I am consolidating my notes and pictures into a travel book to Europe. I visited Europe two years ago and I took the train around Europe for twenty-six days. I traveled to eleven countries and visited 22 cities – London, Brussels, Antwerp, Amsterdam, Berlin, Wittenberg, Zurich, Budapest, Warsaw, Vienna, Milan, Paris, Venice, Florence, Rome, Bari, Thessaloniki, Athens, Corinth, Barcelona, Madrid, and New York.
Excert from Book
“Now the tricky part, I had studied how to perform this maneuver, and I knew it would be confusing and chaotic. Yes, it was all that and more. I was a little punch drunk from the long trip, so it was hard to get my bearings. I am glad that I downloaded the Citymapper for my android phone. Once I got on the train, I could sit down and open the app, and study on it. I knew where I was going, but it gave me a little more comfort.
I made it to Tower Bridge station and transferred to the District line to get to Notting Hill. Notting Hill was the location that I had picked out for my stay. Everyone remembers the movie Notting Hill and the warm, good vibes it gave you. I understand it is a movie, and it was planned and acted out to perfection. Everything turns out rosy pink in the end, and is that not what we want for our lives. I think so.”
Valentines of Adornment
Here we are
A day of love
Not a love czar
But a romantic dove
A dove of peace
A dove of understanding
A dove of increase
A dove of expanding
Increasing kindness
Expanding commitment
Restricting blindness
Eliminating resentment
Love is ever increasing
Building up over time
Endorphins releasing
Happiness on the climb
Climbing to a new place
Climbing to a new high
Climbing to a new grace
Climbing to a new cry
A cry of passion
A cry of affection
A cry to cash in
On a unique inflection
Refuting egotism
Ignoring offenses
Abandoning schism
Lowering our defenses
Growing appreciation
Growing generosity
Growing dedication
Growing reciprocity
Always climbing higher
Striving to surge and soar
A willing sojourner and flier
To love intensely and adore
I was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) on Wednesday on July 8th. According to National Organization for Rare Diseases, FND is a medical condition in which there is a problem with the functioning of the nervous system and how the brain and body sends and/or receives signals, rather than a structural disease process such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson or stroke.” This disorder is an improvement over my self diagnosed diseases and disorders. I am happy that I have it than the other alternatives.
For six years, I have struggled with a many weird issues which came and went at random. These issues are unpredictable and debilitating. I struggled with the unknown. When no one tells you, what is wrong with you, then you begin to wander through the possibilities. I found and latched on to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) two years ago. I had 8 of 12 symptoms, and it was the only disease or disorder that described me. The doctors did not think I had it because I was too strong, but what were the alternatives? I sank into depression and anxiety.
I ran the gambit of possibilities. How long do I last? Will it be a painful death? Will I make it three years? Will I suffer? I did not believe the doctors who said you are too strong because they were not giving me any alternatives. These were no solutions; just wait until it manifests itself.
I did not want to wait until it manifests itself. I wanted answers now. Who wants to wait until it manifests itself, and then they say, “Oh, you had PSP sorry. Now, you will die in a year or 2.” To me, that was pure craziness!
A few weeks ago, Cynthia (Smart Girl) found Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), and we studied upon it on various websites. I got an appointment with a doctor in Little Rock who understood FND. I found him on FNDhope.org. I made an appointment with Dr. Andrews.
I visited Dr. Andrews on Wednesday, July 8th. Dr. Andrews and I talked for an hour. He says, yes, you have Functional Neurological Disorder, and Dr. Andrews believes my right leg trauma with knee replacement, hip surgery, and replacement and blood clots with the extreme pain made FND activate. I was delighted when he said you are too strong for PSP, and since Mayo and Vanderbilt have eliminated all possible physical symptoms, it has to be FND. I went from a disorder with a death sentence to a disorder you can learn to live with through training.
You must learn what triggers your disorder or attacks so you can react to the triggers better. Also, you need to learn how to reset the triggers to get back to normal as quickly as possible. Here is a laundry list of things that I need to do to help myself:
• Keep exercising • Keep doing yoga • Keep eating a healthy diet • Learn Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) • Learn Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) • Simplify your life • Keep it simple • Learn triggers • Avoid triggers • Minimize triggers • Learn resets – stutter or unable to speak than sing a song and can not walk forwards then walk backwards • Beware if you disliked something before disorder, then you hate it now.
Here are some examples of what I disliked before, and I now hate:
• I was not too fond of crowds, so crowds activate my symptoms. • I did not like liars. Now, I hate liars. • I did not like injustice? I despise injustice. • I was intolerant of emotional hot-air rhetoric. I wouldn’t say I like rhetoric. • I do not like drawn-out stories. Now, I have no patience for a long story. • I do not enjoy genealogy (stuff with past). Wow, I guess it is a huge trigger.
These triggers can set me off to be rude, angry, or go to rage. Big problem!! I have always been feisty, argumentative, fiery, but it is a new uncontrollable level.
