Synergy!

Synergy, in general, may be defined as two or more things functioning together to produce a result not independently obtainable.
The term synergy comes from the Greek word syn-ergos,  meaning "working together".

 One horse can pull 6,000 to 7,000 pounds.
 Two horses can pull about 18,000 pounds.
Two horses trained to pull together can pull 25,000 pounds.

The Fowler brothers team from Reading, Mich. win the heavyweight horse pulling competition at the State Fair on Sept. 8, 1949. 

Imagine what can happen when synergy happens between two or more people!

See what Kiki and Trey were doing in New York!

Enjoy this short video of a vacation Bible school. You will see both Kiki and Trey among the kids!

http://vimeo.com/27130760

An Old Man's Mistakes - The Failings of Age

Youth cannot know how age thinks and feels.
But old men are guilty if they forget what it was to be young!

Psalms 103:1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!
2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,
3 who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,
5 who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Let's Think!

Consider:
"What other people think of you is none of your business. And if you spend time thinking about what other people think about you, it will kill you."
Better to spend your day thinking about what God thinks about you!

He Giveth More Grace by Annie Johnson Flint

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy;
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace. 

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun. 

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow’r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

Happy 4TH of July!

America at work!? 

Thanks Mara for sharing with us. We love our men who are "wild at heart."

SHARP DULL

An oxymoron (from Greek ὀξύμωρον, "sharp dull") is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. 

Oxymorons are sometimes inadvertently created by errors or sloppiness in conversation.
Examples:   

found missing

 deafening silence

virtual reality  

  pretty ugly   

almost exactly  

exact estimate

seriously funny

tragic comedy

liquid gas

larger half

same difference

constant variable

working holiday

definite maybe

even odds

freezer burn

original copies

jumbo shrimp

living dead

clearly confused

In some cases an inadvertent oxymoron ends up being widely adopted as the name for some concept and ceases to be recognized as an oxymoron. Examples include: bittersweet, living dead, virtual reality.

"...Out of the heart, the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34

Consider the title of this blog "WHEN WORDS ARE MANY" as you read this bit of history from the thirteenth century:

Frederick II, a German king, was curious to learn what language babies would speak if no one spoke to them.  The king wondered whether they would come to speak Greek, Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, or perhaps the dialect of their biological parents if the infants were left on their own.  To find out, a select group of infants were chosen.  The king ordered the foster mother and nurses who were to care for these infants to be absolutely silent.  "Nurse them, clean them, bath them, but don't speak to them," was his command. .........

 (Before I tell you the conclusion, think about this: What would  pure language be if we were not exposed to any pre-existing language or culture? That is what King Frederick II really wanted to know. )

 

In the end, the experiment was a dismal failure.  Not only did these children fail to develop any language skills.  

They all died.

Proverbs 18:21 says,  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

 

Are You Traveling this Summer?

Watch those signs!!!!

     


 CAUTION!  Be aware of road conditions!

 Parking can be challenging!

      Keep that tank filled!

    Where am I going?

It's FLAG DAY, June 14

The Flag Code does not specify how the flag should be folded, but a standard flag will require thirteen folds.
When folding the flag in this manner gained popularity, there wasn't a symbolic meaning associated with the folds. Through the years, the public has attributed meaning to each fold. Most of these meanings are religious, and all of them reflect the ideals of this country.

	Step 1: Facing each other two people should hold the flag horizontally at both ends.
	Step 2: Make your first fold lenthwise, bringing the stripes over the union area of the flag.
*The first fold of the flag is a symbol of life.
	Step 3: Match up the corners, keeping the flag taut.
	Step 4: Make another lengthwise fold, match up the corners and keep the flag taut.
*The second fold of the flag is a symbol of a belief in eternal life. *The third fold is a symbol of honor and remembrance of veterans.
	Step 5: Keeping the flag taut at both ends, fold a triangle from fold to edge. Keep folding triangles, making sure you keep a 90° angle and your folds are smooth.
*The forth fold is a symbol of weakness. *The fifth fold is a tribute to our country. *The sixth fold is where our hearts lie. *The seventh fold is a tribute to our Armed Forces.
	Step 6: Continue folding triangles in the same manner.
*The eighth fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, so that we may see the light.
	Step 7: Continue folding triangles onto the union of the flag.
*The ninth fold is a tribute to womanhood *The tenth fold is a tribute to fathers *The eleventh fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David & King Solomon, glorifying the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. *The twelfth fold represents the emblem of eternity and glorifies the God of the Father, the Son & Holy Ghost.
	Step 8: Fold the last triangle and tuck the ends in.
*When the folds are complete, the stars are uppermost and remind us of our national motto, "In God we Trust." *The flag will resemble a cocked hat, representing soldiers, Marines & Sailors of the past & present.

