Points2Ponder by Alan P. Scaglione

                  "No matter how old they get...they know who to call..to pray!"
                                                 Points2Ponder



                                          By Alan P. Scaglone



“Huddled in office...waiting on tornado...keep us in your prayers”

Suddenly…the tornadoes in the Midwest… were personal!

This was a text from my daughter, huddled in an office at work, in Chattanooga, facing a tornado, fearing the worst.

And… reaching out to the one she knew…would pray!

Even when they stray….they know…you pray!

I was walking the streets of downtown Savannah, on a restful long weekend jaunt with my sweet Bella.

Beautiful weather Friday, cool breeze, full sun, just enjoyable kinda day!

And my daughter was huddled in an office, taking cover, hoping for protection, asking for prayer they would be spared.



POINTS2PONDER Why does it take sudden impending tragedy…to remind you…I need to ask for prayer…from someone I know…who prays!



And the nation started hearing all of the stories. The one that touched me the most…the story of “Angel!”

A little 18 month old baby girl…found in a field, alone…in critical condition.

Her parents and siblings…had died in the tornado, but…this little girl…clinging for life…our “Angel!”

Unfortunately, the next day, we got news…God had taken our “Angel” to heaven to be with Him and her family!

49 confirmed tornadoes….40 people and counting, perished in those 49 tornadoes, spanning five states.

But, all I cared about was…there was one Angel of my Heart, huddled in an office, in Chattanooga, reaching out to her father…and asking…for prayer!

And just 400 miles away, I was strolling through Savannah with my Lady Love.

Just reminds you…at the very same time that you are having a leisure filled day…someone is taking cover, praying for their life!

Thank God for texting—how else would I even know that my baby girl needed her Papa…to pray?

And in the middle of a period of time when my daughter and I are estranged…fundamentally at opposing sides of a character defining moment in life…

She still knew…her Papa would drop anything that was going on in his life…and, pray for his baby girl.



Take heart, parents out there! They know… they know! They can still depend on you…to reach across the miles and even across the controversial emotional continental divide…

And put all that aside… and just wrap your arms around them…and assure them…they are safe, they are protected, they are loved!

And the things that seemed to matter…for the moment… for this moment-- don’t matter at all!



All that matters is… when they need prayer, they still know…who (that means YOU) will pray!



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I'm Just Sayin by Alan P. Scaglione

“What’s your mouth... say about you?”

                                          “I’m Just Sayin’”

                                                                 by Alan P. Scaglione

Why are so many people so negative?
It’s what they say…how they say it…what they mean by their words!
Always half empty….never half full!
And I just want to shake ‘em sometimes and say…”YOU’re ALIVE…What more do you need?”
I talked to someone today. He was 56 and he had quadruple bypass surgery.
All he could tell me was “I can’t believe I have to miss work…and I may not be able to go back to what I did! Why me?”
I stopped and said, “Sir! You are ALIVE! Anything else can be adjusted, but…you can’t adjust death! It’s pretty final!”
He was not amused….neither was I!

The power of the tongue.
Scripture talks about it— There’s life and death in the words you say—they reveal your real heart!
And when it’s always negative, I just want to take them for a tour…of the morgue!
Yep…I said it…the MORGUE!
You want to find a few people who would take your bad back, your diabetes, your unemployment, your getting older…
I bet most of them would JUMP at switching places—and you want to complain about how bad you have it?

The words we say…can be life!
I have a friend whose brother is in a coma.
They are not sure if he can hear them, or…if he will survive.
Reminded me of being called to the bedside of another comatose victim.
It was after midnight. The nurse said they had called the family in to say their goodbyes.
Tommy was 35 and had contracted meningitis…and he was dying.
I had gotten a call around 11pm asking me if I was the preacher at this church. I said I was the youth pastor.
They told me about Tommy—said he had my name and number in his wallet. I had met him once and written down my contact info.
I never have been the business card kind of guy…always just wrote it down and handed it to them.
So…I went to see Tommy…for the last time!

