Thoughts to Live By

God did not create the Universe with a wave of his magic wand as Intelligent Design would have you believe.

Profanity

"Profanity is the attempt of a lazy and feeble mind to express itself forcefully."

"Profanity is the effort of a feeble mind to express itself forcefully."

"Profanity is the use of strong words by weak people."

"Profanity is a crutch for the conversationally handicapped."

"When a man uses profanity to support an argument, it indicates that either the man or the argument is weak - probably both."

"Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer."

~ Mark Twain

Under certain circumstances, urgent circumstances, desperate circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer.

~ Mark Twain, a Biography

Is antifanity the opposite of profanity?

Since profanity is a profane language or behavior or a profane word or phrase, we see that profane comes from Latin profanus, meaning "outside the temple, not sacred."

It seems we have broadened the meaning to include vulgar words and phrases.

profanity

pro�fan�i�ty [ prō f�nnətee, prə f�nnətee ] (plural pro�fan�i�ties)

noun

1. profane language or behavior: language or behavior that shows disrespect for God, any deity, or religion

2. profane word or phrase: a word or phrase that shows disrespect for God, any deity, or religion

Good morning God, you have ushered in another day, untouched and freshly new, so hear I come to ask you God if you would renew me too. Forgive the many errors I made yesterday, and let me try again Dear God, to walk closer to thy way. But Father, I am well aware, I can't make it on my own, so take my hand and hold it tight, for I can't walk alone.

Unintelligent Design

To Mary Higby Schweitzer, trying to prove your religious beliefs through empirical evidence is absurd, if not sacrilegious. "If God is who He says He is, He doesn't need us to twist and contort scientific data, "she says. "The thing that's most important to God is our faith. Therefore, He's not going to allow Himself to be proven by scientific methodologies."

Schweitzer's Dangerous Discovery, pg 37, Discovery, April 2006

Never eat anything whose listed ingredients cover more than one-third of the package.

~ Joseph Leonard

What frightens me about America is how increasingly more puritan it becomes.

~ John Mayburn, Director

Agreement is not necessary - Thinking for one's self is.

Just follow where your eyes take you.

You're totally elitist. You feel like the unappreciated scholar � So you shit on the people who know less than you. Which is everybody.

Who You Are

After a time you sort of give up trying to escape who you are.

~ Stephen Frears, Director

39 Times

My problem. That I didn't have sense to do this before.
At least now I can sleep at night.
Did you ever ask yourself why I was around.
I do understand what you are going through.
I really care about you.

Addiction is...

Addiction is always knowing where my cigarettes are.
Addiction is showing up for a date high.
Addiction is missing my mother's birthday because I was high.
Addiction is taking naps in the car in the company parking lot because I was so tired I couldn't make it through the afternoon.
Addiction is not feeling myself until the third cup of coffee.

A visit to http://addictionis.org/ is time well spent.

"If God is your copilot, switch seats."

A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men.

~ Willy Wonka

The Roadside Story is one of my absolutely favorites.

Food for Thought

Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal - Eric Schlosser. According to Schlosser, "On any given day in the U.S. about one-quarter of the adult population visits a fast food restaurant." We spend more money annually on fast food than on new cars. One of eight people has worked at a McDonald's during his or her lifetime. McDonald's alone opens almost 2,000 new stores a year, he reports.

Wobe Is ...

Wobe (sounds like tub) is the excitement a couple feels in the beginning of a new relationship. The pleasure of meeting. The stimulation of good conversation. The delight of shared interests. The tickle of good laughs. The flutter of the first date. The thrill of being close. The tingle of a touch. The fire of a kiss.

~ Anthony Missico, Jr. Oct. 29, 1995

Recipe for a Happy New Year!

Take 12 fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly cleansed from all old memories of bitterness, anger and jealously.

Cut these months into 30 or 31 equal parts. (This batch will keep for one year. Do not attempt to make more than one batch at a time-many people spoil the entire lot this way.)

Prepare one day at a time as follows: Into each day, put 12 parts of faith, 11 of patience, 10 of courage, nine of work (some people omit this ingredient and spoil the flavor of the rest), eight of hope, seven of fidelity, six of open-mindedness, five of kindness, four of rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad-don't do it), three of prayer, two of meditation, and one of well-selected resolution.

Without stirring the pot, add a teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.

Pour love liberally into the whole, and mix with vim. Cook thoroughly in a fervent heat. Garnish with a few smiles and a sprig of joy; then serve with quietness, unselfishness, and cheerfulness-and a Happy New Year is a certainty.

Success

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

~ Ralph Waldo Emersion

Prayer for Mothers

"Oh God, I was so cross to the children today! Forgive me. I was discouraged and tired-and I took it out on them. Forgive my bad temper, my impatience and, most of all, my yelling. I am so ashamed as I think of it.

"I want to kneel down by each of their beds, wake them up and ask them to forgive me. But I can't.

"They wouldn't understand. I must go on living with the memory of this awful day, my unjust tirades.

"Hours later, I can still see the fear in their eyes as they scurried around, trying to appease me-thinking my anger and maniacal raving was their fault.

"Oh God, the pathetic helplessness of children! Their innocence before the awful monster-the enraged adult.

"And how forgiving they are, hugging me so fervently at bedtime, kissing me good night.

