Not looking

Our Daily Bread
I like James Bond movies. One reason is the cool theme song for each move. A favorite is The Spy who Loved Me.  "I wasn't lookin', but somehow you found me..." Sounds like our journey with Christ, doesn't it?

There are so many speculations about why Jesus came to this earth over 2000 years ago. Just ask folks of different religions. All I know is that this single man has had more influence over our culture than any other that I know of! Even Justin Bieber!  ROFL

I like the suggestion in the devotional today that God sent Jesus to seek US. It was obvious that folks were not necessarily seeking God any longer. Lots of corruption in the temple. Lots of self-righteousness. Lots of folks doing whatever the heck they want. Hey, that sounds like us today!

God is seeking us. He wants to have a relationship with us. Let us respond with wonder, awe, love, and obedience. I guarantee you will live no ordinary life.  May the Lord be with us!

Foodie Friday
Review: 101 Beer Kitchen
I went to 101 Beer Kitchen on Sawmill Road last night to hang out with some work friends. The place was hopping for happy hour! The bar was packed so we got a table so we could talk and eat. The appetizers (tots, dip duo and pretzels) were a little overpriced for the amount of food you got, but they were presented nicely and tasted great.  I had the Mac and cheese with Andouille sausage for my meal. It was a large portion that I could not finish. There were a LOT of options on the beers and other drinks. Very impressive. I recommend the place, but don't be overwhelmed when your bill arrives!

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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns

Older

Our Daily Bread
Some friends of mine have a joke about becoming closer to God as we get older. They insist that it is because we are soooooo much closer to meeting Him face to face!  I need some new friends!  LOL

We can get into a "I am too old to do that" mode as we age. I have a birthday coming up in a few weeks. I feel this way briefly each year until I realize that God is still speaking to those that make themselves available at ANY age!

To turn a old commercial around: You are not getting older, you are getting closer to God!  May the Lord be with us!

Technology Thursday
Windows 10
Windows 10 was released yesterday, July 29. I have not seen the update yet on my Windows machine. I hope to get it in the next couple of days.  If you get a chance, do the upgrade!  It looks amazing!

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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns

Easy to judge

Our Daily Bread
I posted my opinion about why reality TV shows are so popular a few years ago. I will add some to that today. Folks like those shows so they can watch other folks whose lives suck more than their own! Today, I am adding: Also because it gives us an open invitation to judge those folks.  Wow, I never thought of it that way.

Take the show Hoarders. Aren't we judging those folks at least a little? Have we ever said a prayer for each one of those folks?

How about each and every day in our lives? What do we feel when we see someone who looks capable to work full-time using food stamps? Someone who looks healthy parking in a handicapped spot with their sticker in their window?

IMHO, these the "unknown sins" we pray about. It is human nature. God can help us love and develop HIS nature. May the Lord be with us!


Wellness Wednesday
Some nice nutrition articles today:

11 Healthy Desk-Drawer Snacks to Curb Afternoon Cravings

5 Foods That Are Hurting Your Brain

Hidden calorie bombs: 25 foods you didn't know are secretly fattening

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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns

Stubborn

Our Daily Bread
I had a friend that was even more stubborn than me. Yes, I admit it. I am a stubborn old bear about many things. I joked with him that God gave us this stubbornness to better live for him! No one or nothing was going to make us stray from the things that God has for us to do.

While stubbornness can usually be defined as "having or showing dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something, especially in spite of good arguments or reasons to do so" (Google), I disagree with the the statement in the devotional that stubbornness and obedience are two sides of the same coin.  The world around us gives us what they think are a lot of good reasons to NOT believe in God, NOT serve God, NOT love others and help others. We need to be stubborn in believing and living the two greatest commandments: Love God and love others!  May the Lord be with us!

Teaching Tuesday
As promised, here are the "Reengineering Strategies" from Mindless Eating by Brian Wansink.  If you want to know more, you will have to buy or check out the book!

1. Think 20 percent -- more or less

2. See all you eat

3. Be your own tablescaper

4. Make overeating a hassle, not a habit

5. Create distraction-free eating scripts

6. Create expectations that make you a better cook

7. Make comfort food more comforting

8. Crown yourself the official gatekeeper

9. Portion-size me

10. Mindlessly eat better


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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns

Troubleshooting

Our Daily Bread
One of my favorite parts of being a computer professional (or hobbyist) is troubleshooting computer problems. I like to think "I fix things".  LOL I seem to be good at it. Sometimes, not so much!  

