Sorting through some old papers I had stashed away, today I came upon this story I had printed out from an email I received on October 11, 2004.

The original source for the story is the book Keep A Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot, published in 1995. It became attributed to Josh and Karen Zarandona when they passed it on in an email. Supposedly, the original story came to Ms. Elliot from a Brenda Foltz, of Minnesota. I found the story just as thought provoking as I did in October of 2004.

I really wish that I were writing this story as an illustration of a moment and a revelation that changed my life. Unfortunately, having a penchant for truth, I’ll confess that did not happen. I wish it had.

Sometimes I need to be reminded – over and over – of the lessons I need to learn in life. I share this with you in that spirit. I suppose most of you may have seen this in the past, but perhaps a few of you, like me, could enjoy it again. (more…)

HatTip iOTW – A family decided to try and use the power of thousands of brains to help solve the riddle of a series of index cards that were left behind by a grandmother who died of cancer.

The cards looked like a random series of letters that probably had a cipher only known to the departed. In 15 minutes a reader on Metafilter figured it out and began deciphering different passages.

To See The Crowdsourcing Codebreakers – GO HERE  (you too just might rejoice)

It has been around three years since we initially asked the question.   A lot has happened in those years; and if you would indulge me, I would like to ask again:

Look at the following image.  It reflects differently to most people depending on your perspective and situational reference.    Think about it closely and I’ll pose the original question yet again:  Where do you see yourself in this image?

Click to enlarge

COLORADO (Via CNN) […]  while marijuana use is not completely legal in 48 states, according to the poll Americans remain firmly in favor of medical marijuana laws, and continue to believe that a fine, not jail time, is the appropriate penalty for the possession of small amounts of marijuana in states other than Colorado and Washington State, which has also voted to legalize pot.

How do Americans feel about the new system in Colorado, the first state in the country to allow anyone over the age of 21 to buy small quantities of marijuana from state-licensed businesses?

One-third of those questioned in the poll say the state’s new law is a good idea and 29% say it’s a bad idea. But a 37% plurality say that they want to see what happens in Colorado and other states that legalize marijuana before the decide how they feel about this matter.

Given the fact that federal law still outlaws the sale or possession of marijuana, how should the federal government handle pot in Colorado? (more…)

The Benghazi Slaughter was a mere symptom of the failed Libyan policy.   Does anyone remember R2P?    I had previously written:  Beyond a wholesome discipline this is the biggest issue just sitting there and all our representatives totally ignore it.

• 1.)  The nineteen days of Obama silence ?    Nothing.
• 2.)  The State Dept contracted/hired an evacuation ship in Tripoli – Broken down and no-way to evacuate our personell ?   Nothing.
• 3.)  In the height of Libyan *civil war* (battle) we could not get Americans out ?  Nothing.
• 4.)  We didn’t even know the ideology of “the rebels” – yet we armed them ?   Nothing.
• 5.)  Libyan Justice Minister Mustafa Abdel Jalil – known al-Qaeda operative ? Nothing.
• 6.)  Susan Rice (as U.N. Ambassador) skips emergency U.N. Security council meeting ?  Nothing.
• 7.)   Libya’s WMD (known stockpiles of mustard gas) ?   Nothing.
• 8.)   20,000 SAAM and Stinger Missiles disappear ?   Nothing.
• 9.)   Eventually Obama invokes use of  War Powers Act – But after 30 days the law requires a congressional vote ?   Nothing.
• 10)  White House own OLC (Office of Legal Council) notifies him he is defying law ?  Yet, again – Nothing.
• 11)  Clinton and Sarkozy meetings to coordinate NATO attack ?   Since when is State Dept in charge of DoD?   Yet, Nothing.

