A few thoughts on gifts.

I started writing for the newspaper again and I submitted an article on giving as it was for the December 2017 edition. I posted a picture of my article in the paper on Facebook to show people what I was up to and they all said wanted to read it! So here it is... better late than never.

GIVING FROM THE HEART
December 2017

Before Thanksgiving Day had passed, fliers and ads were filling up our mailboxes with holiday discounts and perks for the savvy shopper. A jaunt through the neighbourhood revealed homes adorned with Christmas lights and festive décor. Establishments and stores had likewise switched to a wintery theme. During a visit to the Post Office I noticed a postman bundled up against the cold wind, loading an open trailer with lots of boxes taped up with Amazon labels. The season of gifts had begun.

We’ve been conditioned by our society to find our giving spirit this time of year. We listen to the Christmas favourites, bake holiday treats, and put up a pine tree, bringing back all those lovely Christmas things reminiscent of our childhood. And yet, the wish to give gifts to our friends and family is likely the strongest tide pulling us to spend a little extra money this time of year.

While the commercial world makes gift giving a matter of necessity, a true gift is a rare and beautiful thing. In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay on gifts, he conveys, “Rings and other jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself. Thou must bleed for me. Therefore the poet brings his poem; the shepherd, his lamb; the farmer, corn; the miner, a gem; the sailor, coral and shells; the painter, his picture; the girl, a handkerchief of her own sewing. This is right and pleasing, for it restores society in so far to its primary basis, when a man’s biography is conveyed in his gift, and every man’s wealth is an index of his merit. But it is a cold, lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy me something which does not represent your life and talent, but a goldsmith’s.”

Emerson was correct in saying, “He is a good man who can receive a gift well.” We expect a lot in this season of gifts. We expect our bank accounts to keep up with our level of generosity, our gifts to be accepted with great appreciation and delight, and especially that we might receive the very gifts we desire the most as well. 2 Corinthians 9:11 sums it up, “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”

Truly, the best gift we can receive or share with anyone is the gift of salvation.  Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

My family used to make Christmas a really big deal. Under a twinkling tree there would be piles of gifts. Eventually my parents became disillusioned to the ways of the holiday season. While we don’t bring a tree indoors or buy each other gifts, we still celebrate the joys of Christmas, and focus on the gift of family and the many blessing we’ve received from the Lord.

I propose an idea that is difficult to accept amidst the clamour of the commercial gift giving season: That your gifts be not out of necessity because a friend or relative has given to you or expects a gift from you, or because it’s a tradition that you’ve kept each year. Instead, that you’d give when you are able to give out of the joy of blessing another.  There is nothing wrong with a material gift. After all, the magi’s gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh were material things. Perhaps we cannot all afford to bestow such extravagant blessings but let us remember that giving is not to be done because the season demands it but rather because we’ve been blessed and therefore choose to bless others in return.  

James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no

variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

More On Joseph

While learning about Joseph yesterday I came across articles that were published in Bible and Spade. The articles work to relate the historical and archeological information we have today to what we know of Joseph in the scriptures. I found it to very fascinating so I thought I'd share them here for you:

Joseph in Egypt: part I
Joseph in Egypt: part II
Joseph in Egypt: part III
Joseph in Egypt: part IV
Joseph in Egypt: part V
Joseph in Egypt: part VI

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! There's nothing quite as exciting and invigorating as learning about the word of God!

5 Reasons Why Joseph Is A Good Example

Jeff and I received a daily Bible devotional in the mail from a Mennonite outreach. It's wholesome and they even use the King James Version for all of their scripture references. The devotional recommends a daily Bible reading schedule so that if you follow the plan you can read the Bible in a year. We'd decided to attempt such a feat although within the first two weeks I'd already fallen behind. So yesterday and this morning I spent a good deal of time reading the last 43 chapters of Genesis. It was actually nice, because without breaking up the flow of the scripture by reading just 2 or 3 chapters a day, I was able to gain much more from continuous reading.

Genesis always amazes me. I read about some of the abominable things the people did, even among those who God chose to set apart and bless! I wondered why God would continue to work with such a people!  The book of Genesis has so many appalling details. The murders, the sexual sins, the wickedness, the many different wives some of the men took and all of the problems that followed these things (Thank the Lord that His plans are higher than ours and in spite of the sins of every generation He provides a way for atonement and redemption!). Yet as the book progresses It's refreshing to begin reading of Jacob's son Joseph.

There are so many instances in which Joseph could have despaired and lost his faith.  As his story began, in Genesis 37, Joseph was hated by his step-brothers because he was favored by his father. They also disliked his dreams of their obeisance to him. In spite of his innocence his brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. He ended up in a strange land, absent from the parents he loved. Yet in all of his life we see an example of incredible character, conduct and faith.

We read in 1 John 2:16 that Satan has a three-fold strategy for attacking the believer, "the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life". Notice in the account of Joseph that he was tempted in all three areas numerous times but stayed strong in the Lord and pursued righteousness.

Here are 5 of the major things about Joseph's character that stood out to me as exemplary:

5. Others benefited from Joseph's faith.
Genesis 39:2-3 says, "And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand." Joseph's faith was evident to all those who knew him. He didn't curse the Lord when he was in the lowliest seasons but continued to trust God and when he abounded he wasn't proud or boastful but attributed his success to God. Because of his faithfulness to God he was blessed by God and those around him benefited greatly. As believers today we can bring great blessing to those around us by following after God and being a light in this ever darkening world.

4. Joseph was honest.
Joseph was trustworthy as his master, Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, made him overseer of all his house and all that he had. Potiphar was so confident in Joseph that he didn't even keep track of him as Gen. 39:6 says, "And he left all that he had in joseph's hand; and he knew not out he had, save the bread which he did eat...." The last half of the verse says, "And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured." So we see that Joseph was a good and honest man. Colossians 3:23-24 tells us believers,"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." Joseph conducted himself honestly and gained the trust of those around him, not because he stove to please men but because he was obedient to God.

3. Joseph valued purity.
After we read about the moral corruptness of many of the men who came before Joseph, it is a breath of fresh air to read about how he fled from sexual temptation. As chapter 39 progresses we see that Potiphar's wife desired to lie with Joseph. Joseph didn't fall prey to this woman. He refused her command and responded, "Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" Potiphar's wife daily tempted him to give in to her and "he haearkened no unto her to lie by her, or to be with her." So not only would he not lie with her but he wouldn't spend time with her! Talk about conviction and fortitude! As the story goes, this evil woman falsely accused Joseph of attempting to rape her and her husband had him thrown in prison, as it says in Gen 39:20.
Joseph risked displeasing his master's wife out of respect for his master, respect for himself and in obedience to God. There are many scriptures that instruct us believers to flee: "Flee fornication...", 1 Corinthians 6:18, or "Flee youthful lusts...", 2 Timothy 2:22. Joseph didn't have the benefit of committing these verses to memory but he knew it was better to flee than to be taken captive by the sinful pleasures of the moment. And while he was imprisoned his conscience remained free of guilt and remorse. 1 Corinthians 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: bot God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."


