pure delight

Personal! I woke up at 2:48 and was wade awake and excited so I got up. I had PURE DELIGHT! I couldn’t believe how awesome this was; I was thinking about life! I had to sing for joy! Pure joy! I wrote down all the things recently that produced this feeling. I had quite a list. Many of you were part of that list. This feeling was better than any steak I ever ate let me tell ya!

Big Splashers! That list contained many people who are special people to me; people who affect/affected me currently and in the past (i.e. you know who you are—Real people). People who are very successful by my standards; successful and humble folks. I had no stuff on my list! Huh, interesting. Oh ya, no bitter folks on my list either (i.e. those folks see the world in a daze, my opinion—just don’t seem to understand, just don’t seem to get it--I always wonder why).

What! This story is a pure delight and a what! I went to give blood recently at the American Red Cross Center in Gilbert. When I left, the lady asked me if I wanted to have a seizure! I said what! no way I want to have a seizure! She said no, not a seizure. I want to know if you want a T-shirt! I bet they had a good laugh after I left!  I got an appointment at Costco to test my hearing. It all started with our children giving me a membership at Costco to have my hearing tested a couple years ago. Well, it looks like reality is here.

Have issues! All great folks have difficulties, all and I mean all but most good folks seem to manage their lives and figure it out (i.e. pretty much). All  of those great folks have challenges right now. Life is difficult soooo they’re not surprised but they still have Pure Delight! Amazing. They have strong character. How and why do they? Figure it out! And I like to be around these folks, they give me Pure Delight.

CoachB askes—"Who are we going through life with? Who is in our boat? Who is in our life that makes a big difference in how we act and where we are going to end up.” He also says--"If we dance with the devil long enough sooner or later he is going to step on our feet." Look around folks, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Da!

Joethehike, anybody can be a Joe, says--If you want to look thinner hang around with heavy folks or if you want to look taller hang around with short folks. Or was it Steve or was it Bill who said that! For sure one of the three! Anyone can be a Steve or a Bill or a Joe! For sure! They all talk the same! They are all from the mining country of Northern MN!  

You you you! Ok,  my list that brought me pure joy was all about relationships. Again, not stuff! Billy Graham said—"There is nothing wrong with folks possessing riches. The wrong comes when riches possess folks” Relationships full of experiences, sharing, doing, loving, helping, caring, deep discussions, much laughing, etc. Things that are important and that is what builds solid meaningful relationships. They are Pure Delight. These relationships are from the past, long term, current, newer, very old, etc. Relationships of tremendous importance are soooo exciting (e.g. our son and our grandson were here last weekend—a great relationship). Pure delight!

Abraham Lincoln: "I'm a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn't have the heart to let him down.

I’m in wonderland. Yes, I am. My wonderland is a place inside of my mind. It’s when I see everything around me as a wonder; I’m just amazed of all the miracles I see around me. I am just amazed and just wonder how all this can happen. It’s a pure delight. Dwight Eisenhower said—"To read the Bible is to take a trip to a fair land where the spirit is strengthened and faith renewed.”

Ok ok, I’m not always soooo smart, but do understand somethings some of the time even though maybe not enough (i.e. especially digesting maybe some other people's feelings and thoughts).  I understand that! I realize that this feeling of Pure Delight can’t and won’t last forever or even maybe not very long. It just can’t; it’s not possible. At least not at this level! This too shall pass! Part of me is a realist!

More pure delight. Sooo Costco wouldn’t test my hearing as I had too much wax in my ears. Sooo I went and had my ears cleaned at a clinic. The medical technician asked me about my cap (i.e. given to each of us by one of our deck buddies). I explained that 6 of us guys meet on my deck each week for an  hour and discuss Bible verses and life; this year the topic is encouragement. She went on to tell me that she belongs to a group at church called Beautiful Women that is also a very strong support group for her. She had a ring in her nose and quite a few tattoos, amazing (i.e. a very nice person)! I then went to one of my favorite breakfast places and had breakfast. When my waitress (i.e. a very normal looking middle-aged woman) came to bring me my check, she said, have a blessed weekend. She later came to refill my coffee cup, and I asked her if I could ask her a question. She said I could ask her any question that I wanted to. I said that you must be a believer by what you said and how you act. She said, yes I am but I was not always a Christian. 10 years ago, I was a drug addict and spent 60 days in jail and that is when I found Jesus; you would never guess that would you. Since then, I married a Christian man, and he has been a great influence on my life. Something he taught me that I did not like to hear at first was that my pecking order of my worship was wrong. He said that my worship order needed to be God first then our spouse, then my family, then others and then ourselves. I have changed, but it has been very difficult and I’m still working on it. These experiences were Pure delight!

