make sure that we leave room for rest

The following was gleaned from the Sept. 2005 devotional, On The Right Note.

Listen: "God ... rested from all his work." How come God took time off but you don't? Think maybe you know something He doesn't? Think again! Most of us take ourselves far too seriously! We dress up in business suits and speak in carefully modulated voices. We avoid missing deadlines as if the world would end if we’re late, or making a mistake, or needing to ask someone else for assistance. We get caught in the trap of only focusing on the next acquisition, customer order, completed contract or promotional achievement. And what’s the result? We become rigid, legalistic and brittle. We lose our sense of humor, or willingness to ask for forgiveness, and our ability to extend grace to others. One of the best ways of keeping perspective on what’s truly important, is to make sure that we leave room for rest and recreation in our lives. What do you do for fun? Nothing? That’s not good! Rest and recreation help restore your creativity, fuel your vision, and bring balance to your work-lopsided world.

This is usually one of the most neglected areas of our lives. We think we don’t have enough time for fun. Wrong! You don’t have enough time without it! No one on their deathbed wished for more time to file reports, empty in-boxes, grade papers, or attend meetings. Without exception, we wish we’d taken more time to stroll in the park, tickle our kids on the living room floor, or enjoy that family vacation we always talked about but never got to. The trouble with “tomorrow” is-it never comes!

have i made a difference

As I approach the annual occasion of my human birth, my 56th,  I reflect on many things.  I see that, as the physical end draws more near than far, how many failures have occurred, how many disappointments, how many missed opportunities.  I use my family, friends and contemporaries as a measuring rule in some things, God's plan in others and my dreams and wishes for the last.  I review the joys, the successes, the good and the right.  In the end I ask myself this sobering question, "Have I made a difference in the lives of others and has that difference been a good thing?".

a healthy level of insanity

sent in by a friend

To Maintain A Healthy Level Of Insanity 

• At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and point a Hair Dryer At Passing Cars.  See If They Slow Down.


• Page Yourself Over The Intercom.   Don't Disguise Your Voice.


• Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something,  ask If They Want Fries with that.


• Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks .  Once Everyone has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions,
  Switch to Espresso.


• In the Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write ' For Marijuana'


• Skip down the hall Rather Than Walk and see how many looks you get.


• Order a Diet Water whenever you go out to eat, with a serious face.


• Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is 'To Go'.


• Sing Along At The Opera.


• Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You have a headache.


• When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream 'I Won!   I Won!'


• When Leaving the Zoo, Start Running towards the Parking lot, Yelling 'Run For Your Lives!  They're Loose!'


• Tell Your Children Over Dinner, "Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go".


• Pick up a box of condoms at the pharmacy, go to the counter and ask where the fitting room is.

what is a "hater"

The term "hater" gets bandied about the Internet and media much these days and I wondered if someone could give me a more clear definition.

It appears that, in general, a "hater" is defined as someone that is for biblical righteousness, against immorality and anyone who disagrees with the pro-homosexual activists.

Am I correct or is there more?

It also seems that those who use the term "hater" spend more time hating the "haters" than the "haters" spend thinking about those who think they are being "hated".  Confused?  Count me in!

hide the witness ... for fear of prosecution

Panel Erases Slain Deputy's Words From Memorial

The Chippewa County Buildings and Grounds Committee voted unanimously to attempt to hide from God for fear of persecution by man.  They chose unanimously to hide the witness of one man, honored for his service to the community, for fear of prosecution by that same community.  They chose, unanimously, to dishonor God, by hiding His servant's testimony "in an appropriate area".

Jesus said it best.

Matthew 10:32-33 (ASV)  "Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven"

President Obama advised us today "when  you sneeze cover your mouth with your sleeve, not your hands" and to "wash your hands frequently".  This is good advice.  That's one.

Edmund Burke

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

“Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it.”

I miss dogs and tomatoes.

There has been a dog in my house for many years, until the last few months.  We discovered a while back that I was a little allergic to dogs but did not pay it any great heed; the dogs were my daughter's pets and later a third joined us as my wife's pet.  I considered them all and, grumpily at times, I was glad they were there.  Sure, poop scooping and hair sweeping and the inevitable damage to the air conditioing system took their gradual toll on my nerves, but there was always, for me, a sense of peace and security associated with their needy little faces and finicky barking.  And they love me.

Living alone these past months I have not had the now noticably associated breathing problems and I only scoop the poop when I go over to work in the yard, but I miss the sad face of Jeanette, the skittishness of Angel  and Tink's frenetic energy.  I miss the dependence, I suppose, and the exuberance that is met with the simple act of feeding and watering.  I miss the joy of dogdom.  And they love me.

I love the flavor of tomatoes, on and in everything.  We discovered that tomatoes are toxic to me, and now must be enjoyed in limited amounts, periodically, and there will be an consequence to their ingestion.  I miss the simple joy of slathering picante on everything; potatoes, meat and vegetables.  I miss steamy lasagna and the rich flavorful mouthful a great tomatoey chilli!  I especially miss fresh slices on sandwiches and just eating them solo.  I give in occasionally and usually suffer a day or two of diminished breathing capacity for the act, but it's worth it!

I miss the dogs, I'm fairly certain they miss me as well, and tomatoes will always beckon to me.