Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food: Check Out Christmas Posts: Funny, Music, Cartoons, Quotes, Recipes, Poems, Stories

Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food: Check Out Christmas Posts: Funny, Music, Cartoons, Quotes, Recipes, Poems, Stories: From Denny:  Check out so many Christmas themed posts that you will pig out like it is a holiday feast.

I've been blogging for three years now and have found loads of Christmas music of all genres - and still adding.  Interesting food to enjoy along with Christmas humor to keep you laughing as well as munching through your busy holidays.

This year I'm adding more Christmas stories and poems, the classics.  Every year there are new recipes to try so the holiday food train just keeps on rolling!

Best Spiritual Posts: Music: Light of the Stable by Tara MacLean

Image via Wikipedia

Best Spiritual Posts: Music: Light of the Stable by Tara MacLean: From Denny:  This country song was recorded back in the 1990's yet retains a classic quality for the season.  To learn more about this Canadian singer, go here to understand her inspiration.

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15 Best Christmas Quotes: Just What Is It About Christmas Time?

From Denny:  At this time of the year, in the early winter, there slowly descends and rests upon the land a sense of spiritual calm and Peace.  


Be aware not to get too caught up in the shopping sales, rushing about to finish last minute gifts and holiday preparations to miss noticing the biggest Gift.  Take the time to absorb this special energy sent from Heaven.

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Poem: The Owl Speaks

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Poem: The Owl Speaks: From Denny:  Do you ever wake a couple of hours before dawn, deep in thought, only to hear the sounds of Nature speaking to you just outside your window?  Do you ever stop and concentrate upon the messages speaking all around you?  This poem is one of those times...

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Best Spiritual Posts: Music: Amazing Grace By Hayley Westenra

Image via Wikipedia

Best Spiritual Posts: Music: Amazing Grace By Hayley Westenra: From Denny:  It's always refreshing to see what the newest generation does with a traditional standard, especially the Christian ones.  Hayley Westenra performs her wonderful rendition of a difficult song to sing, both emotionally and artistically.

Best Spiritual Posts: Music: What Child Is This? By John Michael Talbot

Cover of John Michael Talbot

Best Spiritual Posts: Music: What Child Is This? By John Michael Talbot: From Denny: John Michael Talbot is a monastic of the Brothers and Sisters Charity. I first heard of him years ago when he had taken a vow of silence for a year but was allowed to perform his music.

His voice has a soothing peaceful quality.  He has certainly studied his share of the world's religions and it is that knowledge and understanding that brings a richness to his music.

From his album, "The Birth Of Jesus" recorded with the National Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra of London, the Ambrosian Men's Choir, and the Junior Boys Choir of Desborough School.

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: 20 Christmas Poems From Favorite Classic Poets

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: 20 Christmas Poems From Favorite Classic Poets: From Denny:  Revisit some old favorites and discover new poetry friends from the past century.  Here are 20 classic poems, some familiar like "The Night Before Christmas" and many more are so old and not taught in the current fast-paced culture that the past couple of generations may not have read them. These poems are so dense with imagery and archaic language it will exercise your brain and warm your heart at the same time! :)

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Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Poem: The Owl Speaks

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Poem: The Owl Speaks: From Denny:  Do you ever wake a couple of hours before dawn, deep in thought, only to hear the sounds of Nature speaking to you just outside your window?  Do you ever stop and concentrate upon the messages speaking all around you?  This poem is one of those times...

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Visual Insights: Dennys Photo Gallery: 20 Cute Child Portraits

Visual Insights: Dennys Photo Gallery: 20 Cute Child Portraits: From Denny: Check out the adorable child portraits I found on one of my "visual vacations" to rest my brain from mind-numbing blog maintenance tasks. Most were taken by their parents and are quite clever in composition.

How do you narrow down the choices to just a few for a post? Well, it wasn't easy, I can tell you that one for sure! I'll probably do a few more of these child photography posts.

I love portraits and the human face that I'm always looking for creative ways to photograph. This should give you some great ideas of how to photograph your new arrival, the sister's cute kids or just when you are out on photo safari in your neighborhood.