So Joseph goes from being loved and favored by his father to being sold in slavery. In slavery God causes him to prosper in his masters house. Then from being a valued and powerful servant he finds himself lowered to the state of imprisonment. Here too, God causes Joseph to prevail. 39:22-23, "And the keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper."

2. Joseph was bold in proclaiming his faith.
Over and over again we see that Joseph believed in God and gave Him the glory. In prison Joseph interprets the dreams of two of the Pharaoh's men, the chief butler and the chief baker and we notice here that Joseph gives God the praise, "Do not interpretations belong to God?" (Gen. 40:8). Two years later Joseph is brought before the Pharaoh to interpret his dreams, for the Egyptian magicians and all the the wise men could not declare their meaning. Once again Joseph speaks of God in the interpretation, thereby giving glory and honor to God. Because of this Gen. 41:38-39 says, "And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:" The Pharaoh proceeded to set Joseph in the highest position of authority over all the land of Egypt including the Pharaoh's own house, "Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou." (Gen. 41:40) For a third time we see Joseph rise to a position of authority and greatness and prosperity.

It is fascinating to keep in mind that Joseph was in a land that worshiped pagan gods, and where even the Pharaoh was considered a god on earth, yet this did not hinder him from speaking of God.  Also note that the Hebrews weren't very popular in Egypt. When Joseph eats with his brothers it says in Gen. 43:32,"And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians." Not only that but Joseph had to make special provision for his family when they moved to Egypt as shepherds were abominable to Egyptians (Gen. 46:34). So Joseph had to be bold and unashamed of his God to go against the grain in a land where Hebrews were despised and where the God of Israel was not worshiped.

1. Joseph forgave.
Later on when the famine came as the Pharaoh saw in his dreams, Joseph's family come to him in need of food. He shows discreetness and wisdom by not immediately revealing himself to his brothers . He does not have his brethren slain, he does not take them as servants or seek any other form of revenge for their cruelty towards him. Instead he ends up blessing not only his brothers but his entire family, providing for them and ensuring that they prosper in spite of the great famine. Not only this but you never read of Joseph revenging himself against Potiphar's wife. Being under only Pharaoh, you'd think Joseph could have dealt with those who had treated him ill. Although there is no account one way or another Joseph's forgiveness toward his brothers and his wise judgement in all matters suggests he did not pursue revenge. He knew it was God who worked through all of his misfortunes to bring about great fortune for not only himself but also for God's people. Romans 12:19 instructs us, "Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." 

The account of Joseph is a beautiful story of forgiveness, faith and love. Joseph was a great man, not because he was self-made but because he yielded himself an instrument of righteousness and allowed God to work through him (Romans 6). He is a true example of living out 1 Corinthians 13: Joseph suffered long, and was kind. He envied not and vaunted not himself. He was not puffed up. He didn't behave himself unseemly and didn't seek his own. He wasn't easily provoked and didn't think evil. He rejoiced not in iniquity but rejoiced in the truth. He bore all things, believed all things, hoped all things, and endured all things. Joseph was not a perfect, sinless man.... but he did follow after God and was blessed because of his faith.

Although King David hadn't written the Psalms yet, I think Joseph would have wholeheartedly appreciated Psalm 118:6 and 8, "The LORD is on m side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" and "It is better to trust in the LORD that to put confidence in man."

Celebrating A Decade

I just realized I've officially blogged for a complete decade (and more!). From this blogs beginning in 2007 to this New Year bringing a close to 2017. Pretty neat if you ask me! It's hard to stay dedicated in the things we take up throughout the years but writing has always been something I turn to on a regular basis. Whether it's reaching out to people through Facebook posts and newspaper articles or updating my blog and keeping a daily/weekly journal. Writing will always be a part of who I am and how I communicate to myself and the world around me.
Cheers to 10 years!

Amazon

There's something about shopping that I can't stand. Perhaps it's the temptation to buy everything I didn't go into a store to get. Or maybe it's the crowds of people making you feel like you need to hurry and make up your mind, get your stuff and get out. I know shopping isn't really that daunting... and people are much kinder than that. Yet, when I'm constantly driving to and from work each day the last thing I want to do is go drive again to the store.

So sometimes I just hop on Amazon, click a mouse instead of push a cart, and then wait for a few days. I just ordered my barn boots this way. After visiting the two farm stores in my area I've discovered that they seldom carry women's boots in my size. Unless they're made from cheap plastic/rubber and pink in color. Umm... ya gotta mean business when you go to work. No pink boots.
Well I looked on Amazon and the brand of boots I like did carry women's boots in my size! BUT... they were WHITE. White. In a barn?! ....I don't think so. As a last resort before humbling myself and buying the cheap pink books was to order men's size 5 boots. After waiting with great anticipation and struggling through a week of working in boots with hardly any tread the new boots arrived! And fit wonderfully. No more 45 min. drives to the big farm store on the other side of the city to be disappointed by their lack of options. No more pick boots from the local farm supply store.

Anyway, I did a little clicking on Amazon today. In under 5 minutes I had something for my body, something for my soul and something for my spirit.... and I was done shopping. :)

For the body: Activated charcoal. The stuff is like magic. I can't believe this stuff isn't a common household remedy. It's black and pretty messy when it's not contained, though it doesn't stain. It can be taken to help with stomach flu, alcohol poisoning... and other poisons. It alleviates gas and bloating. It can be applied topically to an insect sting. Some people use it to brush their teeth... other people take it as a regular dietary aid. It has so many awesome uses. Google it!

For the soul: Elf. Yeah... the movie. It's been forever since I've watched, but I remember it being pretty funny. Since we don't have that many movie rental options living way out in the sticks like we do, I figured I'd just buy it. I've been telling my parents they should watch it for a while. You never know with my parents. They'll either laugh historically the whole time or they'll think it's the dumbest movie in the world. I watch the movie, "What About Bob?" with my grandma once and we laughed so hard that we were sore the next day! My parents couldn't stand it. Then I tried to get them to watch "The Cobbler" with Adam Sandler. Because it had Adam Sandler in it they were convinced it would be a not-so-clean movie. Well, they eventually watched it and laughed historically. I have no idea what makes them tick... but it's amusing so it's worth the attempt to try out Elf on them.

