Marcia Gracia, July 3, 2015


"So, when do you know when it's OK to procrastinate and when procrastination is the cause of you getting nothing done?

a) Procrastination should not be a 'forever' thing. If you're simply taking 'an hour, a day, or a week to think about something IMPORTANT,' you're almost always better off than not waiting and making rash decisions.

b) Procrastination should not be used as an 'blindfold,' but rather as a 'strategizing tool.' Sometimes people procrastinate because it's easier to ignore what needs to be done or to avoid having to make a decision that needs to be made. Instead of pretending the task or project isn't there, use a little bit of waiting time to strategize whether or not that item should be on your list in the first place. If not, cross it off and move on with your life. If it IS, in fact, important, then only allow yourself to procrastinate for 3 days. Then determine exactly when you're going to start it (specific date), and whatever your actions need to be so you can get it done and off your list.
So, when do you know when it's OK to procrastinate and when procrastination is the cause of you getting nothing done?"

The Malatya Five

Malatya Massacre



2008,five Malayta murder suspects

Update: https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2015/01/article_3634677.html/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Accused+perpetrators+released+in+Malatya+murder+trial&utm_campaign=Accused+perpetrators+released+in+Malatya+murder+trial

Recommended TED talks

http://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are

Recommended Reading

http://www.amazon.com/In-Sunburned-Country-Bill-Bryson/dp/0767903862

Christmas Cactus

http://www.wikihow.com/Care-for-a-Christmas-Cactus

ENCOURAGE

A model of Biblical confrontation

• Examine your heart (deal with own anger, impatience, self-righteousness)
• Note your calling (we are called "ambassadors of Christ")
• Check your attitude (speak with kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, forbearance, compassion, and love)
• Own your own faults
• Use words wisely (prepare what you will say)
• Reflect on scripture verses (the content of confrontation should be Scripture)
• Always be prepared to listen (interactive confrontation is effective)
• Grant time for a response (allow time for the Holy Spirit to work)
• Encourage the person with the comfort of the Gospel (God's grace, love, ever-present help)

Source: pp 153-155

Sheryl Sandberg

Don't leave until you leave. Lean In

Pierced Hands

"Those pierced hands reached down and took hold of the wandering planet of my life and by the force of His mighty love, brought me into the orbit of His purpose  and power." Henry Gariepy

Dupuytren's Contracture

Dupuytren's contracture (also known as morbus Dupuytren, Dupuytren's disease or palmar fibromatosis[1]) is a fixed flexion contracture of the hand where the fingers bend towards the palm and cannot be fully extended (straightened). It is an inherited proliferative connective tissue disorder which involves the palmar fascia of the hand.[2] It is named after Baron Guillaume Dupuytren, the surgeon who described an operation to correct the affliction in the Lancet in 1831.
The ring finger and little finger are the fingers most commonly affected. The middle finger may be affected in advanced cases, but the index finger and the thumb are nearly always spared.[citation needed] Dupuytren's contracture progresses slowly and is usually painless. In patients with this condition, the palmar fascia thickens and shortens so that the tendons connected to the fingers cannot move freely. The palmar fascia becomes hyperplastic and contracts. Incidence increases after the age of 40; at this age, men are affected more often than women. After the age of 80, the gender distribution is about even.

Wikipedia, November 18, 2012

The tyranny of clutter

 

 

Clutter - What is it? How does it accummulate? How to get rid of it?

 

Decluttering - the process of discarding, removing, or reducing any accumulation of material objects (Scheckter, xxxx)

Terms (Scheckter)

• 'clutter mutter' - Where do I start? I am overwhelmed!

 

Focus vs. Paralysis

• focus diminishes : overwhelm increases

 

focus requires clarity of purpose

• finding clarity in clutter
• incongruous
• unfinished plans
• unfinished projects
• dreams deferred

focus on one or two things

• books
• clothes
• correspondence
• magazines
• learning software programs

 

Let go of Clutter by Harriett Scheckter 0-07-140030-3

 

 

 

Maundy Thursday

Maundy Thursday (2012)

A somber service - hymns, sermonette, communion (the Last Supper). Lights dimmed, extinguished - the Light of the World leaves us - absolute darkness - we are bewildered, abandoned, devasted, without hope.

 Maranatha.

random thoughts on anger

Anger is not the answer.

Be angry and sin not.

Anger does not have to be demonstrative.

Righteous anger is when God's law has been violated, not mine.

