My blogging friend, Deb, had a great “exercise” on her blog a couple of weeks ago. I thought I would borrow her idea and actually make it a two-parter. How’s that for great English grammar? 🙂
Anyway, my blogging “community of friends” has changed significantly over the past 6 months to a year. I’m getting the feeling people don’t like me. 😛 So here is my exercise.
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. For example:
- Where did you grow up?
- Tell me about your family.
- What do you do now? Church. Job. Volunteer.
SOME SPECIFIC QUESTIONS:
- What makes you laugh?
- What makes you sad?
- What thrills you?
- What breaks your heart?
That’s all for now. Part 2 will be sometime next week. Why do I want to know this stuff? Well…so I can write posts which please you, of course. 🙂 Naaah. I just want to know something about my readers. Here are my answers:
I grew up in West Mifflin, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh (Go Pirates!!). I am a pastor and have been for over 40 years. I have two adult daughters-ages 40 and soon to be 36. Jo and I were married 42 years this past June.
Laugh? Just about anything. I love life and am really easy-going and laugh easily. I absolutely love spending time with my grandson.
Sad? People living in the chains of religion and unaware of the freedom of grace.
Thrill? (Not roller coasters anymore). Seeing people free. I also thrill at riding my Trek bike.
Breaks my heart? Unhappy children. Battered and abused women. Sex trafficking. People turning away from God. (The first three make me angry).
Those are my answers. I’d love to hear yours. Remember Part 2 will be next week. I hope to hear from you!!
I grew up in an around Newport, R.I. I am an experimental nuclear physicist working at a major national laboratory. I am the funniest person that I know and often can make myself laugh. Goodbyes always make me sad, both in terms of losing people but also having to leave behind certain seasons of life. I love spending time with my daughter and am trying to stay relevant in her 17 year old life. What breaks my heart is cruelty and pettiness. I have been a Christian for some time now and am trying to keep my faith strong through whatever I face each day. I spent 13 years in the bowels of a Turkish prison. Oh, and one of the above statements is not a truth. See if you can guess which one.
I knew some of that information but not all, especially the 13 years in the bowels of the Turkish prison. Oops I am wagering that may be the one not true. Thanks Daniel.
I grew up in Northern Indiana and business has taken me to Tampa Fla. and Hot Springs Ar. and now back to Spencer In. I hope to retire in the next few years in Southeastern Spain and live out retirement in a simple manner in a very moderate climate. I have 4 grown kids ages 38,36,28, and 26. All graduated from college and living happy productive lives. I am currently a Senior Financial Analyst for a large publishing company. I enjoy the people and the mental exercise involved and the considerably less stress than my last 30 years doing merger and acquisitions of a variety of companies. I liked doing that a lot also but it is time to slow down a bit. I have worked with transitional housing for teens for a number of years as well as a non profit dealing with poverty issues. I am not a religious person and see all theistic religions as nothing more than legends and tall tales that have no basis in fact and no evidence to support the rather ridiculous claims that are made. I realized all of that at a very early age and found the two hours in church every week the most miserable hours spent in my youth. I have two brothers that are both pastors that obviously saw it different and find the spreading of these tales and fables a rewarding life.
I don’t laugh at goofy or silly things. I do find irony to be funny and like comedians (George Carlin, Lewis Black) and authors(Christopher Hitchens, Mark Twain) that play on that.Sad is not an emotion I have. Nothing makes me sad. My thrills are limited to spectating and I enjoy watching sports that have an element of courage to them. I mostly enjoy motorcycle racing. The days are long gone when I participated in the sport. Riding my Harley is as close as I come to being thrilled now. Nothing “breaks my heart”. I don’t think in terms like that. Some things do piss me off though. Mostly I get angry with people that try to deny someone else’s right to life, liberty or their pursuit of happiness. Fortunately I live in a country that, theoretically at least, believes in the same principles of liberty. Religious hate mongers (Franklin Graham, Pat Robertson)and Greedy Businesses (Major banks, Communication companies)piss me off the most. I push back where I can and boycott anyone that I feel needs boycotted. I have no bank accounts, no cable TV, no cell phone, and a long list of businesses that I will never do business with. It is sort of a game I enjoy playing.
