a flying fish and dub

Years ago I lived next door to the perfect neighbor. His name was Dub. He was an avid sportsman and often included me on his Saturday adventures into the woods and wilds of Northern Colorado.

Dub has since gone on to his eternal reward, but I think about him often. My favorite memories of Dub center on the occasions when we grappled with spiritual matters. He often surprised me with his well thought out answers to my many questions. He made sense out of deep and profound concepts. Dub answered questions without making a person feel dumb and embarrassed for not knowing the answer.

I discovered this one fall morning on the first of many fishing expeditions with Dub. We loaded up his old truck with fly rods, waders and tackle. By 5 AM we were rumbling toward The Poudre canyon and the great fishing spot he had told me about.

The first light of dawn sliced through the canyon to meet us as we donned our gear and began making our way down to the treasured "s" curves of the river below. Dub stopped and pointed silently at the river. Looking down at the dark water I saw a small triangular shaped patch of light playing on the surface of the river. The outlines of four fish were illuminated by the sudden splash of sunlight. Dub turned to me. His voice just above a whisper, "Isn't that the perfect picture of how God works?"

"I guess I'm not sure what you mean."

"Those fish were there all along, but we didn't know it. A higher source, in this case the sun, had to do something to help us see." He looked at me to gauge my reaction. My face no doubt belied my lack of understanding. Dub persisted. "Don't you see? The truth about God is all around us, but we don't have a clue. We can't see it until God opens our eyes and then suddenly he reveals himself and we see the truth."

It was my initiation in to what I call Dub's Bible Basics for Dummies Like Me. That Saturday as we fished together standing waist deep in the frigid water of the Cache Le Poudre River, Dub began to teach me about God and His creation. Woven into the memory of that day is the joy of catching a lot of fish and having a great deal of discussion about the nature of God.

At one point I asked, "Dub, are you saying that God actually reveals himself in nature?"

"Sure, its what the theologians call general revelation."

"You'll have to explain that one, Dub."

"Its simply the idea that a man can figure some things out about God just by looking at the things God created. The Bible puts it like this." To my surprise Dub reached into his pocket and pulled out a little book which I supposed was a Bible. He began reading. "because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse."

Dub put the tiny Bible back in his pocket before continuing. "Although we can't possible fathom everything about an infinite and divine being like God, it is clear that we have been given enough information about God that we have no excuse not to acknowledge Him."

"But aren't you making an assumption that there is a God and that he created everything?

"You're right on both accounts." Dub conceded. "But what if, for the sake of argument, we decided to proceed under those assumptions?" He stopped to collect his thoughts. "After all, didn't we sort of do that this morning before we left the house?"

"Sorry, Dub, you lost me again."

"Well, I told you that I knew about a great fishing hole, right?"

"Right."

"So, did you know for sure that you would catch fish here?"

"No, but I had a pretty good idea that I would."

"So you made an assumption. And I'm betting you're glad you made that assumption." He winked at me as I nodded affirmatively. "But let me ask you this." Dub stopped talking momentarily to adjust the tension on his line. "What if you had made the assumption that there were no fish and therefore decided not to make the trip this morning?"
I could see where he was going. "I would have been wrong and..."

"You would have missed something really great wouldn't you."

Suddenly as if on cue the tip of my rod dipped violently toward the water. I instinctively lifted my rod and gripped the line to keep it taut. The fish broke the surface exposing his white belly, and flared gills, revealing the red intricacy within. Twisting and bucking he cleared the water by his own length or more. I struggled to keep the tension on the line, but the Herculean leap toward me had too much power and velocity behind it. The elk hair caddis that had been lodged in his mouth was suddenly free and the fish was gone. For a moment the only sound I could hear was the rapid drumming of my heartbeat in my ears.

Dub continued talking as I inspected my leader. "So why can't we talk about God from the assumption that there actually is a God? If we're wrong, no harm done. But, if we are right… Well, we might just find something good."

It was a reasonable proposition. We fished and talked until the sun slipped behind the western peaks. Exhausted and fulfilled we made our way back to the truck. As we drove home I thought of one last question I needed to ask. I found the right words as the headlights of Dub's truck illuminated his driveway.

