Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder

My all time favorite football player wrote a book about a disorder he has. I enjoyed reading Herschel Walker's book, Breaking Free: My Life with Dissociative Identity Disorder. He talks a lot about his life growing up and his time as a college and pro football player. He is brutally honest. I have only quoted from the end of the book. He talks about a one-of-a-kind figurines made by Lladro'.  He says:

The difference between the sculptures and man is simple. Once a figurine is broken, it cannot be restored to its original beauty and elegance. However, when a man is broken by life's traumas, the great Master Potter can repair and restore him as if completely unscarred by life's suffering. When God picks up the pieces of our lives, He reshapes, refines, and reconstructs us. Then we become the vessel God intended us to be.

By contrast, a Lladro' piece, although beautiful, does not feel pain or sorrow. It has known neither disappointment nor loneliness, nor ever shed a tear. If it is never touched by life, it will retain its beauty forever. However, once it leaves the Lladro's' hands, it becomes very vulnerable. If it is broken, its creator cannot restore it to perfection. p. 233

There is an account in the Bible of Jeremiah going to a potter's house to observe him remaking a broken vessel. The craftsman turned the clay on the wheel and formed it with his hands until it was without blemish. As Jeremiah watched the transformation of the clay, the Lord said to him, "Just as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand."

Now when I look in the mirror with the knowledge that I am in the Master Potter's hands, I realize that Herschel is just a piece of clay spinning on the Potter's wheel. I am being remade, reshaped, and worked into a new vessel. When I see cracks and chips, I simply remind myself that I am a work in progress.

I sincerely believe that God is creating a special vessel who will be able to transcend geographic and cultural borders.

Some of the Lladro' figurines bear the original signature of their creator, whereas you and I have been tattooed into the palm of God's hand with His own unique signature on our lives.  

Each year, certain Lladro' pieces are retired; but we can rest in the assurance that we will never be retired by our Master Potter.  pp.237-238

To order this book click here!

A Little Extra Effort

I finally found time to read Fred Smith's book, A Little Extra Effort. Fred ran for Governor, but lost in the primary a few weeks ago. This is the book he sent to the people of  North Carolina. A few good quotes are listed below:

Greatness requires great effort. p. 28

The difference between good and great is a little extra effort. p. 28

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow. Ralph Waldo Emerson p. 51

Never give in, never, never, never, never, - in nothing great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Sir Winston Churchill p. 75

There are no easy answers - there are simple answers that require moral courage. Ronald Reagan p. 145

To order a copy of this book click here!

Torch

Here are the other "Presidential Fun Facts" from Cedarville University's TORCH:

The oldest president at the time of election was Ronald Reagan, age 69, while the youngest at election was John F. Kennedy, age 43. (At age 42, Teddy Roosevelt was actually younger when he became president, but he ascended to the White House upon the assassination of William McKinley.) Note: John McCain is 71 and Barack Obama is 46.

Four presidential candidates have won the popular vote but lost the election in the Electoral College:

• Andrew Jackson, 1824
• Samuel J. Tilden, 1876
• Grover Cleveland, 1888
• Al Gore, 2000

The president with the highest popular vote in American history was Ronald Reagan in 1984 with 54.4 million votes. He also had the highest electoral vote with 525 (carried 49 states).

One president served two non-consecutive terms: Grover Cleveland (1884 and 1892)

The lowest voter turnout percentage in American presidential election history was in 1992 with only 49.1 percent voting. That means that approximately 24.5 percent of the electorate put Bill Clinton into his first term as president.

George W. Bush defeated Al Gore for the presidency in 2000. The race came down to a single state and several hundred votes.

FlyWheel

If you have not seen the movie, FlyWheel, then you need to go to the nearest Blockbuster and check in out! Eric Wilson turned the movie into a book. I have just one part of the book quoted below. It is Jay Austin's Dad praying for Jay.

Lord, I thank You for my son, Jay. And I thank You that he's turned his heart to You. Thank You for receiving him, and for cleaning him and directing his path. I praise You, Lord, for what You've done in him. Now, Lord, in Your name, I bless him with courage, with faith, and with integrity. Lord, I call him a man of strength, of love, and grace. I ask, as Jay's earthly father, that You would rain down favor on him, that he would know he is loved and treasured, that You would bless whatever he touches. This is my son, Lord, and I give him back to You. Lord, I love him. Keep him and bless him. In Jesus' name, amen.

To order the book click here!

TORCH

The Spring/Summer 2008 issue of Torch also has some "Presidential Fun Facts" that I found interesting:

Presidential Fun Facts

George W. Bush has had one of the highest approval ratings and one of the lowest approval ratings of any of the presidents during his terms in office (90 percent and 29 percent, respectively).

Attempts have been made to assassinate 10 presidents; four were successful.

• Assassinated: Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and Kennedy
• Attempts: Jackson, T. Roosevelt, F. Roosevelt, Truman, Ford, and Reagan

The order of presidential succession established by the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 makes the speaker of the House (currently Nancy Pelosi) third in line after the president and vice president.

Five pairs of presidents have been related:

• George H.W. Bush is the father of George W. Bush
• John Adams was the father of John Q. Adams
• William Henry Harrison was the grandfather of Benjamin Harrison
• James Madison and Zachary Taylor were second cousins
• Franklin D. Roosevelt was a fifth cousin of Theodore Roosevelt.

A presidential candidate needs 270 Electoral College votes to become president.

The next president will be paid $400,000 per year in salary.

More presidents were Episcopalians than any other denomination. The second most common affiliation is Presbyterian.

This is half of the fun facts. I will list the other half in another post.

TORCH

Cedarville University publishes a magazine called, Torch. It usually has many interesting articles. The Spring/Summer 2008 issue is all about Power. Politics, and the Presidency. I share the thoughts below to encourage you and motivate you to pray and take action for our country.

As Christians we must knowledgeably choose leaders of good character - leaders who are concerned about human life, freedom, justice, and security; leaders who make decisions based on principles, not polls; leaders who have a vision, not an agenda. So let's pray, read, talk, and be involved. We have the choice - the privilege, the responsibility - to engage in the selection of the next president. Let's make our voice heard.

Visit Cedarville's website here!

Illumine

Here is a thought from the May/June issue of Illumine:

It is reasonable to draw the conclusion that in worship, it is important both to think deeply about God and to have a "heart" that responds to God's person and presence.

Illumine

I receive a publication from Bryan College called, Illumine. It has some awesome thoughts. You can use the link at the bottom of this entry to check out the website, Bryan Center. I wanted to share one thought from a recent issue:

In Christian colleges we must spend less time critiquing popular culture and more time liberally educating culture shapers.

As a Christain School Educator, I can attest this to be very true. We need change agents in our society today who have a Christian Worldview!

Check out their site here!