Monday, January 31, 2011

Come on – Kick it up a Notch

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Today’s Blog Post


Come on – Kick it up a Notch

In the Mall there is a business Kiosk selling “Skinz”. No kidding! That is not Skin for you are me – but rather Skinz for your telephone, cell phone or computers.

The package that I looked at asked, “Do you want to kick up your gaming a notch?” The package included new and very different stick on stuff for your computer. I guess by making it look like a Tank or some part of a Space Craft I could produce a feeling of really being there… in the Tank or Space Craft. WOW!

I did yield to another Wii Game a week ago. And it is fun… and it is so up to date! It is truly a Baby Boomer game for people like me.

The Game is called “Up” and is fashioned after the popular movie “Up” where the old codger that lives in his house all these years is threatened(encouraged) by the Big Business man that he had to leave his house – and he had to move. A huge building was going up all around where his old house was situated… and he had to go.

Rather than be put out, the old codger Carl and a young Boy Scout type by the name of Russell take off… Wikipedia states… quote... “The film centers on an elderly widower named Carl Fredricksen and an earnest young Wilderness Explorer named Russell who fly to South America in a house suspended by helium balloons.” End quote.

When I am playing the Wii Game – Carl continually states, “Am I ever glad I have my cane.” Through the Game world he is conquering he uses his cane to thump, pull, walk, fight and work his way through all kinds of mazes.

Russell on the other hand uses his back pack full of useable stuff to work with Carl to get the job done – and also do the same things that Carl dies to ward off enemies.

The thought that I need “Skinz” to help me do the task at hand better… is accomplished in “Up”… old age becomes Carl’s good ability… and Russell tags along.

I already have the Skinz that I need.

This idea of “Skinz” and “Up” has set me thinking… I need help to feel better about me and what I am doing. At least that is what every one has been telling me. I can kick my life up a notch if I just buy… “whatever” is being sold that day.

Carl decided to kick his life “Up” a notch by hoisting his house Up by helium balloons tied up from his chimney… and he did it!

I am Carl or quickly becoming Carl. For that reason when we saw the movie we saw a huge number of “oldies” in the theatre – just like ME. I think they all needed to kick their lives Up a notch too!!

It is cold January now. This AM was Minus 20 C outside our home. It is too cold to think straight let alone go outside. I certainly need to kick it up a notch!

“Am I ever glad I have my cane!” was Carl’s statement. It was all he needed.. just his cane.

Hey – I don’t need that extra Skinz for my Cell Phone of computer… I am pretty sure I am okay the way that I am.

I don’t need to kick it up a notch either… the speed I am going at just now is pretty cool.

Seeing the advertisement at that small kiosk was enough to start me thinking… and starting to realize that it is okay the way that it is now.

How about you? Are you happy with what you have and are? “Am I ever glad that I’ve got my cane!”

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Three days of 90th Birthday Celebrations Marion Nell Lincoln

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Today’s Blog Post


Three days of 90th Birthday Celebrations Marion Nell Lincoln

We began planning weeks in advance of the big day, January 28, 2011. We began by wondering what in the world do you do for a 90 year old birthday. That 90 years old person is my Mom, Marion Nell Lincoln.

I couldn’t afford to fly her two sisters and one brother to Ontario. And mom couldn’t take the long airplane ride to Saskatchewan either. On top of that January is not the best month to travel anywhere – except south.

Then there was the problem of all the grandkids and great grandkids that are strung out like pearls across Canada now… how could they take the time to get to where she was? It was an impossible, logistical, Nightmare.

It was then that the idea struck me… “Why not have an Internet Party for Mom? Why not use Facebook and Email to bring everyone together?" Because 99% of all the Grandkids are connected through these modes of communication, they could all come to the party with their greetings. Further to that her two sisters and brother are also e-Connected – even at their age! And as I would find out later many of Mom’s OLD Friends are e-Connected as well!

But I have to back up a bit before telling you the whole story.

There were three parties for Mom and each was filled with good food.

Number one - there was a Thursday Party at Royal Gardens where Mom volunteers with the Old Folk. I’ll explain that Old part in a minute. That happens in the afternoon from 2 – 4 PM at the New Friends Group.

Number two – there was the Birthday Lunch for Marion Nell Lincoln with her granddaughter Dana and her daughter-in-law Alida – and a ton of phone calls that day from all over the country.

Number three – there was the bigger party at the South China Buffet in Peterborough where more friends gathered to wish her well and a Happy Birthday. The food was amazing – as you will see…

Why three parties… well they are so much fun that we decided to do it up a little bigger! On her 100th Birthday we are planning for one full week long party! That one will be really big!

With the Cup Cake Cake - not enough room for 90 candels!
Number one party – Royal Gardens
Royal Gardens is a very, very nice senior’s residence where the rent and the luxury is a wee bit higher than the normal, ordinary senior’s home that I would/will likely live in. I mean this place is NICE!

In 2009 I approached the Activity Staff with my new idea. My Mom was new to the community and many of the Seniors in this home were new as well. What would they think of bringing the residents that have lived there a few years together with new folk just moving in… and call the Group – New Friends?

They loved the idea!

It was an immediate success from the first day onward. The regular members meet each week with me for two hours. The first hour is a talk time over a multitude of issues and items that they are interested in. From news reports of Elephants walking down the streets in Bangkok Thailand, to the changes in local Government, to their wedding plans 8 decades ago. You name it we have talked about it.

New folk sometimes just sit and listen to others talk. Other new folk talk all the time out of their loneliness. Now one has listened to their ideas for so long that it just feels good to talk it out.

On Thursday. January 27, 2011 we had a ball!

I introduced a New Game that I have invented for them. It is called “10-20-30-40-50-60-70-80-90”. How is that for an original name?!?

The game is quite simple. Beginning on my left, each person gets a number. The first person is 10, the next is 20 and so on. When you get to 90 – the next person is 10 again.

Number 10 begins by telling what they were doing at 10 years of age, where they lived, what the family was doing, what their dad was working at – etc. Then Number 20 goes next… their task is to tell their story when they were 20 years old. And so on with each person telling a story or more.

After we reached the top number we then shifted the Numbers for each person. Number 10 became Number 20 and so on. Each Person jumped 10 years forward in their life.

The rules that guide this game insist on speaking, trying to remember and laughing a lot!

One hour whizzed by in a heart beat and they loved the Game. “10-20-30-40-50-60-70-80-90” is now declared a Winner! And we will do it again.

At the beginning there was some groaning as they stated out loud, “I can’t remember back that far!”

At the end, they were amazed at what they remembered with a little coaching(by me as I did the Investigator’s quizzing thing). There was genuine appreciation for the mental exercise they just did.

We moved over to the beautiful coffee shop for the last part, Mom’s Birthday Cup cakes… and the party. They love the party idea.

One lady asked Mom how old she was. When Mom told her that she was 90, the lady exclaimed, “You are just a kid! We are all over 90!” And she was right. That day every one there was between 91 and 97! Mom was the youngest! And they are all spry and aware of everything that goes on!!!

But none were 90 or older – they were all somewhere between “10-20-30-40-50-60-70-80-90”.

With Granddaughter Dana
Number two party – “Parkhill on Hunter” Restaurant
I didn’t get to this one on Friday – I was not invited. It was an all girls thing. Dana graciously took her Mom and her GrandMom out for lunch.

This restaurant is a wonderful place that everyone raves about.

My Mom still loves to be pampered… as all girls do.