"Dub, today while we were talking about God." He looked at me over the rim of his glasses. "You said a lot of things that came out of the Bible. Right?"

"Yeah, you're right."

"Well, I don't mean to be hard headed or anything, but what would you say to the man who is not so sure he believes in the Bible?"

Dub smiled and said, "Well, I would say to him, 'You know, I read about this great fishing place up on the Big Thompson. Why don't we go check it out?'"

a simple friends a real friends

A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

A simple friend doesn't know your first and last
names.
A real friend has your home and cell phone
numbers
in his address book.

A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your
party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and
stays late to help you clean.


A simple friend hates it when you call after he
has gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.


A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your
problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your
problems.

A simple friend always critize you in every way.
A real friend always support you all the way.

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps
himself.


A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when
you HAVE an argument.
A real friend calls you after you had a fight.


A simple friend expects you to always be there for
them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!

tommorow maybe too late

If you're mad with someone , and nobody's there
to fix the situation... You fix it .
Maybe today, that person still wants to be your
friend . And if u don't, tomorrow can be too late
.

If you're in love with somebody , but that person
doesn't know... tell her/him.
Maybe today, that person is also in love with you
.
And if you don't say it, tomorrow can be too late
.

If you really want to kiss somebody... kiss
her/him.
Maybe that person wants a kiss from you, too .
And if you don't kiss her/him today, tomorrow can
be too late .

If you still love a person that you think has
forgetten you... tell
her/him.
Maybe that person have always loved you. And if
you don't tell her/him today , tomorrow can be too
late.

If you need a hug of a friend... ask her/him for
it.
Maybe they need it more than you do. And if you
don't ask for it today, tomorrow can be too late.

If you really have friends who you appreciate...
tell them.
Maybe they appreciate you as well. That if you
don't and they leave or go far away today ,
tomorrow can be too late.

If you love your parents, and never had the
chance to show them... do it .
Maybe you have them there to show them how you
feel. That if you don't and they leave today ,
then
tomorrow can be too late.

source picture :http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2370/2449864467_a238d425c5_m.jpg

rose and valentine

Red roses were her favorites, her name was also Rose.
And every year her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows.
The year he died, the roses were delivered to her door.
The card said, "Be my Valentine," like all the years before.

Each year he sent her roses, and the note would always say,
"I love you even more this year, than last year on this day."
"My love for you will always grow, with every passing year."
She knew this was the last time that the roses would appear.

She thought, he ordered roses in advance before this day.
Her loving husband did not know, that he would pass away.
He always liked to do things early, way before the time.
Then, if he got too busy, everything would work out fine.

She trimmed the stems, and placed them in a very special vase.
Then, sat the vase beside the portrait of his smiling face.
She would sit for hours, in her husband's favorite chair.
While staring at his picture, and the roses sitting there.

A year went by, and it was hard to live without her mate.
With loneliness and solitude, that had become her fate.
Then, the very hour, as on Valentines before,
The doorbell rang, and there were roses, sitting by her door

She brought the roses in, and then just looked at them in shock.
Then, went to get the telephone, to call the florist shop.
The owner answered, and she asked him, if he would explain,
Why would someone do this to her, causing her such pain?

"I know your husband passed away, more than a year ago,"
The owner said, "I knew you'd call, and you would want to know."
"The flowers you received today, were paid for in advance."
"Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance."

"There is a standing order, that I have on file down here,
And he has paid, well in advance, you'll get them every year.
There also is another thing, that I think you should know,
He wrote a special little card...he did this years ago."

"Then, should ever, I find out that he's no longer here,
That's the card...that should be sent, to you the following year."
She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard.
Her fingers shaking, as she slowly reached to get the card.

Inside the card, she saw that he had written her a note.
Then, as she stared in total silence, this is what he wrote...
"Hello my love, I know it's been a year since I've been gone,
I hope it hasn't been too hard for you to overcome."

"I know it must be lonely, and the pain is very real.
For if it was the other way, I know how I would feel.
The love we shared made everything so beautiful in life.
I loved you more than words can say, you were the perfect wife."

