and the story goes on

This “It’s Saturday” is not a fish story but it could be considered one by some of you.  Fish stories always get better with time and some even, when told enough times, are considered the truth.  A golf buddy (i.e. who was a professional writer early in his career) told us that all good stories are embellished some!

I’m not trying to teach you anything or persuade you of anything or influence you in any direction.  I’m trying to stimulate myself and maybe you.  That is the truth of the matter! I have been told that some teaching is false teaching (i.e. falsehoods). CadillacJack says--Very few if any folks know the truth about everything (i.e. if you do, you are one special person). Maybe some folks just think they know the truth about everything.  Soooo, basically, everyone is a false teacher; just some are worse than others. JoeSnipe says—Falsehood is never so successful as when she baits her hook with truth. 

A verysmartperson told me—erv, all self-help books are a bunch of hooey (i.e. money makers).  Another onesmartperson told me—erv, if you read the first chapter of self-help books, the rest is more of the same--filler.  Anothersmartperson told me—erv, if you listen to self-help speakers, after the first ten minutes, it’s all just repeated stuff.

ItchieBitchie a.k.a. Rocketdog says—Sometimes we need to take a wack to the chin to get our attention soooo the same story just doesn’t go on the sameO sameO!  I don’t mean a little tap but a right, a left, and a swift uppercut to the jaw!  Man-o-man, that is rather extreme isn’t it Rocketdog!  Maybe soooo but minor little taps don’t do much it seems.  JoeMillennial says—The culture of the Millennials is more of a “slap and tickle” feeling.  And many seem to love it.  And the story goes on! Such is life.

I have had two different folks ask me what I thought (i.e. that doesn’t happen very often let me tell you).  And on the same day about two different things. But I basically answered them the same.  Yes I did.  What I said was just my opinion which really doesn’t mean a whole lot, but it is what it is (i.e. just maybe a fish story).  They asked!  ha ha  ANYWAY, one question I was asked was how to change a person to be a saver and the other one was what I think churches need to do to go forward.  My answers were basically the same for both questions—Somehow some way, there must be an attitude for a change.  Yep, I think you can preach and preach and preach but if folks don’t change their attitude, nuttin is going to change (many folks don’t want change soooo any talk about change they let it go right over their head).  Soooo, in my opinion, the real question is, how can people change their attitudes (i.e. do they really want tooooo change at all. It appears, my opinion, is that many really don’t want to change).  How do you change folks’ attitude is a whole another question (i.e. especially church folks and family; in business it’s way easier—force them or pinkslip’em).  And the story goes on! 

I believe it is a huge massive advantage if we can listen to others even if we don’t agree.  I learn soooo much from others and I had no idea that I was going tooooo.  I can learn a lot from our adult kids by watching and listening.  I recently was in contact with a gal who I know their family quite well.  I asked her if they are going with their family to a MN lake again this summer.  She said that they are taking their children and grandchildren like our parents did to us and our children.  Soooo you are continuing the tradition—yes we are—I bet the only difference is now you pay the bill instead of your parents paying the bill—that is right!  Some of our kids can afford to pay and others can’t just like us years ago.  I said to her—now that is a week when you can change them.  She just rolled her eyes!

I just read the book The Great Platte River Road by Merrill J. Mattes.  I really like the history about the 350,000 emigrants (i.e. EK, there is a difference between emigrants and immigrants or is there) who traveled the road.  I have stopped at Kearney and North Platte and talked to folks and went through some museums.  I have toured some of the locations.  ANYWAY, this book is a historical non-fiction.  In the preface he says—"It is not based on broad general impressions gleaned from secondary works, nor does it lean heavily on writing of one particular traveler.  It is distilled from the firsthand impression of several hundred covered wagon emigrants, representing both sexes and all degrees of human latitude.” Sooooo many stories are from one source and we believe every word of the story from that one person.  Sooooo many times the words of that one person is inaccurate and skewed to what they want it toooo be or think. JoeBlow says—I find it better to listen to different sides of the story by different folks.  SusieQ says--But folks like juicy stories and when passing them on they are made juicer!  Such is life.

Aren’t stories fun!  Like when you get together with family, old friend, old business folks, past church folks, old college friends, old team members, old fishing buddies, etc. The stories seem to get better as time goes on.  Maybe we just remember them differently.  Some sure are funny.  I just talked to a friend who I played quite a bit of golf with years ago.  ANYWAY, we reminisced about some of the old stories and laughed and laughed.  What a good time. Something else that really was interesting to me—He was the most personal to me about his story than he has ever been in our long friendship.  Why? I have no idea.  I read recently that Indians would sit in their tepees and tell stories all winter.  They told basically the same stories about hunting outings, attacks, bravery, and traditions.  It was a big part of their life.  They didn’t have books, Internet, or videos to record history soooo they had to rely on oral stories passed on from generation to generation.  I think that is very interesting. And the story goes on. Or does it!

LuxkieEddie, what do you think about the story of Jesus?  LuckieEddie says—Now that is a story!  What do you think LuckieEddie means by that expression?  It could mean that he doesn’t believe it or it could mean that the story is unbelievably great that he can’t comprehend it or it might be that it is a very entertaining story or it might mean that he has no idea about what to think of that story or it might mean that he buys into it hook, line and sinker. 

GeorgeTheCrook says—Some folks are better story tellers than others.  Some are terrible story tellers but think they are good (i.e. folks say, oh man, here he goes again, I have to go to the bathroom really bad, I’ll catch you later).  Some folks’ stories go on forever and go nowhere; some aren’t even funny or informative.  And some folks’ stories are just really fun to listen toooo.  MissPerfect says—I have been told some real gems of stories by some guys who have all kinds of motives.  EasyBetty says--Some guys are very successful with their patented stories that many girls fall for (e.g. like the FastFredie stories). 

