THE POWER

Chapter 3 "Radical" - David Platt

Here is what I believe are the main points

• The holy spirit (ghost) has the power
• Pratt says that these days the spirit is dead because it has been oppressed by all the finely old machines. Finely oiled mega churches and many other church today. They have great entertainment, strong leaders, excellent programs for every age group, but there is no room for the spirit to move. The churches are relying on themselves, not being depended on God.
• We rely to much on ourselves, as it is the American dream, it is on our culture according to Pratt.

Have you ever heard this statement- God helps those who help themselves. That is the biggest lie from the pit of hell. It is not in the bible, God says just the opposite. We are suppose to rely on God. I have found that most of what is opposite of our culture is true of God.

Our culture - The survival of the fittest

God - The weak will be strong.

God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. How you may ask. With the power of the holy spirit.

Here are some of the names of the power you can get from the holy spirit. You just have to ask and believe.

• wisdom 
• knowledge
• comforter
• grace
• council
• truth
• sound mind ( I need to start praying for this one)

To many to list.

I have been where the holy spirit moved in a room. Sometimes as a whisper, sometimes as a gale force wind.  I call it the holy roller power. Oh how I love that. I miss that. I long for that. I have personally felt the presents of the Lord. What a joyous and glorious thing. I know it sounds crazy. Until you have the holy spirit, been there a done that, their is no way to explain it.

Fat Boy

My boy dog Jack is making me laugh so hard. Thank God for dogs. Jack is a very smart dog, in fact his nick name is Lassie. Jack's other nick name is fat boy. He is getting a little hefty as he ages. Jack can sit, shake, turn around, lay down, "take a nap" (play dead), he can open and close doors, he can back up. Jack likes to bark and rattle the front gate to scare people as they walk by for kicks.


Tonight Jack decided I need to give him a "cookie" from the cookie jar.

I am in my office checking facebook when I hear Jack giving me that I have to go outside whine. I go out to the kitchen and there stands Jack, looking at me and then looking at the cookie jar. I said to him what do you want? Jack looked at the cookie jar and looked at me again, wagging his tail 90 mph. I acted like I did not know what he wanted, so he goes to his dinner bowl and starts eating out of frustration. (I think I have mention before he is an emotional eater) I said again, What do you want? Jack runs over to the cookie jar, looks at me, looks at the cookie jar and barks. What you want a "free" cookie? You don't want to "work" for it I ask him. He whines, barks and wags his tail again.


Ok I admit it, I am an enabler with my dogs.

Jack did all the work as usual and Sara just stood by in-case something good was going to happen. So they both got a "free" cookie with out doing any work for it tonight. Spoiled little doggies. If they were kids they would be those little tyrants that Shorty talks about. I would be the mom who says her kids are perfect.

I would like to know

I would like to know how much people in other states are countries are paying for

• One gallon of milk
• One gallon of Gas
• Their monthly cell phone plans 
• 40 - 60 lbs of dog food
• A cooked hot dog at a restaurant
• Girl Scout cookies

Today my dad took me and my gig a low out to dinner in Ice Cube.  We went to Kaspers and had a hot dog. The hot dog's were $3.00 a piece. That did not include a drink, chips or anything.  At Costco hot dogs cost $1.50 with a drink. We also got the "Nacho Platter." The Nacho platter was a hand full of tortilla chips with liquid cheese on top. The cost of "Nacho Platter" was  cost $4.95. So I took them back and said I wanted real nachos with chili and onions on top of the liquid cheese. She changed me .80 cents for the chili. I thought that Kaspers was a rip off.

We came home and watched Survivor. I like Boston Rob. I pray that Russell has a born again experience. hehe.

It is very cold. BRRRRRRRRRRR. I hope it snows tomorrow!

Gas Prices (corny)

Every time I drive by a gas station and see the price of gas, I think of the old Johnny Cash song "6 feet high and Rising" Here is my version.

