What Lucy Did for Black Friday

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This is what Lucy did all day for Black Friday. Maybe not in this spot or in this exact position, but you get the idea. She took one mega-marathon nap.

She avoided the early crowds and the traffic. She stayed away from the madness. And she didn’t miss a thing (or at least that’s the impression I got from the serene look on her face).

Maybe cats (and dogs) are smarter than people after all.

PS For more exciting adventures of Lucy (or more realistically to see more photos of her sleeping, go to (and like) https://www.facebook.com/LucyTheWonderCat

Thanksgiving Once More

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Thanksgiving feels a lot like the red-headed stepchild of holidays lately, don’t you think? It seems that in the retail world, most jump from Halloween directly into tinsel and mistletoe and everything Christmas. You don’t really see much in the way of Thanksgiving decorations and there’s one lone television special dedicated to this holiday (at least that I’m aware of). And there aren’t too many artists jumping on the Thanksgiving album bandwagon lately.

But Thanksgiving has never really been about crazy shopping or spending lots of money. I’ve always thought of it as a quiet sort of holiday without the need of commercialism or promotion. To me it’s been about good food and good times with family around the table. It’s been about setting aside one day in the year to reflect back on the blessings and plenty that we’ve received and to be grateful and thankful for it.

I know when I honestly assess my own life, I have much to be thankful for. Sure, I don’t have everything I want. But I have everything I need and then some.

I heard once that if all God did for me was save me and that was all, I’d still owe him an eternity of praise. Even if he never gave me one more blessing or gift beyond that, I’d run out of time before I gave him the thanks he was due.

But God has done so much more than that. He woke me up again this morning. He let me enjoy the day with good health and the freedom to express my faith as I see fit and to live my life as I choose. He has even allowed me to make the dumb choices and reminded me that those mistakes aren’t the end of the world and those failures aren’t what really define me at the end of the day. His love for me does.

So I’m thankful. I may be like a broken record when I say that I’m thankful for all of you who read this little blog, but I say it anyway. I hope each of you have plenty to be thankful for. I pray God reminds you of all the blessings, great and small, that you have received.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I Made This!

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I made a pumpkin hazelnut cheesecake today.

Normally, I am not a culinary-type. I enjoy good food, but I am normally not a fan of creating new good foods. I’d rather eat someone else’s cooking for the most part.

But I got wild and daring. I found a recipe for pumpkin hazelnut cheesecake online and said to myself (not out loud), “What the heck? Why not?” Even when the recipe called for hazelnut flour, which I was unaware even existed until I saw it in bold letters on the printout.

So I followed the recipe to the letter, step by step, hoping I wouldn’t blow up the kitchen or inadvertently create a new life form out of the ingredients.

It is a good feeling knowing that you have created something. Whether it’s a song or a poem or a book or a photo, it’s an amazing rush knowing that you have put something new out into the universe.

I think that when God made us, he didn’t marvel at his own creative skills. He didn’t prance about the garden of Eden yelling how awesome a job he did. He simply said, “This is very good.”

Get that? He said that YOU are very good. Not because you pull $1 million a year or because you’re in the 100 most beautiful people list. Simply because God made you and liked what he saw.

OK, I’m not sure how I got from cheesecake to theology, but roll with it. Remember that whatever anybody else says about you or how they assess your worth, God has already rated you “very good,” and that is ultimately the only opinion that really matters.

So, enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner. Eat lots of turkey (or tofurkey or chicken or tofu or whatever makes you happy). Get that second helping of dessert. Heck, try ’em all. Holiday calories don’t count (or at least I read that on the internet, so it’s got to be true).

And remember you are precious and unique and chosen by God himself.

Reminders for the Road

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“Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones (His own picked representatives), [who are] purified and holy and well-beloved [by God Himself, by putting on behavior marked by] tenderhearted pity and mercy, kind feeling, a lowly opinion of yourselves, gentle ways, [and] patience [which is tireless and long-suffering, and has the power to endure whatever comes, with good temper]. Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]. And above all these [put on] love and enfold yourselves with the bond of perfectness [which binds everything together completely in ideal harmony]. And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].” (Colossians 3:12-15)

Tomorrow, you’re preparing to set out for home for Thanksgiving. Maybe you’re driving across the country or maybe it’s just across town. Maybe it’s a trip back in time, because you know the minute you walk through that door, you’re 10-years old again, not sure what to say or how to act.