I can be that way with my walk with God. Sometimes I see things that I need to fix. Sometimes, not so much!  I love the prayers we do at my church. They remind me each week that I have hidden sins. Sins that I may not consciously realize. There are things that I need to keep digging to find so I can give them all over to God. How about you? Are there "sins, known and unknown" or "sins done by me or on my behalf"? May the Lord be with us!

Movie Monday
I watched two Netflix movies this weekend. Didn't make it to the theaters. 

In the Electric Mist
This movie had John Goodman and Tommy Lee Jones. Pretty good flick, though it was very odd. The story line was TLJ playing a small parish cop in Louisiana where some gruesome murders occurred. If you have Netflix, check it out. I give it two bear paws.

Puncture Wound
This movie was about a PTSD soldier that got involved with the wrong guys. Well, the wrong guys got involved with the soldier and regretted it!  Lots of shooting and martial arts if you like that sort of thing. Dolf Lundgren plays the bad guy. I give it one bear paw.

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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns

Proverbs 17

Proverbs 17New International Version (NIV)

17 Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
    than a house full of feasting, with strife.

2 A prudent servant will rule over a disgraceful son
    and will share the inheritance as one of the family.

3 The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
    but the Lord tests the heart.

4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips;
    a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.

5 Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
    whoever gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.

6 Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
    and parents are the pride of their children.

7 Eloquent lips are unsuited to a godless fool—
    how much worse lying lips to a ruler!

8 A bribe is seen as a charm by the one who gives it;
    they think success will come at every turn.

9 Whoever would foster love covers over an offense,
    but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

10 A rebuke impresses a discerning person
    more than a hundred lashes a fool.

11 Evildoers foster rebellion against God;
    the messenger of death will be sent against them.

12 Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
    than a fool bent on folly.

13 Evil will never leave the house
    of one who pays back evil for good.

14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
    so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.

15 Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent—
    the Lord detests them both.

16 Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom,
    when they are not able to understand it?

17 A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

18 One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge
    and puts up security for a neighbor.

19 Whoever loves a quarrel loves sin;
    whoever builds a high gate invites destruction.

20 One whose heart is corrupt does not prosper;
    one whose tongue is perverse falls into trouble.

21 To have a fool for a child brings grief;
    there is no joy for the parent of a godless fool.

22 A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

23 The wicked accept bribes in secret
    to pervert the course of justice.

24 A discerning person keeps wisdom in view,
    but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth.

25 A foolish son brings grief to his father
    and bitterness to the mother who bore him.

26 If imposing a fine on the innocent is not good,
    surely to flog honest officials is not right.

27 The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint,
    and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,
    and discerning if they hold their tongues.

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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns

Out of proportion

Out of Proportion

I don't read the newspaper, but I read  several online news sources as well as listening to the news on my Amazon Echo. My opinion is that the media blows things out of proportion. Yikes! Some news outlets are worse than others.

I also noticed the "out of proportion" on social media. I have been on and off Facebook at least twice since 2007 because I don't like the way folks blow things out of proportion. The latest example is same-sex marriage. No, the world is not coming to an end. God is not going to judge the U.S. for this decision. There are other countries who made this decision years ago. They are still intact!  LOL

We, as Christians or Children or God or seekers or whatever you want to call us don't, in my opinion, blow the right things out of proportion. The My Utmost devotional today is about the Beatitudes. Check out this quote:

The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of rules and regulations— it is a picture of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His unhindered way with us. - Oswald Chambers

WOW! If we are going to blow something out of proportion, then let's start with letting the Holy Spirit having His unhindered way with us.  It's a very good place to start.

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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns

Courageous Christians

Our Daily Bread
There have been a myriad of Facebook posts and Twitter tweets about the gay marriage ruling last month. Many of my conservative Christian friends think of themselves as "courageous Christians" for standing against the ruling.  At first, I tried to duel with them on Facebook and then gave up. I started posting a prayer instead of trying to discuss.

I found this saying in today's devotional:
The voice of a courageous Christian is an echo of the voice of God.

I wish I found this one earlier!  Wow!  Can that be our guideline for our posts and tweets? How about every word that comes out of our mouths?  I know I need to work on that!  Let's be courageous about helping people, fighting injustice, and loving others. That is the voice of God!

Foodie Friday
I have seen several variations on this recipe the past two weeks. I decided to share this one. It is smaller than the others, so there isn't as much waste if I don't like it or if I mess it up!  I will let you know how it comes out.