Best Spiritual Posts: Music: Perfect Love Marys Song

Image via Wikipedia

Best Spiritual Posts: Music: Perfect Love Marys Song: From Denny: With the Thanksgiving holiday dominated by ads promoting shopping frenzies like on Black Friday I thought I'd post a contrast to remind us of "the reason for the season" - Jesus Christ. This is one powerful song and well edited video. It contains clips from the Passion of the Christ movie. Pull out a box of tissues because you are going to need it.

Best Spiritual Posts: Music: Oh, Rejoice By Hillsong

Best Spiritual Posts: Music: Oh, Rejoice By Hillsong: From Denny: While my husband was dashing into a convenience store to pick up a few items I was waiting in the car, seeking on the radio stations. I landed on one talk show where a man was discussing the Christmas season shopping frenzy - and often violence - that breaks out when people fight for the best deals.

It's like the Christmas holiday season has been reduced down to this greedy fever pitch shopping season. Big Business has clearly hijacked what should be a holy season. The essayist continued saying how business changes their cashier greeting (Walmart) to try and sound like they are dispensing goodwill as if that will suddenly cement a good relationship with the customer, making up for the rest of the year.

Well, it should be a goodwill season. During this time of year, he said, you often see strangers relax a little and make more of an effort. But here's the real question, Did Jesus really come just to make our December's better or did He come to make our entire lives better?

Then the program featured this song and I smiled as my husband put the groceries in the car and we drove back home listening to the reason for the season.

Do You Know How Your Thoughts Create Your World?

From Denny:  Perception.  It comes from the feelings in our hearts and the culture taught notions in our heads.  We can acquire Stinkin' Thinkin' from our families or national culture too in the form of long held prejudices that create strife and wars.

But "What If?" we decided to sit down and spend time reflecting upon who we are at our core being?  When we release ourselves from the Should Have, Could Have, Would Have expectations of society and family what would we discover about ourselves on the deepest level?

How Does Solitude Clear Our Perception?

From Denny:  Meditation and deep prayer is all about first quieting the monkeys of the mind - those daily "To Do" lists that crowd out deeper consideration of the thornier issues in life.  We all know how imperative it is to go to a relaxing place in Nature to quiet our emotions from stress.

The same is true for prayer and meditation.  We go to quiet places inside ourselves to relieve stress and solve problems.

Attitude Quote in Poem

From Denny:  Check out this clever direct poem about how our daily attitude shapes our lives.

Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food: Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 17 Nov 2011

Dennys: News Politics Comedy Science Arts & Food: Posts Roundup at Dennys Blogs - 17 Nov 2011: From Denny: Check out blog posts on photography, arts, food, news, politics, a huge amount of humor - especially the political pundits, poetry, astronomy, quotes, music, spiritual and just about anything else that catches my eclectic interest. Can you tell that 140 characters just doesn't work for me? :)

The last posts roundup I did was back in June and we sure are overdue like a long pregnancy. Be sure to bookmark this post as you will enjoy endless hours of laughing while you absorb some good information.

Most of the blog posts are at my flagship blog that spun off into the other 20, The Social Poets, where the news crashes into humor. I even manage to write a few in-depth news posts, slicing and dicing the BS that passes for truth these days on the airwaves.

And to think I do all this in my spare time... Hope you enjoy!

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Primordial Dragon

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Primordial Dragon: From Denny: What is it with humanity's fascination with winged beings, be they angel or dragon? In an online writing group there was a challenge to write about dragons. What fun! Everyone wrote about dragons as evil vicious beasts as from the Western mythology.

Well, I spent most of my high school in Asia where the mythology is far different, Chinese mythology, that is. Come on; it seemed every time I turned around there was a street festival with the lion and dragon dances performed for good luck and prosperity!

Funny Attitude Quote

From Denny: Check out the latest interesting quote to make you smile while you think.

Do You Really Believe Your Principles?

From Denny:  How many of us scrutinize ourselves as much as a presidential candidate?  Do we hide from the truth?  Do we rationalize we are one thing but suspect we might not measure up?

A case in point is the recent Penn State pedophile scandal.  Head coach Joe Paterno had to step down.  Why?  For decades he taught good character.  Yet, when his moment came he did not step up to the high principles he taught.

