My good friend, Steve Martin (not the actor/comedian) wrote this as a reflection and I wanted to share it with y'all.
*******************
The magic moment of Christmas . . .that moment that gives each of us a glimpse of what we were meant to be.
The world has a system. The Bible calls it “the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life.” It very accurately describes our obsession as a culture with the pursuit of wealth, pleasure, and fame. Everyone who doesn’t have it is just another rat in the race trying to attain it.
And then Christmas happens. Even now, with all of its commercialization and the recent onslaught against Christmas from the PC crowd there is that period – for some a season and for others maybe just a single moment – that we put the world’s system aside and simply see the best in each other.
For you see, at its very core Christmas is about redemption. It’s about God breaking into our physical reality as a baby in a manger and offering us a way back to Him. And in that redemption the hope and the dignity of the human race is restored.
It is in the Christmas season that we see that hope and dignity in one another. We see that there is more to us mere men and women than the pursuit of wealth, pleasure, and fame. We see our potential for doing good, for serving our fellow man, for loving each other as God loves us. It’s that same hope and dignity that fuels the CHRISTUS Mission. At Christmas we see, even if for a brief moment, the image of God within each of us and we choose to pursue “peace on earth” and “good will towards men.”
We Americans, the melting pot that we are, celebrate many different holidays and each one has its place and should be respected. But today, on this day, I wish you more than just a Happy Holiday. I wish you and your family a very, Merry Christmas.
And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the City of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in clothes, and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth and good will towards men”
Merry Christmas
Thursday, December 23, 2004
Sunday, December 19, 2004
Why is my left arm hurting?
Have you ever stayed up late at night watching TV and you just couldn't get away from the lawyer's commercials talking about how they can get you money if you've taken a certain drug. I always think, man I'm glad I didn't take Phen-phen. But then, again, with this beautiful body, who needs it.... *cough*.
So I'm watching the 'boob tube' the other night, and I see some local law firm throw about 3 different drug names on the screen. One of them was 'Celebrex'. So I think, "Hmm, that drug is named the same as the one I'm taking for my herniated disc. ...and I dismiss it. Mainly because after seeing all these lawyer's act stupid on TV, they're just trying to scare people into giving them a retainer. Couple days later (and a couple Celebrex pills later), Starla forwards me an article. Um, ... new study shows Celebrex related to heart attack. Aw, CRAP!
You know, I've never considered myself a hypochondriac, but I sure did have trouble going to sleep after hearing that. Have you ever had to reflect on the thought that your body, the only one you will get during this life, may actually have a flaw that has the possibility of ending your life? I'm not very worried about this, but it made for a very different perspective for me. Mostly, it made me appreciate something. We all see those people on TV who have come down with a terminal disease. Like Yule Brenner. When asked if there was any message he would like to leave behind after he was gone he replied, "You must stop smoking now!" In less than a year later, Mr. Brenner was dead of lung carcinoma. Can you imagine what might have been going thru his mind? Ok, so I took some Celebrex, which was linked to heart attacks. Heart attacks are linked to meeting Jesus. ...and even though Jesus is on my top 1 list of people to meet, I'm just not ready. So, I quit taking Celebrex. Why? Am I scared? Um.. yeah!
So my question. With all the examples of people dying from cigarrettes. Why aren't more people trying to quit. (Understand that I did NOT say 'Why aren't people quitting, I said 'trying') I understand addiction. I'm not talking about people just being able to quit in a day, but I'm talking about the urgency of the issue and at least stressing over it a bit. Smoking can kill you. It killed Yule Brenner. It killed my grandfather. If you're a smoker, and you're reading this, it can kill you.
Ok, I just turned this around on myself. Why won't I put down the Dr. Peppers and fried foods. I have good examples, too. Chris Farley, Fat Elvis, John Candy, etc. Ok, so I reckon my next question is, "How do we all turn the corner to a healthier lifestyle?"
Better question - Can we do it alone, or will we 'require' the encouragement of our friends to accomplish it? Something to think about.
-Gary
So I'm watching the 'boob tube' the other night, and I see some local law firm throw about 3 different drug names on the screen. One of them was 'Celebrex'. So I think, "Hmm, that drug is named the same as the one I'm taking for my herniated disc. ...and I dismiss it. Mainly because after seeing all these lawyer's act stupid on TV, they're just trying to scare people into giving them a retainer. Couple days later (and a couple Celebrex pills later), Starla forwards me an article. Um, ... new study shows Celebrex related to heart attack. Aw, CRAP!
