LOVELIGHT
Magazine
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January 2009***Vol. 6, no.1
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HAPPY NEW
YEAR!!!
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Editors:Adamaria Francis and a Franciscan Taoist
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Special personal thanks to, and public acknowledgment of,
the following special contributors to this issue: Ramona Abella, Barbara Baty,
Jim Dwyer, Geri Kiefer, Michelle
Lawson, Pinky Munawar, Teresa Ramsey, Katrina Sandlin, Cherigene Slaughter
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*****
LOVELIGHT
MAGAZINE: WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT
Lovelight magazine is free, coming to your inboxscreen
monthly, to announce the beauty of Love!
And we love to laugh!:) So,
if you discover any good chuckles, please send them along!:) But no bigoted, prejudiced,
scatological, geruntological, low-quality, or poor-taste humor, please.
Still, life is not all laughs.
So, we hope also to share pleasant and happy thoughts. Lovelight wants to promote peace and
harmony, all over the world, and to aid you to feel good!:) If you are working on any religious,
psychological, or spiritual issues, we encourage you to read the ezine, and to
write to us at rmfrancis@juno.com
Also, if you come across any wise or touching pieces, not copyrighted,
fairly short, please share them with us!
Also welcome are practical tips, short pieces on personal philosophies,
interesting facts, wordplays, and general spirituality (but no religion or
"preachy" dogma, please.:).
We reserve the right to make whatever changes we deem necessary or
desirable before inclusion in Lovelight.
A subscription is free. As a subscriber, your email
name/address will not be shared.
Please share, send, or copy, this magazine, or any parts of it. Share it as widely as possible, with
all your friends, and all others.
Please use it on your
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Please photocopy, email, or snailmail any parts of it to others. Also, please have friends send us their
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Subscriptions are free.
This is "light" reading.
And it is also great, fun reading.
A collection of magazines is produced once a year. We have published three volumes, and
this would make a sweet gift for a loved one. Happy reading!:)
*****
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SNORTS, SNICKERS AND
LAUGHS: HUMOR THERAPY
Thanks to Geri Kiefer for sending Love Ministries a gift subscription to " The Funny Times" from which the following was taken (the January 2009 issue):
The Borowitz Report by Andy Borowitz.
In a landmark deal that could provide much-needed cash to AmericaÕs anemic economy, China agreed today to acquire the naming rights to the US for a reported $1.4 trillion.
The deal, which is expected to be signed by President George W. Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao sometime before Inauguration Day on January 20, was hailed today by Mr. Bush as a Òwin-winÓ for both countries.
ÒWe get $1.4 trillion, and all we have to do is change our name to ÒPanda Garden,Ó Mr. Bush told reporters at the White House.
The President said he decided to make the extraordinary deal after being shocked to learn that the U.S. was in a recession, when it was reported yesterday in Duh magazine.
According to President Hu, the Chinese had originally inquired about purchasing rights to tow American sports facilities named after troubled companies, Ford Field in Detroit and Citi Field in New York, but then decided it might be more cost-efficient to buy the rights Òto the whole shebang.Ó
In addition to the $1.4 trillion, the Chinese government said that it would provide $10 million to commission a new national anthem that would somehow incorporate the words ÒPanda GardenÓ in the lyrics, and to redesign the nationÕs flag, which will henceforth be known as Òthe stars, stripes, and adorable bear.Ó
***
"Ask Doctor Science"
WhatÕs going on during that period in the middle of the washing machine cycle when the machine just seems to stop for a minute and do nothing before starting up again?
Answer: ItÕs thinking. Contrary to modern arrogant human belief, washing clothes is not a simple task. There are a thousand small decisions that have to be made. Your washing machine is dedicated to only one task, and it puts considerable resources squarely to that job. It may be remembering its own childhood, its connection with its mother – a wringer washer – or its grandparents – hard rocks, of course, in a cold mountain stream.
You might be metrosexual ifÉ by Jason Love
You prefer bubble baths to showers.
You speak in semicolons.
You carry your own salad dressing.
YouÕve been Òmeaning to have sex.Ó
You refrigerate you face care products.
Your ringtone is ÒFur Elise in C minor.Ó
YouÕve ever had a chopstick callous.
You watch Hugh Grant movies on purpose.
You avoid unflattering light.
You know about unflattering light.
You get anxious when you belt and shoes donÕt match.
