Downsizing hits the North Pole

Even Father Christmas is feeling the affects of the poor economy. Here is the latest news:

The recent announcement that Donner and Blitzen have elected to take the reindeer early retirement package has triggered a good deal of concern about whether they will be replaced, and about other restructuring decisions at the North Pole.

Reindeer downsizing has been made possible through acquisition of technology in the form of a late model Japanese sled for the annual trip.

Improved productivity from Dasher and Dancer is anticipated now that they have completed Reindeer Technical Expert Interactive Video Training and will mentor the other reindeer with the help of my two Management Support Specialists. Reindeer will attend weekly staff meetings in order to learn to work smarter, not harder. The first two such meetings will include viewing of the video "Who Moved My Cheese?"

Reduction in reindeer will lessen airborne environmental emissions for which the North Pole has received unfavorable press. Not having to respond to unfavorable press will allow the Management Support Specialists to begin pulling lists and checking them twice.

As a further restructuring, productivity goals require the North Pole to continue to look for better, more competitive steps. Effective immediately, the following economy measures are to take place in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" subsidiary:

The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree never turned out to be the cash crop forecasted. It will be replaced by a plastic hanging plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance.

The two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. The positions are therefore eliminated.

The three French hens represent Eurocentric ethnicity. As they retire, we will target Asian song birds in order to gain bilingual bicultural diversity.

The four calling birds were replaced by an automated voice mail system, with a call waiting option. Management Support Specialists are conducting an analysis to determine who the birds have been calling, how often and how long they talked.

The five golden rings have been put on hold by the Board. Maintaining a portfolio based on one commodity could have negative implications for privatizing with investment counselors. Diversification into other precious metals as well as a mix of T-Bills and high technology stocks appear to be in order.

The six geese-a-laying constitutes a luxury which can no longer be afforded. It has long been felt that the production rate of one egg per goose per day is an example of the decline in Work Units Per Worker Year. Three geese will be let go, and an upgrading in the selection procedure by personnel will assure management that from now on every goose it gets will be a good one.

The seven swans-a-swimming is obviously a number chosen in better times. The function is primarily decorative. Mechanical swans are on order. The current swans will be retrained to learn some new tally strokes and therefore enhance their outplacement.

The eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the EEOC. The more militant maids consider this a dead-end job with no upward mobility. Automation of the process may permit the maids to try a-consulting, a-mentoring or a-adjudicating.

Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer do the steps.

Ten Lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of Lords plus the expense of international air travel prompted the Compensation Committee to suggest outsourcing this work to private industry. Meanwhile incumbent Lords-a-leaping will be redesignated as Leaping Support Specialists, because Congress has sought a reduction in the Lords-a-Leaping ratio.

Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback on new music and no uniforms will produce savings which will drop right down to the bottom line. The eight maids-a-milking will demonstrate teamwork by playing cowbells during spike periods.

Expect a substantial reduction in assorted people, fowl, animals and other expenses. Though incomplete, studies indicate that stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. If we can drop ship in one day, service levels will be improved. Regarding the lawsuit filed by the attorney association seeking expansion to include the legal profession ("thirteen lawyers-a-representing"), review is pending by a committee of Management Support Specialists.

Lastly, it is not beyond consideration that deeper cuts may be necessary in the future to stay competitive. Should that happen, the Board will request management to scrutinize the Snow White Pilot. We may end the Pilot and acquire an additional seven Management Support Dwarfs.

Missing Person

When I think of a Christian who has fallen from grace, one who doesn't know why they believe what they believe or why they believed in the first place, I truly believe that they are starving. Starving for the Truth and starving for God to show that He really exists. They want Him to show Himself in a physical way and feel that if He doesn't reveal Himself in this way, that proves that He doesn't exist. They can't feel Him in a spiritual and/or a divine way either because they are trying so hard and over thinking so much to the point that they are pushing God right out of existence. If He doesn't answer immediately, or even in a month, a year or even five or ten years, well that's it, that proves that God doesn't exist.

When someone craves something, they search for something to fill their void. They can search an eternity. They can search until they believe that the thing that they are searching for didn't exist in the first place. The intangible is far beyond reach and therefore mustn't have been there to begin with.

I have been there, in fact, I don't know many Christian's who have not questioned the existence of God at one time or another - even those who have been Christian's for years! We begin to question if we believe what our parents believe or if we were going with the flow of things, singing the songs and saying the prayers that we felt was our "duty" while in church, Sunday School, and at home and gathered around the table at family get togethers.

