Mixed signals!

Arlene just plain loved the kids! Arlene got back from the mission trip to Guatemala. Life in Guatemala is much different than the U.S. She ate tortillas and beans. Surprisingly she liked them (i.e. she usually doesn’t like anything different). The food of the many poor countries is beans and rice (i.e. it’s the staple as it is cheap). Not toooooooo many obese folks in Guatemala. We in the U.S. send mixed signals to much of the world with our affluence and waste. The story goes like this—A Guatemalan came to the U.S. and went into a super market. He walked down the isle and was just amazed by all the selections of food. And that was just the isle that had food for cats and dogs!

My Mom, Anna, always said--erv, always do what is right...I seem to send mixed signals (i.e. folks seem to misunderstand me). It has happened twice that I know this last week. It makes me not want to say anything or do anything again. I have been told that this happens many times as folks put their personal spin on it (i.e. they are programmed by their past and apply those experiences). ItchieBitche says—Many times we only see the grass above the ground and don’t see the roots below the ground. It hurts when you try to do good and folks misunderstand you. MyFriendJean says—Between the great things we cannot do and the small things we will not do, the danger is that we shall do nothing at all. Sooooooooo folks, don’t take any of this It’s Saturday tooooooo serious. Just read it with an open mind and don’t try to read tooooooo much into it. Please give me the benefit of the doubt. It might not be as you think it is ‘cause you understand it with your program—your agenda might be way different than how I’m programmed. Okay! Related to how our emotions affect us—I read on a blog this week this: Isn’t it funny how a phone call can change your day! Did you take that phone call as a negative call or a positive call? You reacted probably a certain way ‘cause of your past experiences I bet. I have had calls affect me both ways. How about you? My mentor and I had our Wednesday breakfast along with a mutual friend. They are both WWII vets. One said that he was in the Philippians when the bomb was dropped. There was a huge massive build up of troops there as an invasion of Japan was being planed. The troops were told that this invasion was going to be very bloody and many of you will die. Then the bomb was dropped and the war was over; they were all sent home. Now there were some mixed signals (i.e. one day you plan on dieing and the next you are told to go home). Such is life.

I got a mixed signals. When at a recent Iowa football game, the second half was rather boring to me (i.e. I can get bored easily at times). Some of the fans left so they felt the same way maybe. ANYWAY the gals behind us put their feet on the seats beside me. They had sandals on (i.e. fancy sandals) and had their toenails painted fancy. One had her toes painted black and the Hawkeye decal on the big nail. The other had hers painted pinkish red. Both looked real nice like they were professionally done. I looked at their feet. Their feet looked above average compared to the few women feet I have looked at. Soooooo I wondered what the ladies looked like. Before looking I tried to get an image in my mind. I got mixed signals a.k.a. a mystery. And then I looked at them and they were…!

I read this while eating my oatmeal with MI blueberries on it—The eye of the soul is the will. If your will is to do the will of God, to serve Him with your life, to serve Him by helping others, then truly shall your whole body be full of light. Yabut the world does not tell me that. I get a mixed signal here folks (i.e. money, power & fame vs. service, humility, & kindness). If you believe you have choices here in this world, then you have to decide. And remember, decisions have consequences. I read recently that one is not born a winner or looser, but each one is born a chooser (i.e. seeds always grow up and bear fruit). LuckieEddie says—I couldn’t agree more! It’s like what you think is what you’ll be folks! Saturday question—What parades through your mind (i.e. does your impute give you mixed signals)? Such is life.

Many times elderly folks, younger folks and middle aged folks give me mixed signals. You ever wonder what others are thinking (i.e. what’s going’ on in their heads). I read this on facebook by a professional who works with the ageing population—Inside every old person is a younger person wondering what the…happened! UN-BE-LIEVABLE!

Some folks send mixed signals but in the end, the real person can be seen (i.e. you can’t fool folks for very long). You believe that? Joesixpack says—Just look where they spend their money and their time. Can you really fool folks? Abraham Lincoln once said—You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. Another smart person with a good heart (i.e. a real person—my kind of guy) said this about a special person—In my opinion – and it’s only an opinion – Kids can see right through people and know when they are dealing with an honest and loving person. WellSuckamucka! Our little almost three year old Erin was looking at a children's Bible story book and asked James who is that man--James said that man was Jesus--Erin said, Daddy, I know him, he's a nice guy!

This might give you a mixed signal. WildWilie said -- I was sitting at the bar staring at my drink when a large, trouble-making biker steps up next to me, grabs my drink and gulps it down in one swig. "Well, whatcha gonna do about it?" he says, menacingly, as I burst into tears. "Come on, man," the biker says, "I didn't think you'd CRY. I can't stand to see a man crying." "This is the worst day of my life," I say. "I'm a complete failure. I was late to a meeting and my boss fired me. When I went to the parking lot, I found my car had been stolen and I don't have any insurance. I left my wallet in the cab I took home. I found out that my wife ran off with the gardener and then my dog bit me." "So I came to this bar to work up the courage to put an end to it all, I buy a drink, I drop a capsule in and sit here watching the poison dissolve; then you show up and drink the whole thing! But enough about me", "How's your day going?" Mixed signals!

