If you listen to any news program - radio, television, Internet - for any length of time, you will hear someone complaining about big government and someone else justifying it. That is the world we live in right now.
Rabbit hole #1: Why is Internet capitalized? Aren't radio and television important anymore?
My name is Xanthorpe and I used to watch Fox News.
There. I said it. Is this how folks who abuse drugs or alcohol feel when they finally admit a dependence?
Frankly, I can't much stand to watch any news program on television these days. I remember when I was a kid and trustworthy newscasters like Chet Huntley and David Brinkley were on the tube every night. And Walter Cronkite. If it came out of Walter's mouth, it was gospel.
Rabbit hole #2: Don't you hate it when people begin a sentence with Frankly or Honestly? Does that mean everything else they've said isn't true?
So what's the problem with big government? Here's my theory:
We don't trust the people who can afford to serve their country without drawing a salary to make the right decisions for us.
Conversely, we don't seem to trust anyone running for office who we have never heard of and who doesn't have much money. They're just not electable. Whatever that means.
I can certainly understand our reticence toward letting the Rockefellers of the world run our country unchecked. History is rife with examples of the privileged few exercising said privilege for their own benefit when put in positions of power.
And I can appreciate that we don't want Joe Schmoe off the street being given the keys to the nuclear car, so to speak. Heaven forbid we elect ol' Joe and after watching a Hannity and O'Reilly marathon he's all heated up and decides to push the button.
But isn't there a happy median? Not any more, apparently. Listening to NPR the other morning, the resident political pundits opined that 2012 could be the first election in history where both major party candidates have at least $1 billion to spend on the presidential campaign.
Seriously?
Upon hearing that report, a friend of mine wondered what would happen if one of those candidates offered to take a large chuck of that and put a down-payment against the national debt. I told him that's a nice idea and Mr. or Ms. Candidate might even get elected. But it's probably illegal to use campaign funds to pay down the national debt.
I'm just saying.
What does big government represent? To me, it's the federal government having so many employees that if we closed down unnecessary departments and trimmed the ones we needed to keep, it would make the nation's unemployment rate untenable.
Rabbit hole #3: Think flat tax and no need for thousands of IRS employees and private-sector loophole experts.
In other words, it (big government) is what we have now.
What else does big government represent? The power to tell states what to do. The power to tell the people of this country that they must buy health insurance and if they don't, they can be fined.
It's one thing to tell us we have to pay taxes. And I'm okay with that - if we're going to have a standing military and people at the federal level to handle international relations, trade, and all those sorts of things, I understand that it takes money and I'm prepared to chip in my fair share.
I'm even okay with the whole Social Security thing. It's kind of comforting knowing that I'll reap some small financial stipend from all those hard-working years. Maybe...
But for a government to tell me I have to buy health insurance? That's along the same lines as a government telling me I have to drive a particular kind of car because it's safer or that I can't eat pork rinds because they're bad for me.
Rabbit Hole #4: I don't really eat pork rinds - but I do eat bacon.
That kind of government is just a little too big for me.
What do you think?
X
Monday, February 21, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Bubbles are worse than road rage...
Don't tell anyone, but I am starting to type notes to myself on my Blackberry while I'm driving. It seems I have my best ideas for writing - be it blog entries or advancing the plot of my novel Night's Edge - while driving. I try my best to only do this if I'm at a red light; maybe I need to go on a Blackberry fast.
I recently had a friend who had a crisis. My friend and I had talked periodically about getting together for months. Most recently, he had even asked that we get together so he could talk to me about something that was bothering him. My life is busy - but no busier than others - and certainly not busy enough to put off spending time with someone in need, right?
These recent events got me thinking about how we interact with those around us. Unfortunately perhaps, the picture that sprang to mind was that of Lady Gaga making her grand entrance into the recent Grammy Awards ceremony.
I'm not a fan of Lady Gaga but my perception of her symbolism here is unmistakable - the egg protects her from the harshness of the world around her while still acknowledging her specialness. Or maybe not, but that's what started me thinking yesterday...
