<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982900960911408528</id><updated>2011-08-25T11:08:13.313-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Reg McMicking Blog - Welcome</title><subtitle type='html'></subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Reg McMicking</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/11964984263348413459</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>10</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982900960911408528.post-7718281299948880854</id><published>2010-11-27T07:15:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-11-27T07:16:21.968-08:00</updated><title type='text'>So, What Makes You Tick ?</title><content type='html'>I've always felt that it is important to "be all you&amp;nbsp;can be", but it's not always in the Army. I often&amp;nbsp;see myself as somewhat contented with my life&amp;nbsp;the way things are, but of course it's hard to&amp;nbsp;think of anything else when where are real issues&amp;nbsp;to be discussed.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Still I aspire for something deeper and more&amp;nbsp;meaningful.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;So we're all pelted with problems. Honestly it&amp;nbsp;shouldn't even bother or even hinder us to&amp;nbsp;becoming all we ought to be. Aspirations as&amp;nbsp;kids should continue to live within us, even&amp;nbsp;though it would be short-lived or as long as we could hold on to the dream. They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks… or can they?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;b&gt;1. What do I really want?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The question of the ages. So many things you want to do with your life and so little time to even go about during the day.Find something that you are good at can help realize that small step towards improvement. Diligence is the key to know that it is worth it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;2. Should I really change?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Today's generation has taken another level of redefining 'self', or at least that's what the kids are saying. Having an army of teenage nieces and nephews has taught me that there are far worse things that they could have had than acne or maybe even promiscuity. So how does that fit into your lifestyle?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;If history has taught us one thing, it's the life that we have gone through. Try to see if partying Seventies style wouldn't appeal to the younger generation, but dancing is part of partying. Watch them applaud after showing them how to really dance than break their bones in break-dancing.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;3. What's the bright side in all of this?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;With so much is happening around us there seem to be no room for even considering that light at the end of the tunnel. We can still see it as something positive without undergoing so much scrutiny. And if it's a train at the end of the tunnel, take it for a ride and see what makes the world go round!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;4. Am I comfortable with what I'm doing?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;There's always the easy way and the right way when it comes to deciding what goes with which shoes, or purse, shirt and whatnot. It doesn't take a genius to see yourself as someone unique, or else we'll all be equally the same in everything we do. Variety brings in very interesting and exciting questions to be experimented.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;5. Have I done enough for myself?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;Have you, or is there something more you want to do? Discontentment in every aspect can be dangerous in large doses, but in small amounts you'll be able to see and do stuff you could never imagine doing.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;6. Am I happy at where I am today?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;It's an unfair question so let it be an answer! You love being a good and loving mom or dad to your kids, then take it up a notch! Your kids will love you forever. The same goes with everyday life!&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;7. Am I appealing to the opposite sex?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;So maybe I don't have an answer to that, but that doesn't mean I can't try it, though. Whether you shape-up, change the way you wear your clothes or hair, or even your attitude towards people, you should always remember it will always be for your own benefit.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;8. How much could I have?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;I suppose in this case there is no such things on having things too much or too little, but it's more on how badly you really need it. I'd like to have lots of money, no denying that, but the question is that how much are you willing to work for it?&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;9. What motivates me?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;What motivates you? It's an answer you have to find out for yourself. There are so many things that can make everyone happy, but to choose one of the may be the hardest part. It's not like you can't have one serving of your favorite food in a buffet and that's it. Just try it piece by piece.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;b&gt;10. What Really Makes You Tick?&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;So? What really makes you tick? You can be just about anything you always wanted to be, but to realize that attaining something that may seem very difficult is already giving up before you even start that journey.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;i&gt;Always remember, that self-improvement is not just about the physical or philosophical change you have to undergo, but it's something that you really want.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5982900960911408528-7718281299948880854?l=regrantings.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/feeds/7718281299948880854/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/11/so-what-makes-you-tick.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/7718281299948880854'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/7718281299948880854'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/11/so-what-makes-you-tick.html' title='So, What Makes You Tick ?'