I questioned my belief and if I was just hanging on to the "cocktails" of my parents belief. I asked for God to show His existence to me. I know that I had heard God's voice clear as day in the past, and that should have been evidence enough for me. I had even been healed by the hand of God. (I'll get in to that later) But, I was questioning it. I was questioning the voice of God! One that was comforting, One that scolded at times, One that was wonderful, One that was sarcastic and had a sense of humour, One that was loving and correcting, One that I had come to know as wonderful and beautiful.

It's okay to question. It's okay to have doubts and question something that you aren't sure of. It's okay to question why you believe what you believe or don't believe. The belief in the existence of something isn't tied up in a neat little bow. Question it and question why you are questioning in the first place. Starve for the questions and crave the answers. Hunger for the truth. Don't simply live off of the "cocktails" of your parents belief system. Seek the answers to the questions you have running through your head and your heart.

The voice of God may not come to you in a booming voice as so many people tend to believe. The hand of God may not touch you directly in a way that you are hoping and praying. The voice of God may come in a whisper, but are you listening? Are you really listening? I don't mean with human ears, I mean with your heart. Yes, sometimes God does answer in a loud booming voice. He has even struck people deaf and dumb! But, more often then not, He doesn't work that way. It's the whispers that we need to be listening for. The subtle ways that God tends to operate. That can be frustrating, can't it?! You don't hear a voice or the evidence that you were seeking or even not seeking, so God doesn't exist. You throw away your beliefs because, well, God didn't show Himself to you. Or maybe you didn't want Him to show the proof of His existence in the first place??? Or you didn't care.

This happens with so many Christians. Maybe they became a believer when they were a child. Maybe a sibling lead them to the Lord in the quiet of their bedroom. A simple prayer of asking Jesus into their hearts. A prayer that so many adults don't believe, yet a child believes without question. When that child becomes an adult, do they still believe? Do they carry on that simple belief, that yes, God does exist, Jesus does forgive, the Lord came into their life and forgave them of their sins? Do they crave the answers to the questions that they so believed without a doubt? Are they starving for the truth to be revealed to them? Or do they over analyze everything? One of the things that I can say to that is seek the answers and seek the truth that you believed so trustingly. Yes, trustingly, not blindly! That trusting faith won't leave you in the dark and bumping into disbelief.

I would question if we are the ones, Christian's as a whole who allow, yes I said allow, fellow believers to fall. Are we a bunch of hypocrites who do exactly what the world is doing? Does the non-believer "lifestyle" seem more appealing? Sure it does! But is it? Many would say yes. Non-believers seem just as happy as believers. The truth is, whether those non-believers know it or not, they are craving something else. But how are we to help fill that hunger when we are starving ourselves?! Are we the cause of our own disbelief? Are we the cause of others disbelief? Everyone has to seek out the truth on their own. That's the bottom line.

Something as simple as a yellow bird landing on your windowsill may proof enough of God's existence for you, but it may not be for someone else. Maybe that someone else will have to be struck deaf and dumb by God. At any rate, that fallen Christian or non-believer has to find the truth on their own. They have to crave it and starve for it. That void can only be filled on God's terms not theirs or even ours. Stubbornness on our part certainly gets in the way, but in the end, God will make His existence known...whether you believe in Him or not! Chew on that!

Another question in me
One for the powers that be
It's got me thrown and so
I put on my poker face
And try to figure it out
This undeniable doubt
A common occurrence
Feeling so out of place

Guarded and cynical now
Cant help but wondering how
My heart evolved into a
Rock beating inside of me
So I reel, such a stoic ordeal
Where's that feeling that I don't feel?

There was a boy who had the faith to move a mountain
And like a child he would believe without a reason
Without a trace he disappeared into the void and
I've been searching for that missing person

Under a lavender moon
So many thoughts consume me
Who dimmed that glowing light
That once burned so bright in me
Is this a radical phase
A problematical age
That keeps me running
From all that I used to be

Is there a way to return
Is there a way to unlearn
That carnal knowledge
Thats chipping away at my soul
I've been gone too long
Will I ever find my way home?

There was a boy who had the faith to move a mountain
And like a child he would believe without a reason
Without a trace he disappeared into the void and
I've been searching for that missing person
He used to want to try to walk the straight and narrow
He had a fire and he could feel it in the marrow
Its been a long time and I haven't seen him lately but
I've been searching for that missing person
-----
Michael W. Smith
Missing Person (I'll Lead You Home Album - 1995)

Can I Have Your Autograph?

