Exchanges

With thanks to one of our pastors,Deone,most of this blog came about after reading a letter that he wrote from our church. It's amazing how many people go to the stores the day after Christmas to exchange a present they recieved. We saw it ourselves when we went out this evening.Speaking of exchanging, what a great time of year to reflect on things that I need to exchange in the coming year. Bad qualities for good qualities.I would be in line at the Lord's exchange counter for many,many, many hours if I tried to exchange all the bad qualities I have. But with His help,I will try to exchange at least a couple, and be a better person, and follower of HIM in the coming year.

If we only knew...

My childhood friend Dave and I invented snowboarding.We really did. Dave had a great hill in his back yard,and we used to get it all nice and icy,take one of those saucers,and instead of going down the hill on our stomachs,we got a running start,jumped on it,and rode it down like a surfboard. We would spend hours out there,it didn't matter how cold it got. Now, snowboarding is an Olympic sport. Geesh! If we only knew,we would be rich today.I'd still be boring,but I'd be a rich boring man.I believe The Lord knew that I would have probably blown the money instead of investing it.I believe that's the reason I don't have a lot of money today,He knows I'd blow it. Thank you Lord(I think) for knowing me so well. Sure would have been fun blowing that money...

5 Letters

dis or en. What a difference. DIS couragement can sap the life out of you. It can do great harm.Satan was aked one day if he could have only one thing to afflict people with, what would it be?Discouragement. He said that all of his other tools would work much more easily on a discouraged soul,a ripple effect. EN couragement can make all the difference in the world in someone's life. To build someone up,lift them when they are down, pray for them when they are in need,stand by them when they're alone, encourage them to keep going,can literally change someone's life. Only The Lord knows how many lives have been turned around by an encourager. Lord, help me to be THAT for many. Ps. Thanks, sister's E and M for your encouragement this past weekend.

A Lesson Learned...finally

I've finally learned how to clean our cars off when it snows. I just sweep a little peephole off so I can see, then I pull the cars into the street.I sweep all the snow off into the street, and let the cars run it over, or the plows clean it up.All these years I have been cleaning the cars off in the driveway, and making more work for myself.Duh! It only took me 48 years, but I've figured it out.Sometimes it seems it takes that long to learn a lesson The Lord is trying to teach me.I'm thankful He is patient. Sometimes He brings the same things to me over and over again,and then poof!, the lightbulb goes off and I see what He is getting at.It can be the same way when reading Scripture. I my read the same passage 20 times, then the 21st time, I really SEE what God is saying to me.Thank you Lord,for lessons learned.May there be many more.

Adolph's

I remember watching my mother, and now my bride,prepare meat(steak,roast,etc.) They pounded it and pounded it with this wooden thing with all these bumps on it,and then out came the Adolph's Meat Tenderizer.Man,that stuff is good,it really makes the meat tender, "melts in your mouth" tender.It like that with me,somewhat. The world pounds me and pounds me and pounds me.It's hard not to get angry,bitter, cynical,or to despair at all the evil. I need the "tenderizer"of The Lord to soften my heart.I ask Him for it a lot,not often enough. I need to ask Him more:"Tenderize my heart, Lord, help me to see people as You see them, and love them as You do".Without that Adolph's tenderizer that piece of meat would be tough,hard to chew,not pleasant at all. Without HIS tenderizer,that's how I am. Thank you Lord, for Your tenderness with me. Help me to be that way with others.

Thanks Verizon!

I see where Verizon is going to eliminate pay phones.Understandable with the cell phone craze.That means no more phone booths, either.Where is the boring man fan club going to meet NOW? Thanks a lot Verizon.Speaking of them,they send me a letter every month wanting me to sign up for all their services, voice mail,caller id,high speed internet,etc. for one price.Every month it comes, every month I throw it out. Boy, they are persistant though. The Lord told us to be persistant in prayer.I don't think that means that we bring own selfish desires before Him,and keep asking Him for them.For me it means persistantly and passionately praying for others,interceeding for them.Sometimes I don't feel like it,but then I think that maybe no one else is praying for them that particular day,and that helps me to pray on.Only The Lord knows how many people are blessed by our faithfully praying for them. Maybe in heaven He will show us,maybe not,but that is not important. I will pray on!

What a bargain!

I got the book My Utmost For His Highest,at a garage sale. It cost me 50 cents.It is my favorite book,a daily devotional that I have used for going on 4 years now. There isn't enough space on this blogsite to describe how much God has blessed me and taught me through that book.Speaking of bargains... I have a better one. 2 Corinthians 5:21.To me, the most amazing verse in the Bible. "He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, that in Him we might become the rightousness of God".I give Jesus my sin,He gives me His righteousness.(Right standing before God) It cost Him EVERYTHING,it costs me nothing. Match that Wal Mart,KMart, Target and all you other stores that claim you have great bargains. This bargain from Jesus is the only one that I need.Thank you,Lord, for offering it to me. Ps. A very happy birthday to my bride's friend Wassinger. She is a true servant,and you will not find a more giving person.I admire her a lot.

Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie

Another ABBA song.It's about what goes on in the middle of the night, the wee hours. A line in it says"There's not a soul out there, no one to hear my prayer" Not so with my Lord. Thank God His Throne Room is open all night long: 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Lord, help my prayer times with You not to be like the title of this song,where I'm always asking You to "gimmie, gimmie gimmie".You will,and You do,but how much better it is just to fellowship with You and listen,enjoy Your company,intercede for others. When I do that my own needs are of no concern, and yet it is there that they are met.

My Boy Pipe

We lost our cat yesterday. Pipe was almost 15 when he passed away.He was the most talkative cat that I have been around. He always had something to say.People would want to hear him talk when we paid them to come over for a visit.He always did.What he was saying,I'm not sure, but he was a great cat, gentle, accepting of other cats that came into the house, and he had a great disposition.I found him wedged in the tailpipe/muffler area of my car on a cold November morning many years ago. He moved into our house with us, so he has always been here. It feels strange without him. The vet said he had a very strong heart.He sure touched mine, and broke it,too. Thank you Lord for giving him to us. Thanks, Pipe for all the joy you brought. See you in heaven.

Sticks and Stones

"Sticks and stones can break my bones, but names will never hurt me". What a ridiculous statement.It's not the compliments or nice things said about you that you remember,but the hurtful,nasty things. At least it's like that with me. I still remember things said to me many many years ago,and I shudder to think of the things that I've said over the years that have hurt and may still be hurting people.Lord, help me with my tongue.Let my words be gracious,like You have been, and are, to me.

The Earless Cat

We have a cat that has been visiting us. He looks like he only has one ear. The left ear is almost missing,that's why I call him the earless cat.I'm pretty sure he has a home,he just comes over to mooch food.He's really a friendly chap,but the other day he hissed at me,and then 5 seconds later rubbed all over me,real friendly like.It's real easy to be a great Christian when I'm in church,or rubbing shoulders with fellow believers.Then I get out in the world,and situations arise,and I start hissing, just like the earless one,and sometimes just as quickly. That ought not to be.Lord,I'm sorry for that contradiction that is way too evident in my life. Help me to be a more consistant follower of you.I always chuckle when a cat hisses, even if it's at me.Lord,help me to realize that my "hissing" is no laughing matter to You,but something that needs to be worked on and fixed with the help of Your amazing grace.

Ring Ring

We went through a period a few years ago where we lost something like 12 people,family and friends,to death.Throw in my mother's sickness,emergency calls in the middle of the night,calls at work,and I became very uneasy every time the phone would ring. I still am,in fact.We do have the caller id that identifies who is calling,but I still get nervous when I see certain names come up.I wonder what the Lord thinks when He sees my name come up on His caller id.Do I call on Him only in a crisis,or when something bad has happened?Sadly,that has been the case sometimes.Lord,help me to call on You ALWAYS,not just in times of trouble, but all the time,even just to say thanks. We can sit and chat and fellowship together.I may never feel at ease when the phone rings, but I want The Lord to smile when my name comes up on His machine, and I want Him to look forward to talking with me.

Patriots

Watching New England manhandle the Buffalo Bills Sunday night,and what the coach and players said afterwards,got me thinking.The Patriots were focused,driven, not at all complacent,or taking the Bills lightly.As a Christ follower,I need to exhibit those qualities also.FOCUSED on Him,not distracted or swayed by the things of this world. DRIVEN to be a good representative of Him to others,and a good servant.NOT COMPLACENT,neglecting studying His Word,praying,serving,or taking "days off" in my Christian walk.Not ever,no NEVER taking His sacrifice for me and all that He does for me,and has done for me, LIGHTLY.Even though it came at the expense of my Bills,thanks for the lesson, Patriots.May I be that good for Jesus.

One chance

I played alot of football when I was growing up,mostly touch football in the street.Frequently though,we had "big games",when the older guys would play,and they would let us play with them. There were a few of us who were about 10 years younger than them. I think they let us play just to make the game bigger,and sometimes to even out the teams.In just about every game with the big guys,they would say" Let's throw the boring kid a pass".(Yes,even way back then I was boring) I had to be ready,I never knew when my one chance was coming. It didn't matter if I made a great catch or dropped the ball,one chance was all I got. There were no more plays for me in that game,no second chances.I'm SO thankful that The Lord is not like that. He has been called "The God of Second Chances" Wow,it's so true.Thank you,Lord for your amazing forgiveness,and the countless, countless,countless second chances that you have given,and continue to give me.

"Uh oh,he's up!"

That's what I want the devil to say when I roll out of the rack in the morning.No,I'm not going to be preaching to hundreds of people,or handing out Gospel tracts to everyone I see.But I'll be out there,in the world.I can "preach" with my life,be polite,be kind,encourage others,do good deeds,best of all PRAY for others during the day,as they are put on my heart.In a nutshell,I am to be about my Master's business,shining out for Him,being a good representative of Him in this world. I absolutely don't have it in me to do it on my own. But HIS grace is sufficient,all I need to do is ask,there is an endless supply.Lord,I sure do need it today and every day.Thanks that I can come to You and receive,and then go out and give.

