tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91513240960102277852024-03-12T21:39:45.313-04:00Wandering off postI'm just thinking...- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-76862655821852187302014-04-02T06:47:00.000-04:002014-04-02T06:47:58.349-04:00Life"YOLO" is the word of the day. You Only Live Once. Evokes a simple, exciting freedom doesn't it? You Only Live Once. I suppose it is the follow on to "If it feels good, do it."<br />
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You Only Live Once, and it lasts forever. Wait, what?<br />
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Yes, your everlasting life or everlasting death have already begun. You see, life and death have nothing to do with the body. Life is eternity with God, Death is eternity without God.<br />
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It is not coincidence that the point of Adam's obedience in the Garden was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. That tree was Adam's tithe; his point of obedience.<br />
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We call it tithe, an Old English word meaning one tenth, from Abram's giving "tithes of all" to Melchizadek after the battle of the kings. Leviticus prescribes tithing to the Temple for the children of Israel. So we see tithing has both an amount and a purpose. It is a matter of obedience. Your obedience then gives God license to work in your life.<br />
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God needs a license to work in my life, you ask? Yes. He must have your cooperation. You have a free will. You choose life or death (<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Deu&c=30&t=KJV#s=183015" target="_blank">Deut. 30:15-20</a>). Jesus tells us to render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's and unto God that which is God's (<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Mat&c=22&t=KJV#s=951021" target="_blank">Matt. 22:21</a>).<br />
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With every choice we make we are choosing life or death, blessing or cursing. Every decision we make on earth is an indication of whether we will follow God or not; whether we will be obedient. The choice is yours. You choose who you serve, Life or Death. They are both everlasting.<br />
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Choose Life.</div>
- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-73253948961694781862013-07-17T14:22:00.000-04:002013-07-17T17:44:56.871-04:00Closer to home ,,,Reflecting on the past couple of years, I now realize what a journey this has been. Not just the physical health stuff, but the mental and spiritual as well. PTSD is an insidious bastard. You don't have to be involved in big life altering events, direct combat, or direct physical abuse. The more treacherous is the slow wearing away of your sense of self in order to deal with the heightened awareness needed to survive. You lose your place. And then they send you home.<br />
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It mostly looks the same as when we left. Our people gather around; friends, family, community. They ask us questions, we tell them stories. even explaining "No, I didn't see direct combat. Some joker fired a few rockets in our general direction but my job was in the headquarters. If I was out in the field there would be nobody to do my job. I didn't get out much." Yet, you knew there were Taliban and Al Qaeda cleaning your office, emptying the toilets, delivering the water. You just didn't know WHO were Taliban or Al Qaeda. You're careful with your weapon, your ammunition, your information. You keep your eyes open. All day. Every day. Every day. It may be home, but we're not home yet.<br />
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It's not the signs, the parades, the speeches. It's not getting back to your routine. It's when you can walk down the street and not concerned about where an IED may be hidden or attack vectors. It's when you can take your kids to the mall and maintain a leisurely pace without serpentine patterns. It's when you can step aside and say "Excuse me" to someone crowding you rather than take them to the floor while reaching for zip cuffs. It's not completely freaking out when you reach for your weapon and find it's not there. It's when you realize it's not supposed to be there. It's when you finally don't reach for it at all. It's when we finally realize we don't need it. It's when we forget it. Then we're rendered safe, then we've found our place. Then we're home. Baby steps. - Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-65265031843325839272013-07-16T09:33:00.000-04:002013-07-16T09:33:15.167-04:00Time for an updateI've just spent this his past year focused on my physical rehabilitation. It wasn't any one big event that sent me to <a href="http://enduracenter.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Endurance Athlete Center</a>, even though I've had a few. It was a series of smaller events over time, bad advice, and poor habits. Twenty years in the National Guard, with most of that on active duty in the U.S. Army, wore me down. When my body started failing me; shoulders, hips, and legs in particular, I retired from the Guard. At first I just attributed it to age and the athleticism of working through natural disasters and combat zones. I thought rest from the stress and strain was all I needed. Then pain become constant, weakness prevalent, and as I worked to get myself back into shape I realized rest wasn't enough and I didn't know how to recuperate. I sought help. <br />
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This is an unsolicited testimonial for <a href="http://enduracenter.com/" target="_blank">The Endurance Athlete Center</a>. Liz, my physical therapist, helped me find the weaknesses, the causes of the weaknesses, and then put me on the path to recovery. She then handed me off to Graeme, my trainer, who taught, coached, and mentored me to find my way back to strength and health. We started working at my pace, now we're working at his so that by the end of the session I'm nothing but a puddle of mud. Rebecca has shown me how to maximize the effect of the work I'm putting forth through proper nutrition. I've made great strides and I'm not done yet.<br />
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I cannot thank them enough. If you're in Northern Virginia, DC, or Maryland, I highly recommend before you start a physical training program, see your doctor, and then call <a href="http://enduracenter.com/" target="_blank">The Endurance Athlete Center</a>. Proper training is the difference between success and failure. If you're an athlete and want to improve your performance, call <a href="http://enduracenter.com/" target="_blank">The Endurance Athlete Center.</a> If you've sustained an injury and your doctor prescribes physical therapy and rehabilitation, call <a href="http://enduracenter.com/" target="_blank">The Endurance Athlete Center</a>. They know what they're doing- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-82403441300942980512013-02-21T07:42:00.001-05:002013-02-21T07:51:32.977-05:00The Miracle at Cana<div style="text-align: justify;">
I've often contemplated what is the mystery of the miracle of the wedding feast at Cana (<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Jhn&c=2&v=1&t=KJV" target="_blank">John 2:1-11</a>). This morning, while meditating on this mystery in the Rosary, the Lord revealed to me a new aspect of this teaching.</div>
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We are both Priest and Prophet on the earth. The Priest has the authority to call on the Lord and the Prophet the responsibility to carry it out. Mary is the figure from which the church is modeled; Mary is to God as the Church is to Christ. The servants are the messengers delivering the result. Mary tells them "do whatever He tells you." In this scene, Mary is directing the ministry of Jesus and the servants are carrying it out. Mary has authority to call on Jesus, the servants the responsibility to do what he tells them and deliver the results to the others.</div>
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Remember, this is on the other side of the Cross where priest and prophet were separate. Moses and Aaron, David and Nathaniel, the Law and Elijah and Elisha. This side of the Cross, we are both priest and prophet. We have the authority to call on the Lord and also the responsibility to carry out what He tells us. Practice listening.</div>
- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-13098856703821022982012-08-25T12:40:00.004-04:002012-08-25T12:40:59.099-04:00Should we be led by faith?That is the title of an article in today's <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/liberty-through-the-lens/faith/?hpid=z6">Washington Post</a> yet most of the article speaks to and about religion. Be not deceived. Faith and religion are not the same thing. We all have faith in something. It is that "thing" that gets us out of bed in the morning. It is that "thing" that motivates us to do the common, ordinary things of life. In reality, that "thing" is your god. So what is that "thing" for you?<br />
<br />- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-20311165998091358262012-02-06T14:15:00.000-05:002012-02-06T14:15:30.810-05:00thoughts on sin and living in the world<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">Hebrews 10:1-2 "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins." </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande';">We have been purged of sin, in Christ by the Blood of Jesus. We should have no more consciousness of sin because our Father has is not conscience of sin. Does that mean we live without sin? Romans 6:2 "For he this is dead is freed from sin." Romans 6:3 "Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death; that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in the newness of life." </span><br />
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We are not capable of a sacrifice for sin. Jesus has done that. Once. For all. We can only accept His death in order to receive His life. Is this a sin-less life? No. Jesus sacrificed His sin-less life so that we may receive from Him a sin-free life. Sin is in the world and as long as we are in the world we must deal with sin. As Jesus said, John 16:33, "In the world you shall have tribulation ..." We are "in" the world, we are no longer "of" the world. </div>
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Eph 2:12 "That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: (13) but now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are made near by the blood of Christ." Phil 2:15 "That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world." Col 2:20 "Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances after the commandments and doctrines of men?"</div>
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Does that mean we are no longer subject to the law? Yes. And No. The laws of society have a purpose. So that people may live peaceably. And as Paul tells us, Romans 12:18, "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men." But more importantly, if you live in the love of God and walk in his word and Spirit you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh (Gal 5:16) and will live within the boundaries of the laws of the land and free from the prosecution of the law as well as live free from the persecution of sin. </div>
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Sin is around us. We will find times when we slip or aren't listening to the Spirit as closely as we ought. We will not be without sin, but we are free from its condemnation. John tells us, 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." We won't be sin-less, but we are sin-free.</div>- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-20387364564286293072011-12-21T09:47:00.001-05:002011-12-21T09:47:25.129-05:00Having FaithTo believe is a decision. Faith is the corresponding action. In my last post I mentioned that decisions are points where honesty, truth, and listening converge. It is at these convergences that what you believe shows in the actions you take. Actions, truly, speak louder than words ...- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-16477871742611875922011-12-09T08:03:00.001-05:002011-12-09T09:03:49.618-05:00Wow, can't believe it's been so long since I've posted here. Well, I've been wandering. What I love about wandering is finding new things, finding new things about old things, and challenging the way I think about all things. I like to challenge what I think I know about what I know to find what I don't know I need to know. Cool, huh? What's really cool is that it's all tied together. We are each the culmination of our history. The history of our parents and families, and the history of our decisions. Each decision we make is a little more history. I find it amazing that sometimes what seems like a little decision at the time may make a big difference over time. Each and every decision has a lasting effect. A lifetime effect. It is your history.<br />
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So, how do you want your history to read?<br />
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Decisions are points where honesty, truth, and listening converge. You have to be honest with yourself, search for truth, and listen for guidance. It can be there, even in the smallest decisions.<br />
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Have you ever paid attention to that little voice that seems to be deep in the back of your head that seems to speak at critical decision points? I've learned to listen to that voice. And the learning curve has been steep for me. It comes with the wandering bent I have. I've also learned the it's there all the time, not just at critical decision points, if you practice listening for it.<br />
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Last night, Laura was telling me about an incident regarding a project she was working on and said: "I've got to learn to listen to myself. That little voice told me I should think about adding ... to this project and I didn't. Today (a colleague) came around and said 'has ... signed off on this? I think they should be the ones to study this and set the rules. I'm suggesting that in my comments.' and that was exactly what I thought when I first started (the project)." Well, now her colleague will get the credit for the idea and the addition, though that doesn't matter much to Laura. She doesn't care much about who gets the credit as long as the best work possible gets done.<br />
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But my response was, "That little voice isn't yours. It's the Holy Spirit and yes, you should listen to it." Yes, I'm Christian and I really hope you could tell that before I told you, but that is another blog post. Today I want to dwell on the rest of what I learned when this comment sparked my wandering.<br />
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It first took me to 1Kings 19 where Elijah took to the hills to hide from Ahab and Jezebel, the king and queen of Israel, after he had killed their prophets of Baal. It didn't make them fans and they were out to kill him. He made it to Horeb, the mount of God, where he and God were working things out when God told him, "Stand up on the mount" and God passed by. Now here's the good part. When God passed by there was a strong wind that broke the rocks, but God wasn't in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but God wasn't in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but God wasn't in the fire. After the fire there was a still, small voice. It's not the chaos, confusion, loud, boisterous, rock throwing windbag that should concern you; what is the still, small voice saying?<br />
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Yep, that same still, small voice that we each hear at decision time, if we will choose to listen for it. I then had the opportunity to learn more at church. Yesterday was a Holy Day of Obligation, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and at one point during the service when parishioners were moving forward for take part in the Communion, I saw a girl trying to get into the line and that still small voice said, "stop, let her through." But she was indecisive and I was preoccupied and went back to my business. In just a few minutes I realized what I had done, but it was too late. The opportunity had passed and I missed it. And then the voice said, "In obedience is the Blessing." I don't know what that Blessing would have been for that act of kindness. I missed it. I missed the moment but I didn't miss the lesson. That decision left a lasting mark on my history.<br />
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I learned.<br />
<br />- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-63505830068162088692011-03-23T18:25:00.001-04:002011-03-23T18:26:05.853-04:00Leadership Lessons from my Uncle Robert<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0); -webkit-text-stroke-width: 1px; color: #222222; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">My Uncle Robert is a quiet, unassuming man. Very practical and a very strong in his beliefs and steadfast in his way. Not one to be trifled with, Uncle Robert is a very fair and focused man. He is one of the four most important men in my life.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He has lived through the great upheavals of the 20th Century; the Great Depression, the Dustbowl, the Internet and yet still conducts his business with determined vision, a steady hand, and great concern for his employees and their production. This has allowed him to maximize the use of his own facilities and his reputation is such that he has the use of the property of others with few questions asked. </div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He treats his employees with great care. He sees that they have what they need, are well supplied and that their environment is as good as he can possibly make it. He’s always there to help, coax, and defend them when necessary and values their production no matter how small. Yet he has no tolerance for the unproductive. </div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As a young man, I would look forward to the summers when I could work for him. It was truly a rewarding and fun experience. Uncle Robert was a man of patience and timing when it came to his business. Now, understand that Uncle Robert never had more than one or two people working for him at any particular time except during the summers when he would have somewhere around fifteen of us kids, cousins all, scattered across his operation. Yet his employees made him one of the most prosperous men in the community. </div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You see, Uncle Robert is a farmer. The employees I write of are not necessarily those individual people but the individual seeds and the individual plants that brought forth individual products.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">He knows the proper time to plant and that once planted you have to have patience. You have to wait to see which individuals survive the process. When the first shoots spring forth is only one indication of the process. Some will come up later than others and still others simply will not survive the process. The life of the organization is just not in them.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Those that do survive he cultivates. He sees to their needs. He insures their environment is all that it can be for them to thrive and produce. He keeps track of their production process, makes sure they are well supplied and values each and every little thing they produce. He knows that individual production is the key to the overall harvest. He also know what his return will be, because he knows what he planted; he reaps what he sows. We all do.</div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Are you cultivating or curtailing? Do you prune or do you prevent? </div><div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">If you don’t like what you’re reaping, change what you’re sowing.</div>- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-58943746044410909332010-10-30T12:20:00.002-04:002010-11-02T15:39:20.441-04:00Missed opportunityI just passed the WWII Memorial as WWII Vets were escorted through. I stopped to let them pass but I should have stood at attention and saluted. They are as precious to me as the flag we have followed and the Constitution we defend and protect.- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-8965119073617090712010-08-08T12:28:00.001-04:002010-08-08T12:51:07.305-04:001's and 0'sThis has been a very interesting and learning week for me summed up in the reading from the Magnificat for today by Father Simon Tugwell, O.P. in his Day by Day message <i>"Where Our Heart Is."</i> He begins with, "Our identity is 'I' and "Not-I'" which for me translated to "I" and "naught" or 1 and 0, in digital language. My work involves studying to understand the effect of the digital domain on people, what it means and why, how we use it, where it changes us or how we adapt to it. The digital domain gives visibility and manifestation to the domain of "thought." The effects of "thought" on the human race reduced to 1's and 0's yet expanded to affect every person on the Earth in some aspect. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin described this domain as the noosphere, or the "sphere of thought" in his book <i>The Phenomenon of Man</i>. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noosphere">noosphere</a> as analogous to the geosphere and the biosphere. (More on this later.)<br />
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Each person's true identity comes down to "mine" and "not mine." It is displayed in what we take as our own revealed in our actions precipitated by our words. Fr. Tugwell writes that "it is a part of man's dignity, according to Saint Thomas, that he is the source of his own actions, just as God is the source of his own actions. Our freedom is the created image of God's freedom." We are the source of our actions because we choose. Not choosing is also a choice. So, the essential source of our identity is "God" or "not God." We choose. It is written, <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Deu&c=30&t=KJV#19">"... I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life ..."</a><br />
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Fr. Tugwell writes, "In Thomistic language, we cannot apprehend the essence of our own souls. To have a pure heart is to have a heart that is known to be rooted in the mystery of God and which must therefore systematically elude our grasp." ... "To have a pure heart is to have a life which wells up in us from a source too deep for us to plumb. To have a pure heart is to have a heart that is not just created by God and then abandoned to us for us to make the most of it; it is to have a heart which is constantly being created and sustained by the newness of the life of God."<br />
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I say that the mystery of God is not too deep to plumb. Our lives consist in our choice of either the action of plumbing the depths or not. We have only to ask or ignore. It is written, <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Luk&c=12&t=KJV#32">"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."</a><br />
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I choose life. It is where my heart is, <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Luk&c=12&t=KJV#34">"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"</a> and therefore I guard my heart. It is written, <a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Pro&c=4&t=KJV#23">"Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it <i>are (flow)</i> the issues of life."</a>- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-71296075046417540722010-05-01T07:53:00.001-04:002010-05-01T07:54:27.494-04:00Collaboration models<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tSWWaFPHWx8/S9wVYyvT-oI/AAAAAAAAA4c/pQTWU2kK7EE/s1600/email+vs.+wiki.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_tSWWaFPHWx8/S9wVYyvT-oI/AAAAAAAAA4c/pQTWU2kK7EE/s320/email+vs.+wiki.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I've had a few requests for this slide, so I thought I'd share it here. This particular version was developed by Staff Sgt. Joshua Salmons of the Defense Information School. Smart guy. Good friend.- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-9242357464407080442010-04-27T09:29:00.001-04:002010-04-27T09:29:20.457-04:00Or maybe it will look like Pandora?<a href="http://emediavitals.com/blog/16/remix-news-what-news-can-learn-lastfm-and-pandora">emediavitals.com/blog/16/remix-news-what-news-can-learn-lastfm-and-pandora</a><br>Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-87821466734048535302010-04-05T16:51:00.000-04:002010-04-05T16:51:38.682-04:00thoughts on the economy of journalismNews organizations are struggling with an economic model. The Pew Research <a href="http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1523/state-of-the-news-media-2010">2010 State of the News Media</a> is out and, while I’m not through it yet, some thoughts come to mind.<br />
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People are no longer paying for content; but perhaps they will pay for a filter for verification, veracity, authenticity, and authority. The subscriber question is: Who is watching what I want to know about and how much am I willing to path them to filter it? <br />
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Could <a href="http://www.snopes.com/">snopes.com</a> be a model?- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-5391636986517362362010-02-13T14:18:00.000-05:002010-02-13T14:18:10.062-05:00CommunicationCommunication is singular. It is all encompassing. It is everything. It is constant. It is continuous. It is pervasive. It is everlasting.- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-43746325674481035672010-02-10T16:42:00.003-05:002010-02-10T17:04:54.367-05:00Hyper-connected HermitsSounds like the name for a blog if I've ever heard one. I suppose turning 50 in the digital age isn't such big deal, but it does give one a certain introspective perspective. As I prepare for upcoming conferences and classes I'm teaching on New/Social media, I came across this article in the March/April edition of AARP Magazine. For those under 50 you can read it <a href="http://www.aarpmagazine.org/lifestyle/where_conversation_goes.html">here</a>. <br /><br />I speak and study about "digital natives" and "digital immigrants" and feel much like a "digital undocumented worker." I remember when "social networking" meant a visit to the bar down the street and a couple of adult beverages. I am acutely aware of changes that have taken place in the way we converse. Technology has opened up many powerful avenues for conversation we cannot ignore; but we should take the time to remember our "humanness," and find places to meet people, sit, and talk to keep from becoming what David Dudley describes as "a nation of hyperconnected hermits, thumbs furiously working our BlackBerrys, each of us a master of an ever-smaller personal universe." Quite a fitting description from what I observe.- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-45304102922955215922010-01-15T12:18:00.000-05:002010-01-15T12:32:21.280-05:00Capturing thoughtsThinking about the roles of CIOs, KMers, and the rest of us... What I see are people, managers and director primarily, who are working very hard to better their discipline within the organization. However focusing on the discipline promotes an attitude of exclusion and competition vice an attitude of inclusion and contribution. The former benefits the discipline, the latter benefits the organization. <p>Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-51889879382686678812010-01-15T12:11:00.001-05:002010-02-13T15:30:07.694-05:00Capturing thoughtsThinking about the roles of CIOs, KMers, and the rest of us... What I see are people, managers and directors primarily, who are working very hard to better their discipline within the organization. However focusing on the discipline promotes an attitude of exclusion and competition vice an attitude of inclusion and contribution. The former benefits the discipline, the latter benefits the organization. <p>Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-81136207876799085212010-01-09T07:38:00.001-05:002010-01-09T07:38:52.589-05:00Christmas tree @ the National Harbor<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tSWWaFPHWx8/S0h43EJ3QHI/AAAAAAAAA14/LJTsFeEmlNQ/s1600-h/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAwMDQtMjAwOTEyMjQtMTcyNi5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-732590"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_tSWWaFPHWx8/S0h43EJ3QHI/AAAAAAAAA14/LJTsFeEmlNQ/s320/%3D%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAwMDQtMjAwOTEyMjQtMTcyNi5qcGc%3D%3F%3D-732590" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424718638571012210" /></a></p>This was part of the light show to music that was at the National Harbor over Christmas. It was a beautiful display. <p>This is also an experiment in mobile blogging on a beautiful Saturday morning. <br>Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-11179315314765867412010-01-09T07:23:00.001-05:002010-01-09T07:23:53.201-05:00Getting around to learning how to mobile blog. Looks cool if I can figure it out.- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-28682604665583058362010-01-07T06:49:00.003-05:002010-01-07T07:16:41.466-05:00So, what exactly needs to be reformed?There is much cussing and discussing about "healthcare reform." But what really needs to be reformed? It is not the quality of our healthcare in the US, but the question is of access. However, our access to healthcare is uninhibited by emergency situations. The Hippocratic Oath, ethics, and generally our human nature will usually see to our needs in an emergency. The issue seems now to be access during normalcy. Access during normalcy is predicated on insuring good health.<br /><br />So the question now seems to be in insurance of good health. The surety of your health begins with the individual, if the individual is of age, or with the parent/guardian if not. But of course we need advise and help from time to time, that is why we have physicians. Now the question appears to be who is best suited to help me insure my health and there is only one option being discussed: the federal government. <br /><br />I ask this: who is best suited to help me during my normal daily life? A rich uncle thousands of miles away? or my next door neighbor? And who is best suited to help me in times of trouble, A rich uncle thousands of miles away? or my local community?<br /><br />My personal physical protection works best when handled locally, shouldn't my health protection? And who locally is best suited for insuring such, a rich uncle thousands of miles away? Or my community church or help organization? Is not the original reason for the "separation of church and state" discussed by our founding fathers based on the fact the federal government had neither the capacity nor the responsibility for social welfare? And wasn't that the reason these organizations have tax exemption? And wouldn't it be better to be able to handle that locally?<br /><br />So I suppose the issue is not healthcare, but insurance. And the question is to whom do you put your trust to insure you the healthcare that you need. Where is your insurance?<br /><br />I'm just asking ...- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-68606534265311487262009-12-31T13:23:00.003-05:002009-12-31T13:28:26.886-05:00Getting organized and exploringThings are settling down, now. In the holiday season the "business" slows some and it is a time for reflecting. The depth of our reflection is a measure of the depth of our perception I'm finding out. I'm now getting this blog organized to be able to use it to log my thoughts and actions, capture my thoughts, and reflect in order to perceive.- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-71738661182306874362009-12-28T18:08:00.004-05:002009-12-28T18:14:04.622-05:00Reading ListAdd this one to your reading list: Making News in the Digital Era by <a href="http://www.davidhenderson.com">David E. Henderson.</a> Especially good for those just venturing into the new/social media environment. One of the best chapters I've read on strategic communication. One minor editing suggestion: Remove the "s" from communication.- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-13995144765659223052009-12-17T20:02:00.001-05:002009-12-17T20:02:44.783-05:00Working it ...Wow, July 4 the last post. Where the heck have I been...- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9151324096010227785.post-58723496779049494612009-07-04T11:22:00.002-04:002009-12-17T19:57:35.348-05:00Remembering those with whom I've stood, thru time and space in history and love; that brought and keeps us here. Happy 233rd Birthday my Home.- Jackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02125236762042884391noreply@blogger.com0