I Lied!!!

I must admit, I lied. I flat out, no doubt about it, lied.

Not only must I admit to that lie, but I've lied many other
times too. Some of you are shocked that I would lie and brazenly
admit it but if you examine yourselves you're not so pure either.

I lied to Apple.

I was downloading something from Apple and they presented me
with their updated Terms and Conditions for the iTunes store.
I had to check a box that said that I had read the Terms and
Conditions and that I agreed to them.

It was 58 pages on my phone.

58 PAGES!!!

Everyone who has an iPhone or who downloads from iTunes has to
say that they have READ and agree to the Terms and Conditions.

I am sure that some have read all 58 pages but I doubt if it is
anyone you or I know. Everyone we know lied too.

The symbol of Apple is an apple with a bite out of it. I wonder
where that is from? It forces everyone who downloads anything
from iTunes to either spend an hour reading the Terms and
Conditions the first time and every time it is updated or it
forces them to become liars.

Sure, it's just a little lie. It's just a little bite out of the
truth. What does a little lie matter?

I don't want to pick on Apple, other companies do it with their
Terms and Conditions and EULA's (End User License Agreements)
that would take a software lawyer an hour to read and
understand.

You should be given three options instead of two:

1. I don't agree and thus reject this product.
2. I have read the Terms and Conditions (or EULA) and agree.
3. I haven't read it because it would take a ridiculously long
time but I blindly accept whatever it says on faith that I won't
get unfairly treated.

They may want to leave that unfairly treated part out since you
may be treated unfairly. Other users probably want to substitute
a more vulgar term for unfairly treated.

Until that third option is added, to Apple and the other
companies with over a two paragraph Terms of Agreement
statement, I am forewarning you, I will lie.

Truthfully,
Pastor Nathaniel Bronner Jr.

Would You Listen???

THE SITUATION: In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold
January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach
pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000
people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.
After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a
musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds,
and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.

About 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar. A
woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to
walk.

At 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him,
then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes: A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him
along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again,
but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning
his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other
children, but every parent - without exception - forced their
children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only 6 people
stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but
continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total
of $32.

After 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one
noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all. No
one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the
greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most
intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million
dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston
where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play
the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C.
Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a
social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities.

This experiment raised several questions:

*In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we
perceive beauty?

*If so, do we stop to appreciate it?

*Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best
musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever
written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made . . .

How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?

Remember ...
Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is a mystery,
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called: The Present.
Enjoy life NOW .. it has an expiration date