“God’s provisions are always greater than our problems.”
More – English is a Crazy Language
Let’s face it English is a crazy language. There is no egg in eggplant or ham in hamburger; neither apple nor pine in pineapple.
English muffins were not invented in England or french fries in France. Sweetmeats are candies, while sweetbreads, which aren’t sweet, are meat.
We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes, we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are square, and a guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig. And why is it that writers write, but fingers don’t fing, grocers don’t groce, and hammers don’t ham? If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn’t the plural of booth beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So, one moose, 2 meese? One index, two indices? Is cheese the plural of choose?
If teachers taught, why didn’t preachers praught? If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?
In what language do people recite at a play, and play at a recital? Ship by truck and send cargo by ship? Have noses that run and feet that smell? Park on driveways and drive on parkways?
How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a wise man and a wise guy are opposites?
When a house burns up, it burns down. You fill in a form by filling it out and an alarm clock goes off by going on.
When the stars are out, they are visible, but when the lights are out, they are invisible. And why, when I wind up my watch, I start it, but when I wind up this essay, I end it?
Now I know why I flunked my English. It’s not my fault — the silly language doesn’t quite know whether it’s coming or going.
Resume’ Problems
How bad a mistake can you make on your resume? Here are some real-life examples:
- “My intensity and focus are at inordinately high levels, and my ability to complete projects on time is unspeakable.”
- “Education: Curses in liberal arts, curses in computer science, curses in accounting.”
- “Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store.”
- “Personal: Married, 1992 Chevrolet.”
- “I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse.”
- “I am a rabid typist.”
- “Created a new market for pigs by processing, advertising and selling a gourmet pig mail order service on the side.”
- “Exposure to German for two years, but many words are not appropriate for business.”
- “Proven ability to track down and correct erors.”
- “Personal interests: Donating blood. 15 gallons so far.”
- “I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely nothing and absolutely no one.”
- “References: None, I’ve left a path of destruction behind me.”
- “Strengths: Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining composer.”
- “Don’t take the comments of my former employer too seriously, they were unappreciative beggars and slave drivers.”
- “My goal is to be a meteorologist. But since I possess no training in meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage.”
- “I procrastinate–especially when the task is unpleasant.”
- “I am loyal to my employer at all costs…Please feel free to respond to my resume on my office voicemail.”
- “Qualifications: No education or experience.”
- “Disposed of $2.5 billion in assets.”
- “Accomplishments: Oversight of entire department.”
- “Extensive background in accounting. I can also stand on my head!”
- “Cover letter: Thank you for your consideration. Hope to hear from you shorty!”
- “Left Last Job: Responsibility makes me nervous.”
- “I was proud to win the Gregg Typting Award.”
- “Left Last Job: They insisted that all employees get to work by 8:45 every morning.” Couldn’t work under those conditions.”
- “Left Last Job: Was met with a string of broken promises and lies, as well as cockroaches.”
- “Left Last Job: I was working for my mom until she decided to move.”
- “Left Last Job: The company made me a scapegoat – just like my three previous employers.”
- “Job Responsibilities: While I am open to the initial nature of an assignment, I am decidedly disposed that it be so oriented as to at least partially incorporate the experience enjoyed heretofore and that it be configured so as to ultimately lead to the application of more rarefied facets of financial management as the major sphere of responsibility.”
- “I was proud to win the Gregg Typting Award.”
- “Special Requests: Please call me after 5:30 because I am self-employed and my employer does not know I am looking for another job.”
- “Physical Disabilities: Minor allergies to house cats and Mongolian sheep.”
- “Education: College, August 1880-May 1984.”
- “Work Experience: Dealing with customers’ conflicts that arouse.”
- “Develop and recommend an annual operating expense fudget.”
- “I am extremely loyal to my present firm, so please don’t let them know of my immediate availability.”
- “Qualifications: I am a man filled with passion and integrity, and I can act on short notice. I’m a class act and do not come cheap.”
- “I intentionally omitted my salary history. I’ve made money and lost money. I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. I prefer being rich.”
- “Note: Please don’t misconstrue my 14 jobs as ‘job-hopping’. I have never quit a job.”
- “Personal: I’m married with 9 children. I don’t require prescription drugs.”
- “Number of dependents: 40.”
- “Marital Status: Often. Children: Various.”
- “Here are my qualifications for you to overlook.”
- “Your requirements match the responsibilites of my present job precisely, so I will be glad to do do again.”
- “My intensity and focus are at inordinately high levels, and my ability to complete projects on time is unspeakable.”
- “Work History: Performed brain wave tests, 1879-1981.”
- “After receiving advice from several different angels, I have decided to pursue a new line of work.”
- “Accounting cleric.”
- “As indicted, I have over five years of experience analyzing investments.”
- “Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details.”
- “Accomplishments: Completed 11 years of high school.”
- “Fired because I fought for lower pay.”
- “Size of employer: Very tall, probably over 6’5″.”
- “Please disregard the enclosed resume–it is terribly out of date.”
- “Finished 8th in my high school graduating class of 10.”
- “I am relatively intelligent, obedient and loyal as a puppy.”
- “My compensation should be at least equal to my age.”
- “Reason for Leaving: It had to do with the IRS, FBI and SEC.”
- “Reason for Leaving: My boss said the end of the world is near.”
- “Reason for Leaving: The owner gave new meaning to the word ‘paranoia.’ I prefer to elaborate privately.”
The New Hearing Aid
We have Assisted Listening Devices at our church for those who might not be able to hear the service without them. A few weeks ago I offered one to Mr. L.
He told me that he didn’t need one because he had just bought a new hearing aid, and it cost him $4,000. I asked him, “What kind is it?” He looked at his wrist and said, “About 10:55.”