HOME SAFE AND SOUND

Monday, November 29, 2010

I hope this Monday morning finds all my friends home safe and sound. Although I'm not sure what home "sound" means for sure. Were you "sound" when you left home but now you may not be---or what? I don't know. Let's just forget that part. I surely do hope you made it back home safely.

When I say "back home" I am referring to those of you who left home for some other place, like over the hills and through the woods to Grandma's house and especially the shopping malls on Black Friday.

Charlotte and I are up and about now after breakfast and sitting around the fire for a while. It's about 42° out right now and is not going to be over 56° today. That's cold for us. So we are looking around to see if we even have any cold weather clothing.

After we bundle up we are heading out to Costco, Trader Joe's, Sprouts and Fry's Super Store. So we are hoping and maybe even praying that many of you are back home safe and sound and staying there.

MEALTIME IS MEMORY MAKING TIME

Saturday, November 27, 2010

It's now two days later and most Americans are still thinking about the "big meal."

Memories are made at meals like that. Most of us can look back over years of memories made around the Thanksgiving Day table.

Meal time is memory making time and it isn't just big "special day" meals. It's every meal shared with one or more friends and loved ones. Traditions usually center around Thanksgiving, Christmas and other special days. But memories are also made from other meals because they all are special.

As  struggling college students paying our own way, as often as possible a few of us would "pool our nickels and dimes," drive to a favorite Mexican restaurant and "feast" on refried beans and flour tortillas. Memories.

Every Sunday around the Lord's Table with brothers and sisters in Christ is special. Eating the Lord's Supper with hundreds of Christians just outside the garden tomb in Jerusalem made for lasting memories.

The Scriptures are filled with references to meals that produced memories.

Make the most of meals.

Events of the past provide resources for reflection and current decision making.

The turkey and dressing with friends and loved ones was great and is not to be forgotten. But when you eat that burger and fries with a dear friend you are also making memories that will last a life time. Treasure them.

Meals and memories are important. At least God thinks so!

THE MORNING AFTER

Friday, November 26, 2010

Our neighbor across the street and a relative just came home from shopping with many, many bags. Going out in the wee hours of the morning after Thanksgiving to stand in long lines for a few bargains is not my "cup of tea." But some love it and I say, "More power to them."

I chose to sleep in a little longer than usual and got up to a breakfast of ham and eggs and sat around reading the newspaper and watching the news on television. The early shoppers would ask, "Where is your spirit of adventure old man?"

A friend of mine will be out with her chickens as soon as it warms up a little more. We had a cold night here in the desert. About the only thing I want to do with chickens is to eat their eggs if they lay eggs--or the chickens themselves if they are the right kind.

People come in all shapes and sizes with different mindsets and interests. I'm glad. What a boring world this would be if everyone was like you---I mean me!

The day before Thanksgiving I posted a prayer of thanksgiving for others. Here it is the morning after Thanksgiving and I am still thankful for people.

Hey, that's all we got. Just people. You, me and all those others.

A THANKSGIVING FOR PEOPLE

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The following is a prayer by William Barclay
 
PRAYER


For those who are an example to us, and those who in their lives show us what life ought to be;

For those who are an inspiration to us, and who fill us with the desire to make of life a noble thing;

For those who are a comfort to us when life has hurt us;

For those who are a strength to us, and in whose company we feel fit to tackle any task;

For those who, although we do not know them personally, have by their words or by their writings 
   influenced us for good;

For those whose love and care and service and understanding we so often take for granted;

For those who give us loyal friendship and for those who give us true love:
             We this night thank you, O God.

And most of all we thank you for Jesus to be the pattern of our lives, the Companion of our way, and the Saviour of our souls.

MUSIC AND MUSCLES

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

My little IPod is perfect for exercising at the health club.

It is loaded with music.

Looking around today while exercising I thought to myself, "I bet nobody here has the selection of music that I have.


While grunting and groaning I'm listening to Elvis,Celine Dion, Placido Domingo,Andre Rieu, Neil Diamond, Josh Groban, Lynda Rydell, Susan Boyle, Christmas music and much more. When the music gets going I get going!

The one thing that has me puzzled is this: There are women all over that gym. And yet in all these weeks of pumping iron, not one young woman---or old woman either for that matter has tried to hit on me.

WATCH WHAT YOU SAY

Monday, November 22, 2010

Words, words, words. 

They come flying at us from all directions.


We're suffering from verbal bloatedness.

Words matter.


There is power in words.

Most often, words that build up are expressions of encouragement.


Words can bless or profane.

Those who show respect for others are sensitive about these things.


It is so easy to be careless with language. We need to watch what we say. Let's resolve to encourage, not discourage.

I'm so thankful for all the encouraging, uplifting words I have heard over the years. They didn't just make my day---they made my life!