Monthly Archives: August 2021

Across the Pastors Desk by George Marin

I am certain that most of us have heard of the Golden Rule. This is found in Matthew 7:12, where Jesus said, So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the law and the prophets. At times, however, it seems the Golden Rule is interpreted, He who has the gold makes the rules. This is not at all what Jesus meant.

George Marin

Sometimes, we can do the opposite of what God expects of us. When that happens, things just do not go as they should. Respecting others should be something that we all practice naturally. However, respecting others can become more difficult when we are at disagreement with them.

Jesus once said, Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matt. 24:35. This is a clear indication that what Jesus said about treating others as we wish to be treated is still applicable today. I think it is in all of us to want our own way and to want others to simply fall in line with our desires. But life does not work best that way. Life is about give and take. Life requires concessions, compromises and humility.

In theory, the Golden Rule seems simple; however, in practice, it can be a different story. So, how can we apply this practically in our daily lives? Here are five tips from Leo Babauta: 1) Be empathetic. Simply put, place yourself in the shoes of another. Try to see things from their perspective and feel what they are experiencing. 2) Be compassionate. Express concern for what others might be suffering. Sometimes we may not be able to do anything about their suffering, but practicing compassion can bring great comfort. 3) Listen well. This is listening without interrupting, and listening to gain understanding of the other person. This is very important in matters of great disagreement. It is amazing what we can learn from and about each other when we take time to listen. 4) Practice acceptance. We all have biases. Things like skin color, differences in language, cultures, religions or politics can create prejudicial divides. When things seem different from us, they may seem uncomfortable. These can all be overcome when we are intentional about seeing people simply as fellow human beings worthy of respect. 5) Be kind. I love what I read recently, In a world where you can be anything, be kind. Never underestimate the power of kindness. It can literally be a game-changer for some people. Our community, our nation and our world have been through a lot in the past few months. I am convinced that we need each other now more than ever before. I love you. Im in your corner.

George Marin is a pastor at Grace Christian Church.

See more here:

Across the Pastor's Desk: Following the Golden Rule; be kind - Albert Lea Tribune - Albert Lea Tribune

My New Year's Eve 2019 was spent in a ski resort in the French Pyrenees eating oysters, salmon and local cheeses and knocking back Champagne with people I loved, the perfect family celebration with my husband, Ben and our son, daughter and two nieces.We greeted 2020 by discussing our hopes for the year - projects for work, studies and travel - in what already feels like a sepia-tinged snapshot from a more carefree time.

The following New Year's Eve was spent in London, alone, under my duvet, self-isolating and awaiting the results of a Covid test I expected to be positive but which, after a six day wait, would actually come back negative. I ate a pasta dish on a tray with shamefully little goodwill to Ben, who'd cooked and delivered it.

As midnight approached, and with Ben's bed made up in the spare room, I watched TV feeling angry with the world. Six days is a long time in one room. By this point my 40 degree temperature had gone, as had the sweats and the shivers - yet I, like everybody, had seen my life as I knew it taken away and I was finding it hard to accept.

In my normal life, my pre-pandemic real life, I am, so my friends would tell you, an easy-going person and an eternal optimist. But nine months of obsessing over statistics and questioning every decision were taking their toll.

As we headed into yet another national lockdown, even longer than the first, I was snapping over the tiniest things. Philosophical disagreements with my children about social distancing were turning into full blown arguments. I have always believed, at the risk of sounding like a Monty Python song, in looking on the bright side of life - but at this particular juncture it took a lot of effort.

Don't get me wrong: I knew how lucky I was. I was not one of those people putting their lives on the line to help the rest of us, nor was I living with the loss of either my livelihood or of one of my nearest or dearest. I was a writer who'd worked from home for many years anyway. I had a house and a family and much to be thankful for.

What's more, I had always dreamed of being an author and my debut novel, Hope Nicely's Lessons for Life, was due to be published in a few months. It tells the story of its eponymous heroine, a young woman who is writing her autobiography.

Hope is a dog walker who has the neuro-developmental condition Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and who relies on a set of "golden rules" to help her make sense of a world that can seem confusing and a bit scary.What helped me, as 2021 began to bite, was to take a page out of my fictional character's book - quite literally - and work out what my own golden rules now were.

Life had changed. The world was grimmer than it used to be. But without a sense of hope and a sense of humour, it would be all the harder to cope.

And when, on the morning of January 1 my test came back negative, I was already feeling that bit more positive.