Meet the Family

Our daughter Kiki and her husband Trey, they are on their way to serve our Lord in Thailand!
Here are some photos that you might enjoy:

Thailand- a land full of the beauty of God's creation

Thailand- a land of culture and lostness

 

 

 

Thailand- a new home filled with new friends

Thailand- a land offering new and wonderful foods  

 

 

 

Thailand- a land begging that we learn its language

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS Trey loves Thai food!

 PS  In Thailand you must be careful how you pronounce this word (which is also my daughter's name)


 Pray for Kiki and Trey as they begin this journey!

http://treyandkiki.blogspot.com/

They can't be avoided: metaphors are built right into our language.

A metaphor is figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between two unlike things that actually have something important in common. The word metaphor comes from a Greek word meaning to "transfer" or "carry across." Metaphors "carry" meaning from one word, image, or idea to another. 

Some metaphors are so common that we may not even notice that they are metaphors. Look at these familiar metaphors of “life as a journey”. You find them in advertising slogans:

• "Life is a journey, travel it well." (United Airlines)
  
• "Life is a journey. Enjoy the Ride." (Nissan)
  
• "Life's a journey--travel light" (Hugo Boss Perfume)

Here is another from a song: “Life's a journey not a destination And I just can't tell just what tomorrow brings.

The simplest metaphor form is made with nouns.

America is a melting pot. Meaning: place where different peoples, styles and cultures are mixed together.

My father is a rock. Meaning: very strong or reliable person

The policeman let him off with a yellow card. Meaning: Warning - (in soccer) a yellow card that the referee shows to players when cautioning them.

Other ways of making metaphors are with verbs or adjectives.

He broke into her conversation. Meaning like burglars break into buildings.

His head was spinning with ideas. Meaning: like some computer hard drives spin at over 10,000 revolutions per minute.

Reading that book kindled my interest in politics. Meaning like the need to start a camp fire with twigs and small branches, kindling. 

Look out for those metaphors! 

Don't Stand Still!

Today I met this man, and he was me!


This statement may sound confusing, but in a small group that meets at Perimeter Church, we were introduced to this pilgrim. His story is simple and yet complex. The advice he received this day was, "Run to the light. The light will reveal the gate!


Enjoy the song: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAtReLCJ4-I&feature=related

Here are the notes of our study: 

A man walking in a field is reading a book. He starts to cry and bursts out, “What shall I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30-31) He looks like he wants to run, but doesn't know which way to go.

Then another man comes walking towards him. And he asks, “Why are you crying?”

The man answers, “Sir, I see from this book in my hand that I am condemned to die, and after that to come to judgment. I am not willing to die and I am afraid of judgment. (Heb 9:27)

“Why are you afraid?”

“This burden on my back will make me sink lower than the grave.”

“Well, then if this is your condition, why are you standing still?

“Because I don't know where to go.”

The second man pointed across a wide, flat field and asked, “Do you see that narrow gate over there?”

The first man said, “No.”

The other man said, “Do you see that shining light over there? (Psalm119:105)

He said, “I think I do.”

Then the second man said, “Keep that light in your eye and go straight up to it, so that you can see the gate. When you knock, you will be told what to do.

The first man began to run! He did not look back! (Gen 19:17)

ACTS 16:30-31 Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Hebrews 9:27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path”.

Genesis 19:17  And as they brought them out, one said, “Escape for your life. Do not look back or stop anywhere in the valley. Escape to the hills, lest you be swept away.”

