I found this deleted portion of the Fox News debates on Pat Buchanan's blog, THANKFULLY! I watched the re-cast of their debates in which they kept saying Fred Thompson won hands down. They replayed where Huckabee expected U.S. aircraft carriers to answer Iranian motor boat threats (who have threatened our big warship in their waters!) with the gates of hell. They also replayed where Thompson had to "one-up" the insanity by saying sarcastically that we would be glad to introduce "them" to those virgins they're so eager to meet. Good grief. I was really feeling depressed that Fox viewers put up with such malevolence.
And then, when Ron Paul addressed the rush to kill expressed by Huckabee and Thompson, Brit Hume acted like Ron Paul was an idiot. He said something like, "Um, all of the other candidates said they would leave the decision to the captain of the warship. Why didn't you answer the question?" I was so frustrated! What insanity! That people listen to the hubris of FOX News! (No offense to you.)
I now rejoice to find the highlight of the night's debate, which Fox news(?) deleted from the program when it was recast. If we were living in the first century, I think Fox News would have beheaded Ron Paul instead of merely cutting off his defense for his character. Watch this:
This reminds me of what another unelectable candidate said to intimidation? (See in the Gospel of Luke, ch. 13)
At that time some Pharisees told Jesus, “Get out of here, and go somewhere else! Herod wants to kill you.”
Jesus said to them, “Tell that FOX that I will force demons out of people and heal people today and tomorrow. I will finish my work on the third day. But I must be on my way today, tomorrow, and the next day. It’s not possible for a prophet to die outside Washington."
17 January 2008
13 January 2008
Ron Paul Intro
I've found the best intro to Ron Paul yet. Just click on the title above and you'll find the site for you. See whether you should register Republican and vote in the primary for the most experienced and consistent and Christ-like candidate. :-)
10 January 2008
As Little as I Am
On December 5th I found out that we're pregnant! Here's the story of how I found out . . .
I called Nicole at about 9:30 that morning to try and work out a solution to my situation of locking my keys in my car in a rough neighborhood at the opposite end of town from her workplace. I did not want to pay $100 for a locksmith. I was having a bad day as it was. Fortunately, Nicole didn't answer her phone when I called. She had just taken a pregnancy test that looked positive and even if it was right, she didn't want to tell me over the phone.
Nicole proceeded to take other pregnancy tests and even do a blood test to confirm her wonderful findings. My day got a lot better when one of my Mexican coworkers, Lomberto, helped me retrieve my car keys. After work I came home, worked out, took a shower, and when I came out . . . Well, I need to back up a little bit. While I was working out, Nicole called me to tell me she would be a little late coming home from work because she needed to pick something up at the store for someone and then grab some Costa Vida burritos to go. So, when I came out of the shower, Nic was standing in the kitchen with the food and said, "Would you mind setting the table?" I said, "Sure," and set to it.
On the table I saw a curious display. I thought, "Neat onesie." It said, 'Don't wake me, I'll wake you.' "Really clever. Who's just had a baby?" I thought. I strained my mind thinking, "Surely I must know a friend who was due about now."
Then my eyes moved down from the clever onesie to an envelope, obviously a card--'For the Dad to be' it said. Almost troubled, I thought, "Why would Nic give a card to a Dad?" Then, my heart began racing especially as I saw the two pregnancy tests. I turned toward Nicole (who was watching me intently) and said, "WHO'S HAVING A BABY?" Nic said, "WHO DO YOU THINK?" Oh! I was so excited, and still am.
- - - - -
A preview of the next few months:
So we are anticipating the arrival of a little Whaley due August 10th. If it comes two days earlier, the birthdate will read the same up, down, forward, or backward. Obviously we have more to think about than the birthdate, though.
We are seeking a church sponsorship (and feel extremely close to finding it) and we're also partner raising for our mission in Wollongong, Australia . . . during a year that promises to be a lite recession for the U.S. Prices may go down slightly, but inflation is surpassing the value of our dollar thanks to the federal reserve printing money for the politicians who want to see our U.S. military strung out across the globe. They don't have the money so they essentially steal it from us by printing more money and going into debt by borrowing money from social security and the Chinese government. . . . I digress . . .
Anyway, I'm not depressed about raising money. We're actually quite encouraged. We even received an unmarked envelope of $100 yesterday from an anonymous donor even though we haven't officially begun accepting checks and such. What a liberal God who gives even before we ask!
This month we are having a retreat over MLK, jr. weekend with our mission teammates and that is sure to be wonderful and edifying. This Saturday night we're having a focus group dinner at the Kohlbacher's (we babysit their boy, Joshua) to present our vision to a small network of future partners of ours in the Gospel. Tomorrow night, our Irish-American friend/neighbor, Pat, is coming over for dinner. She plans to immigrate to Sydney, Australia later this year, too!
In February, we're visiting two churches in Texas, giving presentations and doing Q & As about our vision, plans, and dreams. We're looking forward to both of these weekends. Later in the month, I'm going on a "Faith Walk" with men from various Christian groups for the purpose of drawing closer to God and meditating on personal discipleship. Nicole's coworker so graciously paid for me to do this. (I may post she and her husband's story someday.)
In March, Nic will do a "Faith Walk". We'll probably have another focus group dinner. And we are flying to Belize to join a medical mission team! They have a team of doctors, nurses, and anesthesiologists, but need someone like me to talk to people in the waiting room and in neighborhoods about the message of Christ. We are so excited. Gordon, the anesthesiologist, has helped us organize for this.
09 January 2008
Exciting Day
I had quite an exciting day.
We were pouring concrete for a community college in Mississippi between their building's back doors and a pond/lake filled with water fowl. During break time, Sammy, one of my Mexican coworkers, fed a goose from his own mouth!
