Death's Door

I recently enjoyed watching the Japanese film Departures. It's a story about a Japanese man who lost his job and, by mistake, found another job preparing bodies for burial. Watching how he and his boss reverently prepared the bodies was amazing. I'm not an expert on burial practices from around the world, but I have witnessed some foreign ways and was totally impressed with their care during the process and their sensitivity towards the bereaved family as they watched their loved one being prepared for burial. (Yes, Japanese families watch. Definitely not something done here!) However, in Japan, death is a very taboo subject to openly discuss and he had several obstacles to overcome in order to make money for his family. In the end, he was able to take pride in his work because of something a family friend told him:

Death is not the end. It is a door into the next life.

How true that statement is.

However, unlike most people's way of thinking today, the door of death only leads to two very different places. One is Heaven; the other is Hell. There are no other destinations. Most people today think that by being good, doing good works, helping the poor, being kind, etc. will help them cross this door into Paradise. Others believe that they will be reborn in another life and the type of life they have then will be determined by what they do in this present life. Sadly, these self-delusioned people find out quickly that they were wrong.

The only way to Heaven is through the shed blood of Christ and in Him alone. Acts 4:12 states, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved." Walking down paths of enlightenment, traveling to holy Meccas once a year, doing good works for your fellow humans, or coming back as anything better in another life are all paths that lead from Death's door into the place of everlasting punishment and torment. The only path that leads to eternal life is the narrow, blood-stained path of Jesus Christ. He is the only Way to spend Eternity with God the Father.

Have you chosen the path of Jesus? Or do you continue in your own way through Death's door to everlasting fire?

Why We Cry

Crying is, in my opinion, a God-given way for humans to heal. The body uses it to release pain, guilt, frustration, and sadness. Some people wail; others silently shed tears. Each of us has our own way of expressing our feelings through tears. With each tear shed, the feelings slowly begin to lose their grip on us and we can begin to return to some sense of normalcy.

There are many reasons we cry. We cry when we are physically injured. We cry when someone hurts us emotionally through shame, disgrace, or downright meanness. We cry when we see or hear something sad, i.e. music, a movie, a story. We cry when we are angry and frustrated.

But I believe that one of the deepest and most lasting reasons we cry is when we lose someone very close to us. I believe it to be one of the greatest causes of weeping this side of eternity. When we lose a loved one, especially suddenly, a huge, gaping void is created in our lives and the only way to express that void is through crying. We realize that that person and the place he or she held in our lives can never be replaced. Their existence in our innermost being cannot be filled by any other person or thing no matter how much we try to make something else fill that void. The pain of losing it is as if part of yourself has been ripped out and thrown away.

The only thing that will calm the raw nerves is time. Yes, the hole will always remain. But with time, the edges will be softened and the pain will become less raw and more pensive and melancholy. And for those of us who know where we are going when we die, the pain becomes bittersweet and can contain a small amount of jealousy. Even though we are parted, we know we will see them again one day and will be able to spend eternity with them.

Tucson

Yet another tragic event has occurred on American soil. We Americans, who pride ourselves on freedom and liberty for all, seem to be becoming more known for violent acts. Everyone else in the world seems to wait for the next such act and wonders in which part of the country it will occur next.

As usual, the media descends on the area like vultures to a freshly killed carcass. Each one wants to get the freshest scoop, the latest bit of new, in order to garner the most ratings. Sometimes I really wonder if it's about the news itself, the real people involved, or it is just for a higher Nielsen. Be that it may, one quote from Rep. Giffords brother-in-law, Scott Kelly, caught my eye. He stated from the International Space Station that he sees "a very beautiful planet that seems very inviting and peaceful. Unfortunately, it's not." He goes on to say, "These days, we are constantly reminded of the unspeakable acts of violence and damage we can inflict upon one another, not just with our actions, but also with our irresponsible words. We are better than this; we must do better."

While I understand his thoughts given the tragic events of this past Saturday, I must say that I disagree with him somewhat. We are not better than this act or any other wrong committed, whether intentional or unintentional. Mankind is full of sin. Jeremiah 17:9 states, "The heart is deceitful above all things, who can know it?" John 3:23 tells is that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Nor can we do better by ourselves. Nothing that we do in our own strength will make us or the world a better place. Contrary to popular belief and what is taught heavily in our educational system, mankind is not, nor ever will, get better by his own actions. He is getting more and more evil by the generation and, if God wouldn't intervene, he would eventually be nothing more than a putrid mass of humanity that thinks solely of himself and what pleases him.

