Sunday Reflection - Lighthouse on the Hillside Poem

Lighthouse on the Hillside Poem

HERE IS A LIGHT HOUSE ON THE HILLSIDE

THAT OVER LOOKS LIFE'S SEA

AND WHEN MY SOUL IS TOSSED,

IT SENDS OUT A LIGHT, SO THAT I MIGHT SEE

AND THE LIGHT THAT SHINES IN DARKNESS

NOW SAFELY LEADS ME HOME

AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THE LIGHTHOUSE

THIS SHIP WOULD BE NO MORE.

EVERYBODY THAT LIVES AROUND US

SAYS TEAR THAT LIGHT HOUSE DOWN

CAUSE THE BIG SHIPS DON'T PASS THIS WAY ANYMORE

THERE'S NO USE OF IT HANGING ROUND.

BUT MY MIND GOES BACK TO ONE STORMY NIGHT

WHEN JUST IN TIME, I SAW THE LIGHT

IT WAS THE LIGHT FROM THAT OLD LIGHTHOUSE

THERE UP ON THE HILL.

I THANK GOD FOR THE LIGHT HOUSE

I OWE MY LIFE TO HIM

FOR JESUS IS THE LIGHTHOUSE

AND FROM THE ROCKS OF SIN

HE HAS SHOWN A LIGHT AROUND ME

SO THAT I MIGHT CLEARLY SEE

AND IF IT WASN'T FOR THAT LIGHTHOUSE

WHERE WOULD THIS SHIP BE.

Poem by the Hinsons

If It Is Thursday It's Going Green - Junk Mail

Remember the 4 R’s: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair

Reduce: Try to reduce the amount of paperwork that you generate. If you have access to a computer consider changing to paperless finances. Every electronic transaction that you make – direct deposit, automatic bill paying, and online portfolio management – is a paper saver.

- Credit card companies and banks often sell customer names and personal information to direct marketers; it is one of the reasons your mailbox is constantly stuffed with junk. Call all of your credit providers and tell them you do not want your information given out to others; it will cut down on the amount of unwanted mail that you receive and toss.

- Avoid placing your address on surveys, and product warranty cards. If you do write your address or phone number, write alongside it “Please do not sell or distribute my information, nor add to mailing lists.”

- DO NOT GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS WHEN YOU ENTER A RAFFLE - ESPECIALLY AT A STORE – THEY INTEND TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOU!!!!!!!

- Save paper by printing documents only when you really need a hard copy. Print on both sides of your paper to reduce your consumption. Or, even better, store files and e-mails on your computer, so that you are not using any paper at all.

Reuse: Keep a stack of scrap paper handy for use when printing drafts and personal documents. Print on both sides.

Recycle: If every American recycled just one newspaper a week, about 36 million trees a year would be spared. Making recycled newspaper takes half as much energy as producing virgin newsprint.

If you do receive junk mail, do one of two things about it. Recycle it immediately, or call or write somebody about getting off the list.

Keep a recycling bin or trashcan by your mailbox or wherever you sort mail.

Don’t forget, together we can make a difference.

peacesojourner

Happy Birthday to Nelson Mandela - 94 Today

Mr. Mandela shared that the following poem was one of the things that helped him to remain focused during the twenty seven years of incarceration.

William Ernest Henley. 1849–1903

Invictus

OUT of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

******

In 2009, the United Nations established Nelson Mandela International Day to honor the African leader on his birthday through acts of community service.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged people around the world "to make a difference" by tutoring a child, feeding the hungry or volunteering at a hospital or community center.

"A healer of nations and a mentor to generations, Nelson Mandela — or Madiba as he is affectionately known by millions — is a living symbol of wisdom, courage and integrity," Ban said. "Together, the best way we can thank Nelson Mandela for his work is by taking action for others and inspiring change."

People around the world were asked to mark his birthday by giving 67 minutes of their time to work in their local community — one minute for every year of Mandela's public service.

