Nature Is So Efficient.

I finally have the opportunity to sit, observe, think and be amazed. Nature is amazingly efficient and will have its way. Banana plants in our neighbors yard have been adding leaves daily. I thought the drought had killed them, last year, but with time and rain, they have returned to their previous health. Many events others have know for decades, I am just learning and the experience is still exciting. A stalk grows up from the plant, then unfolds its leaf. I am waiting for this year's bananas.

The diurnal Anoles and nocturnal Geckos are doing well. Each begins and ends their shift approximately the same time each day. We have a family of four Geckos, with two at the front door and two at the rear. Bugs are drawn to the light each night and, Wola, food is fresh and ready. The lizards only eat live creatures and they depend on movement to determine life or death; sort of like employees, students and congregations.

It is slightly misleading to look outside and primarily see grass, trees and birds and think not much is happening. The birds are watching for insects or lizards and the lizards are watching for live insects, but not ants (they don't do ants), and so on. There is a LOT of activity going on in that yard.

Much news about everything and how much, about the environment is really helpful? Watching series such as, Plant Earth, The Blue Planet and others combined with personal observations have persuaded me Nature will keep what is pertinent and exterminate what isn't. Obviously, humans can, if unchecked, remove almost any form of life forever, but I am focusing on natural events.

Mentioning humans brings up our creativity. Watching any episode of Modern Marvels, Factory Made or How Stuff is Made reveals and demonstrates the unlimited creativity and inventiveness' of human kind.

An article mentioned scientists are or have found the elusive "particle". Although, the majority of very small items discovered are invisible but can be measured. One observation seems constant; there is ALWAYS something smaller than what has just been found and ALWAYS something larger than has been discovered. And what is keeping all of it together working in harmony; well science is dumbfounded.

Let's think a moment; e-Sword ASV

Col 1:16-17 for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.

Joh 1:1-3  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.

Welllll, I'm thinking we have the answer here.

Thanks for stopping by. Make it a great day.

You Just Don't Like Change!!

How many times have we heard this from people in control of the change? People in charge were convinced by those needing commissions or promotions that this new and improved tool will greatly increase productivity and profits.

Subjects, given the new tool, usually do not know how it works, what it is supposed to do or how it does it. If said subjects are trained on the new tool, it is normally very condensed and no one in their right mind expects people with normal abilities to properly learn. So:

1. The Seller pretends a great service to Society was done and enjoys the commission.
2. The Buyer pretends a great benefit to the Company has been performed, profits will increase and he/she will benefit professionally.
3. The Subjects hate numbers 1 and 2 and the new tool. The benefits remain to be discovered but the threat to Subjects' security is RIGHT NOW CURRENT!

The general response to negative reactions from said Subjects is for All In Charge of Whatever to proclaim they just don't like change. Then All In Charge of Whatever go have a refreshing drink and feel good about themselves, because they have revealed their truth to all; and any negative results are not their fault.

During the forty-five years of my career, my ability to discover, repair or reveal the root cause of a given problem was my greatest asset. During my years of support to personnel receiving new software or hardware, I made the correction of this statement the introduction of every assignment. Supporting the human element was always of greater value than just addressing the mechanical issues.

Here is the corrected statement:
People do not mind change, when it comes with proper training and 24/7 support for as long as needed.

In truth, people tend to enjoy upgrades, remodels and advancements when proper instruction is provided. Management, of any type or company, considers instruction and training as a cost instead of an investment.

Now don't threaten your career by giving this explanation to your boss. They will not:

• listen,
• agree,
• believe,
• accept or,
• change.

Many are the organizations of credible and proven business professionals that have tried for decades to present this principle, to thousands of other business professionals, with hopes of change.

NOPE, ain't gonna do it. Noway, Nohow!!
Do NOT confuse my fiction with truth!

And there you have it. So, feel better about yourself, eat chocolate, enjoy a drink of your choice and trudge on. The majority of management has no clue if what you are doing is efficient or not, nor do they care; if they did, you would be properly trained, using your new and improved product with efficiency and joy.

To the two incredible managers in my career, thank you.
God  bless.

