. It doesn't make sense to eat to raise my blood sugar while taking medication to lower it. But at a certain point I will have to forgo eating in order for my digestive tract to be clean enough for surgery.
A problem I experienced a few years ago was that often my readings were higher in the morning than they were the night before. I asked my doctor why and she explained that if my blood sugar drops at night my body can convert stored fat into glucose ,causing my blood sugar levels to rise. But that doesn't always happen and sometimes a reading will just continue to get lower during the night. If levels get too low it can be life threatening.
I suppose most people would be worrying about the surgery but I don't because it is necessary and worrying won't change a thing. But planning how to work out my blood sugar levels is a bit tricky and very concerning.
Wish me luck or better yet say a prayer for me.
Friday, July 20, 2018
Jims Kids and Vintage Church
I attended the benefit concert for Jims Kids at Academy Street Baptist Church last night and meet a lady who attends Vintage Church, She said they teach and preach from the bible. I'm sure they do. One has to be careful. Using the correct book does not insure the lessons being taught are correct.
I am not at all implying that a member of Vintage church is no less a Christian than I am for I have no way of knowing. In fact, I have attended some traditional churches that swear by the King James Bible and believe they are teaching and preaching the whole of scripture and doing it correctly yet when expounding on the old testament they always interpret it as if it was written for modern man and the church. Often the Old Testament is ignored and sometimes scripture is misquoted or misunderstood. So being in an old fashioned/traditional church does not make one right anymore than being from a church like Vintage make one wrong.
My biggest concern about any church is that you are being equipped with enough truth to help you deal with everyday problems and to be able to rely upon God and not try to handle everyday situations from ones own perspective. I find that even in well grounded churches most Christians do not have a deep abiding and trusting faith nor do they really understand how to fully embrace the Christian life yet many believe they are exactly what Christ wants them to be. I know that I have a long way to go myself. Even the Apostle Paul admitted his weaknesses and if he hadn't reached sinless perfection I doubt seriously that any of the rest of us have either.
My biggest concern is that the less you understand the expectations of Christ the easier it is for you to be lead astray. We must not forget that Satan knows scriptures and quotes it often, misquoting it to manipulate us or misapplying it to get us to do his bidding. As the sergeant used to say on "hill Street Bkues" be careful out there.
I am not at all implying that a member of Vintage church is no less a Christian than I am for I have no way of knowing. In fact, I have attended some traditional churches that swear by the King James Bible and believe they are teaching and preaching the whole of scripture and doing it correctly yet when expounding on the old testament they always interpret it as if it was written for modern man and the church. Often the Old Testament is ignored and sometimes scripture is misquoted or misunderstood. So being in an old fashioned/traditional church does not make one right anymore than being from a church like Vintage make one wrong.
My biggest concern about any church is that you are being equipped with enough truth to help you deal with everyday problems and to be able to rely upon God and not try to handle everyday situations from ones own perspective. I find that even in well grounded churches most Christians do not have a deep abiding and trusting faith nor do they really understand how to fully embrace the Christian life yet many believe they are exactly what Christ wants them to be. I know that I have a long way to go myself. Even the Apostle Paul admitted his weaknesses and if he hadn't reached sinless perfection I doubt seriously that any of the rest of us have either.
My biggest concern is that the less you understand the expectations of Christ the easier it is for you to be lead astray. We must not forget that Satan knows scriptures and quotes it often, misquoting it to manipulate us or misapplying it to get us to do his bidding. As the sergeant used to say on "hill Street Bkues" be careful out there.
Friday, July 13, 2018
Superhero Vacation Bible School Acdemey Street Baptost Church
Larissa Green, the pastor's wife, did an awesome job as organizer and director, and announcer at VBS at Academy Street Baptist. She dressed as Wonder Woman and her husband, Pastor Anthony Green played Bible Man. Al Davis was Lex Liar. The kids had fun, learned some scripture, and made their own super hero costumes. My role was simple to sit there. I believe my official title was monitor and I did have to get involved the first nighty at the bouncy house but for all the rest of VBS I got to sit in the air conditioned sanctuary and talk with the registrar (who is my wife) when she wasn't busy.
Normally this isn't a role I take to easily as I like to be involved and active but the church is getting a new playground set for the kids and the old one needed to be gone before the new one could be installed. I volunteered to do that job. It was really hot outside, Tuesday I couldn't get started until noon because I had a doctors appointment that morning. I did get an early jump Wednesday but after a couple of hours things were starting to heat up quickly.
Being able to sit quietly in the air conditioned sanctuary was a real pleasure. From Sunday night on the first night of VBS when I watched the bouncy house until the last 5 minutes of VBS I had nothing to do. But what a joy those last few minutes were. One of the kids wanted to know more about Christ so I took him aside and a few minutes later he accepted Christ as his savior. I later learned that two of the girls became Christians also.
The kid I talked with, Noah, is a smart kid and there was no doubt that he fully understood the decision he was making. Being aware of the presence of God and to watch Him work is amazing. Studies have proven that people who are prayed for, whether believers or not, recovery from surgery and serious illnesses faster and better than those who are not prayed for., As scripture points out, you see not because you believe not. These are not ordinary circumstances that happen to ordinary people who interpret things in a supernatural way but extraordinary things that happen to ordinary people because they believed in and trusted God.
It is among my greatest joys in this life to be part of the life altering experience of this young boy during VBS. Praise be to God Almighty.
Normally this isn't a role I take to easily as I like to be involved and active but the church is getting a new playground set for the kids and the old one needed to be gone before the new one could be installed. I volunteered to do that job. It was really hot outside, Tuesday I couldn't get started until noon because I had a doctors appointment that morning. I did get an early jump Wednesday but after a couple of hours things were starting to heat up quickly.
Being able to sit quietly in the air conditioned sanctuary was a real pleasure. From Sunday night on the first night of VBS when I watched the bouncy house until the last 5 minutes of VBS I had nothing to do. But what a joy those last few minutes were. One of the kids wanted to know more about Christ so I took him aside and a few minutes later he accepted Christ as his savior. I later learned that two of the girls became Christians also.
The kid I talked with, Noah, is a smart kid and there was no doubt that he fully understood the decision he was making. Being aware of the presence of God and to watch Him work is amazing. Studies have proven that people who are prayed for, whether believers or not, recovery from surgery and serious illnesses faster and better than those who are not prayed for., As scripture points out, you see not because you believe not. These are not ordinary circumstances that happen to ordinary people who interpret things in a supernatural way but extraordinary things that happen to ordinary people because they believed in and trusted God.
It is among my greatest joys in this life to be part of the life altering experience of this young boy during VBS. Praise be to God Almighty.
Sunday, July 08, 2018
Saturday, July 07, 2018
Ingraditude
Meet this poor fellow who has no job and has no car whoso much wanted to go fishing. The state gave him his license for free because he is on Medicaid but I had to take him to get it. When we went fishing I furnished him with a rod and reel, purchased his bait, and paid his fee, I caught the fish and put them on my stringer. All I asked of the man was that he return my stringer.
I saw him a few days later and when I asked him how he enjoyed the fish, he said he threw them away because he didn't like that kind. He joined the church men on our fishing trip and he showed up again with no rod and reel, no bait, and no money to pay his fee with so I helped him out that time also.