/><author><name>Reg McMicking</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/11964984263348413459</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982900960911408528.post-3234566912565555981</id><published>2010-09-14T12:35:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-14T12:35:32.668-07:00</updated><title type='text'>God Is Not Fair</title><content type='html'>Why does it seem God shows empathy towards so many contemptible people while allowing the decent individual to suffer? &amp;nbsp;The concept of a child suffering a devastating illness is repugnant to us and yet God allows it. &amp;nbsp;Where is God when a decent, honorable and hard working person is suddenly struck with a terminal illness? &amp;nbsp;Why does it seem God is unfair and seemingly indifferent to our daily ordeals?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The old prophet Habakkuk openly questioned God’s fairness when the Caldeans punished the more righteous (Habakkuk 1:12-13); Job suffered beyond what is considered acceptable to most of us with the loss of his family, health and property and yet he remained faithful; the chosen people of Israel remained in bondage for centuries without relief and yet remained hopeful; and, so many committed followers of Christ faced torture and death for their belief and yet remained faithful. &amp;nbsp;Why are good people punished?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As a Christian, I know that I am not alone when I have at times questioned the "fairness" of my God. &amp;nbsp;Why would He allow my lovely wife, who was totally committed to Him, to suffer and eventually die from cancer?&lt;br /&gt;How could a loving God allow my wife, who prayed daily to Him and for others, who read the bible and witnessed for Him, to endure such anquish? &amp;nbsp;Indeed to most who knew her, as close to a "perfect" person as one could be. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The answer is that none of us are perfect and never will be. &amp;nbsp;Why then would we expect God to reward us with a “perfect” blessing? &amp;nbsp;I am thankful that God is not fair because if He was truly fair we would all be condemned for “we have all sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard” (Romans 3:23). &amp;nbsp;According to worldly standards God would be absolutely justified in remaining dispassionate just as a judge would be in presiding over a case before him or her. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;God is the Judge of all. &amp;nbsp;He has sole determination of our value. &amp;nbsp;God’s ways are mysterious but just. &amp;nbsp;When workers in the vineyards complained that those who worked only a few hours received the same wage as those who worked all day, Jesus replied: “Many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now with be first then”. Perhaps, we cannot truly understand all that is God’s Will, but as difficult as it may be, we must strive for a “kingdom” perspective, not an earthly one. &amp;nbsp;Since the beginning, God has sought a relationship with the contemptible as well as the innocent. &amp;nbsp;Why would He do that?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Jesus, the Son of God, who was blameless in the sight of The Father and committed no evil was tortured and executed along side criminals. &amp;nbsp;Are we entitled to better treatment than Jesus? &amp;nbsp;No, we have not earned that entitlement – and never could. &amp;nbsp;But, through the gift of grace, not “fairness”, God has allowed us, sinful, self-centered and stubborn, to enter into fellowship with Him according to His divine timing. &amp;nbsp;And not just for some, but for all. And not for just awhile – but for eternity!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5982900960911408528-3234566912565555981?l=regrantings.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/feeds/3234566912565555981/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/god-is-not-fair.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/3234566912565555981'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/3234566912565555981'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/god-is-not-fair.html' title='God Is Not Fair'/><author><name>Reg McMicking</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/11964984263348413459</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982900960911408528.post-937873338050997035</id><published>2010-09-10T06:12:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-10T06:13:38.351-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Mission Of Mercy</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class="MsoNoSpacing"&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;Dr. Mark Buntain, or as some call him "St. Mark of Calcutta" and his wife Huldah were called to serve as missionaries in Calcutta, India. They arrived in Calcutta In October, 1954, expecting to only serve in India&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;for about a year, well God changed their plans and &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;turned the one year service into a fruitful ministry in India, now going on fifty years.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="MsoNoSpacing"&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="MsoNoSpacing"&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;Mark Buntain was born and raised in Canada. When he was called to go to Calcutta at first he did not wan to go, but denied himself and followed God's call on his life. Many people are thankful of Mark's unselfishness and self sacrifice. Mark really did lead a life of sacrifice forsaking this world's comforts and storing up treasures of heaven instead.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;The Buntains were called to serve in India due to their success in founding one of the world's most comprehensive Christian inner city outreaches, of which Mrs. Buntain remains the pastor and chairperson. When they arrived in Calcutta their ministry started out in a tent, which later grew into an enormous ministry center.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="MsoNoSpacing"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="MsoNoSpacing"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;They soon built a school to educate the people on God's love and to raise up Christian leaders in India. But Mark noticed many of his students to weak to study, so he started a feeding program feeding hundreds and eventually thousands of kids a day.