Jonathots Daily Blog
(4369)
That Happen Right Before Joy Appears
1. I refuse to tolerate sadness for one more thought.
2. I realize I am in control of all things “me.”
3. I ignore the obstacles constructed by the competition.
1 Thing You Can Do That Always Works–Any Day, Any Way and Any Time
Find a Way to Make Fun of Yourself
Yes—in a good-natured, good-hearted and jovial way, point out one of your flaws before it becomes completely evident to the entire room.
And if such a foible is not a foregone conclusion, then surprise people with something they didn’t know about you and demonstrate your fearlessness about being candid concerning your status.
For in a world of touting accomplishments, making promises and trying to one-up the competition, such a piece of farce and revelation will always give you the attention of the room.
I will tell you why.
There are three possible reactions to your self-deprecation and all of them are good. (Can you beat that?)
Reaction One After You Make Fun of Yourself
“That person is really funny—and on top of that, humble.”
It is difficult to fail if you can find the good cheer in life while maintaining your own humility.
Reaction Two After Making Fun of Yourself
“Don’t put yourself down like that. You must have trouble with self-esteem—because you look great!”
They may think they’re rebuking you, but actually, they’re praising you. Also, they’re saying the words out loud that you want them to think.
Final Reaction After You Make Fun of Yourself
“Look at how people are beaming, just because he made a joke on himself. I’m jealous. Maybe I should be more forthcoming.”
Yes, you will discover that poking fun at yourself will lead to a competition of other people to make fun of their weaknesses.
For after all, I don’t know who thought it was a good idea to “blow your own horn.”
But since there’s always a chance you might hit some sour notes, you might be wise to warn the audience that you don’t play all that well.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly donation for this inspirational opportunity
1 Thing You Need to Know This Week
There is no success without overcoming
You will not be able to overwhelm the whole world
You can’t overtake everyone in the competition
You won’t walk on water, so don’t go overboard
People are not afraid of your overwrought reaction
Overcomplicated is a real turn-off
Overlooking is flat-out annoying
Change is to come. Get over yourself.
Find your weakness, and deal with it before you find yourself over the hill.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly donation for this inspirational opportunity
Click the elephant to see what he’s reading!
Jesonian: Reverend Meningsbee (Part 27) Carpet Bombing … October 30th, 2016
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3110)
You can’t have valleys without mountains. It’s the beauty of the landscape of life.
In the midst of the sludge of mundane activity and the alarm of tragedies, there are everyday decisions which either tickle the funny bone or leave us with a tiny ball of aggravation which tends to growl for weeks after the infestation.
Mike and Maggie had been wed for thirty-two years. They were married at the Garsonville Church. They had served on almost every committee, and faithfully performed the duties of nearly all positions. Although they loved each other dearly, they rarely agreed when it came to matters of what should be done with the sanctuary.
Ten years earlier, they had a huge conflict–long before Meningsbee arrived–about carpet.
Maggie was a traditionalist, a woman whose grandparents came to America from Ireland during the potato famine. She had fiery red hair, now streaked with gray, and possessed a Catholic passion with her Protestant faith.
Her husband, on the other hand, was a progressive–well, as progressive as you dare be in Garsonville, Nebraska. He nearly convinced a majority of the church board to sell the organ to put a down-payment on a project to build a gymnasium, so the local kids could come and play games on Saturday, with the intent that they might decide to stay over for Sunday services out of curiosity.
The measure lost by one vote. Maggie’s.
Even though the two loved each other faithfully, they rarely agreed on God’s will for Garsonville.
So when it was time to purchase carpet ten years earlier, Maggie insisted the only suitable color for the sanctuary was red. She had two reasons. Red carpet was a sign of welcoming and also a tribute to the blood of Jesus.
Mike strongly disagreed. He contended it was “just too red.” He led a group which desired cranberry carpet from Dalton, Georgia. Amazingly, this time, unlike the gymnasium, the “cranberries” won.
So the sanctuary was covered with cranberry carpet, much to the chagrin of Maggie and her crimson cohorts.
Now, recently…
There had been complaints that the cranberry carpet was looking dingy and needed to be cleaned, so it was agreed to find a contractor to remove all the pews so the carpet could be shampooed. It was quite a job.
Several local carpet cleaners bid on the job but it was the Garsonville Bubble-Uppers, a new firm in town, which underpriced the competition and was given the contract.
Arrangements were made to hold services elsewhere for two weeks so the cleaners could have full access to the church and be able to do a great job.
