The Hey You Lady

Photo by woodysbell via photobucket.com June Gloom. It's a particular weather pattern here in Southern California that occurs every May and June – and this year in mid July! – in which the clouds over the ocean find their way inland several miles and linger, sometimes into the middle of the day. Along the beaches the cloud cover often stays until the late afternoon, and sometimes even brings a fair share of drizzle along with it. Many residents and tourists expecting to frolic in the California sun ask, “Where did all these clouds come from?” Eventually the clouds are defeated by the sun's rays, and the beautiful Southern California weather that we all know and love faithfully returns to remind us why we love this region in the first place. Just like those who expect Southern California to be beautiful and sunny all year long, we also have expectations of things going a certain way in our lives. We expect our cars to get us from point A to point B, and back to A safe...

Commitment.  The word makes many people think of man and wife, two people joined together, living happily ever after, till death do they part.  There are actually couples who successfully live out that kind of commitment.  In fact, I know of a couple who have been married for over  70  years! But commitment is not limited to relationships.  And there are commitments that are not entered into voluntarily.  I have a friend who recently had a court judgment go against her.  Without going into the boring details, or even the juicy ones, when the average rational-thinking observer looks at the facts of the case, all logic says that my friend was in the right, and should not have had to pay out any kind of money.  However, looking through legalese-tinted glasses, the scales of justice tipped in favor of the other party.  Since in this instance appeal is not an option, my friend now has a commitment to pay a significant amount of money to th...

My pastor seems to like to provoke people at times. At one point during last Sunday's worship service he prayed, "...and we give our attitudes to You, Lord ..." So, my friends, I  leave for you this thought-provoking question: What kind of attitude have you been giving to God?

Actually, it's a video ....

Chiquita Mia.  My Little Girl. Not a name you might expect for a discarded, half-starved, homely mutt, living under a rusted-out car.  And not a dog that most would be willing to adopt as a pet.  Yet Laurie Sacher, a staff member at the Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch in central Oregon did just that. In the book "Blind Hope:  An Unwanted Dog and the Woman She Rescued" author Kim Meeder recalls conversations with Sacher about her deep affection for her "Sweet Mia."  Yes, Mia was truly what most would consider to be unwanted.  When Sacher took the dog as her own, her first thought was, "She's a wretched creature ... just like me."  As the bond between canine and master grew deeper - a master she could not see due to blindness - Sacher tells of her many insights she gained about her own relationship with God - her own Master she could not see.   What I liked about this book:   The book was easy to read, and had several stand-alone chapters that ...

Yellow.   Yellow.   Yellow.   Pink.   Yellow.   Yellow!   Yellow.   Pink.   Yellow.   Yellow.   Yellow.   Kinda pink.   Yellow.   Yellow.   Yellow.   Yellow.   I'm on a roll with the yellow.   Yellow.   SO PINK I CAN'T STAND IT!!!   Oh, good - another yellow.   Yellow.   BRIGHTEST YELLOW EVER!!!! ... Imagine your life in terms of a time line, made up of yellow and pink Post-It notes.  The yellow post-it's represent the experiences, events, and people that have had a positive impact in your life.  things such as being born, activities in school,  special recognition you have received, your first date, graduation from college, the family trip to Yosemite, winning the lottery...  People, such as friends, teachers, parents, heroes, a motivational speaker, your spouse, your kids...   The pink post-its represent the negative experiences - being held back...