I would rather live my life as if there is a God, and die to find out there isn’t, than live my life as if there isn’t, and die to find out there is!


Tuesday, December 30, 2008

MEDICAL MIRACLES

***********************************************************************

Do you know anyone who was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in the last five years who was subsequently declared healed? The medical establishment is very reluctant to ever declare someone healed of this disease. Yet they did, and the answer to the question is “yes” if you know me.

Do you know anyone who, in the past three years had abdominal surgery to repair hernias (up to 3), who, when the surgeon began the surgery found there were actually 5? It took a rather large piece of surgical mesh to fix them all, and resulted in a very painful recovery. The answer to the question is “yes” if you know me.

Do you know anyone who, in the past three years was diagnosed with, and cured of, prostate cancer? The cure involved both radiation and hormone therapy. Daily radiation for seven weeks (37 days) and a year of hormone therapy. A year of hormone therapy will give men a whole new empathy for women in menopause! The answer to the question is “yes” if you know me.

Do you know anyone who, in the past year, was diagnosed with Deep Vein Thrombosis (blood clot in the upper leg) and subsequently cured. A portion of the cure required daily self-injection (sometimes twice a day). The answer to the question is “yes” if you know me.

By now you are probably wondering if there is a point to all of this. And yes, there is. I am celebrating the fact that I will enter 2009 much healthier than I have entered any year in the past five years. That is a good thing. That is a result of several miracles. I am about as healthy as I can be, except I ought to lose a few pounds. I will work on that in 2009.

So, how did I get healthy… Well, I am a Christian and I believe it is the result of the prayers of many people. I believe God answered those prayers and healed me. Often when He performs miracles we have a part to play, and I had a part to play in each of the healing miracles above. But He did the healing. All glory be to Him.

Be blessed,
Wayne

Love all – Trust some – Harm none

www.Capstone-Ministries.org


Link to me at: http://www.linkedin.com/home
Follow me at: http://twitter.com/wcweeks

Saturday, December 27, 2008

THE FREEDOM OF AGING

This is currently going around the internet. I got it from my lovely wife, and felt it was worthy of posting here.
***************************************************************
On Getting older:
.
I am entitled to eat that extra cookie, or not make my bed, or to buy that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ......... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging
body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just
as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car?

But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.

So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what
other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned
the right to be wrong.

So, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been , or worrying about what will be.

And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

For my true friends reading this post:

MAY OUR FRIENDSHIP NEVER COME APART ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART! MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE A RAINBOW OF SMILES ON YOUR FACE AND IN YOUR HEART FOREVER AND EVER!
.

Be blessed,
Wayne
.
Love all – Trust some – Harm none
www.Capstone-Ministries.org
.

Link to me at: http://www.linkedin.com/home
Follow me at: http://twitter.com/wcweeks

.
.

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Jesus is NOT the reason for the season

******************************************************************

At this time of the year there seems to be ample reminders that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” That got me thinking, and caused me to conclude that is not really correct. Jesus is NOT the reason for the season. Oh, I think the idea behind the original campaign was a good one: it was to get us thinking about Jesus rather than the commercialism that is rampant in December. Lord knows we need that.

We human beings are the reason for the season. We were sinners bound for hell, but Jesus came born as a baby, human like us; lived a sinless life (unlike us) and died for us. We are the reason He came. If it weren't for our sinful nature and behavior, He wouldn't have had to ever leave Heaven. But for us, He came in the flesh to live amongst us, to teach us, and to die for us. He endured death on a Roman cross so that you and I can be assured of eternal life. Had we been capable of not sinning, there would be no celebration of Jesus birth, because He would not have needed to come to save us. But He needed to die for us to take away our sins… and He did.

So, you see, Jesus is not the reason for the season; we are. What an awesome God we serve!


Wayne
Have a GREAT CHRISTmas !

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

Love all – Trust some – Harm none

Link to me at: http://www.linkedin.com/home
Follow me at: http://twitter.com/wcweeks

.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

THE TOSSING OF SHOES

***********************************************************************

I am sure you have seen to media replays of the reporter throwing his shoes at President Bush in Baghdad a couple of days ago. I doubt anyone missed it as much time and replays as they gave it.

