WARNING: Religious content

If you had a cure for cancer would you keep it to yourself? Would you sell it? Make a profit from it? Let’s turn things around. If someone were selling it, would you buy it? At what price? Sky’s the limit? Would you take it? Would you be suspicious if it were free? These are no longer hypothetical questions. We face the same questions with the vaccines of Covid 19. Like politics and religion, there is no middle ground. Even if the vaccine is free, people are either for or against it. People are suspicious of each other. Where is truth in our technological 21st century?

I heard a good sermon a few Sundays ago and I will attempt to share what I learned. To my Jewish brothers, please comment on the accuracy of my analysis.

Since the time of Adam, God had always had a designated mouthpiece to guide man to the truth. But stubborn man refused to listen so after Malachi (who was the last prophet of the Old Testament) God was silent for 400 years. All the Jews had to guide them was their religious history written in sheepskin parchments and stones. It was business as usual at the religious office — a shell without substance. The smartest Rabbis were tasked to lay down the rules of the land by interpreting scripture. The writings of these religious leaders is called the Rabbinic law. In essence a religious Jew would defend his position about working on the Sabbath by quoting Rabbi X’s exposition on the subject matter. The source of Rabbi X would be the works of Rabbi Y’s interpretation. You can see how distilled the law became with each generation of interpreters. Truth, like today, was actually opinion.

Then one day, an unschooled carpenter’s son started to teach the law. He did not have a Law Diploma yet the people “were astonished at his teaching for his word was with authority” [Luke 4:32]. He did not quote complex Rabbinic laws. He simplified the laws to its essence. While others would say “do not murder or you will be judged” he would say “do not be angry in the first place.”

Jesus said: “Don’t suppose I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning.” — Matthew 5:17

Common sense isn’t common anymore yet everyone claims to have it more than anyone else. May I suggest, before we take sides, before we start defending with arrogance, let’s pray for clarity. If we humble ourselves we will listen more. If we listen more, we will have a dialogue and we will whittle away our differences and hopefully, the essence of truth will come out.

No disrespect. This is just tired ol’ me. TGIF, people.

Raoul

Thanks to Mel of Washington, DC for this joke.

Videos of the Week

Thanks to Mike of New York for these 2 videos.
FUNNY:
Buddy Hackett in the Tonight Show: Animal Whisperer

Remarkable Commercial. You gotta see it to believe it.

Parting Shots

Thanks Mel of Washington DC

Thanks to Pia of La Crescenta, CA

Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA

From Peter Paul of South Pasadena,

The post Funeral Songs appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Good Samaritan

I woke up and looked at my schedule for the day. It was pretty full: a business breakfast, a phone conference for a website, a meeting with an electrician with a trip to City Hall, a meeting with a gardener to repair a leaky sprinkler system, a meeting for a Robot Rally competition for several High Schools, then a ton of things to do in the office — I needed to conceptualize a marketing plan for a new client and finish up a website for another client. Yup, it was going to be a full day. So my first stop was my business breakfast meeting.

My fellow entrepreneurs joked around and talked about everything under the sun for 2 hours. When the meeting was over, people started heading to their offices but Jesper blocked my exit and decided to strike a conversation. As he spoke, I was trying to find words to excuse myself and prepare for my series of meetings. But Jesper had a look of concern and I knew he needed to unload to someone. So I stayed and listened … and prayed.

We live in a fast paced world where our priorities blur so easily. Sometimes we miss the opportunity to don our Super Hero outfit.  [Luke 10: 30-35]. This day, I almost did.

I discovered Jesper shared my faith but he had forgotten how BIG God was. For almost an hour we shared life and his eyes lit up like a light bulb. A funny thing happens when you connect with someone — the energy you help generate somehow finds a path inside you that also lifts you up from your own concerns. It makes you want to do it again.

Oh, and by the way, remember that long list of meetings? They went by very well. It was a very productive day … in more ways than one.

TGIF people!

“Kindness is giving hope to those who think they are all alone in this world.”
— Anonymous

Joke of the Week

Thanks to Peter Paul of S. Pasadena. CA for sending this joke.

Video of the Week

What I Want People to Say in My Funeral
Sent by Naomi of North Hollywood, CA

What would you want people to say about you when you die? A Muslim, a Catholic and a Jew share their ideas.

WATCH VIDEO

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Heavy Thought of the Week

Sent by Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Parting Shot

Thanks to Rodney of Manitoba, B.C. who shared this.

The post Camel Thoughts appeared first on Traveling Archive.

Getting Older

Upon an invitation from another couple, my wife and I welcomed 2019 in a night club that played loud 80s music — not my “cup of tea” but I tried to make the most of the situation. Like many other guests, we were dressed for New Year. Mine was an aluminum Terminator-like mask that covered my whole face so I felt practically invisible.

I was an alien observing the crazy earthlings. All around me were intoxicated flashy, sweaty, party animals gyrating to the 80s beat (it’s a great place to get your tinnitus going, I can tell you that). In earlier days, that room would have been filled with second-hand smoke — it was that kind of a place.

I think I’m getting old. These humans looked real stupid. They paid big bucks to be in this overcrowded hall. People bobbed up and down because there was hardly any room to dance. The ladies protected themselves from being touched and the men flailed their arms to reach the “untouchables.” Scotch on the rocks was 90% rock (ice): Ka-ching! for the night club ownersa and Ka-where-did-it-go? for the big spenders. A few fights erupted due to the booze and the claustrophobic atmosphere. A woman dove under a table for safety. One drunk Surfer Dude seemed to have the hots for my wife. I was behind her so I didn’t realize what was happening but my friend did and he told Surfer Dude to back off. I thought the drunk was merely asking her a question — I was oblivious that she needed my protection. I did contemplate using my old judo move I learned from college. Thankfully, the Dude said my mask spooked him out so he moved away. It was a very strange scene: A long time ago I used to be part of this insanity but now I was looking at it with alien eyes wide open. (Hey, I don’t mean to judge you if this is your “thing” — that’s cool. It just isn’t mine.)

On the way home I told my wife that I didn’t want to go back there. I’m glad she was thinking the same thing.

“Getting old.” What does that really mean? Of course, derogatively, it means one is aging: one’s body parts start falling off. But “getting old” also means getting more mature … getting wiser. To have a body that nears its expiration date and a mind that still thinks like a child is a double tragedy. I remember a news clip of a pathetic aging hippie beckoning people to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Woodstock with him to relive his youthful hormones. This senior never grew up. He probably never will. (BTW, 2019 is the 50th Anniversary of Woodstock buy your tickets now — NOT!).

With every new year, adding a notch to our longevity here on earth is not an option; But adding a dose of wisdom in the mix — that’s an option we should not miss. That’s a good new year resolution.

TGIF and have a great 2019!

“Maturity is being able to apologize and admit when you’re wrong because you know that your mistakes don’t define you” — Anonymous

Joke of the Week

Our Friday joke of the week comes from: Naomi of North Hollywood, CA

WARNING: Might be insensitive to some.

Video of the Week

One Wedding and a Funeral
Sent by Sam of Los Angeles, CA

This is a classic Mr. Bean video. He’s a modern version of Charlie Chaplin. And like Charlie, Mr. Bean uses no words.

WATCH VIDEO

Don’s Puns

From Don’s collection of puns

Heavy Thought of the Week

Sent by Rodney of Manitoba, B.C.

Parting Shots

Thanks to Don of Kelowna, B.C. who shared this

The post Wife Sharing appeared first on Traveling Archive.