... what it's like to live a long, good life

Byron Nelson died today. Most of you that are not golf fans probably do not know him. He was one of golf's greatest players of a different era - the 1930's and 1940's. He won a record 11 tournaments in a row one year. I think I remember him saying in an interview once that he earned 182,000 dollars in his entire career. He quit professional golf at age 34 to spend time on his ranch with his family. A different era, indeed.

I got the opportunity to meet him a few years ago at golf outing I was playing in. I had my picture taken with him and I remember him being a kind and gentle man. He spent time talking to us about making a difference in our lives - that being the most important thing to do. When he learned I was a minister, he turned to me and said, "Just keep serving him, there's great reward in that." I'll never forget it.

"I don't know very much," Nelson said in a 1997 interview with The Associated Press. "I know a little bit about golf. I know how to make a stew. And I know how to be a decent man." He was a humble man and everyone knew he was much more than how he described himself. We'll miss him.

... and worshiping...

Just a quote from Frederick Buechner today about worship. Wherever you fall on his two "ways", may you worship to the fullest today.

"To worship God means to serve him. Basically there are two ways to do it. One way is to do things for him that he needs to have done - run errands for him, carry messages for him, fight on his side, feed his lambs, and so on. The other way is do things for him that you need to do - sing songs for him, create beautiful things for him, give things up for him, tell him what's on your mind and in your heart, in general rejoice in him and make a fool of yourself for him the way lovers have always made fools of themselves for the one they love."

The second "way" would shake things up a bit on Sunday morning, don't you think? Remember david in 2 Samuel 6:22?

... Actually, you were wondering, about the pen spinning trick

I have had hundreds of people everywhere I have lived ask me about how I spin the pen around my thumb. I learned 25 years ago in High School, senior year English class, Miss Covey. I was extremely bored. She had me pegged as a slacker of which I was not. But try to get out from under being pegged as something you are not! That is a lesson for another time and place. So, I was bored. The guy next to me was from Hong Kong. His friend in front of him was from Malaysia. They were spinning all the time. I watched and I tried; and failed. They laughed and said in their broken English, "You can't do!" Well, that was enough motivation for me, and the rest, as they say, is history (so was my "A" average in English too - I ended up with a "B"). You begin by spinning it around your thumb one way and then learn to do it back, then adding it all together. It takes a lot of time. Dale Carter of Michigan is the only one I know of that learned how to do it after watching myself and some others he knew spin. It's not easy.

Here's a video of some pen-spinning guys that make me look lame. I didn't know it was a whole culture out there (mostly in Asia) until Yahoo.com had an article on it this morning. Lots of people with more time on their hands than is useful to society. For me, now it is just a nervous habit.




(sorry about the music; definitely not my bag, but turn down the sound and watch these geeks go!)

Have a great day!

... where do they come up with this stuff.2?

As my wife was preparing for this week's lessons for our children's ministry programs, she came across this game that was supposed to connect the kids to Paul being called by the people (actually the Bible has it as one man) of Macedonia to come and help them (Acts 16:9). This is a production from one of the leading children's ministry curriculum and teaching organizations. Most of us have watched their children's videos!

"List of suppplies: Newspapers, large baskets, boxes, or paper bags.

Divide the group into two teams. One side will be Paul and his friends, which will have the newspapers. the other side will be the Macedonians, which will have the baskets, boxes, or paper bags. The two teams line up on opposite sides of the playing area. The Macedonians will call out: Come over and help us!

The other side will make paper wads to represent Paul and try to toss them into the baskets. The Macedonian side should try to catch the paper wads. After a while, collect all paper wads and switch sides."

Hmmm... theology here: Paul as a paper wad. Wow, this children's ministry stuff is getting deep.

... Where do they come up with this stuff?

On Sears hairdryer: Do not use while sleeping.
(new definition of “bedhead”)

On a bag of Fritos: You could be a winner! No purchase necessary. Details inside.
(This is the shoplifter special!)

On some frozen dinners: Serving suggestion: Defrost.
(But it's just a suggestion!)

On Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding: Product will be hot after heating.
(Are you sure? Let's experiment.)

On packaging for a Rowenta iron: Do not iron clothes on body.
(It would save time though…)

On Children's cough medicine: Do not drive car or operate machinery.
(If only we could keep those 5 year olds off those fork lifts.)

On Nytol sleep aid: Warning: may cause drowsiness.
(One would hope!)

On a string of Christmas lights: For indoor or outdoor use only.
(As opposed to use in outer space.)

On a food processor: Not to be used for the other use.
(Hmm, now I'm curious.)

On Sainsbury's peanuts: Warning: contains nuts.
(no comment…)

On an American Airlines packet of nuts: Instructions: open packet, eat nuts.
(have lobotomy)

On a child's Superman costume: Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly.
(Great, destroy a universal childhood fantasy!)

I just had to include this photo too:

Wow!

... how do I make life safer for hedgehogs?

VS.



According to an Aug. 31 Reuters story, burger giant McDonalds has given in to demands of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society to reduce the size of the opening in its McFlurry container. (For those out-of-touch citizens who don't frequent McDonalds, a McFlurry is an ice cream treat with candy mixed in.)

It seems that some British consumers have been tossing their McFlurry containers on the side of the road, where innocent hedgehogs have been putting their heads in to get a taste of the sweet treat. The container opening is just wide enough for them to get in, but then they get trapped and eventually die of starvation (apparently when the McFlurry remnants run out).
So -- being the animal-lovers they are -- the folks at McDonalds have reduced the size of the opening on top of the McFlurry container, keeping hedgehogs from sticking their heads in and getting caught. Except for really small hedgehogs, of course.

"This is excellent, it is long overdue news," said Fay Vass, chief executive of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.

It will be even better news when they make the container opening small enough that people who shouldn't be eating them can't get in. Hmmmm...

... about potential

Hey! I'm back after a short absence! I was making some changes. These led to other changes... which led to still more changes... Oh well. I learned my lesson to let sleeping blogs lie! ;)

I'm always amazed at those climbing walls in the sports stores. It looks hard. I do understand that once you learn the technique it is easier. Still, the other day I saw a six-year-old flying up the wall like a spider! She made it look easy!

Here’s a word for you today: potential. It’s something some of us hear growing up that either empowers us or hits us squarely in the face depending on how it is used. If it is used in this context it is fine: “he/she has so much potential in this or that area; unlimited potential for success.” If it used in this context it creates a much different response: “he/she just doesn’t ever seem to live up to all that potential.” Here’s a definition of potential: possible, but not yet realized; with a possibility or likelihood of occurring, or of doing or becoming something in the future; the capacity or ability for future development or achievement.

This word is personal for me. It hits home. I’m not saying which sentence I heard growing up but I think I began to hear some talk about the second sentence some years ago, the not-living-up-to-potential one. It hurt; especially considering who it came from.

Here’s the encouragement from scripture though: God is able to transform us into whatever he wants us to be. “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which come from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” 2 Cor. 3:18

Our job is to encourage as well. Help someone reach theirs. Better yet, pray that God would transform them into his likeness!