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="MsoNoSpacing"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="MsoNoSpacing"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;The school turned into a one-bed hospital staffed by one nurse, and slowly grew into 16 beds. God had His hand on the work and Mark received a 99 year lease on an abandon cemetery in the middle of Calcutta. Funds were collected by Christians in Canada and the US for the building of a hospital. Mark, along with a Christian architect designed and built the "Mission of Mercy hospital".&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="MsoNoSpacing"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="MsoNoSpacing"&gt;&lt;span lang="EN-US" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"&gt;&lt;span class="apple-style-span"&gt;The hospital being fully paid for was opened in 1977 with a nursing school of its very own. Their motto over the door read "Jesus Heals". This 120-bed hospital gave medical care to many people, including the Buntain's friend, Mother Teresa.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="apple-converted-space"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5982900960911408528-937873338050997035?l=regrantings.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/feeds/937873338050997035/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/mission-of-mercy.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/937873338050997035'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/937873338050997035'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/mission-of-mercy.html' title='Mission Of Mercy'/><author><name>Reg McMicking</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/11964984263348413459</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982900960911408528.post-4121531262899165007</id><published>2010-09-07T20:17:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-07T20:17:18.689-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Let's Burn Their Holy Book - That'll Show Them!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;The threat by the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20015763-10391695.html" target="_self"&gt;Reverend Terry Jones&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt; and the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.doveworld.org/" target="_self"&gt;Dove World Outreach Center&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;,  a non-denominaton church in Florida, to burn the Qur'an as a protest  over what some Moslems did on 9/11 has spread around the world.&amp;nbsp;  Already, extremists supporters of Islam are threatening retaliation.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;Despite  the condemnation of Obama, the US Government and even the US Armed  Services, as well as most right thinking people, including Christians,  the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20015763-10391695.html" target="_self"&gt;Rev Terry Jones&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;  stated that his church still intends to follow through with burning the  Qur'an on the weekend.&amp;nbsp; But they will continue to pray about it.&amp;nbsp; Pray  to whom, I wonder?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;Could  it be that they would be praying to God the Father, the God of Abraham  whom Christians consider to be the one true God and which just happens  to be the only God worshiped by both Jews and Moslems?&amp;nbsp; Yes, both Islam  and Judaism are monotheistic Abrahamic religions, meaning they both  believe the one true God is the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob  regardless whether they call him Elohim or Allah.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;Maybe instead of burning the Qur'an, the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20015763-10391695.html" target="_self"&gt;Rev Terry Jones&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;  and his church flock should read it!&amp;nbsp; Even though the Qur'an is not  regarded as a Holy Book by Christians or Jews, it is so recognized by  over 1 billion people, the overwhelming majority of which are not  terrorists, don't support terrorists, and condemn their actions like  everyone else. &amp;nbsp; In fact, the Qur'an is one of the few religious books  that teaches tolerance of Christianity and Judaism, stating that both  are to be respected and have a place in society.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;It  is true that Islam does not recognize Jesus as being divine.&amp;nbsp; They also  do not accept the concept of a Triune God (Mohammed considered  Christians to be worshiping three different Gods - God Almighty, Jesus  and Mary).&amp;nbsp; Considering the activities of the universal (catholic)  Christian church around 600ad when he formed this opinion, it is  somewhat understandable.&amp;nbsp; Does this mean that because we do not believe  in what the Qur'an teaches, that we have the moral right to burn it?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;What  about the Torah?&amp;nbsp; It too teaches that Jesus is not deity and does not  recognize a triune God.&amp;nbsp; In fact, the Jewish Talmud states that Jesus  was not even a prophet.&amp;nbsp; Islam does.&amp;nbsp; Should we not be fair and burn the  Torah too?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;While  we're at it, let's burn the Book of Mormon and The Jehovah's Witness  New World Bible Translation.&amp;nbsp; And we should not forget about all the  anti-theistic and poly-theistic books either.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;Heretics all – let’s burn all their books!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;Of course there's one book we definitely have to burn - &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;the Bible&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;.&amp;nbsp;  After all, if there ever was a book that taught violence it is the Old  Testament!&amp;nbsp; Much of what the Qur'an and Torah teach about discipline and  punishment is also contained in the Old Testament.&amp;nbsp; It would only be  fair therefore to burn the Bible as well, would it not?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;Obviously, the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31727_162-20015763-10391695.html" target="_self"&gt;Rev Terry Jones&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;  does not represent Christianity.&amp;nbsp; Christians not only condemn what he  and his church are planning, but are offended and saddened by the fact  that it is being done under the guise of Christianity.&amp;nbsp; Once we all  learn that tolerance does not mean we have to offer acceptance, we will  all live in a better world.