JUDAS ISCARIOT: Lessons learned from a 'villain' of the Bible

TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:
There's no ultimate meaning in money, but there is an ultimate meaning in spending time with the Lord.

RANDOM OBSERVATION:   

I’ve been substitute teaching in our small Bible study group when our leader is away.   I started a series on “Villains of the Bible” .   I think there’s a lot to be learned from them.   Basically it’s a good look at what NOT to do.    They make a lot of mistakes and I can relate to that more than I can relate to having my act together and doing everything correctly.   I’m not saying these Villains are good guys and gals.....hey....they’re Villains.   But maybe by looking at where they messed up, we can avoid the same pitfalls that they fell into.   We all know there’s lots of pitfalls on the road of life.  I won’t go into as much detail as I did in the class, but I thought I’d hit on some of the main mistakes of the Villains as a way of seeing how we can avoid those mistakes in our own lives.   

Today’s villain will be Judas Iscariot.   Just think about that.....how many people do you know with the name of Judas?   His act of treachery must have stuck in the minds with lots of people, believers and non-believers, because it doesn’t seem to be a popular name.  ( If you don’t know the story of Judas, he is the disciple that betrayed Jesus by leading the Sanhedrin priests to Jesus.  Judas did this for a price of 30 silver coins and the events led to the Crucifixion of Jesus)

Judas is a prime example of wasted opportunity.   Think of the rarity to be one of the 12 disciples and to have the opportunity to spend so much time with Jesus while he was here on Earth.   What a huge privilege to be one of the 12 that were part of the inner circle of Jesus during the years of His ministry.  

Jesus wasn’t the Messiah Judas was looking for though.  Judas had more of a military/warrior type Messiah in his mind.   So when things weren’t going the way Judas liked, he tried to take matters into his own hands.    Quite often, that doesn’t fare well for us in life, and it didn’t for Judas either.    Driven to madness by his betrayal, Judas hung himself.  

In modern times, I think the disillusionment of Judas could be similar to those that get disillusioned with church.   An example would be when the church isn’t doing the style of worship someone likes and so they take matters into their own hands and become destructive and negative, losing sight of the big picture and what it's really all about.   

Similar to Judas, we can often get caught up in the politics of church and miss the true meaning of why we are there and what we are to be doing.    Judas gave his life to Jesus, but he never truly gave his heart.   Something to be mindful of.   Judas is a visual reminder that it is possible to be near Christ and associate with Him, but only in a superficial way.   In time, if we fall into this pattern we become hardened to sin.

There’s lots more to be learned from the story of Judas, but I think the main question we should ask ourselves from observing his behavior is this:

Are we true disciples and followers.....or are we just going through the motions? 

Until next time........

MY TRICK FOR PAIN

Here's some fun for the day........

TRIVIA:  (Answer at bottom of page)
Ham is taken from what part of the pig?

JOKE:
Q:  Where do pianists go on vacation?
A:  The Florida Keys

PHRASE FUN:  (what phrase does the following represent.  Answer at bottom)

IMPROVEMENT
IMPROVEMENT

IMPROVEMENT
IMPROVEMENT


COMIC:

QUOTE:
"The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket"   ( Will Rogers)

TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:
Sometimes we get so busy getting more that we don't enjoy what we have.


RANDOM OBSERVATION:
I was listening to some music on my iTunes when a particular song came on that I haven’t ‘physically’ listened to for awhile, but that I sing frequently in my mind.   It’s my ‘this is gonna hurt’ song.    I been through a lot of medical procedures since I was a kid and I came up with a trick back then that helped with pain and I’ve used it ever since.   I was probably about 5 years old when I created my ‘system’.    It has faired me well.   It’s more for procedure pain as opposed to everyday pain.   There’s no way to list all the procedures I’ve had done, but in dealing with a lifelong kidney issue, 3 cancers plus lots of other surgeries and stuff, I have had ample opportunity through the years to use my trick.   My system, along with lots of prayers, has worked well for me for many years and maybe it will help you too should the opportunity arise.

Here it is:  (just remember, it was created by a 5-yr old, but still going strong now for me for 44 years)

It starts with a square ceiling vent.   Just about every doctor’s office or surgery area has one.   Start noticing.    Next, you have to have a song.   Mine has always been  “How Can I Be Sure” by The Young Rascals.   I loved it when I was little & still love it today. 