You read while stuck in traffic.
You have an opinion about thread count.
You floss before bed no matter how drunk you are.
When someone slurps at a restaurant, you pause significantly.
The wallet where you store this list is inside a bag strapped across your chest.
***
I got divorced recently. It was a mixed marriage. IÕm human, he was Klingon. -- Comedian Carol Leifer.
ELEPHANTASY, sent in by Jim Dwyer
On a hike through the bush, a man in Africa came across a
young bull elephant standing with one leg raised; he seemed distressed, so the
man got down on one knee, and found a large piece of wood deeply embedded in
the foot. As gently as he could, the man worked the wood out with his knife,
after which the elephant gingerly put down his foot.
With a rather curious look on his face, he stared at the man. The guy stood frozen, thinking of
nothing else but being trampled. Eventually,
he trumpeted loudly, turned, and walked away. The man never forgot.
Twenty years later, the same man was walking through the zoo. As he approached the Elephant Enclosure,
one turned and walked over close to him. The large bull elephant stared at him, lifted his front foot
off the ground, then put it down.
He did that several times then trumpeted loudly, staring at the man.
Remembering the older encounter, the man could not help wondering if this
was the same elephant. He climbed
over the railing. He walked right up to the elephant and stared back in wonder.
The elephant trumpeted again, wrapped its trunk around one of his legs and
slammed him against the railing, killing him instantly.
Probably wasn't the same elephant.
***
NUNCABKISS,
sent in by Karina Sandlin
A cabbie picked up a Nun. She noticed that the handsome cabdriver wouldn't stop
staring at her. She asked him why. He replied, "I have a question to
ask, but I don't want
to offend you."
She answered, "My son, you cannot offend me. When you're as old as I am and have
been a nun as long as I have, you get a chance to see and hear just about
everything. I'm sure that there's
nothing you could say or ask that I would find offensive."
"Well, I've always had a fantasy to have a nun kiss me."
She responded, "Let's see what we can do about that: Number one, you have to be single; and
Number two, you must be Catholic."
The cabbie was very excited and said, "Yes, I'm single and
Catholic!"
"OK" the nun said.
"Pull into the next alley."
The nun fulfilled his fantasy with a kiss that would make a hooker blush. But when they got back on the road, the
cabbie started crying.
"My dear child," said the nun, "why are you crying?"
"Forgive me but I've sinned.
I lied and I must confess; I'm married and
I'm Jewish."
The nun said, "That's OK.
My name is Kevin and I'm going to a Halloween
party!"
***
WHY PARENTS DRINK, sent in by Barbara Baty
A
father was astonished to see that his son's bed was nicely made, and everything
was picked up. Then he saw an
envelope, propped up on the pillow, addressed to "Dad."
With the worst
premonition, he opened it with trembling hands and read the letter:
"Dear Dad:
It is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my new girlfriend
because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you. I have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so
nice.
"But I knew you
would not approve of her because of all her piercings, Tattoos, tight
motorcycle clothes, and the fact that she is much older than I am.
"But it's not
only the passion. Dad she's
pregnant.
"Stacy said that
we will be very happy. She owns a
trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter. We share a dream of having many more
children.
"Stacy has
opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll be growing it for ourselves and
trading it with the other people that live nearby for cocaine and ecstasy.
"In the meantime,
we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy can get better. We figure our meth lab will afford us
enough money for her meds.
"She deserves it.
"Don't worry Dad. I'm
15 and I know how to take care of myself. Someday I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you
can get to know your grandchildren.
Love,
Your Son, Jackson,
P.S.: Dad, none of the above is
true. I'm over at Tommy's house. I just wanted to remind you that there
are worse things in life than the report card that's in my center desk drawer.
I love you.
Call me when it's safe to come home.
*****
*****
QUOTATIONS WORTH QUOTING, sent in by Barbara Baty
"No great
improvements in the lot of mankind are possible until a great change takes
place in their mode of thought."-- John Stuart Mills
***
"Love is, of
all the passions, the strongest, for it [affects] simultaneously the head, the
heart, and the senses." -- Lao Tzu
***
"You know everybody is ignorant, only on different
subjects."-- Will Rogers
***
"We don't see things as they are; we see things as we
are."-- Anais Nin
***
"We are what
we repeatedly do. Excellence then,
is not an act, but a habit."—Aristotle
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NEW SERVICE FROM GOOGLE, sent in by Barbara Baty
Here's a speed dial number worth putting in your celfone, or
your homfon:
1-800-goog411.
