Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Joe Chamberlain) (12/06/90)
Index Number: 12338 [This is from the Spinal Injury Conference] Reposted from the SAFE-SPACE echo in response to a question from a recently injuried C5-6 quad. MF>> I'd like to hear how you all rationalize the existence of MF>> God and how you integrate him into your lives. JC> I broke my neck more than 30 years ago. At the time I JC> had just accepted an enlistment in the Air Force which would have JC> meet flight training and an officer's rank. I eventually wanted JC> to be a bomber pilot. JC> Instead, my accident changed my life goals. I have JC> taught elementary school for five years, administered and JC> developed a hospital rehabilition program, operated a day-care JC> center for ten years, coordinated the development of a JC> specialized transportation service for the disabled, served on JC> various government committees, and have been a life-long JC> advocate for disable rights. JC> I believe that God redirected me. I believe that he had JC> a plan and I was the instrument he choose to help implement that JC> plan. What does he have planned for you? JC> -=joe=- -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!140!Joe.Chamberlain Internet: Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org
Frank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Frank Whitney) (12/07/90)
Index Number: 12373 [This is from the Spinal Injury Conference] > Perfect answer! I feel the same way. I have been asked if I really >believe that God meant for my accident to happen. My response is, "I sure >hope so!" That may sound strange, but think about it this way. If things >are happening in my life that God has no control over then I'm in real >trouble and have bigger worries than just not being able to walk. Joe, here we have to have separate views. I believe that God allowed my accident to happen but I don't believe that he caused it to happen. As far as after our accidents, I believe that we are what we make ourselves. I've always believed in God but I don't believe that it was in his specific plan that I experienced a broken neck and all that followed. I'm definitely not a subscriber to the notion that it was God's will! If he wanted to he could intervene but in my case he chose not to or you could look at it this way. There was a cement block several inches away from where I hit my head so he could have intervened there. Best of luck to you all. Frank. -- Via Opus Msg Kit v1.11 -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Frank.Whitney Internet: Frank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org
Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Joe Chamberlain) (12/07/90)
Index Number: 12379 [This is from the Spinal Injury Conference] JC> center for ten years, coordinated the development of a JC> specialized transportation service for the disabled, served on JP> I'd like to hear more about this one, Joe. The Easter Seals Society applied for a grant from VR in 1972 to study the need, advisibility, and pilot project for such a service. I did the pilot project and documented the need during a 3 month period using station wagons and college students as drivers. I hired a replacement for myself and the pilot project was extended and funded for a year with vans. I returned to the project the following year and expanded the service into the other two counties, making it a state-wide service with additional vans. I then left the service and served as an advisor until 1979. The service now is a state agency, funded by the state and ridership fees. It transports riders throughout the state to school, jobs, doctors, and recreational pursuits. That is a very simple outline, and doesn't cover the hours and hours of lobbying, pleading, and arm-twisting. Hope this helps. -=joe=- -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!140!Joe.Chamberlain Internet: Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org
johnm@tasman.cc.utas.edu.au (John Miezitis) (12/10/90)
Index Number: 12423 > > > Perfect answer! I feel the same way. I have been asked if I really > >believe that God meant for my accident to happen. My response is, "I sure > >hope so!" That may sound strange, but think about it this way. If things > >are happening in my life that God has no control over then I'm in real > >trouble and have bigger worries than just not being able to walk. > > Joe, here we have to have separate views. I believe that God allowed > my accident to happen but I don't believe that he caused it to > happen. As far as after our accidents, I believe that we are what we > make ourselves. I've always believed in God but I don't believe that > it was in his specific plan that I experienced a broken neck and all > that followed. I'm definitely not a subscriber to the notion that it > was God's will! If he wanted to he could intervene but in my case he > chose not to or you could look at it this way. There was a cement > block several inches away from where I hit my head so he could have > intervened there. Hi Frank Another point of view is that God caused our situations so that by our efforts to maintain a full productive life and not give way in the face of adversity we will be an example to others (not only disabled but everybody). I have to say that I am not very religious and I dont't think God had anything to do with my accident. It was entirely my fault and I don't blame anyone, including myself, for it. It just happened. I believe I would not find it as easy to cope if there was anybody to blame although if God did decide I was to be paraplegic then the above point of view is the one I would prefer. I think I have waffled enough. Cheers everybody.. _______________________________________________________________________________ John. B. Miezitis. University of Tasmania Computing Centre email: johnm@diemen.cc.utas.edu.au | Belgium man Belgium!!! _______________________________________________________________________________
Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Joe Chamberlain) (12/14/90)
