151218 True Power

The first thing I saw when I turned on my computer this morning was a homage to the latest Star Wars movie. Yes, in my previous post I recounted some of my fanish deeds to clarify my place as a fandom pioneer. Somehow, I failed to list the fanfic, but no one really wants to deal with that stuff. 

This followup has to do with reality. "The Force" really exists, but it in not the impersonal, ostentatious energies that George Lucas displays in the first six movies. All of us write from what we know, and I can see how he developed many of these ideas from Reformed Judaism and popular philosophy, but misses the mark set by Orthodoxy and the closer study of scripture.

Even Christians misunderstand God's power and that the past is prologue. The Old Testament explains the reason for and also predicts the New.

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God told Satan:
Genesis 3:15
(15) And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

What God considers important is not the same as what historians consider, but many historical clues in God's Word set the timing of Biblical events. Modern man is not the first generation to consider themselves wiser than past generations. All generations think this, which is also a devise of Satan, our Adversary. We have many, many examples of Satan's power. Watch the news and count the murders, disasters, wars, lawsuits, distractions, and politics. There is a power behind all that evil. How do people become so deluded and/or argumentative about various subjects? What could possibly motivate one person to overcome while the same adverse conditions send another into crime? Are we helpless? Has God abandoned us?

Acts 1:8
(8) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

δύναμις
dunamis
doo'-nam-is
From G1410; force (literally or figuratively); specifically miraculous power (usually by implication a miracle itself): - ability, abundance, meaning, might (-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle (-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.
Total KJV occurrences: 120

The Real Force has been in operation since the Day of Pentecost! God did not abandon us. He gave us power, then stepped back to let us use it. The Book of Acts records the power. Here's the thing. There is a learning process that too many ignore. If it doesn't work the first time, most give up. Personally, I've been at this for thirty-five years. Some things are ridiculously easy, but others I still don't get. The power may slip my mind on occasion, but I never, ever doubt that the power that God gave me is any less than prevailingly magnificent. He gives this power to ANYONE who has the ganas to believe for it. I don't want this to be a resume of the fantastic, but I will say that I have seen the impossible and have been rescued from the improbable.

The Force of Star Wars is the counterfeit of what God really does. It distracts us and has limitations. The power, the force that the True God gives us, in unlimited, because it is backed by God's Omnipotence. Rather than making us tired, it energizes us. I enjoy the Star Wars saga, but it is not real life. God is real. I don't believe because I've seen miracles. I've seen miracles because I believe.

• MOOD

   

  happy

• MUSIC

   

  Laramie

• LOCATION

   

  United States, Texas, Boerne

151216 Distracted Battles; What Do You Think?

Football Coach Sidelined for Praying

My first thought comes from Matthew 6, where Jesus Christ spoke of giving and praying in secret, but I could be wrong, because we are also not to be ashamed of the gospel. I know from the Word as well as multiple instances of personal experience that a secret prayer, one that no human can see, has had immediate and lasting results. (1 Samuel 1:10,11,20)

We don't have to be out in the open when we talk to God. In fact, it is it easier to concentrate in private. God hears our prayers no matter where we are. It doesn't seem right that this man is not allowed to pray in public, but rules are rules. Is he using this to witness? If so, it's not working. He needs to speak directly to individuals, not use the shotgun splattering effect. We obey secular rules as long as it doesn't interfere with our obedience to God, and God tells us to speak to those who want to hear. (Acts 1:8: Acts 5:20; Ephesians 4:15)

How is this public display obeying God? It seems to have become a ritual for this coach, and God tells us in His Word that ritual is not what He wants. God wants our hearts. (Matthew 6; Romans 14) I know that situations like this have become a rallying cry for some Christians, but personally, I believe that it is fighting the WRONG battle. We should be spreading love to individuals, not looking for occasions to waste time fighting the secular governments. Government has no soul. Only individuals can be saved.

What are your thoughts?

151214 Rights of Friends

Romans 3:22-24

(22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

(23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

(24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

We have the right to ask God for help, and He will always supply it. Sometimes, we don't know how to ask, or we don't think we can ask. Some even think that it is weakness to ask. I believe that my ex-husband fell into all three categories.

He never, ever wanted to admit to a weakness. He had to do everything on his own. He also felt so much guilt for certain things that he projected that guilt onto everyone else. That is, he compared his own sins with the "bigger" sins of others. Finally, he wouldn't just let go and let God handle his problems.

It's no secret what happened to him and to us, but is it profitable to discuss it further? Let's just say that in 2010, this stay at home mom of sixteen years was fighting for her life in the hospital while CPS, ATF, and certain state agencies were trying to take her children, her farm, and her freedom over something her unbelieving husband had done.

