Scatter the flowers

  "Anything or nothing is sufficient to attract his attention." ~ Screwtape, the Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis I watched about 15 minutes of Olympic curling this morning and left more  confused than ever as to how that "sport" is actually played. I don't get it.   Did you know the average Olympian has trained 2-4 hours a day in their sport, many from an average age of about 11?  The dedication and focus they show is to be applauded, sometimes only to end in disappointment and defeat.   Once in 6th grade I ran a mile and thought my chest was literally going to explode.  I took that as a sign to never repeat that task, ever.   The only thing since then I've done for 2 hours a day is eat.  But I guess I can't forget the hours I daily spent disciplining 8th graders.  Where's my gold medal? Here's some fun facts about the Olympics: 1- They took place originally over 6 months 2- Women couldn't always compete (shocking) 3- They we...

  "People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones."  ~English Proverb The other day I listened to Anne Hathaway's version of " I Dreamed a Dream " from Les Miserables that is just gut-wrenching.  She sings it while she's sobbing - true talent.  You should click it on while you're reading this blog - I'm not crying, you're crying.  She was so mistreated and misunderstood and it devastated her - soul, spirit and life.   People. Are. So. Mean. I am appalled at the meanness on social media and in conversations- every few days it is another event that divides.  It's like people are just waiting to attack the next thing.  And the avenue of social media just lays out the red carpet for people to point fingers, lash back, and hide behind a thin veil of "no consequences".  While we build our hierarchy of sin, upon which "they" are at the top of the heap, what if we imagined being in a room with them - one to one.  And t...

  "Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love." ~St. Francis of Assisi Today is Friday.  It's going to be a doozie.  In America it's National Escape Day, National Shut Down Day, and a day globally set aside to promote peace and non-violence in commemoration of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination in 1948.   Escape from what?  Shut down why?  Neither of those seems to promote peace and non-violence.  How are we to think and act?  I think it should be Opposite Day - a day Christians set aside to do opposite the world- "Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will." Rom 12:2   The world slings at us movements and ideologies that suggest we need to presume a position and jump on a side.  Because of the online onslaught of people's opinions we are giv...

  I'm not sure who will have their life changed today by this news, but they have taken the harmful red dyes and artificial flavors out of Flaming Hot Cheetos.  They are called NKD Cheetos.  I'm sure it was a mistake that they were not placed on the new food pyramid now, because it must mean what is left in them is good for us.  What a time to be alive! Don't we wish the harmful and fake could be taken out of everything?  Could we just deal with the beneficial and authentic in this world?  No "likes" that supposedly measure our influence or worth, or AI that generates fake news stories or homework assignments.   Things are not always as they appear.  Clouds can keep us from seeing the sun shining, and things look dismal and we doubt God knows what's going on down here.   Though all this can, if we let it, ambush our confidence and security in our daily life, it actually is a great time to be alive.  While our world is changin...

  "A little consideration, a little thought for others,  makes all the difference." ~ Eeyore Liars. Deceivers. Murderers. Prostitutes. Cowards. Persecutors. Drunks. Abused.  Adulterers.  The daily headlines?  Nope - just a list of the type of people God chooses to use to accomplish great things for His kingdom.  Their personality tests would definitely reveal insecurity, fear, impulsivity, and feelings of incompetence and doubt.   Sometimes do you think what you do doesn't matter, or it never will?  Yea, me too.  But think for a minute back to people that have impacted your life positively, either through an encouraging word or a kind action.   Maybe a Sunday school teacher or a regular school teach er noticed something about you?   Did a neighbor drop off a bit of food during a challenging time?  How about a coach encouraging you or expecting more from you because you had talent?  A boss that knew you could...

  "A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd." ~Max Lucado ✔ Here we are - the eve of 2026 - 26 years from when we thought the world would come to  a halt causing us to stock up on water and food, while still celebrating like it's 1999 (thank you Prince) because it was.   My guess is January 2 is the actual day all those New Year's Resolutions start because we want to eat all day tomorrow.  But there is definitely a "clean-it-out" vibe we get after the indulging over the holidays.  A desire to simplify our mind's path so we can get to who we are. ✔  If our country ever showed group mentality it's now.  People want you to pick a side and rearrange your life and project your voice to reflect it.  I do think we should pick a side, and it should be that we want to just listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit through God's Word, and align everything to that. It sounds so simple, doesn't it?  And yet it can be one o...