Today, you . . .

Today, you can be a positive force in a negative world. Today, you have the opportunity to truly make a difference.

You deserve to live fully. You are worthy and capable of great things. So get on with making them happen.

Give more than what's expected, and you'll find you can expect more from yourself.

Sometimes all you have to do is ask God for something and just like that He will give it to you.

People often feel something, but express something else. They mean something, but say something else.

You can't avoid effort, for avoiding effort is itself an effort. What you can do is to make your efforts count for something of great value.

Yes, it will take sustained effort and commitment. And yes, you are fully capable of doing whatever it takes.

The most reliable shortcut to achievement is to avoid looking for a shortcut.

Light travels faster than sound...

"Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak."

TO THOSE OF US WHO REMEMBER ... Hollywood Squares:

These great questions & answers are from the days when Hollywood  Squares' game show responses were spontaneous, not scripted, as they are  now. Peter Marshall was the host asking the questions..
 
Q. Paul, what is a good reason for  pounding meat?
A. Paul Lynde: Loneliness!
(The audience laughed so long and so hard it took up almost 15 minutes of  the show!)
 
Q. Do female frogs croak?
A. Paul Lynde: If you hold their little heads under water long enough.
 
Q. If you're going to make a parachute  jump, at least how high should you be ?
A. Charley Weaver: three days of steady drinking
should do it.
 
Q. True or False, a pea can last as long as 5,000 years.
A. George Gobel: Boy, it sure seems that way sometimes.
 
Q. You've been having trouble going to sleep. Are you probably a man or a woman?
A. Don Knotts: That's what's been keeping me awake.
 
Q. According to Cosmopolitan, if you meet  a stranger at a party and you think he is attractive, is it okay to  come out and ask him if he's married?
A.. Rose Marie: No, wait until morning.
 
Q. Which of your five senses tends to diminish as you get older?
A. Charley Weaver: My sense of decency.
 
Q. In Hawaiian, does it take more than 3 words to say 'I Love You'?
A. Vincent Price: No, you can say it with a pineapple and a twenty.
 
Q. What are 'Do It,' -- 'I Can Help,' -- and 'I  Can't Get Enough'?
A. George Gobel: I don't know, but it's coming from the next apartment.
 
Q. As you grow older, do you tend to  gesture more or less with your hands while talking?
A. Rose Marie: You ask me one more growing old question Peter, and I'll  give you a gesture you'll never forget.
 
Q. Paul, why do Hell's  Angels wear leather?
A. Paul Lynde: Because chiffon wrinkles too easily.
 
Q. Charley, you've just decided to grow strawberries.  Are you going to get any during the first year?
A. Charley Weaver: Of course not, I'm too busy growing strawberries.
 
Q. In bowling, what's a perfect score?
A. Rose Marie: Ralph, the pin boy.
 
Q. It is considered in bad taste to discuss two subjects at nudist camps. One is politics, what is the other?
A. Paul Lynde: Tape measures.
 
Q. During a tornado, are you safer in the  bedroom or in the closet?
A. Rose Marie: Unfortunately Peter, I'm always safe in the bedroom.
 
Q. Can boys join the Camp Fire Girls?
A. Marty Allen: Only after lights out.
 
Q. When you pat a dog on its head he will wag his tail. What will a goose do?
A. Paul Lynde: Make him bark?
 
Q. If you were pregnant for two years, what would you give birth to?
A.. Paul Lynde: Whatever it is, it would never be afraid of the dark.
 
Q. According to Ann Landers, is there  anything wrong with getting into the habit of kissing a lot of people?
A. Charley Weaver:  It got me out of the army.
 
Q. It is the most abused and neglected part of your body, what is it?
A. Paul Lynde: Mine may be abused, but it certainly isn't neglected.
 
Q. Back in the old days, when Great  Grandpa put horseradish on his head, what was he trying to do?
A. George Gobel: Get it in his mouth.
 
Q. Who stays pregnant for a longer period  of time, your wife or your elephant?
A. Paul Lynde: Who told you about my elephant?
 
Q. When a couple have a baby, who is  responsible for its sex?
A. Charley Weaver: I'll lend him the car, the rest is up to him.
 
Q. Jackie Gleason recently revealed that  he firmly believes in them and has actually seen them on at least two occasions. What are they?
A. Charley Weaver: His feet.
 
Q. According to Ann Landers, what are two things you should never do in bed?
A. Paul Lynde: Point and laugh .
 
WE DON'T STOP LAUGHING BECAUSE WE GROW OLD ; WE GROW OLD BECAUSE WE STOP LAUGHING!   

Instead of saying . . .

"Instead of saying, 'God, I have a big problem.' try to say, 'Problem, I have a BIG God!'"