In today's society, we are in love with celebrities and the so called famous. We worship them like they are gods and like we know them personally. We also seem to want our own 15 minutes of fame. What is up with all of the so called "reality" shows anyway? Is that really the real world? Do people really behave like that when the cameras aren't rolling? Are we so disillusioned that we find other people's lives more interesting than our own? We are drones and zombies glued to glow of the television set, worshiping it and the characters portrayed on our favourite TV shows. The same goes for music and the movies. Bowing down to the gods the are "celebrities". What have we become?

Signed on the mountains
Signed on the clouds
Signed on the rainbow after the storm
Signed on the depths of the ocean
Signed on the sunrise and sunset
Signed on the fish of the sea
Signed on the trees
Signed on the birds
Signed on the stars in the sky
Signed on the desert
Signed on the snow
Signed on the rain in the morning
Signed on the lightning and thunder
Signed on all of creation
Signed for all to see
Signed on you and signed on me
Signed on all He has made
Signed preciously
Signed perfectly
Signed with care
Signed with love
It's God autograph,
Sincerely.

Whose autograph do you want?

Cori-Beth's Shoe Boutique

Hey everyone! I told you I was going to tell you about the shoes I have been creating, so now I'm telling you. They are brand new, custom made Keds shoes that I have created at Zazzle.com. There is Women's Lace Ups, Women's Slip Ons, Women's Mini Slip Ons, Kids Lace Ups, and Kids Slip Ons. Yes, I have been promoting using these same words, can you tell?! In fact, here's the end line of the open paragraph on my site: "So run, don't walk, or at least surf on by Cori-Beth's Shoe Boutique." Corny, right?!

I'm finding it so much fun, addicting even, creating these shoes. Especially the ones in my Cool and Crazy Lace Ups Collection. Here's one of them:

I call it "Funky Lava". I wanted something catchy and that's all I could come up with!

Also, I have done some Think Pink shoes for Breast Cancer Awareness. I sold a pair of slip on shoes with the ribbons and here it is:

One of my favourite shoes that I've created has to be the Sign Language Monkey. He is saying I Love You in, well, Sign Language. Here is the Kids Lace Up Shoe:


Well, that's all I'm going to do with this shameless plug on my shoe shop except, if you would like to see all of the shoes including solid coloured ones, more sign language, pink ribbon, and cool and crazy lace ups as well as skateboards, visit:
Cori-Beth's Shoe Boutique

Happy surfing!

Cori-Beth<><

Lyric the Guinea Pig

I know, I know. I haven't written in a while. Well, we are in the process of moving and I was working on creating some shoes. I'll show you the shoes later. I've already sold a pair!

Anyway, so that you won't be too mad with me for not posting in a while, I thought I would share this picture of my cute guinea pig Lyric. She is just over four years old and I adopted her when she was only 5 weeks and a day old. She squeaks/yells when I say "treat" and when I come out of my room and when she hears me talking or coming up the stairs or coming near her cage. I think she likes me! Well, here she is in her pigloo, peeking out and wondering if I am ever going to put the camera down and give her a treat. Although, there's some lettuce right in front of her!

Wanna Bet?

You know it's one of those wacky days when you see the craziest game show that is even crazier than a Japanese Game Show...

It was my dad who stumbled across the show at first. (My mum wasn't too interested when I was telling her about it...oh well...not her cup of tea. At least Big Brother has a plot...I think.) I stood there entranced by the guy that was trying to hit the bell that was attached to his boxing helmet as many times as he could within 1 minute with his foot. He jumped up and down several times hitting that bell with all his might, with yes, his foot, an astounding 50 times! Yes, 50 times! Okay, out of trance.

I couldn't resist as I went to my bedroom and turned on the television to the station that was carrying this game show that was wackier than a Japanese game show. I'm a sucker for wacky game shows and for the weird and the strange. I found out it was called "Wanna Bet?" I'm not sure what station was carrying, but I know it was an American station as they had American celebrities on it. Of course, if they are hard up for work, who knows, maybe they would appear on a Japanese game show?!

Anyway, the premise of the show is, the "contestants"/celebrities start off with a certain amount of money. They proceed to "bet" a certain amount of money based on what "stunt" someone can do. The contestants base that bet on whether the "stunt person" will "succeed" or "fail" or on how many times they will preform that stunt. If they are right, the amount of money that they bet is added to their total dollar amount. If they are wrong, that money is taken out of their total dollar amount that they already have. The money that they earn at the end, goes to a charity of their choice. So a lot is on the line as to how much will go to charity, and of course the dignity of the person preforming the stunts.

