Our Daily Bread
There is a furniture store in Columbus that specializes in dining room tables. The advertise that you must have a special table because so many family memories are made there! I love entertaining in my dining room that my friends nicknamed "the dining hall"! ha!
I can only imagine what heaven will be like. I know how amazing life on earth has been most of the time, even though there have been many bumps in the road I traveled. I joke that most of the bumps are my own faulty blacktop work! Darn it! Thinking of how God loves and provides for his own never ceases to amaze me. I am not talking about material things. I am talking the things that really matter! Let us pray for each other that we will take time to look around us. Ask God to remind us of all of our blessings and how he has provided for us over and over. Praise God!
Lord, we thank you and praise you for your loving kindness!
Wellness Wednesday
9 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your Mind
By Taylor Kubota for Men's Journal [article]
Whether it's becoming a Sudoku champion or remembering the name of someone you just met, everyone probably wishes they could muster up a little extra brain power. There are no quick fixes when it comes to improving or the preventing decline of cognitive functions like memory, info processing or critical thinking but there are some very basic steps you can take to keep your brain as healthy as possible.
"A lot of things that should be recommend for reducing dementia are actually just common sense and work for general health too," says Dr. Joe Verghese, professor of neurology and medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "The challenge is getting people to do it." Eating right, exercising and staying mentally active top the list of brain health boosters but they aren't the only options.
1. Keep Learning
A lot of research has found that education provides some protection from waning mental function. The theory is that people with more education have a greater cognitive reserve, basically something of an extra buffer against the effects of decline. But it's a bit of a double-edged sword. "People who are more highly educated tend to get Alzheimer's at a later age but once they get it, they're getting it at a higher load of the disease and appear to decline at a faster rate," says Verghese.
2. Do A Crossword
Even if you're not looking to jump back into school, you can still use other forms of mental activity to give your mind a workout. "Education gives you a boost earlier in life -- it builds up your cognitive muscle -- but in older life, if you want to maintain that advantage, you have to continue taking part in mentally stimulating activities," says Verghese. He conducted a study of 488 adults over the age of 75 and found that doing cognitive activities -- like crossword puzzles, reading or playing music -- actually delayed the onset of memory decline among people who eventually developed dementia. The results showed that for every cognitively active day, dementia was delayed by about two months.
3. Ignore Negativity
Stereotype threat occurs when a person is in a situation where they are anxious that they may conform to a negative stereotype aimed at his or her social group. Stereotype threat stemming from beliefs about age and memory loss can hinder the performance of middle-ages and older people on memory tests. However, positive stereotypes, or success on previous memory tasks, can help combat this negativity. Oddly enough, stereotype threat has also been shown to improve performance when tasks are focused on losses rather than gains.
4. Use All Of Your Senses
Sensory memory consists of iconic (visual), echoic (auditory) and haptic (touch-related) memory and is usually very short-term. Yet studies – often stemming from marketing research – have shown that involving multiple senses, like the picture of a flower with a floral scent, enhances people's ability to memorize what their senses are taking in.
5. Socialize
While many studies have found an association between social support and better cognitive functioning, it's hard to tell which one causes the other. A 2008 study that looks at retired people found that memory among people who were least socially integrated declined twice as much as in people who were most socially integrated. Researchers have suggested that socializing may help our minds because it encourages people to take better care of themselves, reduces stress and releases beneficial neurohormones, stemming from the emotions usually caused by being with loved ones.
6. Don't Multitask
Many of us may prize ourselves on our multitasking prowess but science generally shows that splitting our attention is more problematic than productive. One study looking at working memory -- quick storage of information -- had younger and older adults perform recognition tests with or without interruptions. They found that adults of all ages get sidetracked by interferences but that older adults have a harder time refocusing after they've been distracted.
7. Spaced Interval Repetition
If you've ever had to memorize something, you are probably familiar with spaced interval repetition (SIR). SIR is a learning technique that uses repeated testing over increasing intervals until it whatever you're trying to memorize finally sticks. So you test yourself a lot at first, then less and less over time. It sounds really basic but SIR is a well-supported way to get the most out of your memory – and a reason there are so many new smartphone apps that follow this technique.