This
is an awesome service from Google, and it's free --Especially great when
you are on the road.
Don't waste time or money on information calls and dialing
numbers.
Example: I am driving along in my car and I need to call the
Golf Course and I don't know the number. I hit the speed dial number for
Goog411.
The voice at the other end says, "City &
State." I say, " Thousand
Oaks , California".
He says, "Business, Name or Type of Service." I say,
"Los Robles Golf
Course."
He says, "Connecting" and Los Robles answers the
phone.
This is nationwide.
Click on the link below and watch the short clip for a quick
demo.
Goog411
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"LOVELETTERS" FROM BUDS, PALS, AND FRIENDS
from Pinky in Pakistan:
Dear Brother,
Richard & Sister AdaMaria Francis.
Greetings!
mighty,mighty, name of Christ Jesus,
HAPPY CHRISTMAS SEASON
&
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009
From Love Ministries of Pakistan all
Ministries Pakistan Team.
Love, Joy, Peace on earth.
Pinky Munawar.
***
From Barbara Baty:
Richard, and Adamaria~
I am wishing for each of you a Holiday
Season filled with Love and Happiness!
As probably you know, I enjoy reading
and learning about all of the world's different religions. I also
enjoy reading works of classic literature, and enjoy reading on the
subjects of philosophy, psychology and health, wellness & nutrition.
In light of the season, it seems the
perfect time for me to share two of my favorite words with you. Both are
Hindu Sanskrit words from India:
"Prema": selfless, pure love; love which is more
interested in "giving to others" instead of receiving from
others; love where attention is placed first on the happiness and welfare
of others; prema can take someone into the state of purnata.
"Purnata": the state of having "complete fullness"
and "perfect peace.
Love and Blessings~
***
From Ramona Abella:
ÉMany warm thoughts and well wishes went to you over
the airways throughout the day yesterday, the day of Thanks Giving.
ÉSo, I will just say via email that words are not
really able to express the depth and breath of what your presence in my life
has meant. I feel like the richest and luckiest person on the planet
for having the privilege of knowing you and benefiting in incalculable ways
from your example, your vision, your knowledge, your understanding,
wisdom, insight, unequaled generosity, non-judgmental and compassionate
attitude, your support, advice (spelling?), patience, passion and
commitment to serve others and to make the World a better, safer, more just and
peaceful place.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I
AM INFINITELY GRATEFUL FOR YOU.
LOVE AND BLESSINGS,
***
For
anyone who wants it, the phone-number for Richard or Adamaria
Francis, and for Love Ministries, is (513-) 737-LOVE (5683).
***
From
Michelle Lawson:
Dear Richard,
I have been thinking about you a lot lately, but as usual my busy day to
day activities have steered me away from sitting down at my computer and
catching up with the dearest of friends. I hope that you are feeling well
and that "Project K" is on its way to making you strong and healthy
once again. I haven't heard from you, so I can only assume tests have not
come back yet on Sandi's compatibility with you. I am not concerned,
though, if there isn't a match because my sister Debbie is nearly complete
[with] all of her preparation so that she can now begin her testing for
compatibility with you. I then would be next in line if need
be. I am very excited for you and what the future holds. I know
that you are content with what ever happens, but those who love you will not
let you go that easy. You are a treasure to all of us.
You and Maria have a Thanksgiving filled with love and joy, and please know
that, even though you don't hear from me as much as maybe you'd like, you are
never far from my heart and thoughts. I pray that the year 2009 will
bring us together. I so look forward to seeing you both again.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
With love always,
***
PROJECT
K: THE LATEST
Our beloved donor and dear
sweet Taurus friend Sandi has now successfully completed all her biotests. The last test for Richard will be on
January 6—not long after you receive this edition of Lovelight magazine. After Jan. 6, we will be able to set up
an actual appointment for the operation, but you know how paperwork and red
tape keep getting messed up! But,
right now, it looks as if Richard will have a kidney-transplant in the latter
half of January 09, or February 09.
Thanks to all our dear sweet friends for asking! (Still need silver energy!:)
*****
*****
BEAUTIFUL ADVICE, sent in by Teresa Ramsey
Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what might happen
tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to
worry twice.
1. Pray and Meditate
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will
compromise your mental health.
5.
Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9.
Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't
lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, ask God for a solution and
let go of the anxiety. If you
can't do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13.
Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the
garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an
enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16.
Carry a piece of paper in your pocket with something inspirational
written on it.
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19 Get organized so everything has its place.
20.
Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23.
Having problems? Talk to God on
the spot.
24. Make friends with loving people.
25.
Keep a folder of favorite spiritual scriptures and quotations on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good
'Thank you, God'
27. Laugh often!
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. As difficult as it might be, develop a forgiving attitude (most
people are doing the best they can).
31.
Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33 Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've
never been grateful for before.
***
Another advice-tidbit (especially
for aries and other overdoers): If
you think that a project will last for an hour, set aside three hours to
complete it; if you think that it will take you a day, set aside three days.
*****
*****
THE ART
OF SELFDEFENSE: IMPORTANT NOTE, sent in by Cherigene Slaughter
NOTE: This
advice might save your life or a loved one's life.
1. Tip from Tae
Kwon Do : The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If
you are close enough to use it, do!***2. If a robber asks for your wallet, and/or purse, do not hand
it to him. Toss it away from you! Chances are that he is more interested in
your wallet than in you, and he will
go for it! Run like mad in the
other direction!***3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick
your arm out the hole and start
waving like crazy. The driver
won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives!***4. Women have a tendency to get into
their cars after shopping, etc.,
and just sitting there (doing
their checkbook, or making a list, etc.)
DON'T DO THIS! The predator
will be watching you, and this is
the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you
where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET
INTO YOUR CAR , LOCK THE DOORS AND
LEAVE.
If someone is in the car, with a gun to your head, DO NOT DRIVE OFF!
Repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead
gun the engine and speed into anything,
wrecking the car. Your Air Bag
will save you. If the person is in
the back seat, he will get the
worst of it . As soon as the car
crashes bail out and run! It is
better than having them find your body in a remote location.***5 . A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage: A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor , and in the back seat.**B.) If you are parked next to a big
van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans
while the women are attempting to get into their cars.**C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle,
and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you might
want to walk back into the mall,
or work, and get a guard/police-person to walk you back out.***6. ALWAYS take
the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)***7.
If the predator has a gun and you
are not under his control, ALWAYS
RUN! The predator will only hit
you (a running target) 4 in 100
times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag
pattern!***8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic.
STOP! It might get you
raped, or killed! (Ted Bundy, the
serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the
sympathies of unsuspecting women. He
walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his
vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.)***9. Another Safety
Point: Someone just told me that
her friend heard a crying baby on
her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late The police told her, "Whatever you
do, DO NOT open the door."
The lady then said that it sounded
like the baby had crawled near a
window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over.
The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way. Whatever you do, DO NOT open the
door." He told her that they
think a serial killer has a baby's
cry recorded and uses it to coax women
out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their
doors when they're home alone at
night.
Please pass this on and DO NOT
open the door
for a crying baby ----
The Crying Baby theory was
mentioned on America's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial
killer in Louisiana. I'd like you
to forward this to all the women you know. It might save a life.
*****
*****
A candle
is not dimmed by lighting another candle.
*****
*****
DID YOU KNOW? FASCINATING BIOLOGICAL FACTS, sent in by
Barbara Baty
It takes food seven seconds to get from mouth to
stomach.***One human hair can support 3 kg (6 lb).***The average man's penis is
3 times the length of his thumb.***A woman's heart beats faster than a man's.***There
are about one trillion bacteria on each foot.***Women blink twice as often as
men.***The average person's skin weighs twice as much as the brain.***The body
uses 300 muscles to balance itself standing still.***If saliva cannot dissolve
something, you cannot taste it.***Human thighbones are stronger than
concrete.***Women have probably finished reading this by now, but men are likely
still checking their thumbs!
*****
*****
WHAT I'VE LEARNED
,sent in by Barbara Baty
I've learned thatÉ no matter what happens, how bad it seems
today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.***you can tell a lot
about a person by the way he/she handles four things:
a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.***regardless
of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're
gone.***making a "living" is not the same thing as making a good life.***life
sometimes gives you a second chance.***you shouldn't go through life with a
catcher's mitt on both hands. You
need to be able to throw something back sometimes.***if you pursue happiness,
it will elude you. But, if you
focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work, and doing
the very best you can, happiness will find you.***whenever I decide something
with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.***even when I have
pains, I don't have to be one.***every day, you should reach out and touch
someone.
