I've been reading this lately a great way to live

^1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

³I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.

^4-6In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we're talking about is Christ's body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn't amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ's body, let's just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren't.

^6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.

^9-10Love from the center of who you are; don't fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.

^11-13Don't burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don't quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

^14-16Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.

^17-19Don't hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you've got it in you, get along with everybody. Don't insist on getting even; that's not for you to do. "I'll do the judging," says God. "I'll take care of it."

^20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. (Romans 12, The Message)

Obscure Lyric for the week of Sept.14/09

Good morning music fans and welcome to a new week. It's looking rather gray or is that grey out there this morning? No matter which way it is spelled, it looks a little gloomy today. I'm sure it's not going to last.

This weeks song was performed by a Canadian band. The band had a huge hit in the late 60's along with several other "hits". The album it comes from is numbered, but is not the correct order of completion chronologically. The album did not contain any "hits" and reached 19 on the charts.

Here are some lyrics:

Hear me holler down the mountain side

I'm near the sky blinking at the evil eye

Hear me holler at the city's grind

It stole my soul just about lost my mind

I would like to know the following:

The name of the song:

The writers:

The name of the band:

Who played bass on this album:

Have a great week. Yes, I know this is a tough one. I think there are a few of you out there who will know this one though. Looks like the sun will reappear and be with us for the rest of the week, so that's something to look forward to.

The big reveal for the week of Sept.7/09

Good morning and for all of us in North America it is time to remember as today is the anniversary of 911. A sad day. The soldiers in the photo above did what they could to remind us all to remember. I still recall the dancing in some places as the towers fell and can still not understand the glee at another person's loss. Schadenfreude is sadly alive and well. I hope that you can take some time today to remember and do something for the cause of peace.

Today is also the time for the big reveal. There were no guessers this week. I really didn't think that this was so tough, but then again I knew the answers before I sent out the questions.

Here are your answers:

The name of the song: Into the West

The writer(s): Fran Walsh, Howard Shore and Annie Lennox

The singer: Annie Lennox

The destination: Valinor by way of The Grey Havens

The name of the movie: The Lord of the Rings, specifically The Return of The King

The sting of loss is softened by memories and the belief that those departed will be reunited in future. As in the song where it states that "The ships have come to carry you home". The anticipation is there that we will join those who have gone on before us in a new home. Home is after all the best place, no matter where it is. Enjoy the song, there is no video to it, too many copyright problems, so you'll just have to listen to Annie and feast your eyes on the King.

Have a great weekend, take time to remember the good, the amazing and even the difficult times in your life. It is by remembering that we eliminate the power that those events try to have on us. By remembering, we say to the events "you do not define me". Just like 911 does not define the US, muslims or NY City, our experiences do not define who we are. We are defined by who we are: our actions, lives and service to fellow travellers in this journey.

If you have made mistakes, there is always another chance for you. You may have a fresh start any moment you choose, for this thing we call "failure" is not the falling down, but the staying down.

"You Lie"

Wow, never have two little words created such a stir.

While the words may have been out of place, maybe a lack of decorum and even inappropriate these two words expressed the truth. A brief review of the things this person has said have shown significant lack of integrity in his ability to maintain the truth. And in the land of the free and the home of the brave where freedom of speech is so firmly ensconced in the national fibre, the attacks on the individual who spoke them is tremendous.

I am not a fan or supporter of either the Republican or Democrat party in the good ole U. S. of A, fortunately. I am also not a citizen of the US, I am Canadian. According to the leader of the US, that country is not a Christian nation, but one made up of citizens.................. duh aren't we all citizens, well maybe all of us except illegal immigrants, but that's another post.

Anyway, with regards to the sacred notion of free speech, I guess it is when you speak things that are approved, or are aligned with the correct group (or the politically correct). Fpr a comparison, what happened when the previous president Bush was booed during the "state of the nation address"? Did the world go into such a a tizzy as this? of course not, this is going to be used as a smoke screen so that Obama care and the fairness doctrine will be passed by the bleating sheep in the house and congress.

One day, there will be a reckoning.

You lie, no kidding, he does, I do and so do all of you. Now as to the lack of decorum, some of the things I have read from those who wish to make Mr. Wilson a saint and those who think he is a demon lack more than decorum, they lack what they themselves have, forgiveness and the freedom of speech.

9 9 9

Today is the ninth day of the ninth month in 2009. September 9, 2009 has arrived. I am not much into numerology or most other kinds of "ologies" (except theology) but the three nines has a bit of a ring to it.

Will it change anything about my day? I doubt it! As I watch the early morning sun begin to stream across the sky I am encouraged by the red sky in the morning. I know there are lots of rhymes about red skies in the morning, in fact in the book of Matthew, Jesus is quoted as saying, "red sky in the morning means foul weather all day". I also prefer to hearken to the following: "do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself, each day has enough trouble of it's own". This was also spoke by Jesus after teaching the disciples how to pray.

