3 types of people

One thing I have learned, among many, in working with people. It is easy to generalize, but I want to bring to your attention at least 3 diverse talents. I am not sure that I have ever seen 2 of the 3 in any one person.

Type 1 - the creative person. This person can visualize things that absolutely do not exist. It is often difficult for these persons to communicate theirs ideas to others and they rarely have the talent and/or desire to actually complete their creation. Many time they start the creation, but leave it before it is completed.

Type 2 - the problem solver. This person can take an incomplete product, perhaps one started by the Type 1 person, and "fix" it. That might include making a computer program run better, or an office to operate more efficiently. Once the "problem" is fixed, they are ready to move on to the next issue.

Type 3 - the maintainer. This person is never creative, and really is not very interested in fixing anything since "it should work" already. They do not like change. They make very good long time managers or assistants because they like routine and are never bored by it. They are, however, threatened by creative types and gladly yield problems over to the Type 2 person.

Isn't it wonderful that God put these skills into different persons?

Ideas for Helping the Sick

Having just finished my chemo and radiation treatments, and looking back on the past year, an article from a Guide to Chemo booklet caught my eye and I thought I would share it with you.

Most people ask, sometimes only to themselves, "What can I do to help?" when someone they know is going through a difficult physical challenge. This booklet listing a few things to consider.

1. Look after my kids
2. Help with my parents
3. Listen (very important!)
4. Keep me company (very important!)
5. Help with rides to and from the doctor (I appreciated those who did this)
6. Do laundry
7. Provide meals (I appreciated them)
8. Mow the lawn
9. Take a walk with me
10. Help me organize my bills

When asked, most people will honestly respond that they have no idea. My suggestion to you is - don't ask - just show up (call first to make sure the timing is good) and do it. Whatever you do will be appreciated.

Warner Press - Christian Art Greeting Card

I received a card from the Fellowship Church of God in Oklahoma City this past week. I thought so much of the verse that I wanted to share it with you.

What Cancer Cannot do

Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple Love. It cannot shatter Hope.
It cannot corrode Faith. It cannot destroy Peace.
It cannot kill Friendship. It cannot suppress Memories.
It cannot silence Courage. It cannot invade the Soul.
It cannot steal Eternal Life. It cannot conquer the Spirit.

Author Unknown.

God sees your struggles.
God feels your tears.
God holds your hand.
May you find comfort in knowing you are never alone.

Stephen Randall in the LA Times quote

"We live in an era in which it is important to have opinions. Not necessarily smart or original ones; almost any opinion will do as long as it's forcefully expressed. We post them on Facebook; we tweet them; we express them in comments on Huffington Post. It wasn't that long ago that opinions were something carefully considered and weighed, so that they'd stand the test of time and reflect well on the author. Thinkers were like gourmet chefs laboring over an elaborate meal they wanted to be perfect. But today, opinions are like Big Macs - thrown together hastily, served by the billions, and not very good for you."

Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 22:17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, And apply your heart to my knowledge;

Lessons from Noah's Ark

Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark.

ONE: Don't miss the boat.
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat!
THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
SIX: Build your future on high ground.
SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile.
TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
ELEVEN: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

Nothing says "Love" like a child

Touching words from the mouth of babes. A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4 to 8 year-olds, 'What does love mean?' The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. See what you think:
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'Love is what makes you smile when you're tired.' Terri - age 4
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'Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.' Danny - age 7
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'Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss' Emily - age 8
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'If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,' Nikka - age 6 (we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
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'Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.' Noelle - age 7
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'Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends
even after they know each other so well.' Tommy - age 6
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'During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore.' Cindy - age 8
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'My mommy loves me more than anybody You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.' Clare - age 6
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'Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.' Elaine-age 5
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'Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.' Chris - age 7
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'Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.'
Mary Ann - age 4
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'When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.' (what an image) Karen - age 7
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'You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it,
you should say it a lot. People forget.' Jessica - age 8
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And the final one -- Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once talked about a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child. The winner was a four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife.

Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said,
'Nothing, I just helped him cry'

Matthew 18:
2 Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them,
3 and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
4 "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 "Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

Mark 9:
36 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,
37 "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."

Ten Commandments - Simplified

Some people have trouble with all those 'shall's' and 'shall not's' in the Ten Commandments. In Southeastern Missouri they translated the 'King James' into 'Butler County' language.

(1) Just one God
(2) Put nothin' before God
(3) Watch yer mouth
(4) Git yourself to Sabbath meetin'
(5) Honor yer Ma & Pa
(6) No killin'
(7) No foolin' around with another fellow's gal.
(8) Don't take what ain't yers
(9) No tellin' tales or gossipin'
(10) Don't be hankerin' for yer buddy's stuff


That's it, plain an' simple.