Alcohol and other drugs

Alcohol and other drugs can numb the pain of life temporarily, but can also numb the joy of life permanently.

Alcohol and other drugs take you farther than you want to go and leave you there longer than you want to stay.

Alcohol and other drugs keep you from being a participant in your own life.

Alcohol and other drugs turn you into someone you don't want to be, who does things you never thought you'd do.

Alcohol and other drugs convince you that you don't have a problem, and everyone else does.

Alcohol and other drugs create chains that are so light you can't feel them, until they are so strong you can't break them.

The Return of the Word of the Week!

The word for the week is simply a look at words that I like. They are fun to say. I would like to see them used more in our world. So get right on that, people.

This week's word is...OODLES. It means a great or large quantity. This is a special word to me because my mom used to say it. "There were just oodles of birds in our yard today!"

I invite you to make up your own definition of the word and use it in a sentence.

Father God

Maker and Master of the universe and all that is in it. You blow my mind. You are all powerful, not just really powerful. You have all the power there could ever be without limit.

You are just and holy. A God who hates sin. We would be wrong to only speak of Your love, without also pondering Your fury. Forgive me for trying to make You into a god that is tame. Since I can't wrap my brain around You, or reconcile all of Your characteristics, I found it easier to just ignore those parts of You that made me feel uncomfortable.

At that point I created an idol, and quit worshipping You.

Why would I expect that I, a created and finite being, could ever have You all figured out. Lord, help me to accept the mystery of You. When You don't make sense to me, the problem is not with You.

You are the same yesterday, today and forever. You are the same God, Old and New Testament. You are not a pot luck buffet where I pick and choose what I want.

I accept You as You are, just as You accept me as I am.

In the just and holy name of Jesus, So be it.

Took a break

............................. Samuel........... Ben............. Micah........... Weston

I took a break from blogging. A lot has been going on. Recently Ben came to visit for about ten days. We had a great time. We got to spend a day with Jim and Kathy and their boys. Ben enjoyed being with his cousins.

Dear Lord

You are my Master, Lord and Savior. My Father and Friend. I'd be a fool to go through one more day without You. I long to know You. I want to walk with You in ever deeper levels of intimacy. I want to know Your Heart.

Lord, may I fall in love with You anew this day. Let me be aware all day long that I am in Your Presence. When I spend time with You I cannot remain unchanged.

You are working in me, disciplining, refining, healing. And I so need it.

Thank You, that even when I forget You today, even while sinning, You will be loving me just as much then as You are right now while I pray these words to You.

That is love! When faced with such love, my response can only be love, worship and... joy.

In Jesus Name I pray, So be it.

Dawning

When you get to reality
And this phantom life is o'er
When you leave this hurtful world
And step on the other shore

Oh how the angels greet you
And look on you with awe
You thought you hurt alone
But angels heard, they saw

A heroes welcome
Let the trumpets blast
The overcoming warrior
Has come home at last

Still bleeding from the wounds
Which Satan cut so deep
Tears of pain God wipes away
Tears of joy are all you weep

Ushered into the Presence
Your scars like medals shine
He knows you by those scars and says
They look so much like Mine

His face lights up
His smile so true
His eyes speak love
When He looks at you

He leaps from His Throne
He calls your name
So delighted is He
That at last you came

You'll see the face of God
Your eyes won't have to dim
The resemblance is uncanny
You look so much like Him

I wrote this poem for my friend Dawn Sease 13 years ago when she was going through a rough time.

Chest Hair Toupee

Hi. My name is Tom Klopfenstein. I'm not just the president of the Chest Hair Toupee Club For Men, I'm a customer!

Last year I was talking to this guy who had a really bad toupee. I found it hard to look him in the eye. I became convinced that I could make a better toupee.

I cut off all of my chest hair and saved it in a bag. Then I concentrated on growing more. As I harvested the hair I utilized the farming technique of crop rotation. (This is not a joke. I really did this.)

Are you bald? Do you know someone who is? Do you know someone who would benefit from having my chest hair on his head?

I think that once you see our many styles you will join our millions of happy customers in saying, "Make mine out of Chest Hair!"