I burned the fingerprint off my right index finger while checking to see if my cigarette lighter was working/hot. It apparently was. Still we couldn't get my coworker's tire pumped up using a portable pump plugged into my cigarette lighter, which now smells like burnt flesh. Don't worry, it didn't hurt.
I got to drive the mini-excavator! thru MUD! To see one of these amazing machines in action (and with appropriate music), go to this web address: http://www.bobcat.com/excavators/choosing.
Also, today, I had a great time teaching/facilitating the teen class at church again. We finished reading Jesus' sermon on the Plain from Luke 6. Jesus, who we recognize as God's anointed king of his kingdom, delivers something like a campaign/inaugural address speech. It's probably one of the most life-changing speeches ever IF! one builds his life on the words, not just talks about them.
08 January 2008
Ron Paul Fair and Balanced
Ron Paul was on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last night and someone has put the interview on YouTube for us and I have put it on my blog to share with the people I love. :-) Part 1 is mainly about Fox News denying Ron Paul's participation in the GOP debates for New Hampshire (where 27% of Republicans haven't heard of him yet). Part 2 is an excellent discussion of Ron Paul's views, clear and simple. I love this man!
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 1:
Part 2:
02 January 2008
Ron Paul CNN Debate
This video has been edited so that it streams together Ron Paul's responses to questions. There seems to be nothing distinctive about any candidate whether Dems or Republicans in spite of the fact that they attack each other's competence for the Presidency. Why not take a look to see whether Ron Paul knows what he believes and whether his ethos gives him a right to be heard?
You can also see something rare from the television media . . . a "watch out for Ron Paul in Iowa". It's only a few seconds long. "Keep your eye on #3 . . . I'll bet Ron Paul will beat two of the frontrunners . . . he belongs on the stage."
You can also see something rare from the television media . . . a "watch out for Ron Paul in Iowa". It's only a few seconds long. "Keep your eye on #3 . . . I'll bet Ron Paul will beat two of the frontrunners . . . he belongs on the stage."
29 December 2007
Are Antibiotics Useless for Sinus Infections?
I used to have sinus infections all the time, especially in my college years. I took antibiotics every year. I remember asking a doctor one time to "Please give me something stronger this time." So he wrote me a prescription for a more expensive antibiotic. I remember thinking, "This is getting ridiculous. My Microbiology professor keeps telling us about the effects of overprescription of antibiotics." I quit taking them from 1995 to 2003 and actually felt better. I read an article you can link to from the title or read below. First, there is an excerpt from the Journal of the American Medical Association and then Dr. Mercola's commentary that follows. I believe in taking control of our health rather than relying on quick fixes--especially ones that are both harmful and expensive.
------------
Antibiotics are commonly used to treat sinus infections, but a new study found that they work no better than a placebo. Further, prescribing antibiotics to sinus patients may cause harm by increasing their resistance to the medications.
In the study, researchers followed about 200 patients with sinusitis. Of the 100 who received an antibiotic, 29 percent had symptoms that lasted 10 days or more. Another 107 received a placebo, and 34 percent had similarly lasting symptoms. The difference was statistically insignificant.
The effectiveness of a nasal steroid spray for sinus infections was also tested in the study, and found to work the same as the placebo (except among a group of patients with milder symptoms, when it was slightly beneficial).
The researchers suggested that the antibiotic did not help the sinus infections because it couldn’t penetrate the pus-filled sinus cavities.
Unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics has led to enormous problems with drug resistance. Antibiotics were recently found to be ineffective against ear infections and bronchitis as well.
The researchers say the results should encourage more patients to forgo antibiotics for sinus infections.
"With a little bit of patience, the body will usually heal itself," said Dr. Ian Williamson, the study’s lead author.
+Sources:
-Journal of the American Medical Association December 5, 2007;298(21):2487-2496
-Houston Chronicle December 5, 2007
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
It’s been known since the last century that antibiotics have been proven to not help you recover from a sinus infection (sinusitis) any faster than a placebo.
Still, Americans spend nearly $6 billion every year on health care costs related to sinusitis, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Imagine if you could put some of that money back into your pocket and address a sinus infection from a foundational level.
How Sinus Infections Occur
Sinus infections occur when the mucous membranes in your nose and sinuses become irritated by a cold, allergy, pollutants or exposure to dry or cold air. This leads your membranes to become inflamed while stimulating your mucous glands to secrete more mucus than usual. As mucus accumulates in your sinuses, it can easily become infected.
But this is all on the surface.
All infections, including sinusitis, appear when certain health principles, such as eating a healthy diet, dealing with stress, and taking time to relax, are not followed.
This dampens the strength of your immune system and allows bacteria and fungus (another primary cause of sinus infections) to take hold in your nose and sinuses. And when it does, you can be left battling fatigue, sinus pressure, post-nasal drip, and thick mucus making it difficult to breathe.
Top Ways to Avoid Getting a Sinus Infection
1. Avoid eating sugar or grains, as detailed in my nutrition plan.
2. Consume good quality krill or fish oil, high in omega-3 fats DHA and EPA.
3. Eat coconut oil. Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which is known for being antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal. However, be careful with which oil you choose, as many coconut oils contain fungal toxins. This is because they are commonly made with copras, or dried coconuts, which are often contaminated with mycotoxins. So in order to fully enjoy the benefits of coconut oil, you will want to be sure that you find a company that uses only fresh coconuts to make their oil.
4. Avoid eating these top 10 mycotoxic foods.
5. Get proper sleep.
6. Get regular exercise
If you suffer from sinus infections and other sinus issues often, I highly recommend you also look into the emotional origins of this problem.
Emotions are directly tied to your physical health, and new advances in this field are allowing us to pinpoint very precisely which emotional challenges are spurring your physical ones.
