weary?

Let me be a little kinder
Let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those about me
Let me praise a little more

Let me be when I am weary
Just a little bit more cheery
Think a little more of others
And a little less of me

Let me be a little braver
When temptation bids me waver
Let me strive a little harder
To be all that I should be

Let me be a little meeker
With the brother that is weaker
Let me think more of my neighbor
And a little less of me

we don't know

Confidence has been recovering fitfully since

hitting a historic low of 25.3 in February 2009.

Many economists believe it will remain well below

healthy levels for at least another year or two.

 

The Consumer Confidence Index figures released

Tuesday were much worse than analysts had expected

and showed that Americans are morose about the job

market and their economic prospects.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100223/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/us_economy

 

 

Hypocrisy…it is turning out that genuine

Hypocrites are very hard to find. The

true hypocrite may be an endangered specie.

Here is the problem: whenever I determine

that you are a hypocrite it means that I know

1. what you are doing
2. why you are doing it

this may seem simple but it is very tricky business.

Think about it….what do you really know for sure?

 

The truth is, most of the time

WE ARE "IN THE DARK"

 

We run into problems when we start to blame other

People for our lack of knowledge. If you check it out

A lot of the time the people we blame really DON'T KNOW

Either….most people fake it because they say knowledge is power.

 

So what are some of the things we claim to know?

1. the past
2. the future
3. the present

 

Personally, for me the biggest challenge is the present.

My boss likes to come in the office and his greeting is

Usually "WHAT'S GOIN' ON ?!"

 

…..don't you always hate the kid in your class who always

puts his hand up to answer the teachers question?

….this idiot put's his hand up even before

the teacher is done asking…

..MORON !!!!

 

…so anyway if you think you can quickly figure out

What's going on in any given situation, you are sadly

Mistaken…..this is why we have lawyers and doctors,

Mechanical engineers and other such….these guys take

A while to "figure it out" and in a lot of cases they

Get so immersed in the problem that they start to

Become the problem !...that's a whole nother story !!

 

So, this is how we got into this mess….

CURIOSITY….this chick got told that if she ate the

FORBIDDEN FRUIT….she would KNOW…

What's goin on !!!...she would be able to tell what

Was good and what was evil…..many people today

Still believe the lie that we humans have the ability

To KNOW what's going on….the truth is, it is very

Hard if not impossible.

 

People trying to cope with this problem are in two groups:

1. the gamblers
2. the believers

 

I am a believer.

 

I know not why God's wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.

Refrain

But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I've committed
Unto Him against that day.

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

Refrain

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing us of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

Refrain

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.

Refrain

I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/k/ikwihb.htm

 

King James Bible << 1 John 5:14 >>
And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:

 

Matthew 7:7 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

---

John 14:13 "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

---

1 John 2:28 Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.

---

1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;

---

1 John 3:22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. (NASB ©1995)

---

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (NASB ©1995)

 

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

<< 1 John 5:13 >>

PUTTING ON A SHOW !!?

Who am I really?....or more importantly

Who am I trying to be?

Is the person you see the real person?

…there is that troublesome word again…

R E A L !!!  reality !!! hhmmm ?

 

Bothersome...very bothersome...

Every day when I turn on this computer

It has to do a SELF CHECK…..

It has to be 'told' or 'reminded'…

1. which system it is working in
2. which other computers / devices it is working with.

 

There a ton of other things that it does by way

Of 'booting' up…but that stuff it usually

'keeps to itself'….there is some stuff

That goes on the screen that most

People pay no attention to…stuff

That makes you know that it is

Getting ready to be available

And to be at your service.

 

As I was driving to work

I was 'booting up'.

 

Some people are quick to use

The word hypocrite….but as

I observed the computer

Booting up and getting

Ready to be available…

I noticed that one of

The things it 'said'

That it was 'doing'

Amounted to purging

'yesterdays stuff'

that would be

unnecessary for

TODAY.

 

So do I live behind a mask?

Y U P !!!

If you could be in my mind

As I was fighting off that last

Attack of wickedness…at some

Point you would think I was it !!

 

New Living Translation (©2007) Colossians 3:10
Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you

learn to know your Creator and become like him.

 

So am I putting on a show ?

Yes and No…the me you see

May not be the me I know.