There's no way

"There's no way to rewind to the past or to fast forward to the future, but just play the present and make it good."

Sometimes

"Sometimes we really have to move on and face the fact that certain chapters of our lives should really be closed forever."

Best Prayer I Have Heard In A Long Time...

Best Prayer I Have Heard In A Long Time... 

Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us
off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine
hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner, help with
homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments
with her children. 

Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed,
disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a
worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his
apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting
his student loans for next semester. 

Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for
money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a
job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in
our worst nightmares 

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly
slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping
progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on
the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the
last year that they go shopping together 


Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts
you give us, the greatest gift is love It is not enough to
share that love with those we hold dear. Open our hearts not
to just those who are close to us, but to all humanity. Let
us be slow to judge and quick to forgive, show patience,
empathy and love.  

Working for God on earth doesn't pay much......but His
retirement plan is out of this world!

Never regret . . .

" Never regret anything that has happened in your life. It cannot be changed, undone, or forgotten so take it as a lesson learned and move on."

Can We Be as Giving as Mother Teresa?

“Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he or she sends forth a tiny ripple of hope. And crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”

You must understand . . .

"You must understand that even though a person loves you, you must consider the fact that you're not the only one who makes him/her happy."

The problem with not havin a goal is...

"The problem with not havin a goal is...You keep running up and down lifes field and never score!!!"

If he/she is amazing . . .

"If he/she is amazing, he/she wont be easy. If he/she is easy, he/she wont be amazing. If he/she is worth it, you wont give up. If you give up, you're not worthy."

Patience

"Patience with Family is LOVE, Patience with Others is RESPECT, Patience with Self is CONFIDENCE & Patience with GOD is FAITH..."

Expectations

"I will never live up to your expectations, but that's alright... I am living up to mine."

Attitude is more important than facts...

The longer you live, the more you will come to realize the impact of attitude on your life. Attitude is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It will make or break a company...a church...a home.

The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past. We cannot change that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable.

The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. And so it is with all of us; we are in charge of our attitudes.

Any change...

"Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied by drawbacks and discomforts"

You'll never know

"You'll never know what true happiness feels like until you fall in love and you'll never understand what pain really is, until you lose it."

Dear whoever is reading this...

"Dear whoever is reading this, I hope you know that you're never alone, and that somebody out there loves you more than you will ever know."

Paraprosdokian sentences

A paraprosdokian (from Greek meaning "beyond" and "expectation") is a figure of speech  in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect, sometimes producing an anticlimax . For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians and satirists. Some paraprosdokians not only change the meaning of an early phrase, but also play on the double meaning of a particular word, creating a syllepsis.

I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

Do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.

Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.

We never really grow up, we only learn how to act in public.

War does not determine who is right - only who is left.

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.

A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. On my desk, I have a work station.

How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

Some people are like Slinkies ... not really good for anything, but you can't help smiling when you see one tumble down the stairs.

Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish.

I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted pay checks.

A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don't need it.

Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says "If an emergency, notify:" I put "DOCTOR".

I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

I saw a woman wearing a sweat shirt with "Guess" on it...so I said "Implants?"

Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?

Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.

Why do Americans choose from just two people to run for president and 50 for Miss America ?

Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.

A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute to skydive twice.

The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!

Always borrow money from a pessimist. He won't expect it back.

A diplomat is someone who can tell you to go to hell in such a way that you will look forward to the trip.

Hospitality:  making your guests feel like they're at home, even if you wish they were.

Money can't buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.

I discovered I scream the same way whether I'm about to be devoured by a great white shark or if a piece of seaweed touches my foot.

Some cause happiness wherever they go. Others whenever they go.

There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.

I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.

I always take life with a grain of salt, plus a slice of lemon, and a shot of tequila.

When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember that the Fire Department usually uses water.

You're never too old to learn something stupid. 

To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

Some people hear voices. Some see invisible people. Others have no imagination whatsoever.

A bus is a vehicle that runs twice as fast when you are after it as when you are in it.

If you are supposed to learn from your mistakes, why do some people have more than one child?

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

That it should be possible to build...

"Asked about the proposed construction of a mosque near New York City's ground zero, President Barack Obama said Friday that it should be possible to build a mosque anywhere that a church or synagogue could be built.

'I recognize the extraordinary sensitivities' surrounding the issue, Obama said. But 'we are not at war against Islam.' The United States is fighting those who have 'distorted Islam' and 'we've got to be clear about that.'

The enemy is a 'tiny minority of people' who are 'engaged in horrific acts' and have killed more Muslims than anyone else, Obama said. Muslims are other Americans' neighbors, friends and co-workers, he said. They also are fighting in the U.S. armed forces in Afghanistan, he added."

