text:
I just received my first catalog from Johnny's Selected Seeds, and I see what all the raving is about. They cater to back yard and small specialty market growers. The variety is outstanding with a number of rare and unusual varieties. They also offer specialized tools for small growers. These tools range from soil preparation items to specialty crop harvesting tools. Most are geared towards hand work, but will make the work faster and easier.
I found their selections of cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, and greens to be particularly alluring. There were items in each of these categories that I have not seen offered anywhere else. The also offer the usual garden fair from a complete selection of vegetables to flowers and herbs. The catalog is well designed, easy to use, and boasts lovely color pictures. If you haven't all ready, be sure to check them out at: http://www.johnnyseeds.com/ You can request a catalog from their web page.


text:
In business and in sports, the Rugby World Cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodward describes two types of individuals: rocks and sponges.
Rocks are resistant to new information and set in their form. Sponges, by contrast, demonstrate a willingness to learn, to take in new ideas and adjust accordingly. According to Woodward, businesses and rugby teams alike need sponges to succeed. One of our recent global searches, finding a new chief executive for a South African retailer, provides a powerful example of Woodword's concept.
An uncertain future
The company's outgoing Commercial Director was coming to the end of their tenure, having completely restructured the business. The business was trading well but running largely by process, by fear, and by the numbers. The company was determined to deliver a pleasant experience supported by excellent customer service and relevant products. Yet there was a sense within the organisation of "death by spreadsheet," and the team was feeling anxious about the future.
In our conversations with this client, it became clear that they needed a leader with more than a great track record in retail – although this would be crucial. They also needed someone who could promote a sense of hope, a feeling of psychological safety, encouraging people to share thoughts and ideas. They needed someone who could help transform the culture, mood, and lines of communication at the company. We set out to find the right sponge for the job.
Opening communication
After a six month search, we found our candidate in Zurich, Switzerland, and he moved to Cape Town to assume the position. He had the exceptional retail experience that our client required – and he was known for being a brilliant listener with a sharp attention to detail, someone who made people feel safe.
Immediately, the Commercial Director exhibited a powerful interest in the people who made up our client's business. He sought insight from those around him, asking how the company could do better business. He got suppliers to open up and began winning hearts and minds.
The company's new Commercial Director demonstrates a tremendous energy. He loves the environment and challenge of the retail business and sees great opportunity for growth. By winning over the team and influencing the board, he has been able to promote a more open environment. The new executive has made a point of going out and being in the stores, getting to know the day-to-day reality of the business. He's received great praise from the board and suppliers alike, making a significant impact in a short space of time.
Some of this work has meant making tough decisions, and some of it has meant making sure that people in the company have enough time for their families. The lines of communication are open; the executive has made it clear that he is willing and eager to take in new information. With a new leadership approach, the company is developing a culture of renewed hope – and setting on a path to success.
Rugby world cup finalists put the spotlight on tech and team work
Rugby Australia's high-performance HQ set the scene for a highly engaging and thought-provoking e...
Odgers Berndtson Executive Search announces new head of HR, Transformation & Change Practice
With over 20 years of experience, new Partner and Head of Practice, Michelle Zivkovic, brings a w...
Critical success factors for the Australian & New Zealand Technology Market
Managing Directors' Insights – Technology Sector

subset: commoncrawl


text:
OnlineGuideTo Internet Business Franchise
If you are looking to set up a local internet business, an
OnlineGuide Franchise may be the opportunity you are looking for.
The Franchise is a Local Community Website and focuses on helping businesses to maximise their marketing potential. The website includes a business directory, website builder, pages for property, cars, jobs, classifieds, community message board and much more.
Check Availability and Preview a Franchise in Your Town
You can set up our Franchise Websites anywhere in the world. We have set up an example website, so that you can see what the website may look like in your town. There are 3 styles to choose from to demonstrate the 'white labeling' of the website. We will be able to change the style to suit your requirements. Click on one of the countries below to start
- Australia
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You do not require advanced web skills or previous marketing experience for this venture but an outgoing, sociable personality is an advantage as you build your client base in the local community. You will need to work closely with local business managers, showing them how to grow their businesses via web based technology.
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You will also be able assess the money earning potential of the franchise using our Project Revenue Tool.
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Everything you need is online. From initial design to regular updates. You work when it suits you.
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Grow your business organically from a relatively small investment to highly profitable business
Search Pages
Search for Properties, Vehicles, Job Vacancies,
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Includes Premium Business Page Builder.
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Set up and manage Community Forums.
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State of the art page builder for General Information Pages. Essential for Search Engine Optimisation.
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Send regular newsletters to the local community.
Ideal for business promotions and local news.
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Provide marketing to local businesses via Social Media (Twitter, Facebook etc) and business network mettings.
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For Further Details: Click Here for Franchise Enquiries
Contact us | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions for agents and individuals | Website Terms & Conditions
© OnlineGuideTo 2013. All rights reserved


text:
Scrapping Metal In Old Houses & Selling Scrap Metal
I suppose everyone is totally different in as much as everyone has totally different must be met. For the bathroom ceiling, this seems like steam from the new water is rising and might't escape. The Extra giant mattress, we call a super king 6 foot broad and the big beds, we name king measurement 5 ft. Single beds are regular 3ft large. First of all, the area has 5 little partitions, plus the ceiling -one thing that necessitated lots of cuts, so the lengthy format of wallpaper was really going to be a burden.
With the closure of the coal pits, and the loss of different main employers within the space, Stanley has been on laborious occasions economically for a lot of the last twenty years, and native house costs reflect this. Garland (1973)shots the scene in Krogstads house fairly than at the Helmers which serves to show Krogstad in a more favourable mild as the poor, dimly lit home contrasts starkly with the Helmers luxury.
This line also passes through the purpose in the other way from the zenith the place these four instructions intersect the ecliptic-the plane of the Earth's orbit across the Sun. Female Mason Bees will readily move into the tunnels bored into this little bee home to put their eggs. If you could have a bit extra to spend, £249,500 will buy you a spacious detached house with good-sized gardens, in one of many higher areas. You write your individual house for sale details and take photographs, you'll be able to upload up to 10 pictures with your itemizing. One of the homeowners of the house was telling me her brother discovered this piece for her. That and tearing out each last piece of carpet and portray all the house white.
Yet Milton is considered one of several designated zones for elevated development, together with new plans for high-rise residential towers. This information has yet to be disclosed, but Mattel brought 4 designers on board to determine it out: Jonathan Adler (bear in mind his actual-life 3,500 s.f. Dream House in 2009?), Lulu de Kwiatkowski, Celerie Kemble and Trina Turk.
I had a home rabbit for awhile, but he scared my cats so I found a new residence for him. Berkeley House is a stupendous Victorian house set in 2 acres of woodlands and gardens with gorgeous views over of the beautiful Limpley Stoke valley. Meantime the 12 year outdated woman that was me hit the strings for the primary time in a robust rhythm and rapidly learned the fingerpicking accompaniment of House of the Rising Sun too. Fortunately, we are now in a stunning CB house on the water, where there are many home windows and breezes thru the house, if we select. If the house has a wood stove, test if the pipes leading to the chimney are tin. A system referred to as floor rent made residence ownership reasonably priced, so doable for a lot of Baltimoreans. I know several individuals who have their natal moon within the Eighth House who're morticians.