I crept downstairs and surprised Ben with a kiss. And during those next long months of lockdown, I clung to my own golden rules and I made it through.

This is one of Hope's rules, and my family would tell you it's one I would have done well to heed far more often - especially when I've had a glass of wine or two, and the subject of social distancing comes up. Christmas Day was the perfect example. It started with opening presents and family harmony - and ended with me throwing a tantrum during a card game and storming off to walk the dogs round the block in the dark.

Another of Hope's Golden Rules, but most of us could learn by it. Ask questions. Listen to answers. Don't assume everybody else is having the same experiences you are - one person's children under your feet is another's haven't seen a soul in three days - and always think about the impression what you say and do might give.

Toddlers like to paint and draw and do jigsaw puzzles and build Lego and plant sunflowers and make rice crispy cakes. But then we all grow up and feel the need to talk about house prices and dodgyVAR decisions instead.While the pandemic brought pain and stress and strain to some, to many it brought unprecedented boredom. But, as child psychologists would tell you, boredom is a great springboard for creativity.Think banana bread and grown-up colouring books. Embrace your inner toddler. Go on, next time it rains, put on those wellies and go out for a splash.

It really does.Whistle a happy tune, and all that - or just pop it on the stereo or Spotify.And never attempt the housework without the right backing track. Only you can know what that is - a bit like wands in Harry Potter - though it can change with your mood. One person's Elvis is another's Lily Allen. Upbeat, however, is better than melancholy.Avoid Baby Shark at all costs unless you have very small people helping with the dusting.

This is the first rule of fiction writing which Hope Nicely learns very early in my novel. And it does transfer to real life too. In fiction, it's a matter of not telling the reader that Mr Smith is angry but showing the lowered eyebrows and scowl. In real life showing is often better too - especially when we've all been so removed from so many of the things that matter to us. Don't tell your elderly neighbour you're happy to help with the shopping, show you mean it by calling or popping in and asking what they need - and taking the time for a proper chat too.

My two rescue dogs, Snoopy and Charlie Brown, have always known that the most important things in life are walkies and teatime. It took lockdown - not that we chose it - for us humans to come round to their way of thinking. Long walks and meals became the high point of the day for an entire country. As did curling up on the sofa. And maybe it did help us to appreciate the smaller, simpler things just a little bit. Sometimes it's OK to be more dog.

We've all needed to spoil ourselves.We've all needed to feel just a bit wicked. But the key in having a little of what you fancy is often in balancing that "little". Be it biscuits or pink gin - the hard bit was often the moderation side - little enough to keep it slightly naughty without tipping over the edge. I say this as a woman who believes that bottles of wine and chocolate bars are sad if they are not finished once started.When the pubs were closed, Ben and I made questionable home brew and I painted us a family pub sign. "The Priory" pub was open on Fridays and Saturdays. It gave us something to look forward to - and, when the days blurred, it kept the weekend different.

Or poems. Or write them. Or watch movies. Even when borders are closed and you are restricted to staying at home for entire days, there is always an escape route. It is called your imagination...

Read more:

The eight golden rules that will get you through almost anything - Daily Express

When you take something that is no longer useful to you and turn it into an item that is useful, then it means you have been successful in recycling it. Most people throw away things as soon as they are of no use. If you have any eco-conscious values then you will want to recycle items and cut down on pollution, dumping, and conserve natural resources.

Many people confuse recycling with green living. Just because you are a tenant of green living, it doesnt mean you are recycling as well. Furthermore, you must learn how to recycle properly as when you dont follow the rules, you create problems for the recycling facilities. The materials get mixed up with the contaminated ones and eventually, all of them end up in the landfill.

Recycling is not hard but when people get confused they tend to mix up the rules. After all, it basically involves segregating and tossing your items in a certain colored bin. Even then people tend to go wrong and this is because you are not following the universal guidelines but rather the ones that are local. Below are the universal rules of recycling that you can follow.

What you may recycle in your town may not be the same in the next one. Therefore, to begin with, before adding items to your recycling bins, always check and understand the requirements of your local city. It is important to note that every city has its own recycling rules, needs, and requirements. For example, in some cities, it is fine to use egg cartons wherein in another it might be completely banned. The same goes for reusable plastic bags. While some may accept it, others might want to put it on a complete halt. You may be adding these unwanted items to your bin which might be just getting tossed in landfills. Therefore check with your local citys requirement of dos and donts before you contaminate the recycling cans.