Personally, a bagel at a donut shop is a High Point for me… it has wheel chair parking and the price is right. Hey I am practical – what more needs to be said.

Rearranged Flowers from the Funeral Home – after the Funeral that day are just great – to decorate your table with. Buy new Flowers – not likely!

So going out to a nice restaurant just makes me kind of uncomfortable. I can’t eat and enjoy it when I know the cotton pickin’ bill will be half a monthly car payment! But my Wife, Daughter and Mother love it – and leave me home so I am not uncomfortable! Yes! Thank you for the freedom!

With her Tierra - Queen Marion Nell the First
Number three party – the South China Buffet
Now this is a place I can enjoy… the food is something else! So on Saturday we made this the Birthday Palace!

A party is about getting together to celebrate a life. And yesterday 14 of us did just that for Mom. It was a smaller party than some others expected… but then it included all the people that Mom knows well.

The Buffet is amazing to say the least. The food is outstanding! And the staff is super with service and involvement with their customers. Each of the staff were born in China. Many struggled with their English. And they are all happy to help you.

The afternoon was topped off by two the gals coming with a specially prepared Birthday plate made just for Mom. And the young ladies sung Happy Birthday to Mom in English as we all joined in.

Mom wore her specially purchased Tierra for that day. After all she is our queen or princess – whatever she wants to be.

It was during this meal that I gave Mom her special gift, a Life Book that was designed and composed entirely by her friends and family from all over the world.

Remember how I told you that I invited friends to e-Connect with me about her.

Greetings poured in from all over the place by facebook and email. I then copied them into page after page, that were inserted into a beautiful red book. Along with that Photos and cards came via the internet as well.

The Life Book is over 50 pages in length and still growing. More greetings kept coming after we had the book wrapped as a present.

Later at home I asked Mom if she had read the book yet. She told me, “I have read it two times and started the third time now. And I cried a lot.”

The stories poured in from everyone telling how Mom had been an instrument to help them when they most needed it. Some stories related how she was the one that had helped facilitate the meeting of their spouse. Others told of having so much fun every time they came to her big old house… of her continual hospitality and the gracious of her giving. Mom is very generous of everything thing she has and always has been!!! Every note testified of that.

This post is way too long – I know! But how else do you write about a 90 year old?

I told one of my friends that this was so much more fun celebrating her life when she is alive. Too many time families only do this after their Mom is gone.

In this celebration Mom was with us in every way! She was not just with us in “spirit” or our memories.

When the time comes for Mom to be promoted, the new red Life Book will be at that celebration too. The cool part is that the Homework that I will need to do for that celebration is all done now!

Thank you to everyone that helped me with this. In a short while I hope to have the e-Life Book made and I will send it out to everyone that wants to read it.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

With Alida - the Queen's Special Assistant

Left to right - Murray, Terry, Marion, Winston, Brends, Alida, and Mom

Left to right - Emma, Dana, Lina, Juneau, Clifford, and Eunice
Bruce and "Bob" missing from photo op

With "Bob"(Rev. Seung Hun Jung) - one of her adopted grandsons

Only part of South China Buffet's food stuff - MMMmmmmm MMM!







With her new Life Book

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Egyptian Wrath continues

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This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

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Today’s Blog Post


Egyptian Wrath continues
The images kept flooding into the Western World by way of TV reports. I was almost overwhelmed by 9 AM. I had been watching the TV reports stream steadily into the Gym from many different sources. Almost every media outlet available is shown on the banks of receivers hanging from the ceiling.

At some point one of the events suddenly burned deeply within my being. It is one that will now never leave. It is the one that points to a horror beyond belief.

The small video camera was pointing toward three men running toward the camera man. Behind them was an open road that was blocked at its other end with many people. These people seemed to be dressed in black – but they were more than two blocks away from the look of it.

As the scene unfolded with this clip the man on the left of the TV screen cleared the line of the camera vision… now two men were running closer. It was at that moment that a loud rifle “POP” could be heard and the man on the right of the screen twisted and fell in a human lump on the road… the other man continued to clear the TV screen… while the victim lay still… presumably dead or soon to die.

For the rest of the day, the evening, the night and all through the night my brain tried to process this image. It was terrible.

It was not Hollywood. It was not a movie where the stunt man gets up after the Director yells, “Cut… that’s a wrap!”

And with the hoard of people standing at the other end of the road and perhaps advancing toward the amateur camera person, no one went to pick up their friend. The two other men that were running toward the camera seconds earlier were likely still running. The body did not move.

This particular image showed the men to be a little older. It would appear that they could have been of marrying age, or past that – maybe even with a family at home. And likely there would still be parents alive some somewhere near his home – or in his home. Maybe he was the prime bread winner?

All of these thoughts stayed with me and are with me now.

The Friday of Wrath has come and gone… but is now followed by perhaps days of more and continued turmoil.

The people of the large Egyptian cities will awake up this morning and will make a decision to continue on or quit. But they have come too far to stop now. With or without food to eat they will start another day and the battle will rage again. This has been declared a revolution – and from what history tells us it does not end until the human drive that started it is satisfied with the amount of blood that has been shed.

The dictator of Egypt has been supported by the USA as he has displayed some semblance of good relationship with Israel. Most of the bullets and tear gas that was dispersed were USA made or bought.

No one knows what will come out of this as to the political climate.

At the end of yesterday the price of oil sky rocketed again. This next week we will all face that change at our gas pumps.

Yes World events such as the Wrath of Egypt will affect us all.

My thoughts went back yesterday to another time in Egypt when the Israelites that had lived there for 400 plus years, were about to leave. The Dictator at that time used them as slaves to better his own wealth. He treated them terribly in every way possible.

Just before the Israelites at that time were to leave, a final test took place – between God and the Dictator. Let my people go or suffer the consequences of a Death Angel passing over your cities and country.

The Israelites protected themselves with Lamb’s Blood sprinkled over their doorways and down the sides.
That night all of First Born Egyptians died in their sleep. The mourning the next day ways beyond any possible imagination with Millions dead.

Egypt has gone through the Wrath before.

One TV Person stated a horrible fact. 40% of the Egyptian people are below the poverty level and make perhaps less than $2.00 a day.

There were so many thoughts that raged through my mind and raging still.

I cannot help but think… Israel and its relative success, and its perceived weakness, added to that its being targeted by the hatred of almost every Islamic nation… is now fair game. Egypt’s poorness alongside Israel’s richness – and the pack attitude of the Revolution is going to mean a huge imbalance.

The war in Afghanistan is slowing and we are withdrawing… could Egypt be next with needed American Power to still the horrors of what might happen?

Why does a retired Minister like me give a care? Shouldn’t I be doing religious stuff here at home, go to church, sing nice songs, live a quiet and nice Christian Life here?

Nope I can’t do that. I care for my World. I will pray for the people of Egypt… and in particular the Christians that live there… if they are still alive.

My prayer life is being strengthened in ways that I did not know about.

Will you join me?

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/  

Friday, January 28, 2011

Friday of Wrath – something you should be concerned about

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Today’s Blog Post


Friday of Wrath – something you should be concerned about

Even as I write this at this time of day, people are suffering ways that are not imaginable. Many will have set out on a course this day that may cost them their lives. In fact many may be dieing as I write – and as you read this on January 28, 2011.

Yesterday as I returned from the Gym, the CBC reported was speaking with one of the Government Opposition Leaders in Egypt. He was describing the crack down that was already in place and was about to get even worse. The Government of that great country was reacted to the wave of protestors and protests that have sprung up within it very fibre.