8. Exercise
The hippocampus -- the part of the brain critical to the formation of long-term memory -- typically shrinks as we age, which can contribute to memory impairment and dementia. Fortunately, exercise (which is already great for our health) may actually reverse this shrinking. One study found the effects of exercise increased hippocampus volume by an amount equal to what older people lose in one to two years. "Studies have shown that exercise improves blood flow to the brain and it also stimulates production of nerve growth factors," says Verghese. Even just six minutes of exercise post-learning can help boost memory.
9. Eat Right
There is a well-documented link between what we eat and how our brains function. One study showed that putting rats on a high sugar diet for a mere six weeks impaired their cognitive functioning. Being overweight has also been tied to increases in mental health problems. If you just can't get enough of your high-fructose corn syrup, the researchers also found that consuming foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids -- like salmon, walnuts and soybeans -- may help counter sugar's brain drain.
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The only remedy for hearts that “want it all” is the contentment found in the presence of the living God. He is sufficient for our needs and longings, and He alone can bring us the peace and contentment we’ll never find in the pursuits of this life. - Our Daily Bread
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
I have been there...
Our Daily Bread
I have told this story a few times over the years, but not that many people have heard it. I had cancer when I was 26 years old. I was a poor seminary student trying to make ends meet. I had no money and couldn't work very much due to the surgeries and treatments. I had some friends from church let me live with them for a few months while I was recovering. There were days when I would open two or three envelopes containing bills that I didn't have the money to pay. The fourth envelope would be a check from a friend or family member to cover the bills and my living expenses! Praise God! Many years later, I think I have forgotten about what that feels like. Forgotten how to be so thankful for every good thing.
How about you? Like the people of Israeal who went through hard times over and over, we all go through these times. We have a choice. We can whine and try to run back to Egypt where we appeared to be fed and cared for (but were really slaves), or we can trust God to work through the situation with us to move us forward in our lives. As I wrote the other day, moving forward is good! We can do this!
Lord, please help us to love and praise you in every circumstance. We know you work every situation to our good!
Teaching Tuesday
Interesting article
I haven't started my new book yet. I thought I would write about an article I found yesterday at lunch. I found this article and thought it was interesting:
Religious OCD: 'I'm going to hell'
By Elizabeth Landau, CNN
Having grown up in an evangelical tradition, I feel like there is a fine line between feeling and acknowledging the grace of God in our lives and taking that for granted. A fine line between being penitent and humble about our human inclination to sin and going to far into OCD and false feelings of insecurity and unworthiness.
Let us pray for each other to find our place in God's kingdom. To acknowledge the great gift we have been given. To praise and worship God for the honor and privilege to serve him!
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I pray the weight of my sins doth not crush me back to dust from where I came. I pray that God create in me a new, clean heart and place a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. Praise the Almighty God from whom all blessings flow.
I have told this story a few times over the years, but not that many people have heard it. I had cancer when I was 26 years old. I was a poor seminary student trying to make ends meet. I had no money and couldn't work very much due to the surgeries and treatments. I had some friends from church let me live with them for a few months while I was recovering. There were days when I would open two or three envelopes containing bills that I didn't have the money to pay. The fourth envelope would be a check from a friend or family member to cover the bills and my living expenses! Praise God! Many years later, I think I have forgotten about what that feels like. Forgotten how to be so thankful for every good thing.
How about you? Like the people of Israeal who went through hard times over and over, we all go through these times. We have a choice. We can whine and try to run back to Egypt where we appeared to be fed and cared for (but were really slaves), or we can trust God to work through the situation with us to move us forward in our lives. As I wrote the other day, moving forward is good! We can do this!
Lord, please help us to love and praise you in every circumstance. We know you work every situation to our good!
Teaching Tuesday
Interesting article
I haven't started my new book yet. I thought I would write about an article I found yesterday at lunch. I found this article and thought it was interesting:
Religious OCD: 'I'm going to hell'
By Elizabeth Landau, CNN
Having grown up in an evangelical tradition, I feel like there is a fine line between feeling and acknowledging the grace of God in our lives and taking that for granted. A fine line between being penitent and humble about our human inclination to sin and going to far into OCD and false feelings of insecurity and unworthiness.
Let us pray for each other to find our place in God's kingdom. To acknowledge the great gift we have been given. To praise and worship God for the honor and privilege to serve him!
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I pray the weight of my sins doth not crush me back to dust from where I came. I pray that God create in me a new, clean heart and place a right spirit within me. Restore to me the joy of my salvation. Praise the Almighty God from whom all blessings flow.
