Where golden light becomes the red,
And red becomes the white,
Burning with the zeal of love,
A land devoid of night,
Powering the universe
From star to distant star;
Consume the dross, O Ancient One,
Let no aberrance mar
All that belongs to You alone,
Created by Your word;
All that is seen and understood,
All hidden and unheard.
Consume the sin, O Ancient One,
Consign it to the night;
For us there’s oneness with our God,
The Everlasting Light.
No shadow dare exalt itself,
No darkness dare display,
Where God Eternal rules and reigns
The land of endless day.
Praise Him, all you heavenly host,
Praise Him, Sons of men.
Turn your faces toward the Son,
God’s “Yea” and His “Amen.”
Every little seam,
Every little seam
Sewn with the thread of life;
Every little seam
Joins the living stream
Flowing to the river of life
Let my life extol the living God,
The Father of all light.
From the ends of the earth through the universe,
Extol His mercy and might.
Forever is not long enough
To praise His glorious name,
The forever of forever
To shout His glory and fame.
O celestial court, throw down your crowns
‘Neath the ruler of the earth.
Living creatures, sing your songs
To the King of the universe.
o joy unspeakable, joy foretold,
Ever new and ever old,
Before the Father’s throne be bold
To lift your songs of praise
Angels in their glory
Can never touch the flame,
The fire, pure incandescence,
That burns within Your name.
Let them gaze in wonder,
In awe, as they proclaim:
“Holy God, though ever new,
Eternally the same.”
Frightened, frozen, fettered.
Those who seek to fight,
Numbed and gnawed and naked,
Those who choose the night.
But we are covered by His love,
Beneath His banner stand,
Hidden in the Rock above,
Sheltered by His hand.
Angels in their glory
Can never touch the flame,
The fire, pure incandescence,
That burns within Your name.
Let them gaze in wonder,
In awe, as they proclaim:
“Holy God, though ever new,
Eternally the same.”
Praise You beyond the highest heaven.
Monday, September 26, 2011
The Problem of Evil
I'm slowly reading "The Doctrine of Sin and Redemption" by Henri Blocher, and the chapter on the problem of evil (the first chapter, and only one I've read so far) was interesting.
He starts with three biblical principals that lay the foundation for assessing our attempts at answering the problem of evil:
1) Evil is completely, radically, and absolutely bad (or evil). We should never diminish the wickedness of evil or the horror of its effects. God hates evil.
2) God is completely, radically, and absolutely sovereign. We should never minimize his resoluteness in making all things happen, both in the big picture and the smallest details. "Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps." (Psalm 135:6 ESV)
3) God is completely, radically, and absolutely good. He is never complicit with evil, nor does he ever approve of it.
Generally, he says, our attempts at resolving the problem of evil reflect some biblical truth as seen in one or two of these three principals, but at the same time minimizing or outright denying the remaining principal(s).
He set forth some of the classic representations of each of these three emphases. The reformed position--God allowed evil to enter into the world because he saw, in his infinite power and wisdom, that His defeat of evil would bring Him more glory than any other possible world He could have created. The free will position--evil entered into the world because man has a completely free will, and man has a free will because ultimately, if his choice of loving God didn't come from his own free agency, it wouldn't be love at all. And lastly, the least common view--that God had to create evil to be complete. Without evil, according to this view, God would be like Hall without Oates, or peanut butter without jelly, or yin without yang...you get the picture. Obviously, this last view can't be held by anyone who adheres to a traditional evangelical set of beliefs because it makes evil a part of God, i.e. God is part evil.
What I appreciated the most about Blocher's position, was that he didn't want to abandon the three very obvious biblical principals that he cited (Evil is absolutely evil, God is absolutely sovereign, and God is absolutely good) for the sake of having a nice, clean, easily resolved doctrine of evil. Instead, he prefers to guard the mystery of the details. After all, the reformed position tends to minimize the pain in suffering and the fact that suffering at the hands of evil men is the result of evil itself, an evil that God hates with a pure hatred, though He remains in control at all times. The free will people tie God's hands just for the sake of keeping theirs free, though the scriptures are replete with examples of the contrary. And obviously, who could dare say that God is in Himself evil, as if it were a necessary part of his existence?
So, I'm resolved to try to look at the world and all of it's wickedness--encountered mostly in my own heart--through the lens of these three biblical principals instead of through the lens of my traditionally reformed doctrine. When I see evil, I can't deny that it is 1) absolutely, positively evil, 2) it is not out of the control of God's sovereign, loving, and protecting hand, and 3) God hates it, and it is absolutely contrary to the perfectly good God I find in the scriptures.
He starts with three biblical principals that lay the foundation for assessing our attempts at answering the problem of evil:
1) Evil is completely, radically, and absolutely bad (or evil). We should never diminish the wickedness of evil or the horror of its effects. God hates evil.
2) God is completely, radically, and absolutely sovereign. We should never minimize his resoluteness in making all things happen, both in the big picture and the smallest details. "Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps." (Psalm 135:6 ESV)
3) God is completely, radically, and absolutely good. He is never complicit with evil, nor does he ever approve of it.
Generally, he says, our attempts at resolving the problem of evil reflect some biblical truth as seen in one or two of these three principals, but at the same time minimizing or outright denying the remaining principal(s).
He set forth some of the classic representations of each of these three emphases. The reformed position--God allowed evil to enter into the world because he saw, in his infinite power and wisdom, that His defeat of evil would bring Him more glory than any other possible world He could have created. The free will position--evil entered into the world because man has a completely free will, and man has a free will because ultimately, if his choice of loving God didn't come from his own free agency, it wouldn't be love at all. And lastly, the least common view--that God had to create evil to be complete. Without evil, according to this view, God would be like Hall without Oates, or peanut butter without jelly, or yin without yang...you get the picture. Obviously, this last view can't be held by anyone who adheres to a traditional evangelical set of beliefs because it makes evil a part of God, i.e. God is part evil.
What I appreciated the most about Blocher's position, was that he didn't want to abandon the three very obvious biblical principals that he cited (Evil is absolutely evil, God is absolutely sovereign, and God is absolutely good) for the sake of having a nice, clean, easily resolved doctrine of evil. Instead, he prefers to guard the mystery of the details. After all, the reformed position tends to minimize the pain in suffering and the fact that suffering at the hands of evil men is the result of evil itself, an evil that God hates with a pure hatred, though He remains in control at all times. The free will people tie God's hands just for the sake of keeping theirs free, though the scriptures are replete with examples of the contrary. And obviously, who could dare say that God is in Himself evil, as if it were a necessary part of his existence?
So, I'm resolved to try to look at the world and all of it's wickedness--encountered mostly in my own heart--through the lens of these three biblical principals instead of through the lens of my traditionally reformed doctrine. When I see evil, I can't deny that it is 1) absolutely, positively evil, 2) it is not out of the control of God's sovereign, loving, and protecting hand, and 3) God hates it, and it is absolutely contrary to the perfectly good God I find in the scriptures.
The War of the Words
Tonight I was lying in bed, unable to sleep, thinking a bit about my life. Oddly enough, I often think in three different languages when I can't sleep. My mind wanders endlessy through my past experiences, my hopes for the future, and random scenarios where I am a super-hero. And all in English, Spanish, or French. But one thing I have noticed is that I feel completely different when I speak Spanish than when I speak French.
When I speak Spanish, I feel like my heart is connected to my words. I feel what I say, and I say (or try to say) what I feel. Unfortunately, that process takes a lot of effort. The ability to speak Spanish comes at great effort, even when I was living in Spain. I was constantly thinking--conjugating verbs, using new vocabulary, seeing every word written down in my mind before it left my mouth. Sort of like a computer.
But when I speak French, it's completely different. I feel so unattached, that often I begin speaking and don't realize that I've started to say something that is too complicated to finish. So, I'll jump in on a conversation without hesitating, but will end up not finishing my phrase, or having to say it two or three times to get my point across. I don't feel like I accurately communicate my emotions in French.
My question is this: Does not feeling as connected to French automatically mean that I speak better Spanish? That's what I thought at first, but now I think differently. While I was in Spain, I remember thinking that I felt more Latino than American. I fit in better with my spanish speaking friends than I did with the Americans. I felt new avenues of communication, the emotive ones, in particular, open up, and I ran through them. The result was that when I didn't feel those same things while starting to learn French, I assumed that I didn't like French as much. Makes sense, right?
Oh, but language learning is a very complicated process, and one that involves every part of the human being--soul, body, and spirit. When I started learning French, I had something under my belt that I didn't have when I started Spanish, that is the experience of having already learned a foreign language. When I began Spanish, everything was new to me. Every word was vibrant and full of meaning, and each new phrase gave me a new, fuller understanding of reality. But when I started French, I had already experienced that process. Now that I was learning a third language, the words weren't as fresh, and the phrases were a lot less meaningful. I had romanticized Spanish in a way that I couldn't do with French. It would have been dishonest. Like going on a date with a girl and pretending that she didn't have problems like every other girl you've dated. Entering into French with another language learning experience behind me left me unimpressed, not that it isn't a beautiful language, but after all it is just a language like all others.
Second, French resembles English a great deal. And, in fact, I am just beginning to learn how much of the english language is borrowed from French. What this means is that I don't have to think nearly as hard to understand and speak French as I do Spanish. The sentence structure and words are close enough that most of the time I can take an older English word (one that is old enough that most English speaking people wouldn't recognize it) and Frenchify it in order to say what I want. Think King James Audio Bible read by Pepe Le Pew. The easier it is to speak, the less I have to think.
My last thought is really a combination of the previous two. Which language is more natural to me? Spanish, where I FEEL like I can communicate more clearly because of the effort I put into speaking, or, French, which is so close to my native tongue that I speak without thinking? If I were backed up into a corner I would say both, mostly because I really love Spanish, but in reality I think the answer would have to be French. I mean, how many of us think before we speak in our native language? How many of us say, "I really put my foot in my mouth" and feel the weight of those words because we are so concentrated on understanding the grammar of the sentence? None of us. That just means, "I said something stupid," or, "I shouldn't have said that." When looked at in this light, French is a much more natural language for me.
In Spain, I felt like I found a new aspect of 'me,' through learning the language. Here in France, I am learning that I'm the same old Mike Gorski, I just speak a little bit of a few extra languages. And my English is getting worse.
When I speak Spanish, I feel like my heart is connected to my words. I feel what I say, and I say (or try to say) what I feel. Unfortunately, that process takes a lot of effort. The ability to speak Spanish comes at great effort, even when I was living in Spain. I was constantly thinking--conjugating verbs, using new vocabulary, seeing every word written down in my mind before it left my mouth. Sort of like a computer.
But when I speak French, it's completely different. I feel so unattached, that often I begin speaking and don't realize that I've started to say something that is too complicated to finish. So, I'll jump in on a conversation without hesitating, but will end up not finishing my phrase, or having to say it two or three times to get my point across. I don't feel like I accurately communicate my emotions in French.
My question is this: Does not feeling as connected to French automatically mean that I speak better Spanish? That's what I thought at first, but now I think differently. While I was in Spain, I remember thinking that I felt more Latino than American. I fit in better with my spanish speaking friends than I did with the Americans. I felt new avenues of communication, the emotive ones, in particular, open up, and I ran through them. The result was that when I didn't feel those same things while starting to learn French, I assumed that I didn't like French as much. Makes sense, right?
Oh, but language learning is a very complicated process, and one that involves every part of the human being--soul, body, and spirit. When I started learning French, I had something under my belt that I didn't have when I started Spanish, that is the experience of having already learned a foreign language. When I began Spanish, everything was new to me. Every word was vibrant and full of meaning, and each new phrase gave me a new, fuller understanding of reality. But when I started French, I had already experienced that process. Now that I was learning a third language, the words weren't as fresh, and the phrases were a lot less meaningful. I had romanticized Spanish in a way that I couldn't do with French. It would have been dishonest. Like going on a date with a girl and pretending that she didn't have problems like every other girl you've dated. Entering into French with another language learning experience behind me left me unimpressed, not that it isn't a beautiful language, but after all it is just a language like all others.
Second, French resembles English a great deal. And, in fact, I am just beginning to learn how much of the english language is borrowed from French. What this means is that I don't have to think nearly as hard to understand and speak French as I do Spanish. The sentence structure and words are close enough that most of the time I can take an older English word (one that is old enough that most English speaking people wouldn't recognize it) and Frenchify it in order to say what I want. Think King James Audio Bible read by Pepe Le Pew. The easier it is to speak, the less I have to think.
My last thought is really a combination of the previous two. Which language is more natural to me? Spanish, where I FEEL like I can communicate more clearly because of the effort I put into speaking, or, French, which is so close to my native tongue that I speak without thinking? If I were backed up into a corner I would say both, mostly because I really love Spanish, but in reality I think the answer would have to be French. I mean, how many of us think before we speak in our native language? How many of us say, "I really put my foot in my mouth" and feel the weight of those words because we are so concentrated on understanding the grammar of the sentence? None of us. That just means, "I said something stupid," or, "I shouldn't have said that." When looked at in this light, French is a much more natural language for me.
In Spain, I felt like I found a new aspect of 'me,' through learning the language. Here in France, I am learning that I'm the same old Mike Gorski, I just speak a little bit of a few extra languages. And my English is getting worse.
How to Land a Light Aircraft.
HOW TO LAND A LIGHT AIRCRAFT: or, if you prefer, HOW TO LAND A PLANE: (Numbers based on a Cessna 152). Practise your Straight and Level lessons when flying the downwind leg. Look out and fly with reference to the visual horizon. Again the principle of Lookout - Attitude - Instruments should be applied. LOOKOUT and using the visual horizon is most important. As far as possible, keep the power constant at 2150RPM (possibly tighten the throttle friction a little more) and make small elevator and aileron inputs to remain straight and level at 1000ft AAL. There is another good mnemonic (or do I mean acronym?) to consider when pressuring the controls: C.C.H.A.T. which stands for Change - Check - Hold - Adjust - Trim. It means that should you need to change the ATTITUDE or the POWER, then make a small change, check (i.e. stop the movement), hold the change and look at the instruments, adjust if required, and finally trim. At 2150RPM the IAS should be approximately 90KIAS (Knots Indicated Airspeed) and there should be little or no rudder input required to balance the aircraft.
Keep a very good lookout AND listen out for other aircraft. By listening to other traffic and to ATC you can build a picture of what is going on in the airport vicinity and who is where. Call downwind when abeam upwind end of the runway and do the pre-landing checks. These are normally BUMFFICHH: Brakes OFF Undercarriage DOWN (Fixed!) Mixture RICH Fuel ON and Sufficient for Go-around and DIVERSION Flaps AS REQUIRED Instruments Ts and Ps CHECKED and Altimeter SET Carb Heat CHECKED and set as required Hatches SECURE Harnesses SECURE and FASTENED. Note: The Brakes should always be off in flight. The Mixture is always rich below 3000ft. The Fuel should be ON else we would have had to make a forced landing somewhere, and if we are short of fuel where better to be than in the circuit? There is no ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP on a Cessna 152. Flaps should still be at Zero. Instruments are routinely checked. Why would the Hatches and Harnesses be anything but secure and fastened? For my money the important checks here are: Mixture RICH - but not at higher altitude airports. Altimeter SET. Carb Heat CHECKED and always scan the Ts and Ps. Note: Undercarriage (Gear) and Fuel Pump(s) are crucially important on most types of aircraft.
The wind direction and strength is ALWAYS important to the pilot who should develop an awareness of what effect the moving air mass is having on the aircraft. In an ideal world in order to land with as low a ground speed as possible the runway for landing is always that closest to into wind. Of course we do not live in an ideal world and other factors have, also, to be considered by ATC or the Authority with regards to the runway for landing. Some of these other factors could be obstacles in the approach or in the go-around path, length, slope, noise- abatement etc. Before turning onto Base Leg have an idea of what the wind effect will be on Base Leg. Will there be a HEAD WIND COMPONENT or a TAIL WIND COMPONENT?
If there is a HEAD WIND COMPONENT then consider delaying power reduction AND to a higher power setting than the standard 1500RPM datum when you do judge it necessary, and if there is a TAIL WIND COMPONENT consider early power reduction to, possibly, a lower power setting than the standard 1500RPM datum.
Select Carb Heat ON and DECREASE POWER to the datum plus an increment or minus a decrement as stated above. The nose of the aircraft will want to drop with the decreased power. Do not let it! It is very important to maintain the height(QFE)/altitude(QNH) as power is reduced. Progressively increase the attitude as the aircraft decelerates in order to maintain the altitude. Include the ASI in your scan, and when the IAS is inside the WHITE ARC (Flap limit speed) and, depending on the HWC, select Flap 20 (pausing briefly at Flap 10 because all selections made in an aircraft are 'considered', 'measured' and 'deliberate'). It is important to stress: maintain the height/altitude as the speed reduces. The rate of deceleration now 'increases', due to increased drag, and as the aircraft approaches 65KIAS start the descent at the appropriate 'glide slope angle'. The fixed pitch propeller will also mean that the RPM will have decreased, so re-adjust the power as required. Line up with the runway centre-line and note the wind direction by observing the windsock. Apply the appropriate amount of drift to maintain the aircraft on the centre-line all the way down the approach path.
