I don't Understand

It never ceases to amaze me how some individuals as well intended as they may be and to some decree seem to be, at least by themselves, intellectual have allowed themselves to be sucked into such a state of euphoria over perhaps the most liberal of all people who has slide into the pipeline of public, media promoted celeberitism,(my own word) since I don't know who. However, I am beginning to make some sense of this "illness" and perhaps can offer, from my mind, some thoughts that will help.



First it would certainly make a whole lot of sense to desire a leader who has for the most part absolutely no moral convictions which match those of the Conservative Christians living in this country. After all who in their right mind would want a leader who believed in living with any restrictions on the right to live any way you choose. It has been said by many that it is a horrible thing President Bush does by endeavoring to push his personal convictions on the rest of Americans, yet euphoria ensues over a man who says he wants to push his personal agenda of liberalism on the rest of Americans and actually, well maybe not actually, maybe just in the political arena, believes he can sit down and reason with Islamic terrorists dedicated to killing as many Americans as they can, what just because his middle name is like theirs.
You think the Government of this country is against Christian values now, you think the government wants separation of church and state now, just wait! You know our founding fathers formed this country with the concept that people should have the freedom to worship without the control of the state, however the state surely should be influenced by the peoples beliefs, which include the beliefs of the people who believe in God. However, now they have turned that around and try to make people believe that the church has absolute no say in the affairs of the state, that the state should be without any influence of Christian values, of Godly values, that the state has the right to remove any and all forms of Christian values from the public forum, yet does not impose that same control on non-Christian religious groups. Just wait for more "change".



Second, it would certainly seem to me, his experience is not one of a great leader of people, not even one of a good leader of people. Is he a smooth talker, yes, but so was Hitler. Can he inspire people to listen to him, yes, but so did Castro. Does he have a good staff of speech writers, sure, of course they are limited to the word "change" and want the heck does that mean. I change my underwear, but they all look alike. So we change from one President to another, that change may well be from better to worse for the average American, but it will be change. What kind of foreign policy experience does he bring to the table, Oh heck, everyone knows the answer to that question.

Third, I am sorry to say this person of "change" will cause more pain and suffering to Americans around the world. If we do not continue our pressure on those who would kill Americans whenever and where ever they can, they will grow stronger and bolder and begin to attack in ways we cannot even image. Then what will he do, shake his finger at them like that other, smooth talker of years past who lied his way into the white house and now has his spouse running as a front woman to his plans for another term. This man of "change" will destroy the America we know, he will surely not defend it. If is is at all like, and I believe he is, that finger wagging president that"did not have sex with that woman" he will also decimate that military strength of this country and open our borders to those who would destroy us.

Then, of course that whole scandal about NAFTA and Canada, get real folks, He says one thing to you, the public to smooth talk you out of your vote, ad behind closed doors has his staff tell the other country he is just vote getting, that is not at all what he will do when he is president. That kind of change, is not the kind I want. And then his wife has to tell us all "this is the first time she can be proud". What is that all about! Racism! Oh that surely could not be, could it? I mean the African Americans would never have any racist thoughts against any other race, would they?

I could ramble on for hours about this person, but I will not, I will spare you all from this thinking of mine, and simple ask you to examine the real reason, you are being misguided down a path of unreasoning, down a path of being mislead with smooth talk, pleasant( to you) looks and the thinking of being open minded to having this person as president. Instead really examine in you mind the effects on your life and those you love that will ensue if this man of "change" has his chance.

Ode to Marco Island

March has arrived and the Flowers are bursting forth even more then before
Ah, Marco Island in the spring
The days are getting hotter even more then before
The Mocking birds sing the songs of others each day
The morning Sun shines even more upon the Lanai
Even more then before yesterday
Ah, Marco Island in the spring
Golf is better, the fairways actually have some green
Much better then hitting off the sand
Not that my score has improved, and that is mean
The drought was worst the even before,
Global Warming? not even close with all the snow up North
even more then before, but swing the club and not the shovel
Ah, Marco Island in the spring
Driving has become a little crazy
even more then before
with more snowbirds on the road
q-tips they are called by some, all topped with white hair
driving as though some one called "slow motion please!"
Then the others, residents I am sure, thinking faster is better
even better then before
Ah, Marco Island in the spring
The morning walks have gotten fewer
as my days are filled with busy, not to mention the hotter temps
even more then before
it costs more energy, more sweat, more time
to make the route I have in mind
But determined I will continue, I think
even more then before
Ah, Marco Island in the spring
Trips to Naples, trips to Fort Meyers, trips to Sarasota
Trips to where ever even Wal Mart
more then before
Where is my time to go to Winn Dixie or even Publix or some golfing mart
not more then before, time is passing by and Domino's awaits
Ah, Marco Island in the spring
Oh yes, who can forgot, the Citrus grove is new
A place to get the car dirty and gritty
Grape fruit, oranges grown local just for you
and tomatoes, tasty morsels they are nifty
and only 1.29 a lb, a deal for me and for you
Ah, Marco Island in the spring
enough of this dribble, The driver I must be
another adventure this day awaits me
perhaps Corned beef and cabbage will my pay
for waiting in Chico's and other stores alone the way
Ah, Marco Island in the spring

