Random Thoughts and Insight

Help Support Our Troops this Christmas

2007-10-16T13:46:00.001-05:00

You can help gather letters and drawings to encourage our troops for the Holidays.
These patriotic holiday stockings are filled with items that have been donated from various sources. The recruits receive phone cards, envelopes, stamps, note pads, and pens. But the important gift in this stocking is a bundle of letters that we collect from children all over the country. Last year each recruit had 12 letters in their stocking. That's over 8,000 letters!
Would you please help by collecting letters and/or drawings from children of all ages? The subject can be patriotic, holiday wishes, or even a simple thank you for serving our county. It can be from schools, Sunday schools, clubs, and just your own kids. (Adults can send letters, too.)
You can also forward this message to others you think might be willing to participate.
Maybe your school, church or organization can make this a holiday project? Following are simple guidelines for the letters:
- Notes, letter, pictures and cards accepted.- Salutation should be "Dear Recruit"- Send all the letters/drawings in one package to an address below.- NO personal return addresses.- Mark the back of each note with a classroom sticker or stamp with the organization's address, if they desire possible responses from recruits.
Please mail your letters to arrive by Friday, November 20, 2007 to the address closest to you:
Marine Christmas Letter Projectc/o The Averys2403 West Sunnyside AveVisalia CA 93277
Marine Christmas Letter Projectc/o Martha PhilippsRt 6 Box 200Bloomfield IN 47424
Marine Christmas Letter Projectc/o Debra Collins11 Glen DriveThorsby AL 35171
Thanks in advance for your support of our project. We can make the Christmas season just a little better for these recruits, who SO desire to serve our country.

The Angel's Have a New Piano Player

2007-03-18T00:47:00.000-05:00

I just read the news that Roger Bennett went home to Heaven. I met Roger once a number of years ago when I was managing a radio station in Wrightsville, GA. He was an amazing piano player and singer. He was playing for the Cathedral Quartet and was as humble as any man I have met. His ministry was full of grace.

My heart is sad with the news yet celebrates that Roger battle with Leukemia is over and Heaven is singing some amazing Southern Gospel tunes right about now. I can imagine Glenn and George meeting Roger at the gates of Glory saying, "What took you so long? Anthony Burger's been here for awhile. Come on, let's sing about God's greatness and worship Him for a few thousand years."

Remember Roger's family and friends in your prayers. I know they would be grateful.

Political Correctness Run Amuck:

2007-01-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

Recently I have noticed that many people are overly sensitive to the mention of Christ or Christian values. Too many people choose to be offended when anyone exposes the fact that they are a Christian. Well as of today, I choose to be offended by those people who do not respect my freedom to worship Christ.

If you drive around the city of Indianapolis right now, the city is covered in blue. Everywhere you go you will see the very open support for the AFC Champion Colts. GO COLTS!!! This city has become a “Colts Centered” Community.

Aside from a few Bears fans that may have gotten lost, you will be hard pressed to find anyone who will take offense to the greeting, “GO COLTS!!!” If you greet someone in that manner you will get smiles and high fives. You may even get a short conversation about how the Colts are going hunting because it is Bear hunting season.

Why is it that we are perfectly fine to expose a “Colts Centered” relationship but we must hide our “Christ Centered” relationship? It is time that we Christians stand tall and show our colors. GO CHRIST!!! GO CHRIST!!! GO CHRIST!!! GO CHRIST!!!

What Will You Do With 2007?

2006-12-29T16:17:00.001-05:00

Wow! Time flies! Where does it go and why does it have to go so fast? It seems like it was just yesterday that I was sitting here be-moaning the fact that I had not accomplished all my goals from the year before. Now I am sitting here thinking I should set my goals a lot lower.

The reality is that 2006 has been a great year. I wish I could have accomplished a few more things but I can not complain. This year has been blessed!

Now, just a few days before 2007 rushes in, I am asking myself the hard questions about what I want to accomplish this next year. I am setting goals and taking some faith leaps that will stretch me some. Then I am setting one BHAG! One Big Hairy Audacious Goal that will be God sized. That is the one that will only happen with the hand of God blessing me and His Favor shining on me.

So, what are your plans? What are you hoping to accomplish for God this next year? What areas in your life will you take some steps of faith to see greatness revealed?

Proud of my Son

2006-11-11T14:57:00.000-05:00

At the age of nine my son continues to amaze me. He has his First Degree Blue Belt in Kempo Karate. He plays a mean game of football. He is learning to play guitar. All of this while managing to be one of the top students in his class.

I know most Dads are proud of their sons but I can’t even imagine how anyone could be more proud then I am of Jake. God has blessed us with a great young man. All I can say is, This is my son in whom I am very pleased!

What Will We Do for Entertainment?

2006-11-06T15:21:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow is Election Day and that brings up two problems. One, there will be some people elected that we may not like. And two, all those great political ads will be gone.

I am not sure what I will do without hours of entertaining ads that tell me why I should not vote for the big GOOBER that is running against the opposite GOOBER. How will I know if Congress is still a mess or not? How will I know if our tax dollars are being spent right? How will I know if the war is going right or not?

