Starting a New Year

Flying away from home is becoming increasingly difficult. Of course, I wish it weren’t but what are you going to do? Got to earn a living, right?

Last night Ben was crying in his bedroom knowing that Daddy would be gone, like, forever. It tears at you. But we’re trusting God to do something “mighty” and we’re willing to wait for it. He is faithful.

Designer Found Lacking?

For those valiant and noble readers still with me, you can see that this site is beginning to look like its author had intended. Still lacking supreme CSS power, those bulleted lists at right still frustrate me mightily. For doth, it is yet beyond my paltry augury yet still I press on, to try again.

And where did I pick up this Shakespeare lingo?

Soda? Pop? Er… Coke?

Growing up in Kentucky, we usually just answered, “Yeah, I’ll have a Coke.”
To which the response invariably came back, “Ok. What kind?”
And viola! “Root beer, please.”

Now, I understand that different parts of the country like to have things their own way, a la the Burger King, but it always struck me as odd hearing my friends ask for a “Pop.” Being a boy, of course, I hit them. Now I’m beginning to see that half the nation is crazy? I’ll let you judge just which half.

The Meaning of Christmas

I thought Christmas would be a worthy topic of this site’s inaugural post (relaunch actually). It means so much to so many people, and not all happy. But no one can deny it’s predominently altruistic effect. I found the history of Christmas to be very interesting. Here’s hoping you all have a wonderful Christmas season and an even better new year!

Tyranny of Choice

My grandpa used to tell me, “People are important, things aren’t.” Maybe not the most eloquent phrase but there’s wisdom there that today’s materialistic society seems to be missing. Getting more “stuff” won’t bring the happiness that marketers claim it will. Barry Schwartz is saying that extreme choice is part of the problem rather than an expected plus.

Ask any multi-millionaire you know if they’re truly happy and they’d reply, “Of course not.” Then go ask the nice lady who works down at the coffee shop and I’ll bet you get a better answer.

Let me throw my quarter-life wisdom into the ring. “True happiness comes from knowing someone truly loves you.” Now it’s up to you to discover who that “someone” is.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King has certainly made his mark on our country. But I wonder if people regard him in the way that he wishes to be regarded. Do you think Dr. King would think it appropriate for people to boo and protest someone laying a wreath in his honor? That’s what some did to President Bush. Instead, Dr. King would have wanted people of all colors coming together in brotherly love. “Phileos” means brotherly love. We’d like to honor Dr. King’s memory with a song that we think he would have applauded.

Colored People
[1, 1, 1, 1... 2, 2, 2, 2... 3, 3, 3, 3... 4, 4, 4, 4]

Pardon me, your epidermis is showing, sir
I couldn’t help but note your shade of melanin
I tip my hat to the colorful arrangement
Cause I see the beauty in the tones of our skin

We’ve gotta come together
And thank the maker of us all

(chorus)
We’re colored people, and we live in a tainted place
We’re colored people, and they call us the human race
We’ve got a history so full of mistakes
And we are colored people who depend on a holy grace

[1, 1, 1, 1... 2, 2, 2, 2... 3, 3, 3, 3... 4, 4, 4, 4]

A piece of canvas is only the beginning for
It takes on character with every loving stroke
This thing of beauty is the passion of an artist’s heart
By god’s design, we are a skin kaleidoscope

We’ve gotta come together,
Aren’t we all human after all?

(repeat chorus)

Ignorance has wronged some races
And vengeance is the lord’s
If we aspire to share this space
Repentance is the cure

[1, 1, 1, 1... 2, 2, 2, 2... 3, 3, 3, 3... 4, 4, 4, 4]

Well, just a day in the shoes of a color blind man
Should make it easy for you to see
That these diverse tones do more than cover our bones
As a part of our anatomy

(repeat chorus)

We’re colored people, and they call us the human race
[oh, colored people]
We’re colored people, and we all gotta share this space
[yeah we’ve got to come together somehow]
We’re colored people, and we live in a tainted world
[red and yellow, black and white]
We’re colored people, every man, woman, boy, and girl
[colored people, colored people, colored people, colored people, yeah]
–by DC Talk

Merry Christmas!

Christmas is not about presents. It’s not about lights or parties or even family. Linus knows what it is about. Take heart in the real reason for Christmas, for He “came to seek and to save what was lost.” That’s me, that’s you, that’s all of us. Merry “Uplifting” Christmas to all my readers!

Old-Fashioned Christmas

It’s time to get into the holiday spirit. I know, it’s tough when you’re suffering from the flu like me, but maybe Bill’s Antique Christmas Lights Site will bring back a few glowing *wink* memories from your childhood. My favorites are the bubble lights, originally done by Noma. I need to get me some of those.

Ad or Adventure

Sure, we’re all about good news and ads aren’t generally considered such, but with the impending winter weather ready to crush us into our yearly depression, deals on Hawaii vacations are a very good thing. Just like Clark, I’m banking on my Christmas bonus.

My Dream Present

Never fear, I’ll just go ahead and tell you what to buy me for Christmas. One-stop-shopping has never been more fun. Buy me one of these and I’ll be your friend forever… I promise. ;^)

Server Problems

Had an issue, the *other* admin upgraded apache via cPanel, but didnt include DBD::Mysql when it was done. Apologize for the inconvience.

Reborn

Today I found myself humming Between Sun and Moon by Rush. Not because of the melody, as is usually the case, but because of the lyrics. Sometimes the weight of the world becomes just to great and we long for what comes next.

Between Sun and Moon

There is a lake between sun and moon
Not too many know about
In the silence between whisper and shout
The space between wonder and doubt

This is a fine place
Shining face to face
Those bonfire lights in the mirror of sky
The space between wonder and why

ahh yes to yes to ahh ahh to yes
why the sun why the sun

There is a fine line between love and illusion —
A fine place to penetrate
The gap between actor and act
The lens between wishes and fact

This is a fine place
To hesitate
Those bonfire lights in the lake of sky
The time between wonder and why

Some need to pray to the sun at high noon
Some need to howl at the midwinter moon
Reborn and baptized in a moment of grace
We just need a break —
From the headlong race

ahh yes to yes to ahh ahh to yes
why the sun why the sun

This is a fine place, shining face to face
These bonfire lights in the mirrored sky
The space between wonder and why

From the album “Counterparts”
Words by Neil Peart and Pye DuBois
Music by Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson

Wacky Yes, But Wonderful Too

Memories can be both good and bad. Case in point: I used to love collecting Wacky Packages. Collecting anything really, but coins and stamps were high-ticket items, so I had to get my collecting jones from 25 cent packs of these silly stickers. Then there was the whole, “Oh man, you found a Crust toothpaste?!? I thought there weren’t any.” It was like taking an 8-year-old to nickel slots. So, now for the bad memories… I don’t know where any of my Wacky Packages are. 8^(

Good Husbands Should Thank Mom

For all you married people out there, if your wife thinks you are a good husband, you should send your mother a “Thank You” card. But this can go both ways because overbearing mothers can work against a good marriage. Mental note: “Tell Mom to nix 6 weeks visit.”

Good Luck

A shout out of good luck to my older brother whose training will hopefully pay off this weekend. We’re rooting for ya!