Now that the aircraft is lined up with the runway, the speed should be reduced to 60KIAS (+ 1/2 of the headwind component - HWC). E.g. if the wind is 260/12 and the runway is 23 (say 230-deg Magnetic) then the wind is 30-degrees off the runway heading and from the right. 30-degrees off = .87 (87%) of 12 = 10 and 1/2 of 10 = 5. So add 5kts to 60 = 65KIAS. See Tip in next paragraph.....(Tip: How to quickly figure HWC: 10-degrees off centre-line = 98% of Wind. 20-degrees off centre-line = 94%, 30-degrees off = 87%, 40-degrees off = 77%, 50-degrees off = 64%, 60-degrees off = 50%, 70-degrees off = 34%, 80-degrees off = 17% and of course 90-degrees off = 0%. BUT let's be practical about this:
0 & 10 = 100%. 20 & 30 = 90%. 40 = 80%. 50 = 60%. 60 = 50%. 70 = 30%. 80 = 20%. 90 = 0%.) Thinks: maybe I will eventually put all the 'Tips' in one separate place - when I get time! Fly the approach at 60KIAS +/- the HWC and use the Throttle and the Control Wheel to control the GLIDE PATH (or the "approach path" if you prefer) and the IAS. To state that you conrol the 'Glide Path' with the throttle and the 'speed' with the elevator is over-simplifying the operation. If you are high and the speed is correct then you must decrease the power. If you are low and the speed is correct then you must add power. If you are fast and on the glide path then you will have to co-ordinate elevator and throttle movement (power reduction) in order to reduce speed and stay on the correct glide path. If you are slow and on the glide path then you will have to co-ordinate elevator and throttle (power increase) in order to stay on the correct glide path. Start to develop an awareness of the 'energy' of the aircraft. Flying the approach requires constant concentration and judgement. The questions that you should be mentally asking yourself all the time are: Am I high? Am I low? Am I fast? Am I slow? Am I left? Am I right? In order to mentally answer these questions it is very important to keep changing the focus of your eyes (extensions of the brain!) to the runway (the DATUM) and the ASI. Look OUT, look IN, look OUT, look IN. look OUT, look IN.......................so that we are making judgements all the time with reference to the 'picture' of the runway and the IAS. There are various schools of thought about exactly where to 'look' when looking OUT. My strong advice is to look at the far end of the runway. Your peripheral vision will take care of the big picture, including obstacles in the approach, the touchdown zone and, later, the flare (or roundout) and the de-crab. Attitude flying, as stated elsewhere is of paramount importance, and the approach and flare is no exception. This is the only way to ensure a successful and safe landing every time.
Okay, we are still flying the approach.....
If the HWC is strong, then you would consider delaying selecting FLAP 30 (Landing Flap) until later in the approach. Do not add drag when more power is needed to fly the approach. If there is little or no HWC, then consider earlier selection of FLAP 30 (Landing Flap). Calm conditions can be tricky on a short runway and we will need to get the aircraft stabilised with Landing Flap at the correct speed and on the glide path in good time.
It might be a good idea to call 'Final' with the selection of Landing Flap, but remember that 'Final' is inside 4nm of the runway threshold and where you call 'Final' may depend on what is going on in the circuit.
Having selected Flap 30, the extra drag will 'bite' and the IAS will decrease with no change in power. Now fly the aircraft at 54KIAS + 1/2 HWC. You may need to add a smidgen of power and there may be an attitude change, and therefore a small trim change. As the threshold of the runway is approached, keep the 'crab' angle on and, if the IAS was correct as you cross the threshold, close the throttle but do not allow the nose to drop. Control the attitude of the aircraft and concentrate on still looking at the far end of the runway. Do not dive for the runway. Peripheral vision will dictate to your brain where the ground is and where the touchdown zone is, and as you close with the runway surface, still looking as far down the runway as you can, gently pressure back on the control wheel to 'arrest the rate of descent'. It is worth stating AGAIN: Do not dive for the runway. The final part of the approach should be a continuation of the glide path. Just before touchdown push (we never "kick" the rudder!) the rudder to align the aircraft with the centre-line and touchdown. This may cause some roll due to yawing the aircraft, but this is easily controlled with aileron. Keep straight using rudder. Hold the nosewheel off the ground and use aerodynamic braking until you are about to run out of elevator authority. Now gently lower the nosewheel onto the runway and keep straight. If braking IS necessary lift your feet up to the brakes and gently apply symmetrical braking. Do not lock the wheels.
Keep aware of what is going on and do not delay vacating the runway. When clear of the runway perform the after landing scan.
Keep a very good lookout AND listen out for other aircraft. By listening to other traffic and to ATC you can build a picture of what is going on in the airport vicinity and who is where. Call downwind when abeam upwind end of the runway and do the pre-landing checks. These are normally BUMFFICHH: Brakes OFF Undercarriage DOWN (Fixed!) Mixture RICH Fuel ON and Sufficient for Go-around and DIVERSION Flaps AS REQUIRED Instruments Ts and Ps CHECKED and Altimeter SET Carb Heat CHECKED and set as required Hatches SECURE Harnesses SECURE and FASTENED. Note: The Brakes should always be off in flight. The Mixture is always rich below 3000ft. The Fuel should be ON else we would have had to make a forced landing somewhere, and if we are short of fuel where better to be than in the circuit? There is no ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP on a Cessna 152. Flaps should still be at Zero. Instruments are routinely checked. Why would the Hatches and Harnesses be anything but secure and fastened? For my money the important checks here are: Mixture RICH - but not at higher altitude airports. Altimeter SET. Carb Heat CHECKED and always scan the Ts and Ps. Note: Undercarriage (Gear) and Fuel Pump(s) are crucially important on most types of aircraft.
The wind direction and strength is ALWAYS important to the pilot who should develop an awareness of what effect the moving air mass is having on the aircraft. In an ideal world in order to land with as low a ground speed as possible the runway for landing is always that closest to into wind. Of course we do not live in an ideal world and other factors have, also, to be considered by ATC or the Authority with regards to the runway for landing. Some of these other factors could be obstacles in the approach or in the go-around path, length, slope, noise- abatement etc. Before turning onto Base Leg have an idea of what the wind effect will be on Base Leg. Will there be a HEAD WIND COMPONENT or a TAIL WIND COMPONENT?
If there is a HEAD WIND COMPONENT then consider delaying power reduction AND to a higher power setting than the standard 1500RPM datum when you do judge it necessary, and if there is a TAIL WIND COMPONENT consider early power reduction to, possibly, a lower power setting than the standard 1500RPM datum.
Select Carb Heat ON and DECREASE POWER to the datum plus an increment or minus a decrement as stated above. The nose of the aircraft will want to drop with the decreased power. Do not let it! It is very important to maintain the height(QFE)/altitude(QNH) as power is reduced. Progressively increase the attitude as the aircraft decelerates in order to maintain the altitude. Include the ASI in your scan, and when the IAS is inside the WHITE ARC (Flap limit speed) and, depending on the HWC, select Flap 20 (pausing briefly at Flap 10 because all selections made in an aircraft are 'considered', 'measured' and 'deliberate'). It is important to stress: maintain the height/altitude as the speed reduces. The rate of deceleration now 'increases', due to increased drag, and as the aircraft approaches 65KIAS start the descent at the appropriate 'glide slope angle'. The fixed pitch propeller will also mean that the RPM will have decreased, so re-adjust the power as required. Line up with the runway centre-line and note the wind direction by observing the windsock. Apply the appropriate amount of drift to maintain the aircraft on the centre-line all the way down the approach path.
Now that the aircraft is lined up with the runway, the speed should be reduced to 60KIAS (+ 1/2 of the headwind component - HWC). E.g. if the wind is 260/12 and the runway is 23 (say 230-deg Magnetic) then the wind is 30-degrees off the runway heading and from the right. 30-degrees off = .87 (87%) of 12 = 10 and 1/2 of 10 = 5. So add 5kts to 60 = 65KIAS. See Tip in next paragraph.....(Tip: How to quickly figure HWC: 10-degrees off centre-line = 98% of Wind. 20-degrees off centre-line = 94%, 30-degrees off = 87%, 40-degrees off = 77%, 50-degrees off = 64%, 60-degrees off = 50%, 70-degrees off = 34%, 80-degrees off = 17% and of course 90-degrees off = 0%. BUT let's be practical about this:
0 & 10 = 100%. 20 & 30 = 90%. 40 = 80%. 50 = 60%. 60 = 50%. 70 = 30%. 80 = 20%. 90 = 0%.) Thinks: maybe I will eventually put all the 'Tips' in one separate place - when I get time! Fly the approach at 60KIAS +/- the HWC and use the Throttle and the Control Wheel to control the GLIDE PATH (or the "approach path" if you prefer) and the IAS. To state that you conrol the 'Glide Path' with the throttle and the 'speed' with the elevator is over-simplifying the operation. If you are high and the speed is correct then you must decrease the power. If you are low and the speed is correct then you must add power. If you are fast and on the glide path then you will have to co-ordinate elevator and throttle movement (power reduction) in order to reduce speed and stay on the correct glide path. If you are slow and on the glide path then you will have to co-ordinate elevator and throttle (power increase) in order to stay on the correct glide path. Start to develop an awareness of the 'energy' of the aircraft. Flying the approach requires constant concentration and judgement. The questions that you should be mentally asking yourself all the time are: Am I high? Am I low? Am I fast? Am I slow? Am I left? Am I right? In order to mentally answer these questions it is very important to keep changing the focus of your eyes (extensions of the brain!) to the runway (the DATUM) and the ASI. Look OUT, look IN, look OUT, look IN. look OUT, look IN.......................so that we are making judgements all the time with reference to the 'picture' of the runway and the IAS. There are various schools of thought about exactly where to 'look' when looking OUT. My strong advice is to look at the far end of the runway. Your peripheral vision will take care of the big picture, including obstacles in the approach, the touchdown zone and, later, the flare (or roundout) and the de-crab. Attitude flying, as stated elsewhere is of paramount importance, and the approach and flare is no exception. This is the only way to ensure a successful and safe landing every time.
Okay, we are still flying the approach.....
If the HWC is strong, then you would consider delaying selecting FLAP 30 (Landing Flap) until later in the approach. Do not add drag when more power is needed to fly the approach. If there is little or no HWC, then consider earlier selection of FLAP 30 (Landing Flap). Calm conditions can be tricky on a short runway and we will need to get the aircraft stabilised with Landing Flap at the correct speed and on the glide path in good time.
It might be a good idea to call 'Final' with the selection of Landing Flap, but remember that 'Final' is inside 4nm of the runway threshold and where you call 'Final' may depend on what is going on in the circuit.
Having selected Flap 30, the extra drag will 'bite' and the IAS will decrease with no change in power. Now fly the aircraft at 54KIAS + 1/2 HWC. You may need to add a smidgen of power and there may be an attitude change, and therefore a small trim change. As the threshold of the runway is approached, keep the 'crab' angle on and, if the IAS was correct as you cross the threshold, close the throttle but do not allow the nose to drop. Control the attitude of the aircraft and concentrate on still looking at the far end of the runway. Do not dive for the runway. Peripheral vision will dictate to your brain where the ground is and where the touchdown zone is, and as you close with the runway surface, still looking as far down the runway as you can, gently pressure back on the control wheel to 'arrest the rate of descent'. It is worth stating AGAIN: Do not dive for the runway. The final part of the approach should be a continuation of the glide path. Just before touchdown push (we never "kick" the rudder!) the rudder to align the aircraft with the centre-line and touchdown. This may cause some roll due to yawing the aircraft, but this is easily controlled with aileron. Keep straight using rudder. Hold the nosewheel off the ground and use aerodynamic braking until you are about to run out of elevator authority. Now gently lower the nosewheel onto the runway and keep straight. If braking IS necessary lift your feet up to the brakes and gently apply symmetrical braking. Do not lock the wheels.
Keep aware of what is going on and do not delay vacating the runway. When clear of the runway perform the after landing scan.
What Not to Eat While Giving Blood
At the end of the 9:30 Mass yesterday, Father John announced that the Knights of Columbus were sponsoring a blood drive at the church.
I have this funny habit. When I want to do something, but maybe feel unsure about it, I try to get millions of other people to do it, and then I can just join in unafraid. So I turned to Kevin, "You should give blood!" To my surprise, he said, "I'll do it."
From there, my campaign had a different look: "Hey, so-and-so, Kevin's giving blood. Wanna join him?" I asked eight people and was rejected by eight people. Bravely, for me, the needle wimp, I decided I would join him. Thankfully, my mother-in-law was visiting and took the kids home.
It was a long wait, but finally I went "behind the curtain" to answer questions about my sex, drug, and health practices. The funniest moment was when my interviewer asked if I'd ever been pregnant. I said yes. She asked how many times, and I answered eight. You should have seen her face. And she seriously thought I was joking (we'd already established a rapport, which is good when you're divulging whether or not you've had sex with someone with HIV - and we'd been joking a little bit). I told her I had four kids and four miscarriages and she was still shaking her head as we went on to the next question.
It was determined that I could donate "a double". I was tall enough, heavy enough, and had high enough iron to do it. After my finger prick revealed my super-star iron level, the interviewer goes, "GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRL!" at the top of her lungs - announced my double donation and all the volunteer Knights on the other side of the curtain were clapping. (Just a note, the "double" means they can take double the blood because they pump your plasma right back into you and you can give more that way. It's also more readily usable, if I understood right, and just takes 45 minutes or so to give.)
I was actually having fun at this point. There was lots of attention given to the donors, and I like attention. Kevin and I were hanging out without the kids - nearly like a date! And my interviewer told me I had permission to eat a cheeseburger while I donated. I was hungry, having not eaten since breakfast about four or five hours before, and the Knights were sponsoring their monthly cook-out after Mass and all donors got a free ticket.
My plan was to have Kevin go fetch me a burger after he finished his donation. This went awry when time flew and he had to go get Joseph for a meeting back at the church at 1:00. So Ken, my new best friend, and one of the nicest Knights, brought me a scrumptious burger.
This blood donation thing seemed easy-breezy. I do hate needles and get faint at the sight of blood, but I had promised my interviewer I would not be dramatic and would keep communicating with the techs if I had any issues. Plus, compared to the thousand times I've had blood taken during my pregnancies and pregnancy losses, this was like a cruise ship compared to a row boat. The phlebotomists were friendly and jovial, the chair was like a La-Z-Boy recliner, and, for Pete's sake, I was saving a life or two! You can't beat that!!!
I was all hooked up and had enjoyed a small bag of pretzels and two water bottles by the time the cheeseburger arrived. It was delicious. I chewed it slowly while I focused on relaxing and NOT looking at the tube coming out of my arm.
I remembered labor with each of my pregnancies, and how successful it was to employ the mind-body connection. When I heard a tech say my blood had "slowed down" I visualized a river flowing. Even got a random old, old song by Joel Weldon going in my brain: "Still the River Flows". This river visual might have been the beginning of my demise.
It's frustrating, as the whole world knows, to do everything right and still have your body betray you. Despite all my prayer, visualization, happy singing, and relaxation - I started to shiver. Then get light-headed. It was annoying. But it was easily solved. Two blankets and a further reclined position plus two ice bags on my neck and I started to feel better. The guy told me that the saline pumping back into my body was twenty degrees cooler than my body temperature, so that explained the shivers. But I was starting to look more like a hospital patient then a calm, collected, breezy blood donor.
Ken had brought me such joy with the cheeseburger that he decided to bring a whole tray for other waiting donors. I remember when he walked in, my stomach turned. Then turned again. Then started somersaulting and cartwheeling and no amount of forced relaxation or trying to talk myself out of the nausea would work. I told my friendly phlebotomist that I was REALLY nauseous and before I knew it I was barfing endlessly into an orange biohazard bag.
Perhaps you're not fully appreciating this scene. I was wearing a pretty pink dress, left over from church. My friend Andrea had even complimented my hair. I was trying to save a LIFE! And it all came crashing down with a whole lot of wretching into a plastic bag held by a stranger.
Imagine also the orientation of the room. The donor recliners faced straight toward the waiting area. So I had an audience of like a dozen men and women. My buddy phlebotomist mostly blocked their view of my puking, but it had to be evident what was going on when other techs came running with napkins and chorusing, "Is she okay?"
I was okay. My pride was wounded, but the moment I started vomiting, the phlebotomist said, "Your blood came rushing out!" So maybe the visualization HAD worked! (A little TOO well.)
I was given extra time for recovery, and Ken gave me an apple juice. Another man insisted I couldn't drink it from a can, and brought me a cup. My pink bandage tape matched my dress. There was only the faintest hint of barf stench emanating from my cleavage where I hadn't thought to wipe. And as soon as I could walk, I went home where I could change clothes and recline on the couch.
Whether or not they wrote "Puker" on my donor record remains to be seen. I can donate again in September. If I avoid the cheeseburger, and they can put up with me, I'll give blood again. People go through way worse than this to save a life. Just call me the hurling heroine!
I have this funny habit. When I want to do something, but maybe feel unsure about it, I try to get millions of other people to do it, and then I can just join in unafraid. So I turned to Kevin, "You should give blood!" To my surprise, he said, "I'll do it."
From there, my campaign had a different look: "Hey, so-and-so, Kevin's giving blood. Wanna join him?" I asked eight people and was rejected by eight people. Bravely, for me, the needle wimp, I decided I would join him. Thankfully, my mother-in-law was visiting and took the kids home.
It was a long wait, but finally I went "behind the curtain" to answer questions about my sex, drug, and health practices. The funniest moment was when my interviewer asked if I'd ever been pregnant. I said yes. She asked how many times, and I answered eight. You should have seen her face. And she seriously thought I was joking (we'd already established a rapport, which is good when you're divulging whether or not you've had sex with someone with HIV - and we'd been joking a little bit). I told her I had four kids and four miscarriages and she was still shaking her head as we went on to the next question.
It was determined that I could donate "a double". I was tall enough, heavy enough, and had high enough iron to do it. After my finger prick revealed my super-star iron level, the interviewer goes, "GIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRL!" at the top of her lungs - announced my double donation and all the volunteer Knights on the other side of the curtain were clapping. (Just a note, the "double" means they can take double the blood because they pump your plasma right back into you and you can give more that way. It's also more readily usable, if I understood right, and just takes 45 minutes or so to give.)
