This morning I was praying for our country that God would provide guidance to our leaders and guide them back to the Constitution as our Founders intended. God put into my mind a comparison between the United States and Israel which I want to share with you all.
Israel (the land) was given to the Israelites by God and God told them to go take the land and drive out those currently living there. The Jews did as God said (sort of). They failed to complete the task which caused them much trouble as history unfolded.
Israel was established as a theocracy and God promised the Israelites that they would always own the land but they may not always be in the land. Their presence in the land was tied to their faithfulness to God. God did care for Israel providing for all their needs but as time went by they went through periods of faithfulness frequently followed by unfaithfulness followed by punishments from God followed by repentance and periods of faithfulness and on and on. As are all humans, the Israelites were fickle people.
Theocracy didn't follow the patterns of the world and the nations/tribes around Israel had human kings. So, the Jews decided they wanted a human king so they would be no different than their neighbors. Their faith was truly fickle. They had the best possible ruler - God. Yet, they chose to have a human king.
As kings came and went, some were good and did right in the eyes of the Lord but many more did bad and set up idols and worshiped them and led the entire country in unfaithfulness.
God is patient and good and full of lovingkindness but he would only stand for so much. Finally, he took the Jews out of Israel, the land, and took the Northern Kingdom (Israel) to Assyria and the Southern Kingdom (Judah) to Babylon.
About 70 years later, the Jews were allowed to return to their land but their newfound faithfulness didn't last long. They continued in their pattern of faithfulness, unfaithfulness, punishment, repentance, faithfulness and so on. Eventually, they were again removed from their land and scattered across the world. Although in 1948 an official state of Israel was again established, it does not include all the land that God gave to Israel and many many Jews are still scattered around the world. It is in the end times of Jesus second coming that Israel will again have all its land and Jerusalem will be the shining star and there will be peace in the world.
Phew, I felt a need to include this very brief overview before I got to the main point as it relates to Israel.
In the July/August 2010 issue of the Israel My Glory magazine an article titled "Turning Their Backs on a Jewish Israel" by Steve Herzig made me sad but also made me think about the Jews wanting a human king many centuries ago. Mr. Herzig quotes Meyrav Wurmser, who was the executive director of the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI). Ms. Wurmser talks about a cultural civil war in Israel where one side (Zionists) would like to see the country continue as a Jewish state (the founding idea of the state) while the other side (post-Zionists) believe Zionism is winding down. The post-Zionists believe Israel has no right to exist as a Jewish state and many post-Zionists are Jews! They want to be more like their neighbors just like olden days when they wanted a human king! They see the Jewish state as destructive, objectionable, and outdated. They want to do away with the Jewish flag, the menorah, the Hebrew language, and the Sabbath and dietary laws. Interestingly, Mr. Herzig points out that post Zionism was born in the halls of left-wing academia having first been seen in university classrooms, research journals, and coffee shops.
This all sounds kind of familiar to me. Look at the history of America. While we can't claim as close a relationship with God as the Jews have, many of our founding fathers came to this country to escape religious persecution. Our founding documents and constitution were based on a Judeo-Christian principles. We grew and prospered. Then along the way, we had presidents and congresses who were less than faithful to our constitution and the country suffered. Other presidents and congresses repented and turned us back to our constitution and we prospered.
In my lifetime, I have not seen an administration that has done more than the current one to destroy all that our country has stood for since its inception.The current administration is supported by a section of our society and a set of wealthy and influential people. If you replace the Jewish-specific words in the highlighted sentences above and replace them with America-specific words, you have the very same situation in America today. In my opinion, that is very very sad both for Israel and America. Is it any wonder that the current administration would like nothing better than to dump Israel and side with the Muslim world against the State of Israel.
"And, I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." --Genesis 12:3 (NASB)
God is not finished with Israel nor the remainder of the world. Think of the geography in the Middle East. Israel, as it stands today, is one very small Jewish nation, surrounded almost entirely by countries who have either loudly or quietly vowed to destroy Israel. Could they not have done so already if they wanted to? What stops them? I believe, although God is not happy with Israel, He still has his hand over Israel keeping it safe for the most part. I think He is using the United States for that purpose. I firmly believe if the United States dumps Israel, God will curse us as he promised in the above quote from Genesis. God is serious. He does what he says He will do.
I think both Israel and the United States are in big trouble right now. We are both being totally unfaithful and we will both be punished. But, on the bright side, God has big plans for Israel, maybe not in our lifetime, but I'm excited about the eventual future when Jesus Christ comes again and makes it all right.
Blessings,
Mary
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
UP or DOWN; You Choose!
