Dr. Pepper

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Something Outstanding Still Needs Evaluation

When you find something that is truly outstanding, you’re tempted to go all in with it. But that’s not always your best move. 

something outstanding still needs evaluation

For years I’ve had a love relationship with Dr. Pepper. 

You could stack any number of beverages in front of me and I would pick DP every time. 

When I was in college I would often go to the local convenience store and get a Super Big Gulp sized cup of the nectar. If I had a paper due or needed to study late, I would suck that back till the wee hours of the night and then fall fast asleep. 

I know there is caffeine in Dr. Pepper, but it never had an effect on me. I slept like a baby.

But after years indulging with the Doctor, it started to negatively impact my health. 

I had to learn that a good thing isn’t a good thing all the time. You have to show restraint. You must have discipline. It’s not best to dive into something without holding something back. 

In poker when a player goes “all in”, others think that player has an outstanding hand. He puts in all his chips; he goes all in. He risks all his chips without holding back.

Several months ago, going through the check out at Costco, I noticed they sold ice cream cones. This wasn’t something new. I’m sure I’d seen the signs before, but this time I felt like having some ice cream. 

For the first time I decided to get a cone. They’re a good size too. You get about a pound of soft ice cream on a waffle cone, all for the price of around $3.00 after tax.

It’s a great deal! 

But as good a deal as it is, if the ice cream is not that good, who cares how much there is or how cheap it is. 

Anyway, I was juggling a couple of packages I had purchased when the lady handed me the cone. I took one lick … and almost dropped my packages.

It was the best soft ice cream I had ever tasted! It was not made from ice milk – more like 45% cream. 

.. Let me tell you, Dairy Queen would do well to find the formula Costco is using for their ice cream because it is truly outstanding. 

I was hooked. 

The next time I went to Costco I was with Lily. Naturally I had to get another cone so she could taste how good it was. To be honest, I didn’t like sharing it with her and it is still a sore spot between us. 

I then went to Costco another day just to get an ice cream cone. That’s when I realized I needed to show some restraint. 

You can’t go all in just because something is truly outstanding. If I did I would put on about 100 pounds and my arteries would be solid white … soft white, but definitely white. 

It’s the best soft ice cream out there, but I discipline myself now so that I will be around long enough to enjoy a cone once in a while.

Here’s the thing: Going all in on something truly outstanding needs evaluation. But you can go all in with God and be confident you won’t have to hold anything back. He is the only one who will not lead you down a path that can have negative results. Don’t be afraid to follow Him completely. Pursue Him hard, with all you’ve got.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: How can you follow God more closely? Leave your comments and questions below.

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The Ridiculous May Make Sense After All

What seems ridiculous when you first encounter it may make sense when you investigate more deeply.

the ridiculous may make sense after all

Have you ever been half awake in bed, with the sun just starting to create shadows in your room? You look at something across the room through half closed, blurry eyes, but you can’t figure it out. It looks like a box with the lid opened slightly and some papers sticking out of it. 

You know that there was no box in your room when you went to bed. It’s ridiculous to think that there is a box there, but you’re fascinated because it looks so real. 

As you start to rub your eyes and raise your head off the pillow, you begin to see what is really there beside the closet door.

It’s just the shirt that you left on the floor. Yet the way it was arranged, mixed with the shadows and your blurry, skewed vision, it really looked like something completely different. 

Sometimes those scenarios take so much thought and energy that you flop your head back on your pillow and hit the snooze button as you mutter under your breath, “Well, that mystery is solved.”

Today I was looking at a Dr Pepper sign I have in our basement when I noticed something. There was a clock-shaped figure on it with just three numbers. The hands on this clock were pointing to three numbers: 10, 2, 4.  

At first I wondered, “This is ridiculous. Why would they just mark three numbers on the clock and why those three numbers?” 

But then I remembered I also have a Dr Pepper clock in my workout room and there are only three numbers on that clock. I wondered if they were the same three numbers. 

I checked and, sure enough, the clock has only three numbers and they are 10, 2 and 4. And on the clock, just to make it more ridiculous, the four is at the bottom of the clock where the six is supposed to be. 

As ridiculous as this seemed, I thought there has to be a reason, some explanation for all this. 

I investigated further and found out a few things about my favourite beverage: First, it’s the oldest soft drink in America. Second, it was created in Waco, Texas which explains why it is so popular in that state.

But what about my mystery? 

Well, it turns out that research back in the 1920’s and 30’s discovered that sugar gave people energy and that most people have a natural dip in energy at 10:30, 2:30 and 4:30. 

So Dr Pepper came up with a campaign to encourage people to drink Dr. Pepper at 10, 2, and 4.

My mystery was solved. What once seemed to be ridiculous actually had some reasoning and purpose behind it.

This topic has got me thirsty. I think I could go for a Dr. Pepper right now.

