Good Wednesday morning, Everyfriend.  There's sticky buns to accompany your coffee or tea. I wish everyone a good day!!






Occupation

"What's your father's occupation?" asked the school secretary on the first day of registration.

"He's a magician," said the new boy.

"How exciting. What's his best trick?"

"He saws people in half."

"How impressive! Now, do you have any brothers or sisters?"

"Yep...one half brother and two half sisters."



Why I'm Not a 'Fan' of Jesus
(By Kyle Idleman)

According to a recent survey, the percentage of Americans who claim to be Christian is somewhere north of 75 percent.

Really? Three out of four people are followers of Christ?

Let's see, if the population of the United States is about 311 million and 75 percent are Christians that brings the number of Christians to somewhere in the neighborhood of 233 million. That's a lot of Christians. I don't see nearly that many Jesus fish on car bumpers. I don't know, maybe all the Darwin fish ate them. I'm just saying something about that percentage is off. Because if there really are that many Christians, then why will some 35 million people in America go to bed hungry tonight, including 13 million children? If 75 percent of Americans are Christians, then how is it possible that 40 percent of the homeless are under the age of 18? Why are there more than 120,000 children waiting to be adopted? I could keep going, and that's just in the States. The numbers don't add up. Jesus said the evidence that someone is one of his followers is love. So 233 million? The evidence just isn't there.

What's the explanation for such a discrepancy? A number of years ago I read an article about the new vegetarians. These new vegetarians don't eat meat -- most of the time. One of them explained that she was a vegetarian, but she really liked bacon. A vegetarian, by definition, is someone who doesn't eat meat. Umm, yeah, but isn't bacon a meat? Is it really accurate for her to identify herself as a vegetarian? If enough people who eat meat started calling themselves vegetarians wouldn't that throw the numbers off? The discrepancy was solved by coming up with a new term to describe vegetarians who aren't committed to abstaining from meat. They now identify themselves as "Flexitarians."

A Christian, by definition, is a follower of Christ. So, I'm thinking that what might help make sense of the 233 million number is a new word to describe people who identify themselves as Christians but have little interest in actually following the teachings of Jesus. Perhaps instead of "followers," it would be more accurate to call them "fans."

The word fan is most simply defined as, an enthusiastic admirer. And I think Jesus has a lot of fans these days. Some fans may even get dressed up for church on Sunday and make their ringtone a worship song. They like being associated with Jesus. Fans want to be close enough to Jesus to get the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them. They want a no-strings-attached relationship with Jesus. So a fan says, I like Jesus but don't ask me to serve the poor. I like Jesus, but I'm not going to give my money to people who are in need. I like Jesus, but don't ask me to forgive the person who hurt me. I like Jesus, but don't talk to me about money or sex - that's off limits.

Fans like Jesus just fine, but they don't want to give up the bacon.

Fans tend to identify themselves as Christians not because they are committed to following Jesus, but for a number of other reasons. They might point to their family heritage thinking that being a Christian is in their DNA. Like a pug nose or a unibrow, it was somehow passed down from mom and dad. Fans might identify themselves as Christians by pointing to religious rituals they've kept and rules they've followed.

Ultimately, defining what it means to be a follower of Jesus isn't nearly as arbitrary or subjective as we've made it. Jesus very clearly lays it out in Luke 9:23. He says, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." These words tend to separate fans from followers. Followers are to deny themselves and take up a cross. Instead of giving a theological explanation of what that means, it's probably more helpful to show what it looks like. I've spent the last year collecting stories of fans who have become followers.

Bowin and Lindsey each ran their own successful business. They had a Mercedes SUV to handle their four kids. For them, following Jesus meant selling nearly everything they had and moving to the Island of Hispaniola to bring clean water to thousands in the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

For Rachelle, following Jesus meant showing love to the women working in strip clubs. She and some of her friends started making big homemade meals and taking them to the women in the clubs. As a result many of the women no longer know Christians as just the group of angry picketers out front who, from their perspective, are trying to take away their job and have started to know Christians by their love.

Jennifer and Tom had a car they rarely drove. They decided that they really didn't need two cars and would give one of their cars to a single mom who needed transportation. One car was a 2001 model, the other was a 2004 model. They gave her the newer one.

That's just three stories of followers. I'm praying that there would be around 233,249,997 more. They may not be as dramatic or inspiring but my prayer is that Christians would be known not by a fish on their bumper -- or the profile on their Facebook page -- or by going regularly to their church, but they would be followers of Jesus who are known for their love.




"Christ and Self are perfectly incompatible. To have the one, we must be prepared to surrender the other. The heart subtly schemes to hold both, but it does not deceive Christ."