Most Christians and even non-Christians in our country will not think of Egypt or have considered what is happening now.

On New Years Eve, 21 Coptic Christians were killed in Egypt with a targeted Bombing. On January 7th another six Coptic Christians were killed in a drive by shooting at their church.

But what is happening now is more than an attack on churches and Christians that live in Egypt. It is an internal upheaval that has happened all across parts of Africa.

In the last while Tunisia’s dictator was toppled and his family fled to various parts of the world. His brother-in-law and family fled to Montreal. Our Prime Minister has spoken out against them and stated that they are not welcome here.

From the reports that I have followed the Tunisian rebellion and toppling was orchestrated by way of the use of Facebook and the other Cell Phone usage – i.e. Text Messaging etc.

People would mass to one site or respond to another via the electronic communication devices. The ebb and flow of rioters was coordinated by a cell phone or communicator.

Today in Egypt the majority of people have responded to the call from their spiritual leaders to come and pray at the Mosque. All across this great county people have come for their Holy Day.

The speaker yesterday on the CBC stated clearly that his fear was for what happens when they leave the Mosque. As in other places and other times the fired up Islamic people will be prayed up and ready for what comes next.

His great fear was that on this day, the “Friday of Wrath”, they will be locked into the final ongoing struggle with the authorities and police in particular.

Egypt however was not as slow as Tunisia, It has clamped down on everything in the country.

The Montreal Gazette reports(By Yasmine Saleh and Sherine El Madany, Reuters)
– quote –
“CAIRO - Egypt mounted a security clampdown in Cairo and blocked Internet sites and the mobile phone system in a face-off with thousands of protesters who promised a "Friday of Wrath" aimed at ending Hosni Mubarak's 30-year rule.

Emboldened by this month's revolt that toppled the leader of Tunisia, Egyptians have staged mass protests since Tuesday and web activists have called for Muslims and Christians to demonstrate after Friday prayers. Hundreds have been arrested.” End quote

We as Westerners could not be more aloof and remote from this country’s events. We are too busy going to Florida or Arizona. Egypt is not our winter holiday destination.

But Israel is next door to Egypt. The things happening right now will affect everyone.

I am fearful that many people will die today. I feel that they are ready to die for their cause. But not everyone is sure what their cause is all about.

The unique thing is that “web activists have called for Muslims and Christians to demonstrate after Friday prayers”

That certainly is a new turn of events for our world.

Two things could possibly take place – the uprising is put down(in which case they will escalate and grow more bitter) – or the uprising will be successful and the 30 year dictator will be ousted.

But in the present climate of Jewish, Christian and Islamic Worlds – all converging at one point and time… suddenly the End Times Prophecies that I remembered were preached when I was boy… are unfolding rapidly before my eyes. As I read the balance is changing quickly.

For years Egypt has been kind of a Moderate Islamic country and even kind of balanced out what happened to their neighbour Israel. Tip that moderate attitude over and there will be a huge change of relationships.

Canadians need to be aware and understanding. We will be affected by the relationships that come from all of this. So will Israel.

Today I am listening closely to what is taking place. Though it may be days until we hear the results of this Friday of Wrath, it is still happening.

I am concerned as a Christian and as a World Leader – in my own little World.

ON THE SIDE… there have been a number of readers of my Blog from this region of the world and from Egypt in particular.

If and when they read it again – I am concerned – deeply concerned and praying for God to help you!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource
http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Egypt+braces+Friday+Wrath/4183120/story.html  

Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Flood of Memories Reaching back a Long Ways

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Today’s Blog Post


The Flood of Memories Reaching back a Long Ways

At 90 years old she sits in her room reading, hour after hour. In the dead cold of January and with body parts that complains a lot with movement, she enjoys sitting still in her rocking chair. When books are complete she watches her TV.

She does get out for walks in the Mall a few times during the week. Some of the walking is now relegated to Tim Horton’s coffee and sitting at the edge of the Food Court alone and watching people. But getting to the Mall is almost all the exercise that she needs. Get the coat on, out the door pushing her walker in snow, climbing in and out of the car, and then through the large Mall doors – is almost enough.

I am sad some days as I watch her. She has few friends in our city. Even after 90 years of age she is still “friendless” for the most part. Oh she has a few nice acquaintances from her church, people that call her if they want her to fill the seats at the senior’s functions, but other than that they are too busy with their own doctor’s appointments etc.

She is not 90 in this community, she is only four years old. She arrived in early April 2007 from her home in Saskatchewan when she was 87 years old. All the people her age had their own friends and group of friends. She didn’t fit into any of their plans. When they went to restaurants on Sunday with their group – she went home with us. Now with a walker she is too embarrassed to bother anyone else with the problem of lifting it in and out of their cars.

For a while I suspected that she was kind of shelved and left out because of who her son was, the minister in the church. Then I became more realistic about it – she didn’t know anyone’s stories from the past. She didn’t fit into their groups.

If you think of a High School that has been in the community for years. The students in the School have attended school with each other since they were in Kindergarten. Now 10 or 11 years later, they have formed their own groups, they are dating, they are playing their sports, they are connected. Then one day a new girl walks into the class and takes a seat near the back. Everyone looks at her but doesn’t speak to her. Some say “Hi” but few know what to say to the stranger.

The feelings at that entrance point to the new society are overwhelming to say the least. For this 87 year old, now 90, it was the very same. She couldn’t have been more of an outsider nor felt more like that.

The 90 year old loves calls from “home”. She has two sisters and a brother still alive. The other four siblings have passed away earlier in her life. These three call and that means more than you can imagine.

There are a few in rest of the family that do call… but most are too busy.

For some of you that are closer to me – you will know that I am writing about my mom. Tomorrow she will be 90 years old. It is the big birthday. Most people will be lucky reaching their Ninth Decade. My mom has done that.

We will stay home so the grandkids and the other relatives could call her. She needs all her western family… but they are so very far away.

In getting ready for this big day I asked her friends and almost all her relatives to write a greeting and maybe a short story about their connection with her over all these years. The response has been amazing. At this moment there are 22 pages and more are coming as people remember my request.

She will get the Booklet of Greetings on Saturday as we meet a few friends for lunch. I can’t wait to let her see it.

One of her very creative Grandsons made a video just for her with a greeting from his brand new son… who mom has only seen photos of. Mind you little Alex is more interested in watching the Hockey game on TV than the Video Camera. It should be fun watching her watch the video.

Do I regret bringing my mom to our city and taking her so far from her home…? Kind of I guess. But if I hadn’t taken the step she would not likely have reached the 90th year. Her doctor told me in 2009 that we had to do something… we just had to.

Every Tuesday morning she now meets with her new friends at a special seniors activity center.

Every Thursday she is with me as we meet with a great group of senior’s, at a very fancy Senior’s Home, where we meet with our “New Friends Group”. There are a number of Seniors in this Home that have been brought here from across Canada to live in a beautiful place – closer to their children that can’t come to see them in Manitoba or Alberta or B.C.

Today we are having fancy cup cakes with roses on top for her surprise party. These folks have really taken to her. Laughter is a big part of this group for sure. No Bible studies only interaction for two hours together.

As I read over all the stories I cried in the Booklet I have prepared. They are beautiful and so full of love. They tell of a young woman that touched hundred of lives and had her home always open to whoever came along. That was my mom and that is my mom now!

I can’t wait to give her the Booklet.