I live a very simple life.
I learned more about you Jeff than I knew before. Some of it (in my mind) sad but some interesting. Of course, sad about the non-religious belief. But I find it interesting on many of the others. I knew you rode a Harley but you do live a rather simple lifestyle. Thanks for sharing.
I grew up in northern NJ. Been married for almost 40 years. Celebrating my 60th next month.
Believe that 60 is the new 30.
Grieving the death of my dad who suddenly died 1 day after we moved here to be closer to him and my mom.
In a sabbatical from pastoral counseling. Wondering what’s next.
Mom of 2, grandma of 7.
I’m laughing and crying at the same time these days. I’m living with a broken heart.
Writing is hugely cathartic.
I knew you were close to my age and our years married. I also knew you were a counselor and that your father had just died suddenly (your blog). You have my heartfelt sympathies. You definitely beat me in the grandchildren number. 🙂
I, too, am a Pennsylvanian. I grew up in a little town called Mount Union. I am the oldest of four. My husband and I have two children and three grandchildren living far away from us in the mid-West.
I write. I work in the gift shop of a non-profit, educational farm called The Lands at Hillside Farms.
Little kids, the laughter of others, tongue-in-cheek humor make me laugh. Not seeing family for long periods of time saddens me, as do wasted opportunities. Abuse of any kind breaks my heart.
I LOVE to hear someone share the story of how they came to trust Jesus as their Savior.
I’ve heard of Mount Union but am not familiar with it. It is on the other side of the state. Do you currently live in Mount Union also? I love hearing the laughter of little kids as well. Thanks for sharing part of your story Pam.
First, let me just say I’m terrible talking about myself like this. (That’s probably why the book we’ve talked about is such a tremendous struggle for me.) But, here goes anyway. I grew up in Colon, Michigan, the Magic Capital of the World. I have one brother. My parents are divorced and both remarried, and I have two step-brothers and a step-sister. I am now a freelance writer. I attend New Hope Assembly of God in Three Rivers, Michigan where I teach the Adult Sunday school class and serve on the board.
My two boys and my husband make me laugh regularly. God gives me such tremendous joy through them. I am saddened when people are trapped in their own thinking, when they limit God’s work in their lives by refusing to let Him transform the way they think. I am thrilled when I’m in nature, especially near water. My heart is broken when people let their pride get in the way of relationships and when they create a reality in which they are never wrong.
I know some are uncomfortable talking about themselves Kari. i know from other sources (your blog especially) that your husband and sons give you great joy. I too am saddened when people limit God.
I was born in Massachusetts, but grew up here in Georgia, so I’m southern by the grace of God. 🙂 I’ve been married to Danny for over ten years, have a grown son and daughter, two stepsons, and three beautiful (I am partial) granddaughters. I am an author, a blogger, and I help with contemporary worship each week at my church.
Laugh? I’m really much like you, Bill, in that department. And my Virginia can always get me laughing.
Sad? The state of our world today.
Thrill? Seriously, writing thrills me as does singing with the praise band.
Breaks my heart? Abuse of others of any kind, but especially children, the elderly, and helpless animals.
Blessings, Bill!
Boy, talk about a transplant! Massachusetts to Georgia. You are allowed to be partial since I would wonder if you weren’t. 🙂 Love the rest of your answer because it shows you love the simple things.
This is great! It’s fun to read more about some of the bloggers I follow and I’m glad my post inspired you.
I grew up in the Detroit suburbs. Met Rev our freshman year at a small Lutheran college in Ann Arbor. We married right after graduation . . . that was 43 years ago. Our kids are almost 40 and almost 37. A daughter and a son. Our youngest, a daughter, will be 28 in the fall, but we have not seen her in 10 years. That breaks my heart.. Like the prodigal father we continue to watch, wait, and pray.