The True Cost...Can We REALLY Afford It?

The True Cost of That House

What is the True Cost of _______ and can we really afford it? I know people that know people and we like to talk about each other. Join in for fun and enlightenment.

Example #1: A couple decide to marry and combine resources. The find a really nice deal on a beautiful upscale house in an upscale neighborhood and charge it for 30 years. Both are normally logical, rational people but the intoxication of their new marriage and Dream Home overcame everything. The discounted Dream Home originally cost about three times that of their current individual homes.

Within the first year, they were swamped by the cost of:

• new grass for that BIG beautiful lawn,
• repair of the sprinkling system,
• upgrading the faucets,
• well, let's just forget remodeling or repairing the roof.

He told me they figured with both their salaries and their large down payment, all would work out but it didn't. Two years later, the housing industry recovered, including the value of their home, with the property taxes. The last we spoke, they were selling the house.

Take a note. When anyone tells you they have this REALLY GOOD DEAL for you, my experience, over forty years is to quickly run away or die; because either way you are going to hurt. I began to question if it was such a good deal, why didn't they get the product. You are exactly correct, the only good deal was the commission or PR they got. Now, back to class.

Example #2: A guy finds a really good deal on a used luxury automobile and uses every penny he has to buy it(first warning). Registration was way more than he figured and scrapes the barrel of several friends and family to pay it(second warning). Life is wonderful as he and family enjoy the prestige of their new car for several months and then...a part breaks. The reason the very well off have these type of new vehicles is a statement to friends and colleagues they can afford the eternally huge monthly payments, regular maintenance and taxes.

Typically, the only used cars the wealthy have and keep are those so old and so costly, none else can afford them.

Example #3: Think of any company greater than the community store and I guaranty they suffer hidden losses. The larger the company, the greater training and transition costs are required but if not paid for,  their losses are hidden in the bureaucracy paperwork. Often, these losses are in the tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars per year, every year.

Example #4:
Misconceptions About Teaching and Education
Schools of Thought - Educate or Not

Guys, if you don't present your wife or girl with a gift for that special time, you will suffer loss and if you are just ignorant, you will not why it happened.

Boss, think about those employee benefits. They are saving you "untold, and often unnoticed profit" but drop them and your savings will be replaced by unseen but noted profit losses.

Humans, when we cheat God, the losses we suffer are too great too measure.

Enough said. Enjoy your life.

Church - What IS Church?

Church

Body: The Christian Church is the physical presence of Jesus Christ on Earth

Organization: The Church is also an organization of people for dinners, prayers, visitation, studies and other miscellaneous needs

Business: The Church Company is responsible for finances, staff, maintenance, counseling, purchases

·         Finances: salaries, tithes, taxes, mortgage, fund raisers.

·         Staff: full/part time, volunteer.

·         Maintenance: building and grounds, vehicles.

·         Counseling: professional and amateur.

·         Purchases: buildings, vehicles, any and all related items.

And there you have it – allll most.

What about the losses?  The losses?

The intention of God is to bring people into His Body the Church and keep them; but some leave. Why?

Let’s list two causes:

·        Do not like lifestyle: return to their previous life, go to different religious group.

·        Hurt feelings/devalued(this is called the revolving door): insulting, badgering, raging, controlling people drove them away.

The revolving door syndrome has been acknowledged for decades with no active resolution; they are considered acceptable business losses. To address certain problems in life, one has to slow down and focus only on the problem and these people are called consultants, or experts.

If an organization of any size or type rejects the conclusions and suggestions of the consultants, nothing changes; which has been the case regarding people leaving church and/or God.

Organizations are fundamentally structured the same, whether churches, companies or agencies in that they all have a management, employees and a hierarchy. Management adheres to certain unwritten rules:

·        They support management and their staff.

·        They value their style and structure greater than employee losses.

Scripture differentiates a backslider (rebellious person) from an emotionally traumaed person. Rebellion has always been a societal thorn whether religious or secular.

Rebellion (dictionary.com)

1. open, organized, and armed resistance to one's government or ruler.

2. resistance to or defiance of any authority, control, or tradition.