 

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) 1 Corinthians 13:12
Now we see a blurred image in a mirror. Then we will see

very clearly. Now my knowledge is incomplete. Then I will

have complete knowledge as God

has complete knowledge of me.

Our knowledge is incomplete and our ability to

speak what God has revealed is incomplete.

1 Corinthians 13:9

 

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God,

holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness,

humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one

another, if any man have a quarrel against any:

even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14 And above all these things put on charity,

which is the bond of perfectness.

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,

to the which also ye are called in one body;

and be ye thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ

dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and

admonishing one another in psalms and

hymns and spiritual songs, singing with

grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed,

do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

<< Colossians 3 >>

 

 

 

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/s/t/stepping.htm

Trying to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Trying to follow our Savior and King;
Shaping our lives by His blessèd example,
Happy, how happy, the songs that we bring.

Refrain

How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Stepping in the light, stepping in the light,
How beautiful to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Led in paths of light.

Pressing more closely to Him Who is leading,
When we are tempted to turn from the way;
Trusting the arm that is strong to defend us,
Happy, how happy, our praises each day.

Refrain

Walking in footsteps of gentle forbearance,
Footsteps of faithfulness, mercy, and love,
Looking to Him for the grace freely promised,
Happy, how happy, our journey above.

Refrain

Trying to walk in the steps of the Savior,
Upward, still upward, we follow our Guide;
When we shall see Him, "the King in His beauty,"
Happy, how happy, our place at His side.

 

pretending?

Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

 

In asking the question He was giving His

identity. He wanted to know....did they

'get it'. How about me?

 

Who is defining me?

Am I going to give in

to the multiple makeovers...

who do people say that I am?

are circumstances

'forcing' me

into Godless roles

or identities?

 

I must admit my failing

but I cannot remain in defeat

I must move on to accepting

the pardon....and I must live

In the NEW Identity

REGARDLESS !!!!

 

if any man be in Christ

he is a new creation...

there is therefore NOW

no condemnation

to THEM that are

IN CHRIST...who

walk not after the

flesh but after

the SPIRIT.

 

we cannot hold our identity

in pride....we always realize

that it is no longer I that lives

but CHRIST lives in me

and the life I now live...

is a live consumed by

FAITH IN GOD...

He it is who

"keeps me from

falling and presents

me faultless"

 

I must needs go home by the way of the cross,

There's no other way but this;

I shall ne'er get sight of the gates of light,

If the way of the cross I miss.

 

Refrain

 

The way of the cross leads home,

The way of the cross leads home,

It is sweet to know as I onward go,

The way of the cross leads home.

 

I must needs go on in the blood sprinkled way,

The path that the Savior trod,

If I ever climb to the heights sublime,

Where the soul is at home with God.

 

Then I bid farewell to the way of the world,

To walk in it never more;

For the Lord says, "Come," and I seek my home,

Where He waits at the open door.

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/w/a/waycross.htm

 

Tenacity is more than endurance, it is endurance

combined with the absolute certainty that what

we are looking for will come to pass.

One of the greatest strains in life

is the strain of waiting for God.

 

"Be still, and know that I am God."

Psalm 46:10

http://www.myutmost.org/02/0222.html

REALITY CHECK - do you beleive this?

Back inside the house again
The guilt and anguish came
Everything I'd promised Him
Just added to my shame
When at last it came to choices
I denied I knew His name
And even if He was alive
It wouldn't be the same

But suddenly the air was filled
With a strange and sweet perfume
Light that came from everywhere
Drove the shadows from the room
And Jesus stood before me
With his arms held open wide
And I fell down on my knees
And I just clung to Him and cried

Then He raised me to my feet
And as I looked into His eyes
The love was shining out from Him
Like sunlight from the skies
Guilt in my confusion
Dissappeared in sweet release
And every fear I'd ever had
Just melted into peace

He's alive yes He's alive
Yes He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive yes He's alive
Oh He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive yes He's alive
Hallelujah He's alive
He's alive and I'm forgiven
Heaven's gates are open wide
He's alive He's alive He's alive

Don Francisco 1977

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
I can guarantee this truth: Whoever
obeys what I say will never see death."
<< John 8:51 >>
=================
"...and everyone who lives
and believes in me
shall never die."
Do you believe this?"
<< John 11:26 >>


GOOD NEWS
Grateful boss gives company to workers
Bob Moore's 200 employees showed up
to work as usual this week — only to get
a huge surprise. » Why he didn't sell

The company will now be run by an

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) --

the idea being that a company's stock is put

in a retirement plan for its employees...

