Happy Halloween!

The Fear That Lies Beneath the Bed

I know everyone has experienced it, some time or another. The irrational fear of going into the basement, entering a dark room, or walking through a grove of trees at night- especially at this time of the year when all the leaves are gone and there are just sticks and spooky shadows. For whatever reason, we just know something is watching us, stalking us, and at any moment- when we least expect it- is ready to grab us from behind and drag us away.

Generations of kids- and sometimes not so kids- have lived in fear of what lies beneath the bed. They are in terror of leaving a foot too close, too long next to the edge of the bed. I admit it, I have always been afraid of that brief moment after my foot hits the floor and I start to stand up. "Is there anything under the bed?" Just to be on the safe side, I always offer a quick prayer as I put space between myself and the edge of the bed.

It happened on one of those nights when everyone is asleep and you're there still wide awake...feeling thirsty. I wanted to get a drink of water, but that would mean I would have to get out of bed...and it's dark. I was a prisoner of my own irrational fear.

No!!! Enough is enough! I decided to prove to myself (and to all of humanity) that this fear of something being under the bed is completely unfounded! It'’s not like I had never seen beneath the bed before. All previous inspections had turned up not one demon, not one monster, not even one bad guy! I would symbolically, and actually, put my foot down once and for all and not be afraid. I was not going to pray for protection either! I was going to be the grown man that I was and just do it!"

I flung my covers off with authority and in a mighty gesture I took my small step for man- giant leap for mankind and planted my foot squarely on the floor. My other foot majestically took the spot right next to the first as my body swung around to an upright sitting position. I sat there for a moment as if I was King of a newly conquered world. And then it happened.

In a wink of an eye, my foot was grabbed from the dark underbelly of the bed. I gasped for air, felt my blood run cold and I could feel my whole body swell with fear. After all those years of waiting for me to blink, to let down my guard, something had grabbed me, caught me- like a fly in a spider's web! My own arrogance had lead me to this demise. "Do I dare look?"”, I thought. Of course, I have to look!

I looked down at my feet and there, with a firm grip was my worst fear. An arm, a skeleton arm, partially clad in a dark robe sleeve protruding out from under the bed, it's bony fingers securely wrapped around my ankle. I was stunned, injected by the venom of fear. I couldn't think. I couldn't scream for help. I had already screwed myself on the praying thing. I began to accept my doom.

I felt the grip of the hand tighten as it started to pull back as if to pull me under the bed. I didn't move. The arm pulled again, this time a bit more forceful and with a jerk. I still didn't move. A light turned on in my head! It had waited too long! What started out as a scrawny 6-year-old boy was now a "too-much-for-skeleton-demon" 240-pound man- definitely not to be dominated by bone and robe!

I kicked my leg up as hard as I could and could barely contain my smile when I heard his bony head clunk against the bed rails. I laughed as I did it several more times. This was fun now! I felt his grip loosen, so I quickly reached down and grabbed the arm that had held me bound and yanked that so-called demon out from under the bed. And then I saw what I believe no one else has ever seen before...I saw fear in the face of fear!

I laughed in its face- "HA!" and let it go. It and his black robe began disappearing...Nay! Running...Nay! Fleeing into the darkness.

What exactly was I supposed to glean from this moment? I am not entirely sure, but I know I learned a couple of things, four things actually.

First: Sometimes, as in the case of my skeleton friend, you can wait too long for some things.

Second: Sometimes, as in my case, good thing do come to those who wait.

Third: Size does matter.

And Fourth and the probably the ultimate lesson: THERE WAS SOMETHING UNDER THE BED!!!!!!!

Sunday Scripture Choice

Psalm 37:23, 24

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

SUCCESS: S- Steering

If success is accomplishing that which you set out to do, wouldn't it follow that it is important to know "that which you set out to do"?

Where do you struggle? Myself it is the daily things that get the best of me. You see I have a clear picture of my long term goals, and tackling the things that are the big ticket items is no big deal. But those daily things, those short term goals eat me alive!

I rarely establish my daily goals. Weekends OK. But all those days during the week I am so willing to let the day's events dictate my actions.

The day's events fill all the time and I rarely take the time to get my stuff done on a timely basis. When I come to a dead line that effects my long term goals- I then have to push everything and "last minute" my stuff. This operation always steals the sense of accomplishment, makes it hard to fit in the important or fun events that come around all the time.

Start making daily priorities for your yourself. Identify three things YOU need to get done. Write them down and get them done no matter what. At the end of a week, I guarantee you that you will see your accomplishments and feel successful. If these are the things truly important to you, they most likely will be moving towards your long term goals, and after a month, three months, you will see your success path opening up before you.

It takes me seven weeks to revisit this theme. I will keep a log of my daily accomplishments and share the results at that time.

Making A Stand

Here we are on the last week of Daylight Savings Time. What is that?!? I know that it was all set up as a type of "summer bonus", but I'm not really sure why we don't just stay on Daylight Savings Time. Is there anyone who really likes it the other way? Who really wants that extra hour in the morning? It's cold, dreary, snowy, rainy...and one less hour of sunlight!Driving home in the dark every evening- yes that is what I need to feel fulfilled.
Arizona does not participate in Daylight Savings Time. I always found this to be odd. On one hand I respect the "go-it-alone" attitude, but on the other hand, it just seems a strange place to make a stand. They are willing to play with all the other states on other things: Interstate shipping, voting dates, constitution... "but don't touch our clocks!"

It's odd until you spend one afternoon in Arizona. Holy Hot Batman!! It's not human! At that point, it makes sense to get the sun down at the earliest possible hour.

Now what I think Arizona should do is have Daylight Savings Time in the winter. Imagine this: January- 80 degrees and...an extra hour to play golf!

Now that's making a stand!

Loser No More

So the White Sox have won the World Series. I am actually happy for them. I thought that throughout the year, they were one of the most consistent teams. They finished first in the American League, and despite maybe slowing down a little in late August, early September, they turned it on when they needed to.

The best part of the "Sox" winning this year, however, is that another "cursed" team can no longer hold on to the "cursed" excuse. The Red Sox exercised their demon last year, the White Sox this year, maybe the Cubs' time is coming soon...but probably not.

Personally I would rather that my team win it each year, but that is probably as likely as the Cubs actually winning it all (or winning)...OK so it's still more likely than the Cubs winning it all.

Anyway back to the White Sox. I really liked this team, and especially their manager Ozzie Guillen. I looked and found a quote of his that typifies his philosophy and in general mine as well.

Read it. Learn it. Live it!

"Whether you won or lost the night before, it's a brand new game, ... It' s my job and my coaches' job to remind the players that no matter what happened last night, it doesn't mean anything today... You just have to get up every day and fight. If you carry it over, you're a loser."

Top Ten Headstones

For Halloween this year, I have successfully bribed the kids to not go Trick-or-Treating, but to instead help me do a "cemetery". I won't go into details today, but I thought I would give you an example of the headstones we have created. There are ten, so why not do a...

Top Ten List of the Headstones in the Jensen Family Cemetery!!!

10. Sure Shot Jackson- The only thing sure is that he was shot.
9. Zahm B. Rizon
8. Miss N. Kranium
7. Barry Dalive- Opps
6. Belle E. Upp
5. Broak N. Bawdy- Lived on the edge and fell off
4. Bad Lee Burned- His life was well done
3. Rest in Peace-("Peace" crossed out) Pieces.
2. Dee Capitated- She HAD a good head on her shoulders
1. Eaton Alive- Tasted like chicken

Under God

I pledge Allegience to the Flag of the United States of America and to the replublic for which it stands, One Nation, Under God, Indivisable, with Libery and Justice for all.

A lot has been said about this little series of words and I have to admit, I have a lot to say about it as well, but let's keep it limited for simplicity sake.

The current debate is whether "under God" is appropriate for our school kids to recite. In some opinions, it is the same as state sponsored religion.

The other side would say that if someone is opposed to "under God", just don't say it.

But the counter arguement is that one shouldn't "have" to not say it- it shouldn't be said at all due to it's acknowledgement of diety which is a church issue not a state issue.

I say, what about those whose religion does not allow them to say the Pledge of Allegience at all? Say... the Jehoviah's Witnesses. Their children are subjected daily, within our schools, of looking at the flag, of having to listen to the Pledge, of studying, discussing the idea of national boundries and politics. What about them? I believe they just do not participate when our activities violate their personal beliefs. Is this acceptable? Where do we draw the line?

I think we need to really consider the difference between oppression and just having a minority opinion.

I commonly have a minority opinion when it comes to most theology questions and I am able to simply let the masses have theirs when I am with the masses and I get to have mine when it's just me and mine- or when I have the majority opinion.

Romo Pride

Have you seen the movie remake of The Longest Yard? One of the guards- "Guard Lambert" was played by a real NFL linebacker named Bill Romanowski. He wore number 53 in the game as he did in "real life". There were other NFL players in the movie, but none of them crack me up like "Romo".

Romo was plenty intense in the movie, but the extra stuff on the DVD is where I really got a kick. Romo was so pumped up to play that he had to be contained. In fact in the last scene of the game, Adam Sandler is to run over Bill for the final Touch down. Romo, in an interview, admitted that he couldn't just let him do it. There was going to be at least two takes because the first time- he was making the tackle. (In the movie, if you watch the hit- there is no way Adam Sandler makes the yardage needed.) That's pride! No wonder he was so tenacious on the field when he was playing in the NFL.

But the comment that really made me laugh, was by the director. He was commenting on how intense Bill was and how anxious he was to do a "realistic" job for the movie. (I think he just misses hitting people).

After making an impressive hit on someone and receiving a compliment for it, Romo asked the director, "Do you want me to spit on him?".

"No, No Bill. The tackle is good. Thank you."

You gotta love the intensity and the willingness to do a good job!

Sunday Scripture Choice

1 Samuel 3:10

And The LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

Happy Birthday Mariah!!!

SUCCESS: S*U*C*C*E*S*S- Spirituality

What does it profit a man to gain the whole earth, but lose his soul?

The true measurement of success comes not from the acomplishment of the task, but from who you became in the process.

Will you be a better person? Will you grow in the process? Will you have to abandon your own morals, standards, or rules to get there? Will you be proud to talk about your success?

If you answer any of these questions in the wrong way, I fear you will not have the feeling of success at the conclusion of your journey. Make sure that your goals and ambitions include a good healthy dose of spirituality-whatever "spirituality" means to you- or it will not be a true success.