I'm watching the tail end of the Ohio U.S. Senate debate between Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) and Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel (R), and at this point, I'm looking for a third-party candidate for whom to vote.
So I guess I need to learn more about Scott Rupert.
I'm so glad we're just about a week and a half away from election day. This election season has been exhausting from the standpoint of the contentiousness and venom that's been spewed by all sides involved in this thing. I've said it before, there's enough blame to go around for our problems here in these United States of America, but, of course, some bear a little more responsibility than others.
I didn't watch the presidential debates or the vice presidential debate live out of respect for my sweet wife's sanity. She's not a fan of the fiddle faddle and mish mash that's usually associated with the so-called debates. So I watched them on YouTube afterwards.
Naturally, as a conservative, I was pretty happy with what I heard from Gov. Mitt Romney, and not so happy with what I heard from President Barack Obama. But as far as declaring a "winner" in these so-called debates, I'll pass on that. Besides, these things are more like forums than actual debates.
And we're not in college or high school here, there's no "winner" in these so-called debates.
Another reason that I didn't watch the debates live is because I already knew who I was supporting, knew where Mr. Romney and Mr. Ryan stand on issues that are important to me, and knew that President Obama's values and stand on those issues don't reflect my own.
So I'm ready to vote. Nov. 6 can't come quickly enough.
Yeah, I know I can take advantage of early voting, but I enjoy the hubbub of election day, so I can wait a little longer.
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Southern Baptist panel: Can Christians vote for a Mormon?
Good read about a panel discussion at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38688
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=38688
Egyptians attack U.S. embassy
Anger about an unnamed video apparently sparked Egyptian protesters to attack the United States embassy in Cairo. The video in question apparently casts Islam and its prophet Muhammad in a negative light, according to the protesters.
Although the video has not been identified, embassy officials issued a statement condemning "the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others ..."
Protesters tore down the U.S. flag atop the embassy, tore it to pieces and attempted to burn portions of it. They then replaced the Stars and Stripes with a black flag bearing the message, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet. The black flag is apparently similar to banners used by al-Qaida.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/09/11/egyptian-protesters-scale-us-embassy-wall-in-cairo/
Although the video has not been identified, embassy officials issued a statement condemning "the universal right of free speech to hurt the religious beliefs of others ..."
Protesters tore down the U.S. flag atop the embassy, tore it to pieces and attempted to burn portions of it. They then replaced the Stars and Stripes with a black flag bearing the message, "There is no god but God and Muhammad is his prophet. The black flag is apparently similar to banners used by al-Qaida.
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/09/11/egyptian-protesters-scale-us-embassy-wall-in-cairo/
Just say no to "allies"?
The White House has declined a request from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to meet with President Obama during the PM's visit to NYC later this month. Apparently, the POTUS will be too busy fundraising to make time for one of our closest "allies". Story from FoxNews.com.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/11/early-frost-white-house-gives-chilly-response-to-proposed-obama-netanyahu-talk/
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/11/early-frost-white-house-gives-chilly-response-to-proposed-obama-netanyahu-talk/
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Ferris Bueller's guide to second grade
At the risk of waxing cliche, it seems like only yesterday when we first laid eyes on Joel the 5-month old baby in Guatemala .... and now he's starting second grade!
Yep. Tomorrow my baby boy will not only report for his first day of second grade, but he will also turn 8-years old on Wednesday, Aug. 22.
As Ferris Bueller famously quipped, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
And how!
Admittedly, over the course of my life, I have wasted far too much time chasing after things that have turned out to be, well, a waste of time. I've tried to change that trend over the past eight years, experiencing moderate success along the way.
The past year alone has been a whirlwind for us, making a major move after calling Gallipolis, Ohio, home for 17 years. Now we call Zanesville, Ohio, home. The move brought with it many other changes aside from the location.
When Joel entered first grade last fall, it seemed as if the passage of time moved into high gear. Add in church activities and Cub Scouts and high gear really doesn't sufficiently describe the pace of life. Oh yeah, we're playing soccer this fall, in addition to all of the other fun stuff.
Ole'! .... Ole'! Ole'! Ole! .... Ole'! .... Ole'!
And now second grade. We met Joel's teacher at the National Road Elementary open house on Monday evening. Miss Wilson is a sweet lady. In fact, all of the folks at National Road are very nice. I worked there as a substitute teacher last spring and really enjoyed the experience. Anyway, after meeting Miss Wilson, we're looking forward to a great school year.
Joel and I have had several talks this summer about behavior and attitude, and what Jolene and I expect from him this school year. We had some rough patches last year, but I think 2012-2013 will be better.
I never understood this when I was a kid, but this whole school and growing up business is really a team effort. When the kid is in second grade, so are the parents. So not only is Joel a second-grader at National Road Elementary, but so are Jolene and I. Well, probably me more than Jo. You guys that know us well know that's the truth!
As we enter this next phase of our lives, we are praying for God's guidance and wisdom to help us do the right things and provide Joel with the instruction and direction that he will need.
Yep. Tomorrow my baby boy will not only report for his first day of second grade, but he will also turn 8-years old on Wednesday, Aug. 22.
As Ferris Bueller famously quipped, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
And how!
Admittedly, over the course of my life, I have wasted far too much time chasing after things that have turned out to be, well, a waste of time. I've tried to change that trend over the past eight years, experiencing moderate success along the way.
The past year alone has been a whirlwind for us, making a major move after calling Gallipolis, Ohio, home for 17 years. Now we call Zanesville, Ohio, home. The move brought with it many other changes aside from the location.
When Joel entered first grade last fall, it seemed as if the passage of time moved into high gear. Add in church activities and Cub Scouts and high gear really doesn't sufficiently describe the pace of life. Oh yeah, we're playing soccer this fall, in addition to all of the other fun stuff.
Ole'! .... Ole'! Ole'! Ole! .... Ole'! .... Ole'!
And now second grade. We met Joel's teacher at the National Road Elementary open house on Monday evening. Miss Wilson is a sweet lady. In fact, all of the folks at National Road are very nice. I worked there as a substitute teacher last spring and really enjoyed the experience. Anyway, after meeting Miss Wilson, we're looking forward to a great school year.
Joel and I have had several talks this summer about behavior and attitude, and what Jolene and I expect from him this school year. We had some rough patches last year, but I think 2012-2013 will be better.
I never understood this when I was a kid, but this whole school and growing up business is really a team effort. When the kid is in second grade, so are the parents. So not only is Joel a second-grader at National Road Elementary, but so are Jolene and I. Well, probably me more than Jo. You guys that know us well know that's the truth!
As we enter this next phase of our lives, we are praying for God's guidance and wisdom to help us do the right things and provide Joel with the instruction and direction that he will need.
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
Hot! Hot! Hot! But thankful on this Independence Day
Yeah, so we've been without electricity at our house in Zanesville, Ohio, since, oh, about 10 minutes until 6 p.m. on Friday, June 29, but who's keeping close track of that?
Hmmm? Not I, said the duck.
Anyway, it's been a fairly miserable week from a comfort standpoint, but we're definitely not the only ones in this exceedingly hot boat. My fellow Americans from Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic Coast -- a bunch a million of us -- have been, and are still without electric power. But some are better off than others.
Elderly folks, those who live alone, those with disabilities; there are many whose struggle with the heat and humidity is much greater than what we are facing at the Carter house.
Each night as we have settled down to sleep, we have thanked God for the blessings of a roof over our heads, running water (hot and cold), working vehicles with air conditioning, places to eat and find respite from the heat, and a variety of other amenities that we enjoy in these United States of America.
We have these benefits thanks to the freedom and liberty secured for us with the blood, sweat, and tears of patriots who dreamed a dream of a better life for themselves and those who would follow in their footsteps. We enjoy all the benefits of that freedom and liberty thanks to those who continued to believe in that dream and fought to keep that dream alive.
Those who gave themselves in our place paved the way for the great thinkers and doers who developed all of the great technology that makes our lives easier. Without freedom and liberty, so many of the things we enjoy today would have never existed.
It's Independence Day, and I am compelled to pause and remember, to honor, to shed some tears for all of those -- both famous and unknown to the history books -- who made the sacrifices that allow me to live the life that I do today.
And as I celebrate living in a free land, I also celebrate the ultimate freedom afforded me by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who was crucified, buried, and rose again the third day to grant me the gift of salvation.
Thank you, Lord Jesus.
Come quickly, Lord Jesus.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Happy Mother's Day!
Mother's Day is upon us once again. What are you going to do for your Mom this Mother's Day? A nice lunch or dinner? Card? Flowers? Candy? Breakfast in bed? New vacuum cleaner?
Nix that last one. Not a good idea.
Regardless of what you do, make sure you're good to your Mom. Treat her with love and respect. Honor her in whatever you do. Make her feel special. Let her know that she's important to you.
My Mom has been gone for many years now, and we all miss her greatly. She was my best friend throughout my high school years. I could go to her for everything. She was a coach, motivator, confidant, my greatest fan and my toughest critic. I learned so many valuable lessons from her and she helped to shape the person that I have become as an adult.
I see a lot of my Mom's qualities in my wife, Jolene. Jo is a strong woman, a great mother and a wonderful, loving wife. Of course, she had a great teacher in her own Mom.
So thanks, Mom Moody, for molding your beautiful daughter into a fantastic woman, wife and mother.
Happy Mother's Day!
Nix that last one. Not a good idea.
Regardless of what you do, make sure you're good to your Mom. Treat her with love and respect. Honor her in whatever you do. Make her feel special. Let her know that she's important to you.
My Mom has been gone for many years now, and we all miss her greatly. She was my best friend throughout my high school years. I could go to her for everything. She was a coach, motivator, confidant, my greatest fan and my toughest critic. I learned so many valuable lessons from her and she helped to shape the person that I have become as an adult.
I see a lot of my Mom's qualities in my wife, Jolene. Jo is a strong woman, a great mother and a wonderful, loving wife. Of course, she had a great teacher in her own Mom.
So thanks, Mom Moody, for molding your beautiful daughter into a fantastic woman, wife and mother.
Happy Mother's Day!