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—Gems cannot be polished without friction.

challenge

Saturday question—Have you ever seen pigs fly? In life it is a challenge not to upset, hurt, offend, irritate, provoke, tread on someone’s toes, get under someone's skin, or touch a nerve of the past of someone. It’s almost impossible not toooo. I hope you take what I write in this “It’s Saturday” as a grain of salt!  Sooo proceed with caution. Some folks might not understand or believe some of this stuff until pigs fly! I have met some folks here in AZ that are a make and model that I have never seen before; they are “a new adventure for me! Their main form of transportation is a car but their secondary form is a flying dubus!

ItchieBitchie who still has a lot of tread on his tires, says--It’s a challenge to express ourselves and not hurt someone’s feelings. I asked AI to write a love letter. A friend had AI do their Christmas letter and he said it was perfect. It offended no one. The love letter was perfect; very generic and nothing possibly offensive. But it didn’t really have much of a personality. It was just like a Hallmark card (i.e. one card fits all). It is soooo hard not to get misunderstood in the world we live in. I just wonder sometimes if it’s not just best to not say anything. What do you think! JoeBlow whose windshield wiper blades are shot, says—I think in years to come we might have a chip inserted in our brain and we will all talk the same and no one will be offended. We will just be all generic and have no personality! But we won’t get misunderstood or hurt anyone’s’ feelings. Such will be life!

I’m not shocked! I think that we all have challenges in life; we all have challenges every day. It can’t be any different; we live in a complicated world and have a complicated life. It appears that folks handle challenges way differently (i.e. my opinion). Many of you handle challenges as opportunities. My hat goes off to you. I encourage you to keep it up. My Daddy, Chester, would say to me—"erv, we all have problems; it’s just that we just handle them differently!” And I wonder why that is! Da!

Figure it out! A friend told me about her friend whose life was a mess as a child; he had great challenges. Challenges continued in his adult life with him becoming a alcoholic. He made a complete turn around and is now a completely different person while overcoming several handicaps. Wow! I bet you wonder how in the world did he do that. Take a guess!

I’m human folks! While eating my oatmeal with a half a banana on it, I was reminded once again that one challenge I have is that I don’t give unconditional love. Ya, I think I know what it is but to live it is a totally different story. God says He unconditionally loves you and me. Unconditionally! That has to be a God thing ‘cause I can’t seem to do it. I admit it! But remember, I’m just a little ol’ farm boy from a mile and quarter south of Roseland, MN.

Opportunity! I have created two challenges that I am going to work on to accomplish. One is a mental challenge and the other is a physical challenge (i.e. soooo far both are going pretty good). Both are exciting to me. You want to join me in this adventure? You pick your challenge(s) as I did!

I don’t know what fueled it! I went for a hike Saturday morning up ‘er in ‘em mountains as Jeanne was painting a wall in our tin hut. I met SusieQ on the trail who appeared to be a normal 70-year-old hiking woman with her sun hat, shorts, hiking boots and water bottle. She asked if I was from Yakima as I had my Yakima tee shirt on. We had a short conversation as she has a relative living in Yakima. She then went on to tell me that she is a mean woman. I told her that she sure doesn’t seem to be a mean woman--I am one mean old…! I’ve been in the Army for 20 years and men don’t mess with me; I knock them down and kick...--Really, are you really that mean—I sure am. I’m one mean…—are you married-–no I have never been married and I don’t want to ever be married, but I have four dogs! I think it would be a challenge for a man to be married to her.

Are you buying in! A friend named Jimmy asked me what yagottafinish means, like yagottafinish what? I told Jimmy that it was entirely up to you Jimmy, you decide! Saturday question—What direction are your feet and your thoughts going anyway? Bobby says—Hey erv, I don’t know where I’m going but I’m on my way! I have no idea when I will arrive!

Flip the pancake! I met another gal while hiking who was probably 60 years old wearing a Chicago marathon T-shirt. She stopped and wanted to talk so we did for a short time. I asked her if she ran in the Chicago marathon and she said she did. She asked if I did. I told her I did not, but I enjoyed riding my bike as the sun was rising on the trail along Lake Michigan having the early morning sun glistening off the Chicago skyline on the other side. She said that is a very fun place to exercise and she trained there for the marathon. She asked if I always hike alone and I told her no that my wife was home painting a wall sooo I was hiking alone this morning. I told her I actually wanted to hike alone today to be in nature and do some thinking, She said I am doing exactly the same and totally enjoying it too; I guess we have that in common; parts of Christmas can be challenging; I gotta go now as she showed me her nails. I have a nail appointment real soon. She seemed to be a sweet lady!

A tumultuous idea! I have a friend whose favorite line is when I ask him for his advice sometime is—I don’t know. If I push him a little, his response is sometimes—I really don’t know!  He never offends anyone!  hahaha

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—If you don’t watch out for yourself no one else will.

a good person

Saturday question--What are thoughts that we are just too scared of to think about? Thoughts we just strikethrough!

