During the last couple of weeks we saw Adam Sandler on a SNL Highlight show singing the ‘Hanukkah Song. It’s a fun song that hopefully you have heard and here are the words including a brief introduction.
Intro: this is a song, that uh, there's a lot of xmas songs out there, but not too many about hanukkah, so I wrote a song for all those nice little jewish Kids who don't get to hear any hanukkah songs--here we go...
Put on your yalmulka, here comes hanukkah
Its so much fun-akkah to celebrate hanukkah,
Hanukkah is the festival of lights,
Instead of one day of presents, we have eight crazy nights.
When you feel like the only kid in town without a x-mas tree, here’s a list of People who are jewish, just like you and me:
David lee roth lights the menorrah,
So do james caan, kirk douglas, and the late dinah shore-ah
Guess who eats together at the karnickey deli,
Bowzer from sha-na-na, and arthur fonzerrelli.
Paul newmans half jewish; goldie hawns half too,
Put them together--what a fine lookin' jew!
You don't need deck the halls or jingle bell rock
Cause you can spin the dreidl with captain kirk and mr. spock--both jewish!
Put on your yalmulka, it's time for hanukkah,
The owner of the seattle super sonic-ahs celebrates hanukkah.
O.j. simpson-- not a jew!
But guess who is...hall of famer, rod carew--(he converted!)
We got ann landers and her sister dear abby,
Harrison fords a quarter jewish--not too shabby!
Some people think that ebeneezer scrooge is,
Well, he's not, but guess who is:all three stooges.
So many jews are in show biz--
Tom cruise isn¹t, but I heard his agent is.
Tell your friend veronica, it's time you celebrate hanukkah
I hope I get a harmonica, on this lovely, lovely hanukkah.
So drink your gin-and-tonic-ah, and smoke your mara-juanic-ah,
If you really, really wanna-kah, have a happy, happy, happy, happy Hanukkah! happy hanukka!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Problem Solver
‘…Whatever your job title is, your real job is problem solver. This is what you do all day long. Where there are no problems to be solved, there are no jobs. The bigger, the more difficult, more complicated, and more expensive the problems, the greater the opportunities there are for you to get paid more and promoted faster.
The highest paid people in every industry are the very best problem solvers in that industry. And remember, a goal unachieved is just a problem unsolved. Your job is to find ways up, over, around and through any obstacle or difficulty that is thrown in your path. Your ability to solve problems will determine your entire quality of life, both at home and at work.’
From: ‘Create Your Own Future’ by Brian Tracy
The highest paid people in every industry are the very best problem solvers in that industry. And remember, a goal unachieved is just a problem unsolved. Your job is to find ways up, over, around and through any obstacle or difficulty that is thrown in your path. Your ability to solve problems will determine your entire quality of life, both at home and at work.’
From: ‘Create Your Own Future’ by Brian Tracy
Monday, December 27, 2010
Which way do we go?
It’s time to decide. Which will it be?
‘Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point— a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory.’
Source: December 27 of ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers
‘Not often, but every once in a while, God brings us to a major turning point— a great crossroads in our life. From that point we either go toward a more and more slow, lazy, and useless Christian life, or we become more and more on fire, giving our utmost for His highest— our best for His glory.’
Source: December 27 of ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers
Saturday, December 25, 2010
What kind of letter would you hope to receive?
Below is an interesting letter to a Dad from his daughter reprinted from the 12/24/10 Wall Street Journal.
After reading this letter I wondered what type of letter would I hope to get from my son or my daughter when they turn 45. Hopefully it would deal with the things that we taught them that have benefited them in some way. I'm sure we may have messed up on some things and hope that the good outweighs the untaught or the overlooked.
You should know that we have not provided the type of education identified in the letter for our kids and we are not capable of fulfilling the requests that are made. Just think of the things that you can provide based on your income.
This letter identifies one type of giving and that is the giving of money or material things that most people desire. Things that they think will make their lives easier and more satisfying. Things that don't last.
The things that will most benefit our kids are the intangibles, like qualities of character for example, that last a lifetime and beyond.
‘All I Want for Christmas’
Dear Dad,
Can you believe your baby’s almost 45? I can’t believe how the years have flown. It’s all thanks to you. Putting me through Vanderbilt. Sending me to Harvard for an MBA. Buying me a starter home. And look at how it’s paid off, Dad – a great job, a fabulous husband, a lovely son…I’m all grow up! Anyway, here’s what I want from Santa this year.
