My Finest Cutoffs

Written by Gary Shirley


Andy looked inrepparttar mirror to give himselfrepparttar 126932 “once over” before heading outrepparttar 126933 door torepparttar 126934 most important event of his life. He finally had his chance to interview with Zenon Industries. Undoubtedlyrepparttar 126935 finest company in his field, landing a job with Zenon meant unlimited career possibilities coupled with great security.

Andy had prepared for weeks to have allrepparttar 126936 right answers to potential interview questions. He had splurged on a quality business suit, Italian shoes and even a new briefcase. One thing he had learned long ago was to always dress one level aboverepparttar 126937 position sought, so to project an image of promotability. Andy was pleased with his preparations, his appearance and his attitude. He was pumped, for this day was important and it deserved his best effort. As he headed outrepparttar 126938 door, Andy’s seven-year-old son Colin promised that he and Mom would pray for Dad “all day long.”

The hiring staff at Zenon experienced an interview with a true professional in top form. Andy did a stellar job. Driving home afterrepparttar 126939 interview he reviewed everything in his mind. He was convinced that he came across well and thatrepparttar 126940 job was as good as filled. Andy’s confidence was soon rewarded, for onrepparttar 126941 following Friday he gotrepparttar 126942 call. Zenon offered a package he could not believe. Besides a hefty raise and improved benefits, he would getrepparttar 126943 hoped-for company car and a signing bonus. Most definitely news worth celebrating.

Saturday brought a night onrepparttar 126944 town like he and his wife Karen had never had in their lives. A five-star meal, expensive seats atrepparttar 126945 theater, and dancing intorepparttar 126946 night. Everything was perfect. All of his sacrifices inrepparttar 126947 past made this accomplishment taste even sweeter. The future was bright and portended great things.

Sunday dawned and Andy crawled out of bed still basking inrepparttar 126948 glow of his good fortune. The family usually went to 10:45 Mass so that they had a bit of time to relax before heading outrepparttar 126949 door. Reflecting on his good fortune, Andy realized thatrepparttar 126950 most important thank-you was yet to come. God had given him a golden moment and it was right to offer thanks in person. Stopping atrepparttar 126951 same mirror he used forrepparttar 126952 “once over,” he silently nodded his approval for his chosen Sunday Mass attire.

Andy had on his finest cutoff shorts, a T-shirt emblazoned withrepparttar 126953 logo of his favorite sports team and his best sneakers. Perfect. Oncerepparttar 126954 Mass is over, Andy thought, we can roll right intorepparttar 126955 day. Maybe we’ll have a “second celebration” ofrepparttar 126956 new job withrepparttar 126957 entire family...a stop at Macaroni Grill for lunch, followed by ice cream. Hey, why not?

Enroute to church, Andy was feeling proud and grateful. He commented to his wife how very important this Mass was, for there was so much for which he needed to express gratitude. Hearing his Dad express, once again, how important a coming event was, Colin piped up with his usual, brutal candor. “Daddy,” Colin said, “If Mass is important, just likerepparttar 126958 thing you didrepparttar 126959 other day, how come you aren’t wearing that special suit again? Doesn’t God like to see you dressed up too?”

Andy,repparttar 126960 man with allrepparttar 126961 answers at Zenon, was speechless. In his mind he ran through allrepparttar 126962 comebacks he could make. Excuses like, “God only cares what is in our hearts” or “God isn’t interested in outward appearance” or “God loves us no matter what we wear” were lame and unconvincing. Colin had managed, in his childhood innocence, to lay barerepparttar 126963 truth. The boy’s comment cut like a laser throughrepparttar 126964 new hero of Zenon Industries. God, quite simply, was not worthrepparttar 126965 effort. Andy knew it was true. Zenon was worth a new suit, power tie and Italian shoes. The Maker ofrepparttar 126966 universe merited cutoffs and a T-shirt. God got no better thanrepparttar 126967 clothes that I would wear to changerepparttar 126968 oil in my car, Andy thought. He realized that his message was, “I am grateful, Lord, but not enough to raise you aboverepparttar 126969 everyday, so I’ll give thanks dressed like I just mowedrepparttar 126970 lawn.”

Interfaith Wedding Ceremony Ideas

Written by Heather Greene


These days, it's becoming more and more common for couples of different religious backgrounds to get married. Many religions have embraced this fact-- in two ofrepparttar four major Jewish sects, interfaith marriages are regularly performed, most Protestant clergy are willing to officiant interfaith marriages, and more and more Catholic priests, Conservative Judaism rabbis, and Islamic leaders are conducting interfaith ceremonies. Ask other interfaith couples in your area for recommendations if you're having a hard time finding someone yourself. Or, you could have your wedding performed by a non-religious officiant. You will still haverepparttar 126931 opportunity to incorporate religion into your ceremony if you do this, but it will eliminaterepparttar 126932 hassle of finding a religious officiant who's views about interfaith marriage arerepparttar 126933 same as yours.

It may not be easy pulling off an interfaith ceremony. Your relatives may be upset that you are straying from tradition and even you and your fiance may have some different ideas about howrepparttar 126934 ceremony should be run and which traditions and rituals should be part ofrepparttar 126935 ceremony. You will need to take a lot of time to consider exactly what marrying someone of a different faith means to you and how you will handle your differences onrepparttar 126936 wedding day and beyond. With some compromising and understanding though, we're sure you're interfaith wedding will go on without a hitch.

Since there is no traditional interfaith ceremony format, we can not recommend one that you should follow, but below you will find some tips for how to incorporate two religions into your ceremony.

Involving Both Families-- Chances are, if anyone is upset about you having an interfaith marriage it'srepparttar 126937 older generation-- your parents and grandparents. The best thing you can do to help them come to terms with your decision and understand it is to have both families participate inrepparttar 126938 ceremony. Unity candles are a wonderful idea to involve both parents and in this case,repparttar 126939 candle lighting will have extra symbolism as you are not only joining your two families, but also your two faiths. At many interfaith marriages involving Christian and Jewish grooms and brides you will notice thatrepparttar 126940 couple is taking a cue fromrepparttar 126941 Jewish religion and having both parents walkrepparttar 126942 bride and groom downrepparttar 126943 aisle. This is sure to make both sets of parents feel special onrepparttar 126944 big day.

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