Hurricanes have gone but political winds are blowing

Written by Rev. James L. Snyder


Withinrepparttar last six weeks, that gusty quartet comprised of Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne has lustily serenaded Florida. A repeat performance is not inrepparttar 118158 foreseeable forecast - I hope.

It is not that I do not appreciate good music; it is because I do appreciate good music that I do not wish for a comeback of this quartet. The problem this quartet had, which many musical groups have, is they usually try to drown outrepparttar 118159 other ones inrepparttar 118160 group.

The damage in life and property during these last six weeks is beyond computation. The government has put a price onrepparttar 118161 damage but they are only guessing at this point, plus they do not factor inrepparttar 118162 horrendous damage torepparttar 118163 human spirit.

Not a few people will leave Florida to some safer, hurricane-free state (like Washington), leavingrepparttar 118164 rest of us to weatherrepparttar 118165 storms inrepparttar 118166 future. As for my wife and me, Florida is our prelude to heaven. The angels that will carry me to "Abraham's Bosom" already have my address and,repparttar 118167 good Lord willing andrepparttar 118168 creek don't rise, I'll be right here when they make their angelic appearance. I just hope they are not as noisy asrepparttar 118169 quartet we've had lately.

These storms were devastating to be sure and my prayers go to allrepparttar 118170 hurricane victims, whatever their damage in life and property. I'm sure many stories of heroism will emerge fromrepparttar 118171 rubble of these disasters.

In spite of all modern technology and gadget sophistication, we bow in reverence to nature inrepparttar 118172 face of a hurricane. This is an encouragement for all to look higher than man for help in troubled times. Some do not know who that "Higher Power" is, but I surely do.

Asrepparttar 118173 Gracious Mistress ofrepparttar 118174 Parsonage and Yours Truly huddled byrepparttar 118175 kerosene lantern, listening torepparttar 118176 hurricane howl outside, a thought fromrepparttar 118177 Bible gently blew into my inquiring mind. "The Lord hath his way inrepparttar 118178 whirlwind and inrepparttar 118179 storm, andrepparttar 118180 clouds arerepparttar 118181 dust of his feet." (Nahum 1:3 KJV.)

No matter how bad it looks, God always has His way in every circumstance or problem, which brings a lot of comfort to me during these traumatic days.

Then I entertained a marvelous thought. The next time one of my friends makes a snide remark torepparttar 118182 effect of my being long-winded, I will only say one word - Charley-Frances-Ivan-Jeanne, or CFIJ, for short.

I grant you, I have plenty of wind, asrepparttar 118183 length of my sermons will attest, but compared to hurricanes like CFIJ, I cannot blow out a candle. My friends will have to accede this point to me.

Although, contrary to some opinion, no link exists between a hurricane and me, I think I did find a suitable comparison. In my mind,repparttar 118184 only thing to measure up to a hurricane in velocity is a politician.

THE JOY OF JELLY BEANS

Written by Victoria Elizabeth


Copyright Victoria Elizabeth 2004. All rights reserved.

THE JOY OF JELLY BEANS --Or, how a little bit of juicy jiggle makesrepparttar world go round --

According to North American researchers,repparttar 118157 only happy members of society these days are "Type B" personalities.

Type Bs are, by definition, not "Type A" personalities. No one could mistake them for a fault-finding flibbertygibbet or a fastidious fusspot. And, you'll never find them pushingrepparttar 118158 "Up" button feverishly on a high-speed elevator going nowhere. There is just one thing that they're driven to do at all costs, obeyrepparttar 118159 posted speed limit, even when riding a unicycle.

Torepparttar 118160 dismay ofrepparttar 118161 statisticians and pollsters,repparttar 118162 only folks who truely fitrepparttar 118163 "happiest people" profile to a tee are apprenticing morticians. Not being a chipper charnel house mother, I felt I had to makerepparttar 118164 case for another category of happiness,repparttar 118165 "Type C" personality.

"Type C" personlities are not Type As (testy toads) or Type Bs (placid pussycats). Your typical Type C is a mirthful minikin, (otherwise known as a good-natured, wee or dainty creature). This homo sapien personality simply adoresrepparttar 118166 small but simple joys of life such as a serendipitous encounter with a sweet treat. And their favorite melt-in-your-mouth munchy is a jelly-bean.

To make a long story short,repparttar 118167 "jelly bean" (a sugar coated candy) found its way into our lexicon almost a century ago. Known for their delightful diversity of colour, delicious flavour and sometimes odd texture, jelly beans are a "must have" for Harry Potter fans and damsels-in-distress.

Cont'd on page 2 ==>
 
ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005
Terms of Use