A game winner! Dr.J says—"You might think losing weight would be our top New Year’s resolution. But according to a 2024 YouGov survey, “saving more money” topped the list, followed by improving physical health, being happy, exercising more, eating healthier, and in sixth place, losing weight. The survey listed 23 top New Year’s resolutions, but one item wasn’t mentioned at all—exercising toward godliness.” It seems to me, godliness makes us better people; once we are good people, then everything else seems to fall into place. That’s my opinion. But remember, I'm just another bozo on the bus!

Soooo who is a good person, I ask? Here is what many folks think a good person is--A good person is generally defined by qualities like compassion, empathy, integrity, and kindness, consistently showing concern for others' well-being, acting with honesty and moral principle, and helping those in need, often selflessly and without expectation of reward, focusing on positive actions and growth. It's less about perfection and more about a continuous effort to be thoughtful, supportive, and to understand different perspectives.

I think I know a lot of good people. Many of you are really good people (i.e. but we all could be better people—hahaha!) I know a person in our park and have known him for a few years. I never cared much for him; he seemed arrogant, egotistical, unkind etc. But he has changed; I have no idea why. He is way opposite now; he treats me and others way different. I have no idea why. I would like to visit with him sometime.

Personal stuff! I have mentioned to some of you and I think I have even written about this. I have wished I would have been a more intelligent person (i.e. like having a higher IQ). My thinking was it would have given me more opportunities and maybe selfishly would have made me a more important person and even made me more money. Now that I’m 80, I no longer have that wish. In fact, I’m glad I’m not more intelligent. I see now that it isn’t always the cat’s meow to be super intelligent! In some cases it could be a curse. A high IQ doesn’t make a person a better or necessarily a good person! That is my opinion!

A friend is divorced and is here in AZ looking for a hubby. She told us her ex was not a good person (i.e. had a couple of major problems she said) and she wants a good person. MissPerfect says—My ex seemed to be such a good person when we got married but boy did he change; I had to tell him to take a hike! LuckieEddie says; My ex seemed such a nice person when we were married at age 20 I thought; I guess I wasn’t soooo lucky; I didn’t see the train wreck coming that was just over the hill!

I believe there are a lot of good people in this world, yes I do. Yes, there are some folks who really aren’t soooo good but many many are good and many many of those good folks are you folks! It is factual that the people we hang around with are going to really affect us, soooo we really need to pay attention to that (i.e. it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out). We hiked Spooky Mt on January 2. There were a lot of people hiking. There were families, tourists and local folks working out. We were in contact with some of them and felt that almost all of these folks were good folks. Huh, interesting. Saturday question--Were they the typical cross-section of Americana?

TheFolksDownTheStreet asked me, erv, how do we determine who a good person is. TheWizardOfMI indirectly told me this: I have to decide the type of person I want to be. Also, new goals don’t produce results but new lifestyles do. BUT I have decided that I need to not do stupid stuff; stupid stuff can ruin my life and hurt my chances of being a good person. When TheWizardOfMI speaks, I listen! Such is life.

SusieQ askes—Then how do we determine who is a good person? That got me thinking—maybe being a good person isn’t determined by a single moment or decision, but by the steady choices they make day after day (e.g. their past history). It’s about the habits they have formed, the way they respond to challenges, and the consistency of their actions even when nobody is watching. Setting intentions is important, but it’s their routines and behaviors, shaped by their values, that truly define them over time. BUT, the measuring stick of a good person might not be the same for all folks, my opinion (i.e. I might think a person is a good person and you might not or vice versa). Such is life. AverageJoe askes—What does the majority of folks think are the values of a good person?

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--Nothing is impossible. The word itself says, Im Possible.

undertone

Have we ever been sore afraid (i.e. I really like that expression, “sore afraid)? I mean like the bogyman is going to get us. I wonder at times if that feeling is an underdone of our lives sometimes (i.e. there seems to be a lot of drama and trauma in everyone’s life). A neighbor told us a new word, actually an acronym, which is FOMO—fear of missing out (e.g. of being not being included)! Do we have that undertone or have we had it in our life?  Now that is like a bogyman is under our bed, maybe!

TheRealStuff! Things happen on this earth like illness, success, death, special events, pain, joy, aging, new birth, accidents, the unexpected call from a friend, a disappointment. Many times, we have no control over them, they just happen. Many times, these events can set the undertone of the day or our lives. Such is life.

When we are given a difficult task, there is a fine line between “Glad to do it!” and “Do I really have to?” Now that is a different undertone! But one thing can make a big difference: if the person giving the instruction says they will go with us. I think that is a great encouragement! It is a big difference than saying God bless you and then head on over to play tennis. Yes, tennis is still being played some in the 55+ communities! Oh ya!