When I got into the room, the nurse said I could stay 5 minutes. The family was on their way up.
I looked at this young man. Yes—35 is young to be dying!
All of a sudden, the Spirit of God welled up inside me, and I followed the lead I had been given!
I went to his left ear and whispered “Jesus”.
I went to his right ear and whispered “Jesus”.
I repeated this for the 5 minutes I had been allotted.
The nurse came in, started saying it with me…and then…told me it was time.
I left Tommy as his family came into the room.
I passed them, and they whispered to each other “who was that? That’s NOT the preacher we called!”

Two days later…I get a call.
It’s from Tommy!
He woke up that next morning.
The first words out of his mouth were “Who kept saying Jesus? I saw this beam of light each time it was said…I followed the light back!”
Tommy explained that his mom meant to call the preacher of another church and thought my number was for him!
She never meant to call me!

Tommy is still alive today! And when you meet him, he will tell you about the power of the tongue!
I could have walked in and said, “poor Tommy…gone too soon…he will be missed…sorry to see him go!”

Instead, I believed in the scripture Romans 4:17 “…Calling those things that be not…as though they were!”

And I believed in the power of the tongue…and I spoke the most powerful word I know … JESUS!

Next time you want to say something…
Try a word that will raise the dead!!
Now that’s something worth talking about!

Until Next Time

I’m Just Sayin’…

Brother “A”

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Tasty Tuesdays........A little late this week :) Best Meatloaf Ever!!

I absolutely LOVE a good meatloaf and have perfected this one over the years to be really great (in my opinion). I use ground chuck here but you could also use Turkey or Ground Chicken or Pork if you like or most any combination of the meat or poultry and it will be yummy.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef (also good using a mixture of beef/pork, pork/chicken or turkey)
• 3 eggs
• 1 onion, chopped and cooked until transparent in a teaspoon of butter
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup Ketchup
• 1 1/4 cup dried bread crumbs
• 1 package Meatloaf seasoning mix (do not follow the directions on the package)
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and Pepper to taste

Topping

• 1 Cup Ketchup
• 3 Tabl. Mustard
• 1/4 C. Brown Sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees 
2. Combine all ingredients and gently mix.
3. Place in greased 13X9 pan and shape into large loaf shape
4. In a separate small bowl, combine the brown sugar, mustard and ketchup. Mix well and pour over the meatloaf.
5. Bake at 350 degrees  for 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 hours . Drain off excess fat if needed and allow to sit for 10 min. before slicing.

This is excellent left over for sandwiches or you can also make into two loaves and freeze one for later after cooling and wrapping well.

Points2Ponder By Alan P. Scaglione

“Celebrate the moments—that make you laugh!”

                                   

                                     Points2Ponder

                                                                                                       By Alan P. Scaglone

Today is Leap Day! It only happens once every four years—how exciting!

It’s the once every 4 years catch up day so we can keep everything in alignment with some great calendar in the sky that says…you’re off a day every for 4 years!!

Something like that! LOL!

And…it’s also….someone’s birthday!!

Can you imagine? Only getting a birthday once every 4 years?

For someone like me, who recently had a birthday month with 10, count ‘em, celebrations—where would I begin!

I always find it strange and unusual…and I ask “So, on the other years, which day do you celebrate as your birthday? February 28^th or March 1^st?”

I get varied answers…mostly February 28^th…with the logic provided that…”Why wait an extra day when we can celebrate early?”

My sentiments exactly!

POINTS2PONDER  Why can’t we take time to celebrate the strange and unusual? The natural and sometimes “unnatural” oddities in life? The real “things that make you go hmmm?”

I talk on the phone for a living. I can hear you laughing now! “Gee, that’s a stretch! Wonder if he ever gets tired of talking?”

And the answer is “No tough guy! I don’t! I love my job, and I never seem to run out of things to say!”

There’s your queue—now you can Laugh Out Loud!

So… as a point of verification, I always ask for the date of birth. When it is “actually” their birthday, I break out in a heart wrenching stanza of “Happy Birthday to you!”