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Santorum's out; GOP race is over ... mostly
The race for the Republican presidential nomination is now officially over.
Well, kind of, mostly, officially over.
Former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum announced today (Tuesday) that he was suspending his bid for the GOP nomination, essentially dropping the curtain on what has been a contentious primary campaign season. Santorum leaves the race trailing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by a count of 573-202 in the hunt for delegates. Those figures are the latest released by the Republican National Committee. (See gop.com)
However, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich said he has no plans to get out of the GOP race, basically telling Romney, "See ya in Tampa, Mitt!" Oh yeah, Texas Congressman Ron Paul is staying in the race, too.
Santorum's campaign is basically broke and he was facing a $2.9 million media blitz by Romney in his home state of Pennsylvania ahead of the April 24 primary. On top of that, recent polls showed Romney gaining ground in the Keystone State and even ahead by five points in one poll released by Public Policy Polling. Add to that the emotional strain of coping with his young daughter's illness; well, all of that may have become just too much of a burden to bear.
Santorum ran a tough race and stood on his principles. Kudos to him for that. I doubt we've heard the last of the former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania in this election cycle.
Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice .... (SuperFriends there reference for the uninitiated)
Gingrich's campaign is worse than broke -- if there is such a thing -- but he will labor on, stating that he will be at the Republican National Convention in Tampa in August to make sure that there is a conservative voice helping to shape GOP policy.
Paul has said essentially the same thing as Gingrich, with a campaign spokesman telling FoxNews.com today that Paul is "the last -- and real -- conservative alternative to Mitt Romney." Paul plans to be in Tampa, too, to "press the fight for limited, constitutional government ...".
So barring something really bizarre happening in Tampa -- say the return of Ronald Wilson Reagan -- Romney will be the GOP nominee.
But you never know ....
All right, back to reality. Now the fun (?) begins. Yeah, fun is definitely not the right word for what we will experience over the next seven months or so.
The Obama-Romney race for the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is likely to be a brutal affair. The country will be assaulted with a barrage of negative advertising the likes of which we may have never seen in American politics. And given the deep pockets each side possesses, it will be nearly impossible to escape the rushing sewer of "information" that will be unleashed between now and November.
Fun, huh?
Well, kind of, mostly, officially over.
Former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum announced today (Tuesday) that he was suspending his bid for the GOP nomination, essentially dropping the curtain on what has been a contentious primary campaign season. Santorum leaves the race trailing former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by a count of 573-202 in the hunt for delegates. Those figures are the latest released by the Republican National Committee. (See gop.com)
However, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Newt Gingrich said he has no plans to get out of the GOP race, basically telling Romney, "See ya in Tampa, Mitt!" Oh yeah, Texas Congressman Ron Paul is staying in the race, too.
Santorum's campaign is basically broke and he was facing a $2.9 million media blitz by Romney in his home state of Pennsylvania ahead of the April 24 primary. On top of that, recent polls showed Romney gaining ground in the Keystone State and even ahead by five points in one poll released by Public Policy Polling. Add to that the emotional strain of coping with his young daughter's illness; well, all of that may have become just too much of a burden to bear.
Santorum ran a tough race and stood on his principles. Kudos to him for that. I doubt we've heard the last of the former U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania in this election cycle.
Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice .... (SuperFriends there reference for the uninitiated)
Gingrich's campaign is worse than broke -- if there is such a thing -- but he will labor on, stating that he will be at the Republican National Convention in Tampa in August to make sure that there is a conservative voice helping to shape GOP policy.
Paul has said essentially the same thing as Gingrich, with a campaign spokesman telling FoxNews.com today that Paul is "the last -- and real -- conservative alternative to Mitt Romney." Paul plans to be in Tampa, too, to "press the fight for limited, constitutional government ...".
So barring something really bizarre happening in Tampa -- say the return of Ronald Wilson Reagan -- Romney will be the GOP nominee.
But you never know ....
All right, back to reality. Now the fun (?) begins. Yeah, fun is definitely not the right word for what we will experience over the next seven months or so.
The Obama-Romney race for the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is likely to be a brutal affair. The country will be assaulted with a barrage of negative advertising the likes of which we may have never seen in American politics. And given the deep pockets each side possesses, it will be nearly impossible to escape the rushing sewer of "information" that will be unleashed between now and November.
Fun, huh?
Friday, March 30, 2012
Blessed by my wife
My Baby Girl Jolene and I are celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary today. Fittingly, according to the website anniversaryideas.co.uk, there are "no traditional materials or symbols" associated with a 21st wedding anniversary.
That's us, for the most part; not necessarily traditional.
Now the website also noted that the gift themes for the 21st anniversary are items made of nickel and brass, and the gemstone is iolite. That fits us, too. Pretty random.
By the way, what in the world is iolite?
We've enjoyed a wonderful life together, enhanced greatly when we adopted Joel. Like so many other couples, we haven't always had a lot in the way of material things, but that hasn't mattered. God has always provided for our needs and we are thankful for all that the Lord has given us, both spiritual and material blessings.
In typical Andrew and Jolene fashion, we celebrated today by enjoying each other's company during a quiet lunch at her favorite restaurant, The Olive Garden. It was nice.
In many ways, we are complete opposites. She grew up on a farm; I grew up in the 'burbs. She's quiet and thoughtful; I'm a bit of a loudmouth at times. She is frugal; I'm, well, I'm not, to be honest. But she's trying to teach me. It's a process.
Our mutual faith in God has always been the common denominator in our relationship. I was attracted to her by her compassion, a gift from God that she has exercised to be a blessing to many people. That compassion prompted her to reach out to me at a tough time in my life. And I am so thankful to God that He gave her that compassion and used it to bring us together.
Jolene is intelligent and wise, a combination that has kept me out of trouble throughout our marriage. She never busts my chops when I mess up; she gently offers advice and helps to steer me back onto the right path.
Jolene is a wonderful Mommy to Joel. And our little man loves his Mommy with the same passion that she possesses. I love watching them interact, playing, laughing, loving, it's a huge blessing to me.
Twenty-one years of marriage. It hasn't been perfect, but it has been, and always will be, sweet. Just like my Baby Girl. I love you, Jo.
By the way, iolite is a rather obscure, blue gemstone that is mined in India, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Brazil. The Vikings used to use iolite as a navigation tool. Who knew?
That's us, for the most part; not necessarily traditional.
Now the website also noted that the gift themes for the 21st anniversary are items made of nickel and brass, and the gemstone is iolite. That fits us, too. Pretty random.
By the way, what in the world is iolite?
We've enjoyed a wonderful life together, enhanced greatly when we adopted Joel. Like so many other couples, we haven't always had a lot in the way of material things, but that hasn't mattered. God has always provided for our needs and we are thankful for all that the Lord has given us, both spiritual and material blessings.
In typical Andrew and Jolene fashion, we celebrated today by enjoying each other's company during a quiet lunch at her favorite restaurant, The Olive Garden. It was nice.
In many ways, we are complete opposites. She grew up on a farm; I grew up in the 'burbs. She's quiet and thoughtful; I'm a bit of a loudmouth at times. She is frugal; I'm, well, I'm not, to be honest. But she's trying to teach me. It's a process.
Our mutual faith in God has always been the common denominator in our relationship. I was attracted to her by her compassion, a gift from God that she has exercised to be a blessing to many people. That compassion prompted her to reach out to me at a tough time in my life. And I am so thankful to God that He gave her that compassion and used it to bring us together.
Jolene is intelligent and wise, a combination that has kept me out of trouble throughout our marriage. She never busts my chops when I mess up; she gently offers advice and helps to steer me back onto the right path.
Jolene is a wonderful Mommy to Joel. And our little man loves his Mommy with the same passion that she possesses. I love watching them interact, playing, laughing, loving, it's a huge blessing to me.
Twenty-one years of marriage. It hasn't been perfect, but it has been, and always will be, sweet. Just like my Baby Girl. I love you, Jo.
By the way, iolite is a rather obscure, blue gemstone that is mined in India, Sri Lanka, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Brazil. The Vikings used to use iolite as a navigation tool. Who knew?
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Wanted: Dads
A friend of mine has said that the worst criminal act being perpetrated in America today is the absence of fathers in the home.
Here's the context for his statement. We are facilitators in a mentoring program for male inmates at a state prison in Ohio. The program is called Inside Out Dad with the target audience being men who are fathers, who are near the end of their prison terms.
My friend uses that seemingly shocking statement to challenge the men and make them aware of the reality of their responsibility as fathers. And it's a very effective tool.
Among the ideas we try to communicate to the men in the program is that their families need them, and that when they are released from prison they need to become positive and effective leaders in their homes and communities.
While the men we work with are separated from their families due to their incarceration, far too many of us dads are separated from our families by a variety of man-made barriers. We need to break down those barriers and reacquaint ourselves with our families. We need to be the fathers and husbands that God is calling each of us to become.
Now I don't mean to come across as "preachy." Goodness knows I'm no expert when it comes to being a good father. I'm just another average guy trying to do the best for his family, relying on the Lord to grant me the wisdom and strength I need to walk the road of fatherhood.
Proverbs 22:6 reads, "Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it."
We need fathers who will teach their children how to become productive and positive members of their communities. We need fathers who will commit to being leaders in their homes. We need fathers willing to instill discipline in their children.
Dads, we have a God-given responsibility to do right by our children, and that means providing them with a firm foundation of values that will guide and nurture them throughout their lives.
(For information about Inside Out Dad, visit the National Fatherhood Initiative website at http://www.fatherhood.org/)
Here's the context for his statement. We are facilitators in a mentoring program for male inmates at a state prison in Ohio. The program is called Inside Out Dad with the target audience being men who are fathers, who are near the end of their prison terms.
My friend uses that seemingly shocking statement to challenge the men and make them aware of the reality of their responsibility as fathers. And it's a very effective tool.
Among the ideas we try to communicate to the men in the program is that their families need them, and that when they are released from prison they need to become positive and effective leaders in their homes and communities.