Trauma (dictionary.com)

1.      an experience that produces psychological injury or pain.

2.    the psychological injury so caused, a powerful shock that may have long-lasting effects

A spiritually injured person should be Christianity’s burden of concern. Each human being has an autonomous will given to us by God. 

Autonomous (dictionary.com)

1. self-governing; independent; subject to its own laws only.

2. having autonomy; not subject to control from outside; independent. 

We can choose our destiny and choose or accept the methods of achieving it but if we let our emotions disturb our logic, our decisions may be flawed and dangerous. I know people that turned away from God and any assembly because of actions or statements by thoughtless, inconsiderate people. They convicted Jesus and Christianity even though he was not involved and his philosophy clearly prohibits the wrongs.

Most of us will agree this topic can be discussed for several lifetimes. The point I emphasize is to get away from the offending parties, whether by association or distance; take time to heal, and then try forgiving but not trusting. Burn me once, your fault; burn me twice, my fault. I have forgiven people that I no longer trust and plan to avert the third burn.

Evil, bad and injurious people have existed and barring a mighty repentance and act of God, they continue to do what they will until they die. We cannot change them and God will not force them because even if some see their fault, they will often deny it as offensive or sinful.

As a male, husband and father, I am confounded when another male, in the same status, emotionally, physically or both abandon wife and children. Just as a bad Christian is a blot on other Christians, a derelict husband and father shames conscientious men.

Have you ever heard this question: “Why did God allow this?”? There are several variants but the fundamental question is the same, why did he versus why didn’t we. From the Beginning, God gave humanity the right to choose and with that privilege the responsibility. He will step in when asked but as any parent that gives their children the freedom to choose, they let them learn.

Let’s agree, for this discussion, that God is not at fault for most of the World’s problems. If you can agree and have been hurt by a catastrophic event or offended by a professing Christian, then give Jesus an opportunity to redeem you. Pray, get together with trusted Christian/Moral friends and attend an assembly you feel secure with. God may never answer the question but if you can let it go, you will benefit in this life and eternity.

Sometimes, it seems there are more bad people causing havoc than good people ensuring peace but this is opposite the truth.

Well, what do you think of the Church and the God that created and maintains it? Is either worth another try?

Let's See, $1billion, $2billion...

three billion, four billion and more, in US dollars. Now wait, family and friends, before you say, Gary, stop it. Forbes magazine is a favorite of mine because of their articles and advertisements. I have always been a dreamer with high end goals but have always chosen the paths of worse results.

Governments are made of people that can make good or bad decisions affecting its citizens. When that government is moral, its laws and governance will be just and righteous; yet we know no government is perfect. Let us presume, for this thought, that a majority of moral people in any government will do what is correct and best for the citizens.

Greece and Spain declare they each need financial help, a bail out, from Europe to salvage their economies. Historically, bail outs without moral changes in business methodology have not helped any nation or individual.

What do I mean?

I attended church from childhood to teenage years, then on advice from my dad I quit. I had a moral understanding of how to live but not a conviction to do so. Some adults in my life were doing immoral things while providing food and shelter for their families, seemingly enjoying life and doing well.

So,
· abuse alcohol,
· enjoy illegal drugs,
· commit adultery,
· abuse your family (in private),
· be punctual at work, meetings and church,
· tithe and give to charitable causes,
· feed, clothe, shelter your family, enjoy life and
· accept the good with the bad.

I accepted and lived most of this philosophy until almost thirty years of age and then my private and professional life began a sharp descent into Hell. I began to listen to the Voice telling me I could not live immorally and have moral results.

Hell

1. any place or state of torment or misery: They made their father's life a hell on earth.
2.something that causes torment or misery: Having that cut stitched without anesthesia was hell.

My wife and I returned to church and committed to a righteous and moral way of living. For 17 years (27-10 years of age) my choices were made for what was fun for me, not what was righteous for us. Because of this thinking, we were still able to profess a Christian, morally correct lifestyle while making immoral financial decisions.

