Sometimes I need to try something new. But, it’s not only for the sake of refreshment, but also for the sake of improvement. I’ve tried to streamline away some of the noise. Tell me what you think, okay? What would you change?
Handy Tip of the Day (for navigating the new styled site)
Scroll to the bottom for (some of) the old sidebar options. (search the blog, see other pages, sign up for updates, oh my, I’m winded…)
ALSO!
I could really use your help for the BUZZ 25K.
The what, uh, what, Buzz? You say. Right. I’ll tell you:
With the new look/revamp, it’d be ridiculous, fun, and interesting to see the “reach” of readers and visitors like you. What kind of ripple effect do you have? You are the one with the power. I’m just here for your amusement… but I digress.
What if we top out the hits (scroll to the bottom to see the hits counter) to 25,000, this week? YOU and your peeps could make it happen.
If you want to help, let some people know about this blog. (Tweet on it, stat about it, facebook it, link to it, text…heck, you decide how, just use your creativity, and don’t break any laws. ~Little brother, I’m talking to you.) If you want you can leave a comment that you helped, or how you did it.
When you’re gone, Snuggles the Bear will hover over your sleeping baby, and drape a blanket on her. Isn’t it great to know child care is so simple these days?
I’m sure this commercial was made to be sweet, or perhaps so jolting as to be memorable. Personally, teddy bears rate right behind Chatty Kathy dolls, and right before Sock Monkeys for my childcare needs. Snuggles is really the stuff of nightmares…. or is he?
Have you noticed that it’s not the wisest choice to put words in someone’s mouth.
For example, I highly doubt teddy bears make good babysitters, even under the best circumstances, with the most eloquent, and most intelligent stuffed bears. It hasn’t been my experience anyway. The biggest problem is dialing 911. Their paws usually dial 991. It makes many parents leery. Me, for one.
Can’t the same thing happen in our relationships? Our perceptions place certain expectations or presuppositions that have little or no connection to Reality. How do our wrong perceptions change to be more correct? The simple answer: Deeper relationships, and a fuller knowing of the other.
Doesn’t the same thing happen in theology? (Our study of God, be it formal or folk.) You or I can determine what God is like, or what “he” is up to, but the voiceover won’t really be accurate.
1. The movements we imagine will be stiff and unreal.
2. Our humanity will skew our translation of God.
3. We’ll make determinations about his sovereignty, or attitudes, in ways that probably reveal more about us, than God.
And when all this happens, we make God into our own image. It works best when it’s the other way around. We grow and mature, as we give in to our Creator, and mirror those qualities of love, holiness, goodness, and mercy.
Is there a way to cut to the marrow, and perceive better?
Probably. I believe it stands to reason that when we speak of God, we must begin to understand “him” on “his” terms, not ours. We start with his nature, with God’s holiness, perfection, omni-benevolence, and mercifulness. If it were not so that God is thus, there would not be enough evidence or reason for all there is that is good, and beautiful in creation, and even in us. We bear this image, in part, as does the world designed so intricately by a Supreme Being we only begin to understand.
After that starting point, we continue what must be a humble (and unassuming) path to pray (ask, request) for the desire to know and love God, and to see God as “he” is. God’s revelations abound, if we have the eyes to see. I once was blind, but now I see.
What perceptions of other people, or of God have changed for you?
Every Thursday was Thirsty Thursday on B-94 in Pittsburgh, with Quinn and Banana in the morning. Their antics basically plagued my school bus ride for the 45 minutes to high school for 3 years.
Well, let’s heal the past right now!
It’s Thirsty Thursday today: I hope you’re thirsty for funny, and I’m not giving away Iron City Beer.
5 Ways to Tell if you Smell Terrific (Based on personal research)
A fish stick smell isn’t terrific, but it may get you noticed…
"I know, I smell terrific."
1. You find discrete ways to sniff yourself during the hours following bath/shower time.
2. Bees attack you.
3. Birds perch on your shoulder, wait for you on your window air conditioner and look at you through the window, or seem to have love in their eyes as they approach you. Avian stalking, basically. (Yes, it can be unsettling.)
4. Crowds seem to press in on you, sometimes appearing out of nowhere.
5. People, even random strangers, makes excuses for kissing or sniffing your neck.
If any of these things happen to you, you obviously smell terrific.
(Also, you need to start setting a few firm boundaries in your life, but that’s an entirely different post….)
If you smell terrific, leave a comment. Make sure it doesn’t stink.
No one will ever confuse me with Lifestyle Design guru, and polymath Tim Ferriss, but I have a cool tip that could save you a bunch of time if you own a mobile phone.
Messages...messages...messages AHHHHhhhh
Have you ever tried to reach someone quickly, and had to call every phone they have? As you hear the ringing sound you basically shoot up little prayers, in hopes they will answer, “Oh, God, please God, let her pick up!” It’s got begging written all over it. Then you end up leaving one message per device, and wondering if or when they’ll get the message, and which one message will it be. Was the first one too frantic? Did you skip any info. on the third try? And when might they call you back? Yikes~”What if he left his phone in the car, and doesn’t get the message until he gets home? Ahhh.”
This JUST happened to me as I tried to contact my son’s autistic therapy program manager. I still haven’t heard from her. It’s a crap shoot…
Well, in typical fashion, Google as a free way to streamline and simplify this whole system and situation, seamlessly. The application will even turn phone messages into texts and send them to you. I like that one! I’m about to give it a try, if you do, let me know. If this seems like a helpful idea for your life, you might want to check out their short info video, and be dazzled by the wonders of technology, here –> Google/voice
Today, I contested a citation for breaking a statute: disobeying a posted (Stop) sign. I made a short video showing that the intersection has a blind corner where one risks being hit from behind if one pauses for too long. The officer admitted on the stand the that intersection, which has two Stop signs, is the most ticketed place in the whole township; however, of the two signs, one sign gets 1 out of 20 violations. When questioned, he could not venture any guess for this disparity.
I pointed out, through video evidence, the hazard of this junction, and why this disparity of violations takes place: Drivers wishing to regard the posted sign and obey it, may pause only briefly out of warranted safety concerns.
I lost the case. The $109.50 fine was not reduced.
Reason: You must stop at Stop signs.
As the judge was deliberating in her chambers, the officer says to me, “I remember you. Weren’t you going to school, to a class? And I said you could use this [ticket story] in your class [Theology of Suffering].”
Me: “Yes.”
Officer Myers: “How did that turn out?”
I said, “It went fine. I graduated…from seminary.”
Officer Myers: “From seminary. Oh, okay. Oh, good. What are you going to do now?”
Me: “Ministry. I hope to help people in recovery from drugs and alcohol.”
Officer: “Oh, ppptt, that’s a tough group. That’s hard. Well, good for you. That’s good. Good for you.”
Me: “I see those types of problems as spiritual problems. I think recovery and healing can take root if they start working at a core spiritual level. Then, healing comes spiritually, emotionally, and chemically.”
Officer: “hmm.”
He seemed to lighten up a bit after that.
A few minutes later I was found guilty. $109.50, (I broke a Statute, so I received no points against my license.)
Here’s the court video I presented. (After the session, both the officer and magistrate offered compliments on my presentation. The strangeness of that bit caught me off guard.)
I still contend I did not break the spirit of the law, even if I did not duly pause. My behavior will change henceforth!
Have you ever plead “not guilty”?
What do you think about this case? :)
