Author: timelliott49gmailcom

This week I was going to write another rather serious post. I’ve changed my mind. At this time it might not hurt any of us to lighten up. So this post will include jokes and riddles

Shake off the blues, fears, and sadness and enter the zone of fun!

Teacher: Can you name a bird with wings that can’t fly? Student: A dead bird.

If a cow can’t give milk,is it an udder failure?

Do you think a kangaroo can jump higher than a house? Of course, I’ve never seen a house that could jump.

Why can’t a bike stand up by itself? Because it’s two-tired.

What do you get when you cross a chicken with a cement mixer? A brick layer.

Silly? I know. But sometimes we need to lighten up and move our focus away from the headlines (the fear porn) with which we are bombarded. The whole of our lives are NOT the Virus, or culture wars, or politics. Sometimes we need to back off and have a good laugh. Have a great week. Don’t let the negativity merchants get you down. SMILE!

As an American, I am used to hearing people say they are for freedom. Freedom is a word that must have a context. What freedoms do you support? Do you really support any freedoms of those with whom you disagree? Freedom can not be an abstract idea. It must have a context in the real world to mean anything.

I believe we have been given God-given or born-with rights/freedoms. Among the most important are the freedoms of thought, speech, and religion. But for these freedoms to be real, they must be defended and practiced. Those activities take COURAGE.

If you think for yourself you will come in conflict with those who insist everyone think like them. It takes courage to defend and practice independent thought. Without that courage we will let others do our thinking for us…usually a very bad idea.

Freedom of speech is under assault by those intolerant who insist that only their way of speaking is acceptable. They are vile and contemptible if they want to take away your freedom of speech. It does NOT matter if they call themselves by good names Political Correctness, Black Lives Matter, etc. if these names mask intolerance and a threat to your freedom of speech. They must be resisted if you are to remain a free person, free to speak your mind. It will require courage.

Freedom of religion, especially Christianity is under assault. To be brave enough to practice Biblical Christianity will require the courage to defend and practice the first freedoms I discussed, the freedom of thought, and the freedom of speech. Christians must not be afraid of what non-Christian say or they will lose their way and practice someone else’s idea of what Christianity should be. And that too will take courage.

Whether or not we lose our freedoms has less to do with what others do and more on our commitment and courage.

The question is not about money. That is just one way to count riches. Let me tell you a story about a day in my hard times.

It was winter and I was living in my car. One night I was listening to the radio. A speaker on one of the stations said to be thankful for all I had. Initially my response was not good. He didn’t know MY situation. But as I sat there a thought came to me. You don’t have anything for which to be thankful? Your life is that bad? (#God talking)

So I thought a minute. I had just been enjoying music and I love music. I’d start there. I wrote down. I’m thankful for such great music, such talent. I am grateful for my hearing so I can enjoy the music. Come to think of it I am thankful for my other senses too. I can see beauty I can smell good food. And I’m thankful for all the beauty I’ve seen and all the good food I’ve smelled…and eaten. And while I’m at it I am grateful to have this car in which to stay. So much better than a cardboard box!

And so I wrote a list of my thankfulness. I filled a whole page and still more things came to mind…good family, good friends,etc. etc. I was no longer sad or depressed. I was still living in a car in winter time. But something had changed in me and I prayed I would never lose that spirit of appreciation, of thanksgiving.

Sometimes we focus on what we want and don’t have, to the point of anger and depression. We all have blessings, gifts, talents. We all have so much positive in our lives. Sometimes it takes discipline and focus to really identify our riches and how truly how rich we are.

I would encourage you to consider YOUR riches. We all have some. Make a list. Be thankful and happy. Enjoy. All of the time you spend in negativity is time lost, life lost. Enjoy your riches today, while believing for even more tomorrow.

Have a Great Day!

Fear can make the most intelligent of us make wrong decisions. Please be careful where you get your information. Some outlets trade on fear and sensationalism. Some wish to manipulate you through fear. The same is true of some professors and some politicians. If fear becomes your daily portion it will drive out optimism and hope. It can make you hesitate to do and say what is right. FEAR is an enemy you should not ignore.

We hear that America is coming apart. This is an example of fear mongering. It is not coming apart. The majority of Americans get along well in spite of differences of backgrounds and opinions. Do not let the media convince you that we are on the brink of a race war. That’s junk…only the haters and the weak minded would participate.

Don’t let “experts” panic you with their predictions. They have been wrong about so much. Just in my lifetime, life should have been over by now because of flu, pollution, an ice age, nuclear holocaust, etc. etc. Take what you hear with a grain of salt. Consider the source and the motives. Most of America is opening back up. The virus was not as devastating as first thought…as an example.