Thankfully God had a different plan for this world He created. From the very beginning, He gave His Son to be the sacrifice for a sin-cursed world. All one has to do is believe that Jesus Christ died for his or her sins and gave His blood to cover all the sins of humanity past, present, and future. Nothing more; nothing less.

If this world would actually see and understand, then, yes, we can and would do better. But the only way it will ever happen is when the Lord returns in all His glory.

Until then, more Tucsons will happen all across this planet we call Earth.

Are you ready to meet Him?

Drugged

I was sent an email today. It was from some Louisiana newspaper's editorial page with the following note from the editor:

The following letter has appeared on the internet and was viewed by many readers. Many felt it would be appropriate for the readers of Avoyelles Parish.

Here is the letter:

The other day, someone at a store in our town read that a Methamphetamine lab had been found in an old farm house in the adjoining county and he asked me a rhetorical question, "Why didn't we have a drug problem when you and I were growing up?"
I replied, "I had a drug problem when I was young: I was drug to church on Sunday morning. I was drug to church for weddings and funerals. I was drug to family reunions and community socials no matter the weather.
I was drug by my ears when I was disrespectful to adults. I was also drug to the woodshed when I disobeyed my parents, told a lie, brought home a bad report card, did not speak with respect, spoke ill of the teacher or the preacher, or if I didn't put forth my best effort in everything that was asked of me.
I was drug to the kitchen sink to have my mouth washed out with soap if I uttered profanity. I was drug out to pull weeds in mom's garden and flower beds and cockleburs out of dad's fields. I was drug to the homes of family, friends, and neighbors to help out some poor soul who had no one to mow the yard, repair the clothesline or chop some firewood, and, if my mother had ever known that I took a single dime as a tip for this kindness, she would have drug me back to the woodshed.
Those drugs are still in my veins and they affect my behavior in everything I do, say, or think. They are stronger than cocaine, crack, or heroin; and, if today's children had this kind of drug problem, America would be a better place.
God bless the parents who drugged us.
Submitted by a concerned citizen

Doesn't this little "rant" speak volumes?

Minnesota??

All day long, I have been clicking the heels of my ruby slippers over and over and over again while wistfully chanting "there's no place like home...there's no place like home". I feel as if I have transported to Minnesota for the month of December and I want to take Toto and return home to Auntie Em. Raleigh has received four (Yes! Four!) snowfalls this month and three out of the four fell before winter officially began!! (OK! OK! I will concede that those three were just a dusting or a smidge more, but it's still not normal for here in December.)

To top off the month, we had our first white Christmas in 63 years!!! Yes! It snowed on Christmas in Raleigh. For countless native North Carolinians, a white Christmas was just something they sang about while knowing deep down they would never experience one. Well, that all changed this past weekend. Anywhere from 6-13 inches covered Eastern North Carolina with a lovely white blanket of frozen fluff. That amount was the largest since the "Storm of the Century" back in 2000 when we received around 22 inches of snow in one night.

(Now before all you Yankees and other assorted Northerners start scoffing and laughing your heads off, I will ask you to read here first.)

I did enjoy my first, and probably last, white Christmas. It was a beautiful sight! But I am ready for the North Carolina winter that I know and love to return. And I may get my wish because it looks as if my ruby heel clicking just might be working. The weather forecast for this weekend shows the temperatures in the 60s.

All together now (complete with fist pump)...

YES!!!!!!!!!!!

Adiós

Adiós is the Spanish word for "good-bye". It literally means "to God". I think this word is very fitting for today because I have to say adiós to my best friend, Noel Toral Romero. He is now with his Creator and has left me here to grieve the loss of my best friend.

Never would I have thought when I first met him through a Christian pen pal website that we would quickly become so close. He lived in Xalapa, Mexico, and I lived in Raleigh, North Carolina. How can two people living in two very different countries become best friends? I have no idea how we did, but it happened. In December of the same year we met. I traveled to Mexico for the first time and met him face to face. I will never forget that time together. Since then I traveled there many other times and he also traveled here to visit me. Each time, it was like we had never parted and we enjoyed each others company. We were not alike in many ways but we complimented each other in a way I never knew possible.