"You were my friend and lover, you fulfilled my every need.
I know it's only been a year, but please try not to grieve.
I want you to be happy, even when you shed your tears.
That is why the roses will be sent to you for years."

"When you get these roses, think of all the happiness,
That we had together, and how both of us were blessed.
I have always loved you and I know I always will.
But, my love, you must go on, you have some living still."

"Please...try to find happiness, while living out your days.
I know it is not easy, but I hope you find some ways.
The roses will come every year, and they will only stop,
When your door's not answered, when the florist stops to knock."

"He will come five times that day, in case you have gone out.
But after his last visit, he will know without a doubt,
To take the roses to the place, where I've instructed him,
And place the roses where we are, together once again."

taken from : http://www.indianchild.com/valentine_roses.htm

stepped on a duck

Three women die together in an accident and
go
to
> heaven. When they Get there, The Angel
says, "We only
> have one rule here in heaven. Don't Step on the
> ducks."
>
> So they enter heaven, and sure enough, there
are ducks
> all over the place. It is almost impossible not to
> step on a duck, and although they try their best to
> avoid them, the first woman accidentally steps
on one.
> Along comes The Angel with the ugliest man
she
ever
> saw. The Angel chains them together and
says, "Your
> punishment for stepping on a duck is to spend
eternity
> with this ugly man!"
>
> The next day, the second woman accidentally
steps on
> a duck, and along comes The Angel, who
doesn't miss a
> thing, and with him is another extremely ugly
man. He
> chains them together with the same punishment
as the
> first woman.
>
> The third woman has observed all this and,
doesn't
> want to be chained For all eternity to an ugly
man, is
> very, VERY careful where she steps.
>
> She manages to go months without stepping on
any
> ducks, but one day The Angel comes up to her
with the
> most handsome man she has ever laid Eyes
on... very
> tall, tan, muscular, and with good hair. The Angel
> chains them together without saying a word.
>
> The woman remarks, "I wonder what I did to
deserve
> being with you for all of eternity?" And the guy
says,
> "Well, I don't know what you did,but I stepped on
a
> duck."

blnce sheet of life

THE BALANCE SHEET OF LIFE
>|
>|
>| Birth is our Opening Balance!
>| Death is our Closing Balance!
>| Prejudiced Views are our Liabilities
>| Our Creative Ideas are our Assets
>|
>|
>| Heart is our Current Asset
>| Soul is our Fixed Asset
>| Brain is our Fixed Deposit
>| Thinking is our Current Account
>| Achievements are our Capital
>|
>| Character & Morals, our Stock-in-Trade
>| Friends are our General Reserves
>| Values & Behaviour are our Goodwill
>| Patience is our Interest Earned
>| Love is our Dividend
>| Children are our Bonus Issues
>|
>|
>| Education is Brands / Patents
>| Knowledge is our Investment
>| Experience is our Premium Account
>| The Aim is to Tally the Balance Sheet accurately.
>| The Goal is to get the Best Presented Accounts Award.
>|
>|
>| Some very good and very bad things...
>|
>| The most destructive habit......................Worry
>| The greatest joy...............................Giving
>|
>| The greatest loss................Loss of self-respect
>| The most satisfying work...............Helping others
>| The ugliest personality trait.............Selfishness
>|
>| The most endangered species.........Dedicated leaders
>| Our greatest natural resource...............Our youth
>| The greatest "shot in the arm"..........Encouragement
>| The greatest problem to overcome.................Fear
>| The most effective sleeping pill........Peace of mind
>|
>| The most crippling failure disease............Excuses
>| The most powerful force in life..................Love
>| The most dangerous pariah..................A gossiper
>| The world's most incredible computer........The brain
>| The worst thing to be without....................Hope
>|
>| The deadliest weapon.......................The tongue
>| The two most power-filled words..............."I Can"
>| The greatest asset..............................Faith
>| The most worthless emotion..................Self-pity
>| The most beautiful attire......................SMILE!
>|
>| The most prized possession..................Integrity
>| The most powerful channel of communication.....Prayer
>| The most contagious spirit.................Enthusiasm
>| The most important thing in life..................God.