In BSF this past week we studied Isaiah 14. Question 10 of the homework was:
Understanding that 14:9-11 gives a picture of the afterlife apart from God, describe the picture of the eternal existence for the wicked. What conclusions could you draw from this about the continued existence of all people after death?
"Sheol from beneath is excited over you to meet you when you come; It arouses for you the spirits of the dead, all the leaders of the earth; It raises all the kings of the nations from their thrones. They will all respond and say to you, 'Even you have been made weak as we, you have become like us. Your pomp and the music of your harps have been brought down to Sheol; Maggots are spread out as your bed beneath you and worms are your covering.'" --Isaiah 14:9-11 (NASB)
And,
"In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And, he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.' But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.' And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, that you send me to my father's house--for I have five brothers--in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' But he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!' But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead. --Luke 16:23-31 (NASB)
I already believed all this before we studied it but it never hurts to have it reinforced!
What I found very interesting is when I got home and checked my email, I found this picture which makes the decision pretty clear:
Make up your mind. Which direction are you taking?
Blessings,
Mary
Blessings,
Mary
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Spoiled Cows and Don't Play With Your Food
My friends in New York State will most likely laugh at me but the last few nights I've been cold. When I went out in the cool morning today, I drove past the field of cows near my house and thought about my childhood at Minuet Farm in Wappingers Falls, NY.
My father and mother owned a 24-acre farm which was just the right size for my family's needs during our growing-up years in the 1950s. My father worked full time at IBM in the plating department and took care of the animals and garden early mornings, evenings and weekends and my mother was a stay-at-home mom for many years as they raised their 3 children and provided a home for my maternal grandmother and grandfather. Once my father retired, my mother went to work full time.
We had one milk cow named Chancey and usually 2 Black Angus calves each year (1 for us and 1 for my cousin). There are many many stories about those days but with the chilly weather, one jumps to mind.
Our house was about a quarter mile and a steep hill from the barn. My father spoiled his cows terribly. He almost never got to eat his dinner all at one time. Most nights he would get half way through dinner before we'd hear pitiful mooing from the barnyard. Chancey was uncomfortable and wanted to be let in and milked. My father would leave his dinner and head to the barn to let Chancey in and milk her. Looking back on it now, I wonder why he didn't just let her in and milk her before dinner.
The winter had its own issues. Our cows were indeed spoiled; they did not like cold water and, of course, that's all that was available at the spigot outside the barn. So, my father, being the dear, kind man he was, would carry buckets of warm water from the house to the barn every winter day for the cows. I don't remember if he did that twice a day or only in the evening. I just really remember the day he had to come back and refill his buckets before he made it to the barn. He had slipped in the snow while he walked down the steep hill and fell spilling the water and creating a big icy spot. No complaints from him that I remember. He just filled those buckets with more warm water and headed back out to provide warm water for his cows. I think Chancey appreciated him because she gave us 8 quarts of milk in the morning and 8 quarts of milk each night which kept my mother busy pasteurizing milk, making butter, and the other things you do with milk and cream.
Sometimes when the weather was decent my brothers and I would go out in the barnyard and play with the young Black Angus calves. I think the cows enjoyed it as much as we did. As the calves grew, occasionally they would get a little more rambunctious than we were comfortable with so we'd jump in the watering trough until things calmed down a bit. As kids, we enjoyed our cows and, when the Black Angus calves were close to a year old, we ate them! That brings a whole new meaning to "don't play with your food."
There are many more memories and you may see them all before I am through. So, hang in there!
Blessings,
Mary
My father and mother owned a 24-acre farm which was just the right size for my family's needs during our growing-up years in the 1950s. My father worked full time at IBM in the plating department and took care of the animals and garden early mornings, evenings and weekends and my mother was a stay-at-home mom for many years as they raised their 3 children and provided a home for my maternal grandmother and grandfather. Once my father retired, my mother went to work full time.
We had one milk cow named Chancey and usually 2 Black Angus calves each year (1 for us and 1 for my cousin). There are many many stories about those days but with the chilly weather, one jumps to mind.
Our house was about a quarter mile and a steep hill from the barn. My father spoiled his cows terribly. He almost never got to eat his dinner all at one time. Most nights he would get half way through dinner before we'd hear pitiful mooing from the barnyard. Chancey was uncomfortable and wanted to be let in and milked. My father would leave his dinner and head to the barn to let Chancey in and milk her. Looking back on it now, I wonder why he didn't just let her in and milk her before dinner.
