Spooky

It’s pumpkin time folks. It’s that time of the year. Oh yes. Are children overprogramed? I mean do they have tooooooo much going on? Is that rather spooky do you think? Maybe the adults are overprogramed. You think so? GeorgeTheCrookThePumpkin says—Everyone wants to be first in line! Maybe it’s just pumpkin time! Hey I had the most delightful time with a 7th grader who’s name is Ben. He helped me (i.e. actually did it) convert my iTunes from my desk computer to my laptop. He called it sharing I think. He is one smart, pleasant young man. Good things will happen to him. Oh yes! He’s not spooky folks but his knowledge about the computer is to me. Such is life.

The jack-o-lantern has eyes that glow in the dark. Now that is spooky! Another pumpkin has pea green eyes! Pea green like in envy and jealously. Ouchy ouchy! Our little 10-month-old grand daughter, Charlie, has this certain expression and look. She looks right into my eyes like she knows exactly what I’m thinking; it’s like she is looking right through me. I call them “her gripping eyes”. It’s almost spooky.

The OldCrow’s problem is NOT that someone said some stuff that made the OldCrow mad. The OldCrow’s problem is that he got mad at some stuff someone said. That’s spooky folks. Hey, give the OldCrowThePumpkin a break, his best is still coming. He just doesn’t realize it. He might be a little spooky but give him a chance. WildWillie says--BeingperfectlyFrank--He is just plain scared today (i.e. we all get that way at times—that is spooky isn’t it). Such is life.

CadillacJackThePumpkin says--Ministry happens when our greatest passion meets the world’s greatest needs (i.e. the world’s greatest need might be a little thing that some kid needs NOW!). And you know what—you might be the person to provide that need. Now that is spooky isn’t it (i.e. maybe and maybe not). I have told you this before—I pray for opportunities, I pray that I can recognize these opportunities, and I pray that I have the courage to act on them. Arlene and I had the opportunity to visit with a coach in church Sunday that is doing just that—seeing an opportunity and acting on it. He has a huge massive opportunity. I’m going to share part of an email I got back from a smart parent pertaining to last week’s It’s Saturday -- You are right on target. Our daughter is the Director of Student Activities at …university. She has a masters degree, works 100 hours a week during her busy season, makes a very very modest salary, but loves her job because she knows she is where God wants her to be and because every day she has the opportunity to affect the lives of young people. Contentment is found in doing God's will. My opinion folks—this gal and guy are not lost at sea but are in the middle of the action. Good things will happen to them. Sooooooooo maybe it’s not all about money!

JoeBlowThePumpkin says—It’s spooky when everyone complains about constant stress! Ouchy ouchy! I read this in the paper (i.e. it’s spooooooooky sooooooo be careful)--In 1960, the U.S. ranked 12th best in the world on infant mortality. In 2007, we were in 44th place. In life expectancy, the U.S. ranks a startling 50th, despite spending twice as much or more on health care as nations with longer lifespans. According to the Gallup emotional well-being polls of 150 countries, with each scale ranging from least (No. 1) to most (No. 150), America ranks 68th in sadness, 75th in anger, 89th in worry and anxiety and an astonishing 145th in overall stress. The five countries with higher stress levels include Iraq and Afghanistan, whose citizens face daily violence and war! There's more. America imprisons more of its citizens than any other nation. Americans consume 66 percent of the world's antidepressants. Of developed nations, America has the largest percentage of children living in poverty…America's key measure of well-being is Gross Domestic Product. The CIA's Fact Book reports per capita GDP of $46,500, nearly the highest in the world…So what are the most important contributors to our happiness? Perhaps not surprisingly, GDP is not among them. We are happier when we feel secure - that is, we can work and provide support for ourselves and our families without fear of being summarily dismissed or outsourced, and when we are not threatened with violent crime or war. We are happier when we spend time with family, friends and nature, and when we volunteer in our communities and give to others. We are not happier when we work longer and acquire more stuff. MissPerfectThePumpkin says—we have a tendancy to fall for the sucker punch; yes we do (i.e. sucker punch being stuff and money).

I read in the paper (i.e. so it must be right) that small kids have a hard time distinguishing what is real is and what is make believe (i.e. especially at Halloween). Hey listen, it’s spooky to old folks tooooooo (i.e. we have a hard time distinguishing between reality and make believe)! Anthony and Beth suggested we give our little grand daughter Erin a children’s Bible story book for her third birthday. We did. We were Skyping with Erin the other day and asked her what her favorite story in her Jesus book (i.e. as she calls it)—Erin said—the boo boo ouchy man (i.e. Good Samaritan) and the sneaky snake story. She doesn’t understand what these stores are really about but…what monkey sees, monkey does!

