it appears to me that there is such an obsession with how many, how big, how fast… how how how…

I get that there is a need to measure, but I honestly get frustrated with the pressure that comes with it.

I honestly don’t know what God thinks when it comes to numbers. I know this though… that when numbers makes a person question his or her own value, then I know he doesn’t like it. Whether it’s what floor you live or work on, how much you weigh, how many zeros are in your salary, etc, etc… I think Jesus looks at it differently than we do.

I’m not sure why I’m caught up in this right now… what I guess I want to say is that Jesus cares that it’s just one burrito.

I like handing out burritos to the homeless on the streets of El Paso. I like to meet the need. I make up 24 burritos to hand out and I like to hand them all out, but I think if I only handed out one it is enough.

How many does Jesus want me to hand out? I don’t think it matters as much as the fact that He wants me to step out my door with the heart to do it.

The longer I’m in the church work gig, the more I realize it’s a work that largely involves the ability to listen and see. Why? Because it involves people and people want to be able to share what is going on in their lives and actually have people hear it. Maybe I’m a bit biased, because I like to listen, much more than I do to talk. But what I have observed over the years is that most people don’t have that place where they can reveal the truth of what’s going on in their lives and I have observed over the years that a lot of people, both inside and outside the church, that they don’t think they can openly, transparently share their struggles in church.

This saddens me.

I spend a lot of time listening and usually as my last post describes the listening usually involves eating too. People want to share and I truly believe that if they are honestly and empathetically listened to, then they are willing to listen themselves even if it is a difficult thing they must listen to.

This was the case with a friend of mine. As we met he was visibly uncomfortable, avoiding eye contact, pacing. Why? We were meeting to discuss some things in his life that were hard to discuss. So we grabbed some food, sat and I broached the subject to get things rolling, then I just ate and listened… and listened… and listened.

I already knew what we were going to discuss, so I knew that what I was going to share was going to require some changes. So I listened and then shared my view and my beliefs concerning the situation and how Biblically as I saw it, the situation needed to play out… which was going to require some conversations and changes that would be uncomfortable. As I finished up, I impressed on him that although this was going to be tough, that we would be walking with him, that he wouldn’t be alone in this and that he isn’t the only one that has ever had to deal with it and that we love you and you need to stop.

His response… “That’s why I love Paseo.”

– coming soon – It’s not how many burritos.

Wednesday would be a good reason, probably not the only reason, but definitely a major contributor.

Here’s what I’m talking about:

Not in that order of course. The correct order would be Village Inn with my regular guys. Then a unscheduled call to meet at Peter Piper for a quick lunch and chit chat. And then the regularly scheduled lunch at Whataburger. I’m honestly not complaining, because for one I like to eat… healthier food would be a preference, but food, yeah I like it. And two, it was not just the food, but the conversation. Food in my view provides the atmosphere for good conversation. Maybe it takes the edge off, I don’t know for sure, but grab some people, throw some food in the mix and you’ll be provided with conversation…

… and…

A few extra pounds at the end of the day. Sadly this is the case for more than one of my days in a week.

And that is the reason, Mr. Jolly is Fat.

It could also be do to the lack of exercise in my life… maybe… I just saying.

coming soon… “…and that’s why I like paseo.”

About two weeks ago I had a hard drive issue. The issue would be a CRASH. I was pretty concerned at first, but honestly now looking back it has been a pretty good blessing. From a hardware point of view for a relatively small amount of money ($70) I was able triple the size of my hard drive…. pretty good deal in my mind.

Better than that even is the fact that I have lost everything. Initially of course I was like, oh crap, three years of docs gone. NO I DIDN’T BACK IT UP. I KNOW. I KNOW.

BUT, that was quickly and has continued to be a nice blessing. I have a clean slate. All those things that I kept, b/c I might need them. Gone. No, “should I keep this.” GONE.

When I got the OS back up, I got to organize my computer better than I had before. Something I would have never done had I had all those files. Now things are clean on my desktop, my documents are all (all three or four of them at this point) are organized… and the future ones will be too.

AND it makes me have to use my creativity again. Instead of thinking, oh I think I’ve got a copy of last years doc, I have to rethink, recreate, reevaluate everything and start from scratch.

It’s been good. About every other day or so, I’ll think of something I need and have a moment of “Ugh,” but it is quickly replaced with, what can I do this time.

— coming soon…. why is mr. jolly so fat.

It has been nearly twenty years since I spent hours a day in the pool. It appears this is my only option for exercise from here on out. After my visit to the doctor today it appears my days of running jumping karate chopping kick ball’n and smear the queer’n are over.

Time for this guy to strap on the speedo and dive into the water again…. minus that speedo part.

Check this out… departing near our home of El Paso. Pretty cool. Wish I had that kind of cash… I probably wouldn’t end up spending it on a trip like that, but maybe.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,579617,00.html

Abraham Lincoln – Washington, DC – October 3, 1863

“The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

“In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

“Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well as the iron and coal as of our precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

“No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

“It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the imposition of the Almighty hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the divine purpose, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity, and union.

“In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.”

Done at the city of Washington, this 3rd day of October, A.D. 1863, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.

This is probably my favorite holiday. Not a lot of show, not a lot of you need to buy this or that. They don’t decorate the stores for it… it’s usually already Christmased up by the time Thanksgiving gets around to showing up.

I’m not usually a very thankful guy in the sense that I am always thinking I’m thankful for this I’m thankful for that (maybe that needs to change), but I’m pretty content. I think we need some contentment in our lives… I think it combats the “you need this and that,” that is in our face. But I am thankful. I have a great family, I’ve had a great family…. on both my side and my wife’s side.

We have a great house that keeps us warm and secure. We have a pretty good neighborhood and for the most part we have really good neighbors. We have friends that we are thankful for.

And I have great memories of Thanksgiving at my grandmother’s house. Lot’s of love and family around. We don’t have family in this area, so we make thanksgiving as good as we can for others. We’ve had people over the past few years and we really enjoy it. We’re doing that again tomorrow.

I hope you’re doing well, I hope you have friends and family to spend your day with tomorrow. If not and you’re in the area, we’ll save a seat for ya!

nor do kick ball and knees or football and knees… at least all those and things and my knees.

Just over twenty years ago I had my last knee surgery, the other a couple years before that.

Well off to the doctor I go in a week. I’m too stubborn to not do the things that I like do which tend to be things that don’t mix with my crappy knees.  So I gonna see the doctor and I’m gonna have to dive into one of those lovely MRI deals that makes you feel claustrophobic even if you’re not.

I’m hoping he says that I won’t need surgery, but I’m holding my breath. Keep ya posted.

Friends come and friends go,
but a true friend sticks by you like family.

People are often impressed with the crowd. When there is a crowd it looks like you have it all. The truth is the crowd is fickle and doesn’t usually last. In an earlier verse in Proverbs 18 it says, “Find a good spouse, Find a good life.”

My prayer for you today is that you have found a true friend and if that person is your spouse then you are blessed beyond measure.