You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July 2009.
I was ready. Honestly, I was looking forward to the switch from analog TV signals to digital. The date for the switch was one that I was prepared to encounter the first time. Once they postponed the start up date I was even more ready.
Our Internet provider had a sale a few months back. For a minimal monthly charge we could add one basic cable connection to our existing Internet monthly payment. Of course once we did that we would be prepared for the digital transition.
In addition to that I was able to secure a voucher for a subsidized digital converter box. I picked that up at our local do-it-yourself discount stores. But, I also needed an antennae upgrade. For that I went straight to the specialty TV shop and asked for the best unit for the switch.
After a short demonstration, I brought their recommendation home and successfully installed it. Yes, I was surprised that I was able to make that new gizmo to function.
The thrilling fact was that we actually were able to receive more channel options with the new digital converter box and antenna. I was tickled to have more options. Just because it was three shopping channels, a weather station and two extra PBS options didn’t really matter until three hours later.
It’s been weeks since our country entered into the digital age. Now, I can wave my hand in front of the antenna and watch the digital images freeze. A few seconds later and the program skips ahead to another segment and I have lost the context.
It I get really feisty I can dance in front of the antenna and really whack out the show. But, that’s usually only when I get annoyed that two major network channels are no longer broadcast on my TV. A commercial testifies that I can buy a more upgraded antenna but, I already fell for that baloney before the digital transition took place.
Is anyone else out there frustrated with the new broadcast digital age? Sure, I’m watching less TV. That’s an imposition since I have no choice since two networks marginally worth watching are blocked off of my viewing.
I am reading more. My time writing has increased considerably as well. Of course my wife and I spend a lot of time talking too. All in all the digital fiasco is not a bad thing.
An animated movie promotion doesn’t usually capture my attention. But, someone who chose the clips for the movie “Up!” must have had people like me in mind. I was intrigued.
But, like most guys going to see an animated film takes a little creativity to buy a ticket and enjoy an adolescent movie. It would be easy if I had a couple of kids that I could take. A couple of local kids could be my delightful excuse.
Grandparenting must be fun just to use that part of a personal legacy for a cover in times like these. Oh, I might fall asleep now and then, but I sure would enjoy myself as well. Putting on 3D glasses would be a kick too.
But, without any creative options close at hand, my wife and I slipped in to see a weekday matinee. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Some times those lowered expectations give the best results: a surprise of enjoyment.
I don’t remember watching an animated film where without dialogue and only music as a background that I was so moved. Carl and Ellie grew up before our eyes from impetuous youngsters to adults to grieving parents to elderly seniors. At every stage their love for each other was self-evident. The tragedies that they experienced tugged at our hearts.
As a widower with a spark of a dream, Carl launches his odyssey. This could only happen in a cartoon. But, it was an adventure driven by love, desire, and opportunity.
The adorable Russell quickly won over hearts. It not only melted Carl’s grouchy spirit but knitted itself in the wonder of innocence growing with experience. His comical antics, lovable quirks, and Asianesque features endeared him as a favorite throughout the movie.
Add the adventure of danger, exploration, heroes, wild animals, as well as energetic chase scenes and the entertainment level will be high. Character development is thorough: a boy hoping for a touch from his long-absent father, a lonely man seeking something meaningful to fill his empty heart, and of course the dogs enjoy a happy ending.
There is so much that can tempt a life to end with a sour disposition. But, if we invest in the lives around us, then even the most difficult of life’s pains can melt away into new hope and love. Besides, I hope I’m as spry as Carl when I reach 78!
photo credit: Google image
Choosing a dress shirt for the day is a bit of a game. It’s not just choosing a shirt style to wear. Rather it is selecting one that is clean.
It must be a guy-thing to compare whether a shirt is clean enough to wear. There’s no debate if a shirt was worn during a sweaty bicycle ride. Nor is there a debate if the shirt just finished the yard work on a hot Saturday afternoon. Those shirts go into the wash immediately.
But, dress shirts are different category. I pause and wonder if they have another day in them before heading for the wash. Once I heard a speaker say that he had never worn a shirt two days in a row. His shirts were professionally cleaned every day.
One piece of advice has helped over the years performing shirt-triage. I don’t even remember where the advice came from but it has worked for years. As I look at a shirt, if there is any doubt that it is clean, then I declare it dirty and toss it into the wash.
Dirt may come in degrees of being dirtier or less dirty, but dirty is dirty. A shirt any where along the continuum of dirty goes into the wash. This illustrates a major spiritual truth.
