From the February 7, 2007 edition of The Messenger newspaper)
Heaven – Is There Such a Place?
Dr. Sellers S. Crain, Jr. Rivergate Church of Christ, Madison Tennessee
Is there life after death? In a Calvin and Hobbs comic strip, Calvin asked Hobbs, "What if there is no after life? Suppose this is all we get?" Hobbs answered, "What the heck. I’ll take it anyway." Calvin responded, "Yeah, but if we aren't going to eventually be rewarded for our behavior, I'd like to know it now." Apparently a lot of folks agree with Calvin. A recent poll found that 89% of the Americans questioned believed in heaven, and most of them believed they are going there no matter how they live their life here.
What if there is no heaven? Have you ever really thought about it that way? If heaven does not exist, it would mean that when we die, that would be the end of our existence. The grave would be our final resting place where our bodies would await decay and putrification with no hope of resurrection. It would mean that our loved ones who died in the Lord are gone forever, and will have no hope of ever seeing them again.
Recently there was a rebroadcast of a Barbara Walters special asking the question Does Heaven Exist, and Where Is It? Ms. Walters interviewed several people from various backgrounds and religious persuasions about this question.
The number included the Dali Lama, an imprisoned Muslim terrorist and even some atheist. How can a Buddhist "spiritual leader" who does not even believe in God, a Muslim Terrorist who does not believe in Jehovah God of the Bible, and an atheist add anything to the question of whether there is a heaven or not?
Ms Walters herself when promoting her program was as asked in an interview if she believed in heaven. Her response was revealing. She paused for a few moments, as if stumbling to say the right words, and then she answered, "I am sure it is comforting to believe that heaven exists." Ms. Walters and others of her persuasion (Jewish) would say that we believe in heaven because we need to believe in heaven. I strongly disagree with that assessment and believe that we have a lot of good reasons to believe heaven exists, Let me discuss two of them with you.
WE BELIEVE IN HEAVEN BE CAUSE GOD IS THERE.
Jesus called heaven "My Father's house...” (John 14:2). Speaking for God, the Prophet Isaiah wrote, "For thus says the High and Lofty One, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place" (Isaiah 57:15). David was persuaded that he would live in "the house of the Lord forever" (Psalm 23:6) There are several verses in the Revelation that declare the fact that God lives in heaven (7:15; 21:3, 7; 22:1-5).
What it will mean to be in God's house? Have you ever wanted to live like Adam and Eve did before the fall? In heaven you can. All of our real needs will be provided. A crystal stream flowing from God’s throne will water Heaven. The tree of life will be there to provide health and healing (Revelation 22:1, 2). The darkness of night will never shroud that place (Revelation 22:5). "All things will be made new" (Revelation 21:4). There will be no hospitals, no drugstores, no funeral homes, no cemeteries, and no more tears.
Knocking at Heaven’s Door from Larry Womack
I’m dead. And who is the first person I see in heaven? My old preacher, Pickens Johnson from Buchanan Street Methodist Church. I haven’t seen him since going away to college.
The welcome center in heaven looks a lot like the grand ballroom of a Marriott convention hotel where I once stayed in Los Angeles. There are a couple of hundred people just milling around nodding at one another. No food or drink is being served.
I’m wearing tan chinos, sneakers, and a navy blue lightweight sweatshirt like they sell at Target. There is nothing in my pockets.
I look for other familiar faces. I recognize my maternal grandmother, my mother, Al, who played piano in my band, and my wife, Diane. They acknowledge my presence but don’t come over to personally greet me. Continuing to look around, I see several other people from my past that I didn’t even know were dead. There are no famous people present nor are there midgets. Everyone is white and speaks (American) English.
A man in a clerical collar approaches the rostrum. “Testing (screech!) one, two, three. Would someone turn the microphone down please?”
“My name is Dr. Sellers S. Crain, Jr. former Pastor of Rivergate Church of Christ in Madison Tennessee. It is a pleasure to welcome you newcomers to heaven. For your information and much to my surprise, there is no sectarianism here only Christians. It is just my turn to introduce God to those of you who have just arrived. Though most of you are new, you may notice persons in the audience with whom you are familiar – family, friends, acquaintances, etc. Their purpose in being here is to assure you that you are dead. Being dead is easy, you have no requirement for food, drink, or rest. The other aspects of being dead will be explained later. In fact your only purpose in death is to worship God and give praise to him ad infinitum. Hallelujah, Amen!”
There is a low smattering of “amens” throughout the assembled.
“And, without further adieu, I present God!”
God steps to the rostrum. He is dressed similarly to me and is bald. I can’t tell if he lost his hair over time, has always look that way, or regularly shaves his head.
Following God onto the stage is obviously Jesus Christ. He is wearing Birkenstock sandals; a brown sackcloth robe with a hemp belt; and has long stringy hair and a beard, just like in the pictures.
Not knowing the protocol, us recently dead people are not sure what to do as God adjusts the microphone. Some of the older dead clap hesitantly and the others just stand there.
“Good Day!”
“Good Day!” we all reply.
