In today’s podcast I talk about how the Old testament is full of jacked up, hard to believe stories. I was listening on my Youversion app to Judges today and heard the story of Samson. I don’t know if you consider him a bible hero (this website thinks so), but in this story we learn:

Don’t drink when you’re pregnant.

Wives can whine their way into anything. It’s ok to betray your husband. Great lessons for young ladies.

Samson takes revenge on his first wife for betraying him. Revenge seems justified here. Hmmm.. Great lessons for young males right?

Samson gets another wife name Delilah who also nags him and cries a lot. Eventually this tactic works.Reinforcing the great advice from before.

Samson gives into his wife which result in him being a slave and having his eyes gouged out. Thanks wife. Reinforcing that you should ignore a Woman’s tears.

Blind people were entertainment back in the day. They don’t say doing what, but I’m guessing it wasn’t juggling.

Samson prays to God, and God gives him his super strength one last time and gets revenge and kills everyone. – If you have faith in God he will help you open up a can of whoop-ass.

I’m pretty sure I could learn the same lessons from watching a few episodes of the Jersey Shore Television Show.Откъде да купя икона

Today I share a voicemail I got from a friend of mine Fred Castenada. He is a great guy, great entrepreneur, and has tons of experience. Fred is a Vietnam veteran. Now when I say Vietnam I don’t mean the fun, wacky Vietnam you see in the movies with guys smoking cigs, and joking around in the jungle. Fred was and is the real deal. Fred was on the very front line, and live to tell when many of his friends did not. Thank you Fred for serving your country.

This Thanksgiving maybe we were talking about a new flat screen tv, or a laptop, or other issues that we wanted to fix. Fred’s call lets us see that many of the “problems” we face are really just annoyances. We need to remember to count our blessings that we have food, shelter, and most importantly, nobody shooting at us.

I was very shaken when I got a call on Tuesday letting me know that a friend of mine (a music promoter) had taken his life. Walt was a Vietnam vet as well. I’m not sure what problems he had that made him lose all hope, but I’m pretty sure they were just very strong annoyances. I just can’t stop thinking about how his little girls are dealing with this, and what does a wife say to her children?

Sometimes we get confused as to what a problem is, and what is an annoyance. Thanks Fred for sharing, and for reminding us to count our blessings.

Today I talk about how my life has not been very eventful. Then my ex-wife called me at 3:30 in the morning to let me know that a dog (that used to be my dog) was lost. She had let him outside, but she couldn’t find him.

Now the interesting thing is, this dog had SERIOUS problems walking. So how drunk do you have to be to lose a dog who can’t walk?

This brought up to thoughts for me. First, even though I am an award winning teacher, I can’t get this “Student” to understand the concept that she has a drinking problem. However, I am a huge failure when it comes to this.

Secondly, it has been many years since I separated from my first wife. I have done things, and taken steps to make my life better. I’ve been lucky enough to find a wonderful woman to share my life with me (who has fabulous kids to boot). I’m getting ready to graduate with my second degree. My life has moved on for the better. Meanwhile my ex-wife is still at square one. Sad.

While I could cut off ALL communication with my ex (I talk to her for a few minutes about every 7-12 weeks), but unfortunately when someone talks about “Chrisitans” I would put big money on my face coming into her (or her family’s) mind. So I try to do what Jesus would, and be nice, and hopefully she will see that my life is better due to my faith.

She called again, and I was very tempted to answer the phone with “ARE YOU SOBER THIS TIME?” But instead I took a deep breath, and answered normally. I am glad I held my temper. She again was crying, but this time it was because the dog had seizure and she had to have him put to sleep. My “Little Guy” that I used to watch the Cleveland Browns with was gone. He was so little. So cute. I loved that dog a lot, and I will miss him. catv

I’m typically a hard person to find speechless, but when my Ethics teacher presented us a blog posting about a Japanese video game called “Rapelay”  where the goal of the games was to rape women and force them into having abortions. I grew up playing Monopoly and operation.  I was speechless.

I mean how does that go down? Does Hop Sing come running and and go “I’ve got a great idea for a game where YOU can be the rapest,” and everyone goes “By george he’s got it!” I mean seriously. How does this have a market so that people would even ponder the thought of creating it in the first place? What’s next Old McDonald’s Bestiality Video Game?

I suppose if I stand up and say, “I embrace free speach, and I embrace other cultures, but this is messed up” I’m going to be labeled “judgemental.” If this is the case, what would be classified as wrong?

I just know at this point, I’ve seen enough. It’s sad, and I feel ashamed to be human. I want off the planet. “Check please!” lets box it up and get out of here.

When I was growing up I was always amazed at how adults were fascinated about me having an imaginary friend. So I made up a friend that made no sense (he lived on top of a water tower). This delighted the adults. The more ridiculous the story, the more they would laugh, and I like to make people laugh so I would occasionally indulge them and talk about “Fako.”