In case you were wondering, yes, I watched the next wacked-out stunt that wasn't as weird as a guy kicking himself in the head. It involved at piece of uncooked spaghetti and two trackers. The idea was for the trackers to have the uncooked spaghetti delicately placed in between the two trackers and have the trackers, one going forward and one going backwards, proceed towards a hot, bubbling pot of tomato sauce that was 10 feet away and drop the spaghetti in it. They had to do this under 2 and a half minutes. I should say that they had someone who was "coaching" them the whole way and who would place the spaghetti between the trackers on a platform then take the platform away when the spaghetti was in place. Okay, run on sentence! They could go back and get another piece as long as it was still under the time allotted.

Anyway, here is the play by play. Yes, I took notes. I knew I wanted to blog this, because well, that's just me! All of the constants thought that the drivers could do the the "stunt" and bet the dollar amount they thought was appropriate. Well, here's what happened the first piece of spaghetti, they made it to the pot, but dropped it beside the pot. The second was bending when they started to move towards the pot and of course snapped. The third broke with one minute left. The forth broke. The fifth dropped before they got past a foot. The sixth dropped. With 15 seconds left the seventh one was put in place. With ten seconds left the spaghetti dropped. With 2 seconds left, the tractor drivers made a valiant effort back to get another piece of the spaghetti, but it was all over! No pasta today! The pasta stops here, in broken dreams, crushed beneath the tracker tires of defeat.

Needless to say, all of the contestants lost money in their naive and wishful thinking. I'll admit, I thought they could do it as well. But, I didn't have money on the line, just my dignity of thinking a piece of skinny, flexible pasta could be held between two trackers 10 feet away and dropped into a hot, bubbling pot of tomato sauce. Silly me!

Well, I changed the channel after that stunt. I couldn't take the wackiness any more. It was too much for my little brain to take. I think I lost a couple of IQ points watching. Okay, y'all know I'm going to find out when it's on again! Maybe next time they will see how many brain cells the viewers lose watching the show. I bet all of them! Do you think I'll succeed or fail?! Wanna Bet?!

EDIT: Here's the link to the show at the TV station's website. It's ABC that is carrying it. You can watch clips at this link to see the wackiness I was talking about. Looks like full episodes, too! And a count down clock when the next one airs! Aren't we special?! I think it will be a hit because it is so out there and you don't see many game shows like it in North America. http://abc.go.com/primetime/wannabet/index?pn=index

Crazy Cat

I had to share these pictures with everyone...at least those who haven't seen them yet. They are of our neighbour's cat, Smoke, or Smokey as I like to call her. She loves to pose, but in the first one you can see that she was trying to get into our garage and didn't like my paparazzi photos. Right after this picture was taken, she jumped to the ground and ran away. Caught red pawed! My dad had found her a few times in the garage so just above the door had to be blocked off. Just recently, more had to be blocked off because my mum saw a raccoon trying to get in!

Well, anyway, here's Smoke...a cute cat that won't let you go near her unless you are far, far away, or on the other side of the window! Kind of like my guinea pig that wants you to pet her without touching her...

Blind or Trusting

I just wanted to point out a few things that I think we are all guilty of at times, whether we are Christians or not and regardless of our walk in life:

Do we really have the faith to overcome? Or are we just hoping our problems will go away? Is our faith so blind that we only rely on chance? Do we have so little faith that we can't trust in God? Are we in a comfort zone that we can't escape, or don't want to?

Our molehills turn into mountains when we don't have faith in God. He wants us to trust Him...to take His hand and believe. He wants to us to hand our troubles over to Him.

The faith the size of a mustard seed is all it takes. But, how many of us have moved a mountain lately???

Paint Pallets and Bursts of Creativity

Every so often I get a burst of creativity in the painting realm. I don't know why God gives me these bursts, He just does! I'm not a painter, and the only thing I have been "trained" in as far as painting goes is what I learned in elementary school with power acrylics. I wasn't able to take art in high school do to my allergies to the power acrylics. Elementary school, well, you have no choice to stay away from the paint. Let's just say "ACHOO!"

Most of the paintings I do are abstract that nobody gets except me. Some are "normal". I paint in many mediums including oils, acrylic (the liquid kind!), watercolours (my preferred medium), as well as drawing in pencil, sepia pencils, pencil crayons, and pastels.