“Told you so,” says God leaning to the microphone. He waits for laughter.
Sporadic nervous laughter sprinkles throughout the room.
“How many of you knew Jesus here as your personal savior?”
Every hand was raised. Mine, however, was done so with reluctant hesitation.
Leaning again into the microphone, God says. “Thought so.”
The laughter was more confident than before.
“I’ll ask Jesus to say a few words to you later, but first I want to welcome you to heaven. In heaven you will find no anomalies – only disease-free, white heterosexual, bible-reading, God-fearing Americans.
Speaking of the bible, it is replete with contradictions placed there mostly by well-intentioned, albeit self-serving souls. I hope to clear some of those misunderstandings during my remarks. Jesus will address a few of them as well.
I know the first question that most of you have is what is heaven really like. It is easier to start with what you will not find here. As promised, there is no pain, no disease, no hunger, no thirst, no debate, no work, no fighting, no danger, no injustice, no inequity, no hits, no runs, no errors.”
Sporadic laughing wafts through the room.
“What you will find in heaven is peace, love, and happiness. Contrary to what appears in the bible, the streets are not paved with gold. There are no streets because there is no place to go. This is it. There are no mansions. You do not need housing. Basically what we do is stroll around heaven all day. Day being a euphemism since there is no night.”
There is music, much like that which you heard in the elevators on earth; music that will offend no one. Nothing is offensive here. There is worship. Say amen!”
A loud amen rings through the hall.
And, everyone gets more than one chance to shake my hand and the hand of Jesus. There is no hole in Jesus, so don’t stay with that made-up story and bother him about it. When in our presence there is no need to fall prostrate, bow, or genuflect; a word especially familiar to you Catholics. A simple nod or occasional handshake will do. That’s about it. I will not ask you newcomers for your questions for you will find in heaven there are no answers. None needed. Thank you and welcome . . . Jesus?”
Jesus walking to the microphone says, “Anybody want a glass of wine? Just kidding. Welcome thee to heaven. In just a few moments I will lead thee through that door; heaven awaits. A place of tranquility, equality, continuity, and perpetuity. And as thee knows, I died for the sins of the world so that whole thing about judgment day is just a hoax, made up by those on earth who wanted to control thee. I’ll bet if thee had known that sooner, thee would have had a lot more fun.”
Scattered laughter.
We are glad thee are here. As thee should be; considering the alternative.”
Scattered laughter.
“Now if my staff will open the doors, we will all enter heaven. Follow me”
The doors open. Light floods the room. Jesus leads us into the light.
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Friday, February 2, 2007
God Bless America
God Bless America
One president gets a blowjob and is impeached by Congress. Another president fabricates a crisis to start an unwinable war. All he gets is a non-binding resolution from Congress to stop.
God Bless America. I really mean that.
A friend told me yesterday to buy corn futures because a friend of his told him that the Bush family was now investing in alternative energy sources. His friend said he got that information from the Internet.
At a Christmas party with people I didn’t know, one fellow told me that he lost his job because of Homeland Security (ergo: the 9/11 conspiracy). He had been a dynamite truck driver who, following a minor stroke, had lost vision in one eye. Homeland Security, he said, took away his hazardous materials transport driver’s license for no good reason. Later on that same evening the strapping angry ex-truck driver invited me out back to smoke a joint with him.
God Bless America. I really mean that.
The Federal Reserve is in cahoots with foreigners to ruin the economy of the United States. The Reserve is whimsically printing dollar bills that have no value to make it appear that we are all better off than we really are. To me it looks like most of us are doing reasonably well, but that may be just an illusion created by the World Bank and the Federal Reserve to throw me off.
The stock market people must be in on the financial conspiracy, it’s reaching all-time highs just about everyday; giving me a false sense of security.
God Bless America. I really mean that.
I’m told that honest hard working people, through no faults of their own, are losing their homes to unscrupulous and greedy financial institutions. It seems these folk bought adjustable rate mortgages and the Shylocks are adjusting the rates – up!
Young men and women, who joined the National Guard solely to get the benefits, are now being told that the rifle they were issued when they joined is part of the whole package. I guess, like those being foreclosed upon, the young guardsmen didn’t read the fine print.
God Bless America. I really mean that.
The monolithic corporations of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s are firing workers right and left. Machines are replacing those hard working Americans - a process that started in 1779 in London when Richard Arkwright sold two textile-manufacturing machines to the Smythe Carding and Fulling Mill as replacement for Ned Ludd and his brother. Someone should have seen this industrial revolution coming. They must have been asleep at the lathe.
Doctors are conspiring with hospitals and drug companies to get every penny they can from our elderly. Doctors are trained to treat sickness not in how to keep us well; hospitals take care of us as long as our money holds out; and the drug companies do not want us to know about Black Cohosh, Echinacea, Ephedra, Ginkgo, St. John's Wort, and all the other alternative medicines sold over-the-counter at Walgreen’s. I wonder who is behind all this?
God Bless America. I really mean that.