I was actually having fun at this point. There was lots of attention given to the donors, and I like attention. Kevin and I were hanging out without the kids - nearly like a date! And my interviewer told me I had permission to eat a cheeseburger while I donated. I was hungry, having not eaten since breakfast about four or five hours before, and the Knights were sponsoring their monthly cook-out after Mass and all donors got a free ticket.
My plan was to have Kevin go fetch me a burger after he finished his donation. This went awry when time flew and he had to go get Joseph for a meeting back at the church at 1:00. So Ken, my new best friend, and one of the nicest Knights, brought me a scrumptious burger.
This blood donation thing seemed easy-breezy. I do hate needles and get faint at the sight of blood, but I had promised my interviewer I would not be dramatic and would keep communicating with the techs if I had any issues. Plus, compared to the thousand times I've had blood taken during my pregnancies and pregnancy losses, this was like a cruise ship compared to a row boat. The phlebotomists were friendly and jovial, the chair was like a La-Z-Boy recliner, and, for Pete's sake, I was saving a life or two! You can't beat that!!!
I was all hooked up and had enjoyed a small bag of pretzels and two water bottles by the time the cheeseburger arrived. It was delicious. I chewed it slowly while I focused on relaxing and NOT looking at the tube coming out of my arm.
I remembered labor with each of my pregnancies, and how successful it was to employ the mind-body connection. When I heard a tech say my blood had "slowed down" I visualized a river flowing. Even got a random old, old song by Joel Weldon going in my brain: "Still the River Flows". This river visual might have been the beginning of my demise.
It's frustrating, as the whole world knows, to do everything right and still have your body betray you. Despite all my prayer, visualization, happy singing, and relaxation - I started to shiver. Then get light-headed. It was annoying. But it was easily solved. Two blankets and a further reclined position plus two ice bags on my neck and I started to feel better. The guy told me that the saline pumping back into my body was twenty degrees cooler than my body temperature, so that explained the shivers. But I was starting to look more like a hospital patient then a calm, collected, breezy blood donor.
Ken had brought me such joy with the cheeseburger that he decided to bring a whole tray for other waiting donors. I remember when he walked in, my stomach turned. Then turned again. Then started somersaulting and cartwheeling and no amount of forced relaxation or trying to talk myself out of the nausea would work. I told my friendly phlebotomist that I was REALLY nauseous and before I knew it I was barfing endlessly into an orange biohazard bag.
Perhaps you're not fully appreciating this scene. I was wearing a pretty pink dress, left over from church. My friend Andrea had even complimented my hair. I was trying to save a LIFE! And it all came crashing down with a whole lot of wretching into a plastic bag held by a stranger.
Imagine also the orientation of the room. The donor recliners faced straight toward the waiting area. So I had an audience of like a dozen men and women. My buddy phlebotomist mostly blocked their view of my puking, but it had to be evident what was going on when other techs came running with napkins and chorusing, "Is she okay?"
I was okay. My pride was wounded, but the moment I started vomiting, the phlebotomist said, "Your blood came rushing out!" So maybe the visualization HAD worked! (A little TOO well.)
I was given extra time for recovery, and Ken gave me an apple juice. Another man insisted I couldn't drink it from a can, and brought me a cup. My pink bandage tape matched my dress. There was only the faintest hint of barf stench emanating from my cleavage where I hadn't thought to wipe. And as soon as I could walk, I went home where I could change clothes and recline on the couch.
Whether or not they wrote "Puker" on my donor record remains to be seen. I can donate again in September. If I avoid the cheeseburger, and they can put up with me, I'll give blood again. People go through way worse than this to save a life. Just call me the hurling heroine!
Treatment of Prisoners by Guards in Private Prisons
Treatment of Prisoners by Guards in Private Prisons
Prisons have begun to become more privatized over the last few decades. One reason for this increase in privatization is the explosion of the prison population, which has undermined states' ability to address the construction and maintenance of public prisons. Another factor is the emerging belief that a free market system with private owners will perform better than public institutions. However, issues with how these private prisons run are a public concern and fuel a particularly strong debate.
One recent example further illustrates this point. In Hawaii, prisoners were beaten and abused by employees of the Corrections Corporation of America, a private company that contracts guards for prison facilities. In July 2010, five prisoners were threatened with death, kicked, and beaten by the guards. This single example highlights starkly the issues with private prisons, specifically with the professionalism of privately contracted guards.
In terms of forensic psychology, why do these abuses occur? Jenni Gainsborough, director of Penal Reform International, says many corporations take shortcuts in training prison guards. Prisons are no place for novice security workers, but require well-trained staff that are highly educated to respond to the types of situations common in a prison. Workers need to understand prisoner's rights, appropriate self-defense procedures, and need to be able to communicate with prisoners in a fair and effective manner.
In addition, private guards are often paid poorly and lack the power of a union to protect them from labor abuse. Private prisons tend to be understaffed, so guards must work longer hours to boot. This saves private prison corporations money, but also pushes inexperienced guards to psychological and financial extremes while on the job. Any worker who has to work over 40 hours per week for relatively low pay in a tough environment like a prison stands a fair chance of reacting inappropriately to prisoners.
However, this issue isn't simply one with guards' shortcomings. David Miller makes the argument that when they are well trained, private prison guards are able to attend to the needs of prisoners quite effectively, even reducing prison violence more effectively than their publicly-employed counterparts.
Miller cites research that shows private prisons have more liberty to choose who they want to have as inmates. Although choosing prisoners may seem like an odd concept, as private entities these prisons can reject potential inmates if they don't fit charter or contract stipulations. A public prison must accept any inmate the state assigns, a major cause of overcrowding and an intensely violent atmosphere. Miller's conclusion is that the lower populations of private prisons and better-trained guards lead to more satisfied and cooperative prisoners. In short, a private prison may be able to provide more for prisoners.
However, other facts counter this assessment, specifically the rate of private prison guard satisfaction and violence in private prisons. Private guards have a turnover rate of over 40 percent, more than twice that of public prison guards. Prisoner-on-prisoner assaults are 54 percent higher in private prisons than in public prisons, and prisoner-on-staff assaults are 49 percent higher.
The efficiency of private prisons is also questionable. An audit by the state of Arizona found the state's private prisons were spending only $2.75 less per prisoner per day than public institutions. This, despite private prisons' low wages and other cost-cutting techniques and billions of dollars in contract earnings. If private prisons do not save the government money, are they worth it, especially considering the controversy surrounding them?
Even when similar conditions are found in prison quality and guard experience, opponents of private prisons argue the privatization of a public good goes against the value of a facility that is supposed to rehabilitate or put away dangerous criminals. These institutions are meant to be controlled directly by the public through the states, not by a private company with shareholders and a profit motive. The issue of privatization will not be resolved any time soon. The public debate will continue over matters of justice and what belongs as an exclusive responsibility of the state.
Prisons have begun to become more privatized over the last few decades. One reason for this increase in privatization is the explosion of the prison population, which has undermined states' ability to address the construction and maintenance of public prisons. Another factor is the emerging belief that a free market system with private owners will perform better than public institutions. However, issues with how these private prisons run are a public concern and fuel a particularly strong debate.
One recent example further illustrates this point. In Hawaii, prisoners were beaten and abused by employees of the Corrections Corporation of America, a private company that contracts guards for prison facilities. In July 2010, five prisoners were threatened with death, kicked, and beaten by the guards. This single example highlights starkly the issues with private prisons, specifically with the professionalism of privately contracted guards.
In terms of forensic psychology, why do these abuses occur? Jenni Gainsborough, director of Penal Reform International, says many corporations take shortcuts in training prison guards. Prisons are no place for novice security workers, but require well-trained staff that are highly educated to respond to the types of situations common in a prison. Workers need to understand prisoner's rights, appropriate self-defense procedures, and need to be able to communicate with prisoners in a fair and effective manner.
In addition, private guards are often paid poorly and lack the power of a union to protect them from labor abuse. Private prisons tend to be understaffed, so guards must work longer hours to boot. This saves private prison corporations money, but also pushes inexperienced guards to psychological and financial extremes while on the job. Any worker who has to work over 40 hours per week for relatively low pay in a tough environment like a prison stands a fair chance of reacting inappropriately to prisoners.
However, this issue isn't simply one with guards' shortcomings. David Miller makes the argument that when they are well trained, private prison guards are able to attend to the needs of prisoners quite effectively, even reducing prison violence more effectively than their publicly-employed counterparts.
Miller cites research that shows private prisons have more liberty to choose who they want to have as inmates. Although choosing prisoners may seem like an odd concept, as private entities these prisons can reject potential inmates if they don't fit charter or contract stipulations. A public prison must accept any inmate the state assigns, a major cause of overcrowding and an intensely violent atmosphere. Miller's conclusion is that the lower populations of private prisons and better-trained guards lead to more satisfied and cooperative prisoners. In short, a private prison may be able to provide more for prisoners.
However, other facts counter this assessment, specifically the rate of private prison guard satisfaction and violence in private prisons. Private guards have a turnover rate of over 40 percent, more than twice that of public prison guards. Prisoner-on-prisoner assaults are 54 percent higher in private prisons than in public prisons, and prisoner-on-staff assaults are 49 percent higher.
The efficiency of private prisons is also questionable. An audit by the state of Arizona found the state's private prisons were spending only $2.75 less per prisoner per day than public institutions. This, despite private prisons' low wages and other cost-cutting techniques and billions of dollars in contract earnings. If private prisons do not save the government money, are they worth it, especially considering the controversy surrounding them?
Even when similar conditions are found in prison quality and guard experience, opponents of private prisons argue the privatization of a public good goes against the value of a facility that is supposed to rehabilitate or put away dangerous criminals. These institutions are meant to be controlled directly by the public through the states, not by a private company with shareholders and a profit motive. The issue of privatization will not be resolved any time soon. The public debate will continue over matters of justice and what belongs as an exclusive responsibility of the state.
Do you know how to keep food safe?
“Fever, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.” With the onset of such symptoms, many people brace themselves for a long night spent sitting on a cold bathroom floor, hugging a porcelain toilet and ridding themselves of the contents of last night’s dinner. When calling in sick to work the next morning, they may report that they have been struck with a case of the stomach flu. However, the USDA points out that another common category of illness, often overlooked, presents itself with the same nasty symptoms: foodborne illness (USDA, 2006). The statistics are striking; millions of people in the United States are sickened each year from food poisoning, 325,000 are hospitalized, and 5,000 die (MODHSS, 2010). The good news is that foodborne illness is preventable in the grand majority of cases.
One common way that people develop foodborne illness is by ingesting Escherichia Coli (E. coli for short), which is a type of bacteria. Some kinds of E. coli make people sick by producing a toxin called a “Shiga toxin;” this class of bacteria are called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC. Because the strand E. coli 0157:H7 is the most commonly identified strand in North America, it will be the focus of this discussion (CDC, 2008). However, it is important to note that many other kinds of STEC are also capable of causing disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most likely victims of STEC illnesses are very young children, elderly persons, and persons with weakened or compromised immune systems, but in reality, anyone can become infected. Symptoms typically appear 3-4 days after the person has ingested the harmful bacteria, but an incubation period of anywhere between 1 and 10 days is considered normal (CDC, 2008). Symptoms vary but typically include severe stomach cramps, often-bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and low-grade fever.
Illnesses usually last for 5-7 days, but they can also be life-threatening. For example, the CDC estimates that 5-10% of those who have STEC infections develop a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can be deadly because it can cause a person’s kidneys to stop working. Symptoms of this condition include decreased frequency of urination, feeling very tired, and losing pink color in the cheeks and lower eyelids. Persons suspected of suffering from this condition need to be hospitalized in order to combat the illness (CDC, 2008). Other possible complications of foodborne illnesses include arthritis and meningitis (CDC, 2008).
STEC are constantly present in the natural environment. These bacteria live in the guts of animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, deer, and elk, but they typically do not make these hosts sick. The problem begins when STEC is transferred to humans. Typically, this occurs when humans swallow tiny (sometimes invisible) amounts of human or animal feces containing STEC. Traces of feces may be swallowed when working with cows or changing diapers, of course, but STEC is also transferred to others in less obvious ways. These include, but are not limited to, swallowing contaminated lake water while swimming, eating food prepared by a person who did not wash his or her hands properly, consuming the bacteria after touching animals in petting zoos, and consuming infected water, milk, meat, or produce (CDC, 2008).
However, as mentioned earlier, the grand majority of cases of foodborne illness, including those induced by STEC, are preventable. The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and other sources offer a multitude of suggestions regarding how to keep food safe and prevent foodborne illness. These suggestions can be divided into the clear categories of “before the cooking process,” “during the cooking process,” and “after the cooking process” tips.
FOOD SAFETY TIPS
BEFORE COOKING
One of the simplest measures that any person can take to prevent the spread of foodborne illness is to properly wash his or her hands before preparing or eating any meal. Many people who believe they are adequately washing their hands are sorely mistaken. According to a study conducted by the American Society of Microbiology, 97% of females and 92% of males said they washed their hands, but those numbers turned out to be 75% of females and 58% of males upon observation (MNDOH, 2006). A proper hand-washing technique suggested by the DHSS includes using soap and warm water; washing vigorously for 10-20 seconds, making sure to reach all surfaces of the hands including the wrists, between the fingers, and under the finger nails; rinsing well; drying hands with a paper towel; and using a paper towel to turn off the water (MODHSS, 2010). It is certainly important to wash your hands before preparing a meal and eating, but you should also wash your hands after using the restroom, coughing/sneezing, touching cuts or skin infections, handling raw meat, and touching pets or other animals. According to the DHSS, “nearly half the cases of foodborne illnesses could be prevented by better hand-washing by food handlers” (MODHSS, 2010). In addition, hand sanitizer is a helpful follow-up to hand-washing, but it should never be used to replace this valuable technique.
Some foods should simply never be ingested in the first place because they have such a high risk of containing harmful bacteria that can make people ill. These foods include raw milk, unpasteurized dairy products, unpasteurized juices (such as fresh apple cider), raw meat, and raw cookie dough (CDC, 2008).
Many homeowners are all too familiar with the common scenario of opening up the fridge and wondering if a certain food has gone bad. In cases of suspected food spoilage, food should never simply be tasted, smelled, or eye-balled in order to determine its safety. It is true that in some cases, the presence of mold or other growths may indicate that a food has reached its expiration date and should not be consumed. However, some foods may look and smell fine, but if they have been stored at room temperature for over 2 hours, microscopic bacteria may have been allowed to grow. The safe temperature for foods in refrigerators is between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and freezers should be kept at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below (MODHSS, 2010). For more information on how to determine the safety of food in the case of power outages or other instances in which food has been kept at a non ideal temperature for an extended period of time, please visit http://www.foodsafety.gov/.
DURING COOKING
When I was a child, my mother often asked me to take certain meats out of the freezer while she was at work and let them thaw on the counter all day. This practice is actually not considered safe, because it allows any germs present on the food to thrive. Safer alternatives to this practice include thawing the food under running water (70 degrees Fahrenheit or below) for less than 2 hours, placing the food in the refrigerator to thaw, or thawing the food in the microwave as part of the cooking process (MODHSS, 2010).
It is also important to make sure that raw meats are cooked to the appropriate internal temperature before they are consumed. Safe internal temperatures for various meats include 165 degrees Fahrenheit for poultry, 155 for ground meat, and 145 for fish and pork (MODHSS, 2010). It is not sufficient to judge the doneness of meat by its internal color. According to a study performed by the USDA, “25% of hamburgers with a brown internal color were not cooked to the proper temperature” (MODHSS, 2010). Instead of simply eyeballing the meat, it is essential to use a meat thermometer to judge the safety of consuming the food.
The cooking process is often the time that foodborne pathogens are allowed to enter the food we eat because of the prevalence of cross contamination. Cross contamination occurs when a person handling raw meats, eggs, fish, or other foods containing harmful pathogens touches cooking utensils, cutting boards, or cooking surfaces and spreads the pathogens to ready-to-eat foods in the process. This mode of transmission can be interrupted by washing your hands after handling raw foods, washing utensils and cutting boards that have come in contact with raw foods, and disinfecting counter surfaces frequently (MODHSS, 2010).
AFTER COOKING
A simple guideline to follow is to “keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.” Hot foods should be kept at 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above, and cold foods should be held below 41 degrees Fahrenheit (MODHSS, 2010). This guideline is compromised when already-prepared foods are allowed to sit out on the counter for extended periods of time. As a result, you should strive to store leftovers promptly.
Leftovers are ideally stored in the refrigerator in shallow containers (2 inches tall or less) so that the cooling process can be accelerated and the buildup of harmful bacteria can be prevented. Storing foods in larger containers may keep foods warm and allow harmful bacteria to grow (MODHSS, 2010).
Occasionally, even after following all of the above feasible tips to increase the safety of your food, foodborne illness will still occur. In these cases, it is important to be prepared to limit the course of the illness and prevent the spread of the illness between the affected person and his or her close contacts.
Unfortunately, if a person develops a foodborne illness, antibiotics are not a useful method of combating the illness. In fact, taking antibiotics may even increase the risk of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). It is also important to avoid taking antidiarrheal agents, such as Imodium ®, because your body needs to expel the pathogens in order to eliminate the illness (CDC, 2008). One of the most helpful things you can do is to make sure that the ill person stays hydrated. In addition, frequent hand-washing is a good idea for the person affected as well as any people who will come in contact with him or her, such as family members and friends. STEC bacteria may be shed in a person’s feces for several weeks, even after the person no longer feels ill. In rare cases, bacteria continue to be shed for several months (CDC, 2008).