Christmas cards are pretty private and maybe they don’t tell or show always the real or whole picture; some things are just too private to share in a Christmas card or letter. It’s like some things are sorta kinda incognito. We received one Christmas letter where our friends indicated that they lost many friends from death this year and mentioned them by name. At our age, that is going to happen; it’s reality but it’s usually not part of the undertone of most Christmas letters, but it is soooo real. Their letter seemed to be an undertone of balance of real life.

Maybe differences of feelings! We, as I said, went to see and listen to the Phoenix Orchestra and Choir perform during the Christmas time. Did you hear that, perform. I believe there is a big difference between a performance and using talent for a message. Usually, a performance produces applause, and participants bow etc. but not if they are using their talent for a message. I think there is a difference. It appears to me that sometimes there is an internal conflict for the participants. The undertone is different. And maybe the audience receives it different as well; they are split as how they see it and feel it! Could be! There might be two different undertones. I felt that! Like there was a conflict. 

We are all different, maybe! Different holiday get-to-gathers probably have different undertones. It can just be felt. It’s not said but is just experienced. Even probably different family get-to-gathers do as well for many different reasons; they might have had different feelings and undertones (e.g. when there is some tension of some kind or when the family is extremely happy because of a certain event that the family is celebrating). There can be some big differences. Maybe sometimes there are times when folks just don’t want to leave and sometimes when they wish they didn’t have to be there. Such is life.

Projections! Here is something that could make us sore afraid: what will the world look like 500 years from now, how about 100 years from now, or 20 years from now (i.e. my parents, Chester and Anna, thought the same). The world for sure will be different, probably way beyond our wildest thinking I would guess! I don’t think copilot even knows. Such is life.

I just finished John Grisham's newest book, The Widow. I enjoyed the book; I have read all of his books (i.e. I must like his writing I guess). ANYWAY, there seems to be maybe three undertones of the book: greed, don't assume anything (i.e. might mean don't get cocky), and innocent people are found guilty. All three of those can make us "sore afraid."

Oh, what a relief it is! Many of us have heard the universal antidote for “sore afraid” during Christmas. I believe it’s the correct encourager for the world. It takes all the “sore fear” away. That is my opinion. JoeWorld says--The antidote that is very popular for me is “more money!”

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--Any kid will run an errand for you, if you ask at bedtime.

analogies

An analogy is a comparison between two different things to explain or clarify a concept by highlighting their shared similarities.  Here are a few stories that happened in my life recently. I encourage you to form a personal analogy reflecting the meaning of them to you from your own life's experiences.

We had happy hour with friends of Jeanne who just sold their house and had to get rid of all their stuff as they radically had to downsize. They told us, no one wanted their stuff that they thought was soooo important (i.e. not even their kids). They had to give it away (i.e. and they said—it was really good stuff).

The Takeaway is...! A couple on our mission team in San Angelo was in the milk business in TX. They milked about 3,000 cows. I asked them a lot of questions. One I asked was if she was involved in the business—yes, I did all the record keeping—did you keep records on every cow—sure did, we have very complete records on every cow—If they don’t perform, they are culled and go to slaughter. We keep only the above average ones! And your personal analogy?

Another guy on our team told us that he was conceived in Holland but born in Canada, they were immigrants.  When his mother delivered, the doctor said here is the first one and here is the second one. She didn’t know she was having twins. That increased their family to 6 people all living in a garage.

A long-time friend from MN, who sits with us in church, told me that she didn’t sleep well last night, I slept for two hours and then couldn’t sleep again until 5. What’s the deal?  I ate toooo much chocolate I think. You better cut back on the chocolate!  No way, I like chocolate!

There are winners and losers! I talked to a guy in our 55+ park at the mail box who has lived here for 30 years. He has lost his wife 10 years ago but had a girlfriend for the last 6 who recently has passed on. He told me he’s lonely and will start looking for a new one soon. He is 89. Soooo I asked him if the park has changed a lot in 30 years—yes it has, more folks from CA with a lot of money and different attitudes that I don’t much care for. I talked to a land developer who really likes CA folks who have a lot of money: I can put up with their attitude if they have the money! And your analogy is?

We visited Big Bend National Park on our way back from San Angelo and a couple at our motel said that they really enjoyed the park—sooo what did you enjoy about the park—the vastness was spiritual; the hike along the Rio Grand River in the Santa Elena Canyon was really magnificent and touching as well. Sooooo we hiked it. Sooo what is your analogy?

We had the opportunity to listen to the complete Handel Messiah by The Phoenix Symphony and Choir. It was long but beautiful. If I understand it right, it tells about Jesus Christ from prophesy to resurrection. It has been popular since Handel wrote it in 1741. The place was packed and the folks really enjoyed it and it seemed to affect folks (i.e. and most paid big bucks to experience it). Sooo what is your analogy to the Handel Messiah in your life. Oh, Leonard Bernstein, the late New York Symphony conductor, once said that the most difficult position in the orchestra is the second fiddle. Do you have an analogy for that?

