Category Archives: Just for fun

Children, Encouragement, History, In the news, Issues of the Day, Just for fun, Parents

It’s Christmas!

Christmas is that wonderful time of year when we celebrate the birth of Christ with our families and the world. This season is celebrated around the world in different forms and fashions, but the holiday is dedicated to remembering and rejoicing in the birth of our Savior and Redeemer, Christ.

Here are some fun facts about Christmas gathered for your family enjoyment:

  • The tallest Christmas tree ever displayed was in Seattle, Washington. It measured 221 feet tall.  
  • The top six Christmas tree producing states are Oregon, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Washington and Wisconsin.
  • Buying all the gifts from the “12 Days of Christmas” song would cost you a ton of money. The most expensive being “Swans a Swimming.”
  • When the candy cane was created in Germany, it was made into a “J” for Jesus. The red                 stripes symbolize His blood and the white His purity. 
  • It is a tradition in Japan to eat KFC for Christmas. Orders must be placed two months in advance.
  • 1 in 3 men wait until Christmas Eve to do their shopping.
  • Christmas trees usually grow for close to 15 years before they can be sold. 
  • Bing Crosby’s version of “White Christmas” is the highest-selling single of all time.
  • Christmas lights were so expensive that they used to be rented rather than sold. An electrically lit tree was a status symbol in the early 1900’s.
  • The first Salvation Army collection kettle took place in San Francisco’s Oakland Ferry at the foot of Market St. It was a large crab pot with a sign that read “Keep the Pot Boiling.”  
  • In 2012 there were more than 15,000 holiday decorating injuries during November and December. The most common being falls, 34% of all injuries.  
  • The word “Merry” in Merry Christmas was not always accepted because being merry used to signify slight intemperance.  
  • The Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Midland, MI hosts 130 Santas each year where they gather and learn about the history of St. Nick, popular toys and Santa etiquette.  
  • In 1980, the highest selling Christmas toy was a Rubik’s cube for $1.99. It now retails for $10.
  • The abbreviation X in X-Mas is not an abbreviation. It stands for “Chi,” meaning Christ in Greek.  
  • The reason we give presents during Christmas is to symbolize the gifts given to Jesus by the three wise men.

There you have a few facts about Christmas, some rather strange. I pray that your Christmas season is full of fun, family, love, and of course CHRIST!

For a child is born to us,
    a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
    And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,[a] Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His government and its peace
    will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
    for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
    will make this happen! (Isaiah 9:6, 7 NLT)

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Challenge, Healing, Just for fun, Marriage, Men, Parents, Postmarital, Premarital, Women

Bringing Laughter into Your Marriage

My wife and I love to laugh. We’ll catch Funniest Home Videos whenever we can. I take the time to show her funny YouTube videos or share memes that cause a chuckle. Why? 

A cheerful heart is good medicine,
    but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)

Laughter brings joy to a marriage. It breaks down tension and relaxes the atmosphere. Laughter is medicinal to the soul, the spirit and the body. Laughter is physically, emotionally, and spiritually good for your marriage. 

Have you ever asked your spouse these questions? “What made you laugh today?” Or how about, “What’s the funniest memory you have in our marriage?” Bringing laughter into your marriage can help move us from a stale place, an angry place or a disappointed place to a place of smiles and positive emotions. 

Mary and I recently recalled one of the funniest times in our marriage. It was years ago when our kids were teenagers and we had just dropped off our daughter for a church activity. We noticed that all the lights were on at the brand-new Burger King in our town. There was traffic and people were inside eating. We decided on a hamburger dinner. It was strange though…

As we entered, the new manager offered us champaign. We made our way to the line to order and the kids behind the counter offered anything we wanted, any menu item for FREE. I said, “Free, are you sure?” “Yes” said the attendant. She then countered, “Order all you want, even dessert; it’s all free!” I immediately leaned over and whispered in my wife’s ear, “We need to call our boys; they’ll show them how to do free.”

Mary went for our drinks while I grabbed a table. Within minutes she came running to find me. Looking straight at me with this horrid face of doom and speaking rapidly, but very quietly, said, “Steve, every person here is a parent of a kid who’s going to work here. It’s free because they are giving them opportunity to serve in real time to their families.” And then she added, “We have got to get out of here before someone asks us which of our kids will be working here!”

We gobbled our food down and hightailed it out of there. We found ourselves laughing for the next thirty minutes. We even woke up our sleeping daughter that night as we lay in our bed laughing out loud.

Laughing together will bring you closer; you’ll touch more and talk more. A conversation full of laughter is more intimate and will bring down your guard, creating an atmosphere of more openness.

Laughter– it’ll do your marriage good!