While the men we work with are separated from their families due to their incarceration, far too many of us dads are separated from our families by a variety of man-made barriers. We need to break down those barriers and reacquaint ourselves with our families. We need to be the fathers and husbands that God is calling each of us to become.
Now I don't mean to come across as "preachy." Goodness knows I'm no expert when it comes to being a good father. I'm just another average guy trying to do the best for his family, relying on the Lord to grant me the wisdom and strength I need to walk the road of fatherhood.
Proverbs 22:6 reads, "Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it."
We need fathers who will teach their children how to become productive and positive members of their communities. We need fathers who will commit to being leaders in their homes. We need fathers willing to instill discipline in their children.
Dads, we have a God-given responsibility to do right by our children, and that means providing them with a firm foundation of values that will guide and nurture them throughout their lives.
(For information about Inside Out Dad, visit the National Fatherhood Initiative website at http://www.fatherhood.org/)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Historical accuracy or the lack thereof
A history lesson from the president. Sort of.
From Real Clear Politics ...
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/03/16/obama_flubs_us_history_--_again_113502.html
From Real Clear Politics ...
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/03/16/obama_flubs_us_history_--_again_113502.html
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Flies in the ointment
When I was a kid, I got beat up by some boys in my neighborhood. The fact that I got my backside kicked wasn't the embarrassing part, though. What was most humiliating was that it happened in my own yard. On top of that, when I went inside to cry on my Mom's shoulder, instead of receiving the "It's all right, baby" treatment, Mom told me if I let those boys beat me up again she was going to administer a whuppin' of her own on me.
It took a while and a couple of more beatdowns, but I finally manned up enough to even the score, and those guys left me alone after I went all Kenny Rogers "Coward of the County" on them.
Yeah, it's not a story that I'll share with my son ... hmmm. Another day, another time.
Anyway, former Speaker of the U.S. House Newt Gingrich probably understands how I felt all those years ago in the wake of his minor meltdown in the Alabama and Mississippi primary elections on Mildly Interesting Tuesday. Gingrich's "Southern Strategy" apparently didn't wash with voters in two southern states that many observers thought would go his way. Basically, Gingrich got beat up in his own yard.
Ugh! Bad memories.
"If he can't win in Alabama or Mississippi, where can he win?" Fox News political analyst Charles Krauthammer deadpanned during the network's primary election coverage on Tuesday night.
Where can Mr. Gingrich win, indeed?
As I look at the remainder of the Republican presidential primary calendar, I don't see an answer to Krauthammer's rhetorical question.
But I think Gingrich and fellow cellar-dweller U.S. Rep. Ron Paul are less concerned about winning the GOP nomination and more concerned about influencing who will eventually win the nomination. Both men, it appears, are relishing the "fly in the ointment" role they find themselves in at the present. Gingrich and Paul will continue to penny, nickel and dime delegates along the road to Tampa, Fla., and the GOP convention, which is set for Aug. 27-30.
If they're still in the race come the last week of August, the convention will look like a remake of Custer's Last Stand. They can't win, but their mere presence in Tampa (where the good life gets better every day) will be enough to irritate the two frontrunners, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.
If all four men are still in the race when GOP convention time rolls around, maybe they should just have a cage match to determine the nominee. Gingrich is already using Hulk Hogan's entrance music at his rallies, so a cage match might not be a big stretch.
This GOP primary race kind of reminds me of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disney World.
Hey, toads like flies right?
It took a while and a couple of more beatdowns, but I finally manned up enough to even the score, and those guys left me alone after I went all Kenny Rogers "Coward of the County" on them.
Yeah, it's not a story that I'll share with my son ... hmmm. Another day, another time.
Anyway, former Speaker of the U.S. House Newt Gingrich probably understands how I felt all those years ago in the wake of his minor meltdown in the Alabama and Mississippi primary elections on Mildly Interesting Tuesday. Gingrich's "Southern Strategy" apparently didn't wash with voters in two southern states that many observers thought would go his way. Basically, Gingrich got beat up in his own yard.
Ugh! Bad memories.
"If he can't win in Alabama or Mississippi, where can he win?" Fox News political analyst Charles Krauthammer deadpanned during the network's primary election coverage on Tuesday night.
Where can Mr. Gingrich win, indeed?
As I look at the remainder of the Republican presidential primary calendar, I don't see an answer to Krauthammer's rhetorical question.
But I think Gingrich and fellow cellar-dweller U.S. Rep. Ron Paul are less concerned about winning the GOP nomination and more concerned about influencing who will eventually win the nomination. Both men, it appears, are relishing the "fly in the ointment" role they find themselves in at the present. Gingrich and Paul will continue to penny, nickel and dime delegates along the road to Tampa, Fla., and the GOP convention, which is set for Aug. 27-30.
If they're still in the race come the last week of August, the convention will look like a remake of Custer's Last Stand. They can't win, but their mere presence in Tampa (where the good life gets better every day) will be enough to irritate the two frontrunners, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.
If all four men are still in the race when GOP convention time rolls around, maybe they should just have a cage match to determine the nominee. Gingrich is already using Hulk Hogan's entrance music at his rallies, so a cage match might not be a big stretch.
This GOP primary race kind of reminds me of Mr. Toad's Wild Ride at Disney World.
Hey, toads like flies right?
Monday, March 12, 2012
Blame game: Look in the mirror
We The People like to complain about our government; how it operates, how it spends our tax dollars, what it does and is not doing correctly, how involved or uninvolved it is or wants to be in our daily lives. In general, we complain about most everything that is government.
We like to complain, but how many of us actually get involved and take responsibility for our government and its actions? After all, government starts and ends with We The People. We choose the individuals who will represent us at the township hall, village building, city hall, school board office, county courthouse, statehouse, governor's mansion, House of Representatives, Senate and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. That's where the White House is located. The President of the United States lives there during that individual's term of office.
Oh, and did I mention that we pay the taxes that fund the government?
March 6 was billed as Super Tuesday for the 2012 election cycle, with ten states holding primary elections and caucuses. But Super Tuesday turned out to be more like Tepid Tuesday at the voting booth, both in Ohio where I live and across the nation.
In the Buckeye State, only 25.35 percent of registered voters went to the polls last Tuesday. Folks in Williams County seemed to be more interested in the primary than anyone else in Ohio. Voter turnout there was a state-best 42.3 percent. The low water mark was reported in Tuscarawas County at 17.98 percent.
Now I know that, historically, even presidential primary elections generally attract fewer voters than the "big show" that's coming up in November. But 25 percent? We can, and should, do better than that, my fellow Ohioans and fellow Americans.
Those of us that say that our government, at all levels, is out of control, but don't even take the 15 or 20 minutes or so that it takes to vote really don't have a stump to stand on and shout from as it pertains to the discussion about government. In general, We The People don't really pay attention to what our government is doing, and there are a lot of politicians who like it that way.
Here's the formula: Uninformed electorate + Good election year media campaign = Reelection even if the politician has done a poor job in office.
We need to wake up, friends. Never in the history of the United States have We The People enjoyed such access to information about what our elected leaders are doing, or supposed to be doing, on our behalf. We're a mouse click away from accessing proposed legislation, how our representatives have voted on legislation, information about candidates, and exchanging information and ideas about all things government.
But how many of us actually take advantage of the many resources that are available to us that will help us keep tabs on what our elected leaders are doing? How many of us even care? By the looks of voter turnout, not too many. We'd rather wait to be spoon-fed by the media, whether it's from a liberal, conservative or whatever kind of viewpoint.
Good grief, we don't even go to local council, county commission or school board meetings, and those things are in our own backyards!
So if you don't like what your government is doing, friends, don't complain to me; just look in the mirror.
We like to complain, but how many of us actually get involved and take responsibility for our government and its actions? After all, government starts and ends with We The People. We choose the individuals who will represent us at the township hall, village building, city hall, school board office, county courthouse, statehouse, governor's mansion, House of Representatives, Senate and 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. That's where the White House is located. The President of the United States lives there during that individual's term of office.
Oh, and did I mention that we pay the taxes that fund the government?
March 6 was billed as Super Tuesday for the 2012 election cycle, with ten states holding primary elections and caucuses. But Super Tuesday turned out to be more like Tepid Tuesday at the voting booth, both in Ohio where I live and across the nation.
In the Buckeye State, only 25.35 percent of registered voters went to the polls last Tuesday. Folks in Williams County seemed to be more interested in the primary than anyone else in Ohio. Voter turnout there was a state-best 42.3 percent. The low water mark was reported in Tuscarawas County at 17.98 percent.
Now I know that, historically, even presidential primary elections generally attract fewer voters than the "big show" that's coming up in November. But 25 percent? We can, and should, do better than that, my fellow Ohioans and fellow Americans.
Those of us that say that our government, at all levels, is out of control, but don't even take the 15 or 20 minutes or so that it takes to vote really don't have a stump to stand on and shout from as it pertains to the discussion about government. In general, We The People don't really pay attention to what our government is doing, and there are a lot of politicians who like it that way.
Here's the formula: Uninformed electorate + Good election year media campaign = Reelection even if the politician has done a poor job in office.
We need to wake up, friends. Never in the history of the United States have We The People enjoyed such access to information about what our elected leaders are doing, or supposed to be doing, on our behalf. We're a mouse click away from accessing proposed legislation, how our representatives have voted on legislation, information about candidates, and exchanging information and ideas about all things government.
But how many of us actually take advantage of the many resources that are available to us that will help us keep tabs on what our elected leaders are doing? How many of us even care? By the looks of voter turnout, not too many. We'd rather wait to be spoon-fed by the media, whether it's from a liberal, conservative or whatever kind of viewpoint.
Good grief, we don't even go to local council, county commission or school board meetings, and those things are in our own backyards!
So if you don't like what your government is doing, friends, don't complain to me; just look in the mirror.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Daylight Saving Time ... no worries
So instead of sitting here in my recliner pecking away at the keyboard like a hungry cardinal and whining in writing about "losing" an hour to Daylight Saving Time, I should be curling up on my new memory foam mattress counting dolphins. Right? Right.
Random Thought 1: Yes, dolphins. I grew up in Florida. We didn't have sheep, at least not that I remember.
