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Regarding the building of the mosque at ground zero

Sat, 14 Aug 2010 09:30:32 -0500

…just to toss in another perspective…did you know that throughout history, Islam has done this? Each time there is a location where a perceived substantial “victory” occurs, they build a memorial to commemorate and elevate the event into their history books as well as to establish power over their victims.

Below are some excerpts from Justin Quinn’s recent blog which I, for the most part agree:

As far back as the Ottoman Empire, Islamic rulers made a habit of converting Christian churches, monasteries and chapels into mosques. The Muslims reserved their most elaborate mosques, however, for the sites where the churches had been taken by force. In many cases, the mosques were the first structures to be built by Muslim invaders — even before the ruler’s residences.

The proponents of the Ground Zero mosque will tell you that the mosque belongs at the site, if for no other reason than to serve as a symbol of tolerance and diversity. They’ll tell you that Christianity is also wet with the blood of hundreds of generations and that the very essence of liberty demands that Christian or Jewish Americans who oppose the structure step aside and allow the $100 million, 15 story building to be erected.

Here’s what they won’t tell you:

The proponents of the Ground Zero mosque won’t tell you that the erection of mosques traditionally symbolizes victory over the enemies of Islam. They won’t tell you that the chants of “Allahu Akbar!” that will repeatedly ring throughout the city at every prayer time is the same chant that was captured on the voice recorders of Flight 93. They won’t tell you that shooter Nadal Hisan repeatedly shouted “Allahu Akbar!” as he shot and killed 13 people at the Fort Hood military base in Texas. They won’t tell you that “Allahu Akbar!” is traditionally shouted at prayer time, when animals are slaughtered and when the mujihadeen behead an enemy.

Tonight we learn that President Barack Obama has given his blessing to building a mosque at Ground Zero, and in fact, has virtually mandated it.

“As a citizen and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country,” Obama said. “That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakable.”

No one is saying that Muslims don’t have a right to practice their religion, but let’s at least find out where the money is coming from to pay for this thing. And why must it tower over the site? If it were a simple two-story center for prayers, it might have been more palatable for the thousands of people who continue to mourn the loss of loved ones who were turned to dust in the attacks. While all these questions have yet to be fully and definitively answered, the biggest one is why does it need to be there at all? There are more than a half a dozen other mosques in the immediate area — East 55th Street, 96th Street and 3rd Avenue, West 29th Street, Allen Street, Warren Street, 116th Street, 126th Street, St. Nicholas Avenue, and that’s just Manhattan. There are dozens and dozens across the five boroughs.

The mosque at Ground Zero is being pursued to prove a simple political point — that Islamic fundamentalists can knock our buildings down, murder our citizens and then use our own laws against us so they can laugh in our faces.

My tournament this weekend...

Mon, 09 Aug 2010 10:43:16 -0500

I played the table tennis tournament in Hutchinson this weekend and didn’t win, (didn’t even dream of it!) but did get my first national rating number. (It’s not a “ranking”, it’s actually a “rating” used in tournaments to help place players in a well-balanced bracket. That way you don’t have the top players “duking it out” in the first round of a tourney. Instead they will meet up at a later stage, like the quarter or semi-finals.)

I finished with a 1650 rating which I am very satisfied with for now. The top pro’s are typically 2000 or higher. (A beginner might be a 200 or 300.) Interestingly, there are some Chinese players in the 2500’s+ who can barely find any competition to hit with in the US.

I”ll let you in on a little secret… I have a goal to hit 1800+ over the next 12 months, and to play the nationals or US Open next Summer. I’m working out my plan of attack and this weekend was one of the first steps. :-)

Work to Earn, not to Learn...revised

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 08:34:11 -0500

I wanted to clarify a post I had up last week. It was actually Robert Kyosaki who quoted, “Work to learn, not to earn”. (And not Michael Gerber of the E-Myth as I stated) I have been reading so many great books lately that I mixed the two up.

The point being that you prayerfully target the goal of what you are called to do with your career purpose in life and to not just work for a paycheck but to make each job “stop” along the way become a stepping stone toward that ultimate target. Sometimes that “step” might seem fiscally backward for a time but if it’s in line with the grand vision and purpose (and you’re accomplishing a piece needed to get there) you are moving in the right direction. Just make sure you don’t get complacent and stay parked in one of those “comfortable” stages when it’s really time to move on!

