Boyz in the Sink

I love this song.


lyrics (by popular demand)
Mr. Lunt: Baby I know your eyes see right through my disguise
Boyz: (Larry, Jimmy, Junior): And no one can deny
Mr. Lunt: Baby that I’m the one whose love is no surprise
Boyz: And he can’t tell you no lie
Mr. Lunt: But there’s a secret I’ve been hidin’ I can’t keep it no more
Boyz: There’s this thing about himself he’s never told you before
Lunt: Baby!

Chorus:
Boyz: He needs to tell you something
Mr. Lunt: I don’t got a bellybutton
Oh I need to tell you something
Boyz: Have you figured out
He don’t got a bellybutton
Boyz: Bellybutton no, oh no no

Lunt: Baby please don’t squeal, just tell me
how you feel
Boyz: ‘Cause his love is for real
Lunt: And if you went away, my heart would never heal
Boyz: So to you he appeals
Mr. Lunt: There’s something missing in my middle and it’s hard to ignore
Boyz: There’s this thing about himself he’s never told you before
Lunt: Baby!

Chorus

Khalil: Bellybutton!
Boyz: Uh, uh
Khalil: Bellybutton!
Boyz: Uh, uh
Khalil: You say your bellybutton’s missing, there’s no reason for alarm
It’s a common thing for gourds, it won’t do you any harm
You’re technically a fruit and with that much being said;
Your umbilical equivocal is up there on your head!
You could opt for a prosthetic but of course you’d have to know
It’d be covered by your shirt, but not your HMO
Khalil: Bellybutton!
Boyz: Uh, uh
Khalil: Bellybutton
Boyz: Uh, uh

Mr. Lunt: a stylish something absent from my midriff’s décor
Boyz: There’s this thing about himself he’s never told you before
Lunt: Baby!

Boyz: He needs to tell you something
Mr. Lunt: I don’t got a belly button
Oh I need to tell you something
Boyz: Have you figured out
He don’t got a belly button
Boyz: Belly button no, oh no no
Lunt and Boyz: No belly
button!

Lunt: Do I at least get a lollipop?

Vacuum Adventure

Last night I was vacuuming the house. I reached the final room, plugged the vacuum in and the adventure began. The vacuum wouldn't start, since I knew there was a short in the wire I wiggled it as I always do and the vacuum started right up. A few seconds later I noticed an unusual vibrating sound. I looked at the plug and smoke was pouring out of it. !!! and I cut the vacuum cleaner off. To make a long story short once the plug was pulled out of the wall (being in there less than a minute) a prong was missing and the plug was black. Very odd. No more upright vacuum cleaner.

Here's a couple of hasty pictures I took. We had to kick the circuit off so my camera didn't recognize anything until the picture was taken, so they're a little blurry.

Love

Happy Valentine's Day!

On a more serious note, what is love? What does it mean to be "in love?"

Shakespeare's Sonnet 116 describes love this way:

Let me not to the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove:
O no! it is an ever-fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering bark,
Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.
Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come:
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Just for clarity, here is a paraphrase:

Let me not declare any reasons why two
True-minded people should not be married. Love is not love
Which changes when it finds a change in circumstances,
Or bends from its firm stand even when a lover is unfaithful:
Oh no! it is a lighthouse
That sees storms but it never shaken;
Love is the guiding north star to every lost ship,
Whose value cannot be calculated, although its altitude can be measured.
Love is not at the mercy of Time, though physical beauty
Comes within the compass of his sickle.
Love does not alter with hours and weeks,
But, rather, it endures until the last day of life.
If I am proved wrong about these thoughts on love
Then I recant all that I have written, and no man has ever [truly] loved.

1 Corinthians 13 says (ESV and NIV combined):

[And I will still show you a more excellent way]

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy (resounding) gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of prophecy), and understand (fathom) all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have (If I give all I possess to the poor), and if I deliver up my body to be burned (and surrender my body to the flames), but have not love, I gain nothing.Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant (proud) or rude. It does not insist on its own way (self-seeking); it is not irritable (not easily angered) or resentful (it keeps no record of wrongs); it does not rejoice at wrongdoing (Love does not delight in evil), but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things (always protects), believes all things (always trusts), hopes all things (always hopes), endures all things (always perseveres).Love never ends (fails). As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away (the imperfect disappears). When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways (I put childish ways behind me). For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.So now faith, hope, and love abide (remain), these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(Now, go look it up in your Bible and read it in context of 1 Cor 12 and 14. It's not just talking about "romantic" love, as is often misconstrued. It's talking about your love of everyone, specifically in relation to the use of spiritual gifts.)

Those two are pretty good descriptions, in my opinion, of love. Of course, I could be missing something terribly important. If you have insight into love then please broaden my perspective on the matter.

Now I have a question for you: Do you fall in love? or Do people fall in love? It's talked about often, and I want to know what your opinion is on this matter.