If we could be consistent on how we treat others, then we would be living lives that please the Lord. God upholds the care and respect of others and how we treat them as extremely valuable. He does not approve of favoritism.
James speaks about this kind of consistency as we attempt to live lives that are acceptable to God. It’s in the context of showing favoritism. He has just explained that showing favoritism is wrong.
In case anyone attempts to minimize their practice of favoritism as excusable or insignificant James makes it clear that any infraction of God’s laws makes a person guilty against the His law. Just because someone may not be guilty of a major sin it does not give them the leeway to show favoritism with people. Guilt is not a matter of degrees.
What we may minimize may nevertheless be an infraction according to the standards of God. Favoritism is a violation of God’s standard of righteousness. Let’s treat each other with dignity, respect and acceptance. Showing equal regard for all people is God’s way.
James 2:8-13
photo credit: Google image
The clock said that it was time to go. My smile of anticipation was genuine. Friends were making a common annual journey to the Lake. Our destination was the same. My wife and I were on the road to join them.
Our country drive was delightful. Our friends have a cottage that is beautiful. Their property has an ambiance that invites relaxation. Friendships deepen, get renewed and some new ones even begin. It is pure fun, just how God intended fellowship to be. This is spiritual “ahh.”
We laughed, caught up on news, reflected on blessings, and of course we laughed even more. Joys were shared, dreams were rehearsed and disappointments were outlined. It was just great.
There was plenty of food, beverages and snacks. Alcoves were abundant for smaller groups to congregate and go deeper. Entertainment was abundant.
Water sports gave everyone a chance to do something at their own speed. Fishing, Jet skis, speed boat, tubing, fishing, pontoon boats, swimming, reclining chairs in the water were all available. Did I mention fishing?
Whoever came up with the notion that Christians don’t know how to have fun? We laughed at the simplest things. Whether it was how someone built their burger, to silly memories from a trip someone took, to political jokes we all joined in the bounty of great friendships.
When it’s time for the food, it’s not hard to gather people around the buffet line. They have been munching ever since the appetizers were laid out. Now, the main course was ready to be served.
I said that it wasn’t hard to gather people to start the meal. It wasn’t fast. Most were locked into conversation. All of those interchanges had to be put on hold for just a moment. We all joined in for prayer as we thanked the Lord for the food and the fellowship.
The line for the meal was short. But, the entertainment value was sky high. The women congregated at one table, so the left-over guys found each other. Men don’t choose to be alone we just accept reality and deal with it. Of course there were no napkins. Those are all over at the women’s table.
Our hosts are masterful at hospitality. They provided the easel, blank canvas, and the cadre of comrades and let the artwork of life begin. I am blessed with amazing friends.
photo credit: Google image
We all have a choice when it comes to our daily attitude. From our human spirit that defines who we are let’s choose cheer over whine. Let’s buck up and give hope a chance to reign supreme.
In every state where I have lived, our circumstances are in bad shape. Lives of real people are hurting in our beleaguered economy. As I check my email, names of good friends could easily align with any of the problems our nation is facing.
Joblessness in every area has touched every life. Not-for-profit charitable organizations are struggling. Business is down, churches are losing members, and just about every workforce is letting people go.
But, when has the reaction of a bitter spirit, vindictive anger, or accusatory words ever produced any lasting satisfaction? There might be some temporary relief that a grouchy spirit gives, but it needs another fix of grumpiness in short order.
The blessing that I enjoy is that I am surrounded by so many good examples of positive people. Instead of complaining they choose to say a positive word. They smile instead of frown.
Everyone has had it tough. Someone has done us dirty. Enemies hurt us with their slander. This is common among us humans who live in a fallen world.
But, we can each choose to live our lives with cheer. If we make this choice, then we must carefully control our words. A righteous spirit controls the tongue.
Those who are hurtful and judgmental always harbor a list of their complaints. Grace people don’t complain much. God’s Word clearly identifies our first objective, “As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
We live in a world deeply affected by sin. Everyone of us has our imperfections. Furthermore, none of us is able to right all wrongs, correct all errors or fix everything that is broken.
Nor can any of us avoid all of life’s troubles. We cannot dissuade choices that others make to negatively impact our life. No one can side step tough issues with perfect execution.
But, when circumstances are beyond our control, we can choose cheer. After someone else has hurt us, we can choose look at the bright side of things. Once our situation turns sour, we can give the world a gift. Give it the gift of at least one life that chooses to live with deliberate cheer.
photo credit: Google image
I have always wondered what it is like to fall down a set of stairs. Sometimes I wonder why doesn’t the person just stop rolling. Of course the injury factor is always a big deal.