The winter had its own issues. Our cows were indeed spoiled; they did not like cold water and, of course, that's all that was available at the spigot outside the barn. So, my father, being the dear, kind man he was, would carry buckets of warm water from the house to the barn every winter day for the cows. I don't remember if he did that twice a day or only in the evening. I just really remember the day he had to come back and refill his buckets before he made it to the barn. He had slipped in the snow while he walked down the steep hill and fell spilling the water and creating a big icy spot. No complaints from him that I remember. He just filled those buckets with more warm water and headed back out to provide warm water for his cows. I think Chancey appreciated him because she gave us 8 quarts of milk in the morning and 8 quarts of milk each night which kept my mother busy pasteurizing milk, making butter, and the other things you do with milk and cream.
Sometimes when the weather was decent my brothers and I would go out in the barnyard and play with the young Black Angus calves. I think the cows enjoyed it as much as we did. As the calves grew, occasionally they would get a little more rambunctious than we were comfortable with so we'd jump in the watering trough until things calmed down a bit. As kids, we enjoyed our cows and, when the Black Angus calves were close to a year old, we ate them! That brings a whole new meaning to "don't play with your food."
There are many more memories and you may see them all before I am through. So, hang in there!
Blessings,
Mary
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Clouds of Praise
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth; Sing the glory of His name; Make His praise glorious. Say to God, "How awesome are Your works!" -- Psalm 66:1-3 (NASB)
Last night after I returned from teaching defensive driving in Burnet, TX, finishing up my paperwork and having something to eat, I was tired and sitting on the sofa half watching the NASCAR Nationwide race I had recorded earlier and reading the email that had accumulated during the day. I sat back on the sofa to take a break from email and it hit me that God has provided so completely for my needs. What a feeling of joy to know my God provides.
This morning in Bible Fellowship before the worship service, we were studying in Ephesians at a point where Paul praises God the Father. At the end of the lecture, our instructor asked a good question: Do we praise God enough? She echoed what I think is the response of many of us: No, we don't. We spend more time asking and less time praising.
As I drove home after the worship service, I got to thinking about the praise issue. God provides our needs and answers our prayers. Shouldn't we thank and praise Him? I think most of us do thank and praise but I suspect if we all sat down and listed our requests and our praises side by side, we'd find the request list would be way way longer than the thanks and praise list. I think we should work very hard on reversing that situation.
One way that I praise God is through clouds. I know, that sounds a bit weird. But, I don't think it is. I really like clouds. There are so many different sizes and shapes and colorations and speeds of movement. I associate clouds with God. They are especially noticeable when I'm driving to Burnet or Marble Falls fairly early in the morning on the days I teach defensive driving there. Traffic is usually light so it's a great opportunity to look at the clouds and praise God for their beauty. Just so you know I'm not cloud centric, I also use that opportunity to praise God for the many beautiful (and some not so beautiful) things in nature, for example, trees of many kinds, grasses (especially those that wave gently in the fall breezes), cows and horses and dogs and cats, huge mountains and delicate little flowers. His creations are many and varied - not to mention us. The Creator is amazing.
Back to clouds. God created clouds, but he used them in numerous situations as well. And, since I did this research for my BSF class a few weeks ago, I thought I'd include it here:
- When God was leading the Israelites out of Egypt and across the desert.
The Lord was going before them in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them on the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. -- Exodus 13:21-22 (NASB) - After God had spoken the 10 Commandments to the Israelites in the desert:
So the people stood at a distance, while Moses approached the thick cloud where God was. --Exodus 20:21 (NASB) - When Moses went back up the mountain to get the stone tablets from God:
Then Moses went up to the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. --Exodus 25:15 (NASB) - After the Tabernacle was completed in the desert and God entered:
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. --Exodus 40:34 (NASB) - When Jesus took Peter, James and John up a high mountain and Jesus was transfigured:
Then a cloud formed, over-shadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!" -- Mark 9:7 (NASB) - Jesus was talking about His second coming:
Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN CLOUDS with great power and glory.-- Mark 13:26 and repeated in Luke 21:27 (NASB) - At Jesus' ascension to Heaven:
And after He had said these things, He was lifted up which they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. --Acts 1:9 (NASB) - A search of the bible will show numerous other places where clouds are associated with God. If you are interested, try www.biblegateway.com. You can search for specific words, select verses to be displayed, select the version of the bible you want to use and even have the bible verses you select read to you. Cool Tool!
Blessings,
Mary
Friday, November 12, 2010
Incorrigible Humans
Our Precept Inductive Bible Study finished yesterday. Over the past 10 weeks we have studied the books of Ezra, Haggai and Nehemiah. Excellent study! We finished with Nehemiah yesterday. Nehemiah covered the period from about 445 B.C. to about 415 B.C. As I mentioned in a previous post, I adore Nehemiah; what a great leader he was.