Here’s the thing: Over the years, there have been many things in the Bible that experts had deemed ridiculous. But each time the Bible has proved to be true. For example, some cities mentioned in the Bible, that experts said never existed, have been discovered by archeologists. The Bible says that in the end times people will be given a mark, and you won’t be able to buy or sell without it. That seemed far-fetched a couple of thousand years ago. But at this particular time with a global longing for a world wide vaccination, or not allowing people to travel without having that vaccine, the idea of a universal mark doesn’t seem ridiculous any more.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What do you need to investigate about God more deeply? Leave your comments and questions below.

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I’m A Bit Of An Open Book

Have you ever found that being an open book has tripped you up? Well, I have!

convenience-store

As a pastor, there are times I share things about my life with my congregation that kind of exposes me to their scrutiny.

I wouldn’t say that I reveal everything about myself to my congregation, however, there have been times my wife, Lily, has complained that she finds things out about me in my sermon, along with the congregation.

… Those conversations are a little revealing as well.

Over the years, I would say my congregation knows what I’m like. They know some things that I like, and some things I don’t. They’ve found out about situations I’ve been in.

They know about some of the problems I’ve had. They know some things that make me happy and some things that make me sad.

They also know about things that make me angry, or mad.

And they know about my health. They know I had a heart attack. They know I try to exercise and try to eat the right kinds of foods.

They know my weakness for Dr. Pepper … even though I’ve tried to convince them that it works together with my cholesterol medication.

They know my weakness for junk food and fast food.

When it comes to things like that, I’m a bit of an open book.

As a pastor, it’s not just your family who’s reading you, it’s your whole congregation who’s reading you.

So yesterday I was in a grocery store … pretty innocent – I mean a lot of people go into grocery stores everyday.

It’s just not a good sign when I’m in one. You see, Lily would rather me not go grocery shopping with her. There are too many things that catch my eye and end up in the cart.

And the things that catch my eye are never on her list of things that we need. They are, of course, items that work together with my cholesterol medication.

It’s good that I don’t go in grocery stores that often. They are big places with lots of people strolling, or trolling up and down the aisles.

But that’s where I was yesterday afternoon. Lily was off getting some healthy things down in the produce section … I was in the candy aisle.

And that’s when someone from my congregation spotted me. She paused, cleared her throat, and I looked up.

I was caught! I had already been to the chip aisle so the evidence was in my hands.

What do you say to someone who knows you had a heart attack, that you are trying to live healthier, but they catch you with chips in hand, drooling over a big pack of licorice?

Well, what you do is you play the card you can only play one day a year.

I looked at her, smiled and said, “You’ve got to have junk food for the Super Bowl!”

And that was a good enough answer.

Here’s the thing: Being an open book can trip you up sometimes. But you know, whether you think about it, realize it or not, we are all open books to God. He sees it all, even the things that aren’t seen, like our thought and words. So it’s best to be honest and up front with Him. Don’t pretend He doesn’t see or know. He does. Be quick to confess, and let His awareness of you control your actions, thoughts and words.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What have you been caught doing lately? Leave your comment below.

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When You Get Lost in the Change

I get a little lost at this time of year, especially in the evenings. For the past month, there has been hockey on TV pretty much every night.

New old Habit

Often there have been multiple games, extending hockey into the wee hours of the night for us in Ontario. But that has come to an end.

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit, so in the past month, I’ve been in the habit of watching hockey each night.

It didn’t matter if I had a meeting or activity after dinner, when I got home there was always the action, cheers, commentary, and, of course, my red light broadcasting throughout the house that another goal had been scored.

It was comforting; I knew what I would be doing and Lily would know where to find me. I didn’t have to choose between several options or projects when I was home. I was focussed, single-minded. It was a good thing.

… Well, I guess it wasn’t all good. There were some downsides like not being able to follow the conversation Lily was trying to have with me. I found it difficult to look her in the eyes while she was talking when the play-by-play guy was describing how a player just rang one off the post.

All winter I have reserved Saturday night to have a can of Dr. Pepper. It’s pretty much the only time I will drink it. However, with hockey on every night, I had to daily remind myself that it was not Saturday or I’d have been going through a case of pop every week!

But all that has come to an end. I don’t know what to do with myself now, because we are down to only four teams and the games are spread out. I had to watch a repeat of the Canada versus Belarus game the other night and I already knew Canada won 9-0!

I’m finding there is great pressure for me to move away from the TV and find something more productive to do. I keep hearing suggestions and hints of things that could be attended to around the house.

My problem is I don’t have my ready-made excuses to not get at these things. It’s one thing to say, “Sure Lil, I’ll put out the garbage right at the end of the period . . . after Coach’s Corner.”

It doesn’t work any more to say, “Could you repeat that? I didn’t quite hear you” four or five times. Lil knows I’m scamming her.

You see, I just made a habit and now I already have to break it … and that’s why I feel lost right now. My routine is being interrupted; my time must be filled with new things.

I think I just need to be weened off of hockey over a few weeks. And that’s good because the semi’s are on and by the time the Stanley Cup series is done, I think I will be ready to fully embrace golf and mountain biking . . . until hockey starts again in the fall.

Here’s the thing: When a season of life changes or your schedule changes for that matter, it can throw you off from your time spent with God alone. Use these times to refresh your approach to your time with God. Change it up a little. Try to incorporate something that will challenge you and increase your interest and desire to meet with Him.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What disruptions to your routine cause you to feel out-of-sorts? Leave your comment below.