Some thoughts relating to that incident:

President Bush is still the leader of the free world. I don’t care what your politics are; proper respect needs to be show to the office. Just because a reporter is ashamed that we, a country half a world away, had to come and save his country from a tyrannical dictator, that does not give him permission to besmirch the top office of the country who saved him.

This reporter is nothing but a cowardly weasel. Had he the courage to try that with the tyrant we removed for him, Saddam Hussein, the outcome for him would have been very different. My guess is he would have been treated the pleasure of watching his wife being repeatedly raped and then witness to her murder. Probably followed by the torture and murder of his children and parents. After he had been forced to watch it all, he himself would be tortured and murdered.

Say what you want about Bush; he took it in stride.

This sort of behavior from the people of Iraq makes me think perhaps President Elect Obama may be correct. Maybe we should get out of Iraq. Let’s see how well they do on their own.

Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

Love all – Trust some – Harm none

Link to me at: http://www.linkedin.com/home
Follow me at: http://twitter.com/wcweeks

.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Just One More Time…

Just One More Time…

There are a few times in life that I am simply overwhelmed. They are typically times brought on by events that create extreme emotion. They are times like: The birth of a child, the loss of a family member or close friend, even the loss of a much-loved pet. Or, it could be something like getting a long awaited, and well earned promotion. Some people even get emotional over material things. I don’t. Things that create overwhelming emotion in me are always connected to living things. You know, people or animals.

I had such a day recently. In fact I had a few such days in succession. Home on a weekend, I checked my incoming email. There was one from “wbcox” and the subject line was “old guys.” Though it did not get caught by my spam filter, my first thought was that it should have been.

It turned out to be an old shipmate (and pal) of mine from my Navy days. We served together 45 years ago in Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron VAW – 13. And almost 45 years ago was our last contact. This contact exchange brought about overwhelming emotion for me. In addition, WB has contact with others from those days and has provided contact information. Just today (12/15) I spoke with Tuner Johnston by phone. He is another old crony of mine. I will admit to a couple of tears when we hung up.

I loved these guys… we served our country together, and I will say I would have been willing to take a bullet for some of them, and I am sure they would have done the same for me. It was a great time, and this contact brought back a flood of memories. WB has also directed me to some on-line sites featuring many photos from way back then. I can once again see the planes I flew in via photos. So this is what caused overwhelming emotion in me… I am blessed by this re-connection and I don’t plan on letting it go. It will be God who separates us (temporally), when we are next separated.

So, I wish we could all go back 45 years, and do it Just One More Time. Just one more liberty together. One more night on the town with WB, Tuner, Ron Peck, Bill Green, Hugh Crews, Monk and a few more… oh yeah, I want us all to be just as we were then… Long live THE ZAPPERS!

In the Grip of Grace,

Wayne (ECM Weeks)

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

Love all – Trust some – Harm none

Link to me at: http://www.linkedin.com/home
Follow me at: http://twitter.com/wcweeks

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Purging Politicians

**************************************************************************

By now you all have heard the news about Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. It seems he is in a bit of hot water. Do you wonder why the people we trust to represent us and protect our interests continue to violate that trust over and over? There are primarily two reasons: First, they can. Its as simple as that. We put them in a position to extract thousands of dollars via graft and corruption and then we point to the greed trough and say “go get it!” We should not be surprised with their behavior. Second, we don’t do anything when they violate our trust. There is not a penalty or punishment that is appropriate to the violation. The corrupt politicians have no reason to fear being found out. Very little negative results will befall them.

OK… I have defined the problem and there is nothing new there, You all knew all of that. So what is the answer? How do we correct this corrupt behavior and purge the system of the lying, stealing scum bags? Actually, that is easier than you would expect, but it does require we have enough intestinal fortitude to really want to change the system. I give you two solutions:

1. Any politician found guilty of any crime above a simple misdemeanor is to be sentenced to death. No right of appeal, and the sentence is to be carried out within 30 days of being found guilty.

Clearly, everyone will carefully consider this when deciding whether or not to run for public office. If a potential candidate knows himself/herself well enough to know they may fall to temptation, they simply won’t run. The risk would be to great. The result will be a new breed of politicians with high moral values. This would be a good thing.