We ate breakfast in Study Butte, TX population 173 at Chilly Pepper Café. Jeanne and I shared the Mexican omelet which had prickly pear in it chopped that morning. We really enjoyed the locals especially Ben and Shirley. Ben is 89 and Shirley is 76. They came here 20 years ago and liked it sooo well that they bought 20 acres and built a stone house. We like the quietness, few people, warm weather. We come to Chile Pepper Cafe every morning for breakfast. Shirly told us she was the town’s ambulance driver for 10 years. You seem very comfortable here—we are very content. I asked them if they are believers—Ben said, we sure are. They were a hoot! Soooo what is your personal analogy that fits this story?

Now this gets a high 5! I read this in one of my devotions that was very interesting to me and maybe it might be to you—"My children are grown. They’re not the adorable babies and toddlers I sang over all those years ago. My relationship with them hasn’t always been easy, but they’ve never stopped being my children, and I’ve never stopped delighting in them.” Do you have a personal analogy for this?

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

A New Year Thought from my second cousin once removed a.k.a. The Other Warren from Omaha--Yesterday is a cancelled check  --- tomorrow is a promissory note --- today is cash.  Use it "wisely".

think

 Saturday question--What do you think about the most? TheTexasChilieDog says—"What we hope for is what we want our future to be. It sorta kinda tells us what is really important to us. If we think about money all the time or ourselves or others or pickle ball or eating Christmas cookies or if we think about being more like Jesus' outrageous, lavishing, and radical generosity, then that will pretty much tell us what is the most important to us.” I think that is correct. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

TheTexasCowgirlRuby says—"Honestly, I find myself reflecting on my goals and the direction my life is heading. I also often think about the people who matter most to me, like family and close friends, and how I can support them. These thoughts tend to shape how I approach each day and the choices I make.” TexasCowgirlRuby--Let me tell ya girl, What you think is what you’ll be! Ride 'em cowgirl!

Now, do I have us thinking about what we think about? Are we surprised by what we spend most of our time thinking about?

A long-time good friend told me that I think tooooo much! But my Daddy, Chester, would tell me—erv, most folks don’t think enough. Now that is an oxymoron. I read somewhere—Don’t believe everything you think!

I think what Catholic Charity said in their newsletter is important for me and you. Let’s see what you think!  Encouraging Mindfulness to Minimize Holiday Financial Burdens  “ We at Catholic Charities encourage everyone to approach spending with peace, purpose, and practicality.  Setting a simple budget, choosing meaningful experiences over expensive gifts, and tracking small purchases can help keep financial stress at bay. Avoiding high-interest credit and planning ahead for extra holiday costs are ways we honor both our households and God’s call to wise stewardship. Open conversations with loved ones about expectations can also relieve pressure and create more intentional, joyful celebrations.” I really think that makes sense to me.

Flip the pancake! On our plane flight to Denver for Thanksgiving, the airline pushed their credit card through their flight attendants. It was obnoxious to me and I think others. They said—“We should buy a lot of gifts as you don’t have to pay for them for 90 days nor pay any interest for 90 days, soooo get our card and spend big time for Christmas.” What a joke, I think! How dumb do they think we are! TheDenverBronco says—erv, pretty dumb pretty dumb! Abe Lincoln said—"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time."

Mrs.PricklyPear from Southern TX says--We can give a lot of gifts at Christmas, such as clothes, toys, food, money, but if we can give the true gift of Hope, now that’s a gift that will have large ramifications. In my opinion, the hope of salvation through Jesus Christ is the greatest gift that we could give anyone.

A friend from South Butler County says—"Think different—live better.”  If you look around, you’ll see that great people do things they don’t always feel like doing. They do things that other people aren’t willing to do. They seem to think differently than the average dog!

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits says--"Reflection requires stillness. One cost of rushing from thing to thing is that you lose the space to think. Hard work matters, but nonstop motion often hides a quiet truth: you could have used your time better. If you never pause, you confuse activity with effectiveness. Make time to think."

We visited with a snowbird here in AZ who is maybe in her middle 60s. She told us she went back home to be with family over Thanksgiving. Soooo we asked her how did that go. She said—This is the first time the girls actually talked to each other. It was amazing. I think age and circumstances can make a difference maybe. A preacher recently said—God will be merciful to those who repent. Maybe that is a concept that happens in families too. What do you think?  That is what I thought.

I want you to think about making a Christmas experience this Christmas that you will remember (e.g. our mission trip to San Angelo, TX was a Christmas experience that we will never forget and be part of our life forever). More stuff just doesn’t mean as much; we have enough stuff but experiences are a different story.