Spooky spooky! Most folks have more stuff than they know what to do with and yet many are depressed to different levels. Depression is depressing. IthcieBitchieThePumpkin says--Drips not only drives us nuts, but will never go away unless we fix them. I had the opportunity to teach three sections of 7th reading and one section of Home Ec. We read and discussed the poem Raven by Edgar Ellan Poe. That poem is rather depressing. One of the students called it spooky. Do any of you remember it? What do you think of it?

I golfed in a five some recently (i.e. we played captain’s choice). The wind was about 30mmp. One of those guys a.k.a. a friend says he is 18 and ¼ hands tall in response to Ed saying he was 5 foot 21 inches tall. I told him that reminds me of my Daddy, Chester, who would always talk about horses’ height in hands. This friend who is 18 and ¼ hands tall is a horse in a lot of ways (i.e. he gets things done; much like another friend who I call Secreterate). These guys are almost spooky with their inner drive. I’m just a little pony compared to these two horses.

Pat Knight, the head basketball coach of Texas Tech, said—It doesn’t matter if you are a head coach or in business—any time you are the head of something and it’s your third year, it’s your baby; you need to win or get fired (i.e. that’s basically reality folks now isn’t it). Our future can look spooky now can’t it? Our past can also look spooky now can’t it? LuckieEddieThePumpkin says—Are you expecting a terrific tomorrow, or are you dreading a terrible one? The answer to that question will have a powerful impact on the way tomorrow unfolds. The way you think about your future will play a powerful role in determining how things turn out (i.e. it’s called “self-fulfilling prophecy,” and it applies to everybody, including you). I read a book recently (i.e. a no brainier fiction about the life in the SW in the late 1800s through about 1950 about a ranch family). What I learned was that no one’s life is perfect (i.e. we all have speed bumps). But we must go forward (i.e. life will not stop). Then we had the opportunity to have dinner with friends this last weekend who have had their share of speed bumps (i.e. maybe more than some and not as many as others) who shared again with me that we just gotta go forward with where ever God leads us but it isn’t always easy. The Bear said—I have learned to enjoy the simple things more—and most simple things come in the form of relationships. We laughed a lot too (i.e. they were very refreshing to me—touched my heart). Some folks are spooky; these folks are not (i.e. they are very transparent—real folks with huge massive hearts—my kind of folks). MissPerfect says—Ya never get over it but you get through it; life, after all, does pass this criminal habit of continuing even when it shouldn’t. As we were walking out of church Sunday we had a little conversation (i.e. about 5 of us) that every one has speed bumps in our lives. Some times others don’t even know we have them. One smart, pretty gal said—I think I know less every year; age has a way of making me think I’m clueless about some things. AverageJoeThePumpkin says—Every year that goes by brings us closer to the next one! Ouchy ouchy! That can be spooky folks! Don’t worry folks, I read some place this—To every thing there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. My mentor told me at breakfast this week—I pray for my kids every day; I pray that they can handle the speed bumps in their lives (i.e. notice not if they have speed bumps but when they do). I think that is wisdom folks. What do you think? My Daddy, Chester, always told me—Everyone has problems. It’s just that people handle them differently. Such is life.

I got an email from a friend who we meet maybe 10 years ago. She lives in assisted living and we had the opportunity to stay with her as we she was our hostess. She is the most delightful lady. ANYWAY she shared with us how God talked to her (i.e. literally talked to her). She said she hasn’t shared that with anyone (i.e. some folks might thing she is spooky). There are others of you who have had this experience and probably haven’t even shared it with anyone (i.e. ‘cause you don’t want others to think you’re spooky as well). How many of you have God talked to you or you have felt his presence in a very real way? Have you shared it with anyone? Have you every asked anyone if they have?

When we as folks make huge massive changes in our lives, it can be spooky all right. I know a friend who is trying to do just that (i.e. change his thinking and how he has acted in his past). Change from someone that a person has been for many years to someone who they think they want to be takes courage, support, and a strong desire (i.e. that is my opinion). GeoregeTheCrookThePumpkin says--Most folks don’t see the need to change, don’t want to change or have the fortitude to change.

Boo to you! Have a frightfully fun Halloween.

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. MyFriendJeans says—One thing is sure—if you laugh at your troubles you will probably always have something to laugh about.