Family and friends were gathered around the table on New Years Day.

Conversations of various topics could be heard all around the table.

Then Aunt Josephine started to talk about New Year's Resolutions . . .

Something I've never much understood because it seems most people never follow through on those resolutions . . . seems most people fail in those efforts and end up depressed over the fact.

Anyway, Aunt Josephine said that her New Year's Resolution would be to go on a diet and lose 50 pounds.

I silently wondered if she was referring to losing the same 50 pounds she swore she was going to lose last year as I watched her stuff a cannoli in her mouth.

Uncle Louie said his New Year's Resolution would be to finally quit smoking . . . the same resolution he's been making for the past 20 years or so . . . the only change in Uncle Louie over those 20 years is that his smoker's cough has gotten worse.

Uncle Jimmy said that perhaps he'd give up drinking . . . which is even less likely than Aunt Josephine losing 50 pounds or Uncle Louie quitting smoking.

Don't get me wrong, New Year's Resolutions do work for some people and I don't think there is anything wrong with people trying to rid bad habits from their lives . . .

It just seems to me that most people never follow through with those New Year's Resolutions.

Perhaps if they sought the Lord's help and guidance they wouldn't fail in their efforts.

As for me, instead of making a list of New Year Resolutions I will do as it is written in Matthew 6:33.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;"

I figure that if I truly seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and I pray over it, then the Good Lord will guide me in changing those behaviors that need to be changed.

Just my thoughts over coffee.

Durango

Family and friends were gathered around the table on New Years Day.

Conversations of various topics could be heard all around the table.

Then Aunt Josephine started to talk about New Year's Resolutions . . .

Something I've never much understood because it seems most people never follow through on those resolutions . . . seems most people fail in those efforts and end up depressed over the fact.

Anyway, Aunt Josephine said that her New Year's Resolution would be to go on a diet and lose 50 pounds.

I silently wondered if she was referring to losing the same 50 pounds she swore she was going to lose last year as I watched her stuff a cannoli in her mouth.

Uncle Louie said his New Year's Resolution would be to finally quit smoking . . . the same resolution he's been making for the past 20 years or so . . . the only change in Uncle Louie over those 20 years is that his smoker's cough has gotten worse.

Uncle Jimmy said that perhaps he'd give up drinking . . . which is even less likely than Aunt Josephine losing 50 pounds or Uncle Louie quitting smoking.

Don't get me wrong, New Year's Resolutions do work for some people and I don't think there is anything wrong with people trying to rid bad habits from their lives . . .

It just seems to me that most people never follow through with those New Year's Resolutions.

Perhaps if they sought the Lord's help and guidance they wouldn't fail in their efforts.

As for me, instead of making a list of New Year Resolutions I will do as it is written in Matthew 6:33.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness;"

I figure that if I truly seek the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and I pray over it, then the Good Lord will guide me in changing those behaviors that need to be changed.

Just my thoughts over coffee.

Durango

I had my nephew Little Joey visiting at the house yesterday.

He’s an adorable little guy five years of age.

Anyway, when Little Joey comes to visit I usually take a walk with him.

First we’ll walk down to Vince’s Deli and I’ll get a cup of coffee and Little Joey will get some candy.

Then we’ll stop at the park and I’ll drink my coffee while Little Joey plays on the swings.

Well, yesterday on our way to the deli we passed by the church . . .

And out there on the lawn in front of the church there is a manger scene set up.

A beautiful little manger scene with Mary, Joseph, the three wise men, the little shepherd boy and all the stable animals.

Little Joey stopped in front of the church to take a good look at the manger scene.

But something wasn’t right, Little Joey looked like something was bothering him.

I said, “Joey, what’s the matter, don’t you like the manger scene?”

He said “It’s very nice but it makes me sad.”

“Sad?” I thought to myself.

Then I asked Little Joey, “Joey, how can that manger scene make you sad?”

“Well, there’s no Jesus in that manger, how can there be Christmas without any Jesus in there?” he asked.

