Out Of Time

There are several reality shows that I enjoy on HGTV, History Channel and Discovery Channel. One of my biggest complaints with some of these shows are the time constraints that are placed on the participants. I understand competition and the need to fill a specific time segment, but when this comes down to the participant not being able to do his/her best work because of time constraints, I protest.

On design shows, some have quirky rules, such as only using things you can get in a pet store and designing a room around those materials. That’s fine. But no real designer of worth is going to run madly around and put something together in a slap dash way and expect real results. I quickly got tired of those kinds of shows and quit watching them. Not to mention the back-stabbing, whining and crying. The real design shows have a design presented and the rest of the show is watching it all come together.

“Forged in Fire” is a show that Marv and I really enjoy, except for the stupid time limits. You cannot make a quality edged product without taking your time to do a good job. Again, I understand the competition aspect, but you’re asking reasonably experienced smiths and metalworkers to do their sloppy best in the time allowed. When the final two contestants are allowed to go home to their own forge to make something that is when you will really see some fine work. Again, there is a time constraint, but it’s much more manageable to get something done when you have more than 3 or 4 hours to put something together.

One show that I had high hopes for and was bitterly disappointed in was “Steampunk’d” on GSN. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Steampunk and was so jazzed about this show. Expect for the Steampunk theme, it was just another design show with all the back-stabbing, whining, crying and time constraints. If they’d given the contestants more time to create and not worry about filming all the interpersonal drama, if would have been a much better show.

I’m all for keeping it real, but tying the contestant’s hands with time limits is not worth my time watching it.

Pray, Praise and Give Thanks

The last four months have been a real time of trial for me. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. I have hosted several pity parties where I’ve been the only (dis)honored guest. A bit of perspective has finally broken through, though.

Prayer has always been a big part of my life, and God’s grace and mercy have been abundant. But in times of trial, I tend to forget about that and focus on the trial I’m going through at the moment. Most are familiar with the A.C.T.S. form for prayer. Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. When the going gets tough, I tend to go straight to Supplication. And I almost never touch on Thanksgiving. Until afterward.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil 4:6-7

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1Thess 5:16-18

I KNOW all this stuff! I was raised with it!! And then there’s the biggest poke in the chest of them all…when St. Paul was given the thorn in his flesh:

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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.”

WHO AM I TO COMPLAIN??? And yet, I still do. But things have become a little clearer recently. If not for the kidney issues, my cough would not have been exacerbated. I would not have gotten an xray and CT scan of my lungs. I would not have seen a pulmonologist. I would not have discovered that a combination of reflux and severe sleep apnea was the root of the lung issues. I certainly would not have had the sleep apnea addressed this quickly.

So while I may not boast about my weaknesses, and still have the tendency to whine and complain, I can definitely GIVE THANKS for the kidney issues that started this whole thing.

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Ps 136:1

May 2018 Book Report

The Case of the Rolling Bones (1939) by Earl Stanley Gardner

A Perry Mason book. Uncle Alden made his fortune in the Klondike. Now greedy relatives say he’s senile and can’t handle his finances. We’ve been watching old Perry Mason episodes on TV and this book was made into one of the episodes.

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The Compass Rose (1982) by Ursula K. LeGuin

Short stories. Very depressing except for two of them. I had noticed that her short stories tended to be on the dark side.

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Deborah Goes to Dover (1992) by Marion Chesney

Regency Romance. Miss Pym meets the lovely Lady Deborah, who prefers to masquerade in men’s clothes for more freedom. Lord Ashton sees beyond the clothes to the lady inside.

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McNally’s Luck (1992) by Lawrence Sanders

The first in a series about Archy McNally, an investigator for his father’s business. A rich man’s kitty is kidnapped for an outrageous ransom. Another case involves Archy’s neighbors Lydia and Rod Gillsworth.

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The Glass Books of the Dream Eaters (2006) by Gordon Dahlquist

WEIRD BOOK!! I LOVED IT!! The lovely adventuress Celeste, the sinister Cardinal Chang and the righteous Dr. Svenson team up to fight against the Cabal of evil doers in a Steampunk adventure.

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Death Rides a Sorrel Horse (1946) by A.B. Cunningham

This book is one of a series about Sheriff Jess Roden. A mixture of a Western with a Mystery. Sheriff Jess finds out who killed Camille and tied her to her horse. I really enjoyed this one.

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