Back From Utah

I've seriously neglected this blog. I've been really distracted here lately. I made my trip to Utah and it went better than I could have possibly imagined. Chey and I hit it off so well. It was one incredible week of great meals, sight seeing the mountains, the lakes, the streams and spending quality time with Chey. I absolutely loved the scenery, the mountains and the fresh air. And...having Chey by my side made it that much more special.

The sad day was when I came back. I dislike being away from her. But, I trust that my Lord will give me the grace to withstand it as we build our relationship. She has been sad too. But, we are trying to keep busy as we plan ahead. I think of the song that I'm listening to called, "Mercy Rewrote My Life." The song was written by Mike Murdock.

You see, I had given up for awhile. God has held me by his grace and my life isn't over till he says it's over. Till then, I must press ahead, live for him and follow his call. The song, "Mercy Rewrote My Life" is kind of my theme song right now. Mercy through my Lord truly has "rewrote" my life!! Thank you my precious Lord.

Have a great Labor day everyone. Don't forgot to thank God for his wonderful blessings.

Not Thinking Past Vegas

Sometimes maybe we all get to a point in our lives where we stop. Stop in the essense of a point in time. We reflect on an upcoming event and our minds cannot think of anything else. Art really does imitate life at times.

Roughly thirty-two years ago "Rich Man Poor Man Book 2" was on the airwaves. It presented the awesome Peter Strauss as the troubled rich senator from New York. His life involved his two nephews, two loves, two antagonists and a tortured soul. He even remarked even after all his success these words: "you drive, drive and drive to get where you want to be and the reality doesn't match the dream!" It all boils down to a showdown with an enemy of the family that has troubled them for so long. His nephew Wesley is hurt in Las Vegas. Rudy Jordache (Strauss) knows he has to put a stop to the madness. He knows he can't think past Las Vegas where his nephew lies in a hospital and the mad man is on the loose.

Have you ever been there? Knowing that each day brings you to a point to where you don't know if you will break through to something horrible or something that could be grand? After all, didn't someone say that the world was a stage? There's a reason this hits home to me. I cannot go into detail now but I'm at that crossroad. But, as I usually do, I put the positive note to epilogue a post. God is still in control of our lives. Each day is new. Each day offers promise of his return. And...each day lived for him is never wasted. This post has been cryptic. It was my total intention to make it that way.

Many that I know are going through some tough times. I have a family member that is struggling with geographical locations and work issues, a friend who has a grandchild that is doing bad physically, and some that are trying to find direction. So, sometimes we just have to stop and say, "I'm not thinking past today and I'll wait on God." That...is the toughest part. At least for me. Maybe I'm too pragmatic. Maybe I lack faith as some of the disciples did. However, I still have that same Spirit of Christ that has indwelled me for thirty-six years. I can close with full assurance though by faith, "He that has begun a good work in you will complete it to the day of Christ." (paraphrase mine.) May the peace of Christ be with you all.

Not Thinking Past Vegas

Nascar, Tiffany, Josh, Wendy's and Me

It was a very good day. Weather was decent. But more importantly I got to see my niece Tiffany and her husband Josh. They came down from Rockford Illinois to Indianapolis to see the "Brickyard 400." Now, I don't understand racing and Josh would be the one to tell me about it. Side note: I know my friend Roger is really into the Indy 500 and "not" Nascar. However, I'm such a novice, it all involves cars right?

Well, Tiffany and Josh got to swing over to the Buckeye state to visit relatives and I was thankful to see them. We had a great time talking about everything under the sun it seems. And speaking of the sun, poor Josh and Tiff were a bit red from the sun during the race they had taken in. Tiffany told me she could hide her red face with makeup. I said, "Well Josh, I guess you forgot yours." Ha.

I've made mention of this before but it's difficult to believe she's all grown up now and married. I think that about my nephews Rudy and Jeremy too. Where does the time really go? It seems to go rather fast. At least I was able to get to spend some time with them. I think the older I get I appreciate these things more. I'm learning to savor the times spent with family and friends. So many other things can pass in this life. However the relationships we build in Jesus will last forever. It was a good day and I thank God for his goodness. May the peace of Christ be with you all!

Taco Bell Blues

I loved the old Taco Bell commercials when they had the Taco Bell chihuahua. Well, Gidget passed away Tuesday at fifteen. I never knew though that the dog was female. I loved the sayings, "Yo Quiero Taco Bell" and "Viva Gorditas." I had two of the stuffed dogs. I don't know what happened to them. Anyway those were some of the best commercials.