For the spirit: Over the Top. It's a book by a  Russell Fralick. I was driving to work one morning and the radio station was broadcasting him telling his story. Perhaps it was his Irish accent that kept me tuned to the station. He told of being an Atheist and how he came to God through an incredible life intervention while rock climbing. It was a pretty crazy story... so I figured the book might be a worthy read.

Well... yep. That's it. Yay, for Amazon shopping. Oh, I also purchased some cranberry chutney from a little store in Northern Wisconsin. We used to be able to find it in our grocery. Now I search for it every time I go to a new grocery store with no luck. Therefore in spite of a little extra shipping charges it'll be nice to taste a little cranberry chutney again after years without it.

Pies, Pies, Pies.

I'm waiting for the kitchen space to open up. The little farmers have come inside from their chores and are just now eating breakfast, so I must postpone my baking endeavors until they've been fed. It didn't work out for the motley crew to feast yesterday so we're having Thanksgiving tomorrow and baking today. This arrangement works out wonderfully actually because of the three siblings with significant others. We miss my brother Daniel and Jacqui and their two boys but we heard they had a nice day of Thanks in AZ (where they live) and are headed to the mountains today for a mini vacation. Channing was gone yesterday to celebrate with Rachel's family. It will be a beautiful day when I can call her my sister, but I'm excited for now to have her come today/tomorrow to celebrate with my family. 

In spite of the fact that we're baking today, we are also having a family gathering with my mom's two brothers. One family will be coming from Minnesota and will be sharing tomorrow's festivities with us. Then there's my other Uncle and his family who live across the valley. We can see their house from ours and it is a pleasure to have relatives so near. Yet, as our families have grown it makes it difficult to fit everyone into one house on thanksgiving so we haven't had thanksgiving with them in a few years. Tonight we'll all eat soup... something easy with minimal prep and clean up. This is fine by me as it affords more time for visiting. Visiting is far more important to me than any pie or turkey.

Anyways, I know the rest of the world is frantically hitting the stores for some black Friday shopping, decking the halls and listening to the beloved Christmas melodies, I am relishing this Thanksgiving.

I like to think about the Pilgrims and the Indians. The hardships they endured, their different way of life, and their focus on God's blessing. They'd come to the new world to seek freedom. Freedom to serve God and to raise their families in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

William Bradford wrote this of the first Thanksgiving feast,
"They begane now to gather in ye small harvest they had, and to fitte up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health & strenght, and had all things in good plenty; fFor as some were thus imployed in affairs abroad, others were excersised in fishing, aboute codd, & bass, & other fish, of which yey tooke good store, of which every family had their portion. All ye somer ther was no want. And now begane to come in store of foule, as winter approached, of which this place did abound when they came first (but afterward decreased by degrees). And besids water foule, ther was great store of wild Turkies, of which they tooke many, besids venison, &c. Besids, they had about a peck a meale a weeke to a person, or now since harvest, Indean corn to yt proportion. Which made many afterwards write so largly of their plenty hear to their freinds in England, which were not fained, but true reports."


Gotta love that old English!
Until this year I had not read Abraham Lincoln's proclamation for the United States of America to set aside one day of each year for Thanksgiving. Not only do I love the eloquence of the words but the gravity of their meaning. How has America strayed so far from this state of reverence for our Creator?

I've shamelessly copied and pasted the proclamation from this website, which says, "The document below sets apart the last Thursday of November "as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise." According to an April 1, 1864, letter from John Nicolay, one of President Lincoln's secretaries, this document was written by Secretary of State William Seward, and the original was in his handwriting. On October 3, 1863, fellow Cabinet member Gideon Welles recorded in his diary how he complimented Seward on his work. A year later the manuscript was sold to benefit Union troops."


Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.
A Proclamation.
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the United States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

Happy Thanksgiving, my dear friends. May God bless you in this next year with the grace to appreciate all the good you've been blessed with and the strength to find joy in times troubles as well.

What It Means to Be A Person, Part 3

Understanding.... Being understood...
I like how Robert Fulghum puts it,
"Hide-and-seek, grown-up style. Needing to be sought. Confused about being found."

In continuation of my train of blog posts, like What It Means to Be A Person, Part 2.... 

If a friend were to hand me a book and say, "Please, read this book. I'd like for you to understand me better," I would certainly read that book. It is the essence of being human, this desire to understand others and most especially, the desire to be understood. Yet, I suspect there are people who care more about being understood and less about understanding others. It is not always selfishness in the case of these people but maybe just how their personality works and what their interests are. What the ratio of understanding to being understood is in each of us is probably chalked up to how we were raised, what our interests are and what type of personalities we embody.

For me the desire to understand others is top heavy. Not that I don't not want to be understood, but there is something about humans, who they are and how they interact that fascinates me. I want to know about body language, voice inflections and speech patterns. I want to know what they think, why they think it, what their hopes and dreams are and what they're doing to make those dreams a reality. I want to know about their mothers and fathers, their siblings, their friends, their education, their hobbies, their favorite foods and their feelings on politics. I probably come off sounding like an interviewer and I think a lot of people feel uncomfortable when asked a million questions. Questions make us feel vulnerable, especially if we do not know the purpose that the questioner is asking them. It is only over time that I can prove that my questions are 100%, genuine interest.

Perhaps this interest I have in people is due to my personality? I know that Myers-Briggs Typology isn't the be-all and end-all. There are flaws and misgivings about the science behind the psychology. However, I've read up on my personality type and it feels like finally someone understands me. Or perhaps more than being understood, it is the fact that I'm  not the only one with the crazy traits that define me. I'm not the only person who is care free and childish, at the same time as deeply wishing to understand the universe. I'm not alone in my tendency to procrastinate. I'm not the only one who doesn't one to be follow just one profession, but many chase many interests. There are other like me in the world, and I'm not crazy for being who I am... in spite of the many folks who disapprove of or fear my unconventional ways.

What brings this to my mind in particular is a book I read this Summer titled, The Comprehensive ENFP Survival Guide, by Heidi Priebe. It made complete sense to me and explained traits that I've felt so overwhelmed by or that have made me feel like an unsuccessful human for possessing. I don't say that in the worst sense, but just the frustration we all feel when we're trying to wade through life with our strengths and weaknesses. The book was an eye opener. It showed me that I'm not alone, there are other people who are just like me, and it showed why I am the person I am. It was easy to read and easy to understand. I found myself laughing with delight because I could relate so much to the author's words!

