where's jim?

I have moved to Wordpress!! Please follow the link below...

2006-11-11T09:13:00.000-05:00

http://wheresjim.wordpress.com

2006-10-06T08:51:00.000-04:00

Bein' Green - Kermit the Frog

2006-08-14T18:32:00.000-04:00

Undignified

It occurred to me...

So where's jim

2006-03-30T22:08:00.000-05:00

You know it ocurred to me, I have no reason to move over to Wordpress... Good enough for me!! See you over at www.wheresjim.wordpress.com, or something like that.

I declare you blessed today!! Be Blessed above and beyond all measure!!!

REESET YOUR BIOLOGICAL CLOCKS

2006-03-29T10:20:00.000-05:00

March 29, 2006 -- Daylight-saving time does more than just rob us of an hour of sleep. When folks all across the country reset their clocks Sunday morning, they will also be forcing a vital part of their brains to do something it really doesn't want to do.
The biological clock, found in just about everything from pond scum to humans, is the key player in a complex system that controls the respiratory system, blood pressure and heartbeat, sleep-wake cycles and even such seemingly unrelated problems as medical toxicity and depression.
Only in recent years have scientists begun to understand this vital clock, which is only about the size of a kernel of corn. It has a dramatic impact on our mental and physical well-being. Yet we ask it routinely to reset itself as we zip about the world, traveling across multiple time zones. And on the first Sunday of every April, we tell it to spring forward one hour.
"It's a force that is manifested in every aspect of our daily existence," says biologist David Glass of Kent State University, who has been studying the clock for about 15 years.
Glass likens the clock to an orchestra conductor.
"You have a conductor and maybe 100 people who are playing various instruments," he says. "Music is rhythmical, just like our daily activities. We have a master clock located in the brain, and that clock is like the conductor.
"In our body we have hundreds of subordinate oscillators, or pacemakers, which are like all the players in the orchestra. Without the conductor, or master clock, you would end up with nothing but noise."
So much needs to be learned about how the biological clock ticks that laboratories have sprung up around the world. The University of Houston, for example, has five different labs with nearly 40 researchers.
Among the findings reported by various researchers:
The clock speeds up as we age, which may be why many seniors have trouble sleeping.
People who awaken early have a clock that is set about two hours earlier than most others.
A healthy biological clock may increase longevity.
Even algae has a biological clock, and when researchers at Vanderbilt University disrupted the clock the algae grew much more slowly than normal algae.
Biological clocks are universal, in plants, insects and mammals but are dominated by different genes.
If they are so important, is there anything we can do to keep them functioning properly? Can we help them adjust to time changes and jet lag?
The answer, Glass says, is yes. Like most of our organs, the biological clock depends partly on our life style.
Glass uses hamsters as his volunteers, and his lab was the first in the country to show that the biological clock regulates the release of serotonin, a critical compound that causes blood vessels to constrict, stimulates smooth muscles, and plays a role in the transmission of impulses between nerve cells.
The hamsters used in the research are healthy and happy, Glass says, and they exercise regularly on a wheel. It turns out that when the animals are running, they release more serotonin, and "serotonin plays a major role in terms of controlling the timing of the clock itself," he adds.
The same thing happens in humans.
"If you were to go out and run, or even take a brisk walk, we know that would stimulate serotonin release in the brain," Glass says. "That has a number of different effects, including for a lot of folks, alleviating depression."
It also resets the clock, so exercise is part of his formula for dealing with jet lag, or even a time change of one hour.
So Saturday afternoon, he says, go out and get some exercise.
"A brisk walk will release serotonin and other types of neurotransmitters that will phase-advance the clock," he says.
You might also pick up a melatonin pill, which functions similar to serotonin, from your local drugstore and "pop that right after your walk."
Finally, when you get up Sunday morning, expose yourself to a reasonably bright light for an hour or two.
That formula works well for jet lag, especially if the time change is several hours, but is it really necessary for daylight-saving time?"
Glass says most people probably don't have much of a problem with a one hour change, but there's a bit of tantalizing evidence that suggests some of us do.
He studied actuarial tables from the insurance industry and came up with a bit of a surprise."If you look at accident rates, one of the highest days for an increase in accidents on the highways or in the workplace or whatever occurs on Monday after the Sunday phase advance," he says.
So he offers one other bit of advice:
Be a little more careful driving to work on Monday.

Making the Facial Hair Decision

2006-03-27T21:02:00.000-05:00

In the last 20 years or so, facial hair has suffered from some bad press. Work places often banned beards and many women reported that they simply didn’t find facial hair attractive. At the same time, men were bombarded by a plethora of razor blade advertisements emphasizing the "virile magnetism" of a clean-shaven man.
Huh?
In recent years, beards and other types of facial hair designs are enjoying something of a comeback. Sports stars and other celebrities have been instrumental in spearheading various trends in facial hair design with many less-famous SharpMen following suit. Goatees and other forms of the beard are particularly popular with younger men. Which look should you go for? The answer depends less on what is "in" or "out" than what you like, what you can maintain and what suits your particular face and personality. Check out this SharpGrooming guide:
Why Grow Facial Hair?
There are many reasons why a SharpMan may want to grow his facial hair. For some, it may be something they’ve always wanted to do. Others are just kinda curious. "What would I look like with a beard?" "Would facial hair make me more Sharp?" "What sort of beard would suit me best?"
Why not find out? The process is, after all, easily reversed and who knows: you may like what you see.
Another prevalent reason for going for the hairy look seems to be a hatred of — or sensitivity to — shaving. It can get tedious fighting that daily battle against stubble and rash and many men ultimately decide that they just don't want to shave every morning. Of course, having a beard doesn’t free a man from all grooming responsibilities. Beards often need weekly (and often a small amount of daily) upkeep, which may include trimming and some shaving.
Another reason to consider growing facial hair is the need for a change. Unlike women, men have fewer opportunities for changing their appearance. Make-up and various interesting hairstyles are not options for the corporate SharpMan, so growing facial hair is often a guy’s only shot at a change of pace.
Finally, some men may feel that growing facial hair is the equivalent of "going natural." Others may be influenced by a family tradition or religious belief. And then there are those guys who realize, that despite all the hype, some women (maybe yours) find facial hair very attractive.
The Facial Hair Options
Before you take the plunge into the hairy side, it is a good idea to consider the different facial hair options you have. There are a number of different styles and designs you can experiment with to find one that suits you:
Mustache. That tuff of hair over the upper lip has many of its own variations. For today’s fashion and business climate, a neat, short one is usually best. The mustache is one of the facial hair options that requires the least maintenance and is one of the easiest to grow.
Sideburns. Whether you go for the "Wolverine" (X-Men)-type sideburns or the Kerry Ligtenberg (Braves) look, sideburns are relatively easy to maintain and have enjoyed an upsurge in popularity in recent times. The length depends on what your face and workplace can handle.
Designer stubble. Going for that swarthy constant-five-o’clock-shadow look is not easy to achieve. Usually shaving about once every two or three days (depending on growth) can get you the results you want. This stubble is often associated with bad boys and the 80s hit TV show "Miami Vice." Unless you’re in the music business, ultra-casual technology world or the drug trade, this look may be considered unprofessional.
Goatee. Goatees have become very popular in recent years. The aim is to grow a beard that covers your chin area but does not extend beyond the chin and along the jawline. It requires considerable maintenance, as you will need to shave and trim to maintain the distinct look. Goatees can be worn with or without a matching mustache. Mini-goatees, also known as "jazz dots," are also popular.
Full beard. The full beard covers the chin, jawline and upper lip. Beards are best and easiest for SharpMen with a strong beard growth and harder for those men with uneven or patchy beard spreads. Because they are such strong statements, few men who can carry beards off well. Think you’re one of the few? Experimenting is the only way to find out.
Combo styles. This category includes any number of combinations and variations of the basics described above. From mini-goatees to strategically placed lines of hair and everything in between. These styles are usually the hardest to maintain, as you will need to shave around lines of hair and trim those pieces of hair you want to keep. Many feel the maintenance is worth it though, for the opportunity to express individuality.
Growing Your Facial Hair
Step One: Timing is everything. If possible, conduct or begin your experiment while you are on vacation. This timing will help if you feel self-conscious about a new look, and will also give you the opportunity to get used to your new image before you have to face your work colleagues. Also, since the first few weeks of growth can look untidy, beginning a beard on vacation is a good way to get past the awkward stage before you return to work.
Step Two: Do nothing. Once you decide to grow your facial hair, your first step should always be to stop shaving and leave your face alone for about four weeks. Sounds simple, doesn't it? It’s not. There can often be a temptation to start trimming and shaping as soon as the hair gets past the stubble stage. Fight the urge. Trimming and shaping too early can mean that you take away too much hair in some places. The result? A longer wait, a style unsuited to your face, or frustration resulting in an early end to the experiment.
Again, you best bet is to let your hair come in naturally for at least four weeks, six if your growth is not very strong.
SharpMan Tip: Itching is common when you start to grow facial hair. It’s the result of the unfamiliar feeling of so much hair on your skin. If you keep the hair and skin underneath clean, the itching will fade away.
Step Three: Choose a shape. Once you have enough hair to work with, you can begin shaping it into the style you have chosen. If you are uncertain about what you want, take a list of all of the styles you like, beginning with the styles that require the most amount of hair (i.e., a beard) and ending with those that require the least (i.e., a "jazz dot"). Start your experimenting with the styles at the beginning of your list the ones that require the most hair. Style the hair so that it looks neat and then give yourself at least a week to gather opinions and make your own decision. If you’ve started your experiment with the full beard but feel that it doesn't suit, then move on to the next style on your list you would like to try — a style requiring slightly less facial hair to test. This way you’ll have the opportunity to try out several different styles with the least amount of regrowth time required. After all, it is easier to shave off hair than to grow back in a gap you didn't want.
Not sure which shape is best for you? See our sidebar "What Hair Suits My Face?"
Step Four: Professional Help. When it's time for that first styling, you may want to go to a professional barber. Once your barber has set the "lines" of your new look, maintenance is as easy as following the lines already set for you.
Otherwise, take your time and trim gradually until you have the style you want. Invest in a good quality beard trimmer (see tool suggestions below) and learn how to use it properly. Experiment with the different length settings on your beard trimmer (beginning with the longest one) until you find the one you like.
Maintenance of Your Facial Hair
Once you’re established the "line" of your facial hair, always trim and groom outside of that line. Here are a few tips for maintaining the look and feel of your facial hair:
Trimming tips for beards. Beards are best if they are kept tight and well trimmed. Having hair extend down your neck is usually not attractive (unless you're going for the biblical look), so it is essential to define a neckline below your beard. This line of hair will have to be shaved regularly. You can make this job easier by using your beard trimmer (see tool suggestions below). The line of the beard on the checks is usually left to grow naturally, unless you feel it is abnormally high.
Trimming tips for mustaches. Your mustache should never grow beyond your upper lip — otherwise you’ll look too sloppy to be Sharp (and will likely be one of those guys who constantly has food stuff in his facial hair).
When trimming a mustache, begin by trimming the length of the mustache hair from the middle and work your way out to each side. Usually you do not need to trim the top of the beard around the nose.
Trimming tips for other styles. Any of the other more creative styles will require you to shave and trim. Depending on the design, you may prefer to have a beard trimmer to maintain the length of the hair and a regular razor for the part that needs to be shaved. Only practice will perfect your technique.
Keeping clean. To keep facial hair clean, use the same shampoo as you would on your hair and rinse thoroughly. For full beards, it may be a good idea to use a little conditioner to keep the hairs soft — especially for kissing your loved one!

DRAFT DAY 2006

2006-03-24T12:00:00.000-05:00

Cleveland Browns Official Draft Day Party
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Celebrate with other Browns fans for the first "official day" of the 2006 season.
Cleveland Browns Draft Day PartyWhen: April 29, 2006 Where: Cleveland Browns Stadium, Legends Club and South Club Lounge, City ViewTime: 11:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Ticket Includes:
Discounted drink and food specials.
Opportunity to meet Cleveland Browns players.
Cleveland Browns gift.
Opportunity to win great Browns prizes.
Please fill out the information below and watch as the Browns pick the next players to take the field. Tickets are $15 for general admission or $20 for admission and an exclusive tour.

Most recent from my favourite sportswriter...(with permission)

2006-03-20T13:22:00.000-05:00

If you shun own church, don't blame others' flaws
By Terry Pluto, Beacon Journal columnist
A friend told me a story about a certain pastor hired by a church after he's had at least two moral failings with people in previous congregations.
I don't know if the story is true. It's about a church out of town, but that's not the point.
Then my friend said, ``You hear stories like that, and you understand why some people don't go to church.''
The temptation is to agree.
It's so easy to see faults in the church. We hear a story about a corrupt priest or pastor, and we assume most of them are like that.
But what does one possibly corrupt pastor at one church somewhere else have to do with why we won't attend our local church?
It's a poor argument, especially because most people in ministry are not like that. Despite the sex-abuse charges hitting the Roman Catholic church in the last few years, it still covered only 5 percent to 10 percent of priests.
That's far too many. One is too many.
But it also indicates that more than 90 percent are not involved -- and most of that 90 percent are good guys trying to do the right thing.
For every sleazy TV evangelist (and there are more than a few), there are thousands of hardworking women and men leading churches. It's ridiculous to lump them in with the TV quacks.
Some problems in churches are far too many. Some people deserve to be driven out of the clergy. Some in the pews have been hurt terribly by pastors who have abused their position.
No excuse for any of it.
But often, people just look for a reason not to go to church. They grab on to the ``the pastor is a crook... the priest just talks about money... the people are phonies.''
A more honest answer is: ``I think church is a waste of time. I'd rather sleep in or play golf.''
If we don't want to go to church or temple, that's our choice.
The fact that someone once was rude to us, or a leader in our denomination somewhere was arrested -- those are rather lame reasons.
We just don't want to go, period.
But saying that sounds a bit selfish, so it's better to blame the priest. Or criticize the pastor as boring. Or maybe attack the reputation of the rabbi, and then write off everyone in the pews as hypocrites.
It takes us off the hook. It's their fault, not ours.
I'm not talking about people who have been victims of serious church abuse. They have real issues. Lots of counseling, healing and time are needed before they can be reconciled to the church.
But that's not most people.
Understand that nearly everyone has a church horror story. If you don't, you probably will if you stick around long enough.
If a church says ``come as you are,'' then you'll get people who are all over the moral map. Some have their lives heading in the right direction; others are lost. A few just want to cause trouble.
Some sanctimonious types asked Jesus' disciples, ``Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?''
In Matthew 9:12, Jesus overheard them and answered, ``It's not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick... I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.''
Churches tend to be a little messy because people who come often are a mess. Life is not a neat proposition.
Church leaders are people, too.
They say stupid stuff. They aren't always as patient as we'd like. They sometimes wake up in a lousy mood.
Too often, they act just like us -- because in many ways, they are just like us. They just have a slightly different calling on their lives.
I'm not telling anyone to go to church, because it will be meaningful only if we want to go. There were points in my life when I went to church sporadically, and pressuring me wasn't about to work. My heart wasn't ready.
But I knew why I stayed away -- it was me, not them.
Messages for Terry Pluto can be left at terrypluto2003@yahoo.com. Sign up for Terry's free, weekly e-mail newsletter ``Direct from Pluto'' at www.ohio.com

Adult Bible Class

2006-03-17T10:27:00.000-05:00

You know it occurred to me that the one thing I really have gotten hooked on is the Sunday morning adult Bible class. Adult Bible class does not sound very exciting but it is one of the few times I actually get fed any meat.