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size22 Georgia22" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,Times,serif;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5982900960911408528-4121531262899165007?l=regrantings.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/feeds/4121531262899165007/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/lets-burn-their-holy-book-thatll-show.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/4121531262899165007'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/4121531262899165007'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/lets-burn-their-holy-book-thatll-show.html' title='Let&apos;s Burn Their Holy Book - That&apos;ll Show Them!'/><author><name>Reg McMicking</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/11964984263348413459</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982900960911408528.post-6120918458703931792</id><published>2010-09-07T07:36:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-07T07:37:05.428-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Taking Responsibility</title><content type='html'>Heh, I'm on holidays for another week, so I cheated an posted an old comment from I don't remember when.&amp;nbsp; But it's still relevant.&amp;nbsp; Another recycled comment tomorrow.&lt;br /&gt;_________________________________________________&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: large;"&gt;&lt;b&gt;Taking Responsibility&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Too many people in this world blame others for their mistakes. Taking responsibility is the way to stop blaming others and start putting the blame where it belongs. Once you learn to take blame, you will see new horizons in your future. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Sadly, the law talks about society casting blame, but these people too are worse at casting blame than anyone else casts. We see this in the media, etc. Unfortunately, we have bad examples to follow in life, so you will need to learn to become your own best example. No one can guide you to improve your life better than you can. When a person takes blame they do not dwell on the mistake they made, rather look at the options to make things right. For instance, if you cause an accident while driving, you would take the blame and find a way to resolve the problem. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Once you learn to take reasonibility for your actions, you will see the road that leads you to success. Someone taking responsibility for their action is the master of their own mind and body. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In life, you will have risks. You will need to learn to take risks whether you like it or not. Sometimes you will take risks that cause you harm, or causes harm to other people. To avoid taking risks that cause harm, try using your critical thinking cap to discover consequences first. Be willing to take chances, as well as participating even if you feel it is stupid. Many people say, I am probably going to ask another stupid question. The fact is there are no stupid questions. The point being, don’t be afraid to ask questions when in doubt. In fact, when in doubt don’t do it. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;When you are willing to join in with others to make your life better, take responsibility for your actions, etc, you are improving your life. a person willing to improve their life is not sitting on the back burner. This person is taking the steps, playing the game of life and taking action to achieve his or her goals. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Are you a generalist? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do you take interest in all things around you? Do you keep an open mind when something good comes your way? Are you willing to learn? If you take action to acquire these skills you will successfully walk through life without running backwards taking responsibility for bad mistakes you made. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do you accept the unknown? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The unknown can become your best friend. When you learn to accept the unknown, it can help you improve your overall personal life. For instance, if you know English are you willing to learn French. Broaden your horizons and I promise you that you will improve your overall personal life.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do you acknowledge your limitations? &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We all have limits. We must set limits for our self each day. If you fail to set these limits, you will spend the rest of your life casting blame, since you will live in a chaotic world.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5982900960911408528-6120918458703931792?l=regrantings.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/feeds/6120918458703931792/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/taking-responsibility.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/6120918458703931792'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/6120918458703931792'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/taking-responsibility.html' title='Taking Responsibility'/><author><name>Reg McMicking</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/11964984263348413459</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982900960911408528.post-6644301944362843825</id><published>2010-09-04T07:18:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-04T07:18:48.805-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Encounter That Changed Her Life</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size14 Georgia14" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: normal;"&gt;&lt;i&gt;Mother Teresa Remembered&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;As the world remembered the late, soon-to-be-canonized Blessed Mother Teresa (1910-1997) on her 100th birthday yesterday, there is just one book she wanted published about her life's message. And she asked Fr. Joseph Langford -- her longtime trusted friend and co-founder of the Missionary of Charity Fathers -- to write it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;This is Mother Teresa's true story revealed for the first time, kept hidden for more than 60 years -- to help others live extraordinarily, like she did, through their own ordinary lives.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;Mother Teresa's Secret Fire: The Encounter That Changed Her Life, and How It Can Transform Your Own (Our Sunday Visitor -- by Fr. Joseph Langford, MC) contains the inspiration behind Mother Teresa's work.