I generally kept to the privacy of my room while reading, as if to guard a secret. Mostly because I am a private person when it comes to my feelings. In fear that my poor, sensitive self will be hurt I gaurd my feelings at all cost. This is of course something I never realized about myself, and hope to overcome one day.... to be less sensitive and more open.
Anyway, one night I was determined to enjoy the company of my family and sat in the living room with them, while reading this book. My older sister asked what I was reading, and when I told her, her first response was and eye-roll and, "You've got to be kidding me...." She wasn't trying to be mean, but it just struck her as ridiculous that I'd be reading about personality and putting so much interest in the matter. Isn't life about being selfless, after all? I understand her thoughts on the matter but if we cannot understand our own feelings and thoughts how are we ever to get along with others? How are we to mature and grow? If we cannot understand how we are different from other people how are we supposed to appreciate others for their differences?

My mother comes to mind. She and I are very different. We're both extroverted and strong-willed, but lets just say she's the type of person that prepares, plans and is precise. Whereas I am the type of person that procrastinates, is spontaneous and go-with-the-flow. Granted we are not always such extreme opposites, but when we have contrary opinions it generally makes for a mini war. For many years I never knew why we disagreed on so many stupid, little, unimportant things. Then I learned about typology and discovered that more often that not, we are coming to the same conclusions from different perspectives. I learned that I we can see the other's viewpoint we can then compromise or try to relate, or perhaps stand our ground to the death.  But it doesn't have to be a mess of confusion.

It seems that what Paul the Apostle write in Romans 12:3-4 relates to the matter,
For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:

As I've stated before and will state again, personality stuff isn't the most important thing in the world. It's good to stay open and not let these things dictate your view of others. But if it offers a few helpful hints along the bumpy roads of life, then it's worth giving a chance.

What It Means To Be A Person, part 2

Continuing my train of thought on my post, "What It Means To Be A Person":

Humanity: It's a curious thing. We were designed with the unique ability to evaluate ourselves. The conscience. Further we are able to choose how we act and react to our surroundings. Free will. We are created in the image of God. With a temporary body and and everlasting soul. Born into a world of corruption with the privilege of accepting God's grace and then given the opportunity to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling". Encouraged to treat those who occupy this earth with us with the same dignity and respect we desire from others.

With all of these intricate tasks before us, giving and receiving with other people, it is essential that we understand our own behavior and the behavior of those around us, in order to live in harmony. That is why so many of us are interested in personality tests and languages of love. We desire communication and connection.

Since I wrote my last post on Myers-Briggs I wrote an article for the newspaper regarding the subject (which won't be published till August). In my research I discovered that there are a lot of people who believe Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) isn't as accurate as it should be. It isn't consistent. For example have you ever taken the test a few times in a row only to get different results each time? Also, people don't like the use of dichotomies; that the test allows only for one extreme or another. Introvert. Extrovert. Thinker. Feeler. I agree... generally we are all a mix of two extremes. Anyway, there is are a lot of articles on the web with the opposing arguments if you want to check it out for yourself.

I wouldn't ever recommend putting all of your "trust" in one assessment or test. There are a lot of other personality tests and quizzes out there and you have to take each one with a grain of salt.

BUT... I have noticed, for myself at least, that after enough studying and putting two and two together, a lot of the different personality tests from various perspectives do match up to show the same traits that I demonstrate daily. That I have a particular personality. Here are a few various tests that I think are super cool that I feel match up with Myer-Briggs pretty well:

1. The Color Code

Or another similar test: True Colors
(Explanation here)

2. The 5 Love Languages

Here's one that I keep reading good things about but haven't taken or studied yet:
3. The Big Five

They seem to match well in the end. From the true colors perspective, I was a Blue and Orange tie... for MBTI, I'm and ENFP... my love language is a tie between Quality Time and Encouraging Words.

Each definition of these personality expressions relates well with the others. I'm an outgoing people-person. I like action and spontaneity. I'm a pretty good procrastinator. ...and so-on.

If Myer-Briggs weren't accurate at all then I wouldn't be able to relate so well to the things about my ENFP personality type. Like this hilarious article: Your ENFP Care and Handling Use Guide and Manual
The night before I read it I'd stayed up way too late reading articles on my phone and denying my need for sleep. While reading this "ENFP manual" I was so tired and when I got to the part about making and ENFP go to sleep and taking away any distracting devices I started laughing so hard that I thought I might stop breathing!

Anyway, it's time for me to head to work. This blog post is probably riddled with bad grammar, run-on sentences and other horrors. Frankly, I don't have the time to edit, so please forgive the insanity.

Looking Forward, Looking Back

March has almost whisked itself away and in a few days it will be April already. I'd thought the long wintery months were behind us but a blizzard brought over a foot of snow. I should have known because March usually brings one last heavy snowfall.
I've been thinking about Colorado a lot these past few days. It was this time last year that my bros and I were enjoying the excitements of that gorgeous state and the company of my Aunt and Uncle. We did so many memorable things that I believe it may have changed me in some ways. I'm not sure how but I suppose magical things happen on vacations like that, in ways that cannot be reversed. Change and growth in this case is good.
This year has been quite different and promises big excitements. Like new babies, new business ventures and I feel that it will not be a disappointing year. ...but I suppose I won't know 'till next year when it's all done and over with. I'm sure next year is only a few days away since time flies faster the older I get. Which is exactly why each day must be taken advantage of, to be used to it's full purpose. 

Anyways, enough vague rambling about time. Granted, I love blogging because it is the one places where I am allowed to be vague, ramble and not be responsible for my bad grammar or random thoughts. Programmers haven't updated the blogging world by adding like-buttons or heart-buttons or videos that play when you scroll past and overwhelming business like they've done to Facebook. I suppose Facebook has always been a bit silly, but as much as it has become necessary to have lately in order to keep in contact with people, it's become a circus of nothingness. People spend more time sharing video clips and memes than they do updating their "status". I used to think updating your "status" was a bit much but I'd gladly take that any day than the constant entertainment and information that has nothing to do with the people are who sharing and posting this stuff.

Or maybe I'm just getting old. Next year it'll be a decade since I joined Facebook. I've been weighing the pros and cons of deleting my account lately. Maybe the real fix would be to not log into my account so often. Delete the app off my phone so I don't have easy and constant access. Deleting Facebook itself is like burning your address book full of names, addresses. It's like choosing to live in a world where you unsubscribe to the local prayer chain and newspaper, saying, "I don't need to know if your baby died, if you're moving to Texas, if you were married yesterday or if you have photographs of your life events to share."
It's these things that I do want to know. The important stuff. Without that social media connection it seems I find out about the relevant information months later. I cannot convince myself which extreme is better.... not just yet.


Lately I've been drawing and painting a good deal more than I have in the past. I'm really enjoying it.. especially the painting part as it's something I haven't done more of and each time I dabble in it my paintings improve. It's exciting to see the evolution of my understanding of the art. I also was given an easel... which is a new experience. I'm currently working on a painting of a New York City street scene in the morning. I'll share it when I'm finished.