My favorite action movies have a fight scene that takes place in a stair well. The good guy is fighting the villain as they tumble down the stairs, crash on the landing, and throw each other down the next flight of cascading steps. I never cease to whince as they bounce along.
When my superstars were doing their stunt work, I wondered how the human body could take such a beating. On top of the bashing being exchanged with the bad guys, the collision with each step and so many of them seems unbearable. I need to wonder no more.
My alarm clock got another breather. I woke up long before it began to buzz. It has happened so often that I could easily reach over in the darkness and shut it off before its wonderfully pleasant sounds disturbed my bride.
I slip out of bed and pad quietly to exit my bedroom. Once in the hall the darkness is just beginning to fade with the dawning of a new day. My second floor sleeping chamber leads to the carpeted stairs. At the bottom of the steps is my office, my laptop computer, and my writing adventure for the new day.
Like countless times in the past decade of my life, I turn the corner to head down the stairs. This is the first morning when my descent is radically different. My first step is imprecise. Instead of stepping with a solid footing, my heal slides off the edge and I am plunged into the air.
I hit the stairs on God’s created padded part of the human anatomy. By now I am wide awake. It was life in slow motion yet my mind was racing with goofy thoughts.
“Ah, now I know what it feels like to fall down the stairs.”
”No, I’m moving so fast it is NOT possible to stop the involuntary descent.”
“I must look like a total dufuss.”
Once I completed my fall on the landing below I tried to sense if there was any noticable pain in my body. To my surprise there was no pain any where. Well, to be totally honest, there was massive internal bruising centralized in my ego.
Travelling is not my favorite way to fill up my calendar. The time that it consumes is enormous. As hours slip away there is also a massive drain on personal energy. Whoever said “It is not the destination that matters but it is the journey” must not travel the same routes that I do.
Once in a while people make an off hand remark that my travels must be a lot of fun. I smile and try to set the record straight. Travelling only seems glamorous by those who don’t.
On my last trip I was pre-exhausted by demands and duties that I filled my day. Of late the pressures and the stress has been interstellar. I was barely making it to squeeze in a few extra hours to gather the materials to compose the six major sessions that I was asked to do.
Speaking six times in four days is a rare and enormous task these days. Add to that rigorous schedule a five hour flight and energy is naturally reduced. Then, squeeze in a long drive by car through slow interstate traffic in the San Francisco Bay Area and there’s a recipe for sheer exhaustion.
Nevertheless, years of experience has taught me to smile. A cheerful heart is so much more fun. There are plenty of sour people around in our routine.
Once I was seated on the plane, I took out a book to read. The normal jostling from other boarding passengers was going on around me. Across the aisle a grouchy guy was complaining to his wife about her, the lousy seats, a late departure, and on and on he went.
Of course when the crying baby came aboard with a young mom, he moaned that it would just be his luck that the howling child would be seated near him. He got his wish. The new mother sat right in front of him. I snickered when he sighed loudly.
The baby was beautiful! It had bright eyes and full cheeks. Of course I smiled at that angelic face.
At first the baby stared. Then, it smiled. Best of all it laughed. The mom turned and smiled a countenance of gratitude.
The plane ride went smoothly. We landed safely. During the deplaning many of us complimented the young mom on her well behaved child. She looked so proud of her baby. I don’t know what happened to the grouch.
photo credit: Google image
One of the great privileges of ministry has been the opportunity to see the world. My personal interest has been the Pacific Rim. The Philippines is included as one of my most memorable countries to visit.
I stayed in a spacious home. On the wait staff were two wonderful women of faith who constantly smiled while cheerfully serving. During my time there I listened to both of their stories.
One of the women had a brother who was walking home late at night. Shoes are rare among the Filipino people with whom I spent much time. Her brother wore flip flops.
On that fateful night, he stepped on a sharp stick. It penetrated his foot leaving splinters and dirt in the wound. In an impoverished community like that, any kind of emergency hospital care was not available.
This injury that could have been so easily treated in the USA became festered and turned toxic. After suffering through an agonizing number of weeks this young life ended in an untimely death due to complications related to this mishap.
I was impressed with this woman’s attitude. Through all of her difficult life and repeated tragedies, she glowed with the love of Christ. Faith that withstood overwhelming heartache was exemplified in her simple spirit. She was not embittered, overcome, despondent or angry. Her faith was her mantle and I marveled at hearing her share her faith.
James tells us that God has made it clear to us that part of His revelation of true faith is displayed in the lives of the poor. He describes “poor” in terms of how the world determines it. These are people who are economically poor but not spiritually poor.
