Opinion

Even though it rarely crosses our mind, there is always someone listening to what we are saying. Words are not just meaningless sounds but were created to communicate and most importantly to relay God’s thoughts. They contain the power to influence and persuade the listener which means those who speak are being held accountable for their intentions. Words that are presented from a negative attitude can cause much damage while words spoken from a heavenly influence are filled with life and can bring hope, faith, and encouragement.

The only thing I remember from my two years in Japan is an aroma.  But it wasn’t until eleven years later, when I was fourteen, that I remembered I had a memory of it.  My mother bought a local version of Cracker Jack that day, and I recall opening the bag on the couch in front of the TV in the living room, and suddenly the snoz part of my brain lit up.

I’m sure that most of us have dreamed about accomplishing something but discovered that our goal was not going to be easy. Some individuals, maybe yourself, became so determined to succeed that nothing could prevent them from achieving their vision. So, what causes a person to be so passionate and excited about what they love and where do we find this ability to focus and the internal drive to persevere even in the face of incredible resistance and seemingly impossible challenges? Can anyone develop a persistent never-give-up attitude?

My daughter, Ricochet, started accusing me of being a hoarder.  I pointed out that I did not have stacks of newspapers and boxes and tubs of old junk sitting around on the floor of my house, but she insisted that I held on to too much stuff.  How she knew what stuff I kept in my closets and drawers, I didn’t understand. But eventually I realized it was all a ruse. She was distracting me from catching on to the reality that she was hoarding her stuff in my garage.  She is the hoarder. She just isn’t hoarding in her own house!

Growing older is like a train rolling down the track and no matter how many botox injections, vitamins, or hair plugs, we cannot stop the reality of our mortality. There is nothing wrong with trying to look young and we agree that dieting and exercise would surely be a healthy and positive lifestyle but the hourglass only contains so much sand. As the days keep ticking away, we are reminded to not put off until tomorrow what we can do today because we are not sure how many tomorrows we will have. If you want a big juicy steak for heaven's sake go have one.

My wife got new furniture the other week, couch, coffee table, and end tables.  I only recently felt comfortable enough to remove my thigh, knee, and shin guards while walking around the furniture she bought three years ago, and now I have to suit up again!  Different dimensions, different corners; it’s like the boobytraps in the third Indiana Jones movie. I might have to put a cable box in my office, complete with DVR, so I never, ever have to go in the living room.  Hey, and maybe a little fridge and tabletop stove.

Television has become passé to many youngster people. Preschoolers often have their own tablets, kindles, and electronic games. These devices are changed and updated so often it is almost impossible for most parents to constantly monitor what their child is viewing. Most parents are not that vigilant. In essence many children have the exposure without the guidance to decide on their own the world they want to gravitate towards.

Imagine if you were the creator of the earth with all of its breathtaking beauty and gave each living creature the gift of life. For every human, you provided a book of your promises which gives a detailed description of how they are to live. And then, you sent your only son to sacrifice his life and raised him from the dead to redeem the souls of all who would believe. Your invitation to deliver those who would believe from the bondage of sin and welcome them to live with you in heaven forever is beyond words.

As far as I’m concerned, clean doesn’t have a smell.  It is smelless. There is no odor, fragrance, or aroma.  Clean is air without scent. But thanks to TV, my wife thinks clean is the smells of lemon and mainly pine.  The only time I want to smell lemon is when I’m eating one or drinking lemonade. And I never want to smell pine.  And exactly what does “pine” mean? Pinetree? What part of the tree? Do they flower? Is it the cone? The bark? It’s probably the sap.  So who decided pine sap smells clean? Oh yeah, TV.