Media discussed Obama/Rice/Powers/Clinton – Responsibility to Protect Doctrine  –  But who had responsibility to protect AMERICANS ?
The real Libyan controversy happened long before a compound in Benghazi was attacked.
……. “It’s almost as if Benghazi, as horrible as it was, is being used as a diversion from the reason the Benghazi disaster even occurred”….
Yes.
Carterzest engaged with progs in Portland Oregon.  We all need to learn how to push back with accurate information to the lies and falsehoods of the progressives.  So here’s some information.  If you read all the links you will know more about Libya, how it started, what flaws were within the Obama Doctrine and how insufferable their pontifications are……  /Sundance 

Carterzest writes:
I often use pieces of your wisdom in my fight against liberalism in the Peoples Republic of Portland. As they were all gushing over the NYT article, I slipped most of your post above into a FB thread. Here is their reply: “10 will get you 20 Nick didn’t read it & if he did he didn’t like what it had to say. Debunks what he wants to believe. Truth be damned! Right wing haters are going to hate no mater what the “truth” is.” (more…)

Statistically speaking something (an event of mass casualty) of large significance is due to happen in the U.S. within the next 10 to 20 days.
If you define Progressive Failing as the exposure of collapsing narratives, and then rate liberal risk from headlines which reflect that collapse, on a scale of 1 to 5 (where 5 is the most damaging to them) you are able to statistically quantify “social tone”.
When the social tone (of anti-liberalism) rating is high, meaning liberalism as an ideology is receiving many negative discussions, statistically, and historically, there is a general likelihood (a pattern) that something of mass casualty takes place. (more…)

Some mighty fine folks have organized the resistance (origin here)

Now YOU TOO can make a difference – CLICK HERE 

With the scribbled Santa Lists in his hand he looked around the store, taking more internal measure of what was not possible this year.  His heart sank.  

Lights were bright, colors bold, and generally the people moving up and down the aisles seemed cheerful, albeit deliberate, in their considerations.   Yet for him, for the first time, he felt inadequate. 

He began to think this year will be a measure of his failure;  with little money, it would be impossible to fulfill those carefully written wishes.  

Filled with an anxiety known to a growing number of people he felt fear.   Then a whisper he was previously able to fight away began to creep toward him – Boldly striking the bells of pride with a deafening resonance.    If he cannot purchase the *stuff*, he cannot provide for his family, and his value is less.

The Christmas Season brings with it joy, hope and fun.   However, beyond the tinsel, bows and shiny things, Christmas can also bring a heightened sense of despair.

Madison Avenue does a great job of making an increasingly product focused society define and measure value from the perspective of a brand new Lexus with a six foot perfectly adorned bow topper.
If such is attainable, you are successful and hold worth.  If such is unattainable you are less, perhaps far less.
And it doesn’t take the scale of a Lexus to make a feeling of inadequacy any less impactful.  It could be the unattainability of a video console, a pair of sneakers, a gadget all the cool kids own, or even a specific ‘everyone-gotta-have’ T-Shirt.
We all want to give that which a child desires.    Often we measure ourselves by the ability to provide that desire; and absent of our ability – we are failing.
As soon as you begin to focus on your inability, you allow the dark whispers, evil whispers who deceitfully enjoy infecting your heart, to define yourself solely on the basis of Pride, Ego and ultimately short-comings.
This is a dangerous season as much as a joyful one. (more…)

Perhaps with time permitting a little reflection it is prudent to clarify the intents and purposes of the Treehouse community.
This is a conversation.
Your conversation.
A conversation about what’s happening, but more importantly about ‘why’ it’s happening, whatever the happening appears to be.
If you peel back all the visible layers (amid the storylines) placed by the people and organizations participating in the various happenings you will, eventually, find a single set of ideological truths.
All of the “fundamental change-isms” are about filling voids.   More directly, the layers present as those filling voids from the outside in.
Fillers may take on this type of formula:   If we take from them, and give to them-others, then things will be better.   Or if we take from them, and give to ourselves, we will be better.
But it, all of it, all revolves around the perception of not having something, and the perception of needing something.   (more…)