- Billy Graham

Joan, thought that was a good answer but what if father had been an Illusionist, would he have made those halves disappear?

Good Wednesday morning.....is a tad on the misty and damp side......
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Had an enjoyable evening last night, no one seemed sure what was taking place but they held a quiz night, kindof put on as a random, but it turned out most pleasurable....Not so many as last month turned up, just a couple of tables of a group of 5, then there were a small group sitting together as in a room circle....plus the table full of committee members....We all mustered in with an answer each or two, so we were a pretty good team and knowledgeable.....A fair bit of humour took place.....Then afterwards along came the trolley with cups of teas, followed by another trolley with chocolate wafers, tarts and cheese sandwich biscuits and squares of cheese, most went for the cheese selections.......Next month is the MS AGM meeting, we are all invited plus there will be something else going on as usual.....
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Our sofa will be delivered within the next 1-3 hours, this is the time slot we were given....hoovering has already been done, just need to re-arrange the furniture.....

Good morning, Joan.  We are the early birds.  I couldn't sleep....mind was running in circles and when I realized I was lying there, looking at the ceiling and counting my own heart beats, I just got up.  I spent hours on the telephone last evening trying to activate a new cell phone and transfer over 2,000 minutes that I had accrued.  I never find it easy to talk to tech help.  Not only are their accents difficult for me to understand but I am terrible at understanding anything to do with modern technology.  Got it done, however, and the new phone seems to be working fine.  Now I have to sync it to my car but I may just take it to the dealer and plead for their help.  <sigh>

Good afternoon, Jackie.  At least after you have done all that hoovering and re-arranging you'll have a nice new sofa to recline on.  Enjoy!

Hope it will be a good day for everyone!

Good morning everyone..

Going to be another lovely day here. Off for physio this morning then home to corral up the dust bunnies. Have leftovers for supper so lunch is the one I have to think about. May put a rice pudding in the crockpot and that will be dessert.

Joan, licking my fingers from the sticky bun...thank you for breakfast

Where is Lloyd?

Enjoy your day everyone..

Good Morning Everyfriend!  I slept so well last night and I feel so rested this morning that I'm "rarin' to go".  I went to bed at 10:30 or so and I woke up naturally about 10 minutes before the alarm went off at 6. 

It's 48º right now and supposed to hit 70 by 2 this afternoon.  It's a typical May day in Central PA!  And no rain predicted!

I hope you all have a wonderful day full of whatever you wish!

Phyllis, it will be a pleaure, if it is anything as comfortable as the sofa we tested in the store, only that one was a recliner, this is not, was told that ours might be softer, we shall wait and see, hopefully not too soft....
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Forgot to also mention about last nights MS social evening, we always seem to end the night with a raffle, and I along with several others had a winning ticket ( and believe you me I never class myself as a lucky person ) but it was a come and choose what is left on the table...I chose a lovely bunch of Freesias....they are now sitting in my flower vase, next to my Petra and Megans memorial caskets...

Good Morning Joan

Kelly

Hi Jackie
I think with quizzes or Fayres in the UK, they usually finish with a raffle.  And in the Island it is the same with quizzes, fayres and  when Melliahs are held.

I try to hand my raffle prize back in, always some one on their own who needs something more than me.

Kelly

Vanilla-Jackie--Good morning/Good afternoon.  So glad to hear what a nice evening you had last night--sounds like fun.  I know you're anxious for your new couch to arrive.

Good morning, Phyllis.  You are somewhat the same as I am--once I am awake I just can't go back to sleep.  Glad you got your new phone activated--now to sync it to your car.

Amy--Good morning.  Your vehicle must know that highway by heart.  I was wondering the same thing about Lloyd. I hope he is OK.

Good morning, Janie.  If you are "rarin to go" no telling what you will get done today.

I am going to get our early--before the heat of the day--and get some errands done.

Good morning, Kelly.

Good Morning bis and Jackie. you two are all I see from today so far.
June I pull that trick often also about the med's. I am feeling better except still hurting in the shoulder's,so far no dizzy spell yet today they still don't want me to operate Machinery, it is shaking the Pat-toe bin and lighting up the sky. Looks like we are in for another seating of it. easy but wetting up the deck. Have a great day and a better tomorrow.

Lloyd

Good morning, Lloyd.  You could send us some of that rain.  Follow the doctor's orders and don't try to operate any machinery.

Good morning Lloyd

But afternoon here!

Kelly

I'm off to Wally World!  Only "one more day and a git-up" until we leave for Texas!  BBl!