We are one nation under God

‎'One of the things he most admired about Bush after the September 11 attacks, Obama said, was the former president's decision to make clear that the United States is 'not at war with Islam.'

'We are one nation under God -- we may call that God different names, but we remain one nation,' he said. 'I want to make sure that this country retains that sense of purpose.'"

God our Father...

"God our Father, walk through my house and take away all my worries and illnesses and please watch over and heal my family in Jesus name, Amen."

Letter From Father of a Sailor Discharged by DADT

August 26, 2010

Hon. Jeh C. Johnson
General Counsel, U.S. Department of Defense
Co-Chair, Comprehensive Review Working Group

General Carter F. Ham
Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe
Co-Chair, Comprehensive Review Working Group

CC:
U.S. Sen. Carl M. Levin
Chairman, Senate Armed Services Committee

U.S. Sen. John S. McCain
Ranking Member, Senate Armed Services Committee

U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman
Member, Senate Armed Services Committee

Dear Mr. Johnson and General Ham:

I am a heavy machinery truck driver; I have been all of my life. A blue collar American who raised my son, Joseph Rocha, in a Roman Catholic home with strong Spanish values, after his mother lost custody for drug abuse. Throughout school Joseph turned out to be an awarded scholar, athlete and leader. I did my best to provide a good home for him. But, I wasn’t prepared for my only boy to turn out gay.

Early on in his senior year, at 17, he left the house on one condition: that he never return.

I learned through my wife that he was excelling quickly in the military. He was promoted twice in his first year and was hand-picked for explosive detection school. We had no idea that during his 28 months in the Middle East, he was being abused by his superiors because he wouldn’t tell them if he was gay or not. He only ever called home to tell my wife he loved working with the dogs and about his aspirations of becoming an officer.

He sent gifts to his kid siblings for every single holiday and called them religiously. He was a hero to my girls. I struggled through our silence knowing that I was missing out on my son. As it sank in that Joseph might be injured or killed in the service, it became clear how irrelevant who he wants to love is. On a phone call home to congratulate me for my birthday, I told my son for the first time that I was truly proud of him and asked him to live his life for himself, not for me or anyone else.

After receiving a Naval Marine Corp Achievement Medal for his service overseas and being accepted to Naval Academy Preparatory School to go on to the United States Naval Academy and earn a commission, Joseph was discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

Recently, just after his mother’s death, I asked him what he would be doing this year when he becomes the first in our family to graduate from college. I was surprised when he said that he wants to serve again. I asked him why he would go back after all they did to him. I asked him if he was prepared to go back to the Middle East. He replied that he was never meant to be done serving.

Joseph contributed to my family and to the families of each of his co-workers: loyalty, respect and service. My son had always lead by example and in coming out he has taught his siblings pride and his favorite value, integrity.

I am proud of my son and it makes me sick now to read the Navy documents detailing the abuse he stomached in order to try and save his career. He is a brave young man and a patriot. I know now first hand that the old ways are not always right and I ask that you encourage your superiors to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Please allow my son, Joseph C. Rocha, and countless like him, to resume their military careers.

Sincerely,
Jose J. Rocha

Whatever...

"Whatever you are doing, whatever choices or decisions you are making, you always grab from each culture on how to improve your life."

"Learn acceptance and to understand that we are all equal at the end of the day. It's the differences that make things great if we could just open our eyes to it."

Editorial - Marriage Is a Constitutional Right - NYTimes.com

Editorial - Marriage Is a Constitutional Right - NYTimes.com
Until Wednesday, the thousands of same-sex couples who have married did so because a state judge or Legislature allowed them to. The nation’s most fundamental guarantees of freedom, set out in the Constitution, were not part of the equation. That has changed with the historic decision by a federal judge in California, Vaughn Walker, that said his state’s ban on same-sex marriage violated the 14th Amendment’s rights to equal protection and due process of law.

The decision, though an instant landmark in American legal history, is more than that. It also is a stirring and eloquently reasoned denunciation of all forms of irrational discrimination, the latest link in a chain of pathbreaking decisions that permitted interracial marriages and decriminalized gay sex between consenting adults.

As the case heads toward appeals at the circuit level and probably the Supreme Court, Judge Walker’s opinion will provide a firm legal foundation that will be difficult for appellate judges to assail.

The case was brought by two gay couples who said California’s Proposition 8, which passed in 2008 with 52 percent of the vote, discriminated against them by prohibiting same-sex marriage and relegating them to domestic partnerships. The judge easily dismissed the idea that discrimination is permissible if a majority of voters approve it; the referendum’s outcome was “irrelevant,” he said, quoting a 1943 case, because “fundamental rights may not be submitted to a vote.”