I saw him the following week and asked if he was ready to go fishing again, he said yes but he didn't want to go to Randleman Lake. He wanted to go to Baden Lake. I'm sorry but I'm not driving that far, paying for the entire trip, catching fish just for him, he hasn't even given me back my stringer.
I saw him a few days later and when I asked him how he enjoyed the fish, he said he threw them away because he didn't like that kind. He joined the church men on our fishing trip and he showed up again with no rod and reel, no bait, and no money to pay his fee with so I helped him out that time also.
I saw him the following week and asked if he was ready to go fishing again, he said yes but he didn't want to go to Randleman Lake. He wanted to go to Baden Lake. I'm sorry but I'm not driving that far, paying for the entire trip, catching fish just for him, he hasn't even given me back my stringer.
Sunday, July 01, 2018
Friday, June 29, 2018
Trouble at church: whose fault is it anyway?
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 30, 2018
Southwest Airlines apologizes after coach's claim that staffer asked her to prove biracial son was her child
I do not think Southwest Airlines has anything to apologize for. If anything she owes them an apology for getting upset that the airline employee was looking out for the best interest of her child.
In case you didn't read the story, a female basketball coach who is white tried to board a plane with a biracial baby. The cause for concern for the airline employee was that her last name and the baby's last name were different. The employee just wanted to make sure the baby was safe.
In case you didn't read the story, a female basketball coach who is white tried to board a plane with a biracial baby. The cause for concern for the airline employee was that her last name and the baby's last name were different. The employee just wanted to make sure the baby was safe.
Monday, May 28, 2018
Comment sections
MSN website does not allow comments on their articles and I have come across some other news providers that do not allow comments on their articles either. The reason cited by one site, and I have no doubt their reasoning is the same or nearly the same as other sites not allowing comments, is that so many of the comments are filled with hate, intolerance, racial slurs, insults, and rudeness.
Many years ago CB radios became popular in passenger cars and one could apply for a license to operate one. I had one and found them to be handy in some circumstances. But as the radios became more popular people would resort to insulting other users and things got so bad that most people stopped using CB's so they didn't have to listen to the disrespectful chatter.
It does seems that when you give people freedom to express themselves and the anonymity to hide their identity then the harassing speech quickly follows. Democrats insult Republicans, whites insult blacks, non believers insult Christians, straights insult gays, men comment on women's bodies and what they would like to do, and almost everyone insults police officers. The other side of this coin is just as childish as the first side.
We can have a difference of opinion and have a meaningful discussion without resorting to calling each other names. Once one person attacks then the other goes into defensive mode and the fight is on. It should not be this way.
Many years ago CB radios became popular in passenger cars and one could apply for a license to operate one. I had one and found them to be handy in some circumstances. But as the radios became more popular people would resort to insulting other users and things got so bad that most people stopped using CB's so they didn't have to listen to the disrespectful chatter.
It does seems that when you give people freedom to express themselves and the anonymity to hide their identity then the harassing speech quickly follows. Democrats insult Republicans, whites insult blacks, non believers insult Christians, straights insult gays, men comment on women's bodies and what they would like to do, and almost everyone insults police officers. The other side of this coin is just as childish as the first side.
We can have a difference of opinion and have a meaningful discussion without resorting to calling each other names. Once one person attacks then the other goes into defensive mode and the fight is on. It should not be this way.
Sunday, May 27, 2018
A deeper faith 5-27-2018
I missed the first three but if you view this message please leave me a comment, even if just your first name. Our pastor is young but our attendance is growing. I would like for you to join us.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
fishing
Today was one of those rare occasions when I got to go fishing. Yesterday I sent my mower out for repair and it was returned today: cost was $37.00. One of the hooks that holds the fan belt in place was bent. The repairman disconnected that annoying feature that requires one to stop the blades before going in reverse. The pickup and delivery charge was $25.00 so I got out cheap. I also fixed the church sign but got one line crooked. The cost of all the letters was only $10.00 I also got out cheap. I feel bad for getting the line crooked but once the letters are on the sign they are there to stay.
The VA called and approved my medications and filled my prescriptions.
So far I'm having a good day.
The VA called and approved my medications and filled my prescriptions.
So far I'm having a good day.
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Diabetes, weight loss, and prostate cancer
My last three A1c screening were disturbing: 9.6, 8.4, and then back to 9.6. The average healthy person has an A1c of around 5. I was taking Metformin, glipizide, and insulin. The doctor dropped insulin and added Invokana and when that didn't help wanted to put me on Humolog. I thought to myself, this is unacceptable.
Even though I had been losing weight I diabetes was out of control. I exercise regularly and thought I was doing what I was supposed to do. Then I realized my problem. A healthy diet isn't just about eating the correct number of calories and getting proper nutrition. For a diabetic it's also about controlling spikes in blood sugar. One side affect of failing to control ones diabetes is high triglycerides. Why my total cholesterol was low, my good was acceptable as was my bad, my triglycerides was extremely high. What's really sad is I take medicine to keep it within proper range but it's still out of control.
I decided enough was enough. It is more than necessary to control what I eat as well as how much.
I have stopped taking the Invokana , never took the humolog, and my average blood sugar reading before breakfast has dropped from over 200 to 90. And just as good, my blood sugar spikes, which once jumped into the 4 and five hundreds has stabilized as less than 125, except once. My wife has some dilly bars and I ate a couple bites of one. My blood sugar spiked to 180. That's not unacceptable but that's not what I want to accomplish.
As far as weight loss, I've dropped 20 pounds so far. I'm halfway to my goal and I'm making steady progress.
Oh yea, the other thing. I just got the news. It's not all bad. It's non life threatening for now and it's treatable. I am also a Vietnam Vet who was boots-on-the-ground so I get some help. I should because chances are good that being in Nam gave me my health problems to begin with. My weight gain is a side effect of the medications I take. It's really difficult for me to lose weight because my medicine leaves me with a hungry feeling 24/7. I've gone to a buffet, eaten until I'm full, and still feel hungry. But I'm winning the battle of the bulge, getting my blood sugar under control, and I'll beat the prostate cancer too.
Even though I had been losing weight I diabetes was out of control. I exercise regularly and thought I was doing what I was supposed to do. Then I realized my problem. A healthy diet isn't just about eating the correct number of calories and getting proper nutrition. For a diabetic it's also about controlling spikes in blood sugar. One side affect of failing to control ones diabetes is high triglycerides. Why my total cholesterol was low, my good was acceptable as was my bad, my triglycerides was extremely high. What's really sad is I take medicine to keep it within proper range but it's still out of control.
I decided enough was enough. It is more than necessary to control what I eat as well as how much.
I have stopped taking the Invokana , never took the humolog, and my average blood sugar reading before breakfast has dropped from over 200 to 90. And just as good, my blood sugar spikes, which once jumped into the 4 and five hundreds has stabilized as less than 125, except once. My wife has some dilly bars and I ate a couple bites of one. My blood sugar spiked to 180. That's not unacceptable but that's not what I want to accomplish.
As far as weight loss, I've dropped 20 pounds so far. I'm halfway to my goal and I'm making steady progress.
