A Warning from William Penn (Wake UP America)

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William Penn, a guy of some reputation in early America, has been quoted as saying “Governments, like clocks, go from the motion men give them, and as governments are made and moved by men, so by them they are ruined too. Wherefore governments rather depend upon men than men upon governments. Let men be good, and the government cannot be bad. . . .”
Oh my!!!  What would he tell us to do in our current situation?  He would probably wonder how we got in this situation.  Actually, I wonder how we got in this situation.  But here we are, and we had better DO SOMETHING!
First of all, every citizen who cares should
  1.  become informed, not just about candidates, but about issues
  2.  consider how corruption has taken over at all levels and work to find it, expose it, and prevent it
  3.  consider if there is corruption in their own life and how vulnerable they are to it
  4.  VOTE!!!
  5.  If you really believe in a candidate who seems genuine, HELP THEM RUN!
  6.  If you cannot find a genuine candidate, then RUN YOURSELF
For those of us who love our country and want to be under the leadership of men and women we can respect, there is no longer any room for apathy.  We better start letting our voices be heard.  We better start spending our money wisely.  We better get our heads our of the proverbial sand and quit looking just to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.  If we do not do this, we risk waking up in a land of tyranny……It has happened before!!!

Laughter is Good Medicine

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A cheerful heart is a good medicine (Prov 17:22)images
Every comedian knows that there is power in laughter.  Every doctor knows this too.  This is not a new discovery.   Proverbs 17 says “A cheerful heart is a good medicine.”  And I say that it is a medicine that is in short supply today.  In my office, or out of my office, I rarely hear laughter.  As an experiment, just sit and listen in a restaurant.  If you can hear anything above the TVs on the wall, it will likely not be a lot of laughter.  Too bad.  What can be done to inject back into society a good, old fashioned dose of frivolity?
For starters,  we can begin to look for the good around us.  There is plenty of bad but we have some control over where we focus.  There is a power in positive thinking.  Even when life seems to be falling apart, there is usually at least something hopeful on which to concentrate.  If not, then go looking!  Or decide to provide the good and hopeful yourself!  If nothing good seems to be happening, then go do a random act of kindness for someone else.  It doesn’t need to cost you anything other than time and effort.  A smile is not expensive.  Yet a smile, medically speaking, leads to a release of helpful endorphins that will lead to your own better health.
Ah yes…..A cheerful heart doeth good like medicine.  Be that dose of drug for someone today.  You may end up cheering yourself up in the process.

Bone Up! (Preventing osteoporosis)

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If you have ever broken a bone, you do not want to ever feel that pain again.  But low bone mass (osteopenia) and severe low bone mass (osteoporosis) is a difficult problem affecting many women and some men.  For females, the most rapid bone mass accumulation usually occurs between the ages of 11 and 14.  Bone mass continues to increase in the in the teen years and even into the twenties, but usually peaks by age 30.  You definitely want to start with a healthy bone mass, because it dwindles throughout life, with the loss accelerated after menopause.

However, to form or keep good bone it is important to have sufficient intake of calcium(about 1200mg daily) and to have adequate amounts of vitamin D available.  Unfortunately, young girls are not drinking a lot of milk.  They often do not have a lot of calcium sources in their diet.  What is worse is that if they happen to drink a lot of coke or other dark soda, they may actually be sabotaging their own skeleton.

Since humans make vitamin D with the help of the sun, sunscreen also may lead to lower vitamin D levels.  Sunscreen is important, and it is still a good idea to lather it on.  But there are a couple of changes that can be simply made that will likely prevent a lot of pain down the road.

#1 – First of all, look for good sources of calcium.  For instance, almond milk is a good, tasty, sweet alternative to cow’s milk and has a lot more calcium than cow’s milk also.  Other sources include beans, dark and leafy vegetables, oranges and almonds.

#2- As far as vitamin D is concerned, it is now recommended that a supplement of 800 international units of vitamin D be taken daily.  Spending a little time in the sun daily also helps

#3 – Weight bearing exercise is vital, but walking is felt to be as good as running.  Just do a lot of it
  
#4 – Avoid excessive alcohol
 
#5 – Avoid all smoking, as it will accelerate bone loss.
 
The  goal is to be able to stand straight and tall in your later years…to avoid becoming all shriveled and bent.  So take a good long look at your lifestyle habits and make any appropriate changes!

Little Children

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Matthew 18:2-4
What is it about little children that is so inviting?  They are such a pleasure to be around.  They brighten up life. They bring life.  They make you feel more alive yourself.  But why?
As I think about this, I realize that when we are children we have characteristics that are wonderful but seem to fade as we grow.
#1 – Children are eager to learn.  The are open to the wonder of creation. They are NOT CYNICAL.  They seem to intuitively realize that there is a glory to this world and are eager to explore it.  An ant hill can fascinate.  The ocean amazes.  Racing caterpillars or catching grasshoppers can go on for hours.  How wonderful if adults looked at each new day as a child did…with excitement and wonder at what they might discover!
#2 – children are HUMBLE.   They are not yet consumed with their own importance.  They want to be included but don’t have to be the center.
#3 – They haven’t been tainted by political correctness.  They say what is on their minds without carefully choosing ambiguous language.  Hurtful sometimes, but refreshingly HONEST.
#4 – They  LOVE  easily.  They won’t notice that you are not dressed properly.  It won’t matter if you are fat or thin, tall or short, black or white.  You love them and they love you back.  Simple.
Perhaps we should turn and become like children again.

