tao1776

Eli walked with a limp. He walked to school most every day. Even though it caused him pain in his hips it was better than riding the school bus. Eli passed the old Hassel Farm each day, and every day, the top of their Gothic looking chimney gave him shivers up and down his spine. It was difficult knowing that he was not like other boys. It was even more difficult knowing that there was nothing he could do to change it. And oh, how he tried! He could not, not limp. He could not help but feel fearful of many so things quite benign. He couldn't make himself popular or become one of the group. He often found himself standing alone. He treated others well. He extended his friendship whenever he could. He wasn't loud or obnoxious. Even his name made him different. He was not a "Rick," or a "Bob" or a "Steve." His name was "Eli." He knew that he could not compete with those around him. So he didn't. One school morning, Eli was asked to stan...

Its simple and true Thanksgiving to you. Not bout Turkey, nor cran, and pie. Its about being thankful for things low and for things high. We take so for granted the many lil things while looking for diamonds or looking for rings. No its a smile, the laughter, good beer, and happiness for me when you by stop here.... HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Eli walked with a limp. He walked to school most every day. Even though it caused him pain in his hips it was better than riding the school bus. Eli passed the old Hassel Farm each day, and every day, the top of their Gothic looking chimney gave him shivers up and down his spine. It was difficult knowing that he was not like other boys. It was even more difficult knowing that there was nothing he could do to change it. And oh, how he tried! He could not, not limp. He could not help but feel fearful of many so things quite benign. He couldn't make himself popular or become one of the group. He often found himself standing alone. He treated others well. He extended his friendship whenever he could. He wasn't loud or obnoxious. Even his name made him different. He was not a "Rick," or a "Bob" or a "Steve." His name was "Eli." He knew that he could not compete with those around him. So he didn't. One school morning, Eli was asked to sta...

Lust involves obsessive or excessive thoughts or desires of a sexual nature. Gluttony is the over-indulgence of anything to the point of waste. Greed is a sin of excess applied to the acquisition of wealth in particular. Sloth represents the failure to utilize one's talents and gifts. Wrath is an inordinate and uncontrolled feelings of hatred and anger. Envy is an insatiable desire for something that someone else has. Pride is the self-loving desire to be more important or attractive than others. I once owned a 1989 Saab EMS. She was fun to drive and she was one of the last cars that still possessed that great old Saab look that they so lack today. She had a moon roof but very little else in the way of extra options. The day finally came when I could not repair the rusted supports and fix all the various safety issues. The car had heart. When the tow truck from the Kidney Foundation came to take her away, she had 300,000+ on the odometer. That motor would not quit! I a...

A nd Mohamed wasn't a Muslim, and Buddha wasn't a Buddhist......and, and, and, and........................ When you begin to study the Bible, especially the New Testament and the Gospels, you begin to slowly realize that there are many myths that have evolved into the Christian story. For a new Christian this can be rather unsettling. You are taught quite early in your relationship with the church that, "as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:14-17 Whether or not this Bible passage or any other says it is so, it is taught that the Bible is the infallible word ...

Many of you have heard me tell the story of my time within the Christian mainstream in the seventies. Yes, I was a Jesus freak. It was common for us to hit the streets and "Preach Jesus." I enjoyed this part of the "outreach ministry" and I sincerely wanted people that were facing periods of intense insecurity to pray; To ask Jesus to enter their lives and offer them guidance and salvation. I did not ask them to join my church, to come meet with my group or to take my advice as to where they might begin to look for spiritual guidance. I made the mistake in believing that God was big enough, that Jesus was capable of, helping and guiding someone who had enough faith and hope to just ask for it. I guess this approach was frowned upon. I was told by my church elders that the reason I was out there preaching was to direct them to my church, my group. I wasn't supposed to understand or to ask questions. I was in God's Army! As is true with any soldier that is e...

I couldn't let the week go by and not mention the passing of Mitch Mitchell (far right) There is something to be said about self taught musicians. They are able to deliver from outside the box and the Jimi Hendrix Experience was only one prime example from that period of musical expression and exploration. These many years after the dissolution of The Experience and after the death of Jimi, I still have the rolling and cascading drum rolls of Mitch Mitchell from the song "Manic Depression" beating through my head. PORTLAND, Oregon (Reuters) - Mitch Mitchell, a pioneering drummer best known for his work with 1960s rock icon Jimi Hendrix, died on Wednesday, at age 62. Mitchell was found dead in his Portland, Oregon, hotel room. A Multnomah County coroner's spokesman said it appeared he died of natural causes, although a formal finding had not yet been issued. The drummer had been in Portland for the last stop on an 18-city U.S. tour with Experience Hend...

The workplace always allows for a vast array of characters. Like I have told you before, I found a job, very unexpectedly, working in the local True Value Hardware Store. After my first ten weeks at the store, the management was all over me to get the special monogrammed shirts with the store name upon the left breast with my name on the right. I was very reluctant to do so because I believed that I would be there less than ninety days. Today marks the first day of year four. The store is divided into two departments: hardware and lumber. I work as the paint manager. This means that I order and maintain the department. When I was hired it came as a complete surprise to them that I knew all that I knew regarding paints and coatings in general. When I applied for a job there I dumbed down my application just to find a job. Any job. They hired me to stock shelves and act as a cashier. It was only later that they discovered that I worked over twenty years formulating and color matching in...

And when I was born, I began to breathe the common air, and fell upon the kindred earth; my first sound was a cry, as is true of all. When we are born, we cry that we are come To this great stage of fools. A little Bible, a little Billy Shakespeare We had a great Halloween party. What began as a little celebration to honor those that have passed on before us and a toast to the Celtic New Year, Samhein and the thinning of the veil for a night, grew into a standing room only assembly of friends, guests and acquaintances. A great time was had by all. I strove to be a good host and spent time with each one. In my travels from room to room and from person to person I had beer, scotch, spiced cider (heavy on the Captain's) and some kind of egg nog. At night's end there were only a handful of my daughter's friends and the Subway crowd and my son and a few of his friends. And I was staggering drunk. It appears that I ate little and drank much. I thought that going to b...

The Bible say that "by their fruits you shall know them." I long ago understood that human beings have a grand ability to justify any horrific deed as being something "good in the long run." You know, the ol' "the ends justify the means" kind of logic. And none of this is new. But when you seriously speak with some of these guys you soon come to realize how easily we could become a religious state or a police state or entertain the possibility of another Nazi Party and the SS. Its all about anxiety and control and fear and greed. More often than not those that profess "God" have more fear within their hearts than anything even resembling faith. The early Christians were to a great extent the first "Socialists" but America's "Kings Kids" scream about the idea as if it were leprosy. I can see why. We have become so not unlike pigs in a trough that I'd be nervous too that I wasn't getting enough. But when is en...