So, today is 9 9 9. What does it mean? Take today, this hour, minute and even every second captive and be blessed by everything: the breath that you take as you read, the labour that you do to feed yourself and others, the beauty of sunshine and rain, the frustrations of life because they compare with the wonderful positive moments, the car requiring repairs because you have a car, the giving of pleasure, for is it not better to give than to receive?

I know that when the next 9 9 9 arrives, I will no longer reside on this planet, so today is a day that I will revel in the many blessings that I have been given, what about you?

Tuesday Musings # 51

Happy Tuesday everyone

Much of my thought life this week has already been shadowed by Sept.11, 2001. I have no idea why, but I have been haunted by the images that I saw 8 years ago. I knew no one, I know no one and I have never met anyone who was related to anyone in those attacks. I have been afraid much of my life, I think I have to unwrap that little sentence sometime, but the attacks that day made me more afraid. Afraid of what? That is the question (sorry Bill).

That day is etched in my mind (and we're not talking etch a sketch. I remember where I was when I first heard the initial news, I remember what customers I was visiting, I remember the day and I remember vividly the discussions on the radio as I travelled back to the office. I recall the tv in the office and Bob trying to attach "rabbit ears" so we could see. My primary thought that day was I need to be at home with my family and I wanted to hug my wife and kids. Josh was 14 and Alex was 10.

Why do some zealots determine it "right" to kill innocent people? Are we not all innocent, with the exception of the Manson's of the world and others who we know are guilty of murder? Does anyone deserve death via suicide bomber? Before you take umbrage with my "one sided" rant yes, I am aware of atrocities committed by so called christians in the past. Did people deserve death by "inquisition" and the crusades? No, of course not. And what about the feuding parties in Northern Ireland that I was a child of that hatred does not escape me, ever.

When does it stop? When do we stop? When do I stop? It is up to me, to love my neighbour even though I may not like him or her (or them).

And who is my neighbour?

Jesus, in response to a question from a religion scholar about getting eternal life said:

"what is written in God's law"

and the scholar said

"That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence-and that you love your neighbour as yourself"

the scholar trying to trick Jesus said:

"and just how would you define neighbour"

and Jesus proceeded to tell the parable about the Good Samaritan:

"There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

"A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I'll pay you on my way back.' "

"What do you think?" Jesus said, "Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"

"The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded.

Jesus said, "Go and do the same."

The message is for all of us. The Samaritans were hated by the Jewish people and yet this man treated those who hated him with kindness. The question of eternal life is not to be answered by the number of virgins that await us at Martyrdom, all people particularly women should be offended by that. Beyond anything it is selfish. Rather the question is what and how will we treat those we do not like now.

I am not a fan of war (have never been) or war movies (anymore). I have tired of any real life depiction of violence in the last few years and significantly more since April 2008. I recall listening to this piece of music at the end of Platoon in 1986 and being transfixed by it. The sadness expressed by the writer and the platform from which it is being played leaves me with tears at the horror and beauty of the world that we live in. Until we all see each other as neighbours, the dissonant notes of terrorism will remain.

Happy Tuesday everyone

Obscure Musical Lyric for the week of Sept.7/09

Good morning and welcome to the new week and the first week of September. Can you believe that we are already in September? I have spent the last two weeks on vacation and have enjoyed the time even though we had several trips to Toronto (3) for appointments last week. We will be there again today for the final appointment (hopefully).

I wanted to choose something special for this weeks song. This is the week that we remember 911. On September 11, 2001 the world changed. I felt that the world grew smaller and darker. This song has nothing to do with 911, it is a culmination of a work that I love. I have never used this singer in the blog, I am not really a fan of any of the work this person did, alone or as a member of a duet, except for this song. The song is sad as it deals with loss, some have even sung it at funerals. However, the loss is tempered with the belief that a new life awaits as we cross to that distant shore. The song is not part of the original work, but was added to the last portion when the work was transferred to film in 2003.

Across the sea, a pale moon rises

The ships have come to carry you home

And all will turn, to silver glass

A light on the water

Here's what I would like to know:

The name of the song:

The writer (s) of the song:

The singer:

The destination (what is the distant shore called):

The name of the movie:

Have a great week. Today is a holiday. School starts tomorrow for all the kiddies and I return to work after a lengthy break. Fall will be here soon so enjoy the last vestiges of summer as she passes. In the midst of the revelry that is the first week of school and as your sons and daughters leave to go to school, be thankful that your children do so in relative peace and are not harassed for going to school. There are so many children world wide who do not, cannot and are not allowed to go to school. The children may not appreciate this, but we must appreciate this and the freedoms we enjoy in this country.