Gotta run.. some things to do before I get my breakfast ready with my mom.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

PS - Today this is the Eight Hundred and NINETIETH posting to my Blog! Wahoo!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

New taxes on Internet – Come ON GET REAL!

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This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

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Today’s Blog Post


New taxes on Internet – Come ON GET REAL!

Ouch! That is going to cost someone more money! I sure hope it isn’t me.

Jason Magder reported in the Montreal Gazette today… quote…
“The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission issued a decision yesterday detailing how much telecommunications companies are permitted to charge third-party Internet service providers for high data usage.” End Quote

Now I know that those on tight budgets will worry about this. Many have the Internet as their last form on entertainment. And they cannot pay more.

But they will if they exceed their bandwidth that is allowable by their Service Provider.

Now already that is “greek” to some that read this.

Bandwidth is the amount that flows through your Internet Line into your computer. It is used up when you connect to the Net with your machine. Ordinary email doesn’t use much… but downloading files such as music and movies gobbles it up.

A friend of mine has connected to the widely advertised Netflix, where he can download movies to right to his computer… then play it when he wants to. It costs him a monthly rental fee to do so. The Cineplex People now offer that service as well.

Now if you get excited and download a huge movie using your high speed connection – you will get dinged fairly quickly for what happens.

I am not sure about Youtube usage yet. Watching a lot of movies on that program downloads Bites as well… using your Bandwidth up that month.

Charlie Angus a Facebook friend of mine and a NDP MP in Ottawa states that he thinks that it won’t stop at that.

Jason Magder states … quote
"Charlie Angus, the NDP member of Parliament who speaks about digital issues, said he disagrees with the rationale behind usage-based billing.

He said it will lead to huge increases for customers.

"What we need to have is clear and transparent rules so it's being used in a measured capacity, and it's not just instituting the principle that every time you turn on the Internet, they can ding you for fees like they do with cell-phones," Angus said.

"We've seen this before; when we were told that deregulating cable rates would give customers a big benefit. We were paying 60-to 100-per-cent more in no time."
End quote

Hokey Mokey… you will have to get back to sending letters to folk by the old way. BUT – that is an ouch too… have you sent a letter or package lately? Overage on the Internet is cheaper.

I get the feeling that everything is going up again. Ouch!

Now along time ago my Dad showed me how to make an amazing communication tool.

After mom finished cooking supper there were two tin cans left over – ready for the trash.

Dad took the clean cans and poked a small hole in the bottom of each one. Into the hole he inserted a string and tied a knot. Then pulling the cans apart and making the string between them taught… we could talk to each other. One person could talk into one can and the other person would hear exactly what they said in the opposite can.

Now if I could just get along enough string strung between Terry and Winston and my house… we could talk for nothing.

At the present time I can be gotten on my house phone, my internet, my cell phone which each include a variety of ways of doing that. And each of these is Taxed heavily.

Cans and string look good.

Do you know there is only one that doesn’t tax me… and that is my Boss, God. He asks for a little time… but is always unchanging. He doesn’t pop surprises on me! And his bandwidth is bigger than anyone’s. WOW!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource
http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Internet+usage+fees+draw+anger/4167732/story.html

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The Account of My Discovery of Telus by Bruce Lindsay

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

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Today’s Blog Post
Guest Blogger today – Bruce Lindsay – Great thoughts for a Cold January day!

The Account of My Discovery of Telus by Bruce Lindsay

I thought I’d take a break from sorting socks today and share a thought that has been very encouraging to me lately. I shared it as a devotional last week and everyone thought it was interesting.

It begins with John, chapter 8, when people brought a woman to Jesus who had been convicted of adultery. They thought she should be stoned to death. Jesus said whoever has no sin should cast the first stone. (I’ll bet you know the story) They let her go. Jesus said to her, (Verse 11) “They don’t condemn you? Then neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” That last part has always seemed very discouraging to me. “Go and sin no more.” I’ve also seen it translated as “Go and be perfect.”

The end of this story has always bothered me. How can Jesus expect this woman to be perfect? How can Jesus expect anyone to be perfect? Especially a woman that has lived as sinful a life as this woman. Not that I’m saying I’m any better. I know I am a sinner. I try to ‘die to myself daily’ and walk in the way I think pleases God. Yet I know that “There is a way that seems good to man but in the end it leads to death.” I don’t believe it’s possible to ‘go and sin no more.’ It always seemed like Jesus was setting her up to fail. That doesn’t seem like the Jesus I know.

Likewise the verse from Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, even as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (What!! How can we be as perfect as God?!).

Recently, though, I learned about the word ‘TELEIOW’, a Greek word that has been translated to mean ‘perfect’. The direct English translation is TELUS. Many people know the phone company Telus Mobility. This is where it gets it’s name. “Teleiow” or ‘Telus’ is the word used in that Matthew verse. It also makes sense that it is what Jesus said in John 8:11. The word has been translated to mean: to make perfect, to make happen, to complete, to finish, but I recently had someone explain that the best translation, the one Telus Mobility uses, is, “The right tool for the job.”

If I was working on my car, changing the oil, and I asked you for a monkey wrench, but instead you passed me a socket wrench that had the exact metric socket as the nut I needed to loosen, I would slip it over the nut, easily begin loosening it, and I would think. Aah, perfect! The right tool for the job! That’s Telus.

If I was working on my baseboard and needed a hammer, but instead, when I looked in my toolbox I found a finishing hammer, that would be ‘Telus’. Yes, perfect. The right tool for the job.

That changes everything! Jesus was telling this woman “Go and be the right tool for the job.” Or, “Go and be the thing that God intended you to be.” Or, “Go and serve God.” Be a tool in God’s toolbox. By being what God intended us to be, which is what we are all trying to do, we can be telus. Perfect.

The verse in Matthew makes sense now too. Isn’t God ‘telus’? The right tool for every job? Of course He is! So Jesus is saying, “Be the right tool for the job, just as your Heavenly Father is the right tool for the job.” Jesus wants us to be tools in God’s toolbox that He can use for His glory. That’s an awesome thought. It means that there will be things God wants to have done and will look through his toolbox and say, “Aah, Bruce will be telus for this job. Perfect!” or “This is a job that my servant Murray will be telus for. Perfect!” The jobs that God gives me will be different from the jobs God gives you, because we are different tools in the toolbox, but for our respective jobs, we are ‘telus’. We’re not perfect, but in God’s eyes, we can be perfect for the job.

I used an awesome Bible program to find other places where Teleiow (Telus) was used.
Most important, Philippians 8:21 “Through faith in Christ, we become perfect.”

That means that it isn’t until we have an encounter with Jesus that we become perfect. That makes sense. How can you serve God unless you choose to, through Jesus. You have to decide to get into the toolbox on your own, to be telus. That brings me back to the woman in the story. Before she met Jesus, she was just another sinner. But after meeting Jesus, she was changed. Jesus knew it, so He used her. Think about it. She wasn’t perfect, but she was the perfect one to teach us this lesson. That’s ‘telus’. “Now go and be perfect.” I think Jesus was just telling her, ‘Now serve God, because God might need you again soon!’

I feel so encouraged lately, after learning this truth. I have been telling everyone I meet. It could be that this thought has been revealed to me because I am the perfect person to spread the word. Maybe this is exactly what God wanted me to do. If so, I’m telus. I’m the right tool for the job. Through Christ, I’ve been made perfect. I’m perfect in God’s eyes.

