POLITICAL ACTIVIST

Posted on March 13, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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It was another time, another place, but much like our world today.  Rome had invaded Judaea and Jerusalem was now nearly unrecognizable.  Some of the change was good.  There were new roads, grand buildings, protection from a mighty army.  Being the temple city of Jerusalem, it also became a huge center for trade, export and prosperity that had never been seen before.  On the other hand, it meant continued domination for the Jews.

They could continue to worship the way they had, but had to be obedient to the Roman Empire.  Political tensions were rising.  Some of the people were satisfied with their new found wealth and success while others were sick of being held captive by this ever growing empire.  It meant paying heavy taxes, the influx of new religions, following rules that were new to them.  Many of the citizens lived in poverty while others basked in wealth.

Usually when there’s political unrest, it isn’t uncommon for one faction of the population to rebel.  Barabbas was one of those involved in the insurrection during the time of Jesus.  He was more than just a political activist – a trouble maker- a rabble rouser.  His crimes included murder and this is why he was imprisoned.  There’s no way of knowing what his reaction to this event was, but we can speculate that he was relieved to have his life spared.

It was the custom to release a prisoner during Passover and Barabbas was the one the people cried out for.  A convicted murderer would be released and replaced by the sinless Son of God and Savior of the world.  Barabbas deserved his punishment.  His life was filled with darkness.  In today’s world he might be considered a psychopath.  His behavior warranted death.  Still the crowd demand his freedom.

I wonder what went through this man’s mind as he was pardoned that day.  Did he have any concern for the one who died in his place?  Did he come to realize what had been done for him?  How do we react to the smitten Savior who took our place on the cross?

Jesus’ life would soon be demanded by the people.  They may not have known it, but they were in fact offering the final sacrifice to God – the Lamb without blemish that would make full atonement for the sins of all people – including Barabbas.

We have no record of the rest of his life of Barabbas.  Maybe he continued in his dastardly deeds.  Maybe he became a follower of the risen Savior.  Maybe he was just a minor character in the story of God’s amazing love, and maybe it’s all we need to know about him.

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WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Posted on March 12, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

Charles C_ Boycott

Ever wonder where the term “boycott” came from?  I guess I just assumed it was a word that came out of protesting or some kind of free speech thing.  Well, I found out today, where the word came from.  It happens to be the name of an Englishman who, after serving in the military, moved to Ireland and became a landowner there.  Being an Englishman in Ireland wasn’t easy and I’ll get to that later, but today, I also wish to honor another man whose birthday is today.

My son-in-law, Tom, is of Irish descent.  The fact that he was born so close to St. Patrick’s Day, might make him a saint, but I wouldn’t go that far.  He’s a wonderful addition to our family.  He and our daughter have been married for sixteen years and have given us a lovely granddaughter who we cherish.  Tom is a hard worker, with a really smart mind.  He’s inventive, creative and funny.  He makes me laugh every time I’m with him.  He is a blessing to our family and we love him as a son.

Now how’s that for a segue into my biography for today?   The Englishman, Charles Cunningham Boycott, born on this day in in 1832 to Reverend William Boycott and his wife Georgiana.  He grew up in the family home at Norfolk, England.  The family residence had been occupied for almost 150 years.  Charles was educated in Blackheath, London and became interested in the military.  He entered the Royal Military Academy in 1848.

His regiment transferred to Belfast and six months later he would be marching to Dublin.  In 1852 he married Anne Dunne. He became ill between August 1851 and February 1852, so he sold his commission the following year, deciding to stay in Ireland.  He became a landlord on a small scale.  After retiring from the army he became an agent for John Crichton, 3rd Earl of Erne, who owned 40,386 acres in Ireland, 2,184 of them in County Mayo.  Boycott was offered his agency along with the lease on a farm, a house, stables, a ruined castle, two islands, a boathouse and sporting rights.  Boycott’s job was to farm the land and collect the rent from 35 tenant farmers who lived there.

In 1879, there was an economic disaster causing a crisis in the farming community and famine added to the downturn. The Irish peasants made demands for reduced rents with the help of the Irish Land League.  They came to Charles Boycott, demanding a 25% reduction in rent. Boycott refused, but he didn’t expect this decision would lead to his ruin. The peasants refused to work the land and would have nothing to do with Boycott.  He was shunned in church and community.  They wouldn’t work for him and thus his crop was ruined.  Eventually he had to leave the island in disgrace.  His name became synonymous with ostracizing someone in order to bring about change.