If you do suspect foodborne illness is the cause of your suffering or the suffering of a loved one, it may be appropriate to report your suspicion in order to prevent others from getting sick. The USDA suggests that you preserve the evidence if at all possible by wrapping a portion of the suspect food securely, making it with the word “Danger,” and freezing it. If the packaging material of the food is available, it may also be helpful to save this as well. It is not a bad idea to record the food type, the date, the time consumed, and when the onset of symptoms occurred. If the food is a USDA-inspected product, you may wish to call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854 or send an e-mail to mphotline.fsis@usda.gov. If you suspect that you developed food poisoning from eating at a restaurant or other large gathering, or if the suspect food is a commercial product, call your local health department. They just may be able to prevent the illness of others like you by notifying the public of a pathogenic outbreak (USDA, 2006).
One common way that people develop foodborne illness is by ingesting Escherichia Coli (E. coli for short), which is a type of bacteria. Some kinds of E. coli make people sick by producing a toxin called a “Shiga toxin;” this class of bacteria are called Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, or STEC. Because the strand E. coli 0157:H7 is the most commonly identified strand in North America, it will be the focus of this discussion (CDC, 2008). However, it is important to note that many other kinds of STEC are also capable of causing disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most likely victims of STEC illnesses are very young children, elderly persons, and persons with weakened or compromised immune systems, but in reality, anyone can become infected. Symptoms typically appear 3-4 days after the person has ingested the harmful bacteria, but an incubation period of anywhere between 1 and 10 days is considered normal (CDC, 2008). Symptoms vary but typically include severe stomach cramps, often-bloody diarrhea, vomiting, and low-grade fever.
Illnesses usually last for 5-7 days, but they can also be life-threatening. For example, the CDC estimates that 5-10% of those who have STEC infections develop a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which can be deadly because it can cause a person’s kidneys to stop working. Symptoms of this condition include decreased frequency of urination, feeling very tired, and losing pink color in the cheeks and lower eyelids. Persons suspected of suffering from this condition need to be hospitalized in order to combat the illness (CDC, 2008). Other possible complications of foodborne illnesses include arthritis and meningitis (CDC, 2008).
STEC are constantly present in the natural environment. These bacteria live in the guts of animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, deer, and elk, but they typically do not make these hosts sick. The problem begins when STEC is transferred to humans. Typically, this occurs when humans swallow tiny (sometimes invisible) amounts of human or animal feces containing STEC. Traces of feces may be swallowed when working with cows or changing diapers, of course, but STEC is also transferred to others in less obvious ways. These include, but are not limited to, swallowing contaminated lake water while swimming, eating food prepared by a person who did not wash his or her hands properly, consuming the bacteria after touching animals in petting zoos, and consuming infected water, milk, meat, or produce (CDC, 2008).
However, as mentioned earlier, the grand majority of cases of foodborne illness, including those induced by STEC, are preventable. The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) and other sources offer a multitude of suggestions regarding how to keep food safe and prevent foodborne illness. These suggestions can be divided into the clear categories of “before the cooking process,” “during the cooking process,” and “after the cooking process” tips.
FOOD SAFETY TIPS
BEFORE COOKING
One of the simplest measures that any person can take to prevent the spread of foodborne illness is to properly wash his or her hands before preparing or eating any meal. Many people who believe they are adequately washing their hands are sorely mistaken. According to a study conducted by the American Society of Microbiology, 97% of females and 92% of males said they washed their hands, but those numbers turned out to be 75% of females and 58% of males upon observation (MNDOH, 2006). A proper hand-washing technique suggested by the DHSS includes using soap and warm water; washing vigorously for 10-20 seconds, making sure to reach all surfaces of the hands including the wrists, between the fingers, and under the finger nails; rinsing well; drying hands with a paper towel; and using a paper towel to turn off the water (MODHSS, 2010). It is certainly important to wash your hands before preparing a meal and eating, but you should also wash your hands after using the restroom, coughing/sneezing, touching cuts or skin infections, handling raw meat, and touching pets or other animals. According to the DHSS, “nearly half the cases of foodborne illnesses could be prevented by better hand-washing by food handlers” (MODHSS, 2010). In addition, hand sanitizer is a helpful follow-up to hand-washing, but it should never be used to replace this valuable technique.
Some foods should simply never be ingested in the first place because they have such a high risk of containing harmful bacteria that can make people ill. These foods include raw milk, unpasteurized dairy products, unpasteurized juices (such as fresh apple cider), raw meat, and raw cookie dough (CDC, 2008).
Many homeowners are all too familiar with the common scenario of opening up the fridge and wondering if a certain food has gone bad. In cases of suspected food spoilage, food should never simply be tasted, smelled, or eye-balled in order to determine its safety. It is true that in some cases, the presence of mold or other growths may indicate that a food has reached its expiration date and should not be consumed. However, some foods may look and smell fine, but if they have been stored at room temperature for over 2 hours, microscopic bacteria may have been allowed to grow. The safe temperature for foods in refrigerators is between 35 and 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and freezers should be kept at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or below (MODHSS, 2010). For more information on how to determine the safety of food in the case of power outages or other instances in which food has been kept at a non ideal temperature for an extended period of time, please visit http://www.foodsafety.gov/.
DURING COOKING
When I was a child, my mother often asked me to take certain meats out of the freezer while she was at work and let them thaw on the counter all day. This practice is actually not considered safe, because it allows any germs present on the food to thrive. Safer alternatives to this practice include thawing the food under running water (70 degrees Fahrenheit or below) for less than 2 hours, placing the food in the refrigerator to thaw, or thawing the food in the microwave as part of the cooking process (MODHSS, 2010).
It is also important to make sure that raw meats are cooked to the appropriate internal temperature before they are consumed. Safe internal temperatures for various meats include 165 degrees Fahrenheit for poultry, 155 for ground meat, and 145 for fish and pork (MODHSS, 2010). It is not sufficient to judge the doneness of meat by its internal color. According to a study performed by the USDA, “25% of hamburgers with a brown internal color were not cooked to the proper temperature” (MODHSS, 2010). Instead of simply eyeballing the meat, it is essential to use a meat thermometer to judge the safety of consuming the food.
The cooking process is often the time that foodborne pathogens are allowed to enter the food we eat because of the prevalence of cross contamination. Cross contamination occurs when a person handling raw meats, eggs, fish, or other foods containing harmful pathogens touches cooking utensils, cutting boards, or cooking surfaces and spreads the pathogens to ready-to-eat foods in the process. This mode of transmission can be interrupted by washing your hands after handling raw foods, washing utensils and cutting boards that have come in contact with raw foods, and disinfecting counter surfaces frequently (MODHSS, 2010).
AFTER COOKING
A simple guideline to follow is to “keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.” Hot foods should be kept at 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above, and cold foods should be held below 41 degrees Fahrenheit (MODHSS, 2010). This guideline is compromised when already-prepared foods are allowed to sit out on the counter for extended periods of time. As a result, you should strive to store leftovers promptly.
Leftovers are ideally stored in the refrigerator in shallow containers (2 inches tall or less) so that the cooling process can be accelerated and the buildup of harmful bacteria can be prevented. Storing foods in larger containers may keep foods warm and allow harmful bacteria to grow (MODHSS, 2010).
Occasionally, even after following all of the above feasible tips to increase the safety of your food, foodborne illness will still occur. In these cases, it is important to be prepared to limit the course of the illness and prevent the spread of the illness between the affected person and his or her close contacts.
Unfortunately, if a person develops a foodborne illness, antibiotics are not a useful method of combating the illness. In fact, taking antibiotics may even increase the risk of developing hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). It is also important to avoid taking antidiarrheal agents, such as Imodium ®, because your body needs to expel the pathogens in order to eliminate the illness (CDC, 2008). One of the most helpful things you can do is to make sure that the ill person stays hydrated. In addition, frequent hand-washing is a good idea for the person affected as well as any people who will come in contact with him or her, such as family members and friends. STEC bacteria may be shed in a person’s feces for several weeks, even after the person no longer feels ill. In rare cases, bacteria continue to be shed for several months (CDC, 2008).
If you do suspect foodborne illness is the cause of your suffering or the suffering of a loved one, it may be appropriate to report your suspicion in order to prevent others from getting sick. The USDA suggests that you preserve the evidence if at all possible by wrapping a portion of the suspect food securely, making it with the word “Danger,” and freezing it. If the packaging material of the food is available, it may also be helpful to save this as well. It is not a bad idea to record the food type, the date, the time consumed, and when the onset of symptoms occurred. If the food is a USDA-inspected product, you may wish to call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854 or send an e-mail to mphotline.fsis@usda.gov. If you suspect that you developed food poisoning from eating at a restaurant or other large gathering, or if the suspect food is a commercial product, call your local health department. They just may be able to prevent the illness of others like you by notifying the public of a pathogenic outbreak (USDA, 2006).
What we all should know about Hepatitis C!
“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the liver. The liver is a vital organ that processes nutrients, filters the blood, and fights infections. When the liver is inflamed or damaged, its function can be affected. Hepatitis C is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the Hepatitis C virus. Chronic Hepatitis C is a serious disease that can result in long-term health problems, including liver damage, liver failure, and liver cancer. Approximately 12,000 people die every year from Hepatitis C-related liver disease.
There are two forms of Hepatitis C: acute and chronic. Acute Hepatitis C is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the Hepatitis C virus. For reasons that are not known, 15%–25% of people “clear” the virus without treatment. Approximately 75%–85% of people who become infected with the Hepatitis C virus develop “chronic,” or lifelong, infection. Chronic Hepatitis C is a long-term illness that occurs when the Hepatitis C virus remains in a person’s body. Over time, it can lead to serious liver problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.
Transmission of Hepatitis C
* By blood to blood contact
* Exposure to contaminated needles or other equipment
* Sex with multiple partners or rough sex
* Tattooed or pierced with non-sterile needles or equipment
* Accidental needle stick with a needle that was used on an infected person
* Using the same razor or toothbrush that an infected person used
According to the Center of Disease Control, in 2007, an estimated 17,000 new cases of hepatitis C were expected for the United States. An estimated 3.2 million people in the United States are infected with chronic hepatitis C.
Symptoms of Hepatitis C
Many people with Hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. Even though a person has no symptoms, the virus can still be detected in the blood. If symptoms occur with acute infection, they can appear anytime from 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure. Symptoms of chronic Hepatitis C can take up to 30 years to develop. Damage to the liver can silently occur during this time.
* Fever
* Easy bruising
* Fatigue
* Loss of appetite
* Vomiting
* Nausea
* Abdominal pain
* Longer than usual amount of time to stop bleeding.
Testing
Doctors can diagnose Hepatitis C using specific blood tests that are not part of blood work typically done during regular physical exams. Typically, a person first gets a screening test that looks for “antibodies” to the Hepatitis C virus. Antibodies are chemicals released into the bloodstream when a person becomes infected. The antibodies remain in the bloodstream, even if the person clears the virus. If the screening test is positive for Hepatitis C antibodies, different blood tests are needed to determine whether the infection has been cleared or has become a chronic infection.
Should get tested if:
* Currently inject or use to inject drug
* Have abnormal liver tests or liver disease
* Received donated blood or organs before 1992
* Been exposed to blood on the job through a needle stick or injury with a sharp object
* Currently on hemodialysis
Managing
With proper management people with hepatitis C can lead full and active lives. Liver damage can be decreased and managed through lifestyle modification. An individual with hepatitis C should decrease or cease smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs or exposures to other harmful chemicals. The management of hormones is compromised in hepatitis C. This can affect immunological, emotional and sexual aspects of your life. May also need supplements of vitamins for vitamin A, D,E, K, B12, iron and copper. Need to be under the care of a doctor who specializes in the liver. The individual should stay on any prescribed medications. One of most important aspects is to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritious meals, getting exercise, and resting when you feel tired.
What’s Going On?
There are multiple projects that have been started to bring awareness to this disease. For instance, World Hepatitis Day, which is on July 28, 2011, which spreads awareness about hepatitis B and C.
There are two forms of Hepatitis C: acute and chronic. Acute Hepatitis C is a short-term illness that occurs within the first 6 months after someone is exposed to the Hepatitis C virus. For reasons that are not known, 15%–25% of people “clear” the virus without treatment. Approximately 75%–85% of people who become infected with the Hepatitis C virus develop “chronic,” or lifelong, infection. Chronic Hepatitis C is a long-term illness that occurs when the Hepatitis C virus remains in a person’s body. Over time, it can lead to serious liver problems, including liver damage, cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer.
Transmission of Hepatitis C
* By blood to blood contact
* Exposure to contaminated needles or other equipment
* Sex with multiple partners or rough sex
* Tattooed or pierced with non-sterile needles or equipment
* Accidental needle stick with a needle that was used on an infected person
* Using the same razor or toothbrush that an infected person used
According to the Center of Disease Control, in 2007, an estimated 17,000 new cases of hepatitis C were expected for the United States. An estimated 3.2 million people in the United States are infected with chronic hepatitis C.
Symptoms of Hepatitis C
Many people with Hepatitis C do not have symptoms and do not know they are infected. Even though a person has no symptoms, the virus can still be detected in the blood. If symptoms occur with acute infection, they can appear anytime from 2 weeks to 6 months after exposure. Symptoms of chronic Hepatitis C can take up to 30 years to develop. Damage to the liver can silently occur during this time.
* Fever
* Easy bruising
* Fatigue
* Loss of appetite
* Vomiting
* Nausea
* Abdominal pain
* Longer than usual amount of time to stop bleeding.
Testing
Doctors can diagnose Hepatitis C using specific blood tests that are not part of blood work typically done during regular physical exams. Typically, a person first gets a screening test that looks for “antibodies” to the Hepatitis C virus. Antibodies are chemicals released into the bloodstream when a person becomes infected. The antibodies remain in the bloodstream, even if the person clears the virus. If the screening test is positive for Hepatitis C antibodies, different blood tests are needed to determine whether the infection has been cleared or has become a chronic infection.
Should get tested if:
* Currently inject or use to inject drug
* Have abnormal liver tests or liver disease
* Received donated blood or organs before 1992
* Been exposed to blood on the job through a needle stick or injury with a sharp object
* Currently on hemodialysis
Managing
With proper management people with hepatitis C can lead full and active lives. Liver damage can be decreased and managed through lifestyle modification. An individual with hepatitis C should decrease or cease smoking, drinking alcohol, using drugs or exposures to other harmful chemicals. The management of hormones is compromised in hepatitis C. This can affect immunological, emotional and sexual aspects of your life. May also need supplements of vitamins for vitamin A, D,E, K, B12, iron and copper. Need to be under the care of a doctor who specializes in the liver. The individual should stay on any prescribed medications. One of most important aspects is to maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating nutritious meals, getting exercise, and resting when you feel tired.
What’s Going On?
There are multiple projects that have been started to bring awareness to this disease. For instance, World Hepatitis Day, which is on July 28, 2011, which spreads awareness about hepatitis B and C.
What is Heart Disease?
Since the year 2007, heart disease has been the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 24.5% of total deaths. There were 349 reported deaths in Clay County in 2008 that were identified as being caused by heart disease. Over 12 million deaths worldwide each year can be attributed to heart disease, according to the World Health Organization. In the United States, more than 60 million people are currently living with some form of heart disease. Causes of heart diseasecan be associated with genetic factors, lifestyle influences, or comormid conditions such as hypertension or high cholesterol. The term “heart disease” encompasses several conditions that affect cardiac health.
A prominent condition known as coronary heart disease refers to the failure of the coronary circulation to provide adequate bloodflow to cardiac muscle and surrounding tissues. Failure of circulation results from the narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. The main cause of coronary heart disease is atherosclerosis, which occurs when fatty material and plaque build up along the walls of the arteries and cause the arteries to narrow. Also known as coronary artery disease, it can sometimes present with little or only slightly noticeable symptoms. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort, or angina. Coronary heart disease is widespread and kills over 459,000 people in the United States each year. Coronary artery disease can be treated pharmacologically with medications that lower blood pressure and/or reduce the risk of having a heart attack by preventing the formation of blood clots in the coronary arteries. Surgery may be necessary for some patients with coronary heart disease. A common procedure is coronary artery bypass surgery, which bypasses the blood flow around the affected section of the artery.
Cardiomyopathy is the deterioration of the function of the myocardium, or the muscle of the heart. It is often associated with inadequate pumping of the heart. The causes of cardiomyopathy are often not specifically identified. Instead, efforts are aimed at treating the condition that most likely led to the cardiomyopathy, such as taking medications incorrectly or excessive alcohol consumption. There are various specific types of cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged and cannot pump blood efficiently. Another common type, restrictive cardiomyopathy, refers to conditions in which the chambers of the heart are unable to fill properly with blood because of abnormal stiffness of the heart. Cardiomyopathy is commonly caused by ischemia, or lack of blood flow to the heart, which can be correlated to alcoholism, diabetes, and hypertension, among other conditions.
Another well-known form of heart disease is cardiovascular disease, which refers to any of a number of specific diseases that affect the veins and arteries that make up the blood vessel system of the heart. Cardiovascular disease includes atherosclerosis and can be associated with diabetes and hypertension. Other cardiac diseases include inflammation of the heart muscle, hypertensive heart disease caused by high blood pressure, problems with the valves of the heart, and ischemic heart disease caused by reduced blood supply to the organs.
When the heart is unable to sufficiently supply enough blood flow to meet the needs of the body, the heart can experience congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure can result from any of the aforementioned cardiac diseases, and can be related to myocardial infarctions (heart attack) or to cardiac arrest, when there is no measureable cardiac output. Chronic heart failure has been linked to cigarette smoking, obesity, and diabetes. Congestive heart failure can be diagnosed with standard imaging techniques and can be managed. Management of congestive heart failure focuses on improving the symptoms and preventing progression. Pharmacological methods may be employed to help reduce mortality, and lifestyle modification is very common. Exercise is strongly encouraged and dietary guidelines are set to control salt and fluid intake. Congestive heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalizations among individuals over the age of 65, and should be treated promptly and efficiently.