It's good to have friends, because they helped me to survive. My greatest Friend, however, has been God. He healed me. He made me free. He preserved my children. He it is that prospered me. He gave unto me righteousness, as stated in 1 Corinthians 1:30. He never forsakes the righteous, Psalm 37:25. A person has to walk away from God to lose righteousness. One has to remove himself from God's protection in order to get away from it. God is not a man that He should lie! If He made a promise, He will keep it!

Therefore, with faithfulness and adherence to good nutrition, I shall regain all of my health!

151214 Rights We Have

Romans 3:22-24

(22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

(23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

(24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

We have the right to ask God for help, and He will always supply it. Sometimes, we don't know how to ask, or we don't think we can ask. Some even think that it is weakness to ask. I believe that my ex-husband fell into all three categories.

He never, ever wanted to admit to a weakness. He had to do everything on his own. He also felt so much guilt for certain things that he projected that guilt onto everyone else. That is, he compared his own sins with the "bigger" sins of others. Finally, he wouldn't just let go and let God handle his problems.

It's no secret what happened to him and to us, but is it profitable to discuss it further? Let's just say that in 2010, this stay at home mom of sixteen years was fighting for her life in the hospital while CPS, ATF, and certain state agencies were trying to take her children, her farm, and her freedom over something her unbelieving husband had done.

It's good to have friends, because they helped me to survive. My greatest Friend, however, has been God. He healed me. He made me free. He preserved my children. He it is that prospered me. He gave unto me righteousness, as stated in 1 Corinthians 1:30. He never forsakes the righteous, Psalm 37:25. A person has to walk away from God to lose righteousness. One has to remove himself from God's protection in order to get away from it. God is not a man that He should lie! If He made a promise, He will keep it!

Therefore, with faithfulness and adherence to good nutrition, I shall regain all of my health!

151212 Writing Record

This last week, I wrote next to nothing. I made a schedule, but it seems that I need to keep a record of what I wrote so that I can see specifically where I need to improve.

151210 Writer's Block

Mending Fences

If you could restore one broken relationship from your past, which would it be? Why would you pick that one, and what happened that caused the relationship to deteriorate originally? What's been the best relationship you've ever had, and why was it so special?

REPLY14

Why does one need to go back? Frankly, we can't go back. What was done is done. We can attempt to repair, but we can't change the past. The only person you can control is yourself, and this includes controlling your own emotions. You can't make another person love you, or agree with you, or believe like you. If the other person wants to carry a grudge for something real or imagined, that is his or her burden. You can try to heal the relationship, but the only person you can really control is yourself. Be free, and quit bossing the other person around. 

My children and I have a great relationship, because I don't try to control them. Instead, I taught them right from wrong, and instructed them to make their own decisions based on the results they wanted. My adult child does things I don't like, but that simply means that she is her own person. She never intentionally hurts people, and I know that she loves me. The same goes for the teen. The main difference between them is that the teen is still under my supervision and my responsibility. I look forward to the day that she becomes an adult as well. She is almost prepared to take charge of herself. Perhaps parents and children fight because the parents forget that their job is to train a child how to function in life, and a typical lifetime has more adult years than childhood years.

151208 Healed!

This morning, I went to the doctor. He took x-rays, and showed that I don't have to go back. We are done. :D

151207 Oils For This Winter

My Winter Oils Nov/Dec 2015

Eyes:

Uplifts and strengthens. It contains the essential oils of rosemary, juniper, lemongrass, nutmeg, Idaho balsam fir, clove, and black pepper. These have been used traditionally for mental alertness, but the combination also has properties that make this blend beneficial in the fight against cataracts. Which brings me to:

Also uplifts, strengthens, and fights cataracts. It has so many wonderful healing properties, that it is no wonder than it was one of the gifts given to the Christ child. The combination of frankincense and myrrh covers every possible childhood illness. I alternate En-R-Gee and frankincense for my eyes.

Broken Bone Blend:

contains basil, marjoram, lavender, peppermint, and cypress to make a blend that soothes and relaxes. Its constituents also encourage the regrowth of bones.

High Blood Pressure:

contains ylang ylang, (a Chinese flower), cypress, helichrysum, and majoram to energize and support one's life force. This combination also reduces blood pressure. I apply it over my heart and on my left foot at the Vita Flex heart point.

Diabetes:

lowers insulin needs for diabetics while stabilizing blood sugar. It also addresses high blood pressure. I need both. We used to have this growing in our front yard!

has many good uses, but I chose it for its anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory properties.

is anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory. It also helps with obesity. I used to chew the seeds for bladder infections.

These are all the oils I'm taking regularly this winter. I add others as needed, such as Thieves. I thought I was getting a cold, so diffused Thieves over night, and the scratchy throat is gone. :D

151205 Not Magic

The Word of God is not a massive list of magic spells. A person cannot just chant in rhythm and expect a miracle. One cannot mouth the words without engaging the mind and the heart in believing. If that were true, then what happened in Acts 19?

Acts 19:13-16
(13)  Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
(14)  And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
(15)  And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?

