I was reading some friends blogs and noticed that some people talked about their New Year's resolutions. Why does it take a New Year to resolve to improve your life?
Oh, I know the arguments, but it is still a mystery to me. If you need to improve your life you should start doing it when you think of it, and not wait for a New Year to do it. If it is worth doing in a New Year, it is worth doing now.
Besides, what if you realize that you should be doing something (or stop doing something) in February? Are you really going to wait 10+ months to start (or stop) doing something you should be doing now? Wouldn't people have a better track record of keeping their "resolutions" if they resolved to do it now? If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right, and it's worth doing now.
So there. That's my opinion.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Reflections
During my life I have had a lot of exposure to dead people and their relatives. My father is a pastor and I have attended more funerals than most people my age. However, very few of these funerals have been for people I dearly loved.
Last night I had the honor of sharing a couple of hours with a freshly grieving widow. She was surrounded by caring family and friends. We all sat there comforting each other with our presence. From time to time a comment would be made or a story told that would make us laugh and/or cry. Silence was not a burden. The peace that passeth understanding was present.
It is times like these that you really see and understand some of the great benefits of being a child of God. To see this young widow rejoicing over the six months of memories she has to cherish; to know the loved one is not really dead, but is now at home in heaven; to be able to thank God for what you had and not curse Him for what He didn't give you; all this and more proves that God's love is greater than we can imagine.
Other cultures have long and elaborate rituals that must be performed when a loved one dies. Some of these are to protect those still living; many more to help the dead one in the next life. How sad to realize that there is nothing anyone can do to help a loved one once they are dead. We need to prepare them for the next life while they are still in this one. Once you are dead, it is too late for you or anyone else to change your situation in eternity.
Are you ready to die?
Last night I had the honor of sharing a couple of hours with a freshly grieving widow. She was surrounded by caring family and friends. We all sat there comforting each other with our presence. From time to time a comment would be made or a story told that would make us laugh and/or cry. Silence was not a burden. The peace that passeth understanding was present.
It is times like these that you really see and understand some of the great benefits of being a child of God. To see this young widow rejoicing over the six months of memories she has to cherish; to know the loved one is not really dead, but is now at home in heaven; to be able to thank God for what you had and not curse Him for what He didn't give you; all this and more proves that God's love is greater than we can imagine.
Other cultures have long and elaborate rituals that must be performed when a loved one dies. Some of these are to protect those still living; many more to help the dead one in the next life. How sad to realize that there is nothing anyone can do to help a loved one once they are dead. We need to prepare them for the next life while they are still in this one. Once you are dead, it is too late for you or anyone else to change your situation in eternity.
Are you ready to die?
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Shocks
There are times in life when you simply sit in shock. Today is one of them.
Darrin is dead. He simply collapsed on the floor and they were unable to revive him. His wife Tiana called 911. They came, they performed CPR, they took him to the hospital, all to no avail.
Darrin & Tiana are young, younger than me. They have been married for less than a year. To all outward appearances Darrin was a very healthy, active young man. There was no warning. Our one comfort is that he was a Christian and is now in heaven.
However, he has left behind a grieving young widow. Please pray for her. One of my dear friends Marsha (who is Tiana's best friend) is with her now. Please pray for them both.
Darrin is dead. He simply collapsed on the floor and they were unable to revive him. His wife Tiana called 911. They came, they performed CPR, they took him to the hospital, all to no avail.
Darrin & Tiana are young, younger than me. They have been married for less than a year. To all outward appearances Darrin was a very healthy, active young man. There was no warning. Our one comfort is that he was a Christian and is now in heaven.
However, he has left behind a grieving young widow. Please pray for her. One of my dear friends Marsha (who is Tiana's best friend) is with her now. Please pray for them both.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Two days in a row
Horray! I have blogged two days in a row.
The problem is, I can't remember why I went to all that effort yesterday and what I was going to blog about. Oh well, maybe I will think of it later. Probably tonight in the shower.
The problem is, I can't remember why I went to all that effort yesterday and what I was going to blog about. Oh well, maybe I will think of it later. Probably tonight in the shower.
Monday, January 16, 2006
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Why blogging is so difficult
Lately I have pondered why I find blogging so difficult. I like to read other people's blogs (people I know in particular). I like the idea of blogging in general. So why don't I blog regularly?
I have come to several conclusions:
1) I think my life is interesting, but I don't really think other people would think so. So why inflict my life on others?
2) I cannot write with abandon. If I publish something on the internet, it must be carefully proofed and the implications considered. I would not want someone else to misinterpret what I write. I would not want someone else to abuse what I write. I hate the idea of making spelling and grammar mistakes.
3) I find it very difficult to write down just a little bit at a time. When I write letters (as those few friends who have ever received a letter from me know) they tend to be long and cover the complete history of my life since I last wrote. The longer it takes for me to get around to writing a friend, the longer between letters, which makes it harder to find enough time in my schedule to write a long letter, etc. I just find it very hard to do things half-way!
So why do I like the idea of blogging? It would give me some sort of record of my life. I have a hard enough time of remembering what I did earlier today, let alone last week or last month.
So far the cons outweigh the pros.
I have come to several conclusions:
1) I think my life is interesting, but I don't really think other people would think so. So why inflict my life on others?
2) I cannot write with abandon. If I publish something on the internet, it must be carefully proofed and the implications considered. I would not want someone else to misinterpret what I write. I would not want someone else to abuse what I write. I hate the idea of making spelling and grammar mistakes.
3) I find it very difficult to write down just a little bit at a time. When I write letters (as those few friends who have ever received a letter from me know) they tend to be long and cover the complete history of my life since I last wrote. The longer it takes for me to get around to writing a friend, the longer between letters, which makes it harder to find enough time in my schedule to write a long letter, etc. I just find it very hard to do things half-way!
So why do I like the idea of blogging? It would give me some sort of record of my life. I have a hard enough time of remembering what I did earlier today, let alone last week or last month.
So far the cons outweigh the pros.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
I'm now a blogger
OK. I started a BLOG. However, I will warn you that I may not BLOG very often. Time will tell. I mainly did it so I don't have to keep posting as Anonymous on my friends' BLOGs.
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