Please bear with me as I go down memory lane...

Noel, I never thought I would have to go through this time so soon. You have left me here alone and have gone to a better place with our Lord and your mother. I will never forget our first meeting and my feeling of being greeted by a "sea of Mexican people" on my first visit. Thank you for making my first trip to Mexico a very special one. I will never forget all the wonderful Mexican dishes you shared with me. From now on, every time I eat a garnacha, arrachera, or taco al pastor or drink an horchata de coco, you will always be on my mind. Our trips to Catemaco, Veracruz, Naolinco, Mexico City, Cancun, Xico, and Coatepec will always be cherished memories. There are so many memories flooding my memory right now that I can't sort through them properly. Your family was always welcoming to me and made me feel like part of their family.

I will never look at Disney in the same way. You were so filled with love for all things Disney that I couldn't help but enjoy it along with you. You taught me that it's OK for a grown man to get caught up in the moment of singing "It's a Small World" and "Part of Your World".

¡Gracias por todos, mi hermano! Nunca te olvidaré. Siempre serás mi amigo mejor. ¡¡Te quiero mucho, hermano!! Siempre serás parte de mi mundo.

Noel Toral Romero
February 14, 1965-December 23, 2010

Baking Weekend

May I please have a moment?

[pause]

[pause]

WHEW!!!!!!!

[pause]

[pause]

Thanks for allowing me a moment to collect my sanity.

This past weekend was busy!! It was the annual Fowler Christmas Bake-off where I don my chef's hat, cheerleader skirt and pom poms, and coach's whistle while arming myself with the tools of the trade and make my way down to the Fowler's chalet to begin the processes of measuring, chopping, beating, whirring, and baking individual ingredients into something that will be absolutely scrumptious.

This year was more of a challenge because a nameless someone wasn't very motivated (by her own admission!). After a few false starts and a few surprise realizations of forgotten ingredients where mad dashes to the grocery store had to be made, the baking was off at a good pace. However, because of school projects that happened to be due around the same time, the activities slowed somewhat and the first day ended up rather late into the night. After Sunday dinner, the kitchen again saw multiple activities and finally all baking was done and gift bags assembled and in the van before 9 PM.

Because of the slight delays in the weekend, the personal baking I had planned had to be delayed a day. When I came home from work yesterday, I started up the kitchen here right after supper and made 2 batches of cookies and a batch of fudge in the span of 3 hours. To get that accomplished, I had to employ the help of two sous-chefs. With their help, I was able to finish my task in a lot shorter time than if I had done it all alone.

As always, I had fun. Little talks along the way make the time together more enjoyable. One little question, however, sticks out in my mind as absolutely hilarious. While enjoying a rousing rendition of "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas," the question was asked if hippos really are vegetarians.

My response, complete with the appropriate eye-rolling, was "When was the last time you saw a hippo stalking prey???".

Infamous

In the words of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, today was a "day that will live in infamy". Today marks the 68th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Japanese, in a surprise attack, flew over the Pacific Ocean and wreaked devastating results on the US Pacific Naval Fleet in a manner of a few hours before returning to their base. In a flash, the USA was plunged into a war that it has previously tried to avoid with a national policy of isolationism.

With that attack came the inevitable feelings of shock and disbelief. These feelings quickly turned into renewed sense of patriotism and anger, which was understandably directed towards all things Japanese. Unfortunately, this anger also took aim at the Japanese-Americans that were living here, in Canada, and even throughout Latin America. These American citizens were quickly rounded up in the early months of 1942 and taken to internment camps to stay for the duration of the war. Their only crime was being Japanese or of Japanese descent. In the wake of the Pearl Harbor incident, government-sanctioned racism, civil rights violations and just downright ugliness ran rampant throughout the United States.

Are these actions that much removed from the beginnings of Nazi persecution of the Jews? I don't believe that they were. Thankfully, we didn't keep going down that slippery path. But nevertheless, we were no less guilty as a nation than the Nazis. Of course, it was all seen as justifiable because of what had happened and because of the fear that the Japanese-Americans' loyalty couldn't be trusted. What about the loyalty of any other American? Does color or ethnicity really have anything to do with loyalty to a particular country?