You know, I've never considered myself a hypochondriac, but I sure did have trouble going to sleep after hearing that. Have you ever had to reflect on the thought that your body, the only one you will get during this life, may actually have a flaw that has the possibility of ending your life? I'm not very worried about this, but it made for a very different perspective for me. Mostly, it made me appreciate something. We all see those people on TV who have come down with a terminal disease. Like Yule Brenner. When asked if there was any message he would like to leave behind after he was gone he replied, "You must stop smoking now!" In less than a year later, Mr. Brenner was dead of lung carcinoma. Can you imagine what might have been going thru his mind? Ok, so I took some Celebrex, which was linked to heart attacks. Heart attacks are linked to meeting Jesus. ...and even though Jesus is on my top 1 list of people to meet, I'm just not ready. So, I quit taking Celebrex. Why? Am I scared? Um.. yeah!
So my question. With all the examples of people dying from cigarrettes. Why aren't more people trying to quit. (Understand that I did NOT say 'Why aren't people quitting, I said 'trying') I understand addiction. I'm not talking about people just being able to quit in a day, but I'm talking about the urgency of the issue and at least stressing over it a bit. Smoking can kill you. It killed Yule Brenner. It killed my grandfather. If you're a smoker, and you're reading this, it can kill you.
Ok, I just turned this around on myself. Why won't I put down the Dr. Peppers and fried foods. I have good examples, too. Chris Farley, Fat Elvis, John Candy, etc. Ok, so I reckon my next question is, "How do we all turn the corner to a healthier lifestyle?"
Better question - Can we do it alone, or will we 'require' the encouragement of our friends to accomplish it? Something to think about.
-Gary
Friday, December 17, 2004
Wrong Number, Pervert!
Why me? I've been good...
I've been getting calls at work for the past three days. "I'm looking for Kelly". Different people all looking for the same girl. Finally, one guy says, "I'm calling about the ad..."
Ah! Now I get it. Someone put an ad in the paper, and my number was mistakenly put in there instead. Then yesterday, I get a voicemail from Kelly (because at this point, I've quit answering the phone). Kelly apologizes for the inconvenience and informs me that they put area code 713 in the ad instead of area code 716. So I call Kelly back very early this morning rousing her from bed.
Kelly - "Hello" (Just woke up)
Me - "I'm looking for Kelly"
Kelly - (mumbles something)
Me - "Is this Kelly?"
Kelly - "This is Kelly"
Me - "This is Gary, you left me a message yesterday. Did I wake you up?"
Kelly - "No, it's ok"
Me - "I've been getting calls for your ad in the paper"
Kelly - "Oh, yeah. I'm real sorry about that. They put the wrong phone number. If people call, can you tell them the area code is 716 instead of 713?"
Me - "What kind of ad is this?"
Kelly - "Escort service"
Me - (long pause)..... well, will I get some kind of kick back for this?"
Kelly - (long pause and a confused giggle)
Me - "I'm just kidding, but now I feel like I'm a receptionist at Kiki's house of Love. You might want to make sure the paper is clear next time you go fishing for Japanese businessmen."
Kelly - (Another confused giggle)
Me - (Click)
So anyways, I'm still getting calls from these guys looking for love, but the best part is now I know why they're calling, and now I can screw with their heads. The last call I got, I convinced the guy that I was Kelly's husband and I didn't appreciate him trying to 'get with' my wife.
BWAH!
-Gary
*******Update*******
This last guy that called, I said "Yeah, this is Kelly" without disguising my voice. The guy asked me how tall I was, and how much a session was. Holy crap, it just got turned around on me. I asked him "So you like guys?", and the guy answers......
"Yeah, I like transexuals."
That will teach me to mess with them.
-Gary
I've been getting calls at work for the past three days. "I'm looking for Kelly". Different people all looking for the same girl. Finally, one guy says, "I'm calling about the ad..."
Ah! Now I get it. Someone put an ad in the paper, and my number was mistakenly put in there instead. Then yesterday, I get a voicemail from Kelly (because at this point, I've quit answering the phone). Kelly apologizes for the inconvenience and informs me that they put area code 713 in the ad instead of area code 716. So I call Kelly back very early this morning rousing her from bed.
Kelly - "Hello" (Just woke up)
Me - "I'm looking for Kelly"
Kelly - (mumbles something)
Me - "Is this Kelly?"
Kelly - "This is Kelly"
Me - "This is Gary, you left me a message yesterday. Did I wake you up?"
Kelly - "No, it's ok"
Me - "I've been getting calls for your ad in the paper"
Kelly - "Oh, yeah. I'm real sorry about that. They put the wrong phone number. If people call, can you tell them the area code is 716 instead of 713?"
Me - "What kind of ad is this?"
Kelly - "Escort service"
Me - (long pause)..... well, will I get some kind of kick back for this?"
Kelly - (long pause and a confused giggle)
Me - "I'm just kidding, but now I feel like I'm a receptionist at Kiki's house of Love. You might want to make sure the paper is clear next time you go fishing for Japanese businessmen."
Kelly - (Another confused giggle)
Me - (Click)
So anyways, I'm still getting calls from these guys looking for love, but the best part is now I know why they're calling, and now I can screw with their heads. The last call I got, I convinced the guy that I was Kelly's husband and I didn't appreciate him trying to 'get with' my wife.
