My daughter tells me she just “fools around with” her electronic gizmos until she figures out how to do whatever it is she is trying to do. My brain will not go there.
In fact, I would rather buy a used camera like two that I actually knew how to use than try to re-learn how to download pictures. (I want to post the one-of-a-kind wreaths I am making for a sale in November.) HP has stopped making that camera, probably because the battery compartment has a latch that gets broken easily. (I know this because both of my cameras bit the dust for that reason.) I ordered a third camera on eBay; it arrived today. The latch is broken. I disputed the sale and was asked to send it back.
I don’t know why the seller wants it back unless he is determined to sell it again. (I was tempted to take an indelible marker and write DEFECTIVE on the body, but I didn’t. )
Without a camera, I am resorting to my new phone. I have the pictures taken, now I am looking for the manual to maybe figure out how to upload them via Facebook. See you in the loony bin.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
The Battle for Education
A friend of my daughter is studying to be a secondary teacher and, as one of the requirements for her degree, spent Friday observing in a local high school. This particular school is one that has been praised in the media of late for its great improvement; no guns have been reported in over a year, and no students or teachers have been permanently injured.
She saw two fights break out in the hall, neither of which was reported. She heard students using fowl language on phones and other electronic communications during classes without consequence. She heard the same language directed at teachers, and she witnessed teachers trash talking students and the teaching profession.
God bless her; she still wants to teach, and she wants to teach in just such a school. She will be giving her talent, her youth, her enthusiasm and her potential earning power to a system and a student body that will show no appreciation and could potentially do her bodily harm. She and others like her are on the front lines of a war that needs to be waged by all of us.
And, praise God, the community surrounding that school has joined the battle. This month they raised over twenty thousand dollars to fund a “Bible in the Schools” teacher for the next three years. Whoever holds that position will be a seasoned professional and a practicing Christian whose faith and commitment will be tested daily. Please pray for God to bless all those who are willing to sacrifice so much to bring true peace and knowledge to our schools.
She saw two fights break out in the hall, neither of which was reported. She heard students using fowl language on phones and other electronic communications during classes without consequence. She heard the same language directed at teachers, and she witnessed teachers trash talking students and the teaching profession.
God bless her; she still wants to teach, and she wants to teach in just such a school. She will be giving her talent, her youth, her enthusiasm and her potential earning power to a system and a student body that will show no appreciation and could potentially do her bodily harm. She and others like her are on the front lines of a war that needs to be waged by all of us.
And, praise God, the community surrounding that school has joined the battle. This month they raised over twenty thousand dollars to fund a “Bible in the Schools” teacher for the next three years. Whoever holds that position will be a seasoned professional and a practicing Christian whose faith and commitment will be tested daily. Please pray for God to bless all those who are willing to sacrifice so much to bring true peace and knowledge to our schools.
Monday, October 10, 2011
How Did We Get Here, Ladies?
One day last week I viewed a romantic comedy made in the late forties, starring June Allyson and Van Johnson. In the movie, a young couple dance around the usual plot of boy meets girl; boy looses girl (because of a misunderstanding that makes the young man look entirely unsuitable); the misunderstanding is cleared up, and boy gets girl again. At that point, boy proposes marriage; girl accepts, and all is right with the world. Granted this is not reality, but it illustrates the accepted mores’ of the time.
Later that day, I watched the contemporary reality show, “Clean House.” In that show, a young woman with a teenage daughter lives with a semi-starving artist and his three boys. The men refuse to help around the house, so the woman and her daughter are left to cook and clean. At one point in the episode, the artist presents the woman with an engagement ring. She reacts with elation and relief!
But what choice did she have? She is living in his home; she is sleeping with him daily; she has made him a father figure to her daughter; she has become a mother to his children—and she is probably ironing his shirts!
How did we get to this point? Women aren’t just settling for bad bargains but are overjoyed to do so.
Well, Duh.
It’s time to get back to reality and claim our God-given value. The Bible said it first, “We’re worth it.”
Later that day, I watched the contemporary reality show, “Clean House.” In that show, a young woman with a teenage daughter lives with a semi-starving artist and his three boys. The men refuse to help around the house, so the woman and her daughter are left to cook and clean. At one point in the episode, the artist presents the woman with an engagement ring. She reacts with elation and relief!