Our mouths were filled with laughter,
    our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.” (Psalm 126:2)

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Challenge, Encouragement, Just for fun, Marriage, Men, Postmarital, Premarital, Singles, Women

I Want to Make It Difficult for My Wife…

We’re often reminded that woman live longer than men. And in the possibility of my wife outliving me, there is a chance that she could remarry. Given that thought, let me finish my title to this blog: 

I Want to Make It Difficult for My Wife’s Next Husband

What on earth do I mean? Well, I try to keep up with all the maintenance around our house, fixing things as they break. I try to keep the lawn mowed and the weeds pulled. I do my best to stay after the leaves in the fall. I like to leave her notes around the house when I depart for a weekend or longer. I like to vacuum and help with the dishes and cleaning difficult places. Suffice it to say, I try to make life easier for her.

But here’s the thing… If she does remarry, my goal is to make that poor guy sweat drops of blood trying to keep up with her “first” husband. I want to leave an impression that causes her to remember me–the big and small things I did just to please her. I want to be the hardest worker she’s ever known. 

I desire to be the godliest leader that I can be, serving my King first and then her. I desire to love her children and grandchildren. I desire to speak words of affirmation and give gifts of praise. I desire to pray with her and over her daily. I want to make her laugh muiltiple times a day. I want to hold her hand often. I desire to tell her that I love her daily.

All these things and more might cause her next husband, who may have never met me, to never forget me!

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Challenge, Children, Issues of the Day, Just for fun, Marriage, Men, Parents, Premarital, Singles, Women

Daughter Emails Her Dad About Her E-Marriage

Daughter’s email to her Father: “I’m coming home to get married. I am in love with a man who lives many miles away from me, but as you know that is not an issue in today’s electronic World Wide Web world. Living in Australia has simply not been a problem all the while he lives in Scotland. We met on eHarmony, almost immediately became friends on Facebook and have had long text chats on WhatsApp. Recently he proposed to me on Zoom and now we’ve had two months of relationship building through Face Time calls, as well as, many, many tweets on X. I will forward to you the link from my Drop Box account so you can view our photos and wedding plans. All that being said, Dad, I’m asking for your blessing and financial help as we’re planning a rather large wedding. 


Lots of love, Lilly 
 


Father’s reply: Dearest Lilly, wow! I’d suggest you two get married on Skype, use iTunes or Pandora for your music, book your honeymoon on Tripadvisor and check Yelp for things to do.  Later, I recommend you find a home or apartment on Craig’s List or Zillow, find design ideas for your apartment on Pinterest, furnish it through Amazon and Etsy and pay for it all by yourselves through Paypal and/or Zelle. And, if you ever get fed up with your electronically found Internet husband, sell him on Poshmark, Marketplace or auction him off on Ebay.

Good luck and lots of love, Dad

PS Send your mother and I the YouTube video of the ceremony.

Author unknown

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Challenge, Children, Encouragement, Issues of the Day, Just for fun, Marriage, Men, Parents, Premarital, Women

Advice Giving for Dad’s at Weddings

Having been the father of the groom, I have learned some things. 

First, father of the groom is a much easier role; there is little to nothing to do but enjoy the day. Perhaps the biggest deal was arriving on time. But I am not a very willing nonparticipant. I don’t mind a job or two. Well, not ordering the flowers, mind you, but there are things like:

My son had bacon wrapped scallops at his wedding reception. I instructed our server that when she came to the dining room floor from the kitchen with fresh, hot scallops, she was to immediately find me, the father of the groom. I do love bacon wrapped scallops. 

Then there’s the meeting new people to find out who they are and how they know the bride or my son. This job was specifically to be sure there were no wedding crashers showing up for a free meal or an easy date. I also enjoyed keeping the smaller ones away from the icing on the cupcakes. Who wants a cupcake with a dirty, little finger run through it? 

For your son’s one friend who started celebrating before the wedding and continues to do so during the reception…show him the door or order an Uber. You’ll do everyone a favor. 

Lastly, but certainly not least, was the dance with my new daughter-in-law. It is my one moment to speak directly into her ear and provide a calm, but stern warning that if she ever does anything to hurt or harm my son…or if my son ever…you have my permission to…. You can finish those sentences how you see fit. 

Father of the groom, take your role and responsibilities seriously. Someone has to do the hard stuff.

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Challenge, Encouragement, Issues of the Day, Just for fun, Mission Report, Women

A White Dress

Her secret prayer to the Lord? A white dress. In her world, there was no opportunity for shopping because there was no income that would allow for it. But still her prayer…could God somehow provide a “new” white dress for her?