It would take 21 more years and some very rough times to turn the coal to diamond (morally speaking). You may be thinking, "That is crazy, you cannot make immoral decisions living as a Christian" and you would be correct IF the emotional and logical parts were Christ like. Have you ever heard of Christians getting divorced, committing adultery, abusing alcohol or drugs, randomly raging, and so forth and so on?

Let's think about definitions:

Moral

1. of, pertaining to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes.

2. founded on the fundamental principles of right conduct rather than on legalities, enactment, or custom: moral obligations.

Immoral

1. violating moral principles; not conforming to the patterns of conduct usually accepted or established as consistent with principles of personal and social ethics.

The author of an article stated his opinion that the primary issue of Europe was spiritual not money. As I read a Forbes June special issue, I was captured by the vast wealth some people have. For example, ten people listed had a combined net income over $207,000,000,000.00.

 

Can you imagine the tithe on that amount? God can.

Anyway, the approximate total financial requirements of Spain and Greece is $285,000,000,000.00 US dollars. Consider just TEN humans have a combined wealth of slightly less than the combined debt of two nations.

 

Forbes regularly lists the hundreds of billionaires and millionaires in the world and I always look for my name. To accumulate vast wealth that remains over time and death of the original builder typically requires consistently moral decisions and actions of all involved.

 

World news media repeatedly mentions the governments' corruption as being a large part of the problem. When people repeatedly act immorally they will become corrupt. When ten people can wisely manage themselves and increase their holdings, then any group of like minded people can do the same for any family, organization or nation.

 

Gifts of money, food, etc. definitely aided my family and me during our hard times but the provisions did not fix the problem. A wealthy official asked Jesus what he needed to do to advance in character (my words) and Jesus explained what he needed to do for the change he desired. I think the young ruler was a good giver of some of himself and his property but he would not give all.

 

Some choose to ignore the positive results when people make any attempt to obey the laws of God; they then claim the problem isn’t their fault. I eventually agreed with the philosophy of not being able to save the world; just save or improve the parts I can. I do not advocate wealthy people giving away all or a portion of their monies to a wasteful end.

 

I like watches and several very nice ones advertise in Forbes Investment Guide and Forbes Life. In the bundle of mail advertisements we receive, there is a look alike for about $100.00 and this peaked my wonder about the real one. On to Google and, after some searching, there it was for $750,000.00, discounted to $625,000.00 or with wire transfer $500,000.00.Now, how can a guy argue with such a deal and with choice of yellow or white gold?

Connye marveled that I would be comfortable driving the Lexus LFA to church with this expensive watch and I answered, "Why not, no one we know would recognize the watch and most people would not guess the cost of the Lexus and a lot of people drive Lexus's now.”

So, where am I going with this dream; straight to Heaven, with all the souls God gives me to influence? Read the description of his house, city and the pavement. If I die owning our Honda Pilot, the Hyundai Sonata and wearing my Uno watch, Jesus and I will be just as satisfied because my faith and obedience got me to Heaven, not what my possessions cost or how much I give.
 

Oh, yeah, about those billions of dollars we were counting; used wisely and correctly they can also purchase church buildings, orphanages, and water wells, upgrade school facilities, install window AC units in poorer sections of town, etc. 
 

A friend and I missed a window of opportunity years ago that, in retrospect, would have dramatically increased the income of myself and several others. Sometime after the opportunity was well past, a church building in a prime location came available that a friend could have paid $1,000,000.00 cash for, moved his congregation and managed the utilities until the church grew to the demand. 
 

Some examples of response and results: 

Jdg 13:2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

Jdg 13:3 And the angel of Jehovah appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not; but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

Jdg 13:12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass: what shall be the ordering of the child, and how shall we do unto him?

Luk 1:26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,

Luk 1:27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.

Luk 1:28 And he came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee.

Luk 1:31 And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

Luk 1:38 And Mary said, Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Mar 1:40 And there cometh to him a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

Mar 1:41 And being moved with compassion, he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou made clean.

Mar 1:42 And straightway the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean.

Mar 14:3 And while he was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster cruse of ointment of pure nard very costly; and she brake the cruse, and poured it over his head.