Monday, June 2, 2014
Proceed with Caution
Our Daily Bread
There is a lot of road work near my office building for the next few weeks. A very busy stretch of road is being trimmed down to two lanes instead of four. Traffic and pedestrians must all proceed with caution to ensure there are no accidents.
Our Christian life can be that way, too. There are many times when we need to proceed with caution so accidents don't happen in our lives. I have had times where I didn't mean for something to happen, but it did. I didn't walk cautiously. I didn't follow the path or direction that God put before me. I knew what things to avoid just like the caution signs in the road! Let us pray for each other to walk carefully in our loving walk with God!
Lord, your ways are not our ways. Please help us to walk in your careful, loving path so we can serve you better!
Movie Monday
I managed to see two movies this busy weekend: Maleficent and A Million Ways to Die in the West.
Maleficent
I liked this movie more than I thought I would mainly because of the way they created the main character. This is a re-telling of the Sleeping Beauty story with several twists. I don't want to say too much about the story line and ruin it for you. There are laughs. There are scary parts. There are touching parts.
I give this two bear paws. It would be a nice rental some time.
A Million Ways to Die in the West
Oh boy. What do I say about this one? Seth McFarlane plays a lowly sheep farmer in a small town in the Wild West in 1882. It has similar humor to Family Guy and the movie Ted. Lots of cursing and vulgarity, some of which was very funny. There were several very funny parts, but not enough to really carry the movie, even though I never really got bored in the two hour long film. I call this a guilty pleasure movie because there isn't much there.
I give this one two bear paws for the clever writing and concept. This is definitely a rental. Don't waste you money at the theater unless you have to (like I did!).
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Excavating your heart will unearth the beautiful things God has planted in you. - R. Howerton
There is a lot of road work near my office building for the next few weeks. A very busy stretch of road is being trimmed down to two lanes instead of four. Traffic and pedestrians must all proceed with caution to ensure there are no accidents.
Our Christian life can be that way, too. There are many times when we need to proceed with caution so accidents don't happen in our lives. I have had times where I didn't mean for something to happen, but it did. I didn't walk cautiously. I didn't follow the path or direction that God put before me. I knew what things to avoid just like the caution signs in the road! Let us pray for each other to walk carefully in our loving walk with God!
Lord, your ways are not our ways. Please help us to walk in your careful, loving path so we can serve you better!
Movie Monday
I managed to see two movies this busy weekend: Maleficent and A Million Ways to Die in the West.
Maleficent
I liked this movie more than I thought I would mainly because of the way they created the main character. This is a re-telling of the Sleeping Beauty story with several twists. I don't want to say too much about the story line and ruin it for you. There are laughs. There are scary parts. There are touching parts.
I give this two bear paws. It would be a nice rental some time.
A Million Ways to Die in the West
Oh boy. What do I say about this one? Seth McFarlane plays a lowly sheep farmer in a small town in the Wild West in 1882. It has similar humor to Family Guy and the movie Ted. Lots of cursing and vulgarity, some of which was very funny. There were several very funny parts, but not enough to really carry the movie, even though I never really got bored in the two hour long film. I call this a guilty pleasure movie because there isn't much there.
I give this one two bear paws for the clever writing and concept. This is definitely a rental. Don't waste you money at the theater unless you have to (like I did!).
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Excavating your heart will unearth the beautiful things God has planted in you. - R. Howerton
Sunday, June 1, 2014
One step forward, two steps back...
Our Daily Bread
Doesn't life feel like this sometimes? One step forward, and then two steps back? Maybe more steps back? Ha! I know that is how I feel sometimes! Whether is is spiritually, financially, career, etc., we can't always seem to move forward.
The devotional talks about two special animals in Australia that have a difficult time moving backward because their bodies just aren't made to move that way! When you think about it, we should avoid moving backward in our Christian lives if at all possible! It is OK if we do because God will move and inspire and sometimes drag us forward! We hear hymns like Onward Christian Soldiers and Stand Up for Jesus. You don't hear hymns like Run Backwards and Hide! LOL Let us pray for each other to keep moving. We can do this!
Lord, you are leading us forward. Please help us follow!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 145 is a nice praise psalm. It is the stuff that songs are written -- the greatness and goodness of God! See what you think!
Psalm 145
The Greatness and the Goodness of God
Praise. Of David.
