tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64588193294560476842024-03-28T05:16:36.494-06:00Philip Faustin's ThoughtsLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.comBlogger634125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-72307567296944372632024-01-15T11:10:00.003-07:002024-01-15T11:10:39.222-07:00 The Supper of the Lamb: A Culinary Reflection - Summary and Review<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDBF82X6k761TwmR191rzn3bjXzgM8BI_ixuoXMrjCarmqREWEQhKPlkBhBw_AeDTlS4LF7cbowN4zQnPrSqDMxMzI3aXsanGToV1z3fglAfA13Bckn29e1awlF2px_eKp0Mzpp3fIE__Y8LRSfhI0_ysnAtxWkh2-MjeUXc5O9DoQaxe1KZGfKc-ihE/s1200/lamb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="778" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDBF82X6k761TwmR191rzn3bjXzgM8BI_ixuoXMrjCarmqREWEQhKPlkBhBw_AeDTlS4LF7cbowN4zQnPrSqDMxMzI3aXsanGToV1z3fglAfA13Bckn29e1awlF2px_eKp0Mzpp3fIE__Y8LRSfhI0_ysnAtxWkh2-MjeUXc5O9DoQaxe1KZGfKc-ihE/w130-h200/lamb.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;">"The Supper of the Lamb" is a classic culinary and spiritual work written by Robert Farrar Capon. Published in 1969, the book is a unique blend of gastronomy, theology, and philosophy. Capon, a priest and gourmet cook, takes readers on a journey that explores the art of cooking and the spiritual significance of meals.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The book is structured around the preparation of a lamb dinner, with each chapter delving into various aspects of cooking, from choosing ingredients to the intricacies of culinary techniques. Capon's writing is poetic and rich, elevating the act of cooking to a spiritual experience. He weaves in anecdotes, reflections, and theological insights, creating a narrative that is both instructional and contemplative.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Capon's approach is unconventional, and he encourages readers to view cooking as an expression of creativity and love. He intertwines his passion for food with a deep understanding of Christian theology, drawing parallels between the preparation of a meal and the divine order of the universe.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">The book has received widespread acclaim for its unique blend of culinary expertise and spiritual wisdom. Readers appreciate Capon's wit, humor, and ability to make profound theological concepts accessible through the lens of cooking. "Supper of the Lamb" is not just a cookbook but a meditation on life, faith, and the joy of sharing a meal.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">In summary, "The Supper of the Lamb" is a thought-provoking and delightful exploration of the intersection between food and spirituality. Capon's unconventional approach and eloquent prose make it a timeless and enjoyable read for both food enthusiasts and those seeking deeper reflections on life's meaning.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://amzn.to/421rutB" target="_blank">Find out more and get the book here.</a></span></p>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-69906648918234891062024-01-11T13:15:00.002-07:002024-01-11T13:15:36.142-07:00Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness - Review<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoju6vTo-XlNvK80g-ekPous7c7CFoC7Bjk0YXMu9ttdUEs302vu40VZ0VEWmVjqjWJF3gP5_cxbsHd6kAkBOaOZsdDQmzpQB8oi_NygdyCkcclBtO9DXWhcNIEJwTsWKaycCG1XBdRAqMDTMQVYb6xKDyVWtGZKSEyznGwXRmIU3xH04P572EvgZ2TeQ/s1360/Forgive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="893" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoju6vTo-XlNvK80g-ekPous7c7CFoC7Bjk0YXMu9ttdUEs302vu40VZ0VEWmVjqjWJF3gP5_cxbsHd6kAkBOaOZsdDQmzpQB8oi_NygdyCkcclBtO9DXWhcNIEJwTsWKaycCG1XBdRAqMDTMQVYb6xKDyVWtGZKSEyznGwXRmIU3xH04P572EvgZ2TeQ/w114-h174/Forgive.jpg" width="114" /></a></div>"Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness" by Frederic Luskin is a self-help book that explores the transformative power of forgiveness in improving both mental and physical well-being. Luskin, a psychologist and expert on forgiveness, presents a practical guide based on scientific research and real-life examples to help readers understand and implement forgiveness in their lives.<p></p><p>The book outlines a step-by-step process for cultivating forgiveness, emphasizing the importance of letting go of resentment and grudges for one's own benefit. Luskin argues that forgiveness is not about condoning or excusing the wrongdoing but is a choice to release the negative emotions that can impact one's health and happiness.</p><p>Drawing on studies in psychology and medicine, Luskin demonstrates how harboring anger and resentment can contribute to stress-related illnesses and how forgiveness can lead to improved mental and physical health. The book provides exercises, strategies, and anecdotes to guide readers through the forgiveness process, encouraging them to reframe their perspectives and develop empathy.</p><p>Overall, "Forgive for Good" offers a practical and evidence-based approach to forgiveness, emphasizing its positive impact on emotional well-being, interpersonal relationships, and overall life satisfaction. Luskin's insights and techniques provide readers with a roadmap to navigate the challenging but rewarding journey toward forgiveness.</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forgive-Good-Proven-Prescription-Happiness/dp/006251721X?hvadid=580750341803&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9028742&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=12909752590534226997&hvtargid=kwd-330133672061&hydadcr=22561_13493272&keywords=forgive+for+good+book&qid=1705003079&sr=8-1&linkCode=ll1&tag=pfaustin-20&linkId=b7e7d64bc15c01df4ec1de995d28d42d&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl" target="_blank">See more about Forgive for Good here.</a></p>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-23153684264164239982023-06-26T14:51:00.002-06:002023-06-28T15:02:56.503-06:00Some quotes from the Dobbs abortion opinion.<div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFrS9jRu7z9qIBWBKssRuXcWI9D_OlJgdtOYCR-0JezIt3swtz88X0zFWoPxom5-Ic2zRZOro0Yl05rQ_Au9wM1pk7UQUYfo2p7mMiVrJ_MKIQ_r7WMBudvVKbRlR67TgPCK27WfQBFKz1tk8P8QIwYw7fWsiJKxLO36GnJWeI5z74n2169t2BHDO-AY/s1597/8%20weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1597" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFrS9jRu7z9qIBWBKssRuXcWI9D_OlJgdtOYCR-0JezIt3swtz88X0zFWoPxom5-Ic2zRZOro0Yl05rQ_Au9wM1pk7UQUYfo2p7mMiVrJ_MKIQ_r7WMBudvVKbRlR67TgPCK27WfQBFKz1tk8P8QIwYw7fWsiJKxLO36GnJWeI5z74n2169t2BHDO-AY/s320/8%20weeks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />“The legislature then found that at 5 or 6 weeks’ gestational age an “unborn human being’s heart begins beating”; at 8 weeks the “unborn human being begins to move about in the womb”; at 9 weeks “all basic physiological functions are present”; at 10 weeks “vital organs begin to function,” and “[h]air, fingernails, and toenails . . . begin to form”; at 11 weeks “an unborn human being’s diaphragm is developing,” and he or she may “move about freely in the womb”; and at 12 weeks the “unborn human being” has “taken on ‘the human form’ in all relevant respects.” §2(b)(i) (quoting Gonzales v. Carhart, 550 U. S. 124, 160 (2007)). It found that most abortions after 15 weeks employ “dilation and evacuation procedures which involve the use of surgical instruments to crush and tear the unborn child,” and it concluded that the “intentional commitment of such acts for nontherapeutic or elective reasons is a barbaric practice, dangerous for the maternal patient, and demeaning to the medical profession.”</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“Until the latter part of the 20th century, there was no support in American law for a constitutional right to obtain an abortion. No state constitutional provision had recognized such a right. Until a few years before Roe was handed down, no federal or state court had recognized such a right. Nor had any scholarly treatise of which we are aware. And although law review articles are not reticent about advocating new rights, the earliest article proposing a constitutional right to abortion that has come to our attention was published only a few years before Roe.</div><div><br /></div><div>Not only was there no support for such a constitutional right until shortly before Roe, but abortion had long been a crime in every single State. At common law, abortion was criminal in at least some stages of pregnancy and was regarded as unlawful and could have very serious consequences at all stages. American law followed the common law until a wave of statutory restrictions in the 1800s expanded criminal liability for abortions. By the time of the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment, three-quarters of the States had made abortion a crime at any stage of pregnancy, and the remaining States would soon follow. Roe either ignored or misstated this history, and Casey declined to reconsider Roe’s faulty historical analysis. It is therefore important to set the record straight.”