I’ve got to get back to sorting socks now, but here are a few others places the teleiow word is used. See if the verse changes meaning when you read it knowing that ‘perfect’, could be translated to ‘the right tool for the job’ :
Hebrews 10:14 “He has made perfect, forever those who are being made Holy.”
Phillippeans 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained or have been made perfect, but I press on…”
James 1:4 “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing…”

~ Bruce Lindsay ~
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Monday, January 24, 2011

The Making of an Expert

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

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Today’s Blog Post


The Making of an Expert

Mark Twain said, “An expert is an ordinary fellow from another town.”

I am good at what I do. In fact I am good at what I do in a number of areas. I am an expert in some of the areas. And I am achieving the expert level in other areas – one by one.

Now that will sound like an egotistical attitude to some. Not really, it is just a fact. And if you look at what you do now you will see that you are an expert at some things and will possibly be achieving the expert level in other things as well.

Most of us don’t think about it, we just do it. But just doing it doesn’t make you an expert… doing it over and over again, tackling the hard part, brings you closer to being an expert.

So do you believe Mark Twain assessment? Or is there more?

Searching for clues on this idea of being an expert, I found Malcolm Gladwell, a great writer. According to Malcolm Gladwell it takes 10,000 hours to be an expert or elite performer, in any industry, science and art form.

Ten thousand hours is equivalent to roughly three hours a day, or 20 hours a week, of practice over 10 years.

So if I do “my thing” for those 20 hours a week for 10 years I would definitely be an expert? Maybe?

Wikipedia states on an expert…
* Relative to a specific field, an expert has:
* Specific education, training, and knowledge
* Required qualifications
* Ability to assess importance in work-related situations
* Capability to improve themselves
* Intuition
* Self-assurance and confidence in their knowledge

Now are there any areas in your life that this is happening? If there are you may be or are becoming an expert.

Not only do you need to do something for 10,000 hours, you need to “Do the difficult stuff in your field.”

Kathy Sierra stated that, “Most of us want to practice the things we are already good at, and avoid the things we suck at. We stay average or intermediate amateurs forever.”

What must we do then? The Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance says,

“What is required is "deliberate practice", namely concentrated effort at improvement.

An amateur musician, for example, may have lots of experience playing through pieces, but a high-level professional will spend untold hours practising ever-more-difficult pieces, striving to master them.”

The above quote is from an excellent posting about Blogging – shown below.

So, if I am to move past being average or intermediate – I need to move into more difficult stuff. I need to push myself to do things that I have never tried before in my selected field. I need to push the envelop to the edge and then go a little further that day… and the days that follow, until I reach an area where no one has gone before.

I can be an average reader or even a little better – an intermediate reader. But if I push myself just a little more, reading more and reading a little more difficult things I can approach an expert reader stage.

Many of you that read this today are expert readers. You just never consider that before. You have read more than 20 hours per week for more than 10 years. You have selected new topics and gone further than you have every gone before. You have tried more difficult subject matters – now you can read anything.

If you are always reading Romance Novels, you may still be an amateur reader or maybe an intermediate. But if you now can read complex text, sort through difficult ideas and concepts, you have gone further… toward the expert status.

A long time ago Charles Schultz, the cartoonist, drew a cartoon strip that was perhaps the deepest thought ever. In the cartoon strip, Charlie Brown and Lucy are watching Snoopy, Charlie’s dog, doing tricks. In the strip Snoopy was sitting up, rolling over etc(this was before Schultz had him stand up and walk like a human). Lucy turned to Charlie Brown and asked, “Can you do that?” Charlie Brown states simply, “Of course not, those who can’t do, teach.”

It was very funny at the time, but it actually has a truth for us in the Charlie Brown statement.

By teachings something you will in fact push yourself further than you have ever gone before. You have to learn something well enough to be able to help your students who are pushing you for more.

I am becoming an expert Tatter. I have tatted for more than the required time suggested. I have pushed the envelop and created new things and new ideas. I also teach Tatting. The confidence that has come is real. There is not much that I have not tried that is already done. But there is now much more that I am discovering that has never been done.

I am progressing toward becoming an expert wood carver. At least I thought I was.

A few weeks ago I was at the Queen’s Park Legislative Building for Ontario again. This time I guess I was in the right mood or looking at things a little different this time.

As I looked closer at the building both inside and out there are about a million examples of the Wood Carving Experts of their day. Our Legislative Building is absolutely covered in wood carving and wood work of all kinds. The ability of these artists that worked on the building is amazing. These were expert carvers in wood and stone.

I realize now that I have quite a ways to go in this category – but I am willing to try. I am willing to push my limits now and try something just a little more difficult. And I am also willing to teach.

The last step that is so much fun to consider is, “You are never too old to learn.”

I think you are old when you refuse to try. I think you are done when you believe that you won’t try. I think that you and I are very different when you won’t even consider the possibility of trying – because you just can’t.

As I sit each week in the Peterborough Square demonstrating Tatting and Wood Carving, the reactions are really interesting as people walk by the table. As I talk to each one, the reactions are many.

What an education that has been!

The greatest compliments that I have ever received is not from Organizations, the Government or community groups for what I do or have accomplished in some areas. The greatest compliment is when one of my Grandchildren state proudly, “My Grandpa can do anything!”

All through what I have written here you have been saying that you are not an expert… you are not like me!

But in the eyes of your grandchildren you are way past that… you are amazing already. So why not go the next step and become and expert?

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource
http://bighow.com/news/how-to-be-an-expert-at-anything-in-4-simple-steps

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Virtue as a Necessity

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/  

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Today’s Blog Post


Virtue as a Necessity
Following my post of yesterday on Forgiveness… this is a perfect subject to look at.

While carving in my workshop at 5 PM on January 15th I caught Jordan Peterson, a Clinical Psychologist speaking on “Virtue as a Necessity” on TVO – the Ontario Public TV Station. (The Link below will get you to his lecture – you need to listen or see it – you can do both.)

I doubt that I have been as deeply challenged on any topic in a long while. He pressed my thinking to why we need to – or I need to - be virtuous – or have virtue as part of my life qualities.

Wikipedia states of Virtue…
Virtue (Latin: virtus, Greek: ἀρετή "arete") is moral excellence. A virtue is a trait or quality deemed to be morally excellent and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being.

Personal virtues are characteristics valued as promoting individual and collective well being. The opposite of virtue is vice.

To have “Virtue” you have placed limits on yourself. The personal limits have a work toward producing Virtue producing “a foundation of principle and good moral being.”

An athlete like my nephew Zach Bell has placed limits on his life in almost every area so that he will be the best in his International Cycling competitions around the world. Placing limits on his life and then a strong discipline to do his best – he is achieving some sort of virtue toward his Cycling. He is a consistent winner because of this.

Now that is a stretch. Most of us think that this is a spiritual characteristic.

You don’t have to be spiritual to exhibit virtue.

In fact another thought that is powerful, some spiritual people I know are not very virtuous – they do not have virtue.

It is a human thing to have to work at virtue. You are not born with it. You are born with an ability to be Virtuous or develop Virtue. But it must be worked on. It is cultivated and nurtured by personal discipline.

To develop Virtue you must take responsibility for your self discipline… your development of your virtue.

Jordan Peterson retells the story of Cain and Able. (Please note here that it is always said or told as “Cain and Able” – not Able and Cain.)

The issue that Cain faced personally was that of being resentful. It was his moral pitfall. He tried hard, worked hard and did not seem to succeed. This took him into a conversation with God who explains Cain’s problem and tells him he is responsible.