Fast forward a few decades to September 11, 2001. We all remember that day. Did we learn lessons from World War II? Even after 9 years, how do we react to people of Middle Eastern descent? Do we make fun of them and their dress? Do we wonder if everyone of that ethnicity we meet is loaded with guns or bombs? Do we just plain distrust them because of their heritage?

Don't get me wrong. I have some of the same feelings. But I also realize that they are just as American as I am. Many were born right on the same soil where I was born. Many of my ancestors came from Germany. Does that make me guilty for the sins Nazi Germany? Should my family have been locked up in internment camps during World War II? I do understand that acts of war and war itself are very uncertain times where black and white does not always come into view. May we always try to keep an open mind during these trying times in order to make sure that all who are innocent not be punished or destroyed for being similar to the enemy of the time.

Zoological Inaccuracies

There are some ideas about the natural world that "ordinary" people have that have always driven me crazy. They use incorrect words to describe animals without thinking what they are really saying. (Of course, that problem goes way beyond Zoology, but that will be another entry!) So without further ado, I will now list my pet peeves when it comes to biology and the common people. Take careful notes. One never knows when there will be a pop quiz!

1) Deer do not have horns; they have antlers!

2) There are no deer in Africa. The graceful creatures seen running around the savannas and creeping through rain forests are antelopes. They are not even in the same family as deer!!

3) All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs. Neither is a spider a bug nor a centipede, millipede, mite, etc.

4) No snake is poisonous. Poison is something ingested or taken on the skin. Hence the name for Poison Ivy or Poison Sumac. However, some snakes are venomous; venom must be injected.

5) Animals are not just 4-footed creatures that walk on land. Animals include birds, fish, insects, sponges, sea jellies, mollusks, echinoderms, and many other creatures.

6) Polar Bears (Ursus arctos) do not eat penguins. They do not live in the same place.

7) Bats are not blind. True, some do not have good vision, but they can see nonetheless. It would be better to use the expression "Blind as a cavefish".

8) Buffaloes have never roamed the prairies of the American West. Bison are the majestic creatures of western lore.

9) Cranes, storks, and herons are not the same bird!!!!!!!!! Big differences between them.

10) The Cheetah (Acionyx jubatus), the Leopard (Panthera pardus), and the Jaguar (Panthera onca) are very different from each other. They should never be confused with the other.


I will stop here for now. The list could go on and on and on, but I want each one of you to get a complete grasp on the simple concepts I have just listed without taxing your brains. :-)

Remember, a pop quiz can happen at anytime. Be prepared!!

Don't Feed The Geese

This past weekend, I was chatting with a friend of mine from Nepal. He is single and is looking for a Godly wife for himself. He asked me if I was concerned about getting married. I told him that I wasn't really too concerned and that if God's plan for me is to be single, I am content with it. He then told me that living is not that easy in Nepal and it's always good for them to be married because they will take care of each other as they grow older. He said that it's not the same here because we have the government to take care of us as we age. (Ouch!)

Fast forward to today as I was leaving, and I again noticed the signs by the small pond at work. They read "Please do not feed the geese". A gaggle of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) make their home there and feel free to use it as they please. If the people there started feeding them, they would soon become more and more of a nuisance. They would start depending on the humans for more and more of the livelihood and really make a mess of things. We have to play Goose-Poop-Hopscotch enough now! Just think of Rock Pigeons (Columba livia) in a park or sheep in a pasture. If it weren't for the park visitors or the shepherd, they would not be as plump as they are.

As I left work today, I combined these two threads and thought about our own country. Are we feeding the geese? I believe we are. Everyone seems to want a handout from the government. No one wants to give up what is "rightfully" theirs because they "worked hard" to put that away. But did they really? Is it really wise to let a government use your money in such a manner? Perhaps if we as a nation learned to feed ourselves and ignore the temptation to accept free handouts that in the long run hurt more than they help, we would see a great change in the way this country handles itself. Yes, there are poor among us, but if we took care of them as a nation without governmental help, they, and we, would be the better for it.

Feeding the geese does not help the geese or the feeder. All it ends up doing is creating more poop. And believe me, we certainly don't need anymore of that!

