Raoul’s 2 Cents
Name Game
My wife has been dreaming about owning a corgi (the dog with the perpetual smile) and she’s been experimenting with different names to call it. Her choices have transitioned from Piper, to Wolverine, to Goliath and now to Max. To her it’s so important. But I don’t get it. Po-TAY-toe … po-TAH-toe … it’s all the same to me … or is it? What’s really is in a name?
I’m starting to read the book of Joshua. In the intro it says his original name was Hoshea which means Salvation. This book was written maybe 4,000 years ago so I’m thinking: In all those years did Joshua really stand for salvation or did Joshua start the meaning of salvation?
When someone is called a Judas, a Hitler or an Einstein, the adjective (used to describe that person) is named after the original person’s achievement or failure.
Most people live and die with the name given to them from birth. It’s a name that the parents decreed for their child. Some names have significance to it — like people who are named after the parent’s favorite relative, or because the child is supposed to carry the ancestry line, or named after the situation of their birth (as in Chief Raging Storm).
Which brings me to the point in all this: Do you like your name? Are you living up to your name? Whatever your name is, your achievements may be a positive or negative contribution to society. Will generations use your name in contemptuous expletives or will it mean something of honor?
Are you living up to your decreed path by your parents? Take your time and really ponder this. This mental exercise may show you a roadmap or a pattern that you have been following subconsciously all through your life.
Ask yourself this: If you had a choice, would you still take the path you are in? Or is this someone else’s path? If it’s a good path, great! I guess you should stay on course. But if “the shoe doesn’t fit …”, remember — no one is forcing you to follow this path.
But of course, this is just me.
TGIF people!
Joke of the Week
Thanks to Peter Paul of S Pasadena, CA for sending this joke.
Don’s Puns
From Don’s collection of puns
Parting Shot
Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA who shared this.
People from all over the world send him jokes and Raoul sends those jokes back with his original sketches. 
Tom
September 18, 2019 at 1:24 pm
Good to have you back and Names are intriguing My first name Thomas is linked with doubt from scripture, but my middle name of Theodore means Gift from God and I like that and try to live up to it as much as I can.
Fishing today our of Dana Pt with two of my Sons , hope they are biting.
Take Care and Thanks
Tom
Jeff
September 18, 2019 at 1:25 pm
I looked and looked and tried to figure out what was funny (about the Parting Shot).
When I got it, it was funny of itself, it was funny as a ‘hidden’ joke and it was funny to laugh at myself for not getting it.
That was a very good one, tricky clever.
—Jeff
Melanie
September 18, 2019 at 1:26 pm
Oh the story of our names. We marveled at how our names were similarly parallel and prophetic:
Maurice – Dark, Moorish, bog
Leon – Lion and conquerer
Melanie – Darkness
Dawn – Sunrise
Both of us coming OUT of families with generations of wrong living and transformed (along with much of our immediate families) into a season of light & freedom in Jesus.
Always good to track your thoughts & work.
As always, please CALL ME if you want to discuss any details.
All the best,
Melanie
Anne
September 18, 2019 at 1:28 pm
Hi Raoul.
Thanks for gathering and sending TGIF. I read your previous message about traveling with your Dad and his new relationship with God. What a wonderful event. It is hard to say goodbye to an aging parent.
And this week you have written about names. You might be interested to hear my story. My name is Anne and I have no middle name. Anne means Grace, or God’s gracious gift. My natural style was not gracious, but God helped me grow into this aspect of my name. About 10 years ago I learned important information about the reason for my name. My mother wanted to name me Margaret Anne. But my Dad had a relationship with a woman some years before and a baby was born and her birth name was Margaret Anne. She was adopted. This happened before my parents met and married. My siblings and I learned of her existence about 12 years ago, and we found her about 8 years ago. Her name is now Ruth. So, when I was born, my parents couldn’t agree on my name for several days and I was nameless. I was born by C section and my mum didn’t see me for 2 days. I think this “gap” affected me in several ways. ….. I am so grateful for God’s grace, and I pray it for others often.
You comments remind me that our words really matter. It matters what we say, how we speak to others, how we speak to ourselves.
Thank you, brother in Christ.
Anne