</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“Roe was on a collision course with the Constitution from the day it was decided, Casey perpetuated its errors, and those errors do not concern some arcane corner of the law of little importance to the American people. Rather, wielding nothing but “raw judicial power,” Roe, 410 U. S., at 222 (White, J., dissenting), the Court usurped the power to address a question of profound moral and social importance that the Constitution unequivocally leaves for the people. Casey described itself as calling both sides of the national controversy to resolve their debate, but in doing so, Casey necessarily declared a winning side. Those on the losing side—those who sought to advance the State’s interest in fetal life—could no longer seek to persuade their elected representatives to adopt policies consistent with their views. The Court short-circuited the democratic process by closing it to the large number of Americans who dissented in any respect from Roe. “Roe fanned into life an issue that has inflamed our national politics in general, and has obscured with its smoke the selection of Justices to this Court in particular, ever since.” Casey, 505 U. S., at 995–996 (opinion of Scalia, J.). Together, Roe and Casey represent an error that cannot be allowed to stand.”</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>“Roe found that the Constitution implicitly conferred a right to obtain an abortion, but it failed to ground its decision in text, history, or precedent. It relied on an erroneous historical narrative; it devoted great attention to and presumably relied on matters that have no bearing on the meaning of the Constitution; it disregarded the fundamental difference between the precedents on which it relied and the question before the Court; it concocted an elaborate set of rules, with different restrictions for each trimester of pregnancy, but it did not explain how this veritable code could be teased out of anything in the Constitution, the history of abortion laws, prior precedent, or any other cited source; and its most important rule (that States cannot protect fetal life prior to “viability”) was never raised by any party and has never been plausibly explained. Roe’s reasoning quickly drew scathing scholarly criticism, even from supporters of broad access to abortion.”</div><div><br /></div>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-35406779536963580122023-03-12T15:02:00.001-06:002023-03-12T15:07:53.661-06:00Remember by Lisa Genova <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3SJioBygkWh87xiGLXXgMom7SNkNjVXaiUGkytkyUUIKkSf2pRHOTomqYmPjvQM_xhZZmpc9F6qB9WGA767kYKKbpZnFz_iTf_qmmxrckTzyqRgl4qVvsD-Wmp4IUf3s9NG0BWml1ATyHspbrLR8qCmeMWB95eWHj01mUrIEJpNxKkU3nYEpJaqU/s770/remember.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="558" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3SJioBygkWh87xiGLXXgMom7SNkNjVXaiUGkytkyUUIKkSf2pRHOTomqYmPjvQM_xhZZmpc9F6qB9WGA767kYKKbpZnFz_iTf_qmmxrckTzyqRgl4qVvsD-Wmp4IUf3s9NG0BWml1ATyHspbrLR8qCmeMWB95eWHj01mUrIEJpNxKkU3nYEpJaqU/w145-h200/remember.jpg" width="145" /></a></div><br /><p>I recently read a Blinkist summary of this book and was fascinated by the following section:</p><p>“If you’re of a certain age you might remember January 28, 1986, when a space shuttle careened high in the blue sky over Florida and burst into a ball of flames. The explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger left no survivors and was witnessed by millions on live television.</p><p>Twenty-four hours later, a pair of psychology professors at Emory University asked their students to jot down an account of what they were doing when they either witnessed or learned of the explosion. Two and a half years later, the professors followed up with the students and again asked for a personal account of that fateful January day. For almost every student, the memory had changed.</p><p>When the professors revealed to the students the discrepancies between their accounts of the day the Challenger exploded, some of the students insisted that their current version was correct and that the version they jotted down within 24 hours of the fiery launch was flat wrong. Surprised? Don’t worry, this is perfectly normal.</p><p>Our episodic memory may be powerful and vivid, but it’s probably wrong.</p><p>First, while our attention can capture an incredible amount of sensory information, it can’t catch everything. We’re limited by our perspective and guided by our interests and expectations. Then, as we translate the sensory data into neural activity, our beliefs and biases again play a strong hand. Finally, in order to distill that neural activity into a stable, retrievable pattern, we edit creatively. We omit some details and add others under the influence of our imagination, assumptions, and the suggestions of others.</p><p>After this point, the memory goes into storage. If left untouched, the neural connections that make up the memory physically recede. Gaps appear. We forget.</p><p>Retrieving the memory doesn’t preserve its accuracy either. We recall the neural pattern and fill in the gaps with invented information. What’s more, we reinterpret the remembered moment in the context of our present circumstances. We create a narrative to jibe with our current opinions and mood, effectively reshaping yesterday for today.</p><p>Each time we remember, we rewrite and save the amended version, and the previous version is gone. Our latest version of memory feels real to us because it’s the only version we have.”</p><p><br /></p><p>This helped me understand the frustrating experience when talking with someone and realizing that the story they are telling today is different from what happened or what they said previously. As the above material points out, the story we tell ourselves can change over time. If we are angry with someone, the story may get worse over time. We will be fully convinced of “facts” that never happened.</p><p>If you have ever kept a journal and then read it many years later, you will find that what you remember now may be different from what you wrote down.</p><p>My big take away is to realize that memory is not always reliable. It may be just an invention.</p><p><br /></p><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" sandbox="allow-popups allow-scripts allow-modals allow-forms allow-same-origin" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=pfaustin-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0593137957&asins=0593137957&linkId=ee219816911179dccf0aef17eaffa358&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-57816753768600866412023-02-06T14:35:00.003-07:002023-03-07T10:49:04.227-07:00My Second Salvation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxROpRW-ZK7pcCerwRJkvqqtrhW24qe_9UwLWzCaEv1Aa47xpxpSXCc_NCk9pfu2Q4nERSLJGO7KnqzrTuwVa1G9UrJhLdlmCTkUikd5xxhDyxX88Ak9jmMXpt9b8hTpMUphVc4BFwA7dIE0CIyujS8Has08CSLPAkCtHjCh_eJLbkAku3UCXpf-ew/s2281/Compare.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="2281" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxROpRW-ZK7pcCerwRJkvqqtrhW24qe_9UwLWzCaEv1Aa47xpxpSXCc_NCk9pfu2Q4nERSLJGO7KnqzrTuwVa1G9UrJhLdlmCTkUikd5xxhDyxX88Ak9jmMXpt9b8hTpMUphVc4BFwA7dIE0CIyujS8Has08CSLPAkCtHjCh_eJLbkAku3UCXpf-ew/w200-h147/Compare.png" width="200" /></a></div><br />
I became a Christian on October 14, 1973. Salvation came and I was saved. Without knowing all that it would mean, I decided to follow Jesus. Massive changes happened in my life.<div><br /><div>If you want to read that story, <a href="http://pfaustin.blogspot.com/2007/02/in-world-but-not-of-it-1.html" target="_blank">click here.</a><p></p><p>My second salvation happened sometime toward the end of July, 2010. It was on that day that something just as miraculous happened. In the same mysterious way as the first time, an awakening came and with it, grace for change. Of course, I had known for years that I was dangerously overweight but I felt powerless to change. I liked food too much and my previous efforts to lose weight had failed to produce any lasting change. But on that day something happened. For the whole story, <a href="https://amzn.to/3DH6IEY" target="_blank">click here</a>.</p><p>As I have thought back now, twelve years later, I see that my second salvation brought so much more than weight loss. It became a springboard to changes in so many other areas. It was like I was enabled to see the other areas in my life, family, and business that not only needed change but there was encouragement that they could change. A book would come my way and that book would lead to another and on and on. As I put things into practice, so many areas of my life began to improve.</p><p>God didn’t do all of it and I didn’t either. It is still mysterious to me where his power and my cooperation meet together. One thing I do know is that when his grace showed up on those days, if I had ignored it or put it off, my life would be dramatically worse. I also see that on a smaller scale, the same thing happens many times every day.</p><p>Say yes and take the hand when it is offered to you. Walk the path that is placed before you.</p><p>If you are overweight like most Americans, my story can help you. Is today your day?</p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/You-Cant-Outrun-Your-Mouth/dp/B095DBDMLH" target="_blank">Get it here.</a></p><p><br /></p></div></div>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-6898463476662792202022-10-19T17:32:00.003-06:002023-03-12T15:10:40.044-06:00The Book of Proverbs - Be Transformed Version<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #fce5cd;">.