Who's Responsible? Not Me!

One question I want to ask: Who’s responsible? That’s all I want to know. Can someone please step up and answer that question for me?

The United States Senate passed the governmental bailout yesterday and the House of Representatives will probably do the same today (Don’t they remember, off chance, that the US Constitution says that all such bills must originate in the House, not the other way around—but why let the Constitution get in the way of this garbage.).

I’m really torn on what the right decision is here, but the question I asked earlier is the burning question at this point. Who’s responsible? Should we seek to blame Wall Street for this? Should we seek to blame the CEOs who received golden parachutes? Should we blame congress for this mess? How about presidents Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter, or even Jefferson or Washington? Who’s responsible? No one so far.

Maybe an even better question would be: will no one take ownership of this mess and simply say, “We blew it!” Anybody? Anywhere? Not happening yet.

Now, with our government coming to the rescue to bail out all of those involved in this latest mess, we are just beginning to see people lining up to blame everyone else for the mess they are in.

A group named Which? is a London-based watchdog group. They have blamed Tony the Tiger, and Snap, Crackle, and Pop as “cartoon villains” for failing to promote healthy eating in children.

Other well-loved characters under fire include Coco the Coco Pops monkey and Quicky the Nesquik Bunny.

The characters were named in a Which? report for not helping with the fight against childhood obesity and poor diet. Out of 19 children’s food company cartoon favorites, not one was found to promote healthier products, researchers for the consumer campaign group found.

The Cartoon League Table was compiled by Which? after a survey found that two-thirds of people believe food companies should not be allowed to use popular characters to advertise unhealthy food.

Folks, let’s get real. Is there any one in our country that is being forced to eat these cereals? Are parents being forced to purchase these cereals as they walk down the WalMart aisle? I was in WalMart this morning and didn’t see that taking place. Maybe I missed it. Where is the responsibility of the parent? Shouldn’t it be parents who make decisions about what they feed their children, not some watchdog group.



Or, let’s look at this story. It comes from Milwaukee. Oprah Winfrey’s mother says she shouldn’t have to pay a nearly $156,000 debt to a high-end fashion store because store officials shouldn’t have extended credit to her.

Read that again. The store shouldn’t have extended her credit, so it is their fault for her running up at $156,000 debt! Yes, that’s what her countersuit says!

Here’s the story. Valentina Inc. alleges that Vernita Lee (Oprah’s mother) of Milwaukee racked up $155,547 in purchases and interest as of July 1. The company sued, saying Lee fell behind in minimum monthly payments of $2,000.

Lee filed a counterclaim Friday contending that Valentina took advantage of her “lack of knowledge, ability, and-or capacity” when creating her credit account.

I am just about sick after reading this story! Valentina is responsible for her debt because they allowed her to charge. Give me a break!

I see the lawyers lining up now. If I buy a car, drive it for 50,000 miles and really can’t afford to keep it up, I should be suing the car company that sold it to me. It’s their fault.

If I don’t get a raise at work, I should sue my college for not providing a proper education to me. It’s not my fault.

If I get a speeding ticket on the way to work, I should sue the car maker because they built that car to go that fast. If they had built it to go slower, I wouldn’t have gotten a ticket. It’s not my fault.

If I buy a house I can’t afford, furnish it with furniture that I can’t pay for, then obviously it is someone else’s fault. Not mine.

How have we gotten to this point? How have we sunk this low? I’m talking about all of us. Republicans. Democrats. Independents.

Who’s responsible? I am. You are.

What can we do about it?

Thursday's A+ Award of the Day

Today’s A+ Award goes to a Ugandan coffee farmer. Here’s his story.

J.J. Keki is the founder and director of Peace Kawomera. Mr. Keki wanted to unite the Christians, Jews, and Muslims in his community. His plan? He decided to form a co-op to sell the coffee they raised and to demonstrate peace to the world.

His neighbors were excited and pleased with his plan. So, they named the company Mirembe Peace Kawomera. Mirembe means peace and Kawomera means that their coffee is quality coffee.

That’s the story behind Mirembe Kawomera Coffee. It all started with J.J. Keki’s dream. J.J. Keki hit the streets, asking Muslim, Christian, and Jewish neighbors to put aside their idealogical differences and create a great coffee with an even better cause.

At this point, Peace Kawomera Cooperative has over 750 members. Because of their collective power, they now sell directly to Thanksgiving Coffee Company and receive four times what they previously made. J.J.’s work has started a chain reaction in the community, as farmers are able to send their children to school, save money, and reinvest.

It’s positive news indeed that something as simple as a cup of coffee can break down religious barriers and help a Ugandan community thrive.

So. Mr. J.J. Keki. You receive today’s A+ Award! Way to go J.J. Way to go!

Wednesday's A+ Award of the Day

Today’s A+ Award goes to Mr. George Hood. I’m not sure exactly where Mr. Hood lives, all I know is that he lives in Illinois. I know. Big state. But, anyway, Illinois.

For 85 hours recently, George Hood focused on nothing but pedaling his bike. He was allowed a five minute break for each hour of pedaling completed. (In my opinion, not nearly enough!) However, other than that, he was on a mission to pedal and pedal and pedal some more.