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Saturday, 7 June 2014
Stabbed Angel
Being a priest is not really a sedentary job where you work just one day a week and you have plenty of time for leisure and watching TV. Far from it. Sometimes you come face to face with real danger as Father Ignatius can testify.
It was a wet autumn evening with leaves covering the ground, and when they start rotting away and become slimy and slippery; a cold autumn evening with a freezing wind that blows right through you; the kind of evening when you'd much rather be at home by the fireside with a hot cup of chocolate in your hands. Yes ... not the sort of evening to be out and about.
You guessed it ... the phone rang and Father Ignatius was called out as a matter of urgency.
One of his elderly parishioners was very ill and not expected to see the night through. Father Ignatius jumped in his car and drove to one of the less salubrious parts of town where Mrs Bartholomew lived alone with a cat as a pet. As he arrived at her house in a darkly lit street the doctor was just leaving; and a kind neighbour had agreed to stay with her until Mrs Bartholomew's son and daughter-in-law arrived from another town not so far away.
Father Ignatius stayed with the elderly lady to comfort her and to pray with her until her family arrived at about half-past eleven at night.
As he left the house he said yet another silent prayer for her and made his way, in the drizzling rain, towards his car. He was just a few feet away from the vehicle when suddenly, out of the dark, a young man jumped out from an alleyway brandishing a big knife.
The priest was startled and was fortunate enough to recover his balance on the slippery ground by leaning back on his car.
The young man, hardly visible in the semi-darkness, pointed the knife at Father Ignatius and said, "your wallet mister … and be quick about it …"
The priest could see the long blade shining in the little light that was available from a nearby shop window. Before he could say or do anything the young man lunged forward with the knife aimed at the priest's chest. Father Ignatius moved sideways as a reflex and felt the knife slide down his side. Somehow, it got caught in his coat pocket pulling forward the youth who slipped badly hitting his head against the car door as he fell to the ground.
The youngster screamed in agony as the blade cut into him.
Father Ignatius stooped down to help him. He had the presence of mind to throw the knife a distance away and told the lad to stay still whilst he fetched some help from the "24/7" shop.
Moments later both an ambulance and the police were on the scene and the youth was taken away.
The following day Father Ignatius called at the police station as advised by the officers. He learnt that the youngster, only 15 years old, was un-employed, and living rough. This was hardly unusual in this desolate town where commerce and industry had long given up hope and departed.
He was asked to make a statement and to help press charges against his would-be assailant, but Father Ignatius had other things in mind. He knew the chief-of-police and somehow managed to get the youngster put in his care without pressing charges for the attempted mugging. It was after all a first-time offence and the police had no previous records of the lad. Three weeks later the priest found him a job with a local farmer.
But the story does not end there.
On the night of the attack Father Ignatius returned home very late into the night. Father Donald and Mrs Davenport the housekeeper were up and worried out of their minds. They did not know where the priest had been.
After getting cleaned up and nursing a nice cup of chocolate in his hands he re-told them that night's events. Father Donald insisted that in future he'd be the one to go out late at night if necessary. In his early thirties, and half of Ignatius' age, he thought he should be the one out there, leaving "the old man" at home.
Father Ignatius smiled and said nothing. Then after a pause he confided:
"Tonight, I've learnt two things I never realised before. When the situation first started and I thought I was about to die, I discovered that, in reality, I was not afraid of death. We all claim as Christians not to be afraid of death; and when it nearly happened to me, I found out I really wasn't scared at all. I seemed ready for it, but I was more concerned as to whether it would be painful.
"Secondly, I think my Guardian Angel helped me tonight. When the knife came at me at speed, I saw a white shape come between me and the young boy. It was all over in a flash. One second I saw the shape and the next the boy was on the ground in agonizing pain. I'm certain that knife was stopped into going in my chest."
Unfortunately, in a town where nothing much of interest happens, the story of the attack found its way in the newspapers.
For days afterwards, every time Father Ignatius went to St Andrew's Catholic School the young boys made karate movements with their hands when they saw him, and called him Father Kung-Fu.
6 comments:
Ah! And Folks believe priesthood is all kneeling and praying!ReplyDelete
A great story Victor, tucked in my mind for a letter to one of Father Ignatius' colleagues!
God bless,Replies
Hi Noelle,Delete
It's true that many people think that priests don't do much work. The reality is different.
God bless you.
Well, if they ever get to make a movie on Fr. Ignatius, they will have to get Roger Moore to come out of retirement to play the lead role. He was already once The Saint:ReplyDelete
Oh you remember The Saint, Manny? Roger Moore was good in those stories.Delete
God bless you.
Hi My Friend! Another wonderful story about my favorite priest. I know that priest work a lot like firemen. Hours of boredom interrupted by intense and important works. And this is no different.ReplyDelete
I wonder how many times I have been saved by my Guardian Angel? Too many to count, I'm sure. And leave it to Fr. to remind us all how much work they do, and how they are on call '24/7' too.
Hope you had a great weekend! I attended the first mass of a newly ordained priest today, and on Pentecost! It was beautiful.
What a wonderful experience Ceil. To attend the first Mass of a priest. I shall pray for him.Delete
From my experience of priests, they do work 24/7. Especially when they have to attend in the middle of the night at hospitals or at sick peoples' homes.
We had a nice peaceful weekend Ceil. I hope yours was splendid too.
God bless you and yours.


text:
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Global Web Index is one of the most trusted sources of information on social media growth and trends. According to recent figures, Instagram, Reddit and Linkedin are the fastest growing social platforms. The most popular social networks are Facebook, Youtube and Google Plus. Social networks are now at a stage of maturity where they give opportunities to reach all age and gender groups. The exceptions to this are Instagram and Tumblr which are clearly popular with younger age groups. Overall, consumers now spend an average of 10.7 hours a day with all forms of media and 5.6 hours of that on digital.
Social media marketing budgets will double over the next 5 years. 52% of all marketers have found a customer via Facebook in 2013. 43% of all marketers found a customer via Linkedin. B2B companies that blog generate 67% more leads than those that don't. Videos on landing pages increase conversions by 86%. Customer testimonials have the highest effectiveness rating for content marketing at 89%.
The statistics speak for themselves. Social media marketing is one of the important ways to generate leads and get new customers. Content marketing also forms an important part of this pie. Companies that do not get on to the social media bandwagon are clearly going to lose and lag behind.
Startups would do well to adopt social media in their marketing strategies. It is inexpensive and effective. The digital landscape is constantly evolving and we need to keep an eye on trends and stats to leverage the information to develop effective online marketing strategies.


text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18956662260600246022019-05-09T02:00:58.329-07:00Mike In ProgessMichael J. Ellishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-46776491529723065512011-08-07T16:39:00.000-07:002011-08-07T17:46:31.961-07:00Snoring

Today I visited a new church. At one point during the sermon a woman fell asleep and began snoring. It wasn't delicate, feminine snoring. It was full force lumber yard snoring. As the snoring became obvious to others I could feel tension mounting from those sitting near the slumbering sweetie. Some shook their heads. I watched people fidget and shift in their seats. Some laughed and snickered. Some intentionally ignored the snoring. One man looked like he was considering tapping the snoring woman on the shoulder to wake her up. Many were disturbed by this woman snoring in church. Then she woke up and the snoring stopped. Amen. The sermon could continue without any distractions.

The snoring situation I experienced in church today got my brain burning. Why doesn't injustice, poverty, homelessness and hunger disturb the church as much as a snoring woman sitting in the pews? If injustice, hunger, homelessness and poverty sat in the pews and started snoring during church would it disturb us? Would we be so annoyed that we would try to stop it? Would we laugh it away or intentionally ignore it? Would we pray that it would stop so that we could listen to the sermon without being distracted?

I pray that you and I will always be disturbed by injustice, poverty, homelessness and hunger.Michael J. Ellishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-46146906055056653492011-07-23T19:26:00.000-07:002011-07-23T19:52:52.138-07:00Washed Away
My son lives in state of Washington full time with his mom. I live in Daytona Beach, FL. I admit that I struggle with guilt about my marriage that resulted in divorce and how it has impacted my son. It's not easy being a father to a boy that lives 3,000 miles away. I know that he struggles with our relationship too.

Over the past couple of weeks, my son has been visiting me in Florida. Today I took him to Universal theme park in Orlando. It was an expensive trip. $20 for parking, $319 for admission and $55 for souvenirs. I have no idea how much I spent on food and drinks.

At the end of the day, we were walking out of the park. My son reached out for my hand, held it and said, "Thank you Dad. I had a great time with you today." At that moment the money spent, the distance between us and the guilt were washed away when my son held my hand.

Michael J. Ellishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-85875534395660334912011-07-08T22:55:00.000-07:002011-07-09T06:58:07.130-07:00What Norm Said

Norm usually does his laundry at my apartment once a week. Why? Because Norm lives in the woods.

