Celebrity: Now and Then

 

There has been something rolling around in my brain for a week and I can't yet put the pieces together, so maybe you can help me.  

Do we treat God like...a celebrity?

When we have an encounter with Him, is it something we brag about, like meeting, say, Brad Pitt or Johnny Depp?

Do we go on and on about our "conversation", when it was just a few quick words?

It can become all about US. 

Meeting face to face with a celeb can make most people a little giddy for sure, I have been there.

But we are talking about GOD!

We are told by Paul that we should "Pray without ceasing"!  A constant stream of communication.

Just something I am wondering about!

BONUS MATERIAL:

 

Here is an interesting article to ponder on the whole topic of Christian celebrities!

Speaking With Intention...Excellent Notion!

Confession time.

Occasionally I will watch Jane Austen movies with my wife.

She has her favorites and we own them on DVD.

When the mood strikes, they come out and we enjoy them together.

Here is what I love about them.

The way they talk!

The characters express themselves with such perfect clarity!  I want to be like that!

It seems that communication these days has become a bit muddled.

When I watch these movies, I am inspired to speak with directness and intention.

Some of the phrases and expressions get burned into my mind and I wish I could use them in everyday conversation!

Bring back Victorian speech!

Fare thee well and good morrow!

Stand Up for God!

Me and Tim Maassarany having our usual fun on the All New Breakfast Club!

In my opinion, I have the best job in the world.

It's also the strangest.

My business card says Todd Gale "Morning Show Personality".

My employment is me. 

My qualifications, aside from some technical know-how, are just being who I am.

What?

Let's examine this for a moment.

As a morning show co-host, I help start YOUR day with some great music, information and some fun thrown in!

As a naturally introverted geeky type, I have had my challenges doing this odd but wonderfully satisfying job!

So, since my skills basically revolve around connecting with a large audience on a daily basis, how do I constantly improve those skills?

The basics come to mind. 

Respect those who tune in, pray for them. 

Understand that every person has value, even if they don't believe they do.

Build them up and make them smile!

Ok, now, what about more growth?

Every day we open the mic and, it's just me and Tim Maassarany in the control room.

We don't SEE you all. So this led to the following chain of events...

I had it in my mind about a year ago that I would like to try my hand at Stand Up Comedy.

Why?  Good question, so glad you asked!

First off, I am a goof and love to be funny. 

But, the funny for me is usually spontaneous, in the moment, reactionary and only among a small group of two or three people.

Stand Up seemed to me the best way to learn how to relate to a larger audience of "real" people.

It's a chance to be in the moment, with actual PREPARED things to say, and to see the reactions of people in real time.

It's an opportunity to see what's really funny and what is just funny to me.

So, God set this whole thing up.  Who do I meet here in Barrie?  A comedian!

Someone said, "You should meet Wil Twynstra."  I said "What kind of name is that?"

Anyway, we got together and I related to him my desire to do stand up as an exercise in growth.

This got the ball rolling and before I knew what was going on, we DID IT!

My mom drove 3.5 hours to be in the audience!  She snapped this pic of me making some kind of point!

I actually went onstage and did it!  What a rush!

Stand Up For God 5 was a ton of fun and one of the most scary things I've ever done.

Family and friends were there to cheer me on and I think it went pretty well!

We raised a good chunk of money for Arise Christian Academy to boot!

I am still dissecting all that I learned from the experience, but one thing is for sure...

I want to do it again!

What a great night!

Bacon Blues

I was preparing breakfast for my wife the other day and realized we had no bacon!   

That’s a horrible discovery!   

When you think you had bacon only to open he fridge and the hallowed bacon drawer is empty!   

We called the grocery store….”Has it happened to you TO?”  “NO?  You have a whole aisle of bacon?  Oh thank goodness!   

We have a bacon emergency!  I am sending my husband!”  

They say “We’ll clear the aisle ma’am!”   

I pull up in front of the grocery store, the have a guy open the door and they usher me in and we run down the aisles shouting “get out of the way”!  Move people!   

I get there and, I can’t decide!  I go into bacon brain lock!   

There are too many varieties!   

What do I want?   

Maple flavoured, low sodium, Apple wood-smoked, hickory, peppercorn crusted, back, pea meal, turkey, chicken?     

HELP ME!   

I make a snap decision and go with a thick cut Hickory, because I am really hungry by this time.   

I get home and the pan is ready.   

Bacon shrinks so I load the pan as much as possible. It’s all hanging over the sides. 

The sizzle is tantalizing!   

I go into a bacon trance.   

Watching the pop of the fat, gazing as the meat turns translucent and begins to curl up.   

I snap out of it!  It’s time for the flip!  

Gingerly I use the tongs to grasp two or three slices at a time and turn them over.   

Now the sizzling is taken to a whole new level!  Watch out, the grease is flying everywhere!  

I don’t care!  It’s almost done!   

I have to focus now because you have to hit that exact moment before the bacon becomes too crispy, and just after it’s fully cooked.   

It’s the mystical bacon perfection zone!   

I get a plate ready with exactly two paper towels neatly folded.  This will absorb the last of the precious grease.   