People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly
pat on the back.***I still have a lot to learn.
*****
*****
Carl,
sent in by Jim Dwyer
Carl was
a quiet man, who didn't talk much.
He would always greet you with a smile and a handshake. Even after he had lived in our
neighborhood for over fifty years, no one could say that they knew him. Before his retirement, he had taken the
bus to work each morning. The
sight of him walking alone down the street often worried us.
He had a limp from a wound
received in WWII. Watching him, we
worried that although he had survived WWII, he might not make it through
our changing uptown neighborhood with its ever-increasing random violence,
gangs, and drug activity.
When he saw the flyer
asking for volunteers for caring for the gardens behind the minister's
residence, he responded in his unassuming manner. Without fanfare, he just signed up.
He was into his 87th
year when the very thing we had always feared finally happened. He was just finishing his watering when
three gang members approached. Ignoring
attempts to intimidate him, he asked, "Would you like a drink from the
hose?"
The tallest and toughest-looking guy said, "Yeah, sure," with
a malevolent smile. As Carl
offered the hose, the other two grabbed Carl's arm, throwing him down. As the hose snaked crazily over the
ground, dousing everything, Carl's assailants stole his retirement watch and
his wallet, and then fled.
Carl tried to get
himself up, but he had been thrown down on his bad leg. He lay there trying to
gather himself, as the minister came running to help him. Although he had witnessed the attack
from his window, he couldn't get there fast enough to stop it. "Carl, are you okay? Are you hurt?" he kept asking as he
helped Carl to his feet.
Carl sighed, shaking his head. "Just some punk kids. I hope they'll wise up someday." His clothes were sopping wet. He again started to water.
Confused and concerned,
he asked, "Carl, what are you doing?"
"I've got to
finish my watering. It's been very
dry lately."
He could only marvel
at Carl's attitude. Carl was from
a different time and place.
A few weeks later,
the three thugs returned. Just as
before their threat was unchallenged:
Carl again offered them a drink.
But this time, they didn't rob him. They wrenched the hose from his hand and drenched him in the
icy water. When they had finished
their humiliation, they sauntered off down the street, throwing catcalls and
curses, falling over one another, laughing at the hilarity of what they had
just done.
Carl picked up his hose, and went on watering. The summer was fading into fall. Carl was tilling when he was startled by the approach of
someone behind him. He stumbled
and fell into some evergreen branches.
As he struggled to regain his footing, he turned to see the tall leader
of his summer tormentors reaching down for him. He braced himself for the expected attack.
But it never came. "Don't worry; I'm not gonna hurt
you this time," he said to Carl.
The young man spoke softly, still offering the tattooed and scarred hand
to Carl. As he
helped Carl get up, he pulled a crumpled bag from his pocket and handed it to
Carl.
"What's this?" Carl asked.
"It's your
stuff," he explained to Carl.
"It's your stuff back-- even the money in your wallet."
"I don't
understand," Carl said.
"Why would you help me now?"
He shifted his feet,
seeming ill at ease. "I
learned something from
you," he said. "I ran
with that gang and we hurt people like you. We picked you because you were old, and we knew we could do
it. But every time we came
and did something to you, instead of yelling and fighting back, you tried to
give us a drink. You didn't hate
us for hating you. You kept
showing
Love against our hate." He
stopped for a moment. "I
couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it is back." He paused for another awkward moment. "That
bag's my way of saying thanks for straightening me out, I guess." And with that, he walked off.
Carl gingerly opened his little sack, took out his retirement watch, and
put it back on his wrist. Opening
his wallet, he checked for his wedding photo. He gazed for a moment at the young bride that still smiled
back at him from all those years ago.
He died one cold day after Christmas. In particular, at Carl's funeral, the minister noticed a
tall young man whom he didn't know sitting quietly in a distant corner of the
church. He spoke of Carl's garden
as a lesson in life. In a voice
made thick with unshed tears, he said, "Do your best and make your garden
as beautiful as you can. We will
never forget Carl and his garden."
The following spring, another flyer went up. It read: "Person
needed to care for Carl's garden."
The flyer went unnoticed by the busy parishioners until one day when a
knock was heard at the office door.
