Saturday, April 6, 2013

Sensational Headline


   There was a Kentucky man who owned a city newspaper and had Three sons.  Knowing that a sensational headline sells papers he offered ownership of the paper to the son who could write the most sensational headline of only three words or less.

The first son's headline was "McConnell Turns Communist."

The second son concocted this: "Morsi Becomes Christian."

But the third son inherited the newspaper when his headline 
was submitted.  It had only two words, "Pope Elopes."

Friday, April 5, 2013

The Purple Squirrel



Driving home today we heard a term on the radio NPR station that was new to us. A “Purple Squirrel” is a person much sought after by employment recruiters. We laughed for miles at the thought of a purple squirrel.

Purple squirrel is a term used by employment recruiters to describe an unlikely job candidate with precisely the right education, experience, and qualifications that perfectly fits a job’s multifaceted requirements. In theory, this prized “purple squirrel” could immediately handle all the expansive variety of responsibilities of a job description with no training and would allow businesses to function with fewer workers.

The report I read said there have only been three sightings of purple squirrels since 1997.

Are you a purple squirrel? People are looking for you

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Christian Equality =




Galations 3:26-29 For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.”

Paul wrote to the Christian Churches in Galatia that there is in the Body of Christ, which is the church, equality between members. We are all one as no soul is more precious than another to God. Sadly some people have not always followed this teaching of equality in the church. Some groups have said that women are not equal to men. In the Christian Church we do seek this equality in ministry in the name of Jesus. We seek equal commitment from every member and friend of the congregation. We seek an equal partnership in ministry. We seek equal sacrifice of our time, our talent, and our treasurer.

            Some might say, “I can’t give as much as to the church as another does.”  That is not the equality that we seek when we ask you to decide how much you will give to God through the Christian Church. God has already answered that question about equality in giving through the tithe. It is not a set dollar amount but a set percent of income. The tithe is 10% no matter how much you earn and is therefore equal.

            Like many children I was taught by my mother about stewardship. When my allowance was a dollar she would tell me that ten cents belonged to God, ten cents belonged to my savings bank and eighty cents belonged in my pocket. I could do anything I wanted with the eighty cents. That is still a great budget strategy today no matter how large or small our income. 10% for God, 10% for savings and 80% is mine to do with as I need.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Apology weakness or strength?



I like watching the CBS TV show NCIS. I guess it is the US Navy sailor in me that enjoys that show. It is a well done show though a bit sappy at times, but I kind of like that too as I did with Star Trek.

On the show special agent Gibbs has a rule that one should never apologize as he sees it as a sign of weakness. I disagree! I think it takes a strong person to apologize. It takes someone who cares about integrity and value in their relationships. Apologizing does not always indicate that you are wrong and the other person is correct. It may indicate that you recognize hurt feelings and perhaps it was the way something was said or done that caused it. It often means that you value your relationships more than your ego.


When I see that I have made an error, and I make my share of them, I do not mind apologizing. I see it as a desire to make a relationship right again.  I feel the same about accepting the other person’s apology to restore a relationship after a disruption. Do you value  your relationships enough to be strong and offer an apology?

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Live with it



We humans are not suited for unlimited possibilities in life. We are limited by our own choices and self imposed limitations. The moment we chose one path we shut of the other possibilities and leave them for others. To not choose is to be left in one place in a dither of uncertainty.

As an individual I attain significance as a free spirit by voluntarily accepting the limitations of my choices and embracing the power of focus. By choosing the focus for my life and the choices I have made I become a power to be reckoned with as I move through life.

Any person so determined will find a way to reach his or her goals no matter the odds against them. Choose your path and goals for that path and move forward. You attain your significance in the world by the choices you have made. Live with it! Live powerfully with it!

Monday, April 1, 2013

An April Fools Meditation


There was a time when the start of the New Year was celebrated at the time of the Vernal Equinox, which is also Easter time. New years day was celebrated on April first and people would have parties and exchange gifts. Many church leaders were unhappy about having the celebration of the New Year during Easter. So in 1564 the King of France adopted the new Gregorian calendar, which we use today, and the New Year changed to January first. Many people found this a hard change to adjust too and would celebrate the new year in April, they were then called “April Fools” as a result. Often they became the objects of other people’s jokes. The tradition lives on!

This is also April first and in the grand old tradition of that day is also the start of many jokes and pranks. Change brought about a day for fools of many kinds Yet we know that change happens on a daily basis and will happen again and again. Even when I can see the good that a change might bring I tend to question its wisdom. In church it is difficult to accommodate change even when it is a good change. So who is the fool when that happens?

So as we face April first and all that it brings our way our prayer might be: “Give me a sense of humor, Lord, and the grace to see a joke. Help me get some pleasure out of life and pass it on to other folk. Lord, may I see your hand in all the changes that swirl around me and accept with grace a new understanding of the world you placed in my care.”

Enjoy your April Fools day by being in the presence of the Lord in prayer.

Sunday, March 31, 2013

The Resurrection Difference



There was something powerful that happened to change the broken disciples of a dead religious leader and a lost cause into the confident proclaimers of good news. Something powerful changed the ignominy of execution on a cross into a symbol for life itself. Death was itself defeated by the Resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Something very powerful had changed everything.

Those who believed in the resurrection very early in the life of the faith were all Hebrews. Their Sabbath was sundown Friday to sundown Saturday but because of the resurrection their Sabbath was extended to include dawn on the first day of the week as well. The Hebrew followers of Jesus would fulfill their Jewish religious duties to God and then meet before they went to work to celebrate the resurrection of their Lord. At this dawn worship they would preach the Gospel, sing psalms, baptize new believers, and have communion.

Later when gentiles became Christians their worship would only be on the first day of the week. For the first three hundred years of the Christian faith the followers of Jesus would meet before and after work on the first day for worship. Then in 325 AD the Roman Empire got its first Christian emperor and the First day became an official day of worship and rest. So the resurrection of Jesus also changed the Sabbath for Christians from Saturday to Sunday. More importantly the resurrection of Jesus makes a difference in our relationship with God. Because of the resurrection we have salvation by the awesome grace of God. The resurrection difference is wonderful.

Celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus the Christ on this Resurrection Sunday