Here’s a hint. Along with that extra serving of turkey and dressing, try a side of grace. Remember that you are just as broken spiritually as the other person. Remember you needed the forgiveness of Christ just as much as he or she did.

Take the initiative in granting forgiveness. You’re releasing the other person from the expectation that he or she can fix what he or she did wrong. You not only free that person, you free yourself. You never know when it’s you who will be needing forgiveness.

Remember that the only person you have to please at the end of the day is God. His opinion is the only one that really matters. Because he’s the only one who really knows you inside and out.

This feels like a repeat from something I wrote a couple of days ago, but sometimes we need to be reminded more than once. I know I do.

Above all, enjoy the time for what it is, not for what you wish it could be. Accept that your family is just as weird as you are and you will get along a lot better.

Most of all, learn in all things to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and thanksgiving. Find at least one thing about every person at the dinner table to be thankful for, even in yourself.

Happy Turkey Day!

Old Christmas Movies

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One of the reasons I love this time of year (and there are many) is that I get to pull out my epic collection of Christmas movies and watch all my favorites again. Especially the old ones (meaning those made before I was born).

Don’t get me wrong. I’m a fan of the more recent holiday flicks, too. I love Home Alone, Scrooged, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, and even the 90’s remake of Miracle on 34th Street.

But my heart truly belongs to the classics.

It’s not Christmas without seeing old films like The Bells of St. Mary’s or The Bishop’s Wife. I can’t really get into the festive mood of the season until I’ve seen White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life. Not forgetting lesser-known (but equally classic) movies like Christmas in Connecticut, A Holiday Affair, Holiday Inn, Remember the Night, and A Christmas Carol (any of the older ones are good, but I recommend the 1951 Alistair Sims version).

Maybe I like all these old movies because Christmas makes me nostalgic. I start missing my childhood and the people that I loved that are now gone. I miss the unadulterated excitement that Christmas brought that made me unable to sleep on Christmas Eve.

I know that the proper etiquette is to wait until Thanksgiving to start watching Christmas movies, but I say to that, “Balderdash!” I’m not waiting. Besides, that’s probably not even a real rule, just something I made up.

What old Christmas movies do you watch every year? And by old, I mean pre-1970. I discovered a couple of gems last year for the first time in Come to the Stable and It Happened on 5th Avenue, and I’m always looking for a good holiday classic.

So send me your recommendations. Email me at GMendel72@united.net or find me on facebook or send up smoke signals. Whatever works for you. Just let me know, ’cause enquiring minds want to know.

 

Why I Am Not a Professional Card Player

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I have finally come to the realization. I will never be one of those guys on ESPN making the big bucks playing poker. I will retain my amateur status as a nertz card game player.

What is nertz? Suffice to say that it is an insanely fast card game that requires fast reflexes. And a bit of a killer instinct. Both of which are sadly lacking in my case.

Tonight, I finished in 4th place. Out of 4 players. I don’t think even cheating would have helped me in this game. There were times when I ended up with more cards than I started out with, even though I’m sure that’s mathematically impossible.

Too bad there’s not professional freecell. I’m much better at that game, mostly because I’m the only one playing and it requires no dexterity or quick thinking or killer instinct.

Maybe if I started snacking on Ruffles potato chips with ranch dip, I’d do better. On second thought . . . . nah.

 

That’s Why They Play the Game

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I’m not the biggest football fan in the world. I like it and all, but I don’t watch every game and I’m not glued to the couch in front of a television on Saturdays.

But I saw today where #1 Kansas State and #2 Oregon lost, throwing the BCS into the usual headache-inducing chaos and turmoil. On paper, Kansas State was the clear favorite to beat Baylor, but on the field, Baylor won. That’s why they play the game.

There’s such a life lesson there. On paper, it may look like you have no shot. Your situation may seem so hopeless that it’s almost like you’re the ultimate underdog facing the powerhouse champions. But still the key is to show up.