He and his family was escorted out of town, but no one wanted to drive him to the railway station.  They were finally driven away in an ambulance.  The family took a short voyage to the United States where he created quite a stir.  The New York Tribune said that,  “The arrival of Captain Boycott, who has involuntarily added a new word to the language, is an event of something like international interest.”

In 1886, Boycott became a land agent for Hugh Adair’s Flixton estate in Suffolk, England. According to Joyce Marlow, he left Ireland without bitterness.  He died at his home at the age of 65.

It must be tough to have a name that stirs everyone up so much.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO CHARLES BOYCOTT AND MY SON IN LAW, TOM!

 

 

 

 

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THE SCOURGE

Posted on March 12, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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ORIGINALLY POSTED ON MARCH 12, 2016 – REPOSTED TODAY TO REMIND US OF WHAT OUR SAVIOR SUFFERED FOR US.

39 lashes was the limit.  More than that would have undoubtedly caused death.  The object of lashing was to inflict severe pain and humiliation.  It was part of the ritual of crucifixion – a means to cause the criminal harm and set him up for the mockery from an angry crowd that would follow him to the cross outside the city.  In Jesus’ case, He was beaten to a bloody mass of flesh – well beyond 39 lashes.

The Roman scourge was a short whip consisting of several individual leather thongs, filled with small iron balls and shards of glass or bone.  The iron balls would cause deep bruising and the glass and bone would cut the skin and underlying tissue.  As the beating continued, the flesh weakened and the scourge cut through muscle tissue and resulted in extreme pain and blood loss.

Jesus endured the beatings.  It was Pilate’s way of dealing with this man and the crowd of angry Jews.  It was also God’s fulfillment of the prophesy of old.

Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Scourging could lead to considerable blood loss as well as a drop in blood pressure, pre-shock condition and possible organ failure. After the beating, the condemned would be thrown to the ground where the body would endure even more pain and contamination.  The open wounds would become infected and infested with flies and other insects.  To add to this, there was the dreadful walk to Calvary, carrying the instrument of His execution upon His back.  When finally to the mount, His hands and feet would be pierced and fastened to the cross, exposing Him to even more pain.

He did this willingly, like a lamb led to the slaughter – an innocent, unblemished lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world.  By His wounds we are healed.

We need to hear this story often, to know the price paid for our salvation.  This would end the sacrificial offerings necessary to wash away sins.  It was the final sacrifice.  Our sins were forgiven on that dreadful day, by God Himself.

 
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DAYLIGHT SAVINGS FUNNIES

Posted on March 12, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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I gave up drinking coffee a number of years ago, so the caffeine isn’t an issue anymore.  I don’t like having an hour taken away from my day or added to it.  It seems silly and unnecessary.  Maybe someday, someone in Washington will change things back to the way God intended them to be, but I’ll be in heaven then and it won’t matter.

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A ONE AND A TWO AND A …

Posted on March 11, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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“We cater to the people who want a melody as it was originally written. Our audiences want songs that tell a story. We don’t want any song with questionable moral standards.”  LAWRENCE WELK

It was the beginning of the 50s and big bands were still around, but they were quickly being replaced with rock and roll groups and big names like Elvis Presley and Fats Domino.  Still there was room for one more big band.  The champagne music promised was melded into a bubbly display, turned on by a bubble making machine.  He introduced many new entertainers.  He spoke with a funny German accent. He played an accordion, which was so yesterday at that time.  He played to an older group of adults and competed for the spotlight with American Bandstand – which was growing by leaps and bounds.

Lawrence Welk was born on this day in 1903 in the German speaking community of Strasburg, ND.  He was the sixth child out of eight.  They lived on a homestead, which is now a tourist attraction.  He left fourth grade to work full time on the family farm.  He decided early on that he wanted to make a career out of music and persuaded his father to buy an accordion for him. He promised to work the farm until he was twenty one to pay for it.  In the 1920s he performed in many local bands and eventually started his own.  In the 30s his band became popular for playing “sweet” music.  The emphasis was placed on the melody of the music rather than jazzing it like other orchestras did.

The Lawrence Welk Show first appeared on television in 1951.  The show became a local hit and was picked up by ABC in June of 1955.   Jayne Walton Rosen became Welk’s first champagne lady.  When ever a waltz or polka would be played, Welk would dance with the champagne lady.Lawrence was married for 61 years until his death to Fern Renner.  They had three children and many grandchildren.  He was known as a good businessman, investing in real estate and music publishing.