Bacon Cheddar Potato Tart (Michael Smith)

About This Recipe
"This recipe is by a Canadian chef who I really like - Michael Smith. It contains only 3 ingredients (plus S & P!) and it's gorgeous to look at! Easy to make and would be great for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. It's not the healthiest thing to eat - it's just good ol' comfort food. It takes a long time to cook, so plan ahead. Enjoy!"

Ingredients
3 baking potatoes, sliced one quarter inch thick
1 lb bacon, thickly sliced
1 lb cheddar cheese, grated ( orange coloured)
salt and pepper

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
2. Line a 6-inch non-stick fry pan with bacon slices, arranging them in a radial pattern and starting with one end of bacon in the centre of the pan and the other end draped over the edge. When the entire surface of the pan has been covered, sprinkle with pepper and add a layer of sliced potatoes to cover the bottom. Sprinkle with grated cheese, salt and pepper and repeat layers until they are slightly above the top of the pan.
3. Fold the bacon, one slice at a time up and over the potato mound toward the centre. Carefully overlap each slice and repeat until the top is completely and neatly covered with bacon. Press down and cover with a lid.
4. Place tart on a baking sheet, which will catch any drips during cooking. Bake for 3 hours. It has to cook low and slow so the potatoes cook and the bacon doesn't burn. The lid will eventually come down and sit on the pan as the food cooks.
5. Turn pan over and invert tart onto a serving plate. Cut into 6 slices.

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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns

Self-made person

Our Daily Bread
There have been several movements in the past forty years to "Buy American". We see so much stuff manufactured in China and other countries, that we finally realized that buying American meant more Americans working. It is amazing what kind of power comes from recognizing the source of your belongings.

Our spiritual lives can be the same way. We can "trust God" instead of trusting ourselves. Being a self-made man or woman in the U.S. is a big deal. It seems to imply that you are down to earth because you didn't have anything handed to you. You got money the old-fashioned way - you earned it! (as the commercial used to say).

Being a God-made man or woman, not in the created sense, but in the sense of making your life a Godly one should be our goal. Bring God's will from heaven to earth. May the Lord be with us!

Technology Thursday
I bought an Amazon Echo several months ago. I was on Amazon's early adopter list and got an invitation to buy it. I got a great deal at $99.  It sells now, without an invitation, for $179.  Here is a description of the device.  Here are my thoughts after using it for several months.

Pros:
It is a very good Bluetooth speaker!  My thoughts were that I could use this device as a Bluetooth speaker if nothing else. d

When the speech pattern recognition works, it works very well. Amazon is refining the speech recognition in the Echo. They ask for feedback in their mobile app whenever you have issues with getting a command to work. Learning how to say something can be tricky with voice recognition. "Alexa" is getting better at understanding requests every day.

The look and quality of the device is cool. A black cylinder that is about 10" tall.

Amazon is constantly adding things the Echo can do, like the IFTTT functionality. I have not played with that much yet.

Cons
You can only name the device Alexa or Amazon. Other names could be much cooler (Has, Computer, etc.)

The wifi seems to be flaky at times. This device is completely driven by being online for the commands to work. I have had some issues with the wifi. Some of the issues my be my home network. I reworked that this week. I will see if it works better.

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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns

Share

Our Daily Bread
I have a joke with many of my friends, well, it is really a fairly common term now -- TMI. Too much information!  There is another version of it as well, but never mind.  I have been accused of TMI in my blog entry at times. Frankly, I would write this even if no one read it!

I think King David was the same way. He wrote psalms to express himself, in whatever mood or feelings he was experiencing. They helped him heal. They helped him grow. They helped strengthen his relationship with God. I don't know if he would have been embarrassed by how many people really read them over the centuries!

Find some way to share yourself with God and with others. I am very thankful for the friends I made in my EFM class, as well as those "pick up where you left off" friends. God works through so many people if we look for him. May the Lord be with us!

Wellness Wednesday
I thought this was a cool article. I hope you do, too.

The 14 best things you can do for your body

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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns

Be near

Our Daily Bread
Know what NFC is? Here is an explanation. In short, your NFC-enabled smart phone or tablet, which is most of the newer ones, can communicate with NFC devices such as pop machines, credit card terminals at the store, etc. It is very cool and very convenient most of the time. The problem is that many folks are afraid of that near field communication. People like me buy wallets to protect from NFC "sniffers" that will try to steal your info via this technology.  Yikes!  NFC has an emphasis on "near". It can't pay a bill two or a hundred miles away.