</span> <br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>The Book of Proverbs</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Be Transformed Version</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <b> </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Timeless Wisdom From Scripture</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4p_LwBVXO8gkVhsdG8Jak5En0lv_7Vo3sunqETlbtRoYGBvnTxE0DOIy1qw2A_Lv1BJAnWb99FecKPZ8zxjqnxccI-r44dGUekafHjaQF4yHt3TIm7WP4byAeia5hZqsaJfhxsUT5cz6utpvu4qR2HXlGKwkXdu_l1cW3g72FxMjTVNlBINt3ToC/s1985/Cover.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Book Cover" border="0" data-original-height="1985" data-original-width="1380" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4p_LwBVXO8gkVhsdG8Jak5En0lv_7Vo3sunqETlbtRoYGBvnTxE0DOIy1qw2A_Lv1BJAnWb99FecKPZ8zxjqnxccI-r44dGUekafHjaQF4yHt3TIm7WP4byAeia5hZqsaJfhxsUT5cz6utpvu4qR2HXlGKwkXdu_l1cW3g72FxMjTVNlBINt3ToC/w222-h320/Cover.jpg" width="222" /></a></b></div><p></p><b></b><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>The Book of Proverbs like never before!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b><br /></p><p>Welcome to this new version of the Book of Proverbs. I hope the timeless wisdom, knowledge, and instruction from the world's most famous book becomes a companion and friend in your life journey. There are 31 chapters and if you read one each day, you will have read them all in a month.<br /><br />The goal is not to study the book, but to let it dwell within you and bear its good fruit. That won't come from a study or a one-time read. It will take time, month after month. However, as the book promises, gaining wisdom and understanding will be more valuable than anything else you will ever desire.<br /><br />For decades, I have read a chapter of Proverbs every day, completing the book every month. I wanted to expose my grandchildren to this source of wisdom but realized there were a lot of words and concepts they might not understand. About four years ago, I started looking for a standalone version of the Book of Proverbs in an easy to understand but accurate version. That led me to this project, which I embraced with enthusiasm and passion.<br /><br />The base of this version is the public domain World English Bible, but little of it remains. I have made many changes where I think a different word or concept would be better understood for a young or older reader. Most important was to remain accurate, and I have resisted the urge to paraphrase.<br /><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Get Wisdom!<br />Get Understanding!<br />Be Transformed!</b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b> </b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b> </b><a href="https://square.link/u/xzz4Z3xm" target="_blank">Click to order your copy</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BKMNW9QT" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Kindle or paperback from Amazon</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://square.link/u/x0x1XLfz" target="_blank">Donate to support the project</a></span><br /></p><p> </p>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-86021385730358212082022-08-28T15:58:00.002-06:002022-08-28T16:04:17.225-06:00Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love: How a Violent Klansman Became a Champion of Racial Reconciliation</span></p><p>I first heard of Thomas Tarrants in a Christianity Today cover story about him in 1978. A radical terrorist who hated blacks and Jews, he was involved in more than 30 bombings of churches, synagogues, and homes before the FBI captured him. <br /><br />After many years in prison, he was radically transformed by an encounter with Jesus through reading the Bible. This book is an update of an earlier one and gives details of what has happened in his life in the fifty some years since his conversion and release from prison.<br /><br />He also gives some warning and instruction to us here in the present where hatred and division have become so common even amongst Christians.<br /><br />I read this book in one day. I could hardly put it down.<br /></p><p><br /></p><p>
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PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-59198516632597039372021-11-21T12:19:00.001-07:002021-11-21T12:19:21.219-07:00Uprooted: Recovering the Legacy of the Places We've Left Behind by Grace Olmstead <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybwlDSeRz9K45N9JpSYbRM65Z2lIxJLgijTUYsdaP87uVsO6jY8Akcw8lNV3cnHVy_ahxRqgC8TEcNrHXc4N05p0DJAZ8z1cyBC5WIY1mP0EQOgYLhMz-L0tUEm6kiKI1oIdjpE-V0-s/s2048/aaa+delete.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1357" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybwlDSeRz9K45N9JpSYbRM65Z2lIxJLgijTUYsdaP87uVsO6jY8Akcw8lNV3cnHVy_ahxRqgC8TEcNrHXc4N05p0DJAZ8z1cyBC5WIY1mP0EQOgYLhMz-L0tUEm6kiKI1oIdjpE-V0-s/w133-h200/aaa+delete.png" width="133" /></a></div><b><span style="font-size: medium;">On Homesickness </span></b><br /><p></p><p>"There are two different sorts of homesickness. The first is a gentle ache for material things, which I felt soon after I moved to Virginia for college. It's an ache for things that were pleasant and heartwarming as a child—like the smell of pine or the taste of Grandma's pie. These are the things we often associate with nostalgia: the small, material absences or presences that we form rituals around and enjoy, that remind us of the best parts of our childhood. I do not want to negate their importance or sweetness by calling them sentimental, but that is what they are. (And that is not necessarily a bad thing.)<br /><br />But there's a second form of homesickness that can bubble up in your soul sometimes—often as a reaction to those material items, but going deeper and hurting more. It's an ache for presences past, for the souls that animated and embodied our most beloved memories of home. The ache is often filled with grief and gratitude because our entire idea of home is bound up in their presence, in the way they lived and loved so well. Rather than a gentle ache, it can feel like a raw, burning hurt. In those moments, we feel the absence of the presences that made us who we are, and we long to see them resurrected in our lives. This is why we walk in their footsteps, bake their bread, and tell their stories: to keep them alive, to feel their presences again, to conjure up the comfort they created—even if only for a moment.<br /><br />"Nostalgia" is derived from the Greek word nostos, for "homecoming," and algos, for "pain, ache." I know I'm not alone in experiencing this ache. Many of my friends have also experienced this homesickness and wrestled with it. Perhaps readers of this book have wrestled with it as well. Many of us share those sense memories of our hometowns, of our grandparents, of the people and places who gave us life. Recalling a particular tree, an autumn scent, or the eccentric habit of a deceased loved one can result in a pang of longing.<br /><br />We choose what to do with this ache. We can ignore it, dismiss it as sentimentality, and push forward with our lives. Or we can pause and consider. What is the pain telling us about what we're missing? What does it tell us about how we might form the future?"<br /><br />From Uprooted: Recovering the Legacy of the Places We've Left Behind by Grace Olmstead</p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/3cPOaEJ" target="_blank">Click here for more about the book</a>.</p><p><br /></p>
<div id="amzn-assoc-ad-e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-41009615705307325612021-09-26T16:53:00.003-06:002021-09-26T17:09:48.802-06:00You Can't Outrun Your Mouth <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTchOFUJV5X9rvpr6mPHR2ptV-Q7alOhNOjQjlMgSols_J1Xcz4_b9kfAWv7qcqHoPTMluMTYwFdPO2ybq08FjOKlIt04SgNL5laUW2MioRGWcdkGJeq7RMkjSQRtzB_q08uhzztkvFY/s2048/ycoym.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Book image" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1291" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTchOFUJV5X9rvpr6mPHR2ptV-Q7alOhNOjQjlMgSols_J1Xcz4_b9kfAWv7qcqHoPTMluMTYwFdPO2ybq08FjOKlIt04SgNL5laUW2MioRGWcdkGJeq7RMkjSQRtzB_q08uhzztkvFY/w126-h200/ycoym.jpg" width="126" /></a></div><p><br /><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: large;">You Can't Outrun Your Mouth </span></span><br /><br />If you are like most Americans, you are overweight.<br /> <br />If you are like most Americans, excess weight is affecting your health.<br /> <br />If you are like most Americans, you have succeeded in losing weight only to gain it back.<br /><br />If you are like most Americans, the thought of that extra weight brings great discouragement.<span style="color: red;"></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">There is a different way and there is hope.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Say no to fad diets and exercise.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;">Say yes to sensible and sustainable changes.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: medium;">My story of losing 70 pounds in 9 months and keeping it off.</span></div><p><br />I will show you that there is a sensible way to lose weight and a sustainable way to eat and live so it doesn't return. There is no quick fix or miracle formula but a pathway that requires some work. As progress is made, the reward far exceeds the required changes. My story will help you to find your own way.<br /><br /><a href="https://amzn.to/3oEiJCg" target="_blank">Get the book! </a><br /></p><p></p><p><br /></p>