When he said, “turn on the bubble machine,” everyone knew that the mellow music he was famous for would soon fill the air waves.  One of his favorite phrases was, “Wunnerful, wunnerful,” which he would bestow on each of his performing artists.

As with most people in the public eye, tragedy has a way of moving in.  We like to think that someone like Welk didn’t have that problem, because of the wholesomeness of his show, but in 1964 a man named Chet Young began stalking the popular Lennon sisters.  He was especially smitten with Peggy and believed he could marry her if he killed her father.  He shot and killed William Lennon in a golf course parking lot in 1969.

Even in the midst of tragedy, the band played on.  Welk was a man of many talents.  He had a tremendous work ethic, was a talented musician, had strong moral fiber and was dedicated to presenting music as it should be.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAWRENCE!

 

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EMBRACED BY GOD

Posted on March 11, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©

Were you there when He placed the land and divided the waters,

Did you witness the partition of night and day,

Were your eyes open as each living cell was formed into a thing of beauty,

Did you smell the smoke as it sprang from the mountains at His touch,

He was there,

He made it happen,

He alone,

No big bang or explosion,

Just His Word,

He spoke, and it was,

His Word is sufficient,

Who can claim such glory,

Who can design such beauty from nothing,

Who can take a tiny seed and grow it into towering tree,

Who can fill the earth with life,

Who can take it all away,

Who can mold a hunk of earth into an intricately designed life,

Only God.

 

 

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I WOULD NEVER DENY HIM

Posted on March 11, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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The dark shadows of night filled the courtyard.  Many were gathered in the stillness.  Word was out that Jesus had been arrested and was standing trial before the high priest. Those who remained, couldn’t help wondering how this could be.  Only a few days ago the city was on fire with His entrance.  His preaching was powerful and at the same time filled with hope and love.  It was different from the words they had become accustomed to.

For years the Jews had been under the oppression of other ruling governments, but here in Jerusalem they were at least allowed to worship the way they chose.  They longed for the day when they’d obtain complete freedom, but in the meantime they waited.

The old rules regarding women were slowing being dissolved by Him.  There was no discrimination.  He spoke to the people as He did to the scholars in the temple. He gave hope of freedom from their enemies as well as victory over death.  His message made them feel safe and relevant.

His most zealous disciple stood by the fire, warming himself.  A servant girl recognized him as one of Jesus’s men.  In the past, a woman would never have been so bold as to address a man, but Jesus changed that.  Three times she asked Peter if he was one of Jesus’ followers.  Three times he denied ever knowing him.

How could he?  He was like a brother to Jesus.  Now his brother was being silenced by the authorities and Peter wouldn’t even acknowledge Him.  As night turned into morning  and the events of the day that followed began to unfold, it became evident that we all deny our Savior at times – even the staunchest of us have been weakened by fear.

The sun began to rise and suddenly everyone knew that nothing would ever be the same again.

 

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DAYLIGHT SAVINGS FUNNIES

Posted on March 11, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

ONE MORE FOR JULIE

Posted on March 10, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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ALL THE KING’S MEN

Posted on March 10, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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Well, maybe not all the king’s men, but one of them at least.  One of my favorite times in history is the Renaissance period.  Stories of Kings and Queens and castles have always piqued my interest.  As a little girl, I loved watching the swashbuckling hero duel against the villain, with swords slashing and clanking.  Lovely maidens, dressed to the nines, would lure said royals into compromising situations and stories of intrigue and mystery reigned.  I particularly enjoy the reign of the Tudors and all the stories that came out of it.

As I go through these daily biographies – which I intended to do just as a diversion and to try and add a little more knowledge to my old brain – I see humanity at its best and worst.  It seems to me that nothing much has changed in history, except the clothing, the politics and the hairstyles.  People have really only evolved to adapt to their environments.  The spirit of man has pretty much stayed the same over the centuries.  There will always be evil, until the day of the Lord’s return and we should be used to it by now.

Today I focus on a man who was born into royalty.  Thomas Howard, the Third Duke of York was born on this day in 1473.  He lived during the time of great explorers and discoveries – a contemporary of men like Christopher Columbus and Michelangelo.  His long life of 81 years ended in 1554.  He was filled with great challenges as he lived with kings and served them well.  He witnessed the executions of two nieces – Anne Bolyen and Catherine Howard – wives of Henry VIII.  He also played a major part in the ending of both those marriages.

