Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn't even be there,
eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have
them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will
bring the others back. ~ Heraclitus A
friend recently told me that one of his hobbies is poker; he goes to Casinos
and plays on their poker nights (i.e. he says he’s pretty good). He says there are good poker players and
there are poor poker players. The poor poker players are just there to give
their money to the good poker players (i.e. the good poker players all know who
they are). ANYWAY, this friend gave me some reasons why some players are
good. Here is what I learned-- getting
to know the philosophy of the other players, know the odds and play them, not
letting other players know your philosophy, don’t be predictable, be patient
(i.e. this is very hard he says), remember cards and don’t show your hand. This
friend is smart and poker seems to just fit him (i.e. my opinion). He is a
retired cooperate management guy who was a trouble shooter for the
company. He used the soft-sell to
correct problems (i.e. told the managers what the problem(s) were and gave them
a practical true application/solution how it could be corrected but gave them a
soft sell a.k.a. told the truth. Usually the managers would object and stomp their
feet but as time went along (i.e. had time to think about it), they did what he
suggested (i.e. let them feel it was their idea). Then when other problems arose, the managers
would contact him to have him solve their problems. In other words, he got in
their heads just a little bit and they didn’t even know it at first, but they
eventually figured it out. Bingo! A win
win! Oh ya, his wife said at his retirement party—The guy just doesn’t know how
to lie!
I talked to an old client the other day. He is a retired farmer from north of
town. This guy seems to see the big
picture and tells it in a funny way. He
just makes me laugh. ANYWAY, he told me
that he just had spine work done; went through the front of his throat; you
don’t want to watch the movie of it;
went home the same day; had and Indian doctor but could talk perfect
English; these foreign guys go to school to learn compared to American students
who go to school to learn how to throw the ball! What a hoot!
GeorgeTheCrook (i.e. who is a machine) says he wonders just
a little bit how death will be; I mean when we ain’t no more on this earth? Whatever your religious beliefs are or even
if you have none, do we wonder? Woody
Allen once quipped, “I’m not afraid of death; I just don’t want to be there
when it happens.” Our minister says that there are doubters,
skeptics, agnostics, atheists and complete believers. He said that pretty much all of us are
somewhat doubters (i.e. soooo maybe all of us are a little bit of a doubter). In fact, John The Baptist was a doubter. SusieQ says—It’s easy to be a doubter. WorldClassLarry says—Once we understand the
soft-sell, we have a lot of hope as to our eternity. Bingo! A win win!
I’m starting to think that many folks say
one thing but do another or don’t say nuttin.
Or at least practically. What many
people say doesn’t really mean much anymore.
Our culture is all about me. I
was with a friend who said, and I think he does—says he says it like it is. He
says folks don’t like him for it sometimes.
Most folks don’t say it like it is much anymore. His HR once told him—Even whales don’t get
harpooned when they don’t spout off! And most folks don’t want to hear the
truth anymore (i.e. my opinion). Saturday
question—Do you ever lie to yourself about yourself? Ouchy ouchy! AverageJoe
says—That’s about as low as you can get! Such is life.
Do you ever wonder if some folks are brainwashed more than
others or some folks are more mentally ill than the average dog (i.e. we are
all mentally ill but to different degrees)? It appears to me that family can influence us
(i.e. sometimes screw us up). It also appears that education, friends, money,
situations etc. can also influence us. Maybe just a little bit maybe! CadillacJack
says—Everyone believes in something because of something. I agree CadillacJack, but the something we
believe in is very important. LuckieEddie
says—It appears to me that good is evil and evil is good more than ever in our
current culture in America (i.e. my opinion). That doesn’t sound right but it
appears that our culture loves it (i.e. a new normal). My Daddy, Chester, told
me many times the best discipline is self-discipline. I think he was saying that the correct mind
set is very important. At least a little
bit maybe!
A
young lady who grew up in our church who is now a professional music therapist,
along with her mother who is our friend, came and played and sang for and with
Arlene Sunday afternoon (i.e. good stuff).
She played several Sound of Music songs and several old Christian
hymns. She is very talented, and Arlene
really enjoyed it. She is blessed to be
a blessing. Music is an uplift (i.e.
universally) but especially to Arlene.
She made a little difference in Arlene’s life (i.e. a little bit maybe). I hope you and I can do that (i.e. something
not about the money)! PsychoPete
asks—Who or what is driving your bus?
I had breakfast with a friend and he told me about he and
his wife’s (i.e. long-time friends) visit with Arlene in the care facility when
I was gone on my respite (i.e. many of you went and saw her and gave me
reports—accurate and true—Arlene and I both appreciated those visits—I say
thanksamillion). ANYWAY, he told me that they laughed a lot with Arlene but
didn’t understand much as what she was trying to say. Then when they got in the car, his wife
cried. Now that is being real
folks. My friend shared some real
touching stuff about his late father (i.e. I would guess he never shared that
before). This is what RickieRick wrote--“I’m eager to
encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this
way, each of us will be a blessing to the other” (Romans 1:12 NLT). We can’t live for
ourselves if we want God to bless our lives. God will bless your life if you
participate in fellowship. You need to be a part of a church family and develop
relationships with other believers. In other words, Paul tells the Christians
in Rome, “I’ll encourage you in your faith. You can encourage me in my faith.