He became South Africa's first black president in 1994 after spending 27 years in prison for his fight against racist apartheid rule, and was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

Happy Birthday Madiba -

peacesojourner

Sunday Reflection - Inner Tranquility and Peace

The following words come to my mind as I look at the picture above:

tranquility, peace, calmness and serenity.

Many cultures throughout history have thought of nature as an integral and necessary part of their inner lives. Many in our society have lost contact with the restorative, healing, and inspirational power of the great outdoors.


It seems that everyone today is looking for peace. Peace in the world. Peace in the home. Peace on the job. Financial peace. Everyone is looking for peace, but is anyone truly finding it?

Augustine said – "peace is something that is internal to us, if we were perceiving properly – through the eyes of the soul instead of through the senses – we would perceive that everything – no matter how shattered and disordered it appears to be – is really in divine order, really and truly perfect."

Get in the habit of taking a few minutes at the end of each day to make a list of all the things that happened in that day for which you can be grateful. It is a little known law of nature that the more gratitude you have, the more you have to be grateful about.

"The more tranquil a man becomes, the greater is his success, his influence, his power for good. Calmness of mind is one of the beautiful jewels of wisdom." - James Allen

"You must learn to be still in the midst of activity and to be vibrantly alive in repose." - Indira Gandhi

1 Timothy 2:1-3 (NIV)

1 First, I want all of you to pray for everyone. Ask God to bless them. Give thanks for them.

2 Pray for all who are in authority. Pray that we will live peaceful and quiet lives. And pray that we will be godly and holy.

3 That is good. It pleases God our Savior.

*****

The next time that you come across a peaceful scene absorb it and let the glories of nature energize your body, heal your psyche, and uplift your spirit.

*****

peacesojourner

Today is My Birthday

Today is my Birthday!

So I am taking some time to smell the roses.

Talk to you later!

peacesojourner

If It Is Thursday It's Going Green - Energy Vampires

Look out for Energy Vampires

Today I am writing about how you can save your money and the environment by just being vigilant when you use your electrical appliances.

Remove the screen saver from your computer. When those pictures are activated on your screen, the computer is still running on full power.

Put Your Computer to Sleep: If you don't want to keep rebooting your PC, you can reduce the electricity consumption by putting both the monitor and the computer itself in sleep mode when they're not in use. Computers operating on snooze control use about 95% less electricity than those running on full power. A stroke of the key will wake up your computer right away.

Workplace: Make sure your co-workers aren't leaving their computers on all night long. Make it a corporate policy to have all computers shut down at the end of the workday.

Use a Power Strip: Plug all components of a computer or home entertainment system into a power strip. Turn off the power strip with a single switch when electronics and appliances are not in use. Anything plugged into the strip is truly turned off.

Take the time: In the evening when it is dark, turn off all lights and take a walk around your house as if you were a detective finding clues. Make note of all those little red (sometimes comes in other colors) dots that are innocently glowing in the dark. When you have identified them attempt to get the electrical items that are near each other plugged into a power strip. Once you have completed this it becomes extremely simple. Use the on/off switch of the power plug when you are not in need of the items.

Unplug electrical cords when they are not in use: Did you realize that your TV uses electricity even when turned off? The same goes for your stereo, coffee maker, garage-door opener, microwave oven, clock radio and other electronics. Yes, even chargers for cell phones and MP3 players siphon energy when plugged in - even if they're not charging a thing! Included are inkjet printers and iPod chargers. Unplug power adapters or battery chargers when equipment is fully charged or disconnected from the charger.

These ‘energy vampires’ add about $200 to your annual energy bill. That’s because the "off" button doesn’t really mean "off" these days; instead, it means "standby." In fact, your TV, VCR, DVD player with remote control uses more energy during the 20 hours a day that it’s turned off and in a "standby power" state than it does during the hours you watch the tube.

Do you really need everything that is plugged in? In my kitchen there was a clock on the stove, microwave, coffee maker and on the wall. Just how many did I need to tell me the time in one room? I kept the one on the stovetop connected and now I disconnect the others when not in use. I moved the wall clock to another room.

