22 Congressmen Hate Christmas

"Whereas Christmas is a national holiday celebrated on December 25; and

Whereas the Framers intended that the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States would prohibit the establishment of religion, not prohibit any mention of religion or reference to God in civic dialog: Now, therefore be it resolved, that the House of Representatives -

(1) Recognizes the importance of the symbols and traditions of Christmas;
(2) Strongly disapproves of attempts to ban references to Christmas; and
(3) Expresses support for the use of these symbols and traditions, for those who celebrate Christmas."

Click on the title for the whole article including the 22 Representatives who voted against the resolution.

Wisconsin Elementary School Changes 'Silent Night' While Decorating For A Christmas Witch

"In Dodgeville, Wisconsin, Ridgeway Elementary School's 'winter program' has changed the name of 'Silent Night' to 'Cold in the Night.' Sung to the tune of 'Silent Night,' the lyrics include: 'Cold in the night, no one in sight, winter winds whirl and bite, how I wish I were happy and warm, safe with my family out of the storm.'

The 'winter program' included decorating classrooms with Santa Claus, Kwanza symbols, Menorahs, and Labafana--a Christmas witch!

Also in Wisconsin, the Glendale-River Hills School District has banned every Christmas song which has any Christian 'motive or theme.' But while banning Christian Christmas songs, the district permits secular holiday songs as well as songs celebrating Hanukkah. In defending this policy, Frances Smith, the district administrator, says that the Hanukkah songs are more cultural than spiritual.

What these schools are doing to our children is not educating, but indoctrinating! And they are using Christmas as an excuse. Following the lead of the National Educational Association, Wisconsin educational leaders preach tolerance and diversity while being highly intolerant! Most of the residents of Wisconsin are tolerant, but not their educational leaders.

Banning nativity scenes. Banning Christmas songs in school. Banning Christmas in advertising. Calling a Christmas tree a 'holiday' tree. Calling a Christmas parade a holiday parade. Refusing to mention the Reason for the season. It is time to take a stand for our children, our families, our faith and our freedom! "

Disney's 'Narnia': Christ Need Not Apply

The following article is from NewsMax.com. For the last several years Disney has been more interested in making money than anything else. The movies they have been making is plenty of evidence of that fact. Their marketing of the Chronicles of Narnia should not be that surprising. This is just more wood on the fire.

"Disney's holiday season release of 'The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe' is set for this weekend -- and some Christians are worried the media giant is more intent on cashing in on the faithful, rather than sharing the film's Christian message.

The Disney backed film is based on one of C.S. Lewis' 'Narnia' books. Lewis was a noted Christian apologist, and his Narnia books have been viewed as religious allegory about the life of Christ.

While Disney clearly hopes to tap into the same audience that made Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' a huge box office hit, the same people behind the firm version of 'Narnia' are vocal in downplaying its supposed links to Christianity.

"Faith is in the eye of the beholder," declared one of the movie's actresses, Tilda Swinton, who said Lewis' original book is more "spiritual" than religious.

"You can make a religious allegory out of anything if that's what you're interested in," she told BBC News.

The $150 million film, made by Walden Media and distributed by Disney, is the story of a struggle between good and evil in the snowy kingdom of Narnia. Four English siblings enter the enchanted land and discover talking animals who await the return of the lion king, Aslan. The inhabitants believe he will free them from the tyranny of Jadis, the White Witch.

Aslan sacrifices himself to save the life of a human boy, or "Son of Adam." He later rises from the dead to lead his troops in a battle against the witch's forces.

But the film's director, Andrew Adamson, also has pooh-poohed the idea that the allegory reveals Christ's resurrection, saying that concept is a common theme in the fantasy genre.

"The religious aspect is something the press is more interested in than the world at large," he told the BBC.

Said "Narnia's" producer, Mark Johnson: "When I read the book as a child, I accepted it as a pure adventure story. It never occurred to me Aslan was anything more than a great lion" rather than a Christ figure.

"Christian themes were very important to C.S. Lewis and imbued everything he did, but he himself denied any religious implications."

Despite those comments from the movie's creators, the film has already received pledges of support from evangelical groups in the United States, many of whom say Lewis - who wrote seven books in the "Narnia" series - did create the story as an allegory about the life of Jesus.

Reportedly, elementary schoolchildren and teenagers in Bible study groups are booking theaters to see the PG-rated movie, which opens Friday.

"We believe that God will speak the gospel of Jesus Christ through this film," said Lon Allison, director of Illinois' Billy Graham Center.

But a Hollywood insider who has dealt with Disney's marketing executives told NewsMax that the media giant has had great apprehension promoting the film to Christian groups and has done so only in a low-key manner.

"Disney is loathing the idea that the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity or a preacher like Jerry Falwell will actively promote the film. They want the Christian community's money, but not their viewpoint," the source said.

Last year, Hollywood witnessed the Christian zeal for Gibson's "Passion" movie, which has grossed anywhere from $400 million to more than $600 million worldwide, depending on the source.

The producers of "Narnia" have generated advance buzz among Christians by showing previews to Christian leaders, preachers and evangelical organization, according to the Louisville Courier-Journal.

USA Today asked: "Is the world created by C.S. Lewis a rip-roaring piece of fantasy - or a fairy tale suffused with Christian imagery?

"The answer is both, and that raises a related question: Can Disney succeed by selling the movie on two tracks - as a sort of cross between ‘The Lord of the Rings' and ‘The Passion of the Christ'? If so, ‘Narnia' figures to be a holiday blockbuster."

Said producer Johnson: "We're not selling the movie to any particular group. With a movie this size, we're trying to sell it to everybody."
Put another way, Disney would like to sell "Narnia" minus Christ - but still have Christians pay the bill. "

DailyJoke

"The True Origin of the Internet

In ancient Israel, it came to pass that a trader by the name of Abraham Com did take unto himself a young wife by the name of Dot.

And Dot Com was a comely woman, broad of shoulder and long of leg. Indeed, she had been called 'Amazon Dot Com.'

And she said unto Abraham, her husband, "Why dost thou travel far from town to town with thy goods when thou can trade without ever leaving thy tent?"

And Abraham did look at her as though she were several saddle bags short of a camel load, but simply said, "How, dear?" And Dot replied, "I will place drums in all the towns and drums in between to send messages saying what you have for sale and they will reply telling you which hath the best price. And the sale can be made on the drums and delivery made by Uriah's Pony Stable (UPS)."

Abraham thought long and decided he would let Dot have her way with the drums. And the drums rang out and were an immediate success. Abraham sold all the goods he had at the top price, without ever moving from his tent.

But this success did arouse envy. A man named Maccabia did secrete himself inside Abraham's drum and was accused of insider trading. And the young man did take to Dot Com's trading as doth the greedy horsefly take to camel dung. They were called Nomadic Ecclesiastical Rich Dominican Siderites, or NERDS for short.

And lo, the land was so feverish with joy at the new riches and the deafening sound of drums that no one noticed that the real riches were going to the drum maker, one Brother William of Gates, who bought up every drum company in the land. And indeed did insist on making drums that would work only with Brother Gates' drumheads and drumsticks.

And Dot did say, "Oh, Abraham, what we have started is being taken over by others."

And as Abraham looked out over the Bay of Ezekiel, or as it came to be known "eBay" he said, "We need a name that reflects what we are."

And Dot replied, "Young Ambitious Hebrew Owner Operators."

"YAHOO," said Abraham.

And that is how it all began. It wasn't Al Gore after all."

Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?

You Passed 8th Grade Math

Congratulations, you got 9/10 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Math?

Sermon Notes

I was cleaning some of the old bulletins out of my Bible this afternoon and found a bulletin that I had written some notes in about death from a sermon on John 11:11-16. That is the passage about the death of Lazarus. Here is what I have written:

Biblical Death
is separation
1. Physical - soul from body
2. Spiritual - soul from God, no intimacy with God
3. Eternal - permanent, separation of soul from God - Hell

Death is a doorway not a passage.
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Corinthians 5:8


This was from July 3, 2005. Little did we know Dad only had about 6 weeks left at this point. July 3rd to August 26th is not that long after all.

Two Month Mark

Yesterday was the two month anniversary of Dad's passing. I'm doing better, at least I'm not crying every day anymore. Just about anything can set me off but I don't cry at everything now. I assume things will keep getting better. Monday the 24th would have been Dad's 81st birthday.

DailyJoke

"An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, 'They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead.'"

This is my feeling exactly!!

Fall Is Here

The weather today went from summer to fall in about 3 hours. 9 o'clock this morning is was 73 degrees and cloudy with occasional showers. By 11 am it was raining and 57 degrees. It rained off and on all afternoon and the temperature stayed in the 50s. Right now the temperature is 47 degrees and the rain has stopped. Tomorrow is going to have a high in the high 40s or low 50s.

