Got my Raspberry Pi 2 in the mailbox today. I can't wait to check this out and find projects to teach our homeschoolers such as a weather station. I knew it was small, but I still can't believe how little it is!!!

Fishing

I think I fish, in part, because it's an anti-social, bohemian business that, when gone about properly, puts you forever outside the mainstream culture without actually landing you in an institution. ~ John Gierach

Appreciation

The aim of life is appreciation; there is no sense in not appreciating things; and there is no sense in having more of them if you have less appreciation of them.

- GK Chesterton

Great Quote

Rudeness is the weak person's imitation of strength.

 - Eric Hofer

What's Wrong with Americans?

I was struck by this article as I read it. It was blunt, written simply, effective and powerful. This is just the way that America used to be. A country full of diversity, homogenized under the banner of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. America was the greatest political and social experiment on earth!

Then something happened. We lost our A's for effort. We dumped RIC and now all that is left of America is me. We are no longer America, we are ME. The quote Julius in Remember the Titans, "I am going to look out for myself and I'm going to get mine!"

I am dumbfounded at how the Greatest Generation begat the Me Generation. WWII vets are living legends, and if you are still privileged to see one, then shake their hand, buy them lunch and say thank you! Then maybe over lunch, you can ask them how did they live through the great depression, fix the Axis powers and prevail and then totally drop the ball in teaching those lessons to their children.

We have now moved to where we are a me-centered, narcissistic  microwave society. We have lost the art of ingenuity, thrift and necessity. These have been replaced with exploitation and convenience.

The referenced article does not make you feel good, but perhaps it is the slap in the face that has come to us 50 years too late.

The Look on His Face

I really enjoyed this post by Tim Challies today about seeing the look on the groom's face when he sees his bride. I have thought the same thing. I too love to steal a glimpse of a groom as he watches his bride start to come down the aisle. His smile should be uncontainable and nearly as beautiful as the bride herself.

I know that my heart nearly stopped when I saw my dear sweet bride, locked in arms with my very soon to be father-in-law. I seriously had trouble breathing for a moment. However, few probably noticed as everyone, especially me, was fixated on this beautiful, amazing woman in white as she glided down that petal paved aisle. I have never seen anything so beautiful on this earth!

The only thing more amazing than that, as Challies reminds us, is that Christ will one day view His bride (the Church encompassing all believers) this same way. Once we are perfected in glory, we will shine even more radiantly than my sweet bride (which is pretty hard for me to imagine). His smile will light up eternity!

This is how much Christ loves those who follow Him. That is how much he loves me. I don't get that as I see, and many times wallow in, my imperfections as there are so many, but one day, by His sacrifice, those imperfections will be gone.

What a day to look forward too!

Use Things, Not People

I saw this today and it struck. We so often do the later rather than the former. I am one who does not have natural tendencies toward asceticism, but I have been provoked by some of the thoughts from this site. We are a nation of hoarders, and I can be the worst offender if left to my own devices. I need to be reminded of the value of relationships over stuff.