Archive for the ‘Stan’s Rants’ Category

“Know-It-Alls”

Sunday, March 22nd, 2009

“Know-it-alls” irritate me.  You know the type.  People who believe themselves to be authorities on every subject, no matter what it is.  I have known a lot of “know-it-alls” in my time, and I am here to say that all of you who think you have all the answers are really annoying to those of us who really do!

I can just hear some of you saying, “Stan, you and Larry sure seem to be ‘know-it-alls’ to me”.  And, of course, that is part of the danger of airing your opinions each and every week.  But, I am willing to admit to you here and now that in many areas I am ignorant! (more…)

Mind Your Own Business

Saturday, March 14th, 2009

Meddling irritates me.  People who meddle in the affairs of others.  You might want to ask me, well, why are you talking about it right now?  What has you so hot and bothered about meddling that you want to talk about it today?  My answer?  It’s none of your business!  Quit meddling!

No, really, I’m just kidding.  But meddling is a problem.  It was a problem back in the days when Paul was instructing the churches.  He wrote to the church in Thessalonica and said, “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.  Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.  But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.   And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed.”  (That’s 2 Thessalonians 3:11-14). (more…)

That Crazy Texas Weather

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

Earlier today I spent several hours at my son’s baseball tournament.  The day was wonderful, with sunny skies, and good baseball.  There is nothing better than sitting out in the sunshine and taking in a game.  The problem is, at least in North Texas, the weather often doesn’t seem to cooperate!

I spent the last several months, from December through mid-February, cooped up in gymnasiums watching basketball.  I love it, but it amazed me how nice the weather was throughout that time.  We had a few cold days, but not many, and its been that way for the past several years.

And then when basketball ends and baseball starts, the weather changes!  Last Saturday I spent 6 hours in about 40 degree weather, with a North wind howling at about 30 miles per hour!  I came home red faced, and since then my nose has been peeling.  I’m not sure if it was sunburn or windburn, but it was not the most pleasant of experiences. (more…)

Irritated About Having to be Irritated!

Sunday, February 8th, 2009

In what I promise is a non-seedy, and non physical sense of the term, I must confess that I am something of a masochist! No, I don’t like pain, but I am constantly inflicting undue stress and emotional distress upon myself by my grand ideas.

Back in 1997 I got the grand idea of starting an online internet magazine, and spent the next six years or so in a monthly equivalent of pulling teeth in getting each issue of Watchman Magazine online.  And, to top it off, I have been considering recently resuming the publication of the magazine.  Although, hopefully in a way that will entail much less in the way of editing on my part.

A few years back I decided that it would be good to expand the weekly bulletin I prepare and print for the congregation where I preach.  So, now, I prepare, print, fold and staple an 8 page bulletin every week.

About 8 years ago I volunteered to write a weekly column each Monday for our local newspaper about the sports teams at our local high school.  Of course, in order to write the columns, I have to go to the games. Sometimes even when my own kids aren’t playing!  About four years ago I decided to start taking pictures for the paper as well, because the kids like seeing action shots in the paper.  Now it is expected every week.

You might notice that the common thing in all of these examples is that I had a bright idea.  No one told me I needed to do these things (and believe me, that listing is by no means exhaustive).  No, like I said, I am a masochist! (more…)

Homosexual Lies and Distortions

Sunday, February 1st, 2009

Now that Barack Obama, a social liberal, occupies the Oval office, and Democrats have both houses of congress, we can expect a change in national policy on many social issues.  Homosexual lobbyists are certainly excited about the possibility that their agenda will see substantial gains in the next four to eight years.

Of course, homosexuals have already made great strides in their attempts to be not just tolerated, but fully accepted by society at large.  And, they have made such inroads, typically, by lies and misinformation.

They have appropriated the term “gay.”  The term means “cheery: bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer.”  The term in no way describes the homosexual lifestyle, which is characterized by confusion, seediness and disease.  Homosexuals themselves often claim that they would never “choose” to be what they are. (more…)

Those Insidious Brand Names

Sunday, January 25th, 2009

When I was a little boy, around 10 years of age, I remember being a little bit upset with my momma, because she always bought me the Sears brand Toughskin jeans.  Now, there was nothing wrong with the jeans themselves, they weren’t called Toughskins for nothing.  They were durable, and as my momma said, “You are hard on your jeans.”  But my friends were wearing Wranglers, which had some stitching on the back pockets, and I had to wear the plain pocketed Sears jeans.  Life just wasn’t fair.

For the most part, as I have grown older, I have remained pure and unsullied by brand envy.  When the “designer jeans” craze hit in the late 1970’s, I stuck with my beloved Wranglers.  (By this time I had outgrown my Toughskins).  When the Nike craze hit, I was satisfied with my Converse All-Stars.  They didn’t have the pretty swoosh on the side, but I could jump just as high (which admittedly was not very), and run just as fast (which was also not very) in my All-Stars, and they were significantly less expensive. (more…)

Handling Precious Roses

Sunday, January 18th, 2009

The following comments are motivated by two things.  First, I promised last week that I would read to you an illustration, and after a bit of time and effort I found it as a part of a bulletin article I wrote several years ago.  Second, just last week one of my son’s acquaintances at school had to drop out of sports and go to work to begin saving money to support a child he conceived with his girlfriend.  His entire life has changed.  Now, instead of the fun and games of an unencumbered youth, he has responsibilities and burdens that he is obviously unprepared to handle.  With that in mind, consider the following illustration: (more…)

It is Called “Personal Accountability”

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

Yesterday evening my son’s basketball team lost a game by an 81-71 final score.  The game was thrilling, but my son’s team was a bit handicapped because they suited out only 7 players, and one of our best players was not available.  He has missed two games in a row because of misbehaving in class on two separate occasions.

Despite letting his teammates down, he has not, and we do not believe he will, apologize.  At least, not unless he has to in order to be able to play.  This is a pattern that has been established over four years, and it is doubtful he will change. (more…)

Those Infernal Cell Phone Providers

Sunday, January 4th, 2009

A couple of days ago my dear wife dropped our cell phone in a bowl full of water.  She immediately got it out and brought it to me, but the vibrator in the phone was buzzing non-stop, indicating a short in the phone.  I turned it off and removed the battery.  It was only in the water for a second, but water got inside anyway.

Well, I managed to take the phone partly apart, and use a hair dryer to dry out all of the electronics.  I damaged the case of the phone a bit, but it still works, and so we avoided having to go buy a new phone.  I was worried about having to get a new phone, because we have had this one only for a year or so.  I knew a new phone would cost me, in more ways than one. (more…)

The Reason for EVERY Season

Sunday, December 21st, 2008

We are smack dab in the middle of the holiday season, and I certainly don’t want to rain on anyone’s parade, but…

Many people have expressed their frustration at the commercialization of the holidays.  And there is good reason for such frustration.

Radio stations have been playing Christmas music since well before Thanksgiving.  The traffic, especially in large cities like Dallas and Fort Worth is atrocious this time of the year, as everyone is out shopping.  People will go deep in debt to buy toys and gadgets that will end up gathering dust in a month’s time. (more…)