The Name "Wednesday"

Wednesday. What kind of name is Wednesday anyway? One would think we could have been a little more creative with the name of a day that we are going to repeat once a week for the rest of our natural lives. And as much as I really hate to say this, we really bite as a creative species!
Gary Nickels
Writer, Speaker, Observationist & Bible Teacher
Sent from my Blackberry

The Last Taco Tuesday of the Decade.

Given the fact that this is the last Taco Tuesday of the decade, I want you all to party hard with your favorite kind of Tacos and remember something very important: There are no such thing as a " Taco Checkpoints!" Happy Taco Tuesday!
Gary Nickels
Writer, Speaker, Observationist & Bible Teacher
Sent from my Blackberry

Merry Christmas Everybody!!!

By the way, did you know there is already a line of people outside of Wal-mart waiting to return gifts they haven't even opened yet?
Gary Nickels
Writer, Speaker, Observationist & Bible Teacher
Sent from my Blackberry

How to score with Santa.

If you want a sure fire way of getting more presents from Santa this year, do what I'm going to do. Instead of leaving stale Christmas cookies like everybody else, leave fresh Tacos instead! (I'm going to score so big with this!) Happy Taco Tuesday!
Gary Nickels
Writer, Speaker, Observationist & Bible Teacher
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Friday Afternoon

Its Friday afternoon and my brain has started its weekend without me.
Gary Nickels
Writer, Speaker, Observationist & Bible Teacher
Sent from my Blackberry

A quick note

I'm tired but thank you for your patience during this down time. I promise to make it up to you.


- Posted front the Twilight Zone...you know, the one without the vampires in it.

Test

Test

Testing new phone
Gary Nickels
Writer, Speaker, Observationist & Bible Teacher
Sent from my Blackberry

To think, or not to think...that is the question.

When I do watch TV, other than watching my beloved Dallas Cowboys, all I seem to watch is the History Channel, the Food Network or the National Geographic Channel, or as they like to call it “Nat-Geo”. And I got to thinking as to why I only seem to gravitate to these channels. Am I getting older? Are my tastes changing? Am I now becoming too lazy to do some serious channel surfing?

Well, one thing that I do know is that I can not sit down and watch the mindless dribble that is on network TV. When I say “mindless dribble” I am speaking specifically to the area of Sitcoms. I’m sorry, I’m a writer. I’ve seen the material that is being passed along to the masses as “entertainment” and based on what I’ve seen; the entertainment industry is really scraping the bottom of the barrel in their efforts to put out what they are calling “quality” entertainment. Granted there are some very interesting drama shows out there, but for the most part, I can’t, for the life of me, sit down and watch network TV anymore.

Now, why do most people watch TV? The answer is that they want to be amused. Well, when you breakdown the word “amused” it goes something like this: “A” means, at least in the root of the word, “to not”. “Muse” means “to think.” So, when you are “Amused” you are “Not Thinking.” And isn’t that why we watch TV in the first place? We watch it so we don’t have to think. So that we don’t have to exert ourselves in order to become better people. We take the time to shut down our mental facilities and let somebody else do the thinking for us. Because, in case you haven’t noticed, it seems that the entertainment industry is setting trends that the rest of society blindly follows. TV has become our thinking process and our society has blindly buying into the media’s agenda instead of us thinking and acting upon our own. In fact, there are those that take what is said on TV as truth, i.e. the news, sitcom situations, even events on channels such as the History Channel, Nat-Geo and so forth.

The fact is that sometimes we spend so much time in front of our TV’s that we forget that we have an obligation to find out if what they are telling us is indeed truth. TV has a way of using what I call “assumptive language” in a way to get there point across. For example, Nat-Geo, when talking about how old the earth is, always says its 4.3 billion years old. And the way they say it, is as if it was a fact. Problem is, they are assuming, by faith, it is a fact because they espouse the evolutionary theory. There is no scientific fact for the theory of evolution. But if a creationist would to come up to them and say that the earth is about 7,000 years old, he’d be laughed at because they’d claim his statement was based on religious belief and not on scientific fact.

So, what am I saying? Simple; Do not believe everything you see on TV. Yes, there are some good shows on TV, but when you do watch TV, don’t check your brain at the door. Think before you believe. Find out to see if what they are saying is true. Do your homework. Who knows, you maybe spending more of your time “musing” vs. being “amused.”

Its Monday

Ok, other than Monday Night Football, can anybody explain to me what Mondays are good for?
Gary Nickels
Writer, Speaker, Observationist & Bible Teacher
Sent from my Blackberry

Little under the weather this weekend. Taking it easy and resting.

Random Acts of Kindness...Mixed with Insanity

In my family, we are not they lovey-dovey, mushy type of family that just goes around giving hugs and kisses to each other, (except me and my grandkids, but that is a different story).