But what choice did she have? She is living in his home; she is sleeping with him daily; she has made him a father figure to her daughter; she has become a mother to his children—and she is probably ironing his shirts!
How did we get to this point? Women aren’t just settling for bad bargains but are overjoyed to do so.
Well, Duh.
It’s time to get back to reality and claim our God-given value. The Bible said it first, “We’re worth it.”
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Bible in the Hamilton County Schools
Hamilton County has had Bible history classes in public schools since 1921—the oldest such in the U.S. Based on a supreme court ruling in the 1980’s, classes are privately funded, elective and for credit. No evangelizing goes on in the classroom, but the intent of nearly 1,000 Christians gathered this evening at Brainerd gym was unmistakable. Fifteen preachers from fifteen separate congregations and nearly as many denominations led us in prayers for every teacher, every administrator, every board member, every student or public official involved now, in the future or never. Those of that number in attendance, including school board members, city council members, Representative Fleishman and Mayor Littlefield, had hands laid on them in prayer. The prayers, unbridled and fervent, asked God to hold sway in our schools, our city and our country. Praise God for Patsy Hazlewood who put the meeting together, and Amen!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Mr. Keillor Went a Courtin'
And he did ride, with Sara Watkins by his side.
Garrison Keillor’s Summer Love Tour reached erogenous zones all the way back to the balcony of the War Memorial Auditorium last Saturday night with an intoxicating and incongruous mixture of love songs, patriotism, poetry, slightly off-color humor and Christian hymns. First, an ad hoc rap set to music expressed interest in his intended lover, the entire city of Chattanooga
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Seeking Mr. Keillor
Garrison Keillor’s, “Summer of Love” tour was in Chattanooga last night, and I wanted to see the show. On-line tickets cost over $70, so I decided I would have to miss it, but I did go down to the auditorium to plug my book by sticking advertizing on cars and, if possible, get a copy to Mr. Keillor. (Of course he will love it if he only reads it.)
I know where performers’ buses usually park, so I drove down behind Soldiers and Sailors about two hours before the show and checked. Sure enough, two custom buses and a security car sat just across the street. I looked for signs of life, hoping no one mistook me for a crazed fan or a terrorist. Nothing moved.
I parked, grabbed the copy of my book that I had inscribed “to Garrison Keillor, Thank you for years of entertainment” and found a perch between the buses and the back door of the auditorium. Three or four persons came out for a smoke or a look around. I asked each if they could get my book to Mr. Keillor. Nope. One said, “Someone who can help you will be out shortly.”
Meanwhile, a very dark gentleman carrying a large valise and one of Garrison’s books walked up and asked in a Middle Eastern accent if I knew how he could get the book signed. He explained that he was an Ethiopian who wrote poetry and song lyrics in Amharic. He had driven all the way from Atlanta and said repeatedly, “Mr. Keillor is a genius.” I was incredulous and told him so. Who would think that the humor of “Lake Woebegone”, so couched in American culture and idiom, would resonate with a man from Ethiopia?
But there we stood, the Midwestern grandmother and the Ethiopian poet, waiting to connect with the man who, for that evening at least, united the two of us in a common goal.
We waited for another thirty minutes during which time a security guard and another man said it would be better to come back after the show. I decided to go swim and come back later to advertize, but I did not want to wait around outside until after eleven to see Mr. Keillor. I gave my new friend my book and told him to keep it if he did not get a chance to give it to Garrison.
I came back at seven carrying another copy of my book and several dozen business cards which I proceeded to distribute. Just before the show was to start, I went in and asked for a cheap ticket. They had several seats in the balcony for forty dollars, so I stayed. (A whole ‘nother blog and well worth the forty dollars.) Afterwards, I sat in my car in view of the buses and waited until the crowd cleared. Still, no one came out of the auditorium. Finally, I got up the courage to walk up to the first bus, praying all the way. The driver was sitting in the front seat and opened the door when I waved my book.
“Could you get this to Mr. Keillor?”
He said, “Yes,” and took it.
This is the fourth copy I have tried to deliver: one by mail, and three through people who told me they would “see what they could do.” So, maybe Mr. Keillor will get a copy; maybe he will read it; he will like it and ???
