BLOGLESS SATURDAY
There once was an evening to write
But alas nothing true to recite
So I made the decision
To cease with revision
And simply call it a night.
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
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Links & Stuff
Put Your Money Where Mouths Are
Saturday, October 25, 2003
There once was an evening to write
But alas nothing true to recite
So I made the decision
To cease with revision
And simply call it a night.
Friday, October 24, 2003
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
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WHAT THE HEAVEN?
Anytime you start thinking there are too many pessimists, remember this article.
Two thirds of Americans believe they are going to Heaven.
There goes the neighborhood.
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©The Main Point by Michael Main
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TEMPUS FUGIT
I wasted time, and now doth time waste me.- Shakespeare
I don't really hate anything. I have strong dislikes for any number of things, but hate seems like overkill. However I will make an exception when it comes to Daylight Saving Time. I hate it. Sleep is big in my life. Trying to find time to sleep, and still feel like a regular human being, is always a challenge. I've gotten better at it over the years, and less fixated on it, but everytime the powers that be decide we need to gain an hour, or lose an hour...my internal clock goes haywire.
Is the country really more productive with more daylight? This whole idea of changing time seems outdated to me.
I guess I shouldn't waste any more time thinking about it though.
Time flies like the wind. Fruit flies like bananas.- Groucho Marx
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
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Thursday, October 23, 2003
WEEKEND THOUGHTS
I know it's not the weekend, but I'm taking a vacation day Friday, so my weekend has started...and really, when it comes down to the crux of the situation, it's all about me isn't it?
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Is it just me, or is everyone else getting a ton of new spam offering the same drugs that ensnared Rush Limbaugh? I sure am glad he didn't admit to some seedier addiction.
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Amy and I went into "Ross Dress for Less" yesterday. I'm not much of a shopper, but this is the type of store that is dangerous for me. I can convince myself of deals that are too good to pass up.
Here is how it almost happened yesterday within the confines of my skull:
Hey, this pair of pants on the clearance rack is only 7 bucks!
The label says they're size 38/30, but they're longer than that.
They're name brand.
(Holding them up)
Yeah, they're longer than 30's. These would fit me!
Name brand for seven bucks!
Even when we're broke it's hard to turn down a deal like this.
Name brand for seven bucks.
I should show these to Amy and see if she agrees.
Oh.
They're yellow.
I won't wear yellow pants.
Not even name brand for seven bucks yellow pants?
Well..
Nah.
I don't remember seeing any other guy I know wearing yellow pants....unless they were golfing.
I don't golf and taking up a sport to justify yellow pants seems a bit extreme.
Maybe it's the light...maybe they're beige.
No..that's yellow alright.
I guess that's why they're seven bucks
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
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Wednesday, October 22, 2003
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
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THE DOORS
"Close the door, were you raised in a barn?"
I heard that a lot as a kid. I never understood it.
I knew the intent, "Hey kid, shut the door", but I didn't really comprehend the barn reference. I never lived on a farm, but I assume you would still shut the door even in a barn. Why have barn doors at all if you don't shut them?
Amy has been witnessing for some time to a friend who is not a churchgoer. She and her husband had a "bad experience with church" and stopped attending long before we met them.
I've heard that a lot, and I've seen unhealthy churches. I can see where people would leave a church that they felt was harming them spiritually.
But I don't understand leaving God.
If you had a bad experience at the grocery store would you stop buying food?
THE NEW PHONE BOOKS ARE HERE! THE NEW PHONE BOOKS ARE HERE!
The new Yellow Pages arrived the the other day. This morning, I was thinking about the idea of church actually becoming a barrier to a relationship with God and started thumbing through that new phone book. There are literally thousands of churches listed in the San Antonio Yellow Pages. In fact, there are 21 pages of churches (pages 506 through 527). Some have big ads, but hundreds are listed, one after the other, in tiny print...single spaced. Line after line. I suspect there are hundreds of other churches, like ours, that don't buy space in the Yellow Pages at all.
It reminded me of the story of the devout man who was down on his luck. His business was failing so he prayed to God that he would win the lottery. He didn't win and he lost his business. Again, he prayed asking God to let him win the lottery so that he wouldn't lose his house and car. He didn't win. The repo man came. The faithful believer got down on his knees again and begged the Lord, "Please God, I have to win the lottery just to get back on my feet!"
At that point he heard a voice from the Heavens bellow, "Buy a ticket! You have to meet Me halfway!"
It's a two way street.