Wishing You All a Wonderful Summer!

 Enjoy this video and song!
My prayer is that you can join in and say, "I believe."

http://www.andiesisle.com/creation/magnificent.html

The End of The World!?

Who do we listen to? What can we know? What should we do?

 "Let's be satisfied with the signs that Jesus gave and with His instructions. No one knows the date or time. Be ready always watching and praying," said Gordon Lewis, senior professor of Christian Theology and Philosophy at Denver Seminary.

Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son,  but the Father only."

Matthew 24:44 "Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Simple advice from Professor Lewis:   "Expect and hope the Lord may come today. Just plainly do what He says."

Post-Mother's Day and Pre-Father's Day Thoughts

Words of Martin Luther,

“Love begins when we wish to serve others." There is no better school for humility and for loving sacrificial service than marriage and parenthood. 

Luther had a high regard for the ability of women to shape society by molding its youth and civilizing its men through the institution of marriage.

Martin Luther was a leading defender of the dignity of women and the foundational importance of marriage. Luther placed the home "at the center of the universe."

Luther urged parents to always discipline their children with forethought and caution, taking into account the unique personality of each. He taught that: "no power on earth is so noble and so great as that of parents."

 

 

"Martin Luther, the German Reformer, is generally remembered as the theological professor, the Bible translator, the writer, even as the composer of hymns. However, Martin Luther was also a husband and a father of six children. He provided the church its first and most prominent example of a pastoral family."

Dr. Peter Hammond

Happy Mother's Day

Before I was a Mom, 
I never tripped over toys
or made up words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom, 
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a baby sleep. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I never held a sleeping baby just because
I didn't want to put her down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much. I never knew I would love being a Mom. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby.
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy. 

Before I was a Mom, 
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom .

World's Healthiest Food

Kimchi is made of various vegetables and contains a high concentration of dietary fiber, while being low in calories. One serving also provides up to 80% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C and carotene. Most types of kimchi contain onions, garlic, and peppers, all of which are salutary. The vegetables being made into kimchi also contribute to the overall nutritional value. Kimchi is rich in vitamin A, thiamine (B₁), riboflavin (B₂), calcium, and iron, and contains a number of lactic acid bacteria, among those the typical species Lactobacillus kimchii. The magazine Health named kimchi in its list of top five "World's Healthiest Foods" for being rich in vitamins, aiding digestion, and even possibly reducing cancer growth.

Interesting note: One study conducted by Seoul National University claimed that chickens infected with the H5N1 virus, also called avian flu, recovered after eating food containing the same bacteria found in kimchi. During the 2003 SARS outbreak in Asia, many people even believed that kimchi could protect against infection, although there was no scientific evidence to support this belief. However, in May 2009, the Korea Food Research Institute, Korea’s state food research organization, said they had conducted a larger study on 200 chickens, which supported the theory that it boosts chickens' immunity to the virus.

HELLO, MY NAME IS

 Naming Patterns

You will often see the same names used over and over again in families. Many cultures believe in honoring their elders and do so by naming children after them. Following is a pattern that was popular in England in the 1700-1875 period:

• The first son was named after the father's father
• The second son was named after the mother's father
• The third son was named after the father
• The fourth son was named after the father's eldest brother
• The first daughter after the mother's mother
• The second daughter after the father's mother
• The third daughter after the mother
• The fourth daughter after the mother's eldest sister
  

But maybe more fascinating is our use of nicknames.

A nickname is a name different in origin and pronunciation from the original name. Example: Robert – Bobby, Rob, Bob, or Bert. Sometimes a nickname is simply used for convenience, or it is used to show affection. Nicknames can convey smallness, as when used with young children. It is a way to tell someone they are special and that you love them.

Classic example:

Elizabeth – Liz, Beth, Bess, Betty, Libby, Lisa, Elsa, Babette, Ellen, Zoe, etc.

Never Forget to Smile!

Here is your test regarding American humor:
There once was a Manhattan boy who asked his country cousin, "Is it true that a bear won't eat you if you carry a flashlight?"
The experienced cousin replied, "Depends on how fast you carry it."