Big Deal!

I usually don't write anything on weekends,but I worked today.I think it's the first time in 9 years at the school that I worked a Saturday.It was not mandatory,they needed help,and asked me,so I went. The 3 ladies that ran the school play,and needed the help, are the nicest people,very kind,and fun,some of the best people that I've encountered here. That's why it was no big deal for me to go in and help them,it was a pleasure.I did get paid for it,of course,but that wasn't the only reason I went. I like them,they are always very nice to me,so it was fitting for me to repay their kindness.Besides,it's what I'm supposed to do as a follower of Jesus,it's no big deal,it's "walking the walk".It was easy to go help out.Could I have done it for someone I don't get along with,someone who hasn't been,or isn't nice to me? Sadly,I can't say that I would have for sure. Maybe.That's where the rubber meets the road,that's where I need His grace and help.Big deal,I went to help some of my friends,that's what a Christ follower does. Lord,forgive me for those many times that I've failed on the other end,with those that I'm not especially close to. Bring some more of those opportunities my way,and help me to just go and "be" for them,and FOR YOU.

Cat Voice

Not many people have heard it. My bride has heard it for 22 years,and some of my immediate family have heard it. Cats respond to it. My 4 know it,and when they hear it,they know I am specifically talking to them. I can call our outdoor cats using the cat voice,and they will come running.In fact, I use the cat voice almost exclusively when dealing with our cats. Lord,help me to be that sensitive to YOUR voice,help me to listen for it,and then like Boots,Hattie, TC.,and Pipe,help me to come running,'cause it's there,with You, that I'll find everything I need.

Bang A Boomerang

It's the title of an ABBA song,not one of their more well known ones.It has a line in there that has been true for this boring man."Every feelin' you're showin',is a boomerang you're throwin". It's true.If I walk around with a sour puss on,or a bad attitude,it comes back to me,and things usually don't go very well. But,give someone a smile,do a good deed for someone, be pleasant, be polite,good comes back to me most of the time. I have a chance to put the "bang a boomerang" theory into practice at the school this week. Something I'm not looking forward to at all is happening on Friday. I'm going to embrace it though,have a good attitude,and I'll just bet that it will be fine,even good. Lord,help me to learn this lesson.

"I'll be there for ya'"

It was something my double play partner/2nd baseman Rick would say to me . He was telling me that if a ball was hit to me,he would be at 2nd base,there to cover so we could get a force out or double play. In spite of the tremendous amount of bad throws I made to him, ,and the several pulled muscles he suffered trying to catch those wild tosses, he was always there for me. Kind of like God. He's always there for me, no matter how many times I screw up,or have need of His grace and mercy and help,He says,"I'm here for ya'".Thank you Lord that You are,and thank you that You always will be.

Side jobs

My father was a carpenter. A great one,for sure. My brother picked up his skills,I of course,did not. In any event,he had his regular job with a remodeling company during the day,but he would also do side jobs in the evenings.We always knew when he got paid for those side jobs. Bags full of potato chips,dip,pop, ice cream,stuff we didn't get very often,and really appreciated when we got it.It's nice to reflect back,it makes me thankful.Thankful for my father,thankful that he took such good care of us,thankful that those treats were rare occasions.It made us appreciate them more. Yes,it's good to reflect back.But it's better to reflect OUT. That others would see a reflection of Jesus in me,that I may shine out for Him.Lord help me to reflect...BACK and OUT.

Walking on air

I signed up to pray while our 11 o'clock church service service was going on. A few would gather in the little chapel and ask God's blessings upon the service.After I signed up,I thought: "How in the world am I going to pray for an hour? I'll run out of things to pray a lot faster than that". Let me tell you,it was one of the greatest experiences of my life.There were 4 of us,Ray and John,whom I had never met,and my dear brother Steve,who was our small group Bible study leader,and who's name on the sign up sheet encouraged me to sign up,too.We prayed and cried out to God,and that hour just flew by.The Lord met with us there,we felt His presence.It was an amazing feeling. Walking to our cars, Steve said he felt like he was walking on air.He was so right,it felt as if my feet weren't even touching the ground.Man,to be in His presence.Lord,instead of bringing my own "laundry list" of needs to You,help me just to talk with You, worship You, listen to You,bring OTHER'S needs before you.When I do that,I KNOW that you will be pleased,I KNOW that You will meet with me,I know that You will take care of those unspoken needs that I have.

The Wall

When I was working the graveyard shift,my uncle Hank told me that about 3 0r 4 in the morning,every morning, I would hit "a wall". My body would want to shut down and go to sleep. It was like it was saying"Hey,you should be sleeping"!He was so right,it happened all the time. I had to battle through it,and keep going,and then I would get my second wind and be ok. Sometimes it's like that in my walk with Jesus. I hit a wall.Nothing much happening, the hum drum of everyday life,work, routine,not much excitement.Same solution as the 3am sleepies. KEEP GOING. Keep at it for Jesus,keep connected to Him,keep moving for Him,don't go to sleep.People out there need to see Him in me.Lord,thanks for the many "second winds" You have given to me. Thank you that when I need more, I can come to You.