TomTerrific says—Any time some person goes on and on how great you are, be very careful.  They might not be telling the truth (i.e. it just might be a story) but probably maybe are trying to manipulate you.  And you know what, many folks fall for that trick; they just love it and don’t figure it out.  Da!  A friend told me recently that if you know folks for a long time, look at their history.  That pretty much will tell you who they are. Sometimes folks are aggressive tooooo new folks as those new folks don’t know them and are looking for an advantage as they don’t know who they are.  Usually time proves things pretty accurate. 

Joesixpack (i.e. who can make up stories as he goes) says—There are exciting stories, horrifying stories, gut wrenching stories, fun stories, dirty stories, vicious stories, sad stories, happy stories, touching stories, etc.  You get the idea.  I read recently that each day we have about 3 million stories told to use through some form of advertising.  Now that is a lot of “getting in our heads” let me tell you.  Everyone has a story why their product is the best and why we should buy it.  3 million sure seem to be a lot of stories.  Maybe that is just a story.

We went to the Cedar Falls Bible Conference (i.e. 89^th year it’s been running) because of the encouragement of a golf buddy who is on the board.  Now that doesn’t sound like much of a big deal but for Arlene and me, it’s a big deal let me tell you.  The speaker was Sean McDowell.  I enjoyed his talk about truth—he said that truth is not subjective but objective (e.g. strawberry is the best ice cream compared toooo the truth of gravity).  But he said much stuff that is considered truth in our current culture, is not determined that way; truth is determined by if it feels good to folks.  Interesting.  I enjoyed his presentation method and his style.  An interesting comment he started his talk with was a Martin Luther quote—If you don’t apply the gospel to the issues of the day, are you really preaching the gospel?  This was during the reformation in which great changes were happening in the church (i.e. the printing press had a lot to do with it plus the education of the general public). It appears that the directors of the Bible Conference are trying to change it to a more 2019 version (i.e. to comply to our culture).  I think they think if they don’t, it is going to die; they want the story to go on.  It might still die; our culture is way different and is changing ever day at 300 Mbps speed.

Here is a great story about me.  I sorta kinda gave up on John (i.e. John is fictitious name as anyone, and everyone can be a John).  He was not ever very responsive to me and I thought he was aloof.  That was fine with me, but I was not going to go out of my way to be extra nice to him anymore.  Then out of the blue, he did two different acts of kindness to me (i.e. uplifting).  Why all of a sudden did he do them? I have no idea.  Crazy!

A teacher told me that a very good way to get to know each other is by telling each other our stories. Do you think that is a good idea or not? That is what I thought.  Some folks do a lot more story telling about themselves than others.  I think it’s a true story; yes I do.  But many folks don’t feel comfortable in telling their story probably for many reasons.  And many folks don’t what you to know anything about their story (i.e. are very private). Each their own, I guess.  I rode with a golf buddy/friend Wednesday and he told me that he had a hard time developing a very personal relationship with a common friend—why—it seems like we weren’t on the same page; we didn’t relate very well—do you share your story with other folks—well, I use to more but I got hurt in a divorce in which I put in a lot of energy and then in my job I had to release many employees; now I don’t like to get close to many folks sooooo I don’t want to share my story.  Such is life.

I had a conversation with an acquaintance recently who I have known for a long time.  This person seemed to me to have become a radical; an extremist.  Maybe they have been listening to the same type of stories for toooo long and got brain washed a little and then over time got brainwashed more and more.  I don’t know.  Maybe they have a mental health issue.  Propaganda does work folks.  I have been indoctrinated by my past environment that consists of many things (i.e. some good and some bad).  No question. I think we all have but some seem to go overboard more than others.  That is my opinion.

My Daddy, Chester and my Mom, Anna, always taught us kids to put things away after using them—everything has a place and that way you can always find them.  I did some mechanical work in the garage.  I was going to complete the project in a couple of days sooooo I let my tools sit out.  Soooo I went back in a couple of days and the 5/8 inch socket wasn’t there.  I’m the only one in our garage soooo what happened.  I first cleaned out the corner of the garage that I was working in and then expanded the search to the rest of the garage.  Sooooo far I didn’t find it.  I really think the neighbor’s dog ate it!  If I would have only did what Chester and Anna taught me.  Will I ever learn!

I think teaching is done in a lot of different ways. Solomon, David, and Jesus used illustrations and stories to teach.  Jesus was a great teacher. The Gospels are jam-packed with his teachings. One of Jesus’ favorite methods was through word pictures. That kind of teaching should not surprise us. Any teacher can tell you that stories and images help all of us learn. And the story goes on.  Parents and grandparents read story books with pictures toooo young kids.  Da!

Okay folks, I could be just telling you a false story; yes I could!  People like change.  Yes they do.  They like fancy vehicles, nicer houses, retirement, work less and more benefits, longer vacations, bigger TVs, modern medical advances, neater and new advanced toys, new clothes etc.  You get it.  It’s just that folks don’t want certain changes.  Or is it just most older folks don’t like change unless it makes their life easier or makes them more money.  It seems like most younger folks don’t mind change and sorta kinda like change.  Has it always been that way? And the story goes on! How does that stimulate you? That is what I thought!

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

erv

MyFriendJean says—Middle age starts when you become more interested in how long your car will last rather than how fast it will go.