Mar 14:8 She hath done what she could; she hath anointed my body beforehand for the burying.

Mar 14:9 And verily I say unto you, Wheresoever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, that also which this woman hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

I suggest that we do often ask what we desire and do hear from God but fail to act for a variety of non-excusable reasons.

Together, let us knock on that door just one MORE time.

· more groceries for family

· all medical bills paid

· children’s teeth fixed, my teeth fixed

· harmony at work or better job with harmony

· money in both checking and savings after bills paid

He Carried Off WHAT!?!?

Many families, schools, churches, organizations have at least one child or adult that is their ongoing worry. They won’t follow all the rules, nor will they go away to a far nation. Samson was such a person and he enjoyed having fun at other’s expense. For example: 

Jdg 16:2  And it was told the Gazites, saying, Samson is come hither. And they compassed him in, and laid wait for him all night in the gate of the city, and were quiet all the night, saying, Let be till morning light, then we will kill him.

Jdg 16:3  And Samson lay till midnight, and arose at midnight, and laid hold of the doors of the gate of the city, and the two posts, and plucked them up, bar and all, and put them upon his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the mountain that is before Hebron.

Imagine the high school coach trying to sign up Samson for the football; Sam, when the guy hands you the ball, either run or walk to the other end and put it down. Samson heads to the goal line, with 10 guys hanging all over him, waving to his Mom, Dad and girlfriend, “Hi, Mom, this is so fun and look at all my friends”.

Samson is a delinquent but he doesn’t paper wrap anyone’s house or toss all the motel chairs into the pool at midnight; HE rips the gate (frame and supports) off the walls, goes through the Starbucks Drive Thru for a Grande Carmel Macchiato (extra hot and two shots) and carries them up a mountain. He had a cup holder.

I asked a group of engineers about the mechanics of this venture. How many pounds or tons per square inch would Samson have exerted on this material to accomplish this task.

You knowwww, these were not the types of questions to ask in the 1970s. There were not a lot of free thinkers, then and it was hard to find anyone that believed this account really happened.

Think, with me, Samson does a static pull/lift and tears the hinges out of the wall. Today, a contractor would bring in a heavy lift crane, dynamite to free the wall mounts and remove the gate. The pressure would have been in the thousands of pounds per square inch on his entire body, hands and feet.

All you weight lifters, don’t you just hate that?

The local tough guys (1,000) arranged with the Hebrews to tie him and bring him to them for a severe beating. Samson gets loose, finds a jawbone of an Ass, same size as a horse, and kills the thousand member gang. I favored the content of the linked site below and his time calculations for the fight.

http://purposelydifferent.com/101/samson-was-different/

God energized Samson through his uncut hair. He was able to accomplish feats revealed in fiction novels and movies. Either the Philistines were slightly retarded or had super egos; the last group to get close to this killing machine should have done their math.

Samson is thirsty after the battle (ya think?) and calls on God.

Jdg 15:18  And he was sore athirst, and called on Jehovah, and said, Thou hast given this great deliverance by the hand of thy servant; and now shall I die for thirst, and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised.

Jdg 15:19  But God clave the hollow place that is in Lehi, and there came water thereout; and when he had drunk, his spirit came again, and he revived: wherefore the name thereof was called En-hakkore, which is in Lehi, unto this day.

My question concerning many of these types of accounts, is why didn’t anyone in Church classes, Junior or High School Math, or College Engineering discuss these?

Here is another one:

Jdg 16:26  and Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house resteth, that I may lean upon them.

Jdg 16:27  Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.

Jdg 16:28  And Samson called unto Jehovah, and said, O Lord Jehovah, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

Jdg 16:29  And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house rested, and leaned upon them, the one with his right hand, and the other with his left.

My question to engineers and technicians was how much pressure would it have taken to push the columns apart for the collapse? Naturally thinking, Samson should have crushed himself in the process. Why didn’t he die then but died when the building fell on him?

Jdg 16:30  And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords, and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead that he slew at his death were more than they that he slew in his life.

 God sent word to Manoah’s wife how to prepare for her child and how to prepare the child for his career. They did not suspect his abilities or his attitude.

