Have you ever wondered who was the first to try certain foods? For example, who was the first person brave enough (or dumb enough) to eat an ordinary egg? "Oh, let's try this white thing the chicken dropped and see if it is any good to eat!"
Knowing what goes in hot dogs - you know ... the chicken/pig/cow hybrid mix? Who was the dunce who got rooked into tasting it first? I'm sure it goes back to Germany, but imagine the following conversation when the very first hot dog was made:
Wilhelm: Well, there it is. The very first wienersnitzel.
Johann: Since you made it, you try it.
Wilhelm: Nein! You are the guest. You go first.
Johann: I saw all the chicken and pig parts you put in there. I'm not real hungry.
(Well ... I think you get the picture.)
And how would you like to have been the doofus who discovered which mushrooms NOT to eat?
So next time you order those eggs "over easy' or bite down into that dog at the 'ole ball game, think of those trailblazers who cleared the path ahead of you.
Have a great day!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Business Meeting
Once again, our annual business meeting at church turned out very good. Folks seemed happy and upbeat. Future outreach projects were highlighted and everyone seemed "on board."
It is such a blessing to leave a church business meeting where EVERYONE is laughing and cutting up with one another. That, to me, is a mark of spiritual maturity.
It is such a blessing to leave a church business meeting where EVERYONE is laughing and cutting up with one another. That, to me, is a mark of spiritual maturity.
Microsoft Office 2007
I just recently loaded Microsoft Office 2007 on my laptop. Until now, I have used Office 97 and Office 2000. But more and more I am receiving documents in the new Word 2007 and Excel 2007 formats, and PowerPoint 2007 seems to be light years ahead of PowerPoint 2000, so I needed to upgrade.
My first impressions are that I like it. The new menus take a little bit getting used to, but customization is pretty easy. It may only be my imagination, but Office 2007 seems a little faster than either Office 97 or 2000. I have not really used Outlook since the days of Outlook 98, but the new version seems a bit better.
A couple of interesting looking programs included in the Office 2007 Enterprise package are Publisher and OneNote. They have both been around for awhile, but I know very little about either and am looking forward to playing with them a little.
I'll keep you posted on how this goes.
By the way, if you don't feel like coughing up the price tag for Microsoft Office, try OpenOffice 3.0. It is absolutely free. It will open earlier version Microsoft Office formats (I don't know about Office 2007 formats). It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of Microsoft Office 2007, but for the price-free-you can't beat it.
My first impressions are that I like it. The new menus take a little bit getting used to, but customization is pretty easy. It may only be my imagination, but Office 2007 seems a little faster than either Office 97 or 2000. I have not really used Outlook since the days of Outlook 98, but the new version seems a bit better.
A couple of interesting looking programs included in the Office 2007 Enterprise package are Publisher and OneNote. They have both been around for awhile, but I know very little about either and am looking forward to playing with them a little.
I'll keep you posted on how this goes.
By the way, if you don't feel like coughing up the price tag for Microsoft Office, try OpenOffice 3.0. It is absolutely free. It will open earlier version Microsoft Office formats (I don't know about Office 2007 formats). It doesn't have all the bells and whistles of Microsoft Office 2007, but for the price-free-you can't beat it.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Rambling Thoughts
Tomorrow is our "Annual Church Business Meeting" at the church. I must admit I have never liked business meetings. I know they are a necessary evil, but I still don't like them. I have heard horror stories about church business meetings, and even have been in a few business meetings in years past at other churches, that bordered on "horror story."
I must admit that EVERY business meeting at our current church that I have been a part of (this makes my Number 13) has been extremely mild - no yelling, no red faces, no angry accusations, or cheap shots. In fact, we usually leave business meetings feeling better, and feeling more hopeful about the future, than when we arrived. How many churches can say that?
However, I still don't like the meetings. I guess I have a hard time picturing Jesus and his disciples sitting through Judas Iscariot's financial reports (Remember, he was their treasurer).
I also noticed the results of the run-off election down in Georgia, where the Republicans actually were able to hang on to the Senate seat. Senator Saxby Chambliss is on his way back to Washington. The main thing this does is keep the Democrats from the 60-vote supermajority they need to railroad legislation through both houses of Congress.
And finally, from the files of "Things That Make You Go, 'Mmmm.'" Have you heard the old excuse, "The Devil made me do it!" Well, now we have someone who claims that "God made him do it!" That's right ... according to this guy, God had a case of road rage, and ordered this dude to take care of the problem ... at 100 mph. I'm a preacher, and you know there is a forthcoming sermon illustration in this story.
I must admit that EVERY business meeting at our current church that I have been a part of (this makes my Number 13) has been extremely mild - no yelling, no red faces, no angry accusations, or cheap shots. In fact, we usually leave business meetings feeling better, and feeling more hopeful about the future, than when we arrived. How many churches can say that?
However, I still don't like the meetings. I guess I have a hard time picturing Jesus and his disciples sitting through Judas Iscariot's financial reports (Remember, he was their treasurer).
I also noticed the results of the run-off election down in Georgia, where the Republicans actually were able to hang on to the Senate seat. Senator Saxby Chambliss is on his way back to Washington. The main thing this does is keep the Democrats from the 60-vote supermajority they need to railroad legislation through both houses of Congress.
And finally, from the files of "Things That Make You Go, 'Mmmm.'" Have you heard the old excuse, "The Devil made me do it!" Well, now we have someone who claims that "God made him do it!" That's right ... according to this guy, God had a case of road rage, and ordered this dude to take care of the problem ... at 100 mph. I'm a preacher, and you know there is a forthcoming sermon illustration in this story.
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