Appearances are/can be Deceiving

When you see this picture below, from last year, of TinkaBelle, you may think (correctly) that she absolutely loves water and her swimming pool. So it is possible to jump to the conclusion that she can swim (which most dogs seem to be able to do), but then it would be WRONG! We learned this the hard way while in our neighbor's backyard. Michael and I went down to the far end of her big backyard when I casually looked back for Tinka, who was standing near the pool while we walked away...there was No Tinka, so we rushed to the pool and there she was...head barely up and tail pointing straight down (this is not one dog you want to rescue you at sea). Michael grabbed her and pulled her out...I'm not sure who was more shaken up...Tinkabelle or us!

Now, in this picture you might assume that Tinkabelle is a party animal and...you would be right! BUT she doesn't like this dressing up business even though she may look "enthralled" here.

This picture was posted before, but bears repeating because one could be judgemental here as well and think...hmmm, Michael has found a new woman (or Michael is nuts) and only one of those statements would be true! Much as he likes Haggatha (he even named her), he is sticking with his redhead and agreeing that there are a few screws loose in his head.

Finally, I leave you with a puppy picture of TinkaBelle all dressed up (this was a huge challenge) in a matching scarf and dress (Michael and she had a wrestling match here) and as happy as she doesn't look...you are right, 100% right on this one, no "deception".

It is not only our eyes that deceive us at times, but our other senses come into play, too. We often judge by smell (too much perfume/after shave, too little) or sound (too shrill, too haughty) or touch (too rough, too slick)...yes, there is a point here. I had a really good friend but if I hadn't been in her prayer group and just met her at church, I probably would have shied away from her (and missed out on great Christian sharing) as she wore lots and I mean LOTS of perfume (with my sensitive nose, I did hug her, but at times, 'cautiously'). Another almost missed opportunity would have been my terrific friend Nancy...what I mistook for haughty and a "no one matters that much" attitude was really a super busy, preoccupied with doing so much at once problem (I was trying to get supplies from her for teaching a Confirmation class). As for rough and slick, I would have missed out on great, but rough handshakes, the feel of wood etc. etc. MY lesson was to be open no matter what the visual or senses say, so that God can do His work in this world and me.

Although this joke is cute, I'll bet the Christian lady did nothing to bring the atheist closer to believing in God!

Praise the Lord!

There's a little old Christian lady living next door to an atheist. Every morning the lady comes out onto her front porch and shouts "Praise the Lord!".
The atheist yells back, "There is no God".
She does this every morning with the same result. As time goes on, the lady runs into financial difficulties and has trouble buying food. She goes out onto the porch and asks God for help with groceries, then says "Praise the Lord".
The next morning she goes out onto the porch and there's the groceries she asked for, and of course, she shouts "Praise the Lord!!!".
The atheist jumps out from behind a bush and says, "Ha, I bought those groceries - there is no God".
The lady looks at him and smiles, she shouts "Praise the Lord, not only did you provide for me Lord, you made Satan pay for the groceries!!"

I've been trying to like this bottom joke more, but even the site where I got it only rated it a 3 on a scale of 5. Maybe with some tweaking, sort of like you have to do with some recipes?

Brownie recipe
Here's a recipe to make Mom's famous brownies!
Remove teddy bear from oven and preheat oven to 375.
Melt 1 cup margarine in saucepan.
Remove teddy bear from oven and tell Jr "no, no."
Add margarine to 2 cups sugar.
Take shortening can away from Jr and clean cupboards.
Measure 1/3 cup cocoa.
Take shortening can away from Billy again and bathe cat.
Apply antiseptic and bandages to scratches sustained while removing shortening from cat's tail.
Assemble 4 eggs, 2 tsp. vanilla, and 1-1/2 cups sifted flour.
Take smoldering teddy bear from oven and open all doors and windows for ventilation.
Take telephone away from Jr. and assure party on the line the call was a mistake. Call operator and attempt to have direct dialed call removed from bill.
Measure 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 cup nuts and beat all ingredients well.
Let cat out of refrigerator.
Pour mixture into well-greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake 25 minutes.
Rescue cat and take razor away from Billy.
Explain to kids that you have no idea if shaved cats will sunburn.
Throw cat outside while there's still time and he's still able to run away.
Frosting--Mix the following in saucepan: 1 cup sugar 1 oz unsweetened chocolate 1/4 cup margarine.
Take the %$$&#&% teddy bear out of the @#$% broiler and throw it away -- far away.
Answer the door and meekly explain to nice policeman that you didn't know Jr had slipped out of the house and was heading for the street.
Put Jr. in playpen.
Add 1/3 cup milk, dash of salt, and boil, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
Answer door and apologize to neighbor for Billy having stuck a garden hose in man's front door mail slot. Promise to pay for ruined carpet.
Tie Billy to clothesline.
Remove burned brownies from oven.

~~~Thank you Lord for blessing/teaching us the ways in which we are blind and for opening our eyes.