How Many Kings?

How many kings stepped down from their thrones,
How many lords have abandoned their homes,
How many greats have become the least for me?
How many gods have poured out their hearts
To romance a world that has torn all apart?
How many fathers gave up their sons for me?

From "How Many Kings"
Downhere
Martel/Germain

Doesn't matter how many times I hear this song it still brings tears to my eyes.  And I hear it at least once a day.  No matter what I've done, no matter what you've done, God still loves me and He still loves you, and He wants us all to come back home to Him.

Senor Patron

Had dinner with a friend a couple of nights ago at Senor Patron, an "authentic Mexican Restaurant" in the Irongate Mall, Hibbing, MN.  Yes, I know I didn't spell "senor" correctly, haven't figured out the code, and since they didn't have it always spelled correctly on all of their stuff I feel less concerned about it.

Food and service wasn't bad, but was, well, different.  It was on Friday evening, so I could cut some slack for that, but the restaurant was not busy by any means.  I ordered a combination plate that included a chile rellenos, my friend ordered a taco salad.  My plate was delivered several (maybe 5?) minutes before the other plate was delivered.   I can't speak for the taco salad, but although I have had several variations on the chile rellenos theme, I have never had one which had ground beef in it.  Or, for that matter, where the seed pod thingy was left in it.  Just a bit strange, I thought.

I think El Potro in Grand Rapids has much better service, and I think that El Potro's chile rellenos combination plate is the best I have ever enjoyed.  Just my opinion, for what it's worth.

Which way now?

'Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly, as she did not at all know whether it would like the name: however, it only grinned a little wider. 'Come, it's pleased so far,' thought Alice, and she went on. 'Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?'

'That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat.

'I don't much care where--' said Alice.

'Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat.

'--so long as I get somewhere,' Alice added as an explanation.

'Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, 'if you only walk long enough.'

How to Train Your Dragon

A good movie.   I want a plush Toothless.  I don't know how they did it, but they made a fearsome, mean dragon look like a cat look like a fish act like a kitten and be cuddly all at the same time.  And this is another movie that is well worth seeing in 3D with all the flying involved.  My only regret was that I ate wayyy too much popcorn.

Alice In Wonderland

I really enjoyed Tim Burton's treatment of Alice in Wonderland.  He didn't abuse any of the characters, if anything I thought that he added some depth to the characters and I didn't feel that he tried to change any of them.  The new story didn't change any of the old story facts but added on to it in a logical sequence.  In fact, I think that Charles Dodgson would have enjoyed this story.

I was only disappointed in one tiny matter.  Yes, I know that ""The Hunting of the Snark" isn't an "Alice" story, but it is certainly closely related and shares some characters.  At the end of the new Alice we see her standing on the bow of her ship.  I thought it would have been a nice touch to have tied a rudder to the bowsprit, but somehow, Burton missed that opportunity.  Doesn't hurt the movie at all, and only a true Dodgson fan would ever think of that.

I will have to add the DVD to my collection when I rebuild it, and I want to get the soundtrack as well, I really enjoyed the music, it added a fitting touch.

Disappointment = His appointment

DISAPPOINTMENT

Disappointment - His appointment,
Change one letter, then I see
That the thwarting of my purpose
Is God's better choice for me.

His appointment must be blessing
Though it may come in disguise
For the end from the beginning,
Open to His wisdom lies.

Disappointment - His appointment
Whose? The Lord's who loves best.
Understands and knows me fully,
Who my faith and love would test.

For like loving, earthy parent
He rejoices when He knows
That His child accepts unquestioned
All that from His wisdom flows.

Disappointment - His appointment
No good thing will he withhold
From denials oft we gather
Treasures from His love untold.

Well, He knows each broken purpose
Leads to fuller deeper trust
And the end of all His dealings
Proves our God is wise and just.

Disappointment - His appointment
Lord I take it then as such,
Like the clay in hands of potter
Yielding wholly to Thy touch

All my life's plan is Thy molding
Not one single choice be mine
Let me answer unrepining,
Father not my will but Thine.

Lyrics By Anonymous

from "Love Broke Thru" by Phil Keaggy

www.philkeaggy.com

Goals

I've finally made it to the point where I'm beginning to realize that I need some goals beyond mere survival.  My goals for the last year or so have pretty much involved shelter, transport, and food.  Now I need to go beyond that and start thinking about what my future will look like 1 year, 5 years, 20 years from now.    And I can set these goals without worrying about what anyone else thinks or cares about them.  Feels kinda weird, but there it is.  So, I'm going to spend the next few days in a focused brainstorming session working toward developing my list of goals.

As someone said, If you aim at nothing you will certainly hit it.

Some websites that appear to have good and helpful info:

http://www.assessment.com

http://www.mindtools.com/

http://www.success77.com/

http://www.goal-setting-guide.com