Because my son Devon was in town, it wasn't going to work for Norm to do his laundry at my place. I called Norm and asked if we could meet at the laundromat instead. He said yes.

Norm was waiting for us when we pulled into the parking lot. We all walked in together. I gave Norm a couple of bucks to do his laundry, buy a cheeseburger and some smokes.

As we were getting ready to leave Norm said, "Hey Devon, I want to tell you something." Norm looked my son in the eyes and said, "Your Dad loves you. He is so proud of you. He cares about you. He really misses you. He really does. He tells me this all the time. Remember that, okay?"

I hope my son will always remember what Norm said.Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-14634334134118038672011-07-07T19:56:00.000-07:002011-07-07T20:04:17.518-07:00Suddenly it was yesterday

We met each other at the airport. He ran into my arms. He nearly knocked me over. I lost him on the shuttle. He laughed when we found each other. We had a smoothie and coffee. We couldn't find my truck in the parking garage. He fell asleep on the way home. We went shopping together and I bought him whatever he wanted including Trix cereal. He rode on the front of the cart. He looked back at me when he was riding on the front of the cart. He remembered and so did I. It was one of those things we always did together. Grocery shopping. Suddenly it was like he never left. Suddenly it was yesterday.Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-81854427467821028852011-06-18T05:27:00.000-07:002011-06-18T06:14:38.742-07:00Without Them on Father's Day
My father died when I was 19. My son moved to WA state last November. My daughter just moved to Mississippi. I will be spending Father's Day weekend without them.

I miss my Dad this weekend. For many years after his death I was angry with my Father. My anger has turned into love. Love for a man who did his best even though he was far from perfect.

I miss my daughter Kiersten this weekend. I'm so proud of the woman she has become. She is a beautiful woman and a fantastic mom. For too long, I disconnected myself from her life. I'm thankful for the second chance I have been given to have a relationship with her.

I miss my son Devon this weekend. I didn't want to get involved in Devon's life before we adopted him. I fought it like the plague. Today I realize that bringing Devon into my life, adopting him and being his father is something I will never regret.

It's Father's Day Weekend. Do you know someone who is separated from their father by miles, circumstances, tragedy, divorce or death? Do you know a father who will be spending this weekend without their children? Please reach out to them. Show them that you care. Let them know that they are loved. Spend time with them. Invite them to your Father's Day celebration. Please don't ignore them. They need you this weekend.

Dad will you be with your kids this weekend? Kids will you be with your dad? Treasure those moments. Those moments will become treasures forever stored away in your mind and your heart.Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-64945775015850920002011-06-09T19:22:00.000-07:002011-06-09T20:32:26.247-07:00Halfway To A Hamburger

I went to Wendy's with the idea that I was going to fill my belly with food. I ordered at the drive through, picked up my food and pulled into a parking spot to eat my lunch. I hadn't taken my first bite when I saw a man with a sign that said "homeless" on it. He was standing in front of Wendy's hoping that someone would give him money. I sat and watched for about 20 minutes. About 3 cars stopped and gave him money. He folded up his sign, packed up his stuff and shoved the cash in his pocket. This is when I slipped into my judgement mode and began saying to myself, "He's going to take that cash given to him by these kind folks and buy beer at the liquor store across the parking lot." He didn't. He walked into Wendy's. I decided to follow him inside.

He walked in, stood in line and began counting the few dollars he had been given. He was going to buy himself something to eat. I stepped up to him and said, "Sir, I saw you outside. What is your name?" He told me his name was William. It didn't take me long to see that he was mentally challenged and extremely hungry. I told him that I would buy his lunch. He put the money back in his pocket. I bought William two cheeseburgers. He thanked me and quickly started eating his meal.

As I was leaving the parking lot I literally walked into another man who said, "I'm halfway to a hamburger. Can you help me?" I said, "Yes, walk with me and I'll buy you lunch." We walked inside, I bought him some food and put it down at the table. He was shaking as he looked at me and said with tears in his eyes,"Thank you. My name is Steve. I can't tell you how hungry I was. I saw you buying that other guy some food. That's why I asked if you could help me. I'm sure glad that I did. God bless you today. God bless you."

The two meals cost me less than five dollars. These two hungry, broken and homeless men gave me so much more.Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-91914974232215013012011-06-02T19:06:00.001-07:002011-06-03T05:06:10.000-07:00My Plan Wasn't His Plan

MY plan was to clean MY apartment, make some dinner, watch a movie and go to bed early. That was MY plan. God had something else in mind.

I knew MY plan wasn't playing out the way I planned when my homeless friend Norm rode up to my window on his bike. God's plan was about Norm and not about me focusing on MY plan.

Norm was hungry. I fed him pizza. Norm was sad and upset about the loss of a friend. I listened to him. Norm was excited about the playoff game. I let him watch TV.

During a break in the game, Norm told me about a conversation he had with his sister who lives in Delaware. She asked Norm to move to Delaware. Norm told me that he didn't want to go and then he said, "I like Florida plus I would miss you Mike. You're my friend." A few minutes later my homeless friend Norm fell asleep in the recliner.

When MY plan was changed by God's plan I grumbled and complained. But after a homeless man shared his heart, I realized that God's plan was the best plan.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -- Jeremiah 29:11Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-43463319723453890412011-05-19T20:08:00.000-07:002011-05-19T20:42:29.392-07:00Smiling Steve Got a Job

When I first began visiting Taco Bell for lunch I thought it was all about putting beefy five layer burritos in my belly. Quickly I found out it wasn't about me or my belly. It was all about the homeless men and women I would meet when I pulled into the parking lot. Call me crazy but it's hard for me to ignore a human who is having a hard time. I don't give them money but I'm always willing to ask if I can buy them a taco or two.

Today as I was pulling into the parking lot I saw Steve. I got out of my truck and asked him if he was hungry. Enthusiastically and with the biggest smile you could imagine he said, "Mike, I'm not hungry. I've got a job. I've been working for almost two weeks. I'm so excited." I was so excited for Steve that I'm pretty sure I nearly pulled his arm off while I was shaking his hand.

The smile fell off Steve's face when he looked me in the eye and said, "Mike, I'm covered. You don't need to buy me a taco today but you see my friend Scott under that tree taking a nap? He hasn't eaten since last night. Would you get him something to eat?"

Steve smiled and thanked me after I said, "yes". I walked into Taco Bell and bought his friend a taco or two.Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-35168190748363172622011-05-18T15:28:00.000-07:002011-05-18T18:11:40.554-07:00Focus On Who You Are

I started a food fast on Monday. Liquids only. I finished my food fast at 530 tonight. I felt like I actually learned something of value. This morning I received the text below from a friend:

"Focus on who you are Mike, a child of God, a child of the Living God. No person, no woman, no man, has the power to heal you. Jesus loves you Mike. You must open yourself up to Him in a way you never have before. You must let go of false and empty promises and take hold of true Life."

For as long as I can remember, I've determined my value based solely on what my friends, enemies and family thought of me. If they loved me, liked me or were happy with me, my life was good. My life was crap if they didn't approve of me or what I was doing.

Here is what I learned during my fast. I'm not what people think of me. Everyday I need to hang my hat on the text message my friend sent to me:

"Focus on who you are Mike, a child of God, a child of the Living God."Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-56874540431830409322011-05-16T16:10:00.000-07:002011-05-16T18:06:10.884-07:00Tell Me When
I've written many times about my homeless friend Norm on this blog and through other forms of social media. Norm is more than just one homeless man who lives in the woods. To me he represents all of the poor, the lonely and those that we have kicked to the curb. The men and women that God has asked me not to forget. Do me a favor. Tell me when I forget about Norm. When will you know that I've forgotten about Norm?

When my heart stops breaking whenever I see a homeless person.

When I don't cry while I'm listening to a song about the hungry.

When I don't stop to see if a woman in a wheelchair needs a ride during a rain storm.

When I don't ask someone on a park bench if they need something to eat.