(16)  And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

Another incident that shows this is in Mark 9:14-29.

Mark 9:28-29
(28)  And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

(29)  And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Honest prayer is believing, and believing is prayer. The world wants the Christian to believe that he doesn't have a prayer, indicating that prayer is weak and ineffectual. In contrast, prayer is actually mighty and certain when applied with believing.

Matthew 21:22

(22)  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

The mismatched verb, 'shall', indicates that the result is certain. God does not use words haphazardly. Dare to believe, and see the results.

No, it is not magic, but it is power. We don't need to go though rituals and meaningless repetitions to receive blessings from God. Only our Adversary, the devil, requires that. Once, I asked a friend if he wanted me to minister healing to him. He told me that he has already burned a few candles and appealed to some dead people. I tried to tell him that God didn't really work that way. God expects us to talk directly to Him in prayer.

John 14:12-14
(12)  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
(13)  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

(14)  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

Think about the things that Jesus did. Verse twelve says that we can do more. 

Dare to believe.

 

151205 Gun Control

 Answer to gun control advocate:

Be blessed. You bless me by giving me a chance to speak the Word. Putting your faith into anything other than God will disappoint you. Christ was not "tolerant" as we know that word today, and spoke of far, far more than just tolerance and love. He held to the standard of God's Word, taught it boldly, and was quite intolerant of those who didn't let others live according to God's Word. His service did not end in death, because God raised him from the dead to bring humans into the Age of Grace. My fervent desire is to bring all of my opinions, beliefs, and actions into alignment and harmony with God's rightly-divided Word. (2 Timothy 2:15) According to God's Word, we need to speak: Acts 5:20; and love: Ephesians 4:15; but we also need to keep watch: 1 Peter 5:8. There are many, many more verses and passages from both OT and NT, but these are a sample. Every verse must fit with all the others, and it takes diligent study. My thirty-four years of research has repeatedly shown me that people kill people. Removing one tool simply allows the Adversary the option to produce other tools to replace them. Disarming the law-abiding will not stop the those who disregard the law. It simply gives law-breakers more opportunity to use a multitude of other tools. Historically, an unarmed populous has been a subjugated populous. Ecclesiastes 1:9

151201 Does Any American Know Poverty?

Stuff It

Were you a fan of stuffed animals or plush toys as a child? Do you still enjoy them as an adult? What was your favorite stuffed animal when you were a kid -- do you still have it? Are there any toys from your childhood that you wish you had held onto?

REPLY3

When my mother was sixty or so years old, my little sister bought her a stuffed bear. It was supposed to be a gag gift from the last child to move out of the house. My mother grew up during the Great Depression. Hers was one of those desperate families that had to grow their own food in a garden order to survive. The only time they had meat was when the milk cow died. Then they didn't get to have milk. The only person to get new shoes was the eldest of her nine siblings, and she was number seven. Clothing was stitched from rags. Few Americans today can conceive of the type of poverty she endured, and this poverty was nationwide.

Between his education and his work ethic, my dad had made a comfortable living. By the 1980s, he had provided my mother with just about every material object she desired from a large house to gold and diamonds.

When my mother opened the present that contained the stuffed animal, she cried. Between sobs, she said that as a child no one had ever given her a stuffed animal, and all she had wanted then was a teddy bear to call her own. That bear was with her when she died twenty years later.

151123 Emergency Supplies

Today, I was reading about emergency supplies. This is something that interests me. Here is part of the list of things one needs for emergencies.

Medical supplies to have on hand:

• Scissors
• Cloth or paper medical tape 1-2 inch wide
• 4 x 4 gauze; it can be folded over when the injury is small.
• Ace bandages — 3-5 inches wide for the lower and upper extremities
• Slings
• Splinter remover to remove foreign bodies
• Ice pack

Although I edited this list a little for my own needs, I had to totally scrap his list of medications. We use essential oils, which have something like a twenty year shelf life.

Oils we need for common ailments and emergencies:

1. Thieves® treats all viral and bacterial infections.
2. Pain medications:
   1. Severe pain: equal parts copaiba, balsam fir, and frankincense. Place four drops each into 00 capsule and take every three to five hours as needed.
   2. Headache: vetiver, marjoram, lemon, and coriander. Place three drops each into 00 capsule and take as needed.
   3. Body aches: cypress and lemongrass. Place three drops each into 00 capsule, add several drops of olive oil, and take as needed.
3. Breathing medications: Peppermint, Wintergreen, or eucalyptus. Smell one or all.
4. Gastrointestinal medications: Apply DiGize® to the tummy area, or take internally.
5. Skin medications: frankincense, lavender and carrot work well for skin conditions. Mix with equal parts of carrier oil, and apply topically. For sunscreen, add about thirty drops of lavender to four ounces of sesame oil and apply to skin.
6. Psychotropic medications: Ha! Use Peace and Calming®, Grounding®, or Common Sense® or some other blend that address the specific complaint. Frankincense is also good for improving one's mood, especially when coupled with the Word of God!
7. Diabetic medications: Common Sense® works. My favorite blend uses four drops each of ocotea, clove, and bergamot.

