Stories and other stuff

I'm thankful today for a day off.  It saved me some sick leave.  I've been home for a day and a half, trying to feel better.  I did venture out today.  I had to run to the Commissary (boy am I thankful for that  benefit) to pick up a few items for the holidays. We have a holiday tradition of sharing.  It's something I started years ago to teach my children the true meaning of being thankful.  I don't know if it's something they still do with their mothers, but I hope so.  It's also something I'd encourage you to remember as you do your holiday shopping.  There are so many who are without.  Please remember the food banks or a neighbor who's in need.  Is there an extra seat at your table for the holiday meals? That's a tradition I learned from my wife.  Even though she's not here, it's something special I've learned and it makes our holiday so much better when we share it with friends or co-workers.  I've invited a frien...

Yesterday, I shared with you a story about stumbling.  I did.  I used some harsh words (no cursing, but truthful words in a harsh tone) that after reflection I felt were not appropriate on Sunday.  I wanted to share with you the followup things that happened yesterday. This is no word of a lie, and this really happened.  But to tell a story, I have to tell a story just to let you know I had no way of knowing, you know? I spend my lunch period at work listening to a radio program I enjoy on BBN (99.5 f.m. or bbnradio.org online).  The program is called "Dynamic Living" and is a Bible study program.  On Fridays I cannot listen to the program because we go to lunch a half hour earlier and we had a group lunch on Friday.  That's the setup: The topic of the program this week, and this is no word of a lie, how Christians should react to those Christians, especially those in leadership positions, who have fallen as a result of being human and sinning. ...

I had an opportunity to learn a very important lesson yesterday; as always it was the hard way.  Maybe it was because I tried to quit smoking over the weekend (again!) or maybe it was that everything that has been taking a toll on me finally got to me.  Maybe it was because I'm just human and I was in a bad mood. I don't know, but by the end of the night I had to do something I don't like to do.  I had to pray for some forgiveness. I don't have to share this with you but I thought it was important for two reasons:  The first one is that folks have this perception of Christians and when we fail, I think those around us who don't believe point to a Christian's shortcomings as an excuse to judge and not believe.  It's kind of like "If you're a Christian, I don't want any part of that".   I had a conversation with someone last night that turned into me telling the truth about a matter that affected me, and in doing so, I suppose I didn't ...

I did something I've been meaning to do for a very long time today.  I went to Sunday school at church before the worship service.  I'm glad I did.  They're studying the book of First Corinthians today and I learned much from just being there that I didn't know. What I did do though was not set my clock back.  I woke up and thought it was 8:45, so I kind of hurried and got cleaned up, shaved, and found some clothes for church.  As I was getting ready to walk out the door, Miss June reminded me of what time it actually was. I quit smoking on Friday.  I'm really going to try and here's why:  I often talk of the random things that happen in my life and it's been kind of a random thing about smoking the last three weeks.  From comments from a stranger that were, well kind of strange, to just comments about it, not anyone preaching to me about quitting, and a strong conviction from within that I needed to stop helped make the decision.  The re...

I got a phone call from one of my friends the other day.  After chatting some, we finally got to the purpose of the call.  It seems I hadn't been paying enough attention to my fantasy football team and the message came across loud and clear.  Participate or you're out of the league! Fair.  But in my defense, I am in fourth place.  I meant to do something about my team last Sunday morning but I was so brain-dead from the road trip that I forgot. Our fantasy league is a bit cutthroat.  In fact if you don't finish in the top eight or so, you get demoted out of the league.  There used to be a lot of guys that wanted to get into our league.  I won it one year, and the next made a very unfortunate draft pick or two and lost badly enough to get kicked out.  I got back in on a sympathy pick when someone else dropped out. I don't see my friends anymore because of my work schedule and the distance between O-town and Salt Lake.  I'm a bit of ...

Hi gang, I had planned the other day to tell you a story I heard on a radio talk show I heard while driving home from Indiana last weekend but I heard something very profound on the radio yesterday that made me change my mind. I talk often about listening to the Bible Broadcasting Network (shameless plug) and I heard one of their spots talk about why they don't have talk shows as a part of their programming.  They said it's not important for Christians to know what other people think about issues.  It's more important for them to focus on their Christian walk.  I don't think that means we shouldn't stay informed about the things happening in our government, but it's more along the lines of the "be in the world, not of  the world" way Christians are called upon to live.  We should have opinions about things but along the same lines, there are other things I can share with you rather than ranting about politics.  So today is about really bad old movi...

I haven't shared a story in a while of how God works in my life.  I do have one I can share today though.  It's just one of those typical, random little stories that happen to me frequently.  Here we go: So, there I was just a little bit east of Kansas City and kinda be-bopping to the radio when this little voice inside says to me.  You need to check the oil in this car. OK, good idea.  I know she uses a little bit so I looked at the gas gauge and had plenty.  Thought I'd just do it at the next fill up.  WRONG! Same voice, just a couple of seconds later:  YOU NEED TO DO IT NOW!  It wasn't a shout, just that overwhelming feeling that if I didn't do it soon, I was gonna regret it, so I'm gonna take the next exit.  Not more than a second or two later I see a billboard for a truck stop.  It was at exit 101.  In Missouri, there is a mile marker every 2/10 of a mile so it wasn't hard to figure out I was at mile marker 98. ...