Category Archives: Uncategorized

How to Lose a Generation Over One Issue

When the dust settles over the controversy of this one issue, my fear is that an entire generation will be lost because of examples like this from Pastor Charles Worley from the Providence Road Baptist Church:

I’m ‘again’t” it.

Sounds just like Jesus doesn’t it?  *sarcasm*

Now go and read this excellent blog post about the potential and cost of losing a generation over this one issue.

The Newest Addition to Living Stones

Last year a mama duck built a nest under a bush in an island in our parking lot.  We watched her for weeks sitting there on her eggs.  And then one day – she, and her ducklings – were gone.

This year the mama duck returned.  Yesterday I was leaving the office at 5:00 pm when I noticed movement on the blacktop of the parking lot.  I looked over and the mama duck was leading nine little ducklings through our parking lot, under our fence and off to new adventures.

Chad Newport & Wayne Karner who were working in the Pit came out to watch the show.  Our neighbor in the white house at the back of our property came out with her child.  My wife drove up just as they were leaving the property.  We all snapped photos with our cell phones.

I love nature.  It is delicious! 🙂

Honey Duck Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 (4 pound) whole duck, rinsed
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil leaves
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh ginger root
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 orange, quartered
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup undiluted, thawed orange juice concentrate

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
  2. In a small bowl mix together mix together the basil, ginger and salt and sprinkle mixture on inside and outside of duck. Stuff duck with orange quarters and lay in roaster. Add water.
  3. In a small saucepan combine the honey, butter, lemon juice and orange juice concentrate. Simmer together over low heat until syrupy; pour a little of the mixture over the duck, saving the rest for basting. Cover roaster.
  4. Bake/roast ducks in preheated oven for 30 minutes. Turn duck breast down, reduce heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C) and roast covered for another 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until very tender. If desired, turn duck breast up during last few minutes of cooking, to brown.

What ESTJ’s Think About All Day

This post was inspired by Elizabeth Esther who wrote on her blog what ENFPs think about all day.  You can find her list here.  Very funny.

  1. How am I not in charge of this?
  2. How do I become in charge of this?
  3. I’ve just decided I’m in charge of this.
  4. If you didn’t want me to solve it, why did you tell me about it?
  5. I may be wrong, but I doubt it.
  6. I’m trying to listen.  But you said something that made me think of something so I should probably tell you what it is because it will help this conversation.
  7. Because that is the way things work!
  8. It’s just a little conflict – why are you so upset?
  9. I love lists!
  10. I’m going to run for office.
  11. You’re not going to cry are you?
  12. We can do this!!!!
  13. It’s called a turn-signal – use it!
  14. Why do you keep asking me, “do you like it?”  If I don’t like it – I’ll tell you.
  15. It is possible that I might be a super-hero.
  16. When do you think the President of the United States is going to call to ask my advice?  Maybe I should BE the President of the United States.
  17. I bet everyone is glad I showed up to this party.
  18. How am I feeling?  Rational.  Please don’t ask me that question again.
  19. Why would they not write that down?
  20. I can’t wait to write more New Year’s Resolutions
  21. I have logically calculated what would be worth going to jail for.
  22. You hurting my daughter is in that calculation.
  23. What do you mean you don’t organize your socks by size, color, and thickness?
  24. I would delegate that but don’t we want it done right?
  25. You call it pugnacious, I call it being thorough.
  26. Oh…I’m sorry…now man up!
  27. It’s due on the 1st of the month, why is that so complicated to understand?
  28. You call that a poem?!  It didn’t even rhyme!
  29. There’s no such thing as a sixth sense!
  30. No, I asked “what did he say”, not “what you feel” he said.
  31. Dear God please don’t let them try to hug me.
  32. I have a rash.  I think it is an allergic reaction to this chaos.
  33. What do you mean you disagree with my systems and beliefs?  Are you suffering from insanity?
  34. Robert’s Rules of Order!!!!
  35. No, we can’t stop to go to the bathroom.  I’m trying to beat my time.
  36. You call that art?  A monkey can paint that.
  37. What do you mean you can’t see it?  How do you not see it?!
  38. Can I be the mayor, the superintendent of schools, and on the city council at the same time?
  39. When you say “emotional sensitivity” you mean what, exactly?
  40. I should probably rescue this social situation with my wit and winsome personality.
  41. Sex is awesome.  Especially when it is goal-oriented.  What do you mean you want to cuddle after?  What for?
  42. I love legal pads and office supplies.
  43. Why would I order something new when I know I like this?
  44. I have an opinion about this.  I bet everyone can’t wait to hear it.
  45. I love meetings!  What?  I’m not leading the meeting?  I hate meetings.
  46. What do you mean you don’t have a plan?  “Winging it” is not a plan!
  47. I just sent you an e-mail copy of the schedule for our super fun family vacation.
  48. What do you mean winning isn’t everything?

STOP IT!

I’ve said it many times, but I want to be on record here as well – I AM FOR COUNSELING.  Really.  I don’t get people’s resistance to counseling.  When our cars break down we take them to a mechanic, when our bodies aren’t functioning right we go see a doctor, when  we’ve sprung a leak in the house, we call a plumber.  But when it comes to our emotional/psychological/mental/or thought life needing a diagnosis or tune up we all of a sudden resist the idea of seeing a counselor.

Kelly and I have been to counseling several times in the course of our marriage (and I highly recommend it).  All three of my kids have seen a counselor at some point in their lives (hey…when they have my genetic linkage there are going to be issues!).

BUT…counseling should never be an ad nauseam experience.  You wouldn’t hire a contractor to work on your house and have no end vision/goal with stated deadlines.  I don’t get on-going counseling that has no end vision/goal in mind and that doesn’t have deadlines attached.  I’ve seen people see a counselor weekly for years and it doesn’t seem to have made any difference in their life at all.  This to me seems insane (or maybe that’s the issue).

I think you have to go through the important work of understanding family systems, certain dysfunctional proclivities, finding explanation to patterns of behavior and the why and hows of where they came from.  But after the self-discovery and tools and resources to “manage” or “eliminate” the dysfunctions…what other counsel is needed other than – “stop it!”

I saw this video clip on Michael  Hyatt’s blog (michaelhyatt.com) and thought it was funny, but also, very appropriate at times in the counseling situation.