I still can't believe Dad is gone. There is a lot of stuff he did every year to get ready for winter. He did stuff to the garden and yard that I have no clue what to do. I miss him so much!!

The Washington Nationals Suspend A Chaplain For Not Thinking 'Religiously Correct'

This is from an e-mail I received from the American Family Association:

"The Washington Nationals professional baseball club has suspended a volunteer chaplain and rebuked a baseball player because they hold religious beliefs that are "Religiously Incorrect."

Volunteer chaplain Joe Moeller and outfielder Ryan Church were having a conversation concerning Christianity. Church asked Moeller a question about Jesus and salvation. "I said, like, Jewish people, they don't believe in Jesus. Does that mean they're doomed?" Church asked.

Volunteer chaplain Moeller simply nodded his head in agreement. For his "religiously incorrect" thinking—even if it was simply a nod of the head—Moeller was suspended.

Rabbi Shmuel Herzfeld, leader of an Orthodox Jewish congregation in Washington, said, "The Nationals did a good job about bringing hate into the locker room." A chaplain and a baseball player are accused of hate speech because they were discussing a basic tenet of their faith!

Wow! Now it is not "religiously correct" for Christians to just "think" that salvation comes through Christ alone. The Nationals immediately suspended Chaplain Moeller and Church issued an apology for asking the question."

That's one way of being tolerant of other people's beliefs. Oh, that's right, I forgot. They are tolerant, of everyone but Christians. If we aren't careful we won't be allowed to even mention Christ in public.

Here is the link to the Washington Post article.

An Anniversary of Sorts

Three weeks ago today was Dad's funeral. Friday Mom and I went to Hobby Lobby and bought some flowers and took them out to the cemetery to decorate Dad's grave. It was the first time we had been there since the post funeral visit on the Friday after the funeral. I felt bad about waiting so long but Mom wasn't up to going before now. She is taking it really hard. I think she is doing better every day, she would deny that but I can see it. I know I'm doing better. I start a new assignment tomorrow. I accepted a part-time position because I don't think I (or Mom) are ready for me to be gone all day, every day.

A Job Update

I called Spherion this morning and they had a part-time position I am starting tomorrow. I will be doing data entry for an insurance company. I will be working 9-2 Monday, Tuesday, and Friday for about a month. YAY!!

After I talked to Spherion I went outside and picked up the fallen apple and then mowed the front yard. After lunch Mom wanted to go to Lowe's and look at bathroom ventilators. She ended up buying a small one and someone will be here on Thursday to install it. The installation will cost $145, including labor. I think she would do as well just putting a fan in the window.

What's your Superhero Name?

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Phantom Falcon Your Superpower is Mutant Your Weakness is Bald People Your Weapon is Your Poison Crossbow Your Mode of Transportation is Cow

What's your Superhero Name?

Don't Blame Bush for Katrina

"Don't Blame Bush for Katrina
Christopher Ruddy, NewsMax.com
Monday, Sept. 5, 2005

George Bush and the federal government are not to blame for the disaster we have witnessed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
In fact, the primary responsibility for the disaster response lies with New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco and other local officials.
Yet leading Democrats and their allies in the major media are clearly using this disaster for political purposes and ignoring one obvious fact.
This fact – which needs to be repeated and remembered – is that in our country, state and local governments have primary responsibility in dealing with local disasters.

The founding fathers devised a federal system of government – one that has served us remarkably well through great disasters that have befallen America over more than two centuries.

But if we believe the major TV networks, George Bush, FEMA and the Republicans in Congress are all to blame for the current nightmare.

Let's remember that FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, was created only in 1979. It was formed to coordinate and focus federal response to major disasters – to "assist" local and state governments.

Common sense suggests that local and state governments are best able to prepare and plan for local disasters.

Is a Washington bureaucrat better suited to prepare for an earthquake in San Francisco, a hurricane in Florida, or a terrorist act in New York?

After the Sept. 11 attacks against the World Trade Center, no one suggested that the Bush administration should have been responsible for New York's disaster response or that federal agents should have been involved in the rescue of those trapped in the buildings.

Last year, four major hurricanes slammed into Florida. Governor Jeb Bush led the disaster response and did a remarkable job, with nothing happening like what we have seen in New Orleans.

The primary response in disasters has always come from local communities and state governments.

First responders and the manpower to deal with emergencies come from local communities: police, fire and medical. Under our federal system, these local departments answer to local authorities, not those in Washington. These first responders are not even under federal control, nor do they have to follow federal orders.

In addition to local responders, every state in the Union has a National Guard.

State National Guards answer first to the governor of each state, not to the president. The National Guard exists not to defend one state from an invasion by another state, but primarily for emergencies like the one we have witnessed in New Orleans and in other areas impacted by Katrina.

Tim Russert and the Blame Game

The media would have you believe that this disaster was worsened by a slow response from President Bush and his administration, though the primary responsibility for disaster response has always been with local and state governments.

It is true that federal response was not as fast as it could have been. The president himself has acknowledged that fact.

But the press has focused on the first 48 hours of federal response, not uttering a word about the fact that New Orleans had 48 hours of warning that a major Category 4 or 5 would make landfall near the city, yet local officials apparently did little to prepare.

Obviously, Gov. Blanco did not effectively deploy her state's National Guard.

And New Orleans' city leaders did almost nothing to evacuate the portion of the population with no transportation. In failing to follow their own evacuation plan, these officials did little to pre-position food, water and personnel to deal with the aftermath.

I was surprised Sunday to watch Tim Russert, on his show "Meet the Press," tear into Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff. During his encounter with Chertoff, Russert did not suggest once that local government had any role in dealing with the disaster. Russert also asked for Chertoff's resignation.

It wasn't until after the first 29 minutes of his show – 29 minutes – that Russert raised the question of local responsibility. And when he did so with Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, he did so in a passing way. Broussard brushed off his question with a non-answer.

Broussard began his interview claiming that the nation had "abandoned" New Orleans.

That is nonsense and a lie.

Broussard, who was never identified by "Meet the Press" as a Democrat, spent much of his time attacking the Bush administration, as has Democratic New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin.

Broussard then ended his performance as he collapsed in tears with a demand: "For God's sake, just shut up and send us somebody!"

His tears didn't wash with me. My sympathies lie with the tens of thousands of people who have suffered or died because local officials like Broussard, Mayor Nagin and Governor Kathleen Blanco, also a Democrat, failed monumentally at their jobs.

As former New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial told Russert, the disaster in New Orleans was "foreseeable."

In fact, New Orleans has long known that such a disaster could take place if a major hurricane hit the city.

The municipality even prepared its own "City of New Orleans Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan."

The plan makes it evident that New Orleans knew that evacuation of the civilian population was the primary responsibility of the city – not the federal government.

The city plan acknowledges its responsibility in the document:

As established by the City of New Orleans Charter, the government has jurisdiction and responsibility in disaster response. City government shall coordinate its efforts through the Office of Emergency Preparedness.

The city document also makes clear that decisions involving a proper and orderly evacuation lie with the governor, mayor and local authorities. Nowhere is the president or federal government even mentioned:

The authority to order the evacuation of residents threatened by an approaching hurricane is conferred to the Governor by Louisiana Statute. The Governor is granted the power to direct and compel the evacuation of all or part of the population from a stricken or threatened area within the State, if he deems this action necessary for the preservation of life or other disaster mitigation, response or recovery. The same power to order an evacuation conferred upon the Governor is also delegated to each political subdivision of the State by Executive Order. This authority empowers the chief elected official of New Orleans, the Mayor of New Orleans, to order the evacuation of the parish residents threatened by an approaching hurricane.

It is clear the city also recognized that it would need to move large portions of its population, and it would need to prepare for such an eventuality:

The City of New Orleans will utilize all available resources to quickly and safely evacuate threatened areas. Those evacuated will be directed to temporary sheltering and feeding facilities as needed. When specific routes of progress are required, evacuees will be directed to those routes. Special arrangements will be made to evacuate persons unable to transport themselves or who require specific life saving assistance. Additional personnel will be recruited to assist in evacuation procedures as needed. ...

Evacuation procedures for small scale and localized evacuations are conducted per the SOPs of the New Orleans Fire Department and the New Orleans Police Department. However, due to the sheer size and number of persons to be evacuated, should a major tropical weather system or other catastrophic event threaten or impact the area, specifically directed long range planning and coordination of resources and responsibilities efforts must be undertaken. [You can read New Orleans' Emergency Plan for hurricanes at its Web site: http://www.cityofno.com/portal.aspx?portal=46&tabid=26]

The city's plan also specifically called for the use of city-owned buses and school buses to evacuate the population. These were apparently never deployed, though the Parish of Plaquemines just south of the city evacuated its population using school buses.

