Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Learn by Paradox

Just one post this week. I’ll start again early next week. Enjoy the New Year!


Learn by paradox:

That the way down is the way up.

That to be low is to be high.

That the broken heart is the healed heart.

That the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit.

That the repenting soul is the victorious soul.

That to have nothing is to possess all.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

4 "Looking Back" Questions

Just in case anyone is out there who happens to stumble onto this blog during this busy time, here’s some questions for ya with my answers first. Please feel free to post a comment with yours:


1. Name 1 toy you owned when you were younger, that meant a lot to you.

Mine would have to be the train set my brother and I built depicting a war scene from WWII, complete with hand-painted tiny military guys from both armies.


2. Name 2 games you enjoyed playing as a child.

I loved playing Monopoly. Something about buying stuff and sticking it to the guy who’s struggling always appealed to me. My friends and I also played war games all the time with our air rifles.

3. Name 3 foods you didn't like as a child, but do now.

Most vegetables
Most fruit
Pie - Any kind

4. Name 4 foods you didn't like as a child, and still don't like.

Pickled anything
Cabbage
Lima beans
Anything that has green olives in it.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

The Gift of Fun

It’s not the gift; it’s the thought behind it.”

You’ve heard that before. Well, there’s a story that tells of these two brothers putting a lot of thought in the giving of a pair of pants that they gave back and forth to each Christmas. First, the pants were tied to a car wheel and run over snow and ice, wrapped in a lovely box, and given. When the other brother got them the next Christmas, he placed those same pants in a form where wet cement was poured and allowed to dry. They were presented that year along with a sledge hammer.
The next year they were placed in the framing of a small tool shed, and the entire shed had to be ripped apart in order to get to the pants. Now, the next year, the same old sorry, miserable pair of pants sat in the front seat of a car which was demolished, compressed into a flattened piece of metal. It took a tractor and crowbars to get to that same pair of pants. Again, it wasn’t the gift—it was the fun and joy in giving it.
My family had a ball (literally) that was about the size of a ping pong ball that traveled to each other’s houses during the Holidays and was always placed in the host’s bed so that you laid on it that first night. That ball made its way around Canada every Christmas, forgotten every year, only remembered when the “picked-on” would lay on it! That reminds me, I wonder where that ball is...hmmm…
John Whittier said this about giving: “Somehow not only for Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.


Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Ten Best Things about the Holidays

Hey, sorry about no post yesterday but I can describe my night Sunday and my day Monday in two words: Food Poisoning. ‘nuff said.

Here’s a list for you of the Ten Best Things about the Holidays:

1. Snowball fights
2. Being with family
3. The FOOD!
4. The look on little kid's faces when they open gifts
5. Watching kids at the mall with Santa
6. Staying up late on Christmas Eve assembling kids’ presents
7. Picking out and decorating a tree
8. Christmas carols
9. Christmas lights around the city
10. Days off from work!

Do you have a top ten? Let me know what your top best things about the holidays would be?



Friday, December 16, 2005

Ho Ho Get Me Away From Here!

When my youngest was three, she attended a preschool at our church. They asked me to be Santa that year. Don't do it guys! Resist the urge to make all little children's dreams come true! I came into the school and everything was going fine, no children crying, until Keeley saw Santa. She was scared, and ran away screaming and hid. As if this wasn't bad enough, when we finally found her we decided that it would be a good idea if I pulled my fake beard down for her to see that it was really dad. Oh no. That made it worse, she cried even harder. She still talks about it to this day and was just able this year (she's 8) to again sit on Santa's lap. Here are some scared of Santa pics I found .


Run away...

Double the fun...
whatever THAT is, it scares me too!

The kids seem to be OK, but I think I saw this guy on America's Most Wanted!


One Question: Why take the picture?