BWAH!
-Gary
*******Update*******
This last guy that called, I said "Yeah, this is Kelly" without disguising my voice. The guy asked me how tall I was, and how much a session was. Holy crap, it just got turned around on me. I asked him "So you like guys?", and the guy answers......
"Yeah, I like transexuals."
That will teach me to mess with them.
-Gary
Monday, December 06, 2004
Stupid Commercials
I've had it...
I can't take the stupid commercials anymore. We see them all day long on television, but are we really challenging sponsors to stop lowering our IQ's by making us watch so much dribble. Sure, many of them are local sponsors with crappy budgets, but what about the people who made the 'Menthos' commercials. Those clowns got paid to do that. How? Who paid them? How did they actually get that job? Someone is making a living off of making crappy commercials, and all I'm saying is give me that contract.
Seriously, let's put this into perspective a second. Most of you have a pretty good idea of the kind of crowd I hang out with. Ok, most of you are the crowd I hang out with, so take a minute to reflect back on when we almost pee'd ourselves over taking something stupid and made it funny. Ok, I'll give you one - I was at "The Cheesecake Factory" with my parents when they were in town on their last visit. When the bill came my dad picked it up, and after looking at the total he said (with a straight face), "What is that? ....the phone number?" Was freakin hilarious. Now apply that to a Kentucky Fried Chicken advertising account, and you've found a genius commercial.
So how do we tell people that we're sick of bad advertising? BURGER KING! What's up with putting the gay king in bed with a guy. The guy wakes up to some narrator that sounds like some cracked up pot smoker from the 60's and acts like waking up in bed with a strange guy in a king outfit is no big deal. I would have punched that king in the throat right after I pissed myself!
Ever wonder what happened to WKRP in Cincinatti? Must have gone bankrupt, because the big cheese is now a Maytag repair man that obviously has no clue on how billable hours work.
By the way, was it ever any mystery that Wal-Mart is rolling back prices? No duh! Ask any hillbilly. Which reminds me how no matter where you put a Wal-Mart you will find the town rednecks. It could be in the middle of Beverly Hills, and sure enough, here's comes Jed and granny. That's for another post...
So how do you make good commercials. Ask any beer company. They seem to do alright. "Gary - Australian for Couch potato"
So what makes a good commercial? Intelligent humor works everytime. If you don't have that, you better find some swimsuit models, or make sure someone gets kicked in the gnads. Seeing people get hurt is always funny.
Bottom line, is that I could be a millionaire if sponsers would have asked me first. Seriously Quizno's. Think about it next time you put freaky radioactive rats with AIDS on national television.
-Gary
I can't take the stupid commercials anymore. We see them all day long on television, but are we really challenging sponsors to stop lowering our IQ's by making us watch so much dribble. Sure, many of them are local sponsors with crappy budgets, but what about the people who made the 'Menthos' commercials. Those clowns got paid to do that. How? Who paid them? How did they actually get that job? Someone is making a living off of making crappy commercials, and all I'm saying is give me that contract.
Seriously, let's put this into perspective a second. Most of you have a pretty good idea of the kind of crowd I hang out with. Ok, most of you are the crowd I hang out with, so take a minute to reflect back on when we almost pee'd ourselves over taking something stupid and made it funny. Ok, I'll give you one - I was at "The Cheesecake Factory" with my parents when they were in town on their last visit. When the bill came my dad picked it up, and after looking at the total he said (with a straight face), "What is that? ....the phone number?" Was freakin hilarious. Now apply that to a Kentucky Fried Chicken advertising account, and you've found a genius commercial.
So how do we tell people that we're sick of bad advertising? BURGER KING! What's up with putting the gay king in bed with a guy. The guy wakes up to some narrator that sounds like some cracked up pot smoker from the 60's and acts like waking up in bed with a strange guy in a king outfit is no big deal. I would have punched that king in the throat right after I pissed myself!
Ever wonder what happened to WKRP in Cincinatti? Must have gone bankrupt, because the big cheese is now a Maytag repair man that obviously has no clue on how billable hours work.
By the way, was it ever any mystery that Wal-Mart is rolling back prices? No duh! Ask any hillbilly. Which reminds me how no matter where you put a Wal-Mart you will find the town rednecks. It could be in the middle of Beverly Hills, and sure enough, here's comes Jed and granny. That's for another post...
So how do you make good commercials. Ask any beer company. They seem to do alright. "Gary - Australian for Couch potato"
So what makes a good commercial? Intelligent humor works everytime. If you don't have that, you better find some swimsuit models, or make sure someone gets kicked in the gnads. Seeing people get hurt is always funny.
Bottom line, is that I could be a millionaire if sponsers would have asked me first. Seriously Quizno's. Think about it next time you put freaky radioactive rats with AIDS on national television.
-Gary
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