The plan, written well before Katrina was even a teardrop in God's eye, was obviously never heeded or implemented by local leaders.

But why should the New Orleans mayor and Governor Blanco take responsibility when they can blame George Bush and the Republicans in Washington?

With congressional elections fast approaching, Democrats who are out of power in every branch of the federal government know they need to change the tide quickly.

They have apparently seized on the Katrina disaster to harm the president politically.

Criticism of the federal government's response is fair and warranted. But putting full responsibility for this disaster on the Bush administration is way over the top.

Primary responsibility for this disaster remains with local officials like Nagin and Blanco, not President Bush."

One Solitary Life - an essay on the life of Jesus Christ

"One Solitary Life

Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth � His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.
I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life."

Arlos V. Fee

Arlos V. Fee
Pleasant Hill
Arlos V. Fee, 80, beloved husband, father, and grandfather went home to our Lord on August 26, 2005, at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, after a long and valiant fight with cancer. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, August 29, with full military rites, at Sunset Memorial Gardens on Fleur Drive. Visitation will be Sunday evening from 5 to 7.

Arlos will be remembered and mourned by his wife of 50 years, Millie; daughters, Marsha Ver Steeg of Carlisle, Debbie Fee of Pleasant Hill, and Linda and Jeff Frey of West Point, NY.; grandsons Cory Frey of West Point, NY; and Chris Frey of Shaw Air Force Base, SC; granddaughters Kate Ver Steeg and Stephanie Ver Steeg both at home. He is preceded in death by his parents, Ores and Arnie Fee; his brother, Robert Fee; and sister, Ardythe Grove.

He serviced with the Army in World War II and the Korean War. He received a Purple Heart for injuries suffered in Korea. He was an avid gardener, keeping a large vegetable garden as well as several apple trees. He was also a skilled wood-worker.

The Fight Is Over

Dad lost his fight with cancer this morning at 8:15. My mom, sisters, and I were all with him when he passed. Linda called about 6:30 and said the nurse had told her Dad's passing was close, up to 24 hours away. Mom and I figured we had some time before we needed to go to the hospice. About an hour later Linda called again and said the nurse had come back and said that Dad's passing was very close and that we should get there as soon as possible. The hospice is only about ten minutes away, so we got there just after 7:30. I called my pastor, Alan, right after we got there and told him and he came right away and got there a half hour before Dad passed. Alan got the chance to pray with Dad one last time. I'm glad he got that chance. Dad prayed to accept Jesus as his savior not too long after he was told there was nothing more the doctor could do for him. That was my main wish for him.

The End Approaches

Sunday morning Dad made the decision that it was time to go to Taylor House Hospice because when he got up during the night to go to the bathroom he almost fell. He has gotten progressively weaker and unsteady on his feet.

This afternoon when he tried to get up to go to the bathroom he couldn't stand so he asked for a Foley catheter. He is getting so weak now. Mom says he has told her he is ready to go, he is tired of fighting. I can't say I blame him, he has been fighting this cancer for almost 5 years now.

Last night and tonight my sister, Linda, and her husband, Jeff, are spending the night at the hospice. Linda said that last night Dad would wake up and not know where he was for a few minutes. She would talk to him a little and he would be ok. During the day he is sleeping more and more. The hospice nurse that came to the house said that he would sleep more and would probably die in his sleep.

Linda is supposed to go back to West Point on Saturday. I don't know if she can get more time off or not, I hope so. I asked Chris, my nephew, how much time he had off from the Air Force. He said he could take as much time as he needed but after this weekend he would be in the negative for leave. I think Jeff can take as much time as he needs and that he probably has plenty leave coming to him. I don't know what will happen.

What's Your Pizza Personality?

Pepperoni Pizza

Robust and dominant. When you go for something, you go full force. You tend to take control of situations easily. And in return, you get a ton of respect.

What's Your Pizza Personality?

The Worst News

Tuesday Mom and Dad when to see his oncologist for the results from his blood work and possibly another chemo infusion. The doctor told them the last infusion hadn't done any good so he was recommending stopping all treatment. He said Dad could have 2 weeks, 2 months, or up to 6 months. They talked about all their options for home care, hospice care, or whatever. Today Mom called the Home Care service and the admitting nurse came out to help us decide what we wanted to do. Dad decided he wanted to stay home as long as we can take care of him. He is getting so weak he can't stand for long. Last night when mom and dad went downstairs to shower he had trouble getting back upstairs. This morning he couldn't even stand long enough to shave.

The saddest part is that Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary is on October 10 and Dad's 81st birthday is on October 24. I don't know if he can last that long. I hope he can. I want them to have that anniversary and I want him to have that birthday. I'm not ready to lose my daddy yet!

I was also told that Tuesday was the last day of my assignment at DataVision.

Today is the first day of the Iowa State Fair. I had planned on going today but with everything going on I'm still home and I'm not sure I will be going today. This will be the first time in 5 years I haven't gone the first day. Even last year, a month after my surgery, I went to the fair. I bought 2 tickets in advance so I hope I get to use them.

www.IowaGOP.org : News

"7/28/2005 - Vilsack calls for a partial repeal of the tax cuts Congress passed over the past four years.

In response to Vilsack's comments, Iowa Republican Party Chairman Ray Hoffmann of Sioux City said that raising taxes will erase the country's economic progress of the last few years.

'I think Gov. Vilsack just doesn't get it. Tax increases just don't work, they never have worked and I don't think they ever will work. A tax decrease has worked,' he said.

Read the Full Story By Dan Gearino Globe Des Moines Bureau here.

I couldn't agree more! All tax increases have ever accomplished is a cut in spending by businesses and reduced spending by consumers. You can't spend what the government takes away. And it seems the government is all too willing to take your money. Especially when the Democrats are in office!

Small Changes

Last Wednesday night, the 27th, I had an appointment for a haircut. All day long I kept trying to decide if I wanted to keep my hair the style it is or do something different. At this point just about the only thing different I can do is let my hair grow longer. Tomorrow I have an appointment to get my hair colored. I had it colored auburn quite a while ago and I am going to go with a little bit redder color this time. The color was a little to subtle last time I think.

DailyJoke

"A recent survey has compiled all the qualities that people expect from the perfect pastor:

Results of a computerized survey indicated that the perfect pastor preaches exactly 12 minutes.

He frequently condemns sin but never upsets anyone.

He works from 8 a.m. until midnight and is also a janitor.

He makes $60 a week, wears good clothes, buys good books, drives a good car, and gives about $80 a week to the poor.

He is 28 years of age, but he's been preaching for 30 years.He is wonderfully gentle and handsome.

He gives himself completely but never gets too close to anyone to avoid criticism.

He speaks boldly on social issues, but must never become politically involved.

He has a burning desire to work with teenagers, but he spends all his time with senior citizens.

He makes 15 daily calls to parish families, visits shut-ins and the hospitalized, spends all his time evangelizing the unchurched, and is always in his office when needed."

Doohan's ashes to be sent into space - Access Hollywood - MSNBC.com

"Doohan died at 5:30 a.m. at his Redmond, Wash., home with his wife of 28 years, Wende, at his side, Los Angeles agent and longtime friend Steve Stevens said. The cause of death was pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease, he said."

A sad day. Farewell Scotty!

News / Stem Cell Research Doing Evil to Do Good - Institute for Creation Research

"Criticism has been sharp both in the United States and abroad as stem cell research advocates emphasize the medical breakthroughs that studies might accomplish.

Yet, many including not a few scientists and President Bush have opposed expanded embryonic research because of the issue of where these embryonic cells come from. When the House of Representatives recently voted to lift the ban on stem cell funding, President Bush threatened to veto, citing the ongoing destruction of emerging human life (AP 2005)."

How Observant Are You?

Overall, Your Observation Skills Get: B+

Your senses are pretty sharp (okay, most of the time) And it takes something big to distract you!

How Observant Are You?

Happy Hysterversary?

One year ago today I was in the hospital at the University of Iowa to have a hysterectomy. I feel like this year has been a steady improvements over last year. This year I am working 40 hours a week and hopefully on August 2 I will be hired on permanently at DataVisioin. It's a boring job but the money is decent. The most important thing about it is it pays the bills.

What's Your Expression Number?

Your Expression Number is 1

You have the skills to be a top executive or businessperson. But first you must develop your natural capacity to be a good leader. You are truly original - with a creative approach to life and a very sharp mind. You reach for the sky, and you have the potential to reach it. Assertive and straight forward, you have little need for supervision. You are self-confident, self-reliant, and courageous in your convictions. While you sometimes fear loneliness, you prefer to be left alone. A bit self centered, you may be hard to live with at times. You also have a strong dominant streak - which can push others away at times.