Meanwhile, back in Pennsylvania, our team was getting ready for an annual trip to the nation of Cuba where we would serve the leaders of the ten DOVE International churches. We were busy collecting batteries, solar lights, food and a few clothing items. One lady sent clothes that still had the tags on them, never worn.

The day came to distribute all the items, and each pastor was given a random bag with various articles distributed by their Cuban leaders. Would there be, by some miracle, a white dress in one of the bags? Would that bag be given to the right person? And, even if there was a white dress that made it to the right person, would it fit her small physique?

With a huge smile, she showed me her answer to a very specific prayer: a white dress just her size. She held it up laying it on herself with a wide eyed expression of the awe of God and His love for her. He heard. He knew. He spoke. Someone obeyed and the perfect white dress just happened to show up in Cuba, in February 2025, with a short-term training team who faithfully delivered a few necessary items. 

The solar light was of great use, the rechargeable batteries important, but the white dress? Well, that was a very special “I love you and I hear you” answer to prayer from her heavenly Daddy.

Matthew 7: 7-8: “Ask and it will be given to you…”

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Challenge, Children, Encouragement, Issues of the Day, Just for fun, Leadership, Marriage, Men, Parents, Postmarital, Premarital, Singles, Uncategorized

A Message to the Newly Married or the Soon to Be Married

In another two months my wife and I will be married for 50 years. I hope that counts for something. 

When we look back, it’s easy to identify multiple mistakes that we made. It’s as well, easy to identify those decisions that worked. Taking responsibility for our decisions and their outcome is a major step toward maturity in a marriage relationship. Good decisions reap good outcomes and bad decisions reap a consequence that we both must own and then grow from. 

So, those thoughts lead me to pen some advice from an older married couple. Here goes:

  • Stay away from major discussions or decisions if you’re hungry or tired.
  • Treat your spouse the way you desire to be treated. (Luke 6:31)
  • Place your spouse ahead of yourself (Philippians 2:3-4).
  • Never leave or return home without finding each other and sharing a kiss and an “I love you.”
  • Make each other laugh. Have fun. (Proverbs 17:22)
  • Your most intimate connection is praying together (Matthew 18:19).
  • Do not look for 100% agreement in everything. Accept that you will always enjoy some personal differences. They’ll make you a better team.
  • Realize that agreement is greater than disagreement (Amos 3:3).
  • Conflict is inevitable and part of a close relationship. Conflict is not wrong, however; conflict without compromise and then finding a resolve is wrong.
  • Build a livable, agreeable budget and stick to it.  
  • Always have a short-term savings and a long-term savings.
  • Do your best to stay out of debt (Proverbs 22:7).
  • Never maintain a credit card balance (Psalms 37:21).
  • Give one another a monthly spending allowance.
  • Doing without lots of things can save your marriage.
  • Hold hands…a lot.
  • Write love notes and send cards in the mail to one another.
  • Bring home surprises for each another.
  • Date your spouse and when children arrive, date your children.
  • Check your pockets before putting your clothes in the wash.
  • Men, put the toilet seat down.
  • Divide cleaning responsibilities along with other household duties.
  • Take lots of time to talk and enjoy conversation.
  • Keep the TV and other devices out of or turned off in your bedroom.
  • Make your bedroom a special place where you end your day and then begin your day together.
  • No kids in your bedroom.
  • Remember that romance is not over once you’re married; it just began.
  • Always have at least one meal together every day, two if possible.
  • Keep complaining to a minimum; keep praise to a maximum.
  • Sit on the porch or deck together. No porch/deck? Build one.
  • Learn the skill of listening, not just talking.
  • Always construct in private.
  • When children arrive, remember they will be one of your most important contributions to your world; so treat them with love, respect, provide life-giving correction and don’t give them to someone else to raise.

There are more, but that’s for another time. 

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Challenge, Encouragement, Issues of the Day, Just for fun

No One a Stranger

I like people and I like to engage them in conversation. I enjoy talking to neighbors, meeting new people, engaging store workers or waiters and waitresses. I ask questions – lots of them. I have had friends question me, “You talk to everyone, don’t you?” I do. But too often they say it like I have some kind of disease. Or like I am bothering people…perhaps sometimes I am. 

Yes, I have embarrassed my wife and my children more than once. But I tell myself God loves people, and He wants to talk to them, even those estranged from Him. He created every human being so that He could commune with them and encounter them in relationship. 

There is so much negativity on social media, but there are a lot of people who are looking for, waiting for a moment of connection. All you have to do sometimes is just smile at them. That smile can lead to a few words which may lead to an amazing conversation. I was waiting in line for my Chinese take-out order and began talking to a gentleman in the queue with me. Unbelieveably, he grew up in the very same area I did. I was on a bus in Santa Monica, CA headed to the airport and struck up a conversation with the guy standing in front of me. He knew and actually lived with family friends of ours in Pennsylvania! These connections are like little gifts, for the other of course, but also for us.

