For the Practical Among Us

February 27, 2007 by Leave a Comment

At CasketFurniture.Com you can get a practical piece of furniture like the Rayonnant Eternaltainment Center pictured here. “It comes apart quickly to create your final place of rest.” Additionally, once the center “casket is removed, the two sides slide together and can be used [by those left behind] for years to come.”

“Why buy a casket for just one day? At CasketFurniture.com, our products can last you a lifetime, and still be the perfect vehicle to carry you to the great beyond. Whether it’s a couch, shelf, or end table, our products are designed to blend effortlessly into most contemporary interior designs. Every product can also be transformed into a high-quality casket at your time of need. Shop our current product selection below, or contact us to find out about custom manufacturing to suit your individual needs.”

Filed Under: Death, Social Commentary, Strange

Dear Abby: Am I Stupid?

February 15, 2007 by Leave a Comment

Dear Abby: Please help me. My lover and I have been disagreeing lately and are considering couples counseling. However, he keeps insisting that we see the marriage counselor he and his wife are currently seeing.

I want to make this relationship work, but I think it’s inappropriate to receive counseling from the same one that they are currently seeing. What do you think?
-Needs Therapy in Texas

How Abby should have responded: DEAR NEEDS THERAPY: You really do need therapy and much more. Your “lover” is a loser. If you couldn’t tell that he’s a loser by the fact that he’s committing adultery with you, it should have been obvious when he suggested that you see the “counselor” that he and his wife are CURRENTLY seeing. He’s pathetic, but you’re worse: you know the details and still “want to make this relationship work.”

How Abby actually responded: DEAR NEEDS THERAPY: I think you should definitely have some sessions with the therapist who is counseling your lover and his wife. They could prove enlightening. I’m willing to bet the farm that the same issues that have caused him to cheat on her are the ones at the root of your problems with him. And I’m not at all sure that “making this relationship work” would ultimately be in your best interests.

Filed Under: Social Commentary, Strange

I Must Be Getting Old

January 15, 2007 by 1 Comment

Last night, Colleen and I went to Hastings Books for a casual evening of perusing the bookshelves. After about 1 ½ refreshing and relaxing hours of sitting in the nice leather chairs reading and talking, we got up to leave. As we did, our attention was drawn to a clearance display and we stopped to look through the selection of reduced price books.

While we were showing each other the various discount bargains that caught our attention, it happened: I realized that I am getting old. As Colleen and I were goofing around, suggesting this book and that to each other, I overheard a conversation at the help desk between a customer who was about my age and a 16-17 year old clerk.

Clerk: “May I help you?”
Customer: “Yeah, do you have Mad Magazine?”
Clerk: “Uummm, let me look [in the computer]. Is that the name of it?”
Customer: “Yeah, Mad Magazine.”
Clerk: “Hmmmm. Is that an actual magazine?”
Customer: “Yes, it’s called Mad Magazine.”
Clerk: Surrendering the search in the computer, “Well, if it’s an actual magazine, it would be over there in the magazines.”

If it is possible that a 16-17 year old clerk in a popular bookstore hasn’t ever heard of Mad Magazine, then it’s official: I’m getting old!

Filed Under: Family Life, Social Commentary

Foto Friday: Some Cowboys Love Jesus

January 13, 2007 by Leave a Comment

It’s been some years since I have been to a rodeo, and many more since I was a pretty bad bull rider.

One of the things that I noticed this week at the Sandhills Rodeo, was that cowboys seem to display symbols of their faith more than they did when I was rodeoing.

This Christian bull rider is ready to slide up on his rope and call for the gate.

Filed Under: Photography, Rodeo, Social Commentary

Scary Quote

December 6, 2006 by Leave a Comment

“Every religious Jew knows that when you keep the Shabbat, the Shabbat in turn keeps and protects you.”

Background: Due to a recent public sector labor strike, workers at Israel’s Ben Gurion airport refused to process passengers and aircraft coming or going. This work stoppage caused a tremendous backup that stranded passengers from all airlines.

Once the strike ended, all the airlines, including El Al, Israel’s recently privatized, national carrier, worked overtime on Shabbat (Sabbath) to get their stranded passengers to their destinations. El Al’s “desecration” of the Sabbath has stirred quite a controversy in Israel, particularly but not exclusively among religious Jews.

On Monday, following the perceived Sabbath desecration, a New York bound El Al aircraft had to return to Ben Gurion Airport due to a landing gear malfunction and some (perhaps, many) among the religiously observant community saw it as a sign that God was displeased with El Al.

Minor Question: Is this any different than Pat Robertson suggesting that Ariel Sharon’s massive stroke demonstrated God’s displeasure with his handling of Gaza and the West Bank?

Real Issue: Is it appropriate to suggest that the Sabbath has such powers? Did God intend for the Sabbath to watch over the nation of Israel? Can it really watch over Israel? It is commonly said that if all Jews would observe the Sabbath two consecutive times, Messiah will present himself. While this is clearly an unbiblical assertion, it is dramatically different than suggesting that the Sabbath has protective power.

Psalm 121
I lift up my eyes to the hills –
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the maker of Heaven and Earth.

He will not let your foot slip –
He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, He who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you –
The LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm –
He will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

If I’ve got a choice between trusting the Sabbath and trusting the LORD, I’m going with the LORD every time.

Filed Under: Judaica, Old Testament, Psalms, Social Commentary
« Previous Page
Next Page »