I got rehooked when I started reattending toward the end of Revelation. Now Tom is going through Acts very meticulously. I like that. I don't want to be rushed through a study. He is an annointed and gifted teacher and it is a real pleasure to watch and listen to him do something he is very good at.

Last week we were studying Acts chapter 5. Tom was discussing Ananias and Sapphira and their deceipt of the Lord. Those of you who attend know I sit in my assigned seat next to Doc "http://www.drflue.com/". Doc turned to me and asked me if he should ask Tom if after the Lord struck them dead if they would go to Heaven. (Yes sometimes Doc does ask my opinion or advice on things). I told Doc "no, don't ask the question because we could get the answer wrong and be humiliated by not knowing the right answer. So he actually listened to me and Doc did not ask the question.

Apparently Doc was on message as not a minute passed and Tom asked, "Do you think that Ananias and Sapphira went to Heaven?". Both Doc and I let out a loud groan as we had just been discussing that same question. (Some times we are a disruption to the class, I know you find that hard to believe).

I for one thought to myself that the answer would be no. They turned from God. I think this question has struck a chord, however. I know at least two other people who also think the answer is no, and these are two strong mature Christians. Apparently that is not the correct answer. We were given an assignment to read Romans chapters 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 or so and that we will digress from our study of Acts to delve deeper into the question of Salvation. Does this mean once saved always saved? I have read recently in so many places in the Bible that God chooses you or if you turn from Him He will turn from you. I know it is in the Old Testament but I also find some verbage about this in Romans 9 also. I think I read this in either Exodus, Leviticus or Numbers because I have just started into Deuteronomy. If anyone can point me to the verse in the Pentateuch (or maybe Ezekiel) I would be grateful.

Anyways, ( as they say round these parts), I plan to be there Sunday. I have done my homework a couple of times and look forward to more meat. I hope after Tom finishes Acts he goes right on into Romans. I wish I could attend the Friday night class that has been studying Romans but I have previous committments... I hope you can be there too, class starts at 9:40 am. Well, I must be off...

Greetings from the Cactus League

2006-02-27T16:47:00.000-05:00

Cactus league games don't start until March 1, but that did not deter the hard core baseball fans from getting into the swing of things. We visited Hi Corbett Field, former spring home of the Cleveland Indians and current home of the Colorado Rockies.

Appropriate enough, the 2006 Rockies resemble many of the Tribe teams that trained here years ago in Tucson or as was overheard, "Who are those guys?"..

Those of you with some baseball backround might recognize Todd Helton or Jose Mesa, but that is probably it. There are only half a dozen or so Rockies with more than 2 years major league experience and needless to say it would hard to tell who is who even with a scorecard.

Anyway we hit a homerun on the weather on our last full day in Tucson. We are returning tomorrow to our temporary home while we are aliens on this planet and we are looking forward to seeing all of you who so faithfully follow our globetrotting exploits.

Time to plan our March Spring Break vacations!!!

What I learned on my winter vacation...

2006-02-25T12:42:00.000-05:00

Things I have learned..

Don't feed the kitties, they are very hungry. Particularily at the Desert Museum (our destination for today).

Cream cheese is very good in Roblettes.

Keep both feet on the ground and both hands on the club (firmly but gently). It will enable you to shoot 89 even at Ocotillo..(Blue Tees).

That once upon a time when asked to put pigtails in my daughters hair that I put one left pigtail in the one daughter's hair and the right pigtail in the other daughter's hair. There you go, pigtails!!!

You can roast a marshmellow over the top of a chimnea with most excellent results.

Nearly three year olds prefer Starbucks Vanilla Bean frappacinos to almost any other treat.

I learned that you need equal parts of scarlett and blue to make purple, therein explains the purple...

Grandaughters almost alway prefer Granny to Pappy.

Don't necessarily follow Yahoo directions explicitely. It does not hurt to buy a map and then look at it once in a while...

The desert and desert mountains kinda grow on you. They are a continuing reminder of the awe and majesty of God...

And any time is a good time to read God's Word...

I WANT SMORE!!!

2006-02-24T21:56:00.000-05:00

I WANT SMORE!!!!

I AM FULL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Greeting from Arizona!!!

2006-02-19T21:30:00.000-05:00

Greetings from Gold Canyon, Arizona...

The mountain in the backround you see is Superstition Mountain. It has been a bit cooler here than normal. How has it been back home? We really miss you guys. It has been such a blessed weekend!!! We visited a lovely church today, Gold Canyon Community Church http://www.goldcanyon.org/ and even ran into some of the congregation after the service at the Red Sage Restaurant. I will tell you the cheeseburgers at the Red Sage have absolutely nothing on the burgers from Cowboys.

We attended two of the meetings this weekend at the Joyce Meyer Conference at the Phoenix Assembly of God. There were so many people there we had to sit in the overflow arena for both meetings. There were over 1000 people in the overflow building we were in (I think it was the Youth Center). We are so looking forward to attending her conference in Detroit this July. I think we are going to book some rooms at our favourite hotel in Auburn Hills. Let us know if you are interested in attending.

It has been good to see the family. Rob is back safe and sound from Afghanistan and the girls are growing like weeds. It is probably the last time we see them before they turn 3 and 5 respectively.

I did shoot a 94 the other day. Seems my left hand grip has been a bit week and the right arm has been doing all the work. No wonder all my shots have been pull hooks. I did get into a cactus looking for a wayward tee shot, OUCH!!! Gonna have to do some work to get a couple of more rounds in before we head back next month, but I think we can work it out if it is His will.

It is so dry here!!! It has been over 120 days since they have had any measurable rain out here. There may not be any rain from the clouds but the Spirit has been pouring out like a deluge. Be blessed above and beyond all measure in the name of Jesus.

Love is in the Air....

2006-02-12T15:04:00.000-05:00

So love is in the air!!

What is your favourite love song?

This is one of mine.

Say, you know it occurred to me that Slammy seems to favour a young George Harrison!!

There were birds in the sky
But I never saw them winging
No, I never saw them at all
Till there was you...
There were bells on the hill
But I never heard them ringing
No, I never heard them at all
Till there was you...
Then there was music...
And wonderful roses...
They tell me...
In sweet fragrant meadows
Of dawn....And dew....

"What shall I do Lord?"

2006-02-10T05:29:00.000-05:00

"But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you."(ACTS 26:16)

"God was working in your life long before you began working with Him. The Lord knew you before time began, and He knew what He wanted to do with your life (Jer. 1:5; Ps. 139:13). Before the apostle Paul's conversion experience on the road to Damascus, Jesus already knew Paul and had a specific assignment for him. But Jesus only revealed this assignment after Paul's conversion (Acts 9:15). So misguided was Paul that in his sincere efforts to serve God, he had actually been waging war against Christians! Although God knew what He wanted for Paul, He waited to reveal it to him until He gained his attention and became his Lord.

Our Lord does not come to us to discover what we would like to accomplish for Him. He encounters us in order to reveal His activity and invite us to become involved in His work. An encounter with God requires us to adjust ourselves to the activity of God that has been revealed. God never communicates with us merely to give us a warm devotional thought for that day. He never speaks to us simply to increase our biblical knowledge. Our Lord has far more significant things to reveal to us than that! When God shows us what He is doing, He invites us to join Him in the work He is doing.

Are you prepared to meet God today? Don't seek to hear from God unless you are ready to ask, as Paul did, "What shall I do Lord?"

Ten Guidelines From God

2006-02-05T13:42:00.000-05:00

1. QUIT WORRYING:Life has dealt you a blow and all you do is sit and worry. Have you forgotten that I am here to take all your burdens and carry them for you? Or do you just enjoy fretting over every little thing that comes your way?

2. PUT IT ON THE LIST:When something needs to be done or taken care of, put it on the list. No, not YOUR list. Put it on MY to-do-list. Let ME be the one to take care of the problem. I can't help you until you turn it over to Me. And although My to-do-list is long, I am after all, God. I can take care of anything you put into My hands. In fact, if the truth were ever really known, I take care of a lot of things for you that you never even realize.

3. TRUST ME: Once you've given your burdens to Me, quit trying to take them back. Trust in Me! Have the faith that I will take care of all your needs, your problems and your trials. Problems with the kids? Put them on My list. Problem with finances? Put it on My list. Problems with your emotional roller coaster? For My sake, put it on My list. I want to help you. All you have to do is ask.

4. LEAVE IT ALONE: Don't wake up one morning and say, "Well, I'm feeling much stronger now, I think I can handle it from here." Why do you think you are feeling stronger now? It's simple! You gave Me your burdens and I'm taking care of them. I also renew your strength and cover you in my peace. Don't you know if I give you these problems back, you will be right back where you started? Leave them with Me and forget about them. Just let Me do my job.

5. TALK TO ME: I want you to forget a lot of things. Forget what was making you crazy. Forget the worry and the fretting because you know I'm in control. But there's one thing I pray you never forget. Please, don't forget to talk to Me -- OFTEN! I love YOU! I want to hear
your voice. I want you to include Me in on the things going on in your life. I want to hear you talk about your friends and family. Prayer is simply you having a conversation with Me. I want to be your dearest friend.

6. HAVE FAITH:I see a lot of things from up here that you can't see from where you are. Have faith in Me that I know what I'm doing. Trust Me; you wouldn't want the view from My eyes. I will continue to care for you, watch over you, and meet your needs. You only have to trust Me. Although I have a much bigger task than you, it seems as if you have so much trouble just doing your simple part. How hard can trust be?

7. SHARE:You were taught to share when you were only two years old. When did you forget? That rule still applies. Share with those who are less fortunate than you. Share your joy with those who need encouragement. Share your laughter with those who haven't heard any in such a long time. Share your tears with those who have forgotten how to cry. Share your faith with those who have none.

8. BE PATIENT:I managed to fix it so in just one lifetime you could have so many diverse experiences. You grow from a child to an adult, have children, change jobs many times, learn many trades, travel to so many places, meet thousands of people, and experience so much. How can you be so impatient then when it takes Me a little longer than you expect to handle something on My to-do-list? Trust in My timing, for My timing is perfect. Just because I created the entire universe in only six days, everyone thinks I should always rush, rush, rush.

9. BE KIND:Be kind to others, for I love them just as much as I love you. They may not dress like you, or talk like you, or live the same way you do, but I still love you all. Please try to get along, for My sake. I created each of you different in some way. It would be too boring if you were all identical. Please, know I love each of your differences.

10. LOVE YOURSELF: As much as I love you, how can you not love yourself? You were created by me for one reason only -- to be loved, and to love in return. I am a God of Love. Love Me, love your neighbors, but also love yourself. It makes My heart ache when I see you so angry with yourself when things go wrong. You are very precious to me. Don't ever forget!Touch someone with your love.

Rather than focus upon the thorns of life, smell the roses and count your blessings.

BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE

2006-01-27T05:20:00.000-05:00

My family and I are blessed beyond and above all measure in the name of Jesus, Amen. Speak it, write it and live it over your life today.

Band of Brothers Part 2...

2006-01-24T11:24:00.000-05:00

Why Leaders Need a Band of Brothers

More than anyone else, leaders need authentic friendships. Not only are leaders in special need of accountability because of their position (James 3:1), but leaders need even more encouragement and support because of the difficulty of their work.

Leaders also need to be part of a shared mission. Your effectiveness as a leader will always be limited if you strike out on your own to do things by yourself. You need to learn to compromise, submit, and ally yourself with the mission of others. This is what it means to be the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12).

Biblically, God’s calling on you to be part of the body is equal to his calling on your life in your area of passion. There are things we learn by being in a team that we cannot learn any other way. And there are things that God does through us in a team that He will not do any other way.
It may be that God’s first call on your life as a leader is to bind yourself with other men, and then to pursue the passion He has given you. Most leaders do it the other way around. They have a dream from God and they pursue it above all else. If other men want to join them, fine. But if those men don’t agree or aren’t headed in the same direction on the same time frame then these leaders leave them behind without a thought.

The scriptures teach something else. The scriptures teach that we should work together as a body to help every Christian become mature in Christ. It’s almost certain that God won’t give you a dream without providing the context of relationships for it to be lived out.

Don’t abandon relationships quickly or easily. Perhaps God has things for you there that you won’t get anywhere else. Perhaps your ideas aren’t as good as you think. Perhaps you need to be on a different time table. Whatever the case, submit yourself to a band of brothers for the glory of God.

Band of Brothers Part 1...

2006-01-20T12:34:00.000-05:00

You know it occurred to me that if I could say this any better I would. But I can't so whay not just blatantly plagarize. You know I always thought we needed a band of brothers...

Why You Need a Band of Brothers

Tom (remember him?) recently shared with me the story of Bill, an old friend of his who he reconnected with about a year ago. Bill was at a turning point in his life and expressed a desire to get together. Since then, Tom has been meeting with Bill every week. During that time, Bill has consistently taken two steps forward and three steps back in his spiritual life. Tom has felt frustrated, taken for granted, angry, and ambivalent – and sometimes all at the same time.
The other day Bill and Tom were at lunch and Tom shared again with Bill the joy of complete surrender to Jesus Christ. Bill was at the breaking point. At 57 years old, he finally shared how sexual addiction was ruling and ruining his life. In a spirit of brokenness, he’s now ready to move forward. Tom and he are going to attend a group meeting together for Bill to begin the process of healing. What did God use to break through strongholds that had been present for thirty years in Bill’s life? Was it some brilliant theological insight? Or perhaps a new counseling technique honed from years of research studies? Was it the perfect book that opened Bill’s eyes? It was none of these things.
God used a friendship.

Men and Friends

Men today battle an insidious loneliness. The world tells them to fill this void with success, power, activity, sex, money, building the perfect family, living through their kids, technology, toys, and on and on. Every time a man realizes one substitute is empty the world puts another one forward as the answer to his longing.
Most men are surrounded by people. They work with men. They have neighbors on both sides. They may attend a church on Sunday mornings and sit in the crowd. They may even call some of these people friends. But in most cases they are not friends in the biblical sense. Most men have many acquaintances but lots of men have no real friends.
And the truth is that it is impossible for a man to stay on track without friends. It’s not that he will probably get off track. It’s absolutely certain that a man who does not bind himself to other men will lose his way.