So, now I have the ultimate list of oils to keep with me. I shall build my supply. These oils keep for years, even decades, unopened, so stockpiling is not the waste of money that chemical medications could become. Plus, some of them can be grown locally.

My short list of valuable oils:

Aroma Siez

Balsam fir

Bergamot

Clove

Copiaba

DiGize

Fennel

Frankincense

Lavender

Ocotea

Peppermint

Thieves

Ylang Ylang

These guys are the ones I use on a regular basis. Other that I that would be nice to have on hand would be:

Common Sense®

Coriander

Cypress

Eucalyptus Globulus

Grounding®

Lemon

Lemongrass

Marjoram

Peace and Calming®

Vetiver

Vetiver is one I should probably have, because it provides emotional grounding and sleep support. Frankly, I have no problem with my sleep. I have come to like the cat naps I take instead of the one long chunk. Insomnia is good for writing. On the other hand, 

vetiver is a vital ingredient in the alternative to acetaminophen.

151120 What Helps With Winter Illness?

Jewish penicillin helps, and I force it onto my children. Another thing that really works are Young Living (R) essential oils. In 1976, I caught my first case of bronchitis in my first year of college. It was horrible and I received penicillin for it. Every year thereafter, I caught a case of bronchitis, and doctors treated it with antibiotics. Antibiotics give me the runs. By 2005, I was getting bronchitis twice a year. Sometimes, it escalated into walking pneumonia. Antibiotics were no longer eliminating the disease after the normal course of ten days to two weeks. The side effects became worse. I also developed a continual case of asthma. I suffered from the side effects of the drugs, but ignoring the disease made it last for months instead of weeks, and it still took a two week dose of ever stronger antibiotics with their side effects to stop the horrible chest infection.

In 2009, I became involved with essential oils. I was at work, but had accidentally left my inhaler at home. A friend shoved a bottle of peppermint essential oil at me, so I used it like an inhaler. It worked as well. I could breathe again. I used it once more that day. She told me to keep the bottle. Six months later, I threw away my inhaler, because I no longer needed it. I've had all of one attack since 2009; peppermint quickly took care of it.

The next time bronchitis hit, I used a variety of oils on my feet, covered them with socks, and went to bed with socks in place. I did this every night for two weeks as if it were the old prescription of antibiotics. Bronchitis came only once that year. The following year, bronchitis hit again, but instead of two weeks, it lasted only one. For the winter of 2014, it didn't come at all. I have not had so much as a cold since then. Respiratory allergies do not plague me anymore. I confirm this by regularly checking my vitals. It's wonderful to be well.

When I broke my foot last month, pain stopped with the application of essential oils. I use a "Bone Blend" to speed healing. My diabetes has been under control without chemical medication. I pursue a low carbohydrate diet, perform regular exercise, and apply essential oils. Learn more at www.youngliving.org/mynesdojomom and oil-testimonials.com/1217697.

151117 Foot Freedoms

My foot has reached a milestone of freedom. Starting today, it can be out of The Boot for short periods of time. Also, I can walk more with The Boot. I don't like the way the foot looks. It reminds me of when Brownhead broke her foot.

About a decade ago, we had a juvenile goat that got her foot stuck in between some metal panels. Before we could get to her, she broke her leg just above the hoof, and clearly she was in pain. I called the vet, but he wanted $600 to fix it. The goat was only worth about $40, so we left her with the herd. We thought coyote-dogs would get her, because she was crippled. Instead, the donkey protected her. The foot healed at an angle, and she learned how to run with a bent leg. After a few years, the billy made his way to our freezer, and she took over leading the herd. That hoof had grown to cover the place where the original break was. The result was an extra wide hoof on one of her back legs and a funny, lop-sided run.

The accident last month crushed the joints between the metatarsals and the flanges of the three middle toes of my right foot. When I removed The Boot last night, I saw that those toes have been displaced and now slant to the right, and there is a dimple at the base of the second toe. The toes don't move at all. I refuse to have surgery. If I can walk, it will be OK. I never was one for running. The doctor said that I could ride an exercise bike, and I tested that. It will be OK.

Now, I can believe God to overcome this disablement. My knees finally healed, so this foot will be my next project. I know from Brownhead's example that just because it doesn't look pretty doesn't mean it can't work anyway. It may mean that I have to wear shoes all the time, but I already have to do that because of fallen arches and plantar fasciitis. Of course, I'll continue to treat the foot with oils and take my calcium supplements.

151116 Nothing New to Say

Usually, when current events inflame the masses, I want to add to it. Instead, while I'm having a hefty dose of "I told you so..." and it seems rather inappropriate just now.

