Paul Long's Ramblings

I like this ... "You have to disconnect to really connect" - Jorge Cham I need to "disconnect" more often and for a longer time .... http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php?n=1504

Yesterday I read a couple of new graphic novels I borrowed from the library.  Both were given top notch reviews. For example, about "Superior" USA Today wrote, "The best mini-series of the year" and for "A god somewhere" it wrote "One of the most compelling page-turners to come out this year".  In my mind I think that while the quote may come from the same magazine, (USA Today), it surely cannot represent the same reviewer / person! I enjoyed SUPERIOR very much but hated "A GOD SOMEWHERE. WARNING - SOME MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD! What I enjoyed about SUPERIOR is that the plot is simple yet the story very compelling. And best of all while I seldom agree with the theology in the stories of most graphic novels (no exception here either :-)) I like the moral dilemmas presented in the story and how the hero wrestles with them. I particularly like how the story is seen from the perspective of a 12 year old boy who understands that with g...

Took this photo last week. Saw this bird on my church driveway. It didn't fly away when I came near it. Just kept hopping one step out of my reach. So took a photo. Made me smile. Beautiful bird, isn't it? This made me smile too but at the same time sigh! Too many churches in my area which is sad. Not that we are in competition with any but ... the caption says it ... I know it is meant to be humorous but it does make a point, doesn't it? It is only humorous when it reflects reality ... :-( But it also made me glad. Before I left for my course cum short break in  Australia, my church committee told me that the days I was taking to do the course was NOT accepted as part of my annual leave! The course was something done on my own initiative so I was not expecting anything like that. But it was a blessed moment as it reflected my fellow church leaders appreciation.  First day of our course. My wife practicing - and trying to clean up my mess :-) I am n...

I think they speak for themselves :-) These have been on my PC desktop for a long time now, collected over a few months.

I am soooo tired today. Two late nights and early wake ups in a row. I actually took coffee the last two days to help me stay alert :-) Sermon's not done. As usual too much material - which is a better problem than not enough material, right? But busyness and "tiredness" does indicate that there's a lot of ministry to be done - which is also a blessing. And after this Sunday I have 3 Sundays break for preaching! Yay! I get to enjoy 2 Sundays of Uncle Max's preaching and one of Murray Stevenson (an incredible missionary to the Congo). Thrilled to be able to get him to speak while he and his wife are back for a short break. Three Sundays in a row of listening to two gifted preachers, missionaries and men of God! Anyway, I hope to enjoy a less hectic pace during my break from preaching and do more quadrant 2 stuff. Lots of general preaching / teaching preparation to do plus more visitation and a trying to "network" with some local pastors. Anyway three ...

This is funny!! Glad that I am currently under the bottom left quadrant! And I am having a mini celebration now as I have just completed this week's Sunday sermon  preparation ... and without the help of caffeine!

Now wouldn't this be nice! :-)

Been busy ... hence not blogging much. Headaches of late so not in the mood for serious blogging. Thought these were funny!

Sad that this is probably true for many people I wonder if this will ever get off the ground. Would be interesting if it did. Faithbook.com as a website actually exists but is basically a shell.

WARNING - THIS RAMBLING IS A REAL MESS! This week has been another unpredictable one for me. Sunday did not start well as I had a low grade fever on Saturday night, which meant I did not sleep well. Sunday being Sunday was busy and I looked forward to my Monday off. Sunday night, I slept well and work up early on Monday and had a fun morning doing stuff related to gardening. But then by late afternoon started having headaches and that irritating low grade fever. Suddenly I had very little energy. My eyes could hardly open and even lifting my hands to hold up a book / comic book :-) was cumbersome. So I actually skipped prayer meeting! (Yes I know! It's something I hardly ever do, even when I have a cold!) I figured it is best to just sleep so I wake up on Tuesday morning refreshed and well, knowing that I had a busy week ahead. So I slept early (think by 8 PM I must have been asleep). But as life would have it, I woke up at around 9.30 PM because someone texted me! (I keep my ...

Glad no one has made this suggestion to me yet  :-)

This time a good day of fruitful multi-tasking labour ... :-)

I dream of a day like this! :-) I am planning for a day like this in December 2010!

Am talking about a literal headache. *sigh* Please ... no migraine attack today!! I had to take pain killer last night. One moment okay as usual and then suddenly pain kept building and within half an hour, oh so painful ... And now the sound of my neighbour's lawn mower is adding to the headache :-( Too many things happening at one time this week. And the current stormy weather hasn't helped as it has been waking me up quite a bit. Anyway here's a familiar verse that is so encouraging and a classic peanuts comic strip! 2 Corinthians 12: 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Yes. I also get a lot of exercise. I am so committed to exercise that I also even exercise in my sleep :-). I toss and turn on a regular basis and my legs also move a lot. My nose was running the whole of Tuesday - now that's a lot of exercise. :-)

The Ideal / Perfect Pastor .... from various sources :-) I had better not add my own lest it be misunderstood. LOL The Perfect Pastor The perfect pastor preaches exactly 10 minutes. He condemns sin roundly but never hurts anyone’s feelings. He works from 8am until midnight and is also the church janitor. The perfect pastor makes $40 a week, wears good clothes, drives a good car, buys good books, and donates $30 a week to the church. He is 29 years old and has 40 years experience. Above all, he is handsome. The perfect pastor has a burning desire to work with teenagers, and he spends most of his time with the senior citizens. He smiles all the time with a straight face because he has a sense of humor that keeps him seriously dedicated to his church. He makes 15 home visits a day and is always in his office to be handy when needed. The perfect pastor always has time for church council and all of its committees. He never misses the meeting of any church organizat...

Another reason to read comics! :-) BTW, I recommend Jesus as the ultimate real superhero that will never let you down.

How do I comment on this comic strip without being misinterpreted? :-)

It is lovely to read old comic strips like Peanuts (now classic peanuts). Isn't Snoopy's example what we all need to do and see more often?

This is too funny to resist posting up!