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Embrace Your Difference

It’s amazing how different our bodies work. What’s good for one person may not be good for another.

Recently a friend sent my wife, Lily, a video clip and told her not to let me see it. Of course, Lily couldn’t help but show me the video.

DPSign1

The video clip showed a lady who was 104 years old telling the interviewer that she drank three glasses of Dr. Pepper a day. She said, “It’s good; it has sugar in it.”

She also told the interviewer that two doctors had told her that drinking that much Dr. Pepper would kill her. But then she said, “Both doctor are dead and I’m still here.”

For this woman, she found an elixir that has kept her going for over 100 years. If I drank that many Dr. Peppers a day the only 100 I would count on would be the pounds I would gain in no time flat!

It’s curious that the same thing can have such drastic differences depending on the person.

Some people can eat fries, pizza, and chicken wings, and never have their cholesterol change one bit. However, if I just look at a picture of wings my cholesterol starts to rise.

Maybe that’s why I eat my wings while watching hockey games. I keep my eyes on the screen and never have to gaze at those delicious little morsels passing over my palette on their way to my arteries.

Our bodies also change over the years so what never was an issue, at some point becomes a problem for us.

In university Lily used to drink coffee by the bucketful. Now caffeine gives her headaches and keeps her awake at night.

When I was younger I could eat anything and in any amount. I might have felt stuffed at the time, but the next day, just like an anaconda that swallowed a rabbit whole, there was no sign any crime had been committed.

Now if I could just stick to eating salad without any dressing, I might be able to keep myself from gaining weight … of course that would still depend on averting my eyes from pictures of wings with Frank’s red hot sauce on them.

I’m happy for that lady who can drink three glasses of Dr. Pepper a day and live to 104, while keeping her school girl figure.

I would like to find the thing I could eat or drink without caution that would keep me going for years and years. My fear, however, is that what would work as my elixir would be brussels sprouts or something along those lines.

It’s not that I haven’t tried to find my elixir, but so far I’ve had to write off liquorice, Mike and Ike’s, and Turkish Delight. I’m still hopeful for dark chocolate with whole almonds.

Almonds are good for cholesterol, you know.

Here’s the thing: There are many voices that will try to tell you how to structure your time with God. When someone finds a way to have a rich and meaningful relationship with God, they believe everyone can have the same kind of relationship if they follow their pattern. There may be points and principles that we can pick up from others on how they spend their time with God, but for the most part, we need to seek a way that works specifically for us. We just don’t all respond to God, or find meaningful interaction with him, in the same way or setting. Find your way to a meaningful relationship with God.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What have you tried in establishing a rich, meaningful relationship with God? Leave your comment below.

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Here’s A Quick Way To Change Your Perspective

Getting back into an old routine is like slipping into your favourite sweat pants. There is something about it that feels right – it’s comfortable; it’s where you belong.

wings&DP.001

That was me Saturday night: a quick trip to my wing joint to pick up my hot wings, and then home to settle into the hockey game on TV.

It’s what I do on Saturday nights. My wife, Lily has come to accept it and even puts in her order for a half pound of honey garlic wings. It all happens around the TV – wings, a can of Dr. Pepper, and the Leafs on Saturday night.

I went the whole fall and part of the winter last year having to find something else to do on Saturday nights, but man, it just feels so good to have the games back on!

This year I have my red light to announce the goals as if I was at the game itself. The red light flashes like a goal light and I get a big sounding fog horn to boot!

This past Saturday night was very interesting. The red light actually went off before the puck was in the net. Mind you, it was only about two seconds before each goal went in, but it was early for all four goals, and two shoot out goals as a bonus.

You saw the play develop with the potential of a goal, and then the horn went off and the light came on just before the goal went in. I was celebrating before the players on the ice were! I knew they scored before they did … well, maybe.

I found myself anticipating goals, thinking to myself, “This could be it!” And then, before the play was over, I knew it wasn’t going to be a scoring play. I didn’t get all that excited about a great shot because I knew it wasn’t going in before the puck got to the net.

So, in some ways, I was able to prepare myself for what was or wasn’t going to happen around the net of the opposing team. I was able to manage my emotions better, and not get too disappointed when things didn’t work out.

Being able to tell the future really had me watching the game differently than normal. I wish my red light could have told me a little more in advance, but even two seconds was pretty good.

It’s hard to describe the feeling that I had – maybe satisfaction, or confidence, or insight – in watching the game unfold before me … especially during the shoot out when I knew what was going to happen.

It was a new experience for me, and a great outcome for my team. The Leafs have started the season 3 and 0 – not too shabby.

Here’s the thing: The Bible gives us a glimpse into the future, though it is on a macro scale and not a micro one like the hockey game Saturday night. Even so, with knowledge of the future, it allows us to prepare for what’s to come, to celebrate even before it happens and have a sense of satisfaction, confidence or insight as the future unfolds. Those are some good reasons to know what’s in the Bible. Read on.

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: How would knowing the future impact your life? Leave your comment below.