But if you show up with expectations that God will act, there’s no telling what could happen. I’m not saying if you believe hard enough, $1 million will fall in your lap, but I do think that God honors those who seek him and his will.

The advice may not be new and it may seem trite, but it’s true: don’t give up. Don’t quit. God is faithful to keep his promises, no matter what. That’s something I’ve been reminded of lately when I myself was tempted to throw in the towel and give up.

On a side note, today is a good reminder of why my hope is not in a football team. Or basketball team. Or any other kind of sports team. On any given day, any good team can lose and any not-so-good team can find a way to win. If I lived and died by a particular college or pro team, I’d be majorly disappointed. Plus, if I were a betting man, I’d be flat broke.

But my hope is on the winning side (and if you need proof, read the last chapter of Revelation).

An Ode to the Last Twinkie on Earth

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If you skim the headlines, you may get the impression that the twinkie, that perfect little concoction from Hostess with no actual food ingredients, is going away forever. You might be one of those who are hoarding up on the tasty little snacks in anticipation of the demise of Hostess and the inevitable zombie apocalypse.

I myself bought two boxes.

But before you give in to despair, read a little closer. Twinkies aren’t going away. In all likelihood, some other company will buy the rights to the brand and start making their own twinkies. And they will be just as bad for you and just as loaded with preservatives and ingredients that you can’t possibly pronounce as the current incarnation. And they will be just as tasty.

If, God forbid, twinkies should cease to exist, then the unthinkable might actually happen. No, I don’t mean an invasion by zombies or a crisis of cataclysmic and global proportions. I mean you and I might just have to start eating healthy. Egads.

What to Wear This Holiday Season

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“So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it” (Col. 3:12-14, The Message).

No, this is not a fashion blog. It’s more of an attitude-adjustment kind of blog.

The holiday season is vast approaching. Some are looking forward to traveling and seeing relatives, many of whom you only see on Thanksgiving and Christmas. Some are dreading the awkward conversations and the even more awkward silences that are just as much a part of the family tradition as stuffing your face with turkey and gathering around the TV for the ol’ football game.

Maybe this season, try something different. Put on compassion. Instead of being so exasperated with THAT relative who gets on your very last nerve, try to understand why he or she is that way. Maybe try to see things from his or her point of view.

Try grace. You know you’ve been obnoxious and annoying at times. You know you’ve put your foot in your mouth a time or two and said some things you’d prefer were never brought up again. Ever. So when someone else annoys or upsets you with an offhand comment that comes out wrong, be forgiving.

Try humility, remembering that the other person bears the image of God just as much as you do. Remember that you were just as much in need of forgiveness and grace as the other person.

If all else fails, eat as much turkey as possible. With all that tryptophan running through your system, you won’t care anymore what anybody says. Plus, you can’t really say anything stupid with your mouth full.

Not Original But A Good Reminder Still

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I know you’ve probably heard this used as an illustration in a sermon or a speech at some point in your life. I’ve heard it more than once, but it bears repeating because it is such a good and timely reminder.

Those who look for counterfeit bills don’t spend as much time studying the counterfeits as you might think. Why? Because they spend all their time studying the real bills, getting as familiar as possible with every little detail so that when a counterfeit comes along, they can instantly spot the differences.

The best way to spot false teaching is to know the truth. It’s to know the Bible. Not just carry it around or talk about it or read books about it. Not even just to read it. But to soak it in, to know it, to breathe it, to live it, so that it becomes such a part of you that you instantly recognize counterfeit teaching when you hear it.

Don’t just read words. Come to Scripture with a prayerful heart and a teachable spirit. Ask God to show you what he intended when he inspired the original authors. Pray for eyes to see the truth within, no matter how painful or uncomfortable. Then do what it says.

That’s my challenge to you. That’s my challenge to me because I frankly haven’t done a very good job of knowing the Bible I carry around. Because the Bible says false teachers will come and try to deceive you and lead you from the truth. They will say what sounds good to the ear, what feels good, and what maybe partially true. But in the end, it’s deception.

Deception leads to bondage. Only the truth, and knowing the truth, will set you free.