Here we go three, two, and one…NOW!  It's over to the plate and there it sits.   

The aroma is intoxicating.   

Only then do I realize, I haven’t cooked anything else!  

Now the wonderful bacon must sit and wait until the eggs are scrambled and the toast is toasted and the coffee is perked!   

How could I have been so utterly foolish?   

Ok, let’s just get it done.  I scramble eggs, all the while the bacon is looking at me.   

I’ll just have one.  It’s an appetizer I say!   

I sneak one and my mouth goes into a flavor happy dance!  

My tongue is twerking with delight!  So good!  

 “Watch the eggs, don’t burn the toast!” I hear my wife say.   

This is taking too long, so I grab another slice…I am weak.  Now what?  

When breakfast is served, there needs to be a proper amount of bacon on the dish to be acceptable! 

I know!   

I put the eggs and toast on the plate and then I cut the remaining bacon strips in HALF!   

Genius!   

Now it looks like double bacon!  Breakfast is saved!  We sit down to eat.   

We have no more ketchup…

What is confidence?

Who does this guy think he is?

He's Gene Simmons, that's who!

Gene Simmons said this in an interview...

"People often confuse, at least in my estimation, my pride and self-confidence with arrogance. Because they are not used to people who have an in-your-face, 'take it or leave it/this is how I am' point of view. I'm more like an animal in the jungle that (urinates) on the ground and doesn't ask your permission. 'This is me, this is my territory.' It's simply defining who I am and what I stand for."

"That's called full disclosure, before the facts. Others simply hold their opinions to themselves and never say who they are. You will always know who I am. You don’t have to like it; that's OK if you don't."

I need help with something...

What exactly is confidence?

I hear about being humble as a Christian.  Humility is something characteristic of a good person in general.

But what is it?

Is confidence a good thing when it comes to being a Christian or is it the thin edge of pride?

I need a certain degree of confidence in my everyday life just to get through the day.

I can hear the response to this in my head, "It's being confident in God, and knowing who you are in HIM that gives us true boldness."

I understand that, but sometimes that can come off as pride to.  

1 Peter 5:5New International Version (NIV)

5 In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,

“God opposes the proud

    but shows favor to the humble.”

I admire those who are confident, but I find it hard to be so myself at times.

Any thoughts?

Jedi Wisdom

Yoda was a cute character when he was introduced in "The Empire Strikes Back"  in 1980. (One of my favorite movies of all time).  He was full of laughter and mischief, and then Luke Skywalker realized who he really was, a wise Jedi Master!  Then his personality changed.  Yoda became the strict teacher, the disciplinarian and the one who made you think hard about your life.  At one point, Luke thinks he can handle what's coming and says "I'm not afraid"!  Yoda responds with surprise and says...

At that moment we understand that Luke is in for the ride of his life!

My life is like that lately.

There are thing that I want to do.  I am eager to do them, but that lurking enemy, FEAR holds us back!

Facing fear is no fun at all.  Telling stories afterwards is fun.  Looking back on the memories is fun.  Stepping out to the things you are afraid of is nothing short of terrifying!

Thank God for the wonderful people who speak words of strength to us!  Thank God for those who see reality and can give us a non-glossed-over statement of the truth.  Thank God for the Yoda's in our lives who can steer our enthusiasm and make sure we land on our feet!

My next fear-defeating exercise is stand-up comedy. I am up for about 5 minutes.  On radio we get a minute and a half to tell a story and be entertaining and interesting.  But, FIVE WHOLE MINUTES?  Whoa!  The internal struggle is very real!

It could be anything that generates fear, but the more you talk about it and reach out to those who have the wisdom of Yoda, the fear subsides a bit.

Maybe your going for a job interview, giving a presentation or leaving on a missionary journey, it does not matter.  Fear can stop us from moving ahead in big and small things.  Face it head on and grab on to those who will hold you up in prayer.

1John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 

May the Force be with you!

 

Life is a Roller Coaster Sometimes!

Over the last weekend, my wife and I got to spend time with our firstborn!  There were several things we could of done with a wide open schedule and a whole weekend, but the one thing that got him and his girl friend, Jess really pumped was...Wonderland!

It was not something we expected to do that Saturday, but we were up for it!

Last time I was at Wonderland, I missed out on the BIG coasters and was wondering if I would get them in before fall.

The Behemoth and Leviathan were both pretty fun, but the real fun was just being able to hang out with "the boy" and his girl!

Sunday was going to be a church day but it turned into a day of shopping around Barrie in order to maximize daylight hours.  They had to drive that night back to New Liskaerd!  We DID have some enjoyable "God" conversations anyway, despite missing service!

After an epic journey through the malls, we headed to the Arboretum for a walk through what I call the "tree zoo"!  The fall colors are just starting to emerge and it was a special way to end off our short visit!

Now that we are temporary "empty-nesters", we realize how special the kids are and how our relationships with them grow and change.

When you are a parent of young ones, there are ups and downs, once you get through those, it's a fun/different stage.

They can't stay "kids" forever but they are always family!