I watched Joel Osteen's message today "Expect Good Things" and on this beautiful Sunday morning on this 4th of July weekend I don't know how I could ever expect more out of life. Joel's message today was a repeat from January 20, 2008 so it looks like I'll get another chance to see if I can improve on my writing. I could just repost my previous entry, but then I wouldn't get any writing practice and the Lord knows I need the practice.

Here are my notes from Joel's broadcast today: We should be living our lives with expectancy; We need to raise our level of expectancy; When we get up in the morning we should expect good things to happen to us; Do you go out of the house expecting God's favor? Release your faith by expecting God's favor; God is saying this is a new day and you should expect good things to happen in your life; Something good is going to happen to me today.

Joel quoted these verses of scripture:

• Mathew  9: 29
• Psalm 30:5
• Psalm 112:7
• Psalm 31:19
• Isaiah 30:18
• Isaiah 54:2
• Proverbs 13:12

Without having high expectations people lose their enthusiasm for life; Have an attitude of expecting good things to happen to you; God is longing to be good to you; Release your faith and expect good things to happen to you; With God all things are possible; God's dream for your life is so much bigger than your own; There are gifts and talents inside of you that you haven't even used yet!

Even though Joel's message was a repeat today I think that I could listen to it over and over again, because Joel is right. I truly believe that God wants good things to happen in our lives and He loves His children more than we will ever know!

Something good is going to happen to me today!

Thanks for Listening,

       Jeff

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space

Does an inexpensive car have to look cheap? This idea has been on my mind for quite some time and I just have to express my opinion on "Automotive Design", because I believe that if you're building a car and you want people to buy it the design or style of the car should look great and be seen as something that people want to own.

I am not a designer or an engineer but I do know what I want the car I drive and own to look like. I understand that it's a personal preference as to what looks good to you, but I am looking at it this way: You're using the same materials when you build a car steel, plastic, rubber, glass and etcetera...Then why is it that a cheap car has to look ugly? If a cheap car looked beautiful and had a great design it would make the manufacturer of that car a fortune in sales.

The best way to show you what I am talking about is with an example, and I don't mean to criticize the designers or the manufacturers of these vehicles I am just trying to make a point here in that how an automobile looks is very important to the person that owns and dives the vehicle. First example:

I know that this comparison is very far fetched and the similarities of these examples is really taking my point to the extreme, but how else can I show you exactly what it is that I am talking about without showing you? Second example:

Do you see any similarities at all in these two vehicles? I know that I am being very facetious with my examples here, but how else can I prove my point: That the design of an automobile doesn't have to look like a kid's toy to be practical. Don't get me wrong here either; I think that the Smart car is a step in the right direction to America's dependency on foreign oil. I just believe that there could be a more eye pleasing design for this vehicle that the designers just haven't quite figured out yet.

Just to show you that I am not entirely without sympathy for the automotive designers and manufacturers I am going to debut my attempt at building a Mazda dune buggy. I had a dream of turning my 1973 RX-2 Rotary powered vehicle into a dune buggy, although I am embarrassed by how it looks, I have spent many hours working on and trying to build my dream only to have it sit in the garage unfinished.

This is a picture of my Mazda dune buggy, a work in progress, which I have about given up on ever actually seeing it climb a sand hill:

Giving up on accomplishing my dreams when I can't seem to make them materialize into my life is not something that I want to do...Using my gifts and talents, which God has so graciously given me, to accomplish my dreams and desires is what I am striving for in life. Dealing with the inability to succeed is not what I want my mantra to be: Succeeding in my hearts desires is my mantra in life!

I was inspired to write this today because I feel that the big three are not giving the public what they want with the vehicles they are producing. I feel that just because a car is inexpensive and gets good gas mileage, or runs on electric, or Water Fuel doesn't mean it has to look ugly.

I think the big three have some great car designs for people who don't need to worry about the price of the car or gas. What I want to see from the big three is a great looking car that everyone wants to own and drive that is inexpensive and safe to drive; yet looks great!

Thanks for Listening,

       Jeff 

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space

It is the 4th of July and time to celebrate another year in this great nation's history and I feel like hollering, "Happy Birthday America!" This is my entry from last year: Independence Day and I liked the video so much that I am putting it in my entry today. America is going through some tough times right now, but it's been through worse and it's the determination of the people of this great country that is going to pull America out of this too!

The war on terror has cost this country a fortune, not only in dollars and the state of our economy, but also there's the human cost: The brave men and women and their families who have given up so much of their lives for our freedom. That's what really makes America great is the people who would give up their lives to keep this nation free and to protect our democracy. I think Uncle Sam is a pretty tough character and he isn't tough just with words, there's action behind those words.