Let's do a brief review (see my previous post God Uses Whoever He Chooses! (Oh, my, that rhymes . . .) dated October 31, 2010 for more details):
Let's do a brief review (see my previous post God Uses Whoever He Chooses! (Oh, my, that rhymes . . .) dated October 31, 2010 for more details):
- The Jews were in captivity in Babylon which was captured by Persia.
- The Persians let the Jews go back to Jerusalem.
- The Temple in Jerusalem was rebuilt - completed in 516 B.C.
- Ezra, a priest and scribe and lover of the Mosaic Law, went back to Jerusalem in 458 B.C. with the task of teaching the law and setting things up so everyone would follow the law.
- Over the next years the Jews began to fall away from adherence to the Law. They also made no attempt to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem or Jerusalem itself. They were more concerned with their own homes outside Jerusalem.
- In 444/445 B.C. Nehemiah got word from his brother that Jerusalem was still in shambles after all these years. Nehemiah was heart broken.
- Nehemiah got permission from King Artexerxes to return to Jerusalem as its governor to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem.
- Nehemiah was a great leader and got the job done. He also got the Jews back on track with their adherence to the Law. They restored their spiritual lives and had a really big celebration.
- Then in 432 B.C. Nehemiah returned to the King in Babylon. He was gone from Jerusalem for some number of years - probably at least 12 years.
- When Nehemiah return to Jerusalem, he found the Jews had returned to many of their old ways and the Levites had moved out of Jerusalem to work the fields because the people were not following the Law that required them to tithe their grain, wine, oil, animals, etc. to provide for the Levites.
- Nehemiah again went about the task of whipping the Jews back "into shape."
- If you continue to study the history of Israel, you will see that they didn't stay "in shape" and haven't until this day. In fact, today there is actually a small group of Jews (in Israel) who want to erase all signs of Judaism from their country (i.e., Star of David, Menorah, etc.) thinking that then the countries around them will accept them. This reminds us of early on when the Israelites weren't happy with being a theocracy and asked God to give them a human king which He did. They wanted to be more like the countries around them.
So, what's the point of listing all these things here? Just look at U.S. history, the history of most countries, most states, most organizations, most people, me, you. This pattern of "getting in shape" and then failing to follow through is a pattern that is repeated over and over and over again.
When our country was founded, we had a wonderful constitution (the Law). Over the years we have drifted farther and farther away from that Law. I'm hopeful we will get back on track although I'm not holding my breath. History does not bode well for that to happen.
What about people who break the law and go to jail later swearing they have learned their lesson and won't do it again. Some follow through on that but many do not and they end up back in jail.
What about us, you and me. Don't we sometimes make New Years resolutions? Do we follow through with those resolutions. Not so much. I just have to talk to my personal trainer to understand that, at least as it relates to exercise. Many people sign up in January but by the end of February, the ranks have thinned.
How many make resolutions that they will attend church every Sunday? Then what happens? Some stick with it and are blessed. But, many times that resolution is broken - too tired to get up, football games, fishing, you name it.
As human beings, we often seem not to be able to follow through on our commitments. It seems to me when I was growing up back in the dark ages more people did what they said they would do. Today, not so much.
I don't know why this is, but it is disheartening. How disappointed God must be when we promise to spend time with him every day and we don't or we promise to attend church every Sunday and we don't. And, yet, He loves us and continues to be faithful and patient with us. Of course, he already knows how we will act; it's no surprise to Him but he never abandons us. For that, I am truly thankful.
Blessings,
Mary
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Big Brother is Watching You (Really)
This morning I read part of an article in the AARP Magazine called "2020 Vision." This afternoon I found an item in my inbox pointing to a news item from World Net Daily by Bob Unruh called "Americans line up to join 'no-fly' list - Tolerance maxed out for TSA security's voyeurism, molestation, radiation blasts."
"What do these 2 items have in common," you may ask. Think 1984 by George Orwell. If you haven't read that book yet, you should. Animal Farm is another good one from George Orwell. I read both of these many years ago and don't remember the details but I do remember the "big idea."
"2020 Vision" invited us to "time-travel forward 10 years and look back at a decade of astonishing change." OK, I'm with them so far. Talk about robot butlers, microbes that can help digest food and extract calories more efficiently so we all can lose weight effortlessly, making downtown more suburbia-like, a body parts store (kind of), and other interesting (or not) stuff. Among all these items was a little jewel that made me really really think - about 1984.