He then dismantled, brick by crumbling brick, the weak case made by supporters of Proposition 8 and laid out the facts presented in testimony. The two witnesses called by the supporters (the state having bowed out of the case) had no credibility, he said, and presented no evidence that same-sex marriage harmed society or the institution of marriage.

Same-sex couples are identical to opposite-sex couples in their ability to form successful marital unions and raise children, he said. Though procreation is not a necessary goal of marriage, children of same-sex couples will benefit from the stability provided by marriage, as will the state and society. Domestic partnerships confer a second-class status. The discrimination inherent in that second-class status is harmful to gay men and lesbians. These findings of fact will be highly significant as the case winds its way through years of appeals.

One of Judge Walker’s strongest points was that traditional notions of marriage can no longer be used to justify discrimination, just as gender roles in opposite-sex marriage have changed dramatically over the decades. All marriages are now unions of equals, he wrote, and there is no reason to restrict that equality to straight couples. The exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage “exists as an artifact of a time when the genders were seen as having distinct roles in society and in marriage,” he wrote. “That time has passed.”

To justify the proposition’s inherent discrimination on the basis of sex and sexual orientation, he wrote, there would have to be a compelling state interest in banning same-sex marriage. But no rational basis for discrimination was presented at the two-and-a-half-week trial in January, he said. The real reason for Proposition 8, he wrote, is a moral view “that there is something wrong with same-sex couples,” and that is not a permissible reason for legislation.

“Moral disapproval alone,” he wrote, in words that could someday help change history, “is an improper basis on which to deny rights to gay men and women.”

The ideological odd couple who led the case — Ted Olson and David Boies, who fought against each other in the Supreme Court battle over the 2000 election — were criticized by some supporters of same-sex marriage for moving too quickly to the federal courts. Certainly, there is no guarantee that the current Supreme Court would uphold Judge Walker’s ruling. But there are times when legal opinions help lead public opinions.

For me... Faithful-ist....

I posted these words before, however I never get tired of reading them, sharing them, or saying them... 

Well, you will be ok... that I am certain my friend... Faith is our greatest weapon against adversity; and with faith comes persistence.

When we embrace the struggle instead of giving in to it, we reaffirm that life is precious, worth fighting for.

It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. What is faith, believing in things you can not see. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Opinion: Court ruling on federal law advances same-sex marriage - San Jose Mercury News

Opinion: Court ruling on federal law advances same-sex marriage - San Jose Mercury News

RETRAIN YOUR BRAIN

Many people today don’t realize that the reason they’re not happy, the reason they’re not enjoying life is simply because they’ve trained their minds in the wrong direction. They’ve trained their mind to worry. They’ve trained their mind to complain. They’ve trained their mind to see the negative. But just as we can form these negative mindsets, we can retrain our minds and form positive mindsets.

One of the main keys to developing a positive attitude is to learn how to stay grateful. When you stay grateful, you are focusing on what’s right rather than what’s wrong. This doesn’t happen automatically, you have to discipline yourself to focus on the positive. You have to make a conscious effort every single day until a good habit is formed.

Remember, when you live with an attitude of praise and thanksgiving, you are shielding yourself from the attacks of the enemy. The seeds of discouragement cannot take root in a grateful heart. Neither can bitterness, envy, or strife. When you have a grateful heart, you are strong. You are empowered, and you can confidently enjoy the good life!

Who are we to judge GOD's work?

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14

On her radio show, Dr. Laura Schlesinger

On her radio show, Dr. Laura Schlesinger (a popular conservative radio talk-show host) said that homosexuality is an abomination according to the Bible Leviticus 18:22, and cannot be condoned under any circumstance. The following response is an open letter to Dr.Laura, penned by James M. Kauffman, Ed. D. It's funny, as well as informative.

_______________________

Dear Dr. Laura:

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination... end of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighbouring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual unseemliness - Lev. 15: 19-24. The problem is how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord - Lev. 1:9. The problem is my neighbours.  They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbour who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2. clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination - Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? Lev. 24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy considerable expertise in such matters, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your adoring fan,

James M. Kauffman, Ed. D.
Professor Emeritus Dept. of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education
University of Virginia

“Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines…”

Most often, it’s not the big things that happen in life that keep us from being happy; it’s the small things. I’ve heard it said, “Tornados and hurricanes get more news coverage, but in reality, termites do more damage.” Most of the time, we’re not dealing with some major crisis like losing a job, a life-threatening illness, or a relationship breaking up. The big things are rare. It’s the little inconveniences like not being able to find your car keys in the morning, or being in a hurry and getting behind a driver going 40 in a 60-mile-an-hour zone. It’s the little interruptions and frustrations that get our emotions worked up and cause us to lose our joy and peace.  The way we handle the little things will determine what kind of life we will live. When we allow negative thoughts of frustration to come in, we are allowing the little foxes to spoil the vines. Make the decision today to “catch” those foxes by choosing to think on the right things. 