Tonight we are supposed wind our clocks one hour ahead as Daylight Saving Time begins. And, yes, it is Daylight "Saving" Time, not "Savings". The powers that be who govern this stuff are pretty particular about the name thing from what I hear.
Random Thought 2: Actually, I have no idea if there are Daylight Saving Time powers that be or if they even care about the name.
I give a thumbs down to Daylight Saving Time for "taking" that hour away from me tonight. But that's really all I've got on the so called negative side of this make-believe argument.
On the positive side, I give a hearty thumbs up to Daylight Saving Time for the extra hour of daylight that we'll enjoy over the next several months. We fall back on Nov. 4.
What I'm truly thankful for is the knowledge and assurance that God Almighty, the Creator of the universe and everything we enjoy, has authority over the times and seasons. And the Lord who hung the planets and stars in place holds my life in His hands. Is there anything that I really need to worry about?
Random Thought 1: Yes, dolphins. I grew up in Florida. We didn't have sheep, at least not that I remember.
Tonight we are supposed wind our clocks one hour ahead as Daylight Saving Time begins. And, yes, it is Daylight "Saving" Time, not "Savings". The powers that be who govern this stuff are pretty particular about the name thing from what I hear.
Random Thought 2: Actually, I have no idea if there are Daylight Saving Time powers that be or if they even care about the name.
I give a thumbs down to Daylight Saving Time for "taking" that hour away from me tonight. But that's really all I've got on the so called negative side of this make-believe argument.
On the positive side, I give a hearty thumbs up to Daylight Saving Time for the extra hour of daylight that we'll enjoy over the next several months. We fall back on Nov. 4.
What I'm truly thankful for is the knowledge and assurance that God Almighty, the Creator of the universe and everything we enjoy, has authority over the times and seasons. And the Lord who hung the planets and stars in place holds my life in His hands. Is there anything that I really need to worry about?
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
"Wedding Crashers" fall short or Romney rallies
Well, it looks like there's some cake left over after all in the aftermath of the Ohio Republican presidential primary. The "Wedding Crashers" Rick Perry and Jon Huntsman made a dent, but didn't do enough to totally derail the primary.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has been declared the winner of the GOP primary in the Buckeye State, but it was no easy task. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum was the people's choice in Ohio's rural counties -- winning in 69 of the state's 88 counties -- but the bigger population centers in the Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, and Akron areas came through for Romney in the end.
Perry and Huntsman collected nearly 14,000 votes between them on Super Tuesday. The spread between Romney and Santorum was about 12,000 votes.
I'd like to pick the brains of the folks who supported Perry and Huntsman even though both men have been out of the race for the past month or so. Who are those folks and why did they vote the way they did?
Gotta love politics.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has been declared the winner of the GOP primary in the Buckeye State, but it was no easy task. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum was the people's choice in Ohio's rural counties -- winning in 69 of the state's 88 counties -- but the bigger population centers in the Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, and Akron areas came through for Romney in the end.
Perry and Huntsman collected nearly 14,000 votes between them on Super Tuesday. The spread between Romney and Santorum was about 12,000 votes.
I'd like to pick the brains of the folks who supported Perry and Huntsman even though both men have been out of the race for the past month or so. Who are those folks and why did they vote the way they did?
Gotta love politics.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Perry & Huntsman: Ohio's GOP "Wedding Crashers"
All right, I didn't see this one coming. Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman are going to determine who wins the Ohio Republican presidential primary.
Huh?
Zoiks!?!
Eh?
As of 11:51 p.m., Perry and Huntsman had secured between them 13,339 votes, or 2 percent of the total votes cast in Ohio on Super Tuesday, which is soon to be Moderately Okay Wednesday.
Currently, the spread between frontrunners Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum is about 7,000 votes, or about 1 percentage point.
So, in effect, Perry and Huntsman are the "Wedding Crashers" of the Ohio GOP primary.
Hope they leave some cake for the rest of us.
Huh?
Zoiks!?!
Eh?
As of 11:51 p.m., Perry and Huntsman had secured between them 13,339 votes, or 2 percent of the total votes cast in Ohio on Super Tuesday, which is soon to be Moderately Okay Wednesday.
Currently, the spread between frontrunners Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum is about 7,000 votes, or about 1 percentage point.
So, in effect, Perry and Huntsman are the "Wedding Crashers" of the Ohio GOP primary.
Hope they leave some cake for the rest of us.
Rural vs. Urban
It's 11:16 p.m. as I write this and it looks like former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney might rally to win the Ohio Republican presidential primary after trailing for most of the night. His surge is due in large part to support from voters in the Buckeye State's larger, urban and suburban areas.
Random Thought 1: I still don't hear the fat lady warming up.
Anyway, Romney now leads former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum by about 4,000 votes with 88 percent of the state's voting precincts reporting.
But if you take a look at the county-by-county results, Santorum stands to win 66 of Ohio's 88 counties. Granted, most of the counties Santorum is winning are rural counties, while Romney is winning in the larger population centers of Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton, Akron, and the like. That's not a surprise, since Santorum's sort of grassroots approach was likely to play much better in rural communities than Romney's more slick, big city image.
Okay, it's 11:23 p.m., fellas. Do you know where your delegates are?
By the way, Texas Gov. Rick Perry now has about 7,000 votes and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is up to about 6,000 votes in Ohio.
Random Thought 1: I still don't hear the fat lady warming up.
Anyway, Romney now leads former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum by about 4,000 votes with 88 percent of the state's voting precincts reporting.
But if you take a look at the county-by-county results, Santorum stands to win 66 of Ohio's 88 counties. Granted, most of the counties Santorum is winning are rural counties, while Romney is winning in the larger population centers of Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Toledo, Dayton, Akron, and the like. That's not a surprise, since Santorum's sort of grassroots approach was likely to play much better in rural communities than Romney's more slick, big city image.
Okay, it's 11:23 p.m., fellas. Do you know where your delegates are?
By the way, Texas Gov. Rick Perry now has about 7,000 votes and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman is up to about 6,000 votes in Ohio.
Too close to call
As I write this, election analysts in Ohio say the Republican presidential primary race is still too close to call. Well, it's 10:38 p.m., people, get the votes counted already!
I'm kidding, of course. Having worked in the news industry for many years and having covered many elections, I know the folks at the local boards of elections work pretty hard on an election day; check that, extremely hard.
According to the Ohio Secretary of State's website, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum is leading former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by just 1 percentage point, 38 percent to 37 percent.
Observation of the Obvious: That's pretty tight, fella.
Former Speaker of the U.S. House Newt Gingrich is a way-back third and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul is running fourth.
Bizarre Stat of the Night (So Far): Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman have each picked up votes from Ohioans even though they dropped out of the GOP primary race. Perry had 5,231 votes and Huntsman had 4,374. Uh huh.
Anyway, it's now 10:47 p.m. and Ohio is still too close to call.
Does that mean Ohio is 2 Legit 2 Quit?
Sorry, Hammer.
I'm kidding, of course. Having worked in the news industry for many years and having covered many elections, I know the folks at the local boards of elections work pretty hard on an election day; check that, extremely hard.
According to the Ohio Secretary of State's website, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum is leading former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney by just 1 percentage point, 38 percent to 37 percent.
Observation of the Obvious: That's pretty tight, fella.
Former Speaker of the U.S. House Newt Gingrich is a way-back third and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul is running fourth.
Bizarre Stat of the Night (So Far): Texas Gov. Rick Perry and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman have each picked up votes from Ohioans even though they dropped out of the GOP primary race. Perry had 5,231 votes and Huntsman had 4,374. Uh huh.
Anyway, it's now 10:47 p.m. and Ohio is still too close to call.
Does that mean Ohio is 2 Legit 2 Quit?
Sorry, Hammer.
So will Jesus' coming be ...
Jesus said that we don't have to be worried about the exact time of His coming,
and we shouldn't be deceived by those making false predictions. When He comes,
there will be no doubt. As lightning flashing from the east to the west,
splitting the sky in a millisecond, cracking the air with flash and fire, so
will His coming be.
The next time you see a bolt of lightning cleave the sky, think of it as a reminder that His coming is near.
The next time you see a bolt of lightning cleave the sky, think of it as a reminder that His coming is near.
-- Rev. David Jeremiah
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Hey, 45
Okay, so the title of my post is a bad play on the Steely Dan tune "Hey Nineteen;" but I'm not 19, I'm 45 today.
One of the odd things that I enjoy is number association. Let me explain. In the warped jumble of gray matter that is called my brain, I tend to associate numbers that I need to remember (phone numbers, addresses, locker combinations, etc.) with the jersey numbers worn by professional or college athletes.
Yes, I realize that I probably need some therapy to deal with this, but, hey, it works for me.
Anyway, for instance, the last four numbers of my cell phone number are the same numbers worn by former 49ers stars Guy McIntyre and Joe Montana. Now, there's really no reason for me to memorize my cell number because I never call myself, but you never know. But if I do need to call my own cell, I just dial up Guy McIntyre and Joe Montana. No worries.
Yep. Therapy.
So what famous wearers of the number 45 come to my mind on this, my 45th birthday? Here's the short list.
1. Archie Griffin. The former Ohio State running back is the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner so he has to top the list. That's a good start.
2. Michael Jordan. Sure, MJ only wore 45 for one season or so, but he still wore it. I'm still in good company.
3. Bob Gibson. The former St. Louis Cardinals righthander is one of baseball's all-time greats and a Hall of Famer. 'Nuff said.
Umm. Well, I said it was the short list. Just didn't realize it would be so short. Meh.
But it's a good list.
Moving on ....
My 45 years on this big blue marble we call home have been filled with blessings. Good family and good friends top the list of blessings that God has bestowed on me. And I am thankful for everyone that the Lord has allowed to come into my life.
Most of all on this 45th birthday of mine, I am thankful for the precious gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ that God has granted me. My prayer is that all of my family and friends would come to know Jesus as savior.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
One of the odd things that I enjoy is number association. Let me explain. In the warped jumble of gray matter that is called my brain, I tend to associate numbers that I need to remember (phone numbers, addresses, locker combinations, etc.) with the jersey numbers worn by professional or college athletes.