I joke with people, sometimes too much. My mouth gets into gear before my brain. I told my dentist once that he has his hands in my mouth and my wallet all at the same time. I had another very young dentist tell me I needed a crown. Immediately, flying out of my mouth was the question, “Have you ever done one?” Not the best question to ask of a trained professional.

The other day I noticed a truck driver delivering fuel to a local gas station. After my purchase, I came face-to-face with the driver entering the store and I made the comment, “Passing gas today I see.” To which he replied, “Why yes I am, Steve Prokopchak.” Yikes, he knew me! Fortunately, we had a good history and he enjoyed my joke. 

One evening Mary and I were on a date night. We were at a restaurant, and we asked if we could pray for our waitress when we said the blessing over our food. That waitress hung around us all evening. We couldn’t chase her away, but that’s okay; we realized we were there for her and she needed to talk to someone. 

People are God’s greatest love. He sent His Son for each life on this earth. If He loves them and desires to speak to them, so can we. We can bring them joy even if it’s only for a few minutes in their day. We can speak a word of encouragement. We can be a positive highlight in that moment. And, we can sow seeds of affirmation – letting them know their value. They may forget the conversation, but they won’t forget how you took the time to talk to them and how that felt for them.

Love God by loving who He loves!

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Children, History, Issues of the Day, Just for fun, Parents

Cotton Candy, A Medical Marvel

Did you know that cotton candy was invented by a dentist from Tennessee in 1897? William James Morrison graduated from dental school and not long after became president of the Tennessee State Dental Association. While he had a number of inventions under his belt, the one that seemed a bit incongruent with his profession was cotton candy.

Morrison created an “electric candy machine” that would melt sugar and then use forced air through a mesh screen into a spinning chamber. What came out was a cloudlike substance back then known as Fairy Floss; today it’s known as cotton candy. 

While this is interesting history, it’s not what this blog is about. Scientists utilize cotton candy for a completely different use. Ironically, cotton candy might serve to save lives. How so?

Cotton candy’s delicate structure is used to create artificial human blood vessels. Researchers at Vanderbilt University spin the candy fibers, pour a gelatin mixture over the stands and after hardening they dissolve the sugar with an enzyme solution. 

What remains is a complex mold that’s very similar to the human capillary system. If successful, cotton candy can be a break-through creation to help make artificial tissue.

Psalm 139 declares that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made.” The care and complete attention to detail of our Creator is nothing short of amazing. Did you know that you have around 60,000 miles of blood vessels running throughout your body? That’s more than twice the distance around the earth.

The next time your child asks you for a cotton candy treat at the local fair, consider saying yes. Then take some time to explain the good side of this simple treat. By the way, it takes only one tablespoon of sugar to make that cloud-like swirl.

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Challenge, Encouragement, Healing, Issues of the Day, Just for fun, Prayer

The Healing Power of Water

Did you know it’s a proven fact that when we’re around water, for example, oceans, lakes, streams and rivers, we are calmer, exhibit less anxiety and can actually be rejuvenated? Water activities like swimming, skiing, snorkeling, and surfing are said to help us enter into a state of calmness.

Vast bodies of water produce a state of awe. That’s an emotional response to how we actually view our world and our personal perspective within that world. Even the sound of water has a soothing effect on us, while the smell of an ocean breeze can trigger good memories and sooth the human soul. 

Water has a rhythm to it. Think of the constant, repeated movement of waves on the seashore or the babbling brook. Rain on a roof is especially rhythmic and pleasant to some persons. Water can hold our attention for hours and bring a sense of fascination that helps us relax our brains and slow down our thoughts. All that reveals a truth: water is restorative.

However, here are some biblically interesting thoughts that I want to share with you about water. A lot of Jesus’ life, miracles and sermons either involved water or were around water. For example: Jesus’ baptism, teaching from Peter’s fishing boat, walking on water, calming the raging sea and making breakfast for His disciples after His resurrection. And lastly, one of my favorite verses in the Bible also involved water and I love its connotations:

Matthew chapter 13 and verse one states, “That same day, Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.” That’s it. That’s the whole verse. 

What was Jesus doing by the lake? Was he fretting over his day? Was He going over His to-do list? Was He contemplating His anticipated encounters with the Pharisees? I think He was sitting by the lake to experience the refreshment of a body of water and admiring His creation. He was centering Himself before His day would begin. 

Water will do that. So find a body of water or some form of nature that speaks to your spirit and calms your soul and “sit by it”… frequently. 

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