Ten Commandments for
a Responsible Dog Owner

---

1. My life is likely to last 10 to 15 years. Any separation from you will be very painful.

2. Give me time to understand what you want of me.

3. Place your trust in me -- it is crucial for my well-being.

4. Don't be angry with me for long, and don't lock me up as punishment. You have your work, your friends, your entertainment. I have only you.

5. Talk to me. Even if I don't understand your words, I understand you voice when it's speaking to me.

6. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it.

7. Before you hit me, remember that I have teeth that could easily crush the bones in your hand, but I choose not to bite you.

8. Before you scold me for being lazy or uncooperative, ask yourself if something might be bothering me. Perhaps I'm not getting the right food, I've been out in the sun too long, or my heart may be getting old and weak.

9. Take care of me when I get old. You, too, will grow old.

10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Never say "I can't bear to watch it" or "Let it happen in my absence." Everything is easier for me if you are there. Remember, I love you.

Author Unknown ------

Do what . . .

"Do what you can, God will do what you can't..."

Executive Order 13160

Executive Order 13160: "On June 23, 2000, the President signed Executive Order 13160, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, and status as a parent in federally conducted education and training programs."

The closet. . .

"The closet is a soul-crushing, debilitating place to be. It rips you apart, and eventually, you will do something stupid. When you try to hide something so important to who you are, it will eventually consume you. And, to be clear, this is most assuredly about more than just sex, it is about who you love, who you want to share the rest of your life with, and who you are."

There has to be something else ...

Prop 8 Trial Tracker: "Ultimately, it takes a little something extra to really go out on the limb against gay rights like California State Senator Roy Ashburn (R-Bakersfield) does. Yeah, some of these people trace it back to their deeply held faith views, but there are so many issues to take up from the Bible. The extreme poverty across the world would seem to be a far bigger issue, with far more and far more direct advice from the Bible. Yet, these people choose to focus on one misinterpreted section of Leviticus amongst a whole volume. In a sea of advice, commandments, and admonishments, they focus on one unclear passage. To spend so much time on one issue, there has to be something else to it than just one passage in the Bible."

On a positive note...

On a positive note, I've learned that no matter what happens or how bad it seems TODAY, life goes on, and it will be better TOMORROW.

I've learned....

I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

Food for Success

• Don’t wait for a revolutionary idea. It will never happen. Just focus on a simple, exciting, empty space and execute as fast as possible
• Share your idea. The more you share, the more you get advice and the more you learn. Meet and talk to your competitors.
• Build a community. Use blogging and social software to make sure people hear about you.
• Listen to your community. Answer questions and build your product with their feedback.
• Gather a great team. Select those with very different skills from you. Look for people who are better than you.
• Be the first to recognize a problem. Everyone makes mistakes. Address the issue in public, learn about and correct it.
• Don’t spend time on market research. Launch test versions as early as possible. Keep improving the product in the open.
• Don’t obsess over spreadsheet business plans. They are not going to turn out as you predict, in any case.
• Don’t plan a big marketing effort. It’s much more important and powerful that your community loves the product.
• Don’t focus on getting rich. Focus on your users. Money is a consequence of success, not a goal.

“Jesus replied: "

Matthew 22:37-39

“Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Power of Love....

Remembering the power of not just telling a person you love them, but WHY you love them.

The bedrock American principle of equality . . .

The bedrock American principle of equality is central to the political and legal convictions of Republicans, Democrats, liberals, and conservatives alike.

The dream that became America began with the revolutionary concept expressed in the Declaration of Independence in words that are among the most noble and elegant ever written:

 "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

Old Attitudes. . .

“God will not pour fresh, creative ideas and blessings into old attitudes.”  