Tammie and the pill

A buddy that I grew up with had a dog named Tammie. The dog had some sort of ear infection,and had to take pills. They couldn't get this dog to swallow the pills no matter what they did. I told them that I would take care of it. So I had them give me a couple pieces of meat,threw them to the dog one at at time,the dog caught them in the air,swallowed them,not knowing that the second piece contained the pill.My buddies' family were beside themselves.You'd have thought I had cured a disease or something. As a matter of fact,my sister ran into my friend's mom and sister(this was a couple years ago,and some 20 years after the pill episode),and they mentioned the pill to her. A seemingly insignificant thing to me still had an impact on others 20 years later. A sobering thought,for sure. Lord help me to realize that those things that I say and do,no matter how small,no matter how insignificant,may impact other lives. Please help those words and deeds to be good,loving,helpful,encouraging,reflecting YOU to those I contact.

Zoned in

I played a lot of baseball games in my time. Shortstop most of the time. I made a ton of errors,so many in fact,I had to wear a football helmet on the field to protect myself from the objects people disgustingly threw at me. There was one game, however where I was zoned in. Caught everthing hit to me, made a couple of "highlight reel" plays. I was saying"C'mon, hit it to me". They couldn't have gotten a BB by me that day. I need to be zoned in when I attend church this Sunday.Too many times I've stayed up way too late and been to tired to focus,or I've let my mind wander to other things.It's a great feeling to be in zoned in,nothing distracts you,you are completely focused. Lord, after all You do,and have done for me, the least I could do is to be focused on You,"zoned in" on You. Please help me get to that place.

Thanks, coach

It was a pretty busy night at the school,as usual. The girl scouts had a Halloween party(I have my mask on 365 days a year),there was a vollyball game,and a couple of practices. One of the coaches went the extra mile, and in doing so,helped me out.He said"That's what we do".It was like he was saying: that's normal for us,nothing out of the ordinary.It's a lesson that hit home. I'm a Christian,a follower of Jesus,so when I do something nice for someone, show kindness, go the extra mile,it should be nothing out of the ordinary,it should be "that's what I(as a Jesus follower) do".Like it or not,I am an exhibitionist,people are watching what I do,seeing if my actions back up my words. May they say to one another about me, "No surprise,that's what Christians do". As my brother Steve says, "Don't just talk the talk,WALK THE WALK". Lord,let it be natural for me to follow You,let it be "that's what I do".

DDD

I think most of us live pretty routine lives.My niece posted a "Day in the Life" blog on her site. I couldn't do that,this page would be completely blank. The only purpose it might serve is curing a few insomniacs.In any event,It's pretty easy to feel all holy and spiritual when you are in church,or at a Bible study,or prayer meeting,or when you are singing and worshipping God.At least it is for me.But to quote Oswald Chambers from "My Utmost For His Highest", "It takes the supernatural grace of God to live the the 24 hour life as a saint,to do the Daily Drugery as a Disciple". The 3 d's. Daily drugery as a disciple. He's just saying that most of us just do life. There's not a lot of fanfare, not a lot of tremendously exciting things going on, we're just out here,doing our thing, doing life, whatever that may entail. It's in the nuts and bolts of life that I need that supernatural grace of God that Chambers talks about. Thank you Lord that it's available,thank you that I can come to You when I need it,which is SO OFTEN,and thank you for how it has seen me through.

The Red Umbrella

My bride and I were blessed to be able to go to Pasadena last year,and witness the Tournament of Roses Parade in person.It was truly an amazing experience.1 MILLION people there,lining the 5 mile parade route.It was a pretty good hike from the bus to our seats,and Joan,our tour director,came up with the great idea of carrying a red umbrella,and holding it high,so we wouldn't get lost or separated from the group in the midst of the throng of people.Let me tell you,there were a couple of times where we lost sight of her,and panic was starting to set in.Then I remembered,"Look up,look for the red umbrella".There it was,there she was,what a relief!Lord,when those fearful times come,when those anxious thoughts come,when I feel like I'm losing my way,help me remember to LOOK UP.It's there that I find peace,it's there that I find YOU.

Dangerfield

I remember a joke Rodney Danderfield told on the Tonight Show. He said he went out with a girl so ugly,that when you looked up the word ugly in the dictionary,her picture was there. Johnny Carson almost fell out of his chair. Very funny stuff. It got me thinking though. Is my picture by any words? How about, lazy,selfish,unmotivated,timid, comfortable,pizza,baseball,cats to name a few.Look those up in the dictionary,you just may see my mug there. I know a few people who have their picture next to good words, good qualities. Just mention their name,and immediately those words and qualities come to mind. If my name comes up,what words come to mind? Lord,please help me to be the kind of person where those words are good,and pleasing to You.