We got this from one neat person--"This time of the year reminds us that we are all on this amazing journey. We could never have imagined the beauty of the whole thing but now we are just reminded how special life is and to say thank you God." What do you think of that? Maybe the older we get, the more we understand, just maybe! I really don't know but I think I seem too. A little anyway!! But remember, I' m just a little of' farm boy from a mile and quarter south of Roseland, MN.

I took this pic looking out of our motel room last Saturday morning in El Paso, TX. I told Jeanne that I hope those folks driving the Penske truck don’t need to leave right away!  Jeanne's thinking was that it was a couple moving and they have all their stuff in the truck and they parked their car behind the truck soooo no one could steal their stuff. Two different thinking about the same situation. That reminds me of how many of us think about Christmas differently (i.e. for some, it’s all about the stuff and others think about the true meaning of Christmas). We hope you choose the true meaning! The experience is much better. That is what we think!!!! Merry Christmas to all of you from Jeanne and I.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--The fiddler calls the tune.

I accept

Suggestion—Before you read this It’s Saturday, you need to accept the terms and conditions! Ready? Don’t be angry at any person!  Start with the person that angers us the most. Give it up! ‘Cause that person controls us and ruins our life. Let it go! And we will have peace in our mind, soul and life. Everything will be better. There is only one person who can do that and that is us, me. Pretty simple and it costs us nuttin! AverageJoe says--I can master my mood, not theirs! They don’t even know they frustrate us in most cases. How crazy is that!

When I have something or somethings that bothers me, frustrate me, perplex me, confuse me, affect me, control me, disgust me, makes me wonder, gets under my skin, irritates me, I sit down in the quiet and write them down in detail and why they bother me. Most of the time they dissolve, or I find out they aren’t as bad as I thought or much easier to figure out and resolve than before. It really works for me. I guess it’s because I accept them.

It's hard to accept certain things, yes, it is. A friend suggested that a mutual acquaintance contact us about our advice about marriage as seniors. She did text us and asked if we would call her on her main cell phone and not the cell phone she just texted us on. She said the first cell phone is my burner phone that I uses to find my main cell phone!

I’m thinking that more folks in general are starting to mellow in their radicalness. I hear folks tempering their attitudes, I think. I think we as a human race are starting to accept the reality that if we don’t work together we are going to self-destruct as a country and as a world. The Bible tells us that there will be an end. ItchieBitchie says—We all know we are going to die on this earth! We all have expiration dates just like the milk in the refrigerator does. Da!

Oswald Chambers said, “God is the Great Engineer, creating circumstances to bring about moments in our lives of divine importance, leading us to divine appointments.” I accept what Oswald said but SwervinErvin has trouble recognizing them and accepting them sometimes. I accept that non-believers think believers are weird but they really like how believers act! Yes, yes and yes!

Saturday question--What is the most important thing for humans to accept do you think?

GeorgeTheStingingCactus said to his wife: I accept you a.k.a. appreciate you! When we accept others, we tell them that we support them and our relationships appreciate in value. FlipThePancake, if we don’t accept others, relationships depreciate in value very fast, deteriorate, decompose, dissolve, disappear. My Daddy, Chester, told me never buy something that depreciates in value if you don’t have the cash (i.e. save the cash before buying it) but I could buy something that appreciates in value with credit. I accepted his teaching.

CoachB says--Keep calm and carry on! I agree Coach and I accept your advice but how do we keep calm and carry on is the 64,000 question. Paul tells us the answer but not all accept his advice. As a deceased friend, whose name was Paul also, would say to me—erv, decisions have consequences and guess who makes the decisions. TheTexanWithTheBigCowboyHat says--If you make wise decisions, compound interest is a blessing. If you make foolish decisions, compound interest is a curse.

Jeanne and I spent this week in San Angelo, TX working with a team of World Renew folks doing assessment for folks’ needs as result the terrible. disastrous flood they had last summer. These assessments will be used for the volunteer construction teams that will come later. Our team seems to think one of the biggest sources we can give them is Hope. Yes, the material fixing is very important too. They seem to accept both very much. We don’t know who is blessed the most, them or us. It is very humbling for us but feels oh soooo good! And we know, Life is like riding a bicycle -- if you stop peddling, you fall over. San Angelo was founded by sheep ranchers manly and it has sheep sculptures all over town. We saw one sign that really caught our attention. It read--In a world of sheep, be a goat! I accept that!

I’m erv and I accept this message!

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said—When you are in the dark, look for the stars.

the market

Disclaimer right up front. You don’t have to believe anything I say or talk about; in fact, you might not want to believe anything in this “It’s Saturday.” Some of you might put it in the same category as "AI slop."  This “It’s Saturday is for you and I to THINK (i.e. I realize that is hard for us at times)! hahaha I’m actually not even a writer; many of you have corrected me many times! Sooo what is my motive in writing this “It’s Saturday; my son asked me this when I started writing it many years ago. He told me—Dad, if your motive is wrong, it won’t work. None of you have to read "It's Saturday" like you have to read what a teacher tells you to read or listen to what your pastor says at church; this is purely optional. BUT I have a market! As there is a large number of people that read “It’s Saturday” weekly. I really can’t explain it. I really don’t know why but they do. It is what it is. I have no idea!