&amp;nbsp; Her lifelong desire to help others grew out of a mystical encounter with Christ in 1946.&amp;nbsp; On Sept. 10 that year, while riding a train from Calcutta to Darjeeling in the Himalayas, she experienced God in a vision, about which she hesitated to speak for almost 40 years -- until 1984 with Fr. Langford.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;"I waited in silence for an answer. She looked up and said, 'Yes, it is true.' Then after a pause, she added, 'And one day you must tell the others....'" says Fr. Langford about the mandate Mother Teresa gave him, some 24 years prior to publishing Secret Fire.&amp;nbsp; In this book, Fr. Langford details Mother Teresa's response to a direct petition from God -- as given her in the vision.&amp;nbsp; The fullness of her response to what He asked is what brought the world's attention to her.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;At 48, Mother Teresa stepped away from the security of her life as a middle school principal, and with only five rupees to her name, she immersed herself in the slums of Calcutta. Within her own lifetime, her Missionaries of Charity had spread her work of love to more than 120 countries, and touched millions of lives.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;"How we respond to what God asks will define our lives and our world," says Fr. Langford. "The choice is ours."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;To try and capture the essence of Mother Teresa from splash-stories in TIME Magazine or carefully edited TV documentaries can only provide a shallow view.&amp;nbsp; "Mother Teresa lived with her heart in the heavens and her hands buried in the worst this world can offer," says Fr. Langford.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;And then a few years ago, when world media attempted to portray Mother Teresa's last days as spent doubting the existence of God, Fr. Langford clarifies what really transpired.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;"Contrary to press reports, Mother Teresa did not suffer a crisis of faith ... but rather, a loss of feeling of faith. What had been her usual consolation in prayer abruptly ended," said Langford in a recent interview with Zenit News Service.&amp;nbsp; "Though she would not understand it until later, she was being asked to share the same inner darkness, the same trial of belief suffered by the poor and destitute -- and to endure it for their sake and for the love of her Lord."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;"Never did her lack of feeling become lack of faith," Fr. Langford emphasizes.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;And like the destitution that Christ must have felt, but which didn't keep Him from pressing forward with His mission, "Mother Teresa would encourage us all to do the same in our own Calcutta," says Langford.&amp;nbsp; "Instead of allowing our trials and pain to become a prison, we can, as she did, make our pain a bridge into the pain of others, a bond of solidarity, a catalyst for charity."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5982900960911408528-6644301944362843825?l=regrantings.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/feeds/6644301944362843825/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/encounter-that-changed-her-life.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/6644301944362843825'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/6644301944362843825'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/encounter-that-changed-her-life.html' title='Encounter That Changed Her Life'/><author><name>Reg McMicking</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/11964984263348413459</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982900960911408528.post-4909574660805421384</id><published>2010-09-04T07:17:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-04T07:17:45.310-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Finding The Perfect Job</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, adobe-helvetica, 'Arial Narrow'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"&gt;courtesy of Uncle Ba&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I was a reluctant participant in the world of employment. At 18 years of age I took my first job. I was to be a dog walker for the wealthy. When I ended up in the hospital after one day of walking Fefe, I came to two conclusions: First, never, never interrupt a dog during mating; Second, change careers immediately if I have any desire to father a child in the future.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;When I ended up in the hospital after one day of walking Fefe, I came to two conclusions: First, never, never interrupt a dog during mating; Second, change careers immediately if I have any desire to father a child in the future.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;This started a life-long pursuit for the perfect job.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I decided on a noble profession that would help save the planet. I became an assistant junior ranger with the National Park Service. It was early July and the grounds were packed with summer vacationers.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;Twenty-seven children from the ages of six to eleven enrolled for the "Observe the Earth" tour of the woods. The adventure was supposed to start at 8 am but I overslept and once up I had to have my java so we began at 1 pm sharp. Since I never read any of the required educational material about the great outdoors, I had to wing it.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I explained to the kiddos that the miracle of trees was that they helped us produce houses, and lots of paper for printers. I demonstrated to the eager learners that anyone could live off nature's bounty by carefully selecting eatable vegetation.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;The next day I discovered I had consumed poison oak.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;The junior campers and I walked for over three hours that first day. Some of the younger children were crying for their computers and tv's. Unfortunately, my followers quickly realized that I had absolutely no clue where we were going and they mutinied. They elected nine year old Timmy Roth as leader and within fifteen minutes we were back in camp.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I was later officially stripped of my brown shorts and hat and thrown out of the forest service.