Instead, let me tell you about the oils I'm taking. Young Living had been having some trouble harvesting enough of a certain oil to make their blend, Peace and Calming. It has returned to their supply, but some of us keening missed it. I found others that makes everything better: Grounding and Common Sense. Both have ingredients that are good for high blood pressure, but Common Sense is very good for diabetics!

In case you didn't know, some diabetics live in a precarious hormonal soup. When the blood glucose levels go too high, we can feel euphoric as our bodies eat the protein of our insides instead of the vast amounts of sugar flowing through our veins. When blood glucose drops too low, I personally become testy, paranoid, panicked, and have a migraine-like headache. Either extreme causes me to start writing nasty opinion pieces that attack anyone who disagrees with me.

Since I started sniffing Grounding and Common Sense, blood glucose has been closer to normal and emotional swings have been absent. They even brought me back from a doughnut. I'm liking these oils.

151114 Renewing the Mind in Light of World Events

Isaiah 33:6
"And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the LORD is his treasure."

Knowledge of what? Where does wisdom come from? Who provides strength and salvation? "Fear" in this verse is the old-fashioned way of indicating respect. Listen friends, terror comes from our Adversary, the Devil, (1 Peter 5:8). Isn't our God stronger?

Why is there evil in the world? Because people allow it. We may be seeing incidents globally; each battle, however, happens in each individual's mind. It is the combination of many individual thoughts that leads to global revolution. Whether it be good or bad depends on the free will choices of those who stand for the True God. Control your own thinking by replacing negative thoughts with the promises of God. The darker this world gets, the brighter God's light will shine.

151112 Veteran's Day

It may be a day late, but I didn't see this until today:

151112 Blogging My Heart

This morning, I read this article about blogging. It got me thinking again about this blog and how to promote it for fun and profit. I have two passions, and they are health and God's Word. I do write a lot about both. Maybe, someone would be interested in one or both. How do I advertise this?

151103 Letter to the Texas Homeschool Coalition

There have been some stories trying to discredit freedom. Here is what THSC says, and my response:

Thank-you for all you do for homeschooling families. I do not have money to donate, but do pray for you continually. My journey began in March of 2002, and my last child will graduate homeschool high school in the spring of 2016 as her sister graduates college. THSC has helped me many times, especially during the arrest of and divorce from my ex-husband. That could have been a sticky situation. No one attempted a lawsuit, but almost everyone I knew wanted me to quit homeschooling. Family was quite vocal about it. Instead of resorting to public school, I was able to graduate the 16-year-old and get her into college with advice from THSC. When she took the Accuplacer, she was weak in math. It is telling that colleges have so many remedial classes for public school graduates who didn't learn math in high school. My daughter's language skills excelled beyond the typical public school student. She had no trouble adjusting to college. At 18, she took control over all of her education and will graduate debt-free. The younger child was twelve, but responsible enough to follow my directions. Now at 17, she is pursuing a different kind of education. She has decided to learn a trade. I provided oversight and advice after work, and both of my children have had the maturity to take responsibility for their own lives. Homeschooling helped teach them that.

151103 Time Sink

151018 Crashed

What is it about me and hard drives? Decades ago, I learned to keep all my data on removable media, so nothing but my time was lost. Ugh. Got the computer back yesterday, but I still haven't tracked down all the programs I need. I just moved, so they're simply somewhere safe. ha, ha-ha, ha...

151011 "Would You Like To Be a Slave, Baby?"

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This 80s song has burned in my heart for 30+ years.

150825 Believing

Mar 11:23,24
"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
"Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

No stress, no strain. Simply believe.

150824 Moving Update

Wednesday, we put money down on the travel trailer. Monday, we set up in an RV resort. After that, we unpack and try to fit into a tiny space. The location is better for walking and closer to my dad. It will be closer to most everything except the old place. :)

150805 The Un-People Person

Proverbs 14:4
"Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox."

This verse helps me. My personality is ISTJ and Shy-Introvert. This means that if stranded on a deserted island with plenty of food and adequate shelter, I might miss other people in the third or fourth month, but even that's doubtful.

In Proverbs 14:4 God reminds me that, yes, interpersonal relationships are messy, but we are better together than apart. My elder child moves out today.

150801

Moving.
Travelling.
Separating from adult child.
Allowing teen her anime convention.
Verbal fencing with relatives.
Body rebelling in pain.

Add to that, assisting in a detailed video class for many humans in a tiny room with inadequate ventilation and outside temperatures of 102F (39C).

Was that a scream or just hot air?

150720 La Cucaracha and Mercy

Most people think of cockroaches as quarter-sized vermin that run from the light. In San Antonio, our Asian imports are 2 to 3 inches long and have no fear of sunlight, nor of screaming, stomping giants. Saturday, I read that they hated peppermint and cypress essential oils. After sprinkling some around my bathroom, one ran onto my foot. It took about half a second for me to punt that miscreant into the wall while screaming like 1950s horror movie queen. Instead of dying, it skittered drunkenly out the door. I'm convinced that I reached my target heart rate during that little exercise.