Oh yea, the other thing. I just got the news. It's not all bad. It's non life threatening for now and it's treatable. I am also a Vietnam Vet who was boots-on-the-ground so I get some help. I should because chances are good that being in Nam gave me my health problems to begin with. My weight gain is a side effect of the medications I take. It's really difficult for me to lose weight because my medicine leaves me with a hungry feeling 24/7. I've gone to a buffet, eaten until I'm full, and still feel hungry. But I'm winning the battle of the bulge, getting my blood sugar under control, and I'll beat the prostate cancer too.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
If it sounds to good to be true
Last year a friend told us about the great health insurance plan they had through AARP called Medicare complete. I called the company and they said there would be no premiums. I gave them a list of my current medications and they assured me there was zero cost if I filled them through there online pharmacy.
This is a big decision because I was receiving care through the VA. My prescriptions were only $8.00 a month but with all my prescriptions and supplies the total came to $64.00. It's not much but I'm on a fixed income so if I could save $64.00 a month I would. The biggest hurdle is that the VA will only fill prescriptions they write and only at the VA. I would have to see a civilian doctor. I didn't mind since the co-pay was zero and I could get more responsive care. I made the change.
The first time I had my meds filled they were zero except for the insulin. They said there was a $25.00 co-pay. I would have still made the switch if they had told be that but I had asked them point blank and they said is would be zero. All tier one drugs are zero cost.
Now they want to charge me $578.00. They claim my medication should never have been free and that I have reached my deductible. None of that was explained when I took the insurance. Since it costs nothings I will keep it but I'll not get prescriptions from the AARP Health Care plan anymore.
This is a big decision because I was receiving care through the VA. My prescriptions were only $8.00 a month but with all my prescriptions and supplies the total came to $64.00. It's not much but I'm on a fixed income so if I could save $64.00 a month I would. The biggest hurdle is that the VA will only fill prescriptions they write and only at the VA. I would have to see a civilian doctor. I didn't mind since the co-pay was zero and I could get more responsive care. I made the change.
The first time I had my meds filled they were zero except for the insulin. They said there was a $25.00 co-pay. I would have still made the switch if they had told be that but I had asked them point blank and they said is would be zero. All tier one drugs are zero cost.
Now they want to charge me $578.00. They claim my medication should never have been free and that I have reached my deductible. None of that was explained when I took the insurance. Since it costs nothings I will keep it but I'll not get prescriptions from the AARP Health Care plan anymore.
Sunday, May 13, 2018
"If we let everyone go then there would be no one in jail"
A story on MSNBC details the plight on one young woman who was stopped for a tag light being out on her car. The officer that stopped her discovered the lady had an suspended driver's license and a failure to appear on another traffic charge. He was just going to give her a citation and have her car towed but another officer talked him into arresting her.
This article isn't about this particular woman but about the plight of many people, particularly blacks and especially young black women. It details their plight because so many are to poor to afford bail money. It is written so as to make us feel sorry for those ladies and to set us against the bail system.
In fact the bail system is in place so that people do not have to spend time in jail while awaiting trial. I do not believe the bail system is unfair to poor people. The lady should have registered her car as required by law. If she had then she would not have been charged in the first place. If she had gone to court instead of skipping the court date because she could not afford the ticket, the courts would have worked with her. If she had made sure her car was legal to drive she would not have been stopped the second time.
In other words if somewhere in this scenario she had acceptable responsibility for her actions she would never had needed bail in the first place.
Being poor is no disgrace. I'm poor. My income places me just barely above the poverty line. I keep my car repaired and I obey the law. Recently I mailed my taxes to the tax department. It should have been mailed to the NCDMV so my tag expired before I got my new sticker. I had to arrange rides for the important stuff and skip the non essential things for a couple of weeks. I could have easily just jumped in my car and driven it to the church which is a straight shot of 1/2 mile from the house. Chances are high I would never had been stopped. But if I had been I would have had a ticket to pay plus court costs. If I just didn't go to court because I didn't have the money for the ticket I could have ended up in jail just like this woman. It has nothing to do with being young, black or female. It has everything to do with making proper decisions and accepting responsibility.
This article isn't about this particular woman but about the plight of many people, particularly blacks and especially young black women. It details their plight because so many are to poor to afford bail money. It is written so as to make us feel sorry for those ladies and to set us against the bail system.
In fact the bail system is in place so that people do not have to spend time in jail while awaiting trial. I do not believe the bail system is unfair to poor people. The lady should have registered her car as required by law. If she had then she would not have been charged in the first place. If she had gone to court instead of skipping the court date because she could not afford the ticket, the courts would have worked with her. If she had made sure her car was legal to drive she would not have been stopped the second time.
In other words if somewhere in this scenario she had acceptable responsibility for her actions she would never had needed bail in the first place.
Being poor is no disgrace. I'm poor. My income places me just barely above the poverty line. I keep my car repaired and I obey the law. Recently I mailed my taxes to the tax department. It should have been mailed to the NCDMV so my tag expired before I got my new sticker. I had to arrange rides for the important stuff and skip the non essential things for a couple of weeks. I could have easily just jumped in my car and driven it to the church which is a straight shot of 1/2 mile from the house. Chances are high I would never had been stopped. But if I had been I would have had a ticket to pay plus court costs. If I just didn't go to court because I didn't have the money for the ticket I could have ended up in jail just like this woman. It has nothing to do with being young, black or female. It has everything to do with making proper decisions and accepting responsibility.
Saturday, May 12, 2018
My new plants
The top picture is the hanging planter which I placed some plants from the spring plant sale at the zoo. The center picture is of the new butterfly garden . it has a butterfly bush, two kinds of bee balm, a black eyed Susan and one other plant with a funny name.
The bottom picture is a mistake.
Visit with friends
I served in Vietnam in 1971/1972. I was an air crewman on planes that flew daily missions in support of our troops inn Vietnam and on my first mission I met a fellow sailor and we have been friends since that February day in 1971. Through the years I have been to his place in Ohio and he has come to visit me wherever I have lived. About 16 years ago he and his wife retired and for eight years traveled the United States of America visiting various beaches. Eight years ago they purchased a motor home and have traveled around the Southern States. Often in the Spring they head home to Ohio to visit family and friends there and quite often will stop by to visit me. A few years ago they made it here for my birthday in November and gave me a lottery ticket as a present.
They play occasionally and the most my friend and his wife have ever won was $40.00 but the one they gave me was worth a thousand. I did share with them.
They stopped by yesterday for a visit. My old friend, although 4 years younger than me, is not in the best of health and he and his wife are considering settling down. He said he was a little jealous of my house and gardens. I told him I had been a little envious of all the different places he has been and things he has seen.
We all have to make our choices in this life and when we chose to do something then a lot of others things give left by the wayside. Often people let life dictate their decisions but sometimes we have to be bold and reach out for our dreams For me it is to be the best servant of God that I can be and to make my wife love me.
They play occasionally and the most my friend and his wife have ever won was $40.00 but the one they gave me was worth a thousand. I did share with them.
They stopped by yesterday for a visit. My old friend, although 4 years younger than me, is not in the best of health and he and his wife are considering settling down. He said he was a little jealous of my house and gardens. I told him I had been a little envious of all the different places he has been and things he has seen.
We all have to make our choices in this life and when we chose to do something then a lot of others things give left by the wayside. Often people let life dictate their decisions but sometimes we have to be bold and reach out for our dreams For me it is to be the best servant of God that I can be and to make my wife love me.
