Just got an email from a news source that I subscribe to. It opens with a plea that reads sort of like this:
"Help keep this resource free."
Bottom line boils down to: "To keep this resource free, please send money."
Does anyone else get this oxymoron? or is it just me?
Click through to Challies.com. And definitely do not enter his giveaway, because I want to win and if you enter, then I may not.
Pause with me for a moment as we consider those pesky 'postrophes. The apostrophe should be your friend, not another headache, but he does have to do his work properly. And being a lesser used punctuation mark, he gets misused almost as often as his big sister the comma.
And now today's lesson:
1) The apostrophe can and should be used to show possession--as in the previous phrase ("today's lesson"). The lesson belongs to today. Just as you can refer to this webpage as Benjie's blog because it belongs to me. [The most notable exceptions to this rule come from the pronoun family in the form of the words "it" and "who" in which we find that when the dog owns a bone (and we don't know the dog's gender) we say that the item is "its bone"--no apostrophe. In the case of our little interrogative friend who, possession is shown by asking "Whose book is this?"--again, no apostrophe.]
2) One may also use the apostrophe when contracting words (creating contractions) such as can't or won't (can + not = cannot contracting to can't; will + not contracts to won't). This is the rule that applies to our pronouns from example one in conjunction with the apostrophe. It's is the contraction for it and is, just as who's is the contracted form for who and is.
Please do not use the apostrophe when forming plurals (notice I did not write plural's) because that would just be silly. The struggle you will have is when writing about decades using numerical designation instead of words. Let me help you: the decade of the Sixties (including 1961-1970, another lesson altogether) would be written as the 60s, not the 60's (you may include an apostrophe to indicate that you have left out the first two numbers if you want: '60s).
Please treat him nicely because, after all, the apostrophe is your friend.
Our nation has set aside this day to honor our others—both those who are still living and those who have gone on to their reward. There are several ways to do this. Some of the more common ones include giving a special gift to your mom, be it a bouquet of flowers or a new piece of jewelry. Maybe some chocolates. Some people make a special effort to visit their mother if they live some distance, and they often honor Mom by attending worship with her. If you are in this category, you are especially welcomed in the worship hour today.
If a trip to Mom’s is not an option for you, contacting via phone or e-mail is always nice. With today’s technology, you might even want to set up a Skype account and video chat with Mom over the Internet.
Here are a couple of suggestions that you may not have thought of, but are really some of the best things to do to honor your mother today: Give generously to the annual “Mother’s Day Offering” which benefits the Baptist Children’s Home and Family Services (If you're not located in Illinois, find a worthy cause to support in honor of your Mom). Share your faith in Jesus with an unsaved friend or family member.
However you plan to do it, honor your mother today.
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| Enter coupon code HOP305 at checkout and receive 20% off your order. The maximum savings for this coupon is $250. Offer good towards print costs only - shipping and tax amounts are excluded. You can only use the code once per account, and you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer ends on April 26, 2011 at 11:59 PM so try not to procrastinate! While very unlikely we do reserve the right to change or revoke this offer at anytime, and of course we cannot offer this coupon where it is against the law to do so. Transaction must be in US Dollars |
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Here's an old spiritual -- I don't know the source, but the sentiment is Resurrection Day!
I looked up and saw my Lord a-coming,
I looked up and saw my Lord a-coming,
I looked up and saw my Lord a-coming down the road
I looked up and saw my Lord a-dying,
I looked up and saw my Lord a-dying,
I looked up and saw my Lord a-dying on the tree
I looked up and saw my Lord a-rising,
I looked up and saw my Lord a-rising,
I looked up and saw my Lord a-rising from the grave!
(chorus)
Hallelujah! He is coming!
Hallelujah! He is here!
Hallelujah! He is coming!
Hallelujah! He is here!