He came from a long line of politicians, so it was fitting that he continue in that line  In 1484 he was betrothed to Princess Anne of York, but the marriage didn’t occur until 1495.  In the winter of 1513, Anne died of consumption.  Howard didn’t waste any time in getting married that same year to Lady Elizabeth Stafford.  The marriage carried much darkness and stories of infidelity.  Howard took a mistress and Elizabeth moved out, but never filed for divorce.  She claimed that her husband was physically abusive to her.

Howard’s goal was to take over the position of Chief Minister from then Thomas Cromwell.  Cromwell had great influence in helping Henry VIII get an annulment for his first marriage.

When Cromwell faced execution for not providing a suitable wife for King Henry, Howard thought he would fill the position, but King Henry had other ideas.  In fact Howard fell out of favor with the king. Cromwell was replaced by The Earl of Hertford, Edward Seymour. As the king’s health was rapidly failing, it became Hertford’s object to remove his rivals out of the way, and in 1546 Howard’s son, Henry, Earl of Surrey was accused of high treason.  Howard would also be imprisoned for several years because of this.  His time in the Tower of London lasted through the reign of Henry’s replacement, Edward VI and he was finally pardoned for his crimes by Queen Mary.

Recently a mini-series on the Tudors ran on public television.  In that rendition, we saw a King who got what he wanted at any expense – an egotistical man who gave into the sensual side of life.  Wealth doesn’t always bring happiness.  We all die in the end, but for those who put their faith in God and His abounding love, we are promised eternal life.

 

 

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TOUCHED BY THE SON OF GOD

Posted on March 10, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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A little over a year ago, a friend of ours passed away.  We got a chance to get reacquainted for a short time before he died.  We had known this man from the first church we attended when we moved to this state.  In one of our conversations, he posed an interesting question.  He asked, if we had the opportunity to be anyone in the Bible, who would it be?

Of course the important names came to mind, like Esther, Sarah, Eve, Mary.  After thinking about it more seriously though, I thought of the woman who followed Jesus and knew what He was capable of.  This woman had been ill for twelve years.  She was daily hemorrhaging and her reputation and finances were dwindling.  This malady she suffered from was unknown to the doctors of her day.  It also deemed her unclean in the eyes of her friends and family – not to mention the elders of the church.  Her self image was taking a hit and she’d almost lost hope of ever overcoming her sickness.

Many suffer similar long term conditions today and suffer through financial difficulties because of them.  When we’re sick, we want answers – we want to know what’s in store for us – we grow impatient – we give up.  This woman hung onto hope.

She’d witnessed for herself, the great miracles of Jesus.  She knew He was like no other human being.  There was something amazing about Him.  As he paraded through the streets, he was surrounded by crowds of people longing to be healed by Him.  She could barely move, much less come to a standing position.  She was at her wit’s end and yet she knew if she could just get a glimpse of Him, or simply walk in His footsteps, there was a glimmer of optimism.The crowds began to overcome, but the woman persisted.  She crawled on her hands and knees below the mob of people and nudged her way to His sandaled feet.  For one brief moment she touched the hem of His robe and immediately her bleeding stopped.

Jesus knew who touched Hi, but still He asked who it was.  How frightened she must’ve been.  She’d snatched a miracle simply through the hem of His clothing.  Still there was something comforting in His voice and she came forward to confess that she was the one.

This woman was bold in her faith.  She knew that Jesus could heal her not only from her illness, but from the shame she suffered because of it.  She believed that He was her Savior.

Jesus said,  “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

My friend confided that his choice would be the thief on the cross next to Jesus, who received the promise of salvation just by believing in His Savior.  I had to admit that the woman who touched Jesus’ clothing was my choice.  We are all like her in that even though our sins have been forgiven, we need Jesus in our lives every day, minute, second.  It is His touch what saves us and that is the miracle of eternal life.  The sting of death will no longer bring fear to our hearts.  We can be confident that we will live forever, because of what He has already done.  He touches each of us.  Are we willing to grab His inviting hand?

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DAYLIGHT SAVINGS FUNNIES

Posted on March 10, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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FIRST HUMAN IN OUTER SPACE

Posted on March 9, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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Yuri Gagarin, the first man to venture into outer space in 1961, was born a few years before I was. On this day in 1934, near the town of Gzhatsk, Russia, a so-called peasant couple brought their third of four children into the world. The family was part of a collective farming community.  They, along with many other Russians, suffered much hardship from World War II.  When his town was occupied by the Germans, their home was taken over by a Nazi officer and the family had to build a mud hut about 10′ x 10′ behind their original home.  His father was a carpenter and mother, a milkmaid.