12 Funny Quotes About Prayer

From Denny:  Prayer is a wonderful thing.  It can bring us comfort, calm our fears and inspire us.  It's also quite amusing to view it in terms of the human condition called "whining."  There is also "bargaining."  Once you grow past those two obvious pitfalls you discover "peaceful communion."

How Close Is God In Prayer?

From Denny:  This quote is really about All That Is larger than ourselves.  Just when we think one power is so huge we discover there is a much larger Power living right inside us, ready for the asking.

The Social Poets: A Protesters Poem: For Love Of Country

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeThe Social Poets: A Protesters Poem: For Love Of Country: From Denny: Recognizing all those who display the courage to raise their voices against tyranny and greed. Dedicated to the global Occupy Wall Street protesters and the Middle East Arab Spring protests.

What Exchange Happens During Prayer?

From Denny:  When you pray and meditate do you ever spend a few minutes just concentrating upon your breathing in and breathing out?  Tell the mental monkeys to hush and sit in the corner playing quietly while you do so.

The beauty of what you will discover after many sessions is what happens between the inhale and the exhale, that small beat of Time where a window opens up to reveal the awesome.  It's an awareness you receive like when you read the Book of Genesis, the first chapter.  Now pay close attention to the space between verses one and two.  Why read the rest of the Bible when you have that much to contemplate for the rest of your life?

How Does Prayer Change Your Life?

From Denny:  How often do we enter into a study not realizing how much it will change us?  We often think we will learn astonishing things of which we can marvel and retell.  But do we really contemplate how the practice of that study can prepare us to receive far more than a string of interesting facts?

There is knowledge, understanding and wisdom.  We begin by pursuing the knowledge.  Then we place the context of that new knowledge into relationship with past knowledge gained.  Then we begin to practice that knowledge and gain a greater understanding of the whole.  Then we apply that knowledge and understanding in a timely fashion and with great care and consideration:  wisdom.

The Social Poets: The Heart Remembers: Veterans Day poem Libations Thursday 11 Nov 2010

The Social Poets: The Heart Remembers: Veterans Day poem: Honoring the life of others as well as our own.

Dennys Guest Bloggers: Travels to India: Experience of The Walking Meditation

Dennys Guest Bloggers: Travels to India: Experience of The Walking Meditation: From Denny: Check out this post of a woman's travel back to her ancestors' homeland in India. She and her husband decided to practice the meditation known as Vipassana. The concept is that by focusing upon every action in the moment you end up clearing your mind of clutter and worries.

It also can be quite tiring as you learn to focus that deeply for long periods of time. Trust me; you do get better at it. It's like exercising a muscle; the more you exercise the stronger you get.

This writer, Chaya Parmessur, recounts her new experience with good humor as she travels on her spiritual path.

Dennys Funny Quotes: Too Funny: Watch Bird on Car Windshield Wiper

Image by ~Sage~ via Flickr

and yet another odd bird...

Dennys Funny Quotes: Too Funny: Watch Bird on Car Windshield Wiper: From Denny: Watch carefully and focus upon the tiny bird perched on the windshield wiper blade just above the steering wheel of the car. This crazy bird just - literally - rolls with it!

Like that old 1988 song by Steve Winwood called "Roll With It." Make sure to start the song before you watch the bird.

The Soul Calendar: Jon Stewart Interview: Why Fear Mongers Will Not Accept Science

Image via WikipediaThe Soul Calendar: Jon Stewart Interview: Why Fear Mongers Will Not Accept Science: From Denny: Stewart interviews author and physicist Lisa Randall, of the new book "Knocking On Heaven's Door: How Physics and Scientific Thinking Illuminate the Universe and the Modern World."

Stewart asks, "Why do we fight so hard to be illuminated by it?" He is referencing the conservative political atmosphere that fears science unreasonably.

Randall offers up that perhaps the reason science is not so easily accepted is because "so many of the theories are far removed from what we see in our daily lives - and not necessarily the most intuitive."

She believes that if people would go beyond just human scale - where only technology can measure - that perhaps they will not be so afraid if they learn more about it and be more interested.

Stewart poses the question as to why are God and science incompatible? Clearly, that is what so many people fear - like science will be 100 percent provable and certain, eliminating room for God.

