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"Do You Want Red or Green?"

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“Do you want green or red with that?” I can remember the first time I was asked that question! I was eating in a New Mexican restaurant in Santa Fe, NM. It was my lunch break while attending a training conference at Glorieta. I was stumped at first and simply asked, “Could I get those on the side?!” I did not have the foggiest idea what that question really meant. But, these many years later, I can now say emphatically, “I know how tasty green chiles are!” Truth be told, I have fallen into “culinary love” with the chile pepper!! This may sound sick, but I dream about green chiles! I even grow them in my backyard box! Now, I have family that prefer processed red chiles, but I do not share their passion for the red! Green is my choice! I’ve ordered jars of them from Weck’s, my favorite breakfast and lunch restaurant, and had them mailed to me by the case! I like green chiles in my scrambled eggs, layered in a beef and cheese-filled tortilla casserole dish, and combined along with relish
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The Instant Noodles Craze!

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Did you take note during the Pandemic of 2020 that the shelves in the big box grocery stores displaying rice and noodles were often laid bare? I was told that these staples were important to families who had to prepare quick meals for their children who were home and doing remote learning during that time. In these days since, I have observed that the demand for these items has been so strong that the grocers are making additional space for stocking and expanding the sales of these types of ready-to-go meals. Image Credit: lotusfoods.com Several news outlets covered an accident recently that occurred near Little Rock, Arkansas and could have threatened the re-stocking efforts of instant noodles! This must have sent "shock waves" throughout the country among those passionate about their Ramen noodles!  It was reported that an 18-wheeler, semi-truck carrying 20,000 pounds of this brand product left the roadway and slipped on its side into a lake about 30 miles north of the city
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Living on the Edge!

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In these days, we are back to flying after being “grounded” for nearly 18 months by the Covid-19 Pandemic! It’s a good feeling to be able to re-connect with our family in New Mexico and Texas this summer. Speaking of being grounded… we even took our first leg of the flight west from St. Louis to Dallas on a brand new Boeing 737 Super Max 800 series. This is the airplane that had been grounded for nearly two years after two fatal crashes that were caused by a faulty flight control system. I did not know what specific plane we were on until we were pushing back from the gate and I looked forward at the flight information brochure in the seatback pocket! Although, thankfully, this turned out to be a non-event for us, I will leave the specifics of this story for another time!  Image Credit: clipart-library.com Most commercial airplanes fly to an altitude of about 35,000 feet. In recent days, the term “Edge of Space” has become descriptive of the feat accomplished by Richard Branson, the bi
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What's On Your Mind?

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Have you noticed how psychology is used in assessing sports today? I hear golf caddies going back and forth with PGA golfers as they review their play pad of notes about distances and club choices. Sometimes these conversations are enhanced by a microphone nearby that allows me to hear the substance of these collaborations. Recently, I heard Tom Lewis' caddie give this final word of advice before the next stroke, "Just trust your numbers!" I could hear in that phrase an attempt to encourage and bolster confidence in one's competence and experience. Image Credit: depositphotos.com After another hard fought game in a losing season that ended in an extra inning win this time for my languishing St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, I listened as manager, Mike Shildt, summarized the game using a bit of psychology during his post-game interview. He responded to a reporter's question by saying, "Very gritty win... scratching and clawing! Grit's an amazing attribute
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How's Your Hearing?

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  It is interesting how you are treated when you enter your senior years. Some donut shops want to give you a discount. Passerby’s sometimes look at you and your spouse with that look like they are thinking, “God bless that sweet couple! They are still holding hands and are ambulatory enough to shop at a big box store together!” Then, there is the annual wellness appointment with the nurse practitioner. At check-in, you are handed several sheets of health survey questions along with a clipboard and pen as you are told to sit and work on “your homework!” The first thing I noted was that the heading stated this survey was for those 70-79 years old! Image Credit: istockphoto.com After completion, I was then called back for my evaluation by the doctor/nurse practitioner. Please understand that I like our lady healthcare professional. She is friendly, competent and efficient. She has served both my wife and me very well over these last few years. We trust her judgments on our behalf and thi
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Better Than a Venus Flytrap!

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My beloved wife has many gifts, but one that is little known is her ability to capture (and sometimes release to the outdoors) pesky flies that follow us into the house each summer season! With a fluid motion and sweeping hand, she is nearly flawless in grasping her prey. The Venus Flytrap can close its hinged blades in a half-second of movement! I believe Monique is even quicker! When I compare her to the super hero of my childhood, she is almost “faster than a speeding bullet and more powerful than a locomotive,” but she’s not “able to leap tall buildings at a single bound” like she used to though! Image credit: istockphoto.com I marveled today as she captured two of our evasive and airborne pests! One was creeping up and down the window sill and the other was resting on the curved side of the lavatory basin. The latter catch was nothing short of miraculous in technique! I suggested after this deftly feat of cupped hand dexterity that the International Olympic Committee should consid
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Givers Give!

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I have made an observation based upon a study of the spiritual gifts and the related areas of the spiritual disciplines in the Bible. Simply stated: caring people care, teachers and preachers teach and preach, prayer "warriors" pray, the merciful show mercy, encouragers encourage, and so on down the list of possible categories for service. My conclusion in the matter is that you can identify a believer's spiritual gift mix and the spiritual disciplines that define development in the faith by observing the actions and outcomes of their life in Christ.  When this is applied to giving and generosity, I can declare with sincerity that "givers have to give!" Recently, it was reported in the news that two individuals I do not know personally gave large monetary gifts away. It's what they do! Scott Kolbrenner donated all of his $145,000 winnings as a contestant on Wheel of Fortune to two local charities in Los Angeles. Verda Tetteh, a high school senior with a full
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