Reflections, remembrances, and thankfulness!

It's Monday, December 7, 2009 and I am happy to report that we made it through the arctic blast! While we didn't get as much of the white stuff as other nearby villages we certainly had the cold. Low 20's for us and on Saturday morning we had about as big a white frost as you might imagine. We are aware that some 68 years ago today the United States was attacked by Japanese forces at Pearl Harbor on a Sunday morning with total surprise and met by total unpreparedness. Over 2400 were killed and nearly 1300 were wounded. I grew up around folks who could tell you precisely where they were when they got the news about Pearl Harbor. For our younger generations, it was the JFK assassination or the 9-11 attack that seared a memory because of its magnitude and people remembered then and we pause to remember today. God allowed this horrific incident to meld a united response which, as the Japanese Admiral who led the attack commented, awakened a sleeping giant. That giant, these United States of America, with God's help, went on achieve a hard fought and blood soaked victory in WW2. We remember!

On Saturday my wife and I showed up for our Santa show at the fast food restaurant. It was cold. Maybe in the mid-20's but when I made my entrance dressed in my full regalia the kids in the play area went bonkers. I thought maybe the love of Santa had waned in our post modern world, but I am glad to report that love is alive and well. It was our privilege to work with a lady who had the special photo equipment to make souvenir photo pins for each child. In our two hours there we likely shot at least 100 photos and even though it was cold outside, the children brought a glow of warmth that was captivating. I heard about all the variety of toys that children want from robots to rockets and from dolls to digital phones. My wife was so taken by the experience that she made it clear that next year she will have her very own Mrs. Claus outfit. The photo was one taken Saturday. Seeing how all of this worked does present a number of possibilities for us to consider as we move towards retirement.

Then on Sunday I was very privileged to do another appearance at our local fellowship of believers for the children's birthday party for Jesus. Our children's ministry director asked me to give a word of testimony to help the children focus on the 'real' meaning of Christmas. I actually led them in a cheer for Jesus and they responded beautifully. We did many photos in many different poses but it was a great time. Some of our kids knew it was me dressed as Santa but it was amazing to see their eyes light up whenever I asked them what they wanted for Christmas. Sure, we had some crying kids but not too many. Some really really didn't want to have anything to do with Santa and the picture of me holding on for dear life to their howling kiddo made a treasured photo for the parents. Very rewarding, very tiring, and very warm in that uniform! But I could not have been more blessed and whether it was the dude who was driving down the road with an expression that said he had lost his best friend but then turned to a huge grin when he saw me riding in our car, or the little ones who, much to their parents surprise, literally jumped down and ran as hard as they could to Santa, it was an experience of smiles that I will not soon forget. Jesus is the Reason for the Season and truly we are blessed to know Him and to enjoy these blessings! Amen. ......More later.

Snowed in by the snow job that defines each day!

Hello Americans and blog readers near and far on this windy, soon to be snowy, Friday morning, December 4, 2009. After this we are supposed to have a fairly significant freeze tonight. All of this is happening the day before my 'Santa' debut at the Breakfast with Santa promotion at a local restaurant. Wow! There's always something, right? I did get out last evening and do my best to wrap faucets and cover plants. Some of our plants have been around for over twenty years, therefore, we do our best to preserve them. I know we have several of my late mother-in-law's favorites that came from her yard, and we have some in pots that have been re-potted so many times they most likely don't even recognize home base anymore. We do what we can. I heard some fellows on the radio yesterday who were wagering on the odds that this dire forecast would ever take place. They used as their rationale the fact that it was currently 60 degrees and beautiful when it had been forecasted to not reach 50 and it would be cloudy. It's that weather stuff prediction game again but I promise to leave it alone for today.

I heard yesterday that our President will be hosting Christmas parties at the White House this year that are projected to entertain some 50,000 people. I don't have a clue about how this number compares to others from past administrations but it sounds really over the top to me. Given the recent debacle with the couple who got into the party without an invitation, folks are anticipating a crackdown that will resemble the long lines at the airport. I would guess they would then need to bring in some temporary buildings to make sure the guests being searched and validated stay warm. While I am sure any invitation to this exclusive environment is a huge privilege, it sounds like these upcoming parties might be more trouble than they are worth. I'm glad the President held a job summit but not as happy that he blamed small businesses for not hiring people. He said they had been too skittish and had squeezed their current employees instead of taking on new ones. Give me a break! Mr. President, Sir, how about them not having a clue about how much they will be paying out in taxes and healthcare costs next year? That would cause anyone to put the brakes on hiring. But, then again, this analysis comes from me, just one of the simple folks out here in the unsophisticated hillsides of America.