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I wanted to stay with the outdoor theme so I tried the Surveying business. Using the magnifying scope however, on the showering girls at "Camp Swampy", was strongly discouraged.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;Next I signed up as a farm hand. The farmer wanted me to wake up at 4 am. I quickly realized that this job would not fit into my lifestyle. Yet, I still clung to the romantic notion of working under the sun.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I became a roofer. It was great pay and excellent benefits. Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that sleeping on the job meant you would likely wake up in the rose bushes.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I came to my senses that this alfresco lifestyle needed to end. With very little ambition, but a strong desire not to starve to death, I turned my sights to an indoor profession.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I felt the need to give something back to the community so I became a Recreational Therapist in a nursing home. I bought a shinny new whistle and a muscle shirt and immediately choreographed a workout program.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I didn't know that the cha-cha-cha can cause heart attacks, strokes and broken hips when you are over ninety. Fearing I would snuff out the remaining residents, I was let go.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I enjoyed working with the infirmed so I enrolled in a chiropractic school. After just three weeks I was instructed to reset the spine of a volunteer.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;It seems that I might have over adjusted a little. The woman walks like she could tilt over at any moment. The school was sued for malpractice and I immediately hit the classified ads.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I was hired as an Air Traffic Controller which paid extremely well. Basically I stared at a computer screen and made sure that plane "A" didn't hit plane "B".&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;What no one bothered to tell me was that I needed to be relieved by another controller before I could go get a hotdog. I spent three days incarcerated for public endangerment.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;Shortly after being released, I answered an ad that nearly cost me my life. It read "Masseuse needed, exclusive celebrity resort, no experience necessary, will train right person". I had a vision of super models with barely covered bottoms.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;The training was very detailed. "Throw some oil on and rub it all around", instructed my six hundred year old guru.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;The first few days went well until Ms.Fanny and the other two rubbing technicians ran past me out the side door shouting instructions for me to take care of the client in room three.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I opened the door and saw the hairiest 400 pound man I had ever seen lying naked on the table.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I introduced myself and asked him to take off his thick wool sweater which he assured me was actually his hair. I threw a bucket of warm lubricant on him and began the session. I knew at that moment this profession was not for me.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;The next six months were very trying on me. I had to change jobs twenty-three times because of one silly little mistake or insignificant misunderstanding after another. The highlights are less than stellar but I will share them in the interest of helping you to hold onto your vision of the ideal job.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;I once took a position as a hazardous material removal worker in a biochemical plant. Things were peachy right up to the point when my supervisor heard me say the dreaded word "oops".&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;Short order cook had a promising future until the four-alarm blaze ended it.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;Pest control professional had bad consequences. I sprayed the toxic chemicals into the ventilation system of the infested building. One hundred and fifty residents lay on the front lawn of their apartment complex gasping for air.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;It was fun being a driving instructor but when a large oak tree permanently occupied the front seat, I didn't have enough room for passengers.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;After thirty-seven jobs in eighteen months I finally figured out my ideal career. It matched my requirements perfectly: it was indoors, it helped my fellow man, and it had coffee urns in many locations.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;Tomorrow I will start my dream job at the Los Angles Special Surgery Hospital as the operating room scheduler for outpatient day surgery. Isn't it great! What could possibly go wrong?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size10 Helvetica10" style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px; min-height: 16px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5982900960911408528-4909574660805421384?l=regrantings.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/feeds/4909574660805421384/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/finding-perfect-job.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/4909574660805421384'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/4909574660805421384'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/finding-perfect-job.html' title='Finding The Perfect Job'/><author><name>Reg McMicking</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/11964984263348413459</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982900960911408528.post-2307846257210620506</id><published>2010-09-04T07:16:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-04T07:16:39.959-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Taking The High Road</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"&gt;&lt;span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"&gt;At times of discouragement, I wonder if God should put limits on His divine mercy and love. It is not those who commit crimes that frighten me the most, but rather, it is when we place ourselves on the judgement seat outside the courtroom that make me tremble.