Mothers Day and the Zoo
Instead of buying my wife a bouquet of flowers and dinner for Mother's day or Valentines Day, I try to find a way to make the day last forever, or at least a very long time. I started by planting her a rose bush and now I have six. I made her a rock garden and placed a statue of an angel in the center as a memorial to her mother since her mother was fond of angels.
This year i celebrated her days by building her a butterfly garden. I made a list of flowers and plants that are attractive to butterflies and purchased some of those plants at the spring plant sale at the NC Zoo at Asheboro. I snagged 11 plants for only $42.00, Seven of those plants were strictly for the butterfly garden. Three were for a hanging basket and the other one was for our water feature. Neither the water feature or the butterfly garden is impressive now but once the plants fill out and multiply it is going to be very attractive to butterflies and to us. It may take a year or two to live up to it's potential. I already had a butterfly bush and a phlox garden as well as some Milk Weed, which I purchased last year at the Zoo plant sale. Last year my butterfly bush, planted at the front of the house, was covered in butterflies for much of the summer.
Milk weed is supposedly the only plant that Monarch butterflies will land on. That may well be why we just don't see them around here. They look much healthier this year than when I planted them and are beginning to multiply. They have an orange flower on them.
I'm not suggesting that you plant your Mom a flower garden because she may not want one for various reasons. That's just what I do and my wife likes the idea. If you really want to honor your Mom on mother's day take her to church and just spend some time with her. The bible tells us to honor our Mother's and we will live long. There is a big difference between saying "I love you", just showing respect, and really honoring your Mother so don't think you are fulfilling the commandment just because you call her now and then, stop by once in a while and buy her some flowers and/or a card on Mothers Day.
I don't care if she is the meanest, most hateful, or undeserving Mother in the world. God says we are to honor her. do you know more than God?
This year i celebrated her days by building her a butterfly garden. I made a list of flowers and plants that are attractive to butterflies and purchased some of those plants at the spring plant sale at the NC Zoo at Asheboro. I snagged 11 plants for only $42.00, Seven of those plants were strictly for the butterfly garden. Three were for a hanging basket and the other one was for our water feature. Neither the water feature or the butterfly garden is impressive now but once the plants fill out and multiply it is going to be very attractive to butterflies and to us. It may take a year or two to live up to it's potential. I already had a butterfly bush and a phlox garden as well as some Milk Weed, which I purchased last year at the Zoo plant sale. Last year my butterfly bush, planted at the front of the house, was covered in butterflies for much of the summer.
Milk weed is supposedly the only plant that Monarch butterflies will land on. That may well be why we just don't see them around here. They look much healthier this year than when I planted them and are beginning to multiply. They have an orange flower on them.
I'm not suggesting that you plant your Mom a flower garden because she may not want one for various reasons. That's just what I do and my wife likes the idea. If you really want to honor your Mom on mother's day take her to church and just spend some time with her. The bible tells us to honor our Mother's and we will live long. There is a big difference between saying "I love you", just showing respect, and really honoring your Mother so don't think you are fulfilling the commandment just because you call her now and then, stop by once in a while and buy her some flowers and/or a card on Mothers Day.
I don't care if she is the meanest, most hateful, or undeserving Mother in the world. God says we are to honor her. do you know more than God?
Tuesday, May 08, 2018
Left over furniture.
There are a few furniture items left from the yard sale at Academy Street Baptist. A set of bunk beds and a bedroom set. if one knows how to refinish furniture the bedroom set could be made to be a really nice set. Contact the church( Facebook/ Anthony/Larissa Green) if you are interested. We are trying to get a nice playground set for the kids.
Wednesday Night, May 9, 2018.
Wednesday night at 6 pm Jimmy Davis will be the guest speaker at Academy Street Baptist Church. He is a guitar picker, singer as well as a preacher. I'm looking forward to seeing him Wednesday night. I would really like to see you there too.
Battle with Diabetes
For the past year or so I lost control of my diabetic conditional and my A1c has been at least 8.4 but more often up to 9.6. For those who don't know A1c means the average blood sugar reading for the past 3 months. Normal is 5.0 or below.
Diabetics test their blood sugar reading using a meter and test stripe which gives us a daily reading.
The reading at a normal level is 90 -110. In order to get an A1c of 8.4 or higher ones blood sugar needs to average around 400 or higher on a daily basis.
What makes it difficult is one can have a test result of 160 first thing in the morning and then have a proper breakfast but still have a blood sugar spike up to 400 and 500 hundred. The cause is the body is not making insulin or not making enough insulin. The solution is medicine, usually metformin. If one cannot control their diabetes with metformin then other medicines are prescribed, then insulin and then other types of medicine can be given. How much and when depends upon a particular person's ability to regulate their blood sugar reading.
A person's diet and weight and exercise regime has a lot to do with their diabetes. In my case I was able to control mine through diet for many years. I lost 50 pounds and when I retired I embarked on a rigorous exercise program. I thought I was fine until my next doctor's visit but I wasn't. I began taking insulin. I was warned that insulin would probably cause me to gain some weight. It did., Over the next few years I gained 34 pounds but only had to take a token amount of insulin. But in the last year my ability to control my blood sugar readings was almost nil. My doctor but me on Invokana as well as increased my insulin usage. It seemed my diabetes got worse. My doctor increased how often I take insulin and prescribed another medication. Invokana is expensive and so is the additional medication. In fact the two medications together is twice my monthly disposable income.
I made a decision. i was not going to allow diabetes to control me. Even though I exercise everyday for at least an hour and I had been losing weight (13 pounds in three months) my diabetes was winning the battle for my health. I made another change in my diet. It has been hard. I'll have to wait to find out if I continue to lose weight but my morning blood sugar reading has dropped from an average of 220 to 95. My last two have been below 90 so I'll have to be careful not to let it drop too low. I'm really encouraged by the results.
I'm not saying I have the problem under control. It's still to early to tell. All I can say for now is that things are better.
Diabetics test their blood sugar reading using a meter and test stripe which gives us a daily reading.
The reading at a normal level is 90 -110. In order to get an A1c of 8.4 or higher ones blood sugar needs to average around 400 or higher on a daily basis.
What makes it difficult is one can have a test result of 160 first thing in the morning and then have a proper breakfast but still have a blood sugar spike up to 400 and 500 hundred. The cause is the body is not making insulin or not making enough insulin. The solution is medicine, usually metformin. If one cannot control their diabetes with metformin then other medicines are prescribed, then insulin and then other types of medicine can be given. How much and when depends upon a particular person's ability to regulate their blood sugar reading.
A person's diet and weight and exercise regime has a lot to do with their diabetes. In my case I was able to control mine through diet for many years. I lost 50 pounds and when I retired I embarked on a rigorous exercise program. I thought I was fine until my next doctor's visit but I wasn't. I began taking insulin. I was warned that insulin would probably cause me to gain some weight. It did., Over the next few years I gained 34 pounds but only had to take a token amount of insulin. But in the last year my ability to control my blood sugar readings was almost nil. My doctor but me on Invokana as well as increased my insulin usage. It seemed my diabetes got worse. My doctor increased how often I take insulin and prescribed another medication. Invokana is expensive and so is the additional medication. In fact the two medications together is twice my monthly disposable income.
