Enjoying Life First Hand

If there is anything more beautiful than experiencing the joys of life first hand it has got to be seeing joy reflected in the eyes of grandchildren. I captured a quick moment today, my grandson and his new friend Sheldon captured memories I pray they will both share until they're older than we grandparents, now! That's just one of the ways that God continues to bless our lives, the others are too numerous to list here. I had to laugh as I watched them going around the curves, the intense look on their faces could not have been any greater had they been participating in a Grand Prix or LeMans race(Isle Of Man for scoots). I still have those moments, myself, now and then. That feeling of intensity that comes with complete focus on the task at hand, be it preaching God's Word, or playing music in celebration of all He has given us to appreciate. Time passes so quickly when we put our whole selves into those moments in life that we truly enjoy. There are never quite enough hours in the day when we're sojourning in the land of infinite variety. If this sounds a bit like a commercial, that's because it is! It's a commercial about faith, spirit, and being truly alive. We never are quite so alive as when we enter into communion with our Creator. He made us that way! It might be an idea that you can't wait to share, an emotion that just must be allowed to burst forth on others, or the simple, quiet act of shared prayer that quickens the heart. We are designed in such a way that when we finally discover our wholeness in Christ we are brought minute by minute, hour by hour, into a fulfillment of joys that were never before possible. I thank God for the kids that can remind us of the feelings we had at that same age. I thank God for the opportunity to help them come of age in their own spiritual journey to wholeness in faith. In fact, I'm so thankful for the past few days that I have but one possible recourse available, and that is to share those feelings with you, and with my Lord. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Sometimes My Attitudes Aren't Right

Today I had to slow down and think about my attitudes so many times that I began to wonder if I would ever get it right. It's very easy to love and care about people who love and care for us, and very hard to love those whose very presence seems to cause the hairs on the back of my neck to stand up. I should have learned by now to spot them at a distance and get out of the way before they strike, but it seems like I get so surprised(deer in the beams)that I just don't move, and then, there I am in the middle of yet another convergence of lines that require a decision. I want to be caring and loving, but there is a part of me that really doesn't want to get bit by that dog again. One of the songs on the new CD refers to sin as a "big dog" that is out to get us. It was one of those moments when I was truly attempting to put everything that had happened into a perspective that would make sense inside the realm of my spiritual being. Sometimes the process works, and other times it leaves me amazed by the depth of "not so good" human emotions that can well up. The pictures I posted with my writing tonight depict a host of mixed emotions. Both vehicles are white, both have character, and both look really cool in my eyes. The big difference is the "living, breathing, heart beating essence" of one, and the attachment that comes with the other. Loving something that can never love back is "safe" to do, and carries with it very few responsibilities. Maybe that's why there are so many love songs written about machines. A horse, on the other hand, can love back, and it can feel abuse and respond accordingly. There in I find my inability to sort things out. When I'm truly caring about another person I don't want them to be hurt, and when they are I want to do something to ease the pain. Then it follows if the source of the pain is another person I am not going to feel very kindly toward them as a result of the injury they cause. Does your life ever get complications in it like this? I suppose everyone's does, but each of us learns to cope using the skills we have aquired through our life experiences. Mine leaves me wandering a gray area between what I have learned and what I have lived. Spiritually speaking, I have several paths open; Forgiveness(I don't believe they are aware of the damage done, so forgiveness can only be at the superficial level), Shake the dust of that person's presence from my feet and get along down the road to where I might be better understood, and the third option, which has been attempted over and over again with the same results, nothing happens(maybe next time?)! Place not your pearls in the paths of swine, is one verse that comes to mind over and over again. Maybe that is my answer, but to be sure I need to be in prayer about the situations and see if there is anything that I have missed that might have a bearing on the outcome this time. I don't think so(isn't that a cute little car?), but I'll keep trying and in the meantime, I know where to place my trust. I place my trust for answers to all of the "tough" questions in my Savior who has purchased forgiveness for me by the shedding of His blood. Have a wonderful Sunday!!!
In Christ's Love, Preacher.

I Admit It! The "urban legend" thing about Mars got me. My apologies to any and all readers for sharing misinformation. I guess there is only one source for real truth. God bless, Preacher. 

TGIF

It's an "older than dirt" Soyo board that is dedicated to my learning experience with man's tech friend, I posted it simply because it has been the inspiration for my last 10 months of learning stuff. What a place to start! This was one of the first that the company put out, and, although ancient by today's standards, works rather well. I only say this from the perspective of a novice, but we've spent enough time together to really begin to understand what we can and can't do together. The person who sold me the computer on an emergency basis assured me that the one it was replacing was shot and that $385 was a "bargain" for this "fine" piece of equipment. And now you know why I began to learn. Have you ever purchased a used vehicle? There should be some sort of licensing program that tests people on their personality profile. That would omit anyone ever having to so much as meet the individuals that I have had the distinct pleasure of encountering. The last blog was about guys who are really down to earth, faith driven sorts, this one is just an outcry of my spirit as I continue to lift those who live in darkness to a forgiving God. Oh, by the way, the system I'm tapping on at this moment is the one that was shot beyond repair, and it works just fine on a day to day basis. It even scans almost as fast as the "rescue" machine that was purchased to run equipment at my wife's business. Live and learn, is an old addage, but holds as much water today as it ever did. We, as people, must continue to learn or we will wither and die on the vine of our physical presence. Another addage that comes to mind(am I spelling that word correctly? I guess I don't use it often enough)is from the latin language, "Caveat Emptor," or something similar. What it means is "buyer beware." In this world of high tech sales you are for sure going to find folks that have only one goal in mind when they meet you. That goal is to separate you as quickly as possible, from as much cash as possible! I know of one or two guys, now, that aren't(strike that two) there is only one that I've met out of perhaps 50, that is really on the up and up. By the way, with a family of four and presented with the struggle to earn, earn, earn, he could be converted to the dark side if some of his christian friends don't keep a close eye on him. There's a network around here that works just beneath the surface helping one another to do the "right" things on a regular basis. This is good! Prep work is under way for Sunday, and for Sundays a ways down the road. Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Resurrection, and then a Pentecost event! That's how I learned it as a child, and it still works for me. Christ The King Sunday preceeds the first Sunday in Advent, that's the service which actually prepares my heart for my Lord's coming anew this year. I may be working on it every day, but in my heart's calendar I'm marking days now. God bless you! In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Taking Time For Friends