A Car. I would visit more often if I had some modest conveyance to get to you, for example, a Starfire Pearl Lexus LXII with burled walnut interior accents and a rear-seat entertainment system. Call the Skokie dealership and ask for Patrick at extension 481. (Patrick is out of the office from December 23 – 28, but he said you could call his cell 847-555-4901.) I think I could even join you and Mom for Easter if I had a car! (If out of pearl, get onyx, not black.)
Timmy’s Tuition. Kindergarten costs more than it used to, Dad. You can’t give an enterprising boy a nickel and a stick of gum and then watch him build a multimillion dollar business, like you did. If kids today want to get ahead, they need a serious advantage, and trust me, $40,000 is well spent on giving Timmy that edge.
A Job for Richard. I don’t see why Santa can’t help my husband find a job in your company, Dad. I’ve asked for this Christmas gift before, but Santa didn’t hear me. No one is saying that Richard is the best personal-injury attorney in the world, but neither is he “negligent, obtuse and woefully unprepared” – I don’t care what Mom or the State of Pennsylvania has to say about it.
A Kitchen. I love to cook. But you try cooking for your family in a kitchen without Clive Christian cabinetry and granite counter tops. A new kitchen would motivate me. Just think of what you’d save on restaurants!
And Daddy, to start paying you back for all that you have done for us, I want to invite you and Mom over for Christmas dinner. I should warn you that my culinary skills haven’t improved much since last Christmas – or “mouth Armageddon,” as you joked – so if you wan me to make a reservation at your club, just let me know!
Love,
Julie
After reading this letter I wondered what type of letter would I hope to get from my son or my daughter when they turn 45. Hopefully it would deal with the things that we taught them that have benefited them in some way. I'm sure we may have messed up on some things and hope that the good outweighs the untaught or the overlooked.
You should know that we have not provided the type of education identified in the letter for our kids and we are not capable of fulfilling the requests that are made. Just think of the things that you can provide based on your income.
This letter identifies one type of giving and that is the giving of money or material things that most people desire. Things that they think will make their lives easier and more satisfying. Things that don't last.
The things that will most benefit our kids are the intangibles, like qualities of character for example, that last a lifetime and beyond.
‘All I Want for Christmas’
Dear Dad,
Can you believe your baby’s almost 45? I can’t believe how the years have flown. It’s all thanks to you. Putting me through Vanderbilt. Sending me to Harvard for an MBA. Buying me a starter home. And look at how it’s paid off, Dad – a great job, a fabulous husband, a lovely son…I’m all grow up! Anyway, here’s what I want from Santa this year.
A Car. I would visit more often if I had some modest conveyance to get to you, for example, a Starfire Pearl Lexus LXII with burled walnut interior accents and a rear-seat entertainment system. Call the Skokie dealership and ask for Patrick at extension 481. (Patrick is out of the office from December 23 – 28, but he said you could call his cell 847-555-4901.) I think I could even join you and Mom for Easter if I had a car! (If out of pearl, get onyx, not black.)
Timmy’s Tuition. Kindergarten costs more than it used to, Dad. You can’t give an enterprising boy a nickel and a stick of gum and then watch him build a multimillion dollar business, like you did. If kids today want to get ahead, they need a serious advantage, and trust me, $40,000 is well spent on giving Timmy that edge.
A Job for Richard. I don’t see why Santa can’t help my husband find a job in your company, Dad. I’ve asked for this Christmas gift before, but Santa didn’t hear me. No one is saying that Richard is the best personal-injury attorney in the world, but neither is he “negligent, obtuse and woefully unprepared” – I don’t care what Mom or the State of Pennsylvania has to say about it.
A Kitchen. I love to cook. But you try cooking for your family in a kitchen without Clive Christian cabinetry and granite counter tops. A new kitchen would motivate me. Just think of what you’d save on restaurants!
And Daddy, to start paying you back for all that you have done for us, I want to invite you and Mom over for Christmas dinner. I should warn you that my culinary skills haven’t improved much since last Christmas – or “mouth Armageddon,” as you joked – so if you wan me to make a reservation at your club, just let me know!