Yes, I realize that I probably need some therapy to deal with this, but, hey, it works for me.
Anyway, for instance, the last four numbers of my cell phone number are the same numbers worn by former 49ers stars Guy McIntyre and Joe Montana. Now, there's really no reason for me to memorize my cell number because I never call myself, but you never know. But if I do need to call my own cell, I just dial up Guy McIntyre and Joe Montana. No worries.
Yep. Therapy.
So what famous wearers of the number 45 come to my mind on this, my 45th birthday? Here's the short list.
1. Archie Griffin. The former Ohio State running back is the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner so he has to top the list. That's a good start.
2. Michael Jordan. Sure, MJ only wore 45 for one season or so, but he still wore it. I'm still in good company.
3. Bob Gibson. The former St. Louis Cardinals righthander is one of baseball's all-time greats and a Hall of Famer. 'Nuff said.
Umm. Well, I said it was the short list. Just didn't realize it would be so short. Meh.
But it's a good list.
Moving on ....
My 45 years on this big blue marble we call home have been filled with blessings. Good family and good friends top the list of blessings that God has bestowed on me. And I am thankful for everyone that the Lord has allowed to come into my life.
Most of all on this 45th birthday of mine, I am thankful for the precious gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ that God has granted me. My prayer is that all of my family and friends would come to know Jesus as savior.
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. (John 3:16-17)
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Judge: Muslim 'obligated' to attack atheist
One News Now (www.onenewsnow.com) is reporting that a Pennsylvania judge has thrown out an assault case because the defendant, a Muslim man, was, according to the judge, "obligated to attack the victim because of his culture and religion."
The victim in the case, an atheist, dressed as a "zombie Muhammad" for a Halloween parade held Oct. 11, 2011, in Mechanicsburg, Pa. The judge dismissed all evidence including a video of the incident and eyewitness testimony from a police officer. According to the report, he then lectured the victim about the "sensitivities of the Muslim culture."
Here is a link to the One News Now article http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=1544716
The victim in the case, an atheist, dressed as a "zombie Muhammad" for a Halloween parade held Oct. 11, 2011, in Mechanicsburg, Pa. The judge dismissed all evidence including a video of the incident and eyewitness testimony from a police officer. According to the report, he then lectured the victim about the "sensitivities of the Muslim culture."
Here is a link to the One News Now article http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=1544716
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Learning from Lent: Prayer
Up until about eight years ago, I had never given much thought about Lent, the period on the Christian liturgical calendar from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday. As a kid, I knew some of our Catholic neighbors observed Lent, but, being from a largely Baptist-influenced church background, I had never personally participated in the tradition of Lent.
That changed somewhat when my family began attending Gallipolis First Church of the Nazarene in 2004. We observed both Advent, the prelude to Christmas, and Lent as a congregation. I found both observances to be spiritually refreshing.
An article I read recently stated about Lent that its "traditional purpose ... is the penitential preparation of the believer -- through prayer, penance, repentance, alms giving, and self-denial."
Prayer is an essential aspect of the Christian life. It's our lifeline of communication with the LORD, so that we might take our requests and petitions to Him and that we might hear from Him in return. Jesus emphasized prayer throughout His earthly ministry, even giving us a guideline and a blueprint for prayer in Matthew 6:5-15: "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
"Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:
"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
The Apostle Paul also encourages the believers in Thessalonica to pray, as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Perhaps nowhere in scripture is a more powerful portrait of prayer found than that which is recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22, where Jesus prays to His Father in the garden of Gethsemane prior to His crucifixion. Christ's time of prayer in the garden was so intense that the gospel writer recorded in Luke 22:44, that Jesus "... being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
In just a few hours, Christ was about to take the immeasurable weight of the payment for the sin of all of mankind on His shoulders, and the thought of it drove Him to pray with such passion and urgency that none of us can ever understand what He experienced.
My prayer during this season of Lent is that our prayer time with God may become deeper and more intimate.
That changed somewhat when my family began attending Gallipolis First Church of the Nazarene in 2004. We observed both Advent, the prelude to Christmas, and Lent as a congregation. I found both observances to be spiritually refreshing.
An article I read recently stated about Lent that its "traditional purpose ... is the penitential preparation of the believer -- through prayer, penance, repentance, alms giving, and self-denial."
Prayer is an essential aspect of the Christian life. It's our lifeline of communication with the LORD, so that we might take our requests and petitions to Him and that we might hear from Him in return. Jesus emphasized prayer throughout His earthly ministry, even giving us a guideline and a blueprint for prayer in Matthew 6:5-15: "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
"Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
The Apostle Paul also encourages the believers in Thessalonica to pray, as recorded in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Perhaps nowhere in scripture is a more powerful portrait of prayer found than that which is recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22, where Jesus prays to His Father in the garden of Gethsemane prior to His crucifixion. Christ's time of prayer in the garden was so intense that the gospel writer recorded in Luke 22:44, that Jesus "... being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground."
In just a few hours, Christ was about to take the immeasurable weight of the payment for the sin of all of mankind on His shoulders, and the thought of it drove Him to pray with such passion and urgency that none of us can ever understand what He experienced.
My prayer during this season of Lent is that our prayer time with God may become deeper and more intimate.
Monday, February 13, 2012
What's in a name?
"What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell just as sweet."
-- Juliet Capulet from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
For the star-crossed lovers in the Bard's masterpiece about their tragic romance -- an affair doomed even before its inception -- their family names were of little importance. As one literary critic has penned, Juliet was communicating her opinion that a name is merely "an artificial and meaningless convention".
Perhaps that was true for those teenage lovers, but for me -- and probably for many a father or mother around this big blue marble on which we reside -- to be known by a certain name is, indeed, of great importance.
Random Thought 1: "It doesn't matter what your name is!" -- The Rock.
Response to Random Thought 1: Uh, yeah it does, Mr. The Rock. Sorry.
Throughout my life, I've been known by several nicknames; some flattering, some the opposite of flattering. As a kid, there was "Jaws," given to me by my sisters because, according to them, I talked too much. Way too much. Occasionally, actually a lot more than occasionally, my Pop referred to me as "Boy", "Jughead", and "Whatever Your Name Is."
Easy on Pop, now, there were five of us running around La Casa del Carter. It was hard to keep track of us sometimes.
My classmates at school were at times a little less than courteous in their usage of noms de guerre for me. There were various monikers (see insults) that rhymed with my last name, "Carter", in addition to their favorite, albeit cliche, "Four Eyes". I wore the old Coke-bottle thick glasses, that were frequently targeted by soccer balls, basketballs, dodge balls, kick balls, and any other projectile available on the playground.
Random Thought 2: Was I a nerd back in the day? Oh yes. Still am. A pushover on the playground? About 50-50. But I gained my revenge in fifth grade by winning the Seffner Elementary Bicycle Rodeo -- using a hand-me-down bike from my sister. Ha! Yes. It had a sissy bar. Why do you ...? Ugh!
I'll bypass the couple of nicknames I picked up in high school. In college, I became known as "Guido" for a time, all thanks to a grey fedora and a grey trench coat that I wore frequently during my freshman year. The moniker "AC" also came into play during my college years. And that one -- thankfully -- is really the only one that has stuck with me.
Marriage brought on a handful of new pet names, none of which are any of your business. All right, the fair Jolene calls me "Baby".
Like I said, some of the names were flattering ...
Wait a minute. Actually, hardly any of those names were flattering. What was I thinking? Well, "AC" and "Baby" are fine.
Okay, enough of the set up, let's get to the point of all this.
I don't remember the exact day or date that my son Joel first called me "Daddy"; all I know is that the first time that I heard his sweet little voice utter the word "Daddy", I was totally done, all in, if you will.
Random Thought 3: He had me at "Daddy". He had me at "Daddy".
While nothing will ever top Joel calling me "Daddy", there is one other name that comes really close. It's a name that a lot of his little buddies use when they see me: "Hey, Joel's Daddy!" Yep. I get the big head when I hear the mini folk call me by that name. The "warm-fuzzy effect" also kicks in when I hear that name called out. It's a good thing, to be sure.
So, to answer Juliet's question, "What's in a name?"
I say ... everything.
Plus, it would be really weird if Joel called me "Rose".
-- Juliet Capulet from William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
For the star-crossed lovers in the Bard's masterpiece about their tragic romance -- an affair doomed even before its inception -- their family names were of little importance. As one literary critic has penned, Juliet was communicating her opinion that a name is merely "an artificial and meaningless convention".
Perhaps that was true for those teenage lovers, but for me -- and probably for many a father or mother around this big blue marble on which we reside -- to be known by a certain name is, indeed, of great importance.
Random Thought 1: "It doesn't matter what your name is!" -- The Rock.
Response to Random Thought 1: Uh, yeah it does, Mr. The Rock. Sorry.
Throughout my life, I've been known by several nicknames; some flattering, some the opposite of flattering. As a kid, there was "Jaws," given to me by my sisters because, according to them, I talked too much. Way too much. Occasionally, actually a lot more than occasionally, my Pop referred to me as "Boy", "Jughead", and "Whatever Your Name Is."
Easy on Pop, now, there were five of us running around La Casa del Carter. It was hard to keep track of us sometimes.
My classmates at school were at times a little less than courteous in their usage of noms de guerre for me. There were various monikers (see insults) that rhymed with my last name, "Carter", in addition to their favorite, albeit cliche, "Four Eyes". I wore the old Coke-bottle thick glasses, that were frequently targeted by soccer balls, basketballs, dodge balls, kick balls, and any other projectile available on the playground.
Random Thought 2: Was I a nerd back in the day? Oh yes. Still am. A pushover on the playground? About 50-50. But I gained my revenge in fifth grade by winning the Seffner Elementary Bicycle Rodeo -- using a hand-me-down bike from my sister. Ha! Yes. It had a sissy bar. Why do you ...? Ugh!
I'll bypass the couple of nicknames I picked up in high school. In college, I became known as "Guido" for a time, all thanks to a grey fedora and a grey trench coat that I wore frequently during my freshman year. The moniker "AC" also came into play during my college years. And that one -- thankfully -- is really the only one that has stuck with me.
