5June2010
Posted by Ed Conti under: Uncategorized.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I really have to ask you to seriously consider what you’ve heard, and now this is the end of the evening so to speak. I heard a prize fight manager say to his fellow who was losing badly, “David, listen to me. It’s not what’s he’s doing to you. It’s what you’re not doing. (laughter).
Ladies and gentlemen, these people set, they opened the doors, they gave us the right, and today, ladies and gentlemen, in our cities and public schools we have fifty percent drop out. In our own neighborhood, we have men in prison. No longer is a person embarrassed because they’re pregnant without a husband. (clapping) No longer is a boy considered an embarrassment if he tries to run away from being the father of the unmarried child (clapping)
Ladies and gentlemen, the lower economic and lower middle economic people are [not*] holding their end in this deal. In the neighborhood that most of us grew up in, parenting is not going on. (clapping) In the old days, you couldn’t hooky school because every drawn shade was an eye (laughing). And before your mother got off the bus and to the house, she knew exactly where you had gone, who had gone into the house, and where you got on whatever you had one and where you got it from. Parents don’t know that today. Read the rest of this entry »
4June2010
Posted by Ed Conti under: Uncategorized.
The following is excerpted from John Wooden’s amazing book The Pyramid of Success.
He begins with this overall quote:
“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”
And here are Wooden’s 15 “Building Blocks” of the Pyramid of Success along with quotes on each:
1) Industriousness — “There is no substitute for hard work. Worthwhile results come from hard work and careful planning.”
2) Enthusiasm — “Enthusiasm brushes off upon those with whom you come in contact. You must truly enjoy what you are doing.”
3) Friendship — “Friendship comes from mutual esteem, respect and devotion. Like marriage, it must not be taken for granted but requires a joint effort.”
4) Cooperation — “Cooperate with all levels of your co-workers. Listen if you want to be heard. Be interested in finding the best way, not in having your way.”
5) Loyalty — “Loyalty to yourself and to all those depending upon you. Keep your self-respect.” Read the rest of this entry »
19May2010
Posted by Ed Conti under: Be There; Uncategorized.
When Your Hut’s On Fire
(there’ve been times when it felt like my WHOLE village was burning)
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him. Every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements, and to store his few possessions. One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, with smoke rolling up to the sky. He felt the worst had happened, and everything was lost. He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger. He cried out, ‘God! How could you do this to me?’
Early the next day, he was awakened by the sound of a ship approaching the island! It had come to rescue him! ‘How did you know I was here?’ asked the weary man of his rescuers. ‘We saw your smoke signal,’ they replied.
The Moral of This Story: It’s easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of our pain and suffering. Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground. It just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
2May2010
Posted by Ed Conti under: Uncategorized.
Kids Who Are Different
copyright 1982 by Digby Wolfe,
All Rights Reserved
Here’s to the kids who are different,
The kids who don’t always get A’s,
The kids who have ears twice the size of their peers,
And noses that go on for days…
Here’s to the kids who are different,
The kids they call crazy or dumb,
The kids who don’t fit, with the guts and the grit,
Who dance to a different drum…
Here’s to the kids who are different,
The kids with the mischievous streak,
For when they have grown, as history’s shown,
It’s their difference that makes them unique.
22April2010
Posted by Ed Conti under: Uncategorized.
CHILDREN
May be likened to
A handful of seeds
From many flowers…
At first they seem
More alike than different
In many respects.
Place these seeds in the
Earth and nourish them.
As they grow and mature
Their differences become
More marked.
Some remain small and
Delicate while others are
Large and brilliant; some
Bloom early and some
Bloom late.
One thing… they have in common:
Under good conditions they all
Bloom and have their own beauty.
Anon.
8April2010
Posted by Ed Conti under: Uncategorized.
God vs. Science
‘Let me explain the problem science has with religion.’
The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.
‘You’re a Christian, aren’t you, son?’
‘Yes sir,’ the student says.
‘So you believe in God?’
‘Absolutely. ‘
‘Is God good?’
‘Sure! God’s good.’
‘Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?’ Read the rest of this entry »
8April2010
Posted by Ed Conti under: Uncategorized.
Accept that some days you’re the pigeon,
and some days you’re the statue.
Always keep your words soft and sweet,
just in case you have to eat them.
Always read stuff that will make you look
good if you die in the middle of it.
Drive carefully. It’s not only cars that
can be recalled by their maker. Read the rest of this entry »
6April2010
Posted by Ed Conti under: Uncategorized.
“THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Communist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a Jew.
THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak up because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.
THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up.”
by Pastor Martin Niemöller
4April2010
Posted by Ed Conti under: Uncategorized.
Thoughts On Being A Cowboy…
Someone called me a “COWBOY”. It bothered me for a while, but the more I think about it, the more glad I am. You see, when I was a kid, cowboys were my heroes. There was Bill Picket, Nate Love, Tom Mix, Buck Jones, Johnny Mack Brown, Hopalong Cassidy, Red Ryder, Gary Cooper, Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, The Cisco Kid, The Lone Ranger, Tonto, John Wayne, Marshal Matt Dillon, The Rifleman, and many others. Personally I think Roy Rogers could beat them all up and then sing a song afterward to his girlfriend. He was my favorite.
What made the cowboys so special? What were the common attributes of these legendary men? Here are a few.
Read the rest of this entry »
3April2010
Posted by Ed Conti under: Uncategorized.
** HANDBOOK FOR LIFE **
Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a
beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food
that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games
7. Read more books than you did in last year .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10.Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily and, while you walk, smile. Read the rest of this entry »