Love,
Julie
Friday, December 24, 2010
It is hard being you
I think this line from the movie 'The Fighter' will bring clarity to a lot of people who have ever wondered why they either couldn't be or couldn't be like someone else.
‘You can’t be me! You have a hard enough time being you…’
‘You can’t be me! You have a hard enough time being you…’
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Thoughts lead to a destiny
I have seen the following phrase many times in the past and I believe it makes a lot of sense. It is a simple formula that will allow you to do new things or to change things you are currently doing.
I am not sure who to attribute it to but here it is:
Sew a thought, reap an action,
Sew an action, reap a habit,
Sew a habit, reap a character,
Sew a character, reap a destiny,
Here is my interpretation of what it means:
Your thoughts (positive or negative) can lead you to take an action. You have to make a decision to take a specific action.
Your choices will cause you to repeat actions and in the process develop habits. I have read that if you do something for 21 days straight you will develop a habit.
Your habits make your character. Think about the people you know with good character. What habits do they consistently exhibit? Honesty, integrity, dependability, timeliness, etc.
People know us by our character. A good character means we can have a good and positive influence in people’s lives. A bad character means we turn off the majority of people because of who we are and what we do.
Our character influences people and people will remember us by our character. This is our destiny.
The way we live now will determine our destiny unless we consciously make choices to make changes.
Are you happy with your destiny?
I am not sure who to attribute it to but here it is:
Sew a thought, reap an action,
Sew an action, reap a habit,
Sew a habit, reap a character,
Sew a character, reap a destiny,
Here is my interpretation of what it means:
Your thoughts (positive or negative) can lead you to take an action. You have to make a decision to take a specific action.
Your choices will cause you to repeat actions and in the process develop habits. I have read that if you do something for 21 days straight you will develop a habit.
Your habits make your character. Think about the people you know with good character. What habits do they consistently exhibit? Honesty, integrity, dependability, timeliness, etc.
People know us by our character. A good character means we can have a good and positive influence in people’s lives. A bad character means we turn off the majority of people because of who we are and what we do.
Our character influences people and people will remember us by our character. This is our destiny.
The way we live now will determine our destiny unless we consciously make choices to make changes.
Are you happy with your destiny?
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
To move beyond
The author or speaker from whom you learn the most is not the one who teaches you something you didn’t know before, but the one who helps you take a truth with which you have quietly struggled, give it expression and speak it clearly and boldly.
From December 15, in ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers
From December 15, in ‘My Utmost for His Highest’ by Oswald Chambers
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
A Pattern for Change
‘How to change things when change is hard’. This is the subtitle for the book 'Switch'
It seems like change is most always hard and that is probably why many people don’t like change.
I recently read this book on change by Chip and Dan Heath who became well known through their best selling book ‘Made to Stick’.
Their book ‘Switch’ …is a book to help you change things. [They] consider change at every level – individual, organizational and societal.
…all change efforts have something in common. For anything to change, someone has to act differently.
So there are hard changes and easy changes. What distinguishes one from the other? In this book we argue that successful changes share a common pattern. They require the leader of the change to ...consider a three part framework...that can guide you in any situation where you need to change behavior:
o To change someone’s behavior, you’ve got to change that person’s situation
o Change is hard because people wear themselves out. What looks like laziness is often exhaustion
o If you want people to change, you must provide crystal-clear direction
It seems like change is most always hard and that is probably why many people don’t like change.
I recently read this book on change by Chip and Dan Heath who became well known through their best selling book ‘Made to Stick’.
Their book ‘Switch’ …is a book to help you change things. [They] consider change at every level – individual, organizational and societal.
…all change efforts have something in common. For anything to change, someone has to act differently.
So there are hard changes and easy changes. What distinguishes one from the other? In this book we argue that successful changes share a common pattern. They require the leader of the change to ...consider a three part framework...that can guide you in any situation where you need to change behavior:
o To change someone’s behavior, you’ve got to change that person’s situation
o Change is hard because people wear themselves out. What looks like laziness is often exhaustion
o If you want people to change, you must provide crystal-clear direction
Good Information
For all of you leaders and would be leaders this book, ‘The Truth About Leadership’ written by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner, is very informative and interesting. Kouzes and Posner are the best selling authors of ‘The Leadership Challenge’ and several other books.