Thursday, December 15, 2005

Thanks for the Memories...Part 2

Do you have snooping children? Perhaps like the Dennis the Menace comic strip where he rushes into the room, with his mother standing there with her mouth wide open, and he says, holding a big box in his hand, “we’d better tell Santa to forget about the train set I asked for. I just found one on the top shelf of dad’s closet!” Here’s a good idea for you parents out there with snooping children around Christmas time (except your kids cannot read this article or it won’t work, and here’s a message to my kids: your presents are not on the top shelf of my closet!). Charles Swindoll tells this story about one set of parents who were sick and tired of their children trying to find their gifts. They enlisted the help of their neighbors one year! They would keep all the neighbors’ presents in their own closet, while the neighbors kept theirs. Naturally the kids peeked, but both sets of parents acted like they didn’t know anything about it. And then, Christmas Eve, when all the kids were asleep, they would swap and wrap al the gifts. He said that you should have seen his kids when they looked out in the street on that special day and saw bicycles being ridden they thought they were going to get for their Christmas!
I love watching children at Christmas time. The best response ever to Christmas was by my oldest daughter when she was about 2 years old. We usually leave a couple of gifts unwrapped so they can see that Santa came. She came running down the hall and looked around the corner and saw the dollhouse she wanted and stopped and put her hands to her face for just a second. Her eyes sparkled. It was a Kodak moment (too bad it happened too fast for tired dad to get a snapshot of it!). I had six nieces and nephews around at Christmas when I was in college so it was always fun to watch all of their reactions to things, seeing the two brothers’ fight over what they thought was theirs. That special time of opening the gifts is always great. And the wonderful thing is that each family has the unique ability to make a lasting memory each time they get together. Remember to do that when your family all comes home and gathers for the Holiday season. Make a memory or, better yet, just sit and watch the kids open their gifts. Regardless of how we do gift giving this year, remember why we give, remember to give as we have been given, and watch your closets, parents!

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Thanks for the Memories...Part 1



Bob Hope’s signature song is not as meaningful to me as it is to some people (mainly because I am much too young to remember all of that) but I do have many memories for which I am thankful. Growing up in Canada, the Holiday season meant two things: snow and street hockey. We spent many a Christmas season with lots of the white stuff. Can you say ice fishing? Ice fishing never really excited me.  I could find a hundred other things to do in the cold where you actually got to move your frozen body every now and then! Like street hockey!
Everything we did as kids in the neighborhood centered around snow activities: Did I mention street hockey, making hockey rinks in someone’s backyard, building snowmen and forts, throwing snowballs at girls you didn’t like (but through the miracle of hormones you realized later that you actually liked these girls but had no idea what was going on at the time!), and, best of all, hooking one of your friends Saint Bernard up to the sled and taking rides around the block!
These are great memories for me because they involve being with friends, family, and Saint Bernard’s. I am struck by two thoughts about God and memories. God warned his chosen people the Israelites to remember who led them out of Egypt to the “promised land” and to remember everything he had commanded them. He said that everything would go well for them if they did (see Deuteronomy 6:1-12). Jesus encouraged his followers to remember him in what we call communion. He did this so that we would remember what he did for us. God wants us to remember things and events here on earth; he wants us to cherish these moments with our family and friends (and dogs!). He ultimately wants us to remember him though; remember that he is God. Go create some lasting memories with your loved ones this year!

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

11 MUST HAVE TOYS SINCE 1900! Some of My Personal Faves and Some That Others Liked

11) Crayola Crayons (1903) - The average child wears down or eats (or tries to eat) about 525 crayons by age 10! 2.5 Billion crayons are sold each year. I just always broke mine because I pressed too hard. I was never good at coloring anyway. Little known Crayon Song: Harry Chapin’s “Flowers Are Red…” My theme song.  Color outside the lines people!

10) Lincoln Logs (1916) - Lincoln Logs were invented by John Lloyd Wright, the son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. I don’t remember having these but I always found an excuse to go play at my friend Jonathan’s house ‘cause he had all the cool toys.


