What's In A Name?

  Without question,  Alexander the Great was one of the greatest military leaders who ever lived. In fact, by the time Alexander the Great was thirty three he had conquered all of the known world  of  his day,  A story is told,  concerning one of Alexander the Greats many military campaigns, It seems,  that during one of his fiercest battles,  a  young soldier was seen running from the fight. When you served in the army of Alexander the Great if cowardice lead to desertion that was a crime punishable by death. Alexander the Greats personal guard brought the frightened young man to stand before Alexander the Great,  and face the charges. Alexander, looked at the frightened young man who stood before him, and while he pondered  what to do with the young man , it is said he considered the young mans youth and inexperience. the young man was sixteen and this was his first real battle.Alexander the Great took pity on the young boy and decided to give him another chance. Suddenly, Alexander the Great ask the young man, "soldier what is your name the timid young man  softy  answered, Alexander". up on hearing this Alexander the Great looked straight into the young mans eyes and said, "soldier, either change your ways or change your name! "You stand before Alexander the Great and I can not have my name attached to a coward  therefore,  take this one chance to live worthy of your name." It is said from that day  forward the young man proudly,  and fearlessly,  served on the front lines.
  The truths, this story brings out are many, Perhaps the most important truth is simply,  be who you say you are. If you claim to be an honest person, that is part of your good name therefore be honest. If you say,  you care for the needs of others then,  that is part of  your good name therefore, let your life demonstrate  your claim, with acts of compassion when seeing to the needs of others. Above all else,  if  you claim to be a Christian,   that is, one who seeks to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ then. for his name"s  sake seek to live,  as imperfect as we all are, as one who follows his teachings.  I believe and honest and sincere attempt can and should be made, for if  we would do anything less, then in the words of Alexander the Great we must change our ways or change our name. As always, my friends,  these thoughts remain, just some words to think on.
 

What's Wrong With The World?

  In the early 1860's during the time of the Civil War in America, a story is told about President Abraham Lincoln who was out on a walk one day, with two of  his  two sons. The two boys began a very loud argument, and Lincoln, was stuck in the middle between his two sons. The argument continued the grow louder and louder. Finally, a fellow traveler, who was walking just in front of the President  stopped the President and asked, "Mr. President what's wrong with your two boys? The President replied, "what's wrong with my two boys is what's wrong with the world," and what is that, ? the fellow traveler asked, Lincoln said I have two walnuts in my pocket, both of my boys wants two of them.

  This story brings out a fundamental problem that still exist in America today. The problem is as old as time. America has developed a real problem with selfishness and greed.. This very day, in the halls of congress, there  is what seems to be an endless debate concerning Americas staggering debt.. The Republicans  and the Democrats have both resigned themselves to the fact, that the debt ceiling will be raised. The only question now seems to be which party will get the biggest piece of the political advantage pie. The Democrats remind me of the late Will Rogers, Will Rogers often said he never met a man he didn't like. The Democrats never met a spending program they didn't like or a tax they couldn't hike to pay for it! The Republicans seem to want responsible budget cuts yet, even they can't seem to resist the urge to raise America's debt ceiling. While Americans continue to argue over who gets the biggest piece of the economic pie , America just may wake up one day to discover their is no pie left for anyone. As always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just some words, to think on.

  

What's Wrong With The World?

  In the early 1860's during the time of the Civil War in America, There's a story told about President Abraham Lincoln who was on a walk one day with two of his sons. The two boys got into a verloud and

What's Wrong With The World?

  In the early 1860's  America was in the midst of the Civil War. A story is told about President Abraham Lincoln, who was out walking one day with two of  his  sons. It seems Lincoln's sons were having a very loud argument. One son was on one side of  Lincoln and one son was on the other side of  Lincoln this of course, left Lincoln stuck in the middle between his two sons. As their walk continued, the argument between the two boys grew louder and louder. Finally, another person who was walking on this same road,  greeted the President and then asked, " Mr. President whats wrong with your two boys? The President replied, " What's wrong with my boys is whats wrong with the world." What is that?", asked the passing stranger,  the President said, " I have two walnuts in my pocket and both of my boys want two of them."

  This story brings to light a fundamental problem that still exist in America tod

Is Experience Always The Best Teacher/

  I am sure if  your like me,you have head the expression, experience is the best teacher. I believe in most cases that is true. I would submit to you  however,  experience doesn't always have to be the best teacher. Here is what I mean. When I have the chance to talk to some of today's youth, I strongly,  encourage them not to abuse drugs and alcohol. Almost with out fail,  I get this response, how would you know what it's like to get drunk or high on drugs you've never experienced it. I suppose on some level that is true. In fact, I find there are a great deal of things I have't experienced. I haven;t enjoyed the thrill, of sticking my hand in a meat grinder, but somehow, I just don't think I want to do that. I haven't had the pleasure of skydiving out of a plane without a parachute, but somehow I don't think I ought to do that. I haven't had the great rush you can get from bungee jumping without the bungee cord and yet somehow, I really don't think that's a great idea. I've never experienced suicide, I am told however,  that it is a one time experience.
  I realize,  these examples, are far fetched to most mature adults. In the minds of some of today's youth however, many of them seemed determined, to prove they can get wasted on drugs and alcohol repeatedly,  and continue to live to tell about.it. I am sure by now they have heard the news of singer Amy Winehouse and how she was found dead at her London flat. Given her life style of drugs and alcohol it's a pretty safe bet that they more than contributed to her death. Yet every young person says this, That's not going to happen to me I don't over do it,  I can control the amount of drugs or drinking I do. What they don't realize is, almost anyone who ever started drinking or doing drugs all thought the same thing. Teens, speak of wanting to be an individual yet they have to go along with their peers. Remember when we said to our parents everybody else is doing it? Remember their response?" I suppose if all your friends were jumping off a bridge you'd want to do it too! Hopefully, teens and young adults will eventually, live long enough to mature, and realize the foolishness of and the inexperience of their  youth I fear however, that unless a teacher, pastor, a parent or some other person of influence steps in to correct the flawed thinking of  much of today's youth tragedies like the ones  we read in the paper, and hundreds we may not know about will continue to happen Yes, there are many things I have not experienced in my life. I haven't experienced the tragic loss of a child to something needless, like drug or alcohol abuse. Frankly, that's something I pray I or anyone ever has to experience. As always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just some words to think on.