<div id="amzn-assoc-ad-e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-13902056100050937052021-09-04T07:02:00.004-06:002021-09-04T07:07:13.969-06:00Best Carpet Cleaning Machine Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8heIXfgPkRiLgR_o-2g4g9kIP5QEax6yNJDukAHsm7637R6XsaWLCQq9CFRe8htT2DJ0O0N-n4p43ZwhhoIlcD_T99l1qY4P8A7xcNgpgtOP4HIEempmy84eNCOkCQ-Tf_V2Uwm9xmms/s1720/carpet+machine.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1720" data-original-width="536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8heIXfgPkRiLgR_o-2g4g9kIP5QEax6yNJDukAHsm7637R6XsaWLCQq9CFRe8htT2DJ0O0N-n4p43ZwhhoIlcD_T99l1qY4P8A7xcNgpgtOP4HIEempmy84eNCOkCQ-Tf_V2Uwm9xmms/s320/carpet+machine.jpeg" width="100" /></a></div><br />We used to get our carpet cleaned by a professional company once or twice a year. Last year my wife suggested we look into buying our own machine. I did some research and settled on this one. I figured cheaper machines probably would not do as good of a job. We used to pay the company a little over $200 so the machine was a little over that.<br /><br />We are amazed how easy it is to operate and how clean the carpet is after. It also dried much quicker that when the professionals did it. That was one of the things we hated about getting out carpet cleaned. It would take over a day for it to completely dry and we had to wait before everything could be put back into its place.<br /><br />Another thing we noticed is that it stayed cleaner longer. There were some traffic areas that looked dirty a couple of months after cleaning and that is not the case anymore. One other thing I like is that we can do different areas without having to have all the carpet done at once. <br /><br />This machine is one of the best investments we have made.<br /><br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=as_ss_li_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=pfaustin-20&language=en_US&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B06VSJ9D1H&asins=B06VSJ9D1H&linkId=5ec1a8e55721577b111d94c9d7e4147c&show_border=true&link_opens_in_new_window=true" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
<div id="amzn-assoc-ad-e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></div><script async src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-85744040246556448272021-01-09T16:35:00.003-07:002021-01-09T16:50:01.229-07:00False Loves - Forty Weeks - Sacred Story Prayer<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QOSR88f2o3eSzcmggp2GzC953IcPlJHaCMWN7mSRyvxx7CGvuaLcGE7k479Qdunx4C8Fz2XZxNWeblrOok93_VE0kNzxlbyyMQoSZREgAOeUm6Yc8ey5ppmGFVbSZSHuvKjUYwD3YNI/s499/40+weeks.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-QOSR88f2o3eSzcmggp2GzC953IcPlJHaCMWN7mSRyvxx7CGvuaLcGE7k479Qdunx4C8Fz2XZxNWeblrOok93_VE0kNzxlbyyMQoSZREgAOeUm6Yc8ey5ppmGFVbSZSHuvKjUYwD3YNI/w119-h179/40+weeks.jpeg" width="119" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #660000;">False loves may be a person or something else. The nature of a blind spot is that we are blind to it.</span><br /><br /><br />"But every heart is also divided and broken by the effects of its multiple spiritual and psychological wounds. Your heart can be easily fooled and tempted by false promises of love. All false loves are illicit, because they are lusts masquerading as love. False loves are like mirages for parched and anxious hearts hoping to quench their thirst and find comfort. Instead of providing lasting peace, these illicit loves—illusions really—merely intensify longings, self-deception, self-preoccupation, and narcissism, ultimately leading to spiritual and psychological death.<br /><br /><br />It is easy to observe the corrosive effects of sins and addictions in other individuals and other groups. But when you are in their grip, it is difficult to imagine these sins and addictions as anything other than a precious lifeline. God clearly sees the corrosive and poisonous effects of false loves on persons, families, societies, and nature. But those in their grip are seduced into believing in false love's comforts, because all false loves can appear as good, life-giving, and natural. <br /><br /><br />The varieties of deception and seduction are as numerous as the ways a heart can be broken. God will not sanction these lusts because they issue from a violated heart and lead to your heart's further violation. Once acted upon, you will most assuredly violate the hearts of others. God is Love: the origin, the end, and the defender of the human heart. While God is infinitely merciful with our struggles, God cannot sanction anything that breaks your heart, destroys your authentic human nature, or leads to your spiritual death.<br /><br /><br />You will not be convinced of these false loves' unholy origin until you are honest about them. Examine your false loves in the light of day, not by the cover of night. Here in the light of grace, they will be revealed as neither true servants of the heart nor pathways to the Divine. By exposing them, you will not lose love and life, as you fear. You will find, eventually, the path to Love itself: the Christ who is worthy of your total devotion and self-surrender."<br /></span><br /><div> </div><div>~From <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forty-Weeks-Ignatian-Christ-Contemporary/dp/1985584263/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&keywords=Forty+Weeks+-+Sacred+Story+Prayer&qid=1610234146&sr=8-2&linkCode=ll1&tag=pfaustin-20&linkId=bec7b52bcd4c421a7602bdf173200f82&language=en_US" target="_blank">Forty Weeks - Sacred Story Prayer</a></div><div> </div><div> <br /></div><p>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Forty-Weeks-Ignatian-Christ-Contemporary/dp/1985584263/ref=as_li_ss_il?dchild=1&keywords=Forty+Weeks+-+Sacred+Story+Prayer&qid=1610234146&sr=8-2&linkCode=li1&tag=pfaustin-20&linkId=f29d9c2056221646dac53331b2659230&language=en_US" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=1985584263&Format=_SL110_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=pfaustin-20&language=en_US" /></a></p><p><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pfaustin-20&language=en_US&l=li1&o=1&a=1985584263" style="border: medium none; margin: 0px;" width="1" /></p><div id="amzn-assoc-ad-e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-35791535809181221842021-01-01T06:43:00.002-07:002021-01-01T06:56:02.383-07:00The Serenity Prayer - Full Version<p> </p><p>The Serenity Prayer <br /></p><p>God grant me the serenity<br />to accept the things I cannot change;<br />courage to change the things I can;<br />and wisdom to know the difference.<br /><br />Living one day at a time;<br />enjoying one moment at a time;<br />accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;<br />taking, as He did, this sinful world<br />as it is, not as I would have it;<br />trusting that He will make all things right<br />if I surrender to His Will;<br />that I may be reasonably happy in this life<br />and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.<br />Amen.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGn2Zv0Hz9Fx_RA5Z8bOUXhVczJsgkY5WdLTrEJJTOThzinsNjK5D9tf9meO0wSotnOgJwDNPNm-sIbELc4EBh5HVe9xwVby-EzSCd7DDHrvTBhZo1MyMUWgfw96i3EVmeyDOXPJjz258/s600/prayer.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGn2Zv0Hz9Fx_RA5Z8bOUXhVczJsgkY5WdLTrEJJTOThzinsNjK5D9tf9meO0wSotnOgJwDNPNm-sIbELc4EBh5HVe9xwVby-EzSCd7DDHrvTBhZo1MyMUWgfw96i3EVmeyDOXPJjz258/s320/prayer.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><div id="amzn-assoc-ad-e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></div><script async src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-88673232997655337712020-12-16T18:18:00.001-07:002020-12-16T18:24:09.957-07:00The Four Ps of Broken Sexual Boundaries<p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKd4dK1cluQJQBwC_u2Alb995-iLqFu01uwBE7JAxu5soD8Gn5gPvO5C0BT_SHoGEHj0CAVBkRZkFurVPe3wXWibp-yKwGzieaBdQgXwoaRsOdc6Pj0WHQ8SFyarraa8KZwo6y-H7j_e0/s640/Broken_fence.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKd4dK1cluQJQBwC_u2Alb995-iLqFu01uwBE7JAxu5soD8Gn5gPvO5C0BT_SHoGEHj0CAVBkRZkFurVPe3wXWibp-yKwGzieaBdQgXwoaRsOdc6Pj0WHQ8SFyarraa8KZwo6y-H7j_e0/w257-h193/Broken_fence.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>I was around 20 years old. We were both Christians. She was beautiful and I was smitten when I realized she liked me. Soon we were making plans for marriage.<p></p><p><br />We spent a lot of time together. Here is the progression of how things went bad; from innocent to immoral but that wasn’t the intention. First hands touch, then holding hands, then hugs, and somewhere in there comes that first electric kiss.<br /> </p><p>The first kiss is simple and short but as time goes on they linger. During this time, hands begin to caress the body. <br /> </p><p>So the day came: we were alone at my house, kissing and caressing on the couch. Soon my hands went places that should be reserved for a married couple. We went to my bedroom. <br /> </p><p>That changed everything. That now defined our time together. We may have gotten together to go to church or do ministry but we always ended up in the same place we went that day. Sadly but thankfully our relationship fell apart after a short time of this. <br /> </p><p>It took many years for me to come to grips with what happened. It seems like denial to say that I never had an intention for things to go where they did. What kind of deception came about that allowed it to happen and then to continue? At what point in the kissing, etc., did sin begin? As some would say, “How far was too far?” <br /> </p><p>My point in all of this is to show that good intentions or lack of bad intentions were not enough to protect us. We started down a pathway that was like a boulder rolling down a hill. It’s a path that is good in marriage but not outside of it.