And, what about the liberal media? Or is it the conservative media? I forget. Rush Limbaugh, Bryan Williams, Larry King, Wolfe Blitzer, Bill O’Reilly, B. B. King, Jon Stewart, Tim Russert, Homer Simpson, Penn and Teller, Katie Couric, all the gay people on TV, Oprah, and Montel Williams? Are they all a part of some grand conspiracy to undermine the American way?
Speaking of the American way, where did all those Muslims and Mexicans come from? It used to be you could pronounce the name of everyone in the neighborhood. Not any more. And what about church? There used to be Protestants, Catholics, a few Jews, and some Holy Rollers. Now there are community churches with no affiliation, karaoke praise services, Christians who don’t believe in Jesus and non-Christian New Agers who do. It’s hard to find a group to beat up on these days.
God Bless America. I really mean that.
For more writings, music, videos, and opinions: www.larrywomack.com
One president gets a blowjob and is impeached by Congress. Another president fabricates a crisis to start an unwinable war. All he gets is a non-binding resolution from Congress to stop.
God Bless America. I really mean that.
A friend told me yesterday to buy corn futures because a friend of his told him that the Bush family was now investing in alternative energy sources. His friend said he got that information from the Internet.
At a Christmas party with people I didn’t know, one fellow told me that he lost his job because of Homeland Security (ergo: the 9/11 conspiracy). He had been a dynamite truck driver who, following a minor stroke, had lost vision in one eye. Homeland Security, he said, took away his hazardous materials transport driver’s license for no good reason. Later on that same evening the strapping angry ex-truck driver invited me out back to smoke a joint with him.
God Bless America. I really mean that.
The Federal Reserve is in cahoots with foreigners to ruin the economy of the United States. The Reserve is whimsically printing dollar bills that have no value to make it appear that we are all better off than we really are. To me it looks like most of us are doing reasonably well, but that may be just an illusion created by the World Bank and the Federal Reserve to throw me off.
The stock market people must be in on the financial conspiracy, it’s reaching all-time highs just about everyday; giving me a false sense of security.
God Bless America. I really mean that.
I’m told that honest hard working people, through no faults of their own, are losing their homes to unscrupulous and greedy financial institutions. It seems these folk bought adjustable rate mortgages and the Shylocks are adjusting the rates – up!
Young men and women, who joined the National Guard solely to get the benefits, are now being told that the rifle they were issued when they joined is part of the whole package. I guess, like those being foreclosed upon, the young guardsmen didn’t read the fine print.
God Bless America. I really mean that.
The monolithic corporations of the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s are firing workers right and left. Machines are replacing those hard working Americans - a process that started in 1779 in London when Richard Arkwright sold two textile-manufacturing machines to the Smythe Carding and Fulling Mill as replacement for Ned Ludd and his brother. Someone should have seen this industrial revolution coming. They must have been asleep at the lathe.
Doctors are conspiring with hospitals and drug companies to get every penny they can from our elderly. Doctors are trained to treat sickness not in how to keep us well; hospitals take care of us as long as our money holds out; and the drug companies do not want us to know about Black Cohosh, Echinacea, Ephedra, Ginkgo, St. John's Wort, and all the other alternative medicines sold over-the-counter at Walgreen’s. I wonder who is behind all this?
God Bless America. I really mean that.
And, what about the liberal media? Or is it the conservative media? I forget. Rush Limbaugh, Bryan Williams, Larry King, Wolfe Blitzer, Bill O’Reilly, B. B. King, Jon Stewart, Tim Russert, Homer Simpson, Penn and Teller, Katie Couric, all the gay people on TV, Oprah, and Montel Williams? Are they all a part of some grand conspiracy to undermine the American way?
Speaking of the American way, where did all those Muslims and Mexicans come from? It used to be you could pronounce the name of everyone in the neighborhood. Not any more. And what about church? There used to be Protestants, Catholics, a few Jews, and some Holy Rollers. Now there are community churches with no affiliation, karaoke praise services, Christians who don’t believe in Jesus and non-Christian New Agers who do. It’s hard to find a group to beat up on these days.
God Bless America. I really mean that.
For more writings, music, videos, and opinions: www.larrywomack.com
Saturday, December 9, 2006
A Matter of Time
My fascination with time began, when as a young boy I had a great deal of time on my hands. I often used much of my endless supply of time sitting under an old weeping willow tree, escaping the summer sun, and dreaming of future exploits and accomplishments.
On any one occasion, I couldn’t tell you if I’d been there for minutes, hours, days, weeks, or eons. It didn’t matter. There was nowhere I had to be and nothing else I had to do. Though I still remember some of those dreams - some of which came to pass and some of which that thanks God didn’t - I mostly remember the setting and the solitude of the experience.
I learned from a museum exhibit I visited years ago in Chicago that the earliest measure of time was a Roman marble hemispherical sundial, believed to have been buried during the time of eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. It was designed to indicate temporal hours. Temporal hours divide each period of daylight and darkness into twelve equal parts. Therefore, the length of hours vary with the seasons. Temporal hours, which were in use in Egypt in the 16th century B.C., remained in common use until the 16th century A.D. – nearly 3,200 years.
