Finding a favorite old tool again: PaintShop

I did not know that PaintShop still exists! I used the Jasc versions in Windows 95 and XP.  Granted, I didn't use it particularly well. Using speech recognition to draw is… INTERESTING. Still, I could do what I wanted to do for the most part.

Then Jasc was sold to Corel. I could not afford the next upgrades, so I made-do. It worked. I could still do what I wanted to do for the most part. It was really getting clunky to use software that was designed for Windows Xp on a Windows 7 machine, but I've always been the slowest part of my computer.

I've tried installing on Windows 8. Yeah… It was time to find ANYTHING Else. I knew that Photoshop prices were way out of my league and I want all legal software. Besides, my niece showed me her copy. It didn't do anything that PaintShop used to do at well under $100, it just was slicker…

I tried GIMP, and did not like it. It was well worth the price. Other people swear by it, but I would wind up swearing at it.

Aviary had some interesting online editors for a while. SUMO Paint is really good for what it does and has an inexpensive desktop thingy. It just doesn't quite work with my brain.

My nieces and nephews still think that PHOTOSHOP is the gold standard. Next time I win two or three lifetimes worth of Publishers Clearing House, I will think about thinking about trying that overpriced bit of fluff.

For now, this fits my budget:

Next week…

Sometime next week, I will begin learning something new. :-)

:-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

We will see what kind of student I will be.

Who knew? ReelAbilities Film Festival

My occupational therapist at the Methodist Hospital, Judi Joseph, happened to mention something that is starting this weekend. To be specific: February 9-13 is Houston's ReelAbilities Disabilities Film Festival for 2014. I had never heard about this! It looks intriguing, maybe even beautiful.

Here is Monday's listing:

How to Train Your Dragon Rated: PG
Metropolitan Multi-Service Center, 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION
Registration not required

My Spectacular Theater Rated: PG-13
*Special appearance by Christine Ha, winner of MasterChef Season 3!*
Chinese Community Center, 5:30 p.m.
FREE ADMISSION
Register online here

Getting Up Rated: PG-13
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 7:00 p.m.
In collaboration with Houston Cinema Arts Society
$10/Non-MFAH & HCAS Members, $8/MFAH & HCAS Members
Tickets available for purchase soon!

Of course, when it came out, I thought that "How to Train Your Dragon" was about learning to use Dragon NaturallySpeaking. ;-) People still say that hearing from me is sort of like receiving messages from the Oracle at Delphi. It's a matter of interpreting…

"Getting Up" is another one that looks terribly intriguing. TEMPTONE is a graffiti artist (OK, not exactly the center of my art tastes, but…) with Lou Gehrig's disease.

I think I want to see this

This story was familiar to me. Tempt1 was my introduction to KickStarter. I heard about his desire to keep his artistic efforts alive in 2010.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/571943958/tempt1-and-eyewriter-art-by-eyes

It's funny how things sometimes cycle back…

Presentation at Grace, Brenham

Melissa, April, and I

Melissa, April, and I arrived at Grace Lutheran Church in Brenham, Texas on March 21, 2013. We were the featured speakers at the regular meeting of "Texas Confessional Lutherans," the topic: What Is A Deaconess? How Can She Help Our Congregation?


  Mother, Sheila, and I left home at about the time we intended to. It probably would've been good to be a few minutes earlier, but things worked out. For a while, though, it looked like we were going to run late… The suspension system that makes my van wheelchair accessible was acting up: I imagine that this is what riding in a low-ridah would feel like.

At Zion, Tomball we picked up Melissa. Since April was coming from Katy, it did not make sense for her to carpool with us. We all arrived at Grace, found the room, got everything in order, and visited. It has been at least five years since I went to a TCL meeting, maybe ten. Both Mother and I simply don't recover from changes in routine like we used to. (For Example: since this meeting on Thursday, we have all stayed home. Friday and Saturday, my breathing has been more difficult. Beautiful blue bonnets and other wildflowers and trees are pollinating my lungs as well as everything else.) Melissa's presentation was an excellent overview of the history of deaconesses in the LCMS. She referred to two books than I am very familiar with. The first: was one of my favorites in one of my classes. It talked about how women served God's people, mostly in Eastern Christianity. Prayer, martyrdom, caring for the sick, caring for other women, caring for the orphaned, caring for women in pagan households, helping with baptisms of women, teaching… The list is long and varied. Then, almost 1000 years passed without deaconesses. The other book brings history into the 21st century, covering deaconesses in the LCMS. I absolutely loved these books. I loved the history. It was good to hear it again, and I think everyone there enjoyed listening.

 April and lost her voice and was using her computer to speak for her. A large part of her presentation was about her work at Krause Children’s Center in Katy, Texas. I had no idea about this vital work! Apparently though, the 70-hour work week and her deep love for the children she was serving took its toll. She's still volunteers there. Again, I think everyone enjoyed the presentation.

In my case, two mice didn't work well, so I had two manipulate the PowerPoint with voice recognition. It made things a little bit more complicated. It created several opportunities for humor. And yes, computers are processed. Anyhow, my presentation is here. I enjoyed doing this. It seemed to be well received, And there was lots of follow-up discussion . While I see a million ways to improve on it now, I'm content.