Up Time America

If you see injustice, STAND UP
If something needs to be said, SPEAK UP
If you make an appointment, SHOW UP
If you make a mistake, FESS UP
If you’re overstepping, BACK UP
If you get behind, CATCH UP
If they knock you down, GET UP
If you’re out of line, STRAIGHTEN UP
When your boss instructs, KEEP UP
When your elders speak, LISTEN UP
When your teachers teach, SIT UP
When your preachers preach, WAKE UP
When your country calls, MAN UP
Ladies too... WOMAN UP
When the fight is over, MAKE UP
If you’re being hard, EASE UP
If your heart is closed, OPEN UP
If you want to buy something, SAVE UP--
It’s not an entitlement, so SHUT UP!
If you make a mess, CLEAN IT UP
If you drop trash, PICK IT UP
If a car is waiting for you to
walk across the street, SPEED IT UP
If you’re cold busted, GIVE IT UP
If people fall down, HELP THEM UP--
Not the government, YOU STEP UP
If idiots start fighting, BREAK IT UP
If the music is wholesome, TURN IT UP
If the message is poisonous, THROW IT UP
If your words are vulgar, CLAM IT UP
If your words encourage, KEEP IT UP
If your pants are baggy, PULL THEM UP
If the belt’s too loose, CINCH IT UP
If your fly is down, ZIP IT UP
If you’re dressed half naked, COVER IT UP
If you can’t afford stuff, PASS IT UP--
No “bailouts” folks, PONY UP
If you made a promise, you BACK IT UP
And you can take your whining and PACK IT UP
It’s called personal responsibility, so TAKE IT UP
This country was founded on it, you can LOOK IT UP
It’s the American way people, so TURN IT UP
Because when life gets boring, you SHAKE IT UP
When life is good, you SOAK IT UP
When life’s unfair, you SUCK IT UP
When life is funny, you can YUCK IT UP
When life is sad, just LOOK STRAIGHT UP
And life’s too short people, so LIVE IT UP!

I feel the same way about Jesus as I do about Elvis...

"I feel the same way about Jesus as I do about Elvis. Love the man's work. His fans, not so much." Bill Hicks

I like Christ; it is his followers I am scared of...

To paraphrase Gandhi; ‘I like Christ; it is his followers I am scared of.’ 

Pave the Way for Victory

Today’s Verse: “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation” (Psalm 5:3, NIV).

Today’s Word:

Did you know that every morning you have the opportunity to set the tone for your whole day? When you put God first and decide to go out with a grateful attitude and a positive frame of mind, you’ll not only feel better, but you’re going to draw in the good things of God. You are paving the way for success and victory. But, if you get up thinking, “Man, life’s a drag. Nothing good ever happens to me. It’s going to be a lousy day,” then you are going to attract defeat, failure, and mediocrity.

Today, choose to set your day in the right direction. Find something to thank God for. If you have to, make a list of all the good things in your life and post it on your bathroom mirror. As you continually choose to set your mind on Him first thing in the morning, you’ll be paving the way to victory and enjoying the blessing and favor He has in store for you!

Prayer for Today: Father God, thank You for the gift of today. I choose to set my mind on You and thank You for Your goodness and mercy in my life. Help me to stay focused on You and keep You first place in everything I do. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Provided by: Joel Osteen Ministries's Notes

A bitter sweet day…

VETERANS DAY … A bitter sweet day… we honor those who willingly sacrifice all for this government institution we call the United State of America…the home of the free… the very institution that will treat you as second class citizen because of sexual orientation... Just another day…A bitter sweet day… “if you don’t ask they won’t tell”… how they treat you... the home of the free, for some…

Biblical authors on homosexuality...

It is not easy to summarize briefly the body of research on homosexuality in the Bible. But these are the interpretations from some scholars:

The story of Sodom in Genesis 19 is about offense against the sacred duty of hospitality. That is how Ezekiel 16:48-49 and Wisdom 9:13-14 interpret this text. The attempted male rape only heightens the atrocity of this offense.

Leviticus 18:22 does forbid male-male sex as an "abomination." But the word simply means an impurity or a religious taboo — like eating pork. As in the case of Catholics who used to be forbidden under pain of mortal sin to eat meat on Friday, the offense was not in the act itself but in the betrayal of one's religion. The ancient Jews were to avoid practices common among the unclean Gentiles.

Romans 1:27 mentions men having relations with men. But the terms used to describe them are "dishonorable" and "shameless." These refer deliberately to social disapproval, not to ethical condemnation. Moreover, according to Paul's usage, different from the prevalent Stoic philosophy of the day, para physin ("unnatural") would best be translated "atypical" or "beyond the ordinary." So it bears no reference to natural law. And it can imply no ethical condemnation because in Romans 11:24 God is said to act para physin. Paul sees gay sex as an impurity (see Rm. 1:24), just like uncircumcision or eating forbidden foods. He mentions it to make the main point of his letter, that purity requirements of the Jewish Law are not relevant in Christ Jesus. See L. William Countryman, Dirt, Greed, and Sex.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:8-10 list arsenokoitai among those who will be excluded from the Reign of God. This obscure term has been translated "homosexuals" but its exact meaning is debated. It certainly does not include women but only some kind of male sexual offenders. If it does refer to men having sex with men — which is dubious — it must be interpreted in light of the abuse and licentiousness commonly associated with male-male sex in the Roman Empire. See Robin Scroggs, The New Testament and Homosexuality.

