read this today . . . thought it was cool

Happiness or Misery - You Choose
Dan Miller
There is a story of a ninety-two-year-old lady who was moving into a nursing home. As she was being wheeled down the corridor, the attendant began to describe the room. "I love it," the old women gushed. "But you haven't even seen the room yet," the attendant reminded her. "That doesn't have anything to do with it,"she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged. It's how I arrange my mind."
There's an important principle in that little story. Much of your success is decided in advance--or "arranged in your mind." Circumstances will never determine your amount of happiness. Circumstances only highlight who you already are. Many times a career path starts because of circumstances, rather than priorities. Family expectations, chance occurrences, a friendly teacher, or the desire for money can lead us down a career path that's ultimately unfulfilling. It's tough to make choices at eighteen that will be meaningful at forty-five. Just recently, I saw a forty-four-year-old client who opened with the comment "Dan, I'm tired of living my life based on the decisions made by an eighteen-year-old."

If your work life is not providing a sense of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment, draw that line in the sand. Decide what your ideal day would look like: How would you spend your time? What skills you would use? Money is ultimately never enough compensation for investing one's time and energy. There must be a sense of meaning and accomplishment. And yet a surprising thing frequently happens on the way to fulfillment and worthy contribution: rather than learning to live on "beans and rice" there is often the release of a financial flood. It's a myth that if you do what you love, then you'll have to be content to never make any money.

I have had the pleasure over the years of working with many people in this process of refocused and authentic direction, where ultimately the flow of money surprised them.

We walk by faith.

and that's a good thing

Trying to get out of San Diego

I tried to get out of San Diego today! I was held hostage by American Airlines as I talked to customer service, looked at AA.com, and starred at the departure screen in Terminal 2 at the San Diego airport. They cancelled over 200 flights today and I think mine were about 5 of them!!!!!

I really want to go home. I miss Kelli and the girls. I hate missing large chunks of their lives like this.

Filipinos warned on crucifixions

Health officials in the Philippines have issued a warning to people taking part in Easter crucifixion rituals.

They have urged them to get tetanus vaccinations before they flagellate themselves and are nailed to crosses, and to practise good hygiene.

On Good Friday dozens of very devout Catholics in the Philippines re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

It is something that has become a huge tourist attraction, although the Church frowns on the practice.

Disinfect

The health department has strongly advised penitents to check the condition of the whips they plan to use to lash their backs, the Manila Times newspaper reports.

A Filipino is nailed to a cross on Good Friday in 2002
Real nails are used in the re-enactments

They want people to have what they call "well-maintained" whips.

In the hot and dusty atmosphere, officials warn, using unhygienic whips to make deep cuts in the body could lead to tetanus and other infections.

And they advise that the nails used to fix people to crosses must be properly disinfected first. Often people soak the nails in alcohol throughout the year.

Every Good Friday, in towns across the Philippines, people atone for sins or give thanks for an answered prayer by re-enacting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Giving thanks

In the northern city of San Fernando alone there will be three separate improvised Golgothas - the biblical name for the hill where Jesus was crucified.

Four people there have pledged to have their feet and hands nailed to wooden crosses, while others will flog themselves while walking barefoot through villages.

Sometimes people repeat the penance year after year, like the fish vendor who will be nailed to the cross for the 15th and last time on Friday to give thanks for his mother's recovery from tuberculosis.

With long hair and a beard, wearing sandals and a crown of thorns, he is tied with cloth to the cross but also has nails driven through the flesh of his hands and feet, avoiding the bones.

Called to Love

What are we really supposed to do as believers? How are we supposed to act? How are supposed to treat the people around us? The more I think about these questions, the more I feel God telling me to love!!!! I know its God. I can tell. I hear Him tell me to love when I read His Word. I know its His desire for me to love when I pray. The Holy Spirit urges me daily to love the people I encounter everywhere I go.

I'm going to love today!!

getting my jeep tomorrow

before you decide i'm all materialistic and all . . . it's 11 years old!
i love it.

Spring time is so cool

Check out the little bug on the flower . . . God is so creative.




I took this picture a few weeks off the coast of Southern California.

Disturbing News Story

I found this today as I was doing a little research . . . Would love to know what you are doing about this in your ministry . . . PLEASE COMMENT SO WE CAN ALL HELP EACH OTHER.

Story
Teens' Naked Photo Sharing Worries Prosecutor
FARMINGTON, Utah — Teenagers using cell phones, Web cams and the Internet to share naked images of themselves have prompted a Utah attorney general to revisit how such cases should be handled.

A group of 13- and 14-year-old boys and girls at Farmington Junior High School traded headless nude self-portraits with each other on cell phones in January, but there are several other similar unrelated cases.

"The conduct involved here runs the spectrum from being less severe to some shocking-type behavior," said Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings.

"Some were engaged in producing and distributing, some were engaged in just taking pictures of themselves and showing."

Rawlings said law enforcement expects to see more of this, so his office has been working on a blueprint of fair legal options that take into consideration such variables as the age of the person who sends the photo and the one who receives it.

Teens have been carrying cell phones with cameras for several years. Rawlings said he isn't sure why there's been a surge in this kind of image sharing. Many of the cases under review occurred before the Farmington Junior High case was made public.

"Why these things weren't called to our attention before this, I don't know," Rawlings said.

Rawlings said his intention is to provide the teens with help if they need it and deter others from similar activities.

"We're hoping that kids get the message that this is wrong," Rawlings said. "We also want parents to get the message that their youngsters are engaging in this behavior, and make sure they're aware of it."