Buddies

I think they were buddies,then something went terribly wrong. Or they struck up a friendship somehow.In any event,this day lives in my memory today. It was at a baseball game in Pittsburgh a few years ago.2 guys,both in their late 20's I would say,were in front of us, one healthy, one in a wheelchair.The guy in the wheelchair was either severely brain damaged(maybe from an accident?),or had severe cerebral palsy. But boy,he loved his baseball! It was in the high 90's that day,and humid. This guy's buddy had one of those little portable fans. He fanned his friend ,wiped his brow, gave him water through a straw, all the while while they hung out together and watched some ball. It was the greatest act of human kindness that I have ever seen, and haven't seen since. THAT'S how I'm supposed to love! THAT"S how I'm supposed to treat my fellow man. Lord, please help me to be somewhere near that love, and to realize that acts of love towards others may touch lives unknown to us, as this one has done for me.

Glitter

Glitter is one of the hardest things to clean up. They seem to use a lot of it at the school where I work. It gets everywhere. You can vaccum it,sweep it, use a wet mop on it,use your fingers, and you think you get it all, but you don't. Sometimes it looks like you didn't even attempt to clean it . I like to say that it is a "process" though. You just keep at it, and eventually you get it all.That's how my walk with the Lord is,it's a process. I would like to be like Him all the time,but I'm not.I keep at it.He helps me,forgives me when I fail, and reminds me that, like cleaning glitter, becoming a good relection of Him is a process,a work in progress. Thanks Lord,for your patience.

Elephant Ears

I have huge ears,I mean HUGE. I was told it's because I rolled them up,and then unrolled them when I was a kid. I sometimes can hear dogs barking 3 miles away,I have to put lead in my shoes on windy days or I go airborne,"No you can't shave your head,you'll look like a loving cup",that's how big they are.Still though,I sometimes don't hear well. It just depends on whether I'm really listening, really paying attention. Lord,when I go to your house this Sunday,and the music is sung,and the message is given,help me to put my spiritual ears on,and hear what you have to say to me.

A lesson from Meow

I remember having the flu many years ago,when we were living in our apartment. I woke up in the middle of the night,sick as a dog,and proceeded to puke my guts out.During the middle of the ralphing,I looked next to me,and there was our cat,Meow. He had squeezed in between the bathtub and toilet,and he was laying there, watching me upchuck repeatedly.He just wanted to be with me. After I cleaned up, I thought it was really cool of that cat to be there for me,offering what support he could.It taught me a good lesson.That's how I am supposed to be to my fellow man:there,available,willing to help,alongside them in their time of need.Hmm... sounds a lot like how The Lord IS to me ALWAYS.He'll get right in those tight places with us,and we'll have HIS presence, and HIS support,and HIS help. Thanks, Meow,for the lesson. See you in heaven.

Disco

I love disco music! I didn't always. I hated it in the 70's when I was in high school.It was an amazing fad that burst on the scene,was unbelievably popular,and then just as quickly faded and died. Good riddance back then. Now I like the music, it's too bad that I'm too old and feeble to dance to it.There have been a lot of fads come and go over the years,the hula hoop,pop rocks, bed races,flower power,paisley ties to name a few. A lot of the Jewish leaders thought that this religion founded by Jesus, this Christianity,was a fad,and that it would fade away.Well,2000 years later, Jesus is still going strong.Millions of changed lives(mine included) are proof of that.

The Sound Of Music

I saw The Sound Of Music at the drive in , 1963 or 1964.I was 5 or 6 years old. Then we got the record album with all the songs from it. We played it over and over. "My Favorite Things" was a song from that flick. "When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad". Great song. With apologies to Julie Andrews, the 2007 version goes: "I'm so boring, now you're snoring, makes me feel so sad. But I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad". Here are a few of them, in no particular order: Pizza,with triple cheese,triple pepperoni cold,wet cat noses, baseball trips with my friend Mark, my bride's french toast(NOBODY makes it better), watching George Brett swing a bat, The Match Game, lasagna, college football Saturday with Mark(the women shop,the men eat junk food and watch football), The Chapel at Crosspiont, Court TV(Forensic Files, Body of Evidence) Birds bathing or drinking , A Dairy Queen Blizzard, Leave It To Beaver and The Munsters. A side note: The do not call list is expiring.Now I will have all sorts of salespeople calling and listening to my message on the answering machine. I may cure an insomniac or two. Maybe I've found my calling...

Disney

My bride and I went to Disney in Florida a couple of years ago. I had never been there,and Diane and K.P. guided us and helped us have a great time. I had heard a lot about Disney from many people,how great it was, how great a time I'll have, etc. Well, Disney was everything it was cracked up to be,it was just like everyone said,just as advertised. What about this Jesus? Is He the real deal? I can tell you for certain that I was pretty much down and out when I gave my life to Him many years ago. He has given me love,forgiveness, joy peace,mercy, grace, the best wife,wonderful Christian friends,an awesome church,material blessings beyond measure,plus,a home in heaven with Him.I could go on and on and on,there isn't enough space to tell all that He has done for me and continues to do for me every day.Yes, Jesus is as advertised,He's all that He's cracked up to be. No doubt. In fact, I'm staking eternity on it.

