When To Celebrate

My library filled with books on theology, history, and christianity offer very little concerning the origins of "Christmas" in terms of celebration. Yes, I know the dates have been changed and the order altered to the point where people really don't know what day it is in history(whose)but we know what time it is. Personally I enjoy the manner in which things have been organized. Thank God the world truly is round ie(spherical)as opposed to being flat. Flat is not where it's at!
My thoughts run in the direction of time rather than date. It is the time and events that Christmas embodies that we celebrate. Hence it can be a single moment or it can be a series of moments continuing throughout the year. That is how my thinking has turned this year and will more than likely continue to expand for the remainder of my life.
Our Christmas celebrations have been numerous this year. People's lives are hectic and everyone has schedules. The thing is we don't have to comply with schedules if we are willing to accept that the essence of Christmas enjoyment is in the heart rather than the time table imposed by religiosity, retail, and rigamarole(old term I first heard as a child)surrounding Christ's birth. In our new home we are still celebrating with carols, gifts, laughter, love and warmth. There are portions of the 100 year old house that are very reminiscent of the early years in her history(I have no clue why I refer to the old part of our home in the feminine, that is just how my mind works). One of our artist friends shared that to her it appears we have even made the 1500 square foot new addition appear to be ancient. Not in the architecture, but in the design appearance. That's just Cheryl and I sharing our passion for that which has gone before us. I don't know how one hides a 21st century high tech home media center, but it seems we have done just that! In the Bible one can learn that everything that is old becomes "new" again. So why not have it turn around and enjoy everything that is new becoming old?
The one thing that has not changed throughout all the years of celebration is the wonder of the children. We've all been there(or at least I pray you have), experiencing that Christmas morning. The wonder of the lights and sounds. The gifts that bring such joy, and the laughter that is never forgotten. We are continuing to celebrate Christmas in our home and invite you to do the same. All year through there should be a part of every christian home that is devoted to the ecclesiastical calender.....Advent-Christmas-Epiphany-Lent-Easter-Resurrection-A Pentecost Event. That's a whole little poem thing I learned as a child and it holds true today. We celebrate Christmas every day of every year. In how we converse, the manner in which we treat others, and the love we share for family, friends, and loved ones.
My lineage extends back to America's beginnings, perhaps before, as I am considered by many to be part Native American. WHAT EVER!!! Now if we could just celebrate Thanksgiving a little more often I would be greatly pleased! Our lives are what we make of them. Pray for your country, the leaders, and the people. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

New Year & New Beginnings

A dramatic change has taken place in our lives these past 15 months. The home we are now residing in has gone from the top pic to the bottom with a few changes. The old saying was "getting there is half the fun!" I'm not sure, but I believe that "half" hardly covers where we have been. It took a while to get this blog off the ground for the year. First I had to locate the pics I wanted to use. Four computers hold the various stages of construction with backup in a fifth.
Holidays were wonderful as always! Last evening was the final holiday gathering. We held an open house for folks. People seem to enjoy the new digs. The food was wonderful and the fellowship much needed. God has a wonderful way of bringing all things around to a point where we can actually see the light. The light, of course, true light of the world, is the One whose birthday we just celebrated. After that all else falls into place according to God's plan. As I've stated before "God's schedule is far better than mine." this has been a night of looking back at how things were and then enjoying how they are. We are happy, healthy, and like everyone else(90%)of the country, suffering from the economic downturn. Personally I think if it were not for the government's intervention we would reliving be reliving the crash of '29 and ensuing years of depression.
So, here we are in the season of Epiphany and preparing for the best of future's possibilities. Thankfulness is evident in every prayer we share, and the blessings are so abundant that Cheryl and I can only look in amazement at times on the home God has provided for us and those we love. I pray your New Year is off to a great start and that this year will be a good one for our nation. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Birthday Blog

