The Checkout Line

The next time you're in a checkout line at the supermarket, "checkout" the products for sale while you wait. Imagine you're an alien and do a study of the products you see. Ask yourself what does this say about our culture. Believe me, this is studied. For instance, the average time spent in a checkout line is 7 minutes. 70% are women who are waiting in line. Here's what I see...
*women's magazines that focus on beauty and sex and more sex, can't get enough sex
*articles to tell you how to lose weight
*pop, candy, chips, crackers, etc, that will defeat your quest to lose weight
*the latest gossip about famous personalities
*how to make your first million
It's all there for your convenience to instantly buy. Unfortunately I think this subconsciously makes us believe that we can buy the good life. It makes us consumers of everything we experience. What' real life? Jesus tells us that life is found in Him. We are to feast upon Him like bread and water. Jesus is the Giver of life abundant. So the next time you're at the supermarket, remember where true life is found. It's not in the latest issue of Cosmopolitan.
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

:-)

Professor Scott Fahlman says he was the first to use :-) at 11:43 am. on September 19th, 1982. It was the first contribution to the electronic lexicon. It involves three keystrokes - a colon followed by a hyphen and a parenthesis - to from a horizontal smiley face in a computer message. It was used by Prof Scott, to denote comments meant to be taken lightly. Other symbols have followed since :-) was first used 25 years ago today.
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train" :-)

Wash Up

The results are in from the latest Hand Washing Survey released Monday in Chicago by the American Society for Microbiology. The survey found while 89% of men in a telephone poll claimed to wash their hands every time they use a public restroom, only 66% were seen doing so. 96% of women claimed to wash their hands in public restrooms and 88% were seen doing so. I always wondered why that guy was sitting in the corner of the restroom with pad and pencil.
So the next time you shake hands with a guy you might just want to wash up your hands. Dirty hands spread germs. Don't want to get sick? Wash your hands for 15 seconds with hot, soapy water and you'll go a long way in preventing colds. Excuse me while I wash my hands after touching this keyboard. Who knows who's touched it last.
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

We Will Clean the Stadium

Sunday morning the Penn State Nittany Lion's football team put on yellow gloves and began picking up the trash from Saturday's game at Beaver Stadium. The stands are littered with nacho cheese, peanut shells, and chewing tobacco. Is this a community service project? Not really. The trash duty happens early every Sunday morning after a home game because in the spring, 12 football players invaded an off campus party where a fight broke out. 80 year old coach Joe Paterno gave the team a collective punishment. "We're all in this together," said Paterno. "It was a team embarrassment. I think we need to prove to people that we're not a bunch of hoodlums." This week the Nittany Lions invade the Big House. My hope is the Wolverines beat PSU. Then Papa Joe can keep his team around to clean up after a crowd that will be the largest to watch a Saturday college football game. "Pass me some yellow gloves please."
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

Make a Baby. Win a car

It's Conception Day in Ulyanovsk, Russia. Governor Sergei Morozov has declared September 12th a "Day of Conception." Couples may have time off from work to procreate. Couples who give birth nine months later on June 12th - Russia's National Day - will receive money, cars, refrigerators, and other prizes. It's the third year for the contest and the number of women signing up has risen every year. The contest is held because of the dwindling birth rate, low life expectancy, and emigration. If you don't win the car at least you had fun trying.
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

$41.67 for a Cup of Coffee

You thought drinks were expensive at Starbucks? Australia's Heritage Tea Room offers a cup of joe for $41.67! That's because this brew comes from the droppings of the civet cat after it eats the bean. Talk about dirty jobs. "I'm going to work to pick little beans out of cat poop." Not only that, but people will drink it after it's been brewed. What about you? Would you drink a cup of this coffee if someone bought it for you?
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

Michael Vick and Jesus

It's been reported on television news channels and in weekly magazines that Michael Vick has found Jesus. Michael Vick is the outstanding quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. In the summer before the NFL preseason began, Michael Vick was accused and then plead guilty to running a dogfighting ring. This is an illegal activity and Mr. Vick was said to even kill dogs that weren't performing in the ring. The NFL has suspended the QB from playing and he'll no doubt face time behind bars. Instead of wearing a Falcon uniform, Michael will be sporting prison garb. This week, Michael Vick has stated, "Through this sitiuation, I found Jesus." My prayer is that he has. On the other hand, is this a way to deflect some of the criticism piled upon him? Let's give Michael some time to see where this relationship with Jesus goes. After all, Jesus said ,"By their fruits you will know them." Will we see him with a football in one hand and a Bible in the other?
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"

World Influencers

USA Today in celebration of their 25th anniversary, posted who they think are the top 25 influential shakers and makers of the world in the past 25 years. Here's the people who captured my attention...
#1 - Bill Gates. His Microsoft software has shaped the way millions use computer technology. He is the richest man in the world.
#2 - Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of USA (1980 and 1984). His policies helped bring an end to the Cold War.
#3 - Oprah Winfrey, talk show host. Millions listen, watch, and are influenced by her show.
#6 - Osama Bin Laden, terrorist. Mastermind behind 9/11. Is he dead or alive?
#12 and #13 - Sergey Brin and Larry Page. In 1995 while doctoral students at Stanford, they devised a way to organize information on the Internet. You know this as Google, the most used search engine on the Internet.
#15 - Sam Walton, the founder of the world's biggest retailer. I'm going to Sam's today!
#18 - Howard Schultz, a poor kid from Brooklyn who decided to start espresso bars like the ones in Italy. We know them as Starbucks. Got $5 bucks?
#25 - Homer Simpson. Represents the core of modern American humor.
Get a USA Today or look at it online to see who else made the top 25 list.
In the meantime, who's made an impact in your world? A parent? A teacher? Someone at church? A coach? Why not give them a thanks for helping to shape who you are.
These are the days my friend,
Jim "Train"