For instance, Dr. Ryke Geerd Hamer, the creator of German New Medicine, has shown that sinus problems are triggered by an emotional “stink conflict,” which could be a severe emotional reaction to an actual odor, or a symbolic feeling that “this situation stinks!”
The sinus infection occurs once you have resolved the emotional conflict, and is actually a part of your body’s healing process. So please do take the time to get to the bottom of any emotional problems that are ailing you.
Natural Treatments for Sinus Infections
If you’ve already come down with a sinus infection, you now know that antibiotics are probably not the answer. Taking them is unlikely to speed your recovery, and will definitely contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistance.
Fortunately, there is a full arsenal of tools available at your fingertips that will soothe your symptoms and get you on the road to recovery. My past article How to Flush Away Sinus Ills details seven of them, and here are the first three:
1. Drink hot liquids, such as tea or hot chicken soup. It will help moisturize your mucous membranes, speeding up the movement of your cilia and thus washing mucus out of your sinuses more quickly.
2. Apply warm compresses to your face, three times a day for five minutes. A small towel soaked in warm water, placed over your face below and between your eyes, will help increase the circulation in your sinuses, which will also help speed up the movement of your cilia.
3. Irrigate your sinuses. (If you’ve never done this before, see the Nasal Irrigation Guidelines source link in the past article above.) Make sure you use a saline solution that does not contain benzalkonium. Benzalkonium is a preservative that can impair nasal function and might sting and burn. To make your own preservative-free saline solution, add one teaspoon of table salt to one pint of distilled water. Nettie pots are readily available and can help facilitate nasal irrigation.
------------
Antibiotics are commonly used to treat sinus infections, but a new study found that they work no better than a placebo. Further, prescribing antibiotics to sinus patients may cause harm by increasing their resistance to the medications.
In the study, researchers followed about 200 patients with sinusitis. Of the 100 who received an antibiotic, 29 percent had symptoms that lasted 10 days or more. Another 107 received a placebo, and 34 percent had similarly lasting symptoms. The difference was statistically insignificant.
The effectiveness of a nasal steroid spray for sinus infections was also tested in the study, and found to work the same as the placebo (except among a group of patients with milder symptoms, when it was slightly beneficial).
The researchers suggested that the antibiotic did not help the sinus infections because it couldn’t penetrate the pus-filled sinus cavities.
Unnecessary prescribing of antibiotics has led to enormous problems with drug resistance. Antibiotics were recently found to be ineffective against ear infections and bronchitis as well.
The researchers say the results should encourage more patients to forgo antibiotics for sinus infections.
"With a little bit of patience, the body will usually heal itself," said Dr. Ian Williamson, the study’s lead author.
+Sources:
-Journal of the American Medical Association December 5, 2007;298(21):2487-2496
-Houston Chronicle December 5, 2007
Dr. Mercola's Comments:
It’s been known since the last century that antibiotics have been proven to not help you recover from a sinus infection (sinusitis) any faster than a placebo.
Still, Americans spend nearly $6 billion every year on health care costs related to sinusitis, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Imagine if you could put some of that money back into your pocket and address a sinus infection from a foundational level.
How Sinus Infections Occur
Sinus infections occur when the mucous membranes in your nose and sinuses become irritated by a cold, allergy, pollutants or exposure to dry or cold air. This leads your membranes to become inflamed while stimulating your mucous glands to secrete more mucus than usual. As mucus accumulates in your sinuses, it can easily become infected.
But this is all on the surface.
All infections, including sinusitis, appear when certain health principles, such as eating a healthy diet, dealing with stress, and taking time to relax, are not followed.
This dampens the strength of your immune system and allows bacteria and fungus (another primary cause of sinus infections) to take hold in your nose and sinuses. And when it does, you can be left battling fatigue, sinus pressure, post-nasal drip, and thick mucus making it difficult to breathe.
Top Ways to Avoid Getting a Sinus Infection
1. Avoid eating sugar or grains, as detailed in my nutrition plan.
2. Consume good quality krill or fish oil, high in omega-3 fats DHA and EPA.
3. Eat coconut oil. Coconut oil is rich in lauric acid, which is known for being antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal. However, be careful with which oil you choose, as many coconut oils contain fungal toxins. This is because they are commonly made with copras, or dried coconuts, which are often contaminated with mycotoxins. So in order to fully enjoy the benefits of coconut oil, you will want to be sure that you find a company that uses only fresh coconuts to make their oil.
4. Avoid eating these top 10 mycotoxic foods.
5. Get proper sleep.
6. Get regular exercise
If you suffer from sinus infections and other sinus issues often, I highly recommend you also look into the emotional origins of this problem.
Emotions are directly tied to your physical health, and new advances in this field are allowing us to pinpoint very precisely which emotional challenges are spurring your physical ones.
For instance, Dr. Ryke Geerd Hamer, the creator of German New Medicine, has shown that sinus problems are triggered by an emotional “stink conflict,” which could be a severe emotional reaction to an actual odor, or a symbolic feeling that “this situation stinks!”
The sinus infection occurs once you have resolved the emotional conflict, and is actually a part of your body’s healing process. So please do take the time to get to the bottom of any emotional problems that are ailing you.
Natural Treatments for Sinus Infections
If you’ve already come down with a sinus infection, you now know that antibiotics are probably not the answer. Taking them is unlikely to speed your recovery, and will definitely contribute to the growing problem of antibiotic-resistance.
Fortunately, there is a full arsenal of tools available at your fingertips that will soothe your symptoms and get you on the road to recovery. My past article How to Flush Away Sinus Ills details seven of them, and here are the first three:
1. Drink hot liquids, such as tea or hot chicken soup. It will help moisturize your mucous membranes, speeding up the movement of your cilia and thus washing mucus out of your sinuses more quickly.
