"We love freedom, but too often we treat freedom as a blank check to live as we please, rather than a sacred responsibility to live just and virtuous lives. Too many Americans--from elementary school children to college students to CEOs of our largest corporations--do not know American well enough to love her deeply or critisize her wisely."
Gary Bauer
Doing Things Right
Word Publishing 2001
I think we ALL have room to grow here. I'm honestly not sure how to know America well enough to love her deeply or critisize her wisely. Any ideas?
The one thing I totally appreciate, (partly because I see the absence of this freedom in other countries; and partly because I see freedom of religion eroding in our country) is this: The freedom to own and read my Bible. I was so blessed the other day at Caribou. There were three groups of 2 or 3 sitting around me either having Bible study or discussing spiritual matters. Thank you God. Please preserve that freedom. Your Word is rich, true, and unchanging.
EverGrowing,
Lonnie
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Friday, January 24, 2014
P.S.
I love writing this blog. I've kicked myself so many times for having "wasted" all that time "handwriting" notes--most of them never used in an article. But, I am getting re-blessed and re-blessed as I RE-read. I am smiling. I'm re-learning. I'm just having fun.
Have a Great Day!
Keep Growing,
Lonnie
Have a Great Day!
Keep Growing,
Lonnie
THIS TEACHER GETS AN A+
"Someone asked me recently how I handled students who failed. And I said, 'Why I never failed a student. Not in fifty years of teaching. I worked with the troubled students until they succeeded. I thought that was my job."
Sadie Delany
Book of Everyday Wisdom
Kodansha International 1994
If you haven't read, Having Our Way, by Sadie and Betsy Delany, you are missing a treat! Very few books, do I read more than once. This is an exception.
Sadie and Betsy were feisty African American women who lived to be over 100. If I recall, they were trimming their own trees in their 70s because the trees spoiled their view. Sadie was a teacher, Betsy a dentist. I believe Sadie was hired as a teacher without an interview. With an interview, she'd have lost the job, because she was black.
The Book of Everyday Wisdom is a collection of their sayings. It's great, but you'll miss the humor and spunky interaction between the sisters that you'd enjoy in their biography.
Have you had a teacher that "made the difference" in your life? Share with us; and thank them.
EverGrowing,
Lonnie
Sadie Delany
Book of Everyday Wisdom
Kodansha International 1994
If you haven't read, Having Our Way, by Sadie and Betsy Delany, you are missing a treat! Very few books, do I read more than once. This is an exception.
Sadie and Betsy were feisty African American women who lived to be over 100. If I recall, they were trimming their own trees in their 70s because the trees spoiled their view. Sadie was a teacher, Betsy a dentist. I believe Sadie was hired as a teacher without an interview. With an interview, she'd have lost the job, because she was black.
The Book of Everyday Wisdom is a collection of their sayings. It's great, but you'll miss the humor and spunky interaction between the sisters that you'd enjoy in their biography.
Have you had a teacher that "made the difference" in your life? Share with us; and thank them.
EverGrowing,
Lonnie
Thursday, January 23, 2014
QUALITY TIME
" . . . at age 24 (1754) Benjamin Banneker built a clock of wood. It kept the time of day and struck the hour.
"Banneker's clock is believed to be the first clock made in the United States. He was a good craftsman, that it kept perfect time his whole life.
"The day of his funeral, his cabin burned to the ground, as did his clock."
Jim Haskins
Outward Dreams: Black Inventors and Their Inventions 2003
Benjamin Banneker's story is one worth reading. He was homeschooled and caught the attention of a Quaker neighbor. George Ellicot noticed Benjamin's facination with how things were put together, and loaned him books to encourage him to continue learning.
Later in life, Benjamin's neighbors thought him lazy because he slept all day. However, he did so because he was calculating the movement of the stars. He determined (and succeeded) to publish the most accurate almanac yet printed.
His talent didn't stop there. Following the Revolutionary War, George Washington set up a commission to design a capital city for the new United States. Three men, including Banneker, worked on that project. However, one man left America and took the plans with him. The officials paniced. How would the city be completed without plans?
But
Benjamin Banneker came to the rescue. He drew the plans from memory!
Children's books often get to the exciting parts of someone's life--and stay there. I've indulged in a few. This story captures me on several levels: homeschooled, unfair judgment, encouragement by a neighbor, determination, and talent. I love inventor stories anyway. They exhibit ingenuity and a level of stubbornness I'd do well to emulate--not giving up just because the road isn't smooth.
Well, I've gone on and on today. Passion is hard to shut up, I guess.