Made for Relationships

Why do we have such a deep-seated need for friendships? Consider Genesis 1. In that chapter five times – at the end of each day – God says the things he made were “good.” And at the end of the sixth day, after he had made man, he said it was “Very Good.” So if you were listening to this account, you would hear the repetition – “it was good…it was good…it was good…it was good…it was good…it was very good.”
So imagine your surprise when you got to Genesis 2:18 and heard “…it was not good.” What was not good? “It was not good for man to be alone.”
God is three persons in one being. He has existed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit from eternity. They are an eternal band of brothers in the trinity.
Adam as a single person could not fully live out the image of God without being in a relationship with another person. Marriage is the most intimate of these relationships, but the scriptures teach the power and necessity of other types of relationships as well. So if you are not living in authentic relationships it is impossible for you to do what you were made to do – to reflect the image of God through your life. And in a world of temptation and struggle it will be impossible for you to stay on track.

What God Does Through Relationships

God uses relationships to encourage us to keep the faith and walk with Christ. You need friends who can “stimulate you to love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). You need men in your life with whom you can “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2). The great commandment of Christ is to “Love the lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).
Having casual acquaintances isn’t good enough – we need to bind ourselves to a few other men who can help us become all God intends for us to be. This can be difficult. It’s often easier to just do our own thing without taking the time and energy to let another man get close. But like many things that are convenient, it’s also counterfeit. God uses real friendships to shape and mold us for His glory.

Well I must be off, stay tuned for part II, coming soon to a blog near you.

IDYBT...

Pray for a plan, the most recent from my favourite sportswriter....

2006-01-14T09:31:00.000-05:00

Posted on Sat, Jan. 14, 2006
Prayer is important; so is a planBy Terry Pluto
Prayer is not a plan.
That was the theme of a sermon given by the Rev. Ronald Fowler at Arlington Church of God on Wednesday.
It has become one of Fowler's favorite themes. At the age of 70, he so wants to see lives changed. Prayer is important, but how many of us pray for a plan?
``Some people pray for God to give them money and get them out of debt,'' Fowler said. ``But they don't want to cut up those credit cards. They don't want to go on a budget. They don't even want to hear what God wants them to do to become a better person.''
Too many times, we pray for God to clean up our own messes.
``It's like we ask God to excuse us for being lazy and greedy, and then we ask God just to fix it,'' Fowler said. ``We really don't want to change.''
Bishop Joey Johnson has been dealing with the same theme at Akron's House of the Lord.
``We throw up all these prayers to God and just expect him to somehow work it all out,'' Johnson said. ``They want to lose weight, but don't want to get serious about a diet. Not a lot of people want to be responsible. Not just in the church, but in the country. It's the syndrome of not wanting to feel any pain.''
Or as the Rev. Bob Combs from Norton Grace Church said, ``God is not Santa Claus.''
Part of the problem is some religious leaders have sold faith as an interstate to the easy life. It's a con job that often leads to heartbreak and spiritual disillusionment.
``It's the prosperity gospel that you often hear preached on TV,'' said Johnson. ``It's a good idea to pray for a new job, if you need one. But guess you better get out and start interviewing. You better prepare.''
Prayer backed by preparation and discipline often becomes a formula for success. Suppose you want to lose weight. You can pray for God to show you the right diet, to lead you to the right doctor, to give you the right attitude and exercise plan.
Then you have to follow through and really believe your prayer has been answered by being given a plan.
``I really believe that we need more practical preaching in church,'' Johnson said. ``I've been reading a lot of Stephen Covey, and he's right when he writes that common sense is not very common these days.''
We are a society with more wealth and better health care than any in history, yet so many of us are so deep in debt and feeling sick.
Johnson mentioned the Old Testament book of Nehemiah, about a man who prayed for God to put things in motion for him to help rebuild the wall in Jerusalem. Through prayer, he developed a method to make it happen.
Fowler mentioned Luke 14:28, where Jesus said, ``Suppose you want to build a tower. Will you not sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?''
It's a fact that people spend 15 percent to 20 percent less in stores when they pay cash rather than by credit card. That's because they are counting the money as they stand at the cash register, handing it away and feeling the pain.
At Johnson's church one Sunday, people came forward to cut up their credit cards as others prayed for them. Some stayed credit-card-free; others just ordered more.
``We have to address these issues in our churches,'' said Johnson.
Part of prayer should be for God to give us a realistic view of our situation.
``We've got to own our junk,'' Combs said. ``When we admit we're part of the problem, then we are more open to following the plan God has for us.''
Combs mentioned the verse from the New Testament book of James: ``Faith without works is dead.''
``We should pray as if it all depends on God, then work as if it all depends on us,'' said Combs. ``I tell people that we need to attach legs to our prayers.''
Messages for Terry Pluto can be left at 330-996-3816 or terrypluto2003@yahoo.com. Sign up for Terry's free, weekly e-mail newsletter ``Direct from Pluto'' at www.ohio.com

Yesterday...

2005-12-31T15:24:00.000-05:00

Yesterday
You shall not go out with haste, . . . for the Lord will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard —Isaiah 52:12
Security from Yesterday. ". . . God requires an account of what is past" ( Ecclesiastes 3:15 ). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.
Security for Tomorrow. ". . . the Lord will go before you . . . ." This is a gracious revelation— that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our "rear guard." And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.
Security for Today. "You shall not go out with haste . . . ." As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.
Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.

Oswald Chambers was born in Scotland and spent much of his boyhood there. His ministry of teaching and preaching took him for a time to the United States and Japan. The last six years of his life were spent as principal of the Bible Training College in London, and as a chaplain to the British Commonwealth troops in Egypt during World War I. After his death, the books which bear his name were compiled by his wife from her own verbatim shorthand notes of his talks.
For more information on the life of Oswald Chambers, click here.For a list of more books by or about Oswald Chambers, click here.

Merry Christmas!!

2005-12-28T11:42:00.000-05:00

Put another one down in the Book... Justin emerges from his imersion as he puts on Jesus in baptism on Christmas Day 2005!

The Sixth Big Lie..

2005-12-22T06:41:00.000-05:00

Welcome back!! Welcome to part 6 of a 10 part series on healing is a choice based on Steve Arterburn book "Healing is a Choice". I have been working through some anger issues and seem to have finally been able to release them. Although I have worked through many things and during this recent journey gone back through some memories that occurred 32, 41 and 43 years ago, I am going to try and continue through the 10 lies that we are confronted with. Yes, they are all lies. Time does not heal all wounds, no you do not need just God and you to heal, and no you cannot do this all by yourself!!! I have told some of you this already, I have bought some of you the book and have promised to buy it for others. There is a workbook associated with the book that I have purchased and this material can be gone though in a small group. I am also thinking of doing the material in a small group setting as we all need healing from one thing or another.

In any event, the SIXTH BIG LIE is "if we act as if there is no problem, it will finally go away". I used to live my life with this lie as my motto. It is the very essence of being "Queen of De Nile". In fact a little over three years ago I was so deep in denile I actually refused to look inward or back in any way. I was afraid. I was afraid of what I would find if I did an introspective. Since then I have had at two chances to look inward and to look back and it is really okay. I really did not have too many skeletons (no not Red Skeleton) in the closet and I was able to get them out, sit down with them, have a little tea with them and bury them. Bury them dead this time, and not alive. If you bury them dead you do not have to continue to feed them nor do they grow. But I digress.

Nope, you have to face your problems and your fears. The good thing about this is that they are yours and not any one elses. God will give you the grace you need to deal with your own past. They will never go away. Your memory will not be erased. History will not be changed. You must face your life and then embrace it. Make it your own. Quit running from it. Admit it.

I often refer back to Patrick Morely book, "The Man in the Mirror." This book discusses the 24 issues that can come into a man's life. I have often said yes I can relate to the book, I just did not realize I have to face 22 of the 24 issues!! (For those who have read the book I will leave it up to your imagination which two issues have not been a major problem for me). I have pretty much faced them all at one time or another. Some say we face these issues so we may be able to help others work through their problems. I feel well equipped!! Face it we are all screwed up!!! We have gotten ourselves into financial messes, made bad choices of spouses, developed bad habits with alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, spending and eating. We have ruined relationships, lost loved ones, burned bridges and let our anger and pride boil over and over and over. Most of these wounds are self inflicted but many of our wounds we are not responsible for. We could have been wounded by an abusive family member, being a child of divorce, had a loved one die or only God know what else that might have happened to us that was NOT a result of our own choice. To summarize, we are all screwed up!!!

But this is what I am. I am in recovery. I just don't have enough time to list all the wounds. We are all in recovery for one thing or another. If you need help, seek it. I needed it and I got it. I am getting better. I had to seek help on several fronts. Most importantly I needed Jesus. We all do and He died for all. The Bible tells me so. You can't do it on your own. You need Jesus, you need the Body of Christ around you, and you may need a trained professionial!! But to move forward I had to accept my life "as if" this is the way God intended to be. God does not intend for bad things to happen, but He can and often does bring good things from the bad.

You may have to make some radical changes in your life. Look at Don Ossenhiemer. Don has had a serious setback with his health. He is looking at months of rehab and physical therapy. Don seems to have accepted things as they are and is making some radical changes. Things will change radically in your life at one point or another. Personally I will never be a recovered alcoholic (I will always be recovering) or never not be married to my second wife (I pray). Seems like this would be a good place for the Serenity Prayer.

Finally you may have to embrace the abrasive. I remember from the 40 Days of Purpose small group material Rick Warren inviting us to look and around the room. He said if you don't see an "extra grace required or egr person", guess what, you are it!!! Face it, God puts these people in your life. They have been called "grace growers" or "character builders". God allows these struggles, and in permitting them He uses them to to advance His purposes and His kingdom.

Alter your expectations and embrace the life you have, it is the only one you have. If you do you can live far beyond the expectations you had before. They just won't be the same ones...

I cant wait for the 7th big lie. And it is a big one...

Speak or act a blessing into someones life today. IDYBT. I must be off..

Decisions and Choices...

2005-12-14T06:32:00.000-05:00

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth.
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same.
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I--I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

How do you determine the value of your choices? What makes some choices more important than others?

How many choices do you make in a day that positively impact your life?

Do you have a process or strategy when you make decisions?

Think of your past decisions or choices. Was it a good decision or a mistake? Have you declined to make a great choice to choose something better?

A great thinker and man of wisdom once said; "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. "

Jesus says to choose the narrow gate. What choices are you having to make? Can you figure this out by yourself?

Dear Father in Heaven, Lord God please help me get the truth and balance back in my life. Please send Your Holy Spirit to do a deep and inner work in my soul. Please give me the courage to choose the right path. Please stay close to me as I take these healing steps down the less traveled path. Increase my confidence in You. Increase my faith. I give you my life, mind, soul, and spirit. Through Jesus Christ, my Healer, Amen.

Don't fall in love with a dreamer...

2005-12-06T06:04:00.000-05:00

To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow,
To run where the brave dare not go.
To right the unrightable wrong,
To love pure and chaste from afar,
To try when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star.
This is my quest,To follow that star --
No matter how hopeless,No matter how far.
To fight for the right
Without question or pause,
To be willing to march
Into hell for a heavenly cause.
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will be peaceful and calm
when I'm laid to my rest.
And the world will be better for this,
that one man scorned and covered with scars
still strove with his last ounce of courage.

What were your dreams growing up? I never dreamed of being an engineer. I dreamed of footballs (still do!). I guess some of my later dreams involved being a good father and husband. My Dad's dream for me was to get a good education so I would not have to work the way he did in a factory. His dream came true. My mother never dreamed of college for me. She just wanted me to settle down after high school, get a good job, get married, raise a family and be happy. Some times dreams take a little longer than we expect. Some times dreams are cut short, stolen from us in a flash. Some people spend their lives grieving a lost dream. What are you grieving?

Jesus came to us in human from so He could identify with us in every aspect of our lives. "He was despised and rejected-a man of sorrows, acquinated with bitterest grief" (Isa. 53:3 NLT).

God has a dream for you too. Not only does He have dreams, but He has a plan for you. Jer. 29:11 states: For I know the plans I have for you," says the LORD. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

He understands your sorrow. Jesus wept. He has experienced life as we have, and we can call on Him for help. And Because He Lives, we can always face tomorrow!!!

What are your dreams today?

Interview with my favourite sportswriter, with permission....

2005-12-03T06:49:00.000-05:00

It occurred to me I might take a little break from the therapy and share a most recent column from my favourite sportswriter (with permission)... Being from Cleveland, you have to like his take that God has a soft spot in His heart for losers, and his reason....that Jesus spent his time with them...

IDYBT and I must be off...

1. This is your second book dealing with faith. What compels you -- a popular, successful sports columnist -- to write about values?

People care about values. Most people want to make a connection with God. Most people would say they’re on a spiritual journey. People in newspapers are afraid to get anywhere near that subject for fear of offending someone. My approach is to say that I don’t know everything about God, but I’m on journey too. I want to know how to live. I want to live a life that is pleasing to God even if I’m not always sure what God wants from me. Bring that subject up and you can usually get people talking about faith without wanting to kill each other.

2. What is your definition of Everyday Faith?

Terry Pluto: Where you spend your time and your money tells a lot about Everyday Faith. Faith is not just something that floats out there above our heads. It’s not a vague theology question, or one religious group throwing theological spitballs at another. It’s about how you live your life, how you handle suffering, how patient you are with others. It’s not easy to live out our faith every day, but most people really do want to do it.

3. Your parents, brother, wife, and other family members appear in many of these chapters. How would you describe the role of family in your own faith life?

Terry Pluto: My parents had what would be considered a mixed marriage. They came from two different denominations, so I never had one set doctrine drilled into my head. My mother died in 1984 of a heart attack, and my father died in 1998 after he suffered a stroke nearly five years before. It was during that time taking care of my father, which took an incredible amount of time and money, that I began to look to God because I often felt like I had nowhere else to go.

4. How do you think families can build their Everyday Faith?

Terry Pluto: Children watch how their parents live every day. They have tremendous capacity to sense hypocrisy and inconsistency, but they also have a real longing to connect with God. Parents often are the first glimpse at God that children will ever have. So by praying together, talking about values, and encouraging each other through the little things and the big crises, that’s how you show faith in families. A good church should operate as a family, too. Part of it may seem a little dysfunctional, just as no family is perfect. But ideally a church and a family should both help us get through the battles that we face every day.