Thinking of What's Best for the Group
If making Americans healthier is his passion,

encouraging good business practices and

entrepreneurship is his mandate.
"There's a lot of negative stuff going into

business today," he said.

"It's a good old basic Bible lesson --

love of money is the root of all evil.

And unfortunately, our entire philosophy

today is get all the money you can and

whatever way you can. It's caused many

corporations to bite off more than they

can chew. And it causes people to do a lot

of things just for money that they feel in

their hearts is not the right thing to do."

look out !!!

look around you

look up....for your

redemption is near !!

 

"Rise, let us be going."

Matthew 26:46

The disciples went to sleep when they

should have kept awake, and when they

realized what they had done

it produced despair.

OSWALD CHAMBERS

 

Hackers in Europe and China successfully broke into

computers at nearly 2,500 companies and government

agencies over the last 18 months in a coordinated global

attack that exposed vast amounts of personal and corporate

secrets to theft, according to a computer-security company

that discovered the breach.

READ IT HERE

 

There's a wideness in God's mercy,
Like the wideness of the sea;
There's a kindness in His justice,
Which is more than liberty.

HEAR IT HERE

 

ASH WEDNESDAY

Open Thy word of truth

that I may see

Your message written clear

and plain for me

Then shall ALL bondage cease,

All fetters fall

And I shall find Thy Peace

My all in all

HEAR IT HERE

 

Depression is apt to turn us away from the ordinary

commonplace things of God's creation, but whenever

God comes, the inspiration is to do the most natural

simple thing - the things we would never have

imagined God was in, and as we do

them we find He is there.

READ IT HERE

 

Beholding is Becoming  - here

In 2 Corinthians 3:18 Paul says, "But we all, with unveiled face,

beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed

into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

 

Considering his wealth and good fortune, you wouldn't

peg Peter Thiel as a prophet of doom. He cofounded

PayPal at age 31 and sold it to eBay four years later

for $1.5 billion. Two years after that, he became the

first investor in Facebook — a wager that earned him

another fortune. Today, at 42, he runs a San Francisco

venture capital firm and a hedge fund, Clarium Capital.

But the past year has not been easy on Thiel.

 MORE

 

re-vive, live again !!

QUOTE CHAMBERS:
We all have any number of visions and ideals when we are young, but sooner or later we find that we have no power to make them real. We cannot do the things we long to do, and we are apt to accept the visions and ideals as dead, and God has to come and say - "Arise from the dead." When the inspiration of God does come, it comes with such miraculous power that we are able to arise from the dead and do the impossible thing.

 

When the inspiration of God comes, and He says - "Arise from the dead," we have to get up; God does not lift us up. Our Lord said to the man with the withered hand - "Stretch out your hand," and as soon as the man did so, his hand was healed, but he had to take the initiative. If we will do the overcoming, we shall find we are inspired of God because He gives life immediately. "Arise from the dead." Ephesians 5:14

CONFIRMED

 So and so

confirmed you

as a friend....

....on facebook.....

these are tough times....friends are

hard to find....maybe, except on

facebook....but what does it

mean to be a friend?

 

listen to Oswald Chambers:

(a modern paraphrase)

AM I MY FRIEND'S KEEPER?

 

Has it ever dawned on you that you are responsible for your friends spiritually before God? For instance, if I allow any private deflection from God in my life, all my friends suffer. We "sit together in heavenly places." "Whether one friend suffers, all the friends suffer." When once you allow physical selfishness, mental slovenliness, moral obtuseness, spiritual density, everyone belonging to your crowd will suffer. "But," you say, "who is sufficient for these things if you erect a standard like that?"

"Our sufficiency is of God," and of Him alone.

 

"Ye shall be My witnesses." How many of us are willing to spend every ounce of nervous energy, of mental, moral and spiritual energy we have for Jesus Christ? That is the meaning of a witness in God's sense of the word. It takes time, be patient with yourself. God has left us on the earth - what for? To be saved and sanctified? No, to be at it for Him. Am I willing to be broken bread and poured out wine for Him? To be spoilt for this age, for this life, to be spoilt from every standpoint but one - saving as I can disciple men and women to the Lord Jesus Christ. My life as a friend is the way I say "thank you" to God for His unspeakable salvation. Remember it is quite possible for any one of us to be flung out as reprobate silver - ". . . lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."