Uncle Bob

There are certain people in this world whom,when you are with them,make you feel good.I certainly am not one of them. In fact,tellers close their windows when they see me coming,checkout people turn off their lights,and I have to go to the self checkout station. My Uncle Bob was someone who always made me feel good when I saw him. In fact,after we had parted ways,I still felt happy for a long time afterward that I got to see him. He had that gift of making you feel glad that you were with him,and just making you feel good. The world was a much better place because of him.I always looked forward to seeing him. I pray that I could be a little like him,instead of people running or reaching for the barf bag when they see me.If I keep connected to The Lord,and let HIS light,and HIS life shine out from me,hopefully I can be an "Uncle Bob" to someone.

Probation

Where I work,I sign a contract every September that is good for one year.However,this September I signed a contract that is only for 3 months,and will be reviewed at the end of the year.It's like I'm on probation.A couple of screw ups and I may be out the door,relegated to putting the dark glasses on,getting the tin cup,going downtown,and selling pencils.I'm so thankful that there is no probation with our Lord. If that were the case,I'd have been booted out a long time ago. I make so many mistakes,so many screw ups in my walk with Him,yet He says in Psalm 86:5 that He is "good,ready to forgive,PLENTEOUS in mercy".Thank God,there is enough mercy for me,plenty in fact. Boy I sure need it. Let's see, we receive from Him: Grace upon grace, plenteous mercy, unconditional love.That's the kind of God I want to know better,that's the kind of God I entrust my life to.

Conspiracy?

No,not the JFK assasination.I do remember where I was though,as does everyone who was of age to remember. For the record,I was in kindergarten,with my coat on waiting to go home,when the announcement came over the loud speaker.This conspiracy happened 22 years ago today. I got married. At 10:30 in the morning! Who ever heard of a wedding that early? My bride told me she wanted to get me before I was awake and knew what was going on. It was a conspiracy,I tell 'ya. I just remember being in the basement of this church,and people congratulating me. I said"For what"? And when they told me I said "WHAT"?????? It was a beautifully contrived plan, a conspiracy, I tell 'ya. In all honesty, other than finding The Lord,finding my bride Teresa has been the best thing that ever happened to this boring man.

Half Cat, Half Rabbit

We used to have a cat named Mitsy. She lived with us for 4 years when my mother-in law lived with us,then she left(I was too boring) and took Mitsy with her. She is the most beautiful cat that I have ever seen,perfect in every way,except for her back feet. They are huge,look just like rabbit's feet. Her father or mother must have been a bunny.We called her the half cat,half rabbit. I don't want to be a half Christian,half not. It's easy to be a Christian when you are in church, or with your fellow believers. I want to be ALL CHRISTIAN, ALL THE TIME. It's tough out there in the world.One of my favorite books, My Utmost For His Highest,makes many references to being every bit Christian,every day,toiling in obscurity,doing the daily grind,doing life.I absolutely don't have it in me to even come close to that ideal,but if I ask for HIS grace,and HIS power and HIS help,and rely on HIM, I can just do my thing and let HIM shine forth from me.

No Access

I came home from work last Thursday around 12:30 am(ususal time),only to find that my bride had locked the screen door also.I was locked out.(Some say it was deliberate on her part-not proven)Pipe(cat) was watching from the inside,and Boots(cat,aka. Bootros Bootros Boots),was trying to help me get in from the outside. I did manage to get in,but for awhile,I had no access to my own house. We have access to God's grace,anytime,day or night.His word says so. Romans 5:2 says that by Jesus we have access to grace.Wow! I sure need that grace every day.I'm thankful that God's word also says we have received from Jesus"grace upon grace". In other words,it doesn't run out!There's more than enough for everyone. That's a good thing,because He has to use a lot of it on me. Thank you Lord,for access to your grace. Thank you for that grace,it really is AMAZING.

Listening

I like to think of myself as a pretty good listener.I really have to be,for 2 reasons. First, 99.99999% of people have more interesting things to say than I do, and second,it's really embarrassing when people fall asleep as I'm talking to them. I especially keep quiet when I am a passinger in a car, I don't want any accidents,that's for sure. Long trips are tough,though.To not say a word for hours is hard sometimes, so I bring reading materials with me. God is a good listener ,too. He longs for us to come to Him,not just with our laundry list of needs and wants, but just to spend time with Him,talking,AND listening, just fellowshipping with each other.The more time you spend with someone, the better you get to know them .I can't think of anyone I want to get to know better, than the One who loved me so much,that He went all the way to the cross for me.

"Plant this please"

My bride asked me to plant a mum and 3 other plants for her. The pressure was enormous on me to do it right,but all went well,and now we watch to see if they will grow. When you think about it,we're all planters. We plant ourselves into those lives in our sphere of influence every day. Are we planting good healthy seeds? It is a true statement that those who have influenced and blessed us are the most surprised people when you tell them so. I think if we stay connected to The Lord,and just let His life shine out of us,we will touch other lives,and be totally unconscious of it.Speaking of unconscious,I wish I didn't have to edit these posts.The boring man has fallen asleep twice himself re-reading these things. Congrats to my brides's friend and co worker Wassinger on landing a fantastic new job. It couldn't have happened to a nicer,more deserving person.