Growing and Wordy,
Lonnie
"Banneker's clock is believed to be the first clock made in the United States. He was a good craftsman, that it kept perfect time his whole life.
"The day of his funeral, his cabin burned to the ground, as did his clock."
Jim Haskins
Outward Dreams: Black Inventors and Their Inventions 2003
Benjamin Banneker's story is one worth reading. He was homeschooled and caught the attention of a Quaker neighbor. George Ellicot noticed Benjamin's facination with how things were put together, and loaned him books to encourage him to continue learning.
Later in life, Benjamin's neighbors thought him lazy because he slept all day. However, he did so because he was calculating the movement of the stars. He determined (and succeeded) to publish the most accurate almanac yet printed.
His talent didn't stop there. Following the Revolutionary War, George Washington set up a commission to design a capital city for the new United States. Three men, including Banneker, worked on that project. However, one man left America and took the plans with him. The officials paniced. How would the city be completed without plans?
But
Benjamin Banneker came to the rescue. He drew the plans from memory!
Children's books often get to the exciting parts of someone's life--and stay there. I've indulged in a few. This story captures me on several levels: homeschooled, unfair judgment, encouragement by a neighbor, determination, and talent. I love inventor stories anyway. They exhibit ingenuity and a level of stubbornness I'd do well to emulate--not giving up just because the road isn't smooth.
Well, I've gone on and on today. Passion is hard to shut up, I guess.
Growing and Wordy,
Lonnie
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
YOU GOTTA LOVE A GOOD FAILURE
"Most people know that Babe Ruth broke the home run record in 1939, but do you know about the other record he broke? In the same year as this outstanding streak of home runs, he was also the player with the most strikeouts at bat.
"Several years ago I [Debbie Macomber] attended a writers' banquet and sat through the awards ceremony. They announced the name of the writer who sold the most magazine articles and, to polite applause, the woman came and accepted her plaque. The next award was for the person who had received the most rejections that year. To everyone's surprise and amazement, the same woman came up to accept that award as well."
Debbie Macomber
Knit Together: Discover God's Pattern For Your Life
Faith Words 2007
p.51
I love this! In "writer language," it definitely has "take-away." It feels like every time I read this, I'll discover a new lesson.
The more times you try-- the more times you'll succeed.
Jealousy? Envy? If we only knew!
(Just for the record and confession, I've often been one offering polite, not to be misaken for genuine, applause.)
I would love to hear what you take away from this story. Feel free to add personal experience to it.
Gonna Keep Growing No Matter How Long It Takes,
8-)
Lonnie
"Several years ago I [Debbie Macomber] attended a writers' banquet and sat through the awards ceremony. They announced the name of the writer who sold the most magazine articles and, to polite applause, the woman came and accepted her plaque. The next award was for the person who had received the most rejections that year. To everyone's surprise and amazement, the same woman came up to accept that award as well."
Debbie Macomber
Knit Together: Discover God's Pattern For Your Life
Faith Words 2007
p.51
I love this! In "writer language," it definitely has "take-away." It feels like every time I read this, I'll discover a new lesson.
The more times you try-- the more times you'll succeed.
Jealousy? Envy? If we only knew!
(Just for the record and confession, I've often been one offering polite, not to be misaken for genuine, applause.)
I would love to hear what you take away from this story. Feel free to add personal experience to it.
Gonna Keep Growing No Matter How Long It Takes,
8-)
Lonnie
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED
"And you'll find that sin will not only take you further than you wanted to go, it will keep you longer than you wanted to stay, and it will cost you more than you ever thought you'd pay."
Kay Arthur
Lord Is It Warfare?
Waterbrook Press 2000
p. 229
Kay Arthur
Lord Is It Warfare?
Waterbrook Press 2000
p. 229
Monday, January 20, 2014
FOR SMILES' SAKE
"I am told by my friends and family that I am to 'have a little faith.' That may mean patience. That may mean optimism despite the perceived odds. That may mean flipping Murphy's Law like a pancake and believing that my life will not land jam-side down."
Julie Cameron
Prayers From A Nonbeliever: A Story of Faith
Tarcher/Putnam 2003
p. 42
You did catch yourself smiling, yes? And nodding your head? Isn't it great when someone understands? Even if it's someone you've never met?
What made you smile, today?
EverGrowing--Sometimes Smiling,
Lonnie
Julie Cameron
Prayers From A Nonbeliever: A Story of Faith
Tarcher/Putnam 2003
p. 42
You did catch yourself smiling, yes? And nodding your head? Isn't it great when someone understands? Even if it's someone you've never met?
What made you smile, today?
EverGrowing--Sometimes Smiling,
Lonnie
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