One of my favorite places to go is Half Priced Books. Recently while browsing a rack of older paperbacks I came across a copy of The Cross and the Switchblade by David Wilkerson. It was a book I remember being assigned to read for CCD Catholic education for kids who go to public school. I picked it up and looked at it but put it back but couldn't leave it alone so I spent the buck and brought it home.
The Cross and the Switchblade is the story of one man who is drawn by God to work with troubled teens in N.Y. city. This man a country preacher (David Wilkerson) from Pennsylvania finds his way to N.Y.'s ghettos and with the help of the Holy Spirit learns how to reach out and help drug addicted, violent teens. His efforts help to establish an organization of caring people to work with the severely disadvantaged.
It's funny when it was assigned I never read more than a couple pages before I blew it off and stopped reading. As an adult I read it fairly quickly and really enjoyed it I guess you have to be ready to read a book.
Another odd note being intrigued by the Rev. Wilkerson I looked him up and he died just this past April.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Friday, July 22, 2011
Roofing
The last seven days have been spent on my son's roof. A simple tear off and re-roof was complicated by 90-98 deg temps and the need to replace most of the wood. Some of the wood was outright rotted away and some was borderline but being 3/8 plywood on 24" centers necessitated the wood replacement.
There is something satisfying about looking at a completed project and saying I did that with my own hands. Although it is not the ideal way to spend a vacation.
As a recommendation I would recommend buying a framing hammer if your going to be doing any amount of heavy hammering. The air nailer was also a big help it was the first time I had used one.
There is something satisfying about looking at a completed project and saying I did that with my own hands. Although it is not the ideal way to spend a vacation.
As a recommendation I would recommend buying a framing hammer if your going to be doing any amount of heavy hammering. The air nailer was also a big help it was the first time I had used one.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Monday, July 4, 2011
Independence day
Celebrating the birth of our great nation, almost everyone does. The question is are we celebrating independence from England and it's king and the liberty that followed or just the annual deluge of firecrackers and bottle rockets.
In arguing the budgetary problems maybe people should remember this fight for liberty and independence. Because every dollar we take from people in taxes infringes on their liberty. This is not the only infringement that happens the other infringement is the stealing of independence when we don't let people do for themselves. This is probably more insidious in that it creeps up on you over time. A family takes government assistance thinking it will only be temporary and then finds they can't do without the assistance. Stolen independence isn't limited to our personal lives. A story last weak in the Cleveland Plain Dealer highlighted a company who was subsidized in making parts for wind turbines. They were complaining about increased competition and the danger it posed to their business. The next day an article said they had declared bankruptcy. You see they had become to dependant on the government subsidy and not self reliant enough to fight off competition.
So remember freedom, independence, and liberty are more than words to describe our country they are the path to successful living.
In arguing the budgetary problems maybe people should remember this fight for liberty and independence. Because every dollar we take from people in taxes infringes on their liberty. This is not the only infringement that happens the other infringement is the stealing of independence when we don't let people do for themselves. This is probably more insidious in that it creeps up on you over time. A family takes government assistance thinking it will only be temporary and then finds they can't do without the assistance. Stolen independence isn't limited to our personal lives. A story last weak in the Cleveland Plain Dealer highlighted a company who was subsidized in making parts for wind turbines. They were complaining about increased competition and the danger it posed to their business. The next day an article said they had declared bankruptcy. You see they had become to dependant on the government subsidy and not self reliant enough to fight off competition.
So remember freedom, independence, and liberty are more than words to describe our country they are the path to successful living.
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