Okay, enough about the DC crowd and their shenanigans for a Friday. I do pray that you and yours are well. We are aware that many are going through tough times. Unemployment is taking a toll generally. Unemployment among those we know is gut wrenching. But having been there and done that, unemployment for the individual is a personal depression. I heard a fellow call in yesterday on the radio to share his experiences with being unemployed. He should be very marketable since his specialty is web programming but every opening has hundreds of applicants and he said it's almost like the employers are looking for a reason to reject. And, that my friend is the rub. This is the heart of paralysis that grips the engines of our producing capacity and it will take some old fashioned confidence to get them going again. Confidence. That's right. Let's pray that somehow and someway this wonderful component of the American story will return soon for the sake of the millions seeking work, for the sake of our children and grandchildren, and for the sake of our nation. This is a good prayer to carry with us going into our Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday. May God bless each one and may God help our hurting nation. Amen. ....More later.

Every snowflake is unique and I'm pretty flaky at times!

Good Thursday morning to one and all on this 3rd day of December 2009. It is a good day to give thanks unto the Lord. And, it is a day filled with visions of snow for many in our area. They tell us that if and that is a big IF, if all the conditions align tomorrow our specific area could see between 2" and 4" of snow. I notice the glazed eyes of my grandkids as they contemplate this happening. They think Frosty and snow balls and having a most wonderful time. I can remember when I would have been the same way but now I'm thinking roads, travel, access, people being distracted, protecting pipes, and the list goes on and on. But if it does happen I will do my very best to be happy for those who will enjoy it, especially since it is a fairly rare occurrence here in our part of the world. Will I get out in it and play? That remains to be seen but I have been known to do some pretty wacky things in the past. We'll have to wait and see!

We have our Christmas tree up and some lights on it but we still have a ways to go before it is finished. When the boys were at home we had as our tradition that our tree always went up on the Friday after Thanksgiving and by Saturday evening it would have been completely finished. But now a days MiMi and Poppy don't move quite as fast and with us both working and pursuing busy busy schedules, well, the tree is a priority but certainly not the highest on our list. Yesterday was a very busy day for me in that I had a number of places to go on behalf of our Company and then to hurry home and get ready for our mid-week Bible study where it was my turn to share God's word. That makes for a long but fulfilling day and we did have a most wonderful time of fellowship and feasting on the truths God has preserved for us. My wife didn't get home until 10 p.m. from work and I waited up for her and wasn't in bed until 10:30 and this morning instead of getting up at my regular 3:30 a.m. time, I slept in until 4:08 a.m. This always throws my day off and I am still trying not to meet myself coming back as I get caught up from running a little late. I'm not really late because we don't start until 7 a.m., but late for my schedule. Confused yet? Hang on, there's more but I will spare you the nitty gritty details.

When I think about snow I immediately think about our across the driveway neighbor. He moved here from upstate New York and his view of snow is quite different from ours. He has often told me that once you live in a place where there is several feet of snow for weeks and months, you will learn to appreciate the moderate weather we experience here. That is so true. Our perception and view is often made up of a fantasy and when reality hits, it's not what we thought it would be. We see the snowdrifts on the Christmas card and think how wonderful it must be to live in that setting while the reality is one of brutal cold with all its problems. But we are dreamers at heart and God is good to allow us at times to enjoy rolling around in the snow, freezing our buns off, and then even remembering it to be a wonderful experience. Meanwhile, mom sees nothing but piles of discarded wet clothing and hoarse throats and sniffles. We are a work in progress, wouldn't you agree? Have a great day and let me know if you have a good way of regaining that 38 minutes I lost this morning. Just joking. I think. I hope. May God bless. Amen. .....More later.

Brain blips that randomly appear from time to time!

Greetings and welcome to Wednesday, December 2, 2009. We happen to live in an area where no weather forecast is very accurate until you can actually see the frost on the pumpkin. That’s not to say that weather reporting is not a big draw and they use it constantly to tease audiences to stick with the newscast on local TV. I checked the numbers projected for this week yesterday and we had mid to upper 30’s predicted for Thursday and Friday. Now, we have a 29 showing up on the Weather Channel for our zip code. Hello? That number wouldn’t bust any pipes but one would have to admit it’s quite different from the previous guesstimates. Oh well, I don’t want to get started on the weather watchers who have great job security without having to explain or answer for their many faulty projections. Some say it is the nature of the beast but to me it can be quite aggravating.

