Four Steps of Prayer

There are a variety of prayer formulas that are helpful for people who want to learn to pray. One is the four steps of prayer that I learned a long time ago and it works well for almost any prayer concern.

1. Praise God - Recognize in your mind and heart who you are praying to.

2. Thank God - Have an attitude of gratitude even in your most dire need.

3. Ask God - Request what  you need and even what you desire.

4. Listen for God - A quiet time of meditation listening for God before you say amen and close the prayer it vital. Some people who say that God never answers their prayer never take the time to listen and they miss the answers they are looking for.

May your have a rich prayer life in Praise, Thanksgiving, Asking and Listening.

Happy OR Not

Tags: Uncategorized

All of our emotions are a gift of God. Sometimes you’re going to feel angry. Other times you will feel sad. There will be times when you feel lonely, or any of the wide array of natural human emotions which are nowhere near being happy. You’re a human being; you’re supposed to feel those things when life takes a wrong turn. In fact, the desire to be happy all the time, to avoid feeling those “unpleasant” or “unwanted” emotions, is what leads many people to use drugs to change how they feel. As a healthy human being, you know that it is okay to not feel happy sometimes. You do not need to change how you feel at that moment your feelings will change as your circumstances change. In fact when you feel unhappy, accept how you feel, make your peace with it, and know that this too shall pass. Your unhappy state of mind is neither your identity nor your permanent state of being. This is simply how you feel in this moment and brighter feelings will come eventually. Use your gift of the natural medicine of humor to ease your way through rough moments of life. You’ll be amazed when you go back to review your journal to see that it all starts with a simple smile of knowing that the sun will return to your life.

Dealing With Past Wrongs

Is it right to apologize for the past?

Gordon Brown is planning to apologize for the British government’s role in sending thousands of children to former colonies in the 20th centur.

What difference can an apology make now?

Orphans and poor children were sent to Australia, Canada and elsewhere for a “better life”, but many were abused and ended up in institutions or as laborers on farms. Was the British government trying to do what was best for the children or just getting them out of their way? Who was really at fault? Who knows today?

The move comes as Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered an apology for the mistreatment of the children in Australia.

Should governments apologize for past policies and events? Does an apology go far enough? Can a current government really make amends for actions taken in history?

I can make an apology for things I have done but I don’t feel that I need to or can apologize for the things my father did. History is full of wrong doings that are long past. We can acknowledge that they happened and even be sad that it happened but never make amends for what another person did.

How far can we go in dealing with the past?

Faith Is ...

A popular cartoon series a few years back featured a boy and a girl under the title “LOVE IS…” and then it would have underneath something witty like, “Giving her a single red rose for no reason.” There were many versions of what Love Is.

Like love, faith has many aspects to consider. The writer of Hebrews wrote that “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We often struggle with our faith, to know what it is and trying to find ways of expressing it. To find faith is to struggle with life, its meaning, and our relationship with God.

The journey to faith is not easy, for a faith untested is an unknown faith. It has to take the rough road, rough enough to give a real workout to the mind and muscle. The journey to faith in God is tough to take but worth the time and effort.

A faith tested and found true changes us, and we are reborn from God. Tested, our faith becomes an active power in our living and in our witness. It becomes a living unshakable confidence.

For most of us walking on a 2″ X 4″ piece of lumber on the floor is an easy thing to do. We have all the confidence in the world where falling off is no problem. Place that same piece of lumber thirty feet in the air and now it’s a problem. The wood has not changed…. Our confidence is in need of faith by experience. Circus tight rope walkers begin learning a foot off the ground and over time the rope is raised a foot at a time. The faith experience of Christian can begin in much the same way.

As we experience the actions of God in our lives and learn to trust a little more each day. When any one has an experience of actually doing Christian Ministry and feels the excitement of serving Christ their faith becomes stronger and there is a contagion that spread to those around them.

Things Said in 1955

54 YEARS Ago

Funny…….yet sad…54 years ago..!!
Comments made in the year 1955! That’s only 54 years ago!

I’ll tell you one thing, if things keep going the way they are, it’s going to be impossible to buy a week’s groceries for $10.00..