I made a decision. i was not going to allow diabetes to control me. Even though I exercise everyday for at least an hour and I had been losing weight (13 pounds in three months) my diabetes was winning the battle for my health. I made another change in my diet. It has been hard. I'll have to wait to find out if I continue to lose weight but my morning blood sugar reading has dropped from an average of 220 to 95. My last two have been below 90 so I'll have to be careful not to let it drop too low. I'm really encouraged by the results.
I'm not saying I have the problem under control. It's still to early to tell. All I can say for now is that things are better.
Sunday, May 06, 2018
Teacher of the year shares speech Trump wouldn't let her read to reporters
I am a Republican but I also am a Christian. As a Republican I do believe in having a strong business economy so people will have jobs, earn a good living, and provide for themselves. I did believe we needed health care reform as we should be able to purchase descent health care no matter where we work but that's pretty much it for me.
As a Christian I do have a lot of sympathy and empathy for others. I agree that immigrants and refuges have a right to the same benefits of being American as Americans do except for voting and office holding. But I also think that if you are a citizen of another country, the country you are a citizen of is the one responsible for you. If you break into my house, I'm not going to feed and clothe you and see that you have an education and a job. I'm going to call the police and you will be arrested.
It is expensive yet humane that this country does jail people for long periods of time for being here illegally but does provide them transportation back to their home. How would you feel if someone broke into your house and all the police did was give them a ride home? The police won't give you a ride to work if your car broke down. They won't give your kids a ride to school if they miss the bus and your spouse is driving the only car in the family. What if we treated illegal immigrants exactly the same as their home countries would treat you if you decided to take up residence there without the legal right to do so?
I understand why people want to live in America and I understand that they are human just like me and I also understand they are willing to do the jobs that most Americans are unwilling to do. If allowing anyone who wants to live here just move here is the way Americans think it should be then let our laws reflect that. In order for a society to function properly we must have laws to govern behavior and for that society to survive we must have citizen that obey those laws. Just because you disagree with the law does not give you the right to violate that law. It does give you the right to attempt to change that law.
Saturday, May 05, 2018
Staycation
My favorite way of taking a vacation is a one day road trip. Occasionally my wife and I will stay over night somewhere, as we did Thursday night in our trip to Kure beach. The weather was perfect, the beaches clean, and the travel uneventful except for one incident of someone entering Andrew Jackson Hwy's North bound lane heading South. I didn't get to see the outcome of that event but I do hope it was uneventful.
My wife and I had a great time. The walk on the beach was really nice, the fishing was great, the motel room was comfortable, and all the events were enjoyable. In fact, those two days were some of the most enjoyable of my life. Still, it was nice to get home.
My wife and I had a great time. The walk on the beach was really nice, the fishing was great, the motel room was comfortable, and all the events were enjoyable. In fact, those two days were some of the most enjoyable of my life. Still, it was nice to get home.
Monday, April 30, 2018
My Advise To Younger People
"The Chickens always come home to roast" the old saying goes. "You are what you eat", states another.
What do these old saying have to do we advise to young people? I'm glad you asked.
I've got common health problems: high blood pressure, diabetes, and a few others, mostly caused by improper eating. When I was young I worked hard so didn't think much of exercising and I had bad eating habits. Often I'd have a light breakfast if I had breakfast at all and fast food for lunch. I had a nice supper followed by desert. After I received a promotion and began to travel my eating habits got worse. Often I didn't have time for breakfast and it was almost always a burger for lunch. But once I got home, usually late in the day, I seemed so hungry I just couldn't seem to stop eating.
I told myself that I was still young and once I got older I would develop better eating habits. I did get older and I have adopted better eating habits but much to late. I thought I was fine: just a little overweight but once I got into a situation where I had steady regular hours then I could eat properly. I was shocked when we had a health clinic at work and I discovered I was in sad shape.
My advise: develop good habits now and avoid the health pitfalls later. They will come and then it's almost always to late.
What do these old saying have to do we advise to young people? I'm glad you asked.
I've got common health problems: high blood pressure, diabetes, and a few others, mostly caused by improper eating. When I was young I worked hard so didn't think much of exercising and I had bad eating habits. Often I'd have a light breakfast if I had breakfast at all and fast food for lunch. I had a nice supper followed by desert. After I received a promotion and began to travel my eating habits got worse. Often I didn't have time for breakfast and it was almost always a burger for lunch. But once I got home, usually late in the day, I seemed so hungry I just couldn't seem to stop eating.
I told myself that I was still young and once I got older I would develop better eating habits. I did get older and I have adopted better eating habits but much to late. I thought I was fine: just a little overweight but once I got into a situation where I had steady regular hours then I could eat properly. I was shocked when we had a health clinic at work and I discovered I was in sad shape.
My advise: develop good habits now and avoid the health pitfalls later. They will come and then it's almost always to late.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
fishing trip
Left the house at 7 am for a leisure fishing trip with some friends at a private pond. Al got a strike before his bait had a chance to get completely wet. But things settled down as quickly as they began. Mark caught one then Al caught a few more, including a nice size bass. Even the preacher snagged a couple after the fish began to bite around 10 o'clock when the weather began to warm up. As for me, I was having problems associated with my recent medical exam and had to excuse myself from the trip just as the fishing was getting really good.
Still, I enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine . Looking forward to the next trip.
Still, I enjoyed the fresh air and sunshine . Looking forward to the next trip.
Cherry tree disappointment
In 2016 I ordered a cherry tree that was a universal pollinator and GUARENTEED to produce cherries the very first year. What I received was a five foot stick. It did grow some limbs the first year but the tree was only an offshoot of the original after the first year and last year that shoot grew to about three feet high. This spring that shoot was just a dead stick with a few signs of life at the very bottom of the stick. Today I declared the cherry tree officially dead.
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
Apple trees, cedar apple rust and life.
We are studying fruit in Sunday School. Fruit, of course, is the fruit of the Spirit. The first lesson we talked about how to plant a tree to allow the tree to develop a healthy root system. I have observed that some people seem to be doing things right but never mature as Christians. it seems like the sins of this world have a hold on them and they just can't seem to let go. The cedar apple rust life cycle reminds me of what many people go through. They may be well grounded in the principals of their faith. They study the bible, attend church, pray, and are involved in church activities the way they should be but they lack the fruit that a mature Christian should produce. The cycle of sin in their lives deforms them. it takes outside intervention and a good treatment program to help these people survive and then thrive.
So very often instead of offering struggling Christians a helping hand we criticize and belittle them or just ignore them and they eventually succumb to the disease and die off. The bible says that unproductive trees should be dug around, dunged, and pruned to give them the opportunity to grow. Scripture teaches us that we should love our brethren so we should be there to love and support them and to help them conquer their sin problem so that they may mature and bear good fruit.
So very often instead of offering struggling Christians a helping hand we criticize and belittle them or just ignore them and they eventually succumb to the disease and die off. The bible says that unproductive trees should be dug around, dunged, and pruned to give them the opportunity to grow. Scripture teaches us that we should love our brethren so we should be there to love and support them and to help them conquer their sin problem so that they may mature and bear good fruit.
cedar apple rust
The galls on cedar/juniper trees opened today after the heavy rains continuing the cedar apple rust life. Cedar apple rust follows a two year life cycle and will severely deformed apple trees and it's fruit. The first years I had my apple trees they were heavily infected so I have been using a fruit tree spray with mixed success. I recently discovered the most effective methods to eliminate the disease is to spray cedar trees from August 15th through October 15 every two weeks, and to remove any galls (dark brown hard balls) from cedar trees. The best method is to remove any cedar trees within a 3 mile radius of the apple trees but that is impossible in most cases. Spraying the apple trees every two weeks starting in spring when the apple trees come out of dormancy until after the galls break open will control the spread of the disease.