The final days prior to winter on the Great American Desert were filled with a flurry of activity. Today is the 59th birthday I have celebrated, although there were many I do not truly recall with any accuracy. Our project has progressed to the point where all work must now focus on the interior of our new home. We(my wife Cheryl & I)began a year ago on a new journey! I can now admit to my wife and myself that I am weary. I love the old house and the addition I designed. My problem is that I have lost touch with many people that I love as a result of doing the necessary tasks to bring this new location to fruition. Not to mention that the election season had me working the 'puter as often as I was able to assist the party whenever I took a break from the physical endeavors on our home. At the present time on this 'puter I am suffering from frequent "crashes" that take quite a bit of time to get back to where I need to be. I suppose that is the result of building a personal computer from the parts and pieces of the last half dozen shells that crossed the workbench. This one is all "junk" from the bottom up. It was fun to put together, and offered a perfect opportunity to test Vista before using it on my main home computer. Would you believe that many of the pieces were gifts and old stuff that I hacksawed(literally)to fit a Gateway 2000 case that was gifted me by the last church I was preaching in. The whole thing was vintage 1997 so I gutted it to rebuild. It sat in the old cave until March 25th of this year, at which time I built this and the one that is operating in the addition to the home. What a year! Pondering the past 12 months I can only say that God is soooo gooood to us. We have had many ups and downs, cost over runs, and financing difficulties(hasn't everyone with the mini crash of the housing industry)and they have only served to strengthen my personal belief in the power of prayer. I have an inkling now of God's plan for our lives but it is too early on to share. We will go out with our friends this evening and celebrate once again the beauty of another year of life. Where God leads we will follow(wish it were easier at times)and come through to the light of a new dawn in this garden we have been planted. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Project Update

Today it has rained, again, so I don't have to be out riding the Bobcat moving earth! This is a blessing, I'm not certain my bones could take another full day of bouncing around on that particular machine. Night before last I began taking pictures(again)of the work in process. Sunset on our Great American Desert was spectacular. Snickers was done for the day. He was inside, outside, and everywhere he could get to. His job, of course, is very tiring so a nap was in order. Cheryl arrived home to a totally new look on the property. I believe she is pleased and that is a "good" thing. We only have use of the skid loader for a few more days. Originally when this was planned we were to have it on site for two weeks. That would have been plenty of time to accomplish our goals of landscaping and driveways. Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate! We had a full week of rain and it is back once again. I think God knew I was in need of a "Snickers" break. I can just see the afternoon snooze now.....Me propped up on our new four-poster queen size bed with my legs up in the air and my paws stretched out in total repose. That just may happen. This fall has been really good, although the distant sounds of shotguns in their attempt to bring down the elusive ringneck pheasant are a bit grating on my nerves. I would much rather be hunting ducks, geese, and other game than riding around in circles on a machine that is quite a bit less than forgiving. As always, I must trust in God's timing. He has never been wrong and I am quite often too busy with my own "stuff" to truly listen to what I am being told. That's one of the difficulties we are each challenged with, knowing when to shut up and listen with our minds, hearts, and the whole of oneself! I pray all of your sunsets are beautifully breathtaking. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Taking Time And Sharing Time

Hey! This was another day out here on the Great American Desert. It began with a "not so spectacular" sunrise and ended with a sunset that was very ordinary. What did strike me as important was the time I spent shooting pics and the people with whom I can share them. The greater part of my day was spent working on the variety of projects I have happening here at the new digs. Construction stuff for the most part. Measuring, cutting, screwing in place and then checking constantly with the levels to see if I'm getting close to right. Right now doors have become very important. I have to get them out of the way so I can begin the process of insulating every nook and cranny of this new basement. It's getting colder with each passing day. The sun reminds me that winter is fast approaching(that and hunting season)and I had better be ready!
Right now I have a daughter that I can't find. Her phone is disconnected. She and one of our nieces were sharing living space in Soo Foo(better known as Sioux Falls, South Dakota)and now both of their phones are disconnected. Usually if things are not good in my daughter's life she calls to talk about stuff. Sometimes money is a problem, other times it has something to do with relationships and the guys with whom she hangs. This time it makes little if any sense, that is, of course, unless she has decided to return to Colorado and work at one of the ski resorts for the winter season. That would be understandable. I guess deep down inside I truly wish she would come to the new house(I want her to think of it as "home")and share a bit of time. I've been praying for and about her, but have not had any revelations as yet.
So, tonight I write about taking time and sharing it because that is where my heart has chosen to take me. I know my wife is concerned, as well. Perhaps tomorrow we will get a message letting us know that she and her cousin and the baby(cousins)are all just fine and just experiencing a little financial setback. God has a way of letting us know when anything is drastically wrong. As near as I could tell from this day between dawn and sunset everything was normal. Right now it is 49 degrees out side and that is probably normal also. I pray your day has been good and that the night provides us all with much needed rest. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