My earliest conscious measure of time was darkness. Though my friends and I often continued to congregate after dark, our games were more reserved and quiet. That may have been out of respect for the resting time of the fathers in our working-class neighborhood. Or it may have been that we measured darkness on a different scale than daylight.
As a youth I never thought of time as something separate from me. It was, however, the adults who used phrases like wasting time, spending time, and killing time that taught me that “separation.” As a youth I never wanted time to fly or stop. As a youth there was infinite time for the future, no time like the present, and the past extended only as far back as yesterday.
Albert Einstein devoted considerable energy to thinking about time. He said things like:
“Space and time are modes by which we think, not conditions under which we live.”
"In this world the passage of time brings increasing order. Order is the law of nature. If time is an arrow, that arrow points to order. The future is pattern, organization, union, intensification; the past randomness, confusion, disintegration, dissipation."
Even as an old man, Einstein continued to hold the same truths about time that we all held as young people. He saw the future as an infinite store of time, the present as an observation point, and the past as time blurred. He believed that time and space are continually in the eye of the beholder, not organic consumables.
As we age, time becomes more of a commodity to us. We allocate time to various functions – work time, family time, personal time, recreation time. There is never enough time. We hang clocks on the wall and wear watches to help us keep up with the time. We are early. We are late. We are on time.
Looking back, we think of time as something we wasted or that was well spent. We wish we’d spent more time doing the things that seem important now that evidently didn’t seem as important then. And we promise ourselves that if given another chance we’ll use our time more wisely.
Use our time more wisely. Who wouldn’t want to do that? After all, there is not all that much time left; or is there?
Thomas Jefferson said that all thought is remembering, reasoning, or imagining. By connecting Jefferson’s truth with Einstein’s truth that time is in one’s mind, I’ve concluded that all the time I have is adequate for all that I wish to accomplish.
By intentionally using my memory as a reliable source of lessons learned, my reason as a pragmatic view of that which truly is accomplishable, and by imagining a future full of exploits and accomplishments, I return to the willow tree where time is in endless supply, shade is abundant, and anything is possible. This time, however, I bring with me the wealth of scores yesterdays to add clarity and dimension to my dreamings of tomorrows.
On any one occasion, I couldn’t tell you if I’d been there for minutes, hours, days, weeks, or eons. It didn’t matter. There was nowhere I had to be and nothing else I had to do. Though I still remember some of those dreams - some of which came to pass and some of which that thanks God didn’t - I mostly remember the setting and the solitude of the experience.
I learned from a museum exhibit I visited years ago in Chicago that the earliest measure of time was a Roman marble hemispherical sundial, believed to have been buried during the time of eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. It was designed to indicate temporal hours. Temporal hours divide each period of daylight and darkness into twelve equal parts. Therefore, the length of hours vary with the seasons. Temporal hours, which were in use in Egypt in the 16th century B.C., remained in common use until the 16th century A.D. – nearly 3,200 years.
My earliest conscious measure of time was darkness. Though my friends and I often continued to congregate after dark, our games were more reserved and quiet. That may have been out of respect for the resting time of the fathers in our working-class neighborhood. Or it may have been that we measured darkness on a different scale than daylight.
As a youth I never thought of time as something separate from me. It was, however, the adults who used phrases like wasting time, spending time, and killing time that taught me that “separation.” As a youth I never wanted time to fly or stop. As a youth there was infinite time for the future, no time like the present, and the past extended only as far back as yesterday.
Albert Einstein devoted considerable energy to thinking about time. He said things like:
“Space and time are modes by which we think, not conditions under which we live.”
"In this world the passage of time brings increasing order. Order is the law of nature. If time is an arrow, that arrow points to order. The future is pattern, organization, union, intensification; the past randomness, confusion, disintegration, dissipation."
Even as an old man, Einstein continued to hold the same truths about time that we all held as young people. He saw the future as an infinite store of time, the present as an observation point, and the past as time blurred. He believed that time and space are continually in the eye of the beholder, not organic consumables.
As we age, time becomes more of a commodity to us. We allocate time to various functions – work time, family time, personal time, recreation time. There is never enough time. We hang clocks on the wall and wear watches to help us keep up with the time. We are early. We are late. We are on time.
Looking back, we think of time as something we wasted or that was well spent. We wish we’d spent more time doing the things that seem important now that evidently didn’t seem as important then. And we promise ourselves that if given another chance we’ll use our time more wisely.
Use our time more wisely. Who wouldn’t want to do that? After all, there is not all that much time left; or is there?
Thomas Jefferson said that all thought is remembering, reasoning, or imagining. By connecting Jefferson’s truth with Einstein’s truth that time is in one’s mind, I’ve concluded that all the time I have is adequate for all that I wish to accomplish.
By intentionally using my memory as a reliable source of lessons learned, my reason as a pragmatic view of that which truly is accomplishable, and by imagining a future full of exploits and accomplishments, I return to the willow tree where time is in endless supply, shade is abundant, and anything is possible. This time, however, I bring with me the wealth of scores yesterdays to add clarity and dimension to my dreamings of tomorrows.
