Monday, May 05, 2008
A Note to Our "Gimme" Society
Labels: Philosophy, Quotations 1 comments Links to this post
Posted by
Joan
at
7:41 AM
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Forum on manhood misses the mark
But it is shocking to read that given the opportunity to have a conversation about manhood with young males, role models who are successful and accomplished in life chose to talk to them as potential criminals and as victims....
Not addressed, apparently, was manhood, as in fatherhood. Or manhood, as in taking responsibility... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in early March that at least one in four teenage girls nationally has a sexually transmitted disease. Among black teens ages 14-19, it’s nearly half.
Another study released last week offers findings that are...further evidence of the need to reorient the conversation. ... 25 percent of white children, 46 percent of Hispanics and 69 percent of blacks are born to unmarried women....When combined with divorce... almost a third of children live in single-parent homes...
Any number of studies have documented the harm to children and the social costs in higher rates of crime, drug abuse, poverty, mental and physical illnesses, educational failures, and other damaging consequences to children deprived of the life-guiding influence of both parents.
Now Benjamin Scafidi, an economist in the J. Whitney Bunting School of Business at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, presents valuable new research on the economic costs. “We estimate that family fragmentation costs U.S. taxpayers at least $112 billion each and every year, or more than $1 trillion each decade,”..... If public policies encouraging marriage reduced family fragmentation by just 1 percent, the savings to taxpayers would amount to $1.1 billion yearly, the study finds.
It seems clear that the conversation about what constitutes “manhood” needs to change, especially when the government, the media, opinion leaders and community role models gather young men to help them define it. Manliness is not creating and abandoning babies and the women who bear them.
Leah Ward Sears, chief justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, is one of the voices stepping up...
“Healthy marriage is not only the best place to raise children, it is the indispensable institution without which all other social reform efforts will fail,” she said. “Healthy and intact families are the cradle of thriving societies.” Preach that. Teach that. Counsel that.
Labels: Culture, Family, Philosophy 0 comments Links to this post
Posted by
Joan
at
3:33 AM
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Job of Cooking #9 - Quick and Easy Meals
Remember that a nutritious meal need only have a small amount of protein along with some fruits and/or veggies. The protein can be a small amount of meat, or it can be a combination of dairy and grain such as a cheese sandwich, or it can be dried beans. A starch such as bread, potatoes, or rice can add filler if your family needs (or wants ) a heavier meal.
One quick and easy one-dish meal would be to add any leftover meat to bagged salad. If you don't have any left-over meat from the day before, open a can of chicken breast or tuna.
A grilled cheese sandwich served with tomato soup makes a complete meal.
A peanut butter sandwich with apple slices (or fresh grapes or celery sticks) on the side makes a complete meal.
A scrambled-egg sandwich served with fruit would be a quick choice.
Another quick and easy one-dish complete meal: Cut up a couple of chicken breasts (half-thawed meat is easiest to slice), cook the bite-size pieces in a skillet with a little olive oil and add whatever fresh or frozen veggies you have on hand, season as desired, and stir-fry until done. You could serve this "as is" or with rice or some other starchy vegetable.
Labels: Job of Cooking 0 comments Links to this post
Posted by
Joan
at
10:28 PM
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Thursday Thirteen - My Edition 62 - Secrets to Long Life
Labels: Books, Thursday Thirteen, Wisdom 5 comments Links to this post
Posted by
Joan
at
9:08 AM
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood - Whitetail Deer
I just went for a morning walk around our neighborhood. By the time I had a light jacket (for the morning chill), a bottle of water (I'm never without one), my reading glasses (ya never know when you might need to actually SEE something closeup), my sunglasses, my cellphone (don't leave home without it!), my ipod (listening to a novel keeps me walking), and some tissues, I decided against also hanging the camera around my neck. Mistake!
Labels: My Life, Nature 1 comments Links to this post
Posted by
Joan
at
10:41 AM
Simpsonwood - A Retreat Center
We just got home yesterday from a Sunday School Class retreat at Simpsonwood. This is a beautiful retreat facility located on the banks of the Chattahoochee River just North of the perimeter road (I-285) of Atlanta. The land was donated to the North Georgia Conference of the United Methodist Church back in the 6o's. There was stipulation that the land not be sold but used as a retreat center. Many church members of the day objected to accepting the gift (which had already been refused by the Presbyterian Church I understand), but it was eventually accepted. For a number of years the land was mostly unused, but gradually the building began. First a church -- later an administration building with large kitchen and dining rooms, meeting rooms, a large lobby, and a beautiful rocking chair back porch. The grounds now house the administrative offices of the conference (the Bishop's office among others), 5 lodging facilities, numerous walking trails and other recreational features such as swimming pool, soccer field, tennis courts, etc.
The Fellowship class of our church asked my DH to be the spiritual leader of the retreat. We had a group of 36 attend and had a wonderful time. We had 3 "sessions" and a worship service, but the remainder of the time was ours to spend enjoying the beautiful surrounding and spending time with our Christian friends. Here is a pic or the atrium where we had our sessions, at the bottom of the page is the chapel where our worship service was held. We went for a nice long wooded walk along the river Sunday afternoon. The weather was perfect. The wildlife was enjoying the habitat as well - we saw 3 deer and numerous squirrels. The entire weekend provided a refreshing and renewing experience.
BTW, the retreat center accepts church groups from all denominations, family reunions, and other groups. One can also check in as in any motel or hotel and spend a night or two, with or without meals included. A homeschool organization was setting up to use one of the convention buildings for CRCT testing as we left Monday morning.
Labels: Church, Nature 1 comments Links to this post
Posted by
Joan
at
10:18 AM
Friday, April 18, 2008
Sunday Seven 49th Edition
1. The Devil's Swimming Pool - atop Victoria Falls. Can you imagine jumping into this pool as the water all around you plunges over the falls into the gorge below?!
2. My brother's squirrel dance - The fun never stops with Terrell! Scroll to the bottom under the still pics.
3. Explanation of the procedure of late-term abortion. A representative from a group called Priests for Life demonstrates the procedure. I don't know how to classify this one - maybe you'd rather not see it.
4. Grammar Rock - I have always enjoyed the Schoolhouse Rock series.
5. Sand Art - Shalom!
6. Then there's always Barbeque Art! Whatever! To each his own, I guess.
7. And for finishers -- here's another amusing squirrel video.
I hope my links work - I have to learn how to imbed a video so one can just click on the screen.
Labels: Sunday Seven 3 comments Links to this post
Posted by
Joan
at
10:25 AM
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Thursday Thirteen - My Edition 61 - Unfinished Posts
Labels: Blogging, Thursday Thirteen 5 comments Links to this post
Posted by
Joan
at
7:36 AM