In God’s eyes, these whom the world dismisses as inconsequential are some of the wealthiest people when it comes to spiritual riches. The exhortation is to watch their example. Mistreating those who are poor in the eyes of the world but rich in faith is a foolish action.
When people mistreat others, take advantage of them, and even exploit them for their own selfish end that is an indicator that God is not a part of their lives. The rich can too easily be guilty of such infractions against their fellow men. Both in word and in deed, we should seek to see God in others and not try to gain personal favor from people who have earthly means.
James 2:5-7
photo credit: Google image
My wife and I returned to the Farmington Festival for a second day. We headed over to the festivities after church. Fantastic weather invited us outdoors. It is fun to be outside and surrounded by cheer and celebration.
Occasionally, we would stop at a vendor’s booth and take a look at their curious and fascinating wares. Everyone of the vendors was neighborly and friendly. They are very proud of their specialty products.
Tired feet found some revitalization with the sound of music. I heard familiar sounds from days gone by. There’s something about music when it’s live.
Near the outdoor stage there were two seats in a good spot. We were immediately engulfed by the sound of a Big Band. There were twenty musicians putting their love of music on display for all. It was a free concert in the park.
Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Glen Miller, and more were brought back to life for a few moments on a sunny Sunday afternoon. A tenor sax stepped out for a solo and drew a round of applause. Then, a trombonist took the lead and delivered smooth a arpeggio with skillfully played glissando. I enthusiastically joined in on the applause for him.
Of course in a down home concert with amateur musicians all who had day-jobs, there were releases that didn’t finish precisely, dynamics that left you wondering, and intervals that raised an eyebrow or two. But, that wasn’t the point of the concert.
Here is was just plain fun and it was live. Familiar melodies with the right orchestration kept us entertained for the afternoon. These musicians gave us all that they had. It was their sheer love of music given freely as a gift to any and ail who would listen.
Their gift of music had its proper effect. We were tapping our toes. When we glanced around the concert area we smiled at perfect strangers. Our heads bobbed in rhythm to the music.
Our mutual delight in the notes arranged on the sheet music connected. The concert was a total success. All of us in the audience were filled with delight.
With our feet rested, we left the on-going concert and finished our rounds of the vendors’ displays. The smells of elephant ears, corn dogs and Kettle popcorn are now a distant past. But, the music still lovingly rings in my ears.
photo credit: Google image
Our little town of Farmington, MI had its Founders Festival this weekend. Events filled the past three days with fun and activities for our entire community. Our outdoor celebration was in concert with ideal weather.
Town fathers had the city streets nicely improved. Our sidewalks were filled with people out for a day of fun. Vendors added to the frolic with booths selling wares, offering community services, and signing up new members for club activities.
Bolloons decorated the town. Flowers lined the streets to highlight the Spring season. American flags flew proudly in the pleasant breeze.
At the pinnacle of this celebration was the festival parade. We set our chairs on the grassy median that splits our fair friendly neighborhood burgh. Surrounded initially by strangers, we morphed into an expression of Americana.
Motorcycle police initiated the parade with their riding skills. Firefighters joined the ranks of our 2009 parade. Shiny trucks, cars, and SUV’s added rumble strength to the display.
Then, came our State Lt. Governor, US Congressmen, State Attorney General, Judges, City Council, and more. Popular among my neighbor’s reaction was, “Who’s that?” Even more common was the arbitrary answer, “Don’t ask me. I don’t know.” What made us all laugh was the passerby who quipped, “Great. A parade of politicians. That’s exactly what NObody needs.”
Soon beauty queens, civic clubs, dance troupes, service agencies, and martial arts groups paraded by and entertained us all. There were jugglers, cyclists, clowns, and costumed superheroes. Beautifully decked horses with skillful riders pranced down the street. A drum corps gave the rhythm for the marchers that surrounded them.
Parents followed their children’s groups and snapped a hundred pictures. Friends waved at friendsh. Children giggled when paraders threw out free candy.
Clowns raced by on roller blades. On their faces were smiles both in paint and in glistening glee. They were holding super soakers and dousing the crowds with water. Screams, laughter and squeels erupted from all of us spectators.
The family sitting in front of us were entertaining to watch. Two small children attracted the attention of many of the parade participants. Those two kids made a killing on candy, freebies, and attention.
They had an aged dog with them. She was a Golden Retriever that knew younger years long ago. She was comfortable laying down and positioning her fury rump on my left foot. Everyone loves a parade, even the dog.
photo credit: Google images