Finally, Genesis 1-3 shows Adam and Eve created for mutual companionship and procreation. These accounts use the most standard of human relationships to teach a religious lesson. The point is the love and wisdom of God, who made all things good and wills us no evil. Nothing suggests the biblical authors intended a lesson on sexual orientation.

All great works of literature and poetry are "inspired."

All great works of literature and poetry are "inspired."  The Bible, as we know it, is the result of many changes throughout centuries and is contradictory in so many ways we don’t have space to catalog them all! There are entire libraries of books devoted to this subject. The person who is using the Bible as history is forced, when all emotion is taken out of the picture, to admit that he has no means of checking the historical veracity of the Biblical texts. The scholars, who admit, when pressed, that rigorous historical criticism forces us to discard the Biblical narratives, nevertheless will use them saying “what else do we have?”  The modern day “Christian” becomes their own worst enemy when they use the Bible to justify their moral beliefs of prejudice, ignorance and/or hatred. 

You have the Power

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.  -- Groucho Marx

Retrain Your Brain

"Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind…” (Romans 12:2, AMP).


Message:


Many people today don’t realize that the reason they’re not happy, the reason they’re not enjoying life is simply because they’ve trained their minds in the wrong direction. They’ve trained their mind to worry. They’ve trained their mind to complain. They’ve trained their mind to see the negative. But just as we can form these negative mindsets, we can retrain our minds and form positive mindsets.

One of the main keys to developing a positive attitude is to learn how to stay grateful. When you stay grateful, you are focusing on what’s right rather than what’s wrong. This doesn’t happen automatically, you have to discipline yourself to focus on the positive. You have to make a conscious effort every single day until a good habit is formed.

Remember, when you live with an attitude of praise and thanksgiving, you are shielding yourself from the attacks of the enemy. The seeds of discouragement cannot take root in a grateful heart. Neither can bitterness, envy, or strife. When you have a grateful heart, you are strong. You are empowered, and you can confidently enjoy the good life He has prearranged for you!

Prayer:


Father in heaven, today I surrender my thoughts and mind to You. Help me retrain my thoughts so that they are in line with Your will for my life. I choose to have a positive attitude of faith and expectancy and thank You for empowering me to enjoy the good life You have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Keep yourselves in the love of God…

Reuben “Rudy” Clemons, Ph.D.
Advent - Saturday, December 5
Scripture: Jude 17 – 25
17. But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18.How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19.These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. 20. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21. Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 22. And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23. And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. 24. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25.To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.


Keep yourselves in the love of God…
So many people today are living with less than GOD’s best and are divided from GOD’s love by others who are following ungodly ways. Those who are following ungodly ways have lost hope and have allowed fear and doubt to enter their life. The scripture reminds us not to listen to lies from those with ungodly ways, but rather to build ourselves up with holy faith and praying to the Holy Ghost. When we listen to GOD’s message we are able to build hope and confidence in God’s promise, with his promise there is nothing that can stop us. When we lose hope and fear creeps in, we hesitate and feel powerless and doubt our own love and the love GOD has for us. When we doubt the love that GOD has for us, we lose hope then our fears steal from us in all areas of our life, we tend to clench our fists and act selfishly then panic and do things without thinking. When we believe in GOD’s promise, keep ourselves in the love of GOD, and take steps of faith to act on His promise, GOD will give us the power, love, and self-discipline so that we can move confidently forward into the abundant eternal life He has for us, both now and forever!


Prayer:
Lord, we come to You today declaring that we are finished with fear and openly choose to stand on Your promise that will keep us from falling. Thank You for giving us the power to triumph over those that mock You. Renew our hope as we live in Your love and accept Your promise of eternal life. Amen.

You have to be willing to make some changes in your life...

“He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm” (Proverbs 13:20, NIV).

Sometimes, in order to embrace the destiny God has in store, you have to be willing to make some changes in your life. You have to be willing to examine where you are and what you need to move forward. This may mean you need to change some friends that you’re spending time with. Maybe they were fine for a season in your life, but you’ve outgrown them. This is a new season, and in order for you to rise higher, you have to break away from relationships that are limiting you. You have to develop some new friendships with people who are going to pull you up and inspire you to rise higher.

I’ve found if you’re the smartest one in your group, your group is too small. Find people who are smarter than you are, people who will challenge you to stretch to the next level and become everything God’s created you to be. Remember, he who walks with the wise becomes wise. Choose your friends wisely so that you can walk and live in the destiny God has in store for you.

Father God, thank You for Your grace and mercy. Thank You for the good plan You have for my life. Help me choose my friends and companions wisely so that I can continue to move forward in the destiny You have for me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.


 By:Joel Osteen Ministries

Prayers Do Work

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the
men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two
survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on
opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and! he was able to eat its fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren.