Everyone was elated. Maggie thought cleaning the carpet might make it more red, and Mike was convinced that such a cleansing would restore the original beauty of his cranberry vision.
But no one was prepared for what happened.
One of the young men working with the Bubble-Uppers thought it might be a good idea to add a little bleach to the concoction which was traditionally used by the company. He didn’t inform anyone of his decision–just poured it in.
So they scrubbed the carpets faithfully, only to discover when they returned the next day that the cranberry carpets had been transformed.
They were orange.
Bright orange.
The Bubble-Uppers were very apologetic, and refused to charge the church for their services, but a very shocked and bewildered congregation restored its pews on top of a carpet ablaze with bright fall-colored pumpkin.
Everyone was afraid to say too much about it–they knew there was no money in the budget to get new carpeting.
So for the first time ever, Mike and Maggie came to consolation.
Mike decided that orange was better than red and Maggie was convinced that it was closer to red than that horrible cranberry.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
Jonathan’s Latest Book Release!
PoHymn: A Rustling in the Stagnant
Click here to get your copy now!
Jesonian: Reverend Meningsbee (Part 17) Parking Lotsa… August 21st, 2016
Jonathots Daily Blog
(3040)
It was apparently the Sunday that would never end.
As Meningsbee headed out the door of the church, evicted from the House of God by Sister Matrisse, standing next to his car was a smiling Sammy Collins, with all the jovial attributes of a freshly pardoned Thanksgiving turkey.
Sammy rushed toward him, vigorously shook the pastor’s hand, and gave him a huge “Day of Pentecost” bear hug–the kind that leaves you torn between appreciation and embarrassment.
Releasing his grip, Sammy blurted, “Are you prepared to take in about fifty ready-to-go souls who already know where the exits are and the location of the bathrooms?”
With this he laughed–very pleased with his joke, which he obviously had rehearsed.
Meningsbee crinkled his face. This gave Brother Collins permission to continue.
“Whoo-ee! We had a big blow-up this morning down at the church at the Holiday Inn Express–so much so that the front desk lady came and told us to tone it down. We were bothering the other guests who were still enjoying their continental breakfast.”
“What was the problem?” said Meningsbee, concerned.
“I confronted him,” said Sammy. “Yes, I confronted Patrick Swanson about what he said to you in my living room the night I invited you over to fellowship in my home.”
“You heard?” asked Meningsbee.
“Yes. I snuck in the dark room where my kids keep their toys–nearly tripped over a Tonka truck–but I was curious why Patrick wanted to talk to you. Never one to be shy, I decided that since it was my home, I had the right to know.”
“So you’re the one who told everybody in the church about our conversation.”
“Absolutely.”
“Well, he thought it was me,” cited Meningsbee.
“Sorry about that, but I had to let him think that way until I could get all the friends and neighbors organized for the revolt, and the opportunity to return to the Garsonville Church–our home church. Preacher, most of my kin is buried out there in the back section of the property. I could show you their gravestones. This is my church. This is where I want to live. This is where I want to die. So we’re comin’ back.”
Meningsbee stood quietly. The joy on Sammy’s face had disappeared quickly as he told his tale of dissension and vengeance. He was now flushed and also a bit bewildered about why the good reverend was not jumping up and down for the chance to include more sheep and coffer stuffing.
Meningsbee realized he had to say something. “Sammy, Sammy, Sammy. I love ya’. But the church is not a club, though it might seem that way since we collect weekly dues. It’s not a game. The choices we make are often life and death. You must believe me when I tell you that the church also is not a family reunion, though we are all part of the same bloodline. God knows, it’s not a political party. We’ve already chosen our leader. Sammy, well…it’s an adventure. Or maybe a competition. Yes, it’s an adventurous competition, to see who can love their neighbor as themselves the most and still remain deliriously happy.”
Sammy’s dark cloud burst. “Listen, Meningsbee, I didn’t come for a sermon.”
“Oh, you’ve gotta forgive me,” said the pastor. “I didn’t get to preach one today so I guess I felt a little cheated.”
Sammy frowned like a frowning man frowns when frowning is in order. “So you don’t want us?”
“I don’t get to choose,” said Meningsbee. “I was just explaining to you how we view the kingdom of God.”
So … Sammy Collins turned on his heel and walked back to his car sadly because he was very religious.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
Jonathan’s Latest Book Release!
PoHymn: A Rustling in the Stagnant
Click here to get your copy now!
Good News and Better News … March 28th, 2016
Jonathots Daily Blog
(2887)
It would only take me a few moments to point out the verses from the Good Book that are often used in solitary context to promote gender bias, prejudice, ignorance, arrogance and selfishness–and truthfully, those who stump these verses outnumber my simple faith.