5. What is the most difficult faith issue you personally face?

Terry Pluto: To be humble enough to admit I don’t know everything about faith, sports, money, or anything else I find myself talking about. When you write for a newspaper and you’re a columnist paid to give your opinion, you find that it comes naturally to assume you’re an expert. And just because you write about an issue doesn’t mean you’re the final authority on it.The hardest thing for me to do is listen. It can be reading the Bible and then trying to be quiet and hear something from God, or trying to be quiet and listen nonjudgmentally to what my wife is trying to tell me about something that happened in her day or some problem she’s facing.

6. So many of your Everyday Faith messages are not just spiritual or religious ideas, but commonsense advice. Why is that?

Terry Pluto: I have an advantage not being in full-time ministry. Most readers think I’m living in the same world as them. Clergy also live in the same world we do, but the perception is that clergy are somehow immune to the pressures that most of us face. But a guy who’s a sportswriter, whose father had a stroke, and who wants to have a good marriage, is something that a lot of people can relate to. Most people want to have better relationships, most people have personal crises, most people want to know how to live a life of faith that makes sense and is real. Real faith is God-guided common sense.

7. Changing to or leading a more faith-filled life can seem like a daunting challenge. If you could suggest just one thing people could do to improve their faith lives, what would that be?

Terry Pluto: Most people are afraid of changing anything significant in their lives. Having worked for almost eight years in prisons, where 80 percent of the people are addicted, I can tell you that there are no real behavior changes until the pain of living a certain way becomes greater than the fear of change. This is not an original idea. I’ve heard it expressed in different ways, but it’s true for all of us. We don’t want to change our budgets because we’re used to spending money in a certain way, even when it’s clear we’re spending far too much. We don’t want to change our wardrobes because we’ve always dressed a certain way, even when it’s obvious that our clothes no longer fit. So it’s scary to think about changing something that’s as close to us as the values that determine how we live. That’s why it’s called “faith.” There’s a verse in the Bible that says, “We walk by faith and not by sight.” I don’t care if you’re an addict, a shopaholic, or someone who feels something is just not right in your life. You’ll only change when you get tired of the pain, but it’s out of pain that the greatest change comes. Sometimes people are afraid that if their faith grows God will want them to go to India or somewhere and work with the poor or sell all their possessions and live in a cardboard box. Most of the time God wants us to live in our same houses and work in the same places, but just change how we act and how we think. In other words, most of our exterior remains the same; the change is inside us. In the Old Testament there are several verses that say, in essence, “God will give you a new heart.” And that gives you the faith to try something a little different.

8. How did you get started in prison ministry?

Terry Pluto: It began when I did a story for the Beacon Journal on Bill Glass, the former Browns defensive end who has spent more than 30 years in prison ministry since retiring from football. I met Glass at Chicago’s Cook County Jail to spend a day with him, and then I wrote the story and figured not much would come of it (just another of the 300 stories I write each year). Then I got a call from a chaplain at the Summit County Jail in Ohio asking me if I wanted to visit the jail during the Christmas holiday and help them pass out shoeboxes to the inmates. In the shoeboxes were cookies, a Bible, some socks, a stamped envelope, and some stationery. The idea was that the inmates could use the paper to write a letter to someone in their family. The socks were valuable in jail because at Summit County all the inmates wear shower slippers. Some of the inmates didn’t have socks, and their feet got cold during the winter. Then, the inmates were always looking for something to read, so they gave them the Bible. The cookies were a treat that was approved by the authorities.Former University of Akron football coach Lee Owens went with me that first time and brought a couple of his players to help pass out the shoeboxes and shake hands with the inmates. Most of the inmates knew who I was because there were lots of Beacon Journals around the jail and because many of the inmates were sports fans. I had an instant audience. I was a new Christian at the time -- probably only six months into becoming serious about Christ -- and the chaplain asked me if I’d come and speak at the next Sunday night jail service. I realized then how overmatched I was. But I went because I felt drawn to those guys, many of whom looked just like me. Prison ministry is terrific because most of the inmates are just so glad to see anybody who isn’t a prosecutor, a deputy, or some other legal type. Those who go to the chapel service volunteer to go, so it’s not forced on them. They don’t think they’re perfect, and they don’t expect you to be perfect. It really is a classic case of “We’re all sinners and searchers looking to get closer to God and just trying to get through today.”People think jail ministry can be dangerous, but just the opposite is true. It’s one of the safest places to be if you’re a volunteer. In jails, volunteer ministers and teachers are in a special class, which is very respected even by those who aren’t interested in faith or the classes. You’re not viewed as part of the system; you’re seen as someone who is there to help. I met this one inmate who used to be a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, or white skinheads, until he became a Christian. He told me: “If anybody touches you guys [the volunteers], we’ll kill him.” He meant that they wanted us to feel safe and comfortable coming to see them. I’ve been in jails at least 500 times in my life and never had anything resembling a physical confrontation. The inmates may fight each other; some will even fight the deputies. But that inmate was right: They won’t touch us. If anything, they’re overprotective. That shows that most of these guys can live a pretty good life if they’re not drinking or drugging or trying to get money to drink and use drugs. We just hope that our classes point them in that direction.

9. Do you think faith or religion has a place in sports?

Terry Pluto: I don’t think God cares who wins the World Series or Super Bowl, but I do think God expects us to do our best with the ability he’s given us. It doesn’t matter if we’re playing quarterback, writing about the game, or cutting the grass on the field. It never bothers me when a player thanks God that he has the ability to play. I’m not impressed when players say that God somehow favored their team to win. Does that mean God hates the other team? In many ways, I bet God has a soft spot in his heart for losers because those are the people that Jesus seemed to spend the most time with.

10. If you could recommend one place to start studying the Bible, where (or what part) would that be?

Terry Pluto: If you’re suffering or going through a hard time in your life, start with the Psalms. They’re nothing more than 150 prayers written by different people. You will be surprised about the raw emotion found in the Psalms. They are not the “church-ey” prayers that most people think. These show people going through loneliness, physical suffering, feelings of betrayal, or just the sheer joy of God doing something special in their lives. What the Psalms really do say is that all these people felt close enough to God to be truly “honest to God” in what they were thinking and feeling.If you want to learn more about Christianity, read the gospels of Luke and John and ask yourself “Who is Jesus?” as you read them. Look at the people Jesus picked as his disciples and notice that they were very flawed and that he had lots of patience with them. Finally, the most practical advice in the Bible is found in the Book of Proverbs. It tells you everything from how to raise your kids to how to handle money. If you’ve never read the Bible before, or it’s been a long time since you opened it, there are some excellent translations in modern English that really make it easy to understand. I like the version called the New International Version, but there are several others that are very good. Some people like the traditional King James and there’s nothing wrong with that; in fact, it’s my wife’s favorite. Just find a translation of the Bible that really speaks to you, and be willing to spend a few extra bucks for a study Bible that will supply lots of background information that helps put everything into context. .

11. Who is your favorite person or character in the Bible, and why?

Terry Pluto: Moses, because he was a guy who was 80 years old when God suddenly put a call in his life to lead the Jews out of captivity in Egypt. He felt totally overwhelmed and underprepared for the task. He knew God well enough to argue with God, to bargain with God, and to beg God to send somebody else. But Moses was like a lot of us. In the end, he went and did what God asked because he had to, not because it was something he wanted to do. Moses walked in faith because he felt he had no other choice. He often had to deal with people who complained. He was sometimes accused unfairly and was the subject of awful rumors.The story of Moses also gives us hope that God is liable to call on us at any point in our lives to do something extraordinary. It may not be leading people out of slavery, but it could be a grandparent helping a grandchild through a period when that child feels alienated from his parents or lost in school or just looking for somebody to hug him and listen. Moses is my hero because he figured out God’s will for his life and did it even when it wasn’t easy. I wish I could do that sometimes.

12. What is your favorite psalm? What is your favorite verse?

Terry Pluto: Psalm 142 was written by David when King Saul was trying to kill him. David was hiding in a cave, and he was worn out and feeling hopeless and betrayed. He was telling God all this, or as the psalm says, “I pour out all my complaints before him, before him I tell all my trouble.” This tells me that God does care about how we’re feeling. As David talked about his problems he began to remember the times God had been faithful to him, and David has this wonderful line that reads, “Set me free from my prison that I may praise your name.” I think all of us go through periods where we feel a “prison” that could be family pressures, money problems, career crises, or just feelings of loneliness. God is willing to meet us where we are, if we just call out to him.My favorite Bible verse is 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come.” I love that because it says God is not done with us yet; that we don’t have to be the same person today that we were last week or ten years ago. It speaks of God’s forgiveness. Some people may never forgive us, no matter how often we ask. But we do have a God who is willing to look at us as new people through the forgiveness that comes through faith in Christ. Often my biggest battle is not just believing that God forgives me, but being willing to forgive myself for some of my mistakes. So the verse reminds me that I am a new creation in Christ. The old is gone; the new has come. I bet I tell myself that three times a day.

In Search of Truth (Part 2) or Life is Football...

2005-11-29T22:26:00.000-05:00

Football has been described as 100,000+ people desperately needing excercise watching 22 people desperately needing rest. If you were watching Ohio State in the 50's, 60's and 70's, many times a game you would watch the fullback run the ball right up the middle. Three yards and a cloud of dust, Woody would call it. Its an utterly simple play. The fullback takes the ball and runs up the middle with all his might. His blockers get in front of him to clear the way and all eleven players on the defense move toward the fullback and do everything in their power to tackle him. The opposing players are all impediments to the fullback, who is trying to score. Each impediment could tackle the fullback, but if the play unfolds as planned, the blockers remove the impediments and the fullback will score. Statistically this does not happen often as the runner is tackled. The impediments work! Only if all the blockers, the coach, the trainers and all involved pull together can the impediment be removed and the goal achieved. Just as the fullback faces impediments to score, so do we face impediments as we strive for our goal of a full, healthy and productive life. Conflict is an impediment, as is the tendency to disconnect from those who can help you.

We need connection from trusted friends, who will be honest and objective while loving and caring for us. We move towards God because we know He loves and cares for us. We move towards family and friends, hoping for support and love they provide, We move towards friends, who care for and support us as we deal with painful issues.

So who are your friends?? Who'se your buddy? Take some time and list three of your friends. Why is this friend valuable to you?

Proverbs 18:24 (New Living Translation) There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

You need to solve the mysteries that surround your hurt. The guilt, the shame, the anger, the rage, the anxiety or the fear you feel are impediments that can prevent us from doing the work that God as called us to do. Do the work to find the answers to your mysteries and don't let anyone tell you it is destructive.

So here is part 2...

11. What are your five greatest strengths? Write them down and ask your closest friends to tell you what they think they are.

12. What are your five greatest weaknesses? Write them down and ask your closest friends to tell you what they think they are.

13. What have you done to misuse your strengths? Have you been a good steward or have you wasted them?

14. What have you done to use your strengths well? Ask your friends where they have seen you use your strengths well.

15. What have you done to correct or work on your weaknesses?

16. What could you do to work on them? Make a list.

17. What could you do to make restitution to those you have hurt?

18. Who could help you walk through a path of forgiveness toward those who have hurt you?

19. Write down a plan to contact those you have hurt, begin to contact them if it would not cause greater damage and take notes on the things they tell you about yourself as you discuss the past.

20. Ask someone to be your partner in truth. Ask the person to help you discover the truth about yourself and motivate you to continue to work on the areas that need help.

On June 12, 1987, President Reagan made a speech that helped contribute to the downfall of the Soviet Union. He spoke directly to the premier and said, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

This is what we need to say to one another. Select one friend who loves you, will keep your confidence and is committed to help you become the person God intended you to be. Ask them to give you honest feedback and let them know you can handle the truth. Everyone needs at least one person in their life who will always love them and tell them truth.

The impediments need to be thrown off. Do it before it is too late. Do it before there are more broken hearts and broken relationships. Don't buy into the big lie that "It does no good to look back or look inside."

In Search of Truth (Part 1)

2005-11-22T07:18:00.000-05:00

We have all been hurt. We have all hurt others.

Lamentation 3:40 Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.

2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?

1. Starting as early as you can remember, who were the people in your life that hurt you?

2. Was there anything you did to bring on that hurt, or were they solely responsible?

3. What was your reaction to that hurt? Did you forgive them, hold on to a grudge, or try to seek your own revenge?

4. Is there any way you could have altered your reaction to the hurt?

5. Starting as early as you can remember, who were the people in your life that you hurt?

6. Did they do something first that hurt you, or were you acting without provocation?

7. Who have you hurt the worst? Arrange your list of those you hurt in the order of the most damage to the least.

8. What was your reaction when you first realized you had hurt each person?

9. What have you done to rectify the problem caused by your hurtful actions?

10. Is there anything you could do to make restitution?

Are you afraid of what you might find? Is there a skeleton in your closet?

So tell me what YOU think, is this a TRUTH OR LIE?

"It does no good to look back or look inside."

Pain is a gift from God

2005-11-17T06:03:00.000-05:00

In our society we spend millions upon millions just to ease the pain. Medical doctors prescribe 800 mg of Ibuprofin. Chiropractic is the fastest growing physical healing industry. But pain is a gift from God. a gift to let us know that something is not right in our life and something needs fixing. We must feel the pain, embrace it and resolve the reasons for it or your life will begin to revolve around it. You can not bury it alive, as you will have to continue to feed it and it will continue to grow, even buried. Pain is not something we actively seek but when it appears we must react appropriately, rather than deny or neglect it. It is not healthy to simply "press on".

"You should feel fortunate, look at how God has blessed the changes that have been made"

"Just trust God and let this be between them and God"

"God works everything out to be good."

"A Spirit filled person would have real peace about all of this."

"Surely there were some deep problems for this to occur."

"Surely after this time you have worked through this loss."

"Your anger is a sin you need to repent of."

Each of these statements are true to some degree but each can invalidate the pain you feel. Denying the pain or having no place to share it can just cause it grow and invalidate it.

What would Jesus feel? Isiah 53-3 says He would be a "man of sorrows". Jesus felt emotinal pain to the extent He sweat blood. Jesus did not minimize it, He felt it to His very core.

Godly sorrow can and does lead to repentance and salvation. Sorrow can lead to making things right. Sometimes restitution is needed. Guilt and shame can be the result of unrestituted and Godly sorrow.

So resolve your pain or revolve around it. Feel the depth of it and use it to resolve it. Unresolved pain will lead to hurt, mistrust, anxiety, fear and anger. Bury these alive and "just press on" will end up eating you alive.

TRUTH OR LIE??

"Real Christians should have a real peace in all circumstances."

"All I need to heal is just God and me"

2005-11-14T22:27:00.000-05:00

We all need healing at one time or another. Many of us are in dire need of healing right now. It may be physical, emotional, spiritual or some other type of healing. We may feel we need a certain type of healing but receive another type. What type of healing are you in need of?