9) Madame Alexander Collectible Dolls (1929) - One for the girls. Madame Alexander was the first to create a doll based on a licensed character (Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind), Barbie and the rest of collectibles came soon after.  Note: I don’t understand the purpose behind having “collectible”  stuff that you stare at and don’t play with.

8) Monopoly (1935) - Just goes to show you... Nothing! My favorite game!!

7) Scrabble (1948), Clue (1949) - A two for one for this decade! Two more fun board games. Take your pick: thinking and spelling verses vs. a keen detective mind!

6) Mr. Potato Head (1952) – Did you know? The original Mr. Potato Head contained only parts--eyes, ears, noses and mouths--parents had to supply children with real potatoes to play with! Eight years later, manufacturer Hasbro decided to include a hard plastic potato "body" with the toy to replace the real spud.


5) Etch-a-Sketch (1960) – Hated it. Not artistic. My Brother-in-Law can make a Picasso from an Etch-A-Sketch, I make lines…. But here’s some info: How does the Etch-a-Sketch work? A stylus is mounted on a pair of orthogonal rails, which move when you turn the knobs. A mixture of extremely fine aluminum powder and beads (which help the powder flow evenly) lines the Etch-a-Sketch's interior. When you turn the device upside down and shake, this mixture sticks to the inside face of the glass. And when you then turn one of the knobs, the stylus scratches off the aluminum dust to create a line on the screen.


4) Rubik's Cube (1978) - Invented by former-communist Erno Rubik, the cube has 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 different possible configurations and only one solution. Hated this as well because geeks everywhere had to flaunt their Rubik skills in my face!



3) Cabbage Patch Kids (1983) - In 1985, the peak of the Cabbage Patch Kids craze, doll sales totaled $600 million. In 1985, I stood in line with my sister-in-law to buy not one, but three for my nieces. What’s up with the what-seems-like tattoos on their behinds?

2) Tickle-Me Elmo (1996) - Trying to buy this toy could result in stampede deaths in 1996! I am just glad neither of my kids wanted one.

1) XBOX 360! (2005) - Everybody wants one but there are no more left. Plus many who special ordered one didn't get it! Others are told they won't arrive until February! They are selling on EBay for more than $1400! There were even two confirmed muggings at the opening of the sale and one drive by shooting at a line at Circuit City. Just goes to show you... video games make people violent!


What toy did you want when you were a kid?

Monday, December 12, 2005

Worn-out Knees


Anyone need a boost to their prayer life? A shot in the arm for getting back on track for communicating with God? Have you ever tried a prayer walk? Sometimes in the ordinariness of our lives, the routine, the same-old, same-old, we get stuck in prayer patterns as well.  Let me just first say that I do believe we need to be thoroughly stuck in the habit of praying, sometimes the type and style need a boost. Back to the prayer walk. This type of activity can be powerful because you tailor it to what you need o be praying about. Here’s how it goes:

First think of about 6 things/people/situations that you need to be praying about.

Next, assign a place around your home or office or wherever that you can go and be in the place, praying about that particular subject (example – when I did this at a previous church I worked for, I did this with a men’s class I was teaching and we went down in the middle of class outside the youth class and prayed for the teenagers)

Repeat this for each prayer subject.

Now, get praying.  What I found when I’ve done this before is that I pray longer, in a more specific manner, and it gets me away from what I call “selfish prayer”.


I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom, and that of all about me seemed insufficient for the day. Abraham Lincoln

Friday, December 09, 2005

Hey, Funny Face!


Funny faces… we all can make them. You know yours. I know mine.  This is my daughter’s signature funny one. What are they for? Do they actually make some sort of contribution to mankind? Well, I’ve pondered this and here are just some of the times you can use a funny face (along with the face to make). Hopefully this will contribute to a healthier, happier population, and, like always, feel free to post your own funny face example (complete with photo would be great):

When you’re playing the incredibly-irritating-but-still-popular-in-some-places game of, “(insert person’s name) If You Love Me Won’t You Please Smile?” Here’s to the face you make out of no-where that finally breaks the other person so the game moves on or, hopefully, ends right there. Face: It just better be a good one! Practice ahead!