Opening the door, the care-taker saw a pair of scarred and tattooed
hands holding the flyer. "I
believe this is my job, if you'll have me," the young man said. He recognized him as the same young man
who had returned the stolen watch and wallet to Carl. He knew that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life
around. As he handed him the keys
to the garden shed, he said, "Yes, please go take care of Carl's garden
and honor him." The man went
to work and, over the next several years, he tended the flowers and vegetables
just as Carl had done. During that
time, he went to college, got married, and became a member of the community. But he never forgot his promise to
Carl's memory and kept the garden as beautiful as he thought Carl would have
kept it. One day, he said that he
couldn't care for the garden any longer. He explained with a shy and happy smile, "My wife just had
a baby boy last night, and she's bringing him home on Saturday."
"What's the
baby's name?" he was asked.
"Carl," he
replied.
*****
*****
NEEDED PRAYER, sent in by Jim
Dwyer
Whether you voted for Obama or not, you need to pray for
him. Here are 10 ways to intercede
for him regularly:
1. Pray for ObamaÕs protection. We already know that some weird, neo-Nazi fanatics in
Tennessee plotted to kill Sen. Obama during his campaign. LetÕs pray that racist hatred is not
allowed to spread. LetÕs cancel every assassinÕs bullet. May civility triumph over bigotry.***2.
Cover his wife and daughters in prayer. It is not easy to live under constant media scrutiny. Pray
for ObamaÕs wife, Michelle, and their two daughters, Malia and Natasha, as they
face invasive cameras, nosy reporters, maniacal fans, and dangerous enemies. Obama is not only a politician but also
a husband and a father.***3. Pray that Obama will govern with GodÕs wisdom. God rewarded [the great mystic] Solomon
because he asked for wisdom instead of wealth, long life or vengeance on his
enemies. Pray that Obama will
order his priorities like that. SolomonÕs
legacy was wisdom. We can ask God
to give our president the same grace.***4. Ask God to keep our [Leo] president
humble. Many great American
leaders became corrupt after they moved to Washington. The fatal attraction of
fame, wealth and power proved irresistible. The only thing that will guard a man or woman from this
pitfall is humility.***5. Pray for wise and righteous advisers to surround him. Wise leaders cannot do their job alone.
Even the best leaders have failed because they trusted the
wrong people. Pray that Obama will
not select his counselors based on party, race, pedigree or political
cronyism but on character and proven wisdom. Pray also that he will not allow secret traitors into
his inner circle.***6. Ask for the spirit of reconciliation. Some segments of our deeply divided
society want nothing to do with Obama now that he has won the presidency. Some "Christians" will be
tempted to harbor resentment and nurse political
grudges throughout his term in office. Pray that Love will grant forgiveness
and healing so that leaders on all political levels can have constructive
dialogue.***7. Many politicians have changed their views on key issues while in
office. In the 1800's some leaders who favored slavery later denounced it.
In the 1950's, some who opposed
racial integration later became champions of it. Obama won approval from many voters because he sanctions
abortion.***8. Oppose all evil forces assigned to manipulate our president. The
specter of Islamic terrorism looms over the United States,
and dark forces are ready to infiltrate. Intercessors must not come off the wall
in this hour! Pray that no foreign
government or terrorist organization will use Obama as a tool.***9. The loudest
voices of secular culture would be happy if religion were removed from public
life. Pray that Obama, who claims
to have a personal faith in Jesus Christ, will unapologetically welcome
Christian and other leaders into his company
and seek their counsel. And pray that false religious leaders (who claim to know
Christ but deny His power through seeking greed and fame) will not have
his ear.***10. Pray that our nation will enjoy peace and blessing during the
Obama administration. GodÕs will
is for our planet to experience peace and prosperity. This must happen whether a Democrat or a
Republican is in the White House.
Let us all continue to be a light to the world as we feed and heal the worldÕs
poor and share ChristÕs Love at home and abroad.
*****
*****
SUCCESS AND SELFCONFIDENCE, "Topic of the Week," by Cheryl Richardson, sent in by Barbara Baty
During
stressful times, one of the things that sees us through is self-confidence --
confidence in our ability to do whatever it takes to weather a storm; trust in
ourselves enough to know that we'll take the necessary actions that will honor
our self-care; and courage to do the tough stuff even when everything inside us
wants to run and hide.