2. Apply warm compresses to your face, three times a day for five minutes. A small towel soaked in warm water, placed over your face below and between your eyes, will help increase the circulation in your sinuses, which will also help speed up the movement of your cilia.
3. Irrigate your sinuses. (If you’ve never done this before, see the Nasal Irrigation Guidelines source link in the past article above.) Make sure you use a saline solution that does not contain benzalkonium. Benzalkonium is a preservative that can impair nasal function and might sting and burn. To make your own preservative-free saline solution, add one teaspoon of table salt to one pint of distilled water. Nettie pots are readily available and can help facilitate nasal irrigation.
17 December 2007
Letter from Ron Paul
December 17, 2007
What a day! I am humbled and inspired, grateful and thrilled for this vast outpouring of support.
On just one day, in honor of the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, the new American revolutionaries brought in $6.04 million, another one-day record. The average donation was $102; we had 58,407 individual contributors, of whom an astounding 24,915 were first-time donors. And it was an entirely voluntary, self-organized, decentralized, independent effort on the internet. Must be the "spammers" I keep hearing about!
The establishment is baffled and worried, and well they should be. They keep asking me who runs our internet fundraising and controls our volunteers. To these top-down central planners, a spontaneous order like our movement is science-fiction. But you and I know it's real: as real as the American people's yearning for freedom, peace, and prosperity, as real as all the men and women who have sacrificed for our ideals, in the past and today.
And how neat to see celebrations all across the world, with Tea Parties from France to New Zealand. This is how we can spread the ideals of our country, through voluntary emulation, not bombs and bribes. Of course, there were hundreds in America.
As I dropped in on a cheering, laughing crowd of about 600 near my home in Freeport, Texas, I noted that they call us "angry." Well, we are the happiest, most optimistic "angry" movement ever, and the most diverse. What unites us is a love of liberty, and a determination to fix what is wrong with our country, from the Fed to the IRS, from warfare to welfare. But otherwise we are a big tent.
Said the local newspaper (http://www.thefacts.com/story.lasso?ewcd=36475b4d132fc0a1): "The elderly sat with teens barely old enough to vote. The faces were black, Hispanic, Asian and white. There was no fear in their voices as they spoke boldly with each other about the way the country should be. Held close like a deeply held secret, Paul has brought them out of the disconnect they feel between what they know to be true and where the country has been led."
Thanks also to the 500 or so who braved the blizzard in Boston to go to Faneuil Hall. My son Rand told me what a great time he had with you.
A few mornings ago on LewRockwell.com, I saw a YouTube of a 14-year-old boy that summed up our whole movement for me. This well-spoken young man, who could have passed in knowledge for a college graduate, told how he heard our ideas being denounced. So he decided to Google. He read some of my speeches, and thought, these make sense. Then he studied US foreign policy of recent years, and came to the conclusion that we are right. So he persuaded his father to drop Rudy Giuliani and join our movement.
All over America, all over the world, we are inspiring real change. With the wars and the spying, the spending and the taxing, the inflation and the credit crisis, our ideas have never been more needed. Please help me spread them http://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate in all 50 states. Victory for liberty! That is our goal, and nothing less.
Sincerely,
Ron
What a day! I am humbled and inspired, grateful and thrilled for this vast outpouring of support.
On just one day, in honor of the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, the new American revolutionaries brought in $6.04 million, another one-day record. The average donation was $102; we had 58,407 individual contributors, of whom an astounding 24,915 were first-time donors. And it was an entirely voluntary, self-organized, decentralized, independent effort on the internet. Must be the "spammers" I keep hearing about!
The establishment is baffled and worried, and well they should be. They keep asking me who runs our internet fundraising and controls our volunteers. To these top-down central planners, a spontaneous order like our movement is science-fiction. But you and I know it's real: as real as the American people's yearning for freedom, peace, and prosperity, as real as all the men and women who have sacrificed for our ideals, in the past and today.
And how neat to see celebrations all across the world, with Tea Parties from France to New Zealand. This is how we can spread the ideals of our country, through voluntary emulation, not bombs and bribes. Of course, there were hundreds in America.
As I dropped in on a cheering, laughing crowd of about 600 near my home in Freeport, Texas, I noted that they call us "angry." Well, we are the happiest, most optimistic "angry" movement ever, and the most diverse. What unites us is a love of liberty, and a determination to fix what is wrong with our country, from the Fed to the IRS, from warfare to welfare. But otherwise we are a big tent.
Said the local newspaper (http://www.thefacts.com/story.lasso?ewcd=36475b4d132fc0a1): "The elderly sat with teens barely old enough to vote. The faces were black, Hispanic, Asian and white. There was no fear in their voices as they spoke boldly with each other about the way the country should be. Held close like a deeply held secret, Paul has brought them out of the disconnect they feel between what they know to be true and where the country has been led."
Thanks also to the 500 or so who braved the blizzard in Boston to go to Faneuil Hall. My son Rand told me what a great time he had with you.
A few mornings ago on LewRockwell.com, I saw a YouTube of a 14-year-old boy that summed up our whole movement for me. This well-spoken young man, who could have passed in knowledge for a college graduate, told how he heard our ideas being denounced. So he decided to Google. He read some of my speeches, and thought, these make sense. Then he studied US foreign policy of recent years, and came to the conclusion that we are right. So he persuaded his father to drop Rudy Giuliani and join our movement.
All over America, all over the world, we are inspiring real change. With the wars and the spying, the spending and the taxing, the inflation and the credit crisis, our ideas have never been more needed. Please help me spread them http://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate in all 50 states. Victory for liberty! That is our goal, and nothing less.
