The Power of a Smile

Hope you're doing well today.  I don't have any real purpose in posting today.  I just want to make sure I get in the habit of doing it more regularly.  In fact, I think I'll make it one of my resolutions for 2010.  It makes me keep thinking..... something I probably don't do enough of.  (Or some people would say I do TOO much of.....)  For instance, have you ever wondered if a fly didn't have any wings, if they would have called it a "walk"?

I'm looking out my office window at the steady rain falling.  It's suppose to last for a couple days.  It's amazing how we take the sun for granted down here in Florida.  My work has not been going too well as of late.  It seems like every situation is a hassle, with very little good news or success.  It makes it hard to feel like you're accomplishing something for God in your work, when you aren't able to help the churches your working with.  So.... I'm having a down day today, and to be honest, really don't mind it.  I don't have them very often, but when I do, I kind of enjoy them.  I know that sounds weird, but I guess every now and then I feel like I need to be honest with myself and not act like I'm enjoying life today when I'm not.

I know how to get myself out of those moods, as I'm sure you do too.  (And when I feel like it, I will... thank you very much.)  For instance, you can 1) look at all the blessings in your life; 2) reflect on others less fortunate than you; 3)  pause and consider what's the worst that could happen in this situation; 4)  realize how little this will matter to you in 5 years; or finally, 5)  see somebody smile at you with genuine joy.

We should never underestimate the power of a smile.  Our facial expressions can be so impacting to the people we come in contact with.  To often, we lose sight of the influence we have to make somebody's day better, or make it a little worse.....  So remember today to let the joy within you reflect on your face today.  Your smile can be contagious.  You know that happiness is really surface, right?  The deep down joy we have in our lives comes from our relationship with Jesus Christ.  That doesn't go away easy.....we just have to remind ourselves sometimes it's in there.

I can never stay too melancholy while I'm working, because I'm using the picture below as my desktop background.  In fact, everytime I look at it, I just have to smile back.....  When you see it, you'll know what I'm talking about.  SMILE TODAY!  It's really not that bad.

Home Sweet Home

It doesn't matter how old you get, it's always fun to go home and visit mom and dad and the brothers.  That made Thanksgiving special this year.  I mean, having a contest with your bros to see who can eat the most food without throwing up.....it doesn't get much better than that.

We're all getting older, but that doesn't mean we have to mature, right?  I hope not, as it's not something we appear to be reaching anytime soon.  We DID have a lot of laughs and fun though, but tried not to lose sight of the incredible reasons we have to be thankful (starting with our family).

Iowa gave me just a little reminder of it's cold nights and windy days, but then treated me to a couple sunny days to remind me of what I had just left behind...... You might have to look a little bit closer at times, but there is still a lot of beauty in the old home state.  (I haven't confirmed if the state tree is really the telephone pole, but I'm checking my sources.)

Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to get back to finishing off the homemade peanut brittle, chocolate covered peanuts, chocolate chip-cheerio cookies and the last three pieces of pie...... Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!

I Don't Need More......

It really shouldn't be too tough to come up with a list of things we're thankful for, should it? And it isn't. However, the problem is our focus. We're so busy with our day to day life, we don't stop and take the time to be that thoughtful. So, it takes a holiday like Thanksgiving to make us pause enough to actually verbalize or "typalize" our thoughts of appreciation.

My pastor made a great statement in his sermon last Sunday. He said, "I wish I had a greater ability to appreciate all that I already have. I don't need more....." See, if we could be more appreciative and thankful, and would let people know, EVERYBODY would be better off. You know how you feel when somebody shows appreciation for you. And you also know how you feel when you see the reaction of somebody you have shown appreciation too... everybody wins!

Let's each see how many random things we can come up with in 5 minutes that we are thankful for.... on your mark, get set, GO!

I'm thankful --
1) for God and His love for me.
2) for Jesus and His willingness to die on a cross for my sins.
3) that I was born and raised in a Christian home, within a caring and happy atmosphere.
4) that God allowed me to meet my wife on that "double dog dare".
5) that my wife saw fit to stay with me through the good and bad over 32 years.
6) for my incredible daughter. She's been a gem over the years, making it easy to be a father.
7) for Moolatte's at DQ.
8) for a great house and neighborhood.
9) for smooth jazz music.... actually most kinds of music.
10) for cable television and the internet.
11) for my pastor and his wife.
12) for all the friends Karen and I have accumulated over the years -- pure gold.
13) for sports -- golf, baseball, basketball, football, tennis, racquetball, ping pong, pool, bowling
14) for always being blessed with a job (except for right out of college and 4 months in 1990)
15) for my cute, aged and going blind Yorkie.
16) for health and being in reasonably good condition.
17) for a good movie or book.
18) for a Carmel Machiatto at Starbuck's.
19) for a Hershey pie at Burger King.
20) for a long straight drive off the tee.
21) for the feeling I get when I finish a hard days work and see a nice, neatly trimmed yard, etc.