<br /> </p><p>After many years, I came to understand how things ended up where they did. Here are the <b>Four Ps</b> that I think explain it: <b>Proximity, Privacy, Passion, and Progression. </b><br /> </p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>Proximity </b>is being physically present with someone. </li><li><b>Privacy </b>is being somewhere where you are alone and it’s not likely that someone will see what you are doing. </li><li><b>Passion </b>usually results from physical contact: kissing, caressing, etc and the motor starts running and picking up speed. </li><li><b>Progression </b>is the God designed path that begins with touch and ends with intercourse.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Proximity alone is not bad. When you like someone, you want to be near them. Privacy alone is not always bad. A phone call is private and the corner of a coffee shop can be private. When you put the two together things can change. If a relationship does not include physical touch then proximity and privacy would not be a problem but in most relationships there is touch. Passion and progression are also closely linked. In a dating relationship, physical touch leads to passion and passion brings progression. <br /> </p><p>If you recall my story, you can see the Four Ps in action and this is where "boundaries" usually break down. Passion is a very hard thing to control. In marriage, you can let passion flourish and progress to the end, which is sexual intercourse. In dating, the common question is "How far can we go?" That presents a problem. It's like racing to the edge of a cliff and slamming on the brakes hoping not to go over the edge. The honest admission would be to acknowledge that we like the feeling of intimate stimulation and want to experience it at deeper levels. The problem of progression also shows up here. In the beginning, holding hands was amazing but after you have kissed passionately, just holding hands is not quite the same. When you are together in a private place, you pick up where you left off and move a little closer to intercourse each time. Without intending to cross your "boundaries", you end up going over the edge.<br /> </p><p>While our intention may not be bad, I think we need to realize how prone to sin and deception we are. We want to believe that we can do certain passionate things in private and not end up in trouble. A big problem is that it feels good and a feeling of closeness can soon turn into sexual stimulation. That wonderful feeling is great in marriage but outside of that we are playing with fire. <br /> </p><p>If you find yourself resistant to these ideas consider if you might be leaving room to slip up. I heard someone say that he and his girlfriend were trying not to have sex yet they continued to go down the same path. They gave opportunity for failure. Another problem is alcohol or recreational drugs as that almost guarantees bad judgment and results. <br /> </p><p><b>I think the only completely safe boundary when engaging in touch is avoiding proximity and privacy together. </b>I'm not talking about the privacy of a phone call or the corner of the coffee shop but the kind where you are alone and it’s not likely that someone will see what you are doing. Now if you are just holding hands that may be different but once you start kissing and caressing the danger becomes real. I tell you from experience that you can quickly become blinded by deception when certain things are done. Don’t take the chance. As I look back, if I had known and followed that advice a lot of heartache could have been avoided.<br /><br />I would appreciate your thoughts and input.<br /> <br />A PDF for sharing: <br /></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/4TheFourPs">https://bit.ly/4TheFourPs</a></p><p> <br /><br /></p>
<div id="amzn-assoc-ad-e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-87321614550648622842020-11-01T15:40:00.000-07:002020-11-01T15:40:47.792-07:00Allen Carr's Easy Way To Stop Smoking - Review<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK00cDIahsyF5bGznLDaUZAHnkBe56Hv7QVUNACiYHwaAkcEbcnz6JYbcjLwfEp__9OpPp3_mfMgdsP4yIItft-sOyG_TYn0h07EhqWE_clhvmRodgZO5H_jkaMrDLY0SmbEj5CQY5MFw/s499/stop+smoking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK00cDIahsyF5bGznLDaUZAHnkBe56Hv7QVUNACiYHwaAkcEbcnz6JYbcjLwfEp__9OpPp3_mfMgdsP4yIItft-sOyG_TYn0h07EhqWE_clhvmRodgZO5H_jkaMrDLY0SmbEj5CQY5MFw/w134-h200/stop+smoking.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><br />I quit smoking cigarettes when I was 17 years old. It was the cough in the morning that convinced me it was a good idea to stop. That said, around the same time I began smoking marijuana every day. One vice traded for another. About a year later I became a Christian and was freed from marijuana, alcohol, and other drugs.<br /><br />Some time ago on a podcast I heard of Allen Carr and a book he wrote about quitting drinking. It sounded like an interesting concept and method. I looked at the library and put a hold on this book about cigarettes and the one about quitting drinking. This one came available first. I can say that if I was addicted to cigarettes I think this book could be a lifesaver. It has helped many people. I’m looking forward to reading the one about drinking. I have wondered how it will be different from the smoking one.<br /><br />Have you heard of Allen Carr and his books? I would like to hear from you if so. Also, if you smoke cigarettes this might be a help for you.<p></p><p> Here is a link to the book:</p><p> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Carrs-Smoking-Without-Willpower/dp/178404542X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?dchild=1&keywords=Allen+Carr's+Easy+Way+To+Stop+Smoking&qid=1604269713&sr=8-4&linkCode=ll1&tag=pfaustin-20&linkId=fcb020fab4e795c71a3de0c3c0551a71&language=en_US" target="_blank">Allen Carr's Easy Way To Stop Smoking</a></p><p> <br /></p>
<div id="amzn-assoc-ad-e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></div><script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-86947055248984676352020-05-09T06:18:00.001-06:002020-05-09T06:24:55.338-06:00The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters by Tom Nichols - Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCerohsIf4E6-dqxf6IClpctbRSOvB_Vk9RUJHSVU0LPhjTx9ycvei47BZy2ixyHMwk-Xiiw7cMlVMaAWhhMujsLlaxocDG1I_vRjLNQuiqW-xzITtHF2WaiMedcr0fB-SDEXhzFUQgQ/s1600/death+of+expertise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeCerohsIf4E6-dqxf6IClpctbRSOvB_Vk9RUJHSVU0LPhjTx9ycvei47BZy2ixyHMwk-Xiiw7cMlVMaAWhhMujsLlaxocDG1I_vRjLNQuiqW-xzITtHF2WaiMedcr0fB-SDEXhzFUQgQ/s200/death+of+expertise.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span data-offset-key="d4b7c-0-0"><span data-text="true">I haven't read the complete book yet but it is on my list. I read a Blinkist summary of it over the last two days and have found it fascinating especially in these crazy COVID-19 days. I think you might find the following interesting.</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="am7co-0-0"><span data-text="true">The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters by Tom Nichols</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="5stri-0-0"><span data-text="true">Here are some quotes from the summary:</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dra75-0-0"><span data-text="true">"Although disagreements about expertise are nothing new, they have been increasing in the internet age. The internet makes it possible to find a source to support any opinion under the sun, no matter how outrageously unscientific it might be, and it also has people feeling more empowered than ever to voice their opinions. Once people start ganging up and attacking established knowledge, years of scientific progress are endangered and people’s lives can be put at risk."</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="dpv55-0-0"><span data-text="true">"We have human traits that can make us believe a false argument. With an infinite amount of information just waiting to be scrolled through, countless people are joining debates on everything from Batman movies to theoretical science. Having no formal education on a subject does nothing to weaken people’s confidence in their ability to read a few articles and believe they have a full grasp of a subject."</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="f8rr2-0-0"><span data-text="true">"This makes a great deal of online conversations painful to read, but it’s important to note that both experts and laypeople are prone to many of the same biases inherent to human nature. Take the Dunning-Kruger effect. In 1999, Cornell University psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger revealed that having less skill at a specific task can make someone less likely to recognize their own incompetence. This is due to a lack of metacognition, which is the awareness of our own thought processes and the trait that allows someone to recognize their limitations. Lack of metacognition could be the root cause of why people are so adamant that they know what they’re talking about, even when it’s clear to others that their thinking is radically off course."