Our Corner On The World

Cheryl's store was at one time located in a beautiful sunlit corner of the University Mall. She had three locations at the mall, but this was my favorite. I loved the sunlight streaming through the outside entrance. We never really used it so it became, for a year, the home of this fern. The corner spot at the mall provided much needed visibility for Sonsations, Cheryl's first full service gift and engraving enterprise. My mornings, six days a week, were spent in the shop engraving yesterday's sales and working with people. I miss the plant in that corner a lot! One of the local drugstore chains wanted the corner for its' excellent visibility and outside access, so we were forced to move, again. It seems being a small business owned and operated by a female in America is not all that the SBA would have you think. Cheryl sold the business last December after battling the established male consortiums for four long years. I take a great deal of pride in the personal accomplishments of my wife. My beautiful blond is 100% Norwegian and has enough tenacity for the two of us. The fern is languishing this spring. I'm praying really hard that with new earth and some well shaded space on the patio that it can return to its' former splendor. The fern is older now, and I have heard talk that it may not make it. Thank God for photos and ways of storing our memories. We'll try everything we can to bring the fern back to life, but sometimes life just ends. The good news is that for every life we encounter there are reminders stored up in our hearts, our minds, and our spirits. I can look at my friend the fern this morning and remember all of the time we spent together. A maybe famous lady once wrote, "Remember, and in remembering leave no regrets, that what has past, though gone, was good!"
God bless. In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Plants Make Excellent Pets! 

Events And How Our World Views Them

The Largest Motorcycles Rally on our planet will officially open on August 8th this year. It's number 65 in years and will mark my 21st year in attendance, the last 16 consecutive. For about ten days the population of South Dakota will more than double. Whoosh! There's only about 3\4 of a million people here on any given day the rest of the year. What that means in most people's minds is money, parties, races, revelry, and more money. {Quick thought: "If everyone in SD moved to Dallas tomorrow, nobody would notice that we were there."} If you've been here a few times for the event you already have an idea about what goes on, if not you may have seen or heard blurps from the media. My problem with the way things are done is this: Most of what you see or hear on the news is centered on someone else's idea of what is newsworthy. Hence, you get the stats on how many bikers were killed, how many arrested for drugs, how many murdered or maimed one another. You receive the "dark side" of the coin. On the other side can be found the thousands of Christians that gather to work the fields that are "White Unto Harvest," those who come to ride the Blackhills and enjoy nature in all it's glory, and a lot of riders from all over the globe that descend on the rally because of the reputation it has earned through the years. My first was in 1965. After that first time I went back every 6-8 years to enjoy the hills and fellowship with riders. The last 15 times have been to seek those who are looking for something "better" for their lives. I make no bones about it, I'm an evangelist. I'm not going to beat someone over the head with my Bible,(I don't know anyone who has been saved that way)what I am going to do is offer an ear to hear people's frustrations with life, a hot meal to anybody that is hungry, fellowship to all who are lonely, and a safe haven for rest if they are weary. Idealistic? Yup! Don't know any other way. Naive? Never, been around way too long for that! I'm losing my path here, though. What I want to shout to the world is that for every 'horrible thing' you see on the news there are a hundred 'good things' that never make it to your screen or papers or magazines because they aren't interesting enough to publish. They aren't headline worthy, they don't "SELL." Bad stuff will always outsell good stuff for some reason. Maybe that is just how people are created. I think the more obvious answer can be found in what I call "Media Conditioning." Have you ever heard of a good rumor going around? No, it's always the bad things that are "rumored" about. In search of the coin and the opportunity to view both of its sides? Attend the rally this year and visit a modern day Babylon in full swing! Church is set up two blocks from the center of town. If you're having a hard time finding us there is a large cross on a hill directly above our camp(You can see it from main street). Rumor has it that we aren't the only christians in town for the rally, but you know how rumors are. When you see the headlines about Sturgis this year, I pray you will keep in mind that stat I mentioned. "For every nasty thing you hear about, there are a hundred good ones that aren't mentioned." Kinda like that with folks, too, if you know what I mean? God bless You!
In Christ's Love, Preacher.

The Event Begins On August 8th Come 

Age & Beauty - Life & Learning

My box was filled with responses to some of the more recent posts when I tapped in to see how my day was going to go. I enjoyed reading several of the pieces and then realized they all contained a commom thread; thoughts about getting on in years. I can only think of one alternative to getting older, that is to "NOT" get any older. The poet writes that beauty will fade.........but some things endure, maybe that's what aging is about, enduring. The cute fur ball in the picture below is Kodiak. He belongs with my sister in law but quite often can be found hanging out with my wife and I. At one time in my life I raised herds of Pomeranians. Loved them more than words could ever do justice. One pair, Brandy & Funky lived respectively, 17 & 18 years, which is a long, long life for a canine. They were with me through three wives a dozen affairs with motorcycles, and all over the US they lived, for the most part in a 1971 Ford van that I bought brand new for touring. Except for the few years I spent vacationing in Beautiful Southeast Asia courtesy of an uncle of mine, they were constant companions. One lady I have known for more years than either of us cares to remember has a saying, "If I'd have known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself." I'm sure you've heard it before. We lost another of the young ones, this time 49 years of age with three children still at home. It's that whole stress thing that causes these massive coronary attacks, I become more convinced of that with each passing day. Please rest assured that we can't get through this life without stress(some comfort here, huh)but it doesn't have to take such a heavy toll on our health. Life is a big circle. At age three we think a great day is one in which we don't pee our pants. At age eighty three we think a great day is one in which we don't pee our pants. Another long time friend adds, "I wish I'd have been born rich instead of so good looking and talented." Aging continues, dogs pass on far too soon, beauty fades, and life comes full circle, and what have we learned from this......It is good not to do life alone!........In Christ's Love, Preacher.

Becoming Best Of Friends! 

Taking Time To Let The Wind Out Of My Sails

It's about one in the morning, and I think I'm finally ready to call it a day. Two chapters on the book have reached completion. I'm on chapter 46 now and the final tally will be under 55. It is with much relief that I find myself in full view of the end of that project. And today marked the beginning of another project that has been hanging fire. The CD of all original music and lyrics has reached the studio as of this afternoon. Our technologically advanced world is a wonderful playground for musicians and songwriters alike. Most of the really tough stuff was done before Christmas. I even tried to get one of the singles out for the holidays, but that was not part of God's plan, so according to His schedule I am on track(s fifteen of them)as of today. Cheryl is excited about seeing it come together. I guess I am, too! I'm just a little weary on the edges tonight. It would seem that I have begun to settle in to our home. I really didn't think that was going to happen, but it did! Just in time for the state to decide to tear up a mile of highway that is our only access to this house. Matt, the gentleman from the state office, tried rushing us into signing some papers allowing them to literally tear our front lawn apart, we declined to sign without first knowing what they were planning to do. Sometimes we get blessed in ways that are surprising. Matt told us they would only disturb a foot out by the sidewalk. Now that the surveyors have staked it out and painted my driveway it is quite obvious that he was misinformed. We won't have enough room left during construction to park even one vehicle, let alone three cars a van and two Harleys. But, that is a year away, and only God knows where we might be then. World Day of Prayer is upon us. I try to pray for everyone everyday, but if you don't feel like you've been included let me know and I'll see to it that you are. Have a wonderful Wednesday and celebrate the rest of the week the life you've been blessed with. Hug those you love, and heap some coals on the heads of those you don't, maybe, so much. In Christ's Love, Preacher.