Rev serves in the Development Department at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis where we’ve lived since we married.
I think most of the other questions were answered in my post.
oh wow Deb. That info about your daughter has to break your heart (it does mine). I’m sure that parable has special meaning to you. You have been in St Louis a long time. Thanks for the info.
I grew up in southern Illinois. Got married at 17, really thought I was mature. (joke) But have been married almost 51 years. We left our small home towns and moved to St. Louis where my husband, Ace worked for TWA for 20 years. He was a prodigal son and I was a lost sinner. We were married 12 years before we had our first child and begin to clean our lives up. Shortly after our second child, a son was born, a local church came knocking at our door, long story short, my husband return to the Lord, I got saved. The exciting part really started then…we went into full time ministry at our local church and there heard for the first time there were people in the world who had never heard the gospel one time. Our hearts were challenged to be a part of New Tribes Missions. WE served in Bolivia, South America for 7 years, step out of the mission for a while, went back in and went to Papua New Guinea and served for 7 years. WE now reside in southern California, still with New Tribes as Member Care reps.
I love to laugh, so a good funny movie, story, a few of my friends can send me into giggles.
What makes me sad, children who are abused, the death of a child, anything to do with children.
Nothing thrills my heart better then to help a woman in her walk with the Lord. Leading anyone to the LOrd.
What breaks my heart, people dying and going with out Christ, and my mother being in a nursing home, unable to care for herself.
You did not ask what make us mad…but rudeness makes me furious.
A fun post Bill. Love reading everyone’s comments.
I love that you and Ace may have come to Christ later but still decided to be used by Him. Thanks for your answer Betty. I too am disgusted by rudeness.
1. I grew up in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois (Wheaton and Carol Stream) until I was 8 years old. This is when my family moved to Lumberton, New Jersey where I spent the rest of my youth.
2. I’m the oldest of three boys. My dad is a pastor, and my Mom is the glue that held our family together. I am married with two teenagers.
3. I’m an engineer by background. I work as an operations manager for a major construction firm in the Philadelphia, PA area. I’m active in my church where I serve as a youth leader and small group leader. I volunteer with my HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere) group in our area, and I also serve in Guatemala.
Laugh? Corny jokes.
Sad? People who don’t know Jesus.
Thrill? Watching my kids grow in their own faith journey.
Breaks my heart? Lack of harmony in the church and The Church.
I had an idea your dad was a pastor but now I know for sure. Glad you have continued your dad’s ministry in a different form. I did not know you worked for a construction firm but did know it was in the Philly area. (Please don’t say you are a Phillies fan!) 🙂 I can agree on what breaks your heart also.
I grew up and still live in Las Vegas, Nevada. My family moved to Miami, Florida for a bit, but my Dad loved working in the casino industry too much to stay away. Dad passed away suddenly in 1983. Mom kept working to support her two sons, my brother and I, with the help of her mom and close friends. Mom passed away in late January of this year. So I live in the same house with my younger brother and two nieces.
Right now I just started making some witnessing videos for youtube, but I really like to blog when I can. I am also a pencil/paint/airbrush artist on occasion. I tried making a living out of it, but..well I’m a starving artist. 🙂 No, actually I’m a disabled artist. So I go out everyday and witness to whomever the Lord puts in my path.
The joy of the Lord is what makes me laugh. Actually there is very little that does make me laugh, but I love to make people laugh myself. Many have told me I’m good at it. I like to wear silly clothes and hats, etc.
What really makes me sad is the fact that so many people are not saved, they are not going to make it to heaven.
I think what thrills me the most is that Jesus is still reaching out during these last days for His lost sheep, and that they cry out for Him day and night.
What breaks my heart is that Jesus is coming back soon and it looks like so many Christians don’t have their lamps fueled, trimmed, and shining. The train is fast approaching, and it won’t stop for very long.
I knew you lived in Vegas now but did not know it was a life long thing Ed. Your mom is to be commended for keeping going for her two boys. I can also sense your love for evangelism.