Sincerely,
Ron
15 December 2007
Ron Paul and Political Paradigms
I read a short positive article on Ron Paul I wanted to share. Click on the title "Ron Paul and Political Paradigms" to be linked to the article.
I've been teaching/facilitating the teen class on Wednesday nights for several months now. We originally started going through the book of Acts. I believe the book of Acts is about the restoration of Israel. Israel was restored when, for starters, the risen Jesus became the eternal king/Messiah of the offspring of David (2 Samuel 7). However, though Israel was essentially restored at that point through the ascension and enthronement of Jesus the King/Messiah, the Apostles asked him, "Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?" What did Jesus say? He had already taught them about the kingdom in a forty-day seminar, hadn't he? Most of the people he came across in the book of Acts already understood the kingdom before he had even come along.
However, I've often heard it taught that those foolish Apostles misunderstood the nature of God's Kingdom. "It's a spiritual, not a political, kingdom . . . (blah, blah, blah)."
But Jesus didn't ridicule the Apostles for a misunderstanding this time. They understood that there had been the effective anointment of the true king of Israel and the world. They only wondered when the regime change would begin to transform Israel and the world. Hence their question's emphasis on time. And hence Jesus' answer's emphasis on time and the Father's will. He told them, "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business. What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you'll be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world."
It is correct that God's Kingdom is spiritual, for the Holy Spirit initiates the regime change rather than some human-contrived political establishment. However, the Kingdom is a political realm. It is an eternal, political Kingdom already verified thru the King's resurrection. His power has already been demonstrated in the new Israel, in us, thru the Holy Spirit. Israel can now truly be a light to the ends of the world, not simply because they are scattered, but because God has appointed Jesus as Messiah by raising him from the dead. The Kingdom is being restored to this day, and until the King returns, each time we bow our allegiance to Jesus, the God-approved King.
In our teens class, we imagined that each of us was a national ruler. Some would be Presidents, others Prime Ministers, others Warlords, and still others Kings and Queens of Kingdoms. (I was Emperor of the Welsh Empire.) We imagined the first ten lines of our inaugural address in order to prepare for the inaugural address of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Then, we listened to Jesus' sermon on the plain where a congregation gathered around him both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him--so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke: . . .
I would encourage you to read the first ten lines of Jesus' inaugural address starting in Luke 6:19.
I've been teaching/facilitating the teen class on Wednesday nights for several months now. We originally started going through the book of Acts. I believe the book of Acts is about the restoration of Israel. Israel was restored when, for starters, the risen Jesus became the eternal king/Messiah of the offspring of David (2 Samuel 7). However, though Israel was essentially restored at that point through the ascension and enthronement of Jesus the King/Messiah, the Apostles asked him, "Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?" What did Jesus say? He had already taught them about the kingdom in a forty-day seminar, hadn't he? Most of the people he came across in the book of Acts already understood the kingdom before he had even come along.
However, I've often heard it taught that those foolish Apostles misunderstood the nature of God's Kingdom. "It's a spiritual, not a political, kingdom . . . (blah, blah, blah)."
But Jesus didn't ridicule the Apostles for a misunderstanding this time. They understood that there had been the effective anointment of the true king of Israel and the world. They only wondered when the regime change would begin to transform Israel and the world. Hence their question's emphasis on time. And hence Jesus' answer's emphasis on time and the Father's will. He told them, "You don't get to know the time. Timing is the Father's business. What you'll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you'll be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world."
It is correct that God's Kingdom is spiritual, for the Holy Spirit initiates the regime change rather than some human-contrived political establishment. However, the Kingdom is a political realm. It is an eternal, political Kingdom already verified thru the King's resurrection. His power has already been demonstrated in the new Israel, in us, thru the Holy Spirit. Israel can now truly be a light to the ends of the world, not simply because they are scattered, but because God has appointed Jesus as Messiah by raising him from the dead. The Kingdom is being restored to this day, and until the King returns, each time we bow our allegiance to Jesus, the God-approved King.
In our teens class, we imagined that each of us was a national ruler. Some would be Presidents, others Prime Ministers, others Warlords, and still others Kings and Queens of Kingdoms. (I was Emperor of the Welsh Empire.) We imagined the first ten lines of our inaugural address in order to prepare for the inaugural address of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Then, we listened to Jesus' sermon on the plain where a congregation gathered around him both to hear him and to be cured of their ailments. Those disturbed by evil spirits were healed. Everyone was trying to touch him--so much energy surging from him, so many people healed! Then he spoke: . . .
I would encourage you to read the first ten lines of Jesus' inaugural address starting in Luke 6:19.
08 December 2007
Who Would the World Elect?
Check this out! Click on the link--http://www.whowouldtheworldelect.com/--and vote for your candidate of choice. Then, notice who has the most votes internationally! Do more soldiers support Ron Paul than any other candidate? Do his messages attract people in other countries more than any other? Or is it all a scam?
If you have not done so already, I ask that you watch some Ron Paul videos, read his views on Wikipedia, or read his articles from his website. You won't see anything about him on the television media and when you do they tend to lie. (For example, I have heard them say a number of times that he isn't really a Republican candidate because he's the only one who thinks we shouldn't have invaded Iraq. But in our history we have usually elected Republican Presidents to get us out of wars. Ron Paul is of the original Republicans, not of the Imperialist neo-cons.)
It really makes me wonder why the television news sources almost ridicule him while there is a sense on the web of a real fervor for Ron Paul. Rather than letting the present powers decide who is the most qualified or eligible candidate, I would rather let the support come from a grassroots movement. Perhaps that's kind of scary since it would include both saints and sinners. Surely support would come from greater saints than the ones in power right now, but it may also come from worse sinners.