10 rules of kissing

1) When kissing, make sure your eyes are
closed
(you can peek a little, but nothing more!).

2) When you are kissing someone, make sure
it is
not someone else's b/f or g/f!

3) You may NOT eat pizza anytime before you
make out.

4) If a person is a bad kisser, you may NOT
stop
and leave at anytime-it's rude.

5) A person with braces may not kiss another
person who has them.

6) When kissing, make sure your hands are
where
they're allowed (they can wander sometimes,
and
some people don't like that).

7) NEVER ask someone if they're a good
kisser-
you will either get a wrong answer, or the truth
will
hurt you.

8) If you were expecting more than kissing,
don't
complain-you will get less the next time.

9) Kissing more than one 1 person in a day
can
result in you not being allowed to kiss one of
those
people anymore.

10) Don't kiss someone for the first time while
you
are laying in their bed.

wish you know i love you

I wish she know bout it
Message: As I sat there in English class, I stared
at the girl
next to me. She was my so called "best friend". I
stared at her long, silky hair, and wished she was
mine. But she didn't notice me like that, and I
knew it. After class, she walked up to me and
asked me for the notes she had missed the day
before and handed them to her. She said "thanks"
and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I wanted to tell
her, I want her to know that I don't want to be just
friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I don't
know why.

11th grade
The phone rang. On the other end, it was her. She
was in tears, mumbling on and on about how her
love had broke her heart. She asked me to come
over because she didn't want to be alone, so I did.
As I sat next to her on the sofa, I stared at her soft
eyes, wishing she was mine. After 2 hours, one
Drew Barrymore movie, and three bags of chips,
she decided to go to sleep. She looked at me,
said "thanks" and gave me a kiss on the cheek. I
want to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want
to be just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and
I don't know why.

Senior year
The day before prom she walked to my locker. "My
date is sick" she said; he's not going to go well, I
didn't have a date, and in 7th grade, we made a
promise that if neither of us had dates, we would
go together just as "best friends". So we did.
Prom night, after everything was over, I was
standing at her front door step! I stared at her as
she smiled at me and stared at me with her crystal
eyes. I want her to be mine, but she isn't think of
me like that, and I know it. Then she said "I had
the best time, thanks!" and gave me a kiss on the
cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to know that I
don't want to be just friends, I love her but I'm just
too shy, and I don't know why.

Graduation Day
A day passed, then a week, then a month. Before
I could blink, it was graduation day. I watched as
her perfect body floated like an angel up on stage
to get her diploma. I wanted her to be mine, but
she didn't notice me like that, and I knew it. Before
everyone went home, she came to me in her
smock and hat, and cried as I hugged her. Then
she lifted her head from my shoulder and
said, "you're my best friend, thanks" and gave me
a kiss on the cheek. I want to tell her, I want her to
know that I don't want to be just friends, I love her
but I'm just too shy, and I don't know why.

A Few Years Later
Now I sit in the pews of the church. That girl is
getting married now. I watched her say "I do" and
drive off to her new life, married to another man. I
wanted her to be mine, but she didn`t see me like
that, and I knew it. But before she drove away, she
came to me and said "you came!". She
said "thanks" and kissed me on the cheek. I want
to tell her, I want her to know that I don't want to be
just friends, I love her but I'm just too shy, and I
don't know why.

Funeral
Years passed, I looked down at the coffin of a girl
who used to be my "best friend". At the service,
they read a diary entry she had wrote in her high
school years. This is what it read:
"I stare at him wishing he was mine, but he
doesn't notice me like that, and I know it.
I want to tell him,
I want him to know that I don't want to be just
friends,
I love him
but I'm just too shy,
and I don't know why.
I wish he would tell me he loved me!
I wish I did too...
I thought to my self, and I cried.
I Love U
I Love U
I Love U
I Love U
I Love U
I Love U
I Love U
I Love U
I Love U
I Love U..."

what kind of milshke are you

You are Choclate!

You are calm and easygoing you make others feel soothed... You are often a favorite to everyone! Everyone Loves you!