I removed several galls from my cedar trees but I missed one small one. As soon as the rain subsides I will spray my trees again and then one more application in two weeks. I hope that I can minimize or prevent a re-infection this spring. Last years the disease wasn't as bad as in previous years and the deformed trees are beginning to recover. Most of them have apples this year and my healthier trees are loaded for the first time. Maybe I'll have enough fruit so that the birds and squirrels won't eat all my fruit.
I removed several galls from my cedar trees but I missed one small one. As soon as the rain subsides I will spray my trees again and then one more application in two weeks. I hope that I can minimize or prevent a re-infection this spring. Last years the disease wasn't as bad as in previous years and the deformed trees are beginning to recover. Most of them have apples this year and my healthier trees are loaded for the first time. Maybe I'll have enough fruit so that the birds and squirrels won't eat all my fruit.
prostrate Biopsy
Monday, April 23, 2018 at 2 pm I had an appointment for a prostrate biopsy. It was 2:40 when I was called to go back. First thing was a urine test then the nurse had me fill out a questionnaire and then described what I was going to go through. Before disrobing I was given a hinny shot of antibiotics. The needle was long and the syringe was a big fat tube and it seemed like the nurse had to push forever to empty the contents into me. There was just the initial sting when the needle was first inserted but it wasn't all that unpleasant.
Afterwards I disrobed and place a paper sheet over me the laid on my left side with my butt hanging slightly off the exam table. I was administered a numbing gel which I have no idea what was numbed. A scope was inserted in me and was twisted around in circles. I saw the nurse hand the doctor this big plastic tube, bright green. It reminded me of the color of a cheap water pistol. It seemed to me it was about eight inches long and about two inches in diameter. It help a spring, a triggering mechanism, and a long needle. When the trigger was pulled the needle sprang forward with a loud click.
I believe the trigger was pulled about a dozen times, then I was told to lay on my back for about five minutes. The entire procedure lasted about 10 minutes (counting from the time the doctor came into the room and I was allowed to leave. It took a few minutes to check out and after I left it took another 35 minutes to drive home. It was about four o'clock when I walked in the door.
I was returning to normalcy by that time and I felt as if I had had a firecracker exploded in my butt and then my butthole set on fire for a couple of seconds. standing up was unpleasant and sitting down was done with caution and discomfort, to put it mildly. I had taken an extra soaker pad from the doctors office and stuffed in my underwear and I'm glad I did ; otherwise I might have ruined a pair of pants and my car seat.
When I go to the bathroom my urine is initially pink and I was told that for ne next month or so my sperm will be pink.
I was less sore on Tuesday and so far I fell normal today. I just have to be careful not to strain myself or the bleeding could increase. I kept one bit of information from the doctor and that is the medicine I'm taking for my AMD which is a cancer drug that prevents blood from clotting so cancer cells can't multiple. I don't have cancer but I do have AMD (adult related muscular degeneration) or bleeding behind the eye. That medication can affect my ability to stop bleeding from surgical procedures.
Afterwards I disrobed and place a paper sheet over me the laid on my left side with my butt hanging slightly off the exam table. I was administered a numbing gel which I have no idea what was numbed. A scope was inserted in me and was twisted around in circles. I saw the nurse hand the doctor this big plastic tube, bright green. It reminded me of the color of a cheap water pistol. It seemed to me it was about eight inches long and about two inches in diameter. It help a spring, a triggering mechanism, and a long needle. When the trigger was pulled the needle sprang forward with a loud click.
I believe the trigger was pulled about a dozen times, then I was told to lay on my back for about five minutes. The entire procedure lasted about 10 minutes (counting from the time the doctor came into the room and I was allowed to leave. It took a few minutes to check out and after I left it took another 35 minutes to drive home. It was about four o'clock when I walked in the door.
I was returning to normalcy by that time and I felt as if I had had a firecracker exploded in my butt and then my butthole set on fire for a couple of seconds. standing up was unpleasant and sitting down was done with caution and discomfort, to put it mildly. I had taken an extra soaker pad from the doctors office and stuffed in my underwear and I'm glad I did ; otherwise I might have ruined a pair of pants and my car seat.
When I go to the bathroom my urine is initially pink and I was told that for ne next month or so my sperm will be pink.
I was less sore on Tuesday and so far I fell normal today. I just have to be careful not to strain myself or the bleeding could increase. I kept one bit of information from the doctor and that is the medicine I'm taking for my AMD which is a cancer drug that prevents blood from clotting so cancer cells can't multiple. I don't have cancer but I do have AMD (adult related muscular degeneration) or bleeding behind the eye. That medication can affect my ability to stop bleeding from surgical procedures.
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
The Ugly Coded Critique of Chick-Fil-A's Christianity Stephen L. Carter 4
A New Yorker wrote an article in response to Chick-fill A's building restaurants in New York as 'creepy Christianity" Stephen L. Carter responded by claiming that to call Christianity creepy was in
de facto calling black women creepy. He concluded that since black women are more likely to be Christian than any other segment of society that to insult Christianity is insulting them. He explained that since 60% of blacks that are Christian are women then black women make up the largest segment of believers.
That rezoning reminds me of the test questions that goes like this: If A is true and B is true then C has to be true, To conclude that that formula is always true is not the result of good logic. Mr. Carter made the following application: If women are more likely to be Christian and black women make up a higher percentage of the black population that call themselves Christian then Christianity is a black women religion..
Mr. Carter ignored the fact that blacks make of 15% of the population so if there is a population of 100 women then only 15 black women. If 60% are Christian than that means 9 out of 100 Christian women are black. If only 20% of the remaining women called themselves Christian we still have the fact that 17 Christian women would not be black or almost twice as many non-black Christian women as white Christian women.
I'm assuming Mr. Carter didn't do well on the math and logic parts of his college board or IQ tests in general.
But the biggest error I want to point out in Mr. Carter's article is that insulting Christianity is insulting Christ not his followers.
de facto calling black women creepy. He concluded that since black women are more likely to be Christian than any other segment of society that to insult Christianity is insulting them. He explained that since 60% of blacks that are Christian are women then black women make up the largest segment of believers.
That rezoning reminds me of the test questions that goes like this: If A is true and B is true then C has to be true, To conclude that that formula is always true is not the result of good logic. Mr. Carter made the following application: If women are more likely to be Christian and black women make up a higher percentage of the black population that call themselves Christian then Christianity is a black women religion..
Mr. Carter ignored the fact that blacks make of 15% of the population so if there is a population of 100 women then only 15 black women. If 60% are Christian than that means 9 out of 100 Christian women are black. If only 20% of the remaining women called themselves Christian we still have the fact that 17 Christian women would not be black or almost twice as many non-black Christian women as white Christian women.
I'm assuming Mr. Carter didn't do well on the math and logic parts of his college board or IQ tests in general.