Cain saw that Able was doing much better. His sacrifice was accepted – Cain’s wasn’t.

Cain would not take responsibility and accept what he had to do to change. Instead he struck out of his resentfulness – and killed the one that was weaker and seemed successful. He sunk into the ease of his moral pitfall.

In the Bible, Cain acted on his own… and it was a personal moral failure. His action took another’s life.

Jordan Peterson points to 1939 when a popular teaching on a possible Utopia was there for the German people. The man that brought this “teaching” or idea was named Hitler. And the odd thing is that almost everyone went along with him to bring this Utopian State. In doing so people that were deemed to hold back the mass would have to be eliminated.

As I listened to Jordan I thought of Hitler’s virtue. Was there any at all? I am sure that he thought there was. And he likely believed that he was the most virtuous.

The fact that he sunk to perhaps the lowest moral deficiency possible and was resentful of the Jews, it led to his destruction of every Jew that he could get his hands on. That resentfulness destroyed Millions upon millions of people.

Worse yet at that time, the world accepted that resentfulness as a norm. The world was in the clutch of moral problems that were so deep that they could not see how bad it was. In fact the world as a whole could really care less. Their lack of any response or their act of agreeing with the atrocity being committed in Germany and Europe, led them to let Hitler do what he did.

Soldiers in Canada and the USA finally joined the British folk to stop Germany’s advance of its Utopia. They did not join to stop the killing of the Jews.

In fact, when an old steamship came to Canada’s shores in 1939 filled with Jews trying to escape from the Holocaust in their home land… Canada turned them away… so did the USA. The final events that happened were terrible. There were 900 on board that ship. When they were turned away, about 300 died in the Holocaust.

Hitler was not the only one that was resentful. The whole world at that time took some part in the resentfulness.

This past week Canada had a new Monument dedicated in Halifax to the memory of these folks that were turned away. The Jews in Canada built it. It says we are sorry.

You would never do that – you are a Christian.

In 1939 there were good Halifax Christian People attended church regularly – when that steamship tried to land in Halifax – and no one did anything. As good Christians they also believed the worst of the Jews. After all the Jews were the ones that had killed their Jesus. Hating a Jew was okay.

The fact that Jesus was also one of them was lost. We could love Him but hate Them.

Selective Virtue – a turn on and turn off of your virtue is perhaps the worst kind.

This kind of virtue is no virtue at all. The opposite of Virtue is Vice.

Our best modern example is the Mafia – wouldn’t you think?

The next best one that we all have witnessed is the way that Protestants hate Catholics… and Pentecostals resent Baptists and you resent your neighbour… and he you.

Ooops – sorry about that – you and I are the only Virtue Filled people in the world now. Right?

Nope that is not right! I have to work at developing, building, keeping, struggling with my Virtue all the time.

Oh Boy!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource
TVO – Big Ideas
Hart House Lecturer – Jordan Peterson
http://www.tvo.org/TVOsites/WebObjects/TvoMicrosite.woa?bi?1295128800000
You can select “Audio” or “Video”

Jews Turned Away
http://www.vosizneias.com/73937/2011/01/20/canada-memorial-for-jews-turned-away-from-canada-to-be-unveiled-in-halifax

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Is Forgiveness Truly Possible?

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/  

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Today’s Blog Post


Is Forgiveness Truly Possible?

Together with others I have watched the events around the killing of the Sergeant Ryan Russell, a married 35-year-old father of a two-year-old boy. Sergeant Russell died when he tried to stop the stolen snow plow in Toronto on January 11, 2011.

We all watched the 12,000 strong support by the Police Officers and Public as they marched down the Toronto streets to the Funeral that day. What a powerful picture it was.

I watched one show on TV where an expert was being interviewed about “forgiveness”. He stated the steps that people go through with the tragic deaths of loved ones at the hands of others. Question “Can the Victim’s of the Crime ever forgive?” The expert gave his opinion.

At the same time our country is sifting through the feelings that we have toward the killer of Police Officer Russell, another part of the country is living the night mare of the killing of another special person.

In 1985 there wasn’t 12,000 at that funeral for the special person however. There was not the awareness that we have now of the Russell family.

In 1984, November 30th, Candace Derksen, was murdered. Her frozen and bound body was found in an industrial area in Winnipeg. Her murderer had his way with her and then snuffed her life.

Candace was 13 years old.

Candace’s mother Wilma is some one that I know. Wilma Derksen told her story at a conference that I was part of. I came to know this lady that has done so much for her community. Instead of hating and continuing in her anger, she chose to build a better community.

When I met her, in the past few years, her daughter’s murderer had not been found. It has only been in the recent years that through a unique series of events Mark Edward Grant, 47 years old, was found. He was charged with the murder of Candace.

Of course he is not guilty and a trial is now being conducted in Winnipeg as I write.

In reading the article from the Winnipeg Free Press today, Wilma and her husband have been noted as doing something that few others will do – They FORGIVE the MURDERER Mark Edward Grant.

You really need to read this story (Link Below – Derksen Forgiveness)

Here's an excerpt from Have You Seen Candace?, a book Wilma Derksen wrote.
"That first endless night, I couldn't sleep, and kept a vigil by the living room window. I sensed that Candace needed me, that she was struggling. The hours were torturous. I cried out to God, 'Why?' and prayed that God would protect her from pain," she wrote.

"I felt God was crying too. And then I felt silence. At that moment, I asked God if Candace was in heaven; I felt like something was over."

I am deeply moved by these stories of the killing of the Police Officer and the 13 year old. I am like all the other public that stands and watches. I wonder with every one else about forgiveness and the ability to turn the killer into God’s hands… and let society do its thing.

I wonder about Victim’s of Crime and the terrible things that they are subjected to locally when every one else moves on and they can’t.

I wonder about their safety after the man gets out of prison. They cannot feel safe in my mind!

I have a friend in Peterborough that lost her son by a violent young man acting in a rage. He was shot dead at his friend’s house. That happened a number of years ago… and the young man in jail is now much older. He hates the people that put him in there… and I wouldn’t doubt for a moment that his rage will strike again. But he will come out in time.

I am not sure that I could forgive.

I have another friend that was brutally raped by her own father from age 7 or 8, until she was about 19 years old. Her father raped her one more time when he dropped her off at the Bible College she would attend to become a Minister. When he finished that one last time he quoted Jesus in her ear, “It is finished…” and he let her go to off to Bible College.

Today her life is in ruin. She is hardly able to cope as the flood gates opened with her admitting what her father had done.

He has been in prison a along time now. He is ‘Born Again’ now… but he was Born Again when he raped her all those years too. And he was Born Again when he did the approximately 200 others that they feel he had raped and molested.

Soon he will get out of prison too. In prison he has taken courses and studied hard to become an Ordained Minister… really he is!

I want to vomit. And I don’t know if I could ever forgive – if it was me.

Wilma and Cliff Derksen are truly amazing. So are my friends Marie and Donalda – victims of the crimes.

My Government is pouring Millions more dollars into building more prison beds – to keep men longer. I agree that some men should not come out… but that DOES NOT APPLY to ALL!

I am dealing with Forgiveness issues all the time. And I am not sure that I have a good answer yet to my own question.

How about you? Are you aware of the other crimes and the Victims… not just the kind that 12,000 run to and watch on TV? Do you care?