When I hold on tight to my stuff and forget that it's not mine anyway.

When I spend more time sharing pictures of my pool instead of standing up for the poor.

When I brag about my new SUV instead of hurting for those with HIV.

When I spend more time looking at photos of stars at Cannes instead feeding men who dig out of garbage cans.

When I've decided that there is something more acute than visiting with a prostitute.

When I ignore Norm while he is knocking on my door.

When what Jesus has asked me to do becomes hazy and I become lazy, do me a favor. Tell me when I forget about Norm.

"When a needy person stands at your door, God himself stands at his side." ~Hebrew Proverb

Thank you Ronne Rock. The proverb you tweeted above was part of the inspiration behind this blog post.

The photos in this blog post were introduced to me by one of my heroes, Trey Morgan. Trey, Byron Sommardahl, Marc Tindall and others love people who live at the dump.Michael J. Ellishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-74853520772612206182011-05-15T08:28:00.000-07:002011-05-15T12:01:27.853-07:00The Small ThingsOne small scarf, created by the hands of people with huge hearts, can make a difference.

"It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important." - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

To make a difference some of us believe that we must do bigger than life, extremely complicated, gigantic, Steven Spielberg like productions. Once upon a time, I believed that it was my job to help and fix everyone. It didn't work and it wasn't necessary to make a difference.

"We can not do great things. We can only do little things with great love." - Mother Teresa

Traveling to another country for a mission trip is not necessary to make a difference.

Feeding hundreds is not necessary to make a difference.

Putting on a major festival or event is not necessary to make a difference.

In my opinion, keeping our brains stuck on big things may keep us from doing anything at all.

"I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble."- Helen Keller

A simple, hand written note or card from a friend can move a mountain of discouragement. This hand written card from John Dobbs came at just the right time in my life.

My friend Jenn Cates takes the time to check in with me via email almost everyday. Simple, short and to the point but with each email she sends I realize I have a friend that cares about me.

Two cheeseburgers in a sack don't seem like much but they make a huge difference to hungry, homeless men battling another day of of living on the street.

My daughter just moved to another state. Kiersten does a great job of sending photos of my grandson Troy.

You may take a photo today and not understand that it will make a difference in the life of someone many months or years down the road. This photo was taken by my friend Sarah. It's a photo of my son Devon. I like to look at this photo when I miss my son. Each time I see this photo it reminds me of the beautiful heart my son has for serving the less fortunate.

Do you have two arms? Hug someone. The photo below is from one of the most popular posts on this blog.

Do you have a mouth? Encourage someone. Last night I whispered, "I love you and I believe in you" in the ear of two friends who are going through a rough time.

You don't need to "go fishing" to make a difference in the life of someone you care about. My girlfriend Kristina knows that I like Swedish fish. Yesterday she bought me a bag of my favorite candy.

At the top of this post you'll see a photo of a homeless man with a scarf. My friend Elaine and her husband Jim create these scarves by hand for homeless men and women.

"I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all." - Laura Ingalls Wilder

You don't need much to make a difference. In this age of fast and furious, it's still the simple, small things that mean so much.Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-68480097491584744722011-05-07T12:14:00.000-07:002011-05-08T13:09:30.988-07:00The Mother's Day That Doesn't Fit

I know several people that experience various emotions on Mother's Day. On Mother's Day and every day, they face challenges and emotions that don't fit into a neat, tidy Mother's Day box. Mother's Day greeting cards are full of smiles, warmth and love. You won't find Hallmark cards that showcase these "less than perfect" situations.

After leaving an abusive situation, young mothers and children that live on the street.

Today, children are mourning the death of their mother. A little girl who will go to bed crying, "Where is my mommy?"

Some men play the starring role of "single dad" and "single mom".

Mothers that struggle to feed their children.

Moms who mourn the choices they made days, months and years ago.

Her children have died. She lives today and everyday grieving their loss.

The mom who has made so many mistakes that her children have walked away from her destructive life.

Single moms that give everything they have for their children.

What did I miss? What doesn't fit into the neat, tidy Mother's Day box?Michael J. Ellishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-4595867926356811252011-04-30T20:36:00.000-07:002011-04-30T21:10:37.743-07:00Always Something

I woke up today and had the ability to get out of bed, put on my shoes, shirt and shorts. I was able to walk 4 miles.

I spent several hours with my new friends Jim and Jeff. They shared their house, laughter, lunch and love with me.

I was given the opportunity to be in the right place at the right time to help a man with his computer.

My friends Lou and Jenn have stood by me through thick and thin. They invited me to their home tonight for dinner and a movie.

My daughter Kiersten and her family made it safe to their new home in Mississippi. She sent me photos of their new home.

I spent the entire day with my dear girlfriend Kristina. She made me laugh and encouraged me. She does that everyday.

I have an apartment to live in, a truck that gives me the ability to drive where I need to go and I have food in the kitchen.

I have friends and family that truly love me even though they know most of my faults. Heck, I even have friends and family that love me even though they know all of my faults.

It's so easy for me to complain, be negative and pessimistic. The negativity, complaints and pessimism melt away when I make a list of the things I should be thankful for.

There is always, always, always something to be thankful for. What is on your list?Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-5911340157626442472011-04-28T19:19:00.000-07:002011-04-28T19:51:58.239-07:00Grandpa Ray, Norm and Hugs

At the age of 19 my father died. After that I decided I was going to hug the men in my life. The first time I hugged my Grandpa Ray he didn't really know what to think. He felt a bit stiff. He kind of hugged me back. Several hugs down the road Grandpa eventually began truly hugging me back too. I remember hugging my grandfather for the last time while he was in his hospital bed. We hugged and we cried together. He died a day or so later.

Norm is my homeless friend. Once a week Norm comes to my apartment to do his laundry. I remember the first time I hugged Norm. It reminded of the first time I hugged my Grandpa Ray. Norm didn't know what to think of a very large man hugging the heck out of him. Each time Norm leaves my apartment I say, "Norm, give me a hug." He always hugs me back.

Tonight when Norm was ready to leave he stopped in the middle of the living room and said, "Mike, give me a hug." I hugged him back. I hugged him back real hard and said, "Norm, I love you and I'm glad you're my friend." We said goodbye, Norm said,"I love you too" and rode away on his bike.Michael J. Ellishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-60932947402091698382011-04-25T19:45:00.000-07:002011-04-25T20:45:27.322-07:00My Grandson Only Wanted One
More, more, more
How do you like it, how do you like it
More, more, more
How do you like it, how do you like it
More, more, more -- Andrea True Connection, 1976

In the midnight hour she cried- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell she cried- "more, more, more"
In the midnight hour babe- "more, more, more"
With a rebel yell- "more, more, more"
More, more, more. -- Billy Idol, 1983

Gimme more gimme more
Gimme more gimme more babe
I just want more -- Britney Spears, 2007

On Saturday I took my grandson to the Easter Egg Hunt in Flagler Beach, FL. Children and their parents circled the grassy area waiting for the Easter Egg Hunt to begin. The signal was given and the rush was on to see who could get the most eggs. I could hear the children being egged on by their parents:

"Look, there's one!"
"There's another one!"
"Don't miss those!"
"Hurry, grab the eggs!" -- Flagler Beach Easter Egg Hunt, 2011

It was great to see my grandson unfazed by the mob of hunters as he walked to the closest egg. He picked it up, put it in his basket and sat down in the moist grass. I got caught up in the mob madness by grabbing my grandson and dragging him towards the waiting eggs. "Hurry, get up. There are more eggs to grab," I said. Reluctantly, he got up and walked to the next egg. Once again he picked up the egg, put it in his basket and sat down. At that moment I realized that my grandson was teaching me a lesson. He only wanted one and really didn't need another. The lesson continued when my grandson gave one of his two eggs to another child.

After the hunt was over, my grandson and I were walking away when one of the organizers looked at his basket, saw the lonely egg and poured a few more in. My grandson looked confused. Before the extra eggs were dumped into his basket, he actually seemed to be happy with just one.