A prominent condition known as coronary heart disease refers to the failure of the coronary circulation to provide adequate bloodflow to cardiac muscle and surrounding tissues. Failure of circulation results from the narrowing of the small blood vessels that supply blood and oxygen to the heart. The main cause of coronary heart disease is atherosclerosis, which occurs when fatty material and plaque build up along the walls of the arteries and cause the arteries to narrow. Also known as coronary artery disease, it can sometimes present with little or only slightly noticeable symptoms. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort, or angina. Coronary heart disease is widespread and kills over 459,000 people in the United States each year. Coronary artery disease can be treated pharmacologically with medications that lower blood pressure and/or reduce the risk of having a heart attack by preventing the formation of blood clots in the coronary arteries. Surgery may be necessary for some patients with coronary heart disease. A common procedure is coronary artery bypass surgery, which bypasses the blood flow around the affected section of the artery.
Cardiomyopathy is the deterioration of the function of the myocardium, or the muscle of the heart. It is often associated with inadequate pumping of the heart. The causes of cardiomyopathy are often not specifically identified. Instead, efforts are aimed at treating the condition that most likely led to the cardiomyopathy, such as taking medications incorrectly or excessive alcohol consumption. There are various specific types of cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is a condition in which the heart becomes weakened and enlarged and cannot pump blood efficiently. Another common type, restrictive cardiomyopathy, refers to conditions in which the chambers of the heart are unable to fill properly with blood because of abnormal stiffness of the heart. Cardiomyopathy is commonly caused by ischemia, or lack of blood flow to the heart, which can be correlated to alcoholism, diabetes, and hypertension, among other conditions.
Another well-known form of heart disease is cardiovascular disease, which refers to any of a number of specific diseases that affect the veins and arteries that make up the blood vessel system of the heart. Cardiovascular disease includes atherosclerosis and can be associated with diabetes and hypertension. Other cardiac diseases include inflammation of the heart muscle, hypertensive heart disease caused by high blood pressure, problems with the valves of the heart, and ischemic heart disease caused by reduced blood supply to the organs.
When the heart is unable to sufficiently supply enough blood flow to meet the needs of the body, the heart can experience congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure can result from any of the aforementioned cardiac diseases, and can be related to myocardial infarctions (heart attack) or to cardiac arrest, when there is no measureable cardiac output. Chronic heart failure has been linked to cigarette smoking, obesity, and diabetes. Congestive heart failure can be diagnosed with standard imaging techniques and can be managed. Management of congestive heart failure focuses on improving the symptoms and preventing progression. Pharmacological methods may be employed to help reduce mortality, and lifestyle modification is very common. Exercise is strongly encouraged and dietary guidelines are set to control salt and fluid intake. Congestive heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalizations among individuals over the age of 65, and should be treated promptly and efficiently.
TEENS TODAY NEED MORE ACTIVITY
America’s teens today do not get enough exercise. The Center for Disease Control says that teens need at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity exercise daily. Unfortunately nearly 20% of teens in America today are considered to be clinically overweight or obese. Why is this? Teens today would rather spend time in front of a screen rather than getting much needed exercise. Health day news.com says that teens today have an average of 7 hours of “screen time” daily. This is compared to 1999 when teens spent about 3 hours a day of “screen time.”
Teens need more physical activity to avoid health problems in the future. Teens that are obese are extremely likely to become obese adults. This leads to many health problems such as: diabetes, cancers, and many cardiovascular diseases. Excessive time spent in front of a screen has its’ adverse effects. Research has shown that high levels of electronic media can lead to school problems, attention difficulties, sleep disorders, eating disorders, and obesity from a lack of physical activity. Screen time is considered any amount of time a person spends watching television, on a computer, or using any other kind of electronic media (video games). There are many other benefits to physical activity outside of the obvious obesity problems. Physical activity can help teens to: perform better in school, feel better about themselves, develop skills in sports, build strength and endurance, have more energy, sleep better, and physical activity is a wonderful to help deal with stress.
Are teens the only ones to blame? No, their parents are also responsible for the lack of their sons/daughters lack of physical activity. It is up to the parents to take responsibility and do what they can to help their children become as healthy as they can. The CDC recommends that children have 2 hours or less of screen time per day. This means that parents must do what they can to make their child’s room electronic free, encourage alternative activities to screen time, and become active themselves.
One hour of daily exercise may seem like a lot, but it actually a lot easier to achieve than many believe. All 60 minutes do not need to be done at one time, but can be separated into several portions of the day. Sports are a great way to become active and develop other skills such as leadership and teamwork. However not everyone wants to play a sport because of time commitments or other various reasons. There are many other ways to get the amount of physical activity that you need. Some of the more simple ideas for daily activity include: take a walk, dance, walk the dog, ride a bike, take the stairs, play ball in the back yard, wash cars, do yard work, go swimming, take classes such as yoga or aerobics, weight lifting, go to the local park, or go in-line skating.
How do you know if your exercise is getting the job done? The “talk-sing” test is a great way to measure how intense the exercise is. If you can talk while exercising, then you’re doing great! If you are to breathless to talk, then you can slow it down a little bit. If you can sing during exercise, then you need to kick up the intensity! Before beginning any exercise program there are many important tips to remember. Consult a doctor if you are new to exercise. If you are new to exercise, don’t kill yourself on the first day. Start with ten minute intervals, and slowly work your way up to your desired time. To avoid injuries, make sure to stretch and warm up for at least ten minutes before performing any exercise. It is just as important to have ten minutes of cool down and stretching after exercise to avoid soreness the next day. Make sure to consume a lot of water, especially after the workout to re-hydrate. Drink water, not sports drinks. The amount of sugar contained in sports drinks can make all the work you just did nearly worthless. Most importantly, with all kinds of exercise you may do: HAVE FUN WITH IT!
Teens today need to spend at least an hour a day doing some kind of physical activity or we will be looking at a future generation full of medical problems and insulin shots. Physical activity is not hard to fit into a daily routine and it is time that we begin to reverse the trend of teenage obesity in this country.
Teens need more physical activity to avoid health problems in the future. Teens that are obese are extremely likely to become obese adults. This leads to many health problems such as: diabetes, cancers, and many cardiovascular diseases. Excessive time spent in front of a screen has its’ adverse effects. Research has shown that high levels of electronic media can lead to school problems, attention difficulties, sleep disorders, eating disorders, and obesity from a lack of physical activity. Screen time is considered any amount of time a person spends watching television, on a computer, or using any other kind of electronic media (video games). There are many other benefits to physical activity outside of the obvious obesity problems. Physical activity can help teens to: perform better in school, feel better about themselves, develop skills in sports, build strength and endurance, have more energy, sleep better, and physical activity is a wonderful to help deal with stress.
Are teens the only ones to blame? No, their parents are also responsible for the lack of their sons/daughters lack of physical activity. It is up to the parents to take responsibility and do what they can to help their children become as healthy as they can. The CDC recommends that children have 2 hours or less of screen time per day. This means that parents must do what they can to make their child’s room electronic free, encourage alternative activities to screen time, and become active themselves.
One hour of daily exercise may seem like a lot, but it actually a lot easier to achieve than many believe. All 60 minutes do not need to be done at one time, but can be separated into several portions of the day. Sports are a great way to become active and develop other skills such as leadership and teamwork. However not everyone wants to play a sport because of time commitments or other various reasons. There are many other ways to get the amount of physical activity that you need. Some of the more simple ideas for daily activity include: take a walk, dance, walk the dog, ride a bike, take the stairs, play ball in the back yard, wash cars, do yard work, go swimming, take classes such as yoga or aerobics, weight lifting, go to the local park, or go in-line skating.
How do you know if your exercise is getting the job done? The “talk-sing” test is a great way to measure how intense the exercise is. If you can talk while exercising, then you’re doing great! If you are to breathless to talk, then you can slow it down a little bit. If you can sing during exercise, then you need to kick up the intensity! Before beginning any exercise program there are many important tips to remember. Consult a doctor if you are new to exercise. If you are new to exercise, don’t kill yourself on the first day. Start with ten minute intervals, and slowly work your way up to your desired time. To avoid injuries, make sure to stretch and warm up for at least ten minutes before performing any exercise. It is just as important to have ten minutes of cool down and stretching after exercise to avoid soreness the next day. Make sure to consume a lot of water, especially after the workout to re-hydrate. Drink water, not sports drinks. The amount of sugar contained in sports drinks can make all the work you just did nearly worthless. Most importantly, with all kinds of exercise you may do: HAVE FUN WITH IT!
Teens today need to spend at least an hour a day doing some kind of physical activity or we will be looking at a future generation full of medical problems and insulin shots. Physical activity is not hard to fit into a daily routine and it is time that we begin to reverse the trend of teenage obesity in this country.
Risks of Not Getting Enough Sleep
Sleep is free right? That may be what we have heard people say when they are trying to convince us to get more of it. Those of us who have worked the night shift and have families or other obligations may disagree. As we all know time is precious, because we need more of it in our day we may be cutting our sleep down to make room for things we see as more important such as work, kids, house cleaning, etc.
There are studies showing (done by people who also need more sleep) what can happen to our bodies and especially our minds when we lack sleep that is needed. Every one of us is different, some may need as little as 6 hours a day and others may need 10 hours. We have all experienced sleep-deprivation starting with the first signs of moodiness and irritability. This is when we should pay attention to our bodies. Psychologists and scientists who have studied sleep patterns have noticed that a lack of sleep can directly or indirectly cause abnormalities in several systems in your body from the central nervous system, immune system, cardiovascular, and metabolic systems. Epidemiological studies suggest self-reported sleep complaints are associated with an increased relative risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Less sleep can also affect decision making skills. We want to stay healthy, but if our body does not get the rest it needs we are more susceptible to come down with colds, catch the flu or many other diseases.
Twenty percent of the population are night shift workers, about 60 to 70 percent of those workers have difficulty sleeping and/or problem sleepiness. They are one of the leading groups of people who are at a higher risk than others for sleep deprivation. One study shows that shift workers are two to five times more likely than employees with regular, daytime hours to fall asleep on the job. Working at night can be hard enough getting a sleep schedule in order, but when the majority of the population is asleep and the world runs on a daytime schedule, things may seem more out of whack to them. There are many reasons night workers do not get enough sleep, once they leave work they may have things they need to do like take care of the children who are just getting up or running errands because everything may be closed after they get their sleep or some have classes to attend. Many night shift workers have families who are probably on a different schedule then they are. When night workers get off work they may have a hard time falling asleep because others are getting up or they want to spend time with family.
Another problem for all people is stress. According to the sleep experts, stress is the number one cause of short-term sleep difficulties. There are many forms of stress that can plague sleep from our jobs, school, marriage, family or illnesses. Another health risk associated with not getting enough sleep that has been increasing over the years are traffic accidents. According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research and reports from the National Highway Safety Administration, car crashes can be attributed to a severe lack of sleep. According to the Department of Transportation, up to four percent of all highway crashes are due to sleepiness, especially in rural areas. So keep in mind why sleep can be so important, from functioning properly to keeping us safe sleep works with our bodies to make sure everything runs smoothly.
There are studies showing (done by people who also need more sleep) what can happen to our bodies and especially our minds when we lack sleep that is needed. Every one of us is different, some may need as little as 6 hours a day and others may need 10 hours. We have all experienced sleep-deprivation starting with the first signs of moodiness and irritability. This is when we should pay attention to our bodies. Psychologists and scientists who have studied sleep patterns have noticed that a lack of sleep can directly or indirectly cause abnormalities in several systems in your body from the central nervous system, immune system, cardiovascular, and metabolic systems. Epidemiological studies suggest self-reported sleep complaints are associated with an increased relative risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Less sleep can also affect decision making skills. We want to stay healthy, but if our body does not get the rest it needs we are more susceptible to come down with colds, catch the flu or many other diseases.
Twenty percent of the population are night shift workers, about 60 to 70 percent of those workers have difficulty sleeping and/or problem sleepiness. They are one of the leading groups of people who are at a higher risk than others for sleep deprivation. One study shows that shift workers are two to five times more likely than employees with regular, daytime hours to fall asleep on the job. Working at night can be hard enough getting a sleep schedule in order, but when the majority of the population is asleep and the world runs on a daytime schedule, things may seem more out of whack to them. There are many reasons night workers do not get enough sleep, once they leave work they may have things they need to do like take care of the children who are just getting up or running errands because everything may be closed after they get their sleep or some have classes to attend. Many night shift workers have families who are probably on a different schedule then they are. When night workers get off work they may have a hard time falling asleep because others are getting up or they want to spend time with family.
Another problem for all people is stress. According to the sleep experts, stress is the number one cause of short-term sleep difficulties. There are many forms of stress that can plague sleep from our jobs, school, marriage, family or illnesses. Another health risk associated with not getting enough sleep that has been increasing over the years are traffic accidents. According to the National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research and reports from the National Highway Safety Administration, car crashes can be attributed to a severe lack of sleep. According to the Department of Transportation, up to four percent of all highway crashes are due to sleepiness, especially in rural areas. So keep in mind why sleep can be so important, from functioning properly to keeping us safe sleep works with our bodies to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Obesity in Our Children
Obesity is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Results from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), using measured heights and weights, indicate that an estimated 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2-19 years are obese. Between 1976-1980 and 1999-2000, the prevalence of obesity increased. Between 1999-2000 and 2007-2008 there was no significant trend in obesity prevalence.
Among pre-school age children 2-5 years of age, obesity increased from 5 to 10.4% between 1976-1980 and 2007-2008 and from 6.5 to 19.6% among 6-11 year olds. Among adolescents aged 12-19, obesity increased from 5 to 18.1% during the same period.
Obese children and adolescents are at risk for health problems during their youth and as adults. For example, during their youth, obese children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes) than are other children and adolescents.
Obese children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults. For example, one study found that approximately 80% of children who were overweight at aged 10–15 years were obese adults at age 25 years. Another study found that 25% of obese adults were overweight as children. The latter study also found that if overweight begins before 8 years of age, obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe.
Thirty-three states had prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; nine of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%.
Encourage healthy eating habits.
There's no great secret to healthy eating. To help your children and family develop healthy eating habits:
Provide plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products.
Include low-fat or non-fat milk or dairy products.
Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for protein.
Serve reasonably-sized portions.
Encourage your family to drink lots of water.
Limit sugar-sweetened beverages.
Limit consumption of sugar and saturated fat.
Remember that small changes every day can lead to a recipe for success!
Look for ways to make favorite dishes healthier.
The recipes that you may prepare regularly, and that your family enjoys, with just a few changes can be healthier and just as satisfying. For new ideas about how to add more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet check out the recipe database from the FruitsandVeggiesMatter.gov. This database enables you to find tasty fruit and vegetable recipes that fit your needs.
Balancing Calories: Help Kids Stay Active
Another part of balancing calories is to engage in an appropriate amount of physical activity and avoid too much sedentary time. In addition to being fun for children and teens, regular physical activity has many health benefits, including:
Strengthening bones
Decreasing blood pressure
Reducing stress and anxiety
Increasing self-esteem
Helping with weight management
Help kids stay active.
Children and teens should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily.11 Remember that children imitate adults. Start adding physical activity to your own daily routine and encourage your child to join you.
Some examples of moderate intensity physical activity include:
Brisk walking
Playing tag
Jumping rope
Playing soccer
Swimming
Dancing
Reduce sedentary time.
In addition to encouraging physical activity, help children avoid too much sedentary time. Although quiet time for reading and homework is fine, limit the time your children watch television, play video games, or surf the web to no more than 2 hours per day. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend television viewing for children age 2 or younger.12 Instead, encourage your children to find fun activities to do with family members or on their own that simply involve more activity.
Among pre-school age children 2-5 years of age, obesity increased from 5 to 10.4% between 1976-1980 and 2007-2008 and from 6.5 to 19.6% among 6-11 year olds. Among adolescents aged 12-19, obesity increased from 5 to 18.1% during the same period.
Obese children and adolescents are at risk for health problems during their youth and as adults. For example, during their youth, obese children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes) than are other children and adolescents.
Obese children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults. For example, one study found that approximately 80% of children who were overweight at aged 10–15 years were obese adults at age 25 years. Another study found that 25% of obese adults were overweight as children. The latter study also found that if overweight begins before 8 years of age, obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe.
Thirty-three states had prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; nine of these states (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and West Virginia) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%.
Encourage healthy eating habits.
There's no great secret to healthy eating. To help your children and family develop healthy eating habits:
Provide plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products.
Include low-fat or non-fat milk or dairy products.
Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for protein.
Serve reasonably-sized portions.
Encourage your family to drink lots of water.
Limit sugar-sweetened beverages.
Limit consumption of sugar and saturated fat.
Remember that small changes every day can lead to a recipe for success!
Look for ways to make favorite dishes healthier.
The recipes that you may prepare regularly, and that your family enjoys, with just a few changes can be healthier and just as satisfying. For new ideas about how to add more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet check out the recipe database from the FruitsandVeggiesMatter.gov. This database enables you to find tasty fruit and vegetable recipes that fit your needs.
Balancing Calories: Help Kids Stay Active
Another part of balancing calories is to engage in an appropriate amount of physical activity and avoid too much sedentary time. In addition to being fun for children and teens, regular physical activity has many health benefits, including:
Strengthening bones
Decreasing blood pressure
Reducing stress and anxiety
Increasing self-esteem
Helping with weight management
Help kids stay active.
Children and teens should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily.11 Remember that children imitate adults. Start adding physical activity to your own daily routine and encourage your child to join you.
Some examples of moderate intensity physical activity include:
Brisk walking
Playing tag
Jumping rope
Playing soccer
Swimming
Dancing
Reduce sedentary time.