ÉOne
gentleman, a businessman who made billions only to lose it all before creating
success again, had a great idea that's worth repeating, especially during this
period of uncertainty. He explained that the thing that got him through
his toughest times was an "accomplishments list" he kept with
him in his briefcase at all times. He explained, "Most of us spend a
great deal of time thinking about how we've failed or what we don't have, and
not enough time on what we've done right or on the success we've created. I use this list to remind myself of
what I've done well-- especially during the difficult times."
ÉThink about it.
When's the last time you sat down and looked at your life through the
lens of success? If I asked you to list ten accomplishments right this
minute, could you? If that question causes your mind to immediately go
blank, then I invite you to make your own list this week. Here are some
examples of the kinds of accomplishments you might include:
I raised healthy and good kids.***I enjoy a successful marriage.***I completed
my college degree.***I landed a job in a field that I love.***I created my
first garden.***I started my own business.***I wrote a book, a poem, or a song.***I
bought my first car or home.***I made a difference in someone's life.
Get the idea? Okay, let's stop for a moment and do something good for
yourself. Open up a new file on
your computer right now and take a few minutes to do your own list.
Challenge yourself to come up with at least 15 examples, large or small.
Think of this exercise as securing a great insurance policy that might just
pull you out of an emotional fire when you need it most -- and it may also help
you to make a wise decision to stay in the game when you're tempted to jump
ship.
Once you've made your list, print it out and keep it somewhere safe and
handy. Read through it at least once a day this week and smile as you do.
In spite of what challenge, failure, disappointment, or hardship you might be
facing right now, deep inside is a smart, wise, committed, and hard-working Soul
who has a track record of success.:) Yes, that's you!
*****
*****
The
following is an excerpt from Michael MooreÕs article entitled ÒSaving the Big Three
for You and MeÓ
É Let me just state the obvious: Every single dollar Congress gives these three companies (Ford, Chrysler and GM) will be flushed right down the toilet. There is nothing the management teams of the Big 3 are going to do to convince people to go out during a recession and buy their big, gas-guzzling, inferior products. Just forget it. And, as sure as I am that the Ford family-owned Detroit Lions are not going to the Super Bowl – ever—I can guarantee you, after they burn through this $34 billions, theyÕll be back for another $34 billion next summer.
So what to do? Member so Congress, hereÕs what I propose: Transporting Americans is and should be one of the most important functions our government must address. And because we are facing a massive economic, energy and environmental crisis, the new president and Congress must do what Franklin Roosevelt did when he was faced with a crisis (and ordered the auto industry to stop building cars and instead, build tanks and planes): The Big 3 are, from this point forward, to build only cars that are not primarily dependent on oil and, more importantly, to build trains, buses, subways, and light rail (a corresponding public works project across the country will build the rail lines and track). This will not only save jobs, but create millions of new ones.
You could buy ALL the common shares of stock in General Motors for less than $3 billion. Why should we give GM $18 billion or $25 billion or anything? Take the money and buy the company! (YouÕre going to demand collateral anyway if you give them the Òloan,Ó and because we know they will default on that loan, youÕre going to own the company I the end as it is. S why wait? Just buy them out now.)
None of us want government officials running a car company, but there are some very smart transportation geniuses who could be hired to do this. We need a Marshall Plan to switch us off oil-dependent vehicles and get us into the 21st century.
This proposal is not radical or rocket science. It just takes one of the smartest people ever to run for the presidency to pull it off. What IÕm proposing has worked before. The national rail system was in shambles in the Õ70. The government took it over. A decade later it was turning a profit, so the government returned it to private/public hands, and got a couple billion dollars put back in the treasury.
This proposal will save our industrial infrastructure – and millions of jobs. More importantly, it will create millions more. It literally could pull us out of this recession.
In contrast, General Motors recently presented its restructuring proposal to Congress. They promised, if Congress gave them $18 billion now, they would, in turn, eliminate around 20,000 jobs. You read that right. We give them billions so they can throw more Americans out of work. TÕs been their Big Idea for the last 30 years – lay off thousands in order to protect profits. But no one ever stopped to ask this question: If you throw everyone out of work, whoÕs going to have the money to go out and buy a car?
These idiots donÕt deserve a dime. Fire all of them, and take over the industry for the good of the workers, the country and the planet.
WhatÕs good for General Motors IS good for the country. Once the country is calling the shots.