I even created a character dog on Photoshop called "Chico." My inspiration came from the Taco Bell dog. The Taco Bell commercials with that dog were too funny. It sure beats the commercials that my friend Roger and I can't stand that go "Go meat!" from Hillshire Farms. Oh man, I couldn't take that commercial. Neither could Roger on Big Doofus' blog. However, I'll never forget those classic Taco Bell dog commercials.

Unrequited Love

Websters defines unrequited this way: not reciprocated or returned. Ouch. What a scathing word. Recently I watched the movie called "The Holiday." I don't know how this movie ever escaped me before. I'm an avid Kate Winslet fan. I would joke that she loves me but she just doesn't know it yet. But, oh well, Sam Mendes is the lucky guy. Kate (Iris) is in love. But Rufus (Jasper) doesn't return that love. Iris muses over the different kinds of love. Love lost and so much more and then finally, unrequited love. She held out hope for three years. So, she takes a trip.

Now, this is a subject that I normally don't touch at all. For two reasons. One, I've been hurt over someone very badly from years ago. Two, real guys don't talk about love, do we? We are supposed to be men's men. But let me ask a simple question. Aren't a lot of stories, books and movies created about us and the women that are loved? I know the answer in rhetorical. Just to go on record, not all guys are schmucks either. If women don't think we hurt, think again. It's not only the woman's heart that gets broken. I've picked up my pieces more times than I can think. Maybe old Shakespeare had it right: Love is blind. Plus, it can do crazy things to a person's heart.

Now, I'm in this somewhat, I don't know what to call it: paradoxical relationship. I'm head-over-heels over Diane. This 5'5" auburn-haired beauty with a smile and a laugh that gets me every time. When I answer the phone, I hear her sultry "Hi" on the other end. My heart goes into my throat. I don't know, maybe I've read her too much poetry, laughed at her crazy little sayings and more. I'm lost. The abyss. We started out so fantastically it was beyond any words that Webster could create. Now, we just don't know where we are at. We both can't let go, but we don't know how to hang on. I'm feeling like I'm dangling over a precipice on a high wire. If I swing the pole one way, I fall, if it sways the other way, will I fall? I don't know.

It's funny, I have a friend of mine that I go to the Reds games with. He told me that he likes movies with tragedy in them. He can't take the so-called "chick-flicks." He said they all end happily. Well, I told him I guess I can always hope for a happy ending. So, the bottom line: I don't know where I will end up. There are times I wish I could be like a couple of single friends I have, they are content in their singleness. I just don't think God made me this way. To be alone. However, I refuse to jump at the first thing that walks by either. I want the right one. So, who knows? Only God I guess. I said it on Facebook and it bears repeating here. If you have someone already that you love: Don't lose them! If you don't have someone yet: Don't give up! I hear so many of my friends telling me of the joys of being single. Sure, after being married awhile, maybe fleeting thoughts of freedom seem intriguing. But, let me tell you this much, I've had twelve years to think of this freedom. I hate to end this on a country song for it seems to be headed that way but here it is. Alabama sings, "She has her freedom, but she'd rather be bound to someone that would love her." Aptly said.

Now, I've put this out here to read. Please be kind. Remember, if you love the love stories, I'm one of those, and many more I know of, that those movies and books are written about. Also, all in all, in life, even beyond passionate love, don't we all want to be loved and accepted? I think so. The human heart cries out for it. The little boy that cries when his mom drops him off for his first day of school, the man who hands the ring back and says 'I can't do this' and the woman's tears fall on her blouse like puddles of rain. The old man that dims the lights before bed and looks at the picture of his dearly departed wife and just sighs as he turns back the sheets. And finally, God in the form of man named Jesus crying "It is finished" because he loved this world so much! Old Paul the Apostle had it right: "the greatest of these is love." So, to put a positive spin on this I'll end on a happy note. With God our Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, the love is not unrequited. We love him for he first loved us! So, that is the balm that carries many of us through. Those who lose the love of our life (like I did), those that lose a mother or father, and the list goes on. It's difficult at times, but God can transcend all of those hurts. Sure, it hurts so much you don't think you can live, but his love surpasses all. May the love of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

Canine Lessons Revisited!