The Healing Waters: Check Out Beauty Foods For Your Skin

Image by joe beasley via FlickrThe Healing Waters: Check Out Beauty Foods For Your Skin: From Denny: Nutritionist Kimberly Synder talks beyond calorie count and healthy to reveal what foods make your skin look beautiful too.

Have you ever really thought about how you can make your beauty routine tasty with great healthy foods? You win on both fronts.

Take a look at what Kimberly Synder offers up to include in your diet so you can look good while you eat well too.

Visual Insights: Dennys Photo Gallery: Awesome Quiet Landscapes by Adrians Art

Visual Insights: Dennys Photo Gallery: Awesome Quiet Landscapes by Adrians Art: From Denny: This week, while on one of my spectacular "visual vacations," I discovered this awesome photographer over at flickr. This photographer, Adrian Campfield, is based in the United Kingdom and has an incredible emotional connection to Nature's beauty. The early sunrise and sunset landscape photography is breathtaking, exuding a wonderful sense of peace and tranquility.

The commentary under the photos are all from the photographer. Be sure to visit this photographer's flickr pages by just clicking on the photograph!

Since he is a professional photographer you are in luck if you wish to purchase prints of any of these beauties, just click on over here: Adrian's Art. He is also a pastel, pencil and watercolor artist and includes examples of his work on the site. This is an awesome body of work taken from 2007 - 2011. (All Rights Reserved by this photographer with embed codes available for bloggers.)

The Social Poets: News Links: Occupy Wall Street Protests 1 - 12 Oct 2011

The Social Poets: News Links: Occupy Wall Street Protests 1 - 12 Oct 2011: From Denny: Occupy Wall Street is finally getting the attention of mainstream media. Europe, the Middle East and Asia are as fascinated with the protest movement as are Americans. Wall Street and other Big Business concerns like Fox News have tried to trivialize the anger of America's majority but to no avail.

The protests are growing exponentially as more people from all different walks of life and age groups are lifting up their voices in protest against America's "bought government" and demanding reform from our highest politicians.

Check out how the media's awareness of the movement has evolved from first "why take them seriously" to "OMG! This is the real deal!" The protest first erupted in New York City in September. At the time the organizers planned to march for three weeks. Now that the movement has morphed and evolved, developing a life of its own, organizers threw that plan out of the window, planning to march indefinitely.

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Dennys Funny Quotes: 50 Best: New Occupy Wall Street Protest Signs

Dennys Funny Quotes: 50 Best: New Occupy Wall Street Protest Signs: From Denny: As the Occupy Wall Street protests grow exponentially, enjoy some of their intelligent humor. The news could not be more true - or more entertaining - then when smart people take to the streets to protest our bought government. After viewing these signs it sure makes you want to run out and make your own and start a one-woman march on Wall Street - a real Kodak moment for the future grandkids...

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Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Black Queen Guardian

Poems From A Spiritual Heart: Black Queen Guardian: A humorous poem about an unusual and fierce Hurricane Katrina rescue cat.

Dennys Art Sanctuary: Animation Art: Origins By Robert Showalter

Dennys Art Sanctuary: Animation Art: Origins By Robert Showalter:

From Denny: "Origins" is a delightful little animation project. It addresses the universal questions of "Where do we come from?" and "Where do I belong?"

This tiny and charming robot begins his search as a train passes by, marked with the exact same logo as he sports on his metal chest. That point of familiarity prompts him to begin his journey of discovery to search for his origins. What he finds and what he decides I will leave for you to discover. :)

What Is Your Daily Meditation Focus, How Do You Know You Succeeded In The World?

From Denny:  You awaken in the early morning.  What is your first thought?  Is it to get the coffee going so you can turn your brain on, chasing away the sleep cobwebs?  Is your first thought to start that To Do List in your head even before the sun rises?

Too often we fill our lives with "musts" and an endless stream of physical tasks all nagging for our attention.  Jumping to those demands can easily get us out of balance, stressed out and excessively tired.

Have you ever considered changing what you think about when you first open your eyes in the morning?  Know that you will get around to attending to your daily routine.  Things have to get done and they will - but are you giving yourself the gift of cherishing that first thought in your day?

Master Fearless Mug

"Mastering others? Strength. Mastering yourself? Fearless."