In my opinion, Christians should be willing to have their own NFC with other folks, especially ones that are hurting and alone. Yes, some of those folks will put up protection to ward off people that are trying to reach out to them. We still need to try (without being too much of a pain). Like the NFC technology, the emphasis is on "near".  Be near.

Teaching Tuesday
OK, I finally finished the Mindless Eating book (Brian Wansink, 2006)  The book had a LOT of great strategies for eating better. I will make time to write out some of them for next week. There are "Reengineering strategies" at the end of each chapter.  Frankly, the chapters got very boring with all of the studies he did to prove his points, that I only read the highlights and the reengineering strategies for the last few chapters.

The strategies not apply to single folks like me, but also the folks that are the "nutritional gatekeepers" for their families. These folks, usually the moms in our culture, guide how the family eats. Very interesting concept.  I am my own gatekeeper and I suck at it!  ;-(

Check out the book. It is probably at your local library.

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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns

Press on - Part Deux

Our Daily Bread
I am fortunate to have lived and prospered through many health issues in my life. I still have lingering effects from those issues. I have to take several meds per day. It doesn't help that I have been overweight most of my life. I have a hard time losing  weight and keeping it off. I really have no excuses. I need to eat less!

That is the way life is for most of us. We have things that we just can't  seem to get over. We try, sometimes even toil. I like that word. From the devotional today, I don't know much about being a soldier. The most "military" type of organization I have ever been a part of is the Royal Ambassadors at church! Not exactly soldier-like!

What I do understanding is pressing on. Toiling. Yes, like the word means, it is exhausting at times. We know we have the source of all power and light living with us and in us!  May the Lord be with us!

Movie Monday
I didn't make it to the theaters this week. I watched a couple of movies on Netflix and a new Blu-ray disk I got on special from Amazon.com on July 15.

Kingsmen: The Secret Service:
I got this Blu-ray for $9.99 last week. I like this movie even though there are a couple of parts that are disturbing. I enjoyed watching it again last night.

Java Heat
Netflix: This was an odd movie, but I sort of liked it. Mickey Rourke is the bad guy. The good guy is one of the young men who played a vampire in the Twilight stories. It was hard to see him in this role. It was a decent movie to watch on a hot Saturday afternoon in the cool basement.

Anchorman 2
Netflix: Yes, I watched this stupid movie. I really wanted to give it a chance since several friends really enjoyed it. I made it all the way through, but it was painful! Will Farrell's character comes back for another installment as an anchorman on a CNN type news station at its start.  You will love this movie if you are a Will Farrell fan. I am not.

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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns

Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16New International Version (NIV)

16 To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.

2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
    but motives are weighed by the Lord.

3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.

4 The Lord works out everything to its proper end—
    even the wicked for a day of disaster.

5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart.
    Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
    through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided.

7 When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way,
    he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

8 Better a little with righteousness
    than much gain with injustice.

9 In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.

10 The lips of a king speak as an oracle,
    and his mouth does not betray justice.

11 Honest scales and balances belong to the Lord;
    all the weights in the bag are of his making.

12 Kings detest wrongdoing,
    for a throne is established through righteousness.

13 Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
    they value the one who speaks what is right.

14 A king’s wrath is a messenger of death,
    but the wise will appease it.

15 When a king’s face brightens, it means life;
    his favor is like a rain cloud in spring.

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
    to get insight rather than silver!

17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
    those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

18 Pride goes before destruction,
    a haughty spirit before a fall.

19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
    than to share plunder with the proud.

20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,[a]
    and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.

21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
    and gracious words promote instruction.[b]

22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,
    but folly brings punishment to fools.

23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
    and their lips promote instruction.[c]

24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,
    sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

25 There is a way that appears to be right,
    but in the end it leads to death.

26 The appetite of laborers works for them;
    their hunger drives them on.

27 A scoundrel plots evil,
    and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.

28 A perverse person stirs up conflict,
    and a gossip separates close friends.

29 A violent person entices their neighbor
    and leads them down a path that is not good.

30 Whoever winks with their eye is plotting perversity;
    whoever purses their lips is bent on evil.

31 Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
    one with self-control than one who takes a city.

33 The lot is cast into the lap,
    but its every decision is from the Lord.

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 16:20 Or whoever speaks prudently finds what is good
2. Proverbs 16:21 Or words make a person persuasive
3. Proverbs 16:23 Or prudent / and make their lips persuasive

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We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives
Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive
- Thrive by Casting Crowns