When we hear the word “market” many think of the stock market first thing I would guess. But many of you have markets that affect your livelihood as well a.k.a. corn market, apple market, car market, employment market, housing market, social market, etc. All those markets affect our standard of living in one way or another. I talked to a large fruit grower recently and he told me that the fruit business is in trouble right now—how come—over production. I read in the paper that the growers want folks to eat the old standard apple, Delicious, but the people want to eat Honey Crisp. Delicious apples are what they are used to growing but the public market is different. They don’t want to change. It costs a lot of money and time to change. They want to do it the old way! Da! Who do you think will win this battle!

The pastor at church recently told us--"The 'church attender market' is small and shrinking. Folks don’t want to go to church as much anymore. In Europe most don’t believe in God and it’s becoming more that way in the U.S. The churches have tried everything to get them to come but it appears that nuttin is working. The churches have moved the pulpit, discontinued the organ, made it casual, used hip songs, used performances etc. Now what! And the market that does go to church is aging out!" Yikes! There has to be a new mouse trap—that was in the book, Who Moved the Cheese years ago!

CactusJack, a nut of distinction, says--Day2day, year2year, life2life, time keeps going if we like it or not! The market for park models a.k.a. tin huts by my definition is slower in the 55+ communities now than it has been. The supply is greater than the demand. Soooo that drives down the prices some. That’s dynamic pricing as the business world calls it—like green fees in AZ during the winter when the snowbirds want to play golf, the prices go up—whatever the market will bear. But the demographic is that in the future the percentages of older folks is going to be much larger soooo there will be a larger demand but will they be able to afford the properties or the life style, that is a question that no one knows. Maybe the future generations won’t want to winter in park models. Maybe they will want something much more upgraded (i.e. they are use to much more high-end stuff). Could be! A tin hut, maybe not! I asked a friend how his Thanksgiving went--we had great news that a grand daughter is going to have a baby; most of our grandkids it seems would rather have dogs!

Our  granddaughter Charlie's shirt says it all! Saturday question—How do you and I market ourselves? Our market is the sum of our parts I think, and not just one flick of time. I like real folks and not fake folks. Real folks are who they are all the time and not just when they are trying to impress. Real folks are who they are in all situations (i.e. being themselves). Real folks don’t need AI to write a profile of them to make them look and sound good, it shows and is real. LuckieEddie says--We are who we are! Don’t kid yourself! A pastor said recently, we believers should act always in a way that others ask what is different about us. I believe we do! I asked our waitress at breakfast recently who was marketing herself in such a pleasant way if she was a believer; she said—yes sir, I am. I told her that I can tell!

Some markets are changing their brand; we see it quite often now. Meaning, they want a new, fresh impression, a change. They want to express their company or business differently. It’s a tool to increase sales, become more popular, develop more interest, align with the current culture, get rid of the old fashion look. It appears that folks do that all the time, create a new brand for themselves. Some of those brands are internally permanent and some are just surface branding. Both of those brand changes come from something or for some reason, they just don’t happen. BillTheRoadrunner a.k.a. The Big Nut, says—I think my personal marketing brand depends a lot on the folks I'm around. Yes, I do. Our environment really impacts us how we market ourselves. I suggest we take a break and think and ponder about the brand that we have!

Reminder—None of this might be right or make any sense to you, remember, I’m just another bozo on the bus! Besides, it seems that most folks in our culture think they know all the answers and they don’t want to think about changing.

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFreindJean said--It's not how many hours you put in but its what you put in the hours.

P.S. THINK ABOUT THIS! We were at the Millennial Choir and Orchestra Christmas Concert at the Mesa Arts Center and were waiting for the doors to open. I was talking with a guy who was from Idaho. He said in part of our conversation that we are blessed even blessed to be here at this concert. Sooooo who blesses us? Santa Claus? Our government? The man in the moon? Sooooo who blesses us? Soooo when we say thank you for being blessed, who are we saying that to?

A Thanksgiving Opportunity

 Peter said—Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, what does this mean?

Thanksgiving can be a joyous time but can also be a sad, miserable time for you and I. Or even parts of Thanksgiving can be some of each. Some of you are in a house full of family and friends (i.e. maybe full of joy) and some of you might be alone (i.e. maybe full of loneliness. I have experienced both through the years.