What he was racing toward wasn’t really any particular location; after all, he was pedaling on a stationary bike.

What he was after, however, was a successful fundraising drive for the Illinois chapter of COPS, an organization specifically designed to help the families of slain police officers.

He raised $25,000 for COPS!

A+ George Hood. A+.

What a great idea and a great accomplishment. I haven’t done much lately to show my appreciation to those who protect me day in and day out. I need to find something to do for them.

'Nuff Said...

Tuesday's A+ Award of the Day

Today’s A+ Award goes to Olga Murray. Olga is 83 years old and lives in Nepal.

Many years ago, Olga Murray had a big plan. She had been volunteering in Nepal for several years when she found out that in a nearby area, poor farmers would sell their daughters as slaves to wealthier families at the cost of $35-$75. The families of the would-be slaves felt they had no alternative–without selling their daughters, they might starve or worse yet, die.

Olga Murray knew she had to come up with a solution quickly. As she looked around the country, she recognized the importance of pork in the communities. She quickly realized that a pig could easily fetch the amount of money that the families needed to survive.

In 1989, Olga began going door to door, offering the poor family free piglets in exchange for keeping their daughters safe and at home. In addition, she offered to pay for the girl’s education. Out of 37 Nepalese families she approached, 32 took the offer.

Now, 19 years later, Olga Murray and her organization have continued their offer. As a result, more than 3,000 girls have been given the opportunity to remain at home with their families as well as flourishing in a solid educational program.

Som Paneru, Olga’s business partner said, “The local schools are full of former kamlaris (girl slaves) and the size of the classrooms are swollen, and girls are outnumbering boys. We’ve already built over 35 new classrooms, but the need is still not fully met.”

Olga said, “At rallies, or on the radio, the grown women promise out loud that their little sisters will never, ever go through what they did, and that’s when you start to cry.”

The chances are slim to none that Olga Murray will read this blog! That doesn’t matter! Olga Murray deserves the A+ Award for the Day!

And, I think all of us who do read these words need to take a few minutes to search our souls for what contributions we are making to improve our world.

A+ Olga Murray. A+.

Drumroll Please...

Last Thursday, I asked our readers to share which blogs they must read each day. You know the ones. The ones you can’t miss, if you do, your day just isn’t complete.

I wasn’t surprised by most of the blogs, some of which I read every day as well. A few of the blogs I had never heard of.

Take a moment if you have time and check out these blogs that came highly recommended from fellow readers of this blog:

www.ragamuffinsoul.com

www.flowerdust.net

http://swerve.lifechurch.tv/

www.texasinafrica.blogspot.com/

www.kevinbussey.com/

www.rickboyne.com

http://www.outsidethebox.blogspot.com/

http://withoutwax.tv/

www.bernardshuford.com

Do you have any further recommendations? I’m always looking for new sites, especially those that mean a lot to you.

And, don’t forget to click on the sites on my blogroll. In my opinion, those are some of the best on the Net!

Monday's A+ Award of the Day

Attorney Willie Gary of Fort Pierce, Florida, gets the A+ Award of the Day.

And, by association, all lawyers get a pass today on the telling of any lawyer jokes! This is only a one-day pass though! Tomorrow, they will be fair game again! :)

Last Wednesday, Willie Gary and radio station X102.3 teamed up to give away thousands of gallons of free fuel to motorists. Cars snaked through the parking lot and out onto the street in front of the WalMart where the gas was given away.

Gary originally planned to give away 102 vouchers for gas, but ended up passing out more than 400!

It took several hours to get everyone through the line and off with their full tanks.

Mr. Gary said, “Just to help someone get gas to go to work, go pick up the kids or take the kids to school, and I have people saying to me, ‘I’ll be able to get my kids out of school tomorrow,’” Gary said. “You know it makes you feel good.”

Gary’s firm pumped 2,162 gallons of regular unleaded gas, worth more than $10,000.

What a great, positive, encouraging story! A+ Mr. Gary, A+

More to Life than Complaining

Claudia Mitchell was living a fairly normal life. In 2004, Claudia was an average college student. However, all of that changed when she had a motorcycle accident that left her disabled.

After the accident, doctors raced to reattach her arm but the operation proved to be unsuccessful. The doctors then provided a prosthetic arm in its place. Mitchell unfortunately had a great deal of adjustment difficulty. So, basically, the prosthetic arm was simply impossible for her to manage.

“It just sat on the shelf. It didn’t do anything,” said Mitchell.

That’s when Claudia read about a new, experimental nerve surgery developed by Dr. Todd Kuiken entitled “targeted reinnervation.” A robotic arm was to be implanted on her body—not controlled by her shoulder but by her thoughts.

Claudia immediately volunteered for the experimental procedure. The doctors took severed and dormant nerves in her shoulder and put them under a muscle in her chest. So, now when Claudia wants her arm to move, she puts the thought in her head first. This signal travels from her brain to the muscle in her chest. The chest muscle contracts and “lets tiny bits of electricity out.” These electric signals then go to an internal computer that decodes them and tells the artificial arm what to do—all in an instant!

“I have what I call my ‘eureka moments,’” Claudia said. “My stunned ‘I can’t believe I just did that’ moments. There are a lot of daily tasks that people don’t even think about being able to do that I can [do] now.”

Well, if I had any thoughts of complaining today, those thoughts are going to be put to some better use! Maybe I’ll get my lazy self up and get outside for the afternoon. Maybe I’ll go exercise. Maybe I’ll spend more time with my family today.

Who knows what all I’ll do today. One thing for sure, when I remember this story, complaining won’t be one of those things!

Lips Only for You

When it comes to smooching, Kirk Cameron only has lips for his wife.

The former star of the TV sitcom “Growing Pains” refused to kiss the actress who played his wife in his new movie “Fireproof,” he told the “Today” show this past Monday.

“I have a commitment not to kiss any other woman,” he told the morning show. So his real wife, actress Chelsea Noble, was the body double for the onscreen kiss.

“So when I’m kissing my wife, we’re actually husband and wife honoring marriage behind the scenes,” Cameron told “Today.”

The former child star became an evangelical Christian at 17 and is involved in The Way of the Master ministries.

What a positive message! What a great attitude to have about “his job” that could often involve kissing other women. His practice could help save some other Hollywood marriages! Remember the Brad Pitt story?

Lips only for his wife. Great testimony Kirk! It’s almost amazing this is newsworthy stuff, but then again, it is about the movie business!

To Do or To Don't, That is the Question

My wife and I have a busy weekend coming up this weekend.

Tomorrow night, we will be attending her high school reunion. She's somewhat excited about going--not completely, but trying to put on a good face about it. She hasn't seen most of these folks since she graduated!

Me? Well, I won't know anyone there but her. So, I'm sure I'll be the guy sitting over in the corner, with my diet coke or cup of coffee, smiling as people walk by, knowing that they will be thinking: "Who is this guy? Did he graduate with us? I don't remember him!"

Because of the busyness we know is coming, I've been updating my list. You know the list? Many of us create them. We create a list of all the things we need to do. Mow the grass. Run to WalMart. Get gas. Go to church. Trim the hedges. Cookout. Catch up on my reading. Etc. Etc. Etc.

So, I've been working on my list for this weekend. Here's what it looks like before I start.



Since this list is so helpful, I've been thinking about using another such list (the one below):



Be honest for a moment. Which of these lists get most of your time? Which list causes you the most heartburn and stress? Which one do you focus on more? I'll not ask you to tell me what the top "To Do" or "To Don't" would be on your list. But, think about it. Think hard.

In case you are curious (and I know you are), the top "To Do" item on my list is this: Spend as much time with my wife and son as possible.

My top "To Don't"? Don't waste time being negative!

Hair Today Gone Tomorrow

In honor of those with comb overs...Happy Friday!



For many years, I had a comb over, not a beard comb over mind you, but a regular comb over. You know what I'm talking about, the parting of the hair just above the ear and combing it over the top. Yes, I know that everyone else but me knew that I was bald. Yes, it was that obvious. But, I was in a major state of denial, to be honest. I guess it was the generation I grew up in. Hair was important! Baldness was not good! Hair was good. Just look at the big hair bands of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. How many bald drummers did you see? Nada. Bald lead singers? Zip. Bald guitarists? None.

Every time I see the commerical above, I laugh. While I was never tempted to comb over my beard, I was certainly tempted to try many other ways to hide the baldness. Finally, the reality hit me--admit it. Get over the vanity. Be bald. Celebrate how God made me. You don't have hair on top, quit trying to pretend you do! In simple words: Stop pretending.

In the end, that's a pretty good way to live your life. Just be who you are. Bald. Hair. Short. Tall. A little overweight. Blue eyed. Green eyes. Black hair. Curls or straight. Left handed or right handed.

Now, don't take this post to mean that you shouldn't exercise. Or eat right. Or take care of yourself physically. That would be shortsighted on your part. Or my part, if that's how I lived my life. It's one thing to take care of yourself so you are healthy. It's something completely different to pretend you are something you aren't.

My words of wisdom for today? Simple. Be yourself. Stop hiding behind whatever mask you've been hiding behind. Stop pretending to be someone you aren't.

What's keeping you today from being the person God made you to be? Is it something inside you? Or, is it something you've imposed upon yourself?

So, what's your comb over?

Thursday's Question of the Day

Besides this blog (of course), what blog is your favorite one to read every day? I'm talking about the one that if you don't read it, your day wouldn't be complete.

Wanted: Stress Ball; Needed Immediately

This week has been a challenging week. I won’t bore you with all of the details. Those don’t matter and most of you won’t care about the details anyway.

I know that some of you accidently came to this page—maybe you hit “Next Blog” at the top of your own blog site and you landed here! Today is your lucky day! Others of you visit my blog more regularly and you’ve come to expect a news story or relevant illustration from today’s world or maybe even a photograph of my son. None of that today. Still others of you are searching for the title: “Go to church or the devil will get you!” or “The World’s Largest Hamburger.” Yes, I’ve blogged about both of those subjects, just not today.

Let’s just say that today, you get the privilege of reading about a challenge that I am going through. I’ll do my best to keep the conversation (from this side) short and to the point.

My major challenge this week came on Monday when a co-worker of mine resigned from my team. Her departure will mean more work for several of us on our team. We will have to pick up her duties, field the questions that normally go her way, and plan for a transition that could run from six weeks to a year. Who knows at this point how long it will take to fill her position. That’s the nature of publishing. Jobs are hard to come by and qualified people to fill open jobs are even harder to find.

I don’t like challenges like this! I really don’t.

I’m not being selfish and thinking only of the extra work I will be called upon to do. I’m not afraid of extra work. I’ll do my fair share of it. Usually without complaining. Is this complaining?

What I really do hate is getting to know people and then watching as they leave. In a work environment like mine, you get to know people pretty well. We are a small company, so personalities are known, habits and hobbies, likes and dislikes, goals and dreams, hurts and pleasures—all known. All of those things are generally fair game in our work place. We know just about everyone’s comings and goings. That can be good. It can be bad. Right now, I’m seeing the bad. Someone I have invested much time and energy in is leaving.

Now, I’m happy for her. She will be moving to another area of our company, doing something that she very much enjoys and hopes to grow in. That’s good. I’m happy for that. But still. It leaves a hole in our work area. That’s bad.

You ever have days like that? If you allowed your selfish nature to come out, you would simply scream out in pain, frustration, or anxiety about what is happening around you. You feel out of control, unbalanced. You may not even know what step to take next. The road ahead is simply too dark to judge.

A life verse from Scripture that I’ve always followed is found in the Gospel of John. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

At this point, I don’t know all of the truth God is putting before me—I’m still searching for His truth in many ways. I’m searching for answers and ways to overcome doubt and fear. I wish I knew more. I wish I had the answers.

But, today, those answers and His truth seem to be eluding me. I’m seeking. Eventually, I’ll find it. Hopefully today.

If not today, then tomorrow.

If not then, as He desires.

Until then, got a stress ball I can borrow? Maybe two?

Is Seeing Believing?

He appears only at night. And always at the same spot: the caravan park fence opposite Shelly Brooks’ cafe in Port Germein township, South Australia. In fact, Shelly was the first person to see him, in 2000.

“I sort of sat there with my husband opposite me and said, ‘Jesus Christ’, and he said, ‘What’s the matter now?’ and I said, ‘Jesus Christ’,” explained Shelly. When Mr Brooks turned round, he saw Jesus Christ for himself, in a shadow cast on the fence by a streetlight and the branch of a tree.

Local resident Sue Perovic said: “It stands out as plain as the nose on your face. He’s got a crown of thorns and the beard and very, very piercing eyes.”

As hundreds of people booked into the caravan park and waited till dark each night to see the image, the local council, sensing a tourist boom, delayed the annual trimming of the tree casting the shadow.

At least Jesus seems to be good for tourism in Australia! Now, if we could only get Him to spend some time in Alabama, maybe our economy would be better.

I could have claimed that the shadow of Jesus was on my backyard fence, of the house that I currently have on the market! Would that help you in deciding to purchase my home from me?

Thoughts?

What You Talking About Willis?

Say it ain’t so! Sorry, can’t do that. If you can believe the news media, it is so.

Gary Coleman [Diff'rent Strokes fame] has been sued by a man who claims the actor punched him and ran into him with his truck in a Payson (Utah) bowling alley parking lot, causing knee, back, and neck injuries.

Colt Rushton, 24, of Spanish Fork, says he and Coleman got into an argument September 6, after he began taking pictures of the “Diff'rent Strokes” actor with a cell phone. [Now, if my name is Colt, do I really want it known that I was beat up by little Gary Coleman? Seriously!]

Coleman, who is now 40 years old [How can that be true?], was charged with misdemeanor reckless driving and disorderly conduct in Payson City Justice Court. A court clerk said Thursday there had been no notification that Coleman is represented by a lawyer.

In the civil lawsuit, filed Wednesday in 4th District Court, Rushton’s account of the confrontation said Coleman’s bodyguard, Paul Rohbock, told Rushton he would have to pay $20 per picture if he continued taking photos. [Probably a good idea—since Mr. Coleman has had such serious financial struggles in recent years.]

Rushton’s attorney, Dustin Lance, said Rushton stopped taking pictures, but when he later saw Coleman sitting in his truck close to the steering wheel, he thought it was funny and took another picture. [Well, Mr. Rushton, have you seen just how short Gary Coleman is? How else is he to reach the gas pedal?]

The lawsuit contends Rushton was attacked from behind by Rohbock or Coleman’s wife, Shannon Price [that’s bad form on her part, and Gary’s part—letting your wife do your fighting], and that his cell phone was taken away. The lawsuit also contends Coleman punched Rushton in the chest several times. [Have you seen Gary Coleman? Is Colt short? Or, does Gary Coleman take a two-foot ladder wherever he goes? After all, how did Gary Coleman reach Colt Rushton’s chest?]

You know, I don’t really mean to make fun of the situation, Colt Rushton, or even Gary Coleman. But come on folks, this is funny! I can’t really picture Gary Coleman going after someone—but again, he has had a troubled past and all kinds of legal and financial issues. So, I guess the charges could prove to be true.

How sad.

What Do You See?

Take a moment, look at the picture below. What do you see?

Are you sure?



Now, scroll down a little. Let me tell you what you really see.




This is an optical illusion. The picture isn't moving. These are sometimes called anamolus motion illusions. Because although the image isn't moving at all--it really isn't animated at all--it looks like it's moving like crazy.

What Constitutes a Church?

A Pennsylvania couple is fighting to maintain “a church” they run from a Huntingdon Township home. The problem with their fight is that local government officials say their “church” is really a raunchy swingers club where single men have to pay for access but women come for free.

John and Kim Ondrik say they worship nature at the Church for Spiritual Humanism. But midnight mass at the Spiritual Palace is on hold as the Rev. John and his wife fight for a variance to continue practicing their “religion” in a residential area just outside of Pittsburgh.

Opponents of his church, including neighbors and North Huntingdon Township officials, say what’s really behind those closed doors is a club called the “Swinger’s Palace.”

Township commissioner Richard Gray said it’s been an open secret that a swingers club has operated out of the two-story house since the 1970s, but they finally have the evidence to shut it down. [Are you concerned that it took 35+ years for them to gather enough evidence? Are you kidding me? What did it take for the government to do something—a disgruntled “swinger”?]

Gray said the dispute is not about church or sex—it’s about having a business operating in a residentially zoned area. “The mere fact that they were charging a mandatory fee to get in, in my opinion, would constitute a business,” he said.

An attorney representing John Ondrik said that members in the private church give a donation and aren’t charged to get inside the midnight masses, which typically take place on Friday and Saturday nights. [This might be further proof that what they are doing isn’t church—do any of know anyone who goes to church at midnight, on both Friday and Saturday nights?]

A law professor also weighed in on the matter: “You have a right to run a church in a residential area not because of your free exercise rights under the Constitution, but simply because churches are not primarily commercial,” said Bruce Ledewitz, a law professor at Duquesne University.
Ledewitz said the Ondriks might have a case if they can convince authorities they’re sincere about their religion and that they truly believe in their church.

This is an interesting case. Most of us attend or serve in churches that are located in neighborhoods. Many newer neighborhoods even include churches in the design of their new subdivisions. So, from that perspective, I don’t have a leg to stand on to complain about this issue.

However, if the evidence shows that more is going on than worship, then I’d have a problem. While I don’t support a swinger’s palace, no matter its location, a business has no place in a local neighborhood. If it is proven that this “church” is nothing more than a business, then they should be shut down or moved to another location.

What do you think?

Create A Caption

Let's all play along. Here's a picture of my son taken last Friday. Give it your best shot. What caption would you give to the photo?

Here Kitty Kitty

What most of us have known to be true, is on trial to be proved.

We should never be fooled by the pretty red bow that our cat is wearing. We should never be fooled by the soft purring sounds they make as we rub them.

Or so says notorious “self-defense” cat killer Joseph Petcka. Mr. Petcka took the witness stand in Manhattan last Thursday and described his victim—Norman, the orange house tabby—as a raging, rearing, growling banshee.

Petcka told jurors that Norman, his girlfriend'’ little kitty, brought on his own demise by attacking twice—maybe three times—that night in March 2007.

The tall, dashing, out-of-work actor spoke so dramatically about little Norman’s angry “stance”—and about how the cat “lunged” and “reared” and “threw me on my butt”—that for 90 minutes of testimony, it was almost possible to forget that Norman was fully declawed and weighed only 7 3/4 pounds. Did you read that? This man-killer weights less than 8 pounds and is totally declawed!

Mr. Petcka said, “Norman came and lunged at me, throwing me on my butt by the coffee table. I went down with my hands down toward Norman, and Norman reared around and bit into my hand, into my thumb area. I was screaming, ‘Uhhh! Norman! Get off of me! Uhhh’”

Now, let’s not lose site of this fact: Mr. Petcka, who is 37-years-old, and is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound former Mets minor league pitcher.

I’m sorry. I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but something sounds wrong with this story. I know cats have sharp teeth, I understand that. But, did this former minor league baseball player really have no other option but to kill the cat?

Seems to me that he could have just walked away. I’m pretty sure that would have made a better impression on his girlfriend. I don’t know that I know many pet owners who would just accept you killing their animal like this.

Then again, maybe the cat was a Yankee fan!

Searching for the Meaning of Worship

What is the state of worship today? What is the state of worship at your church? How about with you personally?

For too many people, worship has been captured by a tourist mind set. Let me explain that. For these people, worship is understood as a visit to an attractive site to be made when we have adequate leisure. We go as convenient, by our schedule, according to what fits our needs, desires, and wants. We simply “tour” what takes place.

For others, worship is just a weekly jaunt to church—no real meaning to it, just more of a ritual, something you have to do. It’s Sunday, you are supposed to be in church. If you aren’t, the devil will get you!

For others, worship means an occasional visit to a special service—Easter, Christmas, a holiday celebration, a special musical, etc. You know, large crowds, unfamiliar faces coming to soak up the specialness of the moment and season.

Some people, with a bent for Christian entertainment and sacred diversion, plan their lives around special events like retreats, rallies, and conferences. These people go to see a new personality, to hear a new truth, to get a new experience and so, somehow, expand their otherwise humdrum lives.

Isn’t it sad that we will try anything—until something else comes along?

Do any of those descriptions of worship describe your attitude toward worship? Your church’s attitudes?

A look at the original language of the Bible and the origin of the word in English helps us understand the meaning of worship. The primary Hebrew word for worship is Shachah—which means “to depress, i.e. prostrate (in homage to royalty or God): bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.”

There are three Greek words that describe worship. First, Proskuneo—meaning “to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand, to fawn or crouch to, homage (do reverence to, adore): worship.” That word occurs 59 times in the New Testament. It originally carried with it the idea of subjects falling down to kiss the ground before a king or kiss their feet.

Secondly, Sebomai—“to reverence, hold in awe.” This word is used 10 times in the New Testament.

Thirdly, Latreuo—“to render religious service of homage.” This word is used 21 times in the New Testament.

The word in the English language literally means to ascribe worth to something.

As you think about going to a service of worship today, whether you have yet to go or already been, do those words describe what you anticipate taking place or what took place? Or, was the activity of a worship service just that, an activity?

I hope you will spend some time in thinking about the genuine meaning of worship, both individually and corporately. I will be praying for you as you do.

Way to Go Bama!

Not braggin'...but it wasn't even close!

Alabama--49
Arkansas--14

Meeting with a Crazy Man

Iran’s President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, has challenged the United States presidential candidates to a debate when he is in New York for the U.N. General Assembly next week.

“I am ready for a debate with the U.S. presidential candidates over global issues in the presence of the media at the U.N. headquarters,” Ahmadinejad said at a press conference in Tehran. “I have no plans in my schedule to meet with U.S. politicians.” (As if U.S. politicians would really want to meet with him. Do you think they’ll be lining up to visit?)

“Last year, I said I was ready to meet with [President George W.] Bush. But now he is at the end of his term and [a meeting] will not impact our relations and future,” Ahmadinejad said.

So, do you think Mr. Obama or Mr. McCain will agree to meet with the crazy president of Iran?

My bets are no. Even though Obama has promised that he would negotiate with leaders of other countries with whom the U.S. has strained relations.

I guess time will tell.

Can Anyone Relate?

I'll let this video speak for itself! Can you relate?

Ever Get Tired Just Thinking About Something?

The following story makes me tired. Literally, it does.

A Vermont man who is planning to ride in a 508-mile bicycle race in California is taking the long way to the starting line. He’s riding his bicycle to California. From Vermont. I told you, I’m tired after reading those words. How about you?

Joe Desena, 39, left Monday from Vermont on his 3,000-mile trip west, which is expected to take about two weeks. His goal is to be in the field on October 4 for the Furnace Creek 508, which goes from Santa Clarita, California., to Twentynine Palms. Desena, who has participated in dozens of adventure races, triathlons, and ultramarathons, says there’s no better way to get in shape for the race than to bike across country.

Wow! I’m impressed with his training. I’m not sure he needs to get into much better shape, but then again, I’m not a cyclist. I’m sure my blogger buddy Bill can weigh in on the discussion. But, if it takes him 14 days to ride from Vermont to California, that will be an average of 214 miles a day. Folks, that’s a long ways to drive a day, much less pedal a bicycle.

Do you ever see yourself setting out on an adventure such as this?

Thursday's Question of the Day

Back by popular demand (well, Camey at least asked about it!), here's Thursday's Question of the Day:

God grants you five minutes to stand before Him in heaven. You can ask Him two questions, and only two questions. You can thank Him later for salvation and grace. For now, you get two questions. What would you ask?

Realigning Priorities

I love sports. I love playing sports. I love watching sports.

In my younger days, my brother and I played every sport imaginable in our back yard or front yard. We played baseball in the spring and summer, football in the fall, and basketball in the winter (remember, being from south Alabama, my exposure to “Yankee” sports like hockey was non-existent. And who in the world ever created Lacrosse? My mother would never let my brother and me run around with sticks in our hands!

Anyway, we played some type of game almost 365 days a year. As I got older, I played some intramural football in college. I’ve played pick-up basketball games for years with various friends. I’ve played church league softball. As I said, I love sports.

Now, as I get older and the demand for me to play is no longer there, I’ve come to learn that my playing days are over (well, demand may have been too strong a word to put there—not sure there was ever a demand for me to play—but since this is my blog, I’ll leave it!)

So, now I watch sports. I’ll watch baseball, football, basketball. I’ll even watch tennis and golf if nothing else is on. Truth be told, I’d probably watch a competition where men (or women for that matter) threw manhole covers across the room! Did I say that I love sports?

But, out of respect and love for my wife, I limit my sports watching. I’ll try to scope out a game or two that I’d like to watch over the weekend, and limit my watching to that game or games. If my beloved University of Alabama is playing (as they are this weekend) I know I want to see them. If there is another great game scheduled for the weekend, I’ll at least try to work that one into my agenda for the weekend. Other than that, I try to let the rest of it go.

But, it is hard to do. It really is. I love to watch sports. Not sure why that is so engrained in me, but it is. I never watched sports on TV as a kid, then again, there weren’t many games shown on TV in those days, or at least I don’t remember there being that many.

I think what it comes down to is the fact that I simply love to watch people competing. I like the thrill of victory and despise the agony of defeat. I love to watch athletics giving their best on the field, leaving everything there for the game’s sake. I love watching people use their God-given strengths in sports, and I guess I am just a little jealous that God didn’t bless me with those same skills and abilities.

So, this Saturday, at 11:30 AM CDT, I’ll be watching the University of Alabama play the razorbacks from Arkansas. I’ll be pulling for my team, screaming at the top of my lungs for them to win!

Then again, if my wife needs me to do something for her or if she’d rather not be a “football widow” for the afternoon, I’ll probably just skip the game and read about it in Sunday’s paper. If we buy a Sunday paper.

After all, in 10 years who will care if Alabama wins or loses? Well, of course, there will be some in our fair state who will, but don’t count me in with that number. There are more important things than college football, or professional football, or tennis, or baseball.

Sure, I love sports. But, I love other things more.

How about you?

It's Time to Pay Up!

The headline was sensational, to say the least: Hey Feds, It’s Time to Pay Up. The headline sure got my attention. Did it grab yours?

It seems that the Internal Revenue Service is trying to collect billions of dollars in late taxes from nearly half a million federal employees. Documents obtained by WTOP radio through the Freedom of Information Act show the federal employees and retirees did not pay more than $3.5 billion in taxes owed last year.

The agency with the most delinquent employees was the U.S. Postal Service. Nearly 4.2 percent of its 747,000 workers are delinquent. The Executive Office of the President, which includes the White House, has 58 employees who did not pay more than $319,000. More than 1,000 Capitol Hill workers are on the list. About 152,000 of the delinquent federal workers have entered into payment plans.

The IRS would not provide comparable data for the general population.

At first read, I wanted to get angry. How dare government workers, whose salaries are paid through my tax dollars, not pay their fair share in taxes? How dare they skip out on paying their bills? How dare they think they can get away with this?

That was my first reaction.

Then, I calmed down and began to think it through a little more. In my honest opinion (IMHO), this is nothing more than the national media once again trying to incite the people against a few delinquent American citizens who happen to work for the federal government. Take a quick look around your church, school, neighborhood—or heck, your own family. How many people do you know who owe back taxes? Well, I know that’s not a subject to talk about around our Wednesday night church suppers, but I guarantee you that dozens and dozens of people around us each day owe back taxes. Where’s the news media on that one? Where’s the search to see what the general population owes? The IRS won’t tell you? Why not go after them with the Freedom of Information Act? Why not wait to publish your story until you have ALL of the facts and not just the ones that make your point of embarrassing the people who work for our government? Why not tell us, if you want to be fair, how many government employees we currently have in America, and since you included retirees in that number, tell us how many retirees we have in our country. What percentage of current, former, and retired government employees are we talking about here? Maybe, if you did your homework, you might also tell us how many people in the news media are late on paying their taxes? That would be an interesting study!

I suppose if the news media waited until they had all of the facts and could compare apples to apples, then it probably wouldn’t be as good a story and wouldn’t sell as many papers or ads or influence as many people as their sensational headline did today.

I know we have problems in America. I’m not blind to that. However, I am becoming more and more convinced everyday that the leading problem in our country is a biased news media that thinks their actions are above review. I, for one, don’t hold them nearly as high in esteem as they probably think I do—or should!

Stories like this cause my opinion of the news media to drop even lower! You think the President and members of Congress score low in opinion polls? Let’s see where the national and local media rank. I am sure, it won’t be very high.

Let's see if they will ask that question!

Everybody Has an Opinion

Let’s file this one under the category of: I’d Like to Know Your Opinion.

I’ll do my best from sharing my opinion, at least right away. But, read the following news story and tell me your thoughts.

The story comes from Pittsburg, PA. (Bill, your favorite town.) Pittsburg City police wrote nearly 200 disorderly conduct citations over a 32-month period for swearing, obscene gestures, and other acts deemed disrespectful.

After filing a Right to Know request, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) found 188 such citations. “Nobody likes to get sworn at, but you can’t make it a crime,” said Witold Walczak, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Foundation of Pennsylvania.

The ACLU’s request came in connection with a federal lawsuit involving David Hackbart, who was cited after allegedly making an obscene gesture at another driver, and then at a police sergeant. In a recent court filing, the city said the citation was not for Hackbart’s gestures, but because he was blocking traffic.

Walczak told The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that the city had initially claimed it had only one disorderly conduct citation involving rude remarks to police or other people over that period. Walczak said officers were wrong to cite a woman who said, “I’m a (expletive deleted) passenger,” during a traffic stop; a woman who was “swearing profanities to a companion in front of the Girl Scouts”; and a man who “engaged in loud noise, racial slurs, and pig remarks.”