I'll be taking a break from posting until September. Although I submitted my resignation last week, it was not accepted. My Branch Coordinator reminded me that the Church Epistles all start with grace and peace, but the Leadership Epistles include mercy. Above all, leadership needs to include mercy. I'll be working my tail off for the next five or six weeks. Perhaps this will encourage the stomach and thighs to shrink, too. ;)

Actually, my muse has not been that consistent, so in effect, things might not look all that different on the blogs! We'll see. Sometimes pressure of time makes the brain work more efficiently.

150719 Tired

Still alive, but tired. I'll be rather busy for the next month or so, but will probably live. If you don't hear from me, the activity has consumed my time. I'll be back in September.

150712 Lying Liars Lie, So Choose

The art of politics concerns lying convincingly. Politicians lie. Who knew? Therefore, I encourage everyone, both young and old, to choose a standard, make a hard copy, and refer to it frequently. From an early age, I took an interest in politics. I was ten when I followed my first presidential election. Yes, at age ten I read about Humphery, Wallace, and Nixon. I have opinions on today's issues, but they pale when compared to the standard I have chosen.

My standard is God's Word. If God said it, that settles it. Most people have no idea what God really said, but often those same people are not shy about proclaiming what they think He meant. God claims neither side of any political debate despite what any person or group or historical society may claim. God supersedes politics. God transcends political boundaries. God takes care of those who trust in Him despite any political affiliations. Trust God. Humans lie. :(

How does one trust God? Study His Word. There were deliberate forgeries, but they can be ferreted out and overcome. God's Word is perfect, so any 'mistake' is glaring. Some people hate Christians. They yell and scream, but not from the mistakes. They hate when the perfection shows. That's because there is an Adversary, as noted in 1 Peter 5:8, 2 Corinthians 4:4, The Book of Job, Genesis 3, and the Gospels. God loves it when we study, 2 Timothy 2:15. It's how we get to spend time with Him.

150707 Cream, No Coffee

Have you ever read the book, Eat Right 4 Your Type? A lot of nutritionists and natural food affectionados hate it, because it challenges everything we 'know' about food. I found it compelling, but the author said that Type Os that followed the Type O diet would find it so. I have type O blood, and I used to be a vegetarian. I was sick all the time. ER4YT convinced me to go on the Atkins. My personal diet looks like Atkins meets Bullet Proof. (Sorry - got busy and quit posting it.)

Type Os have to eat meat and must avoid grains and dairy products. When I did that, my lifelong eczema cleared up. I had smooth skin for the first time in my life. Itching stopped. Flatulence stopped. The ringing in my ears stopped, and I gained energy. The list of foods a person can and cannot have is detailed and perplexing, so one must carry the list everywhere. My ex and my elder daughter have Type A blood, so they had to eat opposite what I did. It made meal times complicated. She prepares her own vegetarian fare while my other daughter and I consume our carnivorous delights. My ex has to eat what they give him.

This brings me to coffee. I miss coffee. Coffee is bad for Type Os. We can have tea. We cannot drink tea with impunity. We must confine our tea drinking to green tea -- small amounts of green tea. Apparently, caffeine is bad for us. Type As, however, thrive on it. They may have mass quantities of strong, hot coffee! It is considered to be HIGHLY BENEFICIAL for them to drink coffee. My daughter lives off of the stuff. She drinks coffee like a marine, i.e., black, no sugar, and strong enough to stand without the cup. I miss coffee.

150706 All's Well

The party went well. My brain is tired and unwilling to post. Talk to ya later.

150702 Sweet Tea Controversy

My dad's birthday party is Sunday, but his actual 90th birthday is on Monday. He's in very good health, walks two miles every day, and takes only one medication. He delivers Meals on Wheels to "old people" who happen to be younger than he is. He didn't want a party, but my older sister insisted. Sigh. I'm not big on parties, either. Here's an incomplete list of tension inducing conditions:

1. People to invite: Dad refused to reveal the identities of his friends. My little sister deviously went to the Senior Center and asked people there, but is that everyone?
2. Where to house out-of-towners: It's the Fourth of July Weekend! There are no hotel rooms. Ten or so relatives thought they could stay in the guest bedroom at Dad's house. Cozy.
3. Menu: Big sis wants a blowout. We have to make everything ourselves, and it has to be perfect.

This is my worst nightmare, and the menu is where the major arguments have started. We don't normally argue. My immediate family has been a shining example of how the diverse personalities of siblings should get along. My brother died when my little sister and I were still in high school, so we simply quit bickering and became best friends.

Who knew that iced tea could be such a divider? My little sister volunteered to make iced tea. I asked if she would be making sweet tea. She said that she was making tea and would bring sugar. I told her that the rules of the South applied here. There needed to be sweet tea. She repeated that people could add sugar if they wanted their tea sweet.