The first time you smell a dirty diaper and you know you’re going to have to be the one to change it. Face: a mixture of turning your nose and panic.

The funny face game; Copyrighted by myself, my wife, and her brother (good for long trips in the car). You say a person’s name (preferably a person who is there… in the car) and count to three and they have to make a funny face. Face: Anything you can come up with that fast has got to be good. Bring the digital camera.

The faking face: when you spouse asks you to go somewhere (Husband: shopping for anything, Wife: any professional sporting event). You sound interested, and even put on a good face (you faker). This one is not actually funny but, if you think about it, the fact you’re faking what you really are feeling is funny, although, the spouse will not think so, not that I have any experience with this or have ever successfully done it. Face: Like #10, this had better be a good one…

Simply: the face of a little child when they smell something they are not used to. This could be anything from mom shoving baby food in their face (you know, the wieners in a jar stuff) to smelling a woman’s perfume in a store, making a face and then saying out loud,“What stinks?!”

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Touched By God

How’s this for making a point. I cannot remember where I found this, but it’s good. It’s old, but it’s good.  


Longfellow could take a worthless piece of paper, write a poem on it, and instantly make it worth thousands of dollars -- and it's called genius.


Rockefeller could sign his name to a piece of paper and make it worth millions of dollars -- and it's called riches.


A mechanic can take material worth only five dollars and make it worth five hundred -- and it's called skill.


An artist can take a fifty-cent piece of canvas, paint a picture on it, and make it worth thousands of dollars -- and it's called art.


Jesus Christ can take a worthless, sinful life, wash it in His blood, put His Spirit in it, and make it valuable to God -- and that's called sanctification.


The Lord is in the business of taking rough, raw material and using it -- transforming men by His power to be the extension of His work in the world.


Note: Just when you think you don’t have much to offer remember its God that blesses you with something to offer this world.  It’s his redeeming grace that gives us a message of hope for everyone. He transformed us into what he wants. God touches us and each of us, in turn, has something to give. We can put our valuable mark on something because God has done that for us through his Son. What raw material do you have that God can use?

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Kingdom People...


Jesus talks constantly about the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven. We are a part of it if we are followers of Christ. But what characterizes God’s people being “Kingdom People?” What makes Kingdom citizens different than anyone in the world? What characterizes a “kingdom person”?  Here are three things that do. Kingdom people:
1.     Live in Faith.
2.     Offer Forgiveness and Reconciliation.
3.     Seek First His Kingdom.

I want to contrast what the world says about how to live here with how a “kingdom of God” person would live. Here are just some of the disparities:

Pride is important vs. Give all your rights to God
“Hitch your wagon to a star” vs. Humility is essential
Success vs. Jesus is Lord
Professionalism vs. Obedience
Competition vs. Servanthood
Maintain your rights      vs. Service
Negotiate for the best deal vs. Obey God’s commands
Excellence vs. Christlikeness
Save your life vs. Lose your life for my sake
Affirm Self vs. Deny self
Accomplishments vs. Character
“You don’t have to take that!” vs. Take up your cross
Live to die vs. Die to live
Rule and be served vs. Serve in order to rule
Things will make you happy vs. Godly character brings joy
Walk by sight vs. Walk by faith
Get revenge vs. Do good to your persecutors
Eat, drink, and be merry vs. Seek first the kingdom of God