 

"None of us lives to himself."  this is a very high standard.

Romans 14:7.

 

We must do it for Jesus, He said:

No man can serve two masters:

for either he will hate the one,

and love the other; or else he

will hold to the one,

and despise the other.

Ye cannot serve God

and mammon.

(Matthew 6:24)

 

I call you friends….

You are my friends if

you obey my commandments.

Pure as an angel, ...

...gentle as love!
J. W. Watson's great poem, "Beautiful Snow,"
has created something of a sensation in the literary world,
and made a National reputation for the author....
EXPERIENCE IT HERE

The National Weather Service, as of Friday morning,
said a record 12.5 inches of snow fell within
24 hours in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
David Kent/Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Snow in all 50 states?

By Patrik Jonsson Staff writer / February 12, 2010

Atlanta

Three hundred plow trucks are lined up to combat an afternoon rush-hour snowstorm in Georgia, including traffic-congested Atlanta. In Mobile, Ala., kids are poised for a rare snowball fight. And fat flakes are already falling in Blountstown, Fla.

********************

Friday, February 12, 2010 http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sport/Jordan-blocks_7411205

JEROME Jordan made only one block Wednesday to become Conference USA all-time leader when his University of Tulsa defeated the University of Southern Mississippi, 60-52, at the Donald W Reynolds Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The seven-foot Jamaican scored all 14 points in the second half, as he was aggressively fronted for most of the game. He scored 12 of his 14 points with 4:31 left in the game.

Memories from Moorlands - ISCF Camp, Manchester, Jamaica

HAPPY VALENTINES - how sweet

i am always here if you need me...... Even though we've changed and we're all finding our own place in the world, we all know that when the tears fall or the smile spreads across our face, we'll come to each other because no matter where this crazy world takes us, nothing will ever change so much to the point where we're not all still friends......

February 7 at 2:15am

i am always here if you need me...... We tell lies when we are afraid... afraid of what we don't know, afraid of what others will think, afraid of what will be found out about us. But every time we tell a lie, the thing that we fear grows stronger.....

December 23, 2009 at 9:04am

eating your words

I got up thinking about a verse that says HEAR AND YOUR SOUL SHALL LIVE....I was feeling so low on energy and having to face a full day of challenges on the job....while driving in to work...another verse 'popped' up...LIVE NOT BY BREAD ALONE BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD....then I came in and read this....

 

"And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die." Exodus 20:19

We do not consciously disobey God, we simply do not heed Him. God has given us His commands; there they are, but we do not pay any attention to them, not because of wilful disobedience but because we do not love and respect Him. "If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments." When once we realize that we have been "disrespecting" God all the time, we are covered with shame and humiliation because we have not heeded Him.

"Speak thou with us . . . but let not God speak with us." We show how little we love God by preferring to listen to His servants only. We like to listen to personal testimonies, but we do not desire that God Himself should speak to us. Why are we so terrified lest God should speak to us? Because we know that if God does speak, either the thing must be done or we must tell God we will not obey Him. If it is only the servant's voice we hear, we feel it is not imperative, we can say, "Well, that is simply your own idea, though I don't deny it is probably God's truth."

http://www.myutmost.org/02/0212.html

Learna McHayle

What a blessing Sister Mac <click this link she taught so many of us SO MUCH !!! I know you have a story why not share it here?