AQUARIUSCIENCE: THE FUTURE IS NOW! SOME BREAKTHROUGHS AND DISCOVERIES FROM KURZWEILAI.NET NEWSLETTER
The Year in Materials
Technology Review Dec. 31, 2008
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Graphene (the world's strongest material), nanoparticles shaped like
bacteria to do a better job getting inside cells to deliver drugs, and
stretchable silicon electrical circuits were among Technology
Review's top 10 emerging technologies of 2008....
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9930&m=40083
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Researchers' vision: restoring sight through artificial retinas
PhysOrg.com Dec. 30, 2008
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Second Sight Medical Products has developed Argus Two, a sophisticated
eye-implant device with an array of 60 electrodes, providing a much
sharper image to its users than its earlier device, Argus One, with 16
electrodes, creating a 4 by 4 pattern of light and dark spots.
Argus Two consists of a tiny camera mounted on a pair of dark glasses
and...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9929&m=40083
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Deciphering Dolphin Language with Picture Words
KurzweilAI.net Dec. 31, 2008
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Researchers in Great Britain and the United States have imaged the
first high definition imprints that dolphin sounds make in water. The
resulting "CymaGlyphs" are reproducible patterns that are
expected to form the basis of a lexicon of dolphin language, each
pattern representing a dolphin "picture word." The CymaScope
captures actual...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9927&m=40083
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Exercise and your brain: Why working out might help memory
ScientificAmerican.com Dec. 30, 2008
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Researchers from four universities report in the Annals of Neurology
that people who absorb glucose more slowly than those who metabolize it
quickly are more forgetful and are more likely to have a faulty dentate
gyrus, a pocket in the hippocampus section of the brain. The
hippocampus is involved with learning and memory formation....
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9924&m=40083
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Scientists isolate genes that made 1918 flu lethal
PhysOrg.com Dec. 29, 2008
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By mixing and matching a contemporary flu virus with the
"Spanish flu" -- a virus that killed between 20 and 50 million people 90
years ago in history's most devastating outbreak of infectious
disease -- researchers have identified a set of three genes that
helped underpin the extraordinary virulence of the 1918 virus....
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9921&m=40083
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Nutrigenomics: Developing Personalized Diets For Disease
Prevention
Science Daily Dec. 29, 2008
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The emerging field of nutrigenomics, which aims to
identify the genetic factors that influence the body's response to
diet and studies how the bioactive constituents of food affect genexpression, is explored in a series of interdisciplinary reports and
analyses in the December 2008 Special Issue (Volume 12, number 4)
of OMICS: A Journal of...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9919&m=40083
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Unconscious Brain Makes The Best Decisions Possible
Science Daily Dec. 29, 2008
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Researchers at the University of Rochester have shown that contrary
to conventional wisdom, people do make optimal decisions -- but only
when their unconscious brain makes the choice.
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9913&m=40083
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Food additives linked to lung cancer risk
Health Newstrack Dec. 29, 2008
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A diet high in inorganic phosphates, found in a variety of
processed foods including meats, cheeses, beverages, and bakery
products, might speed growth of lung cancer tumors and contribute to the
development of those tumors in individuals predisposed to the
disease, researchers at Seoul National University have found....
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9911&m=40083
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The Chaos Inside a Cancer Cell
New York Times Dec. 25, 2008
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Baylor College of Medicine in
Houston have now compared the genome
of a type of breast cancer cell with
that of normal cells. They find 157
rearrangements. The impairment of
double strand break repair could be
a major cause of all the other
rearrangements, the researchers...
http://www.kurzweilai.net/email/newsRedirect.html?newsID=9907&m=40083*************************
Genetics: Top Ten Articles from Twenty-oh-eight
New Scientist Health Dec. 24, 2008
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The top 10 best features on
genetics in New Scientist include Me
and my genome, Genetically modified
humans: Here and more coming soon,
and MicroRNAs: The cell's little
emperors. NewScientist.com is now
making free all in-depth articles
from the past 12 months....
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A year in the quantum world
New Scientist Physics & Math Dec. 26, 2008
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Four radical routes to a theory of
everything, "The Great Antimatter
Mystery: Anyons," "The Breakthrough:
Quantum Computing Needs," and "Matter
is Merely Vacuum Fluctuations," are
among the year's top 10 in-depth
articles about the quantum...
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The Year in Biomedicine
Technology Review Dec. 22, 2008
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Brain trauma among soldiers, a
$5,000 genome, cellular switches,
and insight into the brain's...
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