RANDOM THOUGHTS 2

Its been over a month since my last post. I guess the holidays took a strain on me, for I have neglected housekeeping here at the lodge. Well, I am open for business, and a grea tway to re open the old place is to share more random thoughts.

We men should really love these new GPS systems, we now have a 300 dollar reason not to ask for directions!

I would love to be a weatherman on TV or radio. I mean where else can you be so wrong, and then say "well We were not expecting this" and still have a job the next day??"

Speaking of weathermen, and I may sound like a male chauvanist here, but regarding these hot women they have doing the weather on TV?? That may be all well and good in nice weather, but I would have a hard time paying attention when these ladies have to announce that a Tornado is coming.

Heres something I have difficulty swallowing.. If the economy is so bad and people are struggling, then how come I read that the business that is growing the most are these personal storage places. This makes me think.. If people have to pay a company to store their excess goods because they do not have room in their homes, how can things be that bad??? I have a better idea, Just do not buy so much stuff that you cannot fit it all in.

With Valentines Day approaching, I remember something I used to say a while ago, in that "why have one day set aside to show someone you love them. If you really love someone, EVERY DAY should be Valentines Day" well, now that I am grown I know this to be not very realistic. to love someone 24/7 is like continuously exhaling. a nice sentiment, but it cannot be done.

The best definition of love comes from C.S. Lewis when he said "love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady desire for the loved ones ultimate good, as far as it can be obtained"

Continuing with the love topic, would you believe this gristled old man here has watched 4 romantic movies since November?? ahh but not the newer sappy kind of love stories, but stories of old fashioned romance, the way it used to be. One thing I do wish though is that someone would make a real love story where an unattractive man is involved.

Whats with these "reality " shows?? I mean if this is supposed to be real life, do YOU know anyone who lives like that??

Besides, how can anyone be real when a microphone is put up to their mouths. Dont we all become just a LITTLE BIT phony??

How come the alphabet is in that order??? is it because of that song???

Hawaii only has 13 letters or so in their alphabet. I wonder how their song goes?

Well thats it for now. thanks for reading, and helping me put a new coat of paint on this recently unattended Lodge. Its good to be back.

The Twelfth Day of Christmas.. the Ultimate Hope!

Well, we have gone through 11 days of Christmas, and if I was anything like a good blogger, this would have been done by now, but please forgive me for celebrating Christmas a little too much and neglecting my blog. But here's to all those folks who truly inspire us. It was my pleasure researching all of them.

So I leave you now with the ultimate story of Hope, and as usual, it came through tragic circumstances! yes it is the Easter Story. For I believe that as much as we celebrate Christs birth, it was NOT the child who saved us. It was NOT the baby in the manger who went on that cross. and it was NOT the Holy infant so tender and mild who rose again, never to die again, so that we may do the same. It was the grown UP baby who did all of these things.

I love the fact that one church actually takes their old Christmas tree and makes it out into a cross to be used at Easter. Wonderful!

Without further ado, here is the Easter story in two versions. One is the familiar version, and one is a delightful version for kids.

Hope springs eternal.

The Eleventh Day of Christmas.. Just Friends??

I move on here in my personal tales of inspiration by moving from family to friends. And, like my family, I will not mention names here, to honor my friends privacy, but they know who they are.

Branch Rickey once said that "there is quality in quantity" meaning that the more you have of something the better the chance that you will have a quality item among the lot. Well normally I would agree with that but in my case, its more like.."the cream rises to the top", or "you have to dig through a lot of dirt to get to the Diamonds" I do not posses a lot of friends, but the ones I do have stand out like an Everest in Kansas.

If ever people were a source of love and inspiration to me, it is my select circle of friends. Average ordinary people with the usual struggles and frustrations, but who live life with victory and triumph. Still struggling, but always overcoming and winning the little battles,waiting for the day when the ultimate victory will be obtained.

These people love me for who I am, and I do not have to struggle to impress them, or to win their favor. they have the courage and the confidence to look at me, and how I treat people and my character, and are as drawn to that, as I am to them. Nothing to me is more inspiring than to have people who you can be free to be yourself, warts and all, weaknesses and all, and to know that they will still be your friends.

And the most important thing we can take from this post is that while it is great to have people in your lives like this, It is equally important that we strive to BECOME this kind of person to others. to Be a friend like that.

Perhaps the reason I do not have a wide circle of friends is that I take that word seriously. co workers are cool, and may old acquaintances may be forgot and never brought to mind, but it is my friends that I cherish because that's exactly who they are. real friends in every sense of the word. Perfect?? hardly. loved?? Definitely.

I wish I could mention your names, but as Spurgeon said so wisely "carve your name on hearts, not on marble" And you all did. Happy New Year to you all.