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According to a paper in Colorado, the Discovery Canyon Campus school school has banned the game Tag on its playground because some of the kids were being harassed or chased against their
will.

Where were these administrators when I was a kid being lined up against a wall so I could "play" Dodge Ball? How bout when all the popular kids would want me to play "Red Rover"? Do you know that on 12 straight occasions, George Wolfe didn’t try to break our arms apart but instead he tackled me. YEAH!

I liked playing Four Square, Kickball and Tag when I was little. I even liked playing Dodge Ball and Red Rover. Were there fights on the playground? You bet. Did bullies pick on me? What do you think?

Obviously no kid should be hurt or constantly singled out BUT, there are bullies in life and learning how to deal with them on a playground is how you learn to deal with them later in life too.

Eventually dorks, nerds, geeks and any other group that isn’t a social or physical bully will stand up to their oppressor. That’s the way it’s been since the beginning of time and now what has happened? The bullies on that playground have been stopped from playing tag and given more ammunition to fire at will against whatever kid complained and the kid that complained in the first place and every other kid in that school has been denied the ability to learn about conflict resolution.

The problem with that is that these kids who play video games where they beat, kill and blow up everything and everyone else on a screen now have one less opportunity to learn how to sort out being part of a society…GREAT!

Raise em in cotton balls…that generation is the one that will nuke the world.

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Off The Wall, Government, Life, Laughter, Podcast | No Comments »

Hi, my name is Marty and I am a PEOPLE ADDICT.

I love meeting people. Meeting people is one of the things that kept my career in radio interesting and it is one of the key benefits of performing stand up comedy. Ever since I was young I have been addicted to people. I can’t get enough of them. I LOVE PEOPLE!

My strong addiction to people is why it would take me TWO HOURS to finish a paper route that should have only taken me a half hour! I can still see Mr. Rinali sitting in his lawn chair, cain in hand, fishing cap on his head waiting patiently for me to cross into his lawn when the conversation would begin. What a great man.

Life is funny and it seems that a lot of folks who grew up “people persons” get sort of burned out on “people” over time. We forget what makes people so spectacular. Sometimes life has a way of running OVER or AWAY from us and it can be tough to find that joy that comes from a simple conversations with other people.

Since I became a follower of Christ I’ve struggled with this more than before I picked up my cross. But any time I find myself getting burned out on people I am reminded of how incredible God thinks we are.

God sent His only son to earth to so that HE could see me in heaven with Him. Before I was even born He knew me in my mothers womb. Even today He knows the very number of hairs that are on my head and He watches over me when I am working, sleeping or resting…even when life is running tries to run us over, He is not there…but He is RIGHT HERE with me…and you too.

Well, there are a ton of people walking around who need to be reminded of just how much God loves them. It’s one of the things I try to help churches convey when I perform comedy at their church. Sometimes those people who are needing reminded are the ones who sit in the seats at your church right next too you. Maybe it’s even you?

Today, make it your goal to say “Hello” to a couple people, strike up a conversation, affirm someone and by doing so encourage them and let them see that the hands and feet of Christ are always reaching.

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My friend, Olivia shared this with me.

I have no idea who put it together, what event it is at or any of the slight details…I do know it is wonderful.

Enjoy!

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Sin, Faith, Religion, Life, Christianity | No Comments »

A couple days back I wrote about my victory of being “a little chubby” well, as such you can bet I like to try new foods.

You wanna know where I find several really good new things to try?

BIG LOTS!

Yeah, the orange and black sign that means you found savings.

The other day I was in there to pick up some printing paper and I saw this imported canned food from FRANCE, ooh, la, la so I decided to give it a try and am I ever glad I did!

It’s called Gourmet To Go by a company called St. Dalfour. I got the Tuna & Pasta and it was SOOO GOOD!!!

Inside the can was a variety of veggies, oils, herbs, pasta and tuna…I ate it for lunch and it filled me right up.

Another good thing, no preservatives and no additives…YUM!

Why am I telling you this? Because we’re friends…right?

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When I first started in comedy one of the things I loved the most was stories from other comedians who had already been on the road. I loved hearing about their nightmare “gigs”, you know the ones where the promoter didn’t pay, the audience was silent, the audience was small, the opening act was HORRIBLE, they got lost, they stayed in a dive hotel and thought they wouldn’t live to see morning or whatever.

Well, now I have my own stories to share.

Did you know there is a BERLIN, OH?

Yep!

And this is the story of a trip I took to Berlin, OH a couple years back for an event at an Amish style restaurant with a church group who had hired me to come in and perform some comedy.

The day was gorgeous, right around Valentines Day, and it was a little warmer than usual, almost spring-like. After being cooped up for the entire winter we were glad not to have to wear our heavy coats and have the heat on FULL BLAST. For a while, we rode with the windows down through the winding slightly hilly Northeast Ohio roads to take us to our destination.

My wife sees a group of kids playing together off the road at a farmhouse. We give each other that sort of half grin you give your spouse when you see a group of little kids playing and continue on our way. A little while later my wife sees a young Amish man in a nifty looking hot rod buggy and we give each other that look that says “I didn’t know Amish dudes were hot rodders!

All is going well as we continue to take in the sights and sounds of this peaceful, less hurried life of the Amish.

Off in the distance I see a bicyclist so, I slow down and lightly tap my horn so the guy knows that I am behind him. The road is narrow so I keep my distance but I notice he isn’t moving to one side or the other to let me pass. I am driving at a parade route speed now and sort of speak out my window to the guy, I said: “Hey, sir, excuse me could you let me pass?” To which he replies, “I could.” I assume that he will pull off to the side and let me pass but he doesn’t. And fifteen minutes later he did.

As I finally am able to pass him, he waves at me and tells me to have a good day!

My wife looks at me and says “Who knew Amish guys rode bikes?”

I responded to here “Who knew there were Amish Road Warriors?”

It may not be the best story in the world but my wife and I still crack up laughing every time we think about that trip.

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Christian Comedian, Family Night, Valentines, Christian Comedy, Comedy, Church, Laughter, Entertainment | No Comments »