Child Sexual Abuse

This is the most recent article I've written for a local newspaper. It's such an important and ignored topic. I hope this article encourages more discussion and effort towards preventing and stopping child sexual abuse.

Why Parents Should Be Brave
Five steps for dealing with child sexual abuse

Last month, a sting operation was conducted in Eau Claire, WI in which 8 men were arrested for soliciting children for sex via online avenues. Stories like this make the news for one day and dissipate as quickly as they come to our attention. Yet, 1 in 10 children are abused before the age of 18, so why is the issue of protecting the innocent from abuse such an ignored topic? While there are efforts being made to raise awareness and prevent this violence, sexual abuse is still grossly under-reported. There are plenty of sources that help to educate children and parents on avoiding predators and sexual abuse. However, predators often do much damage before they are detected. The question we are afraid to ask is not 'how do we prevent our children from being harmed?' but rather, 'what should we do if and when they are?'

1. Believe and protect your child.
Only 4 to 8 % of child sexual abuse reports are suspected to be false and of the children who are abused, 60% never tell anyone. While it's true that children of single parents or adolescents from broken homes are more likely to be candidates for abuse, it doesn't mean sexual abuse can't happen in healthy, happy homes. One of my friends from a stable family talked of the kid who started out as a best friend and became an abusive enemy. This friend said he was abused from age 6 to 10, before he went to his parents for help. A parent of a victim gave me this advice, “If the problem is at school, your child stays home. If the offending party is a relative, you don't go to family gatherings. You remove your child from anywhere the offender might be.”

2. Getting past your pride.

If a child has been abused while under your supervision, you may feel guilty for failing to protect your child. Shame comes from knowing that you let the wolf into your safe-zone and left your child vulnerable. Pride comes into play as we try to protect our reputation and the image of a perfect family. Guardians are mortified that abuse has occurred under their watch and in many cases a child's pleas for help are often ignored by parents who would rather live in ignorance. Please, do not be one of those parents who allows abuse to go on because stopping it would make you or someone you know feel uncomfortable!

3. Nobody is above justice.

The last thing a parent wants to do is call the police, create a wave of scandal, and press charges against someone that they cannot actually prove has done anything wrong. Still, the best thing you can do for your child is expose the perpetrator and ensure that every effort has been made to achieve justice. It should be noted that if a person aids or abets a crime they are usually considered just as responsible as the actual offender in a court of law. Do not be a party to another person's crime. If an offender is a spouse, child, relative or someone you care about you can aid them by making sure they get proper help and cannot hurt anyone again, even if this means they'll serve time in a correctional facility. Whether or not justice can be attained, taking this step will give your child the confidence of knowing that you care. 

4. Utilize your soapbox.

We live in a society where people don't want to rock the boat. Yet, the people who molest children are successful because they're confident that none of their victims will reveal their wickedness. Some parents hide under the illusion that they don't want to make their child feel any more uncomfortable by telling the world of his or her wounds, but in reality secrecy only protects our egos. The male friend, whom I mentioned above, told me that his parents notified the police of the situation, however as the abuser was just under 12 years of age, they could not prosecute. The victim's parents took steps to warn other families who associated with the offender's family. The best way to hinder a pervert is to inform those who will listen of the perpetrator's behavior. Alerting others has the potential to save other families and children from going through similar trauma.

5. Seek professional help.

One victim told me that he was better off than many of his acquaintances who'd been molested, because his abuse hadn't been kept a secret. His immediate family, extended relatives, and friends knew of his abuse. It wasn't comfortable having his injury be made public but because people knew what he'd gone through he didn't feel isolated or abandoned. Children need to know that they don't have to go through hardship alone. They need support, council and guardians who will do everything in their power to take down the perpetrators. It is important to know that most victims of sexual abuse during adolescence do not become abusers. Though for many, being sexually abused is the start to a lifelong spiral into the darkest nightmare imaginable. For these reasons it is often wise to seek out professional counsel for yourself and your child. If a child has been sexually abused it is best to contact social services and the police.

Dealing with child sexual abuse is a heavy matter that takes careful consideration and diligent pursuit of the facts. No journey is identical, other than the end goal of healing and recovery for the abused. Some people use their scars to help others to bandage their wounds and heal their hurt. Over all we discover that others have shared our sorrows and if we stand together, we don't have to let our past dictate our future.

Statistics in this article are taken from www.d2l.org. Darkness to Light is a well-cited website and an organization created for the recovery, prevention and awareness of child sexual abuse.

For 24/7 confidential support, contact an abuse hotline:
-USA National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453
-RAINN: Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network: 1-800-656-4673
-Crisis Text Line: text 741741

Hypertension: Keep it from affecting you.

According to the CDC:

High Blood Pressure in the United States:

• About 70 million American adults (29%) have high blood pressure—that’s 1 of every 3 adults.¹
• Only about half (52%) of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control.¹
• Nearly 1 of 3 American adults has prehypertension—blood pressure numbers that are higher than normal, but not yet in the high blood pressure range.¹
• High blood pressure costs the nation $46 billion each year. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications to treat high blood pressure, and missed days of work.²

Knowing a number of people who've suffered from hypertension I decided to do some digging around to find ways to help lower and prevent it. The last thing you want is for your doctor to prescribe for you a blood pressure medication so finding natural ways to fight anxiety, stress, and hypertension/high blood pressure were my goal.

Here are some of the methods that I've discovered, some of which are really easy or at least important to implement:

1. Homeopathic Remedies:
There is one really awesome remedy that could help a lot called Nat. Mur. and you can find it at most health stores or online.

Natrum Muriaticum

If you want to research it you can pop that name into your google search bar and read about it, but otherwise know that it helps with anxiety, stress, depression, worry, high blood pressure... etc.

A secondary remedy is homeopathic doses of Phosphorus. Although it whether this remedy works may depend more on specific indicators of your condition, it would be worth looking into if you can't find Nat. Mur.

2. Herbal Remedies:
Some of the #1's are common cooking herbs! Check out this website. Basil, cinnamon and cardamom are the top three that help.

Also on that list there is celery seed. My brother Jed goes on a fishing trip once a year with his buddies and all they eat is bacon. During this time his chronically high blood pressure goes down.   LOL ... maybe bacon is the way to go? A lot of the naturally cured bacon is made with celery. There are many who say to stay away from bacon and other highly salty foods, still it is an interesting side note. If you're interested in eating bacon I'd recommend reading Dr. Mercola's review.