Thy Kingdom Come

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Every morning that I am able, I walk.  My walk takes me through 5 miles of beautiful country.  There are green hills, small lakes, creeks, crepe myrtle trees, birds, turtles.   You get the picture!  Anyway, as I walk I like to pray and I usually start with the Lord’s prayer.  But today when I said Thy kingdom come I thought….in order for God’s kingdom to come, this current kingdom has to pass away. Is that what I really want?  As I looked around I thought how difficult it is to let go of things I love.   I tend to be the sappy and sentimental type.  I like to stay where  memories have been made.  But then I remembered something that CS Lewis said  “It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”
If you think about it, even the most beautiful place in this world is still going to have rain, rust, broken limbs, wilting flowers.  This is not paradise  As it says in the second chapter of first Corinthians, “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has  prepared for those who love him”  This is my home now.  This earth.  I love it  I want to explore it.  I want to protect it.   But I must not get too attached.  I am passing through as an alien whose citizenship is in another country.  I will keep walking and enjoying the beauty that God has made.  But I will try and remember that it is just a foretaste of what it to come  There is a new earth…a better earth coming.  Thy kingdom come!

American Stew

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     The beauty of America lies in its diversity.  We are a melting pot.  A stew of sorts.  And we are all in this same stew together!  It is not helpful to think of Americans as discreetly different groups. We are different and have differences, but we also share commonalities.   We are more together than we are as individuals.   We may value our independence and our rights, but these are best enjoyed within a framework of cooperation and brotherhood.
     Why then is there such an effort lately to focus on our differences?  The spotlight seems to be on how to divide us.  Are we black? Are we white?  Are we rich or poor?  White collar or blue?  City or rural?   America is in danger of being lost. We are not lost in the way “Columbus” once was lost. We have a GPS location. But lost we are, none the less. We have lost our way.  We have forgotten who we are.  We have forgotten that in becoming a blended nation of many different ethnicities, we do need to lay down some of our autonomy in order to get along with our brothers and sisters.  What family does not have squabbles and fights.  But they also protect and care for each other against common enemies.  An enemy of  one is an enemy of all.  If you hurt one part, you hurt the whole.  We are not black or white or rich or poor.  We are American!
     There is so much that is good in America!  Yes, we have “family” problems and room for improvement.  But somehow we have forgotten we ARE family!  If you live in the United States, you drive the same roads and breathe the same air and listen to the same news that I do.  My skin may be a different color.  I may be taller, poorer, more or less intelligent than you…..but plop us both down in Yellowstone on the same day and we would enjoy the same beautiful God-given views of OUR national park.
     This is OUR country.  The citizens killed are OUR citizens.  The police killed are OUR police.  There are Americans of every ethnicity, social background, and religious persuasion.  These differences make us rich   They should not be what divides us.  They DON’T divide most of us.  Most of us have a friend whose skin color is different from ours.  Most of us work side by side with someone who holds a different life philosophy or religious belief.  Most of us shop at stores with others who have  much more (or less) in their wallets.  We share more than what divides us.  It is just that we are being encouraged to focus on what divides us!
     We need to focus on what we have in common.  Then we will care more.  Then we will have a greater ability to hear what others are saying and feel what they are feeling.    We will hurt more when our neighbor hurts.   It won’t be us and them  It will be JUST US.
     Right now neither political party gets it.  Our politicians thrive on division. They want you on one side of a fence or another.  You have a choice between Republican and Democrat, when in reality most Americans are not squarely in either camp.  Both sides have a little right and a lot wrong.  BOTH SIDES AREN’T LISTENING!
     We are a melting pot.  That is why we are such a delicious and wonderful country.  I am not meat and you a  potato.  We are all in the same stew together!  Let us remember to care for each other and stop letting others poison us.  Enough already!  We all need to quit trying just to get our opinions across and need to start trying to listen  to what others are saying when they disagree.  We may not change our mind but at least we may begin to understand another family member’s  point of  view.

Self Esteem and Mental Health

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When my kids were younger they attended a camp that taught them the “I’m Third” mentality. I believe they try to practice that now that they are older and I am so glad! God first, others second and self last. A servant’s mentality is a sure way to help you find fulfillment and happiness. It is important to consider other’s needs before your own.