What's Your Expression Number?

The World's Shortest Personality Test

You are pure, moral, and adaptable. You tend to blend into your surroundings. Shy on the outside, you're outspoken to your friends. You believe that you live a virtuous life... And you tend to judge others with a harsh eye. As a result, people tend to crave your approval.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

More Chemo

Last Friday Dad had a CT scan and Tuesday he saw his oncologist, The doctor said the tumor had grown a little bit, so Dad is scheduled to have another round of chemo next week. He also has another appointment with the neurologist next week. Maybe he will be able to tell is what caused the swelling in Dad's brain last month.

AFI list of top 100 quotes from U.S. movies

1. “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn,” “Gone With the Wind,” 1939.
2. “I’m going to make him an offer he can’t refuse,” “The Godfather,” 1972.
3. “You don’t understand! I coulda had class. I coulda been a contender. I could’ve been somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am,” “On the Waterfront,” 1954.
4. “Toto, I’ve got a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore,” “The Wizard of Oz,” 1939.
5. “Here’s looking at you, kid,” “Casablanca,” 1942.
6. “Go ahead, make my day,” “Sudden Impact,” 1983.
7. “All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up,” “Sunset Blvd.,” 1950.
8. “May the Force be with you,” “Star Wars,” 1977.
9. “Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy night,” “All About Eve,” 1950.
10. “You talking to me?” “Taxi Driver,” 1976.
11. “What we’ve got here is failure to communicate,” “Cool Hand Luke,” 1967.
12. “I love the smell of napalm in the morning,” “Apocalypse Now,” 1979.
13. “Love means never having to say you’re sorry,” “Love Story,” 1970.
14. “The stuff that dreams are made of,” “The Maltese Falcon,” 1941.
15. “E.T. phone home,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” 1982.
16. “They call me Mister Tibbs!”, “In the Heat of the Night,” 1967.
17. “Rosebud,” “Citizen Kane,” 1941.
18. “Made it, Ma! Top of the world!”, “White Heat,” 1949.
19. “I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!”, “Network,” 1976.
20. “Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” “Casablanca,” 1942.
21. “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti,” “The Silence of the Lambs,” 1991.
22. “Bond. James Bond,” “Dr. No,” 1962.
23. “There’s no place like home,” “The Wizard of Oz,” 1939.
24. “I am big! It’s the pictures that got small,” “Sunset Blvd.,” 1950.
25. “Show me the money!”, “Jerry Maguire,” 1996.
26. “Why don’t you come up sometime and see me?”, “She Done Him Wrong,” 1933.
27. “I’m walking here! I’m walking here!”, “Midnight Cowboy,” 1969.
28. “Play it, Sam. Play ’As Time Goes By,”’ “Casablanca,” 1942.
29. “You can’t handle the truth!”, “A Few Good Men,” 1992.
30. “I want to be alone,” “Grand Hotel,” 1932.
31. “After all, tomorrow is another day!”, “Gone With the Wind,” 1939.
32. “Round up the usual suspects,” “Casablanca,” 1942.
33. “I’ll have what she’s having,” “When Harry Met Sally...,” 1989.
34. “You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow,” “To Have and Have Not,” 1944.
35. “You’re gonna need a bigger boat,” “Jaws,” 1975.
36. “Badges? We ain’t got no badges! We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!”, “The Treasure of the Sierra Madre,” 1948.
37. “I’ll be back,” “The Terminator,” 1984.
38. “Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth,” “The Pride of the Yankees,” 1942.
39. “If you build it, he will come,” “Field of Dreams,” 1989.
40. “Mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get,” “Forrest Gump,” 1994.
41. “We rob banks,” “Bonnie and Clyde,” 1967.
42. “Plastics,” “The Graduate,” 1967.
43. “We’ll always have Paris,” “Casablanca,” 1942.
44. “I see dead people,” “The Sixth Sense,” 1999.
45. “Stella! Hey, Stella!”, “A Streetcar Named Desire,” 1951.
46. “Oh, Jerry, don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars,” “Now, Voyager,” 1942.
47. “Shane. Shane. Come back!”, “Shane,” 1953.
48. “Well, nobody’s perfect,” “Some Like It Hot,” 1959.
49. “It’s alive! It’s alive!”, “Frankenstein,” 1931.
50. “Houston, we have a problem,” “Apollo 13,” 1995.
51. “You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ’Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya, punk?”, “Dirty Harry,” 1971.
52. “You had me at ‘hello,”’ “Jerry Maguire,” 1996.
53. “One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas, I don’t know,” “Animal Crackers,” 1930.
54. “There’s no crying in baseball!”, “A League of Their Own,” 1992.
55. “La-dee-da, la-dee-da,” “Annie Hall,” 1977.
56. “A boy’s best friend is his mother,” “Psycho,” 1960.
57. “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good,” “Wall Street,” 1987.
58. “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer,” “The Godfather Part II,” 1974.
59. “As God is my witness, I’ll never be hungry again,” “Gone With the Wind,” 1939.
60. “Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into!”, “Sons of the Desert,” 1933.
61. “Say ‘hello’ to my little friend!”, “Scarface,” 1983.
62. “What a dump,” “Beyond the Forest,” 1949.
63. “Mrs. Robinson, you’re trying to seduce me. Aren’t you?”, “The Graduate,” 1967.
64. “Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!”, “Dr. Strangelove,” 1964.
65. “Elementary, my dear Watson,” “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes,” 1929.
66. “Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape,” “Planet of the Apes,” 1968.
67. “Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine,” “Casablanca,” 1942.
68. “Here’s Johnny!”, “The Shining,” 1980.
69. “They’re here!”, “Poltergeist,” 1982.
70. “Is it safe?”, “Marathon Man,” 1976.
71. “Wait a minute, wait a minute. You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!”, “The Jazz Singer,” 1927.
72. “No wire hangers, ever!”, “Mommie Dearest,” 1981.
73. “Mother of mercy, is this the end of Rico?”, “Little Caesar,” 1930.
74. “Forget it, Jake, it’s Chinatown,” “Chinatown,” 1974.
75. “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” 1951.
76. “Hasta la vista, baby,” “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” 1991.
77. “Soylent Green is people!”, “Soylent Green,” 1973.
78. “Open the pod bay doors, HAL,” “2001: A Space Odyssey,” 1968.
79. Striker: “Surely you can’t be serious.” Rumack: “I am serious ... and don’t call me Shirley,” “Airplane!”, 1980.
80. “Yo, Adrian!”, “Rocky,” 1976.
81. “Hello, gorgeous,” “Funny Girl,” 1968.
82. “Toga! Toga!”, “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” 1978.
83. “Listen to them. Children of the night. What music they make,” “Dracula,” 1931.
84. “Oh, no, it wasn’t the airplanes. It was Beauty killed the Beast,” “King Kong,” 1933.
85. “My precious,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” 2002.
86. “Attica! Attica!”, “Dog Day Afternoon,” 1975.
87. “Sawyer, you’re going out a youngster, but you’ve got to come back a star!”, “42nd Street,” 1933.
88. “Listen to me, mister. You’re my knight in shining armor. Don’t you forget it. You’re going to get back on that horse, and I’m going to be right behind you, holding on tight, and away we’re gonna go, go, go!”, “On Golden Pond,” 1981.
89. “Tell ’em to go out there with all they got and win just one for the Gipper,” “Knute Rockne, All American,” 1940.
90. “A martini. Shaken, not stirred,” “Goldfinger,” 1964
91. “Who’s on first,” “The Naughty Nineties,” 1945.
92. “Cinderella story. Outta nowhere. A former greenskeeper, now, about to become the Masters champion. It looks like a mirac ... It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole! It’s in the hole!”, “Caddyshack,” 1980.
93. “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death!”, “Auntie Mame,” 1958.
94. “I feel the need — the need for speed!”, “Top Gun,” 1986.
95. “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary,” “Dead Poets Society,” 1989.
96. “Snap out of it!”, “Moonstruck,” 1987.
97. “My mother thanks you. My father thanks you. My sister thanks you. And I thank you,” “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” 1942.
98. “Nobody puts Baby in a corner,” “Dirty Dancing,” 1987.
99. “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too!”, “The Wizard of Oz,” 1939.
100. “I’m king of the world!”, “Titanic,” 1997.