Marriage brought on a handful of new pet names, none of which are any of your business. All right, the fair Jolene calls me "Baby".
Like I said, some of the names were flattering ...
Wait a minute. Actually, hardly any of those names were flattering. What was I thinking? Well, "AC" and "Baby" are fine.
Okay, enough of the set up, let's get to the point of all this.
I don't remember the exact day or date that my son Joel first called me "Daddy"; all I know is that the first time that I heard his sweet little voice utter the word "Daddy", I was totally done, all in, if you will.
Random Thought 3: He had me at "Daddy". He had me at "Daddy".
While nothing will ever top Joel calling me "Daddy", there is one other name that comes really close. It's a name that a lot of his little buddies use when they see me: "Hey, Joel's Daddy!" Yep. I get the big head when I hear the mini folk call me by that name. The "warm-fuzzy effect" also kicks in when I hear that name called out. It's a good thing, to be sure.
So, to answer Juliet's question, "What's in a name?"
I say ... everything.
Plus, it would be really weird if Joel called me "Rose".
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Miffed about misses
The older I get, the more I realize how much I've missed along the way. And to be honest, I'm a bit miffed about all those oversights throughout the years, both intentional and unintentional.
Time with family, epic sunsets, time with friends, glorious sunrises, time with God; I've missed out on so much that will never come my way again.
We moved to Zanesville, Ohio, in June of 2011. While we miss all of our friends back in Gallia County, our home for 17 years, the move to Muskingum County has been fruitful in many ways. Of all the positive aspects of the move, the one for which I am most thankful is the opportunity (see second chance) that God has given me to really reconnect with my wife and son.
My employment situation over the past seven months or so has been on again, off again, but that's not a bad thing. That on again, off again routine, if you will, has allowed me to spend a lot of good time with Joel, especially last summer. We hit the park, the mall, the pool and just hung out together.
Since the school year started back in August, we established a new routine which sees us grab some time together in the morning before heading off to school. We also enjoy time together in the afternoon before Jolene comes home from work. Homework is part of that routine, too, but that's another story for another time.
Joel and I go to Cub Scouts together. He enjoys it and I enjoy seeing him having fun and playing with his new buddies that he's come to know through Scouts. We had fun making our pinewood derby car. He won two of the four races in which he competed. Seeing the smile on his face as he watched his car speed down the course made me feel, well, I really don't have the words to describe how I felt. Let's say it just felt good.
Over the past two years or so, I've missed way too many bedtimes at our house. Since we moved to Zanesville, my bedtime participation percentage has skyrocketed. We pray together and trade hugs and kisses, wait for Joel to stall a little more before he finally settles in and hits the sack. What I love most about bedtime is feeling Joel's husky little "monkey hug" around my neck and hearing him say "I love you, Daddy."
Yeah, it just doesn't get any better than that.
Jolene told me recently that I've got my funny back. She's glad that I'm less grumpy and more easy-going than I have been in recent years. My nearly constant complaining has subsided and we once again enjoy that comfortable quiet that has been a hallmark of our marriage for so many of the nearly 21 years we've been husband and wife.
There was a time when I was really concerned about having a career and enjoying success, whatever that is, and I have the gray hair and belly fat to prove it. But I feel like I've entered a new phase of life, sort of a Dave Barry era, in which I find myself forging further ahead into the undiscovered country of fatherhood and husbandhood (?), praying that my kid doesn't grow up to be a serial killer (kidding, of course) and that I don't drive my wife stark, raving mad (serious about that one).
Actually, all joking aside for a moment, my prayer is that God will help me to draw closer to Him so that I can be a better dad and husband, because, goodness knows, I desperately need His help in both areas.
And while I try to follow this path that God has laid out for me in this new country, I'll make sure to stop and enjoy those epic sunsets and glorious sunrises and spend time with family and friends.
Time with family, epic sunsets, time with friends, glorious sunrises, time with God; I've missed out on so much that will never come my way again.
We moved to Zanesville, Ohio, in June of 2011. While we miss all of our friends back in Gallia County, our home for 17 years, the move to Muskingum County has been fruitful in many ways. Of all the positive aspects of the move, the one for which I am most thankful is the opportunity (see second chance) that God has given me to really reconnect with my wife and son.
My employment situation over the past seven months or so has been on again, off again, but that's not a bad thing. That on again, off again routine, if you will, has allowed me to spend a lot of good time with Joel, especially last summer. We hit the park, the mall, the pool and just hung out together.
Since the school year started back in August, we established a new routine which sees us grab some time together in the morning before heading off to school. We also enjoy time together in the afternoon before Jolene comes home from work. Homework is part of that routine, too, but that's another story for another time.
Joel and I go to Cub Scouts together. He enjoys it and I enjoy seeing him having fun and playing with his new buddies that he's come to know through Scouts. We had fun making our pinewood derby car. He won two of the four races in which he competed. Seeing the smile on his face as he watched his car speed down the course made me feel, well, I really don't have the words to describe how I felt. Let's say it just felt good.
Over the past two years or so, I've missed way too many bedtimes at our house. Since we moved to Zanesville, my bedtime participation percentage has skyrocketed. We pray together and trade hugs and kisses, wait for Joel to stall a little more before he finally settles in and hits the sack. What I love most about bedtime is feeling Joel's husky little "monkey hug" around my neck and hearing him say "I love you, Daddy."
Yeah, it just doesn't get any better than that.
Jolene told me recently that I've got my funny back. She's glad that I'm less grumpy and more easy-going than I have been in recent years. My nearly constant complaining has subsided and we once again enjoy that comfortable quiet that has been a hallmark of our marriage for so many of the nearly 21 years we've been husband and wife.
There was a time when I was really concerned about having a career and enjoying success, whatever that is, and I have the gray hair and belly fat to prove it. But I feel like I've entered a new phase of life, sort of a Dave Barry era, in which I find myself forging further ahead into the undiscovered country of fatherhood and husbandhood (?), praying that my kid doesn't grow up to be a serial killer (kidding, of course) and that I don't drive my wife stark, raving mad (serious about that one).
Actually, all joking aside for a moment, my prayer is that God will help me to draw closer to Him so that I can be a better dad and husband, because, goodness knows, I desperately need His help in both areas.
And while I try to follow this path that God has laid out for me in this new country, I'll make sure to stop and enjoy those epic sunsets and glorious sunrises and spend time with family and friends.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
But I've been wrong before ... a lot (The Sequel)
The last time I watched a super bowl in its entirety was Jan. 26, 2003, when my beloved Tampa Bay Buccaneers gave the Oakland Raiders an old fashioned Port Tampa beatdown, 48-21, in the 37th installment of el gran juego (the big game).
Since then, I've watched el gran juego in fits and starts, witnessing more than less of each contest; although I did fall asleep or head to bed early at least a couple of times. Prior to the Bucs' win in '03, I never missed a down of a super bowl.
So, since my team has its own Lombardi Trophy in the display case at One Buc Place, have I become ambivalent toward what is now America's pastime? I guess I have.
But why? The past eight super bowl games have been pretty good contests, with only three of the eight decided by more than six points. New England, the NFL's version of the Evil Empire (see New York Yankees), has been involved in three downright dandy Super Bowls since 2004. The Pats beat both Carolina in SB 38 and Philadelphia in SB 39 by three points, and lost to the Giants by three points in SB 42.
Insert Random Thought 1 here: This game is brought to you by the number 3 and the letters N, B and C.
It's been amusing over the past week to watch all the football pundits weigh in and make predictions about this game featuring the Pats and the New York Football Giants. There's been a lot of solid acting going on as these guys pretended to really care about the game while enjoying their vacation in Indianapolis.
The really funny thing was that the Peyton Manning-Jim Irsay soap opera was the dominant story during the week. Sorry Brother Eli. On top of that, Tom Brady's supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen has grabbed more air time than her hubby or Brother Eli, and she hasn't said a word.
Insert Random Thought 2 here: Wait, vacation in Indianapolis? That just sounded weird. No offense to Indiana's state capital, but I never pictured it as a vacation spot.
So I was half right, or half wrong, on my picks in the conference championship games. I got the Pats right, but went against my gut feeling and picked the Niners over Los Gigantes.
Insert Random Thought 3 here: Oh well. If I were a baseball player with a .500 average, I'd be a lock for Cooperstown, yes?
Who will win SB 46, Pats or Giants? Do I dare pick against Los Gigantes again? But how can I possibly defy the Evil Empire?
Insert Random Thought 4 here: In this remake, Pats coach Bill Belichick is cast as "The Emperor" and Tom Brady plays "Darth Vader." Cue the heavy, electronic breathing and the dogs barking the "Imperial March" theme, please.
Okay, hang on, let me flip a coin on this one. Arrgh! It stood on end.
All right, here goes. The Giants are on a roll, yeah, but I feel drawn to the dark side and the Pats. So I guess I'm picking New England by, let's say, three points, 20-17.
But I've been wrong before ... a lot.
Insert Random Thoughts 5 and 6 here: Why in the world did I slip into the "Star Wars" schtick? And did you see that number 3 thing pop in there again? Hmm.
Since then, I've watched el gran juego in fits and starts, witnessing more than less of each contest; although I did fall asleep or head to bed early at least a couple of times. Prior to the Bucs' win in '03, I never missed a down of a super bowl.
So, since my team has its own Lombardi Trophy in the display case at One Buc Place, have I become ambivalent toward what is now America's pastime? I guess I have.
But why? The past eight super bowl games have been pretty good contests, with only three of the eight decided by more than six points. New England, the NFL's version of the Evil Empire (see New York Yankees), has been involved in three downright dandy Super Bowls since 2004. The Pats beat both Carolina in SB 38 and Philadelphia in SB 39 by three points, and lost to the Giants by three points in SB 42.
Insert Random Thought 1 here: This game is brought to you by the number 3 and the letters N, B and C.
It's been amusing over the past week to watch all the football pundits weigh in and make predictions about this game featuring the Pats and the New York Football Giants. There's been a lot of solid acting going on as these guys pretended to really care about the game while enjoying their vacation in Indianapolis.