Center for Science & Culture

Stephen Meyer, geophysicist with Atlantic Richfield, now of Discovery Institute, spoke on intelligent design (ID) this morning at PCPC. For more information, visit www.intelligentdesign.org

1. Loss of belief in God - fashionable atheism (Richard Dawkins (Oxford), Daniel Dennett (Tufts), Christopher Hichens
2. Devaluation of human life - "eliminate 90% of earth's population" (Erik Pianki, UT-Austin), Peter Singer (Princeton), Steven Pinker (MIT), William Provine (Cornell)
3. Loss of morals - no objective standards of morality (Steven Weinberg, Univ Texas, Physics)

blasphemy challenge
existential funk
materialism (def.) - particles evolved, particles became aware, awareness conceived God
evolution - based on chance variation and natural selection

Proverbs 23:7 As a man thinketh, so is he.

19th century bad science (Freud, Darwin, Marx)
21st century good science - "lay an axe to the Darwinian root"

Signs of design: e.g., Crick & Watson (1957) DNA 4 letter code.

Jesus is returning for his Bride not a harem.

Gaziantep Colors

Gaziantep Market is one of the most vibrant in Anatolia with every tone of red, yellow and green in evidence.

Fiery spices, gleaming copper, blue, red and purple ‘kutnu’ fabrics and blood red ‘yemeni’ slippers.

KUTNU FABRIC thread was traditionally spun from raw silk. Today it is made from a blend of cotton and artificial silk.

Source: SkyLife - January 2007, Article - Photos: YELDA BALER

9 September 2009

Turkey

Factbook
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/tu.html

Managing Clutter

by Maria Gracia http://www.getorganizednow.com/

When dealing with clutter, ask yourself the following questions:

• Do I need it? / Is it essential?
• Do I love it? / Does it enhance my life?

The memories associated with some items can be more important than the actual objects. (Now that is a good point. Do I do that? Hmm.)

• Try this: Take pictures of the items to make into a scrapbook. It will keep the memories alive while allowing you to let go of the items.

Organize a space in your house for items that you want to let go of. Use bins, boxes, or bags to hold items

• to give charity (Good Will, etc.)
• to recycle
• to give away to specific person or organization
• to sell

Everything needs a home. Every time you acquire a new item make sure it has a home in your house.

• Try this: When you bring in something new, take out something old. Otherwise, you are accumulating. Unless accumulating is your goal (e.g., newly weds), you should strive for balance or reducing/simplifying.

I WANNA MARRY A LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER
(Erika Eigen)

I wanna marry a lighthouse keeper
and keep him company
I wanna marry a lighthouse keeper
and live by the side of the sea
I'll polish the lamp by the light of day
so ships at night can find their way
I wanna marry a lighthouse keeper
won't that be ok
we'll take walks along the moonlit bay
maybe find a treasure or two
I love livin' in a lighthouse
how 'bout you
I dream of livin' in a lighthouse baby
every single day
I dream of livin' in a lighthouse
it's the white one buy the bay
so if you want to make my dreams come true
you'll be a lighthouse keeper too
we could live in a lighthouse
it's the white one buy the bay
eh hey
won't that be ok
ya da dada da

Petunias

P. axillaris bears night-fragrant, buff-white blossoms with long, thin tubes and somewhat flattened openings. The species was first sent from South America to Paris in 1823. P. integrifolia has a somewhat weedy habit, spreading stems with upright tips, and small lavender to purple flowers. It was discovered in South America by the explorer James Tweedie, who sent specimens to the Glasgow Botanical Garden in 1831.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petunia

Older varieties of petunias require diligent deadheading or they will stop blooming. Even the newer varieties that say they don’t require deadheading will benefit from a pinching or shearing mid-season. When the branches start to get long and you can see where all the previous flowers were along the stem, it’s time to cut them back and refresh the plant.

Monthly feeding or foliage feeding will give your petunias the energy to stay in bloom. But be judicious with water and make sure the soil is well drained. Too much water will cause the plants to become ‘leggy’, with lots of stem and few flowers. http://gardening.about.com/

Bougainvillae

Bougainvillea was discovered in Brazil in 1768, by Philibert Commerçon, French Botanist accompanying French Navy admiral and explorer Louis Antoine de Bougainville during his voyage of circumnavigation.

Bougainvillea are rapid growing and flower all year in warm climates, especially when pinched or pruned. They grow best in moist fertile soil. Bloom cycles are typically four to six weeks. Bougainvillea grow best in very bright full sun and with frequent fertilization, but the plant requires little water to flower. If overwatered, Bougainvillea will not flower and may lose leaves or wilt, or even die from root decay. Source: Wikipedia 07.25.09

Bougainvillea can be heavy feeders: Use high phosphorus with micronutrients, as well as additional iron and magnesium. Slow or timed release fertilizers are acceptable. Source: http://www.plant-care.com/ 07.25.09