Source: Associated Press

Peter Kirsanow on Howard Dean and the GOP on National Review Online

"During a discussion with minority leaders and journalists on Monday, Howard Dean declared that Republicans are a pretty monolithic party. They all believe the same. They all look the same. It's pretty much a white Christian party. He further stated that the Republicans are not very friendly to different kinds of people and Democrats are more welcoming to different folks, because that's the type of people we are. Dean continued to defend his remarks as recently as Thursday."

Hmmm, I wonder how he explains the black J.C. Watts or the Jewish Ken Mehlman?

Adult Stem Cell Breakthrough Ignored - NewsMax.com: Inside Cover Story

"Adult Stem Cell Breakthrough Ignored
Scientists at Australia's Griffith University have engineered a breakthrough in the field of adult stem cell research that's so significant, say experts, that it could render the debate over embryonic stem cell research moot.

The results of the four-year research project showed that olfactory stem cells can be turned into heart cells, brain cells, nerve cells - indeed, almost any kind of cell in the body - without the problems of rejection or tumors forming, a common side effect with embryonic stem cells.

The poorly funded Griffith University team – which conducted its research with a mere $200,000 in grants – appears to have found a direct and non-controversial alternative to the use of stem cells derived from leftover embryos created during fertility treatment, reported the Australian newspaper.
"Our experiments have shown adult stem cells isolated from the olfactory mucosa have the ability to develop into many different cell types if they are given the right chemical or cellular environment," research team leader Alan Mackay-Sim told the paper.

Mackay-Sim's team of scientists managed to grow nerve cells, glial cells, liver cells, heart cells and muscle cells from cells harvested from the human nose.

The breakthrough, first announced two months ago, has been largely ignored by the U.S. media, which has focused on embryonic stem cell research as the only option to cure debilitating ailments like Hodgkin's, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease.

As a result of the lopsided press coverage, California voters passed a $6 billion referendum to fund embryonic stem cell research last November, with similar programs proposed around the U.S. - though embryonic stem cell research has yet to show any significant medical progress.

In Australia, however, the medical community is excited over Mackay-Sim's adult stem cell breakthrough."


I wonder when the main stream media will cover this story. Maybe if it was an American study it get some notice? Probably not, the media prefer to advocate death.

Which Classic Story Role Do You Play?

You Are The Key Character
"It's what I was meant to do."
You are the true enigma. No one knows much about you, you do not understand much of yourself, and your life seems to carry no purpose. Yet regardless of everything around you - everyone knows that you are here for some reason, even if no one yet knows what that is. Things seem to simply fall into place for you. Almost as though some force is working either through you, for you, or around you. No matter your troubles, ou have been sent here to unlock something. This is your destiny.

Which Classic Story Role Do You Play?
brought to you by Quizilla

The Biography of a Bad Statistic - FactCheck.org

"Summary

Politicians from Hillary Clinton and John Kerry to Howard Dean have recently contended that abortions have increased since George W. Bush took office in 2001.
This claim is false. It's based on an an opinion piece that used data from only 16 states. A study by the Alan Guttmacher Institute of 43 states found that abortions have actually decreased. Update, May 26: The author of the original claim now concedes that the Guttmacher study is 'significantly better' than his own."

More Tests for Dad

Dad had another MRI today to try and determine ehat caused the swelling in his brain two weeks ago. He will talk to his oncologist tomorrow morning for the results. I'm praying it isn't cancer but I'm afraid it will be. Hopefully the results will be definitive. Not knowing is harder that bad news.

The Darwinian vs. God Contest

One day a group of Darwinian scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed God. So they picked one Darwinian to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.

The Darwinian walked up to God and said, "God, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost.

"God listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the Darwinian was done talking, God said, "Very well, how about this? Let's say we have a man-making contest." To which the Darwinian happily agreed.

God added, "Now, we're going to do this just like I did back in the old days with Adam.

"The Darwinian said, "Sure, no problem," and bent down and grabbed himself a handful of dirt.

God looked at him and said, "No, no, no. You go get your own dirt!"

Atheist in Trouble

An atheist was spending a quiet day fishing when suddenly his boat was attacked by the Loch Ness monster. In one easy flip, the beast tossed him and his boat high into the air. Then it opened its mouth to swallow both.

As the man sailed head over heels, he cried out, "Oh, my God! Help me!"

At once, the ferocious attack scene froze in place, and as the atheist hung in mid-air, a booming voice came down from the clouds, "I thought you didn't believe in Me!"

"Come on God, give me a break!!" the man pleaded. "Two minutes ago I didn't believe in the Loch Ness monster either!"

The Mule, the Monkey & The Man

God created the mule, and told him, "You are mule. You will work constantly from dusk to dawn, carrying heavy loads on your back. You will eat grass and lack intelligence. You will live for 50 years."

The mule answered, "To live like this for 50 years is too much. Please, give me no more than 20."

And it was so.

Then God created the dog, and told him, "You are dog. You will hold vigilance over the dwellings of Man, to whom you will be his greatest companion. You will eat his table scraps and live for 25 years."

The dog responded, "Lord, to live 25 years as a dog like that is too much. Please, no more than 10 years."

And it was so.

God then created the monkey, and told him, "You are monkey. You shall swing from tree to tree, acting like an idiot. You will be funny, and you shall live for 20 years."

The monkey responded, "Lord, to live 20 years as the clown of the world is too much. Please, Lord, give me no than 10 years."

And it was so.

Finally, God created Man and told him, "You are Man, the only rational being that walks the earth. You will use your intelligence to have mastery over the creatures of the world. You will dominate the earth and live for 20 years."

The man responded, "Lord, to be Man for only 20 years is too little. Please, Lord; give me the 20 years the mule refused, the 15 years the dog refused, and the 10 years the monkey rejected."

And so God made Man to live 20 years as a man, then marry and live 20 years like a mule working and carrying heavy loads on his back. Then, he is to have children and live 15 years as a dog, guarding his house and eating the leftovers after they empty the pantry; then, in his old age, to live 10 years as a monkey, acting like an idiot to amuse his grandchildren.

And it is so ...

Home At Last!

Dad came home from the hospital this afternoon! Everyday he is getting better. He is still wobbly so the hospital sent him home with a walker with wheels on the front. Hopefully the more he walks the less he will need it.

On The Rollercoaster

Last night one of Dad's doctors told us that he definitely did not have a stroke. Apparently all of his problems were caused by swelling in his brain. They did a CT scan and MRI on Saturday and another MRI yesterday and they are not showing a tumor in the brain either, so right now the doctors don't know what caused the swelling. The plan right now is to let the swelling go down and do another MRI in two weeks. This sounds so much like what we were told when Mom had her aneurysm, her test weren't clear and they waited ten days to do a second CT scan to see how many aneurysms she had and where they were. Yesterday the doctors were planning in doing a lumbar puncture but today decided against it. I never heard why they aren't going to do. I'm guessing it's because the risks don't outweigh the benefits. The radiation doctor said there are three reasons for this swelling: cancer, infection, or something else they haven't found yet. He said it probably isn't an infection so it has to be something else. I think they are all expecting it to be cancer. Dad was first diagnosed with colon cancer in 2000.

The radiation doctor told Dad that if there is a tumor they will use radiation to kill it because it will probably be cancer. Right now I am clinging to the hope that there is no tumor but if there is it is very small. I just hope I am not setting myself up for a big disappointment.

Every day he seems to be less confused than the previous day. He still seem to be slow in understanding things. He'll comment on something he saw five minutes ago like he just saw it. I assume that will improve with time as the swelling decreases. As always I leave it in God's hands, He can deal with so much better than I can.

Does Your English Cut the Mustard?

Your English Skills:

Grammar: 100%

Vocabulary: 100%

Punctuation: 80%

Spelling: 80%

Does Your English Cut the Mustard?

Mr. Oxenrider, my high school Grammar teacher, would be so proud!

How Liberal / Conservative Are You?

Your Political Profile

Overall: 95% Conservative, 5% Liberal

Social Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Ethics: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal / Conservative Are You?

What A Crappy Day

Dad is in the hospital today after suffering a stroke. The hospital was supposed to call us to let us know what room he was in and tell what was going on with him. They never did call. Mom ended up calling the hospital to find out his room number. We never did hear from a doctor. I'm hoping we hear something tomorrow. All we know right now is that there is no paralysis. Both arms and leg seem to be working. His left hand is weaker though but that seems to be the extent of the damage right now. Right now there is more we not know that do know. I have a very good feeling that he is going to be okay. When we went to the hospital to see him tonight he was very sleepy. He seem to be aware of where he was and who we were. I think a good nights sleep will help his cognitive functions. It's all in God's hands now.

Storms Push Streams, Rivers To Near Flood Stage

More Storms Expected Over Southeast Iowa

POSTED: 9:16 am CDT May 13, 2005
UPDATED: 3:27 pm CDT May 13, 2005

DES MOINES, Iowa -- This week's storms are filling up rivers and creeks across Iowa, pushing some to near flood stage.

