[JustAmy]

8-16-04
Graphic by Billie

A Spectrum in Black and White

The light that shines inside your mind, puts color in your world.
A kaleidoscopic maelstrom which will leave your senses whirled.
Great adventures, and great beasts, excite the youthful mind,
And thrilling places never seen, are waiting here to find.

Come on aboard! The train of thought awaits each lad and lass,
And every time we turn a page, we find a boarding pass.
The world is here, as seen by those exciting minds we know,
So settle down, get comfortable, and let us start the show.

NicknamedBob . . . . . . . . . . . . . August 15, 2004
© 2004

[JustAmy]

[The Mayor]

August 16, 2004

Think Young

Read: Isaiah 40:25-31

Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. —Isaiah 40:31

Bible In One Year: Psalms 94-96; Romans 15:14-33

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In the book Geeks and Geezers, authors Warren Bennis and Robert Thomas present a fascinating look at "how era, values, and defining moments shape leaders" of two very different generations—the geeks (those 21-35) and the geezers (those over 70).

One of their findings is that among the older group of "geezers," every person who was able to continue to play a leadership role retained the qualities of curiosity, playfulness, eagerness, fearlessness, warmth, and energy. Instead of being defeated by time and age, they were "open, willing to take risks, hungry for knowledge and experience, courageous, eager to see what the new day brings."

That's a great attitude to have, but how can a Christian get it and keep it? The Bible says that our strength comes from a trusting relationship with God: "Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).

Our minds more than our bodies cause us to lose heart and give up. The young are not immune, because "even the youths shall faint and be weary" (v.30). God gives power to young and old who place their hope in Him. He stirs our spirits to run, walk, and soar for Him. —David McCasland

We're often weary in life's race,
Driven by its hurried pace,
But when we wait upon the Lord,
His strength becomes our sure reward. —D. De Haan

No one is old who is young at heart.

[OESY]

Good morning, all! It's Roller Coaster Day!



Roller Coaster

My father laughed and it was
the first and only time so far
I've heard him do it; a real
laugh deep from inside
climbing like an artillery shell
up his throat and pushing out of
his Edvard Munch mouth.
We were commuters aimed at heaven,
riding a steep, open train toward
the sun-god at the end
of the line, padded straps
reefing our shoulders against
plastic seats. This was
the last place I wanted to be,
locked in like an astronaut,
someone else driving,
lunch rising in my chest.
My eyes were open to
the whine of pulleys as we
ascended a slope snow wouldn't
hold to if snow fell through the
ridiculous summer air. There was
a moment as we reached
the first peak and crested
when I smiled too at weightlessness,
the feeling as you float
from a swell in a fast highway until
most of me dropped. I felt
my stomach's desire
to stay behind up there where it could see
halfway to Saskatchewan and
to bail out again at
the bottom as we were
caught like eggs by a
giant hand and sent up again
over a short rise only to
plunge face-first at the ground
continuing as we rolled
through a giant loop, swooped
with the energy of descent and
twisted through a series
of corkscrew turns, our
brains in startled mobius,
my father wide with giddy terror.
Somewhere along the way he
reached over and squeezed my hand
and our astounded spirits
or some other part of us
that it seemed we could do without
for a while raced behind
like afterimages as we rolled on
through the inverted morning,
clutching each other,
wearing death-masks of happiness.


-- Jay Ruzesky

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for the precious poem and graphic!

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Monday!

Have a cup while you Freep !

[Billie]

I love what you did with the graphic! Good morning, you two!

[Darksheare]

Thanks!