"Your Home is Your Helper": This section of the article talks about the house of the future being able to know and respond to your desires with, for instance, TVs that determine your favorite programs and remind you to watch. We pretty much have that today in the form of DVRs. And, I like those. The article also talked about the possibilities of "Technological Watchdogs" that could keep an eye on the ill or elderly actually being able to sense a change in gait or a fall through special carpeting, for instance. The article goes on to talk about the possibility of these "Technological Watchdogs" being able to see how often you use your appliances and (I don't lie) monitor how many times you use your bathroom.
Think back to the discovery of nuclear energy for a minute. When we use nuclear energy to do peaceful, helpful things, it is excellent. But, when we use it to build destructive things like bombs, those who directly experience its effects don't think it's so excellent. So, it would be with these "Technological Watchdogs."
If these "Technological Watchdogs" can be "helpful" monitors, they can also be the means for government to keep an eye on and ultimately "control" the people - think 1984.
The "no-fly" list article confirmed what I already thought about the full body scanners now installed or being installed at many airports. This article is advocating that anyone flying over the Thanksgiving holiday opt out of having the new "full-body, nude-image scanners." The article describes how some of the images are being used (for example, in one country the screeners amuse themselves by looking at the images of nude women). If I understand correctly, if you don't want to be full-body scanned, you can opt for a pat down. But, from what this article says, it sounds like that's not a very good alternative since the pat downs are now, in many cases, more like gropings. In either event, one would likely feel violated. In addition, it seems you are subjected to a dose of radiation if you opt for the full-body scan.
It seems there may also be 4th Amendment issues as well. From the article:
"'The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.'"
"What do these 2 items have in common," you may ask. Think 1984 by George Orwell. If you haven't read that book yet, you should. Animal Farm is another good one from George Orwell. I read both of these many years ago and don't remember the details but I do remember the "big idea."
"2020 Vision" invited us to "time-travel forward 10 years and look back at a decade of astonishing change." OK, I'm with them so far. Talk about robot butlers, microbes that can help digest food and extract calories more efficiently so we all can lose weight effortlessly, making downtown more suburbia-like, a body parts store (kind of), and other interesting (or not) stuff. Among all these items was a little jewel that made me really really think - about 1984.
"Your Home is Your Helper": This section of the article talks about the house of the future being able to know and respond to your desires with, for instance, TVs that determine your favorite programs and remind you to watch. We pretty much have that today in the form of DVRs. And, I like those. The article also talked about the possibilities of "Technological Watchdogs" that could keep an eye on the ill or elderly actually being able to sense a change in gait or a fall through special carpeting, for instance. The article goes on to talk about the possibility of these "Technological Watchdogs" being able to see how often you use your appliances and (I don't lie) monitor how many times you use your bathroom.
Think back to the discovery of nuclear energy for a minute. When we use nuclear energy to do peaceful, helpful things, it is excellent. But, when we use it to build destructive things like bombs, those who directly experience its effects don't think it's so excellent. So, it would be with these "Technological Watchdogs."
If these "Technological Watchdogs" can be "helpful" monitors, they can also be the means for government to keep an eye on and ultimately "control" the people - think 1984.
The "no-fly" list article confirmed what I already thought about the full body scanners now installed or being installed at many airports. This article is advocating that anyone flying over the Thanksgiving holiday opt out of having the new "full-body, nude-image scanners." The article describes how some of the images are being used (for example, in one country the screeners amuse themselves by looking at the images of nude women). If I understand correctly, if you don't want to be full-body scanned, you can opt for a pat down. But, from what this article says, it sounds like that's not a very good alternative since the pat downs are now, in many cases, more like gropings. In either event, one would likely feel violated. In addition, it seems you are subjected to a dose of radiation if you opt for the full-body scan.
It seems there may also be 4th Amendment issues as well. From the article:
In a WND column, Faith2Action chief Janet Porter warned the video strip-searches are a banana peel on a slick slope.
"Voyeuristic equipment has been deployed at airports around the nation that more than violates your privacy – it violates the Constitution as well as child pornography and obscenity laws," she warned. "While the Fourth Amendment doesn't specifically mention 'electronic' strip searches, here's what it does say:
Is full-body scanning good or bad? Is it really for our safety or is it just one more case of the government taking more and more control? I don't have an answer to those questions. You can read the article here if you choose.
These two items coming together as they did to my house led me to think about another issue that is of concern: Government-Mandated Electronic Health Records. My doctor puts his patient records on a computer and I get a diskette with all the test reports, diagnoses, etc. on it in case I need them when I'm on a trip or whatever. But, the federal government doesn't have access to them. With the new Government-Mandated Electronic Health Records, the federal government will have access to our health information. Is that a good thing? I don't know but I don't think so. I think only my doctor(s) and I should have access to my medical information.