How high's the gas prices, mama?
$4.00 a gallon and risin'
How high's the gas prices, papa?
$4.00 a gallon and rising'


Well I can't aford to drive my car to my job,
All the money is going to the gas lord slobs.
I sold my SUV for a smaller car, I should ride my bike
I could get just as far. 
$4.00 high and risin'


How high's the gas prices, mama?
$5.00 a gallon and risin'
How high's the gas prices, papa?
$5.00 a gallon and rising'

Hay Mikie I like it

This "semesters" bible study is Radical: Taking back your faith from the American Dream, by David Platt.
 I complained and moaned and grumbled about this book.  I told everyone I am a Radical Christian already, why do I need to read a book about it. One day to prove how radical I am I wore my Camo's to church. Nobody asked me why I was wearing Camouflage to church. It was my own protest to this book.  Did I have to go to this bible study? no. SO why did I feel like I needed to put up a fight?
No doubt you have guessed what has happened. I like the book so far. I am only on chapter 2.

The main points in Chapter two are

• God is not only a loving God, but he is also judge and jury.
• Luke warm believers will not go to heaven.
• In America many people go to church for the entertainment value. The dance, the drama, the coffee bistro, the cool videos, the music label worship band.
• Many people long to hear God's word with out all the props.

I have to say I am one of those people. I long to hear, read and discuss God's word. I love to get in a room with people who I called "spiritual heavy hitters." I want to hash out the things I read. Gods word is alive and exciting to me. I am thank full my pastor reads out of the bible. Verse by verse. Chapter by chapter.

Pratt makes this point is God does not need us, we need him. How true. This is not a shock or a revelation to anyone who has come from the world of addiction.

Pratt is also right that the scariest words in the bible are "I didn't even know you." (Jesus talking about the future and judgment day for believers.)

I kind of like being "worldly." I don't really like being "set apart." I like to blend in with everyone else. I know what your saying, RQ you have never blended in with everyone else. Wishful thinking I guess. 

So what am I going to do to change? Hummm.

 

Ice Cube

My dad bought a new car. It is a Nissan cube. I call his new car Ice Cube. He loves his little car. So today we went to IKEA so he could drive it. We got there early so we decided to eat breakfast upstairs. Because it was early IKEA was not packed. We wanted to get a window seat because they have a beautiful view of "the City," the bay, the Bay bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. So I asked this man if he could save the table next to his (you literately are sitting shoulder to shoulder) the 40 something man said "do you have kids?" I thought maybe he had been talking to Shorty. I said no, just me and my dad why? He mumbled something under his breath about bratty kids and there being so many of them at IKEA. I told him not to worry, no bratty kids here, just me. I have a feeling he would not of saved our seat if I would of said yes I have kids.

So me and dad ate the #3.99 breakfast special and enjoyed the view of the bay, and the traffic. The $3.99 breakfast special included "ham" not sure if it was from a pig. It was kind of grayish brown, and tasteless. Undercooked bacon, "scrambled eggs" that were yellow and dry and must of been made from powder, and "french toast sticks." More like Wonder Bread that was slightly toasted. I have to say I loved the loganberry syrup. I poured it over everything and tried not to look at what I was eating. Who cares anyways when you can sit and look at our beautiful city and world famous bridge. Not only that I was spending time with my dad.

Me and my dad had a grand time looking at everything in IKEA. We spent a long time in the kitchen department. We must of shopped for 3 hours.  I bought some new bowls. They said they were made in china. I have to wonder if they are full of lead? Oh well, you cant beat the price. I got a "Madagascar palm" for my gig a low.

Then it was back upstairs for Swedish meatballs. My dad almost fell off the escalator. I had to catch him. I almost broke his arm in two as I grabbed it. (I had to load dad up on the carbs I was afraid his sugar was low.)

This time there was no way we could sit by the window.  There were thousands of people who wanted to eat Swedish meatballs. I stood in line for 20 min. Dad and I had swedish meat balls, "gravy" that was like brown water, "mashed potatoes" from a box and a piece of old garlic bread, one slice of strudel cake" that tasted like apples and flour. The best part was the loganberry jam. I mixed it with everything so I could get some sort of taste. I also had their canned pear sparking cider. I liked that.