It's too bad that there are terrible people in this world and that we have to fight to protect our freedom. All that money spent on wars and protection could be used to make the world a better place and maybe someday it will. I liked this Uncle Sam 4th of July greeting but couldn't really figure out the meaning:

It says, "Are You Waiting for an Invitation?" Now that could mean an invitation to a 4th of July party, or it could mean an invitation to start some trouble with our country, or I guess it could mean to say both: What do you think this greeting means?

I can't believe that anyone really wants to hate and kill other people, but what is happening in the world today would prove me wrong. Only God knows when the day of judgement will be here, and I am putting my faith in Him to keep the promises that are made in the Bible. I hope that you and yours have a safe and Happy Independence Day and I am going to be saying this prayer for our nation: God Bless America!

Thanks for Listening,

       Jeff

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space

[Fiction Friday]

At Write Anything: “You call yourself a writer? Prove it.”

[Fiction] Friday Challenge for July 4, 2008:

This Week’s Theme: Write like Fireworks…write fast, write down random thoughts, hurry through it. And don’t even reread it today—you can always come back to it tomorrow.

Random Thoughts

I wonder what kind of random thoughts I can come up with to write about? The next question that comes to mind is: Who's going to want to read this? When it comes to listening to the thoughts going on in my head there's such a bunch of noise going on in there all the time that I have a hard time concentrating on anyone particular thought. My writing schedule has been all screwed up with my doctor's appointments and my dentist's appointment, not to mention all the other things that I am trying to accomplish every day, I just feel very frustrated but there's really no reason for me to feel that way.

I have a tendency to make my own misery by trying to accomplish more than I am capable of handling. I really have no idea why I do this to myself; the only thing I can think of is I must like making myself feel bad, because that's exactly what it does. I have never really tried writing like this it seems so easy to just let the thoughts flow on the page and I really like it. There's a sense of being unrestricted that satisfies a need to let it all out that I have never done before while writing.

There's probably a reason for that because who really wants to hear what's going on in my head without at least some kind of filter to eliminate this kind of gibber gabber? I have really enjoyed this write prompt today as my mind is off in another universe at the moment and I had no idea what I was going to write about. I am always making writing much harder than it should be by over thinking everything that try to say.

Thank you so much for the writing prompt today Karen, it's definitely a relief to just get some writing practice/typing practice without all that thinking and agonizing over every word. Ahhh what a relief!!!

Thanks for Listening,

       Jeff     

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space

Yesterday I was nominated at the Clubhouse as their Featured Member, and "Have you ever Noticed?" Whenever someone says something about you how hard it is to actually do whatever it was they were saying about you? And as Marcus said in his comment on my entry, "For any of you trying to link through to Jeff's clubhouse links above, it's a private space for our inaugural community members. But we're still taking members now so if you want to join, just ask!"

Thank you for clarifying those links Marcus for the people that might be trying to use them, the Clubhouse is private at the moment. Then Greg posted this entry: A New Induction, Welcome Jeff, and although I appreciate the nomination and Greg's post, needless to say all this attention has got me having a hard time writing today. I don't really know how to explain it other than I am choking and I can't seem to write anything.

I have no idea what's causing me to feel this way, but all I can do is try and explain what I am going through today as I am struggle with this Blog entry. It must be something psychological, but I am having a hard time even explaining it. I hope that it doesn't last long because it is making writing anything very difficult for me. The word stage fright comes to mind, but I am not on stage so that can't be it, do you know what I talking about?

Thanks for Listening,

       Jeff   

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space

My friend Greg sent me this message:

Jeff,

Congratulations on your being nominated as the "Featured Member of The Week" in the "Community Clubhouse" for Microsoft Live Spaces users.  It is a great honor to see your name upon the list and hall of fame and I certainly look forward to reading your writings and one could certainly learn a lot from the wisdom and knowledge that you share with us!

Have a wonderful and blessed day my friend!

Greg

I am trilled to be this Week's Featured Member at the Clubhouse and what a great honor it is to be selected, but to tell you the truth it couldn't have come at more inappropriate time for me. I am completely exhausted from doing yard work all day and I haven't posted my Blog entry for today either. I have an extreme case of nothing to say on my mind and I wanted to write about this picture:

Doesn't this mushroom look full of life? A few days ago when I took this picture I was hesitant to take the time to get the camera and take the shot. Little did I know that if I hadn't taken the time I wouldn't be showing you this picture today: What's the meaning of this?