I am offering you the opportunity to email me and tell me how you feel this Thanksgiving.  It does a person good to share our feelings. Our talk will be completely confidential. I know all of you in some way and we have met somehow and somewhere. Even if I don’t know you, I would like to meet you. I will return all your messages even though if many of you contact me, it might take me some time. It’s A Thanksgiving Opportunity for both of us.  ervmellema@gmail.com

Jeanne and I have the Thanksgiving Opportunity to be with Arlene and my children, their spouses and the grandchildren in Morrison, CO for Thanksgiving. As many of you know, it doesn’t always work for that to happen, and the clock is a tickin’! We understand that we have expiration dates! Last Sunday was our first church service back here in the Valley of the Sun. Some old friends from NW IA sat next to us to our left and an old friend from SW MN sat next to us to our right. Our old MN friend told me that she is #3 in her church back in MN! #3, I acted puzzled! She said--I'm the third oldest in our church and might be moving up soon!

And Paul said--Do not be anxious about anything, but….

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--It isn't necessary to blow out anothers light to let yours shine.

respite

This "It's Saturday" might make you AAA-CHOO!  Beware!

It appears to me that our culture is a very unhappy culture. It’s hard to be positive in a negative society (i.e. our environment). There is soooo much stimuli that tries to drag us down (i.e. seems like constantly).

When I was a kid on the farm a mile and a quarter south of Roseland, MN, we would butcher friers each fall for meat for the winter. My mom would put the friers’ heads between two nails on a log behind the chicken house and with one whack she would cut their heads off with a hatchet. The friers would jump around on the ground for a while with no head and blood squirting out (i.e. that’s where we get the expression, we ack like chickens with their heads cut off!). I wonder if we act that way sometimes.

It appears to me that our minds, souls and relationships are suffering from this constant. contagious thinking. Maybe we can’t fix everything but maybe we can manage it better. It appears to me that we all need a respite from this constant bombardment of negativism. For me, it’s being in a quiet place by myself for periods of time. I like to study scripture, pray, meditate, and most importantly, just be still and quiet. I like the early morning (i.e. for me it’s a decompression chamber). God says in scripture--“What no one ever saw or heard, what no one ever thought could happen, is the very thing God prepared for those who listen to him.”

Many of you are celebrity models to me a.k.a. a respite. Yes, you are and you don’t even know it. I tie my boat to you! I hang my hat on you! You’re as good as gold! I really enjoy real folks and you are real folks! My kind of folks. You are a respite to my soul and mind. And some of you, not soooo much!

Flip the pancake! I say one thing about relationships but do another! What kind of person am I!  I just bought some wireless earbuds with the purpose of not having to listen about some person’s hemorrhoids while working out at the work out center at our 55+ community here in AZ. Or another person telling me how great their grand kids are or another complaining about the neighbor’s dog peeing on their rocks in their front yard. I can listen to what I want or just fake it and have quietness! A great investment! Well, jumping Cholla! 

But there is hope! There is no medicine like hope, no incentive sooo great, no tonic sooo powerful as the expectation of something better tomorrow. And I believe that God is our hope. It appears to me the folks who believe this are much happier with a much more positive attitude. It’s sad when we have no hope. That is my opinion but look around folks, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out.

Do you think this is the first  time humans have experienced a world full of evil? Do you think you and I are the only ones who ever struggle with good vs. evil in our minds? It sure appears that this attitude has been around from the beginning of time. Yes, some periods of history sure seem to have been more positive than others; that’s for sure. Greek scholars remind us in this phrase—the evil day—refers to a particular hour when evil will be manifested in an unusual way in the thoughts, activities, and pursuits of humanity. Yikes! I don’t care much for that! I need a respite. Soooo, maybe we need to manage it better. What do you think?  That is what I thought.

Yes, for me, I don’t care to see evil win over good (i.e. it really hurts me). It appears to me that is what is happening a lot now; mass confusion; a major trend! Where is Babylon today? Where is the great Roman Empire today? Why did they disappear? What happened to them? History should tell us something!

A deceased friend would argue—Why would God allow all this evil on this earth if He is really God, the sovereign God? That’s an age-old question that folks have struggled with forever. For me, I think that God is God and I’m erv—His understanding I cannot fathom. And that is a large piece of my faith. I think that is sorta kinda what God told Job.

As for me, I’m going to try to do good!  I encourage you to do the same. The problem that many folks have is that we disagree what good is, it appears. There seems to be differences of opinions on that! VioletStillwater says--But we all know what good is now don’t we. C’mon! An acquaintance seemed to be struggling with his purpose in life. He asked for some counseling and was told he needs to think about volunteering (i.e. think about other folks). It has affected his life. Maybe!

CoachB sorta kinda says this about a respite, my opinion. He says—"A right heart makes right decisions.”  Sooooo, as I see it, if we make right decisions then our lives are much more enjoyable and useful; I don’t think I’m overcookin’ this! SusieQ asks—Sooooo, how do I know I have a right heart? Good question! SusieQ, there are ways. CoachB also says—Wake up and do the right thing; not just (some)thing but the right thing!  Yikes!

Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:

erv

MyDeceasedFriendJean said--Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone.