Ebeanstalk Review

So I'm wandering around FreeStuffTimes the other day and come across this classified that says I can get an opportunity to try out free kids toys for kids from newborn to 12 years old. I thought, since I have twin 3 year-old daughters and an 11 year-old step-son, this would be something worth checking out.

So I follow the link and sign-up, then get forwarded to the home page. I'm instantly impressed, everything is broken down into gender and age categories. Obviously, with 2 little girls I was most interested in seeing what they might be offering in that vein of things. I found that I was pleasently surprised with the fact that not only are there plenty of toys that a "girly" girl would love to play with, but also thing which a baby boy might like too. As a father, it can get aggravating to constantly be relegated to picking between pink or purple.

This website has it all from books and games, to dolls and building blocks, and there are plenty of educational toys there too. In fact, the only problem the site might have going for it so far as I can see is that there are too many places to link to the age and gender group breakdowns.

At any rate, I think it worth any parent who's got a few years before "teendom" hits to go and check it out.

SWEET NEW SITE FOR JEWLERY LOVERS!!!

So I'm wandering around the web the other day and find a new wicked cool site. First off there's the catchy name, ChunkyBling.com. If you dig interchangelable watches, as in the easy-to-personalize watches that all your friends, or maybe friend's kids, seem to love right now. They also carry a ton of chunky bead jewelry throughout their site. Let me not forget about the motherlode of Swarvoski Crystal rings on the site, that are remarkable to a fault almost.

The jewelry is all pretty sweet looking, and I'd assume it's quality if a name like Swavorski is willing to get involved. I also saw a link on the page if you want to do an online jewelry party. At first I thought that was a little strange, never heard of an online party, but maybe I'll try after all. I mean, who couldn't use a few extra bucks right now?

Smoking Ban Solution

Alright, first off, let me just say that, yes, I am a smoker.

I enjoy an occaisional cigar and I smoke about half a pack a day on average. I understand that these are my choices and that not everyone agrees with them or wants to partake of my habits or the byproducts they may leave, but c'mon, can't we find some middle ground here?

Why does it have to be my way or your way. We have to be able to coexist, and I think I have an answer.

I remember reading an article a few years back now in my local newspaper about the city only having so many liqour licenses available and demand being rather high for them as we had some new resturants and the like opening up at the time. My question is, if we can have licenses for liqour, why can't we have them for the operation of a smoker friendly facility?

Doesn't it almost seem to simple? I mean, the municipalities will charge for them, thereby increasing revenue, the business owners profits, in many cases, will go up, and the facilities that like the new smoke-free era that seems to be dawning needn't do anything differently at all. It truly is simplicity itself.

So please, if you have any comments I would love to see feedbaack on this one.

The Polls are In

>>I wrote this almost immediately following the last election<<

Okay, so another election day has come and gone, no one will know the differnce in a hundred years anyway, but I don't care. I live here, in today's world, not 100 years from here. And neither do you.

I don't get it, my wife, my brother, assorted other people. They are all so put off by any discussion that may even indicate politics that I've pretty much been barred from discussing any of the subject matter with them. I guess it's like so many other things, you love it or you hate.

Whichever one you do, I hope you voted yesterday. I hope you'll vote in years to come. I hope that you find ways to get the information you find important regarding the candidates in your district and on your ballot.

We have a long way to go right now in this country. The Dems are going to tell us that we need to determine a clear exit strategy in Iraq, and fast, no matter how much Pelosi talks about Bi-Partisanship, this WILL happen. Be ready.

On the other side, the Reps keep telling us how great our economy is. And they're right. If you look at it from certain standpoints. But the best measure of our economy is what's happening to the middle class at any given time. And right now folks, we're struggling.

My only point in this post really is just to make sure that we are all informing and educating ourselves, something that I myself do not always do the greatest job off, but I hope you will do better than I have, for yourself, for your children, and for the rest of the country, because we're all in this together. And that's how it effects us all if anyone happens to ask you.

Daily Gem 9.26.2006

Do You Esteem Others Better Than Yourself?

Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. — Philippians 2:3

When I was a young university student, I attended a small church where many college students worshiped. One day while attending a leaders’ meeting where several issues were being discussed, I began to express my views about the subject under discussion. I didn’t realize how long I had been talking until a fellow leader, who was older than I was, stopped me and said, “Rick, would you please be quiet? No one else can get a word into this conversation because you have been talking nonstop. It may be hard for you to believe, but you are not the only person who has an opinion and who knows something. We all have ideas and opinions that are just as valuable as yours, and we’d like to express them.” In my eagerness to provide input in the conversation, I didn’t realize that I had inadvertently dominated the entire meeting. Finally, this leader had heard enough of me and kindly spoke up, telling me to be quiet so other people could express themselves. When I looked around the room at the other leaders, I realized they were all breathing a sigh of relief that someone had finally told me to be quiet. I was so embarrassed! In retrospect, I realize that because I was the youngest in the group, I was unconsciously trying to prove I had something to contribute that was as important as what everyone else had to say. But in my efforts to prove my worth in the sight of those other leaders, I nearly took over the discussion, making it appear as if I wanted to “hog” the whole conversation. Of course, this was not the greatest way to show that I had respect for other people! I didn’t intend to give this impression, but that was the impression I gave to the others in that group.

