Share Your World 10-28-19

Posted on October 30, 2019 by joseph elon lillie under For Family & Fun, Uncategorized

It is time to Share my world again. This challenge has been one of my favorites for a long time now. Led first by Cee and now be Melanie. The challenge is to answer five (or so) questions each week and in answering them to share my view of the world. The questions and my answers are below. When you have finished reading them click on THIS LINK and see how others have answered Melanie’s challenge.

Where’s the line between respectful disagreement and being downright mean (bullying) to someone? I think the difference is in the spirit of control that is exercised in the midst of disagreement. I should be free to express my disagreement with people but love dictates that I do not insist on controlling anything other than my own boundaries. As soon as I cross the line into forcing someone to agree with me then I am bullying. Now that said I have to be allowed to keep my own boundaries. For instance in my own house I expect people to function within certain bounds of propriety. If they feel they cannot do that then they are welcome not to come to my house. That is not bullying that is holding proper boundaries.
Would you prefer to live in a world where alcohol was free or where politicians were honest? I don’t drink so free alcohol does little for me. I think we could all use a little more honesty across the board these days. Politicians are only a symptom of a much larger problem.
What’s one habit you have that your family or friends think is rather childish? I like superheroes.
Would you rather go to a big party and rub shoulders with the rich and famous or go to an amazing quiet Garden that hardly anyone has ever visited? Garden most definitely!

Halloween Question: What do you think of the idea of “trick or treat or money for a charity” as a way of making Halloween more useful?

Let’s see extra fat grams or social justice……. Ummm…….

Share Your World From 10-14-19

Posted on October 16, 2019 by joseph elon lillie under For Family & Fun

Yay! I get to participate in SHARE YOUR WORLD HIS WEEK!

This challenge has been one of my favorites for several years. I hate to miss it but there have been seasons (this has been one) where finding any time to blog has proven problematic. I have learned over 8-ish years of being part of the blogosphere that is kind of the nature of the beast, but seasons change and this one is changing now. So YAY!

HERE ARE THIS WEEK’S SHARING QUESTIONS FROM MELANIE AND MY ANSWERS. WHEN YOU HAVE FINISHED HERE PLEASE USE THE UNDERLINED LINK TO GO AND VISIT SPARKS FROM A COMBUSTIBLE MIND AND CHECK OUT SOME OF MELANIE’S OTHER CONTRIBUTORS.

Why do we have such trouble telling our loved ones that we love them? Do you have that kind of communication issue with your loved ones?

Above question inspired by this short, poignant blog post

https://mitchteemley.com/2019/10/10/love-before-its-too-late-2/

This was a problem for me for a lot of years. I think for me it was the result of my gender and my culture acting on me to tell me how my gender was supposed to be in the world. That said, my church has helped me to overcome many of my relational deficiencies.

Decorations for holidays? Spirit lifters or pain in the butt? Or a mix?

A definite butt lift. 🙂

Do you donate to charities? Of your time, do you feel money is the only true gift, or other? (nod to Rory for this idea)

I have been taught that giving to charities is not just a good thing to do but a necessity to do. I believe that when you choose a charity you should give it your time, talent and treasure. This calls for us to discern which charities we belong being a part of and which ones we do not.

Are you too superstitious or have you ever played with a Ouija Board?

I am not superstitious I am spiritual and I believe in the spirit world as a very real part of the physical world. I have done way more than played with a ouija board. From those experiences I have learned that the spirit world is nothing to be toyed with. It can be a very dangerous place and God has warned us off many practices that our culture has made a game out of.

This week please share a photo or image of what ‘harvest’ and “Autumn” mean to you! Thanks!

Share Your World From 9-16-19

Posted on September 18, 2019 by joseph elon lillie under For Family & Fun, Uncategorized

IT IS TIME TO SHARE MY WORLD WITH AL Y’ALL AGAIN!

Melanie from Sparks From A Combustible Mind uses this challenge to connect with her readers by asking weekly questions. IN answering the questions we all share our worlds. This week’s questions and my answers can be found below. When you have finished reading my responses, please click the underlined link above and see how Melanie’s other readers have responded.

Are we losing the art of listening in comparison to simply hearing?

I believe we have lost this quality as a culture on the whole. We no longer listen to understand. We listen mostly to respond and to use what we hear to prove our point. Thankfully, like most arts it can never be fully lost. It can always be relearned by those who find an interest.

How often do you openly discuss with friends or here in WP with your readership topics that make you feel uncomfortable or may be taboo or stigma laden?

I feel like more and more of my viewpoints are becoming uncomfortable for the general public, and there is definitely a stigma concerning many of my opinions. That said, I try to gently lay my thoughts out there with an attitude of love and whatever anyone thinks is their business. Hopefully we can still speak cordially even if we do not see eye to eye.

