COMMENTS about this page: When I have a little extra time I often spend it thinking in a variety of areas. These are my creative times. I don't regularly journal, I simply write my thoughts and observations and number them. If I come across anothers thoughts or sayings that impress me, I write that down preceded by #. Here are some that might make sense.

THOUGHTS AND IDEAS

1. Cynicism (of a sort) : Resignation to a hopeless reality producing a frustration that reflects itself in a tearing cynicism.

2. I tend to appreciate the blessings I earn through serving rather than those I receive while sitting. (Ministry vs. church service)

3. Man's progress is often at the expense of the grandeur of God.

4. When I was young I had all the answers with few questions, now that I'm old I have the questions with few answers.

5. Philosophy: I have a rather simple philosophy as to this life. I see my time on earth as very brief and radically different from my forever life with God. Because of this, I have come to a rather logical conclusion that has become my personal mandate. "I'm here on earth to do things for God that I can never do in Heaven, and I only have a short time left to do them." Here's what I can only do on earth that I'll never be able to do in heaven. This seems both pleasing to God and fulfilling to me.
   • I can share the Gospel with those who have never heard.

   • I can teach those who don't know.

   • I can illuminate the darkness and give hope to the hopeless.

   • I can encourage the discouraged and faint hearted.

   • I can dry the tears of those who are crying.

   • I can love the unlovely, unlovable and the unloved.

   • I can feed those who are hungry, help heal those who are sick, share my clothing with those who have little, give a blanket to those who are cold.

   • I can give shelter to those who are without.

   • I can even love my enemies and forgive those who violate me.

   In heaven there will be no sin or darkness, no sickness, no hunger, no want or pain, no enemies of any kind just eternal joy, thanksgiving, praise and worship of almighty God for ever. It makes sense to me to do what I can for God while I'm here on earth so my time in eternity will be more of a joy for others and myself.

   Consequently forgive me for not spending much time with you in worship or lining up with the majority of over-fed Christians, listening to the blessings of a sermon and the music of a bell-choir. I'll be doing that forever. Please excuse me to do the urgent ... what can only be done here and now.

6. Ahh youth! ... when I said "Light my fire" baby! Now I'm old and trying to live my life in the ashes of that fire! (The sixty year old).

7. God's will is rarely questioned when it's something we want to do ... it's always questioned when it's something we don't want to do.

8. Most of us are far more apt to choose our faith than be converted by it.

9. Status Quo most often says no. (ie) Ask any committee for change and they will respond "no"! When in doubt say no.

10. Christians today are Christian up to the point of inconvenience. The comfort zone is taken to be the godly zone!

11. # We should treasure our diversity not stifle it.

12. We try and compensate for our lack of strength and commitment by talk and efficiently using what little we have ... instead of dealing with our lack of strength and commitment.

13. # "Marriage" is not the process of finding the right person but it's the process of being the right person.

14. Unmerited optimism distorts the future and sets the optimist up for a fall!

15. Problems don't go away, they just resurface in different forms. Deal promptly with all problems.

16. Hey kids, hear this! True self esteem is to be earned not expected and self image is the product of self esteem.

17. I must remember when I'm prone to criticize the media that the media reflects the taste and desires of the masses.

18. Darkness is the condition that naturally exists without light. The nature of man is darkness. Darkness is natural, light is supernatural. God is light! Light always has a source, darkness has no source.

19. The fruit of an evil environment. Why should Hitler and his nazis take all the blame? Those who created his environment were just as guilty. Why is it that we target only those leaders who commit the evil but conveniently vindicate the many who created the environment for the evil to form! "Those who do not heed history will surely repeat it!" Our leaders today are guilty of creating an environment that is even now developing evil.

20. Low priority soon becomes no priority.

21. I come to serve the needy not the greedy.

22. Indeed we are living in a society where the frame is becoming more important than the picture.

23. Man is born a potential beast! Alas too many realize their full potential.

24. No man has ever gained endurance without his share of defeats.

25. Half of being a good speaker is not fearing your audience.

26. America can not possibly fight a war today without the support of the media. You can not bluff or strategize with out the support of the media. America you are hamstrung by your own powerful giant, the media!

27. If we have been saved by grace we have been saved to grace! The reason I'm here is by His grace and the reason I'm here is to dispense His grace.

28. Many individuals are by their very nature hostile and looking for an occasion to demonstrate it. When you sense a hostile individual or environment walk very carefully.

29. There is an inherent danger in "re-inventing" life. And we are in danger of doing just that. We are gradually slipping into the world of the cognitive where reality is exchanged for virtual reality and vicarious living. Our technology is leading us with a drunken momentum building every day.

30. In a nutshell: We keep lowering the bar and applauding the champions. This only encourages us to continue the downward practice.

31. Our U.S cocoon-culture is the result of protectionism and the comfort that comes from shielding ourselves from the risk and rigors of reality.

32. In a society without a "God ethic" the issue becomes "not getting caught" in a society with a "God ethic" the issue is "not doing wrong."

33. Little shepherds are threatened by big sheep. That may be the reason so many churches continue small.

34. True giving is determined by what you have left after giving your gift.

35. Legislation only makes more criminals. The more legislation you have the more criminals you make. The solution isn't in legislation.

36. It has been said that "a word to the wise is sufficient" in reality a word to the wise is unnecessary.