It is about living in the present moment, which is very hard to do sometimes. I am not talking about the past or the future moments I am talk about this very moment. The next day, from being exposed to the heat and the bright sunlight, this beautiful mushroom was transformed into a decayed piece of rotting vegetation. That is certainly not anything that I would want to show you today.

Marcus, I can't Thank You enough for your words of encouragement, I feel like I don't deserve this great honor you have bestowed on me for doing something that I have challenged myself to do anyway. I appreciate your recognition of my accomplishment and hope by my continued commitment to write something every day that others will see that if I can do it anyone can.

I just received an Email from Marcus saying, "I need your permission now." I am honored Marcus, “I Accept” I am going to send Marcus my Blog entry and post this today, I couldn't be more excited. Well I could be if I wasn't so tired!

The point of showing the mushroom today is that you never know how long your life is going to be so live life to the fullest!

Thanks for Listening,

       Jeff           

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space

I had my annual physical about a week ago and I was getting all my tests and the doctor said, "Anything else you want to tell me about?" I should have kept my mouth shut, but I really don't want to die, unless it is God's will, and I said I am having pains in my chest. I told him I thought it was from heartburn, but he wasn't taking any chances and wanted me to set up a Cardiolite Stress Test.

I liked this CaddyShack Gopher Video too!

I dislike going to the doctor's office almost as much as I dislike going to the dentist's office, which I did today. Look Ma no cavities! So I lucked out today, but I don't know about my stress test yet. I am keeping my fingers crossed and saying my prayers on that one. I was so nervous about going for the stress test: I had envisioned all kinds of terrible things that were going to happen to me there as I took the test.

After test was over I felt relieved that it was done and I had myself all shook up thinking about all the terrible things that were going to happen, but never did. The test wasn't that bad at all so if you are ever told to get one, don't worry about it. I don't know my results from the test, so I am not out of the woods yet, but I am hopeful that everything is going to be OK.

When I was driving back home from having my  test, I was listening to a Five for Fighting CD. The song that was playing was called Alright, and I had this feeling that everything was going to be just that: Alright! I tried to write about this yesterday but couldn't bring myself to tell people what was happing in my live with my health.

The only reason I am writing about this today is  because of Dale's article: Suffocation  over at the Write Anything site. I can't even imagine what he's going through not be able to breathe, and I think that he's very courageous telling us about his story dealing with asthma.

When a person is fighting for every breath they take I can see how writing might not quite be the most important thing in life...Breathing definitely takes precedence over writing and my prayers and hopes for an end to the coastal wildfires goes out to all those that are effected by the bad air.

Thank you so much for your devotion to the art of writing and for sharing your story with all of us today. Because of your story I was able to share mine today too! Wishing you the best possible outcome with your battle with a deadly disease.

Thanks for Listening,

       Jeff          

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space

  Janie's article over at the Write Anything site has me trying to combine what's on my mind along with her challenge hence the title: "The 4th of July Challenge!" I believe the most important thing about our country is the freedom we have as Americans. The celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution protecting people's human rights in The United States of America. Gives us the right to practice whatever religion or beliefs that we want to uphold or not: We are a nation of Laws!

I believe: America's religions are a menagerie of all kinds of different beliefs, values, heritages and ideals. Each one of us has to make a choice and decide exactly what our beliefs are and then determine how we are going to use them in our lives. I have kept an open mind to all the endless possibilities of "What Is" and what other mysterious unknown workings there may be in the universe and in life.

The prophecy of the end of days seems to be the norm for what is taking place in the world today. That kind of prediction has been foretold by many and brings to mind Acts 17:31 God has set the day and we are just waiting for the Kingdom of Heaven to be brought here on earth. It is all so very complicated to me and how is a mere man to understand the essence of God and all His majesty?

This is not a sermon about God but my thoughts on the freedom we have here in this great country America. The complexity of our laws in this county is why we need lawyers; the complexity of the Bible is why we need theologians. America has been related to as, "Baseball, Mom's Apple Pie and Chevrolet", but if only it was that simple and easily labeled: It is actually become so complex that our government has turned itself into a quagmire of finger pointers who seem to be content with the status quo.

I love fairy tale stories and bright flowery words but sometimes you just have to face the truth: I love the 4th of July and I love America. I just hate to see what's happening to our great nation and that's the Truth:

"Even if the truth hurts; it doesn't make it any less true!"       