We took the long way home, so my dad could drive his new car. Ice cube is very roomy inside and comfortable.  It seems like the perfect car for my dad.

We drove by my property, that is 6 feet long and 8 feet deep. What a nice view of the bay I have. My dad asked if we should stop by and visit the relatives. NO not today dad.

I had a very good day!

Shine

 We had our 2 annual crab feed. The crab was so fresh and saltwater tasty in a clean spring day kind of way. Man, it was good. There is nothing better then fresh Dungeness crab right off the boat! Tonight our little church shined!

For some reason I have the song Shine Jesus Shine song in my head.  Ok sing along with me. If you don't know the words here they are!

Lord the Light of Your Love is shining,
In the midst of the darkness shining,
Jesus light of the world shine upon us,
Set us free by the truth You now bring us,
Shine on me. Shine on me.

Shine Jesus shine
Fill this land with the Father's glory
Blaze, Spirit blaze,
Set our hearts on fire
Flow, river flow
Flood the nations with grace and mercy
Send forth Your word
Lord and let there be light.

Lord I come to Your awesome presence,
From the shadows into Your radiance,
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness,
Shine on me. Shine on me.

As we gaze on Your kindly brightness.
So our faces display Your likeness.
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirrored here may our lives tell Your story.
Shine on me. Shine on me.

Deal

You maybe asking yourself how in the world does RQ deal with all that stress ?

• exercise- no
• Talk to a shrink-no
• take the dogs on a walk -no
• getting in fist fights - no
• going to a "night club"- no
• cheating on her husband - no

None of the above.  Here is the answer. Girl Scout Cookies. Especially the cookie called Tagalongs. OH my gosh do I love the Tagalongs. The vanilla wafer like cookie covered with peanut butter, covered with chocolate are so delicious.  

When I take a bite of the cookie I think of skipping and playing hopscotch and being very happy. You can almost hear Sammy Davis Jr. singing "Who can take a sunrise, Sprinkle it with dew? Cover it in chocolate and a miracle or two" when you eat a Tagalong. I have temporary relief and instant gratification the very minute I put a cookie in my mouth. I try to savior each moment with my Tagalong. My addiction cost $4.00 a box. They are much cheaper then cigarettes, liquor or drugs. They are only available for a short time, so I have to get them while I can. 

I am humming the tune of Beth from the 70's group KISS- Tagalong I hear you calling, but I can't eat you right now..I am so very tired and it is time to go to bed.. but in just few more hours, I will be right there with you? Tagalong what can I do?  

This year for the first time I bought "Thank U Berry Munch" cookies (don't tell the Tagalongs) They are a more mature cookie. They are a very tasty companion with coffee. As for fun they don't hold a candle to Tagalongs. 

I have 4 tagalongs left. I have to save them, I have to be like a squirrel hiding walnuts. IF all goes well tomorrow I will start the day with a ""Thank U Berry Munch" and end the day with a Tagalong.

Sorry

I have so much crap going on that I can't write about right now. Sorry. Be back soon.

Stupid Poem

 I feel like I have been through the ringer. My life has been a real humdinger. Life is so hard, and then you don't die. I am telling the truth, it is no lie. My loved ones with  Cancer, blood clots, brain infection and all, it makes mince meat out of me, my life is not dull. ER rooms, oncologist, I am glad I am not a Scientologest ! My eyes are droopy, tired from cryin', maybe when I sleep tonight I will dream that I am flying. Stress will kill me, a slow sure death, plant me in the ground, make sure I look west.

Raider Baby Boy

Here is a new photo of my newest great nephew - 

Raider Baby Boy

Hosptial Trip Update.

So yesterday I spent the day with my In laws at the hospital. They both got food poising from the Outback. My mother in law's daughter and son in law also got food poising and ended up at a hospital in San Jose.  They had taken my father in law out for his birthday dinner.