1 I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you,
and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall laud your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your faithful shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all his words,
and gracious in all his deeds.
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
he also hears their cry, and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
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We too can know this God and be assured of His presence. He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His Word. As we ask Him to make Himself known to us, we’ll learn that He is even more than the owner and creator of everything! - Our Daily Bread web site
Doesn't life feel like this sometimes? One step forward, and then two steps back? Maybe more steps back? Ha! I know that is how I feel sometimes! Whether is is spiritually, financially, career, etc., we can't always seem to move forward.
The devotional talks about two special animals in Australia that have a difficult time moving backward because their bodies just aren't made to move that way! When you think about it, we should avoid moving backward in our Christian lives if at all possible! It is OK if we do because God will move and inspire and sometimes drag us forward! We hear hymns like Onward Christian Soldiers and Stand Up for Jesus. You don't hear hymns like Run Backwards and Hide! LOL Let us pray for each other to keep moving. We can do this!
Lord, you are leading us forward. Please help us follow!
Psalm Sunday
Psalm 145 is a nice praise psalm. It is the stuff that songs are written -- the greatness and goodness of God! See what you think!
Psalm 145
The Greatness and the Goodness of God
Praise. Of David.
1 I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
2 Every day I will bless you,
and praise your name forever and ever.
3 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
his greatness is unsearchable.
4 One generation shall laud your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
5 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
6 The might of your awesome deeds shall be proclaimed,
and I will declare your greatness.
7 They shall celebrate the fame of your abundant goodness,
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
8 The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
9 The Lord is good to all,
and his compassion is over all that he has made.
10 All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
and all your faithful shall bless you.
11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom,
and tell of your power,
12 to make known to all people your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all his words,
and gracious in all his deeds.
14 The Lord upholds all who are falling,
and raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand,
satisfying the desire of every living thing.
17 The Lord is just in all his ways,
and kind in all his doings.
18 The Lord is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desire of all who fear him;
he also hears their cry, and saves them.
20 The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
******************************
We too can know this God and be assured of His presence. He has revealed Himself in His creation and in His Word. As we ask Him to make Himself known to us, we’ll learn that He is even more than the owner and creator of everything! - Our Daily Bread web site
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Allergies
Our Daily Bread
I noticed them in several places I traveled the past ten days. Some friends mentioned them on Facebook. They are the little white puffs of allergy stuff that the trees and grasses are releasing into the air this time of year. Aaaaaaachooooooo! LOL I have been doing better since I started allergy shots. I am building up immunity to my very bad seasonal allergies.
Through prayer, Bible study and serving others, we can build up an immunity to our silly sins. We all have our pet sins. The things that are our "thorn in the flesh" for the lack of a better term. We can grow and learn to avoid the triggers that tempt us to sin. We can reduce temptation by removing ourselves from tempting situations. Why? Because Christ gave himself to save us from our sins! Praise Jesus!
Lord, you set us free with your sacrifice. Please help us live as those who have been set free!
Simply Saturday
I have listened to this song over and over and thought about how many of us are carrying around shackles that weigh us down. Let us pray for each other to drop them at the feet of Jesus! Praise God!
Shackles as sung by Madisa
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You
I just wanna praise You
You broke the chains, now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise You
I'm gonna praise You
In the corners of mind
I just can't seem to find a reason to believe
That I can break free
'Cause you see I have been down for so long
Feel like all hope is gone
But as I lift my hands, I understand
That I should praise You through my circumstance
Everything that could go wrong
All went wrong at one time
So much pressure fell on me
I thought I was gonna lose my mind
But I know You wanna see
If I will hold on through these trials
But I need You to lift this load
'Cause I can't take it no more
Been through the fire and the rain
Bound in every kind of way
But God has broken every chain
So let me go
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I am far from perfect, but despite my mistakes and my sins, I will never abandon the Lord and he will never abandon me - adapted from a statement about Abraham from the EfM Training Guide
I noticed them in several places I traveled the past ten days. Some friends mentioned them on Facebook. They are the little white puffs of allergy stuff that the trees and grasses are releasing into the air this time of year. Aaaaaaachooooooo! LOL I have been doing better since I started allergy shots. I am building up immunity to my very bad seasonal allergies.