I suppose the high alert emergency Swine Flu status announced by our President several weeks ago has more or less gone the way of the buffalo. Since they don’t have the vaccine needed to take care of the folks, I suppose it was best to just quit talking about it. I think it is a good question to ask how the press would have treated President George W. had this vaccine debacle happened on his watch. Meanwhile, the numbers of those impacted by the virus continue to grow as well as an inordinate number of deaths among young children. Remember all the assurances given about how there would never be any rationing of healthcare during this administration. Hello? Senior citizens, even those with high-risk conditions, report that their doctor prescribed Swine Flu shots are being delayed in favor of the government’s established priority list. But, that’s not rationing, right? I’m sure all of us carrying the badge of white hair have a really warm and fuzzy feeling about all of this.

My eldest son was telling me about some commentators beginning to speculate how the recent highly publicized security breach by the so-called state dinner crashers just might be another diversionary event staged to draw attention away from troops, taxes, healthcare, gridlock in DC, and the general malaise that has gripped our economy. I have no idea if this is so or not but I continue to pronounce my theory that folks who jump on these quirky developments that drive press coverage should never underestimate the skill set of Team Obama in using everything at their disposal to advance their agenda. Talk show hosts and conservative commentators grab these crumbs and the feasting frenzy is on. However, these folks are smart. They are committed to their view of how America should look and while everyone is laughing about how someone got into the party, they are making the kind of progress that should make us all afraid. This is why we must renew our trust in God and seek His intervention while listening with our head and heart to all that is happening around us. America needs the Lord and each of us do too! Amen. …..More later.

Christmas Hide and Seek, Ready or Not, Here I Come!

Okay, you were warned and now it has happened. We are officially into the Christmas holidays on this Tuesday, December 1, 2009. There are a number of websites that count down the remaining shopping days by the second if you are that hard up for watching something. Don’t think for a moment the advertisers are in the dark in terms of cultivating new customers. Our little Alex, four, wants 100% of everything shown on the commercials while he is watching cartoons. I’m not talking about one or two items here and there, he wants every single item being promoted. He’s got a good excuse since he is just a little guy, but what about those of us who have been around the block many times but we are still living in a dream world of seeking stuff of all kinds to satisfy the longing of our heart? We excuse ourselves with clichés. God knows I am human. Why did God make me this way if He didn’t want me to be happy? Or, as the old country song put it: How can it be wrong when it feels so right?

Ambition is a good thing. Being willing to pursue the use of the abilities God has given is a good thing. However, as the saying goes, it always comes down to this: The heart of the matter is a matter of the heart. My mom was telling me how much my stepsister has enjoyed being with family, in fact, she treasures each and every moment. She has ALS and it is terminal and it is advancing at a fairly rapid pace. Mom said her eyes and her determined sweet smile communicates volumes about what is important in life. We experienced the same situation with my baby sister who succumbed to Leukemia at the age of 27. She lived out her remaining 18 months of life on a spiritual high. She hated to leave her husband and three daughters but she was so looking forward to seeing her Savior face to face. Instead of focusing on things, she spent her time witnessing to those on her list, one on one in person, by letter, or by telephone. What a message! She inspired us all and we are still talking about it 30 years later.

If we are honest, I think every one of us has a been there done that experience as it relates to looking for love in all the wrong places. We’ve all thought if I could just get this promotion, or purchase this item, or have this particular situation work out, then I will be happy. Life doesn’t work that way because true satisfaction can only be found in a Person, not in any of the 'all' things we might possess. Life is like the fellow who bought a new suit with two pairs of trousers but ended up burning a hole in the coat. The Apostle Paul wrote these inspired words to his young protégé Timothy in his first letter, Chapter 6: 6) “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8) And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” My stepsister, my baby sister, and so many others learned by necessity how to look at life through the lens of eternity. That view changes both perspective and priority as it magnifies that which really matters. May God help us all to learn this lesson early, and not late, and especially, not too late. Amen. ….More later.

From Thanksgiving to Thanks-living!

Good Monday morning and welcome back from your holidays. It's the last day of November, the 30th, 2009 and our family is still basking in the afterglow of our Thanksgiving Day gathering. There was something ordinary or traditional about it. We like so many others had the turkey, ham, cornbread dressing, homemade dumplings, cranberries and side dishes and desserts galore. Most of our group were able to be there and that is always the greatest blessing of all. The glow comes from the time we were able to be with one another. It also connects the handed down memories from many other celebrations from the past. My wife's cornbread dressing alone conjures up the sweet memories of seeing my Granny Mac sweating over her stove and my mom feverishly getting all of her dishes ready for the day. The variety of conversations being pursued, the noises of children playing, and the knowledge that we are a blessed people to be able to have such a feast makes it a very special event for us. Our family is just about as dysfunctional as the next but we do know how to enjoy our celebration times together. When the prayer was said we attempted to acknowledge God and all that He has done for us. It was a good one and we are oh so thankful!

