Monthly Archives: December 2007

Tonight I’m sitting with two friends for coffee.  One of them mentions a comedy sketch with Dean Martin and the lovable "drunk" Foster Brooks.  Foster is playing an airline pilot. 

So, at home I get on YouTube and watch the sketch.  Dean Martin can hardly stay away from laughing.  The absurdity of the situation, a drunk flying and airplane, is hilarious.   I try out another Foster Brooks video — not quite as funny and certainly not wholesome.  I guess not all comics are made equal.

One of the recommended comedic sketches on YouTube is "Who’s on First" with Abbott and Costello.  I’ve heard this a number of times.  Never seen it in video.  So my wife joins me and we laugh through the episode.  We remark at how adept one must be to keep up the patter of the sketch.  And we head to bed with just plain fun running like sugarplums through our minds!!

One task of the weekend was to record 33 Christmas carols.

I served as the technician, my wife as the musician.  The computer actually worked fairly well — once or twice my CD mastering program spazed out (great 1970’s word!).  Other than that, the CD’s are on their way.

A few years ago a lady had asked us to prepare a CD with songs that a church could sing to (the preposition is on in the position because I couldn’t find another position for it to be at).  The church is a true community church in a resort village.  Perhaps these types of churches are the ones we should investigate when we talk about not having denominations anymore!

Over some of the Christmas season there may be no pianist at this church.   And February also looks sparse.  So we are now preparing to create another CD of regular hymns.

Which reminds me that worship services are not based on having great musicians — although that doesn’t hurt.  Worship is about people and God, not how good I can appear to God!

I’ve known all three!

And as much as a good joke can lighten the day, I’m inclined to think a good stroke of encouragement is much better.  Some might even call it a stroke of luck.

This past week a relative quit her teaching job.  She is conscientious, and was told so, AFTER she quit.  She was an excellent teacher and was told so, AFTER she quit.

Would words of encouragement have helped?  Perhaps.  There is always that intangible sense of not being in the right place.  You can’t make someone "not quit" just by words of encouragement — but you can sure go a long way.

I’m not always good at encouraging others. 

I’ll take that as a word of encouragement to get encouraging others. 

And might I also encourage you — get out there and encourage, encourage, encourage!

Always glad to find people who are writing.  You will notice that consistent blog writers are decreasing.  Where many blog writers wrote for social interaction, now with such things as Facebook they can fulfil that communication need.  But we still need those who will write as a service to us!

Carolyn Carelton has written a new book you can find on her website.  Alright!! 

Carolyn was our youth pastor’s wife when our daughter was going through high school.  She still keeps track with her.  When we as parents were shut out, Carolyn heard and supported our daughter.  We are thankful!!

When you check out her website (www.cjcarleton.com) you’ll find her interest is working with / mentoring young women.  She is honest and straightforward — in a way that allows people to know they can’t get away with something, while at the same time knowing that anything they say will lead to a deeper relationship and support!

Now, I’m just waiting to see if she’ll send me a copy of her book, free of charge for the advertizing!!