Always Find the Sunrise

Did you know you can actually talk yourself into being happy? I'd heard it said before, but my thoughts tended to be skeptical, i.e. "whatever," "sure you can," "yeah, right." That skepticism did stop me many times from trying it out, but finally I said, "what do I have to lose?" Except I didn't actually think that. I was feeling pretty terrible when I woke up that morning, but I said to myself, "I can go to work miserable and pull everyone else down or I can go in cheerfully and make work a better place." So as I drove to work I talked to God, told him what was bothering me, and that I wanted to minister to my coworkers. I sang to Him and had a nice time. I had decided to be happy; I had asked his help, and I was happy. It's an attitude choice, a matter of the heart. For even if there is nothing else to be thankful for (which is doubtful) there is always the sunrise. And every day it is spectacular, even if you can't see it. So when you are down, choose to be happy, and always find the sunrise.

no, I didn't take the picture. I don't remember where I found it, or I would give credit by linking to the original source

Vagabonds

We are the desperate
Who do not care,
The hungry
Who have nowhere
To eat,
No place to sleep,
The tearless
Who cannot
Weep.

by: Langston Hughes

This basically sums up what I have to say about ministering to the homeless:

I tell you the truth...

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love
-1st Corinthians 13:13

The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
-Matthew 25:40



Let us bring the greatest of these to the least of these.

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The Influence of Babies on Single Men

Bob with my daughter, Virginia Hope

The Influence of Babies on Single Men
By Douglas W. Phillips
 

Some of the manliest and most visionary single men I know spend time in the company of babies. And they love it. They love to hold them, play with them, and rejoice in the hope which is new life.

They do this because they have rejected the culture of radical individualism that teaches men to view their lives in isolation of families and Christian community. They do this because they are around other men — now husbands and fathers — who speak of covenant, generational faithfulness, and the duty of men to raise up a godly seed.

They acknowledge that their own mission as men will likely someday be directly tied to their role as fathers. As single men, they prepare for fatherhood, and they begin to pray for the babies that the Lord may choose to send to them. They recognize that children are a rich blessing to be greatly desired by any man who is, well — a man!

To this new breed of men, babies are a reminder that we are all heirs to the past and ancestors to the future. They remind them of their priorities in Christ. The presence of babies in the life of single men is an encouragement to pursue a Psalm 127 vision that someday their own families will be mighty in the land. Babies are a reminder that our spiritual fathers, like Abraham, were men who longed for the hope of children. They remind them that the greatest example of manhood in all of history rebuked other men who would not “suffer the little children to come” (Mark 10:14).

The result is that single men who are around babies and family culture become highly motivated to “get their act together.” They experience positive, holy peer-pressure to set aside childish things and to be about the business of men. This means that they must prepare their fields without (Proverbs 24:27) so they can start families of their own and have babies. Malachi 2:14 reminds us that “real men” acknowledge that the pursuit of a godly seed is not merely an afterthought. It is one of the key reasons delineated by the Creator for marriage. For all of these reasons, the presence of babies in the life of single men not only tenderizes their hearts to the preciousness of children, but it motivates them to be men of God.

In contrast, individualistic cultures prioritize lifestyles that have the tendency of inoculating young men against healthy, manly feelings toward babies and children. Not all of the expressions of individualism are inherently wrong, but the net effect has been devastating for our view of babies and manhood. For example, the modern trend of never-ending formal education tends to give men a “dormitory” vision of life, and to push marriages back later and later. The Bible encourages husbands to rejoice in the wife of their youth, which is why Christian culture self-consciously prepares men for marriage and family leadership sooner, rather than later in life.

Individualistic cultures breed materialism, the great foe of manly maturity. Materialism is poison to the single man. Success is defined by the acquisition of things, rather than obedience and the pursuit of spiritual objectives. Marriage and babies are largely viewed as an encumbrance to personal freedom. In addition, materialism trains men to demand immediate gratification. This leads to sexual impropriety, indebtedness, and even impatience and anger. In contrast, cultures that force men to deal with babies and children tend to encourage the manly disciplines of self-sacrifice, patience, and kindness.

Individualistic cultures are family-fragmenting by nature. The consequence is that the hearts of our single men become invested in destructive peer culture, rather than a balanced, multi-generational Christian community.

The simple truth is this: The longer men are away from babies, the more selfish they tend to become.

Single men need to be engaged in manly pursuits. They need the company of sturdy men and the influence of older, wiser men around them. But they also need to be around babies.

Frankly, men are designed to battle, but they need to know what it is they are fighting for. They fight for the King and for His Kingdom. This fight includes the defense of women and the little ones our wives have brought into the world (Nehemiah 4:14). But how will our men know the preciousness of the treasure they seek to guard if their love for babies is never cultivated?

We need men who learn early in their lives to treasure children. Men who love children tend to be the most visionary, stable, and self-sacrificing. We need a new generation of visionary young men. Visionary young men aspire to live lives of significance that transcend the here and now. This is why we need to place babies in the hands of our young men and then talk to them about the true dreams and aspirations of the righteous man (Psalm 112, 127, 128).

