Playing in the Mud

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This week’s discussion is How Does Faith Connect to your Happiness. Bonnie Gray is hosting a blog-and-comment discussion on “keeping faith fresh.” When you have finished reading here, hop over to Faith Barista and join in on the jam session!

It’s a childhood past time:  After a good down pour, go out and find a pile of mud; make slimy piles of gooey goodness; slippery castles of sloppy ooze – fun and happiness is had by all!  But as we grow older, the innocence of ‘mudplay’ gives way to another pursuit.

As adults, our search for happiness drives us to jump at the chance for self-indulgence and gratification.  We become satisfied with mere happiness when God has promised so much more – Joy! Continue reading →

Rubber Band Man

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RubberBand Ball

A rubber band is worthless until it is stretched.  As it turns out, so are we!

 

If life was always sunshine and roses, we’d already be in heaven – or Hawaii!  But the truth is, we all face the challenges of disappointment, regret and frustration.  It is because of these experiences that we develop an ability to be used by our Creator.  We’ve all heard the Potter and the clay analogy – and it is good!  But the truth is, I get tired of always being the clay!  I want simple problems and easy decisions.  Continue reading →

Chicken or Egg

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Finally, that’s settled!

This week’s discussion is How Does Your Faith Affect Your Personality? Bonnie Gray is hosting a blog-and-comment discussion on “keeping faith fresh.” When you have finished reading here, hop over to Faith Barista and join in on the jam session!

Ignoring the dictionary, which came first?  Chicken or Egg?  For one who takes Genesis literally, this one is easy – Chicken.  With this in mind, I thought the question may be read backwards for this Jam Session.  It might have read “How does your personality affect your faith?” After all, outgoing personalities will likely Continue reading →

Bananas & Oranges

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Orange-goes-banana-l

Bananas are an amazing fruit!  They come with their own handle and are naturally appealing.  They truly are one of my favorite fruits.  They are tasty when they are bright yellow and make great bread when they are black and disgusting.  But one of their best features is the fact that bananas produce great belches!  (Yes!  I really said ‘Belch’ – No!  My wife didn’t proofread this post…quite possibly a serious strategic error!) Continue reading →

Tootsie Pop Theology

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One of the oldest questions in Christendom is “How can I know God’s Will for my life?”  Another question that is not quite so popular but may be just as important is “How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie-Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?”  (Young Reader Alert: If you are less than 30 years old, you may need a little history to follow this one…click and enjoy!)

Old Mr. Owl offers the controversial answer of “theree” and yet every time I try to conduct my own ‘lick test’ and get close to an answer, I cut my tongue Continue reading →

Duck, Duck, Goose

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I always loved this game.  Sitting in a circle waiting to be ‘goosed’; chasing the ‘goose-ee’; picking the next ‘goose’…good times! 

As adults, I think we still play this game but with a much different level of anticipation and enjoyment.  We either chase after something we can’t catch or feel we are chased by something that threatens to overwhelm us.  In the end, we are left feeling suffocated, unfulfilled, or in constant turmoil.  Life was supposed to be good, fun and peaceful…Peaceful – what does that mean?  Full of peace?  A life without conflict?  Day after day of calm relaxation?

Proverbs tells us to “go to the ant” (6:6) to learn some lessons.  Well, we are going to the birds! Continue reading →

I Have Bad News…

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…and right after this, we hear:

  • There’s been an accident
  • We’re getting a divorce
  • They found a lump
  • The car won’t start
  • We lost the bid
  • I’ve been laid off
  • There’s construction traffic
  • We broke up

It’s not always big things, though – A broken plate, a missed phone call, standing in a long line – it’s still bad news, whether someone says so or not!  Continue reading →

God, Family, Country

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Memorial Day, 4th of July and 9/11

These – along with many other solemn occasions – drive us back to our core, back to our roots, back to the values that define us.  Here is the simple question: What are you doing to pass your core values on to your children, grandchildren or other younger family members?

 

911RaisingFlag

There is a custom growing  Continue reading →

Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup!

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When I was a kid, I was given a book of “Waiter” jokes.

  • Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup.
    Don’t worry, sir.  He won’t drink much.
  • Waiter, there’s a fly in my soup.
    Quiet, sir.  Everyone will want one.
  • Waiter, what is this fly doing in my soup?
    I believe it’s the backstroke, sir.

This and the “Bob Vlasic’s Pickle Joke Book…guaranteed to pickle your funny bone!“, may explain my very warped sense of humor.  Admittedly, waiter jokes are not exactly hilarious…most of them are not even mildly amusing; however,

Continue reading →

Power Under Control

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princess-bride_Large

“Princess Bride” is a family favorite.  Any time I have to tell the kids to “Stop fighting…I mean it!”   You can be sure one of them will say, “Anyone want a peanut?”  (Those of you who have seen this movie are laughing right now.  Those who have not, are lost and wondering what’s wrong with me!  You need to see it.)

It would be too painful to “Princess Bride” aficionados for me to re-cap a scene from this movie, so suffice it to say that Fezzik (Andrea the Giant) is

Continue reading →