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"&gt;For all our zeal to be good people and devout Christians, our understanding and practice of justice seems millions of miles removed from God's definition of that term.&amp;nbsp; Given the ease with which we pronounce judgements on one another in the ordinary events of life, this is not surprising. Yet, when harmony is shattered through crime, violence, betrayal, discrimination or exploitation there is nothing more fundamental to Biblical justice than an approach of healing and restoration, in and outside the courtroom. The notion of harsh punishment does not enter the mind of a generous and merciful God.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"&gt;As a society, we react strongly to violence and crime. Calls for "justice" are heard loud and clear. But what is "justice"? And for a Christian, what kind of "justice" are we called to embrace? God's justice is concerned with healing and reconciliation. Our justice is preoccupied with retribution, punishment and revenge. God's justice is Jesus quietly writing in the sand when others are busy accusing the adulterous woman. Our justice is arrogantly judging the ability of an offender to do good and live in mercy. God's justice is the father patiently waiting for his wayward son to come home. Our justice is denying our strayed brothers and sisters the dignity of belonging, respect and a new chance. God's justice is Jesus eating with sinners and outcasts. Our justice is walking away from anything and anyone who is "unclean," concerned as we are about getting contaminated. God's justice hangs dying on the cross, taking upon himself the sin of the world. Our justice is deafening ourselves to the cry of those who are victims of our greed and then pitying their inability to make a living for themselves. Given this state of affairs, how can we even call ourselves followers of Jesus?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"&gt;Simplistic solutions are not helpful, whether these are harsh or lenient. Christians need to opt for the "high" road of love, respect and mercy. This choice for love evokes tension, because our instinct wants to "lash out". A radical choice for mercy is difficult to square with our country's public justice system, intent on punishment. Jesus never promised that this "high" road of love would be easy. As a matter of fact, he was put to death for extending God's mercy to those who "deserved" only scorn.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"&gt;Thank God for a few brave souls.&amp;nbsp; I think of a young mother, whose teenage son got involved in crime, was on the run from police, and found himself homeless and penniless. Her heart broken in a million pieces, this woman fiercely clung to God's promise of mercy and healing. Mirroring the father waiting for his prodigal son, she said: "What choice do I have but to keep loving? When he comes to his senses, I will welcome him back in love."&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"&gt;Real love can be harsh and dreadful, tearing us to pieces and getting us crucified. Yet nothing else has the power to restore harmony, healing and true justice -- God's reign. Taking the "high" road of love, God will say: "Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy."&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span class="size11 Verdana11" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5982900960911408528-2307846257210620506?l=regrantings.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/feeds/2307846257210620506/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/taking-high-road.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/2307846257210620506'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/2307846257210620506'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/09/taking-high-road.html' title='Taking The High Road'/><author><name>Reg McMicking</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/11964984263348413459</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982900960911408528.post-1957881052294105127</id><published>2010-08-24T02:28:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-24T02:28:59.250-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Remembering My Friend Dave</title><content type='html'>I lost a dear friend this past week. &amp;nbsp;Dave checked into the hospital complaining about a headache and died within 6 days from a brain aneurism. &amp;nbsp;I didn’t even know he was ill and I will miss him deeply.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I first met Dave over 40 years ago in the late 60s. &amp;nbsp;He was an American, a conscientious objector to the Vietnam War who fled to Canada to avoid the Selective Service Draft. &amp;nbsp;Back then it was mandatory for all males between the ages of 18 and 21 to serve two years in the armed services. &amp;nbsp;Because of his conviction and because of the fact that almost every draftee ended up in Vietnam, &amp;nbsp;Dave refused to be drafted and was subject to arrest if he remained in the USA. &amp;nbsp;He was what we referred to in those days as a “draft dodger”.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I recall how difficult he said it was for him to leave his family, his friends, his homeland and be declared a criminal by the USA Justice Department. &amp;nbsp;He wasn’t alone. &amp;nbsp; Hundreds of like-minded young men came to Canada for the same reason.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Although Dave was eventually granted amnesty during the Reagan administration, he remained in Canada and became quite prominent in the media industry in Toronto. &amp;nbsp;He attended Ryerson University and obtained a degree in Media Studies and started working for a newspaper chain in Toronto. &amp;nbsp;Most recently he was a producer for a local television station.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Being a “draft dodger” wasn’t the only issue Dave had to deal with in his life. &amp;nbsp;He was also a homosexual. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dave always claimed that he didn’t choose to be “gay” and that his feelings were inherent from birth. &amp;nbsp;He had no choice, he said. &amp;nbsp;Over the years we had many discussions (even arguments) about his sexual orientation. &amp;nbsp;Dave was a well spoken and intelligent man. &amp;nbsp;He was a charmer and quite witty, often making fun about his homosexuality. &amp;nbsp;It was, he claimed, the best way for him to handle what he knew was an uncomfortable situation for others.