Thursday, January 22, 2009

Black and White

I know that the color of a person's skin is truly only "skin deep." If we truly are not prejudiced and we don't discriminate based on skin color, then we should only judge others on their beliefs, their actions, and their words. We can and should love everyone, but that doesn't mean we have to love everything a person says, thinks, does and stands for.

One time when I was in a state college, the English class I was in was discussing something about treating other people in certain ways. I made a statement to the effect that we could only treat others with love and kindness if we had help from the Holy Spirit. The professor said, "So if someone cut off your leg and beat you with it, you would still treat him with love?" I had to say I couldn't do it unless I had help.

I honestly don't know if I can love everyone. I only know I will need some help to do it. I do know that I can't overlook certain things about people even though I'm supposed to love them. I won't be able to support a person's wrong actions and beliefs even if I try to love or at least like the person. I think as Christians we are to be discerning--separate the person from his problems.

I guess you can judge me on that if you must.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

13 Thursday Songs of My Childhood

1. Goodbye Old Paint, I'm a leavin' Cheyenne

2. You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine

3. Catch a Falling Star and Put It in Your Pocket

4. Que Sera Sera, Whatever Will Be Will Be

5. Make New Friends But Keep the Old

6. Everything's Alright in My Father's House

7. You Can Smile When You Can't Say a Word

8. Jesus and Others and You

9. My Lord Knows the Way through the Wilderness

10. Tis the Land Where the Columbines Grow

11. High, Betty Martin, Tip Toe, Tip Toe

12. Ring the Bells of Heaven

13. Pony Boy, Pony Boy

My sister and I had a little red record player when we were little. Some of these songs were on the red records. Others I learned from camp, church, TV and Girl Scouts.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Biggest Loser

So, at work we are doing the Biggest Loser along with the TV show. It will last about three months. Some of us have formed teams with someone else. The team that wins with the most lost weight gets 60% of the total amount of money (Each person contributes $10. So far we have about 11 people participating). That mean individually we would 30%. Then if we don't win the team contest, the highest individual gets 25% of what's left and the next highest person gets 15%. It's all good.

Our contest started on Tuesday. That night I was pretty sure I didn't want to participate in the contest because it's difficult to eat everything I want when I'm dieting. Go figure. The second night I was in the same sinking boat. Today so far I've got a fairly positive attitude...if I can just stay out of the stinking sinking boat.

Earlier my diet partner said she thought we should set a goal for the three months. We each are going to try to lose 25 pounds during that time period. That's a lot, but it can be done. If we lose a total of 50 pounds, we will have lost a small person between us. (Actually, it makes me feel a little sad to lose a small person, but it's not exactly murder! But it might kill us.)

I don't ask people to pray for me, but if you do, it might be good. But don't say too much to me about the diet, because I don't like to have people really minding my business. You could say, "How's the weather?" It will be code for asking about the diet. If I say, "Good," you'll know I'm doing pretty well. If I say, "I'm under the weather," you will know that things are going so-so.

If you don't want to ask me at all, that's all good.

Friday, January 2, 2009

The Daughter's Visit

Jen has been home for two weeks today. She and I have had a good time. While she is used to having a lot of personal time and space, we have been able to spend a lot of time together. I have enjoyed the activities we have done.

We have watched "White Christmas" and several other movies (some with the rest of the family). We have cooked several meals together. We drove to Denver to go shopping. We went to Estes Park to see the mountains (they were wonderful and beautiful). We went to Colorado Springs to have a family Christmas dinner. We are going to Castle Rock today to meet up with friends from Pueblo. Tomorrow we are going to Parker to have a get-together with some other family members. We also have gone to church together and stayed for a potluck lunch.

So, all the time that we have spent in the car, we have talked. For hours. More talking than we have done in years. If you know us both, you know we can talk up a storm.

We have eaten at restaurants several times, and it has been great. We'll probably eat out one more time with all the fam before Jen leaves, probably at Consuelo's Mexican Restaurant in Fort Collins. It has really good food.

Jen has changed quite a bit in her philosophy since she lived at home. We have talked about some of those things, but because we see some things from different viewpoints now, we have tried not to dwell on the differences. We have mostly succeeded.

I have really enjoyed having someone to do things and go places with. Aaron and Gary are willing sometimes, but Jen is willing most of the time. I will miss her when she goes home.