My colleagues start laughing and say “Alan is doing it again!”

The recipient always gushes and laughs and says, “you’re the first person to do that today—my family left this morning and no one even mentioned it!”

See? I am big on birthdays!

I also think we should take time to celebrate the strange and unusual, the odd and outstanding, the “gee, I’ve never seen that before”, the stuff that stops us in  our tracks!

Like the picture I used today.

We have a fountain in the common area of our complex—it runs at all times, rain OR shine!

I love to watch the water coming out of the water! I know it’s manmade, but…sometimes, when the sun hits it just right, it creates a rainbow effect! Just beautiful!

But it never has a duck, taking in the mist, bathing in it, celebrating the moment by saying “Look at me world, I am a duck and I am loving the water falling on my head and back! YES!!”

Okay, Okay! So I am embellishing a little…I didn’t actually interview the duck, but I could feel his celebratory mood from my vantage point on shore!

 And it stopped me in my tracks! Just watching the duck, standing tall and strong, taking in the moment of the mist of the fountain, just loving life and saying I am proud to be a duck!

My wife says I read entirely too much into a “snapshot” of life. She said it was just a duck, sitting in a spot, taking in the rain!

As you can tell…that’s why I write the column, and she reads it!

The duck just made me think!  “How many times do we see something that makes us chuckle, makes us laugh, makes us wonder “how did that happen?””

And yet…we continue on our way…not stopping to celebrate the unusual, appreciate the oddity, applaud the once in a lifetime moment that we are standing in?

Kind of like Leap Day!

So I declare today “National Odd and Unusual DAY!”

And I ask you…STOP! Take Notice! And Applaud the Unusual! Celebrate the Oddity!”

Just like the guy who told me February 29^th was his birthday! I said, “So, how old are you, 5?”

He said proudly “15!”

He was turning 60 in our years!

Now isn’t that something to applaud!

Celebrate the Unusual!!!

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I'm Just Sayin by Alan P. Scaglione

“These are a few of my favorite things!”

                                          “I’m Just Sayin’”

                                                                 by Alan P. Scaglione

Favorites- Everybody’s got ‘em!
I told my wife the other day, “I’ve reached a place in my life where I have my favorite everything!”
For example:
My favorite hat – black nike tennis mesh hat
My favorite shoes – skechers black leather slip on clogs I wear for work
My favorite food – If I ever had a “last” meal, it would be meatloaf, mashed potatoes, baby carrots, peas and – New York style cheesecake!
My favorite place to visit – two: St. Augustine and Treasure Island
My favorite restaurant – two: Panullo’s on Park Avenue in Winter Park and Tropicana in Ybor City
My favorite places I have visited- two: New York City and Paris!
My favorite beach- two: Siesta Key and Treasure Island
My favorite Winter Retreat – Gatlinburg, Tennessee
My favorite Summer Retreat – Thunderbird Hotel on Treasure Island

Favorites…. Makes you think? What are your favorite things?
I know what they mean to me…favorite means the thing that gives me enjoyment, comfort and satisfaction; that’s why they’re my favorite!

I even have my favorite people.
The one friend I can always call, no matter what time, when I am out on the ledge…and ready to jump(figuratively speaking, of course!)
The one friend who always makes me laugh, no matter how somber the mood I am in at the moment.
The one family member who can make me glad that I belong to a crazy, mixed up, ever so slightly dysfunctional extended family!
The one child who brings me my greatest joy—yeah, I know, “we love them all the same!” but...we parents know, there’s that one—who just gets us!
The one cousin, in my case, two, who you wish were your siblings, not just your cousins!
The one song that always gets your heart pumping—Renegade, by Styx
The one poem that always brings a tear to your eye – “That man is a success, who has lived well…”
The one short story that impacted how you think and view the world – “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson—It’s the reason I challenge every tradition!
The one person who I can trust to tell me when I have stinkin’ thinkin’ and when I may be sincere, but I am sincerely wrong!