Evangelism Committee appropriate?

Maybe we need to make this prayer a part of the Evangelism Committee.

For the Lost: There are so many who do not know You, Lord, both far and near. Through pastors, missionaries, and faithful Christians, touch the hearts of the lost and the empty. Send the Holy Spirit to work godly faith that accepts You as the only Savior from sin. Fill me with an urgency for these lost ones, sharing the Word and supporting with prayers and offerings the witness work You have given me to do. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
--Concordia Publishing House ( ). Portals of Prayer: January - March (Kindle Locations 1732-1735).  . Kindle Edition.


Along with this hymn:

copyright © 2000 Rev. Richard Jordan, used by permission

"O Christ, Our True and Only Light"  tlh-512
By Johann Heermann, 1585-1647

1. O Christ, our true and only Light,
Enlighten those who sit in night;
Let those afar now hear Thy voice
And in Thy fold with us rejoice.

2. Fill with the radiance of Thy grace
The souls now lost in error's maze
And all whom in their secret minds
Some dark delusion haunts and blinds.

3. Oh, gently call those gone astray
That they may find the saving way!
Let every conscience sore opprest
In Thee find peace and heavenly rest.

4. Oh, make the deaf to hear Thy Word
And teach the dumb to speak, dear Lord,
Who dare not yet the faith avow,
Though secretly they hold it now.

5. Shine on the darkened and the cold,
Recall the wanderers to Thy fold,
Unite all those who walk apart,
Confirm the weak and doubting heart,

6. So they with us may evermore
Such grace with wondering thanks adore
And endless praise to Thee be given
By all Thy Church in earth and heaven.

Hymn #512
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Luke 1:79
Author: Johann Heermann, 1630
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1858, alt.
Titled: "O Jesu Christe, wahres Licht"
Tune: "O Jesu Christ, mein's"
1st Published in: Nuernbergisches Gesangbuch, 1676

 

What is this "Advent" thing?

Advent Greetings from LCMS President Harrison

Not every Christian denomination celebrates Advent, or marks out a calendar that is not quite in step with the rest of the world.

We do.  It's not mandatory, but it is a good way to do things.

For starters, marking a "Church Year" that is different than what is going on in our society CAN remind Christians that we don't entirely belong here.  We are also citizens of…

… Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly[a] of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.-Hebrews 12:22-25

Second, it creates the opportunity to be familiar with the whole Bible in context.  It's way too easy to pick three favorite stories and not go any farther.  The planned readings that are set in conjunction with that "Church Year" bring the ground panorama of God at work in the lives of His People to our attention.

Third, it helps with teaching.

Fourth, it can be a lot of fun.

Thank You, Pastor McCain! "When You Do Not Go to Church"

Sometimes my inbox contains treasures!  On this extraordinarily beautiful, Texas Thanksgiving Morning I found a wonderful short article.  Pastor Paul McCain, son of my classmate, Deaconess Mccain, joined me in my discussion of why people want to be in church, whether they know it or not.

…  "Each Sunday is a gathering of the family – and when a beloved family member doesn’t show up for the family gathering and meal at Christmas or Easter or Thanksgiving, there’s a hole, a gap, a pain that everyone feels. We’re all the less for that person not being with us to revel in the celebration of that day. Their absence diminishes the joy of the family…"

See the whole article here.

So…  The discussion.  I am still a little bit shy when it comes to talking to people about church attendance.  I know what a life line being in church has been for me.  Regular hearing of God's Word, receiving forgiveness on my tongue and in my ears in the Sacrament, and encouragement from God's People helped me through a depression that I never sought help for in any other way.  (I didn't really think it, or I, was worth that kind of effort.) Sermons, bible classes, Communion, and Christian friends helped me when I was well on my way to losing my faith.  They sometimes challenged me to think things through again.  They sometimes made me angry or frustrated, they often invited me to try and do things, they listened. The gifts that God gives through church are so important to me that I almost cannot talk about it.

Enter Real Life.  I have a cluster of cherished friends and a few beloved family members who see "going to church" as a major waste of time.  They feel it is like a third grade English class, the direction of learned it by now - after all, it is only ONE book.

So…  I firmly stuck both feet in my mouth and talked about it.  I listened.  I talked some more.  In some cases, I have been talking a couple of months.  In some cases, several years.  In three cases, over a decade.

I have tried "Law." Verses like Hebrews 10:24-25 (And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.) became part of my repertoire.

Granted, I knew that polishing a pew with your seat isn't the point.  I just know that God's Word is powerful and active, working changes in heart and life.  In church, God's Word is directly delivered in the preaching, teaching, and sacraments.  I want to be there when good things are handed out.

That isn't a sufficient reason…

I have tried "Gospel."  When Jesus said that HE would be president when "two or three" of us gather in His Name, that sounds like the most jaw-dropping celebration on the planet.

That doesn't seem to be a sufficient reason…

I don't know, any more.  At this point, if I bring up the subject anymore, I will drive these people that I Care so much about.  I think I will just shut up until THEY bring the topic up again.  Yes, I will continue praying and reading and learning…  But nobody gave me the role of the Holy Spirit.  Maybe the best thing to do is to rest and let HIM work.