I do.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource
Russell Story
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/toronto/a-very-tragic-day-toronto-police-officer-killed-by-stolen-snowplow/article1866679/

Mark Edward Grant Trial
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2011/01/21/mb-derksen-trial-last-contacts-110121.html


Derksen - Forgiveness
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/religious-faith-inspired-them-to-forgive-114411289.html

Friday, January 21, 2011

Goal Setting for 2011

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/  

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Today’s Blog Post


Goal Setting for 2011

Last evening I attended a short seminar of “Goal Setting”. It was attended by other small business owners. Each had a different kind of approach to their work and life. It was an interesting group to sit in on.

I took the time to be there with the idea that I should be setting new goals for my business. Others were there for the same reason.

The sharp contrast was the other part of the group needed help with setting goals to stop smoking or quitting other nasty habits – with business thrown in on the side. At least that is what I saw.

We were a mishmash of personalities to say the least.

I think I heard the leaders say something of value for all of us… or for me.

He stated that our Goals that we set should include 6 important areas or considerations. These are…
1. Family and Friends
2. Financial and Career
3. Spiritual
4. Physical
5. Social and Cultural
6. Mental and Educational

In others words, if I am to set a new goal this year to make an additional $20,000 I will need to make sure that I consider the 6 important areas in my life as I launch into the Goal. If I do not consider these areas the action that I take to achieve the goal of $20,000 that I have set may just mess one or more of these areas up. Then I could be in even bigger trouble!

Or did he say that I should have a Goal in all six areas? That is not a bad idea either. Then life would be balanced. It would be a balanced life.

Last evening for me was another example of how one person is saying one thing and the people listening may be in a totally different world at the moment, enjoying a thought life all of their own.

My brain does that to me all too often.

Back to Goals…
The lady that I was ‘paired up’ with was a super, nice individual. When we were asked to turn to someone that we didn’t come with and share the goals that we had… she was clear and concise in the direction that she was about to take for this year.

Then it was my turn. Oh boy…

I was trying quickly to sort out one Goal that I could talk about and sound as good as my partner did. After all we had a cool two and half minutes to share what we were planning to do for next year.

It was at that moment that I came to the realization that I needed more prep for this mini seminar.

I have way too many goals and am doing way too many things to tell anybody about ‘me’. I am a totally wired and weird bag of mixed tricks that seriously needs a super, fantastic, well planned out and steady individual that will keep me on track to get things done. I need a business manager to say the least. I need bookkeeper and CEO and production manager and … about fifteen other people to get done what I have morphed into in the past two years.

I am doing very well with contacts and promotion – but no so well in some other areas.

Oh I know you are sitting on the edge of your seat as you read this, waiting to hear the stuff in my life that might be juicy to hear.

Sorry I stopped doing that kind of confession a while ago. Look in the mirror and see what you face… and then you will know me as well.

Sorting it all out…
Today between the stuff that needs to be done, the ideas that are swirling, and the direction that needs to be taken… I think I will sort through this stuff.

I think last night helped me… I think it did.

I never set any big goals. And nope, the $20,000 Goal didn’t make any sense.

But I did see that I need to set a Goal that will level life a bit better, sort through the many opportunities and the keep up the production with only one person – ME.

Thanks Winston for making me think. Thanks Sharla for inviting me. And thanks ‘partner’ that I didn’t come with – for listening to my scattered thoughts.

Gotta run… have some more that has to be done by the end of the day!

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Losing the Memories of Now

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/  

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Today’s Blog Post


Losing the Memories of Now

I am more than a little bit shocked as I read the story On Tuesday, January 18. The paragraph that stated,
“When she was found, the woman wasn't wearing her coat or glasses and she had no pulse.

"Our officers tried CPR. Due to her condition, the hypothermia, the chest compressions were difficult," said Dube.”

The woman was found at 5:30 AM by a person delivering newspapers. It was Minus 20 C with an added wind chill that made it fell much, much lower yet. How much sadder can that be?

Worse yet as Police checked on the situation, neighbour had heard someone cry out or scream at that early hour of about 2:00 AM and never called 911. The poor woman was not far from home.

Her husband woke at 2:00 AM to find his wife gone. He called police. A search was launched by 4:45 AM. 2 hours and 45 minutes after the call went in… but by that time it would have been too late anyway.

She was 66 years old and walked away from her home at about 2:00 AM. She was apparently suffering from a dementia (Alzheimer’s Disease).

The newspaper that had sub headline that declared her to be a senior citizen.

The article stated that…
“Police said finger marks could be seen on a vehicle in the driveway where the woman had likely tried to pull herself up off of the ground.
There were also scratch marks on the screen door to the home and Dube said he suspects the woman may have tried to get inside.”

Imagine… screams that no one heard… a search party that was launched 2 hour and 45 minutes later… and a woman that didn’t know where home was… couldn't connect the dots to get back… even after stepping out into the cold air.

Short term memory loss is the issue. When she took one or two steps away from her home she would have no idea that she had just left her home. There is no steps or thought that is there to retrace.

I know a number of folk right now that are now suffering the early memory loss. It will not likely get better they have been told. Family members are not fully aware of what is happening – or are denying it altogether.

This story could well be one that scares them awake all night for fear that their husband or wife will some day slip away as well.

I write profusely now... in that later something like this may happen to me. When and if it does I would be unlikely able to begin the writing process. I would start towards the computer and then forget – or not know why I came to do something. The will might be there.. but the next action necessary to accomplish it would not be.

Yes I am worried. Few males in my family have lived as long as I have. Soon I will be 67. My dad died at 69… and he was one of the longest living males in his family tree. Few males lived long enough to be able to achieve the potential memory loss stage.

The part that is never written about, and this story is the same, little is said about the husband or wife that is living the 36 hour day – each day for the rest of their life. And that fact that the poor man likely had each night filled with the horror that his wife might try to leave the house. The night that he didn’t wake up after the weeks without sleep was the night that she died.

God please help this man through these very difficult days to come.

God help us to find help in our families when we may face issues like this. May we not be so proud that we cannot reach out for help. May we also not be so alone that no one will connect with us.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/woman-66-dies-toronto-driveway-no-one-answers-20110117-072013-584.html

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Notimeforthespaces

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/  

* * * * * * * *
Today’s Blog Post

Notimeforthespaces

The Prayer is simple, “DearGodhelpmetoslowdownandnotrushthroughwhatIdoAmen.”

It is a 2011 Modern Prayer that fits well with what is happening in many lives around me.

For 35 years I have lived that prayer. In 2008 I started dropping the prayer life that came with that prayer. It took these past 2 years to adjust to the new norm – where that prayer is not needed any longer.

Yesterday I realized that when my wife sat in the not so busy world, drinking our coffee at the Mall’s Food Court, it was a good space. It was almost empty on that Tuesday afternoon. The Christmas Rush was over and every one was at home. We just enjoyed the quiet afternoon together.

I stated that it took 2 years to get to this realization. For 35 years of doing the Churchman’s Job, the Officiate in all things Religious, the Pomp and Pageant Centered Mindful Being of all things Holy Person – where if it wasn’t down just right I would feel like the ill at ease person… and if I didn’t feel that some one in the church would remind me of my place and the way that I should do it. In 2008 I started dropping that poise.

For 35 years of trying so hard to make it happen… I forgot that there should have been spaces in my life and sentences of life. “DearGodhelpmetoslowdownandnotrushthroughwhatIdoAmen.” Was a good prayer that fit perfectly.

Now in the newer slowdownermode… I am watching other folk around me buzz in stupid circles to get more things down in the same amount of time. Their day didn’t stretch any longer – they have just filled it with more… so there is not longer time for the spaces.