If you have not done so already, I ask that you watch some Ron Paul videos, read his views on Wikipedia, or read his articles from his website. You won't see anything about him on the television media and when you do they tend to lie. (For example, I have heard them say a number of times that he isn't really a Republican candidate because he's the only one who thinks we shouldn't have invaded Iraq. But in our history we have usually elected Republican Presidents to get us out of wars. Ron Paul is of the original Republicans, not of the Imperialist neo-cons.)
It really makes me wonder why the television news sources almost ridicule him while there is a sense on the web of a real fervor for Ron Paul. Rather than letting the present powers decide who is the most qualified or eligible candidate, I would rather let the support come from a grassroots movement. Perhaps that's kind of scary since it would include both saints and sinners. Surely support would come from greater saints than the ones in power right now, but it may also come from worse sinners.
03 December 2007
Ron Paul and Parkour
I'm sorry I haven't really been updating my blog. I'm constantly thinking of things I would like to post for encouragement, but we're pretty busy and sometimes I don't feel like I can put my thoughts down very concisely. So here are a couple of points I'll just put up for people to see . . .
First, I'm still happy with Ron Paul and his character and ideas. I don't know if America really wants him for President, but I do. I'm planning to send him some money to help spread his message. I remember hearing him say one time (and I've watched lots of his speeches and read his writings online over the past several months): "Americans are losing faith that the government can solve all their problems," and "I think people would like a government that has a good message."
Second, I'm considering a new sport/activity with my friend and former mission teammate, Jon Grizzle. He introduced me via the Web to "Parkour". Watching videos is probably the best description, but I would describe it something like this:
Rule #1: Don't hurt yourself: know what you can do.
Rule #2: Travel from point A to point B as though your life depended on it.
Rule #3: Learn to overcome obstacles through courage and discipline.
Rule #4: Let Parkour instruct your life.
Here are a couple of my favorite videos, a website, and of course the Wikipedia link:
Also, look at these two websites if you want to learn about Parkour: http://www.americanparkour.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour.
First, I'm still happy with Ron Paul and his character and ideas. I don't know if America really wants him for President, but I do. I'm planning to send him some money to help spread his message. I remember hearing him say one time (and I've watched lots of his speeches and read his writings online over the past several months): "Americans are losing faith that the government can solve all their problems," and "I think people would like a government that has a good message."
Second, I'm considering a new sport/activity with my friend and former mission teammate, Jon Grizzle. He introduced me via the Web to "Parkour". Watching videos is probably the best description, but I would describe it something like this:
Rule #1: Don't hurt yourself: know what you can do.
Rule #2: Travel from point A to point B as though your life depended on it.
Rule #3: Learn to overcome obstacles through courage and discipline.
Rule #4: Let Parkour instruct your life.
Here are a couple of my favorite videos, a website, and of course the Wikipedia link:
Also, look at these two websites if you want to learn about Parkour: http://www.americanparkour.com/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkour.
13 November 2007
Politics
I've had a lot on my mind recently. Visiting prospective partners who might send us to Australia for ten years . . . Nicole's Mum staying with thru Thanksgiving . . . leadership and power dynamics in my workplace . . . various asundry blog post ideas I never get around to posting . . . and, of course, what I may eat, drink, or wear tomorrow.
I've also been thinking a lot about Ron Paul. He's kind of messed my life up a bit by inspiring me to give up political apathy. I still have greater faith in Jesus of Nazareth's ability to rule the world than anyone else. He's the only rightful king. But Ron Paul's deep conviction and character remind me of this. I want to ask my blog readers to take time studying Ron Paul's personal history, views, and essays. I recommend watching YouTube videos of Ron Paul and/or reading Wikipedia's entry on Ron Paul. I have read summaries on almost all of Ron Paul's views and legislation and have found that every single one made sense.
So, now, added to all the other things on my mind recently, I'm wondering how best to take action. There are many other things that are probably more urgent for me to think about than to consider how I can support Ron Paul for President 2008. Still, I've decided to at least post this little entry to show my support and encourage people to learn about Ron Paul's consistent voting record and thorough knowledge of every issue and his youthful passion for being free and alive. If you take my recommendation, you will almost certainly become a better leader. I would love to read comments from my friends and family on this, too, especially if you have a negative view of Ron Paul's character or convictions. It will certainly make things interesting and remind us of what freedom means.
Oh, by the way, here's a quote from a 2003 article that I really like: "The Founding Fathers envisioned a robustly Christian yet religiously tolerant America, with churches serving as vital institutions that would eclipse the state in importance. Throughout our nation’s history, churches have done what no government can ever do, namely teach morality and civility. Moral and civil individuals are largely governed by their own sense of right and wrong, and hence have little need for external government. This is the real reason the collectivist Left hates religion: Churches as institutions compete with the state for the people’s allegiance, and many devout people put their faith in God before putting their faith in the state."
I've also been thinking a lot about Ron Paul. He's kind of messed my life up a bit by inspiring me to give up political apathy. I still have greater faith in Jesus of Nazareth's ability to rule the world than anyone else. He's the only rightful king. But Ron Paul's deep conviction and character remind me of this. I want to ask my blog readers to take time studying Ron Paul's personal history, views, and essays. I recommend watching YouTube videos of Ron Paul and/or reading Wikipedia's entry on Ron Paul. I have read summaries on almost all of Ron Paul's views and legislation and have found that every single one made sense.
So, now, added to all the other things on my mind recently, I'm wondering how best to take action. There are many other things that are probably more urgent for me to think about than to consider how I can support Ron Paul for President 2008. Still, I've decided to at least post this little entry to show my support and encourage people to learn about Ron Paul's consistent voting record and thorough knowledge of every issue and his youthful passion for being free and alive. If you take my recommendation, you will almost certainly become a better leader. I would love to read comments from my friends and family on this, too, especially if you have a negative view of Ron Paul's character or convictions. It will certainly make things interesting and remind us of what freedom means.