Okay, I'm out of time. I probably missed some obvious things, but see how easy it is to be thankful if we'll just take a little time and think about it. Don't let this Thanksgiving holiday pass you by without some time to reflect and share with your family and friends.
God bless you this holiday season.

Eye kneed an ink lash tea cheer

As Ashley was growing up, I enjoyed writing her little notes, or blurbs in a card, that made sense to the ear (barely),but not the eyes..... It was a lot of fun, but I haven't done it for a long time.

Let me show you what I mean ........ as I randomly think of something to write about --

"Care-in end eye stayed honda go awl day dew two hour long two dew list. Wee our jist now d siding two stop four duh knight. Well probe Chablis bee reel lea biz see two marrow ass (sorry) well.

Eye stink aisle bee gin two get red d four a good knights ssss leap. Tanks fore your in tress inn my you neak righting sty l ...."

Okay, it's getting worse, I'd better quit while I'm ahead.

Feel free to comment back by sharing your own unique line or two. It's really kind of fun.... I know, I must be pretty bored tonight, right?

The Cleaning Lady

Listen to this great story recalled by a college student. It is a memorable lesson about the importance of treating ALL people well -- as significant, and with respect. I've always said in the business world that you'd better treat everybody the way you would like to be treated, because you never know if you'll see them on the way up, or on the way down..... There is no place for haughtiness or pride in our lives ....

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello".

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name ...... Dorothy.

Professional Weight Lifter

Here's what I'm thinking..... when I go to the gym, I usually take a bottled water. I drink it and fill the bottle up another one or two times. What if I just took an empty bottle, and filled it THREE times each workout. Say the water cost around 75 cents.... that would be $2.25 a work out in water.

So, basically, I'm using $2.25 worth of water that the gym is paying for. If I go to the gym 4 times a week, that's $9 worth of water a week...... which is about $36 per month. My gym membership is only $33!

Therefore, I am making $3 a month off my gym! I am literally getting paid to go to the gym and work out. Some people would actually say that I was a "professional weight lifter"....

Let's all pause and think about that for a few minutes...... thanks.

A Fish Story

Legend has it there was this fish.... a Kingfish. He'd been around for awhile, as he was about 4 foot long and weighed 22 lbs. He primarily lived in the relatively shallow waters about a mile off the coast of Clearwater Beach. Last Saturday he was taking his afternoon swim, looking for Pinfish to snack on to keep his energy up. Little did he know that before the afternoon was over, the last Pinfish he would eat would change his life forever.... quickly.


Coincidently, a group of 11 men from CLAY men's ministry in Clearwater had determined to take a deep sea fishing trip that same day. They hired two boats, each with a captain and mate, and headed out to sea for the day. It was a beautiful day, sunshine with calm winds and a moderate temperature. What a great time of trying to put an end to large fishes lives by tricking them into eating pinfish that had hooks in them. These hooks were attached to an almost invisible line that could then be used to pull those fish into their boat and put them in an ice chest to flop around until they die. All without the fish being able to stop them.


The men went out as far as 18 miles and stopped at various places throughout the gulf, keeping some fish, but throwing back many that were too small. Late in the afternoon it was time to head home, but they felt they should stop one more time before they called it a day...... about a mile off of Clearwater Beach........


That's when these two worlds collided...... Man vs. Fish..... dum da dum dum, dum da dum dum DUM! (Please sing that part.)


Okay, I won't bore you with the rest of this drawn out story. Suffice it to say I was the winner of this man vs. fish battle. The last catch of the day before we went in. It was my turn to watch THAT pole, and when it started bending I knew I had won the jack pot. I was able to pull in the biggest catch of the day, and loved every minute of it. He ran about 100yds, let me pull it in some, and took off some more, but I was finally able to get it into the boat..... Sweet!


Of course, I'll include a picture so you don't think this is just another fish story. I know how those one armed fisherman are when they're telling their stories....


My only real disappointment of the day was that morning when I asked my pastor to leave his boat and come over to ours to talk and he wouldn't walk over to us..... I'm starting to get a little concerned. Maybe he's not all he says he is.....


Anyway, a day that will go down in the Steen anals (is that how you spell that?) of fishing....