The hunt was over. The line to take pictures with the Easter Bunny was too long. It was time for us to go. On the way to the car I overheard a parent complaining that their children didn't get enough eggs.

We always want more don't we? One is never enough. My grandson reminded me of something very important. He showed me it's okay to have just one and if you have too much give it to someone else.

Michael J. Ellishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-69972665174282833662011-04-24T18:35:00.000-07:002011-07-12T04:21:01.769-07:00Church Is Open For The Poor 7 Days A Week
Many great things happened to me Easter weekend. An egg hunt and lunch with my grandson Troy in Flagler Beach, FL and a visit to First United Methodist Church in Bunnell, FL.

I was introduced to this church when they called to ask a few questions about the cold weather shelter at First United Methodist Church in Port Orange, FL. Opening your church to the homeless on cold weather nights is no easy task. The brave, courageous, compelled and led should only apply. A couple of years ago, First United Methodist Church in Bunnell, FL started with cold weather nights for the homeless but since then they have taken many courageous steps forward when it comes to serving the poor, hungry and less fortunate.

This church is literally open 7 days a week for those that need help. They keep their outside bathrooms open everyday. There is a garden area behind the church for those that need shade or a safe place to sit, think or pray. Towels and washcloths are easily accessible to anyone who needs them along with a place to leave dirty laundry. The dirty laundry is picked up, cleaned and then returned to the church by loving volunteers. Every Wednesday night the church serves dinner to anyone in the area who is hungry.

Before I left this church today I ran into three men who are homeless and call this church their home. Alcoholism, loss of work and destroyed relationships brought them to the world of homelessness. I asked them how they felt about this little church in Bunnell, Florida. One of them said without hesitation, "I love the pastor and this church because they stand up for us and protect us. They fight for us." The two other men instantly shook their heads in agreement. I also sensed that these homeless men would stand up and protect the church that loves them.

The fight can get extremely intense when you intentionally bring the messy and marginalized to your church. Be prepared for a fight if your mission is to help the poor from your community or across the street. Members of your church will disagree and complain about your mission. Some of those members will leave. Fortunately, many members will stay to join you in the fight and the mission. Your mission will become a magnet for others who don't belong to your church. People want to be a part of something especially when it involves doing the right thing for the less fortunate.

If you see a church, ministry, organization, group or individuals loving the poor, pick up the phone, write a letter, send an email or tell them personally, "Thank you for what you are doing." They need our encouragement and praise. I applaud brave churches like First United Methodist Church in Bunnell, FL for what they are doing.

(Update: Click this link to see how this church has been recognized for their efforts.)

Is your church open 7 days a week for the poor? Is your heart open 7 days a week for the poor?Michael J. Ellishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-73532670422660626532011-04-21T19:31:00.000-07:002011-04-21T19:42:48.741-07:00Watching American Idol With Norm

Norm is homeless and he knows where I live. After work, he stopped by to do his laundry. While he was washing his clothes I went for a walk. When I came back from my jaunt down the road, Norm had made some dinner, did the dishes and fed the cat that lives outside my front door. When Norm comes over he likes to watch TV. Tonight I forced Norm to watch American Idol with me. I was surprised how much Norm knew about one of my guilty pleasures, American Idol.

"J-Lo must have a really great heart. Have you seen her husband? He's not very good looking. You know, maybe he has a great heart too. Maybe they both have great hearts. It's the only way they could be together. She's very good looking and he's not much of a looker."

"Mike, I'll be leaving after the show. I want to see who gets voted off."

During a commercial Norm said something totally unrelated to Idol.

"Mike, I was reading the National Enquirer the other day. Did you know that Mariah Carey's sister is a prostitute? If it's in the Enquirer it must be true." And then Norm looked at me and laughed.

When the show was over it was time for Norm to go. As he was walking to his bike he looked at me and said, "Mike, you know I really appreciate this bike that you gave me. I've had it for a long time. I can't believe it hasn't been stolen. People have offered me money for it. Some people have said that I should get some money for it at the pawn shop. I'll never let this bike go. You're my friend Mike. I'm not selling something you gave to me."

American Idol was over. Norm hugged me and said, "I love you Mike. Talk to you next week."Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-19874215037280038112011-04-20T19:19:00.000-07:002011-04-20T21:12:35.214-07:00Friends No Matter What?
Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble. -- Proverbs 17:17 (The Message)

Today I saw this tweet below from Shawn Wallace (@shawnw)

"True friends really don't even have to like each other. But they do have to be there for each other. No. Matter. What."

Earlier this week I ran into a series of posts from Pastor Chris Elrod. Long story short, Chris courageously stood by his friend and fellow pastor Gary Lamb even though Lamb had an affair.

Over the years and within the past few months, I've been through some crap and have made major mistakes. I praise God for all of this because I've been able to see first-hand what happens to friendships.

Friends that you thought were friends aren't your friends anymore. Heck, they might even block or un-friend you on facebook.

Even though most people know about your crap and stupid mistakes, you make new friends anyway.

You find out who your friends really are. Even though they know about your
crap and stupid mistakes these wonderfully loyal, loving, grace-filled people still want to be your friend.

So let me re-post Shawn's tweet:

"True friends really don't even have to like each other. But they do have to be there for each other. No. Matter. What."

What do you think? Agree with Shawn? Think Chris Elrod should have kicked his cheating friend to the curb?

Friends love through all kinds of weather, and families stick together in all kinds of trouble. -- Proverbs 17:17 (The Message)

Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-70786805230110107222011-04-19T18:56:00.000-07:002011-04-19T21:25:59.459-07:00Putting Away The Pinata

From WikiPedia:

In the United States, the pinata is a popular game for birthday parties. A donkey shape is the most common, although various other pop culture based designs have become common. A common tradition is to spin the batter before he or she tries to hit the pinata, making the person dizzy. Pinatas are commonly full of candy and other treats.

The original pinata was shaped like a star with seven points. The points represented the seven deadly sins, and the bright colors of the pinata symbolized temptation. The blindfold represented faith and the stick represented virtue or the will to overcome sin. The candies and other goodies inside the pinata represented the riches of the kingdom of heaven, thus teaching that with faith and virtue one could overcome sin and receive all the rewards of heaven.

My pinatas:

The pinatas I've been beating on have taken on many shapes, colors and descriptions.

Because I've been hurt by the church, I've been beating up on my church pinata.

Because I've been hurt by my father, I've been beating up on my father pinata.

Because I've been hurt by relationships, marriages and divorce, I've been giving those pinatas a good beating too.

But the biggest pinata looks like me. I've been beating up on that pinata for years. Lately it's really been taking a beating.

I'm really good at pointing out how other people are beating up on their pinatas. It helps me to avoid that fact that I'm pinata punching too.

I'm going to work on putting away my pinatas. All of my sticks are broke, nearly all of the treats have fallen out and the pinatas seem to be in the need of repair.

What about you? Do you have a pinata? What does your pinata look like? Do you need to your put your pinata away?Michael J. Ellishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-10201471939812323862011-04-14T20:31:00.000-07:002011-04-14T20:56:26.236-07:00What Norm Taught Me Today
When you become friends with a homeless man you'll never know what will happen next.

This morning I was ironing my shirt for work and heard, "Hey, Mike!" It was my homeless friend Norm looking into my living room window. Shocked and surprised I said, "Norm, I wasn't expecting you to come by to do laundry until 6 tonight." Norm looked at me and said, "I thought I'd drop my dirty clothes off early so I didn't need to pack them around today." I asked Norm to come in and have a cup of coffee. I didn't know that while I was ironing my shirt and watching the Today show, Norm would teach me some important lessons.

Standing Up For Your Friends

Norm reminded me about his friend who had said something negative about me and another pastor. Norm said, "Remember how angry I got when he said those things about you Mike? You're my friend! I told him how much you've done for me and other homeless people. I even reminded him about what you had done for him. Man, I got angry at him for saying those things about you and Pastor Larry!"