Oh, by the way, here's a quote from a 2003 article that I really like: "The Founding Fathers envisioned a robustly Christian yet religiously tolerant America, with churches serving as vital institutions that would eclipse the state in importance. Throughout our nation’s history, churches have done what no government can ever do, namely teach morality and civility. Moral and civil individuals are largely governed by their own sense of right and wrong, and hence have little need for external government. This is the real reason the collectivist Left hates religion: Churches as institutions compete with the state for the people’s allegiance, and many devout people put their faith in God before putting their faith in the state."
01 November 2007
Nobel Moment
My dad sent me a link to this excellent article [click on this blog title for link]. The author, John Christy, calls for less presumptuousness and drama about global climate change and greater liberality where it counts. In fact, Christy's article encourages me to spend time and money on issues in ways that create 20 to 500 times the benefit of marginally limiting "global warming". I think one of my favorite parts of the article is here where Christy says,
" . . . It is my turn to cringe when I hear overstated-confidence from those who describe the projected evolution of global weather patterns over the next 100 years, especially when I consider how difficult it is to accurately predict that system's behavior over the next five days.
Mother Nature simply operates at a level of complexity that is, at this point, beyond the mastery of mere mortals (such as scientists) and the tools available to us. As my high-school physics teacher admonished us in those we-shall-conquer-the-world-with-a-slide-rule days, "Begin all of your scientific pronouncements with 'At our present level of ignorance, we think we know . . .'"
But the best part of the article comes in the final lines because it leaves us with the ability to respond to an undeniable moral imperative.
31 October 2007
Right/Left Brain
Click on the title "Right/Left Brain" to take a really quick, I mean, really quick test to see if you're predominantly left or right brain. The cool thing is when you can sense visually when you switch back and forth, left to right, right to left!
I'm predominantly right brained according to the test. I looked at the list and noticed that I do think with my "left" brain in certain ways. I'm glad my "brains" are talking. Below I've interpreted how well I think in the particular "area", from RARE to MEDIUM to WELL
Left Brain Functions:
Uses logic - RARE
Detail oriented - WELL
Facts rule - RARE
Words and language - WELL
Present and past - WELL
Math and science - math, RARE; science, WELL
Comprehension - MEDIUM
Knowing - WELL
Acknowledges - ?
Order/pattern perception - MEDIUM
Knows object name - WELL
Reality based - MEDIUM
Forms strategies - RARE
Practical - RARE
Safe - RARE
Right Brain Functions:
Uses feeling - WELL
“Big picture” oriented - MEDIUM
Imagination rules - WELL
Symbols and images - WELL
Present and future - WELL
Philosophy and religion - philosophy, MEDIUM; religion, WELL
Gets the “meaning” - WELL
Believes - WELL
Appreciates - WELL
Spatial perception - WELL
Knows object function - MEDIUM
Fantasy based - WELL
Presents possibilities - WELL
Impetuous - WELL
Risk taking - WELL
I'm predominantly right brained according to the test. I looked at the list and noticed that I do think with my "left" brain in certain ways. I'm glad my "brains" are talking. Below I've interpreted how well I think in the particular "area", from RARE to MEDIUM to WELL
Left Brain Functions:
Uses logic - RARE
Detail oriented - WELL
Facts rule - RARE
Words and language - WELL
Present and past - WELL
Math and science - math, RARE; science, WELL
Comprehension - MEDIUM
Knowing - WELL
Acknowledges - ?
Order/pattern perception - MEDIUM
Knows object name - WELL
Reality based - MEDIUM
Forms strategies - RARE
Practical - RARE
Safe - RARE
Right Brain Functions:
Uses feeling - WELL
“Big picture” oriented - MEDIUM
Imagination rules - WELL
Symbols and images - WELL
Present and future - WELL
Philosophy and religion - philosophy, MEDIUM; religion, WELL
Gets the “meaning” - WELL
Believes - WELL
Appreciates - WELL
Spatial perception - WELL
Knows object function - MEDIUM
Fantasy based - WELL
Presents possibilities - WELL
Impetuous - WELL
Risk taking - WELL
30 October 2007
18 October 2007
Holy Spirit Sustainability
This is an interesting article I thought I would share.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Holy Spirit Sustainability (by Brian McLaren)
According to the World Wildlife Fund, each of us needs about 2.5 acres of arable land to be sustained with needed food. Then we need to add another two acres or so - enough land to sustain the plants and animals that keep our ecosystem balanced and fertile. So, each of the 6.7 billion human beings requires, at minimum, 4.45 acres of fertile land.
But the math stopped working in the latter part of the previous century. The fact is, we're using about 5.44 acres per person on average, which exceeds the carrying capacity of our planet. And these numbers are skewed by our disproportionate ecological footprint as Americans - we require over 23 acres per person to sustain us at the standard of living to which we have become accustomed.
Perhaps we can be forgiven for developing this unsustainable lifestyle because we didn't know what we were doing. But now, as the information becomes available - and increasingly incontrovertible - we have a new responsbility and opportunity. And here is my firm belief: whatever the pleasures that come from living an unsustainable, and therefore unwise, life, the pleasures of living a wise and sustainable life will be far greater.
I was speaking on these topics recently, and a woman told me she wrote a note to her husband during my talk, saying something like, "You got me up at 7 a.m. to hear some guy make me feel guilty for being a successful American? Thanks a lot!" But she told me later, with some emotion, that by the end of the talk, she felt God had spoken to her. "The Holy Spirit washed over me," she said. She was genuinely excited about the chance to learn to live better, and to seek a higher kind of success than we have achieved so far - a wise success, a good success, a sustainable success.