As you may know, my father in law is fighting cancer and his system is compromised. Anyone being treated with Chemotherapy is whisked way immediately. Chemo-patients are at high risk for catching anything that is flying around the hospital. So I helped my father in law settle in. They put my mother in law two doors down from my father in law. So I could go back and forth between them.  I have a hard time sitting still while I am at the hospital. It must be nervous energy.


The ER parking was easy, the staff was friendly. Each patient had their own room. I asked the nurse if they color code the patients like they do at Kaiser? They do color code patients. They do it on the computer, not like Kaiser that uses signs that says RED this way and green that way. At this hospital the text on the computer is color coded. If the writing is in gray, your going to be ok, green is your sick, pink is your in serious condition and red means your knocking on deaths door. 

The doctor was a young woman and soft spoken. She was very kind. The doctors are color coded too. They all had moss green scrubs on. the other staff wore patterned - colored scrubs.  At this hospital the staff have these little white cell phones to communicate with one another.

It is to bad this hospital is sitting on top of a fault, like most of them in the bay area.


They let my In Laws go home about 1:00 pm. . Around 8 pm my mother in law called and said that we might have to take my father in law back to the hospital. My father in law did not want to go. I have not heard the update  as of yet.

New ER

I spent the better part of the morning and most of the day in the ER with my in-laws. I have never been in this ER. I will write more tomorrow, I am to tired now.

Announcement

Welcome Raider Baby Boy!

May God Bless you and Keep You !

Congratulations Raider Mom, Dad and Sister Raider Baby

Shorty Called Pay Attention

Shorty called to tell me about her church, (and lots of other things that I am not going to repeat right now) She said the pastor of her church blacked out the windows so all eyes would be on him, and not looking outside. I said that is funny mine did too. What is it, some new trend that is going around the country? I asked why the pastor did not put in stain glass? At least it would be pretty and let some light in. She said she thinks her pastor is a control freak. She went on to say you can't stop people from day dreaming. Shorty said she feels like she is walking into a mortuary every time she goes to church.


I have been a public speaker, I understand how hard it is when you look out and see people talking, texting, sleeping, walking out (that tells you what kind of public speaker I was hehe) Sometimes you get people who really listen and hang on to all the words you are saying. Sometimes what the speaker (me in this case) had to say was boring. It is really hard to keep peoples attention. People will judge you by your shoes, hair,  makeup, clothes. They judge if you are to fat or to skinny. The listeners don't even really hear what you are saying sometimes because they are to busy looking at all the other factors I have just listed. People get distracted windows or not.  Sometimes your audience can't relate to what your speaking of, because they have never been there and done that.. I was always really careful not to talk about politics because it polarize people. Although I did a one day lobby up in Sacramento, and that was a blast. . My 15 minutes of fame is over.  The one thing I have learned from public speaking is you cannot force people to listen or pay attention.

Your In My Heart, Your In My Soul

Here is the the history of valentines day from the history channels point of view, if you care to read it.

 http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day.

The history channel says "in addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia."

Women seem to have this high expectation that her man will give her gifts and treat her romantically, and men feel pressured to give gifts and act romantic when they don't want to. I have heard men say "I am nice to her all year around." I have listen to women complain that their man thinks that fixing the toilet seat is the same as giving a gift. Many people I know want to run away and hide until Valentines day is over.  There is just so much pressure.

Single people wishing they had a relationship tell me they turn off the tv, stop going to the store, don't listen to the radio for the month of February. One lady told me the other day she wants to hide out in a cave until March. Single people wish they had a relationship. Some people in a relationship wish they were not in a relationship, or at the very least a different one. Some people are divorcing or have just broken up. Valentine's day is pure torturer.

There is a song by the old rock group 3 Dog Night called "One." The song lyrics say one can be the loneliest number that you ever knew, two can be as bad as one, it's the loneliest number since the number one.

I will never forget one day I was at 7 11. It was Valentines day. The lady in front of me was buying a pack of cigarettes for her loved one. The lady looked rough around the edges. She turned to me and said, this is what I am giving my boyfriend for Valentines day, I doubt if I will get anything, not even a pack of cigarettes from him.

