“People would enjoy life more if, once they got what they wanted, they could remember how much they wanted it.”

I am reading that in the publication called COFFEE NEWS, (Vol 145:2) and I am inspired.

For myself, I am saying that a little bit different:

I WOULD ENJOY MY LIFE MORE

If I could remember how much I wanted …

1. … freedom from the constant claim of obligation. I have now that freedom. I am of the opinion that people who are free from the constant claim of obligation achieve more. Please let me know your opinion! Obligations include also deadlines. There is no doubt about that.

2. … my own roof over my head. Since I retired I have my own roof over my head. But in Germany, where I come from, and in Thailand where I worked as a missionary, and also here in New Zealand while working as a missionary (United Maori Mission, short UMM), I lived in houses belonging to other people.

I don’t need to tell you that it is quite hazardous to live in a rented house. The owner can come any time and tell you that he wants his place back.

I LOVE MY MOTORBIKE – SUZUKI SJ50QT

3. … my own vehicle here in New Zealand. While working as missionaries in Kaikohe / NZ the United Maori Mission supplied us with a car. I have never been fond of cars, but I love motorbikes. Now I have a motorbike.

4. … to reach my retirement age. You think that is crazy? I am now retired.

5. … to write a book. What a goal! I have written for Christian magazines but I don’t think I will ever write a book.

And I would have never thought that what I write now would appear on the Internet. Not long now and my cursor goes to ‘publish’ and you know what happens. I don’t need to tell you. Much better than writing a book!

(I got the five things)

The answer is not only to remember, but to be thankful!

I was born in Germany and remember the saying:

“LOBEN ZIEHT NACH OBEN, DANKEN SCHUETZT VOR WANKEN.”

In English: “Praise pulls you upwards and being thankful protects you from tumbling.”

This morning two Jehovah’s Witnesses knocked on our door.

I asked for a copy of the publication “AWAKE!” and for a copy of the publication “THE WATCHTOWER”.

“AWAKE!” (May 2013) – Printing Each Issue: 43,524,000 in 98 languages

“THE WATCHTOWER” (May 1, 2013) – Printing Each Issue: 44,978,000 in 206 languages

“THE WATCHTOWER” (March 1, 2010) – Printing Each issue 39,601,000 in 180 languages

STOP

Have I stopped practicing what I am hearing?

“‘BUT EVERYONE WHO HEARS THESE WORDS OF MINE AND DOES NOT PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE IS LIKE A FOOLISH MAN…'” – Matthew 7:26

“‘THEREFORE EVERYONE WHO HEARS THESE WORDS OF MINE AND PUTS THEM INTO PRACTICE IS LIKE A WISE MAN…'” – Matthew 7:24

“Approximately $200,000 is spent each day promoting alcohol in New Zealand”

– Dave Hookway

Northland District Health Board Health promotion advisor – alcohol and other drugs

I am reading that quote in one of our local papers. (NORTHERN NEWS, May 1, 2013)

LIQUORKING

Notes taken from “ONE HUNDRED BIBLE LESSONS,” by Alban Douglas, page 253.

WHAT GREAT MEN HAVE SAID ABOUT ALCOHOL

“Alcohol is a poison men take into the mouth to steal away the brain.” – Shakespeare

“Strong drink is more destructive than war, pestilence and famine.” – Gladstone

“The devil in solution.” – Sir Wilfred Lawson

“A cancer in human society, eating out its vitals and threatening its destruction.” – Abraham Lincoln

“Distilled damnation.” – Robert Hall

“An artist in human slaughter.” – Lord Chesterfield

“The most criminal and artistic method of assassination ever invented by bravos of any age or nation.” – Ruskin

“Drunkenness has killed more men than all of history’s wars.” – General Pershing

“My experience through life has convinced me that abstinence from spirituous liquors is the best safeguard to  morals and health.” – General Robert E. Lee

“He who drinks is deliberately disqualifying himself for administration.” – President Taft

THIS IS OUR BEACH

Our neighbors are having two little really clever dogs. And they love to ride in the car.

We are living in Kaitaia, in the north of New Zealand . When going south to Auckland along the east coast route we are passing several beautiful beaches.

TAIPA BEACH – DOUBTLESS BAY

One of them is Taipa beach and although Taipa beach is just a little bit off the main road the two dogs know that it is their beach. Whenever the car approaches that beach they begin to bark like mad and begging for a run on the beach.

And it does not matter whether the car goes south to Auckland or goes north to Kaitaia, when the car comes near Taipa beach they bark THIS IS OUR BEACH! Let us out, we want to run on our beach!

“Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.” – Doug Larson

The Christian Counselor’s Manuel

BREAKTHROUGHS

“Now she began to see that they, more often than not, prayerfully made their own breakthroughs by obedience to the Word of God.” – Jay E. Adams 

in his book THE CHRISTIAN COUNSELOR’S MANUEL, page 369/370

I FINISHED READING THE BOOK TODAY AND I CAN ONLY SAY THAT I SHOULD HAVE READ IT LONG AGO!