Looking out for the needs of others, however, does not mean that it is not also important to have a measured and realistic view of your own worth. C.S.Lewis, in speaking about the dangers of pride, felt that to think “I’m no more special than anyone else” was not the best way to approach humility. A better approach was to think “everyone is as special as me.” Lift everyone up. Don’t put down. Each one of us is unique. One of a kind. Each of us is created in the image of a God who is beyond our wildest, but limited imagination. We are SO SPECIAL! Recognizing how special we are is healthy.

Mental health is not promoted by false humility, self put downs, or reminding one’s self of one’s shortcomings. It is improved by admiring your own progress and accomplishments. When you work hard and produce a good product, or promote a good cause, there is nothing wrong with congratulating yourself. Do your very best, and then admire what you have done. Nothing wrong with that! Admiring the glory of a sunset is healthy. But the sunset tonight does not diminish yesterday’s sunset. And your worth does not diminish your neighbors. I really believe that we do not value ourselves or each other enough. We certainly do not need to value ourselves less. We need to value others more.

While we are admiring ourselves, in order to have the greatest mental health and stability, we also must remember that we cannot take credit for ourselves by ourselves. No one is self-made. We are created. We reflect the glory of our creator. We are not the sun but reflect the light. So let us lay aside our impurities, work hard to better reflect the glory of our God and let the potential within shine!

Pains In The Neck

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I, like many others, suffer from neck pain. Oftentimes the neck pain can lead to a severe headache. According to a recent article in Surgical Technology International, unhealthy posturing due to cell phone usage may be one of the culprits. According to KENNETH K. HANSRAJ, MD, the increased flexion of the neck during cell phone usage greatly increases the stress on the cervical spine.   See https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/spine-study.pdf

The weight experienced by the spine greatly increases as the neck flexes forward. If the head tilts forward 15 degrees the cervical spine sees a force of 27 pounds. At 30 degrees that increases to 40 pounds and at 60 degrees it surges to 60 pounds. That is how I feel after I have been bent over for a while. It is as if I have had a 60 pound weight on my neck. Now I find out that the reason I feel like that is because it is true!

Figure 1 – Neck flexion. Hansraj, KK MD. Assessment of stresses in the cervical spine caused by posture and position of the head. Surgical Technology International 2014; 25 (277-279).

What can be done about this? It is not practical to avoid a cellphone.  You might as well try to avoid needing food. But there are a few improvements and adjustments that can be implemented.

1. Use good posture as often as possible (your ears should be above your shoulders and your shoulder blades retracted)

2. Make sure your pillow at night gives you a healthy alignment

3. If you work on a computer screen, practice good ergonomics

4. Avoid carrying heavy bags on your shoulders

5. When you develop neck pain, icing and heat and gentle massage may be helpful.

And of course, there is always the option of fewer video games on your phone and using the speaker mode when talking!!

A Warning – Danger Ahead!

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LOVER OF SELF
LOVER OF MONEY
PROUD
ARROGANT
SLANDEROUS
SWOLLEN WITH CONCEIT
RECKLESS

According to 2 Timothy 3:2-5 such people should be avoided!

WHICH PUBLIC FIGURE COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU READ THIS LIST?

New Beginnings

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On the eve of a new year I am reminded of God’s mercy built into our life. He lets us start over again and again. His mercies are new every morning. Every day there are disappointments and mistakes, and 2016 will not be any different. There will be thrills and there will be ills. Struggles and victories. There will be falling down, but there will be getting up!

The seasons and the passing years are reminders of both the transiency and possibilities of life on this planet. The years are adding up for me. There are fewer ahead on this earth than behind. My list of goals, however, just keeps getting longer! What I hope to change, though, is the focus of my “TO DO” list. I absolutely still want to be the perfect weight and run a marathon. I definitely still want to become a gourmet cook. I really desire to learn to speak Spanish and want to play a guitar. In a fit of realism, I have crossed becoming an astronaut off of my list, but nothing else!! Yet, more and more, I realize those are things to pursue within a larger and more permanent framework. What will last forever are souls. Relationships with other souls. Relationship with my creator. Family and friends are more important than my “TO DO” list. Time spent doing even mundane and trivial pursuits with them is more important than a completely checked off list.

So for this coming year, though I am not ready to give up my “TO DO” LIST, I am tweaking it a little. I want to focus more on what is most important. This body I am residing in – at least my creaking knees, and various other parts -are reminding me that they are not permanent. My sagging skin (which seems permanent) is so distressing! (Will someone PLEASE invent a wrinkle eraser?). What is really going to last forever? That is where I want to focus. I want to pursue what has eternal value. With that in mind, I resolve to touch other people’s lives more. I resolve to share more of my time and my possessions. I will listen more. I will try to hear what is not being said. I will try to speak less with words and more with actions This year I need less of me!!

Jesus says that eternal life is to KNOW Him. Eternal life is definitely on my list. So I am moving TIME SPENT with God and others to the top of my list. Removing wrinkles is still there but will have to wait. All of my other goals are still there also…. they are just moved further down.