Monday, December 05, 2005

I Love To Laugh

Charis Conn, editor of What Counts: The Complete Harper's Index said that the average number of laughs a person has in a day is 17. I’d say that would need to be the minimum at best. I also think that the art of being able to laugh at yourself is a key to healthy living. You know, the best way for me to get a laugh when I need one is to watch the “I Love To Laugh” scene from Mary Poppins with that wonderful actor, Ed Wynn, who plays Uncle Albert. His laugh is truly contagious! Today I am posting a list (I know – list day isn’t until Wednesday!) of ways to cultivate a sense of humor:
1. Catch yourself in some amusing inconsistency and then laugh at yourself. This is the foundation of a healthy sense of humor.
2. Note the inappropriate or funny things people say or do in public, and draw parallels between those silly behaviors and your own. Positive humor goes beyond mere criticism to a recognition of our common plight as less-than-perfect human beings.
3. Include in your regular reading diet published collections of wit and humor, humor columnists, comic strips, and stories by writers with a well-developed sense of humor.
4. Occasionally do something harmlessly absurd and totally out of character for your spontaneous entertainment.
5. Avoid sarcasm, ridicule, and excessive teasing. They hurt rather than heal.
Good stuff. Speaking of being able to laugh at one’s self, I wish to thank my church for giving me the opportunity to do just that last night. You know who you all are!


Note: Comic Sans Rules! Join the revolution!  You people using Times New Roman because you can’t figure out how to change it or just don’t want to do anything different are the ones that need help!  Be a fan of Comic Sans!

Friday, December 02, 2005

Laws of Golf, Part Deux...


I'm hanging outdoor Christmas lights today, so here's the rest of these rather than writing something original. Hey, it's my day off! I'm already doing a "honey-do" as it is!




LAW 11:
Golf carts always run out of juice at the farthest point from the clubhouse.
LAW 12:
A golfer hitting into your group will always be bigger than anyone in your group. Likewise, a group you accidentally hit into will consist of a football player, a professional wrestler, a convicted murderer and an IRS agent -- or some similar combination.
LAW 13:
All 3-woods are demon-possessed.
LAW 14:
Golf balls from the same "sleeve" tend to follow one another, particularly out of bounds or into the water (See Law three).
LAW 15:
A severe slice is a thing of awesome power and beauty.
LAW 16:
"Nice lag" can usually be translated to "lousy putt." Similarly, "tough break" can usually be translated "way to miss an easy one, sucker."
LAW 17:
The person you would most hate to lose to will always be the one who beats you.
LAW 18:
The last three holes of a round will automatically adjust your score to what it really should be.
LAW 19:
Golf should be given up at least twice per month.
LAW 20:
All vows taken on a golf course shall be valid only until the sunset.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

Conference Notes: God's Story/Our Story

Today I am including some notes from the conference I attended on Tuesday. Ravi Zacharias from RZIM spoke (see link to the right) as well as a couple of his colleagues. One speaker, Stuart McAllister, made some challenging remarks about how to reframe our vision from a Christian worldview. I am going to share some of his comments today.

If we can start thinking of our worldview from Psalm 24:1, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it…” we can then better define what’s going on.

We then realize we are in God’s story, his narrative, and better yet, we are the main characters.

We realize that we live in a created order and the God we serve is loving, Holy, personal, and good.

We are His fingerprints, recipients of His gracious action again and again.

We recognize He is purposeful and that He is at the heart of this world. We are like him (Imago Dei) but He is above us.

We understand that we live in a disordered realm, and things are now damaged, bent, and twisted. Things left on their own don’t just get better. It’s our job, like tending a garden.

We ultimately come to believe that God has taken the initiative beginning the reconciliation of all things, in and through the personal work of Jesus Christ.

Here are 3 things to consider:
  1. The world that is, is not the world that was (Creation to Fall)

  2. The world that is, is not the world that must be (Struggling after the Fall)

  3. The world that is, is not the world that will be (Redemption – HOPE)

The selling of gloom and doom will not bring an answer for the world’s hard questions about God. Only the engaging of all in God’s story of love through Jesus Christ will we bring about the delivery of hope!