Sorry I Stink

Ok, so I thought I was only a week behind or so but my last post was St. Patty's Day! Wow- that was forever ago. Sorry!

Here is something funny because I am so crummy!


Sad News

Please join me in remembering a great icon of the entertainment community. The Pillsbury Doughboy died yesterday of a yeast infection and trauma complications from repeated pokes in the belly. He was 71.

Doughboy was buried in a lightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out to pay their respects, including Mrs. Buttersworth, Hungry Jack, the California Raisins, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, and Captain Crunch.. The grave site was piled high with flours.

Aunt Jemima delivered the eulogy and lovingly described Doughboy as a man who never knew how much he was kneaded. Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with turnovers. He was considered a very smart cookie, but wasted much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, he still was a crusty old man and was considered a positive roll model for millions.......

Doughboy is survived by his wife Play Dough, three children: John Dough, Jane Dough and Dosey Dough, plus they had one in the oven. He is also survived by his elderly father, Pop Tart.

The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.


PS- thanks Sierra for the laugh!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I was reading up a bit on St. Patrick- who is he? what did he do? Since yesterday was St. Patricks Day I was a bit curious. I didn't do a ton of research, basically I just looked it up on Wikipedia- which I do have to say, the article was well cited by a vast number of sources so it is probably fairly accurate. Anyway, this is a small portion from it that tells just the basics of who Patrick was and what he did.


"Patrick was born in Roman[ruled]Britain ... When he was about sixteen, he was captured and carried off as a slave to Ireland. Patrick worked as a herdsman, remaining a captive for six years. He writes that his faith grew in captivity, and that he prayed daily. After six years he heard a voice telling him that he would soon go home, and then that his ship was ready. Fleeing his master, he travelled to a port, two hundred miles away he says, where he found a ship and, after various adventures, returned home to his family, now in his early twenties.

Patrick recounts that he had a vision a few years after returning home:

I saw a man coming, as it were from Ireland. His name was Victoricus, and he carried many letters, and he gave me one of them. I read the heading: "The Voice of the Irish". As I began the letter, I imagined in that moment that I heard the voice of those very people who were near the wood of Foclut, which is beside the western sea—and they cried out, as with one voice: "We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us. . .

. . .something can be seen of Patrick's mission. He writes that he "baptised thousands of people". He ordained priests to lead the new Christian communities. He converted wealthy women, some of whom became nuns in the face of family opposition. He also dealt with the sons of kings, converting them too."

Patrick brought the gospel to the Irish people- he was basically a missionary. I think that it is pretty cool that he is still honored today. We celebrate St. Patrick's day on March 17, the anniversary of his death which is believed to be March 17, 460 or 490 -ish AD. This man is revered in Ireland as a foreigner who came to "walk among" the Irish people and he talked to them about Jesus. He himself was a Catholic and so that was what he taught them and you can see the lasting impression he made as Irish and Catholic are often words that go together. Sometimes I think we push and try to hard to talk to people about God instead of being open to God working. Hey I am not saying that we shouldn't talk to others about God but maybe we need to change our viewpoint. I really like how St. Patrick said he walked among them, not that he converted them. It is not our job to convert people, everyone must make their own decision about God and His Son. I guess I want to ask what kind of impact are you having on those you are walking among? Do people see God in you? When you feel that small voice inside pushing you to bring up Jesus or to tell someone you are praying for them, to be kind to your enemies, to not gossip or retaliate when someone hurts you- do you listen? Walk with God and walk with people.

Anyway- I hope you had a great St. Patty's Day.

Time Change

Maybe I am just getting old but the time change has thrown me so out of wack! I am totally dragging- I mean I don't get it, it is one hour, shouldn't be that big of a deal but man am I sleepy! You junior highers must be hit super hard, although I know a lot of schools changed their hours so you don't have to get up quite as early. I think that is awesome and in no way begrudge the fact that I had to get to Roosevelt at 7:08 because class started at 7:12. Insane!!!! So I am glad that the times are later now for you because that truly was ridiculous. I don't think anyone was awake until like 3rd period. We would get out at like 2 something but I would have much rather slept in. Anyway, I am sure it was still a little rough getting up this morning. Right now I am seriously tired and it really doesn't make a whole lot of sense, I got the same amount of sleep last night, I guess it just "felt" earlier when I got up this morning. I even took a nap yesterday! That is why I interjected the comment about being old. Maybe you have a harder time adjusting to these things when you get old. I know at Starving 2 Serve my knees started hurting, no reason, or at least I didn't do anything. I think maybe it was the cold or the fact that I was standing basically the whole night. But here's the thing- that was the same for everyone- difference: I am old:)

Sushi Cat

I stumbled across this fun little gem last week. WARNING: it is very awesome and very addicting. I mean who wouldn't want to help a little blue cat be with the little pink cat he is in love with? And of course the only way to do this is to help him become as big as a sumo wrestler by eating sushi. Sushi Frenzy!!!

Let me know what you think:)

Click here to play Sushi Cat!