One wise man says--Are you the kind of Pastor or Christian person who opens the door for folks to share what really matters? Then are you wise enough to know it is their story and not yours to share? If so, people will be knocking on your door because we all need someone to listen and care.

My roots go way down deep! My Mom, Anna, was very sweet, kind, and loving (i.e. she was the best). BUT one day she sent me a mixed signal. It was when I was maybe 8 or so. We raised chicks in the brooder house (i.e. I can still can smell the smell of the heater early in the spring keeping those little fuzz balls warm). ANYWAY this experience happened maybe early summer as the chicks were outside and I was helping Mom doing something with the chicks. I must have said something bad or did something bad as she was angry with me and really got after me (i.e. she was going to give me a whooping). I ran away and she couldn’t catch me. She played a little sly like she forgot about it but she didn’t. When I got close she grabbed me and took this piece of wood and gave a good whooping (i.e. the kind that today’s kids would put an attorney on a retainer). My roots go way down deep—I never questioned my Mom’s love for me—never!

When I was eating my oatmeal with a half of banana on it I read this—Everyday living is an exercise in decision-making (i.e. how you will think). What basis do you make you decisions on? Is it based on God’s counsel? Yabut, I get some mixed signals sometimes and I get confused. GeorgeTheCrook says—It takes a special kind of cat to figure things out. JoeBlow says—Don’t concentrate on what you can’t do but what you can do! Such is life.

I get mixed signals about our economy, oh yes! I read in the newspaper (i.e. so it must be right) that everything is really great on one page and the next it says it’s terrible. So who and what do I believe. It seems government tells you all kinds of stuff to make you fell the way they want you to feel. Politicians react to the folks much like some parents react to a kid throwing a temper tantrum. The folks are all concerned about themselves so they throw a tantrum and the politicians react ‘cause they want to get elected so they say and do whatever it takes. The folks act like they are the only fish in the pond much like a little kid (i.e. I’m hear to be served). When they don’t get what they want, they do another tantrum. It’s a viscous circle but as long as it works, they will continue to do it (i.e. feeding the beast and the beast grows more beastly). Such is life.

AverageJoe says—My wife (i.e. who I call right brain) gives me mixed signals. On Monday she loves me and the right brain on Friday says she wants a divorce (i.e. now that’s a riddle). I don’t think I have changed at all that I can tell. AverageJoe says--Maybe she has a case of “pause”! I heard a gal say in Sunday School that the “pause” really effects her (i.e. you never can tell what you will learn in Sunday School! Well flip the pancake AverageJoe, Arlene made me Shepard’s pie for dinner this week and the next day made me banana bread (i.e. 2 of my favorites). What does she want anyway? Maybe I’m just getting a wrong signal!

I watched a little Monday night football between the 49ers and the Saints. Mike Singletary is the coach of the 49ers if you don’t know. If you don’t follow the NFL you probably don’t know and really don’t care (i.e. I understand). Football isn’t everything in life as some think. ANYWAY Coach Singletary was a mean, tough middle linebacker in his playing days. But when he was standing on the sidelines, he wore a rather large cross hanging from his neck for all the world to see. Too many that sent a mixed single (i.e. what does that mean). I was debating if I was going to go to a Bible study lead by our pastor Tuesday night. I told Arlene I had 30 seconds to decide. One side said I would be the only guy there (i.e. I will be abnormal) and the other side said if Mike Singleary could wear a cross for the world to see on Monday night football (i.e. abnormal) than I surely can go. I went. I was obviously abnormal in the normal world—Mike and I! Such is life.

GeorgeTheCrook asks--Do we ever send mixed signals to our kids? CadillacJack says--Hole Ting Hole Ting Hole Ting That's what my two-year-old says. He has developed the habit of wanting it all. My wife will often offer him a spoonful of food from her plate. I will break off a piece of what I am eating and hand it to him. He shakes his head. He emphatically says, "Hole Ting." He doesn't want a piece. He doesn't want a spoonful. He wants the whole thing. I wondered, "Where did he get such behavior?" Who taught him that? Where did he pick it up? Hole Ting? Why didn't he want to share? Why wasn't he satisfied with what was given to him? Wasn't the piece sufficient? The piece was plenty, and he could get as many as he could eat. Why did he want the whole thing? Was he acting like a child or an adult? As I watched other children, I saw that it was more innate for children to want the whole thing. They wanted the whole toy without sharing. They wanted all of mama's attention. They wanted the swing or the tricycle all of the time. Hole Ting Many of the conflicts and wars are over the same thing. People don't want to share. They want it all.

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

erv

KR’s thought of the day—In a crisis, rise to the occasion but don’t hit the ceiling.