Remember, I was in my car - my own special bubble; we all have one. A few years ago, I couldn't read a paper, watch the news or talk to someone without hearing stories of road rage - horrifying tales of drivers folllowing people, confronting other drivers at traffic lights, pulling guns, running people off the road for perceived slights...it was rampant.
Now? I can't recall the last time I heard a road rage story.
Have we all retreated into our eggs, our bubbles? Have we unplugged from society? Shelved our emotions in favor of just not caring at all? A phrase I hear a lot of lately is, "I'm done with that."
Are we done with each other?
What do you think?
X
I recently had a friend who had a crisis. My friend and I had talked periodically about getting together for months. Most recently, he had even asked that we get together so he could talk to me about something that was bothering him. My life is busy - but no busier than others - and certainly not busy enough to put off spending time with someone in need, right?
These recent events got me thinking about how we interact with those around us. Unfortunately perhaps, the picture that sprang to mind was that of Lady Gaga making her grand entrance into the recent Grammy Awards ceremony.
I'm not a fan of Lady Gaga but my perception of her symbolism here is unmistakable - the egg protects her from the harshness of the world around her while still acknowledging her specialness. Or maybe not, but that's what started me thinking yesterday...
Remember, I was in my car - my own special bubble; we all have one. A few years ago, I couldn't read a paper, watch the news or talk to someone without hearing stories of road rage - horrifying tales of drivers folllowing people, confronting other drivers at traffic lights, pulling guns, running people off the road for perceived slights...it was rampant.
Now? I can't recall the last time I heard a road rage story.
Have we all retreated into our eggs, our bubbles? Have we unplugged from society? Shelved our emotions in favor of just not caring at all? A phrase I hear a lot of lately is, "I'm done with that."
Are we done with each other?
What do you think?
X
Monday, February 14, 2011
Excess luxury makes it hard to remain humble
I have another business trip coming up on the 1st of March. It's been a busy winter of travel and I've been thinking a lot about how all things travel have changed since I began moving about the globe as a young boy. The impetus for this entry - the last straw if you will - came from this inncouous list of Deluxe Room Features and Amenities at my upcoming home-away-from home in Rochester, NY:
- Signature Bed with luxurious 310 thread count linens
- Upgraded Bath Amenities including curved shower rods
- Complimentary Wireless HSIA and spacious work desk
- Ergonomic chair
- LCD Flat Panel Televisions with Premium Cable
- Mini Refrigerator/Honor Bar
- Room Service until midnight
- Coffee Maker and Tea Service
Travelers these days enjoy a nice bouquet of features (except on the airplane), even from historically low-priced inns. Though one might think there would be more powerful tag lines to lure prospective customers. Most business hotels have the ubiquitous ergonomic chairs and the in-room coffee maker. Just about all have a small fridge and wireless internet access.
Moving up the ladder I've seen the Flat panel LCD televisions popping up more frequently. Room service after midnight? Eh. I suppose that's a nice feature but I stay away from room service like the plague anyway because of the cost but if you're on expenses I suppose that's a perk.
To put all this in perspective, when I lived in Dubai and travelled around Europe, the Middle East and Africa, our company - bless their hearts - put us up very nicely, thank you. Hilton, Sheraton, Inter-Continental; 5 stars all the way. the Sheraton in Kuwait City, remodeled after damage from the first Gulf War, had an indoor golf video game. And when I say golf - I mean with real clubs and full swings and hitting the ball into a screen that calculated your ball speed, spin and shor trajectory.
When placed against a curved shower rod, well, you get the picture.
What do you think?
X
Monday, February 7, 2011
in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti...
...Play Ball!
Last night was the second Super Bowl I had ever watched in a church. Watching the biggest spectacle in sports - at least in the USA - in a church is an interesting experience. We had food - and anyone who knows Baptists knows we're not going to skimp on the food! We had plenty to drink (no, Baptists don't drink alcohol in church; we don't even drink wine for the Lord's Supper) and a halftime show that sounds like it beat the real thing by a mile.
Pregame:
Yesterday was a super winter's day in NW Florida - mid-50's, sunny, light to no wind. Many of us arrived early at the student center with our covered dishes, snacks and drinks. After depositing mine on the two tables in the back, I grabbed some kids and went out to the parking lot to play some football - you know, the kind you play with your feet. Didn't everyone?
Kickoff: (including pre-game, pre-kick, pre-coin toss, pre-coin toss call, pre-commercial, post-commercial, some more commercial and, hey! What are those 22 guys in uniform doing on the field?
Oh, and I can't forget the strangling of the cat; otherwise known as Christina Aguilera attempting to sing the National Anthem. And look, I know how hard it is to get in front of a room full of people to speak or perform. I can't imagine the pucker factor of trying to sing a song in front of a live audience of one hundred thousand people and untold millions around the world. Look at it this way:
In the first half, Jordy Nelson, a young Packer wideout dropped what would've been a long gainer. I listened to several fellow Baptists bemoan what they perceived as an automatic catch. Yes, the ball did go right between Mr. Nelson's hands but in all fairness he was laid out and fignting off the challenge of a Steeler's defender. Still, that's what he gets paid for right?
Aguilera is a world-renowned singer. A performer on top of her game. Shouldn't we be able to bemoan the lyrical jumbling she brought to our nation's theme song? In fact, I wonder if this is an indictment of our school system - notwithstanding the fact that a young Christina may not have even gone to school in the United States - I mean, I could probably sing the National Anthem from memory (at least the first verse).
But that's right, they don't do that sort of thing in our schools any more.
Seriously, what a relief to finally get the game underway.
First Half:
The Packers owned the Steelers in the first half, well, right up until the end anyway. I was distracted by all those pesky kids wanting to play more football outside. Don't they realize when the game finally starts the grown-ups want to eat too much and yell at the big screen?
Halftime:
Pastor Brian - our awesome pastor at Ferris Hill Baptist Church - gave a great devotional that used football's yellow and red flags as object illustrations. The yellow flag is used in football by the officials to denote a foul - something that someone has done wrong. In life, this is the conviction we feel when we have stepped outside of God's rules. The red flag is used by coaches to challenge the call on the field - an attempt to overturn that call and change the outcome of the play. In life, there is only one way to change our eternal outcome, and that is to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.
If we don't make that decision, sincerely and heartfully before our demise, there is no changing the outcome of where we will spend eternity. No one will be able to throw the red challenge flag for us.
Second Half:
Sigh. I admit, I'm a sucker for the kids. They wanted to play some more, so outside we went into the semi-dark parking lot and - away from all the cars - we played some more football (soccer, for those of you who didn't get my earlier reference). I was able to make it back into the student center for the last quarter and enjoyed some final munchies, a nice cup of coffee and a Green Bay Packer victory.
Honestly, I didn't really care who won but I decided to pull for the Packers for a couple of reasons. One was Ben Rothlisburger. I saw him pointing at the sky when he threw a touchdown. I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, but his past behavior still weighs heavy on the scale of public opinion. Second, The Packers hadn't won this thing in a while and I just thought it might be nice to see the cheeseheads from Title Town take home another one.
Vince Lombardi said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Well, if you want to win in the game of life, there is only one way. Jesus said it best in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
What do you think?
X
Last night was the second Super Bowl I had ever watched in a church. Watching the biggest spectacle in sports - at least in the USA - in a church is an interesting experience. We had food - and anyone who knows Baptists knows we're not going to skimp on the food! We had plenty to drink (no, Baptists don't drink alcohol in church; we don't even drink wine for the Lord's Supper) and a halftime show that sounds like it beat the real thing by a mile.
Pregame:
Yesterday was a super winter's day in NW Florida - mid-50's, sunny, light to no wind. Many of us arrived early at the student center with our covered dishes, snacks and drinks. After depositing mine on the two tables in the back, I grabbed some kids and went out to the parking lot to play some football - you know, the kind you play with your feet. Didn't everyone?