It's not over yet, but drier weather is on the way. More thunderstorms are possible again Friday, especially over southeast Iowa. However, a flash flood watch issued for much of the southern half of Iowa has now been canceled.

Some of the rivers being watched include the east and west forks of the Des Moines River in northern Iowa, the Raccoon River in central Iowa, and the Iowa River and the North Skunk River in eastern Iowa. The rain has set a daily record in Des Moines.

The forecast calls for scattered showers and thunderstorms Friday. Dry conditions are is expected Saturday night and into the beginning of the next week.

River and Stream Elevations

The Raccoon River at Fleur Drive is forecasted to crest at 15.6 at 1 a.m. on May 14. The river elevation is currently at 14.52 ft. at Fleur Drive.
The Lower Des Moines River at SE 6th is forecasted to crest at 24.90 ft. on May 15 at 1 a.m. Current elevation is 24.31 ft.
The Upper Des Moines River at Second Avenue is forecasted to crest at 20.0 ft. on May 15 at 7 p.m. Current elevation is 18.01 ft.
Four-Mile Creek crested at 13.15 ft. at 4:15 p.m. Friday. Current elevation is 11.96 ft.
Walnut Creek crested at 12.34 ft. at 11:30 p.m. on May 12. Current elevation is 9.39 ft.

Road Closures:

George Flagg Pkwy. from Park Ave. to SW 30th

SW 30th St. from George Flagg Pkwy. to Bell Avenue

Jefferson from E. 38th to Williams

Mattern from E. 38th to E. 39th Court

E. 37th from Easton to Arthur Avenue

Four-Mile Drive from Jefferson to Williams

Williams St./E. 42nd from Jefferson to Dubuque


Source: City of Des Moines Public Works Department

If it keeps raining like this we may see some flooding. If we get a couple dry days it probably won't flood.

Two Hindu Puns

Two Hindu swamis were in conversation.

One said to the other, "How did you like my latest book, 'The Art of Levitation'?"

His companion replied, "It kept me up all night."


***

A Hindu devotee asked God, represented by the multi-armed Lord Narayana, this question. "My dear Lord," he said. "I understand that you have innumerable inconceivable potencies. But out of all of them the energy of light seems to be the most amazing. Light pervades the spiritual world, it illuminates the material universes, and life is impossible without it." He continued, "I would like to know how you make it work."

"Oh, that's easy," was the reply. "Many hands make light work."

A Good Day

Today at work I had three batches that I had keyed come back from QA with no errors! That gives me four perfect batches in total so far in less than two weeks. With new keyers, which I am, all batches are QAed for 2 to 4 weeks or longer as need.

More Good News

Dad had another appointment with his oncologist on Tuesday. It had been four weeks since his last appointment. This time his doctor told him he was going to let him go six weeks before his next appointment.

Come, Thou Fount

Words: Ro­bert Ro­bin­son, 1758
Music: John Wy­eth, 1813.


Come, Thou Fount of every blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet, Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it, Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Here I raise my Ebenezer; Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.
.

This is one of my favorite hymns. My favorites are the old ones.

Happy Mother's Day

Today was a pretty good day. My sister and nieces came up today for a barbecue and my mom and sister didn't get in an argument! My sister and nieces usually play canasta when we get together like today. My sister won this time. First time in quite a while. I came in second and my niece was last, my other niece didn't play this time. I don't remember the last time I won a game. I won a couple of hands today though. Last time I never won a single hand.

Another Family Member Passes

We just got a phone call to let us know that my younger sister's mother-in-law, Jean, passed away last night. She had been doing poorly for the last several years and was ill for the last couple of months. She is going to be cremated and buried without any services or memorials. She didn't even want her twin sister found and notified. Jean had two sons, the elder, Jeff, is my sister's husband. He is in the Army and stationed at West Point, New York. He wanted to come home a couple of weeks ago but was sent to Washington instead. At this point I don't know if they are going to come home now. Jean's younger son, Jim, lives here in Des Moines. His wife is upset that they have had to deal with Jean's illness and now death by themselves. They don't stop to think that up until maybe 5 years ago Jeff was the only one helping Jean. Jim was too busy doing his own thing to help with anything for Jean, even when Jeff asked for help. As far as I'm concerned they have no right to complain about anything.

One Week On The Job

Today marks the end of the first week on my new job. I am doing data entry for Wellmark Blue Cross/Blue Shield medical claim forms. It is not the most interesting work I've done but right now it is a challenge to get the data entered into the system correctly. Right now every batch I do it is checked for accuracy and correctness and today I had my first error-free batch! I think I am learning pretty quickly. I try not to make the same mistake twice and I think, so far at least, I haven't. Yesterday there wasn't enough work for everyone so we were given the option of going home early or staying and training in another area. I chose to stay because I left early on Wednesday because I had an appointment to give blood an 1 pm and needed the hours. I trained in the "verification of employment" area for Wells Fargo mortgages. The job requires phone work. Yecch!! I hate talking on the phone! I don't think I will do that again, unless the job is changed so there are no phone calls involved.

Choose Life License Tag Home Page ..

The profits from these tags go to support crisis pregnancy centers. They are not available in Iowa yet. If we get enough requests for them and more pro-life legislators and a pro-life governor we might get them.

More Gardening

Yesterday Dad and I planted more of the garden. We spread grass cuttings from last year all over the garden still to be planted and tilled it up. We planted three rows of green beans, two of one kind and one row of a different kind. The garden is normally planted in rows running north and south. The last several years the sweet corn is planted in four years and the middle two rows fall over after a thunderstorm or wind storm. This years I suggested planting the corn running east/west hoping that it wouldn't fall over after a storm. We planted six rows this year because they are shorter than if they were north/south rows. We'll see what happens after the usual storms in June.

Six Reasons to Reform Social Security

The rate of return on Social Security is 2 percent or less and since 1926 the average rate of return on the stock market has been 7.56 percent.

In 2017, the government will begin to pay out more in Social Security benefits than its collects in payroll taxes - and shortfalls grow larger with each passing year.

Every year we sit and wait to act on Social Security it costs an additional $600 billion dollars.

$10,000 invested in the Social Security Trust Fund in 1998 would be worth only $11,700 today. However, $10,000 invested in the Federal Employees' Thrift Savings Plan, evenly distributed between bonds, and stock and blended funds, would be worth $42,173.

According to recent poll by Harvard University's Institute of Politics, 52 percent of undergraduates support changing Social Security to allow for private investment. What's more, 43 percent of the undergraduates surveyed were "traditional liberals" while only 14 percent were "traditional conservatives."

And here is why young people, both self-identified conservatives and liberals are supporting the President on Social Security.

Voluntary personal retirement accounts give younger workers the chance to receive a higher rate of return from sound, long-term investing of a portion of their payroll taxes than they receive under the current Social Security system.

Ken Mehlman
Chairman, RNC

Copyright © 2005 Republican National Committee

Farewell My License

I am mourning the passing of my special car license plates. Iowa has vehicle registration due in the month of ones birth. My birthday is in January so that is when my registration is due. This year I didn't have the money to pay $184.50 for my car. I went to the county today to get that paid and they told me it would be $236!! Turns out that, because I was late, I would have to pay $45 to reinstate the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) special plates. The statement I received didn't show that the charge to renew these plates went up either. They were $20 this year instead of $10 as in previous years. I decided to replace the pretty, special DNR plates with the boring, ugly regular plates. My old plates were ET 454 and my new plates are 684 PPE. I wish I could get my old number on my new plates but vanity plates are about the same price as the DNR plates, so I would be in the same place I was before today. My car will be 3 years old in July so I am waiting for the cost of the license to go down, maybe next year.

New Job Details

I went to Spherion and filled out the required paperwork for this new assignment. Turns out it is a temp-to-hire position that, after 90 days, I will be employed by DataVision in Carlisle. Which is really cool because it's about 20 minutes from my house on the bypass and my sister and nieces live there. The hours are 8 to 4:30 Monday through Friday, with a half hour lunch break. I don't know what the dress code is yet because I wasn't told and didn't think to ask before I left the office. Oh well, I'll find out on Monday! I'll wear a skirt and either be dressed appropriately or over dressed. Then I'll adjust my clothing to appropriate levels on Tuesday. This job only pays $9 an hour but there are regular increases so I hope I'll get a raise after being hired on permanently.

YAY, I have an income again!!!!

Update: The dress code is casual. Blue jeans and t-shirts or sweat shirts.

