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Random Thoughts

Bookmarks

You can learn something about a person by looking at the bookmarks they use. I don’t mean the bookmarks on a web browser; I mean the old fashioned kind that keep your place in a book. As books move to iPads and Kindles, we’re going to lose the personal expression of bookmarks. Not a big deal, but still one more “buggy whip” that will be lost to the tsunami of technological advancement.

My own bookmarks are an eclectic bunch of tags, ribbons, recycled paper and faux precious metals. For instance, one of my nicest bookmarks is from Castello Banfi Il …

Apocryphal, Belize, Random Thoughts,

Burning Bibles & Qurans

Below is a post that came from an article I wrote over 15-years ago. It has a dated feel to it, but it’s relevant today due to the idiots in Florida who want to burn the Quran.

The whole thing in Florida is so clearly a publicity ploy. It has zero relevance to any political or theological statement, zero relevance to the state of affairs with Muslim countries, zero relevance with any discussion between Christianity and Islam, zero relevance with any geo-political perspective, and zero relevance with any cultural awareness. It’s just a publicity stunt for a pastor who is …

Family, Random Thoughts,

Once in a lifetime …

There was a time when it was common for me to use the phrase “once in a lifetime.” I seldom use it these days because it’s usually not true. I’d say once in a lifetime about something and then find myself doing it again in a few years. It’s one of those phrases that I’ve cut from my vocabulary.

But this past weekend has made me rethink that. There was a lot of “once in a lifetime” packed into one weekend. D’Aun and I have our friends Mark and Cathy to thank for making that possible; so thank you, Mark …

Random Thoughts,

Sabbatical

This is an early announcement with a purpose. For the first time in nearly 30-years of my career, I’m going to take an extended break from work. During the month of October I’m shutting off the cell phone, disabling the email, and avoiding both Twitter and Facebook. This is new for me; I’ve never taken such a long break and even the shorter ones included regular contact with work or ministry. I’m told it will be good for me. I hope so.

The first part of the time off will be spent in the orchard with D’Aun. We’re planting another …

Junkyard Management, Random Thoughts,

National Prozac

What this country needs now is a giant dose of Prozac.

It really amazes me how much whining is going on these days. People worry about all kinds of things, the bulk of which are issues that exist only in the imagination of cable news producers. All of this national angst seems to come out in the form of fear. There is fear of a “double dip” recession despite the fact that corporate earnings are breaking records. There is fear of the rise of China, despite the fact that our economy is still 3 times as large. There is fear …

Goble Properties, Random Thoughts,

Business News

NEWS FLASH!!! DON’T TRUST BUSINESS NEWS!!!

It amazes me to see the garbage that is portrayed as business news in the media. This morning I came across the latest silliness. The headline on a well known website is, “Recovery in danger as firms, homebuyers cut back.” The article then went on to say that without a boost in spending or hiring, the recovery cannot move forward.

The article immediately below this one was headlined, “Credit card debt drops to lowest level in 8 years.” The article then went on to explain that Americans were so wildly over their head in …

Random Thoughts,

The PS to the blog naming contest

A thanks to Steve Bagdanov for donating his winnings to PathLight. After winning the blog naming contest, and being offered a bottle of really really good wine, Steve donated the bottle to the first person who made a $100 donation to PathLight. Apparently his sister Ellen is the only one who reads his Facebook postings, so she jumped on this quickly and made the donation. A bottle of my favorite Zinfandel is headed her way (and Ellen, it’s something unique you can’t buy in Washington…it’s truly a local secret).

On another note, look for even more changes to this …

Random Thoughts,

The Winner

It’s time. The decision has been made. It took hundreds of Facebook friends and Twitter followers, plus uncounted friends outside the social media world. There were close to 75 nominations from a wide assortment of people. One from a friend I met when I was four years old, one from a friend I met just a few months ago. Dozens of the nominations came from old college friends, and they were curiously among both the very best and the very worst!

It finally came down to a decision I had to make on my own. That’s normally quite easy for …