Our habits change from time to time, but I think most of us watch television to
wind down in the evening. I read years ago that watching a comedy helps one
to relax and wind down in the evening and has been linked to better sleep. Thinks that are scary and keeps us on edge like the news can have the opposite effect.
My wife and I like to watch Mash, Frazier, and King of Queens. Some nights we have trouble finding an episode we have not seen before.
Not too long ago I saw an episode that stood out to me. It was when the Heffernan's,
Doug and Carrie, have an insurance agent to their house to discuss different policies.
During the insurance pitch the agent uses a word not known to either of them. Carrie has Doug make small talk to him as we watch Carrie look up the word in the dictionary. The she looked up was specious. After the agent leaves Carrie thinks, they must do some things they both can improve their knowledge. She enrolls both of them in a book club and want ruin it for you, but I feel it is worth watching especially if you like to laugh.
Too be honest I had never heard of that word. I have shared this with several people
and yet so far have not run across anyone familiar with that particular word. Specious
means that at first presented sounds correct because it has a ring of truth to it. Upon further evaluation if in found to not be true at all. Who said television cannot be educational?
There are some very bright and gifted people in this world. Some of them use their talents
for good. Others just as bright and gifted use their talents for bad purposes. Every day
people are ripped off with various kinds of scams. People often make fake copies of watches, rings, signatures, and so forth.
Unless you are very familiar with the item at hand, it is really easy to be dupped. I feel this
also applies to religion and faith. There are many people who preach the gospel that is really close to the Bible truth, but they either add to it or leave parts out. Some do this and gather a large following.
We should hold everything we see or hear and make sure it will hold water and lines up with God's word. There are many wolves fleecing people many times God's people because sounds right. Check everything against the truth even my words to make sure it is the real deal! If we look for small flaws, we hold it up in a bright light. God has given us His Light
to allow us to tell the difference between perfection and deception.
All television is educational television. The question is: What is
it is teaching. Nicholas Johnson
Words are sacred. If you get the right ones in the right order
you can nudge the world a little. Tom Stoppard
A day without laughter is a day wasted.
Charlie Chaplin
DEVIL'S WALKING STICK
I have something that is out in our garage. It is leaning
in the corner. It is called a devil's walking stick. Most walking sticks help older
people keep their balance like a taller cane if you will. This one cannot
be purchased and I have found down through the years most have never
of it.
They grow in the wild and it seems to me they favor hill sides. They are
not very tall and usually slim in diameter. They have very sharp
thorns on the stem.
I love to deer hunt and love to be in the woods. I try really hard to be scent
free and that black shiny nose on a big buck can smell very well. one
has to be careful not to bleed because this smell is easily picked up
and they are frighted by yet and will cause them to head to a new zip
code in a hurry.
So, I am in the woods excited as I head out to my deer stand. As I climb a
a steep bank I start to lose my footing sliding in the mud, leaves, or snow.
I reach out my hand by instinct in need of a hand if you will and grab
hold of one of these rascals and rip my hand and bleed like a stuck hog.
I cannot tell you how many times I have done this.
I can't think of a better name for this slender sapling. Satan does the very
same thing. He stands really to lend us a hand when we reach out for help.
I have seen people rip their lives apart. They might not see it or even be aware
that he may have sent you the bait until it is way too late.
It may be a friend who will help you at a low time and give you drugs
and get high. If you are lonely may send the best-looking person you have
ever laid eyes on. So beautiful in fact you might think it is from the Lord himself.
The devil is behind it, and it may be great and help you for a short while. He will only help you so he can hurt you and cause you pain.
Jesus will never offer you anything that would hurt you. In fact, he may not answer your prayer because he knows what you want will hurt you and says no to our request because it is not in our best interest. Do your level best
to try to learn to trust in God with all your heart. His ways are without fault.
Sin is the Trojan horse out of which comes a whole
army of troubles. Thomas Watson
Your enemy, as well as your God is watching very carefully
over the area of your desires because you are volatile there.
Beth Moore
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A LITTLE MESSAGE
I have been a lay speaker for many years. I have done this since my college days
and I have been blessed to speak in many different dominations down through the years.
Truth is' I enjoy writing far more than speaking and turn down more opportunities than I accept.
Recently I did something unusual for me and spoke in the same church back-to-back Sundays.
When I do speak, I always ask if I could do the children's moment. That is where the little ones
come to the front. I love being around the children. I always try to do a very simple short message.
As I do so I try to put in a hidden message for the big children on purpose.
As I prepared for my talk, God gave me a very simple message. I get so excited when He
speaks to my heart and sharing something I had not heard of or known before. Several people
were blown away as well and shared with me how profound it was. I must agree. It was awesome. I can say that because it was not mine. It was Him! He just downloaded it to be to be shared and I
am honored that He would use such a blemished and flawed vessel.
I took a small mirror, bathroom scales, and my bible. I took all three out of a small bag I used to
carry and conceal. I asked what these three items had in common. I told the kids all three of them
all of them tell us the way it is, not what we want to hear or see about ourselves.
I then asked why the bible is different than the other two. I shared the mirror does not show me what
I looked like ten years ago. It also cannot show mw what I will look like in five years ... if I am even here.
The scales do not tell what I weighed a few years ago or what I will weigh four or five years down
the road. They can only show us the way things are and not what was or will be.
I wanted them to understand the Bible stands out because it tells us what was, is, and what will be.
The Bible really doesn't care if we're offended when we read it.
Thor Ramsey
If I had no other reason for believing the book called the Bible, I would believe it for
this reason: it is the only book I know of that tells the plain, unvarnished truth
about myself- the only one.
Martyn Lloyd -Jones
OUT AND ABOUT
My family just returned from the Gulf coast a few days ago. My wife and
I drove down and the kids flew in, and we had a wonderful, relaxed time
together and the weather was perfect. As always, the time flew by too quickly
but I am so grateful for safety for all of us to and fro.
My wife and I recently celebrated 42 years of marriage. In all those years we have
never had a single argument.... that I won. You thought I was going fib to you I am sure and with good reason.
Two years ago, we went down to our favorite place in Florida. My wife was
not aware all our kids were joining us, and it was a cool time. We renewed our marriage vows as the kids looked on. We had a surprise ourselves when our youngest son dropped to one knee by the sea and asked his girlfriend to marry him. So, you see
this place by the sea is indeed sacred ground for us all!
This trip we were joined by our two young grandchildren. We all were all on the beach
and frolicked in the sea. After watching grandparents play like children for years
our turn and it was beyond words as all things that are from God.
We were at a traffic light and a big macho red pickup truck pulled up to the light
on our left. It was a cool truck. He had a lift kit. It sat up really high on big tires. You could not have added anything to this truck to make it look more manly. It had some words on a decal in the rear window. It said:
I hope something good happens to you today!
I did not get a good look at the driver. I was very impressed with this young man. Even though I don't know him, I know he has a good heart. It was so refreshing to see
a positive and uplifting message in this day and age. So many of the messages on shirts and bumper stickers should make us blush and turn as red as his vehicle. I said a little prayer for the guy in the big red truck. I asked God to bless all his loved ones as well. I do not know much about him, but I am sure he is an encourager. He has the gift of lift! was soon on his way, but the heartwarming words have stayed with me. I looked online and saw this same decal. I just might have to get one myself. ;)
The sea, once it has cast its spell, hold one in its net of
wonder forever. Jacques Cousteau
Matrimony is the high sea for which no compass has
been invented. Heinrich Heine
