CHILDREN, MAKING YOUR WAY, MY PODCASTS

CHILDREN on average, laugh about 400 times a day, adults only about 15 times a day. Scientists who study humor want to know why 385 laughs disappear. Laughter has many benefits including burning calories, relief of emotional stress and a workout for the muscles of the diaphragm, abdomen, back and shoulders. Sounds to me like watching I Love Lucy may do you a lot more good than watching a Jane Fonda exercise video.

MAKING YOUR WAY in the world today, takes everything you've got.  Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.  Would you like to get away?  Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.....

Some people still remember this song from the TV program CHEERS.  Believe it or not, when this song comes to my mind I think about the CHURCH. There is a lot of criticism about the church today, but in spite of the inherent problems that occur when a group of people get together, I still think the CHURCH provides "a place where everybody knows your name and they're always glad you came."

I was reading Henri Nouwen this morning and he describes his spiritual life as the nurturing of the eternal amid the temporal, the lasting within the passing. He continues, "When you become aware of God's mysterious presence, your life can turn around.  You can sense joy in the midst of complaints, you can experience peace while the world conspires in war, and can you find hope when the headlines broadcast despair."

Chuck Swindoll says, "God put in the human heart the desire to know and be known, to love and be loved".  And as we try to make a way in the world today, maybe CHEERS and CHURCH are both attempting to fill this need.  

OK, I'm done with my rant.  Well, maybe not.  Check out more comments on this blog about the church by clicking HERE.

MY PODCASTS - Each night when I should be sleeping, I listen to podcasts on a ipod.  Listening to podcasts at night is the highlight of my day.  Want to listen?  I've embedded the link in each podcast name.

TED Radio Hour The TED Radio Hour is a journey through fascinating ideas: astonishing inventions, fresh approaches to old problems, new ways to think and create.

Cabinet of Wonders A variety show with celebrated musicians, writers and
comedians. It will make you laugh, think and sing along.

How Stuff Works Will technology revolutionize education? How does jail breaking work? Explore a host of technological topics and trends.

NPR Fresh Air Peabody Award-winning weekday magazine of contemporary arts and issues

NPR Story of the Day Funny, moving, exceptional, or just offbeat -- the NPR story people will be talking about tomorrow.

NPR All Things Considered Biggest stories of the day, thoughtful commentaries, insightful features on the quirky and the mainstream in arts and life, music and entertainment, all brought alive through sound.

NPA Talk of the Nation A productive exchange of ideas and opinions on the issues that dominate the news landscape.

This American Life A theme to each episode, and a variety of stories on that theme....mostly true stories of everyday people.

On Point  Lively conversation covers everything from breaking news to ancient poetry, and features writers, politicians, journalists, artists, scientists and ordinary citizens from around the world.

Point of View Issues and current events that affect our family, government, education, and basic freedoms from a Christian perspective.

Focus On The Family  Resource for couples to build healthy marriages that reflect God’s design.

60 Minutes The award-winning 60 Minutes broadcast in its entirety every week.

Dr. Laura America's #1 Relationship Talk Radio

New Life Live # 1 nationally syndicated Christian counseling talk show

Learn Out Loud The LearnOutLoud Podcast Directory offers over 2000 podcasts