So last night, just for fun, I sent out a text to all six of my kids the following message: “I’m very proud of you, I just wanted you to know that.” Then I sat back and waited to see what the response would be.

Sure enough, the expected response came back from all of the kids. Uh, gee Dad, thanks…are you ok? Is there something wrong? Are you sick? Did you go to the doctor’s and what did they say?

After reassuring them that their Dad was fine, that I wasn’t planning on dying anytime soon, nor was I planning on leaving the state in the middle of the night, that all I wanted them to know was that I was proud of them…that’s all. The beauty part of all this is that I know they are wondering what I’m up to. They are probably waiting for the other shoe to drop. Wondering what nefarious scheme that is up my notorious sleeve.

Well, guess what…there wasn’t an “evil” plan, but they don’t know that.

So, what am I getting at? Glad you asked. For fun, just go up to somebody in your family and tell them how much you appreciate them. Now, if they are like my kids, they will wonder either what is wrong with you, or, like my parents, wonder if you are going to try and borrow money from them. But what you are really doing is showing real appreciation for somebody in your life…and playing mind games with them at the same time.

Think of it this way…You’ll drive them nuts with your kindness.

A quick shot.

Ok. Its Monday, I'm in class and I'm missing Monday Night Football and you expect me to blog? I don't think so! :-)
Gary Nickels
Writer, Speaker, Observationist & Bible Teacher
Sent from my Blackberry

Only in America!

I had what is called an "International Dinner": Mexican Burritos, American Apple Pie, ate it with Chinese Chopsticks and washed it down with Colombian Coffee. Only in America!
Gary Nickels
Writer, Speaker, Observationist & Bible Teacher
Sent from my Blackberry

I have a reading problem. I love to read and my greatest fear is running out of worthwhile books to read.

Is it really going to be a "Merry Christmas" for you?

Yes, it is the day after Thanksgiving, better known as "Black Friday". Unfortunately, it also signifies the beginning of insane part of the year the world calls "The Holiday Giving Season".

Ok people, let's call it what it really is: A 30 day period where we all run around like spending idiots buying a bunch of useless stuff that is going to end up in 6 months at a bargain table at somebody's garage sale.

The really sad part is that none of us can rely afford all of this stuff we are buying for our supposed "loved ones". I mean, let's face it, the only reason we buy presents for people (outside of our kids and spouces) is that because they bought us somthing and we have to get them something in order for us not to look like an idiot and save our already messed up reputations.

Yes, we know we can't afford any of this stuff, but do you think the retailers or the TV advertisers care? Not a chance! Everytime I turn on the TV it's another commerical appealing to kids about the next generation of video games, jewerly stores that almost command you to say you love her with a 5 carat rock. Or come to our store for the best in this and get a great deal on that...I've had it!

I've had enough with the general public saying
Merry Christmas and not realizing that if it wasn't for the birth of Jesus Christ a little more then 2000 years ago and the redemptive plan of God, there'd be no reason for this season.

At the risk of sounding like Scrooge, it's not about the getting of Christmas presents, nor the decorating of the Christmas tree, it's not even about Christmas dinner either. It's deciding what you are going to do with the greatest gift of all. The gift that will never lose it's value. The gift that you will be able to keep for all eternity and no one can take away for you. The gift that was sent just for you: Jesus Christ.

I'm inviting you today to step away from the hustle and bustle of this season and take a look at what God has already given you. It's simple. All you have to do is to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart. Then, and only then, can you know the real meaning of the term "Merry Christmas".

If you would like to know more about Jesus, why He came to earth to die for your sins and what being a Child of God is all about, send me an email at Notes@GaryNickels.com

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Morning people...updates will follow.

It's the Day Before Thanksgiving...For a Turkey

You have to wonder, it being the day before Thanksgiving and all, if there are indeed a lot of turkeys out there just wondering if they are going to live to see another sunrise. Yes, granted, there are a lot of their fellow turkeys that have already walked their last mile and now are frozen, headless, carcasses proudly displayed in your grocer’s freezer.

But for the turkey that is alive now, it is a totally different story. To them, making to Thanksgiving morning is a lot like them winning the lottery. I mean think about this for a second. You are a turkey and you are in the pen with a bunch of other turkeys. The date of execution is set for tomorrow. You know that there is a good chance that either you or somebody you are sharing pen space with is not going to be here tomorrow. Everybody there in the pen is looking at each other and wondering “Who’s it going to be this year?”

The older turkeys in the pen are telling the stories about the how dumb young ones who ate like pigs and worked out to impress the lady turkeys ended up on the farmer’s wife’s platter with stuffing crammed into a body cavity because they “looked good enough to eat”.

The wiser/pen-smart turkeys have been performing a Jenny Craig and have been dieting for the past two months, losing considerable amount of body mass and then for the last three weeks, haven’t bathed so that they look skinny, stinky and the least appetizing bird in the pen.