Identifying Ignorance
After observing two young men clowning with the cashier at the drive-thru window of a fast food restaurant, I said to her, “Those boys must have been driving you crazy!"
She replied, “No sir, those boys come by here and act like that all the time. They're just funning. I learned a long time ago, if it weren't for some people's ignorance they wouldn't have no fun at all!"
That episode at the drive-thru provoked me to think about ignorance and its role in success and failure. Since that encounter, I’ve identified several types of ignorances that I've run into over the years:
Arrogant Ignorance. Acting mean spirited to cover up a lack of knowledge on a subject. Or assuming that the knowledge one has is more valuable than the knowledge one could acquire. In the business world these are usually successful old white guys.
Educated Ignorance. Thinking that the little letters after one's name on a business card confer expertise in all subjects. Lawyers, doctors, CPAs, insurance salepeople, etc.
Historical Ignorance. Believing there is “nothing new under the sun” and that yesterday’s knowledge is sufficient for today. The only time these people ever learn anything new is from public radio while on the way home from work.
Intentional Ignorance. Deliberately pleading ignorance to eliminate the possibility of increasing one's workload or responsibilities. Many clerical workers fit this bill.
Blissful Ignorance. Lacking even the slightest interest in a subject. Or being totally unaware that a subject exists. It can't be important if these people don't know about it.
Genetic Ignorance. Being mentally incapable of learning anything about a given subject. You can't teach a pig to sing. Trying will only irritate the pig.
Pooled Ignorance. Forming teams or committees to determine, with little or no preparation, to decide the direction of a project. Business, church, or a bunch of drunks.
Please send me any ignorances you've encountered.
She replied, “No sir, those boys come by here and act like that all the time. They're just funning. I learned a long time ago, if it weren't for some people's ignorance they wouldn't have no fun at all!"
That episode at the drive-thru provoked me to think about ignorance and its role in success and failure. Since that encounter, I’ve identified several types of ignorances that I've run into over the years:
Arrogant Ignorance. Acting mean spirited to cover up a lack of knowledge on a subject. Or assuming that the knowledge one has is more valuable than the knowledge one could acquire. In the business world these are usually successful old white guys.
Educated Ignorance. Thinking that the little letters after one's name on a business card confer expertise in all subjects. Lawyers, doctors, CPAs, insurance salepeople, etc.
Historical Ignorance. Believing there is “nothing new under the sun” and that yesterday’s knowledge is sufficient for today. The only time these people ever learn anything new is from public radio while on the way home from work.
Intentional Ignorance. Deliberately pleading ignorance to eliminate the possibility of increasing one's workload or responsibilities. Many clerical workers fit this bill.
Blissful Ignorance. Lacking even the slightest interest in a subject. Or being totally unaware that a subject exists. It can't be important if these people don't know about it.
Genetic Ignorance. Being mentally incapable of learning anything about a given subject. You can't teach a pig to sing. Trying will only irritate the pig.
Pooled Ignorance. Forming teams or committees to determine, with little or no preparation, to decide the direction of a project. Business, church, or a bunch of drunks.
Please send me any ignorances you've encountered.
Saturday, December 2, 2006
Turn Around and Take a Look at Yourself
This is the third and final book in a series of self-help tomes written by the Father of Artificial Intelligence, Larry Womack. The other books are The Grass is Always Browner and Never Take Advice Lying Down.
This book, Turn Around and Take a Look at Yourself, is the basis of a new three-day seminar conducted by Womack in appropriate settings throughout the nation. Look for one near you.
Here is a brief synopsis of the book, Turn Around and Take a Look at Yourself.
Chapter One: Success May be Closer Than It Appears in the Mirror
Womack says, “Learn why what you’re doing right now may be all the success you ever have. Consider when people say you are stupid that they may be right. Sometimes learning to live in mediocrity is a good thing.” He suggests that if you feel you need a motivational speaker to get you going, it might be wiser to just find something not as taxing to do. “Your glass may always be half-empty, “ says Womack. “But on the bright side, many people don’t even have a glass.”
The information in this chapter will put you well on your way to accepting your own inadequacies and developing a plan to maximize them.
Chapter Two: Learn from Your Ignorance
Womack demonstrates how you can save time and energy by relying on your own ignorance and the ignorance of others to develop your opinions. He suggests using the Internet as a primary source of truth and opinion. That way no one can challenge what you say because there is no evidence whether the information is true or not. Believe only what you want to and only seek knowledge from unusual sources. It is a lot easier to rely on the ignorance of others than it is to go to all that trouble on your own. Womack says, “Only read books that support your narrow position on an issue and you won’t ever become confused. And, remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.”
This chapter is replete with shortcuts to knowing-it-all without a great deal of effort.
