Souljourn

Fall back!

This is my PSA for all of you faithful readers.  Please remember to turn your clocks back one hour tonight - it is daylight savings time.  Here is what Wikipedia has to say...(for more info click here)

Daylight saving time (DST) is the practice of advancing clocks so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less. Typically clocks are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and are adjusted backward in autumn. Modern DST was first proposed in 1895 by George Vernon Hudson, a New Zealond entomologist. Many countries have used it since then;details vary by location and change occasionally.

I don't like the time change in the spring because we lose an hour of sleep and people are late(r) for church, but I really like this one because....you guessed it....we gain an hour of sleep and people are early for church.

I am particularly looking forward to the extra hour because I will just be arriving home from Korea and I'm preaching on Sunday (I've seen people sleeping while the preacher talks, but have you ever seen the preacher sleep?).

1-800-dial-a-remedy

Around the 20th of February I began to feel sick.  My chest felt like someone was sitting on it, I coughed and coughed, my sinuses were all stuffed up and I did not feel good at all (I remember the date because it was right at the same time as our leadership conference).  These symptoms progressed for a couple of weeks and around the middle of March I was diagnosed with pneumonia.  This led to 2 courses of antibiotics and an overpriced 'puffer' (apparently there was steroids in it but I don't look any stronger).  

These symptoms have waxed and waned over the weeks but they continue to persist.  Apparently I do not have pneumonia any longer but I am to 'monitor my symptoms' to see what happens.

I don't normally get sick and when I do the symptoms usually last only a few days so this has been frustrating.  The worst part of it all has been the lack of energy.  Not only does it feel like someone is sitting on my chest, but I think I'm having to carry that person around all day.

Anyways, my point in writing this was not to garner sympathy or steal your time with a listing of my symptoms.  What has been intriguing to me during this time is the great number of 'secret' remedies that I have learned about.  It seems everyone has some theory on what will 'fix me'.

I have rubbed vicks on my chest.  I have covered my feet in vicks and then put socks on to sleep.  I have used a humidifier.  I have drank hot honey and lemon water.  I have made a mixture of garlic and honey, let it sit for 24 hours and then used it in a tea (I couldn't eat just a spoonful).  I have tried Cold-FX.  I have tried Zinc Cold Therapy.  I have tried an immune booster. 

And guess what?  I'm still not feeling better.

Apparently there is some new, experimental treatment called "Rest and a Few Days Off Work" but I don't want to go crazy and try every little crackpot idea someone mentions so we'll see.

Anyways, if you have some other antidotes I'd love to hear about them.  They may not all work but sometimes the; smell, tearing in the eyes, gag reflex, burning sensation etc. at least takes my mind off my other symptoms for awhile.

ps.  check back here at 2:30 pm Friday to learn about the guests we will have sharing in our weekend services.

Lego inauguration

Here is what the creative people at Legoland came up with...

A new look?

It's a new year so I thought it might be time for a new look.  And I thought it would only be fair to give you an opportunity to help me decide (knowing full well that someone beyond us both has veto power).  So here's some pictures of possible looks.  Please forgive the mug shot look, I was taking them by myself (didn't want to spoil the surprise).  So leave your vote in the comment section.

What will you do?

Imagine if you could somehow 'magically' add time to a day.  What would you do?  Would you use it to sleep longer?  Exercise? Read a good book? Visit with friends? Have some quite time alone? Work on household renovations? 

Well whatever your answer is, assuming you answered and didn't just write my question off as hypothetical nonsense, you are in for a treat. This Wednesday (December 31st) is going to have an extra second added to it!  That may not seem like a lot of extra time, but don't forget, it is extra time!  Gifts like this don't come around every day. 

So let's make the most of this extra time.

Maybe I should have added, Blink? Sneeze? or, Exhale? to my list.

Christmas sweaters

Every body loves those ugly Christmas sweaters.  Now you can make your own right here.  Here's my first attempt with a lovely blue cardigan.  Let's see what you can do.

Doesn't look like it needs to be a dream

We are about to make history.  It looks like Canada is about to have its first coast to coast white Christmas since 1971. You can read more here.  

Keep in mind

I read an article on the potential consequences of giving someone a 'bad' gift.  Apparently it is definitely more than the 'thought' that counts, and if you don't get it right there is quite a bit of thought about it.  Here's an excerpt, you can read the entire article here:

Whoops. You gave your wife a cashmere sweater that's four sizes too big. When you fix your flub, you'd better throw in a bouquet of flowers too - or else suffer the consequences - a new study on reciprocity suggests.

University of Chicago researchers studied behavioural giving and taking, and found that those who feel slighted tend to retaliate - and it can escalate.

Sounds pretty ominous doesn't it.  I think someone should definitely have to pay for this.