That won't fly.

Both of my sisters left Texas in the 1970s, and have spent all of their adult lives north. I've lived in the South for more than forty years! A decade of that included rural Virginia and Tennessee. While I don't always agree, I do know a thing or two about Southern taste buds. We need sweet tea.

Sigh. I went to H.E.B. and bought some sweet tea. There's not room enough to discuss the okra controversy. Church's Chicken makes fried okra, which I will dump into a serving dish before we get to the party location. I hate big parties.

150701 Headache Hunt

150701 Headaches

For three or four days, I have had a headache wax and wane. If I know what causes it, I can change something, but this one is somewhat of a mystery. This mystery hasn’t received my full attention until today. Yesterday, I ate too much protein, so this morning’s blood glucose was 108. Though not really bad, it is more than usual. Right now, (just before lunch), it has dropped to 84, but that is within normal range. The previous days’ readings were also very close to normal. Blood sugar isn’t the cause.

Allergies can cause headaches, but I have not eaten anything unusual. The allergens outside usually cause rhinitis and ear itch, not headaches. Allergies do not seem to be the cause.

 Ah. Pressing on the neck muscles relieves pain. We may be looking at a tension headache! What? Me worry?

Well folks, I need to prepare a teaching for tonight’s fellowship. I usually get Sundays, but this coming Sunday is my dad’s 90th birthday celebration. I’ll be with him. He and I both wanted something private and low-key, but my two sisters decided that he needed a big party with all his friends and relatives in attendance. This means that there will be no peace. Therefore, tonight’s teaching will be on the peace of God. An except:

“It doesn’t matter how much of the Word you know, but what you do with it. Our thought go where we allow them to go. We are the ones to decide what it is we are going to stay our minds on.”

Isaiah 26:3  
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”

150630 Last Day

Today, the PO Box keys go back to the postmaster. It's a small town, so she'll ask where I'm going and we'll talk awhile. Then, everyone will know that I'm gone. I won't even need to announce it on Facebook. ;) Then, I'll go to the bank. With electronic banking, I can keep my small town bank, but I'll miss the face to face service. Maybe, I can switch to Frost. They also have a reputation for service.

My younger daughter, whom I shall refer to as "Agent M" until she passes 18, will join me in the move. She and I plan to check out a rental today. The elder will be transferring to her best friend's apartment. Some of us still call her by her code name of "Moon".

Why the code names? I started programming in 1976. At that time, there was no Internet, but there was an intranet. Learning security started back then. We chose user names because they were short and used less memory. In those days, a few characters did make a difference. (This is one of the reasons that Y2K was important.) In the early 1990s, the very first Internet-based child predator showed up on AOL. My first child was born shortly afterwards. I was so concerned with security, that I became expert at it. I drilled it into my children. Advise on Internet security that one can find on some popular sites is terribly wimpy. Go to komando.com instead. I've been using methods similar to hers since the last century.

I've been somewhat lazy about checking my blood glucose. This may be because the menus have been recorded. I can do only so much! This morning, my bg was 95. :D The low-carb diet pays off again!

150628 Feet and Frostbite

My feet and ankles feel a little better. Did I mention that I injured them a week or so ago? That makes it hard to exercise, but wheelchair exercises can burn a few calories. I have to continue wearing my pair of SAS in this heat because my Birkinstocks do not have enough stability to keep my feet from twisting as I walk.

Swimming could be a good exercise option, but that involves driving to the pool. In six months, I plan to live where a pool is.

Why is it so hard to wear shoes? I grew up barefoot, then in my 20s, I started hiking and camping in CO. One weekend, we were surprised by a sudden snow storm. The truck wouldn't start and my feet froze. The frostbite messed up the nerves in my toes, so when they get a little warm, it feels like my feet are on fire. When they get chilled, they ache like day they froze. They feel best when free, enjoying soft grass and a warm breeze, or while swimming in warm water.

Shoes are jail for my feet.

So, I posted this story on Fat Secret, and someone targeted my diabetes and suggested a series of expensive pharmaceuticals. Well, the frostbite came thirty years before the pancreatitis attack in 2010. The pancreatitis attack caused the diabetes. The problems with my feet have nothing to do with diabetes. She just wanted to help, but sometimes help is not helpful.

I suppose I should make this into a site for stories of healing only, and start another site for personal stuff. This will entail actual study on how to make good links and how to get actual traffic. Here are some oils I use. Between limiting protein and carbohydrates, and using these oils daily, my fasting glucose levels have been steady and under 100. This is very good news.

