Carpe Diem... Charlotte

NASCAR ~ 7 Truex 12 McDowell 23 A. Dillon 24 Wallace 29 Yeley

What needs to be done?

Physical therapy

Walk

Scripture study

Edits

Read

Eat healthy

Good sleep

Errands

Make something fun

Give the battle to God

Praise God in the storm

Thank Goodness It's Sunday 485

~ Blessed rain

~ Lunch with friends

~ Change

~ Rereading old favorites

~ God's grace

End of the Week Follow Up

How'd I do?

Physical therapy ~ Done

Walk ~ Done

Scripture study ~ Done

Edits ~ Doing

Read ~ Done

Eat healthy ~ Mostly pretty good

Good sleep ~ Some nights were good, some weren't.

Errands ~ Done

Make something fun ~ Nope, maybe next week

Give the battle to God

Praise God in the storm

Brain Dump

This was posted on a friend's social media. I politely chose not to respond. They're allowed to believe what they want. I'm not the thought police. I needed to explore each topic, to explain to myself what I believe and why:

7. I am not anti-Christian. I have no desire to stop Christians from being Christians, to close churches, to ban the Bible, to forbid prayer in school, etc. (BTW, prayer in school is NOT illegal; *compulsory* prayer in school is - and should be - illegal). All I ask is that Christians recognize *my* right to live according to *my* beliefs. When I get pissed off that a politician is trying to legislate Scripture into law, I'm not "offended by Christianity" -- I'm offended that you're trying to force me to live by your religion's rules. You know how you get really upset at the thought of Muslims imposing Sharia law on you? That's how I feel about Christians trying to impose biblical law on me. Be a Christian. Do your thing. Just don't force it on me or mine.

The United States of America is built on Judeo-Christian principles, the Bible and the Ten Commandments, not secularism. It is Judeo-Christian principles that have made it possible for others to practice their faith or lack thereof. Has it been done perfectly? Of course not. People aren't perfect.

Unfortunately, the "don't force it on me or mine" crowd have decided that they must drive all signs of Judeo-Christian practices out of sight. Judeo-Christian believers are expected to shut up and accept the degrading of their faith and being sued for practicing their religion.

Before berating me for my intolerance, I've lived in another country where Judeo-Christian was in the minority, a very tiny minority. I was respectful of the national religion. I didn't expect them to observe anything to do with my faith. I didn't begrudge them practicing their faith. I didn't try to stop them, nor was I offended. I even participated in a few things, out of respect. Why am I not allowed to expect the same respect in my own country?

Legislating Scripture into law? Is this referring to ending abortion? The murder of children? When Roe vs. Wade was passed it was passed as something that would be "rare." More black babies are aborted in NYC than are born. Millions of babies have been aborted. How is that rare? Not backing down on that one.

The right to free speech, yours and mine, is backed by the Constitution that addressed 146 violations of the Bible. Yes, the Constitution is Bible based. Really. Do the homework. Go back to the original documents not the histories written without any documentation. Those last ones are called opinions not history. For the record, anyone is free to move to a different country that is free of the burden of Judeo-Christian beliefs at anytime, provided the country allows it. Many have pretty tough restrictions.

"Separation of Church and State" is nowhere in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, or any other official founding document. It was in a letter, written by Thomas Jefferson, to assure a small Baptist sect that the government would not interfere with the practices of their religion. What IS in the Constitution is NOT Freedom FROM religion but Freedom OF religion.

My choice to be offended is not your responsibility. Your CHOICE to be offended is not my responsibility.

One last thing: Some Christians drive me crazy. I find their behavior offensive. However, I remind myself that they are protected by the same rights I am and give them to God's keeping.

REAL Week 530

REAL - Reduce stress Exercise Adequate sleep Lower caloric intake

What Navy SEALs are required to do to make it into BUD/S:

http://navyseal.s5.com/requirements.html

http://military-fitness.military.com/2013/01/the-spartan-300-workout-and-new-variations.html?ESRC=sm_fit.nl

Right up front: Never in a million years could I do what is required. However, I needed to start somewhere. Considering how fit the SEALs are, I figured it was a good place to start. My pushups are against the wall.

Using 1, 2, and/or 4-lb weights:

PT ~ Physical therapy

UBP ~ Upper body exercises, pushups, and chair sits against the wall

SEALFit shared some good hints I want to learn and remember:

http://sealfit.com/sealfit-blog-how-to-build-durability/

20: 1/2-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x3 Stretch

21: 1-1/2 mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch

22: Rest

23: 1-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x3 Stretch

24: 1/2+ mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x3 Stretch

25: 1-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x3 Stretch

26: 1/2-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x3 Stretch

Brain Dump

This was posted on a friend's social media. I politely chose not to respond. They're allowed to believe what they want. I'm not the thought police. I needed to explore each topic, to explain to myself what I believe and why:

6. I believe companies should be required to pay their employees a decent, livable wage. Somehow this is always interpreted as me wanting burger flippers to be able to afford a penthouse apartment and a Mercedes. What it actually means is that no one should have to work three full-time jobs just to keep their head above water. Restaurant servers should not have to rely on tips, multibillion-dollar companies should not have employees on food stamps, workers shouldn't have to work themselves into the ground just to barely make ends meet, and minimum wage should be enough for someone to work 40 hours and live.

Companies are not charities. Some companies have great benefits, some don't. Some companies are really supportive of their employees, and some aren't.

Finland tried paying every person. The program didn't last a year because they were going broke.