Chapter Three: The Vegetable Test
Womack’s engaging “Which Vegetable Are You Test?” will help you become the type of vegetable you’ve always wanted to be. “Some people want to be a cucumber. Others would prefer to be a potato. No one ever picks a turnip or a rutabaga. Radishes and scallions are low on the list. Tomatoes (technically a fruit) and yams rank high,” says Womack. “Everybody wants to be a vegetable but just which one is hard to decide.”
This test gets the job done, in record time. You start by defining which vegetable best represents who you are today and then go through the exhaustive list of vegetables Womack has supplied and then pick the top five vegetables you think you’d want to be most like. Narrow it to three and then from the three pick the one that you’d most like to become; then develop a plan of action.”
This maybe the most useful and insightful chapter in the book.
Chapter Four: None of Us is as Dumb as All of Us
This chapter demonstrates the strengths and weakness of teamwork. Womack opines that when individuals form teams almost anything is possible. He concludes that most meetings are based on the concept of “pooled ignorance.” Leaders often assume that the more minds that are at the table equates to higher intellectual acuity and better decisions. That’s why leaders often bring in people from across the organization and from outside to participate in their planning and strategy sessions. “You never know where a better idea might come from.” Womack suggests. “It is important to note that using a team approach also spreads the responsibility for whatever failures that might come from the groupthink; thus absolving leadership from any personal accountability.
Chapter Five: Finding Someone to Blame
This chapter exposits the concept of finding others to blame for bad ideas and the poor execution of them. “It’s not always your fault no matter how guilty you might feel. There’s always someone else you can blame for failures, if you just look hard enough and in the right places,” says Womack. He suggests that even those who attempt to hold you accountable may be at fault themselves. Maybe their expectations were too high; they overestimated your ability, or underestimated the difficulty of the task. Or maybe they just don’t understand.
Sometimes, he says. The universe is a good scapegoat. Say, it was God’s will or everything happens for a reason, it was just not meant to be, or it could have been worse and almost no one will blame you.
This chapter was the genesis for the title, Turn Around and Take a Look at Yourself. “That,” says Womack, “can be a difficult and daunting task."
Chapter Six: Turn Around and Take a Look at Yourself
The final chapter explains that everyone cannot become whomever they want to be because someone else is probably already that person. Turning around and taking a look at one’s self, no matter how difficult that may be, is the only answer.
A highlight of the chapter is the Entrepreneurial Test. Womack recommends getting a blank sheet of paper and a pen. If you can’t think of anything to write down, forget becoming an entrepreneur and get a job.
The chapter is all about taking stock. In another exercise, Womack recommends folding a piece of paper down the middle and listing on one side of the sheet all your attributes, talents, and expertise. After completing that side, turn the paper over an list all your weaknesses, obsessions, failures, bad attitudes, neuroses, and the mistakes you’ve made over the years; using the backside of the paper, if necessary.
He believes this exercise gives one the true picture of his or her potential and can serve as a wake up call for lowering one’s expectations of success.
Womack reminds us that when you feel that you have reached the bottom, it’s important to look down. You may not be there yet.
The book ends on the uplifting note that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Womack does, however, point out that in some cases that light is an oncoming train.
Turn Around and Take a Look at Yourself is soul food for thought.
This book, Turn Around and Take a Look at Yourself, is the basis of a new three-day seminar conducted by Womack in appropriate settings throughout the nation. Look for one near you.
Here is a brief synopsis of the book, Turn Around and Take a Look at Yourself.
Chapter One: Success May be Closer Than It Appears in the Mirror
Womack says, “Learn why what you’re doing right now may be all the success you ever have. Consider when people say you are stupid that they may be right. Sometimes learning to live in mediocrity is a good thing.” He suggests that if you feel you need a motivational speaker to get you going, it might be wiser to just find something not as taxing to do. “Your glass may always be half-empty, “ says Womack. “But on the bright side, many people don’t even have a glass.”
The information in this chapter will put you well on your way to accepting your own inadequacies and developing a plan to maximize them.
Chapter Two: Learn from Your Ignorance
Womack demonstrates how you can save time and energy by relying on your own ignorance and the ignorance of others to develop your opinions. He suggests using the Internet as a primary source of truth and opinion. That way no one can challenge what you say because there is no evidence whether the information is true or not. Believe only what you want to and only seek knowledge from unusual sources. It is a lot easier to rely on the ignorance of others than it is to go to all that trouble on your own. Womack says, “Only read books that support your narrow position on an issue and you won’t ever become confused. And, remember, there are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.”
This chapter is replete with shortcuts to knowing-it-all without a great deal of effort.
Chapter Three: The Vegetable Test
Womack’s engaging “Which Vegetable Are You Test?” will help you become the type of vegetable you’ve always wanted to be. “Some people want to be a cucumber. Others would prefer to be a potato. No one ever picks a turnip or a rutabaga. Radishes and scallions are low on the list. Tomatoes (technically a fruit) and yams rank high,” says Womack. “Everybody wants to be a vegetable but just which one is hard to decide.”
This test gets the job done, in record time. You start by defining which vegetable best represents who you are today and then go through the exhaustive list of vegetables Womack has supplied and then pick the top five vegetables you think you’d want to be most like. Narrow it to three and then from the three pick the one that you’d most like to become; then develop a plan of action.”