A Much Needed Closure

We all have a need to find closure for the traumatic events in our lives. The move to a new location is generally in the top ten of stress related difficulties in lives. The old house came down ten days ago, and yet I did not revisit the site until a week later. I did the services and interments for both of my parents nine years ago and still have not made a return to that site. I suppose other folks are like I am in the respect that whatever the change it is difficult. This latest change will get easier as I began using the paneling and other stuff that I salvaged from the old house to the new basement. I've even preserved the house number, 1316, to place above the great stairwell leading from the addition to the basement of our project. Healing will come in time. Hopefully before Christmas. The top pic is looking at the old home from the street on Christmas day 2007. The reason I relate the events of the house coming down and the death of my parents is that I originally purchased the house at 1316 for them in '93 when dad was in a wheelchair and everything needed to be on one accessible level. So, there you have it, my most recent bout with depression.
I've found through the years that my best way of coping with unsettling events is to pray regularly(I do that anyway)specifically for the healing I need emotionally. God answers these prayers in His time and in His way. The positive side of the situation is that I know without a doubt that there will be healing, and prayers will be answered! After that it is up to me to deal with acceptance of the answers. We all have to go through something similar to this from time to time. Isn't it wonderful to know that God has already prepared a solution to our difficulties even before we knew of their existence. That is where the "trust" factor begins.
I cannot imagine what John McCain went through during his five years of captivity! He must have a wonderful trust of our Creator, not to mention the faith to follow his convictions even during the darkest of hours. I believe McCain will be a great president and that our country will experience(under his leadership)a truly needed closure to the difficulties we now share. I am personally offering prayer for the Republican nominees. Sarah Palin has gained my respect, and even though I am registered as a democrat I believe that they don't have the "right stuff" to pull my country back from the brink of depression.
Well, there you have my thoughts and feelings. It's time for me to get back to work on the positive sides of my personal closures. God never closes one door without opening another for those who believe. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Times Have Changed

This week the old house we lived in(originally built in 1947 added to in 1957)was razed. I have been informed via E-mail that even the slabs are gone. Tomorrow I'll retrieve my mom's last auto, a 1977 Oldsmobile Toronado, from the empty lot next door and take some pics. Times change! While in the process of unpacking at the new place I came upon a box filled with stuff mom packed up in 1980 when she truly retired from being a hair bender. The solo cup thing was cool! To think that 19 cents could purchase such an amazing dispenser(for that time)and offer a free 45 rpm record for free. Just include postage. What about those musical choices? It would be hard to choose wouldn't it? I took the pics of this treasure on top of our local grocery store's weekly ad. Yup, it is only one fold out page, and the store has only three aisles! Things have changed throughout the years and not always for the better. We live in an entirely different world today than when the house was built or when the solo cups came out and it will continue to become different at an ever increasing pace.
It is because of change that I write tonight. Everyone of us has a need to grasp that which is unchanging, unfailing, and continues to offer a source of comfort and peace in our fast paced world. Cheryl and I sat out by the 100+ year old wood burner tonight and looked up at the stars. Both of us had moments of prayer and praise for our Creator, God, who has brought us to this point in our lives. Never changing, ever present and always in the process of creation. He is the reason that even when times change life goes on. There are losses along the way. Motorcycles come and some remain, people die and new ones are born, and we are here. One of the most often asked questions is, "What am I here for?" Folks of all ages have posed that one to me, not just out here on the Great American Desert, but in major cities across our country. The answer is always the same. God has a purpose for each one of us. He loves us and is present in the heart of every believer. His Son, Jesus Christ, my personal Savior, came to earth to perform a miracle. He has paid the one price for all time for my sins and yours. He has opened up the gateway to eternal life and offers that path freely to all who believe.
Enough already with me campaigning for Christ. We've got enough of that political stuff going on right now in the media to last us all for at least another four years. I don't do political stuff here, but I do want everyone to know that my vote is for the McCain\Palin ticket in November. That election is 3 days prior to my 59th birthday and I fully intend to cast my ballot for the republican presidential candidate. I'm a registered democrat! My grandparents and great grandparents were democrats! I come from a fully democratic background and I believe the democrats have chosen to *&%$ over the American people with rhetoric that does not engender any of the principles on which the party was founded. Again, enough already.
God is at the forefront of the USA. People can try to take him out of the schools, out the the government buildings, and even out of many of the churches, but He is still present and working to accomplish His will for me, and for you. God bless you this night. So, do you want that 45? In Christ's Love, Preacher.