Spice of Life

Before you become a parent, you have many opinions on parenting.  Where do they come from?  Hell if I know, not experience, that's for sure!  Over 5 years ago I would see a child with one of those "leashes" on, at Disneyland or wherever, and roll my eyes.  "I would NEVER put one of those on my kid, it's ridiculous!"  Well, my friends...never say never.  Especially BEFORE you have kids.  As you know, my parenting motto is "if it works, do it". Last week we were at Zeeks pizza eating on the outdoor patio.  The kids were done so they were going around the table, going crazy of course.  Us adults were trying to enjoy our beers and have conversation.  One second I look at Zoe and she's behind my mom's chair, I look away for a second to drink my beer and she's gone.  "Where's the child!?" I said.  I run inside and ask the servers if they had seen a little girl come in and they start searching.  I run out to the parking lot (whi...

I have watched a couple movies lately (inspired by books) that have gotten me thinking, sometimes the true love of Jesus is more apparent in the "secular" world than it is in Christian culture. Whatever you might think about the new Les Miserables movie, you must admit that the priest was magnificent.  If you have never seen the original theatrical production in person or on DVD than you don't know that Colm Wilkinson was the original Jean Valjean.  I had seen the DVD because I got the 25th anniversary edition for Norm.  So when we went to see the movie and he came on screen, I got chills.  His voice is out of this world.  Anyway, back to the point...the priest in that story demonstrates the true love, acceptance and forgiveness of Christ.  Jean Valjean had come from serving a sentence for stealing bread to help his sisters child from starving.  He would forever be branded a criminal and looked at with disdain and disgust.  The priest welcomes h...