</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4rsi4-0-0"><span data-text="true">"Another human trait that can steer us in the wrong direction is our tendency to only seek out and pay attention to information that agrees with what we already believe. This is known as confirmation bias. If you grew up being told that left-handed people are all agents of evil, you could then find police reports of every southpaw that committed a crime and point to these documents as proof. Meanwhile, you can dismiss every account of empathetic or philanthropic lefties as an exception or part of a conspiracy to throw off the unsuspecting public."</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="8i0vc-0-0"><span data-text="true">"The internet is a tremendous tool for researchers and journalists, but it can easily lead you astray if you don’t know how to double-check your facts. This problem is compounded by the fact that so many people are influenced by their confirmation bias and use the internet to reinforce their preconceived notions. For many, the internet is not a tool for finding facts and seeking out the truth, it’s a web of lies that readers are happy to remain stuck in."</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="4buf8-0-0"><span data-text="true">"Being a reporter used to imply a certain amount of experience and a specific set of journalistic standards, but the internet has given anyone with a computer the ability to launch a news site and build readership. Since the turn of the century, the number of news sources on the internet has steadily increased. On the web, revenue is determined by interactivity. So, to make a profit, websites publish stories that are designed to be clickable and shareable. And internet users have shown a clear preference for entertainment news and articles that confirm their beliefs."</span></span></div>
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<span data-offset-key="rvej-0-0"><span data-text="true">"Another common mistake on the part of experts is to make predictions. A scientist's job essentially involves explaining things that have already taken place or are currently happening. But reporters and curious minds love to ask scientists to make predictions, often with the intent of enabling people to prepare for what’s to come. But even the most educated expert can fail miserably when it comes to predicting the future."</span></span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="rvej-0-0"><span data-text="true">If this made you want to read more, get your copy here:</span></span><br />
<span data-offset-key="rvej-0-0"><span data-text="true"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Death-Expertise-Campaign-Established-Knowledge-dp-0190865970/dp/0190865970/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&me=&qid=1587762519&linkCode=ll1&tag=pfaustin-20&linkId=819463da952c91c6116c8556a90a4070&language=en_US" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="am7co-0-0"><span data-text="true">The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters</span></span></a></span></span><br />
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<span data-offset-key="rvej-0-0"><span data-text="true"><span data-offset-key="am7co-0-0"><span data-text="true">Here is where you can get the Blinkist summary: </span></span></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blinkist.o6eiov.net/1vKk6" target="_blank"><span data-offset-key="am7co-0-0"><span data-text="true">The Death of Expertise: The Campaign Against Established Knowledge and Why it Matters</span></span></a><br />
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<script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-40034285409572211242020-04-22T18:58:00.002-06:002020-04-22T19:06:14.603-06:00Plustek Photo Scanner - ephoto Z30 - Review<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIl-8o3z_0QTczNvlsX9hkWBEauXPbah-p-jb6IJPU6nIKEmAGTHVeQj8hPmPoQGcK4kQFlyXSmvcCOB3-lahtLAPwHd5o12dbFNe9wKreTL4xQyc4IbRFLX9wT02Nb341dgk76hDOMQ/s1600/Plustek+Photo+Scanner+-+ephoto+Z30.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1500" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIl-8o3z_0QTczNvlsX9hkWBEauXPbah-p-jb6IJPU6nIKEmAGTHVeQj8hPmPoQGcK4kQFlyXSmvcCOB3-lahtLAPwHd5o12dbFNe9wKreTL4xQyc4IbRFLX9wT02Nb341dgk76hDOMQ/s200/Plustek+Photo+Scanner+-+ephoto+Z30.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plustek Photo Scanner - ephoto Z30</td></tr>
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Envelopes of old photographs. Falling apart albums of old
photographs. Boxes of old photographs. They sit on shelves and in
closets. Precious and irreplaceable memories in danger of being lost.<br />
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One of my projects during this extra time I have had at home is to
begin the process of digitizing our old photographs. Most are of our
family and children but then there are some of my parents wedding and
their early years. There is an envelope of pictures when I was a child.
It has b<span class="text_exposed_show">een so fun to go through these
old memories and then to be able to share them with the kids and other
people who are included in them.</span><br />
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The process has been made so simple by the scanner I found and bought. I
did a lot of research to find something that would make the process of
scanning thousands of photographs an easy process. As I contemplated the
purchase I kept wondering if the claims were too good to be true. Would
it really work as fast and easy as they showed. What about the software
to capture and save the images? I have been more than amazed and
satisfied. The scans happen as fast as I can feed the photos through and
the software has been flawless.<br />
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If you have old photos laying
around then this might be your opportunity to make sure that those
memories can be preserved and shared.<br />
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Here is what I bought: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Plustek-Photo-Scanner-Sensor-Support/dp/B01LZJH63M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?crid=1W8GVJWUA4OZJ&dchild=1&keywords=plustek+photo+scanner+-+ephoto+z300&qid=1586818653&sprefix=plustek,aps,262&sr=8-3&fbclid=IwAR3NJg8jLRjuqzfp3SKlDNUYWew-tWRIKJgbhONuxsUPyjg0zF4hOxJJs6Q&linkCode=ll1&tag=pfaustin-20&linkId=5ea2adbf2bbe3e1c00d6393fa6e67aa3&language=en_US" target="_blank">Plustek Photo Scanner - ephoto Z30</a><br />
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Here is a video that shows how easy it is to operate:<br />
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<br /><iframe width="364" height="205" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HU80tRFti2c" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-20174903418859140312019-10-15T19:20:00.000-06:002019-10-15T19:20:32.270-06:00Thankful for Indoor Plumbing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKP5BvJ5-OkAzwFP_N6zcxWr4YtvsN0G1FMIkX2hw2jtB9Vu1H7H2XIPAm7kmmOKsfJNH0ecAOSvTlaWqTf7A95i0XHErxDnH7k3S4B2QszeNKy1IUgXzyfP8GHq60O7FjXJFJbZMlALc/s1600/outhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="660" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKP5BvJ5-OkAzwFP_N6zcxWr4YtvsN0G1FMIkX2hw2jtB9Vu1H7H2XIPAm7kmmOKsfJNH0ecAOSvTlaWqTf7A95i0XHErxDnH7k3S4B2QszeNKy1IUgXzyfP8GHq60O7FjXJFJbZMlALc/s200/outhouse.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>
A good cleansing shower feels so good after a long day at work. I often think how thankful I am for indoor plumbing. <br />
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Less than a hundred years ago, when my dad was young, his family got indoor plumbing. That was a big deal. Something we take for granted today was a near luxury then. <br />
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The first thing to come in those days was running water in a home, just plain water - cold water. The next step was a back boiler, which was a device that attached to the wood cooking stove and would heat the water as it ran through it. Later the outhouse out in the back was replaced by a toilet inside and how wonderful to have a bathtub. <br />
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And how about when the wood stove was replaced by a furnace that heated all of the rooms? What an improvement that was.<br />
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Look around right now and see the things that are so common but should have us shouting with joy and gratitude. <br />