This is true in my own life. When I was researching my most recent book, I kept adding some small choices to my life to adjust my lifestyle to what I was learning. For example, we set a moratorium on incandescent bulbs in our house. Whenever one blows, we're replacing it with a compact flourescent, and it feels fantastic to do so. I took about an hour and built a composting bin in my back yard, and it's really enjoyable to add biodegradable kitchen scraps to it each day. These are small things, but I think if you try them, you'll agree: this isn't drudgery and painful sacrifice.
As the psalmist said, "You show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore." I think it was Jane Goodall who said something like this: "You thought the age of reason was good? Wait until you see the age of love!" And I would add, "You thought the age of consumption and waste was good? Wait until you experience the joy of the age of sustainability and wise use!"
In Deuteronomy 15, God promised the people that if they lived according to the Lord's ways, there would be enough for everyone and "there will be no one in need among you." This is the dream: that we learn to live "in the ways of the Lord" so that there is enough for everyone and the planet is well-cared for, flourishing and green, full of birdsongs, and teeming with life, to the glory of God.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Holy Spirit Sustainability (by Brian McLaren)
According to the World Wildlife Fund, each of us needs about 2.5 acres of arable land to be sustained with needed food. Then we need to add another two acres or so - enough land to sustain the plants and animals that keep our ecosystem balanced and fertile. So, each of the 6.7 billion human beings requires, at minimum, 4.45 acres of fertile land.
But the math stopped working in the latter part of the previous century. The fact is, we're using about 5.44 acres per person on average, which exceeds the carrying capacity of our planet. And these numbers are skewed by our disproportionate ecological footprint as Americans - we require over 23 acres per person to sustain us at the standard of living to which we have become accustomed.
Perhaps we can be forgiven for developing this unsustainable lifestyle because we didn't know what we were doing. But now, as the information becomes available - and increasingly incontrovertible - we have a new responsbility and opportunity. And here is my firm belief: whatever the pleasures that come from living an unsustainable, and therefore unwise, life, the pleasures of living a wise and sustainable life will be far greater.
I was speaking on these topics recently, and a woman told me she wrote a note to her husband during my talk, saying something like, "You got me up at 7 a.m. to hear some guy make me feel guilty for being a successful American? Thanks a lot!" But she told me later, with some emotion, that by the end of the talk, she felt God had spoken to her. "The Holy Spirit washed over me," she said. She was genuinely excited about the chance to learn to live better, and to seek a higher kind of success than we have achieved so far - a wise success, a good success, a sustainable success.
This is true in my own life. When I was researching my most recent book, I kept adding some small choices to my life to adjust my lifestyle to what I was learning. For example, we set a moratorium on incandescent bulbs in our house. Whenever one blows, we're replacing it with a compact flourescent, and it feels fantastic to do so. I took about an hour and built a composting bin in my back yard, and it's really enjoyable to add biodegradable kitchen scraps to it each day. These are small things, but I think if you try them, you'll agree: this isn't drudgery and painful sacrifice.
As the psalmist said, "You show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore." I think it was Jane Goodall who said something like this: "You thought the age of reason was good? Wait until you see the age of love!" And I would add, "You thought the age of consumption and waste was good? Wait until you experience the joy of the age of sustainability and wise use!"
In Deuteronomy 15, God promised the people that if they lived according to the Lord's ways, there would be enough for everyone and "there will be no one in need among you." This is the dream: that we learn to live "in the ways of the Lord" so that there is enough for everyone and the planet is well-cared for, flourishing and green, full of birdsongs, and teeming with life, to the glory of God.
14 October 2007
Whaley Vacation
We went to the Smoky Mountains for a vacation with my family back in August. I posted pictures before, but here are some more. We hadn't been able to find our camera cord since we got back from the trip until Friday night. So now here they are . . .
View out our cabin:
Porcupine:
Melissa about to hold a tarantula!
View out our cabin:
Porcupine:
Melissa about to hold a tarantula!
04 October 2007
Laughing
Follow this link and watch the videos with friends: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/10/04/don-t-click-this-unless-you-want-to-laugh.aspx
29 September 2007
Animal Battles
Here's a boring Biodynamic Vineyard video. A doctor explains how tending his vineyard informed his care of humans and vice versa. He changed from using mostly medicine for putting "bullets" in disease to using homeopathic to support the living organism:
Here's a video of a tenacious animal with a high threshold for pain. (It must be the year of the . . .):
But this is amazing--the resiliency and tenacity of animals . . . "A battle between a pride of lions, a herd of buffalo, and 2 crocodiles at a watering hole in South Africa's Kruger National Park while on safari."
Here's a video of a tenacious animal with a high threshold for pain. (It must be the year of the . . .):
But this is amazing--the resiliency and tenacity of animals . . . "A battle between a pride of lions, a herd of buffalo, and 2 crocodiles at a watering hole in South Africa's Kruger National Park while on safari."
22 September 2007
There and Back Again
Approaching veiled Yale 
Climbing above 13,000 feet
Looking back at the ground we've climbed
Atop Yale at 14,196 feet high: Shawn, David, Jeff, and Chris
You da' man . . . Gou da' cheese . . .
Mt. Yale view of the forboding Mt. Harvard
Mt. Yale view of Mt. Oxford
Overall Mt. Yale view of the mountain range to its north: see Mt. Harvard? and to its left is Oxford with another snowcapped peak between them in the background.
Climbing above 13,000 feet
Looking back at the ground we've climbed
Atop Yale at 14,196 feet high: Shawn, David, Jeff, and Chris
You da' man . . . Gou da' cheese . . .
Mt. Yale view of the forboding Mt. Harvard
Mt. Yale view of Mt. Oxford
Overall Mt. Yale view of the mountain range to its north: see Mt. Harvard? and to its left is Oxford with another snowcapped peak between them in the background.
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