Our fascination with fake people continues as “Reality TV” shows makes “Stars” out of people (with their fake nails, fake boobs, fake lips, fake tatoos, fake hair, fake tan) who come on the show and try to “keep it real.” The only thing real about reality TV is that IT’S NOT REAL.

This was partly due to Ozzy Osbourne as his show seems crazy. Well guess what folks, Ozzy is NUTS. This is why his show worked, and why almost every show after it has not.

Now we have Rock Of Love (with Brett Michaels from the band Poison). This time its for real.

Where are the real people. Where are the heroes for our children to look up to?

Music By Top Johnny from the Podsafe Music Network “Keep it Real.”

Today I talk about something I keep on seeing. I keep seeing divorced parents using their children as a tool to get back at their ex.  This is truly amazing when I think about it. You are so focused on your own grudge, and your hate of your spouse (deserved or not) that you will knowingly put your kid in the crossfire between you and your ex.

Shame on You.

Isn’t one of the biggest parts of being a parent putting your children first?

When you blow off visitation. When you say things that hurt. It hurts 10 times as much because you are their parent. If you keep on hurting and hurting your children you leave them no choice but to “Demote” you and remove the importance of your words. You are a parent on paper only.

When a child is forced to this action, there is no undo. When you lose time with your kids you can’t get it back. They are only this age once, and when you miss it you can’t get it back. There is no “undo” in life like there is on a computer program. You can’t wash off the pain in a few seconds.

This same theory also applies to kids who totally disrespect their parents. If you continue to hurt your parent over and over, eventually they have to disconnect from you (and you are only their child on paper). They are left counting the days until you turn 18.

There is a Christina Aguilera song called “Hurt” and there is a line “I hurt myself by hurting you.” So when we hurt each other, and drive people out of our lives, we deprive ourselves of loving caring relationships.

I lost my cousin Shawn Steinmetz this week. He was 33, and has two very young daughters. It was a freak bike accident. He was here a few weeks ago for my nieces graduation party, and now he’s gone. I don’t have all the details, and in reality it doesn’t matter.

Hug your kids. Call your parents. Love the one your with.

Speaking of Love…

On the way to Podcamp Ohio the Nurse (my girlfriend) and I drove to Columbus and listened to a book (something like saving your marriage before it even starts). Once again I hear how a man needs to make the woman feel cherished. To do this he has to give up anything she asks for. Then because she loves him, she will give it back. This seems inefficient. Why not just believe me, and we can bypass the giving and giving back. I guess it doesn’t work that way.

UPDATE
Please note: At the end of this podcast I mention how you “have to give up everything.” This is NOT what the book states. This is the “warped” version in my head. The bottom line is a relationship is give and take. My whole comment was its funny how you may need to give up something to show a woman that she is special, and important – and then she will give it back (and that this seems like alot of work to end up where you started).

Here is the Book
Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts

My Grandfather was one of the first people to have an artificial tree. He had a unique way of decorating it. It sticks in my mind even though it was so many years ago.

Music “What Child is This” Jimme Bratcher www.jimmiebratcher.com from the Podsafe Music Network music.podshow.com

Missing the days of comforters and hot chocolate. The joys of living out of a suitcase are slowy eroding my attitude. We take for granted that “Ahhhhh…” feeling of wlking into our homes. Until you don’t have one (or at least one that is truly yours, where you can put some roots down…)

I really hesitated putting out this (and a few other) episodes as they’ve all been kind of “downers” so I put this out for anyone else who might not be feeling as “Up” as they would like to say “Hey you’re not the only one.” Hang in there. If it weren’t for Mountains we’d never have to learn how to climb.

Music – Jim Suhler “Trying to Get Back Home.” From the Podsafe Music Network at music.podshow.com  Buy the CD and Listen to Samples at cdbaby.com

Teenage boys can be stupid. I talk about a tale that happened right in front of my face, and why I use books to lie to myself. Website is www.betterdave.comMusic From the Podsafe Music Network http://music.podshow.com

The Leaving Trains “Dumb as a Crayon”

I talk about getting straight A’s for the first time in my life, possibly getting into a new band, and a trip to the baseball park with 29 of my closest friends.

I tell the story of buying a dress for my Mother’s 59th birthday. Little did I know that she would be wearing it to her funeral.

Now you may wondering why I would share such a personal tale. Because there are plenty of you who have Mothers and ignore them on Mother’s Day. You’re too busy to put any real time into a gift, a special thought, or card.  Maybe you throw her a gift card. I’m telling you that while you have the chance to do more than buy her flowers – DO IT. You’ll be glad you did.

For there to be a shadow there must first be a light…
- The Mom

Mother’s day is May 13th in the US.

Music from the Podsafe Music Network 
“Mother” from Kevin Reeves

Buy the CD at CDBaby.com“Elegy by Gabriel Faure” by Cello Journey