The richer/white collar turkeys are burning up the phone lines in calls to their attorney’s to get a stay from the governor, or if you are really hooked into the corridors of power, the President himself.

Of course, there is always some nut of a turkey that spends his time walking around the pen carrying a sign that says “The End Is Near!”

Well, we really don’t know what the fate of all the turkey’s are going to be, but there is one thing I do know: The turkey I’m having for dinner tomorrow, wasn’t that lucky.

I cried out to the Lord and he heard my prayers...Thank you for being there.

It's One of Those Days

Ever have one of those days where you can’t do anything right? This is one of those days.

It seems that for the past few weeks, I’ve been having those days one right after another. I’d mess up in my job, totally blowing simple tasks and assignments and then when I get home, I can’t do anything right there either. Well, when your married, you never do anything right.

At this point, I’m becoming very cynical in my outlook on life and I’m running the real danger of just shutting off everything and everyone in this world and putting up a very solid wall so as not to be affected by anybody ever again.

Yes, I do believe in God and I do believe in Romans 8:28 where it says “All things work together for good to them who love God and are called according to his purpose.” I really do believe that. But, there are times, like now, when I feel really alone. Where I don’t know where to turn because no matter what I do it’s wrong. Or somebody will come up and tell me it’s wrong. Or that I can’t get motivated or started on something because now I’m getting gun shy before starting a new project or idea.

Like I said, today is one of those days. But, I’m still praying for God to give me to break and trusting him to show me the way to go. It’s not easy, but nobody ever said that having faith would be pleasant.

A Thanksgiving Observation

Do you realize that if the Pilgrims had landed on the west coast instead of the east coast that we'd be having Tacos instead of Turkey for Thanksgiving? Happy Taco Tuesday!

Life goes on...stay tuned.

I just keep repeating to myself: "This world is not my home...This world is not my home...This world is not my home."

I am soooo tired. I think I'll take the rest of the night off. Talk to you all later.

Great class today in Sunday School. My students so rock!

Sorry guys. Just one of those days where I wasn't at my creative best.

From an I-Touch

Thought I'd try this to see how it would work. Let's find out!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

If I had to do it all over again...oh yeah, there would be changes.

Didn't have a good day. Gotta do homework and laundry so I guess tonight isn't gonna be much better.

Today is the day where I will share flashes of brilliance to those I come across. Tomorrow I'll work on humility.

I'm ending my broadcast day...Goodnight.

I'm busier than a one-legged man in a group kick fight.

This is what I want for Christmas!

Having a shaved head means never having a bad hair day.

Ok, I'm at school, I'm dressed in a suit & I only have 3/4 of a pot of coffee to last me the next 4 hours...what's wrong with this picture?

Wow, I must either be slacking or really busy because I haven't posted anything yet!

God does not have a "Plan B".

At last...a night of no homework and mindless relaxation!

Here is a question to ponder. "How can an atheist honestly say 'I Love You' if they don't believe in God?"

So much to do, so little time and I don't have all of the tools I need to get it all done either.

The Space Shuttle blasted off yesterday to conduct important scientific experiments. One of them was the effects of eating Tacos in Space. Happy Taco Tuesday!

One Mid-term is down, 2 to go.

Last thing I can remember was that I was having my 1st cup of coffee for the day...now its time to leave work and go to school. What happened?

I'm going to have potatoes biscuits and Bambi for dinner!

Its good to be in church today!

I'm going to take the rest of the evening off. I'll be back to this present reality in about 11 hours. Goodnight!

Ok, part 1 of the studying is over for the day. Part 2 takes place after church tomorrow. Now I can relax for awhile.

Why can't I have a Fairy Biker Mama who will bring me a brand new Harley instead of some dumb Fairy Godmother who wants to sent me to a stupid ball?

You know its going to be a long night of homework if your computer takes an hour just to boot up.

What good is the weekend when you have to spend it doing homework and studying for mid-terms?

Welcome to my world and this is what you can expect from me.

The thing about being a writer is that sometimes you sit down to your phosphorous screen of death and try to think of fascinating or funny things that other people would be interested in reading. My problem is that I have too much to say and I don’t seem to have a way to organize it.

So, in order to give my writing life some semblance of logic, I’ve decided to start this blog as a way to expel the creative demons that have been plaguing me for the past 48 years.

Another reason that I’ve decided to start blogging was that I can write about a topic and if enough people like where I’m going or what I’m saying, they can give me some feed back as to if I should take the topic deeper i.e. write an article, column or even a book.

There will be times where lots material will be presented and, at times, only a line or two. But there is one thing that I’m promising you, the reader, is that my material will be fresh, intriguing and above all, taken from my own unique perspective.

So, check back when you can and see what I’ve been up to or thinking; and feel free to let me know what you think