After that incident, I remember turning to Philippians 2:3 and reading the words of the apostle Paul. It says, “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” When I saw this verse in light of the stern rebuke I had just received, I decided I wanted to understand clearly what it meant to “esteem” others better than myself. But first I decided to study those words “strife” and “vainglory” so I could completely comprehend what Paul was referring to in this verse. When Paul writes about “strife” and “vainglory,” he uses two very strategic Greek words. The word “strife” is the Greek word eritheia, which is the picture of a person who is jockeying for some kind of position. This is a person who is trying to make himself look powerful, insightful, or significant in the sight of other people. But Paul then mentions “vainglory,” which is the Greek word kenodoxia. This is an interesting Greek mixture of concepts that describes the utter futility of such jockeying and positioning. The word kenodoxia is a compound of the words kenos and doxas. Kenos describes something that is hollow or empty, and the word doxas is the word for glory. But when these two words are compounded together into one word as in this verse, it portrays a hollow or empty boasting— a kind of self-glory that echoes of self- promotion.

These words could thus be interpreted to mean: “Do not jockey for position or try to prove your importance to others with a lot of hollow, empty boasting and self-promotion.”

Paul says that instead of acting in this manner that is so wrong in God’s sight, we are to act in “lowliness of mind.” This phrase comes from the Greek word tapeinoprosune. The first part of the word is the Greek word tapeinos, which describes something that is lowly, humble, or base. It pictures the attitude of someone who is unassuming and not self-promoting. It suggests a person who is modest, unpretentious, and “without airs” about himself, even if he knows that he is more intelligent, gifted, or talented than others. The second part of the word is phronos, which means to think. When these two words are compounded together, the new word means to think lowly; to think in an unpretentious way about oneself; or to think modestly of oneself. A person who fits this description doesn’t jockey for a position of importance, “hogging” every conversation and trying to prove how great he is. Instead, he has learned to “esteem others better than himself.” The word “esteem” comes from the Greek word hegeomai, which means to lead or to consider. This word and its related forms referred to outstanding and resplendent leaders who were worthy to be recognized and honored. These leaders held a noteworthy and superior position in the eyes of others, commanding people’s respect, honor, and silence when in their presence.

If you add these Greek word meanings to the interpretive translation above, the entire verse could be interpreted to mean: “Do not jockey for position or try to prove your importance to others with a lot of hollow, empty boasting and self-promotion. Instead, have a modest opinion of yourself, and learn to recognize the outstanding contributions that others have to impart.”

By using this word, Paul is telling us that we must learn to quit promoting ourselves and learn to respect the outstanding, resplendent gifts and ideas God has given to others. Rather than incessantly talk and “hog” every conversation, we must learn to make room for the gifts that lie resident in other people. Their talents and ideas are just as important as ours are. However, if we constantly demand everyone’s attention and never allow others to have an opportunity to express themselves or to use their gifts, we create a situation in which others go unrecognized and are thus dishonored. When I was a university student, on fire for God and eager to fulfill God’s call on my life, I didn’t realize how self-consumed I was with my own vision and calling — so consumed that I ignored the outstanding gifts God had placed in the people around me. Although it was right for me to be completely committed to my calling, I had to be taught that it was wrong to be so self-projecting and negligent to recognize the gifts, callings, and dreams of others. In my youthful attempts to prove I had something valuable to contribute, I dishonored those who also had insights just as worthy as my own. I had to learn to think lowly of myself, to keep my mouth shut, and to recognize that I wasn’t the only one in any given setting who had something to say. If you’ve inadvertently fallen into the habit of constantly talking and promoting yourself with a lot of vainglorious self-talk, it’s time for you to let the Holy Spirit teach you to respect and make room for the contributions of others in the group. If you’ll sincerely ask the Holy Spirit to help you, He will begin to teach you how to esteem others better than yourself!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, forgive me for the times I was so engrossed in my own ideas and convictions that I “hogged” entire conversations and didn’t give others an opportunity to express what was on their hearts. I am truly repentant for giving people the impression that I thought I was the only one in the group with something worthy to say. Forgive me for being so self-absorbed and for not recognizing the other outstanding people with gifts, talents, and ideas that were just as valuable as my own. Please help me learn to think more highly of others, to keep my mouth shut more often, and to genuinely appreciate the gifts, talents, and ideas You have placed in other people.

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I am very respectful of other people and that I recognize the gifts, talents, and ideas God has given them. I need the insights and gifts that God has put in other people. Because they are just as important as I am, I always give them time to express themselves and to let their gifts function as God intends. I am a part of a God-gifted group, and every member is filled with gifts and ideas that I need. Therefore, I make room for them to let those gifts and ideas flow!

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Do you esteem others better than yourself? Do you treat people like they are valuable, unique creations of God who deserve the highest respect? Or have you inadvertently focused only on yourself, giving others the impression that you think you are the only one who has something to contribute?

2. Have you ever had to work with someone who “hogged” every conversation and didn’t give anyone else an opportunity to express himself? How did it make you feel toward that person?

3. What can you do to show others that you value them and their opinions? What visible actions can you take to demonstrate your appreciation for others in the group you belong to?