Hi everyone.  After an entire of overcast skies, today starts out nice and sunny and headed to 88 degrees this afternoon.  I enjoyed the day at home yesterday and will probably have the same today until it is time to go to the church for the Wednesday night dinners.  There are only two more after tonight before the summer break.

Jackie, your new sofa sound like it will be beautiful and you were wise to have it treated so it doesn't get stained.  We did that with our sofa when we bought it a number of years ago and it still looks brand new.  Of course it doesn't get a lot of use as Pat and I both have our recliners where we sit.

Hal, my parents were also not buddies and I grew up knowing what was expected.  My mother did most of the discipline but if my father got involved it was not a good thing.    Our first child was born when I was 22 and the second came along 15 months later. 

June, you are not the only one who has made a mistake or lost track of a replacement credit card.  It sounds like all has worked out well regarding your card and you will be back in business today and can start spending again. 

Jenny, wise decision to wait to get to Chicago until the weather improves.  The middle part of the country, including Colorado, has certainly had a rough spring.  It sounds like Mark's return is in his favor and I know you will be glad to have him back in the USA. 

MaryTX, relieved to read that your family is fine. 

Good morning everyone, another sunny day here, landscapers are out here doing their job with noisy machines.  Of course I was finally sound asleep when they started. I will be happy when I get back into my good sleep pattern again. My house keeper will be here in a little over an hour so good thing I did wake with the noise.

JUNE  sure not like you to forget taking your morning meds. I am more likely to skip the night ones.

JACKIE  don't often if ever see adds that have real looking people in them especially in our age group. They are young a shapely and all with perfect hair and make up. Looking at clothes is a catalog all the models are so perfect. Phoney all of it.

JOAN  a sticky bun will be perfect for me this morning. Something I can really enjoy instead of something that is good for me. Food for Thought is too true.  I knew one woman that fan would have fit but to her she was the best Christian around. Needless to say I found her very hard to talk with and bite my tongue so I would not call her a big fat liar.

JACKIE  looks like you enjoyed last evening, wonderful.

PHYLLIS  how I wish all these companies who outsource bring those jobs back here so when we need tech help we could understand what they are saying. Some can hardly speak English. Techs should learn to talk in plain language that we Un-tech folks know what they are talking about.

KELLY  good morning.

LLOYD  glad you are listening to doctor's orders and staying away from machinery.

Good Morning Everyone.

Well it was a noisy, wet night.  Woke me up around 3:30 with lots of lightening, thunder and rain.  Kept it up for the remainder of the night and when I finally got up at 7:30 distant thunder could still be heard.  But now it is clear and sun is shinning brightly.

I thought maybe I would find my trash can at the bottom of the hill from all the gutter water, but I had placed it a little way in my drive so it was where I left it.

Nothing on tap here for today.  Wife is gone to do here meals on wheels thing and wont be home till about 2.

Jackie, sounds like you had a good time last night.  Congratulations on your win.

Gloria, get used to the noise.  Spring/Summer is here and the grass will grow.

Janie, hope you day goes well at Wally World.

Joan.  Good Morning.  Thanks for breakfast for the tummy and mind.

Good Morning dear friends, I woke at four a.m. and could not go back to sleep. Kept thinking of a picture I want to transfer to a larger frame, so got up and did the job. Then read my current novel for a bit, till it was prayer time, and after that physical therapy…with me as the therapist, then up for the first cup of coffee…. ummmmm ummmmm good !

Vanilla, you did have an enjoyable evening with the MS group. I am happy for you, and your new couch sounds very cozy..enjoy !

Phyllis, it sounds like you and I had the same kind of morning…no matter what the hour, our mind just won't let us relax so we get up.

Lloyd, I think I forgot my morning meds as I was so involved in my missing Visa card and the calls I had to make. Then to find the missing card…it was more than I could absorb. I'm glad you are housebound because of the weather, otherwise you would probably be out doing labor instead of allowing your body to heal.

Amy, I really like rice pudding..with lots of raisins…also tapioca pudding is a favorite, but no raisins in that.

Larry, yes, the credit card really threw me a nasty curve. All is well that ends well, and I should have the card in my hand before the day ends. Then I can finish up my on-line grocery order. Fortunately my order is still in the cart and will remain there till I properly wind up the order with my payment information.

Gloria..forgetting the meds was a first for me, but I was distracted, so I will excuse myself, and better not let it happen again. We have some folks here that need to have one of the nurses bring them their meds and I don't want to reach that point. It's no fun accepting other limitations that come with the years, but the mind is a valuable tool.

I haven't seen Mycheal lately. Are you lurking out there in you Iowa hideaway !