Deal With Things Instead of Stuffing It

"Mike, I got tired of being angry at him for saying those awful things about you and Pastor Larry", he said. "My dad always told me to deal with things instead of stuffing it. I found him and let him know how angry I was and that he should apologize to you and Pastor Larry," Norm said in a proud voice. "After I was done saying my piece, he actually apologized. He said he was mad at me and knew he could push my buttons by saying bad things about my friends," said Norm.

Forgiveness

"Mike, you're going to be surprised about this. Even after he said all those bad things about you, I forgave him. I invited him to work with me at the thrift store last weekend and everything went okay," said Norm.

Gratitude and Honesty

I got home tonight after work and Norm was waiting for me. I let him in so that he could start his laundry. "Norm, I'm heading out for Bible study. I'll be back later on," I said. As I was leaving Norm said, "I'll take good care of things while you're gone."

When I got home Norm was done with his laundry but was sitting on the couch, laughing and enjoying a show on TV. I walked into the kitchen and found a note that he wrote to me on a paper towel. See photo of it below.

It said, "I ate one of your Lean Cuisine. Thank you for everything. I'll call you later. Your friend and brother, Norman"

"Norm, that sure was a nice note," I said. "I wanted you to know that I had some dinner while I was here. I'd still be thankful for everything even if there wasn't anything for dinner," said Norm.

I hugged Norm and he hugged me back. As he was walking out the door he said, "I'll call you later Mike."

When you become friends with a homeless man you might just get a lesson in friendship, conflict resolution, forgiveness, gratitude, honesty and a hug. Michael J. Ellishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-27575349339814330462011-03-31T04:40:00.000-07:002011-03-31T05:18:27.643-07:00The Rear View Mirror
As I wake up this morning and drink my coffee I say to myself, "It's raining cats and dogs. Jake and his girlfriend Linda must be wet. He showed me the hole in his tent on Sunday."

As I write this blog post I think of Norm. After the last big storm he called me to ask if he could use my washer and dryer because everything he owned was drenched.

As I think about what I'll eat for breakfast I remember seeing my homeless friend Oliver in the rear view mirror. As I was getting ready to eat my burrito, he was digging in a dumpster behind a restaurant. I said to myself, "Mike how can you eat this burrito when you see your friend digging out of a dumpster." I gave Oliver my burrito. He needed it more than me.

It gets complicated when God shows you the poor and the broken in your rear view mirror. You can't wake up, drink your coffee or eat your lunch without thinking of them or seeing them.

Thinking of the poor and the broken should only be the first step. It can be inconvenient when God compels you to turn your thoughts into action.

As the storm gets worse and I hear the rain come down in buckets, I know that I'll need to make sure that Jake, Norm and Oliver are okay.Michael J. Ellishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-67715883692591718952011-03-29T19:58:00.000-07:002011-03-29T20:07:48.660-07:00If

If the system works for you, it can be quite hard to understand the perspective of people who have the boot of the system on their neck.

If you have the power, it can be hard to understand the voice of those who have no power.

If you have choice, options, and luxuries, it can be hard to fathom the anger of those who don't.

If you have always had enough food, it can be hard to understand the shouts of those whose stomachs are grumbling from hunger.

From the book "Jesus Wants To Save Christians" by Rob Bell.Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-85878313346105310842011-03-27T17:38:00.000-07:002011-03-27T18:45:32.256-07:00What Do You Do?What do you do when your friend Jake is homeless, needs a new pair of jeans, is cold and needs something to eat? You make sure that he gets a new pair of jeans, has a warm place to stay and a plate full of hot food.

What do you do when Jake has a 70th birthday? You take him out to lunch with your girlfriend Kristina and her family.

What do you do when Jake needs a new tube for his bike tire? You take him to K-Mart and buy him one. What do you do when Jake invites you to his camp? You follow him and visit his camp.

What do you do when you say goodbye to Jake when you know he is slowing dying from colon cancer? You hug him real hard, whisper in his ear "I love you" and pray that you'll get to see him again.

What do you do after you spend the afternoon with Jake? You realize how much you've been given and how much more you should give.Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-5406031598418128942011-03-24T20:13:00.000-07:002011-03-24T20:53:56.770-07:00What Do Norm and I Have In Common?

"Oh Crap, Norm Wants To Come Over."

That was my first thought when I was reminded that my homeless friend Norm was coming over to my apartment to do his laundry. I even whined about it on Twitter.

Norm and his backpack full of laundry were waiting for me when I got home. I opened the door and he walked in. What was the first thing that Norm said? "Mike, you've really got a great place. This is really nice!" I've lost track of how many times I've complained about my somewhat crappy apartment. Norm thought it was a palace.

As Norm walked to the laundry room I asked him if he needed something to eat. "Mike, I'm okay. I'm a survivor you know," he said. I convinced Norm the survivor to eat some frozen pasta I heated up in the microwave. When I handed it to Norm he looked at the pasta the same way you and I look at a plate of steak and lobster.

I left Norm, his laundry and bowl of pasta while I went to a nearby Bible study. As I was leaving Norm said, "Mike, don't worry. I'll take good care of the place while you're gone."

When I came home Norm was finishing up his laundry and packing it up in his backpack. I offered Norm a ride to his home in the woods. Norm said, "No. Mike, you've done enough." When I walked into the kitchen I realized that Norm had cleaned his dinner dishes.

As he was leaving Norm asked, "Hey Mike, isn't your son Devon coming to visit soon?" I told Norm that plans had changed and Devon wouldn't be coming to Florida until summer. Norm said, "I'm looking forward to seeing him. He's a good boy. I miss him."

A large man who lives in an apartment and a skinny, homeless man who lives in the woods had something in common. We both missed a boy named Devon.Michael J. Ellishttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-1895666226060024602.post-53503843872339201502011-03-23T04:57:00.000-07:002011-03-23T05:13:17.313-07:00Messy Spirituality

"The mess of our lives and our crippledness is what most qualifies us to be chosen by Jesus." -- Mike Yaconelli

I have seen the hand of God through the acts of friends and family several times over the past few weeks. Michael Perkins is a great man I met through the world of Twitter. A few days ago Michael sent me a direct message. It said, "Mike, I'm sending you a book." The book arrived in the mail and the title got my attention immediately: "Messy Spirituality". It was written by Michael Yaconelli. After the book was originally published Yaconelli died in in a car accident. After his death the book was published as a paperback. His wife Karla wrote the forward. At the end of the foreword she knocks it out of the park by setting the stage for the pages and chapters that follow:

"God actually had a fondness - a downright preference, if you will - for misfits and screwups.

I know if my beloved husband could say anything to those of you who are reading these words and who are about to embark on the adventure of reading this book, it would be this:

Take heart, my friends. You are in good company. You, with all of your faults and imperfections; you, with your defects and failures; you, with your hang-ups and emotional scars; you, with your weaknesses and your defeats; you, with all of your blunders, brokenness, and floundering: you are God's beloved, God's favored, the disciple whose name God calls, the one Jesus prefers to hang with, eat with, play with, talk with, cry with, and laugh with. You are the one whom the holy God of heaven and earth longs to spend time with. You are all of this and more. You always have been. Any you always will be."
-- Karla Yaconelli

The words in this book gave great comfort to me. No matter how much I've screwed up and made a mess of my life Jesus is attracted to me. Guess what? Jesus likes your mess too. As a matter of fact, He prefers you to be messy.