After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, there was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.

Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of
the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.

As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?"
"My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them," the first man answered. "His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything."

"You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer,  which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings."

"Tell me," the first man asked the voice, "what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?"

"He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone,  but those of another praying for us.

This is too good not to share...

My prayer for you today is that all your prayers are answered. Be blessed.

"What you do for others is more important than what you do for yourself"

This was shared with me by a friend, I hope you will share with your  friend!

The Legal Extortion Racket

What are the rest of the lawyers going to do? What about the other 95 percent of trial lawyers who are not so great and not such good lawyers? How is a lawyer who is not at the top going to feed his family? His chances of getting your case against Exxon are about the same as hitting the lottery. Many of my close friends are personal injury attorneys. They think and dream about the one good case that will earn them enough to be on easy street. But the one good case never seems to come. Instead most lawyers make a living by looking for somebody to sue and filing bad cases with bad facts. As long as a lawyer can find a potential defendant with even modest assets, he will attempt to make his case. If he doesn’t have a good case, he has to go with what he has. That’s how he makes a living.

The lawyer is willing to gamble that by filing a case he will be able to squeeze a settlement or play "lawsuit roulette" with the jury. Just like the population in general, from whom they are drawn, jurors can be confused and misled by emotional and irrational arguments. Experiments in human behavior show that most of the time individuals are unable to distinguish the truth from a lie. When asked to distinguish truthful from untruthful testimony based upon the demeanor and expression of the witness, in a majority of cases, the subjects in the experiment incorrectly identified the lie as the truth and the truth as the lie. The conclusion of the study has frightening implications. Jurors are more likely to believe a witness who is lying than one who is telling the truth.

This phenomenon has been understood and exploited for years by political leaders and others with a message to sell. A lie which is repeated forcefully and with conviction becomes accepted as truth. Think of the Nazi propagandists and the McCarthy type demagogues who convinced millions of people of the truth of their cause. Advertising messages repeated often enough are believed, regardless of the merits of the product and despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. That’s the foundation of the multibillion dollar advertising industry and is the basis on which political leaders present their programs.

In the same manner, a lawyer attempts to "sell" his case to the jury. Facts are distorted. Lies, half truths, and perjured testimony are zealously advanced on behalf of the "injured" plaintiff. If things go right and the lawyer gets lucky or knows what he is doing, the jury will reward these efforts with a judgment for several hundred thousand or maybe a few million dollars. Every day in court a sympathetic plaintiff prevails against a wealthy or comparatively wealthy defendant— even in those cases which appear to be absurd, illogical, and utterly without merit.

Any lawyer who is still in business after a few years of practice has learned that the unpredictability of human behavior can be used to his advantage. The uncertainty of the outcome creates a potential risk of loss for even the most "innocent" defendant. Lawyers know that for most people the risk of financial loss also creates a highly uncomfortable level of emotional strain. If you have ever been sued—no matter what the cause—you understand that the unpredictability of the result and the possibility of economic loss can generate a severe degree of stress and emotional charge.

When a lawyer threatens to sue you, he is exploiting all of these facts about human nature. He knows that the outcome of the case will be uncertain regardless of the merit of the case. He knows that if you have reachable and collectible assets, the risk of loss will cause you extreme worry and stress. Finally, he knows that if you choose to fight the case, your time and your privacy will be violated and your resources will be depleted or exhausted by tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in needless legal fees and costs. Doesn’t settling the case sound much more appealing and logical?

Settling is more appealing, and that is exactly what you should do. As unfair as it sounds, if you fight the case, you may well lose. You will certainly spend much more money and time, and you may never recover from the emotional toll, the damage to your personal relationships, and the impact on your business.

If you have available and reachable assets which can be uncovered in an investigation, then the lawyers hold the leverage. They know that you are vulnerable, and you are better off settling the case. They want some easy money from you, and then they will move on to the next case. That’s how the legal extortion racket works.

Don't worry...

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done."

The will of God...

"The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you."'

To get something you never had.....

"To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better."

ONE OF THE BEST STORIES I'VE EVER HEARD!

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard 

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath.. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big 'F' at the top of his papers. 

At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. 

Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... He is a joy to be around..' 

His second grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.' 

His third grade teacher wrote, 'His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken.' 

Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, 'Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class.' 


By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, 'Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.' 

After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her 'teacher's pets..' 

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. 

Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life. 

Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs.. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life. 

Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favourite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD. 


The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. 

They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, 'Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.' 

Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, 'Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you.' 

(For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Doctor at Iowa  Methodist in  Des Moines  that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)

Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this along. I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just 'do it'. 

Random acts of kindness, I think they call it! 

'Believe in Angels, then return the favor'