Women give there hearts, their body's, their minds, their money, time, you fill in the blank ___.  They put up with all kinds of BS. Stupid women give and give hoping for a little love in return. Most of the time not getting it. According to the History channel 85 % of the Valentine day cards are bought by women.

On a sunnyer note: 

Do you know what your love language is? I think Love Language is the best Christian self help book ever written. My gig a low's love language is works, so if I clean the house, take out the garbage and make onion dip he will be a very happy camper ( I am keeping this  G rated.) For me my love language is gifts. I love to get gifts. In my mind when someone gives you a gift, they are thinking of you. Here is an example. Today my gig a low gave me 2 quarters for my collection (state quarters.) That made me very happy, because my gig a low:

#1 had to think of me

#2 Know that I collect quarters

#3 give them to me

I know that sounds elementary, but that thought process combined with action is my love language.

My gig a low and I decided a long time ago not to go out to eat during valentines day. The restaurants jack up the prices and rip you off. We also agreed not to give cards to each other because you just throw them away and that seems like a waste of money. I have to say my gig a low used to give me the most thoughtful cards. 

This year I am going to TRY to make broth fondue for Valentine dinner.  I am a little scared as I have never made a broth fondue before. I will let you know how it turns out. 

Here is one thing I know for sure, God said he will "never leave us or forsake us." He will stand by us on Valentines day, if my broth fondue turns out funky, no matter what we can always count on our relationship with the Lord. 

No News Is good News?

First the bad news. Shorty called to tell me 2 of her former students have died this year. How very sad. Shorty said that her students parents have died before, but this is the first year they have had former students die..


The Neighborhood Hero's adult granddaughter had a baby today.  I was shocked to get a phone call from the The Neighborhood Hero's wife to say the baby was born at 3 pm this afternoon. I was suppose to go to the baby shower tomorrow. The baby weighs 4 pounds. The Mama has preclancia (did I spell that right?) I think the baby is only 36 weeks old. The Neighborhood Hero's wife just sent me a photo on my cell phone. Little baby girl looks so sweet, even with all the wires that she has attached to her. She has brown hair and big brown eyes.

Prayer Warriors-Please pray for:
little baby girl's lungs to develop and she lives a strong and healthy life. For Mama to get well soon.
the parents who loose their children.
Thank you.

Dear Kayakers Wife /Kayaker's reply

Please email me of copy of your reply to my blog called Secret Society on facebook or regular email. I will post it. I would really like to hear what you have to say and so would everyone else. 

Firefox users must have third party cookies enabled in order to comment on some formats. Sometimes an update will happen that changes the settings and you ahve to enable them again.

Please see comment below for Kayaker's reply.

Mental Retardation

A law was passed earlier this year,  mandating Federal statutes to no longer use the term "mental retardation;" the replacement phrase is "intellectual disability."

I have never had a child that was mentally retarded, had a intellectual disability or was developmentally delayed. I have never walked a mile in the parents shoes, but I have had a dysfunctional brain all my life, they call it dyslexia. I have been called stupid and lazy and other uncomplimentary terms because I can't spell or could not read when I was younger.

I was trained during my years at the hospital to say "mental retardation." It was a medical term. I wonder if medical staff now say "intellectual disability."

  

Yes, kids and some indiscriminate adults tease each other and call each other retards and M R's. That can be very hurtful. But who here thinks a law is going to change any of the hurt? I just don't understand how this law is going to change people's perceptions. Are parents going to feel better now that we say intellectual disability?

Got it figured out -Somthing Wrong with Comments

My friends are telling me that they are having trouble leaving comments on my blog or their comments are disappearing. I don't know what is going on. I hope the comments will be up and running again soon.

Some people can comment others cannot. I cannot comment on what you say. I still don't understand what is going on. Let me know if your comments will not work or if they have disappeared.

Got it figured out-sort of
The comments work when I am NOT using Firefox.