"All I need to heal is just God and me." Is this truth or is this a lie?

weekly worship...

2005-11-11T08:25:00.000-05:00

Justin Martyr (First Apology, chapter LXVII) describes a second-century church service thus:
And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need.

Colossal Collapse

2005-10-03T13:09:00.000-04:00

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Indians’ surprising season won’t be remembered for six months of stirring comebacks, scintillating streaks or personal milestones.
Unfair or not, one agonizing week erased it all.
With the AL playoffs again in their sights, and just as September turned to October, the Indians simply collapsed.

Double redundant triple digression, or what matters least....

2005-09-30T09:21:00.000-04:00

Say, isn't Slim Pickens somewhere in South Carolina?? or is that Liberty Valance?? Anyway, I digress. I tried to think the other day but nothing happened. Good thing it occurred to me that there is true parity in the NFL. Here three weeks into the season and all teams are still within 3 gamesof the league lead with no real standouts or surprises. I think it is symptomatic of the parity when you have a team that is coming off a bye week with .500 winning perecentage is in first place. Don't bother, it won't help. It is a sad state of affairs when both your favourite college team and pro team have their bye week on the same week. Well at least we get to watch UM lose to State this week. Go Green. Say what do you think the Indians chances of making the playoffs??? They are tied with Boston for the wild card. If the Yanks sweep, the Tribe has at least a one game playoff in Boston, even if the Pale hose sweep em this weekend. If the Bombers win two of three, the Wahoos needs at least one win to make it thru the weekend. Lets say the Bosox take 2 of three from the Yanks and tie for the East Crown. Then the Teepee Warriors need 2 of three to wait to play the loser of the AL east playoff for a wild card playoff. If it is Boston they play in Boston or they host NY. Lets say the Bosox sweep the Yanks. Then the Tribe needs one win to tie the Yanks for the wild card and have a one game playoff in Cleveland on Monday. So if the tribe wins 2 of 3 they assure themselves of at least a playoff to make the playoffs. Got it?? Anyways. I must be off. Have a nice weekend and IDYBT...

Are you ready for some Ice Cream???

2005-09-13T20:57:00.000-04:00

Well, pick your poison. I am going to the ColdStone Creamery in Saline and buy a few gallons of ice cream for Sunday... Remember, join the Yearsins after the Community Concert this Sunday, September 18th at 4:00 pm. What flavors suit your pleasure??? Put your request in now and we will see what flavors we can come up with. Peanut Butter Cup Perfection?? Chocolate Devotion??Put your votes in now!!!Well, I must be off!!!

Ice Cream Anyone??

2005-08-11T14:33:00.000-04:00

Ice Cream anyone??

What?
Ice Cream Social.

Why?
Many of us have been fasting for NewSong Community Church. Please join me in breaking my ice cream fast.

When?
Sept. 18 at 2 pm.

Where?
502 Chicago Blvd.

Immediatly followed at 4 pm by Cleveland at Green Bay...Go Browns...

HIATUS - Apologies that need another apology...

2005-07-30T08:13:00.000-04:00

Well, I am still trying to think but nothing happened. I could not help but post this article from my favourite sportswriter (with permission)...

Posted on Sat, Jul. 30, 2005

Apologies that need another apology

How's this for an apology: ``If I did anything to offend you, I'm sorry.''
Just what does that mean?
``It's not an apology because it takes no responsibility,'' said Bishop Joey Johnson of the House of the Lord.
When someone apologizes to you like that -- they are blaming you. As the Rev. Joseph Kraker of St. Vincent Church said: ``It's like they're saying, if I offended you, then it's your fault.''
Or as the Rev. Arthur Green from St. John's CME Church said, ``They're really saying, `Something is wrong with you -- and you should apologize to me. But I'm being big about it, so I'll sort of apologize to you.' ''
Green said he tries to practice Ephesians 4:26: ``Do not let the sun go down on your anger.''
``If I have a problem with someone, I want to go to them right away and it get resolved,'' he said. ``The longer you ignore it, the worse it gets.''
One of the dumbest movie lines ever was from Love Story, where a character says, ``Love means never having to say you're sorry.''
The person who thinks that won't stay in love, or any other relationship, for very long.
This is a tough subject for many people.
As a friend told me, ``When I have to admit I'm wrong, then I feel stupid. I'm also afraid if I apologize, the other person will yell at me.''
Instead of thinking an apology will make things right, we're afraid it will make things worse. We believe the person will think even less of us than the person does already.
``It's a battle with our self-esteem and pride,'' Kraker said. ``It takes real humility to sincerely apologize.''
Rabbi Stephen Grundfast, from Akron's Beth El Congregation, said: ``I think you need to name the act for which you are asking forgiveness. That is a part of our tradition. Say that you are sorry for cheating the person, gossiping or whatever you did.''
Instead, we often say, ``I'm sorry, but you were wrong when you... '' or we say: ```I'm sorry I said that, but I had a real bad headache... ''
A phony apology can be worse than no apology.
Part of the problem is both parties are often hurt. How often, truly, is one person completely at fault in a personality clash?
``So we wait for the other guy to make the first move,'' Johnson said. ``Some people have been waiting 20 years, the grudges getting worse all the time. Entire churches have split, families have been broken, all because no one will apologize. Instead, people avoid each other. They talk about each other -- but not to each other.''
What holds us back?
``If we apologize, it's like we're admitting we're flawed,'' Grundfast said. ``It's not just that we did something wrong, we have to admit there was something wrong with us.''
So we ignore it.
Johnson said that's the worst tactic. He mentioned how the Bible puts the responsibility on us. If we have hurt someone, we must apologize for what we did -- even if that person also hurt us.
The result can be amazing -- one person apologizes, then the other does, too.
Johnson mentioned Romans 12:18: ``If it is possible, as far as it depends upon you, live at peace with everyone.''
Not all of these discussions will end well. Sometimes, we ask forgiveness, but the other person can't grant it.
``If the apology comes from the heart, then the obligation is on the other person,'' Green said. ``It's very hard to forgive and forget. But I can forgive you and not hold it against you for the rest of your life -- even if I always remember it.''
I talked to two Protestant pastors, a Catholic priest and a conservative rabbi for this article. All of them described the freedom, healing and cleansing that comes from true apologies.
The bottom line?
A real apology may not make a situation any better, but it can't make it any worse.
Messages for Terry Pluto can be left at 330-996-3816.

HIATUS - HEED THE SIGNALS

2005-07-25T08:47:00.000-04:00

Well I tried to think and nothing happened. Then nothing occurred to me. This mental emptiness is indeed a true blessing. We have some major decision to make, so we may have to make a visit to the cemetery. I am going off line for a short while, perhaps somewhat of a blogging retreat. But I thought I would leave you with a few widsoms from Max Lucado's Grace for the Moment, taken from the July 23rd entry.

"Honor God and obey his command, because this is all people must do. Ecclesiastes 12:13."

"Here are some God-given, time tested truths that define the way you should navigate your life. Observe them and enjoy secure passage. Ignore them and crash against the ragged rocks of reality...

- Love God more than you fear hell.

- Make major decisions in a cemetery.

- When no one is watching, live as if someone is.

- Succeed at home first.

- Don't spend tomorrow's money today.

- Pray twice as much as you fret.

- God has forgiven you; you'd be wise to do the same."

taken from:Max Lucado's Grace for the Moment...

Well I must be off...IDYBT......

FRYDAY FEAST - KID ALA ODE'

2005-07-22T08:26:00.000-04:00

Well, you know I tried to think once, but nothing happened. Good ting D.E.P. suggested that in his absence I do a Fryday Feast, Ode de Ala whatever. So I thunk and thunk and could not think of anyting better. I tried and tried but thinking did not do me no good. So it was a good ting that it occurred to me that we have not done an Kid Ala Ode as of yet.

Donna and I have 5 wonderful kids we have known all their lives, and many many more we have come to know and love throughout the years. I got an email from an old friend this week I have not seen in about 3 years. When we last saw her she had just had her 1st baby and we offerred and were one of the first to watch him to give the new parents a little bit of a break. He was not a happy baby but Donna was determined she was gonna get that little tyke to smile!!! Little did we know we were starting a new ministry and this was even before we moved to Michigan!!! Now Rachel and her husband are expecting their 3rd child and finally a girl!!!

How has a kid blessed your life??? Well I must be off!!!

When all else fails and there is nothing else you can do....

2005-07-20T07:33:00.000-04:00

Just post a cute baby picture!!!!!!

Ode' Ala' PUDGE

2005-07-19T06:32:00.000-04:00

You know I tried to think once but nothing happened. Good ting it occurred to me that we should Ode the orginal oder. Ode' Ala' Pudge the Pudgerific One.

He is PUDGEerific. He is PUDGExpeealidoshis. He has his PUDGErisms. He is a reformed PUDGEalist. He cries real PUDGE tears. His heart is a big as all PUDGEdom. He sings real PUDGE songs!!!He cooks on a BHPUDGEG. He is an accomplished PUDGEuchreite. He PUDGES at third base and sometimes first base.

So how has your life been blessed by having a PUDGE in your life??? Do you have an animated story you can share about the benevolent and dictatorial D.E.P???

Have you ever been PUDGED???

I implore you to open your heart and take a minute to share with us your little PUDGE story.

Well, I must be off.

2005 1st Annual NewSong Picnic

2005-07-16T18:51:00.000-04:00

Who needs water toys??? You know I thought we needed some water toys but it occurred to me that God provided the water fun on Saturday.

You know when they have those rain delays for baseball games and some of the players entertain the fans by sliding on the tarp??? Well they got nuttin on us cuz we got REESE!!!

I guess we are gonna try and do this again on the 20th of August, so be there or be square. Well, I must be off!!!

Want some breakfast???

2005-07-16T09:32:00.000-04:00

Well, I tried to think once but nothing happened. But it occurred to me there has to be a way to put video on a blog...

I am so thankful that wrinkles don't hurt.

A penny saved is a government oversight.

The easiest way to find something lost around the house is to buy a replacement.

The sole reason for a child's middle name is so he can tell when he's really in trouble.

Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.

Once over the hill, you pick up speed.

If it weren't for stress, I'd have no energy at all.

Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.

Well, I must be off...

Building Momentum

2005-07-15T07:07:00.000-04:00

Well, it occurred to me I was encouraged enough in word and print yesterday to continue pursuit of a 2005 Adventure Day or VBS or some sort of youth activity for the summer.

I have been encouraged by what I believe is a place where we could hold such a camp/school in the evening or on a Saturday.

I have been encouraged by volunteers to teach.

So I am asking you to weigh in on the subject.

So when does school start??

Just how late in August can we have this before vacation is over??

Who else out there is willing to volunteer to teach or help??

I plan a trip to Adrian today to see what material might still be available.

What else have we not considered??? You can chirp in on that too.

Put it in His hands today and see you Saturday and Sunday if not sooner..

IDYBT..

I must be off..

Things that occurred to me on my summer vacation...

2005-07-14T10:29:00.000-04:00

Well, I tried to think once but nothing happened. Good thing that things occur to me. Well I made it back just fine, rolled in about 2 am this morning. You know you have to have a positive attitude to enjoy a 14 hour trip. I was blessed in the am by Abby as she said "I don't want Pappy to go!". And her mother said, well we will have to do something about that!! I am so blessed by my family. Despite all the things I have done wrong, to be blessed by my family in this way can only be the work of God's hand.

After several attempts to get on a direct flight, or get an exit row seat (also referred to as Jim's First Class Seating), a nice man at Delta got me moved into a bulkhead seat for the 3+ hour flight from PHX to the ATL. I decided to see what movie was playing and they showed FEVER PITCH. If you know me there is nothing like a good sports movie to get my tears flowing. You know if I need a good cry I know can add FEVER PITCH to MAJOR LEAGUE as two of the movies that can really turn on my faucets. Oh and one other movie that turned on the faucets yesterday is "A Snoodle's Tale". I am going to have to purchase that video real soon. I was also blessed at the ATL when attempting to puchase some M&M's, I was paid double with two packs for the price of one!!! Now that is a true blessing!!!

Well I purchased Joel Osteen's book, "Your Best Life Now", particularily for my sister Susie. I thought it might help put things in a different perspective for her. I of course had to read it before I could give it to her and I like his stuff anyway. I finished it on the flight back last night and I would recommend it for anyone. In fact I have several others I plan to give this book to. Powerful stuff. So I am reading the book when I get to Tucson and Martha says, Oh you have to listen to this CD I have from Joel Osteen on "The Blessing". Go figure.

Two things God put on my heart during the trip.

1. Vacation Bible School - I am going to look into the possibility of doing this.. not next summer, but this summer. All we need is a place, volunteers, curriculum and kids. The school they held at the chapel at DM ran from 6 pm to 8:30. Hmmmmm. Let's see what God has to say about this..

2. Childrens Worship. According to the Starting High Definition Churches, http://www.hdchurches.com/, the only ministry a new church need in their first year that we do not have in place yet at NewSong is a Sunday Morning Childrens Worship. Let's see what God has to say about this too.

Well, being back there are a couple things I need to do today, several I want to do, and a few that I could do so I should do the right thing and get on with it. Need to use this day for God's purposes. So I must be off...

What I did on my summer vacation...

2005-07-13T00:48:00.000-04:00

Well, Vacation Bible School is over for me. But I did learn some things. The message yesterday was on Elijah to believe in one True God. Todays lesson was to obey God as Jonah learned to. Tomorrow is Trust God. I won't be here for it but I may study about it on de plane, de plane!!

I am kinda tired, but it is a good tired. You know there are just not enough men that get involved with these types of programs. Aside from the chaplain, there was one other guy there and the rest of the teachers and helpers were women. Where are the men??? They hold their bible school in the evening from 6 pm to 8:30 pm. I like it. With our kids, NewSong should do one next year.

I did learn a new song tonight though. We are not old enough for the infantry. We are not old enough for the calvalry. We are not old enough to fire artiliary. We are not old enough to be spies. But we are old enough for the Lord's Army. Amen.

I need to come home and rest up from my vacation. I must be off...

Everything I needed to know I learned in Vocation Bible School...

2005-07-12T11:24:00.000-04:00

You know I tried to think once, but nothing happened. I found this on the fridge this morning and I was wondering how many bloggers you can name???

Also, we started Vacation Bible school last night and I have a question for you. Why did the chaplain name is daughter Allison Catherine???

Like mother like daughter. Some women will just exhaust themselves trying on shoes!!!

Meet the Parents!!!

2005-07-11T00:33:00.000-04:00

Meet
The
Parents!!!