Jdg 13:5  for, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come upon his head; for the child shall be a Nazirite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to save Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

Jdg 13:24  And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson: and the child grew, and Jehovah blessed him.

Jdg 13:25  And the Spirit of Jehovah began to move him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.  

I have observed people with:

·        Uncut hair

·        The Colored Robe

·        A Burning Bush experience

·        A Gideon account

These are metaphors for those with special talents or callings or gifts that are recognized as God given. Many of us know people that were different from their birth and they excelled in one endeavor or many fields of enterprise.

I have watched men and women grow from childhood to adults unintentionally terrorizing their parents, teachers and certain adults on their journey. It seems unfair a person is born with a brilliant mind and abilities suited for a mature adult, yet they are trapped in an infant body, with parents unprepared to deal with them.

Imagine, with me, Samson’s mother and father:

·        Your son took the city’s gate to the mountain!!

·        Your son caught and used 300 foxes to burn half the county!

·        We saw your son with that trashy woman again.

I tend to think many were giving them ideas where to send him. I remember a young man that enjoyed the times he could scare me. Gary, how do these relate to measuring Samson’s strength and ability? Some abilities and talents cannot be measured or their source proven or the future of the person known. 

We that believe God is all that is written of him in holy books and spoken of him by holy people do so by faith and in faith. We look to him for assistance for ourselves and our children.

Samson is one person of hundreds of thousands through centuries that left impressions on their families and neighbors. Opportunities that were designed just for you are still waiting for you and God.

·        Better home

·        Serene home life

·        Loving spouse

·        Cruises

·        Make your own list, then prepare to live it.

Stand Back and Watch!

We had new windows installed recently and we were home for the event. It is so much quieter in our house. When cars drive by or people walk by, there is no sound, like watching TV with audio turned off. Of course, people and birds are not that noisy when walking or flying anyway. Goliath's family moved some time ago, Animal Control picked up the Dryptosaurus and the Microraptors left once the ditch dried.

Friday all doors and windows had been opening and closing, so various micro things were entering. Saturday, I finished my blog, published it and the three of us rested. Sunday afternoon, Connye exclaims there is a roach in the bath room. Now Connye is the epitome of a lady and, as such, eloquently gets a broom and returns to the scene. I accompanied because that's what we do when summoned.

Connye's Defense

I  thought a suitcase was hanging on the wall and quickly gave suggestions for destruction (a pump 20 gauge with 00 buckshot). My suggestion was promptly denied with that look and I responded, "Go for it". Now imagine, with me, a feminine Ninja in full attack mode; got it, okay, now to the action.

The roach is on the receiving end of the broom and I am in back of her and the broom, attempting to direct blows to the beast and dodge blows to my face. The beast lands in the bathtub, so I turn on the water to flush it. HOW do you flush something larger than the drain pipe? A few more stabs and bashes render the offender immobile.

My suggestion to throw it outside was agreed to by her handing me the broom, with the now tranquil creature entangled in the straw. Either the thing was dead or was praying for death, because it did not move as I carried it outside and dispatched it.

Connye glided into another room reveling quietly in her glory while accomplishing other tasks. I was thankful I lived with no injuries but still confounded how it all happened in less than five minutes. I have pressed my desire to have multiple weapons in our house for protection. 

Such as:

Tokens of protection I look to.

This is what God wants me to depend on:

Gen 32:1  And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And Jacob said when he saw them, This is God's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Exo 14:19  And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud removed from before them, and stood behind them:

Exo 23:20  Behold, I send an angel before thee, to keep thee by the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.

Psa 91:11  For he will give his angels charge over thee, To keep thee in all thy ways.

After the event and consultation with God, I believe Connye could handle a broom more forceful than my choices:

• Straw to the face: temporarily blinding the intruder.
• Broom handle to the neck: temporary breathing restriction.
• Handle end to the sternum: slows down heart to await arrest.

No mess, minimum cleanup and offenders recover. I continue to pray about the recovery thing, and have been for about forty years.

Today, she felt domestic and cooked choco chip cookies, and made raspberry jello. The place will rock tonight.