150607 Big Day in the Word

I fellowship with a small, tight group of believers who happen to be scattered world-wide. We laugh when we talk about membership. There are four members, and the rest of us simply stand with them. We research the Word of God, and we teach what we learn. Then, we fellowship together in small groups. Even though we have many small groups, we endeavor to obey 1 Corinthians 1:10. Truly, we attempt to obey God in all things with the theme that if God said it, that settles it. We have a lot of teachings and a lot of classes. (2 Timothy 2:15)

In light of this, today is a big day. Today, the Advanced Class on the Way of Abundance and Power opens. Great healing will occur. The Adversary may kick up his heals. (1 Peter 5:8) Although I am not physically present with the new students, I am praying for them, and I shall study my own notes from the times I have been there. Tonight, I shall attend a teleconference with others in this town. We shall hear the opening teaching. I love this. I rejoice at God's Word as one who finds great spoil.

More and more, it seems as if those in power and in education frown on Christians. They laugh at us for lack of intelligence, or call us mean and unjust for some supposed infraction. They delight in finding one! I know who will have the last laugh, and we won't be laughing against those poor sops who reject God. We'll be laughing for joy as we see the glory set before us.

I had birthday cake yesterday, but at least I exercised.

150527 Flash Floods

My sister called me because I hadn't called her. It didn't occur to me that the national news would say that all of Texas had washed away. No, just half of it...

My dad had no flooding, but this was a bridge near where he lives. Yes, that on the left is what's left of the road which was forced off of its moorings on the right.

This is Houston. The water rose faster than these people could get off the street.

 This was taken AFTER the waters receded a bit:

Again, after waters receded. The blue thing is a couch in a tree above people's heads.

Downtown Austin was a lake.

 This was a house. Houses in Wimberley look like this today:

My family is safe and dry. We live above the flood plain for the Medina River. Every year, it floods somewhere in Texas, but usually, the flood is small or affects only unpopulated areas. San Antonio was hit so often, that the city built an underground river system, starting in 1937. WE don't have many pictures like this because of it. We do have some stories. I have one from Saturday.

While driving home Saturday afternoon, the rain stopped. The road had puddles, but otherwise seemed clear. Several of us traveled the speed limit on a five lane road when suddenly, water appeared all around! Culebra Creek was hidden behind businesses, houses, and trees to my left. The water reached my bumper before I knew that water was on the road! The two cars to my right stalled out and drifted. The truck to my left slowed to a stop. I prayed for God to keep my little car moving forward, and I applied the gas. After I passed the new lake, the police put up barricades. To God be the glory, because my car could have been a statistic.

Someone expressed it accurately. Texas has two kinds of weather: drought or flood. Earlier this month, we were laboring under a multi-year drought. Now, we aren't.

150419 Obvious Anniversary -- For Some

So, yeah, it's an infamous anniversary, but no comment.

Instead, let me tell you about this TV show I started watching. It took four or five episodes to find out what the real story was. That might just be Russian character. They are big on hiding the real agenda. That was true in Czarist Russia, the Soviet Era, and today. Why do I like the language? OK, it sounds cool, but I have no desire to live under any form of government that they ever tried to inflict on their citizens. They also have some nice scenery, but yada, yada, yada...

While the English title is, "The Day After," that's not what it says in Russian. As near as I can figure, it says, "Ran After" or "To Run After" or something like that. There is a lot of running involved. Half of Moscow is dead, and the larger portions of those not dead are undead. Only twelve people are neither dead nor undead. I'm guessing that this show would be a lot less interesting if it were in English and filmed in places with which I am familiar. Meanwhile, I'm hearing native speakers converse, (or scream as the case may be), in a language I wish to learn better. :D

Testimonial: Plantar Faciitis

I had this. It is frustrating and disheartening, but this woman solved it with a similar method. :)

Planter Faciitis

150404 Resurrection

04 April 2015 Yesterday, I ate non-standard fare, because I went to visit my dad. I have already forgotten most of it, so I won't record. We ate out at a Mexican restaurant, but their fajita salad was just a salad without a taco shell. They put the little tortilla chips on top, so I removed them as I would croutons. The fajita cooked chicken was spiced well, and the sliced avocado was perfectly decadent. It was an almost perfect Atkins meal! Next time, I may bring, or ask for, an ounce of olive oil as a dressing. Other than that, I had an Atkins shake and some pork rinds and other 'legal' food. I totally forgot how other people view Holy Week. People before me have done research. I've followed their research, and searched it myself, so I offer these verses: Romans 10:4 "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth." Rom 14:5 "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." Tradition likes to say that somehow God squeezed 72 hours between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning. I've known of this time conundrum most of my life, and finally found the solution about thirty years ago. For instance, last year, Passover (High Sabbath) started Wednesday at sunset. The regular weekly Sabbath ended Saturday at sunset. 72 hours. Hebrew days start and end at sunset, not sunrise. Therefore, I don't celebrate "Good" Friday. (What was good about torture and death?) This bothers family and friends because they don't like the 500 page refutation, which is backed by scripture and legitimate research. Instead of subscribing to tradition, I rejoice at the Resurrection. He is risen. He is risen indeed.