Category Archives: Community

A Woman

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And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all

She was utterly unable to straighten herself or to look upward. The sickness that she suffered caused her body to be bent double so that her natural view was to the ground. Her deformity was in fact grotesque and known to all who saw her.

The story continues…….  Luke 13 10-17

Verse 10 & 16a

9       And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all

15    “And this woman, a daughter of Abraham as she is, whom Satan has bound for eighteen long years…

A woman was there in the place of worship that day.  There must have been lots of women and men as well.  We do not know her name but we know a few things about her. Continue reading →

Daughter of Abraham

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day set aside for worship

On the day set aside for worship, Jesus could be found in the synagogue in whatever town He was in, participatory role. He gave of Himself and His relationship with His heavenly Father.

There is an account in the book of Luke about a woman who’s story has so much meaning and such wonderful application, that I have gone back to it again and again.  I can not share all that I see in her encounter with Jesus in a short time, so I will do it over a period of days.  Each day will be a continuation of the one before.

Her story is found in Luke 13: 10-17

The three-year public ministry of Jesus is in its final year.  The leaders of Israel have rejected Him for the most part and are looking for ways to discredit Him as His popularity among the people is drawing large numbers to His teaching and healing ministry.  As our story opens, He is on His great final teaching tour as He has turned His face to the cross.  He is pressing on toward Jerusalem. Continue reading →

Kindness – A Good Rule

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Decide to treat all your neighbors with consideration and respect. Be a resident ‘ambassadors’ to help welcome newcomers as they transition into the community. Aspire to live by the Golden Rule.

Decide to treat all your neighbors with consideration and respect. Be a resident ‘ambassadors’ to help welcome newcomers as they transition into the community.
Aspire to live by the Golden Rule.

Today we often read about cyber bullies among young people, but bullying also plagues seniors.  The behavior being referenced would be incidents of name-calling, bossy behavior, loud arguments, snubs and aggression.

Causes and strategies
Fear can be one reason for bullying, says Renee Garfinkel, a Washington, D.C.-based psychologist who specializes in aging issues, but it’s also “that human phenomenon of the strong picking on the weak. It’s not a function of aging. It’s a function of pathology.” Continue reading →

Gambling

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Gambling destroys the work ethic. The core values of the work ethic are all part of the free enterprise system. Gambling corrupts these values and replaces them with greed and selfishness. Rather than depending upon hard work, gamblers depend instead upon luck and chance.

Gambling destroys the work ethic. The core values of the work ethic are all part of the free enterprise system. Gambling corrupts these values and replaces them with greed and selfishness. Rather than depending upon hard work, gamblers depend instead upon luck and chance.

“I hate casinos!” was my not at all wimpy comment while my coworker replied in like manner….. “I love casinos!”  We were not developing an argument, but clearly our opinions were far apart when it came to the issue of gambling.

It got me thinking……….  Why am I so opposed to gambling?

Go to any casino and you’ll see many gray heads at the slot machines and blackjack tables. Gambling has become a popular pastime for seniors who often have time to spare and holes in their lives to fill. Gambling, like many things in life, can become addictive and seniors who are bored or lonely may be more vulnerable to addictive behaviors. Continue reading →

Defensive Strategy

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Sometimes it is necessary to “go into the game fighting” so to speak, but most of the time the issue at hand I not a big deal.

Sometimes it is necessary to “go into the game fighting” so to speak, but most of the time the issue at hand I not a big deal.

Football season in here and grandparents are often making sure they are in the stands to cheer for the young people who are “in the game”.

As aging people, living in close proximity to a variety of people, we need to choose a position as well in the games of life that play out all around us each day.   We can choose to play “defensively” when an offensive comment or encounter is hurled our way, seemingly from out of nowhere. Continue reading →

Readers Theatre

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My hope is that we can produce a program that will serve as our holiday entertainment at Christmas time. The story I am hoping to use will of course be, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

My hope is that we can produce a program that will serve as our holiday entertainment at Christmas time. The story I am hoping to use will of course be, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.

“Readers Theatre” is an idea that I want to introduce as a new kind of community enjoyment to the friends and neighbors here at Glendale Place.

Readers Theatre connects oral reading, literature, and drama in a group setting. Using only voices and facial expressions, each reader interprets the emotions, beliefs, attitudes, and motives of the characters in a story. A narrator conveys the story’s setting and action and provides the commentary necessary for transition between scenes. Continue reading →

Smile Anyway!

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Smiling is a good idea for lots of reasons. A sunny disposition and demeanor favorably colors the interactions of my days for the most part… but not every time.

Smiling is a good idea for lots of reasons. A sunny disposition and demeanor favorably colors the interactions of my days for the most part… but not every time.

“Hi Smiley” was the greeting I recently received from a business associate while attending a lovely event in glamorous surroundings.  It was early in the day and the mood was festive and pleasant.  It was interesting to think about the notion that I must come across as a person who is smiling and cheerful a good bit of the time.  As I considered this thought, the words to a song taught to me by my parents came to mind.

Let the sunshine in, face it with a grin.
Smilers never lose, and frowners never win,
So let the sunshine in, face it with a grin.
Open up your heart and let the sunshine in. Continue reading →

Uninvited Knock

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I want everyone to VOTE!

I want everyone to VOTE!

I am all for voting and I make it my personal business to find out about the people who are running for office and the issues that are going to be decided by the voters.  As the resident manager of a large apartment complex, I include voter information regarding registration and our poling location for residents in my newsletter that goes out to the people who live in my community here at Glendale Place.  I want everyone to VOTE!

Dealing with the campaigns however, has turned out to be a huge disappointment.  Continue reading →

Eagle Project

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Everything about scouting is handled by volunteers, and the Scouts working on these projects are young developing future leaders of the community.

Everything about scouting is handled by volunteers, and the Scouts working on these projects are young developing future leaders of the community.

This week I met with a young man who is working to become and Eagle Scout.  This soon to be 10th grader is interested in pursuing an Eagle Project, which I have learned is no small undertaking.

A quality Eagle project takes time.  The Scout must do all pre-planning, design, any fundraising, and go through a multi-step review process with the end user of his work, property owners, his scout troop and the scouting district. Most Scouts plan 6-9 months for an Eagle Project, taking it from a concept to a fully fledged plan, getting it reviewed (which often involves changes), reviewed again until it is fully ready, and then to implementation. Continue reading →

The Financial Pinch

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Feeling the financial “pinch”? If so, you have lots of company.

Here’s the thing… we all have some money, but that is not the only “spendable” thing we have to work with.

Feeling the financial “pinch”?  If so, you have lots of company.  When you start talking to people there is never any shortage of complaints and the old adage if often heard, “The money ran out before the month.”  We’ve all been there.

I recently heard of a cost cutting measure that is working like a charm for some of my elderly friends.  Granted, these folks are already living in a financially affordable apartment home, having left the big expensive setting behind as their children grew up and established their own families, but the “pinch” is still felt, even by these careful proactive people. Continue reading →