Even if we might think the government has a good reason to have access to our medical records, I get really suspicious when they say you have to report certain things but not others. I get even more suspicious when the things they want to see vs. the things they don't need to see don't make any sense to me. From the article "HHS: Government-Mandated Electronic Health Records Need 'NOT' Include Cancer Diagnoses--As Opposed to Obesity Ratings" by Matt Cover:
Hmmm . . . So, the government doesn't care if you have cancer or HIV/AIDS or an abortion but they do care if you are overweight? Sounds like more government control coming our way. Doesn't it? You can read the article in full here.
I think you know where I stand on these things now! Where do you stand?
Oh, on a happy note: from the 2020 Vision article, Jim Osborn, executive director of the Quality of Life Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University said they "found out recently that people prefer robots that apologize when they make a mistake."
Blessings,
Mary
Even if we might think the government has a good reason to have access to our medical records, I get really suspicious when they say you have to report certain things but not others. I get even more suspicious when the things they want to see vs. the things they don't need to see don't make any sense to me. From the article "HHS: Government-Mandated Electronic Health Records Need 'NOT' Include Cancer Diagnoses--As Opposed to Obesity Ratings" by Matt Cover:
HHS's EHR regulations say that every EHR system must, “Calculate body mass index. Automatically calculate and display body mass index (BMI) based on a patient’s height and weight.”
A cancer diagnosis is not the only significant health event that may be omitted from a person's EHR. HHS also says it is not mandating that health-care providers include an abortion or a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS on a person's EHR. Hmmm . . . So, the government doesn't care if you have cancer or HIV/AIDS or an abortion but they do care if you are overweight? Sounds like more government control coming our way. Doesn't it? You can read the article in full here.
I think you know where I stand on these things now! Where do you stand?
Oh, on a happy note: from the 2020 Vision article, Jim Osborn, executive director of the Quality of Life Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University said they "found out recently that people prefer robots that apologize when they make a mistake."
Blessings,
Mary
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Sneaky Aging and Collapsing Carriages
I've been busy and I've been a bit under the weather so I haven't posted anything in the past few days.
On November 8 I celebrated my 65th birthday. I guess that means legally I'm old. Funny - I don't feel any older today than I did on November 7. I think old age just sneaks up on you when you are not looking. I don't mean I'm feeling perfect - not at all. As I told the chiropractor last time I was there, I'd like to have a spinectomy and become a blob and just ooze along the floor. I'm guessing my back wouldn't hurt anymore but I'm sure there would be other problems. So, on second thought, I guess I'll keep my less-than-perfect spine and soldier on.
While my body thinks it is 50 one day and 80 the next, my mind does not seem to change much; it still thinks it's 19. That's usually a good thing because it keeps me young(er) than I otherwise would be.
Feeling not so good this week and having a milestone birthday led my 19 year old mind back to my mother's old school book, Magic Casements, compiled by George S. Carhart and Paul A. McGhee, East High School, New York, copyright 1928. It is a compilation of interesting poetry including such works as The Vagabond, Robin Hood and Allin a Dale, The Highwayman, The Walrus and the Carpenter, An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and one of my very favorites:
The Deacon's Masterpiece, or The Wonderful "One-Hoss Shay"
A Logical Story
On November 8 I celebrated my 65th birthday. I guess that means legally I'm old. Funny - I don't feel any older today than I did on November 7. I think old age just sneaks up on you when you are not looking. I don't mean I'm feeling perfect - not at all. As I told the chiropractor last time I was there, I'd like to have a spinectomy and become a blob and just ooze along the floor. I'm guessing my back wouldn't hurt anymore but I'm sure there would be other problems. So, on second thought, I guess I'll keep my less-than-perfect spine and soldier on.
While my body thinks it is 50 one day and 80 the next, my mind does not seem to change much; it still thinks it's 19. That's usually a good thing because it keeps me young(er) than I otherwise would be.
Feeling not so good this week and having a milestone birthday led my 19 year old mind back to my mother's old school book, Magic Casements, compiled by George S. Carhart and Paul A. McGhee, East High School, New York, copyright 1928. It is a compilation of interesting poetry including such works as The Vagabond, Robin Hood and Allin a Dale, The Highwayman, The Walrus and the Carpenter, An Elegy on the Death of a Mad Dog, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and one of my very favorites:
The Deacon's Masterpiece, or The Wonderful "One-Hoss Shay"
A Logical Story
Have you heard of the wonderful one-hoss shay,
That was built in such a logical way
It ran a hundred years to a day,
And then of a sudden it — ah, but stay,
I’ll tell you what happened without delay,
Scaring the parson into fits,
Frightening people out of their wits, –
Have you ever heard of that, I say?