So now that I've figured out how this is working I think I'll go back to the old way. I now have my friend Gordon on the very top of the blog, and I'm writing about him last. I guess that is just how some things end up when you're learning. I probably spend more time with Gordon these days than any of the others, we share the stage quite often, and work together in music and stuff(Wednesday we hung mirrors). This shot is from my side of the balcony in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. There are so many more I should add here, but that can come another time. Tongiht my mind is mostly on the arts and faith we share, and how God has brought us together in one another's lives for doing really "good" things for other people's lives. In case you're wondering, the average age in this group would be 57, with a spread of about 12 years overall. Age really carries no significance in a group, though, unless you're really old or really young(this is a personal opinion and has no bearing on anything). What is it folks say about age? It's relative. You know what? This is fun, and I'm surprised I haven't done it sooner! Allow me to close this with a common thread that runs through the hearts and binds all of my buddies together. In the center of every one of our beings is the same Savior. I am only one of the firends that these men share. For everyone that you see here there are hundreds that they each have that are christian through and through. That implies that on this page you are viewing a witness of 5 lives via a 6th and when you total up the believing friends of the average 57 year old male in our group you've got a thousand that share the same Savior. I have no idea how that works in the city, but out here on the Great American Desert that "IS" a city. It also provides me with a great sermon topic for the Sunday that is coming. God bless, Preacher.


All too often we find ourselves running out of time to spend with people that we cared deeply about. School beginning this week and thinking over the excitement I had getting back to the chums I shared education with put me in mind of several of the fellows that you see here. Jim on top of the whole thing with his little buddy(Jim is a "Wing Nut" and that pup rides right where you see him either in the van or on the scoot around town). They both live out behind a little church over in Wyoming and we've been talking for about 12 years now. Faith concerns, mostly, and that's a common thread that I find binds all of us together even though most have never met one another. Gene up in that top corner has known me longer than anyone on the page, we go back to the late 70s. Another thing that puts thes men together on this page is their eyes, they are honest. Oh, they have great smiles to be sure, but if you were to meet them individually you would find that certain something that separates each from the crowd. Some(maybe more)of it has to do with their faith perspectives(everyone of them has an abundance of this spiritual commodity). I can say without a doubt that there are many more just like these five that come to mind when I start pondering my many faithful friends. My life is truly blessed that way! Now that I come to think of it, I don't suppose I could seat them all in our church. Thank you, Lord for so many! In case you haven't guessed, yet, this is yet another of my experiments with the new blog program to see how it fits things together. I'm a bit slow on the takeoff sometimes, but eventually I get enough altitude to keep the wings straight and see the horizon leveling off. That's a good thing, especially on two wheels! Now "brother" Richard is way up top, and that's okay, he should be. We've been talking about our Lord and sharing the ministry in numerous ways for 8 years now. This was the very first year that we had the opportunity to roll some roads together. It felt great! Thank you brother! Richard is a "certified" HD wrench that does wood turnings out in Wisconsin. He's on the West coast this week working another of the evangelistic outreaches that the Christian Crusaders sponsor.
I miss ya man! I can say this kind of stuff 'cause it's alright and they'll be reading right here the next few days. Next a big "HEY" goes out to the newest of this grouping, Blackhawk. A lyracist and guitar playing singer from Wisconsin that I met at one of the Arts Fests. We send Es back and forth, and tried to get together again in Sturgis, but it didn't happen, this time. Somewhere down the road a ways there's a stage(that can refer to a patch of grass where you set up to play)we shall share. That is something I look forward to, that and getting him together with a few of the other guys that play. Blackhawk has a combination faith, one that includes his ancestral roots, but is quick to point out that the only salvation which is attainable is found through faith in God's Son.

Just A Sample, Sort Of Like A Candy Store

I can only imagine what treasures the attic and the basement will reveal on my next journey to this quiet street in Minnesota. Their years together have combined to produce just the right flavor of comradery for coffee and the sharing of faith in our Lord. Church is a short walk down the block, and the river runs so close to the house you can hear the rush after the rain.

An 'All Too Brief" Visit To A Couple's Home!

One of the most enjoyable facets of traveling is meeting new people and having the time to get to know them and their surroundings. Vern and Laneia go on record as being the most entertaining of couples for this year thus far. I was welcomed into every nook and cranny in their house after I expressed the desire to fetch my cameras and "blog" the place.