Tuesday Prose

Yikes, think I am going to stick with a Tuesday Prose in lieu of Monday Humor! So here we go, not sure who to give props to for the original version of this, but I thought it was soooo coool!

Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin. God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. He opens you up and scoops out all the yucky stuff - including seeds of doubt, greed, etc. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts his light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

You are like light for the whole world. Matthew 5:14

Coming Soon to a blog near you.. PEACE

The lively discussion on an earlier post sorta kickstarted, no that's not that accurate. Ah.. it helped to crystallize some disjoint ideas that have been floating around the old noggin' for awhile. Anyone that know me knows how one of my personal pet projects is Peace. Its closing emails or posts with the words "Peace". Its telling and wishing people (even if they cant hear me) that I pray for "Peace for them today and everyday". Its smiling at strangers. Its saying Good Morning to others even when it isnt a good morning for me. ...

I'm not pretending that I'm up for a Nobel prize or offering ideas, attitudes, or behaviors that will impact millions of our earths population. I'm not perfect. Far Far FAR from it. But in a world in which narcissism seems more fashionable than Charity (in any form), I've set to to attempt to change myself and hopefully be positively impactful along the way.

So.. while I collect these percolating thoughts over the next few days (unless work keeps my off it), I wanted to provide an early mention of the newest series on the blog. I've already got the "Reading of the Day", "Tales from the Backseat" and some others. Coming soon...

The Peace Manifesto..

stay tuned.. and always...
Peace

Little Monday Humor thanks to the Riggs Family

An Atheist in the Woods

An atheist was walking through the woods.

'What majestic trees!

'What powerful rivers!

'What beautiful animals!

He said to himself.As he was walking alongside the river,he heard a rustling in the bushes behind him. He turned to look. He saw a 7-foot grizzly bear charge towards him. He ran as fast as he could up the path. He looked over his shoulder & saw that the bear was closing in on him..He looked over his shoulder again, & the bear was even closer. He tripped & fell on the ground. He rolled over to pick himself up but saw that the bear was right on top of him, reaching for him with his left paw & raising his right paw to strike him.At that instant the Atheist cried out, 'Oh my God!'Time Stopped. The bear froze. The forest was silent. As a bright light shone upon the man, a voice came out of the sky. 'You deny my existence for all these years, teach others I don't exist and even credit creation to cosmic accident. Do you expect me to help you out of this predicament? Am I to count you as a believer?'The atheist looked directly into the light, 'It would be hypocritical of me to suddenly ask you to treat me as a Christian now, but perhaps you could make the BEAR a Christian'?'Very well,' said the voice.The light went out. The sounds of the forest resumed.

And the bear dropped his right paw, brought both paws together, bowed his head & spoke:'Lord bless this food, which I am about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen.'

Times are in..

3:46:27 was my official time at this years Chicago Marathon. I must admit that I'm pretty surprised. Not because it started off pretty darn cold. The temp at the race start was in the low 30's with a "feels like" temp in the 20s. I had no real time goal. Having missed close to 2 months of training I just wasn't as prepared this year. I went out trying to hold a pace a pit to fast, but I was pushing to try and help my training partner (who had put in the all the time). In the end I was also able to keep the pace.. and I PR'd. The 3:46:27 was about 6 minutes faster than last year. I'm quite pleased. Thanks for all your support and prayers.

Congrats to Ashley, Jennifer, Bonnie, Tim and Michael. You all had awesome times as well. Especially Jennifer. So you must be psyched! So is a Boston trip in the plan for next year!

Just give me one more night....

Says Phil Collins...
Me.. I'm feeling as good as I could hope to on the eve of the Chicago marathon. My 3rd. The race time weather looks to be 33 degrees with a "feels like" temperature of 27 degree. A dramatic departure over the past two years that had starting temps in the mid to high 70's that quickly climbed to the mid to high 80's. Instead of water and being cool. People will need to remember to drink water and will be trying to stay warm.

Should be a day to remember. OK, i suppose it will be a day to remember no matter what. Good Luck to you Bonnie, Tim, Ashley, and all those that are running tomorrow. And a shout out, no a rally cry out to all your Team World Vision runners!. We ARE changing the world. We are bringing life, bringing joy, bringing HOPE to Mutomo Kenya.