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Oh, another good thing: as a teenager, my dad ended up working for the plumber who added the bathroom to their house. After many years of training, school, and work, he became a journeyman plumber.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-12955872876670408502019-09-06T17:04:00.000-06:002019-09-06T17:07:01.218-06:00Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction by Judith Grisel<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Never-Enough-Neuroscience-Experience-Addiction/dp/0385542844/ref=as_li_ss_il?keywords=never+enough&qid=1567810508&s=gateway&sr=8-2&linkCode=li2&tag=pfaustin-20&linkId=b5b009956df7c7ae1caf4cea994f5fa9&language=en_US" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=0385542844&Format=_SL160_&ID=AsinImage&MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&WS=1&tag=pfaustin-20&language=en_US" /></a><span style="color: #fce5cd;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=pfaustin-20&language=en_US&l=li2&o=1&a=0385542844" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />.</span><br />
<span style="color: #fce5cd;">. </span><br />
Interesting thoughts:<br />
<br />
"Desperation in any form leads to depraved acts. Social psychology has shown that a primary difference between upstanding citizens and depraved criminals is our circumstances, including many of which are beyond our control. Inherited proclivities, early experiences, and current environments combine to constrain many of our choices. It is not heroin, alcohol, nicotine, or cocaine that makes one an addict; it is the drive to escape from reality. I remember sharing a crack pipe with a homeless man for a while. Though probably only in his early forties, he had few teeth left, and those were dirty and broken. He hadn't showered or even looked in a mirror in weeks and was filthy and emaciated. Yet he'd pull on the pipe and wax on about how he was on top of the world. Even then I was reminded of Huxley's soma, required in some dystopian future in order to cope with society's dementia. Lest we feel above such depravity, we might remember that chemicals aren't the only way to escape. There are plenty of internet and entertainment addicts, food, shopping, or work addicts, maybe as many as there are people who have problems with substances."<br />
<br />
~From Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction by Judith Grisel<br />
<br />
Here is info about the book on Amazon:<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/Never%20Enough:%20The%20Neuroscience%20and%20Experience%20of%20Addiction" target="_blank">Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction</a><br />
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PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-58180082723753373292019-04-13T14:49:00.005-06:002019-04-13T14:53:18.048-06:00Pilgrim's Progress Map ChartThe Pilgrim's Progress animated movie is showing in theaters this Easter weekend. Here is a map of the journey.<br />
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<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/limkm?rf=238313907114158210" rel="nofollow"> <img alt="Pilgrim's Progress Map Chart" src="https://rlv.zcache.com/pilgrims_progress_map_chart-rf62619aff54c4eff9fb9de4514963d2c_2qdjq_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /> </a> <br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/z/limkm?rf=238313907114158210" rel="nofollow">Pilgrim's Progress Map Chart</a> <br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/store/your_treasures?rf=238313907114158210" rel="nofollow">Your_Treasures</a> </div>
<br />
<br />
A Plan of the Road From the City of Destruction to the Celestial City. This map comes from "The Pilgrim's Progress," a religious allegory by an English preacher, John Bunyan. It was first published in 1678 and has often been called the most read book in the English language but for the Bible. "The protagonist, named Christian, faces temptations and digressions that could prevent him from reaching his goal, God’s celestial city.<br />
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PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-8491905599307154812019-01-01T06:56:00.000-07:002019-01-01T06:56:48.119-07:00New Year’s Predictions<span style="color: #fce5cd;">. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMwA6Hl2HZKqA16NWLdM8qopLKdLBt6hAlj8vTf-u-vBnFDQUxbp88fnfEN-6vbgvInigdZWBVyUdMAK1tYEAXPLS8DCy1vdOE9P4mxpyN1FawdtollivWSnc1mIMoe39gAUTW-W4l3o/s1600/New-Year-2019.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="494" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnMwA6Hl2HZKqA16NWLdM8qopLKdLBt6hAlj8vTf-u-vBnFDQUxbp88fnfEN-6vbgvInigdZWBVyUdMAK1tYEAXPLS8DCy1vdOE9P4mxpyN1FawdtollivWSnc1mIMoe39gAUTW-W4l3o/s200/New-Year-2019.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Here are some of my predictions for the coming year:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>A lot of good things will happen but there will be some bad thrown in the mix.</li>
<li>Many people will experience great health and others will live through sickness.</li>
<li>People will be born and people will die.</li>
<li>There will be ups and there will be downs.</li>
<li>Some days you will be happy and some sad. There will be some things you can control and others that will elude your grasp.</li>
</ul>
<br />
The overall outcome of the coming year will be largely determined by what you focus on. Will it be the things you can change or the things you have no control over? For example, I can’t control if I will get sick but there are many things I can do that will make me healthier. I can do something about that.<br />
<br />
I can control if God will be given first place in my life. I can make the decision to make prayer, Bible study and self-examination a daily part of my life. Those things will have the greatest actual impact on my life in the coming year. Proverbs 16:16 says that it’s much better to get wisdom and understanding above silver and gold.<br />
<br />
So what about those New Year’s resolutions? My advice is to avoid the dramatic; make small changes that you can stick with and live with for life. That’s much better that the big flash that comes and goes and you are left with the same old existence. Make God’s Word a daily part of your life and start a list of people and things that you talk to God about each day. Get those right and you will be surprised about how many of the other things fall into place.<br />
<br />
So to my final prediction for the New Year: some people will and some won’t.<br />
<br />
Philip<br />
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<script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-46991898443731756492018-12-21T18:43:00.001-07:002018-12-21T18:43:05.901-07:00The Road to Success Poster<span style="color: #fce5cd;">. </span><br />
Here is where you can get your own copy of The Road to Success Poster:<br />
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<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/the_road_to_success_poster-228975996310000671?CMPN=share_nplpf&lang=en&rf=238313907114158210&social=true" rel="nofollow"><img alt="The Road to Success Poster" src="https://rlv.zcache.com/the_road_to_success_poster-rb3d4fd858b544009b0e354a582568bfd_i4w_8byvr_1024.jpg?max_dim=325" style="border: 0;" /></a>
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<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/your_treasures?rf=238313907114158210" rel="nofollow">Your_Treasures</a>
</div>
<br />
The Road to Success Poster from an original drawing issued by the National Cash Register Co. to point the road to business success. It originally appeared in THE ETUDE music magazine, published October 1913 and includes some of the unique language and jargons of the time. Great inspirational and motivational tool/gift for anyone, especially young people starting out, new businesses and anyone seeking success (aren’t we all?).. Just follow the ‘Road to Success,’ making sure not to fall prey to ‘bohemianism,’ shiftlessness’ or one of the many other pitfalls along the way. Don’t lose time at the ‘Hotel Know It All’ or ‘Mutual Admiration Society’ waiting for compliments such as ‘Caruso can’t touch you’ or ‘You’ll set the world on fire.’ Once you reach the ‘Gate of Ideals’ you’ve nearly reached the big zither of success.<br />
An allegorical map of the road to success. A host of shortcomings and mistakes including "Bohemianism," "Misrepresentation", "Lack of Preparation", "Bad Business Methods", and "Weak Morals" lead to "Oblivion", and the "River of Failure". But those who adopt the "Right System", attain "True Knowledge", and pass through the "Gate of Ideals", the golden lyre of Success beckons.<br />
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<br />
This link will give you a printable explanation of the Road to Success poster that you can frame along with it. <a href="http://bit.ly/pfroad" target="_blank">The Road to Success explanation PDF</a><br />
<br />
The text is below:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Road to Success</span></b></div>
<br />
This prize is achieved by first entering the Gate of Opportunity. People are running through, but some have already settled in to the sit-down life of ease and comfort in what looks like the Beer Garden of Bohemianism.<br />
<br />
Some manage to pass by those delights to check in to the Hotel Know It All, because they hold to mottoes such as Nobody can tell me, or I don’t need to practice, or I’m a born genius, or yet: I don’t need a system.<br />
<br />
Similarly misguided cries are heard on the patio of the Mutual Admiration Society: You’re the Hit of the Age, You’ll Set the World on Fire, You’re a Wonder My Boy, or (my favorite): Caruso Can’t Touch You.<br />