Please help me pass the word around. I'm starting "Accountable Hardwoods" here in KC!

Thu, 22 Apr 2010 22:41:00 -0500

Most of you already know that I work full time for Sprint but what you may not be aware of, is the fact that I spent over 20 years in the hardwood floor industry prior to moving into technical sales. With that in mind, I need your help getting the word out about an enterprise I’ve begun.

I have recently started up a side business called “Accountable Hardwoods” which will offer a service/technique called “screening and recoating”. This method restores hardwood flooring to a like-new condition in just a matter of hours, it costs a fraction of sanding and refinishing, the furniture goes back in place the next day, and there’s virtually no mess. I use one of the most expensive, but environmentally friendly and durable water-based urethanes on the market. It dries in just a few hours, leaving only a faint odor behind.

Interestingly, most homeowners aren’t aware that if they have their floors “screened and recoated” every 5-10 years, they can forgo ever having to re-sand their floors again. (Unless of course there’s a need to change colors or there’s damage which requires replacement and sanding.)

I’m very excited about getting back into this field as I’ve always had a passion for working with hardwoods. Please let your friends know that there’s someone who’s “Accountable” here in town that they can turn to for their hardwood floors!

Thanks again,

Mark Fay
913-707-4275
markbfay@gmail.com

The real suffering...

Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:29:00 -0500

The common focus only on the intense pain and suffering of Christ’s “physical crucifixion” is only the tip of the iceberg.

You have to add in the fact that His ultimate suffering was far more about taking upon Himself the unfathomable burden of the sins of the entire world, as well as a temporary separation from his Father. Other men have endured a similar pain of physical crucifixion but no one else ever has, or will, take upon themselves the weight of the world’s sin!

When He was in the garden sweating blood, this process was moving into full force. It reached crescendo as he cried out “…my God, why have You forsaken me?” Amazingly, all this took place so you and I can have an eternal relationship with both the Father and the Son. All we have to do is reach out, believe, and accept that offer… we just ask for it and it’s ours for the taking. It’s beyond belief!

His intervention for us is the only reason we have a hope and a future, and His love for us is the only “self-esteem builder” we will ever need.

Toss the psychology, know that Jesus loves you, and you’ll never again need a shrink to reassure you that you’re valuable or worthwhile! According to the bible, the following statement won’t happen until the return of Christ but, if everyone understood the above comments, there would never again be another suicide, murder, or for that matter any form of sinful action toward one another, because we would all cherish each other and recognize one another’s value in Christ.

Week 4 - Day 3 Plyo Cardio

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 08:12:25 -0600

After a brief hiatus, we’re back on! Between daily 1 to 1.5 hrs of table tennis, (Sometmes 3hrs at the club in the evening!) Power Maxx class with Marc Wayne, and then doing the Insanity Workout, it was just too much. We haven’t skipped any of Shawn’s workouts, just put a few days in between them.

I think I’ve discovered that it’s the table tennis causing my calves to overload not the Insanity stuff, so i’m working to figure out the best way to offset that problem. We’re going to try again to get back to daily “Insanity” and just modify the workout a bit so we can continue to do everything else we’re doing.

Week 3- Day 6 Cardio Circuit. “I am Sparta!” Ok...

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 20:32:00 -0600

Week 3- Day 6 Cardio Circuit. “I am Sparta!”

Ok maybe its more like “I am Rainbo Brite!” After this workout, I feel like she could easily take me right now. Whew! I have done this one several times, I know it well, but the reality is that every time I do it I push harder and faster so the workout seems tougher. 3 weeks are behind us!!! Yee Haw.

Week 3 - Day 5 Cardio Power Yes it’s true. This workout is...

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:19:00 -0600

Week 3 - Day 5 Cardio Power

Yes it’s true. This workout is turning me into a very strong and handsome black man.

Seriously though, this one pushes me sooooo hard. I keep thinking I can do entire workout but I just can’t. It’s too dang much! I have to slow down the repetitions a little, I can’t touch the floor in the globe jumps (to protect my back from injury) and by the time I get to the last set of tricep dips, I just crumble.

It’s all good :)

Week3- Day 4 Cardio Recovery Wow, did I need this workout today....

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 13:14:00 -0600

Week3- Day 4 Cardio Recovery

Wow, did I need this workout today. A lot less intense than the others and I had to do it at 11:00 at night to boot! Anna joined me and we must have looked like fanatics through the windows of the sun room as people passed by. Oh well, maybe someone was inspired.