I explained to him that Jesus would be placed in the manger late on Christmas Eve and that when he goes to church on Christmas morning he would see Jesus in the manger.

It seemed to make him feel a little better but I still think he was a bit puzzled by it all.

We continued on and when we got to the park he ran to play on the swings while I sat on the park bench sipping my coffee.

As I sat there sipping my coffee I thought back to what Little Joey had said standing in front of that manger scene. . .

“there’s no Jesus in that manger, how can there be Christmas without any Jesus?”

I thought about how that simple thought made the little guy so sad . . .

And I thought about how profound that thought was for such a little guy.

I thought about how sad it must be for all those people who don’t know Jesus . . .

And I wonder how they can have Christmas without having Jesus in their hearts . . .

How will they ever know the true Joy of Christmas without having Jesus?

Just a thought over coffee.

Durango

Grandpa passed away two years ago and I miss him very much around the
Christmas season.

I thought of him the other day, as I sat down to enjoy a cup of
coffee after decorating for Christmas around our house.

I recalled a Christmas Eve from a few years back when we were all at
Grandpa's house.

The family was all sitting around the huge dining room table,
talking, waiting to head out to the midnight service at church.

Then someone noticed one of the lights out on Grandpa's Christmas
tree.

My oldest son, Bubba, (who fancies himself as somewhat of a
specialist when it comes to Christmas lights), jumped up from the
table exclaiming, "Don't worry, Grandpa, I'll take care of that light
for you".

Grandpa quickly replied "No, leave it alone, the lights are fine just
the way they are".

"But, Grandpa, the tree doesn't look right with that light out, it's
probably just a bad bulb, I could easily replace it for you." Bubba
said.

Grandpa told Bubba that there was a reason behind that light being
out.

By this time Grandpa had the whole family curious . . .

Everyone wanted to know what Grandpa's reason was for that one light
bulb being out.

"But Grandpa, why would you leave one light out on the Christmas
tree?" Bubba asked.

"Think about it for a little while, if you don't have it figured out
by dinnertime tomorrow then I'll tell you." Grandpa said.

Having said that, Grandpa got up from the table and said, "It's time
to leave, I want to get to church early before all the seats are
taken."

Grandpa went to the other room, put on his hat and overcoat, and
yelled out "Let's go!"

We all went to church, sat through a lovely Christmas service and
then headed on back to our own homes.

The next day, everyone showed up at Grandpa's for Christmas dinner.

Grandpa's little puzzle had everyone talking, trying to figure out
what lesson Grandpa was trying to pass on this time.

Meanwhile, Grandpa sat back in his chair smiling as everyone tried to
figure out why that one light was out on Grandpa's Christmas tree.

Dinner was served and Bubba asked Grandpa about the light bulb once
again.

Grandpa said "Hasn't anyone figured out the significance of that
light being out on the tree yet?"

As he looked around the table all he was met with was blank stares
from everyone seated at the table.

Finally, Bubba said, "Grandpa, we have all tried desperately to
figure out it's significance, but none of us has been able to come up
with an answer, won't you please tell us?"

Grandpa said, " The brightly lit lights on the tree are a reminder to
us that Jesus was the Light of the World. He told us that we should
carry that light within us, and share that light with others."

"We understand all of that Grandpa, but that still doesn't explain to
us the significance of the one light bulb that isn't lit." replied
Bubba.

"Ah, the bulb that isn't lit, it is there to remind us of all those
who still walk in darkness, those who have not yet come to know the
light. It is a reminder to us that we are to share the light with
those who don't have it." Grandpa said.

Ever since that Christmas, Bubba has made it a point to make sure
there is one bulb on our tree that isn't lit.

Just a thought over coffee!

Durango

Tamba Bay All The Way
Brother Love

Tampa Bay all the way . . .

Until . . .

They get Stomped by the GIANTS!

NO WAY!!! ROFLOL

I think they play week 12

Bucs by 13

More like Bucs by 24

Brother Love

You guys really ARE dreaming aren't you!  

As I sit here sipping my coffee this morning I keep thinking about my trip to the shore last night.