Let’s talk about saving energy and money: The average U.S. household spends $100 annually to power devices while they are ‘off’. Microwave ovens, computers and TVs even when turned off continue to use energy. Like a leaky faucet, they are responsible for a tremendous amount of waste. In fact, 40% of the energy used to power consumer electronics is consumed when the devices are not in use. The typical American household has 27 appliances that are always on.

Full Moon on July 3, 2012

Tonight there is a full moon:

The lighted side of the Moon faces the Earth. This means that the Earth, Sun, and Moon are nearly in a straight line, with the Earth in the middle. The Moon that we see is very bright from the sunlight reflecting off it.

Many people believe that the moon, its phases and the signs of the zodiac all have an influence on when you should plant crops and do other activities. This belief is based on centuries of accumulated folklore passed down from generation to generation. 
In general, crops that produce their harvest above ground should be planted during the waxing moon, or when the moon is between new and full. Crops, which produce their harvest in the ground, should be planted during the waning moon, or when it is between full and new. 


The first full moon of Summer has several names. It is called the Hay Moon - Buck Moon - Rose Moon - Wyrt Moon - Blood Moon - Ripe Corn Moon and the Honey Moon.

The Full Buck Moon got it's name because July is normally the month when the new antlers of buck deer push out of their foreheads in coatings of velvety fur. Sometimes this moon was also called the Full Thunder Moon, because thunderstorms are most frequent during this time.

Full Moon names date back to Native American Indians of the northern and eastern United States. Each Nation kept track of the seasons by giving distinctive names to each recurring Full Moon. Their names pertained to the entire month in which each occurred. There was some variation in the names, but generally the same ones were current throughout the Algonquin tribes from New England to Lake Superior. European settlers followed the custom and even created some of their own.

This is the time of year for releasing the past: the mind grows super-sensitive and strives to give voice to feelings. Hiding and blaming are two tactics that won't advance one’s interests, yet sharing a secret with someone you trust can lift a burden. Bring unsettled relationship issues to a peak. This helps you put your thoughts in order, enabling you to recognize when an outmoded alliance has reached its limits.

Keep In Mind This Month
 -

When in doubt, throw it out. Instead of preserving what was,

it's time to become a creator of what will be.

Heads up tonight and enjoy the moon - Mother Nature's gift to the universe.

peacesojourner

The Value of Friendship -

A friend sent these pictures to me by e-mail, she was thanking me for our friendship. The cards started me thinking about the value of friendship.

When I signed up for Facebook I was contacted by many people who wanted to sign up as my 'ff' (facebook friend) - this caused me to reflect about how many relationships that we have during a lifetime. I have discovered that we can find friends in so many places if we just leave ourselves open to the possibilities.

This card was sent to me by my dear friend Susana a couple of years ago.

She said that the two girls reminded her of our friendship.

I was very touched by her words.

I have it on my kitchen shelf and I smile when I see it every day.

I have not reached this stage of life yet but when that time comes I would love to have a friend with whom I could toddle off to the market and share my dreams and

current circumstances with.

Doesn't this look like fun - an impromptu dance on the promenade -

Why not?

We understand the warmth of being with friends at an early age-

these little girls are obviously enjoying being together.

The companionship of a beloved family pet is priceless!

I love to see people enjoying themselves - like the logo says "growing old is inevitable"

As for me I refuse to grow up - I'm having too much fun!

Since signing on to Facebook

many people have declared that I am their friend. I know erery one of them personally ,(except for two people who I accidentally signed on) :-)

I have precious memories of every one of them.

Some of the friendships have spanned many years when my friends and I were young mothers and raising our children together (that is what we did in those days). I was called auntie by most of my friend's children - and guess what? several of those children are now grown and have signed up as my 'friend'. (because we are) :-)

I have lived in several different states and countries and many old friends checked in with me. A few are newer friends I have made since living in New York, but for sure I have developed happy relationships with them as well. Not to mention my birth family who have known me since my life began.

It is good to make contact with everyone again - I try to keep up with the messages and I check in as often as I can.

As each one re-connects with me all of the memories are sweet.

Thank you to my family and friends.