A Fortunate Reversal (fictional fun)

Here's a little story I wrote for fun after reading about the Oxford English Dictionary's new additions. The highlighted words below are just a few of 2011's recognized bunch. 

A Fortunate Reversal

 “Steve here, Hi, wassup?” He quickly answered his cell phone while annoying people in the eating establishment around him.

“Yeah, I’m back in town since last Friday. I’m preparing my notes as we speak…Yeah, I’ll have something ready to look at by next week. Can you give me a two-column spread? Hey hang-on, I need to order my food. Yeah…I’m ordering off-the-menu. I’d like a four by four, grilled onions, and the fries, monster-style. Hey, let me call you back; my daughter’s calling."

He missed his daughter’s call and a few minutes later before he took a bite of his dripping cheeseburger, his daughter’s text message came across his buzzing cell phone screen.

OMG Dad, where R U? Mom says U R in La-La Land, LOL . I know you’ve been out of town working on a project. Mom’s hanging out with those WAG friends of hers, but she's still going to that Bible Study too. She's at the doctor now. U R my BFF Dad and I miss you so much  We both miss you. I ♥ U,  Cloie

He sidelines the burger and after wiping his fingers, picks up the cell to try and get his daughter again.

“Hi, Cloie…yeah, couldn’t answer…in the middle of some important food here at In-n-Out.”

“Aahhhh TMI Dad….Now I just got to have one! So, Dad, how was the “couch-surfing” experiment? You survived I see. When is your deadline for the story?"  his daughter asks.

“The first section should hit the paper in two weeks; but in the editor’s hands by Monday. I hope this  just wasn’t smack-talk by these guys. It’s been awhile since I’ve been in print. Learning to trust God in my work, I need to listen and discern even more in each new project.  I know He has something better for our family. I'm really  feeling good and I met such wonderful  people on this last trip; God affirmed so many things. Well, enough about me. I'm sorry hun.  What's new?  I missed you guys too."

“Well dad, Mom certainly would be happy-camper if…”

Dad interrupts. "Cloie, I’m going to call Mom now. Let’s see if we can all have dinner tonight at Pepe’s. Isn’t it “all you can eat” Taquito Tuesday?"

"FYI Dad, Today’s Wednesday. Can you get jet-lag from too much couch-surfing?  Mom hasn’t been feeling too well. I hope she agrees.  Bye Dad, see you tonight." 

Later that evening, after two weeks of doing research across the country on couch-surfing sponsor families and their patrons, Steve's  family is enjoying a reunion at Pepe’s, limit though on the taquitos.

The prodigal husband orders Margaritas for himself and his wife. His wife quickly declines.

“Steve, I hope this is the story that gets you a regular column, because I think I am going to need someone who does his research a lot more locally," Steve's wife, Charmaine, with a bit of mystery in her voice, states.

She smiles at her daughter before grabbing her husband’s hand and places it on her belly.

"This is not a muffin-top. This…is a baby bump”.

“Dad”, Cloie grins “Your writing just took on new inspiration!”

Steve quickly became a syndicated columnist after his award winning personal story of “American-life as Viewed by a Traveling Couch-Surfer” ran in six consecutive weekly features. The network news picked it up as well. Steve’s next column, titled “Reverse Vasectomy, A Mid-life Miracle", landed him a book deal. Steve made another family choice. He cut out the four by four’s and the monster fries along with Taquito Tuesday. His sacrifice was well worth the new blessings coming his way.  The End. 

For more info on what these "words" mean and/or how they're actually defined,  check out this link.  Before you ask, Yes, it is true...♥ is now a verb in the OED (Oxford English Dictionary).

http://www.oed.com/page/updates/recent-updates-to-the-oed;jsessionid=8827D934F0BACC60D1D37E0400FE7A3E

I'd enjoy some feedback on this story.  If you are a frequent reader of my blog, you know I must include some scripture here; so be fair warned all you lovers of the English language and teachers out there. ☺

1 Corinthians 14:9 (New International Version, ©2011)

9 So it is with you. Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? You will just be speaking into the air.



Hang Ten!

March Madness

It started with ol’ Charlie Sheen

His goddesses right by his side.
Proclaiming in an arrogant rant;
He’s the “ half-man”, beaten down by his pride.




Winning?

It is written: "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me;
 every tongue will confess to God.'"
Romans 14:11 (NIV)



Yes, Charlie, even you too, will bow
Your knee, when you see Jesus’s face.
Sooner... could be,  than later
Your millions won’t buy you a safe place.


(For further reading: II Timothy Chapter 3)



Then the thousands of fish float dead
In the bay, their shimmering glint.
The current, a toxin, no air?
For sure, the wrong way they were sent.

Hosea 4:3 Because of this,(our disobedience to God)
 the land mourns,
and all who live in it waste away;
the beasts of the field and the birds of the air
and the fish of the sea are dying.


So soon did we process all that,
Did the news now flash even more.
Another strong earthquake…How big?
Eight point nine and it moved the ocean floor?

Nahum 1:5 The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away.
The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it.



And time…no time to process that,

The ocean rose up o’er the land.
A wave of power, unstoppable
Visions of tragedy for this nation, Japan.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
 and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
Psalms 46:2

 

Pray for Japan

“He reached down from on high and took hold of me;

he drew me out of deep waters.

 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,

from my foes, who were too strong for me.

They confronted me in the day of my disaster,

but the LORD was my support.

 He brought me out into a spacious place;

he rescued me because he delighted in me."

11 Samuel 22:17-20

Now the fallout of nuclear destruction,
The heroes emerge in the plight.
We watch as a people with much dignity,
Look through rubble, even in death to re-unite.

Unselfish and noble actions
 are the most radiant pages
 in the biography of souls. ~David Thomas



Today this is only the second headline.
For allied strikes and heat light the sky.
In a country where tyranny is godless,
And we ponder, the end times to draw nigh?

 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.
 Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.
Matthew 24:6

Psalm 91  A Soldier's Prayer
Psalm 91


1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High

will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you

from the fowler’s snare

and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers,

and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night,

nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,

nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,

ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes

and see the punishment of the wicked.

And what is the “real” March Madness?
...The basketball brackets that hold all our bets?
Thankful we have this distraction,
For reality is like casino roulette.



(My Pick) 





Let’s pray to be a light where we are;
Salt, to give flavor when we can.
And pray for our World who needs Jesus,
Across every domestic and foreign land.



For God  so loved THE WORLD...


God tells us to be very aware
And to always be on alert.
Don't ignore these things around you,
Be proactive, share the Gospel to the hurt.

Matthew 28:18-20
¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”