The remnants of Hurricane Isabel were passing through at the time . . .

The windswept rains and the ocean churning in all it’s fury as lightning flashed across the skies . . .

I thought of how amazed I was by the awesome display of God’s power.

I then recalled how the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, in Job 38

34   Canst thou lift up thy voice to the clouds, that abundance of waters may cover thee?
35   Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go and say unto thee, Here we are?

I thought of how humbling it was to stand there and witness the storm, the winds and the sea obeying the Lord’s command.

And then I thought of the storm at sea mentioned in Mark 4:36-41.

36   And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37   And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38   And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39   And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40   And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41   And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

How humbling it must have been for them to have witnessed Jesus commanding the storm to cease.

How humbling it must have been to see the power that Jesus had to save them . . .

How humbling it is for us to think of His power to save us!

Just some more thoughts over coffee!

Durango

Father, all the elements of nature obey your command. As hurricvane Isabel rapidly approaches we humbly ask that you watch over those in it's path, protect them and keep them safe. Calm the hurricane that threatens us this day and turn our fear of your power into praise of your goodness. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

[shine as lights in the world]

We took a cruise on the Caribbean back in June.

Beautiful place that Caribbean with its sparkling blue water.

Sailing out there with nothing else in sight for as far as the eye could see . . .

It was so peaceful, so serene, and so relaxing.

Yes, there we were, without a care in the world . . .

And the food, my goodness there was more food than you could imagine . . .

You could pretty much eat anytime day or night, which was great having the kids along with us, because any time they were hungry they could go get something to eat.

As for me, it meant fresh coffee whenever I wanted it.

There was one particular night that comes to mind on that cruise.

It was late, sometime after midnight, I got a cup of coffee and sat out on the deck.

Peering out into the darkness, absolute darkness . . .

Looking out toward the horizon you couldn’t really tell where the sky ended and where the ocean began . . .

It was pitch black, but then I noticed an electrical storm way out at sea . . .

The lightning danced across the sky, illuminating everything.

I have always been fascinated by lightning storms because of what we read in Matthew 24:20,  

“For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

And this particular lightning storm was the most spectacular one I have ever seen.

As I sat there sipping my coffee, in awe of the display the Lord had set before me . .

I thought about how incredible this storm off in the distance was . . .

How the sky would illuminate and then in a split second turn back to pitch black . . .

And I thought about how it was the deep darkness that made the light show so spectacular.

It takes a deep darkness, such as I witnessed that night, to truly appreciate the light.

A deep darkness like that which we lived in before we came to see the Light . . .

Before we came to see the one True Light.

Jesus came into this world and said in John 9:5 :

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

And now our challenge is to let the Light that shines within us guide others out of the darkness they stumble around in.

as it is written in Phillipians 2:15:

 “ That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

And in Ephesians 5:8;

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”

Just a thought over coffee!

Durango

Tomorrow will be 2 years since the attacks on the World Trade Center . . .

That horrific day that shattered the lives of so many and burned impressions in our minds that none of us will ever forget.

Each and everyone of us can sit back and remember exactly what we were doing that morning as havoc broke loose in the Big Apple, the Pentagon and out in Pennsylvania.

This past Saturday I took my coffee and went for a walk down along the shore.

I stood there on the shoreline gazing across to where the Twin Towers once stood.

My eyes were fixated on the gaping hole in the skyline . . .

An empty spot where the World Trade Center used to be.

I thought of the lives that were lost on that fateful day and recalled standing on the very same spot watching the smoke billowing from what remained of the buildings that day and for days after that . . .

I thought of the emptiness felt by those who lost friends and loved ones on that day . . .

And I prayed asking the Good Lord to comfort those who have experienced that emptiness.

Then I thought of the emptiness in the lives of the unbelievers . . .

The emptiness they have not knowing the Lord . . .

And I prayed for those lost souls, asking the Lord to reach out and fill the void in their lives so that they may be redeemed as well.

Just a thought and a prayer over coffee!  

Durango

Tamba Bay All The Way
Brother Love

Tampa Bay all the way . . .

Until . . .