Okay, there you go. You make the call. Where the police correct or out of hand? Is the ACLU taking this matter too far or to the logical conclusion?

Thoughts?

Two, Four, Six, Eight, Who Do We Appreciate?

A 33-year-old woman stole her daughter’s identity to attend high school and join the cheerleading squad, according to a criminal complaint filed against the woman.

Wendy Brown, of Green Bay, Wisconsin, faces a felony identity theft charge after enrolling in Ashwaubenon (what a name for a school or town) High School as her 15-year-old daughter, who lives in Nevada with Brown’s mother.

According to the complaint, Brown wanted to get her high school degree and become a cheerleader because she didn’t have a childhood and wanted to regain a part of her life that she’d missed.

May I say, it is commendable to want to get your high school degree, it really is, but to pretend to be your own 15-year-old daughter and actually go back to school. Has she never heard of a GED? Then, again, I guess the GED doesn’t have a cheerleading program! Maybe the GED program doesn’t have a very good mascot or good school colors!

Brown allegedly attended cheerleading practices before school started, received a cheerleader’s locker and went to a pool party at the cheerleading coach’s house.
The $134.50 check Brown gave to the cheerleading coach for her uniform bounced, the complaint said. Bouncing checks—not good.

A high school employee, Kim Demeny, told authorities that the woman, posing as the teen, seemed very timid. Demeny said she told her she was not good at math and even cried when she talked about moving from Pahrump Valley High School in Nevada. Demeny said she looked older than a student but had the demeanor of a high school girl.
A school liaison officer started investigating after Brown only attended the first day of classes last week, the complaint said. Hmmm, not a good start to getting your education! How serious could she have been about getting an education?

Assistant Principal Dirk Ribbins later learned Brown’s daughter was enrolled at Pahrump Valley High School. Ribbins also spoke with Brown’s mother, who told him she had custody of the girl. She said Brown has a history of identity theft crimes, the complaint said.

Brown made her first court appearance Friday by video conference. The judge set bond at $8,000. If convicted, she could face up to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

I’m not sure what to make of this. Up until the next to last paragraph, I actually felt sorry for Ms. Brown. She apparently had a hard life growing up, and if I am decent at math, must have had her daughter at the age of 18. But, I’ve known many people who’ve had a hard life growing up and had babies way too young. But to learn that she’s been convicted of identity theft before, well, that tells me not to feel so sorry for this woman—just to know that this time, it was her daughter she took advantage of. I wonder how long it might be before she does the same to her own mother!

What’s your opinion of all of this?

Can You Hear Me?

The adorable picture above is our dog, Peanut. Peanut is a mixed breed dog. We were told that she is a mix between a Chihuahua and a Dachschund. I don't know whether or not that is true. Peanut is long like a Dachschund and she is short like a Chihuahua. We got Peanut from a rescue organization. I'm not sure I want to know what she was rescued from. Some things, you just don't want to know. Understand?

Anyway, Peanut is the smartest dog I've ever had. She knows how to sit, roll over, play dead, shake hands, etc. She also knows more words than any dog I've ever known. I've read the average dog "knows" 200 words or less. Peanut sure seems to know more than that.

But, as smart as she is, I've never taught her what may be the most important lesson she needs to know. I read an article over the weekend about what took place in Phoenix, Arizona. Buddy is a trained German shepherd who saved his owner’s life by dialing 911 when he began having a seizure.

In listening to the recorded 911 call, Buddy is heard whimpering and barking after the somewhat confused dispatcher answers the phone and repeatedly asks if the caller needs help.

“Hello, this is 911. Hello ... Can you hear me? Is there somebody there you can give the phone to,” says the dispatcher, Chris Scott. Buddy barks loudly when police arrive about three minutes after the call is placed. An officer asks Buddy’s owner, Joe Stalnaker, if he’s OK. Stalnaker coughs, and the call ends.

Scottsdale police Sgt. Mark Clark said Stalnaker spent two days in the hospital following the seizure and has recovered. “It’s pretty incredible,” Clark said. “Even the veteran dispatchers—they haven’t heard of anything like this.”

Clark said police are dispatched whenever 911 is called, but that Stalnaker’s address was flagged in Scottsdale’s system with the fact that an assistance dog dials 911 when the owner cannot. He said Buddy made two other 911 calls when Stalnaker was having seizures, the first last August. He said Stalnaker's seizures are the result of a head injury he sustained about 10 years ago during a training exercise in the U.S. military.

Clark said Stalnaker adopted Buddy when he was eight weeks old and trained him to get the phone if he began to have seizure symptoms. Buddy, now 18 months old, also is trained to press programmed buttons until a 911 operator is on the line, Clark said.

He said Stalnaker got Buddy through Michigan-based Paws with a Cause, which trains assistance dogs nationwide for people with disabilities.

Now, that would be good for Peanut to know. That’s more than a trick or something to show off to guests who come over. This feat could save my life!

But, I do have a question, how do I train her to do this without actually getting the police on the phone and at my door?

So, what’s the best trick you’ve ever taught your pet? I know many of you aren’t pet owners and this post won’t make much sense to you. That’s okay. But for the others, share your favorite story.