Head-dibs

Happy New Year! The start of a new year signals for many the opportunity to do something different. Why not step over your personal boundaries, explore and expand your potential? MORE THAN PHYSICAL TRAINING Commander Mark Divine has compiled a program that will help you discover who you are, challenge and grow the way you think as well as develop your mental, emotional and physical strength in this carefully constructed program. Click graphic for more information. The Navy Seals are not a force to be taken lightly, and neither should this program. Following the daily regimen set forth by Commander Divine, one is transformed into a stronger person. One week of introductory training lays the foundation for one week each of baseline training, building strength and stamina then culminates in one week of "work capacity"--and this is the first four weeks. One does not simply "work out," but trains in areas that have real applications in daily life ranging from pe...

Ready to try something different this New Year? It's a new day, new month, new week--so why not? A number of years ago I began using this journaling system called "Bullet Journaling." It's an amazingly efficient system that costs nothing but the few pennies or dollars you choose to put into purchasing a blank notebook. One need not be a writer to use this--it can be used any way you would like, starting with a simple calendar. Use it as you "day-timer," in meetings, shopping lists, recipes, fitness journal--make it whatever you want it to be. "The Bullet Journal is a customizable and forgiving organization system. It can be your to-do list, sketchbook, notebook, and diary, but most likely, it will be all of the above.  It will teach you to do more with less." I like the graph-paper notebooks as described in the video below, but any notebook or composition book will do. The video provides a brief overview of the system, but you can ge...

Pics taken on the campus of Columbia International University , November 28, 2016

Ok, I wasn’t going to say anything, but now must. Some might think that I’m a conspiracy theorist, but I’m not. Nor am I looney. At least, I don’t think I am--a conspiracy theorist, that is. Just bear with me and make your own decision. The other day, I was minding my own business out in my yard like I always do, like anyone does--and everyone should do--mind their own business. Anyway, I was out in the yard (I said that already, didn’t I?) watching my grass turn brown as it always does when Summer gives way to Fall. I was thinking about how my neighbor across the street sowed Winter grass seed into his yard and how it always stays green. And I was thinking about how quickly all the leaves in my little tree seemed to fall off so quickly, all at once. So I hear this crunching sound, of someone walking up behind me. “The little girl from next door must be coming over to say ‘hello’” I thought to myself. I tried to come up with some fun way to greet her when suddenly the crunching noi...

Pics taken over the Summer of 2016

10. "Well, well, well, now, there's a gift!" 9. "No, with all the hostile takeovers this year, I missed the big Ronco/K-Tel/Ginsu merger. Would you just look at that! What will they think of next?!" 8. "Hey, as long as I don't have to feed it, or clean up after it, or put batteries in it, I'm happy!" 7. "No, really, I didn't know that there was a Chia Pet tie! Oh, wow! It's a clip-on too!" 6. "You know, I always wanted one of these! Jog my memory -- what's it called again?" 5. "You know what? -- I'm going to find a special place to put this!" 4. "Boy, you don't see craftsmanship like that every day!" 3. "And it's such an interesting color too!" 2. "You say that was the last one? Am I ever glad that you snapped that baby up!" And the number one thing to say about the Christmas gifts you didn't like is . . . "You shouldn...

by Charles Wesley Hark! the herald Angels sing, Glory to the new-born King, Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinner reconcil’d. Hark! the herald Angels sing, Glory to the new-born King. Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies, With the angelic host proclaim, Christ is born in Bethlehem. Hark! the herald Angels sing, Glory to the new-born King. Christ by highest Heaven ador’d, Christ the everlasting Lord! Late in time behold him come, Offspring of a virgin’s womb. Hark! the herald Angels sing, Glory to the new-born King. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail, the incarnate Deity, Pleased as Man with man to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel! Hark! the herald Angels sing, Glory to the new-born King. Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings. Hark! the herald Angels sing, Glory to the new-born King. Mild he lays his glory by, Born that man n...

As shadows cast by cloud and sun Flit o’er the summer grass, So, in Thy sight, Almighty One, Earth’s generations pass. And as the years, an endless host, Come swiftly pressing on, The brightest names that earth can boast Just glisten and are gone. Yet doth the star of Bethlehem shed A luster pure and sweet; And still it leads, as once it led, To the Messiah’s feet. O Father, may that holy star Grow every year more bright, And send its glorious beams afar To fill the world with light.

This brings up a question: where did the practice of putting candles on birthday cakes come from, anyway? Well, here's an intriguing answer.   Happy Birthday, Dear!

The bus-stop sign, no further. The man petrified in the middle of the sidewalk. People pushed by until some command from the bridge of his mind made him turn his head.  Unseeing eyes found the bench against the coffee shop wall.  Another command shuffled his feet, rotated his body, bent his legs at the knees then floated him down onto the icy concrete, missing the bench. His son once described the tiny people who lived inside his body, moving all the parts . . . His son. Ache consumed his body. Pain grew under the ribs and crept across his chest. He choked. Winter waited impatiently outside his jacket as if jealous of the affliction that squatted into his bones. Open-mouthed breath clouded the frigid air. The only sign of life. Unliving. The bus slid to the curb, spilling black exhaust across the sidewalk. Passengers disembarked, covering their noses. The man gazed through the cloud, through the open doors, through the building on the opposite side and clear a...

"Christmas is about generosity and charity and giving, right? And so it is that tightwad Ebenezer Scrooge is the villain in Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Is that really fair, though? In 2004, Steven Landsburg explained why misers are actually very generous. In the spirit of the season, the article is reprinted below. Here's what I like about Ebenezer Scrooge: His meager lodgings were dark because darkness is cheap, and barely heated because coal is not free. His dinner was gruel, which he prepared himself. Scrooge paid no man to wait on him. Scrooge has been called ungenerous. I say that's a bum rap. What could be more generous than keeping your lamps unlit and your plate unfilled, leaving more fuel for others to burn and more food for others to eat? Who is a more benevolent neighbor than the man who employs no servants, freeing them to wait on someone else?" Read the rest of this intriguing article here .  Curious to know your thoughts. Please post them,...

Join us for the story of Christmas at Crossings Community Church on Saturday, December 17 or Sunday December 18 at 6:00 p.m. Live music includes arrangements from Nickel Creek, Audrey Assad, Sandra McCracken, Bethel Music, The Modern Post and others.

I've always enjoyed science and when I was growing up, thought that maybe some day I would be a scientist. My parents bought me microscopes and telescopes and chemistry sets, so I was always studying something. I think what tipped them off was my inventive mind. See, when I was small, I invented. Here are a few I remember: MONSTER KICKER My parents made me go to bed when it got dark and in the winter time, that time came pretty darned early. Of course, I had to keep the light off and the door closed, and I recall the only night light came from the hallway--if it was on. Nights got pretty scary for a small boy who was not quite ready for bed. So while protected from evil by the invincible covers and blankets on my bed, I determined something had to be done, so I devised "The Monster Kicker." I envisioned a long stick with a boot on the end that, when mounted on a hinge by the door, would "kick" any monster that opened the door in hopes of eating my face. ...