The folks at the first church Amy and I attended on a regular basis were very devout. They were also very cloistered. We'd do all sorts of outreach projects. We'd wash the cars of anyone who drove by and refuse any offer of a donation...because we wanted to show God's love. We'd hand out cold soft drinks to thirsty high schoolers for free. Those outreach projects didn't work. Very few people came through the door of the church, and when they did they found people inside who didn't relate to them. The people inside didn't listen to secular music. One couple never watched television, except for the Olympics, because the programs were unGodly. There were any number of folks who didn't pay attention to the news because it was "of this world."
When visitors came into the church, they heard the door shutting tightly behind them...to keep the real world out.
Maybe that's why they leave barn doors open....God did.
Proverbs 14:4
Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest.
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
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Tuesday, October 21, 2003
LITTLE REMINDERS
I can think of few reasons to get a tattoo. However, if this guys thinks he needs one, I'm all for it.
Personally I think I'd be able to remember my head catching on fire and shrimp barbecuing in my bass boat without a lightning bolt tattoo, but who knows?
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
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posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
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HOARSING AROUND
My voice left me this morning. I came in to work and did my usual writing, but once that was done, I had little else to do. I couldn't leave, although my coworkers kept asking why I was there (that always makes you feel important). I had to stick around the office for an interview I had prearranged. Time passed s l o w l y.
It did give me time to reflect. The things I take for granted are often the most important things in my life. Being able to talk...that's a biggie. Especially in radio.
My voice is returning this afternoon. I'll be back in the usual routine tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be a little wiser, and maybe I'll remember that I can often learn a lot if I just keep my mouth shut.
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
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Monday, October 20, 2003
CAGES
We crate trained all our dogs, one of the few training efforts which we attempted that actually stuck...with us, and sometimes with the dogs too. Our two little dogs still sleep in their cages, and they are quite content.
If you are an animal rights activist who believes no dog should ever sleep in a cage, please email me your address. We'll negotiate a way to allow the dogs to come visit, so they can run free throughout your household day and night. Please include the cost of shipping and handling, plus a signed and notarized release for all damages.
Our big dog, Klondike, still uses his crate when we have company over, and on certain other occasions, but he usually has the run of the house. Most of the time though he'll stay in whatever room Amy and I are occupying.
Our special needs dog, Winston, enjoys his crate. He likes to stretch out and exceed the confines with his toes. Usually while resting on his back and dreaming of someone rubbing his belly.
I saw a blurb from a Harris poll this morning. I couldn't find any additional references to it. I'm not a big fan of polls as news stories, since they never tell you the questions that are asked, only the "surprising results." I suspect this might have been an online survey, which makes its results even more suspect.
Anyway, this was what it said:
"According to a Harris Poll, 42 percent of Americans say God is male, but only 1 percent say the Almighty is female. 11 percent say God is both male and female.
As I do quite often with questions of deep theology, and meaningless pop culture, I emailed it to my Pastor . He came back with the logical retort, "What about the other 46 percent?"
I didn't have the answer to that, but suggested that perhaps that was the number of people who thought the survey was silly. One can only hope.
I guess that's being flip. I know there are people who spend hours agonizing over issues such as this.
Is God male, or is God female? Is God both?
In all honesty, I don't spend any time at all on such things. If you want to believe God is male...great. If you believe God is a female, fine! If you want to stick your toes out of the confines of convention and say God is a both male and female...I really have no problem with that either.
We can still all agree on one thing.
God is.
That's all I really need...though I won't turn down a belly rub.
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
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Sunday, October 19, 2003
VISUAL AIDS
About to head out to church, Amy is packing her gear. The way this feeding gizmo works, she has to be hooked up for 14 hours, then take blood sugar readings at a couple of specific times after she's unfettered. Most all of the stuff is neatly stowed in a back pack, but due to the timing of it all, she'll have to unhook herself at church, and do a blood sugar reading midway through Sunday school and right before she begins leading the music team. It's likely to be an interesting sight. To top it off, I've come down with yet another cold. Today's sermon is on the trials of Job...really!
Yesterday afternoon we ran into our next door neighbor. I hadn't seen her for several days. It turns out her husband, a Lutheran Minister, is gravely ill with strep pneumonia and at one point they feared he wouldn't live. They have four kids, including 3 very young boys. Now, thank God, it looks like her husband has taken a turn for the better.
Late last night our friend, Rhonda, called Amy. Her son had been badly beaten. The sound of a Lifeflight chopper could be heard in the background, as medics were rushing her only son to the intensive care unit. Doctors have put him into a drug induced coma to keep his brain from swelling. Amy prayed with Rhonda over the phone. Her son is only 15.
Anytime I start to feel a little self-pity I merely need to look outside myself.
Then I look up...and praise God for our many blessings.
JOB 1:21
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.
posted by Michael
©The Main Point by Michael Main
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