Through prayer, Bible study and serving others, we can build up an immunity to our silly sins. We all have our pet sins. The things that are our "thorn in the flesh" for the lack of a better term. We can grow and learn to avoid the triggers that tempt us to sin. We can reduce temptation by removing ourselves from tempting situations. Why? Because Christ gave himself to save us from our sins! Praise Jesus!
Lord, you set us free with your sacrifice. Please help us live as those who have been set free!
Simply Saturday
I have listened to this song over and over and thought about how many of us are carrying around shackles that weigh us down. Let us pray for each other to drop them at the feet of Jesus! Praise God!
Shackles as sung by Madisa
Take the shackles off my feet so I can dance
I just wanna praise You
I just wanna praise You
You broke the chains, now I can lift my hands
And I'm gonna praise You
I'm gonna praise You
In the corners of mind
I just can't seem to find a reason to believe
That I can break free
'Cause you see I have been down for so long
Feel like all hope is gone
But as I lift my hands, I understand
That I should praise You through my circumstance
Everything that could go wrong
All went wrong at one time
So much pressure fell on me
I thought I was gonna lose my mind
But I know You wanna see
If I will hold on through these trials
But I need You to lift this load
'Cause I can't take it no more
Been through the fire and the rain
Bound in every kind of way
But God has broken every chain
So let me go
I am far from perfect, but despite my mistakes and my sins, I will never abandon the Lord and he will never abandon me - adapted from a statement about Abraham from the EfM Training Guide
Friday, May 30, 2014
Be who we are
Our Daily Bread
I think we all question at times why God made us the way he made us. True? Why am I short, fat, tall, skinny, bald, full head of hair, gay, straight, etc. On and on it goes. A few decades ago I received a similar answer to one of my questions that the author of the devotional quoted "I think God made all of us the way we are for a reason . . . " Wow!
The Bible version quoted is one of my all-time favorites - Phlippians 4:13. Look it up! It is a great verse! The devotional also had a great tag line: "God’s call to a task includes His strength to complete it." God gives us the tool kit or helps us develop the tool kit to do the tasks he assigns to us. I know I often forget that! We can do these things! Praise God!
Lord, we thank you for giving us the skills and tools we need to accomplish the tasks you give us. We thank you and praise you!
Foodie Friday
Cafe Divan
I ate at a small Greek restaurant in the Georgetown area of Washington DC on Sunday. I stayed within my comfort zone when ordering. I thought about ordering more traditional Greek dishes with lamb in therm, but shied away! I had a sauteed veal liver appetizer with onions and herbs. It was very tasty and almost enought for lunch by itself! The veal liver was cubed and sauteed to perfection. For my entree, I had the chicken shiskabob. It was well seasoned and tasty, though it would have been nice to have more of the grilled veggies along with the chicken. The seasonal veggies were very well done. The rice pilaf was understated, but still very flavorful.
If you ever get to Georgetown, look up the restaurtant at www.cafedivan.com. Enjoy!
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For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.- Psalm 117:2
I think we all question at times why God made us the way he made us. True? Why am I short, fat, tall, skinny, bald, full head of hair, gay, straight, etc. On and on it goes. A few decades ago I received a similar answer to one of my questions that the author of the devotional quoted "I think God made all of us the way we are for a reason . . . " Wow!
The Bible version quoted is one of my all-time favorites - Phlippians 4:13. Look it up! It is a great verse! The devotional also had a great tag line: "God’s call to a task includes His strength to complete it." God gives us the tool kit or helps us develop the tool kit to do the tasks he assigns to us. I know I often forget that! We can do these things! Praise God!
Lord, we thank you for giving us the skills and tools we need to accomplish the tasks you give us. We thank you and praise you!
Foodie Friday
Cafe Divan
I ate at a small Greek restaurant in the Georgetown area of Washington DC on Sunday. I stayed within my comfort zone when ordering. I thought about ordering more traditional Greek dishes with lamb in therm, but shied away! I had a sauteed veal liver appetizer with onions and herbs. It was very tasty and almost enought for lunch by itself! The veal liver was cubed and sauteed to perfection. For my entree, I had the chicken shiskabob. It was well seasoned and tasty, though it would have been nice to have more of the grilled veggies along with the chicken. The seasonal veggies were very well done. The rice pilaf was understated, but still very flavorful.
If you ever get to Georgetown, look up the restaurtant at www.cafedivan.com. Enjoy!