I think I get my love of art from my grandmother, my dad's mum. She is an amazing painter! We have several of her works displayed in our home and I'm sure they will be passed down for generations. I'll share more about them later.

Well, here are just four of the pieces that I have done. There's just too many to share right now! More later... The order that they appear is "California Dogface" (oil), "Emblazon" (watercolour), "Liberation" (watercolour), and "Noontide" (watercolour). The reason for the titles - 1st because, of course, it's a California Dogface butterfly, 2nd- Emblazon can mean many colours bursting, 3rd- I thought this kind of looked like a hand (Christ's perhaps) reaching out to liberate someone, 4th- Noontide means sunset or sunrise and I thought this looked like just that. Well, enjoy!

Living Waters

This photo came to mind as I thought of something my Pastor said in a sermon. He said that Living Water doesn't sit in a reservoir. With that I add that Living Water doesn't wait for future use. It wouldn't be Living Water then, it would be stagnant and of no use to anyone. Keep that in mind when you think that you can't do anything for Christ. Don't sit still and do nothing, otherwise, that Living Water you are supposed to spill over to others will go stagnant and scummy. Who wants to drink scummy, dirty water?

Everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. - Isaiah 55:1

Canada Day and Strawberry Season

Oh, 'tis the season to celebrate Canada Day and strawberries. To start off: Happy 141st Birthday Canada! Hard to believe that Canada is that young! Now bring on the fireworks that shouldn't be fired off in a residential area. Why do people insist on breaking the law that way? There must be something in the city bylaws that allows them to get away with it...still at 10pm when you're trying to sleep, it can be annoying. Especially when people are firing them off when there is no holiday! Whatever!

One thing I have to say about that is "Take off, eh!" and "You hosier!". Okay, now that Bob and Doug Mackenzie are out of my system... How Canadian am I?!

As well as it being Canada Day, strawberry season has begun. Strawberries are one of my most favourite food. I remember as a kid going with my mum and sister to pick berries at one of the local U-Pick places. I think I ate more than went in the "pints". Still, it was fun... Stained hands and upset tummies...tons of fun!

I did end up cutting some rhubarb today and made a strawberry rhubarb crisp. It came out more like a fruit chutney. I now remember why I don't do rhubarb crisp - it comes out really runny! Oh, well. It still tasted good....IMHO. Tomorrow, I think I'll just use strawberries in something and leave the rhubarb alone for a while. Besides, there is some still that needs to ripen.

Well, again, Happy Canada Day and happy strawberry season. Have fun with the fireworks even if they keep you up late at night. Eat some strawberries and don't worry about the noise!

Poem to the Strawberry

Strawberry, strawberry
oh, how you glow.
Strawberry, strawberry
I'll watch you grow.

You glisten in the sunlight-
sparkle all day long.
I want to eat you-
is that so wrong?

What are you thinking
as I pick you, dear strawberry?
I want to know-
I can't think clearly.

Strawberry, strawberry
I gobble you up.
Strawberry, strawberry
for you, it's tough luck.
-CEC

Rhubarb and Snails

The other day I was outside checking to see if the rhubarb was ready to cut so I could make some concoction such as rhubarb crisp, rhubarb sauce, rhubarb muffins, or whatever else I can experiment on, er, tryout on, er, make for myself and my family. To my delight it's almost ready and the science project can begin soon!

I saw this cute little snail amongst the rhubarb, sitting on a rock. I had to snap a picture of it. You can't really tell from this photo, but the snail is peeking out of it's shell. When I was a kid, I thought snails were disgusting and slimy. Now I think of them as one of God's cutest creatures. Not that I would have one crawl on me or anything! I wonder how they would taste with rhubarb?... eww... never mind!

Wait for the Lord and keep His way. - Psalm 37:34

My sister got married!

That's right everyone! Yesterday my baby sister (okay, so she's 27), got married! I couldn't be happier. In fact, I'm getting teary eyed right now... She and her husband make to most amazing couple. He fit into the family right away when we first met him. It was like we had known him forever.

When we first met Ryan he brought us pan of brownies that he had made himself. Bonus points, or brownie points in this case. He was also polite and even offered to do the dishes after dinner! It wasn't a forced thing either, he was being a genuine gentleman. We knew right then and there that Sarah was smitten with this guy! That and the fact that she wanted us to meet him in the first place. Something she had never done with other guys she has dated.

