A GAME YOU CAN PLAY AT HOME

NBC's hit game show Deal or No Deal makes its season premier tonight with a two-hour special. My kids are pretty excited.

They love the show so much that when they saw the two new home versions of the game at Toys R Us, they begged me to buy it. The game comes in a briefcase (meant to resemble the ones held by the show's models), and allows families and friends to come together in the show's name even when it's not on TV.

So as the kids begged me for the game I looked at their mother and said, "only if Mommy agrees to put on her little black dress and carry the briefcase." She said "OK," provided I shave my head and wear black suits like the show's host Howie Mandel.

Whoooah! Let's not get carried away here! But I will be honored to host the game downstairs. Then, I can ask my 7yr old daughter - "Deal or no deal? - and if you lose, you're going to bed!"

Sounds like a lot of fun, eh? Especially the bedtime part!

Check Out That Hot Chick!

Confronting The Shallow Hal Inside

Every Monday, I look forward to receiving the new Entertainment Weekly magazine in the mail. When this week's edition came yesterday, my jaw about hit the floor! Uncovered on the cover was a provokatively posed Eva Longoria (of Desperate Housewives). Ai Carrumba!

Before I realized what was happening, I found myself staring at the picture - fishnet stockings and all. Then, something deep inside said "dude! Brian! put that magazine away!"

As I cut out a piece of white paper to cover Eva's lower half, I thought about why we call some people beautiful and have a less flattering description of others. Then it occurred to me, my perception is flawed! And so it is for many Average Guys (and ladies).

Let's synthesize what we know to be true:

1. God doesn't make junk. In fact, when he completed his creation of the earth, he called it "good."
2. God made humans in His image. Not to say God has a head, two arms, two legs, and ten fingers; but we do share many of God's attributes.
3. God is perfect; I am flawed. Because of sin, I don't always see people the way God does.
4. God dearly loves all people. As their creator, he aches for the love of every man and woman!
5. God sees the whole beauty of a person. The Bible says man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart. I'm not able to - with me, beauty is only skin deep.

Knowing all of the above to be true, I see I have dishonored God by dismissing some people based on appearance, and have devalued the true beauty of more attractive people by making them an object of selfish desire.

Brew

with a shot of

Brains

For some time now, Starbucks has been printing thought provoking quotes on their paper cups. Dubbed "As I See It," these numbered proverbs, testimonies, and exhortations are surpisingly inspirational!

Recently, my pastor used "As I See It" no. 81 as a sermon illustration. Later, as I picked up some of the trash left behind from Sunday service, I re-read the quote he had shared. Seeing that it said "no. 81" on the side, I wondered what good things vollumes 1 through 80 had to say. By the time I logged onto Starbucks' web site to read them, the number of "As I See Its" surpassed 120!

Check it out for yourself! I bet you'll be just as surprised as I was at how many of these thoughtful phrases allign with Christian principles.

http://starbucks.com/thewayiseeit

I've always known how tasty Starbucks coffee it; now I'm glad that their stirring a few teaspoons of wisdom into the brew as well!

Brian

Losing Your Fight:

Becomming the Kinder, Gentler Guy

When you were in your 20's, if you're like me, you were passionate about every little truth you believed and were willing to fight to the death in defense of it. You may have looked down on 40-something or 50-something guys who seemed more accepting and tolerant. I mean, how could someone legitimately tolerate some of the garbage people live out?

Back then, we lived in black and white worlds where truth was absolute and falsehood was public enemy number one. And the true measure of your friendship was how hard you'd fight to get your friends to face the truth.

Yesterday, I got into it with a good friend who I thought was avoiding a truth that was just too painful. Turns out I was right, but there was a terribly hurtful reason for it. Early in the discussion, I boldly stated my opinion over and over again only to discover there was a painful secret at the core of the issue.

When the secret came out, all my passionate fighting turned to sympathy and all I wanted to do was help. I regret some of what came out of my mouth, and know I can never un-say what was said.

The hard lesson I'm learning is that you may never know what good reasons people have for bad behaviour. You can't make excuses for a person's weakness. But you can take a more loving, less hurtful tone that actually helps!

The Kind Of Father I Aspire To Be

A friend of mine sent me the link to a video he found on YouTube. Check it out and see if it doesn't make you cry too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryCTIigaloQ

What a lesson in selfless living! This guy only sought to be a blessing to his son.

-Brian