And Then I have my favorite spiritual stuff:
My favorite hymn – In the Garden – it was both of my moms’(Rose and Ciria) favorite!
My favorite gospel song – I Believe In a Hill Called Mount Calvary – it was my Choir The Young Gospel Singers’ theme song!
My favorite parable – The Prodigal Son – the Father never leaves the house…so the son will always know where to find him!
My favorite old testament hero- Elisha because…he wasn’t ashamed to work for and then ask for…a double portion of anointing!
My favorite new testament hero – Peter because…he was hard headed and stubborn and knew what he knew… a lot like myself!
My favorite Psalm – Psalm 121 – I will look to the hills, from whence comes my help; my help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

And finally…
My favorite scripture – Proverbs 18:24 “A man who has friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother!”

I have always tried to be a friend that I would want to have as a friend: loyal, trustworthy, encouraging, dependable!

Christ has always been my “best” friend – I talk to Him when I wake up, I talk to Him when I go to sleep; I talk to Him throughout the day!
It’s not a religion to me—it’s a relationship!”
I look to Him as my example of how I conduct my life—He taught me that right is right if no one does it and wrong is wrong if everyone does it!
I seek His approval on the decisions I make for my life—I don’t want to let HIM down because I was afraid to stand up for the RIGHT!

He is my favorite…family, friend, advisor, example, hero!
What about you?
Where does Christ place in YOUR List of Favorites?

Until Next Time

I’m Just Sayin’…

Brother “A”

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Points2Ponder By Alan P. Scaglione

“My Son with His Son...Circle of Life!”

                                    Points2Ponder

 By Alan P. Scaglone

Yesterday was my son’s birthday. My baby boy, my favorite son, my legacy, my heritage, the apple of my eye.

I can remember the day he was born! The doctor lifted him up and said, “It’s a…” and my son started a stream that got on everybody!

I said, “yes! I SEE!!”

And he’s been “my boy!” ever since.

Did I mention…he’s 27 now!

But he’s still my favorite son…kind of easy to attain that auspicious title… he’s my only son!

He would often say that, and I would reply, “yes, but…IF I had twelve, you would still be my favorite!”

We would then laugh again! Like the last time he said it!

I can’t believe that he’s 27…my son HAS a son!! How’d THAT happen?

I know, I know…I do know how that happened!

POINTS2PONDER  Why does time stand still like it was just yesterday, in our minds? Why can’t we go back to that time when…they were still young, innocent, full of wonder, full of energy, and…they needed us?

I used to sing to him the song that haunted me as a father—it was the one song I did NOT want us to become. Anybody remember this one?

“Cat’s in the cradle with the silver spoon, Little Boy Blue and the man on the moon; When you coming dad, I don’t know when, but we’ll have a good time then son, you know we’ll have a good time then!”

It seemed like, he was always waiting on ME for something: to get home from work, to play ball outside, to help him with his homework, to take him to practice, to give him some money…

I remember one day, he must have been 3 or 4. My phone in my office rings, I pick it up, and the voice says “Poppy, I miss you. Come home and play!”

I have to tell you—I did!

I know, it’s not very mature of me to just take the afternoon off, but…my son wanted me to come home and play, and I was NOT going to miss that memory!

And I got home, and we played all afternoon.

Will never ever forget that!

He spent a lot of time waiting on me…

Now, it seems I spend a lot of time…waiting on him.

And they call that…the Circle of Life!

I call it…assuming you have time…you may not have!

Anybody think Whitney Houston would be gone so soon?

I know I didn’t—but we assume there is always time to spend more time with the ones that matter the most, but…you couldn’t tell that by the amount of time we spend with them.

It really is…all about priorities!

Look at your week. The time you spend doing this, seeing that, going here, sitting there—you say you don’t have enough time to do what matters, but…in truth—you DO what matters to YOU!

The problem is…you have a list of what SHOULD matter, and then...there’s the Reality…your time tells what really matters!

And sometimes…. Your parents, once you are grown…are stuck on the list that SHOULD matter…

Anyone remember the last verse in that song?