Yes, those two darling grandkids have parents!!! Meet the Parents, Rob and Martha. Rob is a Captain in the USAF and is going to be deployed some time later this year. He flies A10 Wart Hogs for a living. Martha is a stay at home mother and is about one month short of achieving a goal of being a sales director for Mary Kay. She is also a member of the P.W.O.C. and is on the board for her local chapter. She does lots other stuff too, all the time, maybe tries to do too much, all the time. For example she graduated from college, got married and turned 21 all in less than two months. I have no idea where she gets that from. The live on Rainbow Drive and are she is trying to paint each room of their new home with a different color of the rainbow. I am in the living room or family room now and the accent wall color is Barney Purple. You will have to ask her about that one. God has shown favor to this young family. They have prospered in each thing they have attempted. Rob has gotten every assignment he has wanted and he got his first choice in planes. The only time he did not get what he thought he wanted was when he was assigned as a trainer for three years just prior to 9/11. Go figure.

It is a joy to see these two work together in raising their young family. They are a true blessing and they certainly have made all their parents quite proud of them. As you know I could go on, but is getting late and Pappy is getting tired. Feeding those two little munchkins (Snicklefritz and Sassafrass) dinner and giving them baths can wear you out. I just wish I could do it more often. I did better this trip. It took me three days this trip before I started calling Abby and Amelia by their mothers and aunts name. I have a new nickname for Amelia. She is now Mel, after her great uncle. Well I hope for another big day tomorrow, so I must be off!!! BBT..

Things you learn from a 2 year old...

2005-07-09T10:36:00.000-04:00

You know it occurred to me that maybe I am taking too many pictures. Nope, not possible. Anyways, the girls came down from playing last night and asked me if I would take their picture. The light was not quite right but as you can see they are a couple of hams. All the things I need to learn I can learn from a 2 year old. I should listen more carefully when she says no. She has great wisdom.

I learned something about coffee today too!! My wise and noble son-in-law had the foresight to install a automatic water filter in their new refrigerator and boy does that improve the taste of the coffee over the tap water here!!!. Yesterday I made Starbucks breakfast blend with the tap water and is tasted kind of like stump water. Tasted like the coffee Doc and I had at Bob Evans a few months ago. My lovely daughter told me yesterday to use the filtered water but no!!!I would not listen. Well after the stumpwater incident yesterday I used the filtered water today and the results were incredible!!!Guess filtering is something on the list for the Yearsin household. Maybe a reverse osmosis system or something practical like that.

Abby gave me a tour of the boneyard on Kolb Road. Oh Pappy, there are Phantoms, there are the Tankers, Hogs and the Tomcats. She wants to be a helicopter pilot and Mary Kay consultant like her Mommy and Daddy. She wants to go to bible study like her Momma, too..

Well for me I am starting to look more like a Pappy every day. Like my new hat??? Only 8 bucks at Penneys. 60% off how could you refuse. Not sure what lessons I will learn today, but one thing for sure you are going to hear about them, like it or not. So BBT, BBH, BBF....I declare you all Blessed!!

I must be off..

Martha's Revenge..

2005-07-08T12:23:00.000-04:00

You know it occurred to me on the way down here how you are really looking in the mirror when you are with your kids... You seem to have so much more forgiveness when you see your own likness. Anyway, I felt the weight of my own legacy yesterday on the way here from the airport. When the kids were small they always went on errands with Daddy on Saturday. We would go everywhere, the dry cleaner, the hardware store, the bank, just place after place. Eventually, they got wise and would negotiate just how many places do we have to go to today? 3, ok Dad we can do three. When we were done with the three, I would say, well you know there are a couple of more stops if you don't mind??? Well yes Dad, we can make a couple of more stops. Why all this??? Well Martha drove about 2 hours to PHX to pick me up with Amelia Bedelia and Abigail Rose. Martha said, Dad, you don't mind if we make a couple stops on the way back to the house do you?? Well, no I don't mind. Now I had been up since 5:15 EDT and on the way we had a extra stop and the Super Walmart for a few necessities. Then on the way to the mall we had dinner at Mimi's Cafe. Have you ever seen a two year old eat pancakes with a fork?? (Sorry I digress on the proud Pappy/Poppy bragging on these girls, Did I say I had two beautiful grandaughters??). Then well only one more stop Dad, the MALL. Yes all three girls know their way around the Mall. Just two stores, Gymboree and Old Navy... Scary when a three (well she will be 4 July 19th) know the departments in DILLARDS and also can spell GYMBOREE and leads the way into Old Navy. Well they did need new outfits for Abby's 4 year old picture we are going to have made today!!!. Highlight was when Martha asked Amelia if whe like a pretty dress. Not opinionated, but she said clearly, NO!! Only 100 buck at Gymboree but you get $50 certificate toward your next, well anyway. So, my little girl drove two hours with two kids to pick up DAD, two hours back, Super Walmart, went out for dinner and then to the Mall. Where did she get that from???

This AM we all enjoyed some Cracklin' Oat Bran and I did have a little Starbucks breakfast blend. Well it is back to the Mall for pictures. I must be off!!!!!!!!!

My most recent photo.. pretty good likeness, don't you think..

2005-07-07T13:02:00.000-04:00

I tried to think once but nothing happened. Good thing things occur to me occasionally. I am here in ATL at the airport waiting on my connection. There is a Starbuck right behind me,

as you can see from my 2nd most recent photo...

The flight was great, no one in my row. Oh how the Lord shows us favor. Speaking of favor, I purchased "Your Best Life Now" by Joel Osteen to give to Susie. I thought I should read it first and I read the first 3rd or so on the first leg of the flight. I try not to give books to people I have not read. I bought her the Purpose Driven Life last year (go figure) and I thought I would try something different this year. Of course I can already think of others that I will give the book to as it is absolutely fabulous, I can tell already. I did see at Sam's (no not Slammy) that the PDL is still on the best sellers list. Wow still number ten, spell that backwards. (Wow I mean)...

Nice day to travel, kind of makes you feel warm and fuzzy all over. Well I will try and keep up my online journal in Arizona, should be warm there...(like 110)..

Anyways, I must be off. Tootaloo!!

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO GO OUT???

2005-07-06T15:54:00.000-04:00

PITTSBURGH -- James Henry Smith was a zealous Pittsburgh Steelers fan in life, and even death could not keep him from his favorite spot: in a recliner, in front of a TV showing his beloved team in action.

Smith, 55, of Pittsburgh, died of prostate cancer Thursday. Because his death wasn't unexpected, his family was able to plan for an unusual viewing Tuesday night.
The Samuel E. Coston Funeral Home erected a small stage in a viewing room, and arranged furniture on it much as it was in Smith's home on game day Sundays.
Smith's body was on the recliner, his feet crossed and a remote in his hand. He wore black and gold silk pajamas, slippers and a robe. A pack of cigarettes and a beer were at his side, while a high-definition TV played a continuous loop of Steelers highlights.
"I couldn't stop crying after looking at the Steeler blanket in his lap," said his sister, MaryAnn Nails, 58. "He loved football and nobody did (anything) until the game went off. It was just like he was at home."
Longtime friend Mary Jones called the viewing "a celebration."
"I saw it and I couldn't even cry," she said. "People will see him the way he was."
Smith's burial plans were more traditional - he'll be laid to rest in a casket. AP NEWSThe Associated Press News Service

Baseball, strawberry rhubarb pie and the Independence Day Classic

2005-07-04T22:27:00.000-04:00

I tried to think once, but nothing happened. But it did occur to me what a day this has been.

Boy, what a day!! Quite a far cry from celebrating the 4th on the 3rd with a 5th!!!

Let's play 2!! If the Angels can knock off the Twins tonite the Indians move into the wild card lead in the AL. Who is this Travis Hafner anyways? Well let me tell you a little about him. His nickname is PRONK. Pronk is a combination of prodigy and donkey. There you have it, PRONK. Three homeruns in the double header. He might be in the zone. Dunno.

The Independence Day Classic. Have you ever seen such? I testify I saw more excellent ball striking, course management and a deft touch around the green today than I have ever seen before at the Raisin Valley Golf Course. My hats off to the sponsors and organizers of this fine event. Where else but on a golf course can you have networking and evangelism all rolled into one.

Dinner at Docs. Who would have thunk it?? A culinary gourmet chimney sweep. The most gracious good Doctor and his lovely bride put on a 4th of July feast for Donna, Susie, Alecia and yours truly. Going to the Binders is like a trip to the zoo and a 5 star eatery all in one. Horsie ride with Rowdy, feeding Bacon, play ball with Sootie, laptime with Ashes, conversation and a song with Simon and a little quiet time with Shadow. Although they are animals, they are more like children than pets. Wow, maybe they can adopt me too. There are lots of people who would be blessed to be as well fed and cared for as Bacon.

Oh and they fed us, and fed us and fed us. Pickled veggies, dilled garlic and mom's homemade pickles from a heavenly family recipe. Veggies and hommus for the health conscience. Fresh stout ice tea, fresh fruits, NYStrip, grilled chicken, zuchini casserole, sauteed onions and mushrooms, and I have not even mentioned desert yet. Did I say desert?? Well no ice cream for Jim, but they did have fresh made brownies and chocolate chip cookies, with more fresh fruit, fresh whipped cream with strawberries, YUM...

But the best part is the fellowship. It is always great to spend a holiday with family. I pray you had a great 4th. Tell me about yours. Can't wait for the 5th!

Well, I must be off.

Blink, the Power of Thinking without Thinking

2005-07-01T07:40:00.000-04:00

I just want to praise Him and thank Him for all He has done and all He is doing and all He is going to do.

All this thanksgiving. I am just overwhelmed with grace. I tried to think once and nothing happened and now I know why. I know why some things you are just not supposed to know. Even if somebody tells you and you still don't know. Things you know but you forgot. Then later you can say, "I knew that!". God graces us but not letting us know things until we are ready. But we must strive to get ready. Like last night for example.

I was looking at the top ten best sellers on Amazon the other day and both the "Purpose Driven Life" and "Your Best Life Now" are still on the top ten. But another book caught my eye. The title is something like "Blink, The Power of Thinking without Thinking". Now that looks like something I could really not think about. I think you think I must be off. Well check it out... http://www.gladwell.com/blink/

Donna and I would be in a store and she would walk through and say. "There is nothing here, they don't have it or there is nothing here that interests me today, lets go." I would think she just sampled a few items and generalized. But later I learned that she was able to take in all that was going on around her in literally a blink of an eye, process it and make a very rapid decision on what to do, where to go, how to react etc. It could be this rapid cognitive process described in this book is how she survives (or rather thrives). I have more recently called it the gift of discernment (she is gifted by the way if any of you know her) as she is a veritable walking litmus paper. We would make hiring decision in the past based on exposing her to prospective new hires and she is very accurate in quickly judging character. Well as you know if you know me I could go on and on about her but I digress. Or do I?

God know what the upcoming weekend will bring. I pray it will bring my sister-in-law Susie closer to God. As it has been said, if you wan't to make God laugh just tell Him your plans.

Well, have great weekend, Hope to see many of you Sunday if not sooner. I must be off.

What, Me Worry?

2005-06-30T08:14:00.000-04:00

You know, I tried to think once, but nothing happened. I tried to worry once, but it did not seem to work. I thought about exercising the other day, so I took a nap and it passed. Do you know that 87% of the things we worry about we have no control over, so why worry? Kind of reminds me of that wise man, Alfred E. Neumann. I thought I would share several of his wisdoms with you today.

Crime does not pay ... As well as politics.

We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavoring and furniture polish is made from real lemons...

America; first we fight for our freedom, then we make laws to take it away.

Most people don't act stupid:it's the real thing!

The reason many people are lost in thought's because its unfamiliar territory!

How come we choose from just 2 people for president and 50 for Miss America?

Who says nothing is impossible? Some people do it every day!

Blood is thicker than water...But it makes lousy lemonade!

What, Me worry? Alfred E Newman

Well, I must be off..

Things I need to do (today or someday)

2005-06-29T07:01:00.000-04:00

You know, I tried to think once, but nothing happened. But things do occur to me. Usually in the shower in the morning after my quiet time. Sometimes in the tub. I like to take baths. Sorry about the bad mental image there. You know it occurred to me that there are some things I need to do. I can think of at least two letters I should write. I don't have to write them but I could. I don't see anything bad coming from them, but could be some good.

Say, anybody out there?? I mean anybody got a great chicken wing recipes? Like maybe something kinda zingy I could do on the grill? Somebody is turning XX today (never share a ladies age, you have to sleep sometime) and she (Who is she, the cats aunt?), I mean today is Donna's birthday and she has a hankering for chicken wings. She did last night but I served her bratwurst. It was good, too. Johnsonville original, my favourite. Anyways, I digress. I bet you could jazz up some wings with killer hot sauce and indirect cook em on the grill.

What do you do with people that don't like to go places, but when you do get them there they have a great time? Donna's daughter Courtney was like that as a child. I mean it could be a birthday party and she would not want to go. Not anywhere, ever. Kicking and screaming and pouting. You would literally have to dress her (kicking and screaming) and carry her to the car and strap her in. Tears, howling, you would think you were cutting her arm off with a butter knife. Just get her there and she would have a blast. Not want to leave, Can I stay a while longer? Oh Please!! Mothers and daughters.

You know it occurred to me if I start to write about my family they will HAVE to read this to defend themselves. Or I could be in a lot of hot water. I do have to sleep sometime.

Anyways, Happy Birthday to Donna today, and me she be buried in a 100 year old casket made from an oak tree that I plant tomorrow!!

Well, I must be off!

Camping, Picnics, Parties and Southern Gospel

2005-06-27T10:14:00.000-04:00

You know, I tried to think once and nothing happened. I even thought about starting an excercise program once but I laid down and the thought passed. Why do people go camping? Why do they have picnics and parties? Is it about the food? No, you can eat food at home. Is it about the bonfire? No, you can burn wood almost anywhere, or at least you could download a screen saver of a bonfire, virtually. So then what is it about? It must be the about the shared experiences. We must get out of our daily routine, outside our normal circle of friends, family and acquaintences to see each other in a different light. To test one anothers mettle, sharpen another's sword, have your own sword sharpened, invoke horseplay on a jet ski...

Sunday in the lobby of the TCA, a woman for the Freinds Church saw our sign and stopped in to let us know the Toney Brothers were singing Southern Gospel at their church last night. We convened our small group over at the Freinds church to partake and what a wonderful night it turned out to be. They went so far to make it seem like an old timey revival they even turned off the air conditioner(actually I dont think it was planned but He provides). People were fanning themselves with song books and there were even a few hand fans moving air around. you know they started with an old Gospel tune something about a NewSong. My wife really like Southern Gospel music and I was fortunate to sit in the pew behind her and watch her clap her hands and sway with the music. The heat added the necessary atmosphere, all we needed was a tent. More than one song, even though I had not heard it before brought a tear to my eye too. The performance ended with an invitition. An invitation to start a relationship with our Lord and Master. Tugs at my heart every time. What a comfort and joy it was.