And we will bless each other in the process.” Most of the blessings God has in store
for you in the coming months and years will happen through other people. If you
never build those relationships, you will never get the blessings. You guys
believe that? That is what I thought.
Just a little bit of stuff from WayneTheGolferFriendFromNorthOfTheBorder--There
are three things the human brain cannot resist noticing: food, attractive
people, and danger. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day and while you walk,
SMILE. It is the ultimate anti-depressant. Sit in silence for at least 10
minutes each day. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires,
issues of the past, negative thoughts, or things you cannot control.
Instead, invest your energy in the positive, present moment. Help the
needy. Be generous! Be a 'Giver' not a 'Taker.'
I talked to a friend at church recently who told me he has a
hole in his macula of his macular. It
can be fixed he said but I think he’s just a little bit scared and concerned
(i.e. I would be toooo). Maybe it is
scaring the day lights out of him. WildWilie
says—Events like this can make a guy rethink his to-do list a.k.a. revamp plans;
humbles a person, makes a person do more playin’ than complain’! A friend told
me recently that we as a country of the United States of America are no longer
humble (i.e. that is his opinion). We
can’t and won’t change until we become humble (i.e. it appears we don’t want to
change; we like it the way it’s going). Socrates
taught Plato that a
man must use reason to attain wisdom, and that the life of a lover of wisdom, a
philosopher, was the pinnacle of achievement. ... For Plato, the image of the cave summed up
man's destined path, emerging from the darkness of material existence to
the light of a higher and
more spiritual truth. Plato also did say—We can easily forgive a child who is
afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the
light.
There has been protests in France over economic inequality
fueled by Notre Dame giving. Some billion+ of donations have already been given
for Notre Dame renovations. The poor
want to treated the same. It seems to be a problem in many countries. It appears that to fix this is not soooooo
easy. Our history shows that giving the
poor money does not fix it. Soooo how do
we fix it? I have feelings for the poor
and underprivileged, but I don’t have the answer. My opinion is that it has to be a mind set, I
think. My opinion is that I don’t think
it appears that we are in that mind set right now.
RudyRouge says--Where facts are few, experts are many. Maybe much of what we think is right might come about
because we believe in the testimony of someone else who we think has a good
understanding of it (i.e. even though it can‘t be proven). JoeBlow says—Now that could be as there are a
lot of things that can’t be seen but just felt internally or observed (e.g.
feelings, attitudes, principles, wonderments, emotions, etc.). MissPerfect
asks—How do I know they are true and real or fake and phony? TerrificTom says—Figure it out sucker!
I was reminded once again how when our leader of our Wednesday afternoon
golf group passed on, the chemistry of the Wednesday outing has changed. We miss him; he was sorta kinda the glue. This happens all the time in our lives. It’s just not the same anymore. It affects us just a little bit maybe. A friend told me that their winter in the
South was not the same; some folks died, some have illnesses, and for other
reasons they weren’t there. The feeling
has changed. It ain’t like it was before.
Has any of you had that happen to your life? But there are positives toooo; we have the
opportunity to make new friends and make new memories. Soooooo enjoy your friends today as much as
you can; they always won’t be around or you won’t be around. As it says on the Ketchup bottle—best by a
certain date; it doesn’t say by an expiration date!
I read this while eating my
oatmeal with half a banana on it--Let me give you two methods that help people
grow. This applies in every area of life but especially family. Through example. All children
don’t want to hear a sermon, they want to see an example. Through conversations. If you’re
not having critical conversations with your children about real issues, they’re
not growing. Unfortunately, most conversations we have with children are about
schedules, eating, or homework and not about the stuff that really matters in
life. Then they get older and we still
don’t have meaningful conversation about important issues. CrazyMarvin (i.e. who loves to be first)
says—My problem is I don’t know what the important issues are and even when I
think I do, I don’t know what is right!
CrazyMarvin, you have a problem; you need help! Ouchy ouchy!
There are many good folks; you folks are
really good folks (i.e. at least part of the time; the other part of the time
it is questionable at best. ha ha). Our
culture really tugs at us and it’s hard to be good folks at times (i.e. at
least I find that in my life). Life will
go on regardless if we like it or not or whatever we decide to do with our
lives. A onesmartperson who has traveled quite a bit internationally and in
some impoverished countries told me that they see folks who are content and
happy but have nothing compared to Americans who have a lot but don’t seem as
happy. That is a little bit hard to
understand isn’t it (i.e. maybe if we can get just one more toy, we will be
happier ha ha). I had another friend
tell me that Americans don’t need God, they got everything; they are their own
god! What do you think of those comments?
That is what I thought.
WARNING!
I repeat WARNING! This is being
very real folks; some of you won’t want to read it as it will make you feel
unpleasant and uncomfortable. Sooooo
just skip it; it might be toooo much of real life. Sooooooo, I put up this note on my bathroom
mirror. I go back to Arlene and she just wet her pants. Now that is testing my mind set! That’s pretty humbling and right in my face!
I said to myself—Suck it up cupcake and let’s get going. It’s no big deal. You can handle it. She can’t help it but I have a choice; I can
handle it. Yes I can.
Have a FUN day my friends unless
you have other plans. (-:
erv
MyFriendJean says—Those who keep
a neat desk never experience the thrill of discovery.
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