Have you seen the new cars coming out next year? It won’t be long before $1,000 will only buy a used one.

If cigarettes keep going up in price, I’m going to quit. 20 cents a pack is ridiculous.

Did you hear the post office is thinking about charging 7 cents just to mail a letter.

If they raise the minimum wage to $1.00, nobody will be able to hire outside help at the store.

When I first started driving, who would have thought gas would someday cost 25 cents a gallon.. Guess we’d be better off leaving the car in the garage.

I’m afraid to send my kids to the movies any more Ever since they let Clark Gable get by with saying DAMN in GONE WITH THE WIND, it seems every new movie has either HELL or DAMN in it.

I read the other day where some scientist thinks it’s possible to put a man on the moon by the end of the century. They even have some fellows they call astronauts preparing for it down in Texas.

Did you see where some baseball player just signed a contract for $50,000 a year just to play ball? It wouldn’t surprise me if someday they’ll be making more than the President.

I never thought I’d see the day all our kitchen appliances would be electric. They are even making electric typewriters now.

It’s too bad things are so tough nowadays. I see where a few married women are having to work to make ends meet.

It won’t be long before young couples are going to have to hire someone to watch their kids so they can both work.

I’m afraid the Volkswagen car is going to open the door to a whole lot of foreign business.

The drive-in restaurant is convenient in nice weather, but I seriously doubt they will ever catch on.

There is no sense going on short trips anymore, for a weekend it costs nearly $2.00 a night to stay in a hotel.

No one can afford to be sick anymore, at $15 a day in the hospital, it’s too rich for my blood.’

If they think I’ll pay 30 cents for a hair cut, forget it.

Friday What?

If 10 fast food joints had stuck with the original plan

1. When Ben and Jerry decided to go into business, they really wanted to make bagels.

2. Glen Bell, the founder of Taco Bell (I had no idea the “Bell” represented a person, I’ll be honest), started his career in the fast food business with a meager hot dog stand.

3.  Tim Hortons’ Timbits actually started as hamburger joints?

4.  William Rosenberg’s plan was to deliver his Dunkin’ Donuts and coffee the way ice-cream trucks do.

5. Al Copeland, founder of Popeye’s Chicken originally started out selling donuts.  FYI: Popeyes is named for Popeye Doyle, a character in the filmThe French Connection.

6. Troy Smith, founder of Sonic started out with Troy’s Pan Full of Chicken in order to generate revenue to build a steakhouse.

7. Wilbur Hardee started out owning several inn-style restaurants.

8. Carl Karcher, founder of Carl’s Jr., started out with a hot dog stand.

9. Chick-fil-A started out as Dwarf Grill in Hapeville Georgia.  It’s still there but now as Dwarf House. They sell steakburgers there.

10. McDonald’s brothers Dick and Mac, started out as a hot dog stand in Monrovia California.  The McDonald’s brothers sold out to Ray Croc in 1954.

A Funny In My Email

If you can read this whole story without laughing, then there’s no hope for you. I was crying by the end. This is an actual account as relayed to paramedics at a chili cook-off in Texas .

Note: Please take time to read this slowly.
If you pay attention to the first two judges,
the reaction of the third judge is even better.

For those of you who have lived in  Texas know how true this is. They actually have a Chili Cook-off about the time Halloween comes around. It takes up a major portion of a parking lot at the La Villita Plaza. Judge #3 was an inexperienced Chile taster named Frank, who was visiting from Springfield , IL .

Frank: ‘Recently, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last moment and I happened to be standing there at the judge’s table, asking for directions to the Lone Star Beer truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native Texans) that the chili wouldn’t be all that spicy; and, besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted and became Judge #3.’
Here are the scorecard notes from the event:

