THE HEROES OF THE AGE: (Electricity And Man)

"... Thomas Edison was more responsible than any one else for creating the modern world ....  No one did more to shape the physical/cultural makeup of  present day civilization.... Accordingly, he was the most influential figure of the millennium...."  

     Unfortunately, this experience had some negative affects on the highly impressionable boy. He was  so disillusioned by how Newton's sensational theories were written in classical aristocratic terms -which he felt were unnecessarily confusing to the average person -he overreacted and developed  a hearty dislike for all such "high-tone" language and mathematics....  On the other hand, the simple beauty of Newton's physical laws did not escape him. In fact, they very much helped him sharpen his own free wheeling style of clear thinking, proving all things to himself through his own method of objective examination and experimentation."    Tom's response to the Principia also enhanced his propensity towards gleaning insights from the writings and activities of other great men and women of wisdom,   never forgetting that even they might be entrenched in preconceived dogma and mired down in associated error....

 Oddly, a factor that  shaped Tom's personality in both a negative and a positive way was  his  poor   hearing.... Even though this condition -and the fact that he had only three months of formal schooling - prevented him from taking advantage of the benefits of a secondary education in contemporary mathematics, physics, and engineering, he never let it interfere with  finding ways   of  compensating.... More precisely,  it was this his  highly individualistic  style of acquiring knowledge that eventually  led  him to  question scores  of the prevailing theories on the workings of electricity..... Approaching  this complex field  like a "lone eagle," he  used his kaleidoscopic mind  and his legendary memory, dexterity, and patience to  perform  whatever experiments were  necessary to  come up with his own   related      theories...    "I accept almost nothing dealing with electricity without thoroughly testing it first." he often  declared.

 Returning to the story of  his youth, by age 12, Tom had  already  become an  "adult." He had  not only talked to his parents into letting him go to work selling newspapers, snacks, and candy on the local railroad, he had started an entirely separate business selling fruits and vegetables.....  And at age 14 -during the time of  the famous per-Civil War debates between Lincoln and Douglas -he exploited his access to the associated news releases that were being teletype into the station each day and published them in his own little newspaper.  he quickly enticed over 300  commuters to subscribe to his splendid little paper:  the Weekly Herald....   Interestingly, because this was the first such publication  ever to be type-set, printed, and sold on a train,  an English journal now gave him his first exposure to international notoriety when it related  this story  in 1860. 
Ultimately, Tom  became totally deaf in his left ear, and approximately 80% deaf in his right ear. Poignantly, he once stated that the worst thing about this condition was that he was unable to enjoy the beautiful sounds of singing birds.  Indeed, he loved the creatures so much, he later amassed an aviary containing  over 5,000 of them. One day while he was on the train, the station master's very young son happened to wander onto the tracks in front of an oncoming boxcar. Tom leaped to action.  Luckily - as they tumbled away from its oncoming wheels - they  ended up being only slightly injured.......TO BE CONTINUES...

Have a nice weekend.

God bless you.

Atta's Blog

THE LIFE OF THOMAS EDISON( Electricity And Man)

"... Thomas Edison was more responsible than any one else for creating the modern world ....  No one did more to shape the physical/cultural makeup of  present day civilization.... Accordingly, he was the most influential figure of the millennium...." 

 Surprisingly, little "Al" Edison, who was the last of seven children in his family, did not learn to talk until he was almost four years of age.  Immediately thereafter, he began pleading with every adult he met to explain the workings of just about everything he encountered. If they said they didn't know, he would look them straight in the eye with his deeply set and vibrant blue-green eyes and ask them "Why?"

Contrary to popular belief, Thomas Edison was not born into poverty in a backwater mid-western town. Actually, he was born -on Feb. 11, 1847 - to middle-class parents in the bustling port of Milan, Ohio, a community that - next to Odessa, Russia

At age seven - after spending 12 weeks in a noisy one-room schoolhouse with 38 other students of ll ages - Tom's overworked and short tempered teacher finally lost his patience with the child's persistent questioning and seemingly self centered behavior.  Noting that Tom's forehead was unusually broad and his head was considerably larger than average, he made no secret of his belief that the hyperactive youngster's brains were "addled" or scrambled.

If modern psychology had existed back then, Tom would have probably been deemed a victim of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and proscribed a hefty dose of the "miracle drug" Ritalin. Instead, when his beloved mother - whom he recalled "was the making of me...  [because] she was always so true and so sure of me...  And always made me feel I had someone to live for and must not disappoint." - became aware of the situation, she promptly withdrew him from school and began to "home-teach" him.  Not surprisingly, she was convinced her son's slightly unusual demeanor and physical appearance were merely outward signs of his remarkable Intelligence

  It wasn't long thereafter that the serious minded youngster developed a deep interest in world history and English literature. Interestingly, many years later, Tom's abiding fondness for Shakespeare's plays lead him to briefly consider becoming an actor ,Tom especially enjoyed reading and reciting poetry. His life-long favorite was Gray's Elegy In A Country Churchyard. Indeed, his favorite lines - which he endlessly chanted to himself and any within hearing distance - came from its 9th stanza: “The boast of heraldry of pomp and power, All that beauty all that wealth ere gave, Alike await the inevitable hour. The path to glory leads but to the grave.”

Unfortunately, in spite of their noble efforts, Tom's dedicated parents eventually found themselves incapable of addressing his ever increasing  interest in the  Sciences.  For example, when he began to question them about concepts dealing with Physics - such as those contained in Isaac Newton's great "Principia" - they were utterly stymied.  Accordingly, they scraped enough money together to hire a clever tutor to help their precocious son in trying to understand Newton's complex mathematical principles and unique style.....