But the biggest error I want to point out in Mr. Carter's article is that insulting Christianity is insulting Christ not his followers.
Monday, April 23, 2018
Media crucifying Shania Twain
She was caught off guard on a question of American politics (she's Canadian). I couldn't give an answer if asked about Canadian politics. We have become a nation of overly tolerant and overly sensitive people. When this country was ruled by white men our armies were made up of white men. Yea, it was discriminatory not to let black people into the military and it sure is chauvinistic to exclude women from combat roles and lets not let the sexually confused people fight for their country. How closed mined of the white ruling class to only allow their sons to fight the wars and die for our country. Since being white, male, and Republican seems to be the lowest form of life in the United States of America in the 21st century many the population of this country that feels discriminated against should serve in the military and let the white boys stay home. Give Miley Cyrus an M-16 and put her on the front lines in Iraq. Why should it be that straight white men be the only ones allowed to die for our country.
If there isn't enough to fill the ranks, then round up the gang members, drop them behind military lines and tell them whatever territory they capture is theirs and once they toppled the government they can make whatever laws they want to. maybe while we are at it we can sent all the ones who think drugs should be legal to support the gang soldiers for three squares and all the pot they can smoke.
I fought my war and I think it is about time all those who don't like my idea of what America should be to take their turn defending this country. I was willing to die for them. They should be willing to die for me.
If there isn't enough to fill the ranks, then round up the gang members, drop them behind military lines and tell them whatever territory they capture is theirs and once they toppled the government they can make whatever laws they want to. maybe while we are at it we can sent all the ones who think drugs should be legal to support the gang soldiers for three squares and all the pot they can smoke.
I fought my war and I think it is about time all those who don't like my idea of what America should be to take their turn defending this country. I was willing to die for them. They should be willing to die for me.
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Tennesse Statue and 14 baby boys
Odd headline I agree but the headline is composed of two stories in the news I found interesting. Some in the state of Tennessee want to erect a statue in honor of all the children who lost their lives via abortion. Sometimes life deals us cruel circumstances and we don't always get a do over. In fact more often than not we have to play the cards we were dealt.
Apparently a lot of women become pregnant who didn't want to be pregnant or who changed their minds after becoming pregnant. Raising a child is a serious responsibility as well as an expensive one. Few people today get pregnant by accident. If a woman feels so strongly that "It's my body"
that they use that as an excuse for an abortion and rationalizes that her quality of life would suffer because she gives birth then perhaps she should have given more careful consideration to having sex, I doubt that it's a secret as to where babies come from and as to how they are created. There are so many birth control methods available to women and men, I have a hard time understanding this unwanted pregnancy thing. I also have a hard time with believing it is a woman's right to kill her fetus but after the fetus is born she can be charged with murder if she kills it. What's the difference?
Whether inside of her or outside of her it's the same being with the same responsibilities and expenses. The father has no say so if the woman wants to kill her child while in the womb but can be held liable for care of the child after birth. That's not exactly fair either.
Oh, the other story? A couple just gave birth to their 14th child, all of which are boys. That brings up an interesting question. How come we say that "they are pregnant" but only she gets to determine
what happens to the baby before birth? Any way, at the end of the story the couple comments "It's about the baby."
Yea, that's it. It should be about the baby.
Apparently a lot of women become pregnant who didn't want to be pregnant or who changed their minds after becoming pregnant. Raising a child is a serious responsibility as well as an expensive one. Few people today get pregnant by accident. If a woman feels so strongly that "It's my body"
that they use that as an excuse for an abortion and rationalizes that her quality of life would suffer because she gives birth then perhaps she should have given more careful consideration to having sex, I doubt that it's a secret as to where babies come from and as to how they are created. There are so many birth control methods available to women and men, I have a hard time understanding this unwanted pregnancy thing. I also have a hard time with believing it is a woman's right to kill her fetus but after the fetus is born she can be charged with murder if she kills it. What's the difference?
Whether inside of her or outside of her it's the same being with the same responsibilities and expenses. The father has no say so if the woman wants to kill her child while in the womb but can be held liable for care of the child after birth. That's not exactly fair either.
Oh, the other story? A couple just gave birth to their 14th child, all of which are boys. That brings up an interesting question. How come we say that "they are pregnant" but only she gets to determine
what happens to the baby before birth? Any way, at the end of the story the couple comments "It's about the baby."
Yea, that's it. It should be about the baby.
Yard Sale
While our yard sale was a success and there is still money to be made from other sources, there was a lot of stuff left and the goal of $1500.00 wasn't meet. We have as lot to donate to good will, some furniture that needs a little refinishing to make someone a really nice addition to their home, and hopefully a antique store will take some of the home décor items, especially the lead crystal items.
We still have a dresser, a bunk bed set, several bed sets and an assortment of bedroom furniture
for sale. If interested check out pictures at the church websites (Academy Street Baptist) or give our pastor a call.
We still have a dresser, a bunk bed set, several bed sets and an assortment of bedroom furniture
for sale. If interested check out pictures at the church websites (Academy Street Baptist) or give our pastor a call.
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Tuesday, April 17, 2018
Walmart steps up battle with Amazon
How you feel about Walmart is your business but I am personally not a fan. I do like Amazon.com though. Walmart says it allows customer to pickup and return items ordered on line at a store. Big Whoop. If I wanted to go to Walmart I wouldn't be shopping on line. I live in a small town so I either go to Walmart, go to a larger city or shop on line.
I'm not going to order my toothpaste, mouthwash, or morning glory seeds on line so I will make that trip to Walmart for those kind of items. For just about everything else, there is Amazon. They drop things off at my house and if the item isn't what it should be then I ask for a return label print it off and ship the package back. I don't have to make a special trip. There are plenty of drop off points on my way to just about any where I'm going. Walmart acts like they are doing me a favor by letting me pick an item up at their store but they are making me drive to a location to retrieve a package so they don't have to pay an outside carrier to deliver the package and as a way to get me to buy something else while I'm there.
The place I would have to go to retrieve a package is conveniently located in the back of the store. To return an item one has to get in a usually long line. No thanks. I go to the gym every other day and to the swimming pool on alternative days and there are drop off boxes near each location, each much closer to me than Walmart.
There is one company that should have been Amazon and that is Sears. It started off as a mail order company almost from the beginning. It could have been an easy transition for them to switch from catalog sales to an e-commerce business but they had their head stuck up their own rear and missed a golden opportunity. Walmart wants to dictate to us how we shop and to me have proven to be a greedy uncaring company. They don't care about their employees or the communities in which they are located. Walmart is going to have to change more than their website before they gain me as a customer.
I'm not going to order my toothpaste, mouthwash, or morning glory seeds on line so I will make that trip to Walmart for those kind of items. For just about everything else, there is Amazon. They drop things off at my house and if the item isn't what it should be then I ask for a return label print it off and ship the package back. I don't have to make a special trip. There are plenty of drop off points on my way to just about any where I'm going. Walmart acts like they are doing me a favor by letting me pick an item up at their store but they are making me drive to a location to retrieve a package so they don't have to pay an outside carrier to deliver the package and as a way to get me to buy something else while I'm there.