This is recovery but it is still a serious workout, you break a good sweat, and are wiped when you’re done.

Week 3- Day 3 Pure cardio plus cardio abs. Two juicy workouts of...

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:59:07 -0600

Week 3- Day 3 Pure cardio plus cardio abs. Two juicy workouts of death rolled into one. I remember first reading Jennie Fay’s blog on tackling this “dynamic duo” of pain and thinking it sounded pretty terrifying…it is!

The beautiful thing is…we did it!

Here’s a short vid of Anne in the last 10 sec of...

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 10:19:00 -0600

Here’s a short vid of Anne in the last 10 sec of today’s workout. She still finished strong.

Week 3- Day 1 (The Fitness assessment!)

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:15:00 -0600

Yes…Yes…Yes!!!!! I am blown away to see my actuall progress at the end of 2 weeks. Overall I had a 25% increase across all 8 fitness criteria. I can’t hardly believe it. To top it off, I played an hour of table tennis over lunch, attended Marc Wayne’s Power Maxx class (and was wiped after that…) then did the assessment. You’re technically supposed to do the assessment on the day following a rest day.

Can’t wait to see the next assessment at the end of month one!

Si con mucho gusto.

A pic after our fit test at the start of week 3.

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:05:21 -0600

A pic after our fit test at the start of week 3.

Week2 -Day 6 began the Cardio Abs workout. This was a shorter...

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 18:35:00 -0600

Week2 -Day 6 began the Cardio Abs workout. This was a shorter workout than any of the others but I’m so glad because my abs were burning like… well… they were burning!

Awww…stop it you guys. Of course those are not my abs!

Week 2- Day 4&5

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 09:12:00 -0600

Cardio recovery (week 2 - day 4) is such a relief. It comes at you at just the right time to allow you to not overdo it and blow out your body into complete duress.

Last night (Week 2- Day 5) Anne and I completed Cardio Power and Resistance for the 3rd time. I actually felt very strong going through it and have decided it’s my favorite so far. We are really having to choreograph the timing of each workout in order to fit around schedule and food timing. No small thing…

Week 2- Day 3 Cardio Circuit

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:27:00 -0600

Okay, I’m still dripping as I write this. I have just finished my 3rd workout of the day! 1) a solid hour of non-stop table tennis over lunch with my friends at Sprint (About 8 of us who are very serious about the game and dress for the occasion. I was dripping when I finished that too!) 2) Power Max class with Marc Wayne at The Culture House, and 3) The Cardio Circuit “Insanity” with Anna.

It’s now 11:20 and the neighbors driving by must think we’re crazy jumping about in the middle of the night. (They can easily see us in our sun room as they pass our home.)

I’m exhausted but so glad I did it. It was very hard to get through today but I am determined to stay the course and do this no matter what. I need to be more disciplined in my life and this daily workout, no matter how tough, is essential in modifying the way I live on several different levels. It’s kind of like a barometer of my success on many personal fronts.

Week 2- Day 2 of Insanity

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 10:01:00 -0600

Today was the Pure Cardio workout and since I had to do Cardio Resistance last night, instead of in the morning, my body really hasn’t had a full amount of time to recover. (only 12 hrs since the last workout.) I knew I’d have to cut back a bit to survive but I was still able to push through the bulk of it without too much compromise.

The soreness is beginning to subside but it’s still very hard to complete each workout. The joy right now is just in completing it. :)

Day 9- It’s a doosie!

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:59:00 -0600

Day 9- It’s a doosie!

Week 2- Day 1

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 09:53:00 -0600

This was a great one, Cardio Resistance. It may be my favorite so far. I am actually starting to see my strength improve and was able to do most of the warmup without stopping as well as push a lot harder through most of the workout. My body still doesn’t look much different to me but hey, I definitely do feel stronger and more energized.

Week 1- Day 6- 1st week of “Insanity” is behind...

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 15:40:00 -0600

Week 1- Day 6- 1st week of “Insanity” is behind me now…Only 53 more days to go! (Today was round 2 of Cardio Interval.)

I haven’t had a day this week without some degree of soreness but nothing unbearable. Anna and I have found some interlocking flooring tiles at Home Depot that are really helping cushion our landing on the hard floor in our sun room. I swear today, twice I thought I was going to throw up in middle of my workout. Musta been the GH crankin’ in me.