See, you ask for opinions from Christians and what do you get?
 Excellent answers is what. You're both very insightful, and accurate to boot. And I thank you both and ask the Lord to bless you and yours.

For about two months now I have been having a SERIOUS run of bad luck. Work that was lined up, canceled. No replys to ads for work(I'm a carpenter). Go fishing, can't catch anything. Troubles dealing on E-bay. Can't fry an egg without breaking the yoke. I'm talking A to Z here folks. Work is obviously the biggie problem. But misfortune, big and small, prevades my daily life.
 So I pray that this will change, and Lord willing, it shall. But how does this come about? Are some of us sent out on rougher seas than others? Is God testing/trying/punishing me? Can Satan plague a persons world in an effort to get them to turn against God? Or is it simply something that happens? I've been on tough times before, but nothing like this! Even my beagles have stopped obeying me!  

Excellent excellent story! You can like George W or dispise George W, but hes a GOOD man! To deny that is simply  the act of a fool. Bless him and his!

Although my pic knowledge is VERY limited, a friend who knows about this stuff set me up with a free account at Village Photos, and it seems pretty neat, and basic service is free!

I have observed in the past that a persons faith can be unsettling to others, they tend to get defensive about it, lash out ect. Perhaps this person is actually a test of your faith Strength untested is only theory.
 I have a young nephew who has no father figure in his life. I, and others in the family try to help fill in that role and help guide this young man. However, his grandfather drives him to and from school every day. He is an exceedingly ignorant man, none too bright. Virtually every day this kid hears his grandfather go on about how he hates niggers, fags, degos, the whole disgusting bit. It is SO difficult to see someone work to unravel what others have tried to acomplish with this young man. You must be not only strong and steadfast, but resilient as well. Do not sink to their level, great as the temptation may me. You are in my prayers, and, hopefully, I in yours.

We reject God across all facets of society. We worship the foolishness of Hollywood. We put our young in daycare and our eldery in homes. And we treat criminals well. And this kind of stuff you talk about it is the result. Thomas Jefferson once said "I tremble for my country when I ponder that God is just." So do I. I'll pray for that young girl now......

While we all await the afterlife, it remains a fact that things in this life are not too spiffy. Allowing the breakdown of the family unit, IMHO, will be the biggest mistake since the Garden of Eden. But sad as it may be, it does provide an oppertunity that I feel men should sieze on. There are lots of kids out there hurting. In many cases, they simply need someone to talk to, someone to take them fishing, someone to let them know in some small way that they are cared about. Even a simple act like getting to know a neighbood boy who has no dad. You don't need to aspire to take them to Disneyland. A small comment like "How did you do at the game today?" fowwowed by a litle banter can do more good than you might imagine. Until recently, I transported students for a local school that teachs learning disabled kids. I found a wonderful chance to influence thier lives in a small small way. Just because I was a simple bus driver. I'm not going to evaluate them, discipline them, or write them up. I had no agenda and they knew that.
A man is a special unique person. No woman, try as she may, can replace the influence of a male. And lots of kids are needing it.
 Look around you. Consider being an advocate for kids. Hire the neighbor hood trouble kid to do some work, show him trust. The examples are endless but I'll not go on. Portray a positive imiage of a man, go out on a limb for abit. You'll make a difference, and perhaps bring someone to know the Lord. It's easy to just sit around, but avoid it. Real men die moving!

Its not hard to find Christans who, for lack of a better discripter, have this whole Christianity thing "figured out". They will tell you how Jesus is the total driving force in thier lives, and thats a wonderful thing. I'm not so sure I'm at that point sometimes.
 About 4 years ago a person from another area, who I had considered a friend, made a change in attitude and lifestyle that I have no use for, and as a result, I have no use for him. He would call once a year or so but I didn't return any calls. Yesterday, to my dismay, he appeared at my door, all eager to tell me about his life and how wonderful it was. I was not about to have him in my house if I could avoid it(un-christian, is it not?) so I herded him outside where I endured his diatribe in the best manner I could. I was not rude, but neither did I acknowledge his statements with more than an occasional "uh-huh", or "that so?". He left after about an hour. Immediatly I asked God for forgivness for the animosity I was feeling toward this individual. Through out the time, I wanted badly to, in the classic vernacular, "Give him a piece of my mind" and tell him to hit the road and never disturb me again. But I held my feeling in check, something I am not known for.
 But the incident made me ponder, did I take this whole approach becase of my Christian beliefs? Was I being commonly courteous? His actions did not harm me in any way, so why not keep a lid on it? No sense causing hard feelings un-necessarily. Or, worst case senario, was I simply too cowardly to confront him? There is no chance he would have started an altercation, I would certainly have prevailed easily, why be timid?
 In the end I was glad that I took the approach I did, but it did nothing to quell my desire to "share my thoughts with him." But I can offer no explanation as to why I behaved the way I did. Its very confusing!    

Now don't go chafing on me over TE! The quote is a measure, a guidestick of mankinds ignorance of the world around us, thats all. Including spiritual matters. And if it causes one person to ponder matters of the spirit more closely, it is not irrevalent.