The really funny thing was that the Peyton Manning-Jim Irsay soap opera was the dominant story during the week. Sorry Brother Eli. On top of that, Tom Brady's supermodel wife Gisele Bundchen has grabbed more air time than her hubby or Brother Eli, and she hasn't said a word.
Insert Random Thought 2 here: Wait, vacation in Indianapolis? That just sounded weird. No offense to Indiana's state capital, but I never pictured it as a vacation spot.
So I was half right, or half wrong, on my picks in the conference championship games. I got the Pats right, but went against my gut feeling and picked the Niners over Los Gigantes.
Insert Random Thought 3 here: Oh well. If I were a baseball player with a .500 average, I'd be a lock for Cooperstown, yes?
Who will win SB 46, Pats or Giants? Do I dare pick against Los Gigantes again? But how can I possibly defy the Evil Empire?
Insert Random Thought 4 here: In this remake, Pats coach Bill Belichick is cast as "The Emperor" and Tom Brady plays "Darth Vader." Cue the heavy, electronic breathing and the dogs barking the "Imperial March" theme, please.
Okay, hang on, let me flip a coin on this one. Arrgh! It stood on end.
All right, here goes. The Giants are on a roll, yeah, but I feel drawn to the dark side and the Pats. So I guess I'm picking New England by, let's say, three points, 20-17.
But I've been wrong before ... a lot.
Insert Random Thoughts 5 and 6 here: Why in the world did I slip into the "Star Wars" schtick? And did you see that number 3 thing pop in there again? Hmm.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Another second chance ... again
I enjoy the film "Groundhog Day" for a variety of reasons.
No. 1: Bill Murray is hilarious and does a great job. He's one of those guys, you know the one, that's just plain funny. You know he's going to do or say something funny when he walks into the room. You can tell just by the look on his face. Plus, about the only time I watch golf is to see Murray in one of those celebrity pro-am tournaments. Now that's some funny stuff, right there.
No. 2: It's set in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Not filmed in Punxy, mind you. It was filmed somewhere in Illinois, I think. But just the fact that Punxsutawney, that picturesque little hamlet in western Penns-a-vania, becomes the media capital of the U.S. for a little while on one day each year is fabulous, just fabulous. And all because of an old European tale that said that a rodent, or badger, or sacred bear, could predict the weather.
Sacred bear? Uh, yeah, I got nothin'.
No. 3: Ultimately, "Groundhog Day" is a story about second chances. A lot of second chances.
I'm all about second chances.
Actually, I guess we're all about second chances. No one is perfect, well, except for that one guy or girl, you know them. Anyway, we all mistakes, blow it, crash and burn, implode, explode, drop the ball, take one on the chin, etc. It's a part of life.
I have definitely done all of the above at one time or another in my 44 years on this big blue marble. I especially don't enjoy taking one on the chin, though. It usually leaves a mark. Ouch. Not cool.
But I'm thankful that despite all of my failures, shortcomings, missteps, bad decisions, really bad decisions, angry words, bad deeds, and, yeah, more really, really bad decisions, that God has seen fit in His mercy and grace to grant me more than just one second chance.
The Bible is full of second chance stories. One is found in the book of Jonah. Actually, there are two second chance stories found in Jonah.
The first is in relation to Jonah himself. The Lord calls him to "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me” (Jonah 1:2). But instead of going to Nineveh as the Lord called him to do, Jonah jumped on a ship headed in the opposite direction.
Next came the whale, or fish, prepared by the Lord for Jonah and, after being puked up on a beach, the prophet got back on track and headed to Nineveh. Jonah took the message of the Lord to the city, the people repented (second chance granted by God) and the Lord spared the city from its impending destruction.
Happy ending, right, just like "Groundhog Day"? For Nineveh, yes, but not necessarily for Jonah the prophet.
He never wanted to go to Nineveh in the first place and after the folks there repented and the Lord spared the city (Jonah 3), Jonah was apparently not a happy camper. And he let God know he wasn't happy in Jonah 4.
The Bible doesn't detail what happened to Jonah following his dialogue with God in the final verses of Chapter 4, so we don't know what kind of decision Jonah came to after his talk with the Lord. I hope he saw the error of his ways and found forgiveness from God, another second chance.
I'm thankful for all the second chances that the Lord has afforded me. My daily prayer is that I will continue to wise up and walk on the path that God has laid out for me instead of trying to live life on my own and cut my own path through the woods.
To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the woods.
No. 1: Bill Murray is hilarious and does a great job. He's one of those guys, you know the one, that's just plain funny. You know he's going to do or say something funny when he walks into the room. You can tell just by the look on his face. Plus, about the only time I watch golf is to see Murray in one of those celebrity pro-am tournaments. Now that's some funny stuff, right there.
No. 2: It's set in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Not filmed in Punxy, mind you. It was filmed somewhere in Illinois, I think. But just the fact that Punxsutawney, that picturesque little hamlet in western Penns-a-vania, becomes the media capital of the U.S. for a little while on one day each year is fabulous, just fabulous. And all because of an old European tale that said that a rodent, or badger, or sacred bear, could predict the weather.
Sacred bear? Uh, yeah, I got nothin'.
No. 3: Ultimately, "Groundhog Day" is a story about second chances. A lot of second chances.
I'm all about second chances.
Actually, I guess we're all about second chances. No one is perfect, well, except for that one guy or girl, you know them. Anyway, we all mistakes, blow it, crash and burn, implode, explode, drop the ball, take one on the chin, etc. It's a part of life.
I have definitely done all of the above at one time or another in my 44 years on this big blue marble. I especially don't enjoy taking one on the chin, though. It usually leaves a mark. Ouch. Not cool.
But I'm thankful that despite all of my failures, shortcomings, missteps, bad decisions, really bad decisions, angry words, bad deeds, and, yeah, more really, really bad decisions, that God has seen fit in His mercy and grace to grant me more than just one second chance.
The Bible is full of second chance stories. One is found in the book of Jonah. Actually, there are two second chance stories found in Jonah.
The first is in relation to Jonah himself. The Lord calls him to "Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before Me” (Jonah 1:2). But instead of going to Nineveh as the Lord called him to do, Jonah jumped on a ship headed in the opposite direction.
Next came the whale, or fish, prepared by the Lord for Jonah and, after being puked up on a beach, the prophet got back on track and headed to Nineveh. Jonah took the message of the Lord to the city, the people repented (second chance granted by God) and the Lord spared the city from its impending destruction.
Happy ending, right, just like "Groundhog Day"? For Nineveh, yes, but not necessarily for Jonah the prophet.
He never wanted to go to Nineveh in the first place and after the folks there repented and the Lord spared the city (Jonah 3), Jonah was apparently not a happy camper. And he let God know he wasn't happy in Jonah 4.
The Bible doesn't detail what happened to Jonah following his dialogue with God in the final verses of Chapter 4, so we don't know what kind of decision Jonah came to after his talk with the Lord. I hope he saw the error of his ways and found forgiveness from God, another second chance.
I'm thankful for all the second chances that the Lord has afforded me. My daily prayer is that I will continue to wise up and walk on the path that God has laid out for me instead of trying to live life on my own and cut my own path through the woods.
To be honest, I'm not a big fan of the woods.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Lessons from the early believers
And with many other words he (Peter) testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
In Acts 2:44-45, the Bible relates the following: "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need."
It's an easy section of scripture to sort of read by right over as you head towards the marvelous accounts of the apostles' missionary journeys and a myriad of miracles, but it struck me at the time and still rings in my mind, causing me to ask several questions of myself. First and foremost is, do I possess the faith that the first followers of Christ had? It appears to have been a faith so deep and strong that they seemed to have no problem selling everything they owned and sharing the proceeds with their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Is that something that I could do? Do I have the faith to do that? Is that even possible given the culture in which we live in America? Is it possible in our church culture?
The depth of their fellowship was also incredible, as detailed in Acts 2:46-47: "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."
Two things stand out to me in verses 46-47: "simplicity of heart" and "having favor with all the people." I allow so many things to complicate my life and battle for my heart. Like my brothers and sisters in Acts, I long to enjoy a true "simplicity of heart."
And the fact that those early believers found "favor with all the people" also amazed me. Perhaps it was their simplicity of heart and overall lifestyle that was so appealing to those around them.
Finally, what is most encouraging about this passage from Acts is found in the last phrase of verse 47: "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Those early believers planted the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, watered it, and God gave the increase on a daily basis. Amen!
Father God, may we rediscover the faith of those first followers of Jesus Christ, live our lives daily according to your word, and, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Amen.
So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
-- Acts 2:40-47
A few years back when I was teaching a college and career Sunday school class, we studied the book of Acts. It was more of a survey than an in depth study, to be honest.In Acts 2:44-45, the Bible relates the following: "Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need."
It's an easy section of scripture to sort of read by right over as you head towards the marvelous accounts of the apostles' missionary journeys and a myriad of miracles, but it struck me at the time and still rings in my mind, causing me to ask several questions of myself. First and foremost is, do I possess the faith that the first followers of Christ had? It appears to have been a faith so deep and strong that they seemed to have no problem selling everything they owned and sharing the proceeds with their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Is that something that I could do? Do I have the faith to do that? Is that even possible given the culture in which we live in America? Is it possible in our church culture?
The depth of their fellowship was also incredible, as detailed in Acts 2:46-47: "So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."
Two things stand out to me in verses 46-47: "simplicity of heart" and "having favor with all the people." I allow so many things to complicate my life and battle for my heart. Like my brothers and sisters in Acts, I long to enjoy a true "simplicity of heart."
And the fact that those early believers found "favor with all the people" also amazed me. Perhaps it was their simplicity of heart and overall lifestyle that was so appealing to those around them.
Finally, what is most encouraging about this passage from Acts is found in the last phrase of verse 47: "And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved." Those early believers planted the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, watered it, and God gave the increase on a daily basis. Amen!
Father God, may we rediscover the faith of those first followers of Jesus Christ, live our lives daily according to your word, and, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." Amen.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Encouraged by baptism
God granted me the privilege of experiencing a real "wow" moment on Sunday evening.