That was built in such a logical way
It ran a hundred years to a day,
And then of a sudden it — ah, but stay,
I’ll tell you what happened without delay,
Scaring the parson into fits,
Frightening people out of their wits, –
Have you ever heard of that, I say?
Seventeen hundred and fifty-five.
Georgius Secundus was then alive, –
Snuffy old drone from the German hive.
That was the year when Lisbon-town
Saw the earth open and gulp her down,
And Braddock’s army was done so brown,
Left without a scalp to its crown.
It was on that terrible Earthquake-day
That the Deacon finished the one-hoss shay.
Georgius Secundus was then alive, –
Snuffy old drone from the German hive.
That was the year when Lisbon-town
Saw the earth open and gulp her down,
And Braddock’s army was done so brown,
Left without a scalp to its crown.
It was on that terrible Earthquake-day
That the Deacon finished the one-hoss shay.
Now in building of chaises, I tell you what,
There is always somewhere a weakest spot, –
In hub, tire, felloe, in spring or thill,
In panel or crossbar, or floor, or sill,
In screw, bolt, thoroughbrace, — lurking still,
Find it somewhere you must and will, –
Above or below, or within or without, –
And that’s the reason, beyond a doubt,
That a chaise breaks down, but doesn’t wear out.
There is always somewhere a weakest spot, –
In hub, tire, felloe, in spring or thill,
In panel or crossbar, or floor, or sill,
In screw, bolt, thoroughbrace, — lurking still,
Find it somewhere you must and will, –
Above or below, or within or without, –
And that’s the reason, beyond a doubt,
That a chaise breaks down, but doesn’t wear out.
But the Deacon swore (as Deacons do,
With an "I dew vum," or an "I tell yeou,")
He would build one shay to beat the taown
‘N’ the keounty ‘n’ all the kentry raoun’;
It should be so built that it couldn’ break daown:
"Fur," said the Deacon, "’t’s mighty plain
Thut the weakes’ place mus’ stan’ the strain;
‘N’ the way t’ fix it, uz I maintain, is only jest
‘T’ make that place uz strong uz the rest."
With an "I dew vum," or an "I tell yeou,")
He would build one shay to beat the taown
‘N’ the keounty ‘n’ all the kentry raoun’;
It should be so built that it couldn’ break daown:
"Fur," said the Deacon, "’t’s mighty plain
Thut the weakes’ place mus’ stan’ the strain;
‘N’ the way t’ fix it, uz I maintain, is only jest
‘T’ make that place uz strong uz the rest."
So the Deacon inquired of the village folk
Where he could find the strongest oak,
That couldn’t be split nor bent nor broke, –
That was for spokes and floor and sills;
He sent for lancewood to make the thills;
The crossbars were ash, from the the straightest trees
The panels of white-wood, that cuts like cheese,
But lasts like iron for things like these;
The hubs of logs from the "Settler’s ellum," –
Last of its timber, — they couldn’t sell ‘em,
Never an axe had seen their chips,
And the wedges flew from between their lips,
Their blunt ends frizzled like celery-tips;
Step and prop-iron, bolt and screw,
Spring, tire, axle, and linchpin too,
Steel of the finest, bright and blue;
Throughbrace bison-skin, thick and wide;
Boot, top, dasher, from tough old hide
Found in the pit when the tanner died.
That was the way he "put her through,"
"There!" said the Deacon, "naow she’ll dew!"
Where he could find the strongest oak,
That couldn’t be split nor bent nor broke, –
That was for spokes and floor and sills;
He sent for lancewood to make the thills;
The crossbars were ash, from the the straightest trees
The panels of white-wood, that cuts like cheese,
But lasts like iron for things like these;
The hubs of logs from the "Settler’s ellum," –
Last of its timber, — they couldn’t sell ‘em,
Never an axe had seen their chips,
And the wedges flew from between their lips,
Their blunt ends frizzled like celery-tips;
Step and prop-iron, bolt and screw,
Spring, tire, axle, and linchpin too,
Steel of the finest, bright and blue;
Throughbrace bison-skin, thick and wide;
Boot, top, dasher, from tough old hide
Found in the pit when the tanner died.
That was the way he "put her through,"
"There!" said the Deacon, "naow she’ll dew!"
Do! I tell you, I rather guess
She was a wonder, and nothing less!
Colts grew horses, beards turned gray,
Deacon and deaconess dropped away,
Children and grandchildren — where were they?
But there stood the stout old one-hoss shay
As fresh as on Lisbon-earthquake-day!