pleasure in His people

Jesus comes with pow'r to gladden When love shines in Every heart that woe can sadden When love shines in Love will teach us how to pray Love will drive the gloom away Turn our darkness into day When love shines in   .....how the heart is tuned to singing when love shines in Joy and peace to others bringing when love shines in.   Psalm 35:27 Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.   Psalm 9:4 For You have maintained my just cause; You have sat on the throne judging righteously.   Psalm 149:4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.   ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ FW: prayer band Tuesday, February 9, 2010 10:17 AM   Please see the 3 prayer requests below and story regarding this past week's Ladies' Seminar... From Bob Rizzo:  My sister Barbara passed away unexpectedly during surgery and I would ask if you could pray for my family. She lived in CA. and there is a lot of travel planning going on due to sevices in CA and Rochester NY .   Also: From JoAnne Neiner (one of the speakers): Precious Story from the retreat weekend: Our Amber phoned today to tell a beautiful story of God's goodness. A lady in her church wanted to go to the ladies' retreat this past weekend, but did not think it possible since her husband had been laid off for a very long time and was unable to find work. But the Lord provided for her to go, and she was telling Amber how much the retreat messages ministered to her heart as the family faced such financial needs. She was blessed when she found out her husband  was called in for a temporary job with a job crew....in the nuclear power plant...in Middletown , CT. He phoned his wife Sunday morning from inside the plant, concerned that he heard gas moving through the newly worked on pipes. His wife  told him to get out of the building. He commented that gas is not to be tested in new pipes until the building was evacuated, but he could clearly hear gas in the pipes. The wife urgently (and loudly) asked him to leave the building. He hung up, got his crew, and vacated the building. As they approached their cars, the power plant exploded. It blew all the glass out of their cars, and hurled the men in the air from the blast which could be felt miles away. Had they lingered even one minute more, all would have been killed. Five men have died in the explosion and 14 injured so far as the search and rescue teams go through the rubble. Some areas cannot be searched because they are so unstable. Amber's church members made sure the wife was not alone all day as her husband received medical treatment for his injuries, which were not life-threatening. Amber was thinking how many of the truths this woman learned at the retreat will be put to immediate use as the Lord calmed her heart in reflecting on what "could have been." It is amazing to ponder how God's Word...either spoken or heard...can have farther reaching effects than ever imagined. FromErin Gagnon: Please pray for Alexandra Ferris (7th grade).  We have been praying for her twin sister (Charlotte).  Alexandra blood's work came back elevated last week, so she will also be going in for a liver biopsy tomorrow.  They are expecting that she will also have liver damage like Charlotte did.  Pray for wisdom for the doctors to know how to treat them. Also, Please pass this on to others from the church that you might be in contact with:  Due to tomorrow's impending storm, please check the TV (Channel 3), WTIC AM Radio 1080, or the web site WTIC.com for information regarding our services tomorrow night, whether or not the service wil be canceled.   Yvonne Kauppinen Secretary Emmanuel Baptist Church +++++++++++++++++++++++++ bible prophecy news Israel Prepares to Strike Iran from Gulf and N. Iraq | Bible ... By BPU Contributor News that Syria is now in possession of an Iranian delivery system (medium range missile) that can reach key Israeli cities with accuracy should be of great concern. Military.com reported, Iranian Defense Minister Gen. Ahmad Vahidi stated in late 2009 that their newly tested medium range missiles (Sajjil-2) would serve to be a deterrent to any foreign invaders. "He said the new version can be fired more quickly and flies .... The most important prophecy in the Bible ... Bible Prophecy Update - http://www.bibleprophecyupdate.com/

Congratulation.....

They became man & wife...

on Wednesday February 3rd, in Seoul, South Korea. They plan to remain in that country for awhile.

Joanna and Michael have known each other for almost 2 years...Their day was a quiet and unique occasion, which they chose to celebrate in non-traditional ways.

We welcome Jackson into our family, and pray that God's guidance will continually define their journey together.

Please keep them in your prayers.

May Gods Blessings continue with you both.