Here is an answer I got from a post on the help tab

The new Katney has posted an answer to the question "Why are my friends haveing trouble posting comments? They have never had a problem before.":

Are those having problems using Firefox? Firefox users must have third party cookies enabled in order to comment on some formats. Sometimes an update will happen that changes the settings and you ahve to enable them again.

Thank you

Dixie and Paige Thank you for reading my blog and leaving comments. BBQ or KFC is ok with me. I promise not to grumble, as you both were troupers eating lettuce wraps. Don't let me forget to bring my camera next time! I will post the photo of my dessert soon.

Thank you to my Sweet friend and Fuchsia and Karna who encourage me to keep my blog up to date. I know it is hard to believe but sometime I don't have anything to say.


Thank you to everyone in this country and around the world who read my blog.

Secert Socity

The other day I was watching the demonstrations in Egypt / Cairo . Earlier in the day looters had broke in and beheaded mummy's and broke artifacts in the museum. Many of the protesters did not want that to happen again. I was so impressed to see the human chain around the museum to protect their national treasures.

Then an American reporter called in to tell his story.  Apparently, some of the protesters fled the city and were wondering around the neighborhoods. The reporters wife called him to say she was terrified, that these scarfed men were roaming the streets with AK-47's. She was alone with the kids. The reporter was almost in a panic state. He wanted to help his family, but he could not because he was stuck in the city.

That made me think, what would happen if  we had millions of protesters in a large city in America? Could that happen in America? yes. America has had our share of large protests since I was born. Civil rights and Vietnam anti-war protesters to name two. Although I was to young to remember. I have seen it on the history channel ;)

I started thinking about the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. Those were not protesters, but helpless people stuck in a bad situation. Gangs owned the streets. It was every man for himself. At lest that is what the media was portraying.

That lead me to ask this question. What would I do if there were people with AK-47's wondering around my neighborhood? Let me tell you there are people on my side of town that have AK-47's. And don't think they are not in yours.

Would a shot gun be good enough? No. Would I try to fight? Would I just let them kill me so my problems would be over with? I was talking to one of my friends about this. She said in her neighborhood there are  group of homeowners who "have each others backs." They all have guns, they would fight until the end. My friend said one of her neighbor's has a 2 story house, so they are the look out.

Wow, I am just becoming aware of what is going on in average neighborhoods. It is like a secret society that everyone knows about, and I am just finding out about it??.. So the good guys and the bad guys all have guns...

My gig a low and I have decided we are going to buy a WW2 Tank and park it in the driveway. That way we would outgun everyone in the area. I do have one requirement. It must have a turret. My gig a low says I can drive and he can shoot.

I know I have said it before, but it is true: California is the wild wild west.

Pass the Jelly

I don't know if I can translate what happened last night, but it was so funny. Our little dinner club that includes Karna, Dixie, Paige and myself. We went to a "new" restaurant in Starboard. Karna and I are the foodies. Dixie and Paige are kind of, well mostly all American meat and potatoes people. They had never eaten Thai- Vietnamese fusion food. Dixie got pork lettuce wraps. Paige got Vietnamese crape wrap. I do not think either were impressed. I had the chicken fried rice with raisins, cashews, egg and brown rice. It was suppose to have pineapple in it but it did not. Karna had garlic prawns. Of course over dinner we had lively conversation.


Karna started to tell us about this "magic" jelly she has. She did not have a name for the jelly so we called it KY jelly. Karna's magic KY jelly is suppose to get rid of headaches and what ever ails you. We all wondered how did they put the magic in the KY jelly? Karna said she was not sure. She also made it clear that the website she bought if from made "no claims" on the magic KY jelly. It comes from the state of Oregon. Karna said it works wonders for head aches.  Karna put some of the magic KY jelly on her co-workers temples when the had a migraine and the migraine went away. Karna is convinced that the magic KY jelly really works. She said she kept it under her bed...  We started questioning Karna about what she was really using the magic KY jelly for... and if it really worked we all wanted some. Karna said she left the magic KY jelly behind when she came to California. To bad.


We had a great time last night, and I look forward to our next adventure!