"According to the Bible, Jesus is attracted to the unattractive. He prefers the lost ones over the found ones, the losers over the winners, the broken instead of the whole, the messy instead of the unmessy, the crippled instead of the noncrippled."
-- Mike YaconelliMichael J. Ellishttp://firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
By On Oct 11, 2018 Coloring Pages
You need to invest in your coloring hobby to reap the rewards! I don't mean you need to go spend your life savings on the most expensive art supplies or furnish part of your house with an art studio, I mean spend the time to allow yourself to become better at coloring. Most things in life take practice and coloring is no exception.
Often, when I am in the mood to produce a highly finished piece I will look for a themed coloring page, like an animal, ocean or floral scene. The idea of taking that black and white scene and transforming it into a colorful piece of art motivates me to produce my best coloring.
Find your space. Whether you are coloring for relaxation, to de-stress or simply for fun, you need a place where you are comfortable coloring. It doesn't have to be somewhere quiet (although that can certainly help if you want to get lost in your coloring page), there are plenty of coloring groups and meetups where adults who enjoy coloring can go to chatter and color at the same time, the important thing is find your own space, reserve some time, get a comfy seat and give yourself every opportunity to color in comfort.
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text:
Jesus is a Powerful Savior! His greatness is uncontainable and His awe and wonder insurmountable. Yet He asks us, the unworthy, to come unto Him that He may give us rest.
Romans the 10th chapter reads:
This is what one must do to come to Jesus. If you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and long for His presence in your life, repeat these words:
"Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Your Name, Amen.
If you have prayed this prayer, please let us be the first to welcome you. Jesus loves you so very much! We would love to walk with you in your journey. God never intended for you to walk through life alone. Not ever. He's with you always, and He's provided others to walk beside you on the journey of life. Please visit us and receive the encouragement, support, and Biblically based messages that can help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.


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- Posted on: November 8, 2016
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Meditation VI.56 - Is this a Rhetorical Question⸮ - Translated by George Long and rewritten by Russell McNeil
How many together with whom I came into the world are already gone out of it⸮(1),(2)
(1) Most of us live a delusional existence unwilling to face the plain and chilling fact that our moment here is indescribably brief. We have but an instant to experience what we are designed to do.
(2) Although rarely used, I have rewritten Marcus' rhetorical question using English Printer Henry Denham's (fl. 1556-1590) rhetorical or percontation point (⸮). The symbol (U+2E2E in Unicode) is the reverse of a standard question mark. George Long uses a period as punctuation in the original translation - which is a valid - but an uncommon way of expressing a rhetorical question in print. The percontation point was invented by Denhem in the 1580s, and is sometimes used as an "irony mark." The device has been used very rarely since the 1600s but feels suitable here.
Russell McNeil, PhD, is the author of The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius: Selections Annotated and Explained by Skylight Paths Publishing. The unpublished selections presented in this Blog are provided as supplemental material to the published selections which are annotated and explained in the book. The published selections are referenced in this Blog by page number and section.


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Regular readers of this blog will know that I recently started instruction to be a glider pilot.
Things have moved on nicely and the very patient instructors at the Essex and Suffolk Gliding Club have given me both the confidence to continue with the more difficult parts and to show me how not to make the same errors again. I am full of praise for them as they witness some of my worst transgressions with not even the hint of panic. One instructor mentioned that a little more speed during one of my landings would be good as he didn't want to die; he said it in such a quiet measured tone. If that had been me I would probably have raised my voice.
There have been other instances early on, where I failed to lower the nose of the glider when the cable released resulting in the onset of a stall but the Instructor simple said "push the stick forward a little".
I have been allowed to carry out the entire winch launch, fly straight and level on a heading, turn and detect and prevent stalls and finally the hardest part, landing but under supervision and with assistance at the moment. There are other skills I have learned such as ground handling.
I really enjoy the freedom of flying and if I have planned to go to the airfield and a Client suddenly books my services for that day, I must admit to being a little disappointed. But hey, work pays for all of it so I shouldn't complain.
The reason I mention all these things is that gliding is a transfer of knowledge from the Instructors to me and allowing me to make mistakes without criticism; offering help in correcting my errors. This is exactly the same method we employ in the transfer of knowledge about ISO9001 or 14001 to our Clients. It wasn't until a week ago that I realised just how similar these tasks were.
Naturally gliding has the potential to be far more dangerous, if things go really awry, but if our Management Systems knowledge transfer goes really wrong it could damage the Client's business.
In these tough financial times our Clients' need that competitive edge provided by Management Standards and the extra efficiency that can be realised. Once this recession is over these Clients will reap the benefits and I hope by then that I will be allowed to go Solo in a Glider.
Monday, 14 September 2009
How Gliding has changed my view of Management Standards.
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Happy Sunday everyone!!!!
It is already October 12…a month and a half from now it will be Thanksgiving, and a month after that, it will be Christmas…STOP THE MADNESS!!
I love love love the holidays! I hate the snow, but the holidays are great! Tons of family and friends and food, AND FASHION!
I always go to holiday parties in the most fashion forward outfit I can think of. I like to make a statement with my clothes. Here are some tips to help you decide what you should wear for the holidays.
Thanksgiving: Wear something comfortable! You are going to be having a feast…anything with a stretch or it flows away from the stomach area so you can hide the inevitable food baby. Have a shirt that is taken in right under the bust line and then flows out. Wide leg pants are easy to maneuver in, unlike jeans.
Christmas: I am a believer of wearing a dress for special occasions, but I am from Maine, so wearing a dress on Christmas day, it one of the stupidest ideas you can fathom. So I will create 2 different looks via Polyvore to give people ideas who CAN wear dresses on Christmas and not freezing your lady bits off. My family attends church on Christmas morning so the outfit I wear for Christmas has to be okay for being in church and next to my grandmother. I like a nice sweater, a nice pair of pants, maybe a scarf since it is freezing up here! But just because it is freezing, that does not mean I do not wear my heels…Just have to be extra careful. Just because you have to be covered up to go to church, does not mean you cannot be chic. Also bear in mind that you are going to be eating…again. Not as much as thanksgiving, but if you have a secondary Thanksgiving for Christmas also, make sure whatever you wear is comfortable. I feel like a lot of people associate Christmas with only green and red…well silver and gold are also lovely Christmas colors too! Doesn't Burl Ives sing the song "Silver and Gold"?
A lot of people like to wear the season colors during the holiday which is fantastic, I love to do the same thing, however, do not be pressured into it, if green is not your color and you cannot pull it off, then definitely go with a color you are comfortable with wearing.
Happy Columbus Day Everyone!
Make sure you follow my Facebook page if you like the Bangor Daily News, make sure you like the Bangor Daily News Blog page on Facebook!!!!