This is the index for the ‘The Truth About Leadership’:
o You make a difference
o Credibility is the foundation of Leadership
o Values drive commitment
o Focusing on the future sets leaders apart
o You can’t do it alone
o Trust rules
o Challenge is the crucible for greatness
o You either lead by example or you don’t lead at all
o The best leaders are the best learners
o Leadership is an affair of the heart
o Leaders say yes
This is the index for the ‘The Truth About Leadership’:
o You make a difference
o Credibility is the foundation of Leadership
o Values drive commitment
o Focusing on the future sets leaders apart
o You can’t do it alone
o Trust rules
o Challenge is the crucible for greatness
o You either lead by example or you don’t lead at all
o The best leaders are the best learners
o Leadership is an affair of the heart
o Leaders say yes
Monday, December 13, 2010
Impact of the Messenger
…If you are highly credible, people are much more likely to enlist in your campaign for the future. But if others don’t believe in you, then the message you are delivering about an uplifting and ennobling future rests on a weak and precarious foundation.
People may actually applaud your vision of the future but be unwilling to follow you in that direction. They may agree that what you are saying needs to be done, but they just won’t have the faith and confidence that you are the one to lead them there.
We refer to this principle as The Kouzes-Posner First Law of Leadership: ‘If you don’t believe in the messenger, you won’t believe in the message’.
Source: The Truth About Leadership by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
People may actually applaud your vision of the future but be unwilling to follow you in that direction. They may agree that what you are saying needs to be done, but they just won’t have the faith and confidence that you are the one to lead them there.
We refer to this principle as The Kouzes-Posner First Law of Leadership: ‘If you don’t believe in the messenger, you won’t believe in the message’.
Source: The Truth About Leadership by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Ask Him to send you!
Below these comments is a post I made to my blog on 6/1/08 and titled ‘What I saw’ after a group of us from our church had come back from a trip to Juarez, Mexico. We are talking again this year about sending people, at their own expense, to Mexico, Haiti and Kenya as part of our church’s outreach efforts so I thought I would re-read this post.
The trip was an encouragement to me as I look back on it for many reasons. Will I ever do it again? I don’t know.
But if you are not sure about doing something like this perhaps my thoughts and observations may encourage you. I know it may not be the best time for you to do something like this for lots of reasons – finances, family situations, job problems, health, questions about your faith, concerns about your church, or whatever else there is.
Doing things for God requires stepping out on faith. If we all wait for conditions to be perfect before we do anything then not much will get done.
But most importantly God’s strength will allow you to do this and many other things. He will provide whatever is necessary for you. You need to provide the willingness and the desire to serve Him.
Be like Isaiah who said in Isaiah 6:8:
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Pray for God’s guidance and depend on Him and His strength and take the steps necessary to impact people for Him.
You can do this.
Just trust God.
Following is my 6/1/08 blog post:
The mother of the woman we built a house for in Juarez, Mexico, came over for the dedication of that house on a Wednesday evening. She lived next door and her grandson, Jonathan, who would be living in the new house with his mother, had helped us in building his mother’s house.
His grandmother was short, about four feet tall. Her skin was tanned, wrinkled and appeared leathery. She wore a scarf over her head and wore a long dress and she carried her Bible.
She smiled during the dedication service and read some scripture in Spanish when given the opportunity. At the end of the simple proceedings there were many hugs but more tears as the house was presented to the new owner.
I didn’t think much more about the grandmother as we went to the dedication of the second house just a few hundred yards up a dirt road where we encountered another family that was truly thankful. Again many hugs and more tears.
Thirty four of us had traveled from the Philadelphia area to El Paso, Texas, where we boarded four vans. In El Paso we had stayed in a church on Sunday, Thursday and Friday nights where we slept on the floor, on pews or on chairs.
On Monday morning we went to the offices of Casas por Cristo to meet up with our project managers, Scott and Jason. After we got some tools and made plans we added two pickup trucks to the caravan and headed to Juarez, Mexico. Juarez has had a lot of crime recently and the US State Department had issued a warning to Americans traveling there.
Casas has a fairly new community center they had built in the area where we would be working. We would be sleeping on the concrete floor of this center and making and cooking our food here from Monday to Thursday.
This area of Juarez is on top of an old dump with dirt roads, run down shacks, lots of stray dogs, empty plastic bags and plastic bottles everywhere and lots of dust. There were dust storms and hot sun every afternoon.