Thanks for Listening,

       Jeff

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space

  I have signed up for a WordPress Blog because of Say it on Saturday at Write Anything. Karen's  article: A Call for Writers says I need to send her an Email so I am going to do that because I really like the feature. There's just something about being published on someone else's site that I find exciting. Not because I think that it makes me a writer mind you, but I do feel like I am Expressing Myself to the world.

I have become accustomed to saying this about me being a writer, "I consider myself a writer only by default: Because I am writing this and you are reading it, then I guess that makes me a writer." I have in the past also proclaimed: Today I am a Writer! Only to find myself humbled by the great writers in the world today and in the past, but I am not quitting trying to learn how to write, either.

I haven't received my Email conformation from WordPress yet so I can't really send Karen the Email, I guess, until my WordPress account has been finalized. To tell you the truth I am surprised that the Write Anything site lets me publish anything on their page. I have posted these previous posts: Say It On Saturday! My mere Façade and My Anniversary of The Secret! I thought that there were more, but I can't find them or remember, so that will have to do.

When Karen said, "Thank You" I just wanted to say, "You're more than Welcome!" and I can't Thank all of the writers at the Write Anything site enough: For their dedication to the art of writing, and for helping me in my quest to learn how to write!

Thanks for Listening,

       Jeff   

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space

  Yes, it is Sunday morning and I listened to Joel Osteen's message today titled "Tuning in to the Voice of Victory" and I have decided to title the notes that I took today "The Voice of Victory!" Just because you have a thought doesn't mean you have to dwell on it; Get up each day and make a declaration of faith in God; You control the doorway to the entrance of your mind; I am forgiven is a thought to keep in mind.

Guard your mind; Your future is going to be better than your past; Train yourself to hear the good things that life has to offer, this is the day that the Lord has made; Weed out the negative thoughts an latch on to the good thoughts; Tune into specific thoughts and only listen to the thoughts that have the right sounds; You are deciding how you are going to feel by the thoughts you are having, make them good happy thoughts.

Joel quoted these verses of scripture: I usually post the verses but I saw this warning, BibleGateway "These Scriptures have been made available on the Internet for your personal use only. Any other use including, but not limited to, copying or re-posting the Scripture on the Internet is prohibited." So here are the links to the scripture:

• Philippians 4:8 
• Isaiah 26:3 
• Deuteronomy 30:19 
• Mark 5:36    

Quit renting out your mind to negative thoughts; Tune in to the voice of victory, I don't understand the voice of discouragement; You will see every dream that God has put in to your heart come true.

I am extremely upset with this policy from the BibleGateway about not be able to post the verses of the Bible on my page. Where would they be today if the scribes had not re-printed the Bible? I hope that if enough people complain about this policy that in the future it will change. God's word wasn't mean to be restricted and His will shall be done. I think that these kinds of thoughts are exactly what Joel was talking about today and I am not going to let this policy ruin my fellowship with God's word!

I hope that you are having a blessed Sunday!!! 

Thanks for Listening,

       Jeff

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space

I remember what a problem it was when "I wanted to have a ShoutBox" on my Windows Live Spaces. You can see I did manage to install A Shout Box Widget on my page under the title of: Trying to Add a Message Board. I also found this ShoutBox in the Windows Live Gallery, but I haven't tried using it. What this is all about is I received this Email asking me about my code:

Hello, Jeff.
My name is Yakumo, I'm try to place a Shoutbox in to my windows live space.
But unfortunately, I still can't place it as my custom html and it just appear blank page with just a link to Shoutmix.
Could you please teach me how to edit those code to make it appear same as your windows live space Shoutbox?
Thank you.

I am more than happy to share the code with anyone who wants it, but it has been so long ago that I don't even remember all the details about the problems I had installing the ShoutBox: As you can see hardly anyone ever uses it either.

It doesn't work like it's designed to work here though you have to open a Window to use it but the messages show up so I thought I would leave it on my page and see if anyone uses it.

Adding it to my page was really pretty easy, I just opened a new HTML module and called it (Trying to Add a Message Board) and open an account with ShoutMix  and copied the code that they provide for the widget into the module and it looks like this:

Here's the problem with using the ShoutBox: You have to click the Open ShoutBox Window! In order to use it.

Here's the link to the Code: ShoutBox Code for Windows Live Spaces

I hope that Yakumo doesn't mind my using their Email in my post today, but I just figured if anyone else wants to put a ShoutBox on their site this is how to do it in Windows Live Spaces. I hope that this information will help anyone that wants to use a ShoutBox on their site get one.

Thanks for Listening,

       Jeff 

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space

My Unique Life in Windows Live Space