Questioning Wishes, Control, and Thinking

“Five percent of the people think; ten percent of the people think they think; and the other eighty-five percent would rather die than think.”

-- Thomas A. Edison

Who values crunch time, and why do they value them to the point of ignoring their downsides?

As a supervisor and manager, I’ve valued “crunch-time” as a means to separate the wheat from the chaff, those that have the right attitude from those that don’t, and those that can from those who need more training, or another career. Every time I would announce we’ve entered “crunch-time” more and more smiles would appear around the room, and you could actually feel the combined focus sharpen.

What will I wish of if a girl asks me to make a wish?

“I wish for constant happiness, and you going out with me would help this wish along, sinificantly. Just saying.”

How would you explain the phrase "we are all wonderfully made"?

If we weren’t “wonderfully made” we would not have been to the moon, composed music, explored the oceans, created great art, and puzzled great philosophy. We have ears to actively listen, and eyes to imagine what our minds will conceive and our hands will create. If we aren’t “wonderfully made” we would never be better than we are, and we certainly can be.

“Unlinked by a pacemaker, the cells beat irregularly, spasmodically, each tapping out a rhythm approximate to the 350 beats a minute normal to a chick. But as the observer watches, over a period of hours an astonishing phenomenon occurs. Instead of five independent heart cells contracting at their own pace, first two, then three, and then all the cells pulse in unison. There are no longer five beats, but one. How is this sense of rhythm communicated in the saline, and why?”

-- Paul W. Brand, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

Is control even a thing?

It is a noun and a verb, therefore it can be a thing as well as an action. This is my “control” group, but I will have “control” over what the other group does.

Jeeze, I hope I got this right.

Did your young talents help you get a job when you were older?

What I learned in school got me a great job in the military, and what I learned in the military got me a great job when I got out. When I finally retired, everything I learned I brought to bear in the chaplaincy.

Does writing improve your thinking?

Yes! And a great benefit is that my thinking, then, improves my writing! It is a “win-win” relationship.

"Writing is thinking. To write well is to think clearly. That’s why it’s so hard."

-- David McCullough

Did you ever get punished far more severely than necessary for something? Why?

Yep, and for something I didn’t even do. My dad felt about that small when he saw the truth. He told me to throw an ice cream wrapper on the lawn in the trash. I had thrown it away, to begin with, and didn’t know how it got on the lawn. He came back and told me to do it again. I said I did. he yelled and pointed. Same place. And, again, he came. Same place. He watched as I put it in the trash in the garage trashcan, and then we both watched as the dog went into the garage and took it back out to the lawn. Same place. Dad was a bit sheepish.

What is the origin of the saying "here and back again to see how far it is"?

It is the title of a book by Tim Watson.

Is there a difference between what is considered an elderly person and what’s considered a senior citizen?

“The terms senior citizen and elderly are outrageously similar and are used interchangeably with one another. Usually, retirees are classified as senior citizens in general terminology. Whereas, elderly denotes a person who’s nearing his life expectancy age or is above it.” 

--Difference between Senior Citizen and Elderly

Should we think differently about success?

Yes. We perceive “success” as having attained a goal when all you’ve really done is attain a goal. But, are you truly happy? If you aren’t truly happy with your life then what good is reaching a goal? Can you be ecstatically happy without ever attaining a goal? Of course.

So who is more successful, the person who works their entire life attaining goal after goal, or the man with an eight-to-five job, holding his newborn baby girl? Well, who is smiling more? You can attain a mountain of goals and never find happiness, or you can “be happy always” to begin with, and then think about a goal.

Ask a man who holds his newborn and ask if he is successful. Given a moment to think, he will smile and say “Yes!” He may not be successful in society’s terms, but he is very successful in terms that a loving parent, or those who are happy always, could understand. Success is how you define it. Just be always happy on your journey getting there, or… what’s the point?

Why do most people prefer to believe in luck, innate talent, and destiny rather than self-improvement and mindset building?

Since most people are basically lazy, this is much less work. Unfortunately, it also reflects.

What is your biggest writing hurdle?

Starting. Once I start it’s hard for me to stop until I’m finished. I’ve been trying to start my third novel, but I keep coming up with reasons not to.

“The biggest hurdle to writing Fargo Rock City was that I couldn’t afford a home computer – I had to get a new job so I could buy a computer. It could all change though. In five years, I could be back at some daily newspaper, which wouldn’t be so bad.”

-- Chuck Klosterman

Is there anything more to life than working and paying bills?

Being born, learning, more learning, Exercising, socializing, falling in love, raising a family, vacationing, making memories, dying, and being reborn. Questions?

Can a god of atheism be believed in?

By atheists?

Is silence an act of weakness?

Sometimes it takes more strength to be silent than to vent. For me, however, silence is not an option when those who cannot protect themselves are threatened. It is one reason I usually choose to speak out against abortion.

“Words can be twisted into any shape. Promises can be made to lull the heart and seduce the soul. In the final analysis, words mean nothing. They are labels we give things in an effort to wrap our puny little brains around their underlying natures when ninety-nine percent of the time the totality of the reality is an entirely different beast. The wisest man is the silent one. Examine his actions. Judge him by them.”

-- Karen Marie Moning

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com