Minimum wage was never meant to be a living wage. Ever. Minimum wage was always meant to be a starting wage. It was meant for jobs where people, namely teenagers, were given the opportunity to learn skills like dependability, a good work ethic, and move on (to a higher paying job), as quickly as possible.

A local news station decided to help people struggling with their bills, not making ends meet, not surviving on a living wage. Over and over and over, each person and family they tried to help all started with the same complaint: "We've cut our expenditures to the bone! We can't cut anywhere else." I watched them cry while they said it. These people had cable and ate out several times a week and sometimes every day, including a designer coffee five days a week or Big Gulp type drink every day. They owned the latest smart phones, tablets, and computers. Their clothes were reasonably fashionable. They owned newer cars. The problem with every single one wasn't about not enough money but lousy money management skills.

Are there those who really are trying and struggling? Yes. It would be easier to help them if there weren't so many who believe they are struggling because they've allowed materialism to control them.

In an effort to "punish" the multibillion-dollar companies, you are, in fact, punishing the small companies. The small companies often cannot survive the cost increases, which drives them out of business, giving the multibillion-dollar companies less competition. In essence: A livable wage is a dream policy for multibillion-dollar companies.

Besides, if you're going to raise the minimum wage $10, why not just raise it $100 or $1000? Because $10 sounds reasonable to you isn't an answer. Believing that raising the minimum wage will solve the problem is a feel-good answer but defies logic. Raising the minimum wage raises prices.  After 81 years, isn't it time we admit it doesn't work?

One Day Follow Up

How'd I do, so far?

Physical therapy ~ So far so good

Walk ~ So far so good

Scripture study ~ So far so good

Edits ~ So far so good

Read ~ So far so good

Eat healthy ~ So far so good

Good sleep ~ So far so good

Errands ~ Not yet

Make something fun ~ Not yet

Give the battle to God

Praise God in the storm

Carpe Diem... Richmond

NASCAR ~ 1st Truex 13 Wallace 22 McDowell 23 A. Dillon 34 Yeley

What needs to be done?

Physical therapy

Walk

Scripture study

Edits

Read

Eat healthy

Good sleep

Errands

Make something fun

Give the battle to God

Praise God in the storm

Thank Goodness It's Sunday 484

~ Blessed rain

~ Friends

~ Cooler weather

~ Gospel

~ God's grace

End of the Week Follow Up

How'd I do?

Physical therapy ~ Done

Walk ~ Done

Scripture study ~ Done

Edits ~ Started

Read ~ Done

Eat healthy ~ Sometimes good and sometimes not so good

Good sleep ~ Better than last week

Errands ~ Done

Give the battle to God

Praise God in the storm

Brain Dump

This was posted on a friend's social media. I politely chose not to respond. They're allowed to believe what they want. I'm not the thought police. I needed to explore each topic, to explain to myself what I believe and why:

5. I don't throw around "I'm willing to pay higher taxes" lightly. If I'm suggesting something that involves paying more, well, it's because I'm fine with paying my share as long as it's actually going to something besides lining corporate pockets or bombing other countries while Americans die without healthcare.

In the previous point, this person said that they don't believe in having money forcibly taken. What do they think taxation is? If you don't pay it, you will go to jail. Now, they're saying that they're okay with forcing everyone to pay higher taxes. How nice to volunteer me to pay higher taxes too.

No one is stopping a person from paying more taxes. Really. No one forbids this. Go ahead and pay more! The IRS has a box on their form. Simply check it and write a bigger check.

However, if the person isn't happy with turning it over to the IRS, for fear of where the money will go, they can decide where the money goes by choosing to donate to the charity or charities of their choice. Charities are always looking for donations. Pick one. Don't like any of them? Start your own.

As to how the money might be spent, remember that this is the same government that has paid $600 for a toilet seat, refunded taxes to people who never paid any taxes, paid people who are dead, and literally lost billions of dollars.

I'm weary of the demonizing of "evil" corporations. Do corporations put profit first? Usually. It's why they're in business. They are not charities. Expecting corporations to act like charities is ridiculous. Expecting others, including corporations, to behave as you deem best is egocentric.

America has had some of the highest corporate taxes in the world. That's why the corporations moved to other countries, where taxes are lower. Reducing taxes is not stealing. Reducing taxes allows a person or corporation to keep more of the money they earned.

Back to healthcare, again: Too many vets have unnecessarily died while covered by healthcare. People who are not held accountable because they're safe in their government job is a problem. Giving them more people to manage and control will not improve the problem.

For the record: The government's job is two-fold: Promote (not provide) general welfare and provide common defense. That's it. That's all.

REAL Week 529

REAL - Reduce stress Exercise Adequate sleep Lower caloric intake

What Navy SEALs are required to do to make it into BUD/S:

http://navyseal.s5.com/requirements.html

http://military-fitness.military.com/2013/01/the-spartan-300-workout-and-new-variations.html?ESRC=sm_fit.nl

Right up front: Never in a million years could I do what is required. However, I needed to start somewhere. Considering how fit the SEALs are, I figured it was a good place to start. My pushups are against the wall.

Using 1, 2, and/or 4-lb weights:

PT ~ Physical therapy

UBP ~ Upper body exercises, pushups, and chair sits against the wall

SEALFit shared some good hints I want to learn and remember:

http://sealfit.com/sealfit-blog-how-to-build-durability/

13: 1/2-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch

14: 1-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch 1 hour yard work

15: Rest

16: 1-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch

17: 1/2+ mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x3 Stretch Moved 22 gallons of water

18: 1-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x5 Stretch

19: 1/2-mile walk PT UBP 0-lb x3 Stretch