A “theological” explanation to life expectancy

30 01 2009

On the first day, God created the dog and said:
‘Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in
or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.’

The dog said: ‘That’s a long time to be barking.
How about only ten years and I’ll give you back the other ten?’

                    So God agreed.

                    On the second day, God created the monkey and said:
 ’Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For
this, I’ll give you a twenty-year life span.’

                    The monkey said: ‘Monkey tricks for twenty years?
That’s  a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten
like the Dog  did?’

                    And God agreed.

                    On the third day, God created the cow and said: 
‘You must go into the field with the farmer all day long  and suffer
under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer’s family.
For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.’

                    The cow said: ‘That’s kind of a tough life you want
 me  to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I’ll give back the
other  forty?’

                    And God agreed again.

                    On the fourth day, God created man and said:  ‘Eat,
sleep, play , marry and enjoy your life. For this,  I’ll give you twenty
years.’

                    But man said: ‘Only twenty years ? Could you
possibly  give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the
monkey gave  back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty,
okay?’

                    ‘Okay,’ said God, ‘You asked for it.’

                    So that is why for our first twenty years we eat,
sleep,  play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in
the sun to  support our family. For the next ten years we do  monkey
tricks to entertain  the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we
sit on the front porch and  bark at everyone.

                    Life has now been explained to you….theologically.

Hat tip:  Carolyn Tripp….thanks, Carolyn.





The 100-0 girls basketball game in Texas

26 01 2009

The coach of the winning team has been fired.  Story here.

First of all, this is girls high school basketball…take a deep breath, everybody.

Second, what is the object of basketball?  It is for one team to score as many points as possible while attempting to hold the opposing team to as few points as possible.  Seems to me like the winning team in this scenario understood the objective.

If you’re on the losing end of things in this situation, there is recourse…..IT’S CALLED PLAYING DEFENSE!

There are all of these side stories involved….it’s supposed to be a Christian school, etc….. Listen, if you want a happy game where everybody plays and the score doesn’t matter that much, I encourage you to check out a fantastic program called Upwards (I LOVE the Upwards program….please don’t send me any hate mail).  But this story ain’t about an Upwards contest!

The world is a hard, cruel, and competitive place to live.  Sometimes life deals you massive defeats.  Many times it’s even worse than a 100-0 basketball game.  Deal with it!  When these children become adults and are getting slaughtered in the world of business are they going to be able to ask for the firing of their competition?  Please!

What am I missing here?  Let me hear from you.





What is Blago thinking?

26 01 2009

So you’re in the trial of your life trying to prove that you DID NOT attempt to sell a vacant senate seat to the highest bidder.

Then in a television interview, you say that you considered Oprah Winfrey (the richest woman in the universe) for the position.

Wuhhh?





Obama apparently now comfortable with decisions “above his pay grade”

23 01 2009

Fantastic post over at “Between Two Worlds” by Justin Taylor.  Read it here.

Check it out.

The candidate who vowed to reduce the number of abortions just “signed a check” for agencies that provide abortions overseas to be funded with your tax dollars.





Long days in ministry, good days in ministry

21 01 2009

This is a slightly edited version of the article I submitted for our church’s monthly newsletter for February.  Pastors whine so often about the people with whom they serve or the ministry field where they live.  I enjoyed a great day in ministry yesterday….thought everyone should know!

I’m late getting my newsletter article to our secretary for this month.  But I think I know why.  It is so I can write to you and tell you about what happened yesterday (January 21st).  Pastors can work some very long days.  I have one such day guaranteed every month.  It’s the day we schedule our monthly meetings for personnel committee, trustees, and deacons. 

It’s on a Tuesday which means the day begins at 7 a.m. with the men’s prayer breakfast.  What a great time of prayer and Christian fellowship we enjoyed!

After the prayer breakfast, I sneak upstairs to check email and news headlines before our weekly staff meeting begins at 8:30 a.m.

Larry S. had Leisure Club opening activities covered for this week.  He and I share those responsibilities in Pastor Roy’s absence.  Larry is such a blessing. 

I need to run home and take the dog out for his noon constitutional.  Then Cheryl and I will meet for lunch at Subway (eat fresh!).

I have a monthly appointment with a younger pastor in the association.  We meet together and bounce ideas off one another.  He was so encouraging to me on this day. 

Now I’m thinking about this week’s sermon….Matthew 5:1-6.

I made contact with two former staff members of Anna First Baptist to see if they are going to be available to be present at our 150th anniversary celebration.

Must go through some paperwork in preparation for tonight’s meetings.

I will sneak home for about a half hour before the evening’s meetings.

The personnel committee is presenting an exciting recommendation for the January business meeting!

The trustees are “on the case”….this is a very pro-active group of folks.  I appreciate them very much.

The deacons love their pastor and support him unconditionally.

I get home around 9:15 p.m. exhausted….but VERY encouraged.

     Thanks, Lord, for a very busy day.  You were very obviously at work in the world around me today.  I appreciate Your presence, Your leadership, Your guidance.  Thanks for putting me in a local church that is forward-thinking and others-focused.  May You receive glory and honor in the carrying-out of the plans birthed on Tuesday, January 20th





Was this the NFL’s most entertaining season?

12 01 2009

I’m a believer.  For as rocky as my season was in fantasy (dead last after winning it all last year), I was thoroughly engrossed in the roller coaster ride that was the NFL season this year.

The playoffs have lived up to the hype….for once.  And the league championships games should be absolutely stellar.

The early line for these games has the Steelers as 5-point favorites at home against the Ravens.  While the  Cardinals are actually 3-point dogs hosting the upstart Eagles.

Who do you like?