Yuri became an apprentice in a foundry at the age of sixteen.  After graduating 7th grade and vocational school with honors, he learned to fly as an air cadet.  He was drafted by the Soviet Air Forces.  By 1959 he had achieved the rank of Senior Lieutenant.

In 1960, I was graduating from high school.  Our country was in the beginning of the “Camelot” years, with the election of President Kennedy.    The space program was part of those years and the race to get a man into space was fierce between the United States and the Soviet Union.  Yuri was being evaluated as a candidate for the Soviet space program a doctor said this about his personality:

Modest; embarrasses when his humor gets a little too racy; high degree of intellectual development evident in Yuri; fantastic memory; distinguishes himself from his colleagues by his sharp and far-ranging sense of attention to his surroundings; a well-developed imagination; quick reactions; persevering, prepares himself painstakingly for his activities and training exercises, handles celestial mechanics and mathematical formulae with ease as well as excels in higher mathematics; does not feel constrained when he has to defend his point of view if he considers himself right; appears that he understands life better than a lot of his friends

Those were the qualifications they were looking for.  As I was entering my first year of college, Yuri was going through intensive training to be a cosmonaut.  He was chosen out of twenty men to become the first man in space.  No human being had ever done this.  It was monumental.  There was no way to know what to expect when he was launched into space.  It was the first time ever.

His successful mission, in April of 1961, would put the U.S. into overdrive to compete for further space exploration.  He became a national as well as international celebrity.

On 27 March 1968, while on a routine training flight from Chkalovsky Air Base, he and flight instructor, Vladimir Seryogin died in a plane crash near the town of Kirzhach.  It is believed that the crash was accidental, but many conspiracy theories pushed their way into the public opinion, much like they continue to do so today.

This man was responsible for setting the bar for space exploration.  It was the new frontier and there is still so much to discover.  It is fitting that we honor those brave enough to put their lives on the line for the advancement of exploration of any kind.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, YURI!

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JULIE’S FRIDAY FUNNIES

Posted on March 9, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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I SURRENDER FUNNIES

Posted on March 9, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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BURDENS CARRIED

Posted on March 9, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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Jesus’ beaten and wounded body was exhausted from continuous beatings.  His flesh was a mass of blood and torn flesh, along with the spit spewing from His accusers mouths. His trek along the via dolorosa included carrying the instrument of His death. He’d gone through hours of interrogation, false accusation and bitter pain.  The weight of the cross must’ve been almost more than He could bear.

The Roman guards were anxious to get this over with, so they pulled a man from the crowd to carry the cross.  His name was Simon of Cyrene, Lybia.  Many Jews from Cyrene  were part of a community in Jerusalem called the Synagogue of the Freedmen.  Either he was a permanent resident or he had made the journey to attend the Passover Feast.  This man was ordered to carry the cross – to speed things up – to get it over with.

Did Simon do so willingly?  Did he realize who Jesus was? Could he recognize Him as the promised Messiah or was this just another religious fanatic?  Whatever was going through Simon’s mind, he carried the cross to the place of Jesus’ death.

Mark 16:24-26  “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?”

As we travel to Golgotha with Jesus, it becomes apparent that being a follower of Christ isn’t going to be an easy road.  There will be stumbling blocks along the way, but to live for Jesus will always mean gain for us.  Our eternal life depends on it.

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PAPER OR PLASTIC OR …

Posted on March 8, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

 

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“I’ve had so much plastic surgery, when I die they will donate my body to Tupperware.”  Joan Rivers.

As I was talking to a friend the other day about how we’re aging,  she asked if I had ever looked in a hand mirror while bending down.  It seems when you do that, gravity has a way of redesigning your face.  My friend makes me laugh, but seriously folks, this is the kind of thing old people talk about.   Some of us become wrinkled before our time.  I started seeing lines appear on my face when I was in my early thirties.  Soon those lines turned into crevices and eventually deep cracks that made me look like a road map. Some folks are born with good looks and something happens in their lives to rearrange a nose or cause a scar.  We like to look good, especially us women.

Today, plastic surgery is the norm.  If you don’t like your nose, you can have it remade.  If you want fuller lips, there’s Botox.  If you aren’t satisfied with your shape, you can have the fat sucked out or moved to a different location.  You can even be re-sculpted. Girls in their teens are now undergoing plastic surgery for noses, lips and body enhancement.  It used to be braces that devoured the family budget.  So who do we have to thank for all this?