April has been designated as National Poetry Month. You may want to read some poetry with a friend or loved one, or write a haiku, sonnet, or ode. And now, before the month gets away from me, I thought I'd share something simple:
Use this coupon to buy one of my books and save shipping. (click on picture to go my Lulu store)
Publish | Buy | Services 
Use coupon code APRILMAIL305 at checkout, select Mail Shipping and receive the single book shipping cost free. Maximum savings with this promotion is $4.99. Print and tax amounts are excluded. You can only use the code once per account, and you can't use this coupon in combination with other coupon codes. This great offer ends on April 30, 2011 at 11:59 PM so try not to procrastinate! While very unlikely we do reserve the right to change or revoke this offer at anytime, and of course we cannot offer this coupon where it is against the law to do so. Transaction must be in US dollars.
Copyright © 2002-2011 Lulu, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Lulu.com | 3101 Hillsborough St. | Raleigh | NC | 27607-5436
Below are the words to an old hymn written around 1876 by Jean Pigott. The words seem archaic at times, but one of the rich blessings of some of the old hymns is the word choice made by the writer. I first encountered this hymn attached to a newer melody about nine years ago. The words are so compelling that I'm drawn back to it over and over again.
The original tune: Tranquility (by James Mountain -- also 1876) is not quite as flowing as the one I first learned, but if you are familiar with this hymn it is probably the tune you'll remember.
As you read the words, try to get past the surface to what they are really saying--"O, how great Thy loving-kindness, / Vaster, broader than the sea" and then later "And Thy love so pure and changeless, / Satisfies my heart; / Satisfies its deepest longings, / Meets, supplies its every need, / Compasseth me 'round with blessings: / Thine is love indeed!"
Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,
And Thy beauty fills my soul,
For by Thy transforming power,
Thou hast made me whole.
Refrain
Jesus, I am resting, resting,
In the joy of what Thou art;
I am finding out the greatness
Of Thy loving heart.
O, how great Thy loving kindness,
Vaster, broader than the sea!
O, how marvelous Thy goodness,
Lavished all on me!
Yes, I rest in Thee, Belovèd,
Know what wealth of grace is Thine,
Know Thy certainty of promise,
And have made it mine.
Refrain
Simply trusting Thee, Lord Jesus,
I behold Thee as Thou art,
And Thy love, so pure, so changeless,
Satisfies my heart;
Satisfies its deepest longings,
Meets, supplies its every need,
Compasseth me round with blessings:
Thine is love indeed!
Refrain
Ever lift Thy face upon me
As I work and wait for Thee;
Resting ’neath Thy smile, Lord Jesus,
Earth’s dark shadows flee.
Brightness of my Father’s glory,
Sunshine of my Father’s face,
Keep me ever trusting, resting,
Fill me with Thy grace.
Refrain
Sometimes I think that it would be worth our while to use an economy of language again. What do you think?
Texas, Our Texas! all hail the mighty State! Texas, Our Texas! so wonderful so great! Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev'ry test O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest. Texas, O Texas! your freeborn single star, Sends out its radiance to nations near and far, Emblem of Freedom! it set our hearts aglow, With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo. Texas, dear Texas! from tyrant grip now free, Shines forth in splendor, your star of destiny! Mother of heroes, we come your children true, Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you. Chorus God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong, That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long. God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong, That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.
"Texas, Our Texas"
Again and again and again! Apparently people are not paying attention to my posts.
As I was perusing one of the several many blogs that I frequent daily, buried deeply in the text the author did it again. So I was ready to go on a long rant about the proper use of lead, led, and lead. But I've already waxed eloquent on the subject, so I'll just point you there.
You must understand that I read a lot of blogs by preacher-types like myself. It's good for my professional education. That said, most of us are expected to be professional communicators--either verbally or through the written word. So is it too much to ask my colleagues to learn to say that any church they pastor "will be led" rather than "will be lead"? Please preacher, learn your usage. And by the way, it's just a cop-out to say, "spelling/grammar was never my strong suit." Are you educated? Then act like it. Even when you write.
By now everyone's probably seen the church sign.
While I'm not sure about using a church marquee to ask people to stop praying, I'm right there with the sentiment.
Since I am always behind, you've probably seen these (as they are all the rage on the 'Net right now). But in the spirit of the season (I know, I know. This part of the work is not really part of the birth section--but the passion--but people love to sing it as part of their Christmas tradition) I will post these here. Feel free to stand beside your computer in the time-honored tradition (attributed to royalty, no less).
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