Do you think that these discussions should be freely discussed and written about more?

I think open discussion is healthy.

Did you have a nickname as a child and if so, what was [or what is it now]?

J has always been my nick name. I am Joseph but being the fifth in line, nick names were always necessary.

Why is there still ‘stuff’ we simply just don’t understand despite our progressive world?

There will always be stuff we do not understand because we are not omniscient.

Would you rather double your height or lose half your weight? (In response to last week’s double your weight, half your height query). Thanks Leslie!

Suggestion by Leslie – Swot8

If I lost half my height I would be two times more “too heavy”, so it probably doesn’t matter.

What is your most essential kitchen tool? (Can be a person you know. For the non-cooks in the crowd).

Courtesy of Roger Shipp

https://rogershipp.wordpress.com/2019/09/15/essential-kitchen-tools/

My coffee maker of course.

Gratitude Question:

Who is one blogger you really admire and why?

Oh my! There are so many!

I really like Ben Nelson from http://anotherredletterday.com/show-me-your-glory/

Ben has such a great straightforward way of teaching God’s word.

I also love J.S. Park of https://jsparkblog.com/ for his no nonsense logical approach to the Christian faith.

Share Your World 8-19-19

Posted on August 21, 2019 by joseph elon lillie under For Family & Fun, Uncategorized

I haven’t been able to particpate in Melanie’s SHARE YOUR WORLD CHALLENGE for several weeks. But I am glad to be back answering her sharing questions and sharing my world with all of you!

Below are my answers to Melanie’s five questions. When you have finished here take some time and peruse her sight using the link above.

What would be your solution to the over-population of the earth? Earth has finite resources and humanity seems to be breeding themselves to extinction. Some countries have tried restricting the number of children a couple or a person can have, with little success. So what other viable options are there for reducing the number of people?

I believe God has this one well in hand. I think this is kind of above our pay grade and if we just trust Him He will take care of us. To some that may sound like a cop out, but I believe when we follow the mandates God has given us and believe the prophetic word He has shown us we will come round right in the end.

What’s the most ridiculous fact you know?

Lady bugs have poisonous knees.

What are the unwritten rules of where you work? If you don’t work (retired or unemployed) what are the unwritten rules you live your life by?

Gluten is bad. Sugar is bad. Fat is bad. McDonald’s is SUPER BAD( I break almost all of these rules daily). Hmm Unwritten rules in my daily life? I suppose there must be. Here’s one: Making your bed and getting dressed now counts as house work ( It makes me feel better about myself). 🙂

How do you feel about putting pineapple on pizza?

I think whoever thought that one up was a super genius. Not only is it yummy, but the rest of my family hates it, so I get a pizza all to myself when I buy one with pineapple on it!

Toilet paper, over or under?

Ours is not even on a ring. It sits on a shelf sideways.

What’s the best type of cheese?

White American

GRATITUDE

If you’d like, please share something positive, uplifting or funny from last week. We can always use some more of those things!

We had an awesome family beach trip to Gloucester MA. Here are some pictures we took.

Share Your World 4-22-19

Posted on April 26, 2019 by joseph elon lillie under For Family & Fun

I am finally getting around to SHARING MY WORLD WITH ALL Y’ALL THIS WEEK BY ANSWERING MELANIE’S FIVE QUESTIONS.

Honestly, I don’t even remember if I answered the sharing questions last week. These last two or three weeks have been something of a blur. I would say it has been too busy, but there has been an aspect of wonder to it all too, so I am not complaining. I’m just tired and ready for a bit of a slow down. We’ll see. Anyway, here are this week’s five questions and my five answers. As usual when you have finished with my answers use the underlined link above to pop over to Mel’s place and see how others answered her questions.

What was the last thing you read digital or print?

I am reading the book Quiet: The Power of Introverts In a World That Can’t Stop Talking. The last time I actually got to sit down and read anything including blogs was two weeks ago because the world around me has been so noisy.

Are you more an extrovert or introvert?

I am an extreme introvert. If left to my own I would probably withdraw from society altogether and become a hermit on a mountain…no really! I have learned to balance my introversion through church life and ministry. That has been extremely healthy for me, but it does come with a constant struggle to find the balance of silence I need.

How is your life different from what you imagined as a younger person?

I anticipated being richer. I thought I would own several houses all over the world and be free to travel to them. I think I am glad that did not happen.

Do you think about dying? Does death scare you? Why or why not?

I do think about death a lot. It does not scare me, because for me it is just a crossing over into an eternity reserved for me in the Heavens. I think there is a piece of me that is already there. I anticipate the passage.