"All I can do is straighten a cover, touch a small head burrowed in a pillow and hope with all my heart that they will forgive me.

"Lord, in failing these little ones whom you have put in my keeping, I am failing you.

Please let your infinite patience and goodness replenish me for tomorrow.

Unplug Your Children

The average American child lives in a household with three televisions, two VCRs, three radios, two CD players, a video game system, and a computer.

Wired, August 2000, pp. 89-90

Maybe it is time you unplugged yourself and your children. Teach them how to live, not how to interact with a thing.

Where Are You?

Have you ever noticed that you don't know exactly where you are?

Can you tell me exactly where you are now?

I wish you...

Happiness............... Deep down within

Serenity.................. With each sunrise

Success................. In each facet of your life

Friends................... Close and caring

Love....................... That never ends

Knowledge.............. Of the grace and love of God

Special memories.... Of all the yesterdays

A bright today.......... With much to be thankful for

A path.................... That leads to beautiful tomorrows

Dreams................... That do their best to come true

And appreciation...... Of all the wonderful things about you!

Problems & Solutions

People prefer to stay with problems they understand rather than look for solutions they're uncomfortable with.

Cited in BITS & PIECES

The Solution

Two sons were left a large piece of property by their father. For months they fought over how the land should be divided. Finally, they brought their problem to their rabbi and asked him to solve it.

"Come back tomorrow," said the rabbi, "and we'll talk."

The next day the sons returned and the rabbi gave them his solution.

"Toss a coin," he said to one of the brothers. "You call it, heads or tails," he said to the other. "The one who wins the toss, divides the land."

"That's no solution," said one of the brothers. "We're right back where we started from."

"Not so," said the rabbi. "The one who wins the toss divides the land; but the other gets first choice."

Cited in The Best of BITS & PIECES

The Word

Did is a word of achievement,

Won't is a word of retreat,

Might is a word of bereavement,

Can't is a word of defeat,

Ought is a word of duty,

Try is a word each hour,

Will is a word of beauty,

But CAN is the word of power.

Cited in BITS & PIECES

Many Parents Are Weaning Babies Too Early

Many, many parents are weaning babies too early�and feeding them solid foods too early, we hear from pediatric dietitian Ann-Britt Murphy, RD. Solid foods should not be given to infants younger than four months old. When starting solid food: Give one to two teaspoons of rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. If the baby accepts this without signs of allergy�such as a rash, upset stomach or wheezing�pur�ed fruits and vegetables can be introduced one at a time. Potential problems when solid foods are started too early: Long-lasting allergies�patterns of overeating.

Ann-Britt Murphy, RD, dietitian at Debbie School, an early intervention program for children with developmental delays, department of pediatrics, University of Miami School of Medicine.

Bottom Line/Personal. (1997, October 1). Heard by our editors. Bottom Line/Personal, p. 5.

Kissing Can Be More Intimate Than Intercourse?

Kissing can be more intimate than intercourse? Many couples lose that intimacy - because they are so focused on intercourse or their busy lives - and no longer kiss � or they just give each other pecks on the cheeks or lips. Better: Remember the passion that kisses can bring. Set aside time for lengthy kissing sessions - and nothing else. Explore with your partner to find out what really turns on each of you. Practice several times per week. Make it as much fun and as playful as possible. If kissing is a turn-off for you, speak to your partner about ways to overcome your discomfort.

Dagmar O'Connor, PhD, psychologist and sex therapist in private practice in New York. She is author of How to Make Love to the Same Person for the Rest of Your Life and Still Love It, a book and video set from Dag Media Corporation, 800-520-5200. $80.95.

Bottom Line/Personal. (1997, October 1). Heard by our editors. Bottom Line/Personal, p. 5.

Listening to Children

Dr. Alvin Rosenfeld

Help children deal with disasters by listening to their questions and providing them with reassurance suited to their ages.

The Oklahoma City bombing led many children who watched TV news reports to fear going out or to believe their homes and neighborhoods were unsafe. The Gulf War upset children by bringing pictures of dead and dying people into their homes night after night, giving them visual experiences with which they were too young to deal.

Useful: Keep kids informed. Tell them in age-appropriate terms what is going on in the world. Let them ask all the questions they want. Try to stay calm when answering - children look to adults for cues on how to react.

Explain that the news exaggerates disaster by repeatedly showing the same event even though it only happened once � and that despite what they saw on the news, they are safe at home and in their community.

Alvin Rosenfeld, MD, is a New York psychiatrist and co-author, with Bruno Bettelheim, of The Art of the Obvious. Knopf, $23.

Bottom Line/Personal. (1997, October 1). Heard by our editors. Bottom Line/Personal, p. 5.

Train Kids to Yell and Keep Yelling

Train kids to yell - and keep yelling - if anyone ever tries to grab them. Without practice, they may be too scared to yell loudly. Practice descriptive statements such as I need help � This is not my father � or I'm being kidnapped. If your children resist yelling because they feel embarrassed, explain that it is much more important to save themselves than to worry about embarrassment.

Not My Child! 30 Simple Ways to Help Prevent Your Child from Becoming Lost, Missing, Abducted or Abused by Jan Wagner, founder of Safe-T-Child in Austin. Yellow Dino Publishing, $11.95.

Bottom Line/Personal. (1997, October 1). Heard by our editors. Bottom Line/Personal, p. 5.