ALSO.... here are so practical and tasty ways to help yourself out. Try these fun recipes! Notice the first thing it mentions is cutting salt? ....and the homeopathic remedy is like a vaccine. If you look up Nat. Mur. you'll find that it IS sodium chloride. It's such a small does though that it's like a finger print. Barely traceable. Yet, your body recognizes the "finger print" and sends antibodies to fight away the "poison" therefore actually treating your real problem!!! Win/Win situation.

3. Diet:
Salt, Sugar and Gluten....
Sugar is worse than salt for blood pressure! Sugar is like the worst thing we can put in our bodies because it creates inflammation and inflammation causes a TON of issues in our body. The problem is that sugar or a lot of ingredients that come in sugary foods are addicting. It's hard to stop eating it but sometimes you have to decided you don't want to wake up anymore with the health problems that control your life. Mind over matter.

Watch this fun little video about sugar:
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4CZ81EmAsw
Another thing is WHEAT. Yes... like sugar it seems to be in EVERYTHING which makes it SO HARD to eliminate. But it's wreaking havoc in your life. According to Dr. Mark Hyman in this article (which you should read or just watch the video) "Health problems caused by gluten sensitivity cannot be treated with better medication. They can only be resolved by eliminating 100 percent of the gluten from your diet." "Gluten is also linked to many psychiatric and neurological diseases, including anxiety. depression, schizophrenia, dementia, migraines, epilepsy, and neuropathy (nerve damage). It has also been linked to autism."

One book you may want to take the time to read is Wheat Belly. Also, Grain Brain is a good book, too. To read a little about the main concepts of Wheat Belly check out this website:http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/against-the-grain-how-wheat-wrecks-your-health.html
And if you're sad because gluten-free means no more tasty foods check out The Gaps Goddess! Her lovely photos of healthy desserts will make you change your mind. :)

4. Reduce Stress:
Find ways to get rid of the unnecessary stresses. Too many activities... focusing on problems... letting them overwhelm you. This isn't something I can give you any particular info on because I'm not in your head. You know your thoughts and which things are causing the most grief. Talk to someone, pray, remove things that cause stress in your life and find time to relax. This will help greatly. Check your daily routine to make sure you're getting enough sleep, proper diet, sunshine and things to keep your equilibrium and tranquility at top notch.

5. Be Happy:
No, seriously... if you're feeling glum maybe you need some B happy vitamins. B12 is a good place to start. B6..... or maybe a B Vitamin Complex? Sometimes we're just deficient, often times due to diet (gluten often prevents the body from absorbing the nutrients our bodies so desperately need). Vitamin D is also important and you can get a test through your doctor to determine if your levels are low. Check out Dr. Mercola's products or some other healthy resources for vitamins and supplements.

4 Reasons to Get Married Fast

I posted a little teaser picture of my most recent article in the EC Journal newspaper and lot of my Facebook friends have been asking to read this article in full. One interesting fact that I didn't include in the article is that, according to this cool website, 74% of engaged couples talk about eloping... probably for any family reasons for some but also I suspect that wedding planning is just plain old stressful and elopement makes a lot of sense. Just an interesting side note. 

4 Reasons to Get Married Fast

This is not a suggestion to run out and marry the first person you come across but, if you've met that special person whom you plan to spend the rest of your life with in marital bliss, this is the case for a short engagement. According to the Huffington Post, 40% of couples are engaged for 13-18 months before marriage, 27% for 7-12 months, 23% for 19-24 months and 6% for 24+ months. Only 4% are engaged for 0-6 months before saying, “I do”. Engagement is like making payments on a house that you can't live in. It's an inconvenient state of limbo, it's frustrating and it drains your resources. You've in essence settled for a monogamous relationship, so why the big delay?

1. Less money spent. More satisfaction.
According to costofwedding.com, “The average wedding cost in the United States is $26,444. ... most couples spend less than $10,000.” Longer engagements often amount to more wedding expenses. Put a chunk of money into savings instead of a ceremony and avoid gaining financial debt right from the start. I can hear your future selves and your bank account thanking you already.

2. Proper etiquette.
Six months really is a decent, if not long, engagement period. According to The Knot 6 to 8 weeks prior to the wedding is an appropriate time to send out invitations. Since guests will have recent notice of your nuptials you don't need to send out save-the-date cards as the invitation will suffice. I recently attended a wedding that was organized within 48 hours as the groom was heading overseas with the Army. The details fell into place surprisingly well. Understandably, most people can't and won't want to get married with only 48 hours to prepare but most wedding essentials can be tackled in 6 months or less.

3. Room for temptation. Douglas Wilson wrote that, in essence, you can't preheat the oven without cooking the roast. If you have any moral or religious motivation for saving anything for wedlock then a prolonged engagement is your worst enemy. Many times couples cross boundaries with the intention that they're getting married anyway. This often ends up destroying their relationship altogether or adding guilt, hardship and conflict that could have been avoided had they simply shortened their engagement. Resisting temptation has never been a strong-suit for humans. 1 Corinthians 7:1-2

4. Keeping up with the Joneses.
After a year of planning, and many couples plan for much longer than that, every little detail that doesn't go as planned is cause for great stress in the weeks leading up to the wedding and especially on the day of. Since social media has allowed us to be a part of others lives we often feel the need to maintain a certain socioeconomic status. Sights like Pinterest give us great DIY ideas, but we often expect our weddings to turn out exactly like those picture-perfect images we see online. It's not about having low expectations for your big day... it's about having realistic expectations. The vows between two people are the important part... not the decorations.

An engagement is simply an agreement that two people will be married as soon as wedding arrangements can be made. Stop watching Say Yes to the Dress, Four Weddings and other fairytale distortions of reality and get married. Our grandparents' generation got married in their living-rooms with a few family members present. Weddings should not cause newlyweds to be exhausted, disappointed and already in debt. Rather they should be about true love, real vows and life-long commitment.

ACE's and Shoelaces

A friend shared a fascinating article on Facebook the other day titled, 7 Ways Childhood Adversity Changes Your Brain and it's too good not to share.

It's amusing because the article refers to telomeres which are,"the protective caps that sit on the ends of DNA strands, like the caps on shoelaces, to keep the genome healthy and intact. As our telomeres erode, we’re more likely to develop disease, and our cells age faster."

It's funny because the first time I heard of telomeres my friend Courtney's brother, Chris, was telling us about them and that was exactly how he explained them! A very clear and easy-to-understand analogy.

This article relates our childhood stresses, or ACE's - Adverse Childhood Experiences, with our adult illnesses. Something we've all had a gut feeling about without the science to back it up.

Really, I like information on humanity because I like humans. Understanding people individually and as a whole is a big part of my life. This article is a must read.

When I can't speak it, I can write it.