Interestingly there were used tires everywhere and many appeared on roofs apparently holding roof coverings secure.
Casas has been a presence in this area of one million plus people since 1993, I believe. They have had such a positive influence that whenever people, whether adults or children, saw our caravan they waved and smiled.
As we loaded into the four vans on Wednesday evening to leave the second dedication we drove down the road toward the first house we had built. Up to this time I had not been moved emotionally by this experience. I was glad that I came and glad that we could do a little to help these people in such difficult circumstances.
As we passed the first house we had built, I noticed the grandmother stepping into the doorway of her house next door. I watched her as she looked at our van and clapped her hands for us – she was applauding us. She then raised her right hand high over her head and gave us a thumbs up sign.
The only thing that came to my mind was ‘what you do for the least of these you do for me’. I know it isn’t the exact scripture but I think it captures the meaning. You can check it at Matthew 25:40.
For me that was the reason we had come.
The trip was an encouragement to me as I look back on it for many reasons. Will I ever do it again? I don’t know.
But if you are not sure about doing something like this perhaps my thoughts and observations may encourage you. I know it may not be the best time for you to do something like this for lots of reasons – finances, family situations, job problems, health, questions about your faith, concerns about your church, or whatever else there is.
Doing things for God requires stepping out on faith. If we all wait for conditions to be perfect before we do anything then not much will get done.
But most importantly God’s strength will allow you to do this and many other things. He will provide whatever is necessary for you. You need to provide the willingness and the desire to serve Him.
Be like Isaiah who said in Isaiah 6:8:
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying,
"Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
Pray for God’s guidance and depend on Him and His strength and take the steps necessary to impact people for Him.
You can do this.
Just trust God.
Following is my 6/1/08 blog post:
The mother of the woman we built a house for in Juarez, Mexico, came over for the dedication of that house on a Wednesday evening. She lived next door and her grandson, Jonathan, who would be living in the new house with his mother, had helped us in building his mother’s house.
His grandmother was short, about four feet tall. Her skin was tanned, wrinkled and appeared leathery. She wore a scarf over her head and wore a long dress and she carried her Bible.
She smiled during the dedication service and read some scripture in Spanish when given the opportunity. At the end of the simple proceedings there were many hugs but more tears as the house was presented to the new owner.
I didn’t think much more about the grandmother as we went to the dedication of the second house just a few hundred yards up a dirt road where we encountered another family that was truly thankful. Again many hugs and more tears.
Thirty four of us had traveled from the Philadelphia area to El Paso, Texas, where we boarded four vans. In El Paso we had stayed in a church on Sunday, Thursday and Friday nights where we slept on the floor, on pews or on chairs.
On Monday morning we went to the offices of Casas por Cristo to meet up with our project managers, Scott and Jason. After we got some tools and made plans we added two pickup trucks to the caravan and headed to Juarez, Mexico. Juarez has had a lot of crime recently and the US State Department had issued a warning to Americans traveling there.
Casas has a fairly new community center they had built in the area where we would be working. We would be sleeping on the concrete floor of this center and making and cooking our food here from Monday to Thursday.
This area of Juarez is on top of an old dump with dirt roads, run down shacks, lots of stray dogs, empty plastic bags and plastic bottles everywhere and lots of dust. There were dust storms and hot sun every afternoon.
Interestingly there were used tires everywhere and many appeared on roofs apparently holding roof coverings secure.
Casas has been a presence in this area of one million plus people since 1993, I believe. They have had such a positive influence that whenever people, whether adults or children, saw our caravan they waved and smiled.
As we loaded into the four vans on Wednesday evening to leave the second dedication we drove down the road toward the first house we had built. Up to this time I had not been moved emotionally by this experience. I was glad that I came and glad that we could do a little to help these people in such difficult circumstances.
As we passed the first house we had built, I noticed the grandmother stepping into the doorway of her house next door. I watched her as she looked at our van and clapped her hands for us – she was applauding us. She then raised her right hand high over her head and gave us a thumbs up sign.
The only thing that came to my mind was ‘what you do for the least of these you do for me’. I know it isn’t the exact scripture but I think it captures the meaning. You can check it at Matthew 25:40.
For me that was the reason we had come.
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