Is The Grass Always Greener?

  I suppose, it's not a new desire,  to wish certain things in your life could be better. We all want to have the financial means  to provide the best lives possible  for the   families we love. I am no different. Yet, I find ,  as many parents do,  there are time when I must tell my daughter no. Believe it or not,  there are times when I have to tell my daughter," I'm sorry , but daddy can't afford to buy you this toy right now." I hate it when I have to break my daughters heart,  and tell  her no,   you can't have that toy because,  we just can't afford it. period! I am discovering however, as,  I'm sure many other parents have,  sometimes,  you have to say no to the  things  you might like to have, so  you can make sure,  you have the financial means for the things you must have  for your families well being and economic survival. The most important thing I'm learning as a parent is sometimes,  it shows a deeper love for your children,  when you as a parent,   find the strength to say no to your children. As all wise parents know, it is not good to give your children everything they could wish or ask for. When as parents,  you restrain your self,  and say no to some of the things your children ask for  you teach your children to value and appreciate the things they do have. Therefore, as parents learning to say no to our children sometimes demonstrates a tougher, but greater love for them
  You may find this hard to believe, but there are times when I see people who are supposed to be adults behave like children. America is facing some tough economic times right now. Therefore, if  you have a full time job,  and your bills are being met, and your families basic needs are being provided  for  quit complaining because it's not the job you wish you had. If, you have a sufficient house to live in, and you can make your mortgage  payments, don't gripe,  because your house is not as fancy your neighbors down the street. In life,  I am learning,  nothing is so  good,  that  it couldn't be better, but nothing is so bad,   that  it could't be worse!
  I came across  some great advice recently,  and as I do sometimes, I composed a poem.I  ask your indulgence, as I now share this poem with you.
  I was so depressed, I had the blues. It seems I was too poor to buy new shoes.  I was so sad, I felt incomplete, I then,  met a man,  who had no feet. The lesson this poem teaches is not new. The  words however, bring forth a real truth. Finally, consider this, if  the  grass is greener  on the other side of your neighbors fence,  don't worry, your neighbor's water bill is higher than yours! as always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just some words to think on.

Getting To The Heart Of The Matter

  Like most parents, I love giving good gifts to my children. This summer has been so very hot. When my daughter told me her small pool had a whole in it, and there was no way I could repair it, of course she asked could I by her another one.  I wasn't sure if we could afford a new and bigger pool, or if we would even find one this late in the summer season. I made many phone calls,  but no store I checked had any family sized pools. All seemed lost,  and indeed,  I was just about to give up on my quest for a family sized pool. I had one more store to check. I had a hunch that this particular store just might have the type of pool  my family and I were looking for. I carefully dialed the phone to make my last call , and of course my daughter was right by the phone listening eagerly. I was so relieved,  and happy when the voice on the other end of the phone informed me, that yes they had a pool and it was on sale for half price. The store manager agreed to hold the pool for us if we would come right away and get it  we ran to car. My family and I raced into the store. I grabbed a credit card and the pool was ours!
  The story does not end there  Now a new problem developed. We, have a very small car and that was a very large box.. We tried and tried to make the box fit alas, it would not . Finally,  my wife left my daughter and I at the store,  drove home , unloaded the pool, then drove back to the store, picked up my daughter and I and drove back home. We had just gotten home and it began to rain thus, no swimming would be done that day, The following day,  my wife worked for hours getting the pool together. We waited for what seemed like an eternity, for the pool to fill with water. Finally, the pool was ready! I am disabled, my handicap is such,  that there are very few things I can do with my daughter, so I was truly looking forward to swimming in a bigger pool with my daughter, enter another problem I could not climb the pool ladder. The ladders rungs were too narrow for me. The ladder was not grounded in any way so it was unsteady. I knew that  even if I could get to the top of the ladder you couldn't sit down at the top of the ladder, it seems you had to step over a large gap,  and then proceed down the other side of the ladder to climb down into the water.The climb was five feet into the air and with my weak and wobbly legs , I was naturally afraid of heights. I knew that even if I could get in the pool no one would be able to help me get out of the pool  It was clear I would not be swimming with my daughter. I was angry and frustrated,  I retreated to the house. My wife came inside a little while later and said, " your daughter does not want to swim now." She told me,"  if daddy can't swim then I won't swim either."  It seems, my daughter did not want to make me sad   She loved me so much,  she would give up swimming so I would not be frustrated because I could not swim with her. I suddenly thought,  dear God forgive me. I rushed back out side and said, " okay honey show daddy how well you can swim!  A bright smile  returned  to my daughters face,  and she proudly, showed me the dog paddle strokes my wife had been teaching her, it turned out to be a very fun afternoon.
  The lesson I learned that day,  was complex on one level  yet, simple on another. I realized my daughter doesn't mind If I can"t swim with her. She just wants to know  that daddy, just wants to be there to watch her swim. I now realize my daughter is not so concerned with the weakness of my legs, but rather the strength of my love for her in my heart. Thus, when I got to the heart of the matter, I found out my heart was all that mattered. As always, my friends, these thoughts remain, just some words to think on.