Genealogical Roots Versus Ancestral and Cultural Roots! 

How Do I Blog Thee? Let Me Count The Ways!

I've been going around and checking out different blog spots the past two days. Something that I had no time for until just recently(I was at E-Bay this evening. What an interesting place!). What I've learned about blogs could now fill a comic book(Do they still have those?). Some refer to this as an "online diary" others call it a "forum" and there are probably dozens more descriptive terms for what this personal enterprise entails. From my own perspective I guess I would have to call this a place to post my thoughts so I can check up on me occasionally and see what I've been thinking about. Personal opinions tend to run really strong throughout my blog, thusfar. Maybe that's how it is for all of the people out here blogging. The picture plus the dialogue way of doing this is more than likely not original, but it is to me! Below this(hopefully)is a picture sent to me from a friend in Canada. I loved it when I got it and knew instantly that it brought out in me many feelings that I wished to share. I really don't have much to say to go with the pic. It's a personal thing that I pray about. I try not to hate others. I try not to have "unchristian" thoughts about people anywhere, of any faith, color, economic background, or any of the pigeon holes we in our "humaness" are subject to sticking folks in. The actions that some persons choose really do get deeply under my skin, though. The recent bludgeoning deaths in Idaho and abduction of two young children is as much an act of terrorism as any that could occur in another country. It is domestic terrorism of the worst kind. Totally reprehensible, and the act of a mind that is so far removed from "normal" as to have created it's own sick niche in today's "unsociety." My wife, Cheryl, says that it seems to her that these types of acts are becoming more frequent in this world we live in. I would pray not! But the truth is that they 'do' seem to be happening at an alarmingly increased rate. I can't, in my heart, agree that it is the world we live in that is causing these heinous crimes. It's "someone" in and of the world who did it. Thay could be next to us at the quick stop and we would never guess. The strangler down in Kansas, what was it he was called, "the BTK killer" or something similar. Average sort of guy that was going to church and living in a community for years doing those things before getting apprehended. Just a couple of guys paying their money and learning to fly in our country. Maybe the guy purchased far too much fertilizer, but maybe he had a lot of fertilizing to do, right? This is getting out of hand and could go on far too long, so I'll quit. Keep your top knot tight, and your powder dry! God bless, Preacher.

Photol Recall - Visiting The Inside Mind When The Theology States "Forgiveness!" 

Taking Control In Our Lives

I'm sitting at the kitchen table having my morning coffee. Cheryl was up and away to her job, waking me before leaving to remind me that Kyra, my favorite four year old grand daughter, is up and busy. That she is! Mickey Mouse is a dominant force in her life. She wants to go to Disney World, today! I have not shared with her, as yet, that I do not take children(even a favorite grand)under the age of twelve(ten if they're really healthy and active) to Disney world. It seems I had to learn the hard way several years ago. How far can you carry a seven year old in 90 degree heat to have fun? That was an exercise in futility not to be repeated. We live and we learn, which, I guess, brings us up to being in control of our lives. We can be at times, but all the biggies leave us lacking in the control department. I wish you were sitting here so we could talk about your life and how things are going. Mine has just opened up an area of space, timewise, that is welcome. The new book is finished(62 Ch. 190 P), publishers will have it in their hot little hands, soon. Praise God! I was beginning to think it was a never-ending task. That's the upside this morning! Good news, bad news, time. Several names in my prayer box have cancer written after them(Some Terminal). One is winging his way to a bone marrow transplant, another goes into surgery this morning with great expectations of full recovery. Health is one of those areas of our lives that seems to evade our personal control issues. That and age, gravity, hair, teeth, and for most of us life will be long enough that we run the full course, and that is a blessing! Last evening I had a very distraught young mother here at the table with me. It seems her fifteen year old son has become sexually active with a girl(thank God these days that it is with a girl)and she needed advice on how to handle the situation. I gave her my best insight. After having six or eight go through this stage I told her, "You yell, scream, demand an explanation, pull your hair out by the roots, and then ground them until they're 18!"
Again, a situation beyond our control. I've got a similar situation from the mother of the girl perspective. She's fifteen and mom is raising the baby while she goes to school. Babies having babies, and, again, no control. Is it any wonder that there are so many people going to the psych farms with their "control" issues? When truly put in perspective we have 'NO' control over anything other than what we, ourselves, say and do. For this reason I encourage people to search for a faith walk that will free them from having to be "in control." "Let go and let God."
Life takes on new richness when we stop trying to be in control. You see(here comes that nasty stress issue again)if you feel you must be in control, if things don't go the way you think they should, there must be responsibility placed and people either put it on someone else or themselves. You are not going to be a happy person if you do either. Take a peek back at that tornado. Nobody caused it, it just happened. Take a peek at your perspectives. Take control of the time 'YOU' have been given, and spend it wisely. God bless, Preacher.

There are very few important things in life we have control over! 

I know, seeing is believing. What a way to fish! Lol................Preacher 

Just Thinking About The Kids And Grands

The photo below(I pray)says something about being in the right place at the right time. It refers to that photo opportunity that someone took advantage of in a unique way. Don't ask me why this reminds me of all the children and grand children, but it does. I've got a few of those(I guess they call them young adults now or something equally PC)people in my family that seem to always end up on the wrong end of the stick. Have you ever known one of those unfortunate individuals who always gets caught. 15 other people do the same thing and get away with it completely and then the one that should know better(because they always get caught)does it and WHAM! Overnight in jail, juvenile court, police confrontation, that sort of thing. Right place, right time, wrong choice! The thing is, somewhere in the back of that person's mind is the thought that maybe this time will be different. Lol.......The only thing to really change much thus far in their life is the penalty that is extracted for failure to pay attention. One son(#3) is so deadset on finally getting it right that he's doing his third tour in Iraq. Army....as in people shoot at all of them and the bullets bite, big time. This is a bit like sticking your head or some other part of your anatomy in the lion's mouth while muttering a prayer that he won't bite down, this time. I respect him greatly, and I believe that he is struggling really hard with getting his life on track. I pray for him daily, his name is Justin. You can pray for him, too. That would be appreciated. His daughter is coming to spend the week with me starting tomorrow. What a beautiful young lady. Blessings never cease to amaze, she rarely gets caught doing anything wrong, and I don't say that because I'm her papa, I say that because it's true. She is one of the fortunate ones that does not get caught doing the things kids do. Yes, I know she does them, probably be like I was at that age, "I didn't do it! Nobody saw me do it! And if they did, they're lying, 'cause I didn't do it!" Then there is my daughter, who still hasn't learned that it doesn't make any difference if everyone is going down a one way street the wrong way, if she does it there are going to be officers waiting on every corner, checking on her just in case of such an event. I can remember her asking me, "How do they know its me?" I have no clue how that all works, but in the bigger picture there seem to always be those who can be in the right place at the right time and still make the wrong decision. Perhaps we can all see a little of ourselves holding that bright and shining globe and wondering , "What do I do now that I've got?" Sometimes my blog makes sense, others we have tonight. God bless, Preacher.