There are far more of us who want to go about our business, get along with each other, and defend each others freedoms than there are of the haters. Each day, if we all act in a positive manner, we can be the proof that our society, our world, is going forward not descending into a dark age.

We have many problems and there is evil in the world. But there are good people also. There are literally thousands and thousands of people who dedicate their lives to do good. You are NOT alone in your desire for a good and peaceful life.

And for my fellow Christians,serving a loving God, fear should never overwhelm you.

REMEMBER for all the bad out there there is so much good…do not be afraid.

Sometimes we need to Lighten up. Just because communications expand the information that you know, you don’t need to act on everything you know. Number one; you know “parts” of many things. Acting on insufficient or incorrect information is a waste and often adds more problems than it solves. Number two; there are not enough hours in the day to address everything you may have “learned” on the news or social media. Number three; you are not qualified to solve all the word’s problems. Give yourself a break.

This does not mean that you should not care or be involved. I suggest that you do what you can, primarily in your areas of influence. I suggest you become knowledgeable about with what you want to be involved. Don’t let social pressure or passion keep you from investigating thoroughly before you get involved. And remember it is not ALL up to YOU.

Give yourself permission to decide for yourself after investigations which involvements are worth your time and energy. Remember, the currency of your life is your time. Use it wisely.

Food for Thought. What do you think?

A Voice from the cosmos: Earthlings, I have good news and bad news. The good news is, You can’t destroy your planet. The bad news is, You can’t save it either. Get over yourselves.

We are not able to solve all problems. We did not cause all problems.

Thinking can be more valuable than talking. Doing can be more valuable than thinking. But without thinking doing and talking are just pollution.

A note to you. My goal is to have a new post on my blog at the beginning of each week. If you have comments, please feel free. I value the feedback. Tim

With humor, faith, and optimism, this blog will give you information and encouragement to help you feel and be more positive in a negative world.

Regarding recent expressions of evil and the good news. 

George Floyd, a man in Minneapolis who had been arrested and subdued was killed by a police officer, while other officers did not stop him. It may or may not have been intentional but it was tragic. The police officer has been arrested and the other officers fired. We’ve yet to see how this works out.

Thousands protested Floyd’s death. The protests became something more, violent riots…destruction and looting. So in the name of “justice” riots erupted across the country leaving many injustices behind. By their very nature, riots are expressions of injustice.

I did not revisit this to make you feel bad, but to put some things into perspective. According to the media large and small, that was our world: angry people, burning buildings, hatred, fear, and distrust.

We must not let the media frame and define our reality. We must think for ourselves. The truth is, that our whole world is not defined by recent images or feelings. Though evil and tragic things happen, they are not the sum of our reality.  While thousands of people gave in to anger and hate to do evil things, millions did not. While a few policemen were not “protecting and serving” thousands were.  We must not define our nations or societies by the latest evil.

I call it evil because it is. Evil caused injustice to George Floyd and to those injured, killed,  and bankrupted by its expression in the riots. Burning and looting represent evil as clearly as the circumstances of George Floyd’s death.

But the GOOD NEWS is that millions of Americans did not participate in those evil acts but represented different values. Daily they love rather than hate. They build rather than destroy. They work together. They play together. They serve their country together. They serve God together.  Sometimes when fear and anger try to steal our peace we must remember there is much more to our world that their pressure. Sometimes it is good to step back and take a deep breath. Before falling for negative influences we need to make sure we have the facts and that our responses will improve things not have the opposite effect.

I do not propose that we look at life through rose-colored glasses. But our lives must not devolve into Network News Headlines. Life, the World is so much more. Let us confront the negative while remaining positive. I know that many popular narratives of late make us see our world, our future as doom and gloom. That is not the thing to embrace. It takes you to a fearful, hopeless place. If your life is to be as wonderful as it can be you must reject the pessimism and the temptation to believe the sky is falling each time people do evil things.

We live in an imperfect world, but a beautiful one…with many beautiful people around us. Troubles do not erase all the good in the world, in your world, in my world. We must keep perspective. Keep in mind, you have one life. Live it positively. Don’t forget life is filled with beauty.

Not so Serious Questions Even less Serious Answers

• Do you know what desperation is?  It is shaving all your body hair before stepping on to the scale.
• Teacher:Can you name a bird with wings that can’t fly?  Student:A dead bird.
• Why can’t a bike stand up by itself?  Because it is two-tired.
• What do you get when you cross a chicken and a cement mixer?  A brick layer.
• Do you think a kangaroo can jump higher than a house?  Of course it does.  I’ve never seen a house that could jump.
• How do you open a banana?  With the help of a monkey.

