Saturday, January 30, 2010

It Took The BBC To Explain It


It to the BBC News to explain to me why poor Americans vote against their own self interest.
The article is worth reading.
I have to think about this but it seems to make sense.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Making Excuses


Over the years I have heard many people make excuses for why they can not engage life with success. It is a wide range of “reasons” such as Too Young, Too Old, Too Poor, Too Tired, Too Little Time, and Too Much to Do.
Bash
Many of  these people squander their potential because of self-imposed limitations.  Their dreams or goals seem too big for what they think they can do. They are told or think that it is only a pipe dream that is actually out of reach. So they don’t go beyond dreaming and never settle in to the piratical planning to reach their big goal. So they become mentally paralyzed and feel that their life is a failure.
Banned
The key to fulfilling your dreams is long term planning that involves a lot of short term goals. A woman wrote to an advice column saying, “I would love to get a college degree and teach but in four years I will be too old.” The reply was “How old will you be in four years if you don’t go to collage.”  Today the average life span is more than seventy years and many people retire from one career and retool for a second dream career.  You are never too old to begin seeking your dream. Set your dream goal and then set progress goals to reach it. Chart your progress day by day and over time you will enjoy fulfillment.
Chin
Have faith in yourself Cloud Nine

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Objections


In more the 40 years of serving as a Pastor I have discovered that no mater what you want to do “SOMBODY” is going to object. That is just the nature of the human condition. There are 16 distinct personality types and they can not agree so I came to expect objections.
Several time in committee meetings a good idea would be discussed and some one would say, “Will anyone object to this?” I would answer, “Of course they will!” The trick is to consider what the objections might be and have answers ready to meet the objections.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Stupid Cupid


Love is a strange thing and it can strike with out warning.
Bouncy
You are minding your own business and a new person walks into your life. You can almost hear the twang of cupids bow and your heart melts. Yes a new love has come into your life. Now what do you do about it?
Arms
If you and the person you meet are unattached you can enter great joy and let nature take its course in the relationship. This can be wonderful and scary all at the same time. Love is like that  most of the time.
Chin
If you or the other person is in a committed relationship [marriage being really committed] then what you do about that love needs to be tightly controlled.  Love happens all the time and it is what we do about it that matters. You can love a lot of people if you put it in perspective and act morally.  You can love good friends of either gender without violating your covenant with your mate or their covenant with their mate. You can enjoy affection without sex but it take personal self control. That control on your libido starts long before you fall in love with other people. You have to know that love will come your way time and time again and you must be ready for it. A love that is out of control and on the sly can bring a lot of pain in your committed relationship.

Monday, January 25, 2010

No More Lines


On the day I was discharged from the US Navy I shouted : “NO MORE LINES” and I thought that was true. In the navy we stood in line for everything; meals, showers, shots, pay and shore leave. We often had to stand in the shot line in order to get to stand in the pay line.
Banned
Well that declaration was very soon disillusioned as I have been standing in lines ever since. Reregistration for classes at the University of Texas was a shocker of a line. Checking out at the grocery store, getting money at the bank and even being put on hold on the phone is standing in line. “Your call will be answered in the order in which it was received.”  Don’t get me started on lines at the airport.
Bash
About the only place where I don’t ever have to stand in line is when I pray.Angel

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Throw the Rascals Out


When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

The opening words of the Declaration of Independence are telling for our times as well. The United States of America has written into the constitution a way of doing those words without the violence that followed the deceleration. Every two years all the House and one third of the Senate are up for reelection. Every four years the office of President up for election. We have witnessed massive political turnovers over and over and the mess just gets worse.
Smiley Dance
Part of the problem is we want to throw the rascals out for their pork barrel spending but not the one who represents us. That one brings home the bacon. So what are we going to do?
Bash
We have an election year coming up. I take my vote very seriously. It may only be one vote but it is one vote. I want to make it count even if it is a protest vote. Let us all take some time to pray about those we vote for. I am not voting for an incumbent in the state and national elections. However I will vote for my self in the Bellemeade city election. Yes I am going to run again for mayor by popular demand. I am trying real hard not to be a rascal.
Angel