CHILI # 1 - MIKE’S MANIAC MONSTER CHILI
Judge # 1 — A little too heavy on the tomato. Amusing kick.
Judge # 2 — Nice, smooth tomato flavor. Very mild.
Judge # 3 (Frank) — Holy _____! what is this stuff? You could remove dried paint from your driveway. Took me two beers to put the flames out. I hope that’s the worst one. These Texans are crazy.
CHILI # 2 - EL RANCHO’S AFTERBURNER CHILI
Judge # 1 — Smoky, with a hint of pork. Slight jalapeno tang.
Judge # 2 — Exciting BBQ flavor, needs more peppers to be taken seriously.
Judge # 3 – Keep this out of the reach of children. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to taste besides pain.. I had to wave off two people who wanted to give me the Heimlich maneuver. They had to rush in more beer when they saw the look on my face.
CHILI # 3 - ALFREDO’S FAMOUS BURN DOWN THE BARN CHILI
Judge # 1 — Excellent firehouse chili. Great kick.
Judge # 2 — A bit salty, good use of peppers.
Judge # 3 — Call the EPA. I’ve located a uranium spill. My nose feels like I have been snorting Drano. Everyone knows the routine by now. Get me more beer before I ignite. Barmaid pounded me on the back, now my backbone is in the front part of my chest. 
CHILI #4  BUBBA’S BLACK MAGIC
Judge # 1 — Black bean chili with almost no spice. Disappointing.
Judge # 2 — Hint of lime in the black beans. Good side dish for fish or other mild foods, not much of a chili.
Judge # 3 — I felt something scraping across my tongue, but was unable to taste it. Is it possible to burn out taste buds? Sally, the beer maid, was standing behind me with fresh refills. This 300 lb. woman is starting to look HOT … just like this nuclear waste I’m eating! Is chili an aphrodisiac?
CHILI # 5 - LISA’S LEGAL LIP REMOVER
Judge # 1 — Meaty, strong chili. Jalapeno peppers freshly ground, adding considerable kick. Very impressive.
Judge # 2 — Chili using shredded beef, could use more tomato. Must admit the jalapeno peppers make a strong statement.
Judge # 3 — My ears are ringing, sweat is pouring off my forehead and I can no longer focus my eyes. I farted, and four people behind me needed paramedics. The contestant seemed offended when I told her that her chili had given me brain damage. Sally saved my tongue from bleeding by pouring beer directly on it from the pitcher. I wonder if I’m burning my lips off. It really ticks me off that the other judges asked me to stop screaming.

CHILI # 6 - VARGA’S VERY VEGETARIAN VARIETY
Judge # 1 — Thin yet bold vegetarian variety chili. Good balance of spices and peppers.
Judge # 2 — The best yet. Aggressive use of peppers, onions, garlic. Superb.
Judge # 3 — My intestines are now a straight pipe filled with gaseous, sulfuric flames. I crapped on myself when I farted, and I’m worried it will eat through the chair. No one seems inclined to stand behind me except that Sally. Can’t feel my lips anymore. I need to wipe my butt with a snow cone.
CHILI # 7 - SUSAN’S SCREAMING SENSATION CHILI
Judge # 1 — A mediocre chili with too much reliance on canned peppers.
Judge # 2 — Ho hum, tastes as if the chef literally threw in a can of chili peppers at the last moment. I should take note that I am worried about Judge #3. He appears to be in a bit of distress as he is cursing uncontrollably.
Judge # 3 — You could put a grenade in my mouth, pull the pin, and I wouldn’t feel a thing. I’ve lost sight in one eye, and the world sounds like it is made of rushing water. My shirt is covered with chili, which slid unnoticed out of my mouth. My pants are full of lava to match my shirt. At least during the autopsy, they’ll know what killed me. I’ve decided to stop breathing. It’s too painful. Screw it; I’m not getting any oxygen anyway. If I need air, I’ll just suck it in through the 4-inch hole in my stomach.
CHILI # 8 - BIG TOM’S TOENAIL CURLING CHILI
Judge # 1 — The perfect ending, this is a nice blend chili. Not too bold but spicy enough to declare its existence.
Judge # 2 – This final entry is a good, balanced chili. Neither mild nor hot. Sorry to see that most of it was lost when Judge #3 farted, passed out, fell over and pulled the chili pot down on top of himself. Not sure if he’s going to make it. Poor fella, wonder how he’d have reacted to really hot chili?
Judge # 3 — No report.