Kickoff: (including pre-game, pre-kick, pre-coin toss, pre-coin toss call, pre-commercial, post-commercial, some more commercial and, hey! What are those 22 guys in uniform doing on the field?
Oh, and I can't forget the strangling of the cat; otherwise known as Christina Aguilera attempting to sing the National Anthem. And look, I know how hard it is to get in front of a room full of people to speak or perform. I can't imagine the pucker factor of trying to sing a song in front of a live audience of one hundred thousand people and untold millions around the world. Look at it this way:
In the first half, Jordy Nelson, a young Packer wideout dropped what would've been a long gainer. I listened to several fellow Baptists bemoan what they perceived as an automatic catch. Yes, the ball did go right between Mr. Nelson's hands but in all fairness he was laid out and fignting off the challenge of a Steeler's defender. Still, that's what he gets paid for right?
Aguilera is a world-renowned singer. A performer on top of her game. Shouldn't we be able to bemoan the lyrical jumbling she brought to our nation's theme song? In fact, I wonder if this is an indictment of our school system - notwithstanding the fact that a young Christina may not have even gone to school in the United States - I mean, I could probably sing the National Anthem from memory (at least the first verse).
But that's right, they don't do that sort of thing in our schools any more.
Seriously, what a relief to finally get the game underway.
First Half:
The Packers owned the Steelers in the first half, well, right up until the end anyway. I was distracted by all those pesky kids wanting to play more football outside. Don't they realize when the game finally starts the grown-ups want to eat too much and yell at the big screen?
Halftime:
Pastor Brian - our awesome pastor at Ferris Hill Baptist Church - gave a great devotional that used football's yellow and red flags as object illustrations. The yellow flag is used in football by the officials to denote a foul - something that someone has done wrong. In life, this is the conviction we feel when we have stepped outside of God's rules. The red flag is used by coaches to challenge the call on the field - an attempt to overturn that call and change the outcome of the play. In life, there is only one way to change our eternal outcome, and that is to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.
If we don't make that decision, sincerely and heartfully before our demise, there is no changing the outcome of where we will spend eternity. No one will be able to throw the red challenge flag for us.
Second Half:
Sigh. I admit, I'm a sucker for the kids. They wanted to play some more, so outside we went into the semi-dark parking lot and - away from all the cars - we played some more football (soccer, for those of you who didn't get my earlier reference). I was able to make it back into the student center for the last quarter and enjoyed some final munchies, a nice cup of coffee and a Green Bay Packer victory.
Honestly, I didn't really care who won but I decided to pull for the Packers for a couple of reasons. One was Ben Rothlisburger. I saw him pointing at the sky when he threw a touchdown. I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt, but his past behavior still weighs heavy on the scale of public opinion. Second, The Packers hadn't won this thing in a while and I just thought it might be nice to see the cheeseheads from Title Town take home another one.
Vince Lombardi said, "Winning isn't everything, it's the only thing." Well, if you want to win in the game of life, there is only one way. Jesus said it best in John 14:6, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
What do you think?
X
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
I'm in a state
Here we are; once a year we make the effort to sit still long enough to listen to a carefully scripted presentation that acknowledges what we already know about the state of our union and gives us some uplifting statements to make us feel better about it all.
I decided to turn on CNN in the hotel room and follow the coverage with them through the evening. I always used to believe that CNN was reasonably impartial as a news source although I wasn't naive enough to think they weren't leftward-leaning.
But what was the first thing I saw? Wolf Blitzer in The Situation Room - which reminds me of Presidents making world-shaping decisions...
and also - like a train wreck - reminds me of Mike The Situation Sorrentino.
Of course, my most up close and personal memory of Wolf was him ducking and covering while covering the first Gulf War in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. I was in Riyadh where we were receiving daily Scud attacks and there he was freaking out on global television...not his best moment.
But I digress...
So there I am tonight trying to put that image of Wolf out of my mind and take his pre-SotU coverage seriously and who is the fist guest I see? Bill Maher.
In modern parlance, I thought to myself, 'Oh...my...gosh.'