On Friday my eldest son Chris and I left early to travel over to visit mom and dad in Louisiana. We were there to see them but to also install a high speed modem and line on mom's little internet doohickey as she calls it. I asked Chris to tag along just in case I ran into problems getting everything set up properly. And, it was good that he went because there were a few hiccups and he was able to get them all solved and now she can get her mail 24 hours a day and also use her phone at the same time. No more waiting twenty minutes for a photo to load! She might even venture out into the scary world of browsing the internet. Who knows, she might even end up with her own Facebook page before she is done. I am so proud of her at 86 still challenging herself in using that little computer and in the many other endeavors she undertakes. We had a great breakfast with them and then on our way out of the area we shared a late lunch with them. Time well spent. Mission accomplished. And, Chris and I had about five hours of conversation that was enjoyable as well.

We also had my wife's sister, her daughter-in-law, and her granddaughter Whitney over from Louisiana for the Black Friday shopping event. I didn't see them that much because of their shopping schedule but it was good to have them in our home. I sure wish they would have invited me to tag along because everyone knows how much guys love shopping at the mall, especially when you have to take turns breathing due to the immense crowds. NOT!!!!! Whitney is nine years old and awfully young to be in training for this type of marathon event. I don't think any of them shopped until they dropped but they certainly did not tarry long before bedtime. We also had Jimmy Jr., Alesha, Amanda, and Alex Friday night and all day Saturday. Blessings upon blessings. Then, to start out our brand new week we had our Bible study and worship with other believers on Sunday. Talk about this being a great country, it sure is, and we have our Great God to thank for each and every blessing He sends our way. I pray that you also enjoyed a great holiday celebration, and that we all will seek to live out our thankfulness to God as we begin our new work week. Amen. ....More later.

I am thankful that God arranged for me to be a citizen of the United States of America!

On this Thanksgiving Day eve, I welcome you back to my brief series of sharing expressions of a grateful heart on this Wednesday, November 25, 2009. A few weeks ago at our mid-week Bible study and prayer time, our little group of mostly white hairs stumbled through several patriotic songs to honor America and on that particular day, the men and women who have honorably worn the uniform of our country. While the sound may not have been professional, the Godly pride and spirit of patriotism came through loud and clear. America the beautiful, and it is, sweet land of liberty, and it is, and God bless America, and we pray that He will ….were just a few of the sentiments expressed in our singing together. Now we think seriously about our nation since we will be enjoying a national holiday in our Thanksgiving Observance.

There is a move afoot among the historical revisionists to remove the deeply held religious convictions that helped give birth to our great nation. These so-called scholars pick out a handful of noted skeptics and try to portray our founding as basically reflecting these secular viewpoints. So-called is right! The overwhelming majority of those who put their lives on the line to help build this nation, I mean by a landslide, were people who believed in God, and His providence, and in His help in the building of this grand experiment we call the United States of America. As believers, I think our pride should always be bathed in humility because we know that God was at work in giving us the nation we have. Our founding was in large measure based on Christian values and moral principles. Don’t believe me, go and read it for yourself. Make sure you read all the founders and come back with a tally of how many were believers whose faith informed their actions. We are a nation under God as proven by our history.

We are also a nation blessed by God to be a blessing. Yes, we are going through some choppy waters at this time and we have faced them before, however, God has stood beside us to guide us through the night with the light from above. Therefore, we rise up to give praise, honor, and thanksgiving to God for the country we live in and love. Does America need revival back to God? Absolutely! Are we still one of the most blessed nations on the face of the earth? Absolutely! As we gather together with our families and friends to enjoy a time of fellowship and feasting, may we never forget the blessings that God has shown to our nation. May we never forget those who have given their all that we might be free. May we not forget those who continue to answer the call and in this very hour they stand in harm’s way to defend and protect our way of life. May God be thanked for America and may we, who are His people, turn back to Him once again for the sake of our nation and our children and their children! Happy Thanksgiving and may God bless each one in a very special way. Amen.

I will be off the next few days to enjoy time with family. I plan to run over to Louisiana to visit my mom and dad on Friday. I am thankful for the time off, and Lord willing I will be back making noise on the old keyboard next Monday morning. Until then, take care and enjoy and don't forget to remember to be THANKFUL! …..More later.