ABBA

I absolutely LOVE the music of ABBA. I could listen to it every day. It just makes you feel good. My bride says "it's because every song is like a broadway production" She's right. They have been split up since 1982,and have sold over 360 MILLION units(records,cd's dvd's etc.) and that total grows every year. That's 3 times what Garth Brooks has sold. Music is a HUGE part of my life,Gospel music,of course is on my lips a lot. I do sing to myself mostly,as to not sicken the masses. A wonderful Gospel song goes like this: So many questions I must ask myself today. Do people see Jesus when they pass along my way? Will people remember my name,or forget me just the same? When someone stumbled,was I there to care? Have a been a light in dark places,or brought a smile to sad faces? Have I showed the world,I really care? Have I lived my life the way HE wants me to each and every day, have I shown the world I really care? It's a song,sure,but... So many questions I must ask myself today...

Cough,Cough...

There are not a lot of sure things in this life. I know of 3,death, taxes and my bride will cough after eating ice cream(Brewsters-Em and Bee).Sometimes it's near the end,or after she is done,but it is inevitable,she will cough.She says it's because "it's cold on my throat". I Thes.5:17 says pray without ceasing. Yep, it's in the Bible. How do we do THAT?We have jobs, we have lives,(albeit mine is BORING),places to go,people to see,(I see them only as the money holds out, so I can pay them to spend a little time with me) so how can we pray without ceasing? I read a terrific explanation on that verse in my Bible.It is like someone who has a persistant,intermittant cough. They don't cough all the time,but the potential is always there for them to start coughing. It is the same with prayer. We don't pray all the time, but the potential should be there always. We should be ready to pray short,direct prayers throughout the day.It should be natural,like second nature to us. When those difficult situations arise,pray. When something good happens, pray a prayer of thanks.Prayer should be on the tip of our tongues at all times. After all,prayer is conversation with God. When you talk to Him all the day long, the days aren't long at all. Thank you Elaine for the many spontanious prayers you have prayed.They have been a blessing.

Henny Youngman

Ahh,the "King of the one- liners", a very funny man. Here's a couple: Guy goes to a psychiatrist,after an hour the dr. says"You're crazy"! The man says"I want a second opinion" The psychiatrist says "Ok,You're ugly,too"! A doctor puts a stethoscope on his patient's chest. The patient says"Well,doc,how do I stand"? The doctor answers"That's what puzzles me" Yes,one liners,fairly easy to remember. I know some one liners,too.Thank you Pastor Andrews,Pastor Jerry,and whoever else is responsible for these. They are great. "Little is much when God is in it" "Talk to Jesus as though He were your best friend,because He is"! "When God is all you have,He is all you need" Fear knocked at the door,faith answered the door,there was no one there". "My yes(for HIM) is on the table" Obedience brings blessing,disobedience brings consequence" "There is no small task in the kingdom" "Nothing can touch you that hasn't first gone through God's hands" "The ground is level at the foot of the cross" "Don't just talk the talk,WALK THE WALK"On a side note,thanks Steve and Julie for showing me true Christianity.You are living examples of what God's grace can do,and I am inspired and blessed by you guys every day. THANKS.

Garbage day

Not only am I a boring man( insomniacs are given my phone# in hopes of a cure),but I'm really not the brightest bulb on the tree. That's why I'm really appreciative of those who make my life easier,like mapquest,good customer service people,(especially on the phone-WHEN you can talk to a real live person) road signs to guide those of us who are directionally challenged,etc.Today is garbage pick up day,and I always stop and say a prayer of thanks for those people. We take for granted that our trash will be picked up,our recyclables taken. What it would be like if that didn't happen,if there would be no one to do these jobs? These are the true heroes to me. The trucker who gets the food to the stores,the waitresses,the cooks,the clerks,those who go to work everyday and do their jobs,mainly unnoticed,unappreciated ,taken for granted.THANK YOU. By no means do I minimize the heroic policemen,firemen,nurses,doctors,teachers.They all have my utmost admiration.Speaking of admiration... My brother -in law Mark, who packed up his family(including 5 cats) and moved them all to a new state far away,for his job.That took a lot of courage,and I honor him for that.

Tick,Tick,Tick...

Is it really true that I am boring? Well.when we entertain at home,(I pay people to come over and pose as friends),we provide pillows for them, so when they fall asleep,at least they will be comfortable. What really makes me tick,drives me? The answer for me is found in the words of this Bill Gaither song. "Twas a life filled with aimless desperation, without hope walked the shell of a man. Then a Hand with a nailprint stretched downward, just one touch,then a new life began. The Old Rugged Cross made the difference,in a life bound for heartache and defeat. I will praise HIM forever,and ever, THE CROSS MADE THE DIFFERENCE FOR ME". Thank you Lord, for reaching out to save this lost soul.

