Samantha Pierce

Today I am thankful for/that: It Is Well With My Soul When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Refrain: It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul! For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live: If Jordan above me shall roll, No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life, Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul. But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait, The sky, not the grave, is our goal; Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord...

For my part I think the debate should be about keeping as many teachers in their classrooms as possible given budgetary constraints. Strange I know but I've always been a bit of an odd duck. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcDnKQul_c8

Watching the budget protests by teachers in Wisconsin over the last week I have to say I am not at all impressed. It seems like a really simple thing to me, your state is broke and looking to save some money. Government officials looking at the education budget. I would if I were in their shoes. No one wants to lose teachers or classroom staff so you propose cutting teacher pay and ask teachers to contribute more for their benefits. Seems like a good deal to me. Teachers get to keep their jobs, unlike so many others in this country who have no jobs, they get to keep some good benefits, unlike so many others in this country who have little or no benefits, and kids get presumably qualified professionals teaching them in the classroom. I am at a loss to see how forcing a situation where teachers have to be fired is good for teachers or students. Now on to the situation in New York state. I've been getting emails about a planned rally to take place in Albany in March to demand that t...

Today I am thankful for/that: Because He Lives God sent His son, they called Him Jesus He came to love, heal, and forgive. He lived and died to buy my pardon, An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, All fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives. How sweet to hold a newborn baby, And feel the pride and joy he gives. But greater still the calm assurance, This child can face uncertain days because He lives. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, All fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives. And then one day I'll cross the river, I'll fight life's final war with pain. And then as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, All fear is gone! Be...

Today I am thankful for/that: Sleep! Here's hoping I get a little more in the weeks to come. The blessing of helping hands. Wisdom. It's one of the few things in this world where there is no such thing as too much. Spring is coming! Have you seen how bright 5 o'clock in the evening is these days! What are you thankful for?

Last summer a friend gave me a copy of The Caribbean Islands in Full Color by Hans W. Hannau, published in 1972. I started reading it as I was embarking on a study of the history and culture of the region at the time. While billed as a pictorial volume I found it contained a surprising amount of historical and cultural information. The following excerpt from page 12 caught my attention when I first read it and has stayed with me since. I've added links to the text for those as curious as I was. “Sugar was in some ways the curse of the Caribbean. The industry brought economic, political and social upheaval to the islands, much of it violent and destructive.             The Spaniards brought the first African slaves to the Caribbean in 1510 to work their mines and sugar plantations on Hispaniola. They came from West Africa. Factories were set up along the Guinea coast where African chiefs and kings brought slaves for trade. Each c...

These are just a few things that caught my eye over the last week. If you're inclined to commit murder and don't want to get caught Oklahoma is apparently the place to be. Parents Fight To Find Truth Behind Daughter's Death . Who needs an autopsy when you've got someone who should be a prime suspect telling you that it was suicide? Seriously, when was the last time you heard someone who believed in AGW say that something was NOT a sign/symptom/proof of AGW? Charles Krauthammer: 'If Godzilla Appeared on National Mall Gore Would Say It’s Global Warming' GMO done right. Cassava packs a protein punch with bean genes A DEADLY poison could save the lives of millions of African children, thanks to the discovery that cassava can be duped into turning about half of the cyanide it makes into extra protein. Mystery of the mummy's Chinese travel ban The government-approved story of China's first contact with the West dates back to 200BC when China's...

Today I am thankful for/that: The big storm seems to have completely missed us. Central heating. Warm blankets. Freedom. What are you thankful for?