<br />
Those who avoid those three establishments of ill repute might still fall victim to the deep, dark well of Illiteracy, or the spinning, disorienting wheel of Conceit. A select few manage to board the train called Right System at the Railroad Station.<br />
<br />
That doesn’t stop some from running along the rail track towards Success, only to succumb to the ugly hand of Vices, the spinning fan of Bad Habits (blowing its victims towards Oblivion), or the pitfall of Bad Reputation. Others fall prey to Charlatanism, or get tangled up in the webs of Jealousy and Do It Tomorrow.<br />
<br />
Those who overcome all these perils will enter the gates of System. But while the train crosses a bridge across the river Failure, those on foot are threatened by the Cauldron of Misrepresentation, and tempted by Short Cuts.<br />
<br />
Some do manage to wade across the river to the other side, but there must overcome Bad Temper, Carelessness, Shiftlessness and Bad Memory. Then there’s Lack of Preparation, a giant rock which the train can tunnel through effortlessly, while the surviving pedestrians must trek across it.<br />
<br />
Sprees, Laziness and Bad Business Methods then still threaten them, until at last they come before two gates, the one for Weak Morals remaining forever closed, the Gate of Ideals open to the train (and some on foot).<br />
<br />
Conclusion: you can be successful without adopting the Right System, but your chances are far smaller. And you’ll have to make a lot bigger effort to get there.<br />
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<script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-30836438137023320862018-12-08T12:23:00.000-07:002018-12-08T12:27:18.762-07:00The Bible, The Church, & Homosexuality<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1q5diWhGxaODi3KjgNuULmf8tDCcVSNmUQOEJ_FFTFE7kjtFRTsWvPe9a5R-DKsztV2Ygw6RuhDF6GKnC5fbZD9YXOKHzd_oAMlsf-JzManqwGepsm5hwovPEW8k9NC7YieY-OSGsnvI/s1600/aaromanssermonbanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="806" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1q5diWhGxaODi3KjgNuULmf8tDCcVSNmUQOEJ_FFTFE7kjtFRTsWvPe9a5R-DKsztV2Ygw6RuhDF6GKnC5fbZD9YXOKHzd_oAMlsf-JzManqwGepsm5hwovPEW8k9NC7YieY-OSGsnvI/s200/aaromanssermonbanner.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
This is the best message I have heard on how Christians should think about and relate to homosexuals. The whole series is almost two hours long but it is well worth the time to listen. <br />
<br />
It was given at Fellowship Denver Church on July 13, 2012. The title of the series is: Romans Forum: The Bible, The Church, & Homosexuality.<br />
<br />
Here is what they said about it:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Homosexuality is one of the most difficult modern issues for churches that want to be faithful to Scripture and love people well. Whether it personally affects each of us or not, it is good to wrestle through this issue because it touches on many aspects of Scripture’s teaching and our understanding of the gospel. In other words, this issue tends to demonstrate how skillfully (or not!) we understand and live out Scripture as a unified whole.</blockquote>
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<br />
Here is the link to the two messages in the series:<br />
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<a href="https://www.fellowshipdenver.org/sermons/series/romans-forum:-the-bible-the-church-and-homosexuality" target="_blank">Romans Forum: The Bible, The Church, & Homosexuality</a><br />
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<br />
This is not the exact notes referred to in the message but follows it fairly close and gives the background.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=13&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiBzamb9ZDfAhUi8YMKHaBGB-E4ChAWMAJ6BAgHEAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fstatic1.squarespace.com%2Fstatic%2F5005c4d8c4aa8b4d9762260e%2Ft%2F5501e9e8e4b004aea0def09e%2F1426188776173%2FEquip%2BForum%2B-%2BThe%2BGospel%2Band%2BSame-Sex%2BAttraction%2B-%2Bprint%2Bversion.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1CFJXQxpVDOqkhrYwGI7Sl" target="_blank">EQUIP FORUM: THE GOSPEL & SAME-SEX ATTRACTION</a><br />
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<script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-72414040149767935402018-11-30T13:42:00.000-07:002018-12-02T05:30:34.777-07:00Gratitude, Thanks, and Thanksgiving Gift Ideas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DG28AAcaxQ96RKWEvA_f9LDNExY0evQBRAklJm9e5RPp9VMiRfUax9Is-q8LVb1cbY2CWB4FisUOR0ljBoPnDc1-X_UreJnuFTglaFbO5LawjVeA1xnbBfLkLberhqJtPHJUGOg2TGQ/s1600/Gratitude.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="598" data-original-width="638" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DG28AAcaxQ96RKWEvA_f9LDNExY0evQBRAklJm9e5RPp9VMiRfUax9Is-q8LVb1cbY2CWB4FisUOR0ljBoPnDc1-X_UreJnuFTglaFbO5LawjVeA1xnbBfLkLberhqJtPHJUGOg2TGQ/s200/Gratitude.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Gratitude gives us perspective. When we lack gratitude, life looks
different. We live with a chip on our shoulder. Nothing is ever good
enough. People are always letting us down. Circumstances are exaggerated
out of proportion. We focus on the bad hand we were dealt.
To be thankful we need to remember what God and other people have done
for us. I have found that formalizing my gratitude does something that
fleeting thoughts can't. It cements the thought in my mind and makes it
stronger than the grumbling voice that is always droning on.<br />
<br />
Many blessings are hidden. Choosing gratitude exposes them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Click here for:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=as_li_ss_tl?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=gratitude+thanks+%22your+treasures%22&rh=i:aps,k:gratitude+thanks+%22your+treasures%22&linkCode=ll2&tag=pfaustin-20&linkId=00f56224a9b97da9929364ce0de4154f&language=en_US" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gratitude and Thanksgiving gifts on Amazon </a></span></div>
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<br />
Click on the image below to select your choice of Gratitude or Thanksgiving gifts from Zazzle.<br />
<br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/collections/gratitude-119728268876850274?rf=238313907114158210" rel="nofollow">Gratitude</a>
<br />
by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238313907114158210?rf=238313907114158210" rel="nofollow">Philip Faustin</a>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~Cicero</div>
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<script async="" src="//z-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/onejs?MarketPlace=US&adInstanceId=e404d6f0-ecd5-4cd8-ba6d-9fe3bc44b742"></script>PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6458819329456047684.post-52914308170182764212018-11-24T11:10:00.000-07:002018-11-30T13:31:25.208-07:00The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Gift IdeasHere are some gift ideas for you or someone you know likes The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCI39LUEirqVzaAqpHun8dMrdTE06jCMV3hT8kCtZoegZUh8E2oulD26Whihv1M363cQp4Qyi1G1_sVcvz9PIhG_CaG2ECaAc0hCckGeXcxdFWM-PyvGwt7wDf4NG2J_LErXlea4xScgw/s1600/velveteen+rabbit+with+title.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1150" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCI39LUEirqVzaAqpHun8dMrdTE06jCMV3hT8kCtZoegZUh8E2oulD26Whihv1M363cQp4Qyi1G1_sVcvz9PIhG_CaG2ECaAc0hCckGeXcxdFWM-PyvGwt7wDf4NG2J_LErXlea4xScgw/s200/velveteen+rabbit+with+title.png" width="143" /></a></div>
"What is REAL?" asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room. "Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?"<br />
<br />
"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real." <br />
"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.<br />
<br />
"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real you don't mind being hurt."<br />
<br />
"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"<br />
<br />
"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't happen often to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."</blockquote>
<br />
Click here for:<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2P3778i" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Gifts on Amazon</a></span></span></span><br />
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Click on the image below to select your choice of gifts from Zazzle<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/collections/the_velveteen_rabbit-119567221960191355?rf=238313907114158210" rel="nofollow"><img alt="The Velveteen Rabbit" src="https://rlv.zcache.com/the_velveteen_rabbit_119567221960191355-r_zruep_bo9nr_325.jpg" style="border: 0;" /></a>
<br />
<a href="https://www.zazzle.com/collections/the_velveteen_rabbit-119567221960191355?rf=238313907114158210" rel="nofollow">The Velveteen Rabbit</a>
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by <a href="https://www.zazzle.com/mbr/238313907114158210?rf=238313907114158210" rel="nofollow">Philip Faustin</a>
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PFaustinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00698502596745792175noreply@blogger.com0