Life will not be the same without those wonderful ads….Thank God for a little peace before the next election cycle that begins in three weeks.

Dennis Does Comedy

2006-10-06T15:19:00.000-05:00

Get this video and more at MySpace.com

For booking information visit: http://dennistooley.com

Proud Dad of a Great Player

2005-10-26T09:42:00.000-05:00

It was a joy to watch my boy play football this year. It was his first year and he learned so much. No father could be more proud than I am.

There is something very cool about hearing the coach yell, "Get in there Tooley!" For a minute there, I wanted to jump up and get in the game. It was just a cool to hear the announcer report over the loud speaker, "the ball carrier was brought down by number 10, Jake Tooley." That's my boy!!!

When the season ended it was not the win lose record that was important to my son. He was most concerned that he wouldn't see his team mates and coach again. His team was the important issue for him.

We can all learn a lesson from him. It is not the games we play but the people we play with that should be important to us. Everything rises and falls on relationships. Thanks for the lesson son.

Lessons from the Tragedy

2005-09-26T19:45:00.000-05:00

In the aftermath of two major hurricanes I have been mindful of the people I met during the relief effort of the Flood of 1993. It seems like a lifetime ago when I worked with The Salvation Army to help clean out the homes of people who were flooded with the mud and mire that ravaged their houses.

I remember taking the personal items from the home of an elderly gentleman’s house and feeling so bad for him. He had lost everything. He and I sat on the front porch of what was left of his home and looked into a box that contained a wooden mask that he had been given from a member of the Japanese Royal Family after World War II.

As he pulled it from the box and told me the story, it fell into several pieces. My heart sank and I wanted to restore it for him but there was nothing I could do. I had tears in my eyes as I stammered for the words to say that hopefully would comfort him. I was at a total loss of what to say at that moment.

He looked at me with a smile and said, “Wonderful memories! And the good thing is that when the memories flood my mind they don’t fall apart, they just get stronger.”

Wow! Here was a man that knew that happiness depends on happenings but that true joy can not be taken away, even by the flood waters. As I have watched the coverage of the past few weeks I have seen the evidence of that same spirit in many people whose lives have been turned upside down by the storms.

Life is too short to live grumpy!

Please help The Salvation Army provide care for those hit by the Hurricane. Visit: Hurricane Relief- The Salvation Army

Catch with Dad event in South Bend Indiana

2005-08-26T14:51:00.000-05:00

Catch with Dad event in South Bend Indiana

2005-08-26T14:47:00.000-05:00

We recently had a wonderful time in South Bend at the Sliver Hawks game promoting Dads being involved in the lives of their kids. Catch with Dad is an awesome program designed to focus people's attention on this critical issue.

In the picture you see Dad's in the outfield with their children playing catch and making memories. If you look on the right side of the photo near the bottom you will see me walking with my son on our way out to play a little catch.

It was a great day. For more information about having a Catch with Dad event in your area call 877-799-4782.

Dads - Taking Your Kids to the Show

2005-08-26T14:37:00.000-05:00

Today approximately 19 million American children are growing up in homes without their fathers. And in many families, for many reasons, fathers are emotionally absent. The adverse effect this is having on our children will repeat itself if something is not done. It is time we take our kids to the show. There are three shows I believe every child must see.

First Show – Show them they are valued.

I will never forget the first time I held my son in my hands. With tears running down my face I thought to myself, “I have never held anything more precious than this.” And he hadn’t done anything. Actually he had cried and made a mess on the scale while they were weighing him, but other than that he had not done a thing.

He was the most valued thing I had ever held be cause he existed. Not because he got good grades. Not because he played the right sports. Not because he could sing like an angel. Just because he is my son he is valuable.

Some place along the way we stop viewing them as valuable and start placing their value on the things they do. We have to stop seeing what they do and value them. We should not stop being concerned about their actions but if we worry more about them knowing we value them we will have less to be concerned with on how they act.

Second Show – Show them they belong.

All of us want to know that we belong to something rather it is a family, a club, a gym, a team, etc. Our children need to know a deep sense of belonging.

Start by making sure they have traditions at home. Eat dinner together, if not every night than as often as possible. Ask them about their day and listen. Tell them about your day.

Designate a special family night where your children have a strong input on what activities you do. Play board games or go out to the movies but make it about what they want to do that night.

Third Show – Show them they are loved.

When was the last time you looked your children in the eyes and said those three fantastic words, “I Love You!”? Such a simple phrase yet it becomes so difficult for us to use. Every day you need to make sure you tell your children that you love them. Then show them.

Kids spell love – TIME. They want you to spend time with them reading, playing, singing, laughing and just being together.

Men, it is time to slow down and take your kids to the show!

(Dennis Tooley is the founder of Catch with Dad – a program designed to promote responsible fatherhood. He is also a Christian Comedian and Motivational Speaker. Visit http://www.potentialunlimited4u.com )