You can work on your creative side by using this rule. There are many items that are not deemed recyclable. You can, however, find another way to use it. Try to repurpose it and find ideas online on DIY websites. Plastic utensils can be washed and reused for planting purposes or for your outdoor kitchen. This will be a great opportunity for you and your family to have a craft day at home so everyone can come up with ideas on how to reuse items that cannot be recycled but can be reused for other purposes. Broken glass items can be used for making mosaic. Old tires can be reused to make nice seating in your yard.

There are different types of plastic, paper, and glass. They are not made equally. Plastics are definitely the trickiest ones. To be on the safe side always try to avoid soft and flexible plastic like plastic carry bags, inflatables, and cling wrap. One misconception about paper is that all paper is recyclable. That is in fact not the case. For example, gift wrapping paper is heavily dyed and cannot be added to the recycling boxes. As for glass, anything that is made out of ceramics, or pyrex cannot be recycled. This also includes light bulbs. However, you should check the local requirements on the same as they may have a special program revolving around these items and you may actually be able to recycle them.

All your recycling efforts will go to vain and end up in the landfill, as the leftover juice in a carton is spilled over other items. Firstly you should know that it is vital to remove potential contaminants from recyclable items. These contaminants include any kind of food or liquids. Many people are confused as to how much cleaner their recyclables should be. Keep in mind that a very small quantity of food or liquid remains will not affect the other items. You can give it a gentle scrub and rinse it with water before setting it aside for recycling. If there is paper in your bin then these can be completely ruined with moisture that comes with food. You must therefore make sure there are no grease or food remnants when you want to recycle items like pizza boxes. If it does have grease stains, then you can tear off the part with the stain on it and recycle the rest.

Not all standard recycling programs have clear instructions on how to take care of e-waste or electronic waste. Regardless of that, it is important to make sure that these items do not get dumped in landfills. With the high consumptions of electronics and circuit boards nowadays, it has become vital to make sure that all these items go through the proper channels of disposal. These toxic metals leak into the environment and cause harm to the ecosystems when they are not disposed of properly. Many countries have even made it a law that any e-waste cannot be sent to the landfill and must be discarded properly. If these are found disposed of improperly, then their source is traced back to the brand and they face heavy fines for violating the rules.

While most people think that hazardous waste is only common in manufacturing industries, it is not just that. There are many common items like fluorescent light bulbs, batteries and so on that many businesses use on a regular basis which are considered hazardous. All this type of waste should be disposed of with care as it cannot be recycled with a standard program. Finding the right resource that can help you identify the hazardous waste you are using in your house or office should be the first step. These sources can also help you in finding out proper disposal methods.

Finally, remember that recycling is a group effort for a better tomorrow. So get everyone around you involved so the impact of your efforts can be stronger.

Read this article:

The Golden Rules Of Recycling According To The Experts - E/The Environmental Magazine

Broken rules from The Block Bible have resulted in tensions and early alliances on site, with this season shaping up to be a dramatic one already.

In Monday nights episode of The Block Fans v Faves, twins Luke and Josh and married couple Tanya and Vito teamed up to turn on country singer Kirsty and her husband Jesse labelling them rude after an awkward clash over a bed.

It comes after the twins had their own run-in with Kirsty and Jesse on Sunday night over using their tradies to paint, breaking the golden rule of the competition.

Meanwhile, TheBlock faves Ronnie and Georgia and Mitch and Mark have kept their distance from the rookie teams, musing that its very us and them.

Ouch.

RELATED: Block viewers fume over big rule break

Mondays clash kicked off after the couples chose their houses, with Tanya and Vito scoring the challenge house complete with three established bedrooms from the first task.

But while The Block rule book stipulates that whoever wins the challenge house is entitled to keep everything in it, Kirsty and Jesse tried to claim the items from their winning room, resulting in an uncomfortable stand-off.

Kirsty and I had a little bit of a moment, makeup artist Tanya told producers, revealing that a crew member had alerted her to the fact that Kirsty and Jesse had swooped in to retrieve the pieces.

RELATED: Dibber dobber drama starts early on The Block

On realising the couple had raided their house, Tanya confronted Kirsty and asked to at least leave the beds.

Were keeping the bed, were keeping all three beds. Were allowed to, Tanya had said, to which Kirsty, seemingly unaware of the rule, replied: What do you mean youre keeping our bed?, before adding: Hey, Im cheering I dont have to carry this f***ing bed over there.