This is a repeat. But, my brother enjoyed it so much. Today he reminded me that I wrote it. Frankly I forgot that I had. He said it was the ending that had him in stitches. Well, here it is again. Enjoy!


Okay, I'll fess up! Tonight I was somewhat bewildered with a person. Like that would be the first time it happened, not! I have the mistaken notion that if I'm always nice, other people will be too. Not gonna happen. However, I still think it's contagious to be nice and maybe a larger percentage of people will be nice in return. But, this man wasn't going to budge. Have you ever heard the saying, "His face is so long he could eat oats out of a half-inch gas pipe?" Ha. I did everything but cartwheels (and please don't ask me to do that) to be friendly. It wasn't going to work that way.

Later I thought about an old proverb we've all heard, I think we have anyway. "Walk softly around others for you don't know what burdens they are carrying." I guess I didn't think about that sooner. Maybe he's going through some tough ordeal. Maybe something rankled him today. Did he lose something precious to him? A myriad of things popped up as I thought about it. Or maybe he's, just, well, miserable. Some people just are. It's sad.

I admit I have my days too. Things don't go according to plan, a snag gets put in the way or something justs goes haywire. So, that's why I put the picture above. If these two canines can get along as pals...where does the human race fit in? The word Homo Sapien comes from the Latin meaning, "wise man" or "knowing man." Then, why does it take the animal kingdom sometimes to show us "humans" simple things? You come home, and there's the family dog waiting to greet you! Unconditional love. But, "we" humans tend to forget, don't we? I know I do at times.

So, I don't know what was under this man's skin tonight. I confess, I need to understand more at times. And...by chance...if the guy was just a misanthropic soul like Jack Nicholson was in "As Good As It Gets", all we can do is pray. Plus, not become the same way.

I love the picture above. I can just hear the one saying to the other, "Hey Brutus, It'll be okay, Fifi just didn't love you, but there's always someone else. Have you thought of dating Biddy?" Brutus replies, "Rambo, Biddy is a terrier, I can't go there. Maybe I'll go down to the shelter and see if Zoe isn't busy. She's a bit wired, but all chihuahuas can't be that way!"

Okay, maybe my story fell flat, but at least enjoy the pic! Be well all.

The Means And Opportunity

Today was the memorial of Michael Jackson. Obviously unless someone is hidden in a cave somewhere, everyone knows about his demise. I just wanted to make a couple of observations.

Everyone on the face of the earth is born in God's image. Regardless of rich, poor, skilled, unskilled, celebrity, farmer, attorney: We all are human and made in the image of God. Plus, we all face the same questions in life and desire some of the same needs. Doesn't everyone desire to be loved and accepted? My question is rhetorical at best. The obvious answer is "yes."

I'm reminded of the old children's game that goes:

Gypsy, Gypsy, tell it me
What’s my fortune going to be?
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor,
Rich Man, Poor Man, Beggar Man, Thief
Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief.
Tell me, tell me, tell me true.
When I’m grown what will I do?

So regardless of our lot in life, we all want to be loved and accepted. That is unless the person is a total sociopath. (But, even then, I think before they get to that point, they wanted the same thing.) So, celebrities are no different.

My second point seems rather simple but I'll throw it in anyway. Many celebrities suffer from the human condition like the rest of us. But, because of status, means, money and opportunity, they can destroy their lives much more quickly. Think of Elvis Presley as an example. He dabbled in mysticism and drugs. The latter did him in. So, in Michael Jackson's case, he probably suffered emotionally and used his money to try to find the answers to the things that troubled him. I think the same can be said of Howard Hughes, Judy Garland and so many others.

Bottom line, we all need Christ. So a person can do many things. They can come to the cross of Christ and be saved. Or, they can go on a life-long search burning up time, money and energy looking for a way to be at peace. Unfortunately, many don't want to yield to the authority of Christ. So they try it their own way. And, we know, (those of us who know Christ anyway) that man doing it their own way just leads to frustration and being separated from God.

God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. As far as Michael Jackson is concerned, of course God only knows if he was a believer. But, the scriptures say "by their fruits you will know them." It doesn't look good. Maybe it's good that some people don't get fame, fortune and money. For if they did, they could destroy themselves faster. It's better to have little and to know Christ than to have plenty and leave it all behind. We all know the verse, "What shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul?" (paraphrase.) May the peace of Christ be with you all.