This maybe the most useful and insightful chapter in the book.
Chapter Four: None of Us is as Dumb as All of Us
This chapter demonstrates the strengths and weakness of teamwork. Womack opines that when individuals form teams almost anything is possible. He concludes that most meetings are based on the concept of “pooled ignorance.” Leaders often assume that the more minds that are at the table equates to higher intellectual acuity and better decisions. That’s why leaders often bring in people from across the organization and from outside to participate in their planning and strategy sessions. “You never know where a better idea might come from.” Womack suggests. “It is important to note that using a team approach also spreads the responsibility for whatever failures that might come from the groupthink; thus absolving leadership from any personal accountability.
Chapter Five: Finding Someone to Blame
This chapter exposits the concept of finding others to blame for bad ideas and the poor execution of them. “It’s not always your fault no matter how guilty you might feel. There’s always someone else you can blame for failures, if you just look hard enough and in the right places,” says Womack. He suggests that even those who attempt to hold you accountable may be at fault themselves. Maybe their expectations were too high; they overestimated your ability, or underestimated the difficulty of the task. Or maybe they just don’t understand.
Sometimes, he says. The universe is a good scapegoat. Say, it was God’s will or everything happens for a reason, it was just not meant to be, or it could have been worse and almost no one will blame you.
This chapter was the genesis for the title, Turn Around and Take a Look at Yourself. “That,” says Womack, “can be a difficult and daunting task."
Chapter Six: Turn Around and Take a Look at Yourself
The final chapter explains that everyone cannot become whomever they want to be because someone else is probably already that person. Turning around and taking a look at one’s self, no matter how difficult that may be, is the only answer.
A highlight of the chapter is the Entrepreneurial Test. Womack recommends getting a blank sheet of paper and a pen. If you can’t think of anything to write down, forget becoming an entrepreneur and get a job.
The chapter is all about taking stock. In another exercise, Womack recommends folding a piece of paper down the middle and listing on one side of the sheet all your attributes, talents, and expertise. After completing that side, turn the paper over an list all your weaknesses, obsessions, failures, bad attitudes, neuroses, and the mistakes you’ve made over the years; using the backside of the paper, if necessary.
He believes this exercise gives one the true picture of his or her potential and can serve as a wake up call for lowering one’s expectations of success.
Womack reminds us that when you feel that you have reached the bottom, it’s important to look down. You may not be there yet.
The book ends on the uplifting note that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. Womack does, however, point out that in some cases that light is an oncoming train.
Turn Around and Take a Look at Yourself is soul food for thought.
Monday, November 27, 2006
No Other Gods Before Me
I’m thinking that the ancient Greeks had it right. There is more than one god or, at the very least, more than one manifestation of the same god.
Humankind, from every corner of the earth, celebrates the goodness and cowers at the condemnation they experience when conversing with their god.
The rewards and consequences received from their moral transactions vary from the type of god they worship. That which is considered moral also varies from culture to culture.
The vagaries of god’s judgment, moral actions, rewards, punishments, etc. also vary from sect to sect within religious disciplines. Within Christianity, for example, there are sects believing that instrumental music played in a house of worship goes against god’s law. While there are other sects that build mighty pipe organs to glorify their god.
Since the death of Jesus Christ, many different Christian sects have been formed because of theological, political, moral, personal and proprietary differences. Each believing that the difference in opinion was sufficient to establish a new Christian order or that the opposing opinion was sufficiently heretical to excommunicate those who held it.
As an observer, it is difficult to see the god prayed to by evangelical Christians to be the same as the god prayed to by United Methodist; or to interpret the beliefs and practices of Primitive Baptist to be similar to those of Roman Catholics or Episcopalians.
The written authority of each of these faiths comes from the Holy Bible, or should that be a holy bible: since the god’s written word has been interpreted different ways through differing translations. Different sects subscribe to different translations.
All Christian faiths hold that certain sins, the biblical term for immoral behaviors, are particularly offensive to both humankind and god – murder and stealing. Other sins like adultery, coveting, blasphemy, idolatry, and lying are often subject to denominational or individual interpretation. There is even controversy among religionist on the translation of the Commandment “Thou shall not kill. Some say the correct translation is “not murder.” Others take a broader view “not kill.”
Some Christians hold that god did not ordain and Jesus would not condone female priest, ministers, or preachers. Other denominations fill pulpits, these days, mostly with women.
Who is right and who is wrong? It is impossible for any thinking person to conclude the rightness or wrongness of the variety of views and beliefs held by the various god believers; though some beliefs and practices do seem more outrageous than others.
The current debate among Christians is concerned with homosexuality. Most of the homosexuals I know are very nice people, though I would not want to have sex with any of them, much less marry one.
Should homosexuals be allowed to become ministers? (I haven’t heard any argument about homosexuals becoming choir directors, organist or cantors.) Should homosexuals be allowed to marry one another?
