A digital commonplace for a Regular Guy called Charlie Pharis

Category: Thoughts (page 11 of 15)

OK, A Grocery Store Is Going to Make Me Forfeit My Man Card…

OK, so I think Chris is right about panty praise. I also happen to agree with him about Lee McDerment’s new CD. (Well, Chris, you may want to re-think the instrumental tracks on Lee’s CD.) But I digress…

I really have had it about up to here with those “Jesus is My Boyfriend” songs. But I digress…

In the interest of complete disclosure, though, let me hasten to add: I didn’t spend $400 on my last pair of jeans. (Heck, I’m not sure I’ve spent $400 on blue jeans altogether in my whole life!) In fact, I’m still convinced that Levi’s trump Lucky and 501 is a waaaay more manly number than Seven. But I digress…

I’m not enamored of the pseudo-sport involving “stepping on the gas and turning left.” I still don’t understand tattoos or ultimate fighting. But I digress…

And although I enjoy the aroma of a fine unlit cigar, it’s highly unlikely that I’ll be lighting one up any time soon. I learned a long time ago that drinking a beer every now and again won’t send you to hell, but it’ll sure give the horse’s bladder a large sense of relief, and so you won’t get much of an argument from me over the finer points of lager vs. pilsner vs. pale ale vs. microbrews vs. PBR. But I digress…

I probably won’t talk in my messages about having needles applied to um…strategic locations. But I digress…

I’m not likely to punch anyone in the throat or anything like that. But I digress…

Having said all that, I’m about as all-American, red-blooded male as you’ll find, but that new Publix commercial – about the newlyweds who come to Grandma’s house for dinner, and leave with the tattered recipe card from Grandma – had me wiping a little dust a few minutes ago.

Come to think of it, several of those Publix seasonal ads have had the same effect! Sorry!

Undeniable Truth of Life #345…

guru-on-mountain.gif

Go the doctor, you’ll get better in a week. Stay home and treat yourself, you’ll get better in seven days.

Corollary: If you take the latter course, you won’t be out the $30 co-pay or the $20 prescription that will “only ease the symptoms.”

Sunday Night Unwind, 03.09.08…

I’ve been really digging the Hillsong CD God He Reigns lately. One reviewer said it’s a great blend of the “classic” Hillsong stuff and the newer, younger, hipper United material. Whatever. All I know is it’s been leading me into the presence of God in a big, powerful way.

A couple of notes from this weekend…

  • Gideon this morning.
  • A couple of first-time guests and a couple of returning ones!
  • Pumped about this week. Going to NewSpring for Unleash. Going with Gary and the Revolution crew. Thanks, Gary! It’s been about three years since I’ve been to a conference. I really, really need it! (Other than a new Moleskine, what does one take to a conference these days?)
  • But I’m kind of afraid of what God’s going to do to me on the trip and at the conference. See, He’s been rocking my world in a lot of ways over the last couple of weeks. He’s probably got something bigger in mind. He always does, doesn’t He?
  • The lovely and gracious “Mrs. Just Charlie” is the best wife in the world, hands down!
  • Real change is hard, because it means you’ve got to change personally before you can help your organization/team/whatever change.
  • I challenged our bunch to pray and dream “one size bigger” today.
  • Let’s keep daylight saving time all year around!

4:00 a.m. is going to get here pretty early. See you later…

This Year…

I’ve been notoriously slack in setting – and achieving – good effective goals. I’ve been thinking about that over the last couple of days. I figured up that just a little over 12% of 2008 has already passed by, leaving just under 88% of the year to accomplish some goals. In what’s left of this year, here are some of my objectives…

  • Stop looking at the wind and the clouds
  • Be debt-free, except for the mortgage
  • Get serious about training again – physically, spiritually, etc.
  • Learn something new every day
  • Encourage somebody every day
  • Re-kindle my passion

Friday Night Thoughts, Part Two…

Overheard another conversation this morning that went something like this…

Person #1: So, you got a big weekend planned?

Person #2: Oh, you know…the usual…honey-do list and all that.

I decided I don’t ever want to answer that weekend question like that ever again. My answer of choice from this weekend on needs to be something like this…

Person #1: So, you got a big weekend planned?

Me: As a matter of fact, I do! I’m going to help change somebody’s life!

What about you? You got a big weekend planned?

Friday Night Thoughts, Part One…

I talked to two people back-to-back this morning at the YMCA. One has been out of work for months. His excited comment: “I may actually get to go to work on Monday!” The other person’s cynical and rather angry comment: “Well, I’ve got to go to work now!” Interesting contrast…

Friday Night Unwind, 01.18.08…

Still got The Derailers on my mind, in my ears, and out my speakers! What else is in there, you ask? Well, you didn’t ask, but since I told the woman from the paper today that the main thing I like about blogging is that I don’t have to get anybody else’s permission to write what I think, I can put it down here if I want to! So there!