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.