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Although he was not a so-called “closet” gay person and openly revealed his orientation, Dave was not supportive of the gay rights movement. &amp;nbsp;He felt being homosexual was not something he should be proud of or ashamed of. &amp;nbsp;It simply existed. &amp;nbsp;He did not support many of the gay rights issues, was embarrassed by gay pride parades and opposed to “gay marriage”. &amp;nbsp; In fact, Dave felt gay activity was not proper. &amp;nbsp;As a consequence, Dave never had a partner to share his life with. &amp;nbsp;He adhered to celebracy his whole life. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What a difficult decision that must have been. &amp;nbsp;What a personal sacrifice to stand up for what you feel is right. &lt;br /&gt;No lifemate – but more friends than most people could ever hope to have. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In the early 80s Dave became a “born again” Christian and surrendered his life and his sexuality to his Lord. &amp;nbsp;It was the most powerful source of strength that enabled him to be both a homosexual and a Christian. &amp;nbsp;He never wavered from his believe that his sexual orientation was inherent and he never wavered from his walk with Jesus.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Dave, a former draft dodger, a homosexual – and one whom I was honoured to call my friend.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5982900960911408528-1957881052294105127?l=regrantings.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/feeds/1957881052294105127/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/08/remembering-my-friend-dave.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/1957881052294105127'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/1957881052294105127'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/08/remembering-my-friend-dave.html' title='Remembering My Friend Dave'/><author><name>Reg McMicking</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/11964984263348413459</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5982900960911408528.post-7712233559322075912</id><published>2010-08-18T20:41:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-18T20:48:09.376-07:00</updated><title type='text'>One Order Of Burgers and Fries, Hold The Statin, Please.</title><content type='html'>It was just a matter of time. &amp;nbsp;A bunch of people in the UK with various university degrees who call themselves scientists have finally come out and declared that "hamburgers &amp;amp; fries" sold at fast food outlets are actually bad for you. &amp;nbsp;So, they are petitioning the UK government to insist that vendors of these fast food places hand out the cholesterol reducting pill "statin" to every customer. &amp;nbsp;Who ever heard of statin? Don't they realize that with the burgers and fries you can add lettuce, tomotoes and onions? &amp;nbsp;How bad is that?&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;They say that the government has a responsibility to protect individuals who engage in risky behaviour like eating fast food, smoking and driving. &amp;nbsp;&lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;Driving ?&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt; &amp;nbsp;Well I suppose if you live in the Uk where everybody drives on "the wrong side of the road" it could be a little risky. And, I would hardly put fast food in the same class as smoking. &amp;nbsp;Smoking stinks. &amp;nbsp;A well cooked burger (even with 54% fat) has a heavenly aroma. &amp;nbsp;Smoking gives you lung cancer. &amp;nbsp;I haven't heard of anybody contracting lung cancer from McDonalds.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What are they going to do if customers of these fast food outlets refuse to accept this pill? &amp;nbsp;I guess they could place a few in one of those bins where all the other condiments are like vinegar, pepper, salt and ketchup. &amp;nbsp;Then people can help themselves to one, or two, or three &lt;i&gt;or a hundred&lt;/i&gt;.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;This kind of action by these so called scientists is pervasive. &amp;nbsp;It would be just a matter of time until it spreads to other fast food vendors. &amp;nbsp;Anyone looking forward to Statin Dunked Donuts or Pepperoni and Statin Pizza? &amp;nbsp;And it won't stop there. &amp;nbsp;Supermarkets would be next on the "attack list" of these people. &amp;nbsp;Beloved foods we all enjoy will change. &amp;nbsp;You'll see. &amp;nbsp;One day you'll be in the bakery section and pick up a pack of statin enriched "&lt;i&gt;twinkies&lt;/i&gt;". &amp;nbsp;In the snack area you'll be exposed to Statin Ripple chips and statin flavoured cola. &amp;nbsp;Nobody is going to get me to buy Statin-Ripple Ice Cream! &amp;nbsp;And, I don't even want to think about the meat section. &amp;nbsp;Statin fortified hot dogs! &amp;nbsp;They better leave my hot dogs alone, besides the way I cook them they couldn't get more fortified!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Do these scientists not realize that they are going to force people to eat "&lt;i&gt;healthy foods&lt;/i&gt;"? &amp;nbsp;If that happens, we're all in big trouble. &amp;nbsp;I can see the day when there is a world wide shortage - &lt;i&gt;of broccoli&lt;/i&gt;.&amp;nbsp;An underground black market will emerge selling salt for $50 an ounce. &amp;nbsp;The Cabbage Patch Doll will make a comeback - that'll scare them. &amp;nbsp;Where is Carrot Head these days anyway? &amp;nbsp;One country trying to invade another to access their Rapini crop. &amp;nbsp;Is that what these people want - &lt;i&gt;WORLD WAR&lt;/i&gt;!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Alright, I know I've exagerrated a little - just a bit. &amp;nbsp;But when someone attacks something dear to my heart I tend to get a little defensive. &amp;nbsp;I'm calming down now. &amp;nbsp;It's lunch time - I'm off to KFC.&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/5982900960911408528-7712233559322075912?l=regrantings.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/feeds/7712233559322075912/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/08/one-order-of-burgers-and-fries-hold.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/7712233559322075912'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5982900960911408528/posts/default/7712233559322075912'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://regrantings.blogspot.com/2010/08/one-order-of-burgers-and-fries-hold.html' title='One Order Of Burgers and Fries, Hold The Statin, Please.'/><author><name>Reg McMicking</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/11964984263348413459</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