May you rest well this evening, and my Angels lighten your feet tomorrow.
Peace

Guardian Angels

Something that I heard last Friday that I've been meaning to post. I thought it was a pretty cool little prayer. Enjoy.

Novena Prayer to Your Guardian Angel

O Holy Angel, to whom God has given the care of my life, in His goodness and His tender love for my soul, and who assists me in all my wants and comforts me in all my trials, I return to you profound thanks.

I ask you, O Holy Angel, to continue your loving care and defense of me against the attacks of the devil.

Keep me away from all temptations. Obtain for me the grace of listening attentively to your inspirations and of following them faithfully.

I ask thee to obtain for me the favor which I ask for by this novena. Here silently mention your petition. Protect me in life and at the hour of death, and do not leave me until you have guided me safely into the presence of God in the mansions of Heaven.

Amen.

Peace

The last mile...

Or really the last 12 miles. We are now 8 days from the Chicago Marathon. Like the over 45,000 runners (gosh that's a big number), today was the last longer training run. The plan my training partner and I are on had us running an "easy" 12. Lately I feel that none of the training runs have been "easy". Next week is the last taper week. The plan call for a couple of "easy" 5's, and a very easy 3 on Friday. Beyond that, I'm looking to move into the 7 to 8 hours of sleep range. I recently shifted from the 3-4 to 6-7ish.

8 more days and we'll have the payoff. Keep me, but more importantly keep our Team World Vision cause, in your prayers. The 1200+ World Vision runners will be the largest single charity runners group this year. Running with a single purpose. To help those that are in need of help the most. To help those that cannot help themselves. To help heal, educate, an inspire them to become sufficient. To bring hope, to places were hope is often a luxury.

Its never to late. If you feel moved to help our cause, your support is very much appreciated. May you be Blessed even for considering supporting our cause.



Peace... Ted

Sunshine on my shoulders make me happy..

Maybe its unusual for a born and raised, meat and potatoes, Midwesterner to have an affinity for John Denver. I blame my parents. Ha! But there it is. Heck, My Mom even choose "Perhaps Love", a John Denver duet with Placido Domingo, as the song to Dance with me at my wedding.

The reason I bring this up is 4 years ago today, E1 stormed into our hearts, and to our joy, he firmly implanted himself in our lives. Today is E1's "Gotcha" Day. I think back before that day, on a visit trip that J and I made. One morning while having breakfast with E1 sleeping beside us, a song just came to mind. Its was one of those goofy Hallmark moments, but it stuck. And forevermore, when I hear that song it just takes me back to that moment. A Tiny sleeping E1, J and I barely able to eat our breakfast. Just staring at that wonderful little man, and the big goofy smiles he put on our faces. Rain or shine, E1 always bring the sunshine into my life, into our home. Thank you Lord for entrusting this Angel into our care.

Sunshine on my Shoulder - John Denver

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high
Sunshine almost all the time makes me high
Sunshine almost always

Peace

Look at the birds in the sky...

Just a little perspective for the day.

Today's Reading of the Day...

Matthew 6:25-27
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat
(or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than
food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing
into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important
than they?

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?

Peace

Dont just clean it. Oxiclean it!

[Ted's personal infomercial testimonial]
So each (work) day for the past few years I make some coffee and fill up my thermos and bring it to work with me. I do my best, seriously, to clean the thermos and the coffee pot out, but nothing seems to get the coffee grime off the stainless steel. Baking soda. Vinegar. Dish soap. Soaking. I've tried quit a few things. I did a quick search on the wonderful world wide web (of answers) and found a suggestion about using Oxiclean. So I opted to try it out. Grabbed a small container at Walgreens. Put in a fair sized scoop, and some hot tap water, and prepared to wait a few hours.

Even Billy Mays would have been impressed. Within seconds, "stuff" was bubbling out of my thermos. Then it looked like a volcano of cappuccino (yes, as a frothy, coffee colored mess was coming out). A very Positive sign. The next morning I dumped out the thermos and the coffee pot.

WOW! I don't think either looked so clean, even when they were brand new. Without so much as a single scrub, or swirl or anything. All that coffee I couldn't scrub off before just vanished.

Thank you Oxiclean!