Turkey Humor

Today's post is nothing serious, thought-provoking, or rant-worthy. It's just plain silliness. I am posting it just because we all need a little silliness every now and then. I think some down time in the area of life helps us maintain our focus when life pops back into our line of vision. Oops...sorry...that was almost thought provoking!!

Enjoy!!

And you thought the scarecrow was the one without a brain!

Here's hoping the only big thighs are the turkey's!

Who says domestication makes animals dumb???

This picture made me laugh out loud.

May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey plump,
May your potatoes and gravy
Have never a lump.
May your yams be delicious
And your pies take the prize,
And may your Thanksgiving dinner
Stay off your thighs!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Random Thoughts

I found this list this evening while updating some files. It was sent to me months ago and I was going to post it then, but I never did. So here we go...

1) Nothing hits the gut stronger than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

2) I totally take back all those times I didn't want to take a nap when I was younger.

3) There is a great need for a sarcasm font.

4) How in the world are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet??

5) Was learning cursive really necessary?

6) Mapquest really needs to start their directions on #5. I am pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

7) Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told how the person died.

8) I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least KIND OF tired.

9) Bad decisions make good stories.

10) You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

11) Can we all just agree to ignore what comes after Blue-ray? I don't want to have to re-start my collection...again!

12) I am always slightly terrified with I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my document that I swear I didn't make any changes to.

13) I hate when I just miss a call on the last ring and then immediately call back only to get no answer. What did the person do? Run away??

14) I hate leaving the house confident and looking good only to not see anyone important for the whole day. What a waste!

15) I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I will know not to answer when they call.

I think we call relate to these items at times in our lives. Don't you?

Me Me Me, More About Me

1. What time did you get up this morning? 6:30

2. How do you like your steak? Medium

3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? He's Just Not That In To You

4. What is your favorite TV show? Supernatural

5. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Right where I am.

6. What did you have for breakfast? Banana and granola bar

7. What is your favorite cuisine? Mexican

8. What foods do you dislike? Liver

9. Favorite place to eat? Angus Barn

10. Favorite dressing? Ranch

11. What kind of vehicle do you drive? Ford Explorer

12. What are your favorite clothes? Short and T-shirt

13. Where would you visit if you had the chance? The World!!!

14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full? Half-full

15. Where would you want to retire? Raleigh, NC

16. Favorite time of day? Night

17. Where were you born? Raleigh, NC

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? I'd rather watch mud dry.

19. Birdwatcher? Yes!!!

20. Are you a morning person or a night person? Night person.

21. Pets? None.

22. Any new and exciting news that you'd like to share? I'm not engaged; I'm not expecting a child; I'm not getting a huge raise. Well, I guess there's nothing to tell.

23. What did you want to be when you were little? Zookeeper

24. What is your best childhood memory? Growing up on a farm.

25. Are you a cat or dog person? Cat person.

26. Are you married? No

27. Always wear a seat belt? Mostly.

28. Been in a car accident? 2

29. Any pet peeves? I'm not sure there's enough room on this blog to list them all.

30. Favorite flower? Rose

31. Favorite ice cream? Butter Pecan (also Rocky Road, Triple Chocolate, Coconut, etc.)

32. Favorite fast food restaurant? Chick-fil-A

33. How many times did you fail your driver's test? None

34. From whom did you get your last email? Facebook

35. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Amazon.com

36. Do anything spontaneous lately? No

37. Like your job? Yes, except for the people.

38. Broccoli? Love it!

39. What was your favorite vacation? Do I have to choose?? I would have to say Mexico.

40. Last person you went out to dinner with? Parents

41. What are you listening to right now? Gaither Vocal Band on Pandora.com

42. What is your favorite color? Red

43. How many tattoos do you have? Zero

44. Coffee drinker? Yes

45. How many children do you have? Zero

Can You Hear Me Now??

This slogan for a national cell phone company has been caught up into the everyday English language for usage as quips and funnies during times of being around friends. But there is a grain of truth to that statement. Case in point is what happened today at work. While I was filing the paperwork away at the end of the day, a co-worker asked me a question.

I had my back to her, and she was facing slightly away from me when she asked, "Kevin, have you ever heard of Allman Brothers?"

I responded, "Yes, I have. One of them married Cher."

"What?"

"I said that one of them was married to Cher" (And I was just getting ready to impress them by bringing up a nugget of trivia from my vast collection of facts [or empty knowledge?] and tell them that he was the father of her son, Elijah Blue.)