The debate rages. Even the government is in the fray. Should partners of homosexuals be eligible for healthcare through places of employment? What is the difference between civil union and marriage? Should homosexuals have their own god or is it OK from them to worship mine?
One thing for sure, this homosexual thing is dividing Christian believers like no other issue in my lifetime including women clergy, abortion, and equal rights for black people.
United Methodist are disengaging from other United Methodist over homosexuality; Southern Baptist are quitting the Convention; Episcopalians, Lutheran, and Presbyterians are forming anti-gay congregations; and Roman Catholics are trying their best to hate the sin and love the sinner. Some say what goes on in another persons bedroom is their business. Others say god can see in there and he doesn’t like what he sees.
In the Middle Eastern religions, where the men rule and women wear veils, homosexuality can result in dismemberment or death; no vagary there.
There is no doubt that homosexuality will continue to cause schism in Christian institutions, particularly those on the North American continent. In my opinion that can be a good thing.
I looked; ecumenical is not mentioned in the Bible. And, if Christian can have different interpretations of sin, why do they all have to think they worship the same god? Why do they waste their time trying to convince other Christians on the rightness or wrongness of a particular position or scriptural interpretation?
If you are a Christian and your god is against homosexuality, then get together with likeminded Christians and shout “Halleluiah!”
If you’re a Christian and your god interprets brotherly love in a more inclusive way, get together and love one another, according to the Scriptures as you know them.
The Greeks had a god for most everything. They may have had the right idea.
Humankind, from every corner of the earth, celebrates the goodness and cowers at the condemnation they experience when conversing with their god.
The rewards and consequences received from their moral transactions vary from the type of god they worship. That which is considered moral also varies from culture to culture.
The vagaries of god’s judgment, moral actions, rewards, punishments, etc. also vary from sect to sect within religious disciplines. Within Christianity, for example, there are sects believing that instrumental music played in a house of worship goes against god’s law. While there are other sects that build mighty pipe organs to glorify their god.
Since the death of Jesus Christ, many different Christian sects have been formed because of theological, political, moral, personal and proprietary differences. Each believing that the difference in opinion was sufficient to establish a new Christian order or that the opposing opinion was sufficiently heretical to excommunicate those who held it.
As an observer, it is difficult to see the god prayed to by evangelical Christians to be the same as the god prayed to by United Methodist; or to interpret the beliefs and practices of Primitive Baptist to be similar to those of Roman Catholics or Episcopalians.
The written authority of each of these faiths comes from the Holy Bible, or should that be a holy bible: since the god’s written word has been interpreted different ways through differing translations. Different sects subscribe to different translations.
All Christian faiths hold that certain sins, the biblical term for immoral behaviors, are particularly offensive to both humankind and god – murder and stealing. Other sins like adultery, coveting, blasphemy, idolatry, and lying are often subject to denominational or individual interpretation. There is even controversy among religionist on the translation of the Commandment “Thou shall not kill. Some say the correct translation is “not murder.” Others take a broader view “not kill.”
Some Christians hold that god did not ordain and Jesus would not condone female priest, ministers, or preachers. Other denominations fill pulpits, these days, mostly with women.
Who is right and who is wrong? It is impossible for any thinking person to conclude the rightness or wrongness of the variety of views and beliefs held by the various god believers; though some beliefs and practices do seem more outrageous than others.
The current debate among Christians is concerned with homosexuality. Most of the homosexuals I know are very nice people, though I would not want to have sex with any of them, much less marry one.
Should homosexuals be allowed to become ministers? (I haven’t heard any argument about homosexuals becoming choir directors, organist or cantors.) Should homosexuals be allowed to marry one another?
The debate rages. Even the government is in the fray. Should partners of homosexuals be eligible for healthcare through places of employment? What is the difference between civil union and marriage? Should homosexuals have their own god or is it OK from them to worship mine?
One thing for sure, this homosexual thing is dividing Christian believers like no other issue in my lifetime including women clergy, abortion, and equal rights for black people.
United Methodist are disengaging from other United Methodist over homosexuality; Southern Baptist are quitting the Convention; Episcopalians, Lutheran, and Presbyterians are forming anti-gay congregations; and Roman Catholics are trying their best to hate the sin and love the sinner. Some say what goes on in another persons bedroom is their business. Others say god can see in there and he doesn’t like what he sees.
In the Middle Eastern religions, where the men rule and women wear veils, homosexuality can result in dismemberment or death; no vagary there.
There is no doubt that homosexuality will continue to cause schism in Christian institutions, particularly those on the North American continent. In my opinion that can be a good thing.
I looked; ecumenical is not mentioned in the Bible. And, if Christian can have different interpretations of sin, why do they all have to think they worship the same god? Why do they waste their time trying to convince other Christians on the rightness or wrongness of a particular position or scriptural interpretation?
If you are a Christian and your god is against homosexuality, then get together with likeminded Christians and shout “Halleluiah!”
If you’re a Christian and your god interprets brotherly love in a more inclusive way, get together and love one another, according to the Scriptures as you know them.
The Greeks had a god for most everything. They may have had the right idea.
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