I have to learn to deactivate these triggers and not to let them bother me. I hope CBT and DBT give me the tools to do that.
Does anyone know any resets for triggers or a good list of reboots like singing a song for stutter and walk backwards to reset unable to step forward?
Marriage
You must believe
To care for the truth
And perceive
God from our youth
The Bible is true
The Bible is correct
The Bible is glue
The Bible is perfect
If you do not believe in God
Or in the truth of the Bible
This poem is a wad
Of foolish trifle
So stop here
Do not read another verse
You will not hear
The truth of the universe
To be unyoked
To ugly darkness
You will be provoked
By its starkness
But not by Gods light
Which shines on us all
Bright as Gods image
We do get the call
To share in Gods plan
Told in the Bibles first book
Genesis is where it began
Let us take a look
Man should not be alone
No helper found fit
God made women almost a clone
One flesh closely knit
God made an equal member
Two is better than one
Let us remember
Ecclesiastes is how it is spun
Gods plan is guy and gal
And he did not want us by ourselves
And they say we shall
Put all emotions on the shelf
On the shelf of love
On the shelf of encouragement
On the shelf of self sacrifice
On the shelf of commitment
God knew the world was fallen
And the world was hard
Most would fall in
You need to stand guard
Horrible things occur
To Gods creation
We must concur
It does not fit Gods narration
A narration of obedience
A narration of contentment
A narration of joy
A narration of peace
Why can we not stand up
To the evil in the world
The devils evil cup
As the devils world whirls
Whirls around us
Challenging our loyalties
Creating lots of fuss
Stealing our royalties
Royalties of forgiveness
Royalties of life
Royalties of heaven
Royalties of God
To challenge the evil miscarriages
God gave us each other
Man and female in marriages
Christians as a sister and a brother
A sister and brother
A brother and brother
A sister and sister
A brother and sister
To protect one another
To encourage one another
To carry one another
To help one another
In this fallen place
It is a mighty wonder
There is Gods grace
We can fall under
We sin immensely
In many ways
Most intensely
Setting God ablaze
Same sex marriage, divorce
Lies, gossip, small talk
Which ones to enforce
It is all a crock
They are all sin
Hated by God
We cannot win
We are all frauds
God knew
God gave us a rope
God came through
God gave us hope
We are not done
God sent Jesus to die
He sent his son
To ransom and buy
Our sinful mouths
Our sinful eyes
Our sinful trespasses
Our sinful lives
Just believe
Jesus is Lord
God rose Jesus
From the dead
It is not tough
Just repent
Call the devils bluff
A life changing event
A new journey
A new body
A new understanding
A new standing
Not easy
Never is
Can get sleazy
Do not fizz
You have made it
To Gods mysteries
You do not need your wit
Just Holy Spirit victories
Victories in choices
Victories in prayer
Victories in service
Victories in churches
Celebrate today
A new life view
This is the way
For me and you
Notes:
Belief
Acts:22-31 English Standard Version (ESV)
Paul Addresses the Areopagus 22 So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man,[a] 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, 28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’;[b] as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’[c] 29 Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. 30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”
2 Peter 1:20-21 English Standard Version (ESV)
20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Unyoked
2 Corinthians 6:14 English Standard Version (ESV)
The Temple of the Living God 14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
God’s Image
Genesis 1:26-27 English Standard Version (ESV)
26 Then God said, “Let us make man[a] in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
God’s Plan
Genesis 2:18-24 English Standard Version (ESV)
18 Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for[a] him.” 19 Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed[b] every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam[c] there was not found a helper fit for him. 21 So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. 22 And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made[d] into a woman and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said,
“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”[e]
24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Why two is better than one
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 English Standard Version (ESV)
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Philippians 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Romans 15:1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Galatians 6:2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
Hebrews 13:1-2 Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.
Romans 12:5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Corinthians 12:14 Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part.
Corinthians 12:20-21 As it is, there are many parts, but one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”
Warnings for being alone
Proverbs 18:1 English Standard Version (ESV)
18 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
Psalm 72:12 English Standard Version (ESV)
12 For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Genesis 4:7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.
Romans 7:21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
Single is possible under the right conditions
1 Corinthians 7:8-9 English Standard Version (ESV)
8 To the unmarried and the widows I say that it is good for them to remain single, as I am. 9 But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Marriage
Ephesians 5:22-33 English Standard Version (ESV)
Wives and Husbands
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.[a] 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Why does marriages fail?
Sin and pride in this world
Are divorces what God wants?
Hebrews 13:4 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.
Mark 10 English Standard Version (ESV)
Teaching About Divorce
Mark 10:1-10 And he left there and went to the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan, and crowds gathered to him again. And again, as was his custom, he taught them.
2 And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3 He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4 They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5 And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6 But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7 ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,[a] 8 and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9 What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
10 And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. 11 And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