I think it was my dad who knew first that these two were meant to be together. Then when my mum and I met him, we also knew.

We were so pleased to know that Ryan was a strong Christian man who loves Jesus with all his heart, mind, soul, and spirit. I know that he encourages and uplifts Sarah in her daily walk with Jesus because I have seen the change in my sister since she has met him. There is a side to my sister that I haven't seen when she is with Ryan. The love in both of their eyes is so cool!

I ceremony went so smoothly! The flower girl tripped near the end of the aisle which just added to the sweetness of the day. She was so cute in her puffy white dress and curly blonde hair. Brought back memories of when I was a flower girl when I was three. Of course, I ran down the aisle holding my cousin Ben's hand with my tongue hanging out. Don't ask... I even said in a really loud voice when my aunt was coming down the aisle "Who's that lady in the the white dress?!" Oh, boy! I was a monkey!

Back to my sister. At one point, I could see Ryan tearing up during the vows. Then when my sister was saying her vows, she started to get choked up. Which more than likely got my mum choked up as well. I know I was. And then when the pastor said "I now pronounce you man and wife", I got butterflies in my stomach with the thought that now my sister is married woman!

The dress she wore was a dream. I beautiful long train, beads, and a lovely corset at the back. Her makeup was so beautiful and it made her blue eyes really shine. The grin on Ryan's face when he first saw Sarah down the aisle didn't stop the whole rest of the day. He's smiley to begin with, but this was a new reason to smile even bigger. I wonder if his cheeks hurt!

The reception went well, with amazing food and stories to tell. Some I won't repeat in this forum! It was a wonderful day despite and inspite the torrential down pour outside. Friends and family alike, we all enjoyed ourselves, had pleasant conversations, shared a few laughs, and saw a side of Sarah and Ryan some of us have never seen! The crazy side!

Of course, we all wish Sarah and Ryan all the best in the world, no matter which part of it they may be in. Have a long and happy marriage as you continue to grow in Christ and in each other.

Cori-Beth

BTW, I left my running shoes at their house when I stayed over Friday night...

The Steps of the Father

This post was originally posted on one of my previous blogs on August 20, 2006. I feel that it still very much applies to today and needed to post it again.

One night just last week, God gave me a vision of a group of people, mainly youth, running out of a small cabin out in the wilderness at a high rate of speed. I saw Jesus walking behind them. I wasn't sure what all this meant until God spoke to my heart and told me that there are those, especially youth and young adults who lead themselves, instead of allowing Jesus to lead them. They follow their own path, running aimlessly and think that they can do it on their own. They are out in the wilderness wandering and running towards nowhere. I am myself guilty of this as many of us are from Generation X. We tend to give into the cliche label that we are all lazy and don't have any work ethic, we lack a sense of direction and tend to lead ourselves to nowhereville in the wilderness.

But Jesus doesn't want us to be that way. We need to stop living up to the cliche and start living for God. We need stop running aimlessly to nowhere and have Him lead us and guide us and show us direction.

The Steps of the Father

Following a path
of destruction.
Surrounded by
the wilderness
of your own making.
Following your own way.
Lead by yourself.
Aimlessly plotting
a course unknown.

Walk in the Way.
Walk in the Truth.
Walk in the steps of the Father.
Step our of despair
and into His arms.
Walk in the steps of the Father.

Following your
own beliefs
Surrounded by
the comforts of home.
Following yourself
and your selfish ways.
Lead by yourself.
Aimlessly wandering
a course unknown.

Walk in the Way.
Walk in the Truth.
Walk in the steps of the Father.
Step out of despair
and into His arms.
Walk in the steps of the Father.
Let Him lead you.
Wander no more.
Walk in the steps of the Father.
Let Him take your hand.
He'll be your guide.
Walk in the steps of the Father.
The steps of the Father.
-CEC

To add to the original post: I will not be a cliche! I will not follow myself, but follow Jesus. And as I am writing, the old hymn "I have decided to follow Jesus" is running around in my head. This song just doesn't apply to non-believers when they first accept Jesus, but those of who have been Christian's for many years as well.

It's a daily thing of taking up your cross and following Him just like it says in Mark 8:34. Deny that apathetic selfishness in your heart. Deny everything about yourself and hand it over to Jesus. Stop living a cliche! Stop being Generation X and Generation Y! Be a generation after God's own heart. Stop running in the wilderness of your own making and come to civilization with Jesus. It's the best reality you could ever have! The highest high you could ever have! Freedom beyond belief! Peace that passes all understanding! ...that's only some of the idea...trust me!