TO BE CONTINUES.

Have a nice weekend,

God bless you.

Atta's Blog 

     

     

THE LESSONS FROM THE LIFE OF GIDEON:(GIDEON'S NEW NAME)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZGzu6oI9b4&list=RDMMmZGzu6oI9b4

(JUDGES 6:11-23)

As Gideon came creeping out of his cave to process his meager supply of food, he never realized he was standing at the door of the greatest moment of his life. At that moment, his highest aspirations were to survive another day under the mailed fist of the ravenous armies of Midian. The Lord, however, had other plans.“The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” Gideon hardly bothered to turn around. Maybe there was someone else hidden in the cave. After all, who would call a coward like him a “mighty warrior”?Yet, when the angel of the Lord sat down in front of him, Gideon knew he was the one who had been addressed. As the angel continued to look at him, it was as if all the unbelief and pain in his soul began to bubble up and gush out of his mouth.“You’ve got to be kidding me!” Gideon replied. “I have never seen a miracle, and if that’s not bad enough, you have abandoned me. The Lord’s reply so stunned him, it momentarily pierced the shroud of unbelief and death which had strangled him for years. “Gideon, go in the strength you have, and save Israel…” Gideon couldn’t believe it.

“How can my weakness be my strength?” Gideon wondered. At that point, desperate to realize what he now perceived as the looming call of God on his life, he did everything to disqualify himself in God’s sight.“Well, Lord,” he whimpered, “what about my family? You know they are considered the weakest clan in all of Israel. And I’m even thought of as the dumbest of my brothers.” Still the Lord was not shaken. “Together we will accomplish this mission,” the Lord replied.Finally, something broke in Gideon. “Maybe there really is hope for someone like me,” he wondered to himself. “Lord,” he whispered, “if this is really you, don’t disappear, but wait and let me prepare you a sacrificial meal.”

After the Lord had consumed the meal, with flames of fire springing up from the tip of His rod, He disappeared into the flames. Gideon fell trembling to the ground, for he knew he had seen  the Lord. 

WHAT LESSONS CAN YOU AND I LEARN FROM THIS AMAZING ENCOUNTER BETWEEN A MAN AND HIS GOD? 

First, no matter what condition you find yourself in today, God will address you by faith. Even though Gideon was a spineless, craven coward, God addressed him as a mighty warrior.

 Second, no matter how weak you may feel, never forget God’s mighty strength is made perfect when we are weak. Paul himself said in( II Corinthians 12:10b)

Third, like Gideon, all of us need a deep revelation of God’s love. One of the most beautiful exchanges between God and a man in all of Scripture may be when Gideon begged the Lord not to go away while he went to cook a meal for Him.
BE A BLESSING TO YOUR GENERATION .
Have a nice mid/week
Atta's Blog.

HEROES OF FAITH(SUSANNA WESLEY)

Fame does not always accompany heroism. Susanna Wesley is a wonderful example of a true heroine who lived a quiet, yet influential life. Throughout her lifetime, Susanna exemplified perseverance, strength, and humbleness, constantly honoring God, especially in her role as a mother. Born in 1669 and the youngest of twenty-five children, Susanna. Never had the opportunity to obtain a formal education. Nonetheless, she devoted herself to the task of teaching her nineteen children at home. Susanna kept a strong faith in God, enduring with grace the devastation of losing nine of her children to early deaths and the complete destruction of two horrible house fires, one of which necessitated placing her children into separate homes for nearly two years, afterward when the family reunited, Susanna was mortified at her children's improper speech, neglected studies and worst of all, lack of daily fellowship with God. Quickly taking charge, Susanna taught all her children Latin and Greek, tutored them all in classical studies, and helped them mature in their Christian faith.

       Susanna continues to inspire many others today, Two of her sons, JOHN  and CHARLES, became famous enough and influential men in the Christian church.

Susanna embodied all the qualities, her parenting changed the WORLD.

God bless you,

Have a nice weekend.

Atta's Blog

THE 5 STRONG WOMEN IN THE BIBLE( ABIGAIL)

(1 SAMUEL 25 : 1- 44) PART 3

Abigail was the wife of a wicked and self-centered man named Nabal. David (who had been anointed king, but had not yet taken office) sent servants to kindly ask Nabal to show hospitality to him and his servants. David’s servants had been companions and protectors of Nabal’s shepherds. Nabal’s response was that David was lazy and presumptuous. David, who was traveling with his men after the burial of Samuel, was angered at Nabal’s reply. David prepared his men for a fight.

Abigail heard what transpired between Nabal and the servants of David. She loaded up a feast and went to meet David along the way. She had hoped that her actions would calm David so that he would spare her family from death. David agreed to spare the family for Abigail’s sake.

Nabal, thinking himself to be someone special because he told David to take a hike, threw a big party for himself. He was drunk and unable to protect himself. The next morning Abigail told Nabal that she had taken an offering to David and by doing so turned back the king and his 400 soldiers. Nabal was shocked to learn that his whole household could have been destroyed. So shocked, in fact, that the Bible says his heart died within him and he became as a stone. Within 10 days he was dead.

When David heard the news that Nabal was dead he sent for Abigail to become his wife. David saw within her a virtue of honesty and desire to protect her family.

OUR GOD BLESS US ALL.

Have a nice weekend.

Atta's Blog