The king of the liberals is on the air. My grandparents, parents and teachers always told me, 'If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all.'
You have no idea of the internal struggle that is causing at the moment.
Okay, here goes...
Mr. Maher said that President Obama should pull our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan...and every other foreign country in the world.
Leaving aside what we would do with all those troops (border guards or 20% unemployment?), I suppose the money we saved on foreign deployments might pay for every man, woman and child in the USA to get a university degree.
Since I'm still struggling, I think I'll do some more ironing, call my wife, do my taxes and generally forget that Maher's satanic image (oops) ever burned the surface of my cornea.
Enjoy the speech...and feel free to come by and tell me what you thought of it.
X
I decided to turn on CNN in the hotel room and follow the coverage with them through the evening. I always used to believe that CNN was reasonably impartial as a news source although I wasn't naive enough to think they weren't leftward-leaning.
But what was the first thing I saw? Wolf Blitzer in The Situation Room - which reminds me of Presidents making world-shaping decisions...
and also - like a train wreck - reminds me of Mike The Situation Sorrentino.
Of course, my most up close and personal memory of Wolf was him ducking and covering while covering the first Gulf War in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. I was in Riyadh where we were receiving daily Scud attacks and there he was freaking out on global television...not his best moment.
But I digress...
So there I am tonight trying to put that image of Wolf out of my mind and take his pre-SotU coverage seriously and who is the fist guest I see? Bill Maher.
In modern parlance, I thought to myself, 'Oh...my...gosh.'
The king of the liberals is on the air. My grandparents, parents and teachers always told me, 'If you can't say something nice about someone, don't say anything at all.'
You have no idea of the internal struggle that is causing at the moment.
Okay, here goes...
Mr. Maher said that President Obama should pull our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan...and every other foreign country in the world.
Leaving aside what we would do with all those troops (border guards or 20% unemployment?), I suppose the money we saved on foreign deployments might pay for every man, woman and child in the USA to get a university degree.
Since I'm still struggling, I think I'll do some more ironing, call my wife, do my taxes and generally forget that Maher's satanic image (oops) ever burned the surface of my cornea.
Enjoy the speech...and feel free to come by and tell me what you thought of it.
X
Friday, January 14, 2011
The moon is in the 7th, er, 8th house...
Life has not been kind to us within the realm of time lately. After my last series of posts chronicling the painful, partial replacement of my wife's right knee, time has been - to paraphrase composer Richard O'Brien - fleeting.
And now, the very fabric of time, well, at least the part astrologers calculate, may be stretching.
In his article on Fox News, Jeremy Kaplan reveals how the shifting positions of the moon and stars over the last few millennia have called into question the accuracy of our current Star Signs.
I'm traumatized by the fact that a mere 3,000 years ago, Libra, my star sign, didn't even exist. So if I had been born back then, what would I be - Ophuchicus the snake handler? Thank goodness not. That honor is reserved for those born between November 29th and December 17th.
In the new age of Astrology, I will revert to Virgo, whose traits are, according to Astrology online:
Bah!
I've lived my entire life as the diplomatic, peaceable, idealistic, easy going, sociable Libra. I suppose I'll have to change.
Not.
The major prophet Daniel warned against things like sorcery and astrology in his writings on the life and experiences of King Nebuchadnezzar. When asked to interpret the King's disturbing dreams in Daniel 2, "The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, 'There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.'"
Of course not. And Daniel wisely never took credit for his ability to correctly interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dreams; he always gave God the credit - the One who is the only one able to see into our hearts and minds and know the truth of what we are about.
So while this makes for an exciting story I think it's more along the lines of cocktail party chat fodder than anything requiring more than a curious comment.
What do you think?
X
And now, the very fabric of time, well, at least the part astrologers calculate, may be stretching.
In his article on Fox News, Jeremy Kaplan reveals how the shifting positions of the moon and stars over the last few millennia have called into question the accuracy of our current Star Signs.