Crayons

Standing on the edge of brilliance
I find myself rather dull

I used to want to be brilliant, but I've grown to realize that if everyone were brilliant - all would be dull. So I'm okay with not being the brightest/sharpest crayon in the box. We need variety for a beautiful world, and we all color the world in our own quirky way.

The Blood of the Martyrs is the Seed of the Church

How do you go about explaining what has happened to you when you can't describe it? How do you do justice to the convicting work of the Holy Spirit? I wish I could compel you, my readers, the same way I have been compelled, but I cannot. That is the work of the Spirit. We have life so easy here in the States; we don't need to worry about persecution. The biggest concern of the church is not reaching out to the lost, it is trying to get the world to like us. What will it take for the Church of the Living God to realize that the world will never like us? The Word of God? It states that fact clearly.

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. Whoever hates me hates my Father also. If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'
But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.

I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you, But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' But because I have said these thing to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgement: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgement because the ruler of this world is judged.
(John 15:18-16:11)

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
(James 4:4)

You cannot, I repeat, cannot, be accepted by the world and by God. It just can't happen. The two worlds are diametrically opposed.

I cannot be complacent about this any longer. I cannot blend in; I cannot hope to slip under the radar and just let my actions speak for me. My actions are not strong enough! I must be in the Word so I can have the Spirit with more fullness so He speaks through my actions and my words which He will give me. One prayer. Lord, it has changed my life. How can you tell, you wonder, as it has only been a few short hours since that time? There is a fire in my chest. A passion I've been longing for. Strength I'd forgotten was possible. I cannot go back. Well, I can, but why would I want to? The world has nothing to offer me now. It may glitter, but it is not gold - it is worth nothing. And it is said:

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost
(Tolkien)

 Aye, the Christian life is not glamorous, but it is worth far more than gold. I wish I could convey this to you. Mere words do not suffice. My heart has changed, as have my priorities, and my convictions have been strengthened. It's all talk though. Now, I pray, that I will and am walking the talk. When the church has been persecuted it has always grown. I'm ready now. If necessary I am willing for my blood to be mingled with the blood of the martyrs throughout the ages. The church will grow.

original image source

The Purple Cow

For your enjoyment:

I never saw a Purple Cow
I never hope to see one,
But I can tell you, anyhow,
I'd rather see than be one

by: Gelett Burgess


(A Parody of The Purple Cow)
I've never seen a purple cow
My eyes with tears are full
I've never seen a purple cow
And I'm a purple bull.

by: Anonymous


There are many other parodies of The Purple Cow including:

this one by O. Henry:

I never beat a rotten egg,
I never hope to beat one
But this you'll understand, I beg
I'd rather beat than eat one

and this one by Burgess himself:

Oh, yes I wrote the Purple Cow,
I'm sorry now I wrote it
But I can tell you anyhow,
I'll kill you if you quote it

Happy Groundhog Day!

We don't really go around wishing people "Happy Groundhog Day," but it is still a very American tradition. So why do we have Groundhog Day? Since I was curious myself I did a little research. I found that: 

The Groundhog Day came into being in North America during the late 1800s. Thanks to the combined effort of Clymer H. Freas, a newspaper editor, and W. Smith, an American Congressman and newspaper publisher. They organized and popularized a yearly festival in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the State was populated predominantly by German settlers. The festival featured a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil which used to foretell how long the winter would last. This very popular event is still being held and is called Groundhog Day.

I also found that 90% of the time Punxsutawney Phil (the groundhog who makes the prediction) sees his shadow.

This website has some interesting facts about Groundhog day.
Punxsutawney Phil's whole name is: Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary. Not bad for a groundhog that works one day a year.

Phil's official forecast this year:

El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west.
Here in the East with much mild winter weather we have been blessed.

Global warming has caused a great debate.
This mild winter makes it seem just great.

On this Groundhog Day we think of one thing.
Will we have winter or will we have spring?

On Gobbler's Knob I see no shadow today.
I predict that early spring is on the way.

Here is a brief history on Groundhog Day.
Now you know about the American tradition of Groundhog Day.

On Time-Saving Machines

I shall endeavor to write on time-saving machines, particularly on the washing machine, the dryer, and the dish washer. All of these were invented under the guise of saving time. No longer would you have to take time to hand wash or dry your dishes or clothes. This would free you up to spend more time relaxing. The catch? Oh yes, you must pay for these time-saving devices, and, unfortunately for you, this means working longer hours for otherwise you could not afford to pay to save time. Oh the absurdity of it all! But they sold - all of them, in fact they are now considered essential for most Americans, and I daresay, most of the rest of the world. I have a new proposition: work less hours, don't buy these machines. I daresay many people would end up with more family time or quality time in general. I doubt many people will give the proposal a try, though. Why not, you ask? Ask yourself the same question, I surmise the answer, in effect, to be "Why, I do not have the time!"

original image source