I know where performers’ buses usually park, so I drove down behind Soldiers and Sailors about two hours before the show and checked. Sure enough, two custom buses and a security car sat just across the street. I looked for signs of life, hoping no one mistook me for a crazed fan or a terrorist. Nothing moved.
I parked, grabbed the copy of my book that I had inscribed “to Garrison Keillor, Thank you for years of entertainment” and found a perch between the buses and the back door of the auditorium. Three or four persons came out for a smoke or a look around. I asked each if they could get my book to Mr. Keillor. Nope. One said, “Someone who can help you will be out shortly.”
Meanwhile, a very dark gentleman carrying a large valise and one of Garrison’s books walked up and asked in a Middle Eastern accent if I knew how he could get the book signed. He explained that he was an Ethiopian who wrote poetry and song lyrics in Amharic. He had driven all the way from Atlanta and said repeatedly, “Mr. Keillor is a genius.” I was incredulous and told him so. Who would think that the humor of “Lake Woebegone”, so couched in American culture and idiom, would resonate with a man from Ethiopia?
But there we stood, the Midwestern grandmother and the Ethiopian poet, waiting to connect with the man who, for that evening at least, united the two of us in a common goal.
We waited for another thirty minutes during which time a security guard and another man said it would be better to come back after the show. I decided to go swim and come back later to advertize, but I did not want to wait around outside until after eleven to see Mr. Keillor. I gave my new friend my book and told him to keep it if he did not get a chance to give it to Garrison.
I came back at seven carrying another copy of my book and several dozen business cards which I proceeded to distribute. Just before the show was to start, I went in and asked for a cheap ticket. They had several seats in the balcony for forty dollars, so I stayed. (A whole ‘nother blog and well worth the forty dollars.) Afterwards, I sat in my car in view of the buses and waited until the crowd cleared. Still, no one came out of the auditorium. Finally, I got up the courage to walk up to the first bus, praying all the way. The driver was sitting in the front seat and opened the door when I waved my book.
“Could you get this to Mr. Keillor?”
He said, “Yes,” and took it.
This is the fourth copy I have tried to deliver: one by mail, and three through people who told me they would “see what they could do.” So, maybe Mr. Keillor will get a copy; maybe he will read it; he will like it and ???
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Abomination
Someone posted a letter on my Facebook page supposedly written to Dr. Laura Schlesinger in response to her support of the Biblical statement that homosexuality is an “abomination.” After fact-checking, I found that the letter has been around since at least 2000 and has been attributed to any number of authors. Its intended recipient could be anyone from President Bush to at least one Catholic Bishop.
The letter takes several Bible passages out of context and posits ten questions designed to prove that Bible teachings are essentially ludicrous.
Frankly, it does a pretty good job, especially if the reader is ignorant of the teachings of Christ and the purpose of the Old Testament Law.
The Bible, when viewed as a list of dos and don’ts, becomes an arbitrary obstacle course to a pie in the sky by and by. Why would God disallow a person with a birth defect from being a priest or declare women to be unclean once a month?
Every Bible passage needs to be viewed in the light of Christ and his grace which replaces laws that could not save but did reveal the holiness of God and the nature of sin.
So what does the Bible say about homosexuality? It says it is an abomination. I’m not sure I know what that means--not just the meaning of the word, but what I need to say to anyone who chooses to practice homosexual behavior. But I know I am to love them and treat them as I would be treated, and I know that Godliness is not a matter of law.
The letter takes several Bible passages out of context and posits ten questions designed to prove that Bible teachings are essentially ludicrous.
Frankly, it does a pretty good job, especially if the reader is ignorant of the teachings of Christ and the purpose of the Old Testament Law.
The Bible, when viewed as a list of dos and don’ts, becomes an arbitrary obstacle course to a pie in the sky by and by. Why would God disallow a person with a birth defect from being a priest or declare women to be unclean once a month?
Every Bible passage needs to be viewed in the light of Christ and his grace which replaces laws that could not save but did reveal the holiness of God and the nature of sin.
So what does the Bible say about homosexuality? It says it is an abomination. I’m not sure I know what that means--not just the meaning of the word, but what I need to say to anyone who chooses to practice homosexual behavior. But I know I am to love them and treat them as I would be treated, and I know that Godliness is not a matter of law.
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