“I've long since retired, my son's moved away
I called him up just the other day
I said, "I'd like to see you if you don't mind"
He said, "I'd love to, Dad, if I can find the time
You see my new job's a hassle and kids have the flu
But it's sure nice talking to you, Dad
It's been sure nice talking to you"

And as I hung up the phone it occurred to me
He'd grown up just like me
My boy was just like me”

Be careful of the difference between your “Should-Do” List and your “Do-Do” List

Because he may just grow up like you…

And that may just leave you…  waiting on him!

I'm Just Sayin!

                                                    "Ready....Set.....DREAM!"
                                                                “I’m Just Sayin’”



                                                           by Alan P. Scaglione




So setting goals, making plans—is NOT a “bad” thing!

As long as you trust God for the final result—you are exercising your FAITH in HIS Plan for your life!

But I have always said…”you have to put Feet on your Faith!”



Here’s My Feet:

30 days ago, I did a crazy thing—I am known for crazy—I do Chinese fire drills—and I am 52 years old! I can get crazy!

But this is NOT that kind of crazy!

This is going “Lord, I have dream, and I am not sure it will even happen, but..I am willing to work for it and leave the increase to you!”

That’s what I prayed on January 22nd.

And then I launched my online donation telethon to have my first novel published. YIKES! I was excited and scared!



But that prayer had the steps I had to take…to “put feet on my faith!”

First— I went to the Lord with my dream.

Second – I recognized that it may not come to pass

Third – I offered to WORK THE DREAM – good old fashioned effort, time, ingenuity!

Fourth – I acknowledged that only God could give the increase!



And with that—I went to work!

I sent emails; I sent Facebook updates; I texted people; I called people; I sent cards to people; this was the “WORK THE DREAM” part!



NOTE2SELF—I just don’t see much of the willingness to WORK THE DREAM!

So many people will tell you they have a dream. Sounds good!

I am “that” guy! The one you hate—because…I ask! “What are you doing to make this dream happen?”

Don’t you just hate me for asking??



So many of us are “lazy dreamers”—lazy because...we want to talk a lot about how great it would be, but…

If it means getting out of our “comfort zone” – nah!! We will just keep talking “ad nauseum” about how great it would be!

Let me tell you about stepping out of your “comfort zone!”



I am a notoriously cheerful giver! I love to give presents, send cards, offer encouragement, extend “hallelujah handshakes!”

My wife and I give as we see a need. We give quietly and anonymously, whenever possible.

It’s not about drawing attention to us—it’s about meeting the need for them!



Giving?? I could write a book on the joy of giving!

But… ASKING FOR HELP???

NO—that is something I DO NOT LIKE TO DO!!



Hmm???I don’t feel deserving of help—someone else needs it more or my request shouldn’t take priority.

And then there’s the one that beats me over the head the most – FIX IT YOURSELF!

Yep—I repeat that one the MOST!



To ask for HELP from my family, my friends, my colleagues, my acquaintances, perfect strangers?



That’s My UNCOMFORTABLE ZONE— Relying on the “kindness of others” to Fund my Dream!



But…I had to do MY BEST before I could ask HIM to do the REST!



So I WORKED MY DREAM!



I became the “Conductor” of the CAN-DO Train! “I think I can, I think I can!”





And…With the invaluable help of 25 backers, from childhood chums, friends and their friends, family, co-workers and even my deceased beloved aunt!



Together -- We saw my dream come true!!



God gave the increase because I “worked the dream!”



And by July 4th 2012, you’ll be able to go into any Barnes and Noble’s store internationally and order “One Unexpected Event”!



Why???

1-I put feet on my faith

2-I worked my dream

3-I relied on God for the increase!



Question-- What dream do you need to work? What faith needs feet in your life?





The Word says “Where there is no vision, the people perish!” Proverbs 29:18





Catch the vision! Work your dream! Put Feet on your Faith! In ALL your ways, Acknowledge HIM!



Declare your Dream today!! And Get Ready to Work!


Until Next Time


I’m Just Sayin’…


Brother “A”