I'm traumatized by the fact that a mere 3,000 years ago, Libra, my star sign, didn't even exist. So if I had been born back then, what would I be - Ophuchicus the snake handler? Thank goodness not. That honor is reserved for those born between November 29th and December 17th.
In the new age of Astrology, I will revert to Virgo, whose traits are, according to Astrology online:
- Modest and shy
- Meticulous and reliable
- Practical and diligent
- Intelligent and analytical
- Fussy and a worrier
- Overcritical and harsh
- Perfectionist and conservative
Bah!
I've lived my entire life as the diplomatic, peaceable, idealistic, easy going, sociable Libra. I suppose I'll have to change.
Not.
The major prophet Daniel warned against things like sorcery and astrology in his writings on the life and experiences of King Nebuchadnezzar. When asked to interpret the King's disturbing dreams in Daniel 2, "The Chaldeans answered before the king, and said, 'There is not a man upon the earth that can shew the king's matter: therefore there is no king, lord, nor ruler, that asked such things at any magician, or astrologer, or Chaldean.'"
Of course not. And Daniel wisely never took credit for his ability to correctly interpret Nebuchadnezzar's dreams; he always gave God the credit - the One who is the only one able to see into our hearts and minds and know the truth of what we are about.
Astrology has always been akin to a game of Clue - only on a larger scale. People alone cannot predict the future nor can they determine the type of person you are or will be by the alignment of the planets, stars and Earth at the moment of your birth.
What do you think?
X
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Walking already - I think it's nap time
We've made it through a good portion of the grogginess of post-surgery blues and the joy of a liquid lunch - I think I can see a cheeseburger in my wife's future very soon! Unbelievably, the professionals from the hospital's torture - er physical therapy - department came by to take her on a leisurely stroll...
Now it's nap time. I feel a little guilty about being sleepy but getting to bed after midnight and getting up at 3:30 a.m. to get ready and come to the hospital makes for droopy eyes. She is on her side with the leg and knee supported by pillows and the lights are dimmed.
I will endeavor to stand watch without falling asleep. Thinking of that reminds me of Mark 14:37.
Still, I am wondering about autumn in Florida. I've heard of temperatures in the single digits and below zero up north. Here today? Roughly 78 degrees...
The chapel caught my eye on the way back to the room. It seemed a shame not to make use of such a peaceful place - the beauty of the stained glass and the words of Psalm 20 were just what the doctor ordered.
And for a certain author friend, I almost saw a Seabird when I looked at the chapel window the first time.
Thanks to everyone for their prayers...We really appreciate it!
X
Now it's nap time. I feel a little guilty about being sleepy but getting to bed after midnight and getting up at 3:30 a.m. to get ready and come to the hospital makes for droopy eyes. She is on her side with the leg and knee supported by pillows and the lights are dimmed.
I will endeavor to stand watch without falling asleep. Thinking of that reminds me of Mark 14:37.
Still, I am wondering about autumn in Florida. I've heard of temperatures in the single digits and below zero up north. Here today? Roughly 78 degrees...
The chapel caught my eye on the way back to the room. It seemed a shame not to make use of such a peaceful place - the beauty of the stained glass and the words of Psalm 20 were just what the doctor ordered.
And for a certain author friend, I almost saw a Seabird when I looked at the chapel window the first time.
Thanks to everyone for their prayers...We really appreciate it!
X
Praising the Great Physician
No, I don't mean Dr. Hartsfield - although he is a great surgeon!
My lovely wife is out of surgery and Dr. Hartsfield reports all went according to plan, and for any surgery, that's a good thing! She'll be in recovery for about another hour or so and then it's upstairs to our luxury suite overlooking the parking lot. And tomorrow begins the hopefully short road to recovery, with tortu, er I mean physical therapy and...Pain Management!
I've always thought pain management was an oxymoron, or at least an undesirable activity. I mean, I understand what pain management is and why some folks need it but I want to eliminate my pain - not manage it.
Of course, I'm a wuss, so...
What do you think?