Be a freedom fighter, and again, don't be a cliche! Walk in the Steps of the Father.

The Right Ingredient

One thing that I learned when I was a teenager, when baking, add more salt to the recipe to make it sweeter. That being said, too much salt can spoil the whole recipe.

The same goes when witnessing to others about Christ. As Christians we are to be the salt of the Earth, spreading the good news to others. We are to show that salt to others and be an example to them showing just how the love of Jesus can change their lives. But too much salt, and that could turn someone away from the Gospel pertinently. We could give them a bitter taste in their mouth and harden their heart about Jesus all together.

How would you like it if someone flung a Bible at you??!! That's how some people perceive pushy Christians. We don't want to come across like that. We are to be aggressive with the love of Christ, not pushy Bible thumpers...or throwers in this case. Approach as Jesus would approach. WWJD right? What Would Jesus Do?

Also think about how much salt you have in your life to sprinkle on others. Do you have enough of it? Are you being the salt of the Earth? Or are you just a little pinch that only you can barely taste yourself? Then wake up and start asking for the sweetness of Jesus.

Come on everyone, fill up on your salt and spread it around! It will be sweet! Sprinkle it around! The right ingredient can go a long way!

If you can't taste
the sweetness of
Jesus,
then maybe you need a little more
salt.
-CEC

The Squirrel in the Bird Feeder

Check out this nutty squirrel outside our kitchen window last winter. Pun intended!


















When they want that seed, they will do anything!

Some of my weird thoughts

I have some pretty strange thoughts that go through my head. I don't know which side of the family that it comes from. It could just be me....yah, I think it's just me!;-)

I think God gives me these weird thoughts to sort out the true ones. Either that, or they are my true thoughts, at least at the time. In which case, I have a strange mind!

Anyway, here are some of those thoughts that I have in my warped sense of humour, and of course my strange mind.

Sensibility

Sensibility
has lost
it's mind.
That is...
if it has
a mind to begin
with.
That doesn't
make sense
that sensibility
has a mind.
And, if it had
a mind,
how would it
lose it anyway?
Sensibility has
more sense
than to lose it's
mind because
then it wouldn't
be sensibility
anymore.
All things considering,
sensibility can't truly
lose it's mind.
That would just
be plain
nonsense...ilbility.
-CEC

Know

I know that
you know,
but do you
know that I
know you know?
How do you
know that I
know that you know?
You just know that
I know that you
know?
Well, if you know
that I know that
you know that I know,
then we're all
okay, you know.
-CEC

And last but not least (at least for now), one that I wrote when I was 16.

Say What?

Nobody wants to be a Somebody
But when Nobody doesn't
Become Somebody
He's a Nobody.
In other words,
We're either a Nobody
Or a Somebody
Trying to figure out
Our real names.
-CEC

Hope you had fun reading these. I'll share more later, including one about Door Hinge Squeezed Oranges.(-:

Tornado hits my home town

God was certainly looking out for us with last night's storm.

A funnel cloud was right near us. It must have been a mircoburst or down draft from the twister that downed that big maple. This twister and downed tree was from the first storm surge we had. The second one also had black, ominous clouds, but it was down graded to a severe thunder storm. A probability of another today.

Again, God was sure looking out for us when He did some of that crop clearing last night. No one was hurt and we're all safe!

Should let everyone know as well, after the second storm surge, a robin began to sing. God's cool way of letting us know that the worst is over! I love robins!

The Hand of God

In my post from this morning I showed you photos of flowers that come in the beauty of Spring. Well, God also shows His mighty hand in other ways, too. These photos were literally taken just about an hour ago after we had a Tornado Warning with hail and sideways rain. I had been taking pictures out my one window of a rainbow after this storm and well, I was in for a shock when I looked out my window on the other side of my room. This is what I saw looking out that window and when I went outside to get a better look. I should point out, that no one was hurt.











(Yes, the tree is uprooted!)

Getting closer to the scene












Closer yet












Tree meet car, car tree
BTW Apparently this was the first time this lady parked on the street!
She usually parked in the driveway behind her husbands truck.
If she had, her car would have been totaled!












The rainbow outside my other window that I was distracted by :-)

It shows you the extremes of God's majesty of His powerful and mighty hand! Stay safe everyone, and God Bless!

Spring Photos

With the springtime comes flowers. These are just a few photos that I took of some of the flowers we get in our gardens. Enjoy!

Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail. They are new every
morning, great is Your faithfulness.
- Lamentations 3:22-23

Ancient Relic

Tainted
Stained
Misused
Publicity Stunt
Fashion Statement
Misrepresented
Mistrusted
Destroyed
Burned
Broken
Misunderstood
Glamorized
Categorized
Bloodstained...
The Cross.
- CEC

Singing at the top of our lungs in the morning

We all wake up in the morning differently. Some wake up grumbling and growling. Others wake up perky and ready to go. Others can be immovable and want to sleep just "another five minutes". They hit the snooze bar over and over again. By the way, just to annoy everyone, I wake up alert (usually) in the morning, very early. You can tell by the time of this post! I've been like this since I was a little kid, just like my dad.

Well, this morning like many mornings, I woke up to hear a robin happily singing away. It's funny (in a good way) how God has made this beautiful bird so happy in the morning. No matter what, it sings in the morning! What would happen if we all sang to our Creator every single morning? Studies have shown laughing is good for you, but what about singing?

The Bible says to make a joyful noise unto to the Lord (Psalm 66:1; 95:1; 98:6). Does that also mean in the morning? I'm not sure the writer of these Psalms was saying to wake up and sing at the top of your lungs until you annoy even the neighbour down the street. (No, the robin's singing isn't annoying. At least not to me, anyway.) They are saying to make a "joyful noise". Okay, I didn't mean to make that sound funny. Oh, well.:-)

You don't have to sing to make a joyful noise. You can wake up and not growl that you have to go to work. You can thank God that you have a job to get up to! You can thank Him that you have a warm bed to sleep in! Thank Him that He kept your family safe and warm during the night! The list goes on.

So enough with the grumping and growling in the morning. Think of the robin as the dawn comes. Probably one of the happiest of God's creatures in the morning. They also makes an amazing environmentally friendly alarm clock.

The Robin

Your voice is so clear
Robin of the Spring.
Your greet every morning,
it awakes as you sing.

A flute so sweet and melodic
brings the early dawns song.
Your voice resounds above others
it's beauty sweet and long.

Your notes are delightful
like music to my ear.
Never cease singing
so that all may hear.

Sing your song with exuberance
the rest of your life.
Sing it to your Creator
with all of your might.

Sing on lovely Robin.
Have your voice be heard.
Let it rise to the heaven's
like no other bird.
-CEC

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck?

I thought I'd start off this blog telling you about a cute woodchuck that made his presence known around this time last year.

My dad was the first to spot him in our backyard. The woodchuck soon made his home in our one and only window well. That window well, unfortunately wasn't really sealed inside, so any creature could get in the basement if he or she so pleased. A woodchuck wouldn't be as bad as a skunk, so that well was soon sealed off.
















Wilbur, as this little (???) cutie was soon named then made his home under our back deck. Everyday, we (or at least I) would look for him in our backyard. Around dusk and dawn, and sometimes throughout the day, he was make his appearance to the world. By the way, these guys run really fast!














Winter came and Wilbur went into hibernation. With anticipation, a little too much on my part, I waited for the woodchuck to make an appearance again. He soon did about a month ago, then he decided to live up to his name. He started to nibble on one of the posts of the deck. That did it for my dad! He sealed off the bottom of the deck. Wilbur then disappeared. No, my dad didn't so something to him! Oi! What kind of a person do you think he is?!

A couple of weeks ago, Wilbur showed himself again, this time across the street in the neighbour's yard. He was happily munching on some dandy lions. Then, he disappeared again. They are shy and don't like to be around a whole lot of people.

Just last week, Wilbur showed up again. We soon realised what he had been doing all those times he vanished. He has a girlfriend! Well, the two of them, at least we think so, have figured out how to get under our deck and have taken up residence there. Ah, how sweet! Maybe we'll have babies soon. Eeee! Maybe that's not such a good thing under our patio. Also let's hope they got married before the decided to move in together and have babies. Can't have any illegitimate kids and have them living in sin!

My dad named the she woodchuck Winnie. I don't know why my dad named her after his grandmother. She didn't look like a woodchuck from what I remember. Maybe she liked to chuck wood. Or just live under patios??? Well, that's my tail, er, tale about Wilbur the Woodchuck for right now.

And for closing this post, a poem, that although is an old tongue twister, I have named "Ode to the Woodchuck".

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck
if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

A woodchuck would chuck as much
as a woodchuck would chuck wood!