24 April 2011
Normalcy bias
Apr/29/11
Don’t believe everything you think! Our brain has a ‘normalcy bias.’ We think the future will be what we believe, often based on the past. History is full of ‘normalcy bias’ that was tragic.
In 1935 Hitler’s plans were emerging and he was acting on those plans. 100,000 jews left one city. 450,000 stayed behind. With Hurricane Katrina powering toward New Orleans, people were told that the levy’s would fail. Many didn’t believe it and stayed. The human mind refuses to take in new information because we’ve never seen anything like it in our life time.
We like normal. We don’t know what change will bring. So we believe what we think. Romans 12: 1,2 addresses this right on. Don’t be conformed. Let your mindset be Christ like. That’s transformation.
Podcast
In 1935 Hitler’s plans were emerging and he was acting on those plans. 100,000 jews left one city. 450,000 stayed behind. With Hurricane Katrina powering toward New Orleans, people were told that the levy’s would fail. Many didn’t believe it and stayed. The human mind refuses to take in new information because we’ve never seen anything like it in our life time.
We like normal. We don’t know what change will bring. So we believe what we think. Romans 12: 1,2 addresses this right on. Don’t be conformed. Let your mindset be Christ like. That’s transformation.
Podcast
Quick learning elephants
Apr/28/11
We don’t usually think of elephants as quick learners and wise. Dolphins and owls come to mind. But recently elephants have been placed in some complex situations to determine how quickly they learned.
Food rewards were placed on a platform on the ground connected to a rope. The elephants were behind the fence. Two had to drag the two ends of the rope at the same time to drag the platform under the fence. They learned to work together. Variations proved that the elephants quickly learned the new challenge. If one was late, the other waited before pulling his side.
Married couples take notice. You can learn to pull together. You can quickly relearn when faced with a new challenge. Like babies and shifting budgets. Challenges will come. Learn quick and learn together.
Podcast
Food rewards were placed on a platform on the ground connected to a rope. The elephants were behind the fence. Two had to drag the two ends of the rope at the same time to drag the platform under the fence. They learned to work together. Variations proved that the elephants quickly learned the new challenge. If one was late, the other waited before pulling his side.
Married couples take notice. You can learn to pull together. You can quickly relearn when faced with a new challenge. Like babies and shifting budgets. Challenges will come. Learn quick and learn together.
Podcast
Hot fires
Apr/27/11
The problem you are facing today will change you. I thought after my husband’s wicked terminal disease, I would return to being the person I was before. During the disease I had to be a tough advocate, won’t take ‘No’ for this medical necessity, “I’ve read the fine print here and this is what you will do.” I asked the clinic social worker, “Will I be nice again when this is over?”
“No you won’t,” was her answer. “You’ll never be the same.”
She was right, and for good reason. God had an assignment ahead that required that I get into action in the unknown.
It has been said that the hottest fires make the hardest steel. I needed that hot fire to equip me. That may be true for you too.
Podcast
“No you won’t,” was her answer. “You’ll never be the same.”
She was right, and for good reason. God had an assignment ahead that required that I get into action in the unknown.
It has been said that the hottest fires make the hardest steel. I needed that hot fire to equip me. That may be true for you too.
Podcast
Political turmoil
Apr/26/11
I’ve loved reading the Financial Times newspaper every morning until recently. The news of unrest in countries is not new. The brutality perhaps is not worse than before, just more photographed and politicized. Given that a wave seems to be sweeping across Northern Africa, I remember the faces of the young, poor widows we are trying to reach with sewing skills. We tell them of our biblical faith, our basis for helping them. Will we reach them? Factions and their different belief systems are definitely playing in to the chaos.
And we don’t know the outcome.
What we do know is that one organization reported there were 200,000 downloads of the Bible in Arabic in 2010. That’s better news than I’ve read anywhere. The final outcome is recorded there. Lets be ready.
Podcast
And we don’t know the outcome.
What we do know is that one organization reported there were 200,000 downloads of the Bible in Arabic in 2010. That’s better news than I’ve read anywhere. The final outcome is recorded there. Lets be ready.
Podcast
Fried pickles
Apr/25/11
We ate strange things on the farm--not because we preferred them, but because we could only eat what we had. Fried green tomatoes were OK, green grape pie, not so much. Vinegar pie? You just could not pretend it was lemon pie.
I recently sampled yet another new strange food: fried pickles. Why take a tasty, chilled crisp flavorful cucumber and fry it? Because people like to try new things.
If you are searching for something different in your life, pick up a Bible and start reading. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
You won’t be disappointed by a substitute, leftovers, or a ‘make do’ recipe for life. You’ll discover “Real good.”
Podcast
I recently sampled yet another new strange food: fried pickles. Why take a tasty, chilled crisp flavorful cucumber and fry it? Because people like to try new things.
If you are searching for something different in your life, pick up a Bible and start reading. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
You won’t be disappointed by a substitute, leftovers, or a ‘make do’ recipe for life. You’ll discover “Real good.”
Podcast