You know, it occurred to me (this was not a thought, just to clarify) we need to revive the NewSong Barbershop Old Timey Gospel Quartet and put together a few tunes for the upcoming picnic. If we only had a benevolent dictator type song leader who had the skills to put something like this together. Someone with a couple of spare evening on his hands with nothing to do. Someone fresh off a search for a wife. Oh well, nevermind.

Well I must be off...

2005-06-23T07:44:00.000-04:00

Well I tried to think once.. and nothing happened.

Well I must be off, planning to depart for "up Nort" here is a couple of hours. I did get the special gift of a conference call tomorrow afternoon, but all I will need is a phone. (I have one).

Do not think I will do any mobile blogging so this is kinda sayanara, see ya, ta ta for now, tootaloo, areevaderci, so long, til we meet again, been real, been reel, ciao, asta la vista, till Sunday in person for most and til Monday in the blog world.

Dont worry, If you dont get this message, just let me know and I will send it again!!

And noboby goes there any more, its too crowded.

That should keep you till Monday. BBT, BBH.. BBF...

Finding your worth..

2005-06-22T06:39:00.000-04:00

Well, I tried to think again this am and nothing happened. Here is an inspirational article from my favourite sports writer I think you will find interesting. If you are feeling down today or need a lift please read this article. http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/11954659.htm BBT&T, BBH...

And the Winner is....

2005-06-21T19:42:00.000-04:00

And the winner is.... In our senseless survey, the most votes for their definition of "Happiness Is...", drum roll please, no not drumstick??? and the wiener is.. (No not the Oscar Meyer Wiener) .......the winner is the KRISPY KREME DONUT. Just click on the link above to learn more about how the Krispy Kreme won this popularity contest!!

Happiness is....

2005-06-20T07:25:00.000-04:00

Complete the sentence, "Happiness is..." Don't think too much about this (D.E.P) and don't grasp for correct "spiritual" answers. Use real things like baseball or a sunset, and let's use this as an opportunity to get to know each other. Happiness is "Run William Run" or "The Yankees Lose, The Yankees Lose!!". Or perhaps, "That's good, pick it up".

I will consult with the great, wise, insightful, benevolent, compassionate D.E.P. in determining the correct answer. So go at it!!

Fathers Day Message from a former Lion/Brown...

2005-06-18T13:45:00.000-04:00

What is a father, anyway?
A vitally important part of the family structure – one whose presence can help keep men out of prison, and maybe help those who are already there.
That’s according to a recently-released book co-authored by Bill Glass, the former Browns standout defensive end who played on the 1964 NFL championship team.

Bill Glass
Photo By John H. Reid IIIJust in time for Father’s Day on Sunday, “Champions for Life; The Power of a Father’s Blessing,” was also written by Akron Beacon Journal sports columnist Terry Pluto. The 187-page book, published by Health Communications, sells for $14.95 and is available in all major bookstores.
“The book is the result of my life for the last 33 years, for most of the time since I’ve been out of football,” said Glass, a first-round draft pick of Detroit in 1957 who played with the Lions from 1958-61 and then with Cleveland for seven seasons (1962-68).
A devout Christian for almost all of his life, Glass began his prison missionary work in 1972.
“We took a bunch of athletes into the Marion (Ohio) State Correctional Institute,” Glass said.
That trip has mushroomed into a crusade that sends Glass and his group of former athletes into more than 400 prisons all across the world, per year, where they talk to over 100,000 inmates. It is these trips, and what he has learned from them, that serve as the foundation for his 11 books, especially this one.
“We began observing something in the prisons we were going into,” he said. “It’s that all the inmates had a problem with their father. They loved their mother, but they hated their father.
“When I was a little boy growing up, my father would come into my room at bedtime and sit on the edge of my bed. He would rub my back and tell me how much he loved me and how I was going to do great things. He would even kiss me on the lips.
“I thought every dad was like mine, but I was wrong. To my amazement, I found that these prisoners had fathers who raped them, deserted them, beat them or abused them. A father’s impact, as far as the whole psyche of these prisoners is concerned, is the underlying reason for them getting into crime.”
As a young man and then an NFL player, Glass was completely different from these inmates.
“I grew up as the All-American boy,” he said. “The worst thing that ever happened to me was that I got a speeding ticket one time.”
It made him an exemplary citizen and, at the same time, he said it turned him into a “self-righteous” person. He didn’t understand prisoners and wanted nothing to do with them. In fact, he didn’t even think about them. They were, to him, just bad people.
But through his ministerial work once he retired from football – “I finished my studies in the seminary, but I’m not an ordained minister,” Glass said – he was drawn into the prisons and the plight of the men there.
When he saw the issues they had with their fathers, and he looked at his own situation, he realized the importance for “boys” of all ages to have a dad.
“There was a great vacuum created in my life when my own dad died when I was 14,” Glass said.
Something then happened that changed Glass’ life and steered him toward the eventual writing of this book.
“My high school football coach became my surrogate dad,” Glass said. “When he died, my surrogate dad became a man who is now 89 years old.
“I’m on my third dad now. You see, even at my age (he will turn 70 in two months), you need a dad. Everybody needs someone they can look up to as a father figure.”
Trying to help those prisoners – to be a surrogate father to them if he could – became Glass’ role in life.
“It’s what I was put on this earth to do,” he said.
Glass believes this so strongly that, in his present mindset, he would probably become offended if you remembered him as just a former star football player – he still holds the Browns’ team record for most sacks in a season with 14.5 in 1965 - and not also a humanitarian who is trying his best to give back to his fellow man.
“I had a great time last year when they had the 40th anniversary party for the 1964 Browns championship team,” said Glass, who now lives just outside Dallas. “When I got home, I was really reveling in those memories.
“But then I got to thinking about things. We had a room in our house where my wife (Mavis) had displayed all my athletic trophies and awards on shelves and everything. I went in there, took all of those things, put them into a big box and packed them away.
“I can’t stand it when people live in the past. You’ve got to live in the present. And what I’m doing now is imminently more important than anything I did in professional football.”

As Good as it Gets?

2005-06-17T06:53:00.000-04:00

You know, I tried to think the other day and nothing happened. If you don't get this message, just let me know and I will leave you another one. Is this as good as it gets? Is that all there is?

Last night, the light still in the sky at 10:20 last night on my way home, this morning the light in the sky this morning, answered prayers, and peanut butter (Jif Creamy for the legalists out there) just make me want to ask: "Is this as good as it gets?". Absolutely just a beautiful day. Even the stormy looking clouds were at the very least interesting. Just How Great is Our God? (say that reminds me of a song).

I cannot explain the overwhelming peace of mind I have been blessed with. Not that long ago I would have attributed it to obviously not being aware of what was going on around me. Now I know that this peace is the grace of our sovereign Lord being showered down on us. (There is that mental shower picture thing again).

My oldest daughter called me last night to make more plans for my visit to Tucson. We are thinking that over the weekend of the July the 10th may be good. The weekend of the 4th was considered but then last night I heard my sister-in-law Susie might be in for a visit and there are two very important events over the 4th, but I can't remember what they are! Anyway, Martha was so excited, not about my trip, not about my two beautiful grandchildren, not about her pending Mary Kay directorship, but an opportunity to go on a retreat with the inter or non demoninational faith group she has become involved with. Just bring tears to an old mans eyes. (mine too). Just kinda makes you wonder what God is preparing her for. Kinda scary. I am a little scared too because I know that when God is strengthening your faith he has something in mind for you. But in the same we can assured.

Well the answer is yes and know. Yes this IS as good as it gets as we are in God's Kingdom here and now, and know, as we know we have that day to look forward to and what a day that will be!! (Seem that reminds me of a song too!)...Well, I must be off!!!

Time to FLY!!

2005-06-16T07:52:00.000-04:00

Well, I must be off!! I cannot put it off any longer. I am planning a trip to Tuscon, AZ. It has finally warmed up enough down there for me. As they say, some like it HOT!!. And I am some and I like it hot. Lets see, there must be some other reason to go to Tuscon? What can it be?? Could it be those two beautiful grandaughters of mine? Its bad when the little one gets on the phone and says Hi Pappy, love you! Why is that bad? Because I have not seen her in person this year!! That is unacceptable!. So, I must be off. Pitts Off!

Blogging can get you FIRED!!

2005-06-15T16:05:00.000-04:00

Like a growing number of employees, Peter Whitney decided to launch a blog on the Internet to chronicle his life, his friends and his job at a division of Wells Fargo.
Then he began taking jabs at a few people he worked with.
His blog, gravityspike.blogspot.com, did find an audience: his bosses. In August 2004, the 27-year-old was fired from his job handling mail and the front desk, he says, after managers learned of his Web log, or blog.
His story is more than a cautionary tale. Delta Air Lines, Google and other major companies are firing and disciplining employees for what they say about work on their blogs, which are personal sites that often contain a mix of frank commentary, freewheeling opinions and journaling.
And it's hardly just an issue for employees: Some major employers such as IBM are now passing first-of-their-kind employee blogging guidelines designed to prevent problems, such as the online publishing of trade secrets, without stifling the kinds of blogs that can also create valuable buzz about a company.
"Right now, it's too gray. There needs to be clearer guidelines," says Whitney, who has found another job. "Some people go to a bar and complain about workers, I decided to do it online. Some people say I deserve what happened, but it was really harsh. It was unfair."
Wells Fargo declined to comment, but a spokeswoman said in an e-mail that the company doesn't have a blogging policy.
Blogs are proliferating as fast as a computer virus. According to a report this year by public relations firm Edelman and Intelliseek, a provider of business-intelligence solutions, about 20,000 new blogs are created daily, and an estimated 10 million U.S. blogs will exist by the end of 2005. Together, these blogs link up to create what is known as a blogosphere, a collective Internet conversation that is one of the fastest-growing areas of new content on the Web.
More than 8 million adults in the USA have created blogs, according to two surveys by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, a non-profit research center studying the Internet's social effects. And 32 million Americans are blog readers - a 58% jump in 2004.
Recognizing potential risks
Employers are just beginning to wake up to the potential risks that blogs pose.
"The law is trying to catch up with the technology," says Allison Hift, a telecommunications and technology lawyer in Miami. "This is like what we saw a few years ago with employers passing polices about e-mail. Now we're seeing it with Web logs."
The concerns are myriad. Employees who create blogs set up a direct way to communicate about their company with the public, because customers and clients can stumble across a blog. (Blogs often jump to the top of search engines because they are updated often.) Bloggers may spill trademark or copyright material on their sites, they may post pictures of yet-to-be-released products, and they may libel or slander another employee or a client.
A blogger can even get the ear of Congress. Douglas Roberts, a computer scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M., started a blog (lanl-the-real-story.blogspot.com), and anonymous posters blasted management as incompetent. During a House subcommittee hearing in May, the blog was mentioned in a discussion about the fate of the nuclear research facility.
"I was quite surprised. I had no idea it would be this popular," Roberts says, adding that lab management has been supportive of his blog and that he believes blog policies in general are unnecessary.
Says lab spokesman Kevin Roark: "Open, honest, constructive discussion of issues is a good thing ... (but) the personal attacks were unnecessary and disappointing."
A number of employment lawyers, such as Hift, and bloggers, such as Whitney, are urging companies to enact guidelines and communicate blogging rules to employees. Some companies are doing just that: In May, IBM unveiled blogging guidelines for its 329,000 employees. The guidelines state that employees should identify themselves (and, when relevant, their roles at IBM) when blogging about IBM.
"You must make it clear that you are speaking for yourself and not on behalf of IBM," the guidelines state. They also say bloggers should not use "ethnic slurs, personal insults, obscenity, etc." and that they should "show proper consideration" for "topics that may be considered objectionable or inflammatory - such as politics and religion."
Others such as Microsoft have no formal guidelines specifically on blogging, but do encourage blogging as a way for employees to reach out to customers and clients. Says Jeff Sandquist, a group manager at Microsoft: "It's great. It's instant feedback. ... We give a lot of support to blogging and on how to be a good blogger."
Stifling free speech?
But it's tricky. Some civil libertarians fear blogophobic companies may adopt policies that stifle the free exchange that has made blogs so popular.
"The concern is that it becomes a chilling effect," says Annalee Newitz, a policy analyst for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a San Francisco-based civil liberties organization dealing with high-tech issues. "We don't want people to feel like ... they can't express their feelings."
Others argue that more explicit guidelines are needed.
"Companies probably need separate policies," says Robert Cox, president of the Media Bloggers Association.
Guidelines, some bloggers say, could even help save jobs. When Ellen Simonetti started her blog chronicling her life and work as a Delta Air Lines flight attendant, she posted some pictures of herself on her site, queenofsky.journalspace.com. There's a shot of her in her blue uniform, bending over an airline seat as her white bra peeks out. A shot of her backside. Another of her in her uniform, sprawled across the tops of the seats of an empty plane. Another shows her eating in a seat.
In October 2004, Simonetti, 30, of Austin was fired, she says, for the pictures on her blog. She has filed a complaint with the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, saying the suspension amounted to discrimination, because male employees with similar online photos were not disciplined. The EEOC case is pending.
"Companies should have policies so that we know if we're breaking the rules," says Simonetti, who is unemployed. "I feel I was mistreated and treated unfairly. I'm fighting for bloggers' rights and free speech."
A Delta spokeswoman declined to comment.
Some bloggers are adding disclaimers saying they don't represent the company, or they are taking precautions not to blog from work. That may be wise: A Society for Human Resource Management survey found that some employers also are looking at job candidates' personal blogs before hiring them.
Legal status unclear
Blogging is so new, lawyers say it's unknown how courts will rule as cases come forward. Bob Blackstone, a Seattle-based employment lawyer, says employees may argue that blogs fall under federal laws that protect labor-organizing activity. They may also argue that their blog content is allowed under certain state laws that bar employers from discriminating against workers for off-duty actions.
Cases continue to climb. Heather Armstrong was fired in February 2002 by the Los Angeles-based software firm where she worked after venting online about the company on her blog, dooce.com. Some excerpts from her blog: Take a two-hour lunch: one hour for the bean burrito, one hour for the nap in the front seat of your car.
Reasons I should not be allowed to work from home:Too many cushiony horizontal surfaces prime for nappage. ... I can lie down underneath my desk, and no one is going to know. No one.
Her case garnered attention and put the blogging world on notice. UrbanDictionary.com now defines "dooced" as losing your job for something you wrote on your online blog.
Both sides now
And Mark Jen, 22, of San Francisco started his blog in January to chronicle his life and new job as an associate product manager at Google. He wrote comments about future potential products and lost his job two weeks later, he says, because of his blog, 99zeros.blogspot.com.
"I figured it would be an easy way to keep in touch with friends and family," Jen says. "I was surprised at the reaction of the company. It was shocking to me."
At his new job at Mountain View, Calif.-based Plaxo, a consumer Internet service for updating and accessing contact information, Jen recently helped draft the company's first-ever blog policy. The policy says, in part, that employees can't violate the privacy or publicity rights of another, can't personally attack employees, authors, customers, vendors or shareholders and can't post material that is "hateful or embarrassing to another person."
Employees who don't follow the guidelines can be fired.