On this day in 1787, Karl Ferdinand von Graefe was born in Warsaw, Poland.  He studied medicine at Halle and Leipzig, Germany and served as a surgeon in the Napoleonic Wars and soon became superintendent of military hospitals.  He became a pioneer in the field of reconstructive surgery and developed a surgery for restoration of the nose, called rhinoplasty.  Using techniques from Italian methods along with older methods from India, he created his own technique.  He also pioneered in the areas of cleft palate and eyelid repair.

Not much is know about his childhood, but his own children went on to follow in his footsteps.  His son, Albrecht, who devoted his life to ophthalmology and in particular the removal of cataracts.  His grandson also gain popularity as a politician.  He died at the age of 53.  I wonder if he ever experimented on himself.

I’m still living with my wrinkles.  I will also die with them.  I don’t have any disposable income to change my lot in life, so I’ve grown to accept my wrinkles as a badge of courage and determination.  Each line has a story to tell.  In the meantime, Happy Birthday to Karl, who started the whole plastic surgery revolution!

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I GIVE UP – WINTER FUNNIES

Posted on March 8, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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COMPASSIONATE SAVIOR

Posted on March 8, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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It was like most nights in the arid Garden of Gethsemane – one of Jesus’ favorite spots to go for refuge from the crowds.  This was not to be like any other night however.  Earlier that evening, Jesus spent time with His disciples celebrating the Passover Feast.  During that time, He gave them His final encouragement.  He told them to not be troubled by the events that were to follow, for they were all part of God’s plan for salvation.  Certainly, they must’ve had a million questions for Him.  None of it made any sense.

After dinner they went to the Garden, while Judas met with the temple leaders to receive the payment promised for betraying the Messiah.  Jesus prayed persistently that His Father find another way to accomplish His will, yet He knew it was the only way.  Jesus was now committed to God’s plan, still He prayed to the point of sweating droplets of blood.

A vigilante mob entered that place of solitude on a mission that only mob violence could accomplish.  Peter, the one who would do anything for Jesus, rose to the occasion by drawing his sword.  It was the only way he knew to defend the man who had consumed his life for the past three years.  We often see this kind of action today.  Instead of responding peacefully, we retaliate with violence.

In an instant, Peter attacked the servant of the high priest, Caiphas, named Malchus, and severed his ear. Good old Peter – always the impulsive one.  Jesus miraculously restored the servant’s ear as an act of compassion.  He scolded Peter for his impetuous behavior.  Again, Jesus used every situation to teach.

I can’t help wondering how Malchus felt during that entire ordeal.  To have an ear lopped off and then replaced in an instant was a miracle. In the process, his hearing was undoubtedly better than before.

What was going through the mind of Malchus?  First he’s fiercely attacked for doing his job and then he becomes witness to an absolute miracle.  How did this incident affect him?  Did he become a follower of Jesus?  Did he live in fear that he’d someday encounter this band of rabble rousers again?  Did he go back and serve Caiaphas?  How would you feel?

To be healed by the Son of God is something that we all have available to us.  He may not be physically present to touch us and remove our infirmities, but He is present nonetheless.  All we need to do is pray that His will be done.  I’m not saying that we’ll immediately be restored, but God is able to do so if we ask.  Miracles still happen on a daily basis.  Sometimes we have to look closely to see them, but God provides these little clues to His amazing power, for us to grow in faith and learn to rely on Him.

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PEACE

Posted on March 8, 2018 by atimetoshare.me

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Where is the quiet place that you are longing for?

Is it in those empty times when waiting to do more?

Can you find contentment in the solitude of living?

Or does is come in simpler ways, like doing and forgiving.

 

God comes to us in many ways and most times when it’s silent,

But listen hard and you will hear His voice in every moment.

He whispers when we’re troubled, he soothes when we’re in pain,

You’ll see Him in creation, his voice is clear and plain.

 

He’s in the heat  of summer and when the leaves do fall,

And in the cold of winter, you’ll hear His personal call.

When spring’s refreshing waters wash everything in sight,

You’ll hear His voice assure you of His overpowering might.

 

Within the busy moments of life’s demanding pressures

He opens up His altar and He shares His greatest treasures.

Each moment He’s available to answer every prayer,

Just open up your heart to Him and He will be right there.

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