Kitty Teeth

One of the neatest things to me are kitty teeth. Not the fangs on each side of the cats mouth,but the top and bottom teeth. They are so little,yet they are perfectly proportioned.Anyone who doubts the existence of God should look at a cats kitty teeth. However,trying to pry their mouth open to get a look may cause severe scratches. It's best to wait for a good yawn,then get a real good look. I got at look at Hattie's(one of my cats) kitty teeth the other day when he yawned,he's missing a kitty tooth on the top. Must have got knocked out in one of his many brawls. Pipe(another cat of ours) is missing teeth, top and bottom,but he is 14,and that's what happens when you get old,your teeth fall out. I have not been able to get a good look at TC's(another cat of ours) kitty teeth. Boots(another cat of ours) has perfect kitty teeth, top and bottom.By the way,my lovely bride also has kitty teeth on the bottom,very little ones.

Staying Connected

"Keep in touch" or "Let's keep in touch",words that are meant when they are said,but at least in my case,more often than not do not come to pass. We get busy with our own lives,jobs,families,etc., and that one that we said we would keep in touch with becomes a fond memory,or a holiday/birthday card exchange partner.It can happen that way with God,too. We get so busy,and wrapped up in the things of life,that we don't give Him the attention and love that He desires and certainly deserves from us. A good way to stay connected is to look for Him in the "little things". Making that traffic light at the busy intersection,no one at the checkout line,a bird drinking water out of a puddle,someone giving you a break on to the busy highway,one of your all time favorite songs coming on the radio,etc. These are all from His hand,and when we see this,and thank Him,it keeps us in contact with Him throughout the day,keeps us connected with Him. There are TONS more examples,but if we look for Him we will see Him. Try to see Him in the little things,you will be amazed at how you will find Him there.

Unseen acts of kindness

Have you ever been the recipient of someone's kindness,someone doing something nice for you,you didn't see them do it,but it made you feel good? I think everyone has. What's even better is to be the giver of kindness,better yet to someone who never will know it was you,or never even realize that they were the recipient of a kind act.What the blazes are you saying,boring man? Parking place close?Take one further away so someone else can have the good one. Shopping cart out in parking lot,wheel it to cart holder or back in store,so the stockboy doesn't have to. Take neighbors garbage cans or recycle box from curb to their yard for them.Shovel somebody's driveway for them,better yet when they're not home. You get the idea.When you do kind things to get noticed or patted on the back,or told what a nice person you are,I believe that is all the reward we will get. When we do these things out of love,and respect,and concern for our fellow man, unseen,unapprecated,uncommended,I believe that's when we get our reward from HIM who sees all we do,and that is MUCH better than any human accolades.

Random Ramblings

Why don't people use their directionals when making a turn? After waiting 5 minutes in a checkout line,why does someone have to search for their coupons and money when they get to the register? A cats tail will stand straight up and point forward when greeting you,if you are a familiar face to them. How did we ever survive without remotes? If you don't bother to vote,you have no right to complain about how things are in your town/country. Why are people reluctant to say"I love you" when someone else (besides the one you're saying it to) can hear you? Is there anything better than a Chocolate XTreme Blizzard from Dairy Queen? People that work the 3rd shift are to be commended,it is very difficult. There are way too many judge and talk shows on television. How did they invent dog and cat food? Did they sit the dogs and cats at a table and let them sample , and decide what was good and what wasn't? Most of the canned stuff looks the same, it just smells different. Do pet food companies employ people who decide what shapes their dry food should come in? Why are there 8 hot dogs in a package,but the buns come in packages of 10? I admire my sister Myrnie,who after many years of being a stay at home mom, went out and got herself a full time job,and has moved up the ladder to be a manager now .It is tough to get back out there,it is easy to get comfortable and complacent. I commend her. We are not called by God to do great things, we are called by Him to be great in the ordinary things.

People I Admire

I admire a lot of people,some know it,some don't. They say that the people that influence and inspire us most,are the most surprised that they do. First,and foremost,I admire my bride of almost 22 years, Teresa ,for putting up with yours truly. Enough said. In no particular order,I will mention over the course of time those people that I admire. Wassinger,my wife's co-worker,who gives up a lot of things that she wants to take care of her father.My friend Mark,who commutes to Batavia and back every day in all sorts of weather.I know I wouldn't want to do it,nor would I.Mark also has the ability to laugh at himself,and we have shared many experiences over the years that have given us many opportunities to laugh at each other,and ourselves. I love him like a brother.My brother -in- law and author Jim,who's work ethic,Godly wisdom,and the ability to always get a nap in bless me. In coming days,I will speak of others,but these are among many who have influenced me. My brother in Christ, Ken,prays a great prayer,one that we all should pray: "Lord,allow me to be a blessing to someone today."

The First

Hello out there. A few years ago,a woman who I never met called our house,and our answering machine picked it up. it was the wrong number,she apolgized,but added,"You sound like a very boring man" You know,she was right. Sometimes boring is good,however,it keeps the blood pressue low. The less excitement the better. Cats have the right idea,sleep 16-20 hrs. a day,eat a little play a little,and do it all over again the next day.