The place I would have to go to retrieve a package is conveniently located in the back of the store. To return an item one has to get in a usually long line. No thanks. I go to the gym every other day and to the swimming pool on alternative days and there are drop off boxes near each location, each much closer to me than Walmart.
There is one company that should have been Amazon and that is Sears. It started off as a mail order company almost from the beginning. It could have been an easy transition for them to switch from catalog sales to an e-commerce business but they had their head stuck up their own rear and missed a golden opportunity. Walmart wants to dictate to us how we shop and to me have proven to be a greedy uncaring company. They don't care about their employees or the communities in which they are located. Walmart is going to have to change more than their website before they gain me as a customer.
Sunday, April 15, 2018
up coming yard sale.
Academy Street Baptist is having a yard sale next Saturday, That's April 21, 2018 and it will happen between the hours of 7 am and 2 pm. If you want it we probably have it.
New Doctor
My eye care has been outsourced for the past 15 months is now being done in house. The procedures followed were different and I received two shots instead on one but my eye has bothered me less than the other shots. Only problem is my eye ball is blood red.
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Where science, evolution and Scriptures agree.
Some people believe that science proves the scriptures to be untrue and that evolution and creation are opposed to each other but that isn't exactly so.
Science and theory and scripture all agree that everything that was created was created in a brief period of time, that the earth was created first (for if plants and animals were created first, there would have been nothing for plants to grow in or animals to stand upon), and that man came last. If man didn't come last then evolution would be devolution. So science, theory, and scripture all agree as to the order of creation.
Science and theory and scripture all agree that everything that was created was created in a brief period of time, that the earth was created first (for if plants and animals were created first, there would have been nothing for plants to grow in or animals to stand upon), and that man came last. If man didn't come last then evolution would be devolution. So science, theory, and scripture all agree as to the order of creation.
Monday, April 09, 2018
Trumps cutting food stamp program
A savings of 130 billion dollars is expected over the next ten years and stricter guidelines of who is eligible to receive assistance is proposed.
While working on my book I got to know the workings on the streets. I also worked in a grocery store and dealt with the food stamp program from that angle too. It really bothered me to see people come in buying jumbo shrimp and crab legs and pay for them with food stamps. It was also disheartening to see prostitutes paying for some one else's groceries with their food stamps in exchange for cash. The customer gets $100.00 worth of groceries for $80.00 and the food stamp recipient gets cash to spend on drugs and or alcohol. Before the EBT card one just traded stamps for drugs. Going to the EBT cards didn't stop the fraud; it just made the crooks get a little more creative.
Often the homeless mothers would have multiple children and would have several hundred dollars a week for food yet they didn't have custody of the children. Legally, they were the primary care giver but often it was family members or close family friends who actually took care of the children but the irresponsible mothers collect the money.
It might be a good idea if recipients were required to bring the children into the office and also to pass a drug test before being issued their money credits. A large percentage couldn't do either I believe.
While working on my book I got to know the workings on the streets. I also worked in a grocery store and dealt with the food stamp program from that angle too. It really bothered me to see people come in buying jumbo shrimp and crab legs and pay for them with food stamps. It was also disheartening to see prostitutes paying for some one else's groceries with their food stamps in exchange for cash. The customer gets $100.00 worth of groceries for $80.00 and the food stamp recipient gets cash to spend on drugs and or alcohol. Before the EBT card one just traded stamps for drugs. Going to the EBT cards didn't stop the fraud; it just made the crooks get a little more creative.
Often the homeless mothers would have multiple children and would have several hundred dollars a week for food yet they didn't have custody of the children. Legally, they were the primary care giver but often it was family members or close family friends who actually took care of the children but the irresponsible mothers collect the money.
It might be a good idea if recipients were required to bring the children into the office and also to pass a drug test before being issued their money credits. A large percentage couldn't do either I believe.
Friday, April 06, 2018
Observations from the news
Even famous people have a hard time communicating in English. I guess that should rather be especially famous people have a hard time communicating in English. Who refers to their four year
by his first and last name four or five times in the same short paragraph? It seems statements by sports stars and celebrities are full of grammatical errors and short, choppy incoherent thoughts. Who would have thunk it?
Our revival services are over at Academy Street Baptist and it remains to be seen if we are really revived or not. We met our attendance goals and our spiritual goals. Maybe we can still get our five converts if we are really more dedicated to service to our Lord and savior.
It seems the news is full of violence this morning: a pro fighter attacking a bus, a homeless man attacking a car with a four year old inside, an explosive device in a Sam's club, a women shooter at "You Tube", a young man sentenced to 63 years in prison stemming from an incident of a robbery gone bad. Maybe we should change our focus in reporting news. Instead of saying "one killed in robbery" we should report 5 survived violent incident. Anyway, the news is crazy and depressing this morning.
Another interesting story is a lady is suing for the right to give "the finger" to the President of the United States. I think it is a terrible idea. Why do we act like spoiled brats when our candidate loses an election/ The members of the other party are not your enemy: they just have a different idea of where we should be heading and how to get there. We are not going to solve our problems by displaying a severed Presidents head or flipping the President the bird, or calling each other names.
There are some hot button issues we are never going to compromise our views on but most of our differences can be settled by honest, open dialogue but we will never get to that point by calling each other names.
A lesbian has sued her ex-wife for shared custody of their child. First, the child isn't "theirs' because only one of them had been pregnant and the other one didn't have anything to do with the child's birth. The father is a sperm donor. I believe sperm donors should share in the cost of raising their children because they are the biological parent.
On a more personal note, I had a craving for a bowl of ice cream and some pineapple. I gave in to my cravings yesterday. I'm paying for my indiscretion today by way of an extra high blood sugar reading.
by his first and last name four or five times in the same short paragraph? It seems statements by sports stars and celebrities are full of grammatical errors and short, choppy incoherent thoughts. Who would have thunk it?
Our revival services are over at Academy Street Baptist and it remains to be seen if we are really revived or not. We met our attendance goals and our spiritual goals. Maybe we can still get our five converts if we are really more dedicated to service to our Lord and savior.
It seems the news is full of violence this morning: a pro fighter attacking a bus, a homeless man attacking a car with a four year old inside, an explosive device in a Sam's club, a women shooter at "You Tube", a young man sentenced to 63 years in prison stemming from an incident of a robbery gone bad. Maybe we should change our focus in reporting news. Instead of saying "one killed in robbery" we should report 5 survived violent incident. Anyway, the news is crazy and depressing this morning.
Another interesting story is a lady is suing for the right to give "the finger" to the President of the United States. I think it is a terrible idea. Why do we act like spoiled brats when our candidate loses an election/ The members of the other party are not your enemy: they just have a different idea of where we should be heading and how to get there. We are not going to solve our problems by displaying a severed Presidents head or flipping the President the bird, or calling each other names.
There are some hot button issues we are never going to compromise our views on but most of our differences can be settled by honest, open dialogue but we will never get to that point by calling each other names.
A lesbian has sued her ex-wife for shared custody of their child. First, the child isn't "theirs' because only one of them had been pregnant and the other one didn't have anything to do with the child's birth. The father is a sperm donor. I believe sperm donors should share in the cost of raising their children because they are the biological parent.
On a more personal note, I had a craving for a bowl of ice cream and some pineapple. I gave in to my cravings yesterday. I'm paying for my indiscretion today by way of an extra high blood sugar reading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)