STOPPING BY THE GAS STATION

Monday, March 31, 2008

Believe it or not, there was a time when stopping by the gas station was a pleasure. You pulled up to the pump, rolled down the window and was greeted by a smiling attendant. You said, “Fill ‘er up” with a smile on your face and a lilt to your voice. He filled your tank, checked your oil, water and tires. And then he gave you stamps that could be redeemed for gifts or he may have given you a gift right on the spot—like drinking glasses which you didn’t want but felt the need to collect.

A few days ago when I pulled up to the pump I got out and filled my own tank. I wasn’t greeted by anyone and it’s just as well, I was crying uncontrollably. At the pump in front of me was an older man filling up an SUV. He got in his car and hung his head. I thought he must be writing down mileage or something. However, when I left he was still there with his head down. I feel bad now that I didn’t check on him. He may have had a heart attack!

I have just returned from refilling my propane tank. The price for grilling outside has just gone up. I like steak cooked on the grill but my menu now is going to read: Hamburgers, Hot dogs, and grilled vegetables.

When I was a young unmarried preacher I used to go across the street from the parsonage and visit with a wise old man. I learned a lot from him. We sat outside by the side of his house, leaned our chairs back against the wall and talked of many things. One day I used the expression, “Those were the good ol’ days.” He replied, “No Clif, these are the good ol’ days” meaning these days we are living right now. For over fifty years I have thought he was right. Now today, I feel like the poor old brother was an idiot!

ENJOY GREAT MOMENTS

Sunday, March 30, 2008

Solomon said: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:…a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4)

For some reason I just started thinking about all the great moments I have enjoyed in life. Wow! I mean really—WOW!

I have had hundreds of great moments. So many I can’t count them. I bet you have too.
I wonder how many great moments we missed. I wonder how many we just let slip by.

Let’s get serious about having fun!

STOP COMPLAINING

Saturday, March 29, 2008

STOP IT! STOP COMPLAINING!

Complaining is a bad habit. We all do it, only to different degrees.

We try to justify it with all kinds of excuses. The most common one is, “I just want to get it off my chest.”

It’s a waste of time and negative. Breaking this bad habit is difficult but it is worth it.

Complaining takes a lot of energy. Spend that energy in creative ideas or quiet reflection.

If this sounds like I’m complaining about complaining—I’m sorry. I’m going to stop it right now!

BLACK LIBERATION THEOLOGY

Friday, March 28, 2008

I grew up in Oklahoma back in the days of segregation. Blacks lived in two sections of my home town. One section was extremely poor and the other section was where the better educated and the “upper class” blacks lived. They couldn’t go to school with us, eat with us or sit with us on the bus or in a theater. The churches were also segregated. The way these people were treated was wrong and sinful. Thank God things are better today. Things are not perfect—but definitely better.

Over the years, I have known and respected a number of black preachers. I have attended their services and participated in leading their worship. I have always been impressed that black churches worship with passion. I believe that all churches should worship this way.

It wasn’t until I heard the ranting and raving of Barack Obama’s pastor, Jeremiah Wright that I looked into what is called black liberation theology. Wow! This is a mess and a danger to society.

I urge you to check out this teaching. Remember Barack Obama and his wife have been sitting under this teaching for twenty years.

WOMEN BLOGGERS

Thursday, March 27, 2008

It never fails to amaze me how many women bloggers there are. No, I have never counted them. However, I know that there are a lot of them out there. My wife hears from hundreds of them from around the world. Who knew? Not me!

I wrote my first blog back in November of 2005. Occasionally I would say to my wife, “Why don’t you write my blog today dear?” And she would reply, “Oh no, I couldn’t do that.” And she wouldn’t! Now she is into blogging—big time! I also encouraged a female friend of ours to blog but she also refused. Now she is blogging almost everyday.

I only read one or two female blogs on a regular basis. But I do occasionally take a brief look at several others. Wow! I am amazed at how creative these women are. I hate the expression, “You go girl!” I don’t really know why but I can’t stand to hear it. But I am so impressed by the talent these women have that I’m going to say it anyhow.

YOU GO GIRL!

COOL HAND LUKE

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Paul Newman, the actor, played the role of Cool Hand Luke in the movie by the same name. He was a prisoner on a chain gang that went out every day to cut weeds from the road side along the levees. He was always escaping, being caught, brought back and punished. The warden would say to him, “What we have here is a failure to communicate.”

One of the final scenes in the movie has Cool Hand Luke, who has just escaped again, standing in front of a window in an old church building. He shouts outside to the warden and a group of his men, “What we have here is a failure to communicate.”

I think of that statement often. It seems to me that this is one of the major problems of the world—a failure to communicate. Think about it!