rambling this week

"One of These Things" ..was a song written by Joe Raposo, Jon Stone and Bruce Hart and regularly used on Sesame Street for sketches where viewers would be shown a group of four items, one of which was different from the other three, and they would have to identify the item which didn't belong. http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/One_of_These_Things THE SHELL GAME http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shell_game It can be played on almost any flat surface, but on the streets it is often seen played on a mat lying on the ground, or on a cardboard box. The person perpetrating the swindle (called the thimblerigger, operator, or shell man) begins the game by placing the pea under one of the shells, then quickly shuffles the shells around. Once done shuffling, the operator takes bets from his audience on the location of the pea. The audience is told that if a player bets and guesses correctly, the player will win back double his bet (that is, he will double his money); otherwise he loses his money. However, in the hands of a skilled operator, it is not possible for the game to be won, unless the operator wants the player to win. When an individual not familiar with the shell game encounters a game on the streets, it appears that bets are being placed by numerous players, when in reality, these persons around the game are shills who are all part of the confidence trick. ________________________________ SUPER BOWL...why I am with the saints I was fantacising about a win by the saints, where they were all marching around the stadium singing "when the saints go marching in" Here is some humorous "football-speak" theology/definitions that will sort of set the atmosphere for Super Bowl Sunday: The story is told that in a certain church, on Super Bowl Sunday, the time for the collection of tithes and offerings was approaching. The pastor, a true sports enthusiast, reached into his pocket, took out a quarter, flipped it into the air, glanced at it as it landed, then in typical referee fashion joyfully announced: "The ushers will receive!" http://mainefamilypolicycouncil.com/artman/publish/Pastor_s_Update_24/The_Superbowl_Christian.shtml Redefining life.....SPARK NOTES - what is cheating? http://www.sparknotes.com/ ________________________________ yesterday I was talking to my friend mr song at the laundry place. mr song is 55 years old. he wants to retire home in seol south korea. mr song says he will buy a one bedroom home by the sea....that is going to be very expensive he says.....we chatted back and forth about politics and the family and so on...then mr song said this "we have lost something and we have gained something". He was talking aboout the huge gains we have made in technology and the great loss he thought we have suffered in real human relationships. He spoke about growing up and sharing everything with the people in his community or circle of friends, playing outdoor games together often and talking a lot. today.. there is what I call 'the blackberry circle' (a whole lot of talking and listening going on) and there is texting galore (a whole lot of reading and writing going on) and facebook (a whole lot of reading and writing going on) and TV. (a whole lot of _____ and_____going on !!??) ________________________________ Digital Nation is a FRONTLINE documentary I saw last week on PBS http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/view/ Jeremy Bailenson 'said' this: "The big headlines are that kid's media use is up to over ten hours of content per day, substantially up from 5 years ago. Also, multitasking is way up, and white children use media less than other groups." another comment....However, the Kaiser report said that reading of books was up. This is a very important point and should always be brought up .....Of course, people read them on-line more. But books are up! That's the good news. and this....computer screens...video gaming screens...television screens...we stopped fighting our kid, and allowed full, uncensored and unedited access about a decade ago, when he was 9 years old...we heard the criticism...the boy is now a young man, Information Science Major at Cornell...thriving. Marc Prensky.."years ago people worried about kids staring at stand- alone computers. A couple of hundred years ago, when mass books first appeared, people worried about kids staring for hours at pages....people just love to worry about changes in habits. They worried about writing (Socrates), books, telephones, radios, trains, cars, TV, recordings, sock-hops, music, stand-alone games, Internet, connectivity, interactivity, 3D, virtual worlds, and will keep worrying forever." Mark Bauerlein - I agree here when you say that people have always worried about change--not everyone, and change has always had its fans, but a fair portion of people of conservative temperament, yes, if not ideology. But the consistency of worry doesn't mean that worry is always misguided or false, nor does it mean that in previous cases someone wasn't, indeed, lost when TV and other advents came along. if you have time you can check this out HERE This is black history month..... Martin had a dream....not everyone has a dream... maybe you can participate in someone else's dream if you don't have one of your own. I find it interesting that it is the young people who have dreams. The older folk have visions !!! From my own observation some dreams although based partialy in 'reality' sometimes are totally illogical thus giving rise to the need for 'interpretation'. http://www.bible-topics.com/Visions.html Visions on the other hand are usually very logical and are usually a projection of the future. Virtual Reality as discussed in the frontline documentary may not at all be a 'new' phenomena, but may be a more 'tangible' expression of the 'dreamworld'. So the 'people' who 'populate' our individual 'worlds' in a sense maybe figments of our own imaginations ! My perception of who you are may bear no relation at all to who you think yourself to be ! There is a sense in which the 'dramas' of our lives are not at all real ! ...so "getting to know you" may be an idea worth more vigorous pursuit....in this regard eharmony and other such so-called 'dating services' may be evolving / morhping into a kind of brave new world of social intercourse. ...as the famous talkshow host Bruce Williams used to say "welcome to my world". http://www.radiohof.org/newstalk/brucewilliams.html ARE YOU READY? http://joelfoner.com/2010/01/networked-audience-is-here-now-are-you-ready/ OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL..Chatham High School students, like many nationwide, are increasingly surrounded by screens. Their teachers debate how to handle their split focus. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/learning/concentration/old-school-new-school.html?play