Index Number: 12499 [This is from the Spinal Injury Conference] FW> As far as after our accidents, I believe that we are what we FW> make ourselves. I didn't mean to say He caused my accident, but that afterwards He helped redirect my talent. I don't think He intervenes directly in very many lives, but rather capitalizes on the events. -=joe=- -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!140!Joe.Chamberlain Internet: Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org
Jerry.Pickup@p33.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org (Jerry Pickup) (12/14/90)
Index Number: 12505 [This is from the Spinal Injury Conference] In a message to Jerry Pickup <04 Dec 90 13:11:00> Joe Chamberlain wrote: JC> The service now is a state agency, funded by the state JC> and ridership fees. It transports riders throughout the state to JC> school, jobs, doctors, and recreational pursuits. Gosh, sounds like what we need here. We have one (1) private cab company that has lift equipped vans and they have sorry, unsafe equipment & service and charge an arm & leg. If I were still using them it would cost (last figures I have) about $680 per month to get to & from work. That's if I NEVER go anywhere else! And in Atlanta we rode the lift vans for $1.25 each way!! -Jerry -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!360!1.33!Jerry.Pickup Internet: Jerry.Pickup@p33.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org
Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Joe Chamberlain) (12/21/90)
Index Number: 12550 [This is from the Spinal Injury Conference] FW> As far as after our accidents, I believe that we are what we FW> make ourselves. I didn't mean to say He caused my accident, but that afterwards He helped redirect my talent. I don't think He intervenes directly in very many lives, but rather capitalizes on the events. -=joe=- -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!140!Joe.Chamberlain Internet: Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org
Jerry.Pickup@p33.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org (Jerry Pickup) (12/21/90)
Index Number: 12557 [This is from the Spinal Injury Conference] In a message to Jerry Pickup <03 Dec 90 18:08:00> Frank Whitney wrote: >>hope so!" That may sound strange, but think about it this way. If things >>are happening in my life that God has no control over then I'm in real >>trouble and have bigger worries than just not being able to walk. FW> Joe, here we have to have separate views. I believe that God allowed ^^^ Wrong person. The message to which you are replying is mine... FW> make ourselves. I've always believed in God but I don't believe that FW> it was in his specific plan that I experienced a broken neck and all FW> that followed. I'm definitely not a subscriber to the notion that it FW> was God's will! If he wanted to he could intervene but in my case he At the risk of straying off topic slightly and definitely not wishing to start a religious debate, I will attempt to explain more clearly my previous post. I'm not trying to sway your point of view, just to explain mine. I know God loves me and I trust him in any decision he makes regarding my life. I also know he loves his son Jesus very much. It was, however, very clearly his plan for Jesus to come to earth to suffer and die so that he could rise again to conquer death and sin. If he has a purpose for my life and fulfilling that purpose requires that I go through some rough times and feel some physical pain, I don't see anything unbelievable about that. I don't think it means that he loves me any less. I also don't think it is punishment for some great wrong that I've done. I know it has been an avenue for many opportunities, relationships, and other events in my life. I don't know if one or more of those things is the reason for my accident or not. I don't think it's important for me to know the reason. I trust God. I realize everyone will not agree with this point of view and like I said, I'm not looking to change your point of view, just to explain mine. -Jerry -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!360!1.33!Jerry.Pickup Internet: Jerry.Pickup@p33.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org
Jerry.Pickup@p33.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org (Jerry Pickup) (12/21/90)
Index Number: 12559 [This is from the Spinal Injury Conference] In a message to Jerry Pickup <04 Dec 90 13:11:00> Joe Chamberlain wrote: JC> The service now is a state agency, funded by the state JC> and ridership fees. It transports riders throughout the state to JC> school, jobs, doctors, and recreational pursuits. Gosh, sounds like what we need here. We have one (1) private cab company that has lift equipped vans and they have sorry, unsafe equipment & service and charge an arm & leg. If I were still using them it would cost (last figures I have) about $680 per month to get to & from work. That's if I NEVER go anywhere else! And in Atlanta we rode the lift vans for $1.25 each way!! -Jerry -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!360!1.33!Jerry.Pickup Internet: Jerry.Pickup@p33.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org
Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org (Joe Chamberlain) (12/21/90)
Index Number: 12566 [This is from the Spinal Injury Conference] JP> Gosh, sounds like what we need here. We have one (1) private cab JP> company that has lift equipped vans and they have sorry, unsafe JP> equipment & service and charge an arm & leg. If I were still using them JP> it would cost (last figures I have) about $680 per month to get to & JP> from work. That's if I NEVER go anywhere else! And in Atlanta we rode JP> the lift vans for $1.25 each way!! One approach is to get ACLU to file a class action suit against the city transit system for failure to provide equal access. Our local transit system helps underwrite the cost of our specialized transportation in order to meet the equal access requirements. -=joe=- -- Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!150!140!Joe.Chamberlain Internet: Joe.Chamberlain@f140.n150.z1.fidonet.org