Free-for-All Friday

Saying No + 

A whole week of spring-like weather! May showers are replacing April showers, & Lord knows we need the moisture. After mowing my lawn for the first time last weekend, I was surprised at how dry it was. The lawn has been greening nicely since then, & more rain will mean another mowing this weekend . . . which could cut into my 2nd planned fishing expedition of the spring.

Thought for Today

SAYING NO

“Keep your heart with all vigilance.” Prov. 4:23

“As we go through life, saying no can be very difficult . . . We must agree to live as the creatures (not gods) that we are. Being able to say yes to others is the foundation of relationships. But being able sometimes to say no can be a source of health as we interact with others.” At the Crossroads: Devotions for Lent, by David Kehret, Creative Communications for the Parish, 2016.

Wit & Wisdom of Cal Thomas *

From Omaha World Herald More Commentary (12/1/17):  "Bring virtue back into style . . . Who decided traditional virtues were no longer viable & should not be taught to schoolchildren? Was a study conducted that found young people were being damaged from learning how to live & respect one another? Were they expected to catch these virtues on their own w/o guidance from elders? If so, why do we teach table manners, not interrupting when someone else is talking, sharing & many other things to counter what our lower nature doesn't teach us . . . In the train wreck of our present culture, we are witnessing the failure over the last 50 years to instruct & discipline our children in ways that as adults they are more likely to embrace the values that an lead to a virtuous life. Why did we expect any other outcome after mostly abandoning these virtues? If you penalize & discourage virtuous things, you will get less virtue; conversely, if you subsidize & encourage virtue, you will get more of it."

* Along w/Jonah Goldberg, one of my 2 most favorite pundits

L.O.L. Educator *

*Loony Old Lutheran

From OWH (2/16):  "Some stress in a child's life is good in that it allows a child to learn to deal with adversity in a socially acceptable manner. But when that stress is prolonged over a long period, w/o supportive relationships to help calm a child, toxic stress results."  COMMENT:  School shootings have resulted in a plethora of strident calls for gun control, as if guns are the root cause of these horrific tragedies. Perhaps a better place to look is the absence of traditional families teaching traditional morals to their children, & a lack of church influence in the lives of our families & especially our children.

More Free-for-All

Taglines from Drudge Report (5/3) *

* I didn't bother reading the articles

• "Kim Karedashien Teaming Up with Jaed Kusher for Prison Reform?
• 9th CIRCUIT:  Homeless man can sue L.A.--over 18 euthanized pigeons
• Plants 'talk' to each other, inspire neighbors to grow

From NDN (5/3) . "Radio show host. Art Bell, a radio host best known for a paranormal-themed nightly show syndicated on . hundreds of stations in the 1990s, has died at his home in southern Nevada, authorities said. He was 72." COMMENT:  My son was a big fan & faithful listener while we lived in Hawaii, 1993-1997.