Here’s what you do.  You focus on the vent while singing your song.   You start with the smaller square in the center & move your eyes to the pattern of the square to the music keeping your head still.  ( told you it was created by a 5-yr old)   Don’t change your song.   Always use the same one.   I feel like the repetition of the song over the years has brought me comfort.   Lastly, you pinch yourself somewhere away form the painful area.   (once again.....5-yr old)   That’s it.   That’s the trick.   It doesn’t get rid of the pain completely, but it sure has seemed to make it better for me over the years.   I would guess the reason is because it has me focusing on something else other than what is hurting.   (If a square vent is not available, just find something else you can trace with you eyes) 

Next time you’re having a procedure done, give it a try.  If you want to give the song I use a try, I’ve included a video of it below so you can hear it.    The chorus works great with those squares.    You know.....after all these years...I can say that every time I see a square vent on the ceiling I smile & give a mental thumbs up.   Hey, maybe my song should become a changed version of the "Me and My Shadow" song.....it could be "Just Me and My Square Vent".    OK.....then again maybe not.

Here’s the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuKeSUUK-A4

TRIVIA ANSWER:
The hind leg

PHRASE FUN:
'Room for improvement"

Until next time.......

ITEMS WE CALL BY THEIR BRAND NAME (Instead of what they are)

Here's some fun for the day........

TRIVIA: (Answer below)
What is the 2nd largest country in the world?

PHRASE FUN:  (What is a rhyming phrase for the following.  Answer below)

'really great road kill'

JOKE:  
Q:  What do you get from a forgetful cow?
A:  Milk of Amnesia.



FUN COMICS:

QUOTE:
"I spend 7 hours in a beauty shop......and that was for the estimate."
(Phyllis Diller)

TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:
Is it our desire to bring glory to God or to bring glory to us?   A good question to ask ourselves in situations.

RANDOM OBSERVATION:

**When I was in about 9th grade, I had a teacher that mentioned how there are certain products that we've grown to call by their brand name instead of what they are.     We don't say......'hand me a facial tissue'......we say......'hand me a Kleenex'.   I was fascinated by this as a kid, and thought I'd list a few of these everyday things that we've grown to call by their brand name

ITEMS WE CALL BY BRAND NAMES:


1.  Kleenex 
2.   Scotch Tape

3.  Google  ( we'll Google something instead of 'search' etc)
4.  Brillo Pad or SOS Pad  ( as opposed to scouring pad)
5.  Band-aid            

6.  Post-it Notes
7. Speedos
8. Crock Pot
9.  Bubble wrap   (It's actually a trademarked brand name
10.  Chapstick

11.  Ping Pong  ( trademarked brand name for table tennis equipment)

12.  Coke
13.  Jet Ski  (trademark brand for personal water craft)
14.  Crazy Glue
15.  Clorox   

16. Lazy Boy ( for recliner)
17. Levi's
18.  Kool-Aid
19.  Jacuzzi  (brand name for Hot Tub)
20.   Jell-O 

21.  Frisbee  (Brand name for flying disc)
22.  Astro Turf (trademark name for Artificial turf)
23.  Saran Wrap

24.  Vaseline  (Brand name for Petroleum Jelly)
25.  Ziploc
26.  Velcro  ( trademark name for hook and loop fastener)
27.  Polo  ( has become our lingo for type of shirt)
28.  Sharpie
29.  Q-Tip    

There's my list.   Seems like I need a #30.   Any I've forgotten?


TRIVIA ANSWER:
Canada

PHRASE FUN:
Awesome Possum

Until next time........

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

Here's some fun for the day......

TRIVIA:  (Answer below)

In the children's toe-counting rhyme, what did the third little piggy have?

PHRASE FUN:  (What phrase does the following represent.  Answer below)

COF     FEE

JOKE:
Q:  What did zero say to eight?

A:  Nice belt!

QUOTE:

“Dear Math, please grow up and solve your own problems.   I’m tired of solving them for you.”

TRICIA’S TWEET OF THE DAY:
The need to need more than you need equals greed.  Eternal wealth lasts forever.  Earthly wealth can be gone in an instant.

RANDOM OBSERVATION:
I did a object lesson for a small group Bible study a few years back.  It involved having a bag that was full of items.   The object was to pull the items out one at a time and talk about them.  They were random things.   I would spend more time on some objects as opposed to others.   After all the items had been revealed and put back in the bag I went onto another topic.   Closer to the end of class I had the group think back to the items and write on paper the ones they remembered.  The items that made it on almost all of the lists were the items that I spent more discussion time on.....focused more on.    The more I talked about an item, the more it was remembered.   