At this time, another co-worker let out a cackle under her breath.

"No, have you never heard of almond butter?"

"Oh!! Sorry, I thought you said Allman Brothers!"

The cackle gradually became louder.

"I know who Greg Allman was. I was asking about almond butter at Fresh Market."

At that revelation, I smiled. What else could I do? A case of what I thought I heard was as far from reality as me winning the Boston Marathon and coming in just under 1 hour and 26.53 minutes.

How many times have you responded to a question or statement only to find out that what you thought you heard was not reality? Unfortunately, it's a very prevalent occurrence between parties of people all over the world. One doesn't quite speak clearly; the other doesn't quite pay attention.

But it does make for some hilarity among all parties involved, huh?

Can you hear me now?

About Me (The Stolen Edition)

Outside My Window - is a cloudy day wish occasional showers. Adding color to the gray are trees trying to reach their full color potential, and birds flitting hither and yon searching for a meal.

I Am Thinking - about what do put on my sweet potato.

I Am Learning - that some people who call themselves your friend really have no idea what that word means.

I Am Thankful For - common sense. It beats book sense hands down.

From The Kitchen - comes the smell of a freshly baked cheesecake cooling on the rack and the sounds of a steak dinner being prepared.

I Am Wearing - shorts and a shirt. Yeah, I know, wrong season...

I Am Going - to watch Sherlock Holmes later tonight

I Am Reading - Acts & Facts from ICR.

I Am Creating - absolutely nothing at the moment.

I Am Hoping - to travel again very soon.

I Am Hearing - the hum of the computer, the sizzle of steaks, and the roar of the ventilation fan.

Around the House - is fairly normal.

One Of My Favorite Things - is traveling to anywhere my feet, tires, or wings will take me.

A Few Plans for the Rest of the Weekend - are church, clean a bit, and get an extra hour of sleep!! My feet are doing the "Happy Dance" now.

A Picture to Share -my favorite fair food--Ostrich Burger!!!!!

I Wonder

Lately, several questions have been popping up in my head. Questions that I am not sure there are answers for. So today, I thought I would share them with my legions of blog-fans. If any of you have the answers, please feel free to share.

1) Why does no one want to take a message anymore? Most people would rather tell you to call the missing person back instead of taking the responsibility of taking a message.

2) Why is coming back from vacation so difficult when one knows he has to refill the coffers with all the money that was spent on said vacation?

3) Why do people think that UPS and FEDEX ship over the weekend? Do they not understand the concept of a weekend?

4) Why do people love color in their flowers or on their walls, but not in people?

5) Why do men think it's OK to stand at a urinal and pass gas? It is still a public place!!!

6) Why do two people talking with each other in a hall or on a sidewalk move apart instead of closer together when a passerby approaches? They force the passerby to be rude by walking between them!

7) Why do we love to swim or relish taking a shower but hate to walk or run in the rain?

8) Why do people ask co-workers or friends what they had for breakfast or lunch? Can they not think of anything else to ask? Or are they that nosey?

9) Why do people with the same first name working in the same location fail to give their last name?

So there they are...I have been wondering about them for quite some time now. What do you think?

Cursed

The world is cursed. It's noticeable everywhere. Plants and animals die, filling the air with the stench of rotten flesh and decaying fibers. Animals have fangs, claws, talons, venom, poisons, and sharp teeth. Plants have thorns, spines, noxious chemicals, and sticky resins. Anger and hatred living rampant among humans. When one thinks about all the natural weaponry that is found throughout the created world, the world just bristles with hostility. Yet, we think of it as natural, normal, just a part of nature. But it's not. It's sin touching every minute part of God's creation. The creation is groaning in anguish and torment under the curse.

Today, a thought struck me that had never crossed my brain before. While the choir was singing their song during the morning service, I realized that I had never put these seemingly disconnected bits of information together: The Curse, crown-of-thorns, God the Savior, the Cross. When He pronounced the Curse at the Fall, plants and animals began to change and parts of them actually degenerated into totally different structures than were originally created. Thus began the "natural" hostility that we see today.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Creator of the heavens and earth, bore the literal curse that He Himself had placed on His own Creation. The crown-of-thorns placed upon His head is a very literal representation of that Curse. The beatings, scourging, spitting, pulling of hair, and eventually the crucifixion come from the intense hatred Man has against their fellow men. All the force and ugliness of the Curse fell on the Creator Himself. He bore it, as only He could, to once and for all open the door to eventually reverse and remove the Curse brought on by Man's sin.