Thomas Edison once said "We don't know 1/10th of 1% about anything." Pure truth brother!
 If you have eyes in your head, (a blessing of the Lord in themselves!) and you see the war, the earthquakes, SARS, tornados, base insanity abounds in a significant portion of the worlds population ad infinum. Who is so arrogant, so self-rightous, so foolish, so dense, indeed so utterly blind, as to not see the coming of our Good Lord and Most Holy Savior? To stand defiant and say "I will conduct my life on this earht as I well please!" You are most certainly correct about that. It is in the next that you will have difficulty.
 Be thankful. Be kind. Be humble. Be ready!
 

I was able to ge her to go to the Indigo site, she made a candle tribute but that was about all. I hope she will explore it when I'm not around, shes pretty private about it all with me in light of my efforts to have her seek counseling. As far a clergy, she pretty resistant to that idea, I'm not certain why. It's almost as though she clings to the hurt, protecting it. She is a VERY different person from a year ago. Thank you ladies, I'll continue to nudge her in those directions, and pray heavily. God bless.

Somewhat at the end of my rope, I ask you fine ladies of this forum for your help and advice.
Last June 9th, my wifes mother passed away unexpectly and in the presence of my wife, no less.  I have never seen anyone so devistated! The evening after the funeral I had to literally drag her off the grave so we  could go home. Its not much better even today. She breaks down crying at least once a day and probably more but I'm not there to see it. She is inconsolable and refuses to seek counseling. I have two requests. Any insight you women could share with me as to how to help her would be simply wonderful, I'll try anything at this point. Also, if anyone was so inclined, any solace or advice you could offer her would help a lot in my opinion. Her e-mail is lynetter40@hotmail.com      In advance, I thank you for any help, advice, ao suggestions. I know our Good Lord and most Holy Savior will get us thru this, but it would be great to "smooth the road" so to speak. Also, I'd as soon she not know I've made this request. She's a little touchy these days but I love her with all my heart. Thxxxxxxx! God bless..........

Man lessons go far beyond the husband/wife relationship pit! They are the lessons that I have adopted in something of a creed. To wit: I am a large, intimadating guy. I refuse to use that to bully others, and I strive to strike up a conversation with strangers, as it is unlikely they will start one with me(I hate that!).
I look to fulfill what I consider man roles. I try to find young boys who have no father and will take them fishing. No child should grow up without fishing!
When I pray in the morning, I ask God for a chance to brighten someones day in a small way. For instance, after enjoying a meal at a restaurant, I will ask to speak to the manager. They usually expect a complaint, but I tell them how good everything was and thanks for the meal. Some pass out at that point!
I hold doors for women. I consider it a matter of respect.
I do not abide abuse of others by another. If I see you kick or beat your dog, I WILL intervene. If you get rough with a woman or a child, well, thats when my Christian beliefs get pushed aside. I will deal with you directly and in a forthright manner.
I strive to show my soft side. There is nothing I enjoy quite so much as sitting down in the dirt with some little kids and playing around. Kinda like the big simple guy in the John Wayne film who is prodded into a fight when he was buzy playing with some children. Forget which movie. Kids are just SO great. Even at 6', 285 lbs they are so much better at sensing my gentle nature I just get a large kick out of it.
I have learned to be humble. If I have a problem with any one type of personality, it is arrogance. I have a very tough time with it.
I have learned that one of the most powerful, yet unused forces of nature is the hug. A woman that I knew only slightly once told me that she could really really use a hug and that I looked like I could give a good one. My face and spirit lit up and I told her "Honey, I'm  world class!"  We are good friends now and it was all so simple.
Being a man is not difficult. Acting like a man is!
I thank the Lord for making me, well, me!

As I age, I find myself with fewer and fewer dreams, but a couple still persist and new ones occasionaly pop up.
 Although I have no knowledge of what would actually be involved, I would love to obtain a small piece of rural property and build a small retreat site where all would be welcome for prayer and reflection., few or no amendities. Perhaps a couple small cabins or even tents, maybe a little chapel. We're talking very basic here. Everyone needs a place to get away and be with the Lord. How wonderful that would be! Very rustic, very primitive, very quiet. I have been the source of considerable suffering and evil in my past and this would be a great way for me personally to atone to some tiny degree.
 I ask your prayers for guidence in this matter, and also solicit ANY information you may have as to the actual "mechanics" of bringing such a thing to fruition. I thank you in advance!

I need to preach at you all this morning. Short and sweet. SLOW DOWN!(please)
 Made my morning trip for breakfast this morning, good food, not too many folks ect. Very injoyable meal. Making my way back, I was driving past a house owned by a gentleman for whom I once worked, a contractor turned preacher, basicly. He lives a bit away now, but today I noticed he was in back of the house, rooting thru a shed. Other than an occasional wave, I'd not seen him better than a year. I drove past, foremost on my mind was some neglected work I needed badly to complete. But I got the " The tap on the shoulder" pretty quickly. Turned around in the road, drove back and chatted briefly with him in the yard. Probably three minutes. But it made a nice difference in my already good morning, an "upgrade" if you will.
 Would you have stopped? At the risk of making the good woman angry? Ticking off the boss? If a store you might be headed for would be closed by the time you took to stop?
 The possibilitys of pausing a few minutes to pay a little special attention to something or someone pop up all around us,we just need to be alert for them. So slow down, The Lord will not let any harm come from such a practice. And pounce on the chances to chat and interact with people. I pray for this to continue thruout my life. I pary that there is also some in yours!