This is a good lesson in our everyday lives.   What we focus more time on is what is predominately what we retain.   When you think of this in regards to focusing on positive thoughts or negative thoughts, it can impact on our lives. 

I read a book recently that talked about the power of positive words and declaring positive things for your life.   Basically, if you speak positively in your life and start the day with an attitude of optimism, your life will more closely follow that.   Same goes if you start your day with a defeated attitude and think ‘oh woe is me, this will never work out’.  Odds are, with that attitude, it won't.  Sort of a self-fulfilling prophesy.   Whatever you consistently speak and believe comes to fruition.

It's always good to focus on the positive in life as opposed to the negative.    In the object lesson mentioned above, imagine the bag representing our lives and the objects inside are different obstacles we face.   The students easily remembered the items I focused on and spent more time on.   Look at what makes up your life and spend more time focusing on the positive 'items' as opposed to the negative.   

Also, speak positively.   Don't have a defeatist attitude when you are facing a difficult situation at work, with a relationship or with your health.   Discard thoughts like 'I can't do this' or 'there is no hope'.   Don't speak defeat.   Instead, declare all your blessings and be determined that things are going to work out.   Think positive.    : )

TRIVIA ANSWER
Roast Beef

PHRASE FUN:
Coffee break

Until next time......

TV SPIN-OFFS: How well do you know them?

                                       

Here's some fun for the day.....


PHRASE FUN:  (What is a rhyming phrase for the following.  Answer at bottom)
'The best store'

JOKE:    
Q:  How do crazy people go through the forest?
A:  They take the psycho path.

QUOTE:
"For my birthday I got a humidifier and a de-humidifier.  I put them in the same room and let them fight it out."
(Steven Wright)

TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:
If you continually ignore God's voice, eventually you will not be able to hear it.

TV SPIN-OFF TRIVIA:  (There’s lots of them, so this will be Part one.   Part two showing up sometime later)  ***Answers below last picture

1. The picture at the top of the page is from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show"  Name 3 spin-offs from this show.

2. ‘Trapper John M.D.’ was a spin-off of what show?

3. Who played the character Frasier who garnered his own spin-off from Cheers?

4. ‘Knot’s Landing’ was a spin-off from what show?

5. ‘Dirty Sally’ was a spin-off of ‘Gunsmoke.’  Who was originally asked to play the part of Marshall Dillon in ‘Gunsmoke’ and did a filmed intro of the first episode?

6. How many years did ‘Flo’, the spin-off of ‘Alice’ last?

7. How many spin-offs were there of ‘All in the Family’ and what were they?   One of these spin-offs had a spin-off.

8. ‘Fish’ was a spin-off of “Barney Miller”.  Who played the character Fish and what Academy Award winning movie was he in?  What character did he play in this movie?

9. Name 3 spin-offs of “Happy Days”?

10. Lisa Bonet was the character originally in ‘The Cosby Show’ that starred in this spin-off.   Name the show and the character.

11. Vickie Lawrence was this character in picture below.   Name the character, the original show she portrayed her on and the spin-off.  

ANSWERS:

1. ‘Rhoda’, ‘Phyllis’, ‘Lou Grant’

2. ‘M.A.S.H.’

3. Kelsey Grammer

4. ‘Dallas’

5. John Wayne

6. one year.

7. ‘Maude’ (she was Edith’s cousin) ‘The Jefferson’s’ ( they were the Bunker’s neighbors) ‘Archie Bunker’s Place‘ , ‘Gloria’ (focuses on Gloria after Michael leaves her to go live in a commune)   ‘Maude’s’ spin-off was “Good Times”  (Florida Evans worked for Maude)

8. Abe Vigoda;  “The Godfather”;  Sal Tessio

9. ‘Laverne & Shirley’; ‘Joanie Loves Chachi; ‘Mork & Mindy’

10. ‘A Different World’;  Denise Huxtable

11. Thelma Harper aka Mama (from the Mama, Ed & Eunice skits on the Carol Burnett  show)  “Mama’s Family” was the spin-off lasted 6 seasons    

PHRASE FUN (Answer)
Top Shop

Until next time.......

DANCE RECITALS (....and one fun costume)

Here's some fun for the day....

TRIVIA:  (Answer below)

Which witch is flattened by the house in “The Wizard of Oz’?

