Acknowledgement Pages

Do you still read books?

OK.  That's not exactly what I mean.  I'm talking about hard-cover books.  Truth be told, it's become a rare occurrence in my life.  I have a Kindle app on my phone and that's become my normal.

Recently, however, I held a book in my hand.  Yes, I'm talking about something that has weight and required the use of one of those physical bookmark thingies! (Ask your parents.)  

I will, on rare occasions, spend a little time with the book's Bibliography section.  For the most part, however, I've a tendency to entirely skip; the Dedication page, the Table of Contents, the Forward, the Preface, the Introduction, the Index, the Appendix, and certainly the Acknowledgement page.

Maybe it's because Mr. Hipps called his acknowledgment page "Gratitudes". Or maybe it was because I was just into this self-help author.  Whatever the reason, I read the two pages of acclamations recognizing those adding value to the content and production of this manuscript.

There were specifically 16 individuals mentioned and a general nod to many others.

Since I never read this page, I have no frame of reference as to whether this is normal, excessive or stingy.  But, I realized that this publication might never have seen the light of day if not for many people.

Re-Purpose

You might have an iPhone.
You might have an Android.

You'll make a case for why you've chosen one over the other.

Google is making a case for individual customization with their ad campaign;
"Be Together, Not the Same". 
(The link will take you to YouTube if your device doesn't display the video below) 

Blame the Brain

You know what to do.

WWJD

I've been talking to a lot of people who seem to think God has left the building.  This has me thinking about how to answer this feeling of abandonment when it happens to others - when it happens to me. The truth is, it happens to every single one of us at one time or another.  And, during one's lifetime, it probably happens multiple times.

I'd decided to work on a series for this site that would hash over this topic a bit.  I had intended that it would be at least 7 postings long, but a few of these little articles are sitting in my "draft" box and have been for a while.  Perhaps I should just get to it and start posting.  What difference does it make if it's 7 or 5 or 3?  As Seth Godin says, "Just Ship It!" (Come to think of it, maybe it's time I reviewed this booklet!)

So, before I get into the serious text in the next couple of weeks, I thought it would be good to just laugh a bit.  This guy is hilarious! There are a number of YouTube videos featuring Michael Jr.  Enjoy!

What if you were a younger sibling of Jesus?

Imperfect Beauty

This tree looks as though it should have fallen over years ago.  It's had a difficult life as its location has has pulled against the tree's natural tendency to grow straight.  A short slope has deprived this tree of valuable nutrients and water.

But, far from the perfect coniferous ideal, it continues to successfully struggle for life.  It finds a way to turn towards the light and grow.

Now I lay me down to sleep . . .

Long ago, I was taught this everybody-knows-it bedtime prayer.  I always thought it a bit scary, though.

And, like many "traditional" prayers, it has become so common that we tend to just zip right through it by rote memory.  That's a little scary, too.

How sincere might any prayer be when it takes just seconds to recite and then, moments later, you might not even remember saying it?

Support

"Support is only worth what it costs you to give it."  

Donnie Wahlberg, Blue Bloods Holdouts Episode 11/20/15

Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" 

"I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" Genesis 4:9

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.  They gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on."  Mark 12: 43-44

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Matt 6:21

Donnie's words have been on my mind for months. The scripture only intensifies my contemplation.

I think someone is trying to tell me something.

Sandcastle Choices

Our priorities are defined easily enough.  Just consider where time, energy and resources are focused.
Each day consists of a variety of choices.  And, by definition, each choice takes one path while simultaneously denying another.

Our world says, "Achieve! And do it now because, if you do the math, time is short."  It seems like we should be working hard to make this life all that it can be.  We should be climbing the ladders of success.

Yes, life is fleeting.  Recently, I heard someone say that "everything between the time of birth and the time of death is built on the edge of an ocean".

Improving Life with the Push of a Button

The Box (2009)
(Spoiler Alert - The Wikipedia reference link completely describes this movie)

"A suburban couple, Norma (Cameron Diaz) and Arthur (James Marsden), face a moral dilemma when they receive a gift that bears irrevocable consequences. With the press of a button, their simple wooden box will bestow $1 million; however, a stranger somewhere else will die, at the same time. The box will be theirs for only 24 hours, and as time ticks away, Norma and Arthur confront the depth of their humanity as they consider their choices."  (Google.com description)

Sending Notes

I've been out of grade school (Elementary or Middle or whatever they're calling it now) for a very long time.  But I remember!  I'm not talking about the 1.25 mile walk (each way) in snowstorms that would now be called blizzards as you might be expecting.

Not only have Departments of Education revised the classifications for schools, it seems that everything is changing.  (Side Bar:  Since I mentioned winter, what did they do to the windchill calculations?  I've heard that a recent windchill of -22 would have been -40 when I was a kid.  Getting off track, though.)

Today, I'm wondering about cursive.  Yes, that's the newest word for handwriting now.  And again, not only has the name changed, but schools aren't looking to teach this craft anymore either.

"You Have to Come to My House"

Relationship.

Varied connections exist between all of us.  We can relate as a friend, relative, parent, acquaintance, co-worker, colleague, employee, customer, client, and more.  Once upon a time, I heard a very down-to-earth analogy to help understand some of these personal relationships.

Here's how it goes.  You have various people in your life.  Some are Sidewalk People.  Some are Porch People.  Some are Living Room People.  And some, very few, are Refrigerator People.  Huh?

"Prepared In Advance"

There are many ways to serve.

Gonda Building Interior, Mayo Clinic

Some read to children while others teach adults to read for themselves.

Some serve meals at shelters for the homeless while others deliver meals-on-wheels to shut-ins.

Some lead from a pulpit while others serve by work-place example.

Some serve on the front lines and others with donations.

We sometimes elevate some forms of service over others. The service of Church leaders might seem to be more important than spending time answering phones at a local nonprofit. However, I'm thinking that our human value hierarchy does not match-up with God's.

I Am . . .

I am too old.

I am too young.

I am too fat.

I am too skinny.

I am ugly.

I am not famous.

I am not a public speaker.

I am not educated.

I am invisible.

I am broke.

I am not someone people listen to.

I am too tired.

I am not lovable.

Greetings!

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians

When writing, Paul used elaborate greetings.  Paragraphs, actually!

Today, there are rules, suggestions and matters of etiquette when writing letters of any sort.  There are rules, suggestions and matters of etiquette when meeting others in person.

However, it seems there are no rules, suggestions or matters of etiquette when sending email.  And, if you haven't noticed, email seems to be our primary method of correspondence in our technology-driven society.

Short Bursts of Coolness

I'm a news watcher.

Normally, I start with the national news.  A dose of micro-local as well as expanded local programming follows.  It doesn't take that long because I fast-forward through commercials and duplicate news stories.

And, nearly every day, I ask myself, "why"?

If you're news-current, I won't need to explain.  If you're not so up to date, let's just say that with the exception of Steve Hartman's On the Road Again, watching the news can be depressing.