You dont want the bedhead? Its cute as, Tanya then asked, to which Kirsty refused with a short Yeah, so you can have it then.

While only a minor clash that ended with a hug, Tanya was quick to fill in the rest of the cast with a slightly dramatised version of events.

Its fine, but I said take the bedhead its really cute, and Kirsty was like well if its so cute then you should keep it, Tanya recalled to producers.

Elsewhere, in a phone conservation, Tanya was heard saying: Our neighbours who we thought were our friends went into our room and started taking all their stuff.

I said Its a cute bedhead why dont you take it and (Kirsty) turns around and goes well if its so gorgeous and cute you can have it. So shes the mean girl.

Telling neighbours Luke and Josh about the drama, Tanya said: She came in and started taking their sh*t without even asking me.

Theyre rude, real rude, the twins responded, to which Tanya declared she was done with their friendship.

Im done too, Im done with them. They can f*** off, fumed Luke.

Im off Kirsty and Jesse, I want them off my site. I dont want to see them, they can stay on their site. But if theyre going to be rude, Im done with it, he added.

Things between the boys and Kirsty and Jesse werent off to a great start during Sundays premiere.

Luke and Josh werent impressed when country singer Kirsty pointed out theyd broken The Blocks number one rule while completing their first challenge in this years Hampton, Victoria cul-de-sac.

With the teams tasked with designing a bedroom in just two days and a budget of $5000 to win the advantage of having first choice of property, Kirsty was shocked to find the boys using their tradies to paint.

As Scott Cam pointed out during the episode, and many fans later on Twitter, rule number one in the Block Bible is that contestants must do their own painting.

Speaking with producers, the brothers made it clear they werent happy with Kirstys approach to reminding them.

Its not something that Luke and I would normally do, go and pull someone up if theyre doing the wrong thing, said Josh.

We dont do the dibber-dobber thing, Luke added.

Meanwhile, Kirsty told producers she just wanted to make things fair in the competition.

The Block continues tomorrow night from 7.30 on Channel 9

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The Block fans turn on each other after broken bed rule - NEWS.com.au

Theodore Roosevelt, 1907

President Roosevelt was referring to immigrants who may hold some allegiance to their home countries. It applies to those of us who are native-born, too: a nation is not a nation unless it has principles upheld by its citizens, to each other.

Such principles need not cover every aspect of life. We have different likes, dislikes, backgrounds, habits, and beliefs. But at some level we must share an understanding that supports coexistence. Roosevelt laid a good foundation. After that, we need to live and let live.

Not long ago, the Golden Rule was a common understanding: treat others as you would like to be treated. Was that too simple? Does it only work where theres little or no diversity? Perhaps.

In an environment of diversity, coexistence can become difficult. Mutual respect and tolerance become necessary. It requires everyone to play along.

My father-in-law used to say it is impossible to be fair. At first, I disagreed with him but came to see it his way. No one has the same priorities and perspectives that I do or that you do. My intent to be fair with you could seem unfair to you if our priorities and perspectives are different.

In the middle of the 1800s, many Irish immigrants landed in Boston where they lived in poor conditions. Well-meaning people, appalled by the immigrants situation, insisted the government improve things. In 1868, Boston introduced housing reforms. The well-meaning people were proud to have improved immigrant lives. But did they? Surely, some of the tenement residents enjoyed the improvements. On the other hand, one of the top priorities for many Irish immigrants was to save enough money to send to Ireland so relatives could afford to join them. Tenement reform meant higher rent which meant less saving which meant longer waits for reuniting families. Priorities and perspectives. Live and let live.

Freedom means being unrestricted. Some think freedom means being able to do whatever they like. Living totally free would allow me to do anything I want with you. Depending on my nature, that could be unjust in the extreme. Coexistence requires that my freedom ends where yours begins. And vice-versa. Live and let live.

Have you heard of preferred pronouns? Independent of their sex, apparently regardless of anything but their feelings, individuals are expecting us to use he, she, they, xe, or ze when we speak of them. Some people are starting to wear pins with their preferred pronouns; they have email and social media signatures that include them. Is their preference for certain pronouns greater than my preference not to care about their preference? I dont think so. Live and let live.

There seem to be more and more demands from people, of others, that require a lack of respect for coexistence. Lets try harder.

Bruce Kaskubar, of Rochester, is a former chairman of the Olmsted County Republican Party. His opinions are his own.

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Bruce Kaskubar: Live and let live - PostBulletin.com