****************************************
For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.- Psalm 117:2
Thursday, May 29, 2014
What would we really do?
Our Daily Bread
I have been reading about some cases in Africa where men and women are being tried and killed because of their Christian faith. The countries are run by Islamic extremists that do not tolerate other religions at all. I often wonder what I would do in a country like that. Would I identify myself as a follower of Christ?
It was not easy for the followers of Christ during the time of Jesus even though we think they had it easy since Jesus was right there with them! They left their jobs and families. They heard and saw things that no men ever saw or heard before. They learned about a new way of life and a way to live that was completely adverse to the popular culture. They even lost their lives after governments and religious leaders were threatened by them.
The Christian life is not always easy. It is easier because we have the King of Kings and Lord of Lords with us at all times. We know we can rely on his strength, power and wisdom to not only survive in this life, but conquer!
Lord, we thank you for the privilege and honor of serving you. Please help us always rely on you for strength and guidance.
Technology Thursday
5 Tips to Help Seniors Avoid Identity Theft
Linda Rosencrance, Tom's Guide [link]
When it comes to online identity theft, senior citizens are particularly susceptible. As a group, they can be trusting and are often unaware of the latest scams that look to separate them from their money.
Senior citizens are frequently not as technologically savvy as younger people and are therefore more vulnerable to phishing emails from crooks trying to get their personal information, said Jack Tatar, author of the book Safe 4 Retirement: The Four Keys to a Safe Retirement.
Neal O’Farrell, executive director of the Identity Theft Council in Walnut Creek, California, and a consumer security expert, said seniors should remember one word if they don’t want to become victims of identity theft: paranoia.
“This is particularly important for seniors, who might not be as cynical as the rest of us,” O’Farrell said. “They tend to want to be a little more trusting and they’re probably not at all aware of the web of traps that are out there.”
Here are five tips seniors can use to help protect themselves from online identity theft:
1. Take care when opening emails and attachments.
If you don’t know the person sending you an email message, then don’t open the message.
“No, the prince of Nairobi does not have $5 million to give you,” Tatar said.
The bad guys try to trick you into installing malicious software, or malware, onto your computer when you click on a link in the body of the email or open an email attachment. The malware could infect the hard drive of your computer, allowing someone to control it remotely, or it could look for your passwords or other personal information and send it to the criminals.
2. Beware of phishing emails.
Phishing email messages look as if they come from your bank or another reputable company. The messages will ask you to reset your password or log into your account to verify certain information.
Scammers use these email messages to try to con you into revealing personal and financial information, such as your bank account number or your Social Security number. The thieves then use this information to steal your identity and your money.
“People will get these dire emails saying, ‘Your PayPal account needs to be adjusted’ ” in the subject line, Tatar said. “No, it doesn’t.”
Banks and financial institutions will not send you an email asking you to reset your password, nor will they ask for any other personal information, he said.
“If you have a question about the email,” Tatar said, “call your broker or call your bank before you click on the email.”
3. Keep your passwords safe.
You should never write down your passwords to your online accounts and carry them around with you, according to Tatar.
“You should also get into the habit of changing your passwords, if not monthly, then certainly every two months,” he said.
O’Farrell said seniors should be sure not to use easy-to-guess passwords.
“My experience is that they want something that’s easy to remember, and they use that same password across multiple sites,” he said. “They’re so proud of the fact that they can remember their password when everyone else seems to have trouble. But that’s because it’s an easy password and they only have one.”
Seniors have to be persuaded to use complex passwords — even passphrases — and different passwords for different sites.
“It’s OK for them to write passwords down and keep them in their homes,” O’Farrell said. “There aren’t many hackers who are going to break into your home and go looking for your passwords.”
4. Check for the “https.”
“Never, ever shop or do banking or give any personal information on a website that does not have ‘https’ up in the address line,” Tatar said. “That means it’s a secure site.”
There should be a small padlock — often a yellow one — that appears somewhere in the address bar, he added.
5. Don’t put too much information in obituaries.
Because anyone can read obituaries online, you have to be sure not to include too much personally identifying information about the deceased, such as a mother’s maiden name, an address, personal ancestry, occupation, or date of birth. An identity thief can use this information to set up new accounts in the deceased person’s name.
“The main thing is, just limit this information when you’re writing obituaries for relatives,” Tatar said.
The fact is, more and more seniors are going online, and they have to be aware of all these potential dangers, he said.