In addition to encouraging physical activity, help children avoid too much sedentary time. Although quiet time for reading and homework is fine, limit the time your children watch television, play video games, or surf the web to no more than 2 hours per day. Additionally, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend television viewing for children age 2 or younger.12 Instead, encourage your children to find fun activities to do with family members or on their own that simply involve more activity.
Christmas: Should We or Shouldn't We?
Should Christians celebrate Christmas? That's a question most Christians would find nonsensical, if they thought about it at all. Of course Christians should celebrate Christmas. What would their faith be without the celebration of it's founder's birth?
From a cultural standpoint, I support Christmas. Christmas is the single, most visible evidence of our Judeo-Christian heritage, and there are people in our increasingly secular nation who hate that heritage. They are waging a "war on Christmas" as part of their efforts to eradicate all knowledge of America's Judeo-Christian roots. It is an act of rank anti-Christian bigotry. For that reason I support the celebration of the "mass of Christ" as a declaration of committment to what it is perceived to be evidence of: our Judeo-Christian heritage. That is my view of Christmas from a cultural perspective, but from a spiritual perspective I'm beginning to feel very differently.
I've known for years that Christmas isn't Biblical but originated in pagan religious festivals celebrating the winter soltice and/or the birth of various pagan gods such as Mithras. I've also known for years that in the Bible God tells His people NOT to worship Him the way the heathens worship their gods. I'm increasingly convinced that that's exactly what we're doing when we use pagan festivals to celebrate Christ's birth. And I'm increasingly uncomfortable with that.
I understand that Christmas is deeply engrained in Christian culture and most Christians see nothing wrong with it. They might think I'm being legalistic in questioning the correctness of celebrating Christmas. Some Christians might remind me that, in his epistle to the Galatians, Paul told believers not to let anyone judge them with respect to days they observe. Others might remind me that Christ freed us from the strictures of the Mosaic Law. I get that, but I also know that the Bible in the New Testament says we are to worship God in spirit and in truth. How can we worship the Lord in truth if we're using the festivals, practices, and traditions of false religions?
I'm not telling anyone to stop celebrating Christmas. I don't condemn the overwhelming majority of Christians who observe the holiday. In fact, I still observe Christmas, though not primarily as a religious holiday. Christmas, for me, has become more about gratitude and reflection rather than about celebrating Christ's birth. It's about giving thanks to God for His blessings and for the strength and comfort He bestowed on me to sustain me during my trials. And it's about reflecting on what I did during the year, honestly confronting my sins, and asking God to help me do better in the new year. That's what Christmas is mostly about for me now.
So, should Christians celebrate Christmas? I think the answer to that question should be left to each believer. I don't think congregations should require all their members to believe one way or the other. The question of Christmas is not, I don't think, a salvation issue. Believers with polar opposite views can be equally saved. Therefore, both sides should treat each other with respect. They should not make the other side's opinion into a character flaw. Both sides should strive to be Christlike in this debate. And that's what Christianity is really all about, isn't it? Becoming Christlike, not getting too concerned about which days your neighbors observe. That's the essence of Christianity.
Merry Christmas.
From a cultural standpoint, I support Christmas. Christmas is the single, most visible evidence of our Judeo-Christian heritage, and there are people in our increasingly secular nation who hate that heritage. They are waging a "war on Christmas" as part of their efforts to eradicate all knowledge of America's Judeo-Christian roots. It is an act of rank anti-Christian bigotry. For that reason I support the celebration of the "mass of Christ" as a declaration of committment to what it is perceived to be evidence of: our Judeo-Christian heritage. That is my view of Christmas from a cultural perspective, but from a spiritual perspective I'm beginning to feel very differently.
I've known for years that Christmas isn't Biblical but originated in pagan religious festivals celebrating the winter soltice and/or the birth of various pagan gods such as Mithras. I've also known for years that in the Bible God tells His people NOT to worship Him the way the heathens worship their gods. I'm increasingly convinced that that's exactly what we're doing when we use pagan festivals to celebrate Christ's birth. And I'm increasingly uncomfortable with that.
I understand that Christmas is deeply engrained in Christian culture and most Christians see nothing wrong with it. They might think I'm being legalistic in questioning the correctness of celebrating Christmas. Some Christians might remind me that, in his epistle to the Galatians, Paul told believers not to let anyone judge them with respect to days they observe. Others might remind me that Christ freed us from the strictures of the Mosaic Law. I get that, but I also know that the Bible in the New Testament says we are to worship God in spirit and in truth. How can we worship the Lord in truth if we're using the festivals, practices, and traditions of false religions?
I'm not telling anyone to stop celebrating Christmas. I don't condemn the overwhelming majority of Christians who observe the holiday. In fact, I still observe Christmas, though not primarily as a religious holiday. Christmas, for me, has become more about gratitude and reflection rather than about celebrating Christ's birth. It's about giving thanks to God for His blessings and for the strength and comfort He bestowed on me to sustain me during my trials. And it's about reflecting on what I did during the year, honestly confronting my sins, and asking God to help me do better in the new year. That's what Christmas is mostly about for me now.
So, should Christians celebrate Christmas? I think the answer to that question should be left to each believer. I don't think congregations should require all their members to believe one way or the other. The question of Christmas is not, I don't think, a salvation issue. Believers with polar opposite views can be equally saved. Therefore, both sides should treat each other with respect. They should not make the other side's opinion into a character flaw. Both sides should strive to be Christlike in this debate. And that's what Christianity is really all about, isn't it? Becoming Christlike, not getting too concerned about which days your neighbors observe. That's the essence of Christianity.
Merry Christmas.
A New Year Of Mindful Living
What's "mindful living"? For me, it simply means being mindful of God. It means being aware of His ways, His commandments, His character, His presence, His people and being aware of how my life reflects on Him and my fellow Christians. In short, "mindful living" means seeking first the kingdom of God, as the Bible puts it. Mind you, I have little practice in seeking God's kingdom first. Growing up, that wasn't even talked about, let alone practiced, in my nominally Christian family. So, I have little idea of what "seeking God's kingdom first" or "mindful living" looks like, but I'm going to try to practice it.
How do I begin to do something that's almost totally foreign to me? Where do I begin? Do I read Scripture every day? Do I go to church, even if I don't feel like I belong? Must I constantly watch what I say and do lest, through unChristlike words or deeds, I dishonor God? I think "mindful living" entails all of the above, and then some. I think it's practicing a whole new way of life that you are led into by God's spirit. For me, I think coming into that life will be gradual. As I've said before, I never had one of those sweeping conversion experiences where habits are changed instantly, so I know I'm not on the fast track to a Godly transformation. A gradual approach may actually be better since it will give me time to process the change, truly learn from my experiences and so make "mindful living" second nature.
Seek first God's kingdom then everything you need will be supplied to you. Meditate on God and His Law when you get up and when you lie down. That's what Scripture says (paraphrased, of course). Being aware of God is the beginning of mindful living. As the new year unfolds, I will try to be aware of God in my daily life, especially remembering to thank Him for His strength and answered prayers. I know I will forget to do that more often than I not. "Mindful living" hasn't been part of my life and old habits will die hard. Still, I'm going to start on this path and will trust that God will be faithful and just to forgive me when I fail. So, I'm on my way to a new way of life. I'm seeking firs the kingdom of God. Mindful living, here I come.
How do I begin to do something that's almost totally foreign to me? Where do I begin? Do I read Scripture every day? Do I go to church, even if I don't feel like I belong? Must I constantly watch what I say and do lest, through unChristlike words or deeds, I dishonor God? I think "mindful living" entails all of the above, and then some. I think it's practicing a whole new way of life that you are led into by God's spirit. For me, I think coming into that life will be gradual. As I've said before, I never had one of those sweeping conversion experiences where habits are changed instantly, so I know I'm not on the fast track to a Godly transformation. A gradual approach may actually be better since it will give me time to process the change, truly learn from my experiences and so make "mindful living" second nature.
Seek first God's kingdom then everything you need will be supplied to you. Meditate on God and His Law when you get up and when you lie down. That's what Scripture says (paraphrased, of course). Being aware of God is the beginning of mindful living. As the new year unfolds, I will try to be aware of God in my daily life, especially remembering to thank Him for His strength and answered prayers. I know I will forget to do that more often than I not. "Mindful living" hasn't been part of my life and old habits will die hard. Still, I'm going to start on this path and will trust that God will be faithful and just to forgive me when I fail. So, I'm on my way to a new way of life. I'm seeking firs the kingdom of God. Mindful living, here I come.
Custom Vs. Worship
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day* and it made me start thinking about something that I think needs to be clarified for some Christians.
Valentine's Day is, of course, the holiday on which we celebrate love. Believe it or not, there are some Christians who oppose celebrating Valentine's Day because they say it has pagan roots, the same reason these Christians give for not celebrating Christmas and Easter. These Christians oppose birthday celebrations for the same reason. While I understand their reasoning I believe they are quite mistaken to oppose birthday celebrations or holidays like Valentine's Day because of their pagan origins.
It's true that Scripture tells us that God doesn't want His people to worship Him with heathen practices. That's why I agree with those "anti-holiday" believers who have a problem with Christmas and Easter. Those holidays are about actually worshiping God with pagan "holy" days, and that's wrong. Scripture tells believers not to worship the one, true God the way pagans worship their false ones. I understand applying that principle to things like Christmas and Easter, but it's misguided, I feel, to apply it to things like birthday celebrations and "neutral" holidays like Valentine's Day.
Yes, birthday celebrations and holidays like Valentine's Day and New Year's Day are rooted in paganism, but they are not celebrated today as ways ofworshiping God. Rather, these things have come down to us as customs. And that's the key. Worship and custom are two very different things.
Worship is how we relate to God, how we honor and praise Him in certain sacred settings. Custom is how we live our lives. Of course, if we are God's people then we will live our lives differently from unbelievers in many ways, but that doesn't mean avoiding everything in life that has pagan roots. In fact, we can't avoid everything in life that has pagan roots because paganism permeates human civilization.
Take the days of the week, for instance. Five of them are named after pagan deities. In English, four of those deities are Germanic and one is Latin. Tuesday is Tiuw's day, Wednesday is Wotan's day, Thursday is Thor's day, Friday is Freya's day, and Saturday is Saturn's day. The other two days of the week, Sunday and Monday, are named after the sun and moon, which were worshiped as gods by pagans. It's the same with the months of the year. Six--January, February, March, April, May, and June--are named after pagan gods or goddesses. Two more--July and August--are named after Roman emperors worshiped as gods.
So where does this leave believers if we are to avoid all things pagan? Are we not to say the names of the days of the week or the months of the year? Are we guilty of worshiping false gods if we do say those names? What about eating the main meal of the day at noon, a practice that I've heard has pagan roots? Should believers who live where that's the custom eat their main meal in the morning or the evening instead? How far is avoiding all things pagan supposed to go?
I think everyone can see that paganism touches all aspects of life and that avoiding it all together is just impossible. And that shouldn't be believers' goal. Rather, we should be discerning, as befitting followers of Christ, and make rational distinctions between acts of worship and mere custom. We should understand that we can celebrate a birthday, or Valentine's Day, or eat our main meal at 12 pm without accepting whatever pagan religious beliefs undergird those things. We must not use pagan religious practices to worship God. But participating in pagan-derived customs which do not involve worship is perfectly ok. So go ahead and attend that birthday party, send that Valentine's Day card, and eat your dinner at noon. God won't strike you down with lightning bolts if you do. He's saving those for the real sinners.
Valentine's Day is, of course, the holiday on which we celebrate love. Believe it or not, there are some Christians who oppose celebrating Valentine's Day because they say it has pagan roots, the same reason these Christians give for not celebrating Christmas and Easter. These Christians oppose birthday celebrations for the same reason. While I understand their reasoning I believe they are quite mistaken to oppose birthday celebrations or holidays like Valentine's Day because of their pagan origins.
It's true that Scripture tells us that God doesn't want His people to worship Him with heathen practices. That's why I agree with those "anti-holiday" believers who have a problem with Christmas and Easter. Those holidays are about actually worshiping God with pagan "holy" days, and that's wrong. Scripture tells believers not to worship the one, true God the way pagans worship their false ones. I understand applying that principle to things like Christmas and Easter, but it's misguided, I feel, to apply it to things like birthday celebrations and "neutral" holidays like Valentine's Day.
Yes, birthday celebrations and holidays like Valentine's Day and New Year's Day are rooted in paganism, but they are not celebrated today as ways ofworshiping God. Rather, these things have come down to us as customs. And that's the key. Worship and custom are two very different things.
Worship is how we relate to God, how we honor and praise Him in certain sacred settings. Custom is how we live our lives. Of course, if we are God's people then we will live our lives differently from unbelievers in many ways, but that doesn't mean avoiding everything in life that has pagan roots. In fact, we can't avoid everything in life that has pagan roots because paganism permeates human civilization.
Take the days of the week, for instance. Five of them are named after pagan deities. In English, four of those deities are Germanic and one is Latin. Tuesday is Tiuw's day, Wednesday is Wotan's day, Thursday is Thor's day, Friday is Freya's day, and Saturday is Saturn's day. The other two days of the week, Sunday and Monday, are named after the sun and moon, which were worshiped as gods by pagans. It's the same with the months of the year. Six--January, February, March, April, May, and June--are named after pagan gods or goddesses. Two more--July and August--are named after Roman emperors worshiped as gods.
So where does this leave believers if we are to avoid all things pagan? Are we not to say the names of the days of the week or the months of the year? Are we guilty of worshiping false gods if we do say those names? What about eating the main meal of the day at noon, a practice that I've heard has pagan roots? Should believers who live where that's the custom eat their main meal in the morning or the evening instead? How far is avoiding all things pagan supposed to go?
I think everyone can see that paganism touches all aspects of life and that avoiding it all together is just impossible. And that shouldn't be believers' goal. Rather, we should be discerning, as befitting followers of Christ, and make rational distinctions between acts of worship and mere custom. We should understand that we can celebrate a birthday, or Valentine's Day, or eat our main meal at 12 pm without accepting whatever pagan religious beliefs undergird those things. We must not use pagan religious practices to worship God. But participating in pagan-derived customs which do not involve worship is perfectly ok. So go ahead and attend that birthday party, send that Valentine's Day card, and eat your dinner at noon. God won't strike you down with lightning bolts if you do. He's saving those for the real sinners.
Hip-Hop Dialogue
Me and a friend, Charles McKnight, had this dialogue on email. Until he starts his own blog, I thought it a good idea to make this discussion public here (with his permission, of course). Join in, if you like:
Aye Bruh,
Ye goes super-dooper hard on this introspective track about the dynamics of the "love triangle" between a single mother, her son and her "Boyfriend(s)." This track also illustrates the way the "boyfriend's" negative actions and attitudes inevitably rub off on a child and effects the way they treat women when they become men. I think Abraham Sangha might be on to something when he notes that songs like Kanye's, and those from Lupe and some other cats in "secular" Hip-Hop are still filling a "Blind Spot" in the lyrical content of many reformed Christian rappers. It seems that reformed Christian rap artist have nailed down how to artfully articulate the gospel message of justification by faith (which indeed provides the Church with a tremendous "opportunity" to witness to urban and suburban youth and young adults). Yet, it seems they have been slow to develop lyrics that jolt our social consciousnesses by simply illustrating the intricacies of the human experience which "secular" rap (at its best) does quite well. What you think?
-Charles
Interestlingly enough, while I was watching the first video, I got a call from my dad in Cali. If any of you were at the men's retreat, I shared how my dad is a recovering alcoholic and we are just now restoring our relationship. A few gospel hip-hop artists with tracks that I believe speak to "real life issues" are Flame (MySpace), LeCrae (Just Like You) , PRO (In the Club, Merked), and Json (Parent Me). You can hear 90 sec previeiws of them all on iTunes.
The argument can be made that these Christian hip-hoppers rarely release tracks such as these, but the same can be said about secular artists. The difference of course being that at least in the Christian spehere you are getting 100% life, whereas with the secular artists, well, don't get me started on their long lists of internal contradictions.
Just my contribution to the discussion.
BTW, Charles, start a blog, bro!
Dee (Phil 3:13-14)
Dee,
I think you make a great qualification, that Cross Movement artist have indeed come out with some tracks along these lines and when they have, they have honestly been some of my favorite tracks. It goes without saying that most of "secular" rap today is garbage. It also goes without saying that music from guys like Cross-Movement is GRADE A truth! However, when "secular" rap does shine (through purposeful lyrical depictions of life at the margins), it seems to do so in a way that much of Christian rap (often) does not.
My criticism, (I think), may be one of preference; music that most challenges and stretches me in this season of my life. I would love to see a better balance between evangelism tracks, tracks that encourage believer's to live holy lives, AND tracks that vividly portray the hurt and pain experienced by humanity (especially in urban contexts). Frankly, most of these guys are "preaching to the choir" if you look at who primarily buys their albums. Because of this, I would love to see them take a greater responsibility for highlighting many of the social "do" aspects of a life lived in light of having been justified by God's grace and being sanctified through His Spirit. These guys have a big platform now amongst white and middle-class evangelicals and I think they have a unique opportunity, through their music, to prophetically shed light on the social ills that plague those people on the margins which it is honestly easy for many evangelicals to overlook (including myself). BUT, that may not be (primarily) what God has called these cats to due at this time through their music. And that's cool.
Aye Bruh,
Ye goes super-dooper hard on this introspective track about the dynamics of the "love triangle" between a single mother, her son and her "Boyfriend(s)." This track also illustrates the way the "boyfriend's" negative actions and attitudes inevitably rub off on a child and effects the way they treat women when they become men. I think Abraham Sangha might be on to something when he notes that songs like Kanye's, and those from Lupe and some other cats in "secular" Hip-Hop are still filling a "Blind Spot" in the lyrical content of many reformed Christian rappers. It seems that reformed Christian rap artist have nailed down how to artfully articulate the gospel message of justification by faith (which indeed provides the Church with a tremendous "opportunity" to witness to urban and suburban youth and young adults). Yet, it seems they have been slow to develop lyrics that jolt our social consciousnesses by simply illustrating the intricacies of the human experience which "secular" rap (at its best) does quite well. What you think?