They get Stomped by the GIANTS!

Ah, yes, the surprise tactic, I’ve seen the approach work on numerous occasions while raising 3 sons.  Our two youngest sons were born 16 months apart.  My favorite incident of the “surprise tactic” occurred one night after dinner when our youngest son, Bamm-Bamm refused to get in the shower after being told to numerous times.  Finally, I told him that he had exactly five minutes to get into the shower or else I would get him in the shower.  Well, the five minutes past and Bamm-Bamm still hadn’t gotten into the shower.  Keeping my word, I picked him up, carried him into the bathroom, and put him into the shower with his clothes still on!  It shocked the living daylights out of him, he thought I had lost my mind for a minute or two, but we never had a problem getting him into the shower after that . . .

 In fact, now that he’s a teenager, we can’t get him OUT of the shower!
I guess it just goes to show, be careful what you pray for because you might just get exactly what you pray for!

Just a thought!

Durango

I took my coffee to the beach this morning to watch the sunrise.

There were two little girls down at the waters edge. . .

They were both collecting shells that washed up onto the shore.

Although both girls picked up many shells . . .

One of the little girls was very particular about the shells she put in her little plastic bucket.

She only picked the shells she thought were pretty or unique to put in her little yellow bucket.

While the other little girl was picking up every shell she could get her hands on and putting them in her bucket.

Then the second little girl's bucket got so heavy with shells that she could no longer carry it.

I sat there on the beach sipping my coffee watching these two little girls picking up shells . . .

And I started to think.

I thought about how these two little girls were both looking for shells . . .

And yet they both had a different idea of what they were looking for.

I thought about how carelessly the second little girl was choosing to fill her bucket.

Then I thought about how it can be the same for all of us.

Sometimes we become so involved with our daily lives that we are careless as to how we "fill our bucket".

We cram so much into our bucket that it becomes a burden.

And when we finally do find that treasured shell there is no room left for it in the bucket.

Perhaps, if we were to think of the Lord as that treasured shell which we seek the most . . .

We would find that our bucket would not become a burden to us.

Just a thought.

Durango

We had quite the storm tear through the area the other night!

High winds, torrential rain, hail, thunder and lightening . . .

It took down numerous trees and power lines as it ripped through here.

That night it just so happened that my little nephew Joey was staying with us.

That night as I sat sipping my coffee, Little Joey was awakened by the storm.

And needless to say, I came to learn that night that Little Joey is absolutely terrified by thunder and lightening.

At one point he turned to me and said that he wished he was in heaven instead of here.

So I asked Joey why he would rather be in heaven right now . . .

To which he replied "If I was up in heaven then God would take care of me".

I tried to explain to him that the Lord was watching over him, but somehow Little Joey didn't quite seem to understand how that was possible since God was way up in Heaven and he was down here.

I sat down with him, pulled him close and comforted him until the storm had passed.

Finally he fell back off to sleep and I returned to my coffee.

As I sat there sipping my coffee I thought about what Little Joey had said . . .

I thought about how he wanted to be in heaven with the Lord so that the Lord could take care of him . . .

And I thought about how Little Joey hadn't realized that the Lord was watching over him, protecting him all along.

Then I thought about how at times we can end up thinking along the same lines as Little Joey was.

How during the trying, stressful, stormy times in our lives sometimes we can feel the same way.

It is times like these when we must draw on our faith and remember that the Lord is watching over us even during those tough times . . .

As it is written in Romans 8: 38,39:

 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord".

Just a thought over coffee!

Durango

I considered debating this issue with two bombs, however I decided it would be an incredible waste of time.  Seems many before me have tried to set him straight but it has all been for naught, and now the thread continues to be a waste of webspace.

Just my humble opinion.

Durango

LET'S START A CHRISTIANS COME OUT OF THE CLOSET MOVEMENT! Right On Add your name to this movement:

1. Brother Love
2. John the Baptist  
3. Mr. Blackeyedpeas
4. Mrs. Blackeyedpeas  
5. Alfie
6. Ambassador4Christ
7. Durango
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