Peripheral's Blog – August 2008 Archive (11)

From My Perspective - - -



It’s an old tradition that is quoted by many when a Bride is about to be married: “Something Old, Something New; Something Borrowed, Something Blue, And a silver sixpence in her shoe.” The idea is that this combination as part of the Bride’s attire will assure happiness, success, and good luck in her marriage.



The History of this tradition states: “Each item in this poem represents a good-luck token for the bride. If she carries all of them on… Continue

From My Perspective - - -



People love to coin phrases that don’t always hold up under scrutiny. It is common-place to hear the expression: “Perception Is Reality”! Wikipedia indicates: “In psychology and the cognitive sciences, perception is the process of attaining awareness or understanding of sensory information.” Objects and Ideas can mean different things to different people. A test that is often employed is the use of objects or ink blots (The Rorschach Test). The person… Continue

From My Perspective - - -



It becomes a wearying process to listen to “News Programs” and to have Prognosticators and Pundits express what the Newsmaker meant to say and means to say. It becomes somewhat disingenuous, especially when there are those in Punditry who are (a) predictable in terms of what they will utter again and again, and (b) who keep speaking until they can think of something to say. Whatever happened to the Biblical instruction in Ecclesiastes 5:2-3, “Do not be… Continue

From My Perspective - - -



It is all too easy to become confused by the Mass Media these days. We have several types of people who give their various viewpoints – Analysts; Commentators; Strategists; Prognosticators; and Pundits. We also have several organizations who are conducting Daily Tracking Polls to indicate what they believe is the most up-to-the-minute opinion of the nation as a whole. With the 24/7 Cable and Satellite coverage, we have many others who are merely… Continue

From My Perspective - - -



I was just reading a Review about the book: “Knocking Over the Leadership Ladder” by Paul R. Ford. The Reviewer observed from Chapter 2: "It is difficult to find the communion of the Holy Spirit when the spotlight is on the self…Narcissism, exaggerated self-concern says, 'It's all about “Me”… Entitlement says "I deserve it." We feel “We” deserve what we have, what we want and what we need. “We” look and act much like our unhappy culture… God's design…is for… Continue

From My Perspective - - -



It seems as though “amelioration” should have a central place and function in all of ones efforts and engagements. Ours is a world of flux and people need and long for some semblance of stability. Just think of the result if we entered into situations – even if there is a degree of risk – to try to ameliorate rather than ignore. The purpose would be to make something better, or to bring about improvement.



The political candidates for President of… Continue

From My Perspective - - -



There is another dimension to the subjects of jocularity, humor, jokes and happiness, namely, the Therapeutic. The idea is gleaned from Proverbs 17:22, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” A similar thought is shared in Proverbs 15:13, “A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache crushes the spirit.” There is a connection being made between the psychological and the physiological. It is not an artificial… Continue

From My Perspective - - -



The idea of jocularity is understood by the definition, namely, “Characterized by joking; Given to joking.” Humor is part of our total being. We have an emotional range that enables us to move from weeping to laughter depending on the circumstances surrounding one. And indeed, the Bible allows (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 states some obvious contrasts in life): “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a… Continue

From My Perspective - - - -



Most have heard the phrase: “Birds of a feather flock together.” As we have been faithfully nurtured by parents and grandparents, they warned us about the company one chooses to keep. It’s based on the idea of birds of a feather flocking together. Another phrase that flows from these expressions is that one can fall under the banner of “guilt by association”! All of these are cautionary phrases so ones value system directs one to make the right choices… Continue

From My Perspective - - -



Reality and Integrity are two worthy aspirations. Most people are weary of the façade approach to life and the inability to be straightforward in responses. If one asks a politician a “Yes” or “No” type question, it seldom is the response. There is usually several sentences shared and the point of the question is obscured by intentional vague rhetoric.



It is interesting to note in an editorial comment by Peggy Noonan in the Wall Street Journal… Continue

New Beginnings



From My Perspective - - -



Words such as Failure and Disqualified have a heart-piercing affect upon one. The other side to this is the thought – Is All Failure and Disqualification Final? Is there any possibility of one having hope of being reinstated and/or having a second chance? Businesses on occasion file for Bankruptcy and seek for time to Reorganize. Many companies have come out of Bankruptcy and were viable once again. Can a person who tried and failed… Continue