The Days go by

It is almost the close of Feburary and each day passes as the life cycle of a turtle, the pace is almost stagering. I may well be ready for the guys in the white jackets by mid March if it were not for Mondays and the time I spend with the guys on the golf course. Then of course there is the ever exciting times I have at the Winn Dixie strolling up and down each row gazing at all the goodies I cannot have, blood sugar, gotta watch the blood sugar and not to mention the most excellent moments at the Driving range, and I am not in the car, but rather a range on which I may hit many, many golf balls to improve my aim and abilities at striking that little ball correctly. Awe, yes it is so much fun to challenge these old bones, and to attempt to teach this old dog some new tricks. Life must be experinced face first, looking forward, pressing on toward the mark. This last weekend we drive up to Sarasota to visit with friends we have known for some 25 years, attending church with them I was reminded of a verse of scripture in Isaiah,
Isa 43:18-1918 "Forget the former things;do not dwell on the past. 19 See, I am doing a new thing! It reminded me to face life head on, it is difficult to advance when you are facing the rear. And so I do look forward to the next week here in sun drenged Florida. Of course it is another packed schedule, Thurs night Chars friends, three of them I think are arriving for dinner and dominos, with Friday afternoon another set of friends arriving for an afternoon of not just dominos but stacking dominos and then Saturday with our new friends and Char to dinner out on the Isle of Capri, and back to their place for, you guessed it, D________. It seems as if everyone has to get together at the same week. Oh the joy of it all! And yet the days still seem to pass slower then that snail I just saw. What is going on? why and I complaining? No I am not complaining, I am not in a hurry for my days to zoom by, yet I know at the conclusion of this "party" I will once again be able to enjoy the presence of my dear sweetpea II, III, and IV

wow

Well, I am just besides myself, and of course it is difficult to share the enthusiam with any one. I have been busy to say the least with driving up from this semi-topic environment to the somewhat iffy climate of South Carolina for 4 days of emersing myself within various golf courses in the Myrtle Beach area. The experience was one of those increadable natures, like you really would have to have been there to appreicate it, and of course, that is the situation. As yet I truely have not been able to effectively discribe this experience to another, mostly due to my inablilty to communicate and partly due to the abosolute lack of interest on the part of my listeners. I am aware of each persons needs to express words regarding their own self, each of us, and certainly me, have the inner need to be the focus of conversations with others. I have and am working on being, sometimes not very well, other times fairly well, a better listener. This intales not responding with a story about myself or something about my family whenever another relates something about them. However, I certianly would like at times to be able to have that same consideration. I know that sounds awefully selfish, I know that sounds so self absorbed, but truely I just believe it is taking turns. There are moments when each person needs to be able to discuss a portion of their life with others and have each of the listeners respond accordingly about those comments, that is to keep the conversation about the person who is sharing a moment of their life. Then after that is over and prehaps even another time those who listened could be the talkers. But life is not like that mostly, it is not that fair, we each struggle to be the center of what ever circle we are within. So my excitement over this course of that hole, this shot of that missed one, shall forever be within me, mostly due to my lack of being able to remember each one that thrilled me at the time, and partly to not being able to get it out.
Yet, wow! one of the greater times of my life, and yes, I know that sounds stupid, chasing a little white ball around the landscape. But unless you have done it, and done it with 7 others who appreciate the landscape and the challenge, you just cannot know.

You Amaze me

This Sunday morning during worship service we sang a song which included the lyrics “you amaze me”. As I stood there tears streaming down my cheeks singing those words, yes I sing, in tune or out, all the times when God has amazed me during my walk with him. I feel compelled to write a brief summary, a list if you will of some of those times.