Good Morning Hal..I wish we could have some of your weather. I would really enjoy the thunder, rain, wind...any kind of variables. We are static out here in Ca.

Time to make the bed and get on with the day..another hour and a half and my son will be teaching us The Bible.

Good morning from a bright and sunny Interior!

I just have a few business items to take care of today and then it's back to playtime on the computer and PSP!

I hope all have those sunny days of their own even with rain clouds in reality....

I ordered Pam Ayres book..." You Made Me Late Again...." it came this morning from Amazon...It will be my tonight bedtime reading, that is until I drop off....so if you hear me laughing my head off tonight, you will all know why....

It took me much longer than expected to do my errands--some things I just couldn't find and finally quit trying.  I called a friend, and we went out for an early lunch.

It would be hard to live with any of you Ladies If I had to you all seam to be so bossy today. I know it is in my own best
interest. but I rather be led rather than pushed. the sun finely got enough nerve to poke its head out. Nancy went  to the
doctor to see if they need to stretch her thought or not,she has trouble swilling pills. not ordering me around tho. Have a great rest of the day, I am going to go find me stabilization food.

Lloyd

WHOOPEEEE!  I'm on vacation!

Lloyd--We aren't ordering you around.  We care about you and don't want you to reinjure yourself.

Janie--Hurrah!!  And now the fun begins.

Hi Gloria
Good afternoon to you, though after 10.0pm here.

Kelly

Been outside doing this and that, but needed to come, have a seat and see what you all are up to?

JACKIE, so nice to read about your fun evening.  I hope the sofa arrived and you are pleased with it.

LLOYD, you know we all care and just want you to be careful so as to not hurt yourself anymore. 

YIPPEE JANE......it is vacation time for you!  We will miss you and will anxiously await your return and look forward to details of how much fun you had! 

ANGELFACE, how is the new kitty doing?  I hope she is feeling more comfortable each day and spending more time out of hiding. 

GLORIA, I forgot to mention how sad I am to hear that your son's orchard will not have fruit this year.  I know he has to be extremely disappointed.  I hate to think about him selling the land, but if it no longer is profitable he will have no choice. 

LARRY, we are going to fly to and from Chicago no.  We looked forward to the drive, but just feel it is too risky this time of year. 

Thank you all for the supportive and kind words regarding Mark.  It will be good to have him safely back in his home land.  It was a wonderful opportunity for him and he will always think about his time there fondly.

Thank you for our goodies today, JOAN.  Nice that you took time to have lunch out with a friend. 

We have a lacrosse game to attend tonight, so best get cleaned up and ready to go to it. 

Enjoy the rest of your day.

Jenny

I'm half-packed and all house cleaned.  All I have to do by 11 a.m. tomorrow is finish packing and love up the doggies...oh, and I have to change the bed in the morning. 

I tried on the silver mesh shoes that go with my dress for the wedding and I can wear them!  I guess the doctors don't know everything!  There's almost no more swelling on my foot.  Still a couple sore spots but I'm very pleased. 

Gonna go feed the doggies and put together something for my supper and then try to finish the packing tonight. 

Janie, I am so happy for you. Have a wonderful time, and get some necessary R & R. You have certainly earned it.

Had a great time with the Bible studies this morning,and Gary draws a good crowd. He is a natural. And it's just not my opinion..everyone enjoys him. Had lunch in our outdoor dining room..a really nice day for it. I brought half of my food home which I will have for supper. I still feel half dead from lack of sleep. Gary did not have time to come up and hang pictures for me, but that's O.K., he has a busy time with all he does. He and Dori may come up in a couple of days, and get the picture hanging done for me. Whatever.....

I spent the afternoon reading and dozing off and on, and enjoying life.

Jenny--It's wise to fly to Chicago with weather conditions so uncertain.  I enjoy when I can get out with friends.  Enjoy the lacrosse game.

Janie--Yeah--you're wedding shoes fit and you are almost on your way.  We sure will miss you.  I hope you have a fantastic time.  Safe travels, my friend.

June--You had a pretty full day.

Jenny, Farrah is settling in and is slowly adapting. She was feral and abused so this will be a long process. She hides at unexpected or loud noises, doesn't meow or play with toys. She licks you and purrs if you pet her but don't restrict her movements or pick her up. She whines rather than meows if frightened or protesting.

However, she is hanging out with me often for awhile before scurrying back under the bed. The organization offered to take her back in exchange for a more friendly, loving cat but I said no. She needs love and stability and she is not a handbag to return or replace!

Whatever I give her, she returns to me over and beyond.

Hi Everyone

Good night friends

kelly