-Charles
Interestlingly enough, while I was watching the first video, I got a call from my dad in Cali. If any of you were at the men's retreat, I shared how my dad is a recovering alcoholic and we are just now restoring our relationship. A few gospel hip-hop artists with tracks that I believe speak to "real life issues" are Flame (MySpace), LeCrae (Just Like You) , PRO (In the Club, Merked), and Json (Parent Me). You can hear 90 sec previeiws of them all on iTunes.
The argument can be made that these Christian hip-hoppers rarely release tracks such as these, but the same can be said about secular artists. The difference of course being that at least in the Christian spehere you are getting 100% life, whereas with the secular artists, well, don't get me started on their long lists of internal contradictions.
Just my contribution to the discussion.
BTW, Charles, start a blog, bro!
Dee (Phil 3:13-14)
Dee,
I think you make a great qualification, that Cross Movement artist have indeed come out with some tracks along these lines and when they have, they have honestly been some of my favorite tracks. It goes without saying that most of "secular" rap today is garbage. It also goes without saying that music from guys like Cross-Movement is GRADE A truth! However, when "secular" rap does shine (through purposeful lyrical depictions of life at the margins), it seems to do so in a way that much of Christian rap (often) does not.
My criticism, (I think), may be one of preference; music that most challenges and stretches me in this season of my life. I would love to see a better balance between evangelism tracks, tracks that encourage believer's to live holy lives, AND tracks that vividly portray the hurt and pain experienced by humanity (especially in urban contexts). Frankly, most of these guys are "preaching to the choir" if you look at who primarily buys their albums. Because of this, I would love to see them take a greater responsibility for highlighting many of the social "do" aspects of a life lived in light of having been justified by God's grace and being sanctified through His Spirit. These guys have a big platform now amongst white and middle-class evangelicals and I think they have a unique opportunity, through their music, to prophetically shed light on the social ills that plague those people on the margins which it is honestly easy for many evangelicals to overlook (including myself). BUT, that may not be (primarily) what God has called these cats to due at this time through their music. And that's cool.
Teammate Affiliations
The news lately in college sports is centering on teams changing conferences – or – conference realignment. Basically many schools are trying to improve their standing by finding the fit that will give them the best options for recognition in the polls, more potential for revenue, better recruiting capabilities, etc. It must be a very difficult thing to navigate all the scenarios that are taking place.
Some are very excited as they see the strength of the changing super conferences; others are discouraged as they see the strength of these conferences hurting the outlook for others. Yet bottom line is that each is looking to determine what makes them stronger. Not sure I always agree with how they get there but I do understand the general premise that schools have a responsibility to work to do what is best for their university and program.
What or who are your “affiliations?” Are you making sure that you are being strengthened? Do the people around you build you up or tear you down? The sports news this week, coupled with a testimony I heard last night by a friend that is a state-champ basketball coach, continue to take me back to the devotion I wrote 2 weeks ago about how important “TEAM” is!
In that devotion I reminded us of the Scriptures warning that “bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Based upon what the Lord has continued to bring in front of me I felt led to go a step further…
13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6)
Again this is not telling us not to associate with those that think differently than us (if that were the case how could we follow out the great commission to reach them?) This is simply a great reminder to be very careful who you are “yoked” with. WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES YOKED MEAN?
While I was in the Dominican Republic a few months ago I actually got to see this word picture in action. There was a farmer in the field with his oxen yoked together plowing the field. There was a definite plan and direction for the team of oxen to go – the yoke kept them going in the same direction in which the farmer was leading them.
So what is a modern “yoke”? Who are your best friends? Who are you dating? Who is your business partner? Make choices based upon who is the best teammate…
Great teammates have the same goals and listen to the same coach. Are those close to you making you stronger? Are you making them stronger? If you are going to stick your neck in a “yoke” with someone make sure you are both listening/letting God lead. When “yoked” even if one of you wants to stray the other will keep you on course.
This week is not about conference affiliations but instead friendship or teammate affiliations!
Some are very excited as they see the strength of the changing super conferences; others are discouraged as they see the strength of these conferences hurting the outlook for others. Yet bottom line is that each is looking to determine what makes them stronger. Not sure I always agree with how they get there but I do understand the general premise that schools have a responsibility to work to do what is best for their university and program.
What or who are your “affiliations?” Are you making sure that you are being strengthened? Do the people around you build you up or tear you down? The sports news this week, coupled with a testimony I heard last night by a friend that is a state-champ basketball coach, continue to take me back to the devotion I wrote 2 weeks ago about how important “TEAM” is!
In that devotion I reminded us of the Scriptures warning that “bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Based upon what the Lord has continued to bring in front of me I felt led to go a step further…
13 Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open.
14 Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? (2 Corinthians 6)
Again this is not telling us not to associate with those that think differently than us (if that were the case how could we follow out the great commission to reach them?) This is simply a great reminder to be very careful who you are “yoked” with. WHAT IN THE WORLD DOES YOKED MEAN?
While I was in the Dominican Republic a few months ago I actually got to see this word picture in action. There was a farmer in the field with his oxen yoked together plowing the field. There was a definite plan and direction for the team of oxen to go – the yoke kept them going in the same direction in which the farmer was leading them.
So what is a modern “yoke”? Who are your best friends? Who are you dating? Who is your business partner? Make choices based upon who is the best teammate…
Great teammates have the same goals and listen to the same coach. Are those close to you making you stronger? Are you making them stronger? If you are going to stick your neck in a “yoke” with someone make sure you are both listening/letting God lead. When “yoked” even if one of you wants to stray the other will keep you on course.
This week is not about conference affiliations but instead friendship or teammate affiliations!
The long silences need to be loved
“The long silences need to be loved, perhaps
more than the words
which arrive
to describe them
in time.” Franz wright (“home remedy”)
***
To only read what he has written seems like cheating. So I begin in the middle. I do not have the words now, yet at the moment I wonder if digging out from under strange grief and the impossible heaviness of fear could bring me closer to them.
He told me I should be an archeologist. I think I would like this science--it does remind me of counseling, of storytelling. Knowing there are things that tell some kind of tale buried under the years of sediment.
When you go digging, what will you find? Something that changes everything about what we thought of these now landscapes; that reminds us that even when memory fails, there are traces, there are tangible things left behind.
My friend tells me that whale bones and fossilized roots of mandrake trees were found in the Sahara. Buried under layers of dirt and sand, sitting in their long silence and waiting to be discovered, for the words of their story to be found. Maybe this is near where Leah and Rachel were in love with the same man, and used the love tree to conceive children. A legacy of twelve sons, real people, becoming twelve tribes--a whole nation. Carbon imprints don’t tell all that went on in that family.
***
Night sitting outside on our small patch of lawn behind the apartment building. Closed in by the tall multi-families. Walls of brick on one side, parking lot and the metro line on the other. We take a six foot diameter circle of the freshly mowed grass and live us a summer night. Brownies and cans of PBR.
The story of our time together and conversation, unless I record it here, now, lives only in memory. And I doubt that someone would wonder, when they dig up that landfill and find those few aluminum cans among hundreds of thousands, about our night under the invisible stars reading poetry, and talking about archaeology, and whale bones and mandrake roots that someone found in the middle of the desert.
A place to start: write down some bits and pieces and tell, in between the long silences, a moment of what has been lived.
more than the words
which arrive
to describe them
in time.” Franz wright (“home remedy”)
***
To only read what he has written seems like cheating. So I begin in the middle. I do not have the words now, yet at the moment I wonder if digging out from under strange grief and the impossible heaviness of fear could bring me closer to them.
He told me I should be an archeologist. I think I would like this science--it does remind me of counseling, of storytelling. Knowing there are things that tell some kind of tale buried under the years of sediment.
When you go digging, what will you find? Something that changes everything about what we thought of these now landscapes; that reminds us that even when memory fails, there are traces, there are tangible things left behind.
My friend tells me that whale bones and fossilized roots of mandrake trees were found in the Sahara. Buried under layers of dirt and sand, sitting in their long silence and waiting to be discovered, for the words of their story to be found. Maybe this is near where Leah and Rachel were in love with the same man, and used the love tree to conceive children. A legacy of twelve sons, real people, becoming twelve tribes--a whole nation. Carbon imprints don’t tell all that went on in that family.
***
Night sitting outside on our small patch of lawn behind the apartment building. Closed in by the tall multi-families. Walls of brick on one side, parking lot and the metro line on the other. We take a six foot diameter circle of the freshly mowed grass and live us a summer night. Brownies and cans of PBR.
The story of our time together and conversation, unless I record it here, now, lives only in memory. And I doubt that someone would wonder, when they dig up that landfill and find those few aluminum cans among hundreds of thousands, about our night under the invisible stars reading poetry, and talking about archaeology, and whale bones and mandrake roots that someone found in the middle of the desert.
A place to start: write down some bits and pieces and tell, in between the long silences, a moment of what has been lived.
One will bring to the second.
One will bring to the second.
Sometime ago,
the girls planned a gathering for the boyfriends.
it took us less than a week to come up with where and what should we do,
but as usual, we did not really stick to the plan either.
so next time we can just skip the planning.
The five of us girls are all happily attached to our beloved sweethearts
both Veronica and me are currently having long distance r/s
Not forgetting Nisa too.
But despite the distance, we're all still deeply in love with our boyfies.
We'll prove to those who says stuff like " Long distance relationship wont last " blablabla
that it does last
& absence really do make the heart grow fonder.
And it happened!
the gathering of the boyfriends.
Lin & Yao , Jessica & David , Me & Dominic/SK and Veronica.
Veron's boyfriend will be reserved for our second boyfriends' gathering!
It was pretty ackward for the boys during the dinner at Winter Warmers'
but later during our bowling sessions,
indeed it got alot better.
I guess the balls were the best ice breaker ever.
Of course bowling balls could break ice right? Why didnt we thought of that?
Oh god, ignore me.
Our next gathering would be the day trip
to Bukit Merah Laketown Waterpark! :D
which would be end of this month.
two weeks,
fourteen more days,
all this killing feeling will just fade away,
the moment when the lovebirds meet.
Baby, I miss you tonnes. (:
Cheer up baby dear.
We'll go visit Jean together next month ok? Love you.
Sometime ago,
the girls planned a gathering for the boyfriends.
it took us less than a week to come up with where and what should we do,
but as usual, we did not really stick to the plan either.
so next time we can just skip the planning.
The five of us girls are all happily attached to our beloved sweethearts
both Veronica and me are currently having long distance r/s
Not forgetting Nisa too.
But despite the distance, we're all still deeply in love with our boyfies.
We'll prove to those who says stuff like " Long distance relationship wont last " blablabla
that it does last
& absence really do make the heart grow fonder.
And it happened!
the gathering of the boyfriends.
Lin & Yao , Jessica & David , Me & Dominic/SK and Veronica.
Veron's boyfriend will be reserved for our second boyfriends' gathering!
It was pretty ackward for the boys during the dinner at Winter Warmers'
but later during our bowling sessions,
indeed it got alot better.
I guess the balls were the best ice breaker ever.
Of course bowling balls could break ice right? Why didnt we thought of that?
Oh god, ignore me.
Our next gathering would be the day trip
to Bukit Merah Laketown Waterpark! :D
which would be end of this month.
two weeks,
fourteen more days,
all this killing feeling will just fade away,
the moment when the lovebirds meet.
Baby, I miss you tonnes. (:
Cheer up baby dear.
We'll go visit Jean together next month ok? Love you.
The Fiery Trial
The Fiery Trial is a Pulitzer-Prize winning analysis of Abraham Lincoln's views of slavery and race. Written by esteemed historian Eric Foner, is it many ways an amazing tale, especially compared with the politics of today. In an era when many political candidates are proud of their intransigence, and "flip-flop" is a dirty word, Lincoln's evolution of thought is an admirable one, and it ended up setting the course of American history.
As Foner points out, "Lincoln has been described as a consummate moralist and a shrewd political operative, a lifelong foe of slavery and an inveterate racist. Politicians from conservatives to communists, civil rights activists to segregationists, and members of every Protestant denomination as well as nonbelievers, have claimed him as their own."
However, Foner also points out: "Lincoln was strongly antislavery, but he was not an abolitionist or a Radical Republican and never claimed to be one. He made a sharp distinction between his frequently reiterated personal wish that 'all men everywhere could be free' and his official duties as a legislator, congressman, and president in a legal and constitutional system that recognized the South's right to property in slaves."
The book is structured as biography, with Lincoln's beliefs and attitudes about slavery and race at its core. As a young man he grew up in a society that did not believe in the equality of blacks. Kentucky the state of his birth, was a slave state, and though Illinois had outlawed slavery it was a deeply racist state. Lincoln's grandfather had been murdered by a black man, and prejudice ran deep. But he had always believed slavery was wrong, if not only for the inhumanity, but because it was "both injustice and bad policy." He also wrote, "I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is wrong, nothing is wrong." But he also believed in the rule of law, and during his early political career he fully recognized the rights of slave-owners. The Republican Party grew out of a combination of abolitionists, who would have freed slaves immediately, and the more conservative, who wanted to stop its expansion into territories.
When Lincoln became president and the Civil War began, Lincoln began to evolve. He is famously quoted as writing, "I would save the Union. I would save it in the shortest way under the Constitution...My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery." But by September 1862 he had decided to emancipate the slaves, and he stated clearly by the end of war that it was about slavery.
Two intertwined themes best display Lincoln's evolution of thought: colonization and black troops. Initially Lincoln was for one and against the other. Colonization was a hot topic early in the war, as many thought slaves should be freed, but then what to do with them? Many ideas of relocation were hatched, including an island off Haiti and a coal-mining area of Colombia. Most black leaders were against it, including Frederick Douglass, who rightly stated that slaves were Americans. Lincoln was worried, also rightly so, that freed blacks would endure horrible and racist recriminations, and would be better off leaving.
As for the recruitment of black troops, Lincoln was against this, but eventually relented. The valor of black troops during the Civil War is well-documented, and afterward Lincoln completely dropped the idea of colonization. One seemed to eliminate the other--accepting that a man can fight for his country is in itself a statement that he is a citizen. In his last speech, Lincoln spoke of allowing certain blacks, namely the "intelligent" and servicemen, the right to vote. It is thought that this was what put John Wilkes Booth, who was in the audience that night, over the edge.
Foner also closely and fascinatingly documents the development of the Emancipation Proclamation, which is widely misunderstood. It only freed slaves in the the Confederate states that were not under Union control. Thus, slaves in the border states that did not secede (Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, and Delaware) and states and portions of states that were under Union control, such as Tennessee and parts of Louisiana, were not freed. But it signaled another remarkable change in Lincoln. He had talked of gradual emancipation, and compensation to slave owners. But the Proclamation was immediate and without compensation, like a band-aid being ripped off.
The book is full of little tidbits that bear repeating, such as the accidental good fortune of George McClellan's incompetence as a general. McClellan, of course, was reticent about attacking, and dithered so much that he was eventually replaced (he would run against Lincoln for president in 1864 and lose). Foner points out, perceptively, that had McClellan succeeded and the war shortened, the Emancipation Proclamation may have never come, and a different, gradual emancipation may have been the result. It's not often that a black man can be grateful to George McClellan.
Andrew Johnson comes in for some harsh treatment, too. Foner's tone is so heartbreaking when he discusses how Johnson was the complete opposite of Lincoln, and a horrible president. Of course, no one can say for sure how Lincoln would have handled reconstruction, but it's not a stretch to think he would have handled it better than Johnson, who was openly racist.
Every book I read about Lincoln I admire him more. He is no saint (he commonly used the word "nigger" in conversation, a result of his upbringing). He had little contact with educated blacks before the war, but after meeting with Douglass and others he came to believe that they were equal with whites. As Foner puts it, "Lincoln did not enter the White House expecting to preside over the destruction of slavery. A powerful combination of events...propelled him down the road to emancipation and then to a reconsideration of the place blacks would occupy in a post-slavery America...as the presidency of his successor demonstrated, not all men placed in a similar situation possessed the capacity for growth, the essence of Lincoln's greatness."
As Foner points out, "Lincoln has been described as a consummate moralist and a shrewd political operative, a lifelong foe of slavery and an inveterate racist. Politicians from conservatives to communists, civil rights activists to segregationists, and members of every Protestant denomination as well as nonbelievers, have claimed him as their own."
However, Foner also points out: "Lincoln was strongly antislavery, but he was not an abolitionist or a Radical Republican and never claimed to be one. He made a sharp distinction between his frequently reiterated personal wish that 'all men everywhere could be free' and his official duties as a legislator, congressman, and president in a legal and constitutional system that recognized the South's right to property in slaves."
The book is structured as biography, with Lincoln's beliefs and attitudes about slavery and race at its core. As a young man he grew up in a society that did not believe in the equality of blacks. Kentucky the state of his birth, was a slave state, and though Illinois had outlawed slavery it was a deeply racist state. Lincoln's grandfather had been murdered by a black man, and prejudice ran deep. But he had always believed slavery was wrong, if not only for the inhumanity, but because it was "both injustice and bad policy." He also wrote, "I am naturally anti-slavery. If slavery is wrong, nothing is wrong." But he also believed in the rule of law, and during his early political career he fully recognized the rights of slave-owners. The Republican Party grew out of a combination of abolitionists, who would have freed slaves immediately, and the more conservative, who wanted to stop its expansion into territories.
When Lincoln became president and the Civil War began, Lincoln began to evolve. He is famously quoted as writing, "I would save the Union. I would save it in the shortest way under the Constitution...My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery." But by September 1862 he had decided to emancipate the slaves, and he stated clearly by the end of war that it was about slavery.