She was a wonder, and nothing less!
Colts grew horses, beards turned gray,
Deacon and deaconess dropped away,
Children and grandchildren — where were they?
But there stood the stout old one-hoss shay
As fresh as on Lisbon-earthquake-day!
EIGHTEEN HUNDRED; — it came and found
The Deacon’s masterpiece strong and sound.
Eighteen hundred increased by ten; –
"Hahnsum kerridge" they called it then.
Eighteen hundred and twenty came; –
Running as usual; much the same.
Thirty and forty at last arive,
And then come fifty and FIFTY-FIVE.
The Deacon’s masterpiece strong and sound.
Eighteen hundred increased by ten; –
"Hahnsum kerridge" they called it then.
Eighteen hundred and twenty came; –
Running as usual; much the same.
Thirty and forty at last arive,
And then come fifty and FIFTY-FIVE.
Little of all we value here
Wakes on the morn of its hundredth year
Without both feeling and looking queer.
In fact, there’s nothing that keeps its youth,
So far as I know, but a tree and truth.
(This is a moral that runs at large;
Take it. — You’re welcome. — No extra charge.)
Wakes on the morn of its hundredth year
Without both feeling and looking queer.
In fact, there’s nothing that keeps its youth,
So far as I know, but a tree and truth.
(This is a moral that runs at large;
Take it. — You’re welcome. — No extra charge.)
FIRST OF NOVEMBER, — the Earthquake-day, –
There are traces of age in the one-hoss shay,
A general flavor of mild decay,
But nothing local, as one may say.
There couldn’t be, — for the Deacon’s art
Had made it so like in every part
That there wasn’t a chance for one to start.
For the wheels were just as strong as the thills
And the floor was just as strong as the sills,
And the panels just as strong as the floor,
And the whipple-tree neither less nor more,
And the back crossbar as strong as the fore,
And the spring and axle and hub encore.
And yet, as a whole, it is past a doubt
In another hour it will be worn out!
There are traces of age in the one-hoss shay,
A general flavor of mild decay,
But nothing local, as one may say.
There couldn’t be, — for the Deacon’s art
Had made it so like in every part
That there wasn’t a chance for one to start.
For the wheels were just as strong as the thills
And the floor was just as strong as the sills,
And the panels just as strong as the floor,
And the whipple-tree neither less nor more,
And the back crossbar as strong as the fore,
And the spring and axle and hub encore.
And yet, as a whole, it is past a doubt
In another hour it will be worn out!
First of November, fifty-five!
This morning the parson takes a drive.
Now, small boys, get out of the way!
Here comes the wonderful one-hoss shay,
Drawn by a rat-railed, ewe-necked bay.
"Huddup!" said the parson. — Off went they.
This morning the parson takes a drive.
Now, small boys, get out of the way!
Here comes the wonderful one-hoss shay,
Drawn by a rat-railed, ewe-necked bay.
"Huddup!" said the parson. — Off went they.
The parson was working his Sunday’s text, –
Had got to fifthly, and stopped perplexed
At what the — Moses — was coming next.
All at once the horse stood still,
Close by the meet’n'-house on the hill.
First a shiver, and then a thrill,
Then something decidedly like a spill, –
And the parson was sitting upon a rock,
At half past nine by the meet’n'-house clock, –
Just the hour of the earthquake shock!
Had got to fifthly, and stopped perplexed
At what the — Moses — was coming next.
All at once the horse stood still,
Close by the meet’n'-house on the hill.
First a shiver, and then a thrill,
Then something decidedly like a spill, –
And the parson was sitting upon a rock,
At half past nine by the meet’n'-house clock, –
Just the hour of the earthquake shock!
What do you think the parson found,
When he got up and stared around?
The poor old chaise in a heap or mound,
As if it had been to the mill and ground!
You see, of course, if you’re not a dunce,
How it went to pieces all at once, –
All at once, and nothing first, –
Just as bubbles do when they burst.
When he got up and stared around?
The poor old chaise in a heap or mound,
As if it had been to the mill and ground!
You see, of course, if you’re not a dunce,
How it went to pieces all at once, –
All at once, and nothing first, –
Just as bubbles do when they burst.
End of the wonderful one-hoss shay.
Logic is logic. That’s all I say.
--Oliver Wendell Holmes
When I thought of this poem, I had forgotten the great collapse occurred in November - my birth month - but 90 years earlier. I'm certainly not suggesting I want to fall apart all at once. I'm OK with sneaky aging as long as it goes very very very slowly.Logic is logic. That’s all I say.
--Oliver Wendell Holmes
Blessings,
Mary
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