X
My lovely wife is out of surgery and Dr. Hartsfield reports all went according to plan, and for any surgery, that's a good thing! She'll be in recovery for about another hour or so and then it's upstairs to our luxury suite overlooking the parking lot. And tomorrow begins the hopefully short road to recovery, with tortu, er I mean physical therapy and...Pain Management!
I've always thought pain management was an oxymoron, or at least an undesirable activity. I mean, I understand what pain management is and why some folks need it but I want to eliminate my pain - not manage it.
Of course, I'm a wuss, so...
What do you think?
X
Third time is the charm
As I write this entry, I an in the lobby of Gulf Breeze Hospital, a member of the Baptist Health Care family of medical centers.
My wife is undergoing a partial knee replacement - her third knee surgery this year. After two 'scopes, an injection program and copious physical therapy, our doctor has decided that this is the best option for her to finally get over the knee problems that have been a thorn in her side for so long.
I'm a little slow, so asked the doctor to draw me a picture. Amazingly, it looked a lot like the one below:
You see, the problem is, my wife had torn her meniscus a couple of times and the knee joint had reached a point where the top bone was rubbing on the bottom bone. Friction in a joint, especially a load-bearing joint, is not a good thing.
Basically, they are going to readjust the knee joint, put in the two pieces you see in the x-ray image above, and sew it all back up with staples holding the 3-4 inch opening together.
Amazingly, she will be walking on it today!
Most likely we will have an overnight stay so the staff can make sure everything is going according to plan and we'll get to go home tomorrow.
We are praying for a full recovery according to God's good plan (plan bon dew in Creole). And once Nance is all better, I'm going to go in for some adverb therapy.
X
My wife is undergoing a partial knee replacement - her third knee surgery this year. After two 'scopes, an injection program and copious physical therapy, our doctor has decided that this is the best option for her to finally get over the knee problems that have been a thorn in her side for so long.
I'm a little slow, so asked the doctor to draw me a picture. Amazingly, it looked a lot like the one below:
Basically, they are going to readjust the knee joint, put in the two pieces you see in the x-ray image above, and sew it all back up with staples holding the 3-4 inch opening together.
Amazingly, she will be walking on it today!
Most likely we will have an overnight stay so the staff can make sure everything is going according to plan and we'll get to go home tomorrow.
We are praying for a full recovery according to God's good plan (plan bon dew in Creole). And once Nance is all better, I'm going to go in for some adverb therapy.
X
Saturday, November 20, 2010
You want to know what faith is?
So many people today question faith. What is it? What, or who, should we direct it toward? How do we cling to it in the worst of times? Over the last ten years I thought I had made some progress in understanding the answers to those - and many more - questions. This morning, I discovered I don't know squat.
If you want to make that discovery for yourself, read this article about a man named Chad Arnold. The journey that this man - and his family - have been on moved me to tears. As I read, I thought of Bible passages I have learned that spoke to what he has gone through, what he's going through and what he will go through. It's not that God's Word is insufficient in Chad's case - quite the opposite - it's just the thought of, "What can I possibly say that could connect with what Mr. Arnold has gone through?"
He is a walking illustration of what the Bible is all about. Sentence after sentence, paragraph after paragraph. You want to know what faith is? Just read about Chad and his brother Ryan and all the rest.
Chad's blog continues to document this story as he and the Arnold family continue to live through the loss they've experienced. I am astounded by their faith and challenged by their lives.
What do you think?
X
If you want to make that discovery for yourself, read this article about a man named Chad Arnold. The journey that this man - and his family - have been on moved me to tears. As I read, I thought of Bible passages I have learned that spoke to what he has gone through, what he's going through and what he will go through. It's not that God's Word is insufficient in Chad's case - quite the opposite - it's just the thought of, "What can I possibly say that could connect with what Mr. Arnold has gone through?"
He is a walking illustration of what the Bible is all about. Sentence after sentence, paragraph after paragraph. You want to know what faith is? Just read about Chad and his brother Ryan and all the rest.
Chad's blog continues to document this story as he and the Arnold family continue to live through the loss they've experienced. I am astounded by their faith and challenged by their lives.
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