What do you do when people are hurting?

Yesterday we talked about a subject at TNL that allowed a lot of people to share some ways that they are hurting. I feel a couple of things about this. I am so sad that such young people have such hardship in their lives, really heavy burdens that too often they seem to be shouldering alone. Second is amazement of the resiliency of junior highers to continue on in spite of a really tough reality and hope that they will rise above their current situation- and I know that they can. In the midst of experiencing anothers heartache, I often feel at a loss for words, for how to comfort without seeming cliche. I find the answer in Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Sometimes all you can do is cry with someone, the only comfort you can offer is "I am here." While this seems like you are doing nothing the truth is you have validated their pain, confirmed for them that they are not crazy or wrong to feel the way they do. Empty condolences offer no real help and while just sharing in their hurt doesn't help in the standard definition of the word would lead you to believe, I think it can help just knowing that you aren't alone. My heart is heavy for these people I talked with yesterday and for those I know have such brokenness but I didn't talk to. I look at the sea of faces and I see so much in them, so much potential, so much joy, so much innocence, and so much pain. I wish I could make it better for them but I know I can't. I know the only one who can help is God, He can work in a heart and a life that may not get better in this lifetime but He promises to make a new life for those who follow Him. He is the only one who can keep you from ever being alone. He is the ultimate Counselor, the Prince of Peace. He is faithful, even when we are not. Those who follow are pulled into His promise, adopted into His family, and has a place in eternity with Him. I have no other comfort then that, knowing this life is not the end but the beginning to our lives with Him for those who know Him. Oh how I wish they all would know Him! I know He wishes that too.

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln

You may or may not be aware of the fact that "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" is back at Disneyland. What is it you ask? Well- the idea first came out and was realized in the 60's for a special thing they were doing in Illinois. Disney had always been a huge admirer of Lincoln and he also happened to be the head of the Disney Studio and therefore one of the leaders in something called Audio-Animatronics. That is how the Tiki Room works, the Pirates, anything that moves "realistically" and talks. So Disney made a talking Abraham Lincoln for this fair thing in Illinois. Then he brought it to Disneyland to the Opera House on Main Street. It was gone for about 5 years now where it was replaced by a sweet show with Steve Martin and Donald Duck titled "The First 50 Magical Years" or something like that that debued during their 5 year long 50th birthday celebration. Well in January they brought Mr. Lincoln back.

This last Monday, I needed a day off and so I went to Disneyland. I had an incredible time!!! The Cast memebers were so great, I got free parking, free buttons, and felt super well taken care of. I went on rides, drew Pluto and all around had a blast. I learned 2 things- (well more then that but the rest for a later time) 1. that the Jewel of Orleans- my favorite jewelry store (it's right in New Orleans square across from the guy that paints umbrellas), is closing- I am soooooo bummed!!! But more importantly 2. That Mr. Lincoln was back and better then ever. The show was so good! It reminded me of all the reasons I am proud to be an American, and taught me more about a great leader from our history who was a man of deep character, who faced very difficult circumstances, and who followed God.

I hope you get a chance to see it in person but if not I got this off of youtube. It is fairly long but oh so good. It is in 2 parts- make sure you start with the one on top:)

Punxsutawny Phil

Do you even know what that is? That is the name of the ground hog that tells us if we will have 6 more weeks of winter of if we are in for an early spring. The whole deal around Groundhog Day, if he sees his own shadow- you know what I am talking about, yes?

Punxautawny is the name of the town where all this groundhog stuff takes place and where Phil lives. But why is this a national holiday? Why do we have Groundhogs day in the first place? While I was determined to find out. After some extensive research I found that Phil's first prediction was in 1887 and that he is wrong more then half the time. Still I was no closer as to learning how we even care what a groundhog thinks about the weather. I continued searching and I came across this:

"The story of Groundhog Day begins with Candlemas, an early Christian holiday where candles were blessed and distributed. Celebrators of holiday eventually declared clear skies on Candlemas meant a longer winter. The Roman legions, during the conquest of the northern country, brought this tradition to the Germans, who concluded that if the sun made an appearance on Candlemas Day, a hedgehog would cast a shadow, thus predicting six more weeks of bad weather or "Second Winter." German immigrants brought the tradition to Pennsylvania, but how did Punxsutawney Phil emerge?

In 1887, a spirited group of groundhog hunters from Punxsutawney dubbed themselves "The Punxsutawney Groundhog Club." One member was an editor of Punxsutawney's newspaper. Using his ink, he proclaimed Punxsutawney Phil, the local groundhog, to be the one and only weather prognosticating groundhog. He issued this proclamation on Candlemas, and yes, Groundhog Day. Phil's fame spread, and newspapers from around the globe began to report his Gobbler's Knob prediction. Today you will find 20,000+ in attendance an millions watching on television or via the web."

Strange but true. If you actually read the whole article probably you are wondering what "prognosticating" means so I'll throw the answer to that in for free: "to make a forecast; prophesy."

Happy Groundhog's Day!