Only in California

Three conversations (I hope) you can hear only in California:

Conversation 1: Q: What do you do that allows you to order a grower of beer today (Tuesday) to drink while “floating in your pool tomorrow”?
A: I took a full pension at 40 years old. Seemed silly to keep working when every 10 hours worked would only add $30 per week to my pension so I took the pension a couple months ago. I’ve been taking a few odd jobs, hanging around relaxing, trying to decide if I should do something else.
Q: So, what are you going to do?
A: My daughter is 25 and been in Junior College for free for 5 years and wants to know if I will be able to pay for her “full college” if she decides to go? I told her she should have asked me before I took my pension.
1or2thoughts: So much wrong, where to start?

Conversation 2: “I don’t do pyrotechnics anymore.The last time I did pyrotechnics I blew MJ’s face off, so, I don’t do pyrotechnics anymore.”
1or2thougths: It goes without saying.

Conversation 3: 35-45 something: “You know I don’t have transportation anymore.?!”
Older something: “Oh?”
35-45 worthless” “Well my dad gave me this VW Rabbit, Diesel right? Anyway I’m out about 3 in the morning and, well, it just starting sputtering and spewing smoke and all…” Oil in the water and water in the oil, you know? So, anyway…”

Yep, I am liking California more and more as I spend time out here; go figure!

Have you ever taken God for granted?

Have you ever taken God for granted?

Now for the kicker; is that a bad thing if, when, you have?

On one hand He is God. He is my Lord; my Father, and I honor and worship Him. I (strive to) serve Him and to do His will every day. When I take Him for granted I dishonor Him, diminish myself and fall short of my rightful role as a Covenant servant (and Covenant blessed) of God.

On the other hand God is my friend, my best friend, and my father. I walk with Him every day. He talks to me, guides me and is a very real presence in my day to day life. Not like “God” but more like my father; my friend. He is in my heart and in my head. He is conversational, not only in prayer, but actually “with me” as I go about my day.

So what happens when I “take Him for granted” because yes I have, do, and the evidence is I will again? Do I beat myself, repent, and throw myself on His mercy? Yes. It is painful and yet…

I also am thankful, oh so very thankful, for a God who is my friend, my father (family), my “confidant” Redeemer Who I can be close enough too take for granted.

When He and I talk about this does He agree it’s a good thing? He did yesterday and He did today; if I get a different answer tomorrow I will let you know. Interestingly, He also allows me to remind myself, chastise myself, that He is God and is to be revered. It is amazing how when I correct myself, He let’s me. Good lesson in parenthood.

What do you think; is it a bad thing when you take God for granted?

25 years ago I married the most amazing woman.

For those who hoped for what seemed unhopeful, wished for what appeared unlikely, and particularly for the faithful who chose to believe for what could be; celebrate with us because today is our 25th wedding anniversary.

God has blessed me with the most amazing woman, my wife, my best friend who with her grace and with His Grace has enabled, encouraged and at times corrected me to be much more, and much better, than I could hope to be on my own.

God has blessed me with the most amazing woman, my wife, my best friend, mother of our children, who with her grace and with His Grace has enabled, encouraged and at times corrected two wonderful boys, now young men, who know and seek God, who are blessed and a blessing to those who know them and who continue to be much more, and much better, than I could hope on my own.

God has blessed me with the most amazing woman, my wife, my best friend, mother of our children, who with His Grace who knows and seeks God, who is blessed and a blessing to those who know her and who continues to be much more, and much better, than I could hope on my own.

25 years ago I married the most amazing woman, 25 years ago today.

Thank you God for your gift, your blessing. Thank you God that we continue to know You, that we walk with You, that we grow with and in You.

25 years ago I married the most amazing woman.

I love you Sue.

Oh for a coherent conservative American politician

Thank you Iain Murray for your post at The Corner. Now if we can just find one coherent conservative American politician to deliver the same message to President Obama, and more importantly to the whole country, perhaps, just perhaps we can be back on track towards a more positive future.

You don’t know what you are missing!

If you have never seen The Quiet Man you don’t know what you are missing. Here is a taste from the best movie ever made.

UPDATE: It being suggested that I was giving too much of the movie away to the one or two people who have not seen it; so I have pulled the video down and encourage you to read about it and then buy or rent it.

Images of Innocence

I occasionally visit a mall near my office on days I want to have someplace temperate to take a walk and eat something that will leave me asking “why in the world would I, or anyone eat that” for the rest of the day. As important as those reasons may be there is something better at this mall; a carousel.

The carousel itself is cool but more important are the riders. Little images of innocence who have no knowledge or worry in the world other than hanging on and enjoying the trip. It is great fun to watch and never fails to make me smile.

At the mall there are often other images of innocense; groups of handicaped people, young and old, who are on an outing. The apparent joy of their surroundings on many of their faces also makes me smile.

These two disparate images of innocence combine to get me thinking; there was a time when every person on earth, then and to come, had the opportunity at such innocence. Then there were two bites and our realities have all been much different.

This thought, at first very sober, then gets me smiling much like the images around me. Knowing Christ and my future in Him gives me hope and joy knowing that the innocence God always intended for our pleasure is available to every one of us.

Steele owes me an apology, not Rush.

Michael Steele does not owe Rush Limbaugh an apology, even though he was foolish and indiscreet in his comments. Mr. Steele does however owe me an apology for pretending to represent me and then demonstrating that he doesn’t get it at all.

As the leader, apparently administrative leader only, of the RNC, Mr. Steele’s casual dismissal of Rush is an overt display of what is wrong with our party, and why it has become difficult to support the RNC. What Mr. Steele and other Republicans don’t understand is that Rush Limbaugh says the things that many conservatives are thinking and only wish we could voice so well. We don’t listen to Rush to learn what to think, although we often are enlightened. We listen to Rush because he thinks and speaks like we do.

When the RNC decides they want Republicans to win again they and their candidates will sound much more like Mr. Limbaugh, and indeed like the average American, than they can apparently realize now. Until they understand that I’m afraid we will continue to feel abandoned.

Thanks Mark Steyn at The Corner for getting it.

Courage of your convictions

Right now Rick Santelli from CNBC and Rush Limbaugh appear to be the only people speaking out against the unbelievable slide to socialism which is underway in our country. I know that when something unpleasant is going on it is natural to want to fix it. I also know that, if after three cuts the board is still too short, you should probably stop cutting. It is important at all times to have the courage of your convictions and not give in to panic which will only make the situation worse and to remember that the Constitution is the most important thing in this country next to God.

If you have not watched the Santelli video I strongly recommend it.

Are there any responsible Democrats?

Democrat Senator Feinstein has now endagered national security by giving official voice to secret information. First she should be arrested. Then the search to my question can begin; are there any responsible Democrats? These people are crazy and dangerous!

Punishment!

Punishment for every cool business trip!