Never in my life have I been great at speaking about serious matters. I'm kind of hot headed and either say nothing or get all fiery about things that require a lot of logic or emotion. Mostly because I have trouble putting my thoughts into words... which is why I love to write. I learned that if I can bypass my mouth, where my tongue gets all twisted and my face gets all red, the words can flow smoothly from my hands and I can make a blank page turn black in a matter of minutes.

When the opportunity to write for a local paper came up I looked into it and, in spite of my feelings of inadequacy, applied for the position. Writing in a journal.... no one sees that. Writing on a blog... few people read it and those who do are usually friends or relatives. To write in a paper where strangers have the ability to critique my work was a daunting prospect... and yet, exciting all the while.

Initially the paper was looking for someone from the homeschool community to write about homeschool events, etc. I replied too late and another fellow (whom I went to choir with during my years in school) got the spot. I offered my services as a journalist and to my surprise the editor took me up on my proposal! I was happy to have missed the first opportunity because honestly, I probably wouldn't have like being limited to writing about homeschooling. I have the freedom to write about whatever I choose, so long as the editor approves.

Thus far I have written four articles, "The First of April" - regarding the problems with April Fools Day pranks, "Roots" - about cultural legacies that are passed down through generations, "Our Farmers - Our Future: Celebrating National Dairy Month" - on the importance of the dairy industry, and "Why Movement Matters" - because being a couch potato just won't cut it anymore.

The paper produces an edition once a month and all of the journalist write on a volunteer basis. I've been offering an article since March of this year.... and it's been both invigorating and challenging to attempt to write articles worthy of the eyes of my community.

One of the things I'd always felt I'd struggle with, should I go to college, was producing long writing assignments and reports. Yet, for the paper, I am limited to 800 words or less.... and I often find myself needing to cut out a couple paragraphs before sending the final copy to the editor. It's good though, as the restriction allows me to say only what I mean.... and mean what I say. Luckily, I have my mom's help with editing my horrifying spelling and grammar and I also have my grandmothers opinions on occasion. They all have an impeccable taste for grammar and writing structure.

The paper that I write for is highly conservative and though it is not a Christian paper per say, it is run by Christians, so it is acceptable to mention a Bible passage or concept on occasion, which makes me glad.

Check out the website: The US and Eau Claire Journal

Though the paper does print a free edition on occasion it is a subscription that you have to pay for if you want to enjoy it in it's entirety. If you're interested in receiving the paper in your email or mailbox visit their subscription page. For the full 12 month package of the hard copies plus an e-subscription it's only $39.  There are cheaper rates for partial deals... not bad rates, if you ask me.

 Photo by Kacey Harasimowicz

I wish I could post every article that I write on my blog but that would defeat the purpose of writing for the paper, I suppose. That being said, I am going to share my most recent article, "Why Movement Matters", which was published in the free edition and therefore does not subtract from the paper. Note the amazing photo of beautiful, green leaves taken by my friend, Kacey. I am so thrilled that she contributed one of her incredible works to my article (though one of the downsides to photos that are printed in papers is that they are not as vibrant and clear as they should be). My writing skills have a long way to go and I am far from being an accomplished writer, but I hope that this opportunity to write for the public will speed me on my way. "Why Movement Matters" is not necessarily my most interesting article but I had fun learning about the topic and writing about it as well.
I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Why Movement Matters

 

In a recent conversation with my aunt, the vice president at a health clinic, she expressed her concern regarding her lack of exercise and inactivity. She often puts in 70 hours of work per week, most of which is done on a computer or sitting in meetings. I was reminded of a Mayo Clinic ad that encouraged listeners to move for at least 15 minutes a day. Not lacking for activity, my first thought was, “I wish I could rest for at least 15 minutes a day!”

Many jobs today require hours of work with minimal exercise. Frequent breaks, innovative seating, standing work stations, etc, can improve some issues. Mental stress adds another element and these two dimensions are often enough to throw us into our recliners at the end of the day for some quality veg time. It is no wonder that there is a serious rise in health issues partially stemming from inactive lifestyles.

With early Summer upon us we are likely to spend time being more active. However, as the season progresses mowing the lawn becomes a chore, weeding the garden becomes an overwhelming task, going for that hike sounds like punishment and we almost wish we lived in the deep South so that the norm would be killing time in a lawn chair, sipping on sweet tea. We shouldn't succumb to the tyrannical forces of laziness this year. While researchers are creating better work environments we should do our part and be active once we are home. Get up and move; stay mobile. Whether you prefer to be out-of-doors or in your abode it is wise to continue movement and activity. According to  NDHealthFacts “External movement of the body is dependent on joints and muscles and requires activities that work them continuously. … To a large degree, the outward flexibility that a person possesses is a mirror of their inner flexibility both physiologically and psychologically. To ensure that the body can move freely and easily requires movement in every plane and in various intensities as part of everyday life.”

While hitting the gym is beneficial it's better to find some pleasure in the great outdoors. Professor Richard M. Ryan said,"Nature is something within which we flourish, so having it be more a part of our lives is critical, especially when we live and work in built environments." That lush, green and natural environment, with a little vitamin D to boot, can do a world of good for a person. A study conducted by The Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry discovered that, “...compared with exercising indoors, exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement, together with decreases in tension, confusion, anger and depression. Participants also reported greater enjoyment and satisfaction with outdoor activity and stated that they were more likely to repeat the activity at a later date.”

We live in an age, and particularity in a country, were we are expected to be intelligent and yet also allowed to be lazy. And by lazy, I mean we spend more time being idle than any of the previous generations. It's sort of an oxymoron to be an intelligent, lazy person, isn't it? In chapter 4 of his book, Teaching with the Brain in Mind - 2^nd Edition, Eric Jensen wrote, “Amazingly, the part of the brain that processes movement is the same part of the brain that processes learning. … We learn to predict (think about) our movements before we execute them (move) so that we control them better …. This ability suggests that all motor activity is preceded by quick thought processes that set goals, analyze variables, predict outcomes, and execute movements.”

There is no need for “exercise” to be a word that sounds demanding and exhausting. It can be a positive reminder of the physical and mental happiness that moving about can bring. So find something that you can do to keep your body and your mind moving. Bike, jog, participate in a race or marathon. Join a local sports team, be it casual or legit. Go to the gym, swim, start a workout routine. Maybe you're not a super sporty or athletic person? Learn to do the swing, waltz or other forms of dance. Try zumba or yoga. Garden, for food or for fun. Perhaps a little “hippie” could help; Earthing/Grounding, or what average folk call walking barefoot outside, has been shown to have some health benefits. Take a Saturday morning stroll through the farmer's market in Eau Claire's lovely Phoenix Park. Discover a few of the incredible local views while hiking with some friends. Exercise doesn't have to mean obligation; it can mean adventure, too.