First and foremost was the miracle he performed in order for me to yield to him,
the absolute heart stopping photographic miracle.

Second, my life, 40 years and counting with my dear wife Patty, he has amazed me.
Third, the love I receive from my two daughters Anne and Sarah, he has amazed me.
Fourth, his continued blessings in my life, seeing four beautiful granddaughters
Victoria, Margaret, Isabelle and Sophia, he has amazed me.
The countless times I have been touched by his hand
The endless grace and mercy he has bestowed upon me
I think of the time I broke my finger playing ball at a church picnic, the x-rays showed the finger was smashed, yet within 2 days God spoke to me, “take the splint off, I have healed you” never again has that finger ever bothered me. He amazed me.
I think of the time I smashed another finger with a 5lb hammer against a concrete wall, by accident, and I simply held it up and asked for a healing as I needed to work that day, all day, and as I took down that swollen throbbing finger, it was completely normal. He amazed me.
I think of the time, an acquaintance was in great pain at a conference we both were attending, He had to go to his room and lay down, I followed as God lead and asked if I could pray for him, he was healed and later turned his life over to the Lord and has been serving him in a mighty way, he amazed me.
I think of how he sustained my dear wife through years of back pain, and how through his divine hand lead us to a doctor who performed back fusion on her spine within days of the first visit. A miracle in itself, he amazed me
I think of how Patty and I were lead to our first home, without two dimes to rub together, God had a plan, 27 years in that home, raised our daughters there, he amazed me.
I think of how God lead Patty and I to Ohio and how the sale of the old home occurred within hours and the new home was just perfect for us, and how we are near our daughter Sarah. He amazed me.
I think, of course, that thanksgiving weekend of 2000, that heart attack in which I should have gone home to be with my Lord, yet because I asked to stay to take care of my wife, he allowed me, he sustained my very life until the doctors could clear a 100% blocked artery. He amazed me!

I think of the mended relationship I have with my sister, how different we are, yet our relationship is growing once more together, he amazed me!

I could go on for days and weeks, and perhaps it would sound as though I am bragging about me, but not the case, I am bragging about my Lord, he amazed me, he is amazing me each and every day.

walking

It hurts, it costs time, it costs energy, it costs caleries,yippie, it costs effort, it costs committment, it costs some pain, it costs sweat, but it is worth all that to know I am still able to do it. I am getting my two miles in at an average of 29 minutes, today it was 28:30. Walking allows me to think and to pray along the way, and both exercises enhance my being, the later of course, the most, not to mention the exercise of walking enhancing my physical being, mostly on the inside, like my heart and lungs, even those veins inside my legs. Yet with all those benefits you would think it would be a no-brainer, get out there and walk you dummy, but I must force myself to do it, force is a harse word, but never the less that is it. I would much rather sit and enjoy a more relaxed activity, like doing a devotion, painting little people, even playing spider on the pc. Yet it is only 30 minutes, come on Rich, you can afford that!

Participation

par·tic·i·pa·tion

par·tic·i·pa·tion (pär-tîs´e-pâ¹shen) noun
The act of taking part or sharing in something: Teachers often encourage class participation.
— par·tic´i·pa¹tion·al adjective[1]


What is it that we are taking part in, what is it that we are sharing? To take part in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To share in the Gospel of our Lord and Savior. To be a part of the body of Christ. To Participate means the act of taking part. It requires action on the part of each member sharing in the act. This is not a static or passive existence, but rather a moving, active, living organism, breathing and streaming with life and vitality.

We are commanded to “go” into all the world, that includes not just the far away places filled with lost souls speaking another language, but it also includes our local neighborhood, the people that live right on our own block, the couple next door, who are lost as well.

Each member of the Body of Christ is filled with the Holy Spirit of God who empowers each of us to be His witnesses. Bridging church to neighborhood, not mearly a certain denomination, or local church by name, but the church of Jesus Christ, which means bridging ourselves into the neighborhood, being the pathway which lost souls might be able to cross over from a life of sin and death into a life of light and love.

This is our participation

The question which continues to assurt itself within me is; during the course of life we all must stand up for the moral convictions instilled within by the Spirit, and in such, we come in inflict with some of those souls, and in doing so how then do we bridge the love of God toward them?



If I must participate, not only by revealing the gospel, in word and deed, yet stand firm to the convictions God has placed within me, then the task is not mine, but rather his.