In “DearGodhelpmetoslowdownandnotrushthroughwhatIdoAmen.” I saved time of typing 13 s-p-a-c-e-s. If I did that for the whole paragraph and maybe even the whole post I would save a huge amount of time.

But no one would understand what I meant.. in fact maybe they wouldn’t even try to read it.

I
Need
To
Take
Time
And
I
Need
To
Put
More
Spaces
In
My
Life

Last week at the Funeral Visitation everyone rushed to get supper over with to get the Visitation. We all buzzed through the door at the same time to be able to sign the guest book, stand in line to meet the family members, shake hands, view the body, then stand and look at the photos of the dead man. I looked at my wife and then told her, “I think we better go… I have some things I need to get done tonight.” And then we hurried out of the Funeral Home.

The guy in the casket was no longer in a hurry. The rest of us were still buzzing about. We had stuff to rush to and things to do before we went to bed that night.

It was later as I sat doing the things that I had to do that I realized there had been no space in my life for the entire week. There had been no time for me to just sit and do nothing.

I laid my project down and took a deep breath. I pushed the Mute Button on the TV and all went silent in my garage. I listened to the Wind outside and the creaking of the old vent on the roof. It was a cold winter night and I soaked in the Space.

I remember long ago on my grandpa’s farm as a boy. We had come for a visit and to stay a few nights at the farm house. It was very cold outside and the frost had gathered on the window pain of the East Room. The moon was bright and the snow glistened. That bright image came through the small sections of glass where the frost had not yet covered the pane. Everything was still outside. Nothing moved at all.

As I walked out of the garage the other evening, the moon was full, the snow glistened and the night was frozen still. I took a deep breath and thanked God for Spaces.

This morning earlier I rose to begin another day that will likely be full of people. I am at the Mall again demonstrating Tatting. For six hours I will sit and Tat. People will stop to talk and many will come back from last week. They will be on their breaks from their busy day… and when they stop... they have space.

Last week one lady told me, “I would love to talk with you more but I have no time. I am so sorry. I have to rush.”

I took a deep breath and smiled at her. “I will be sitting here waiting each Wednesday. You are welcome to come back.”

The guy last week that was lying in the casket will never rush again.

This is my day… I have time for lots of spaces in my life. How about you?

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Getting Down To Business

Misty Hollow Carving
This BLOG is sponsored by “Misty Hollow Carving”. You are welcome to visit Misty Hollow and see all of my carvings.

My Web Site is a like a Gallery – please drop in for a stroll through.

To help me promote my Web Site please copy this URL address and email to someone today http://www.murraylincoln.com/  

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Today’s Blog Post


Getting Down To Business

Bachman-Turner Overdrive had/have a hit on the radio that everyone one knows… here are the Lyrics to "Takin' Care of Business".
“You get up every morning
From your 'larm clock's warning
Take the 8:15 into the city
There's a whistle up above
And people pushin', people shovin'
And the girls who try to look pretty
And if your train's on time
You can get to work by nine
And start your slaving job to get your pay
If you ever get annoyed
Look at me I'm self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day
And I'll be….

Taking care of business (every day)
Taking care of business (every way)
I've been taking care of business (it's all mine)
Taking care of business and working overtime
Work out”

I knew it was there… the two lines… slipped in there just for me!
“Look at me I'm self-employed I love to work at nothing all day”

I have found the Retiree’s Theme Song! That is what I do… Nothing!

At least it seems that way… when NOTHING gets done! Oh boy.

Let me explain…
Yesterday was entitled Blue Monday – the worst day of the year for many people. A press release gave a formula that included Weather, Debt after Christmas, Failed Resolutions and Low Motivation plus the Need to take action. It is a little complicated – but it describes well the reason that I want to do nothing at the moment!

So that is what I did up to yesterday… when suddenly a burst of inspiration hit and I completed a major task that was hanging over my head.

If you would like to see the newest adventure… take a look at http://tattingwhisperer.wordpress.com/ (It is also my first adventure using Wordpress and all of its tools. A bit of a learning curve to say the least. Great for Blue Monday!)

My newest Title is “Tatting Whisperer” – you know like the Dog Whisperer and the Horse Whisperer. They can get animals to do what they should… and I work with Lace that way as well.

On the side… I am involved with huge number of Tatters world wide.. right around the Globe. The accepted way to share ideas and patterns is to have a Blog that deals with just that. When trying to find a name that would tell my story, each one that I have used locally and in my demonstrations was taken by someone else.

What’s next?
I have two major jobs to do involving Web Pages. The ideas are in place… but as yet the motivation has been lacking somewhat… but with Blue Monday behind me now… I am ready to FLY!

Then there are the upcoming shows and potential sales.. in April and May and June… and I am not quite ready…. Oh Boy

Bachman-Turner Overdrive goes on…
“If it were easy as fishin'
You could be a musician
If you could make sounds loud or mellow
Get a second-hand guitar
Chances are you'll go far
If you get in with the right bunch of fellows
People see you having fun
Just a-lying in the sun
Tell them that you like it this way
It's the work that we avoid
And we're all self-employed
We love to work at nothing all day
And we be

Taking care of business (every day)
Taking care of business (every way)
We be been taking care of business (it's all mine)
Taking care of business and working overtime”

Come to think of it…
That song really says nothing. Have you noticed that? But I love the tune and basically do nothing!

Gotta run to another meeting for today… where I can be “Takin’ Care of Business” and I will be Getting Down to Business in everyway….

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Monday_%28date%29

Lyrics to Bachman-Turner Overdrives Hit
Takin’ Care of Business

You get up every morning
From your 'larm clock's warning
Take the 8:15 into the city
There's a whistle up above
And people pushin', people shovin'
And the girls who try to look pretty
And if your train's on time
You can get to work by nine
And start your slaving job to get your pay
If you ever get annoyed
Look at me I'm self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day
And I'll be

Taking care of business (every day)
Taking care of business (every way)
I've been taking care of business (it's all mine)
Taking care of business and working overtime
Work out

If it were easy as fishin'
You could be a musician
If you could make sounds loud or mellow
Get a second-hand guitar
Chances are you'll go far
If you get in with the right bunch of fellows
People see you having fun
Just a-lying in the sun
Tell them that you like it this way
It's the work that we avoid
And we're all self-employed
We love to work at nothing all day
And we be

Taking care of business (every day)
Taking care of business (every way)
We be been taking care of business (it's all mine)
Taking care of business and working overtime

Mercy
Whooooo
All right
[Instrumental Interlude]
Take good care of my business
When I'm away, every day
Whoooo

You get up every morning
From your 'larm clock's warning
Take the 8:15 into the city
There's a whistle up above
And people pushin', people shovin'
And the girls who try to look pretty
And if your train's on time
You can get to work by nine
And start your slaving job to get your pay
If you ever get annoyed
Look at me I'm self-employed
I love to work at nothing all day
And I'll be

Taking care of business (every day)
Taking care of business (every way)
I've been taking care of business (it's all mine)
Taking care of business and working overtime

[Brief Instrumental Interlude]

Takin' care of business, whoo
Takin' care of business
Takin' care of business
Takin' care of business
Takin' care of business (every day)
Takin' care of business (every way)
Takin' care of business (it's all mine)
Takin' care of business
And working overtime
Whoooo
Takin' care of business
Takin' care of business
Takin' care of business
We be Takin' care of business
We be Takin' care of business
Takin' care of business
Takin' care of business