2005-06-13T08:35:00.000-04:00

In Memory...

In reality, rejoicing for others not so easy..(Reprinted with permission from my favourite sportswriter)

2005-06-11T12:43:00.000-04:00

By Terry PlutoBeacon Journal columnist
Can you celebrate when others have success?
Take your time before you answer, because the goal is to be as honest as possible. I know I can lie to myself quickly, especially knowing what I'm supposed to say and feel. I also know that I have a jealous streak that can ambush me at the slightest beat of my envious heart.
I hear that someone won an award, and I think, ``That guy doesn't even know all the letters of the alphabet. I think the guy writes in crayon. How can they say he's better than me?''
Or maybe you hear of someone's promotion, and we think, ``That's what you get when you kiss the boss's butt.''
Or maybe your brother or sister buys a new house or car, and you may think, ``Showoff!'' This is especially true in families, where some siblings often ventured long into adulthood still trying to get the approval of their parents by outperforming someone else in the family.
What does all this have to do with faith?
Romans 12:15 says: ``Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.''
I've read that a few times and said, ``I can do that.''
Then I heard sermon tape from Willow Creek. It's a Chicago area church, where a pastor named Mike Breaux asked, ``Is it easier to weep with those who weep, or rejoice with those who are rejoicing?''
It was a brief mention in a message about something else, but the question stayed with me.
My heart is more likely to feel someone else's pain. I'm reasonably comfortable in hospitals, prisons and other places where many are in misery.
I can think, ``Thank God that's not me.''
I can think, ``I feel so bad for you.''
I can think, ``I really do want to help.''
But I never feel envious.
Compare that to when someone has sudden success. A part of me knows I should rejoice. I can fake it, put on the plastic smile, shake hands and say the right things.
But I fight the urge to play the comparison game, to keep score -- and then rig it so I win.
The question hangs in my heart: ``Why him? Why not me?''
Rabbi David Lipper from Temple Israel said there is a Jewish morning prayer that comes from the Talmud's Ethics of the Father that reads: ``Rejoice with bride and groom, console the bereaved.''
But as I read that prayer, I thought of a single woman at a wedding wondering how that person somehow found a husband, and she's still single.
``It comes down to selfishness,'' said the Rev. Bob Combs of Norton Grace Brethren Church. ``It's a battle not to relate everything to us. I know that when I look at myself realistically, I'm surprised how selfish I am sometimes.''
Combs talked about how we can get excited when a kid gets a hit at Little League, but it's more difficult when someone in your business just hit a financial home run.
``I'm training myself to just go up to people and tell them when I see them doing a good job,'' he said. ``I want to lift them up, rather than fall into little pity parties.''
Because we live in a very competitive society, it's hard not to view everything as a zero-sum gain. If another person gets a raise, that means there will be less money for me. There are countless books and motivational speeches given with the basic theme of ``How to win at life.''
The premise is that if we win, that means someone else loses.
Or if someone else has won, we've lost.
That's often not true, but we can fall into that ugly trap.
``Our faith tells us to be content with our lot in life,'' said Lipper. ``We are called to be happy for others.''
Most of us should be content because we have so much.
Ecclesiastes Chapter 5 says: ``Whoever loves money never has money enough... When God enables (anyone) to accept his lot and be happy in his work, this is a gift from God.''
One that most of us can really use.
Messages for Terry Pluto can be left at 330-996-3816 or terrypluto2003@yahoo.com. Sign up for Terry's free, weekly e-mail newsletter ``Direct from Pluto'' at www.ohio.com

Be Still

2005-06-10T07:05:00.000-04:00

1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Selah
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
8 Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields [b] with fire.
10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
11 The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

2005-06-09T09:26:00.000-04:00

pbjbb

3:18, 5.86 and 30... or 25 or 6 to 4

2005-06-09T07:16:00.000-04:00

We lets start with a verse we heard last night. Ezekiel 3:18..

When I say to a wicked man, 'You will surely die,' and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for [a] his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.

Accountability! Whose path will we Cross today? What will we do with this opportunity? Will we remember to pray for those on our post it?

586.... 5.86.. close enough! In perusing Ezekiel I stumbled across an interesting date. Was it not in 586 that Jerusalem was destroyed and burned? Where have I seen that 5.86 number recently? Why is all this numbo jumbo? Is that 41? 40 Days? Is this Day 41? What about verse 86?
Psalm 119: 86 All your commands are trustworthy; help me, for men persecute me without cause.

Finally 30.. Ezekiel was in his 30th year when the vision of the Glory came to him. Jesus began his public ministry in his 30th year. Hmmm Slammy is fast approaching his 30th year. Why does it seem like just yesterday the cry of my generation was "don't trust anybody over 30!" and now my kids are approaching 30!! We we are here for such a short time. Our time here is just a bat of an eye or a whisp in the wind. So cherish this day this gift from our Lord and whether you are approaching 30, 40, 50, or even 60 (I just put that in for Roger and Bobby) there is much to do and only a short time to get there. God's oldest are his choicest. Isaiah 46:4. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Classic Originality Revisited

2005-06-07T20:49:00.000-04:00

Who is and what is meant by the term “un-churched”.

Well, let’s try some original writing for a change. Although you can tell what a person is about by what they read, watch or spend their money on, you might be able to tell more about them by what they write.

There has been lots of conversation recently regarding “the un-churched”. Most of this discussion is held by those who consider themselves “churched”. I would think most of the members of the Tecumseh Community Church would consider me as recently “churched” but for the most part as an “un-churched” heathen or pagan.

Let me tell you a little about my background. I was born a small child in North Ridgeville, Ohio.(actually at Elyria Memorial Hospital). My mom was a lifetime member of the St. Peters Catholic Church. Her family was part of the founding families of the parish. My dad was born in Poland and baptized a catholic there in 1904 and somewhere I have his baptismal certificate. I have two first cousins and a sister that were in the convent (Sisters of Notre Dame). My mom cooked for the nuns at the convent at St. Peters and was in the Altar and Rosary Society and my dad was a member of the Knights of Columbus. My Uncle Mel worked for the church and maintained the cemetery and dug graves as needed. I attended St. Peters Parochial School where I attended mass daily and twice on Sunday for most of my years in grade school. I was in both the Boy’s choir and the adult choir (after my voice changed). I played the organ for the weekday masses and for the 12:15 mass on Sunday. I think the only person at more masses than me during that time period was the parish priest! I attended Elyria Catholic High School and was instrumental in leading worship services there, participated in retreats, the choir and all that other Catholic stuff. I met my first wife there and we had three kids (all baptized, penanced, communioned and confirmed, two married in the church (say this 5 of the 7 sacraments) and two baptized granddaughters. Does any of this sound familiar to any of you that attended a Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist or other mainline type of church??

Despite having been to I would guess thousands of church services, when I arrived at the Tecumseh Church of Christ about 3 years ago, I had no idea what in the world was going on there on Sunday morning. Who is that guy, what is he saying? Oh I guess he is praying. They just kept on singing until well it looks like they are going to have communion? Wow, I am overdressed. At least I don’t have a tie one, then I would be out of place. I am going to wear my jeans next week. Maybe I will wear my OSU pullover, way too much yellow and blue in here. Who is that up there and why is he up there? Who is he? Well there is a bulletin maybe that will tell me something about what is going on. Hmmm, let me see collection last Sunday was $2,048.44. Well that tells me they are no here for the money! They must run this place on a shoestring. When do we get out of here? Is anybody going to give a sermon or preach? Well there is little guy with a beard looks like he may have something to say. Boy does he, just like the energizer bunny, he keeps going and going and going. Are we ever going to get out of here? Now what are they doing? Who are those people standing up there looking around? Who are those guys? Well, I guess its over now. Lets get out of here before I have to talk to someone or make eye contact. Oh no, I have been caught!

And then one Sunday, maybe our 3rd/4th week attending, those guys are standing up in the front of the church and my wife for some reason pushes me out of the pew, maybe the 4th row from the back on the left hand side as you are facing the stage?sanctuary?pulpit? whatever and next thing I know she is going up front and talks to one of those guys standing up there. Then they announce she wants to rededicate her life to Jesus. Can somebody tell me what is going on around here? True story. We left that day without fanfare, me not knowing what had just happened.

Anyway, the point I am trying to make is that despite having been to literally thousands of church services, I had know way of know what was going on that building for weeks or even months. The order of service made no sense to me, I could not for weeks figure out what was happening or what was next. Even after I was baptized that Christmas Eve and was asked to help out with the projector (yes I remember the overhead before we had the projector) but I declined because I did not think I could tell when to do what! This was after months of regular attendance!!

So keep in mind your target, the un-churched. Here are a couple of links that further define the so called un-churched, as opposed to un-saved for that matter. http://www.rcfministries.net/RCFTarget.htm

http://www.rohanandkate.net/blog/2005/04/the-un-churched-and-awareness

If you think you might find worship service unfamiliar for someone who has been to thousands of worship services, just try and imagine someone who has never been to a “church”!

Where’s Jim? 5/28/05

Post Classics

2005-06-07T06:36:00.000-04:00

Due to popular demand, I thought I would recreate some of my most interesting posts...

Here is one that goes way back, I trust you will enjoy it..

Psalm 109
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. 1 O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent,
2 for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.
3 With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause.
4 In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.
5 They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship.
6 Appoint [a] an evil man [b] to oppose him; let an accuser [c] stand at his right hand.
7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him.
8 May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership.
9 May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.
10 May his children be wandering beggars; may they be driven [d] from their ruined homes.
11 May a creditor seize all he has; may strangers plunder the fruits of his labor.
12 May no one extend kindness to him or take pity on his fatherless children.
13 May his descendants be cut off, their names blotted out from the next generation.
14 May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD; may the sin of his mother never be blotted out.
15 May their sins always remain before the LORD, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
16 For he never thought of doing a kindness, but hounded to death the poor and the needy and the brokenhearted.
17 He loved to pronounce a curse— may it [e] come on him; he found no pleasure in blessing— may it be [f] far from him.
18 He wore cursing as his garment; it entered into his body like water, into his bones like oil.
19 May it be like a cloak wrapped about him, like a belt tied forever around him.
20 May this be the LORD's payment to my accusers, to those who speak evil of me.
21 But you, O Sovereign LORD, deal well with me for your name's sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.
22 For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
23 I fade away like an evening shadow; I am shaken off like a locust.
24 My knees give way from fasting; my body is thin and gaunt.
25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers; when they see me, they shake their heads.
26 Help me, O LORD my God; save me in accordance with your love.
27 Let them know that it is your hand, that you, O LORD, have done it.
28 They may curse, but you will bless; when they attack they will be put to shame, but your servant will rejoice.
29 My accusers will be clothed with disgrace and wrapped in shame as in a cloak.
30 With my mouth I will greatly extol the LORD; in the great throng I will praise him.
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save his life from those who condemn him.

Most recent from my favourite sportswriter...(with permission)

2005-06-04T09:05:00.000-04:00

Tips on choosing a new churchTerry PlutoBeacon Journal
By Terry Pluto
Maybe you are new to the area, or maybe you need a new place to worship. Or perhaps, you want to start fresh -- maybe you haven't gone to a church or temple for years, and you're not sure how to look.
Here are tips from a guy who went through the process about five years ago.
The church is not God: We need to remember that. A good church points us to God. A good church is a place where we can learn more about God and our faith. A good church is where we can feel God in our lives, and can see God in the lives of others. But the church can't be God.
You will have a bad church experience: Everyone has had a bad time in church -- or will have. But we can't let a phony in church stop us from connecting with the real God.
Arlington Church of God Pastor Ron Fowler once said, ``Ever work with a phony? Did you get a paycheck? Did the fact that you worked with a phony stop you from cashing the check to get the real money?''
Not all churches are for everyone: I once got a letter from someone who was upset because a certain church did not believe in allowing women in leadership. I said a lot of churches do have women leaders.
In fact, most churches are looking for more male leadership. So look elsewhere. Some people like loud, spirit-filled churches. Others prefer more quiet and devout. Find a style of worship that fits your personality.
If you go to a quiet church and complain it's too quiet -- that's your fault! If you want a small church and attend a megachurch (and don't want to attend some of the small-group classes), then don't complain that it's too big. You knew that when you drove up.
Talk to friends who seem happy with their church: Find out why they like their church. Go to church with them. Do research. Look up the church on the Internet. Read its core beliefs, along with the biographies of the pastors.
Make sure that there is some stability in the church: Some churches are bogged down with politics and inner battles. If they continually change pastors, that's probably not a good sign.
The pastor is not God: Some churches are built solely on the charisma of the pastor. It's critical to have a dynamic leader, but that should not be the only reason to attend a church.
Even the best leaders have weaknesses and failing. Also be guarded about a church where no one else ever speaks, just one preacher. The church must be bigger than any pastor.
Think out of the denomination box: Suppose you have been away from church for a long time. Suppose you grew up in a certain denomination and just grew tired of it.
When you look for a church, don't just stick with one denomination. Look around at some others. Styles of worship have changed over the years. Feedback from friends is a good place to start.
Don't worry about the length of the service: I've sat through 45-minute sermons that left me wanting more, and I've nearly fallen asleep during 10 minute sermons. The idea is not how long is the message, but how good is it?
One seminary student asked his preaching professor, ``How many points should a good sermon have?'' The professor replied, ``One is a good place to start.'' You want a place where the sermons are taken seriously, where they are well-prepared and delivered.
Have mercy on the pastors and church: Someone once said, ``That church was absolutely perfect -- then I joined and messed it up.''
Anyone can have a bad day, and that includes pastors and people in the church. We should not act like a movie critic and deeply analyze every song, every prayer, every word of every sermon. It's about us connecting to God, not putting together a production to play Broadway.
Be a giver, not a taker: Ask not what your church can do for you, but what you can do for your church? Well, it's not that extreme. The church does need to meet certain basic needs that we've discussed.
But get involved. Take a class. Join a ministry. Support others. We need to develop a relationship with the church, and you can't have a relationship with anyone in less than one hour a week.
Sports columnist Terry Pluto writes Everyday Faith, a regular column for the Your Faith page. Leave messages for him at 330-996-3816 or terrypluto2003@yahoo.com.