Five people were baptized at the conclusion of our Sunday evening worship service; three kids and two adults. It was truly an emotional time.
The kids included siblings -- brother and sister -- and another little boy. Our pastor referred to the kids as "little brother" and "little sister," which brought some tears to my eyes. I'm sure both sets of parents felt the same emotions as I did, although probably much, much stronger.
Witnessing these baptisms also caused me to think of my own little guy, my son Joel. While we have shared the gospel with Joel and explained it to him, he has not yet expressed faith in Jesus Christ. We keep praying and will keep sharing the gospel with him.
In the week leading up to the baptismal service, we talked with Joel about what baptism is and what it means. He asked about it since his usual Sunday evening kids program was postponed this week due to the baptismal service.
All week long the verse from Proverbs 22:6 kept nagging at me. It reads, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
I didn't realize why that verse kept coming to my mind until Friday. My wife, Jolene, received a phone call from Joel's teacher that afternoon saying that he and several other students had caused a ruckus in class on Thursday and Joel had gotten himself into more trouble on Friday.
After hanging up with my wife, I headed to Joel's school to speak with his teacher and principals to get the scoop on what happened. It was a good talk. We really appreciate his teacher and the principals; good people.
When we got home, Joel and I had a long talk about his little "adventure."
Part of our conversation included me having the chance to share two verses of scripture with him: Proverbs 22:6 and Colossians 3:20.
I explained that in Proverbs 22:6, God is telling parents that their responsibility is to teach their kids how to live the way God wants them to live.
After explaining the Proverbs verse to Joel, we read Colossians 3:20, which states, "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."
We talked about obedience and what that means. We talked about being obedient to God and how to please God. We talked about the importance of being obedient to his parents and teachers and other people that Daddy and Mommy trust to watch over him. We also talked about the fact that he would need to be disciplined for his disobedience at school.
There were a lot of tears, but it was a good time.
Which leads me back to Sunday evening's baptismal service.
Our pastor explained that baptism is a sign that believers have committed to being obedient to Jesus Christ by placing their faith in Him as Savior. Seeing those three kids express their faith in Christ and obedience to him publicly through baptism was indeed encouraging.
So we will keep trying to practice what Proverbs 22:6 mandates by explaining the gospel of Jesus Christ to Joel and keep praying that he will place his trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. And we look forward to the day when Joel will -- like those three kids at church on Sunday evening -- publicly express his faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to Jesus in the waters of baptism.
Five people were baptized at the conclusion of our Sunday evening worship service; three kids and two adults. It was truly an emotional time.
The kids included siblings -- brother and sister -- and another little boy. Our pastor referred to the kids as "little brother" and "little sister," which brought some tears to my eyes. I'm sure both sets of parents felt the same emotions as I did, although probably much, much stronger.
Witnessing these baptisms also caused me to think of my own little guy, my son Joel. While we have shared the gospel with Joel and explained it to him, he has not yet expressed faith in Jesus Christ. We keep praying and will keep sharing the gospel with him.
In the week leading up to the baptismal service, we talked with Joel about what baptism is and what it means. He asked about it since his usual Sunday evening kids program was postponed this week due to the baptismal service.
All week long the verse from Proverbs 22:6 kept nagging at me. It reads, "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."
I didn't realize why that verse kept coming to my mind until Friday. My wife, Jolene, received a phone call from Joel's teacher that afternoon saying that he and several other students had caused a ruckus in class on Thursday and Joel had gotten himself into more trouble on Friday.
After hanging up with my wife, I headed to Joel's school to speak with his teacher and principals to get the scoop on what happened. It was a good talk. We really appreciate his teacher and the principals; good people.
When we got home, Joel and I had a long talk about his little "adventure."
Part of our conversation included me having the chance to share two verses of scripture with him: Proverbs 22:6 and Colossians 3:20.
I explained that in Proverbs 22:6, God is telling parents that their responsibility is to teach their kids how to live the way God wants them to live.
After explaining the Proverbs verse to Joel, we read Colossians 3:20, which states, "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."
We talked about obedience and what that means. We talked about being obedient to God and how to please God. We talked about the importance of being obedient to his parents and teachers and other people that Daddy and Mommy trust to watch over him. We also talked about the fact that he would need to be disciplined for his disobedience at school.
There were a lot of tears, but it was a good time.
Which leads me back to Sunday evening's baptismal service.
Our pastor explained that baptism is a sign that believers have committed to being obedient to Jesus Christ by placing their faith in Him as Savior. Seeing those three kids express their faith in Christ and obedience to him publicly through baptism was indeed encouraging.
So we will keep trying to practice what Proverbs 22:6 mandates by explaining the gospel of Jesus Christ to Joel and keep praying that he will place his trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. And we look forward to the day when Joel will -- like those three kids at church on Sunday evening -- publicly express his faith in Jesus Christ and obedience to Jesus in the waters of baptism.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Now that's funny ... at least to me
I have an odd sense of humor. Things that aren't funny to many people, I find hilarious. I'm the guy in the theater who inexplicably laughs out loud during the credits. You know him. If it's not me personally, it's my twin -- possibly evil, so look out.
Anyway, it's Saturday evening and I'm watching TV with my wife and son, and I bring up the on-screen guide to see what else is on besides the NHL All-Star Skills Competition. Now, I have nothing against the NHL All-Star Skills Competition. I'm a hockey fan. It's pretty amazing to see what those guys can do with a galvanized tree branch and a piece of frozen rubber.
Wow! Henrik Sedin of Vancouver just pinged the post of a 12-inch wide goal three times. He should get more points for that than for actually scoring.
Sorry. Easily distracted.
Okay, so back to the on-screen guide. I'm looking through our network channels and see "Figure Skating" on our two NBC affiliates. I'll pass, thanks. Then I scroll down to our ABC affiliate and notice that the American Broadcasting Company is running the Will Ferrell and Jon Heder classic, "Blades of Glory."
Snicker. Snort. Bahahahahahaha!
Just in case you're not familiar with it, "Blades of Glory" is a ridiculous film (See Ferrell and Heder) about two male figure skaters who are banned from singles competition. They then team up to compete in doubles skating. Yeah.
Get it? ABC running a parody about figure skating opposite an actual figure skating competition?
Now that's funny. Well, at least it is to me.
All right then.
Sorry.
I'm leaving now.
Have a good evening.
P.S.
Don't worry, my wife didn't find it funny, either, so you're in good company. She claims she chuckled, but she's just patronizing me, in Merriam-Webster definition 2 fashion.
Anyway, it's Saturday evening and I'm watching TV with my wife and son, and I bring up the on-screen guide to see what else is on besides the NHL All-Star Skills Competition. Now, I have nothing against the NHL All-Star Skills Competition. I'm a hockey fan. It's pretty amazing to see what those guys can do with a galvanized tree branch and a piece of frozen rubber.
Wow! Henrik Sedin of Vancouver just pinged the post of a 12-inch wide goal three times. He should get more points for that than for actually scoring.
Sorry. Easily distracted.
Okay, so back to the on-screen guide. I'm looking through our network channels and see "Figure Skating" on our two NBC affiliates. I'll pass, thanks. Then I scroll down to our ABC affiliate and notice that the American Broadcasting Company is running the Will Ferrell and Jon Heder classic, "Blades of Glory."
Snicker. Snort. Bahahahahahaha!
Just in case you're not familiar with it, "Blades of Glory" is a ridiculous film (See Ferrell and Heder) about two male figure skaters who are banned from singles competition. They then team up to compete in doubles skating. Yeah.
Get it? ABC running a parody about figure skating opposite an actual figure skating competition?
Now that's funny. Well, at least it is to me.
All right then.
Sorry.
I'm leaving now.
Have a good evening.
P.S.
Don't worry, my wife didn't find it funny, either, so you're in good company. She claims she chuckled, but she's just patronizing me, in Merriam-Webster definition 2 fashion.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Deeper devotion, deeper love
This week at church, our pastor challenged us to commit ourselves to gaining a deeper understanding of and a deeper love for the Word of God. He reminded us that the only way to accomplish both of these spiritual goals is to pour ourselves into the Bible daily and allow the Word of God to pour itself into our hearts and minds daily.
Psalm 119:97-104 (NKJV)
Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the ancients,
Because I keep Your precepts.
I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
I have not departed from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me.
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.
Daily reading of scripture and daily meditation on scripture is something with which I struggle. I find myself distracted by a variety of things, even good things, that battle for my time and attention. But that is precisely why I must commit myself to reading and meditating on the Word of God daily, because of the many things that compete for my time and attention.
So how can I face those things and determine which should be priorities in my life and which should be pushed aside? I cannot, unless I have studied them under the microscope of the Word of God. My prayer and my commitment must be that of the author of Psalm 119, who devoted his life to meditating on the Word of God, hiding God's word in his heart and letting it pour out of his life daily.
Psalm 119:9-16 (NKJV)
How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
Blessed are You, O LORD!
Teach me Your statutes.
With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
Psalm 119:97-104 (NKJV)
Oh, how I love Your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the ancients,
Because I keep Your precepts.
I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
That I may keep Your word.
I have not departed from Your judgments,
For You Yourself have taught me.
How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Through Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.
Daily reading of scripture and daily meditation on scripture is something with which I struggle. I find myself distracted by a variety of things, even good things, that battle for my time and attention. But that is precisely why I must commit myself to reading and meditating on the Word of God daily, because of the many things that compete for my time and attention.
So how can I face those things and determine which should be priorities in my life and which should be pushed aside? I cannot, unless I have studied them under the microscope of the Word of God. My prayer and my commitment must be that of the author of Psalm 119, who devoted his life to meditating on the Word of God, hiding God's word in his heart and letting it pour out of his life daily.
Psalm 119:9-16 (NKJV)
How can a young man cleanse his way?
By taking heed according to Your word.
With my whole heart I have sought You;
Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments!
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
Blessed are You, O LORD!
Teach me Your statutes.
With my lips I have declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.
I will meditate on Your precepts,
And contemplate Your ways.
I will delight myself in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.
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