2. This solution is really for those of you who don’t have the grapes to endorse number 1. Any politician found guilty of any crime above a simple misdemeanor is to be sentenced a lifetime of poverty. For the remainder of their life they cannot own anything. And I mean they can own NOTHING. They cannot own a home, an automobile, a corporation, a trust. They cannot have a bank account. They can own cloths and food only. Also, no one else can own anything for their (the corrupt politician) benefit. Anyone caught attempting to usurp the sentence of the politician will be immediately subject to the same punishment as the politician. They will join him/her in a lifetime of poverty.

This can work people! Write your congressman… Oh, wait a minute. I don’t think you will get their vote…

Be blessed,
Wayne

Love all – Trust some – Harm none

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

Friday, December 5, 2008

Harry Truman after the presidency

Harry Truman after the presidency--interesting

I checked this story out at Snopes, and while they were unable to confirm a couple of the representations, it appears to be true.
Wayne



Harry Truman, from Missouri, was a different kind of President. He probably made as many important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.

Historians have written the only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri . On top of that, his wife inherited the house from her Mother.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive pension of $25,000 per year.

After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There were no Secret Service following them.

When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, 'You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale.'

Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, 'I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award, Congressional or otherwise.'

He never owned his own home and as president he paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale.

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, 'My choices early in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference.'


Be blessed,
Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

Love all - Trust some - Harm none

Thursday, December 4, 2008

FEDS WANT TO UNFREEZE CREDIT -- HOME PRICES CONTINUE TO DECLINE

Fed Looks To Unfreeze Credit With Term ABS Loan Facility

On the same day as its announcement of a $600 billion program to buy the direct obligations and mortgage-backed securities of the housing-related government-sponsored enterprises, the Federal Reserve Board said it would create a facility that will help market participants meet the credit needs of households and small businesses by supporting the issuance of asset-backed securities (ABS) collateralized by student loans, auto loans, credit card loans and loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration.

The facility, called the Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (TALF), aims to increase credit availability and support economic activity. Under the TALF, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (FRBNY) will lend up to $200 billion on a nonrecourse basis to holders of certain AAA-rated ABS backed by newly and recently originated consumer and small business loans.

The FRBNY will lend an amount equal to the market value of the ABS less a haircut and will be secured at all times by the ABS. The U.S. Treasury Department, under the Troubled Assets Relief Program of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, will provide $20 billion of credit protection to the FRBNY in connection with the TALF.

SOURCE: Federal Reserve via MortgageOrb.com


*************************************************************************************


Home Price Declines Continue Through Third Quarter

Broad-based declines in the prices of existing single-family homes across the U.S. continued through September, according to Standard & Poor's S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Indices.

The decline in the index, which covers all nine U.S. census divisions, remained in double digits, posting a record 16.6% decline in the third quarter of 2008 versus the third quarter of 2007. This has increased from the annual declines of 14.0% and 15.1%, reported for the first and second quarters of the year, respectively.

The 10-City and 20-City Composites continue to set new records, S&P adds, with annual declines of 18.6% and 17.4%, respectively.

“The turmoil in the financial markets is placing further downward pressure on a housing market already weakened by its own fundamentals.” says David M. Blitzer, chairman of the Index Committee at S&P. “All three aggregate indices and 13 of the 20 metro areas are reporting new record rates of decline. Looking at the returns of the U.S. National Index, prices are back to where they were in early 2004.”

Phoenix was the weakest market, reporting an annual decline of 31.9%, followed by Las Vegas, down 31.3%, and San Francisco at -29.5%. Miami, Los Angeles, and San Diego did not fair much better, with annual declines of 28.4%, 27.6% and 26.3%, respectively.

SOURCE: S&P via MortgageOrb.com


Be blessed,
Wayne

www.Capstone-Ministries.org

Love all - Trust some - Harm none

.
IMPORTANT DISCLOSURE: All products and/or services advertised/promoted on this blog are either owned by myself, or I am an affiliate marketer for. Should you make a purchase I MAY EARN A COMMISSION or receive revenue. Don't let that stop you.