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May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13
I have been reading about some cases in Africa where men and women are being tried and killed because of their Christian faith. The countries are run by Islamic extremists that do not tolerate other religions at all. I often wonder what I would do in a country like that. Would I identify myself as a follower of Christ?
It was not easy for the followers of Christ during the time of Jesus even though we think they had it easy since Jesus was right there with them! They left their jobs and families. They heard and saw things that no men ever saw or heard before. They learned about a new way of life and a way to live that was completely adverse to the popular culture. They even lost their lives after governments and religious leaders were threatened by them.
The Christian life is not always easy. It is easier because we have the King of Kings and Lord of Lords with us at all times. We know we can rely on his strength, power and wisdom to not only survive in this life, but conquer!
Lord, we thank you for the privilege and honor of serving you. Please help us always rely on you for strength and guidance.
Technology Thursday
5 Tips to Help Seniors Avoid Identity Theft
Linda Rosencrance, Tom's Guide [link]
When it comes to online identity theft, senior citizens are particularly susceptible. As a group, they can be trusting and are often unaware of the latest scams that look to separate them from their money.
Senior citizens are frequently not as technologically savvy as younger people and are therefore more vulnerable to phishing emails from crooks trying to get their personal information, said Jack Tatar, author of the book Safe 4 Retirement: The Four Keys to a Safe Retirement.
Neal O’Farrell, executive director of the Identity Theft Council in Walnut Creek, California, and a consumer security expert, said seniors should remember one word if they don’t want to become victims of identity theft: paranoia.
“This is particularly important for seniors, who might not be as cynical as the rest of us,” O’Farrell said. “They tend to want to be a little more trusting and they’re probably not at all aware of the web of traps that are out there.”
Here are five tips seniors can use to help protect themselves from online identity theft:
1. Take care when opening emails and attachments.
If you don’t know the person sending you an email message, then don’t open the message.
“No, the prince of Nairobi does not have $5 million to give you,” Tatar said.
The bad guys try to trick you into installing malicious software, or malware, onto your computer when you click on a link in the body of the email or open an email attachment. The malware could infect the hard drive of your computer, allowing someone to control it remotely, or it could look for your passwords or other personal information and send it to the criminals.
2. Beware of phishing emails.
Phishing email messages look as if they come from your bank or another reputable company. The messages will ask you to reset your password or log into your account to verify certain information.
Scammers use these email messages to try to con you into revealing personal and financial information, such as your bank account number or your Social Security number. The thieves then use this information to steal your identity and your money.
“People will get these dire emails saying, ‘Your PayPal account needs to be adjusted’ ” in the subject line, Tatar said. “No, it doesn’t.”
Banks and financial institutions will not send you an email asking you to reset your password, nor will they ask for any other personal information, he said.
“If you have a question about the email,” Tatar said, “call your broker or call your bank before you click on the email.”
3. Keep your passwords safe.
You should never write down your passwords to your online accounts and carry them around with you, according to Tatar.
“You should also get into the habit of changing your passwords, if not monthly, then certainly every two months,” he said.
O’Farrell said seniors should be sure not to use easy-to-guess passwords.
“My experience is that they want something that’s easy to remember, and they use that same password across multiple sites,” he said. “They’re so proud of the fact that they can remember their password when everyone else seems to have trouble. But that’s because it’s an easy password and they only have one.”
Seniors have to be persuaded to use complex passwords — even passphrases — and different passwords for different sites.
“It’s OK for them to write passwords down and keep them in their homes,” O’Farrell said. “There aren’t many hackers who are going to break into your home and go looking for your passwords.”
4. Check for the “https.”
“Never, ever shop or do banking or give any personal information on a website that does not have ‘https’ up in the address line,” Tatar said. “That means it’s a secure site.”
There should be a small padlock — often a yellow one — that appears somewhere in the address bar, he added.
5. Don’t put too much information in obituaries.
Because anyone can read obituaries online, you have to be sure not to include too much personally identifying information about the deceased, such as a mother’s maiden name, an address, personal ancestry, occupation, or date of birth. An identity thief can use this information to set up new accounts in the deceased person’s name.
“The main thing is, just limit this information when you’re writing obituaries for relatives,” Tatar said.
The fact is, more and more seniors are going online, and they have to be aware of all these potential dangers, he said.
********************************
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit - Romans 15:13
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