Hallelujah!!!! What a Creator/Savior!!!!!

Sure

One of the lessons I have learned from being in the work I'm in is that one has to be sure of himself/herself during life. When one shows the least bit of hesitation or insecurity, the people around them tend to shy away from them and try to find someone else with a little more confidence. People don't trust someone that acts unsure and hesitant.

In my line of work, if you act unsure, the customer will give you a "look" and go on to the next available person that will help them with their problem. I learned long ago never to volunteer for anything where I didn't feel confident. Several times I ended up being forced to do something where I was not at all sure of myself and ended up making a fool of myself and creating animosity in the customer. From those experiences, I learned to act confident even when I knew I had no clue what I was doing.

My advice for people is to go out in the world full of confidence. Know you are you and convey that knowledge to the people around you. One doesn't have to lie about one's self to gain confidence. The lies will eventually find their way out of the facade of self-confidence that one wear and will shatter any trust that people had in the person. If you are not sure of an answer, still act sure but let them know that you can find out more about it for them. If you are unsure of a task, do it with confidence to the best of your ability. If something goes wrong with the outcome, you will have learned something in the process.

Together

We all aren't good at everything. Some are good at most things; some are good at few things. Together we make a more well-rounded, functioning society where every melody and every harmony hums together to create the music of life. My sister's entry for today brought to mind that very subject for me.

Growing up, she and I were opposites in many ways. I was good in math, science, English, etc. while she struggled in math, didn't really get into science, and totally missed some simple concepts of life. I, on the other hand, was never a social butterfly, never wanted to break a sweat, and never confronted anybody about anything. My sister was one that flitted from flower to flower to see what she could find, was always climbing or running or skipping, and never backed down from any argument. But together, we complimented each other. We had fun together, fought each other, and most importantly, learned to love each other despite the differences between us.

I think that one of the most important concepts that anyone can learn is that it's OK for someone to be different from himself/herself. God made each of us and each of us is His special creation. With these differences, we get to learn more about each other and the world around us if we try to understand and catch a glimpse of the world through the other person's eyes. Granted, we will never completely understand because we are our own person. But if we take the time to listen and learn, we will become a better person and, as a whole, a better society.

Cheese Straws and Pain

This just in:

Man's Sternum Almost Crushed by Cookie Press

A local man graciously helping his loving sister and precocious niece with their North Carolina State Fair entries today almost had to be rushed to the ER for a serious injury. The sister was courageously entering cheese straws into the fair culinary competition. She had never made them before and decided to be bold and aggressive in her drive to gain a blue ribbon. After placing the cheesy dough into her never-before-used cookie press, she found the task of pushing it out into lovely lengths of cheese straw potential somewhat more taxing then she had previously thought.

Upon seeing the cry of help forming on her lips, her noble brother leaped to his feet and, intending to show the batter who was the boss, grabbed the press from her quivering hands and set his mind to creating a lovely masterpiece. However, with the first press from his hands, he realized how much more difficult this task would be. With a beet red face, bulging veins, and straining muscles, he tried to figure out the best way to force the extrusion of the batter. Finally deciding to use his chest as the stop while pushing back with his hands, he soon found that his chest had several painful spots and felt as if his sternum would be crushed under the strain of trying to made the perfect straw.

Giggling beyond control and reprimanding her hero of a brother for breathing heavily on the newly formed straws, she suddenly gave in to pity and gallantly handed him a quadruple-folded dish towel to place between his sore chest and the offending culinary tool. Much needed relief soon followed, and he was able to work through the lingering pain and quivering muscles to conquer all of the offending dough. Upon sliding both baking sheets into the perfectly heated oven, the man was finally able to give his overworked muscles a much needed break. The ever concerned sister baked off the straws with a few time adjustments and finally placed the hot, crispy, delicate goodies on the cooling rack.

Time will tell whether these cheese straws will win a blue ribbon. If pain incurred while making them counts for any points, they should receive BEST IN SHOW!!!!!!!

PS The chest is still sore.