So I am a bit confused when Muslims pretend they are bewildered by what causes the zealots within their ranks to interpret the teachings of Mohammed in a way that fosters terrorism.
Yes, it really is a source of aggravation to me that a Muslim woman will sit on television with her head covering, sharing that the Muslim faith has nothing whatsoever to do with anything but peace and love.
I will tell you–most Christians are not concerned about peace and love. Many of them only want to go to heaven while keeping the club as exclusive as possible.
So let’s stop all the bull crap.
Muslims know what their book says, just like I know what my book says. And some of the things in my book make me nervous–especially when they are isolated by mean-spirited people who are determined to hurt others.
Likewise, the Koran has passages that welcome the decimation of the infidel.
So it’s time for us, as intelligent, evolving, loving and giving people, to realize that religion needs some restrictions.
After all, we have already done this. Even as we insist that religious freedom is holy in this country, we certainly do not tolerate human sacrifice in a religious service, nor have we granted tax exempt status to the Ku Klux Klan, even though they insist they’re the white Christian church.
We cannot live on a planet that allows people to worship a God who is anti-human.
I will give you three examples. This trio of holy principles must be honored in every religion–otherwise, it is not a true expression of faith, but rather, a secret plot against mankind.
When you tell me you have a religion, I have three questions:
1. What does your God think about women?
Since women are at least half the planet, if they aren’t given equality in your religion, then your belief must be ignored.
2. What does your God say about free will?
If your religious observance contends that we are all bound by destiny, God’s will and God’s law instead of choosing our decisions for ourselves, then you will eventually start hearing voices telling you to kill off the competition.
3. What does your God think about judging the lives of others?
For if you’re following a deity that is more concerned about the “jot and the tittle” instead of the “tot and those who have little,” then I will tell you that you will gradually try to eliminate the sinners, thinking that you’re pleasing the saints.
If religion does not provide equality for all, free will for each one of us and the righteous position of being able to make our mistakes without being judged by others, then it is really not a belief in a Creator, but rather, pursuing an avenger.
That’s the good news.
Please don’t tell me you are baffled by how religion hurts people. Instead, follow some better news:
Start encouraging belief in a heavenly Father who honors men and women, offers free will and refuses to allow us to judge.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
b
Getting in Character… August 17th, 2015
Jonathots Daily Blog
(2666)
From Act II, Scene VII of As You Like It, Shakespeare asserts that “all the world is a stage and all the men and women, merely players.”
Don’t kill off the competition.
You will be tempted to do so. The world around you encourages deception–in a passionate way–to gain a footing to win the role. And in doing so, you may be taught to be a detractor of another person’s talent.
Most plays have two main roles, and a whole bunch of character opportunities. Maybe you envision yourself to be a “lead role” type of person. But the deck is stacked against you, because once someone has been given a lead role and they’ve been successful, making money for the corporation, they will be favored for the next lead role.
You may find yourself disgruntled, on the sidelines, badmouthing the stars and insisting that you could do just as well.
No one likes that person. That person is normally written into the script of life as a villain or a pathetic loser.
To avoid the anger which leads to rage and jealousy, causing us to assassinate the character of our fellow-travelers, it is very important to learn where to go to be both happy and productive.
It’s a simple, four-step process:
1. Find a hole.
Yes, there are many things that are left undone, partially because they’re not very glamorous, or they appear to be more difficult. Find one of these–not just “the road less traveled,” but the opportunity less pursued.
2. Fill the hole.
Take that talent you’ve been reserving for the spotlight and move it stage right or stage left, and allow your best performance to shine.
3. Invite friends.
That’s right. Include other people in what you’ve discovered. There is nothing more powerful than making an obscure idea popular, and then walking away from it, so that you can…
4. Find a new hole.
The minute you discover that what you have begun has gained traction, look ahead to what humankind needs and start moving towards it.
There is no such thing as being “ahead of your time.” If you’re not ahead of your time, you’re waiting in line. Actually, being ahead of your time is just having the intelligence to know what is needed, and beating others to the market.
You will have a tendency to be a killer if you don’t learn how to be a doer.
And to become a doer, your job is not to build a super-highway, but instead… find great joy in filling in the pot holes.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this wonderful, inspirational opportunity
***************************
NEW BOOK RELEASE BY JONATHAN RICHARD CRING
WITHIN
A meeting place for folks who know they’re human
$3.99 plus $2.00 S&H
$3.99 plus $2.00 S & H
Jonathots Daily Blog 