Easter Rhymes

 Find rhyming words that match the clues:

(1) A season that rhymes with bring.

(2) A flower that rhymes with silly.

(3) What birds lay that rhymes with legs.

(4) A holiday that rhymes with fur.

(5) A meal that rhymes with winner.

(6) Something you send that rhymes with hard.

(7) Another word for rabbit that rhymes with honey.

(8) Something to hold things and rhymes with gasket.

(9) The opposite of find that rhymes with side.

(10) A place to pray that rhymes with lurch.

(11) A search that rhymes with bunt.

(12) A jelly candy that rhymes          with seen. (13) Colored water that rhymes          with by.

The Morning after a Windy, Stormy Night

I looked out the window afraid I would see fallen tree limbs and other debris from the storm the night before. To my surprise this is what I saw:

A colorful, deflated balloon that must have braved the storm all night.
It reminded me of how much my children had always delighted in balloons. And they would intensely mourn when the balloon finally popped or flew away.


Consider these poems:

MY BALLOON
By
Gregory K.

“Why, oh why, oh why, oh why????
Oh, please come back!” I moan and sigh.
I jumped but you had gone too high.
Now you’re flying in the sky.
I think I’m really gonna cry….
Goodbye, my poor balloon. Goodbye.

 Untitled
by Skip Halthen 

My balloon was in the sky.
My balloon was flying high,
But then it popped and died.
And that's the end.

No English Needed!

 Sometimes we don't need sophisticated language! And we don't need to have a large vocabulary! We just need someone to talk to!
Enjoy this youtube clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JmA2ClUvUY

INFER vs. IMPLY

Communication consists of a message, a sender, and a receiver.

The sender can imply, but the receiver can only infer.

Remember this easy rule: "imply" rhymes with "I." Therefore, "I imply" but "you infer."

WRONG:  Are you inferring that I lied?

RIGHT:   Are you implying that I lied?

          If someone gets the idea from your behavior that you are not telling the truth, then he is inferring that you are a liar. But if he is subtly letting you know that he thinks so, then he is implying that you are a liar. You, of course, can infer from his implication that he thinks you are a liar.

IMPLY = to put the suggestion into the message (sender implies)

INFER = to take the suggestion out of the message (receiver infers)

IMPLICATION = what the sender has implied

INFERENCE = what the receiver has inferred

1) The facts (imply/infer) that Frank took the object.

a) imply
b) infer

2) Do you (imply/infer) from what was said that we have any chance?

a) imply
b) infer

3) What other (inference/implication) is possible?

a) inference
b) implication

4) They are concerned that the (implication/inference) will be that they were at fault.

a) implication
b) inference

5) It is reassuring to learn that you have drawn the (implication/inference) that Terry could not have been responsible.

a) implication
b) inference

6) What do you (imply/infer) from his remarks?

a) imply
b) infer

Counter-intuitive: contrary to common sense —even foolish!

Where are many popular counter-intuitive statements, regarded as great wisdom and truth?

Biblical authors (especially Jesus and Paul) frequently utilize a special form of instruction called paradox to communicate God’s “counter-intuitive wisdom.”

“So the last will be first, and the first last.”

“Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.”

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

“Give, and you will receive. A large quantity, pressed together, shaken down, and running over will be put into your pocket. The standards you use for others will be applied to you."

G. K. Chesterton defined biblical paradox as “truth standing on her head to attract attention.” Paradoxical statements arrest our attention because of their apparent contradiction—and motivate us to resolve the contradiction by learning and reflection.

NOTE: Biblical paradox is very different from Zen Buddhist koan paradoxes. These statements seek to deliver us from rationality as a precondition to spiritual enlightenment. Biblical paradox presumes rationality (including the law of non-contradiction) and affirms it as integral to spirituality.

Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary (1976): A koan is “a paradox to be meditated upon that is used to train Zen Buddhist monks to abandon ultimate dependence on reason and to force them into gaining a sudden intuitive enlightenment.”

Happy Spring!

I hope this clip puts a smile on your face!
http://www.wimp.com/babyhummingbird/