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At first glance, the Newport Beach resident is slightly built, soft-spoken and unfailingly accessible. One would hardly imagine that he's plotted hundreds of grisly murders over the past four decades.
Murder and mayhem have paid off handsomely for Dean Koontz. He's now the world's sixth most highly paid author, tied with John Grisham at $25 million in annual sales, and his novels have sold more than 400 million copies.
Quite a contrast from his early life in what he calls "a tar paper shack" in Bedford, Pa., a rest stop along the Pennsylvania Turnpike, where he endured an unhappy childhood. His early Dickensenian experiences would inspire the creation of some hideously evil villains in the prolific author's repertoire.
Koontz and his wife, Gerda (pronounced "Jerda"), a grade-school buddy and high school sweetheart, now lead a supremely comfortable life in a home that's part mansion and part museum, the walls lined with glass-encased posters from film noir movies. There's even a fair-sized movie theater on the premises.
A third part of the house — a comparatively small area — is Koontz's office space. It's basically a desk and a computer, where he turns out novels that make The New York Times bestseller list. A dozen of his hardcover books have reached No. 1, along with 14 that reached that spot in paperback.
His latest project, "What the Night Knows" (which he sent me prior to our interview), is perhaps his best. I say "perhaps" because I've only read about 15 or 16 of his works. He's written more than 100 since he got his start as a teenager, selling a short story to the Atlantic Monthly for $50.
In this latest one, the hero is a police detective who, at 14, killed the madman who had murdered the rest of his family. Now, 20 years later, the spirit of that killer has returned to inhabit and control others with a murderous bent, and the detective's own family is targeted. How, you wonder, do you dispatch an evil spirit from a previous generation?
How, indeed. And how does Koontz keep coming up with all these intricate story lines over a period of 42 years?
It's a matter of record that he was raised under the thumb of an alcoholic and abusive father who, the author says wryly, "had 44 jobs in 34 years."
The hardships of Koontz's early life served as inspiration for some of the nastier characters he went on to create.
College didn't seem an option at the time, but Koontz worked graveyard shifts at a supermarket to put himself through Shippensburg State College, in Pennsylvania.
"I hated doing research in college," he recalls ironically, since now he puts in extensive research on each new book. "I always faked my sources, made up references. And I never got caught."
His "aha moment" came in college when he enrolled as a history major, but switched to English when a teacher called attention to his writing talent. He graduated in 1967 and took a job teaching English at a high school in Mechanicsburg, Pa.
In 1968 Koontz published his first novel, "Star Quest," while he was teaching English in Harrisburg, Pa. After a year and a half of teaching, his wife realized what joy he took in writing and made him an offer he couldn't refuse.
"Gerda offered to support me for five years while I wrote," he says. "If I couldn't succeed in that time, I'd get a regular job."
Succeed he did, writing suspense novels and horror fiction both under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms. During this period he might publish eight books in one year.
And, in a practice he says that "drives publishers nuts," he'd switch genres with virtually every novel. One story might lean heavily toward his passion for science fiction; another would be in the more accessible contemporary drama mode.
Although Koontz has creatively eliminated a plethora of his characters, "there's little blood and guts in my books," he maintains. He admits to being "a little squeamish" about such things as was Alfred Hitchcock, whose grisly achievements are legendary.
An example arises from his research on the aorta transplant one of his characters was required to perform. While discussing the procedure with a surgeon, he was invited to watch the operation in person. He politely but emphatically declined.
Many of Koontz's novels involve the subject of quantum mechanics, popularly known as the "butterfly effect" — how one person's acts affect others, often on the other side of the world. It's a personal fascination that resurfaces in many of the author's later works, including the last one I read, "From the Corner of His Eye," which deals heavily in this area.
And no matter how evil his villains might be, Koontz pulls the rug out from under them regularly.
"I find ways to present them as a figure of fun," he says.
As he did in the aforementioned novel in which the killer finds himself sharing a garbage Dumpster with a corpse.
Dean Koontz says that he "hates leaving home." His rear terrace offers a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean, and on a clear day he can see from Long Beach to San Clemente Island.
But his devotion to home and hearth runs deeper than creature comforts. Koontz doesn't fly and won't go on book-signing tours. That would interfere with the 60 to 70 hours he spends each week creating his new novels — "80 to 90 hours near the end," he says.
Dean and Gerda Koontz contribute to many charities, and one of them — Canine Companions for Independence — contributed right back in 2004 with Trixie, a golden retriever, beloved by the couple. The dog contracted terminal cancer in 2007 and had to be put down. Dogs have since become integral parts of Koontz's stories.
Two years ago the Koontzes adopted a new golden retriever, Anna, an extremely affectionate companion who "flunked out of disability training school because the birds bugged her." It was later learned that Anna was the grandniece of Trixie, who became the "author" of a few of Koontz's children's books.
A few movies have been made from Dean Koontz novels, perhaps the most recognizable being 1977's "Demon Seed," which stars Julie Christie as a woman impregnated by a rogue computer. Another, "Phantoms," is a 1998 horror flick adapted from the 1983 novel, during the filming of which Koontz formed a lasting friendship with its star, Peter O'Toole, who once phoned him to get his approval on the addition of a comma to the actor's dialogue.
(I checked out both movies on Netflix after our talk. Their fright quotient is through the roof. Don't watch either on a dark night just before bedtime).
Last July Koontz turned 65, an age at which many Americans begin to think about retirement. Not this American, though he hardly needs the extra money.
"I'll go out at my computer," he promises.
Which means there will be many more crime thrillers ahead, with increasingly evil villains and even more creative methods of eliminating characters, always with a sly little grin.
TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot.


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How to do a tune upFriday, March 25th, 2005
The classic "tune up" is something you can do yourself.
The classic "tune up" is something you can do yourself.
If you have never used a timing light before, here are the basics.
Setting the timing is pretty simple on the XT6 - here's how…
Replacing the speakers is a pretty straightforward operation.
From the outset the Subaru XT turned heads. It's radical appearance, inside and out, was a departure from the norm.
This page was most recently modified on Tuesday, May 21st, 2019
Copyright © SubaruXT.com. All rights reserved. Entries (RSS) and Comments (RSS). Web design by Christian von Kleist.


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There are a couple of reasons why the temperature of your water heater could increase by itself. The most obvious problem is a bad thermostat. The heat sensor in the thermostat is supposed to keep the water from heating beyond the set temperature. If the heat sensor fails, the temperature of the water will continue to increase until the backup thermostat causes the heating element to turn off. Unless you are knowledgeable about water heater repair, you should call a professional to determine which thermostat is not working. The thermostat of an electric water heater typically carries 240 volts, so it should only be removed and replaced by someone familiar with electrical safety.
The problem could also be mean that the tube surrounding the heating element is damaged. This means that the element is heating the water directly. When this happens, you may still get hot water until the element burns out. You may even continue to get some hot water as the second element continues to heat the water. A professional can test both the upper and lower heating element with an ohm meter to determine if they are functioning within acceptable levels. This should only be done by someone familiar with electrical safety and after the power leads are disconnected.
If you have had your water heater for more than 10 years, it may be more cost effective to install a new unit. The time, labor, and cost of repair will often equal the price of a new unit. A new energy-efficient model will also help you save money on utility bills.


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Just in case you were wondering…
Posts Tagged 'Stella Marrs'
Happy Thanksgiving
Posted in Hungry Like the Wolf, tagged Stella Marrs, Thanksgiving, Turkey on November 23, 2009| 2 Comments »
Baby Driver
Posted in Sweet Child O' Mine, tagged Children, Kids, Moms, Mothering, Mothers, Potty Training, Stella Marrs on August 30, 2009| Leave a Comment »
My 3-year old gets two M&Ms when she goes "poo poo" on the potty. I realize that there are divergent opinions on rewarding children with treats and that this practice, in the minds of some, may lead down a road of overindulgence, a life of crime and dental cavities but this is the life we have chosen. So there. But here's the thing… I've been starting to suspect that my dear little angel, the fruit of my womb, has been pulling one over on me. I think she may be saving her goods and only letting out a bit at a time in an effort to collect more M&Ms over the course of the day. While I admire her craftiness, I am at once terrified…
Disparate Housewives
Posted in I Like It, I love It, I Want Some More of It, tagged Desperate Housewives, Housewives, Moms, Motherhood, Mothers, Parenting, Stella Marrs on August 25, 2009| Leave a Comment »
Monkey Love
Posted in I Like It, I love It, I Want Some More of It, tagged Ballerinas, Ballet, Dancers, Dancing, Inspiration, Monkey, Monkeys, Quotes, Stella Marrs on August 25, 2009| Leave a Comment »


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Leading Causes of Death
In 2005, there were 47,386 deaths recorded in the U.S. border region. Females accounted for 22,637, or 47.8 percent, of these deaths. Overall, the death rate among this population was 849.7 per 100,000 males and 587.6 per 100,000 females, which is lower than that of the overall U.S. population (951.1 and 677.6 per 100,000, respectively; data not shown).
The top 10 leading causes of death for females accounted for 81.6 percent of all deaths (data not shown). Among females, heart disease accounted for 25.3 percent of deaths, followed by malignant neoplasms, or cancer (22.0 percent), and cerebrovascular diseases or stroke (6.7 percent).
The leading cause of death among both females and males was heart disease, which was the cause of death for 145.2 and 229.4 per 100,000 people, respectively, followed by cancer (135.0 and 194.7 per 100,000, respectively). Males had higher mortality rates than females for all of the leading causes of death except for Alzheimers disease, which was the cause of death for 28.3 per 100,000 females and 21.1 per 100,000 males.
The leading causes of death among females in the U.S. border region were similar to that of the U.S. female population overall. In general, mortality rates due to the top 10 leading causes were lower among those in the border region, with the exception of Alzheimers disease and diabetes mellitus. Alzheimers disease accounted for 28.3 deaths per 100,000 females in the border region, compared to 25.1 deaths per 100,000 females in the U.S. population overall. Similarly, diabetes mellitus was the cause of death for 24.8 per 100,000 females in the border region, compared to 21.6 per 100,000 females among the general population (data not shown).