Monday

Suspicious minds

I had to get some groceries and heard Elvis singing, "suspicious minds". I rocked and rolled down the aisles ejoying the delightful melody and the rhythm of his music, but then got to thinking about the lyrics.

We're caught in a trap, I can't walk out, because I love you too much baby
Why can't you see, what you're doing to me, when you don't believe a word I say?
We can't go on together, with suspicious minds
And we can't build our dreams, on suspicious minds

The devil's in the duck

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm. He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods. He practiced and he practiced, but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch the next day Grandma said, "Sally, let's wash the dishes." But Sally said, "Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen." Then she whispered to him,

Wednesday

The prayer that shocked the world

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance.

Waking up in Vegas

Katy Perry popularised the catchy song, but until recently that's all it was. Then I saw the video version and realised that it carried a powerful message. Her Vegas setting is an allegory for our dreamscapes and illusions, the utopian places where all our dreams can be fulfilled and where we all live happily ever after.

Our beautiful young singer goes to Vegas with an actor who is renowned for his dodgy roles - he is far from good looking, unkempt and beneath her. Yet in her illusionary state all is forgiven and they enjoy abandoned love as they soak up all the allures of Vegas.

Tuesday

Fallen

One of my favorite singers is Sarah McClachlin, who must have one of the purest voices I have heard. She sings a haunting ballad, called Fallen, which has such powerful lyrics. For those in great crisis, she sings words of hope ....

Heaven bent to take my hand - and lead me through the fire
Be the long awaited answer - To a long and painful fight


She also reflects such honesty in her crisis ...

Truth be told I've tried my best - but somewhere along the way ...
I got caught up in all there was to offer - and the cost was so much more than I could bear




Saturday

A miracle reunion



A couple set out to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, but the building was very run down. They set a goal to repair it in time for their first service on Christmas Eve and worked hard to repair pews, walls and the floors. They were ahead of schedule and almost done, when a two-day storm caused the roof to leak, causing a large area of plaster to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit.

The pastor cleaned up the mess and headed home. On the way he saw a local business was having a sale, so he stopped in and found a beautiful, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite workmanship, fine colors and a Cross embroidered right in the center. It was just the right size to cover the hole in the front wall.

He bought it and headed back to the church, but on the way he bumped into an older woman who was trying to catch a bus. She missed the bus, so the pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.