Two intertwined themes best display Lincoln's evolution of thought: colonization and black troops. Initially Lincoln was for one and against the other. Colonization was a hot topic early in the war, as many thought slaves should be freed, but then what to do with them? Many ideas of relocation were hatched, including an island off Haiti and a coal-mining area of Colombia. Most black leaders were against it, including Frederick Douglass, who rightly stated that slaves were Americans. Lincoln was worried, also rightly so, that freed blacks would endure horrible and racist recriminations, and would be better off leaving.
As for the recruitment of black troops, Lincoln was against this, but eventually relented. The valor of black troops during the Civil War is well-documented, and afterward Lincoln completely dropped the idea of colonization. One seemed to eliminate the other--accepting that a man can fight for his country is in itself a statement that he is a citizen. In his last speech, Lincoln spoke of allowing certain blacks, namely the "intelligent" and servicemen, the right to vote. It is thought that this was what put John Wilkes Booth, who was in the audience that night, over the edge.
Foner also closely and fascinatingly documents the development of the Emancipation Proclamation, which is widely misunderstood. It only freed slaves in the the Confederate states that were not under Union control. Thus, slaves in the border states that did not secede (Kentucky, Missouri, Maryland, and Delaware) and states and portions of states that were under Union control, such as Tennessee and parts of Louisiana, were not freed. But it signaled another remarkable change in Lincoln. He had talked of gradual emancipation, and compensation to slave owners. But the Proclamation was immediate and without compensation, like a band-aid being ripped off.
The book is full of little tidbits that bear repeating, such as the accidental good fortune of George McClellan's incompetence as a general. McClellan, of course, was reticent about attacking, and dithered so much that he was eventually replaced (he would run against Lincoln for president in 1864 and lose). Foner points out, perceptively, that had McClellan succeeded and the war shortened, the Emancipation Proclamation may have never come, and a different, gradual emancipation may have been the result. It's not often that a black man can be grateful to George McClellan.
Andrew Johnson comes in for some harsh treatment, too. Foner's tone is so heartbreaking when he discusses how Johnson was the complete opposite of Lincoln, and a horrible president. Of course, no one can say for sure how Lincoln would have handled reconstruction, but it's not a stretch to think he would have handled it better than Johnson, who was openly racist.
Every book I read about Lincoln I admire him more. He is no saint (he commonly used the word "nigger" in conversation, a result of his upbringing). He had little contact with educated blacks before the war, but after meeting with Douglass and others he came to believe that they were equal with whites. As Foner puts it, "Lincoln did not enter the White House expecting to preside over the destruction of slavery. A powerful combination of events...propelled him down the road to emancipation and then to a reconsideration of the place blacks would occupy in a post-slavery America...as the presidency of his successor demonstrated, not all men placed in a similar situation possessed the capacity for growth, the essence of Lincoln's greatness."
On the Subject of UFOs
There are a plenty of different views on the subject of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). Most skeptics dismiss claims of sightings as gullible people mistaking explainable things for the unexplainable (The planet Venus, military aircraft, weather balloons, etc.) On the opposite side, there are a wide range of UFO believers. Some of the more cautious just say there's a small percentage of UFO reports that don't have sufficient explanations to dismiss them. They don't make a claim that what people are seeing is alien spacecraft. Others claim to have been abducted, and a few even claim to be communicating with E.T. via Telepathic messages.
So who's right and who's wrong? Astronomers (who tend to be more skeptical) study the sky every night so they can do a pretty good job of sorting out what's what in the sky. Something like 97% of reported UFOs have been explained as either naturally occurring phenomenon or man-made aircraft like the stealth bomber.
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
There are still a few unexplained sightings by credible eyewitnesses.
At approximately 4:30 p.m on Tuesday November 7, 2006, federal authorities at Chicago O'Hare International Airport received a report that a group of twelve airport employees were witnessing a metallic, saucer-shaped craft hovering over gate C-17.
According to eyewitness reports, the strange object was first spotted by a ramp employee who was "pushing back" United Airlines flight 446 which was departing Chicago for Charlotte, North Carolina. The ramp worker then apprised the flight crew of UA446 of the existence of the spinning, metallic object above their aircraft, and it is believed that both the pilot and co-pilot of this aircraft also witnessed the object at that time.
According to Jon Hilkevitch of the Chicago Tribune in an interview on Fox News' Glenn Beck program: "The disc was visible for approximately two minutes and was seen by close to a dozen United Airlines employees, ranging from pilots to supervisors, who heard chatter on the radio and raced out to view it." The UFO was then seen to suddenly accelerate straight up through the overcast skies. Witnesses reported that the object left behind an open hole of clear air in the cloud layer and that the mysterious hole disappeared or closed within a few minutes. So far, no conclusive photographic evidence of the UFO has surfaced although it was reported to Hilkevitch that one of the United Airlines pilots was in possession of a digital camera at the time of the sighting and may have photographed the event.
So who's right and who's wrong? Astronomers (who tend to be more skeptical) study the sky every night so they can do a pretty good job of sorting out what's what in the sky. Something like 97% of reported UFOs have been explained as either naturally occurring phenomenon or man-made aircraft like the stealth bomber.
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
There are still a few unexplained sightings by credible eyewitnesses.
At approximately 4:30 p.m on Tuesday November 7, 2006, federal authorities at Chicago O'Hare International Airport received a report that a group of twelve airport employees were witnessing a metallic, saucer-shaped craft hovering over gate C-17.
According to eyewitness reports, the strange object was first spotted by a ramp employee who was "pushing back" United Airlines flight 446 which was departing Chicago for Charlotte, North Carolina. The ramp worker then apprised the flight crew of UA446 of the existence of the spinning, metallic object above their aircraft, and it is believed that both the pilot and co-pilot of this aircraft also witnessed the object at that time.
According to Jon Hilkevitch of the Chicago Tribune in an interview on Fox News' Glenn Beck program: "The disc was visible for approximately two minutes and was seen by close to a dozen United Airlines employees, ranging from pilots to supervisors, who heard chatter on the radio and raced out to view it." The UFO was then seen to suddenly accelerate straight up through the overcast skies. Witnesses reported that the object left behind an open hole of clear air in the cloud layer and that the mysterious hole disappeared or closed within a few minutes. So far, no conclusive photographic evidence of the UFO has surfaced although it was reported to Hilkevitch that one of the United Airlines pilots was in possession of a digital camera at the time of the sighting and may have photographed the event.
Concrete Thinkers
Our children are concrete thinkers. Maybe, all of us understand that to some extent. We have been cautioned at some point of time, that a particular concept is abstract for them. But how much and what to what extent should we get into specifics is something that I am slowly realizing. It started with Dr. Yamini in one of the story narration sessions for Ramam. I had a book with no text and just illustration and to my mind; it was the perfect book for Ramam to narrate. One look at it and Dr.Yamini (NIMHANS) said it made no visual sense. The story line is something like this. A boy has to get his kite stuck on a tree -top down. In the illustration, the tree top and a boy sitting on a buffalo were at the same height. To Ramam’s mind he has to just stretch his hands to get the kite down. How is he to visualize the tree top is is at a much higher height and the boy is at a much lower level. This illustration was very misguiding. Does he understand what does tree top means? Today, when I read a story, I take pains to see the book is right, he understands the underlying concept. For example, as broad as a banyan tree, and as tall as a coconut tree? Unless he can visualize these trees, can he imagine a man of such proportions? In this story this man’s job is to set the time in the clock in the palace tower. This time I took pains to explain what does “setting the time” on a clock mean? I showed it to him. It is not the same as looking at time.
Later as Sharbani (She is the director of my son’s school, for those who have not read my earlier posts) explained in one of her sessions with her kids, she asked them where the food goes. They had no answer. So she opened their snack boxes and took a piece. So they, answered the food goes to your mouth. After little persuasion they said the throat. But for them to understand it can go to their stomach through the food pipe is very hard. Thankfully, there are so many videos on You tube that they may come in handy to teach our kids. In another instance, in one of the text books, there was a story of a straw, bubble and a stick (I think) trying to cross the river. She said she decided to skip the story. How much do they actually understand is something that we have to find out? The one question that Yamini has always for me is “How do you know that he knows?”
Somewhere during one of her sessions with the kids Sharbani had told the kids, they can visit the terrace of the school building. They agreed to visit the terrace the following Tuesday. The teacher was not aware of it. Sharbani had forgotten about it. So on Tuesday the kids walked up to her and reminded her of her promise. I was there when this happened. Naturally, I was very pleasantly surprised. Setting a day and time for the terrace visit was something concrete and they looked forward to it.
So then that also explains why structure and visual schedules work beautifully for them. So long farewell , wishing all readers a Happy Dusshera.
Later as Sharbani (She is the director of my son’s school, for those who have not read my earlier posts) explained in one of her sessions with her kids, she asked them where the food goes. They had no answer. So she opened their snack boxes and took a piece. So they, answered the food goes to your mouth. After little persuasion they said the throat. But for them to understand it can go to their stomach through the food pipe is very hard. Thankfully, there are so many videos on You tube that they may come in handy to teach our kids. In another instance, in one of the text books, there was a story of a straw, bubble and a stick (I think) trying to cross the river. She said she decided to skip the story. How much do they actually understand is something that we have to find out? The one question that Yamini has always for me is “How do you know that he knows?”
Somewhere during one of her sessions with the kids Sharbani had told the kids, they can visit the terrace of the school building. They agreed to visit the terrace the following Tuesday. The teacher was not aware of it. Sharbani had forgotten about it. So on Tuesday the kids walked up to her and reminded her of her promise. I was there when this happened. Naturally, I was very pleasantly surprised. Setting a day and time for the terrace visit was something concrete and they looked forward to it.
So then that also explains why structure and visual schedules work beautifully for them. So long farewell , wishing all readers a Happy Dusshera.
5 Thoughts on the 12 Steps
I recently went to a training where the subject of addiction recovery and 12-step programs came up. It was clear that there are two types of people—those who believe Alcoholics Anonymous-type programs are THE answer to addiction and those who believe they can be AN answer. (To be fair, there is a third group that opposes 12-step programs for their faith-based roots, but this is based less on the effectiveness of the programs and more on an aversion to anything “religious.”)
The biggest 12-step boosters are, of course, those who’ve benefited from the program. There are hundreds of thousands—likely millions of people (anonymity makes it hard to get good statistics)—who’ve successfully kicked addictions by working a 12-step program. So, on one level, you can’t argue with success.
But—and you knew that was coming—why do some, even people of faith, not embrace 12-step programs fully? These are my criticisms:
Always an "Addict"
It is powerful to admit, publicly, that you are addicted. There is nothing that humbles you and shines a light on your addiction like telling a crowd, “My name is __________, and I’m an alcoholic/addict.” Accepting this as your identity for the short-term has value, but there are many who’ve been clean and sober for years who continue to identify themselves as addicts. Why? This makes complete sense only if you believe real change is not possible. For those who’ve made a definite break with their addiction, vigilance is still required and you should still identify with your past addiction enough to walk others into the light. Continuing to make “alcoholic” or “in recovery” central parts of your identity suggests a need for not only a “higher power” but also a “higher identity.”
Either You're With Us or Against Us
The Alcoholics Anonymous model is a good one that has helped many people, but to give it the weight of Gospel is a mistake. And to look down on those who don’t “work the program” or insist that people who’ve stopped going to meetings are in “denial” doesn’t help either. There needs to be a degree of humility that recognizes that there aren't always twelve steps out of addiction. For some it may be the steps to the counselor's office. To others, it may be the worn path to and from church. Still others may find the path to freedom through a phone call or a letter to someone with whom they need to reconcile.
You Aren't Making Meetings?
The goal of any type of recovery should be the health and wholeness of the individual. If you are mired in addiction, having your whole life revolve around licking that addiction makes sense for a time. Once you’ve gotten some clean time under your belt and are more stable, however, living a more well-rounded life is healthier. When you are diagnosed with cancer, you will initially spend a lot of time in the hospital. If treatment goes well, you will still need to make regular visits to your doctor and be extra vigilant to make sure the cancer doesn’t get a foothold again. But you don’t need to visit the hospital daily. And you don’t need to spend all your time researching cancer. Yes, it’s good to be educated on the subject, but what kind of life have you been healed for if you are simply reflecting on past afflictions all the time?
Sponsored by...?
12-step programs work best with faithful meeting attendance, personal study and reflection, and working with a sponsor. The first two you have control over, but a good sponsor is not guaranteed. This is where temperament and circumstances can impact recovery. For those who are gregarious and part of a healthy 12-step group, connecting with a mature, helpful sponsor won’t be a problem. Other, more introverted and shy people may face a challenge. While being forced to extend themselves and seek out a sponsor may be a growth exercise for some, for others the difficulties in connecting with a sponsor can be an obstacle. This is not a huge criticism—and many programs undoubtedly are proactive in connecting those new to recovery to those further along—but it is a real shortcoming for a significant portion of the population.
But It's Based on the Bible
Alcoholics Anonymous and its spinoffs are mostly based in the Christian faith but have attempted to remain ecumenical. This is good and bad. To believers, the watered-down nature of the program often falls short. To non-believers, it can either prevent full buy-in or lead to a distorted faith with some true elements but with no true Redeemer at the core. Many folks end up with a kind of Church of Recovery mindset where I prove that I'm a good person by staying sober. Sure, I'm a shopaholic, a vicious gossip or an out of control gambler, but I don't drink. They become competitive with their clean time and allow their egos to drive them to the point where they're lying about their time just to keep from losing face. If I look like I have it together, I do. Right?
As you can see, my criticisms are not really of the principles of 12-step programs, but more with their application and actual practice. If you or someone you know is dealing with addiction, don't allow my criticisms to keep you from getting the help you need. I am a firm believer in the ability of people to be free from addiction, and God can use many different paths and tools, imperfect though they may be, to bring that healing. Ultimately, all we need is to surrender ourselves to God and humble ourselves before one another. The rest will fall into place.
The biggest 12-step boosters are, of course, those who’ve benefited from the program. There are hundreds of thousands—likely millions of people (anonymity makes it hard to get good statistics)—who’ve successfully kicked addictions by working a 12-step program. So, on one level, you can’t argue with success.
But—and you knew that was coming—why do some, even people of faith, not embrace 12-step programs fully? These are my criticisms:
Always an "Addict"
It is powerful to admit, publicly, that you are addicted. There is nothing that humbles you and shines a light on your addiction like telling a crowd, “My name is __________, and I’m an alcoholic/addict.” Accepting this as your identity for the short-term has value, but there are many who’ve been clean and sober for years who continue to identify themselves as addicts. Why? This makes complete sense only if you believe real change is not possible. For those who’ve made a definite break with their addiction, vigilance is still required and you should still identify with your past addiction enough to walk others into the light. Continuing to make “alcoholic” or “in recovery” central parts of your identity suggests a need for not only a “higher power” but also a “higher identity.”
Either You're With Us or Against Us
The Alcoholics Anonymous model is a good one that has helped many people, but to give it the weight of Gospel is a mistake. And to look down on those who don’t “work the program” or insist that people who’ve stopped going to meetings are in “denial” doesn’t help either. There needs to be a degree of humility that recognizes that there aren't always twelve steps out of addiction. For some it may be the steps to the counselor's office. To others, it may be the worn path to and from church. Still others may find the path to freedom through a phone call or a letter to someone with whom they need to reconcile.
You Aren't Making Meetings?
The goal of any type of recovery should be the health and wholeness of the individual. If you are mired in addiction, having your whole life revolve around licking that addiction makes sense for a time. Once you’ve gotten some clean time under your belt and are more stable, however, living a more well-rounded life is healthier. When you are diagnosed with cancer, you will initially spend a lot of time in the hospital. If treatment goes well, you will still need to make regular visits to your doctor and be extra vigilant to make sure the cancer doesn’t get a foothold again. But you don’t need to visit the hospital daily. And you don’t need to spend all your time researching cancer. Yes, it’s good to be educated on the subject, but what kind of life have you been healed for if you are simply reflecting on past afflictions all the time?
Sponsored by...?
12-step programs work best with faithful meeting attendance, personal study and reflection, and working with a sponsor. The first two you have control over, but a good sponsor is not guaranteed. This is where temperament and circumstances can impact recovery. For those who are gregarious and part of a healthy 12-step group, connecting with a mature, helpful sponsor won’t be a problem. Other, more introverted and shy people may face a challenge. While being forced to extend themselves and seek out a sponsor may be a growth exercise for some, for others the difficulties in connecting with a sponsor can be an obstacle. This is not a huge criticism—and many programs undoubtedly are proactive in connecting those new to recovery to those further along—but it is a real shortcoming for a significant portion of the population.
But It's Based on the Bible
Alcoholics Anonymous and its spinoffs are mostly based in the Christian faith but have attempted to remain ecumenical. This is good and bad. To believers, the watered-down nature of the program often falls short. To non-believers, it can either prevent full buy-in or lead to a distorted faith with some true elements but with no true Redeemer at the core. Many folks end up with a kind of Church of Recovery mindset where I prove that I'm a good person by staying sober. Sure, I'm a shopaholic, a vicious gossip or an out of control gambler, but I don't drink. They become competitive with their clean time and allow their egos to drive them to the point where they're lying about their time just to keep from losing face. If I look like I have it together, I do. Right?
As you can see, my criticisms are not really of the principles of 12-step programs, but more with their application and actual practice. If you or someone you know is dealing with addiction, don't allow my criticisms to keep you from getting the help you need. I am a firm believer in the ability of people to be free from addiction, and God can use many different paths and tools, imperfect though they may be, to bring that healing. Ultimately, all we need is to surrender ourselves to God and humble ourselves before one another. The rest will fall into place.
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