I’m so old that…

A Philosophical Question?

I think I dated this one…once.

I ran across these ideas posted on Facebook. Maybe we should take them seriously.

Have a wonderful day!

Sometimes we listen to the news and the fear mongers too much and feel everything is terrible. In the words of a children’s story, “the sky is falling”. But while the news media and politicians focus on negatives for their own purposes, there are good things happening.

62.8 million volunteers work to improve things in America. They provide 7.9 billion hours of service a year.

More than one half of Americans donate $25 or more to charity.

141 billionaires have pledged to give away half of their wealth to charity through the “Giving Pledge”.

According to Forbes the world’s largest ocean cleanup has officially begun.

Adopt a Stream cleanup programs are gaining volunteers.

10 more wild animals have been removed from the endangered species list.

• southern white rhinoceros
• panda bear
• chatham petrel
• Yellowstone grizzly bear
• Arabian oryx
• gray wolf
• stellar sea lion
• gray whale
• snow leopard
• northern brown kiwi

Photo from ARKive of the Chatham petrel (Pterodroma axillaris) – http://www.arkive.org/chatham-petrel/pterodroma-axillaris/image-G59913.html

Also in spite of fear mongering the earth is not experiencing a horrible warming like never before. At least 78 major temperature swings have happened to the earth in the last 4500 years. The temperature was even higher back about 1100 b.c.  Relatively similar temperatures spikes to what we are experiencing happened around 300 A.D. and 1200 A.D. Remember that often those who promote fear have less than great motives. Money and political ambition can get in the way of the truth. I do not say this so we can be irresponsible but so we will not rush to do things out of fear.

While we acknowledge the problems. Let us not forget the other things and guard our hearts from fear.

• When I heard that oxygen and magnesium hooked up I was like Omg.
• A neutron walks into a bar and asks, “How much for a beer?” The bartender replies “For you, no charge.”
• What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common? The same middle name.
• Two goldfish are in a tank. One looks at the other and asks “Do you know how to drive this thing?”
• Einstein’s mom: “Are you happy?” Einstein: “Relatively.”
• I asked a doctor to give me something for persistent wind. He gave me a kite.

Remember our animal friends.

Stylin’

Sibling Rivalry

KO Kitty

Kung Fu Cat

Incognito

Have a great day!

Though this blog is specifically about the United States of America, its truth is likely applicable in many other countries that enjoy diverse populations.

Who made America great? Was America made great just by white Americans? Was America made great just on the backs of black folk? No. and No. America was made great by all of us. Some people like to make their group the center of history. However, that distorts history.

So much was done to make this country successful by by a wide variety of Americans. Here are some short notes.

Mexican American

Many hard working, Spanish speaking people have been in North America from before our country was formed, They fought in the Texas War of Independence, some in the Alamo. Through the history of our wars Mexican Americans have served honorably some earning the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Native Americans

Native American workers have help build our skyscrapers, taking pride in their work on the high steel. The native peoples have contributed art and music. They too have fought for our country, some earning the highest honor for soldiers, the Medal of Honor.

Japanese Americans

During World War Two Japanese Americans were rounded up and put in camps because of the prevailing fear and mistrust. In spite if this thousands of Japanese Americans fought valiantly for our country in Europe. The famous 442nd Regimental Combat Team is the greatest example. It was the most decorated unit of its size. In less than two years of combat the unit earned more than 18,000 awards, including 9486 purple hearts, 4000 bronze stars, and 21 Medals of Honor.

African American

First involuntarily, the voluntarily, African Americans have contributed to the greatness of America. If you need proof google African American inventors. It may be an incredible eye opener. Great black Americans, if listed would make this blog post crazy long. Like the groups mentioned before African Americans have served honorably in our wars, they too earning awards including the medal of honor.

All of us…so many more…

The Irish and the Chinese came here and were instrumental in building the transcontinental railroad. The Congressional Medal of Honor recipients included many hews and ethnic groups. Our inventors, our scholars, our artists and business people too were of great variety. I have mentioned just a few groups not to honor them exclusively but as examples of the many varieties of people that have contributed.

Americans have generally been hard working, seekers of freedom and believers in a more positive future. How else could people of groups only experiencing a small part of the American dream be willing to contribute, to put their lives on the line? As Dr King knew, the dream is not totally fulfilled but we are continually going that way.

The appreciation of the past is important but we must embrace today and face the future. No doubt America has been great. It is our job to decide what it means for America to continue to strive for greatness, to fulfill its promise.

We cannot look solely to the government or political parties, certainly not relying on the elite. if it is to be done it must be done by us…ALL OF US.