The gist of it all? Keep it moving. Being more active more often is not a matter to go home and sleep on. Eat well, sleep well and be sprightly.

Notes:

The Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry. "Benefits of outdoor exercise confirmed." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 5 February 2011. .

Written for and published in The US and Eau Claire Journal, July Edition

faith is THE substance

Faith has been in the forefront of my thoughts lately. Conversations with friends, articles, Bible passages have all turned my attention to this great subject.

What is faith?

Faith is one of the first things we learn as babies or children. Trial and error. You learn that if you get up from the ground you will fall down if you do not use balance. Up and down you try and try again. Then comes the day when you let go of your mommy's hand and take your first steps towards your daddy. Faith. Granted a baby has no idea that it is being subjected to the laws of gravity or faith. A baby simply reaps and sows or acts and reacts, always taking in new information and learning from the world around it and applying it to it's personal walk.

John 1:10
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Not surprisingly, it seems that God knew that man would be a stubborn being. A little baby falls down over and over again before it learns to use it's legs, and God put in place physical laws so that we could understand spiritual laws.

The world would not have you believe in God. How could there be a God? You may as well believe in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny. "Do not worry," they tell us, "we will find a different explanation for all of these questions. We just know that there can't be a God." And the little atoms, molecules, electrons, thoughts, emotions, and every part of their being start working together to tackle the universe. Defiance.

Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Romans 1:20
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

People have created a deep science and have produced an explicandum of the world around us. Micro and macro discoveries enlighten us daily to a world far beyond our ordinary assumptions and teach us of the intricate workings of life. We can look into the night sky and watch satellites perusing through space. We keep watching and see a shooting star. We spot a plane as it blinks it's signals on it's way to some destination. We can explain all of these things.
Yet, in spite of all of this, science has not grasped the human brain in it's entirety, the mind.... the grey matter. They can tell us from which parts of the brain we have certain emotions like pain or pleasure.  ....but what exactly is a thought? What does it look like? Or must it look like anything? Studies and research are en route to find the answers. Stimulating neuron after neuron, jotting down incoming information in organized statistics as they attach wires to heads, hearts and our fleshly parts and ask, "How do you feel?", "What did you think?", "Do you understand this?" and so-on.
All of this yet there are still no confident conclusions to explain the complexity of this single aspect of life: the grey matter where the physical world melds with the spiritual world.

The universe carries on: Scientists to their research, civilians to their work ...and those of us who believe in Jesus Christ continue to live by faith as we operate on things not seen. Operating on simple things like faith.

Vanity is to our soul as gravity is to our body... it eventually humbles us. God, knowing how conceited, foolish and stubborn mankind would be, created a force that would always bring man back to his own useless, empty, nothingness. Why did God do this? Mr. Peterson, one of the men in my church, ventured through the book of Ecclesiastes and I like how he summed it up: "God has subjected man to vanity that all might seek him."
We can build aircraft and fly in the clouds because we understand gravity and respect it and work with it. Once we understand God's plan for the universe and how He works through the Body of Christ in the church today we can be effective humans. Our life, our work, our passions are not in vain when we have the full knowledge of the kingdom of God. And it's not because of our own goodness or strength but because He can work through us.

Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.


Even more, it is His faith that we have. 
I can be 100% sure of creation, sure of my salvation, sure of the rapture of the church the body of Christ... because the Bible tells me so, and the Bible is the Word of God, ...it IS God... (John 1:1) perfect and preserved through and for every generation.

Gal. 2:20 
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

And yet, even more that this, I have a substance in my being. One that no sort of scientific scope can detect. It is faith. Not just the faith I have where if I cross a bridge it will hold, or that if I slide my credit card my money will 'come forth', or that if I jump in the air gravity will surely bring me down.
No, this is not my faith, but the faith of my Father.... where when I look at the night sky and witness the dancing of Northern Lights or see a sunset that has caught the clouds on fire... I know that He is the Author of this universe and of the faith in my spirit. His faith is the substance. Even though the creation is enough to confirm that there is a God, the faith of the saints is yet more evidence.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

An Article That Hit's Home.

Sex and the Single Woman

"Nothing makes God look as beautiful as when we, who have tasted his goodness, would use our lives to testify that we will forego any momentary joy in order to taste more of him."
- Fabienne Harford

This article was very excellent. It was especially interesting because it was written from the perspective of someone who's been-there-done-that but who gave up sexual intimacy for the season of singleness. It's truthful and open; showing that it may be hard to walk the straight and narrow but it's well worth the struggle.

I suppose I find it to be particularly interesting because I have not "been-there-done-that." The author of the article writes that it was a big deal when she accepted Jesus Christ as her savior and decided to follow him with her actions... it didn't sit well with her friends and family. For me, having growing up with a solid instructions on how to live a godly life and having accepted Christ as my savior at a young ages, sexual purity has still been a struggle but not the same as it seems it is for those who've experience the other side of the fence. I suppose it's not even the same as some of my fellow Christian's feelings of desire.

Yes, I want to experience that relationship. At some point. Some day. Eventually. Maybe....
IF it ever happens.


I've always liked boys well enough but I wasn't the sort of girl who's favorite color was pink... if you get what I mean. I've never been a girly girl. I preferred dressing in camo and romping around with the boys in the woods. Growing into a lady has been a challenge. One I still deal with. All that to say, I was never the girl who had my wedding planned out at age 9. Yet, I always assumed I'd be married by the time I turned 18. Maybe even younger if I was lucky... 19 was getting married pretty old though. I smile now when I think of how much I've grown up since that point in my life and how unprepared I would have been... and still am in many ways, for marriage.

At this point in my life I've pretty much resigned myself to singleness. Note, that I didn't not add loneliness to the singleness as Ive heard many of my fellow believers do. Or even the word 'pain' as Harford used frequently in her article. I've heard many gals speak of tears... so many tears over their singleness. Maybe I'll get to that point someday. I won't leave it out of the range of possibilities... but I don't feel hurt, abandoned or lonely. I feel full. It's just that I  know that there is an even greater fullness that I have not experience... that I probably can't even grasp in my mind, as Brad Paisley describes in his song, "I Though I Loved You Then". The fullness of a friendship with your best friend/husband. The fullness of having your own babies and watching them grow. The fullness of the responsibilities of a wife and mother. It's just a distant and different world. Alien.

It's just that I've finally learned that there is more to life than getting married. That being single just as much of a blessing as the married life. That God can use me where ever I'm at, in any state. That waiting for sexual intimacy is worthwhile. That above all I am never alone and God has provided me with more blessings that my fair share. I have tasted His goodness.... 

O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
-Psalm 34:8