PHRASE FUN:  What phrase is this?  (Answer below)

STA4NCE

JOKE:
Q:  Why did Tigger look in the toilet?
A:  To find Pooh

QUOTE:

"I've got all the money I'll ever need; if I die by Four O'clock"

(Henny Youngman)

TRICIA'S TWEET OF THE DAY:

Our days are overcrowded.    A life packed with materialistic pursuits deafens us to God's Word.  Stay free so you can hear God when He speaks.

(me on the far left)

RANDOM OBSERVATION:

A childhood memory for many a little girl is dance recitals.   They are the culmination of a year’s work on step-ball-changes and heel-toe-heel-toes.    I’d venture to guess one of the main things most little girls love about the recitals are the costumes.   I’d also venture to guess that most Dads and menfolk would rather watch paint dry than to sit through a recital.   Not usually their cup of tea and a slow form of torture for them, but not what this post will be about, maybe some other time.   

I’m thinking back to a particular recital of mine back in 1969.   Oh boy, did I love my costume.  The picture of me in the costume is at the top of the page.  The costume was for a little Salsa number and it had real maracas which I thought was just about the coolest thing ever.   The costume itself was about as comfortable as rough sandpaper on a hot summer day, but I didn’t care.  It was colorful and it was festive.   It broke me out in hives, but I never wanted to take it off.   The other cool thing with this costume is that I got to dance barefoot, which I loved.

The day of the big dance recital arrived.   I was finally going to get to dance in my costume on a real stage.   I couldn’t wait.   Me and the costume would become one with the Salsa number.   Well, I got on that stage and I didn’t want to leave it.  And so...I didn’t.   When my class number was over, my classmates all exited.....but I didn’t join them.  I stayed on stage and kept dancing to my own made-up beat.  I guess you would call it an ad-lib dance.  The audience was cheering me on, which I came to realize I loved.   I can imagine now, as an adult, watching a dance recital and seeing a 5-year old take over the stage in her own Salsa dance review, refusing to exit.   I’d be clapping and cheering too.    

Eventually, someone came along and showed me the exit off the stage, but I’ll always remember my solo Salsa number....and quite frankly.....would probably do that again today.   I still have that costume tucked away and had my daughter try it on years ago when she was little.   The way I see it........every body needs a little Salsa in their lives.

(The picture of me still on the stage after the rest of the class has exited)

TRIVIA ANSWER:

Wicked Witch of the East

PHRASE FUN:
For Instance

Until next time......

RIGHT vs RIGHT: What's really important?

Here's some fun for the day....

TRIVIA:  (Answer below)

Which side of the book are the even-numbered pages usually located on?

JOKE:

Q:  How did the barber win the race?

A:  He knew a short cut.

QUOTE:

The only time I enjoyed ironing was the day I accidentally got gin in the steam iron.

(Phyllis Diller)

TRICIA’S TWEET OF THE DAY:

When the basic necessities of life are being provided, be thankful.  Everything over and above is an extra blessing.

RANDOM OBSERVATION:

I heard a saying a few years back that has stuck with me and I think it’s pretty wise.  It involves conflict and an examination of what’s really important in life.  The saying is: “Right vs. Right”.   Basically, whenever you’re involved in a dispute, whether it be friends, family or business, you remind yourself of “Right vs. Right”.   Is it more important to be right, as in correct.  Or, is it more important for the relationship to be ‘right’ with the person you’re having the dispute with.   Some of the disagreements we can have are over some pretty trivial things.   They can spiral out of hand and grow into something larger with the need to prove someone wrong.  When this happens, it can cause a rift in a relationship, or at the very least, chip away at it over time.    This doesn’t mean that you never argue, or that you become a doormat.   I think it mainly means you don’t bury your feet in the sand and be determined to be right no matter what.   You don’t let ‘being right’ and chalking up another ‘victory’ become what’s important.   The relationship is what is important.   Keeping it ‘right’ is what important.   Too often we become sidetracked by a desire to be correct and often over things that don’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.

Next time you’re in a disagreement, examine your motive of why you’re persisting with your point.   If it’s a legitimate point that needs to be made, then that’s justified.   But if the need to get the credit is a form of self-approval, ego-stroking or a chance to feel superior.....then take a moment.....stop.....breathe.....and repeat  ‘right vs. right’.  

Remind yourself that relationships are more important than being able to prove that someone else is wrong.

TRIVIA ANSWER: 
left

Until next time......