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The enemy of LEARNING is KNOWING. --Ernie Hughes
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A friend wrote his daughters a letter entitled “Could be rough being a girl?” Its a worthy effort from a Dad to his daughters. That’s why I’m reprinting it just as he wrote it here.
Most teenage girls I believe are unhappy with who they are. They define their happiness by how they look, how many friends they have, whether or not they have a boyfriend, what kind of grades they are making, or if they made the softball team or choir/play. There are so many reasons to decide why you may not like yourself if you are focused on exterior things or people to make you happy. True happiness comes from the inside. God wants you to enjoy your life and celebrate YOU! How do you celebrate YOU in a world that is so focused on material things? You keep your focus on the things of God. Don’t compare yourself to other girls, don’t qllow what boys might say about you to affect the way you feel about yourself. Who does God say you are? God says you are the apply of His eye, and that He loves you (He loves you)! God’s word tells you that you are more than a conqueror and that you can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you (sing, play softball, or whatever your passion is). God loves you and has a perfect plan for your life, start today by looking in the mirror and telling yourself how SPECIAL you are! Don’t forget Jesus died on the cross because HE loved you. God wants you to be happy, and happiness is a decision that you make! Decide today to be happy about who you are! Celebrate who you are and others will begin to notice that there is something different about you! God bless you and have a happy day today.
I spent some time writing this girls. I love you very much and want the best for you as God does (you are SPECIAL). Be comfortable in your skin. You shall achieve what you beleive. Always believe great things. Please don’t forget these words. Believing in you tells God that you believe in him.
Daddy
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In speaking about the build up to World War II, General and eventual President Dwight D. Eisenhower said “Rarely have the forces of good and evil been so amassed against one another.” That quote was displayed on the wall in one of the museums. Eisenhower’s clarity caused me think of George Bush. In the aftermath of 911 he spoke clearly about “good and evil” and was castigated for it. It had become politically incorrect to call someone evil. We might hurt their feelings, or incite them to an angry outburst. Seems to me the outburst had already happened and the using the word “evil” was just speaking the truth. Eisenhower said it. He was right. Bush said it. He was right, too.
Evil was behind the Holocaust. Evil was behind 911. Evil caused my fellow classmate Fred Winters to be shot down in the pulpit of his church a few months ago. Evil caused the psychiatrist at Fort Hood to open fire killing 13 people while wounding three dozen this week; and the guy in Florida who opened fire in the office complex this week; and the sexual predator in Ohio in whose home they found 11 dead women; and back home in mid-Missouri where the teenager bludgeoned the nine year old girl to death last week. Evil. It’s the work of Satan. It’s not lack of education, or intellect, or empathy. No, it’s evil. The Bible teaches that Satan is our enemy and that he searches to and fro looking for those whom he may devour. Some get devoured mentally and emotionally; some physically in violence. But its all rooted in Evil.
Ike wasn’t trying to make a statement. He was just calling it like it was. Likewise, regardless of his faults, God Bless George Bush for recognizing Evil and calling it what it was. You and I would do well to examine and know the times, to recognize what’s behind them, and to not hesitate or faint to call Evil by name when we see it.
November 7, 2009 Courage, Evil, Leadership, Morality, Right and Wrong, Sin
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Washington D.C.: Lodging
We stayed at the Embassy Suites Convention Center at 10th and New York. It's only a few blocks from the White House and Capital, convenient to transportation. I'd recommend it. Our room was comfortable and spacious. But it's a tad expensive. I think we're paying $350 per night for a king suite with a pull-out sofa. The posted rate is $500.
If you come to Washington, I think you'd be well served to get a Metro Card that lets you jump on the buses, trains and circulator buses with the flash of a card. If we ever come back for an extended time I'll purchase a Metro Card.
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The White House, Spies, and the Charter Documents
The White House is a splendid venue. Everyone should visit there if possible. If the timing is right and you don't have a criminal record, there's a fairly good chance your Congressman or Senator can get you admitted to tour the White House. This was my third trip; the first for Kelly and the girls.
The WH is beautiful, in a simple way, grand, and elegant, but not really overbearing or fancy. We were there as President Obama's motorcade was to go to Capitol Hill to meet with the Democrat caucus regarding the health care bill. It was neat to see the motorcycle patrolmen gathering and getting ready to escort the President. We didn't see his departure. We were admitted before he actually left the building. (And there wasn't any announcement "Barrack has left the building.")
You go through more security to board a plane in Springfield, Missouri than you do to enter the White House. At least that's the way it felt. Stand in line a bit, walk up to the gate, give them your name, they check that you are on the list and then wave you through. One simple metal detector later, and you walk into the East wing.
The tour consists of the East wing, the China room and Library, the Blue room, Red room, Green room, the State Dining Room, and the cross hall. In a way the rooms were a bit garish---colorwise that is. And the furnishings are so old that it really does feel more like a museum than a useful room you are standing in.
We stood and visited for quite a while with the Secret Service agents. They answered questions about the Service and the Presidential Protection detail. When our questions got too specific they just replied that they couldn't answer that.
We could take as much time as we liked, and we did, leisurely strolling out the North entrance for a glance at the West Wing before walking across the lawn to the gate.
If you find yourself in Washington, I'd encourage you to make every effort to visit the White House.
Ford's Theatre---where Lincoln was shot---is still a working theatre. Quaint in size and elegant in appointment, you can walk up and stare into the box where Lincoln sat; it's only a few feet off the stage so that idea of Booth "leaping onto the stage" wasn't really quite as great a leap as the story makes it sound.
It's easy to get into Ford's Theatre and the house across the street where Lincoln died. Admission is free. I'm glad I went. I've been there. I've done that. And I wouldn't do it again.
National Archives is where the original Magna Carta, Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights are found. It's kind of cool to be inches from the actual piece of paper that Franklin & Jefferson signed, but time has so faded the ink that you can't read much of it. This is kind of one of those things that you feel like you must do. So do it. Then you'll have it done, and you won't have to do it again.
The International Spy Museum is kind of a cool thing. Everything you ever wanted to know about spies and espionage is here. I'd recommend you visit this place once. The most interesting parts were the stories of contemporary spies whose names you and I know, who'd gotten caught and given up their freedom for the rest of their lives for selling out their country. Seemed kind of stupid to me. Go see it.