The big reveal for the week of Aug.31/09

Welcome to Friday and the big reveal. What an awesome week it has been, weather wise. The rest of the experiences this week were similarly beautiful. I hope you have enjoyed the sparkling sunshine and the lovely cool nights as much as I have. It's time for the fall spreading and while I have begun to get used to the odour, the first sprays of the fall are still pretty strong.

I had one guess this week and "Dan the man" aka Dan GG was correct with his guess. Due to copyright concerns there are no english versions of the song from the movie available on YouTube, so you'll have to rent the movie and just enjoy it in the privacy of your own homes.

Here are your answers:

The name of the song: Shout (and by the way, I hate the Buffalo Bills)

The brothers who wrote it: The Isley Brothers

The name of the movie: Animal House (Toga party anyone)

The name of the band from the movie: Otis Day and The Knights

Who produced Dewaynes album: George Clinton of "Funkadelic" and "Parliament" fame

Here is one of my favourite scenes and from the movie, do you know who the guitarist is? And by the way the guitar is/was real.

It's Stephen Bishop of "On and On" fame.

And here after hours of searching is the video that you've all be waiting for even if it's partly in Spanish (I think):

Have an awesome long weekend. I hope the sunshine, the anticipation of all that next week brings and the enjoyment of life bring you a peaceful rest over the next three days. The "school" version of the Obscure musical lyric is now over!

Over? Did you say over? Nothing is over until we decide it is! Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbour? Hell, no!"

3 days, 3 trips to Toronto, a review!

We had the great opportunity to visit Toronto three days consecutively and also visited the hammer on the middle day this week. We have just returned home after day three and besides being extremely tired, having put almost 1000 kms on the car and increased our support of Tim Horton's the trips were more than enlightening, in fact, we were/are pleased with the courtesy of the folks in the "big smoke" with the exception of the drivers(I can't imagine what Montreal is like).

Over three days we visited two hospitals, numerous wholesale stores that normally open only to retailers , a wine distributor, a few eating establishments and even made it to St. Lawrence market.

We found the many people both professional and folks on the street to be pleasant, friendly and they even greeted us with smiles (except for one guy in Harvey's in Mississauga). Toronto the good lives, the people were enjoying their work, the staff at the hospitals were kind, happy to deliver good news(who isn't) and eager to assist in many ways.

I live in a small town, enjoy the stars at night and can tolerate the farm smells all year round. I spend as little time in Toronto(or any big city) as I have to, mainly because I do not like the size. Our experiences over the past three days have been great and even though we are tired of travelling and visiting medical establishments, our lasting memory from the end of this summer is one of sunshine and smiles in Toronto, thanks!

Tuesday Musings # 50

Happy Tuesday everyone

We've been on the road today since early a.m. My beloved had an appointment at Sunnybrook and with the lovely Toronto traffic, it took us almost 2.5 hrs to get from our home to the hospital, a distance of 124 kms. Talk about bad drivers. Don't get me started. I was so happy to get closer to home, however, when I flashed (my lights) at a driver to tell him he could pull in front of me from a two lane to a one lane and he proceeded to flip me the bird. I guess they're not all in Toronto, what a joke. I am going to rant today, why, because there is so much to rant about and there are so many issues that frustrate me right now.

I am so tired of listening to people not be happy for someone else when they (the someone else) has something to be happy for (a sudden windfall, a win of some kind, a blessing). I'm tired of selfishness and childish behaviour that comes from a lack of maturity. I am tired of egotistical people who focus on their own issues and have no place for the concerns of others. I'm tired of listening to Democrats and Republicans, Liberals and Conservatives and even Independents and NDP'ers slam each other and then go and perform the same "sins".

I would guess that most of these so called "leaders" of our society are primarily made of of rich people. They have no idea what it means to be in want. They have never likely been down to their last few dollars and had to decide between roof or food. They deem to determine what is best for us, because we were foolish enough to vote for them. Where is the integrity? Yesterday it was "e-health", today it is OLG (Ontario's Lottery ?) and now the government is going to investigate it's own. That's like having the mice guard the cheese.

We raise our kids and teach them the 10 Commandments, although they too are no longer politically correct, however that's a post for another Tuesday and we expect them to not steal. Yet on a daily basis we see members of our esteemed "upper class" pilfering the pockets of the public and what do they get, life time pensions at an annual rate that is more than most people make in several years.

Dr. John (the physician not the musician) often said at our coffee breaks, someday there will be a reckoning. There will be and maybe not in the near future, but someday all of us will have to account for all of our behaviours. Saying us makes me think about how I should be acting. It always comes to that, self responsibility and the willingness to look in the mirror, assess and then change what needs to be changed, hmm!

Happy Tuesday everyone