A Lesson In Need

The Scripture for today from the International Bible Society is about asking for and receiving what we need from God. The scripture reads:

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Matthew 7:7-11 KJV

There is another, similar, verse that reads:
"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." Luke 6:38 KJV

I have always liked this verse because it tells me that you can't give more than God will give to you. All we have to do is remember to ask when we have a need. Some times we think something is too trivial to pray about but God wants to hear all of our needs and concerns not just the "big" issues. God is a loving but just God.

Finally . . . A Job!

Tuesday I got a phone call from Spherion. They are a staffing agency (read temp agency) I applied with probably a month ago for a data entry position. I made an appointment for 10:30 Wednesday morning. I figured it would take two hours to complete all the tests and things. I left their office at some where between 2:30 and 2:45. After going to Target I got home at 3:30. I had planned on making chocolate chip cookies yesterday after I got home but alas I returned too late. Wee, after I left Spherion and before I got home they called to say I had been sent home before I had taken the skill tests, so I had to go back today to do that. Yesterday I forgot to take a copy of my resume for them so I took a copy today also. I took several types of tests today but the one that I really needed to do well on I had to take three times to increase my speed to an acceptable rate. This evening at almost 6 pm Melody, at Spherion, called and asked if I was still interested in a job in Carlisle that we had discussed yesterday. I said that I was and she said I would have to go back in tomorrow to sign some paperwork so I could start working on Monday. YAY!!! I haven't had a paycheck since January, so this is very good. I don't know the name of the place I will be working at yet but I'm sure I will find out tomorrow. I talked to my sister and she thinks she knows where I'll be going. Turns out my older niece had applied there and was turned down because her data entry speed was not high enough for them. I don't even know how long this assignment is, for all I know it could be temp-to-hire. Hopefully all will be revealed tomorrow.

On a separate note, I finally made those cookies this afternoon, they turned out well.

Weird Spring Weather

Saturday and Sunday's weather was cold. The high temperature for both days was in the high 40s and low 50s. Normal temps for this time of year are mid to high 60s. Saturday night the low over night was 33 degrees. The potatoes we had planted were all black. I guess we will be replanting them. Oh well, they are easy enough to plant. Cutting up the seed potatoes are harder than planting them. For those of you who don't know, you have to cut the seed potatoes so that there is an eye on each piece and that the pieces are big enough for the plant to grow. It's cool when you dig up the plants in the fall (to harvest the crop) you can see the piece of potato the plant grew from at the top of the plant's roots.

More domesticity

Mom and Dad went to my older sisters house today to mow her three acre yard with their mower because hers doesn't work very well and she can't afford to buy a new one yet. When they got home they were both really tired so I was "volunteered" to make supper tonight. I made macaroni and cheese with peas and tuna. I was easy and pretty quick. We finished off the rhubarb pies tonight too. Mom and I decided that next time we definitely need probably twice as much rhubarb as we had for these two pies. They tasted really good though. I think I did well for my first making custard. If only I could learn to roll out the crust! I have tried and tried but I just can't get it right and Mom is not very good at teaching technique. I guess I will just have to practice. One of my favorite cooking shows is "Good Eats" on the Food Network and Alton Brown, the host, uses spacers (or stacked up rubber bands) on the rolling pin to get the right thickness. My problem is that I can't get the same thickness overall. The spacers would probably help with that.

Happy Birthday Mom

Today is my mom's 71st birthday. She is the youngest of eight children. She only has four siblings still alive, two sisters and two brothers. She didn't do much today for her birthday. I was going to bake a cake or cookies for her but we had the first harvest of rhubarb yesterday and Dad wants a rhubarb custard pie. The recipe Mom uses is not quite right so I volunteered to find one on the Internet last night. I found a bunch and printed off three of the easiest ones and showed her and we both picked the same one. I told her I could do everything but roll out the crust. Turned out that what Dad cut yesterday was not enough for two pies so he cut another ten or twelve stalks. I thought that would be plenty but once it was all chopped up it wasn't. I asked Mom about it and she said to just go with it. After the pies were baked we both decided it that it really wasn't enough rhubarb. Next time we will use more. The pies tasted really good.

I am getting very domestic these days, I made supper last night and baked two pies this afternoon and helped with supper again tonight. I have two bags of chocolate chips so I still want to make cookies. Oh well, I will eventually. Maybe Saturday.

NewsMax.com: Inside Cover Story

"Scalia: 'Constitution Not Living Organism'
The Constitution is not a 'living' document that changes with the times U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia says, but is to be interpreted on what the Founding Fathers meant at the time they drafted the Constitution.


That's how he determines the meaning of the document he told an audience Monday at Nashville's Vanderbilt University according to VanderbiltHustler.com, the school's student paper. "

The Trekkie Test

Trekkie Nerd Survey Says...

Congratulations - your designation as a Trekkie Nerd means that you are statistically more likely to be a virgin, socially inept, live at home in your mother's basement and have no chance of scoring a chick like Seven. Still, if knowledge of temporal paradoxes, the repercussions of the Janeway effect and an intimate knowledge of Klingon history made big bucks, you'd be a millionaire. Ah, tis the sweet irony of life.

My test tracked 1 variable How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on Trekkies

Link: The Trekkie Test written by MadameBoffin on Ok Cupid

Good news for Dad

Dad went to his oncologist this morning to hear what the CT scan they did last Friday showed. It must have been pretty good because Dr Lair is going to wait a month before he does any more chemo. That is wonderful news because the chemo is causing sore to break out on Dad's lips, tongue, and gums. Hopefully a month's wait will allow enough time for them to go away. I just pray the cancer will go away.

FWD: Daily Jokes

A Christian Puppy

A Baptist couple decide that they want to get a dog. As they are walking down the street in town, they notice that a sign in the pet shop is advertising "Christian Puppies." Their interest piqued, they go inside.

"How do you know they're Christian puppies?"

"Watch," says the owner, as he takes one of the dogs and says, "Fetch the Bible." The dog runs over to the desk, and grabs the Bible in its mouth and returns. Putting the Bible on the floor, the owner says, "Find Psalm 23." The dog flips pages with its paw until he reaches the right page, and then stops. Amazed and delighted, the couple purchase the dog and head home.

That evening, they invite some friends over and show them the dog, having him run through his Psalm 23 routine. Impressed, one of the visitors asks "Does he also know 'regular' commands?"

"Gee, we don't know. We didn't ask," replies the husband.

Turning to the dog, he says, "Sit." The dog sits. He says, "Lie down." The dog lies down. He says "Roll over." The dog rolls over.

He says "Heel." The dog runs over to him, jumps up on the sofa, puts both paws on the owner's forehead and bows his head.

"Oh look!" the wife exclaims. "He's PENTECOSTAL!"

Copyright (c) 2003 Beliefnet, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ten Commandments of Blogging

I thought this was interesting and helpful.

What Conservative Protestants Believe

• Belief in Deity
I believe that God is incorporeal, omnipresent spirit--a Trinity of the Father (God), the Son (Christ), and the Holy Spirit that comprises one God Almighty.


• Incarnations
Jesus Christ is God's only incarnation. He is the Son of God and God, both fully divine and fully human, part of the Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, which comprises one God Almighty.


• Origin of Universe and Life
The biblical book of Genesis is inerrant. God created the universe and all life forms from nothing in less than 7 days, less than 10,000 years ago--not as revealed by modern science. I resolve the conflict between scientific evidence and the book of Genesis with the contention that God created the appearance of evolution (perhaps as a test of faith), or that scientific evidence is faulty.


• After Death
Saved souls experience the bliss of heaven and unsaved souls the torture of hell. On Judgment Day, Jesus Christ will resurrect the dead, reunite body and soul, and judge each for eternity in heaven, or on a restored, paradisiacal earth, or in hell.


• Why Evil?
The original sin of Adam and Eve caused all to inherit sinfulness. I believe that only relatively few people will be saved. The work and influence of Satan prevail among the unsaved and/or those who lack complete faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.


• Salvation
Salvation is granted by the grace of God alone, through faith in Jesus Christ alone as Lord and Savior--not through "works" such as moral behavior, good deeds, and generally not through sacraments. I believe that once saved, or born again, always saved. I regard baptism, when performed, as a practice for adult believers, rather than infants/children, as it is not considered a sacrament for salvation but an act of commitment to the fellowship. Among most, confession/repentance is considered personal, between the individual and God, unless a public sin is involved, and confession to a pastor, when offered, is optional. Some use exorcism to remove indwelling evil spirits. Preaching the gospel, the Word of God, is often regarded as a means for building faith in Christ.


• Undeserved Suffering
Some suffering is caused by the inheritance of mortality originating from Adam and Eve's disobedience to God, which includes vulnerability to illness and disease. Also, Satan rules the earth, causing pain and suffering. I believe that suffering is God's design to test, teach, or strengthen belief in Him; the greater the suffering of innocent believers, the greater will be their reward after life.


• Contemporary Issues
I believe abortion is murder. Divorce and remarriage, in certain situations, is acceptable.

To take this quiz for yourself go here:
Belief-O-Matic

Iowa visit brought pope close to the soil and people who tilled it

Since Pope John Paul II has died, I remeber the one time he came to Iowa. I was in my first year of college. I'm not Catholic but I remember how excited everyone was when the visit was announced.

"For those who gathered in a dusty field or a tiny country church to hear and see Pope John Paul II, nothing else comes close.

More than 25 years later, the memories remain fresh of John Paul's visit to Iowa on Oct. 4, 1979. The pilgrims who rose before dawn to walk to Living History Farms remember the chilly weather. They remember the long wait for the pope to arrive. They remember his strong voice and his clear, accented English. They remember the colorful tapestry behind him, representing the four seasons of agriculture. They remember sharing communion with a multitude"

Lion or Lamb? Revisited

Back on March 1 I wondered whether March would go out like a lion because it came in like a lamb. Well, today was a very timid lamb. After a fairly vigorous thunderstorm yesterday, and a forecast for rain for the rest of the week, I figured March would definitely go out like a lion. After waking up to clear skies I figure that unless the weather changed, There would not be an appearance of the lion this year. I don't know if the saying only works if March comes in like a lion or if it goes both ways.

Hating the "Religious Right"

Spring Yard Work

On Monday my Dad and I started pruning the bushes on the east property line. We also cut down all the old growth from the decorative grasses in the front yard. After we cut everything down we went to the back yard and shredded most of the clippings. Yesterday we finished shredding the clippings and all of the grass. Then today Dad tilled the garden and I helped plant radishes, onions and potatoes. There was a thunderstorm coming while we worked and about 15 minutes after we finished it started raining and will we ate lunch it hailed some. It was only about pea sized so, thank God, it didn't do any damage. The forecast is calling for a chance of rain for the next two days. Monday and Tuesday were both in the 70s and today was in the upper 50s.

Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation

Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation

Scroll down to the video section and watch a couple, then decide if she deserves to die.

A Drama Unfolds

Regardless of who you believe, Terri Schiavo's parents or her husband,
why do we treat convicted murderers better than we are treating Terri?

March 23, 2005

Dear Concerned Citizen,
by Wesley J. Smith

Imagine if you will, that convicted cop killer Mumia Abu Jamal had a bad lawyer during his murder trial. Assume further that when the new lawyer took over the case, she found credible evidence not originally presented on Jamal’s behalf, evidence which could cast reasonable doubt upon the guilty verdict.

What the?!?

I just looked out the kitchen window and saw a quarter to half an inch of snow on the ground! I couldn't really tell if it was still snowing or not, but I think it is because I saw movement in a puddle on the driveway and water dripping from the roof. The sky also had its glow that it takes on every time it snows.

How Logical Are You?

You Are Pretty Logical

(You got 63% of the questions right) You're a bit of a wizard when it comes to logic While you don't have perfect logic, you logic is pretty darn good Keep at it - you've got a lot of natural talent in this area!

How Logical Are You?

How Normal Are You?

You Are 35% Normal (Occasionally Normal)

You sure do march to your own beat... But you're so weird, people wonder if it's a beat at all You think on a totally different wavelength And it's often a chore to get people to understand you

How Normal Are You?

My nieces are always telling me I'm weird. I guess they are right!

What Kind of Friend Are You?

You Are A Fun Friend

You're the one who keeps your group laughing And you've always got an idea for something fun to do The party's not complete without you And you wouldn't miss it for the world

What Kind of Friend Are You?

Another Terri Post

Now that Terri Schiavo's case has been sent to a federal judge, my fear is that he will delay his ruling until after Terri is dead and the point is moot. That would certainly eliminate many of the more vexing questions in this case. Some of the politicians are all saying that it's better to err on the side of life, that's why they got involved in this case in the first place.

if Terri were a dog and the owner was found to have starved that dog to death they would face and fine and possibly some jail time. Just watch an episode of Animal Cops on Animal Planet to prove that point.

I am still waiting for someone to explain how a feeding tube is an artificial means for life. Does that mean that anyone unable to feed themselves should be allowed to starve to death? Does that include infants? They are not able to communicate their wishes to another person, should they be allowed to starve? What about a quadriplegic? They can't feed themselves and like Christopher Reeve are on ventilators. They wouldn't even have to starve, just turn off the ventilator, they'll die faster and with less pain and suffering. What about a severely retarded person? If they can't feed themselves should they be starved? What about someone like Stephen Hawking? He can't even speak any more. Should he be starved?

I'm just praying that this Judge makes the decision to investigate the allegations that have been made in this case. Give Terri a chance to get therapy and see if she improves, if she does praise God, if not let die at her own pace feed her until she succumbs to an infection or pneumonia or whatever. She deserves at least as much as any animal in this country! They have laws to protect them, where are the laws to protect her?

Protect Terri Shindler-Sciavo

Protect Terri Shindler-Sciavo

A little clarity goes a long way.

A Job Update

I called my temp agency this morning like I have done for the last eight weeks and this time I was asked if I wanted to come in and retake the two data entry assessments. I said yes I will come in today. So I went in this afternoon and took the tests and improved both scores. The alpha test I improved by one thousand keystrokes and the numeric score was improved by two thousand keystrokes. On the alpha test I had five errors and the numeric I only had three errors. I was surprised because I don't really like to type that much. After I finished my tests and we were reviewing my results I was told about a temp to hire position with Met Life. I told the temp agency that I wanted to think about whether I wanted to take it only because I had two other jobs for which I was applying. One of them at a costume shop I really don't want if they were to offer. The other is at Earl May, a garden supply store. I am going to call the temp agency tomorrow and tell them I will take it because, as much as I would like to work at Earl May, I doubt I will get a job offer. I talked to the store manager and he said that most of the positions he is looking for now need horticultural experience. I told him I have retail experience but none in horticulture. I worked in retail for a total of eight years with two different companies, three if you count the three weeks I work seasonal night stock at Toys R Us.

Terri Schiavo's Feeding Tube Removed

Once again it seems the pro-death crowd seems to have won another battle in the fight over Terri Schiavo life.

Michael Schiavo has always insisted that his wife told him she did not want to be kept alive artificially.

The thing I have never understood is, where are the human rights activists? They would be making all kinds of noise if Terri were a prisoner somewhere or a terrorist held in Cuba or Iraq. They are more concerned about people who would have no problem seeing us dead than an innocent young woman.

This whole situation makes me angry. If the pro-death people win this fight it is only one step away from full blown euthansiia. Instead of letting her slowly die they'll say "why not just end it quick?" save everyone the trouble. Just what Jack Kevorkian always wanted.

What’s your Irish Name?

Your Irish Name Is...

Sinead Kirwan

What's your Irish Name?

An Anniversary of Sorts

Seven months ago today I returned home from 5 days in the hospital in Iowa City after my hysterectomy. I am pretty much back to normal except for some occasional pain in my abdomen. The hot flashes have reduced in intensity and number, which is very good because I was all done with hot flashes before surgery.

A Sure Sign of Spring

I was outside with our dogs this afternoon and noticed that the crocus are blooming! We have yellow and purple ones. I saw the yellow ones today. YAY!!!

Building Issues

I found out on Sunday that one of the things we need to start building our addition is a new site plan. We had one but then we changed the plan to lower the building price and now we need to have the new plan approved by the county. Apparently the person whose job it is to approve these plans is on vacation and his replacement is not so the job. So right now we are waiting for the county to get the approval issued. They say patience is a virtue, we are going to be very virtuous people!

Goundbreaking 3/6/2005 

Church board. 

A closer view of the board members. 

Another close look at the board. 

The grill for the Groundbreaking bbq. 

Mike MacKenzie manning the grill. 

Long View of the USS Riverside 

What English Speaking Country Do You Belong In?

You Belong in the USA

Sweet! People either love you or hate you And you really don't care what anyone thinks Big and bold, you do things your way

What English Speaking Country Do You Belong In?

Are You Right or Left Brained?

You Are 60% Left Brained, 40% Right Brained

The left side of your brain controls verbal ability, attention to detail, and reasoning. Left brained people are good at communication and persuading others. If you're left brained, you are likely good at math and logic. Your left brain prefers dogs, reading, and quiet. The right side of your brain is all about creativity and flexibility. Daring and intuitive, right brained people see the world in their unique way. If you're right brained, you likely have a talent for creative writing and art. Your right brain prefers day dreaming, philosophy, and sports.

Are You Right or Left Brained?