So last night was a night of prayer. Prayer that God would let me know what I am supposed to do about Gaelic Girl and my situation. As I have mentioned in the past, I have a problem letting go of friends, apparently to the point of absurdity. As last night has shown, GG is completely beyond the pale of reality.
Back home she could have been quietly institutionalized and a proper diagnosis performed. But, not in America, especially not in Washington State where the rights of the mentally ill are apparently greater than those they victimize. And I have nothing left.
My ability to hold the course and keep her in the family has reached its end, at least as far as I am concerned. Heavens I might be the one removed from the family if there is sides taking to be performed! Sigh ... No idea how all of this is going to play out today.
I had my friends praying last night with me for wisdom - because I need God's wisdom in this. When I woke up this morning the only thing I really knew was that I had stayed here too long. I should have left in 2012 or beginning of 2013 at the latest, so much pain and a major heart attack could have been avoided. And Sugar Ray's song, Someday, would not be echoing through my mind still.
I hate failure.
I hate losing friends.
I hate what life has done to GG.
But I can not hate what has happened inside of me.
To see in colors and to now understand life for the first time. A blessing I could never share with GG because there was never any love between us.
So, I look ahead to a continued life alone, hey been there for the past five years!
Currently two friends left.
A small army of prayer warriors behind me.
An unknown future ahead.
And I know that God will continue to lead me, where He wants me, just as he has done for most of my life....
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Monday, April 28, 2014
In Passing, Paula
When I started attending this current church regularly, I instantly made a few solid acquaintances. Guys were a little sparse because I have NO interest in sports and the men's mid-week study seems to only be attended by those whom were born without cojones. Unfortunately, I was and I loath sitting around listening to men weeping about how unfair life is. Really? Then get your (*&*&^&%^^%#$) out of that chair and do something about it! Gees, life is not that much of a mystery - if you have some cojones and bother to talk with God regularly .....
Well, that leaves the females of the church. First off I killed off any attempts by single women to get to know me, because i do not want to know them and amongst the married women there three safe ones. I have mentioned Elspeth before, she was a good friend, Vonnie was also (a long lost friend from my early NATO childhood! small world!) and last but not least Paula.
Paula, I met because I was surprised to find one of my clients at the church. Well, here in the Pacific Northwest of America, with the lowest Christian church attendance outside Baghdad, plus we both work in Information Technology - not much chance of ever meeting up with one of my clients! He was typical old school - quiet, hard to engage, always alone in a room full of friends. Probably why I liked him - almost exactly like me.
Conversely, Paula was everything her husband was not - outspoken, gregarious, full of life! But, also with a dark side. Life had been cruel to the both of them, they married late in life and struggled to help each other with their personal demons. Paula needed professional help and medication, and yet, even at that .....
Saturday morning, rumor has it, a single shotgun shot to the head and her struggles were over.
Her husband devastated.
"Friends", such as me, to stand with mouths open and unable to grasp what she has done.
Her pastors left more than a little uneasy ... she never reached out in her final struggle.
Perhaps, as the week wears on, I will learn more as to why this happened.
In the meantime, I contemplate with pride the progress my friend is making. In such a few short weeks from desiring death, to desiring life. It has been a hard struggle for them and God always keeping me just in the nick of time with the words to say or the knowledge of what is needed. Currently we are working on trust, hard to relearn once you have been betrayed in life. Yet, without it, there can be no actual quality of life. And, I know they are going to make it just fine .....
Well, that leaves the females of the church. First off I killed off any attempts by single women to get to know me, because i do not want to know them and amongst the married women there three safe ones. I have mentioned Elspeth before, she was a good friend, Vonnie was also (a long lost friend from my early NATO childhood! small world!) and last but not least Paula.
Paula, I met because I was surprised to find one of my clients at the church. Well, here in the Pacific Northwest of America, with the lowest Christian church attendance outside Baghdad, plus we both work in Information Technology - not much chance of ever meeting up with one of my clients! He was typical old school - quiet, hard to engage, always alone in a room full of friends. Probably why I liked him - almost exactly like me.
Conversely, Paula was everything her husband was not - outspoken, gregarious, full of life! But, also with a dark side. Life had been cruel to the both of them, they married late in life and struggled to help each other with their personal demons. Paula needed professional help and medication, and yet, even at that .....
Saturday morning, rumor has it, a single shotgun shot to the head and her struggles were over.
Her husband devastated.
"Friends", such as me, to stand with mouths open and unable to grasp what she has done.
Her pastors left more than a little uneasy ... she never reached out in her final struggle.
Perhaps, as the week wears on, I will learn more as to why this happened.
In the meantime, I contemplate with pride the progress my friend is making. In such a few short weeks from desiring death, to desiring life. It has been a hard struggle for them and God always keeping me just in the nick of time with the words to say or the knowledge of what is needed. Currently we are working on trust, hard to relearn once you have been betrayed in life. Yet, without it, there can be no actual quality of life. And, I know they are going to make it just fine .....
Friday, April 4, 2014
Life or Death
You know, when you wake up in the morning you pretty much have no idea where life is going to take you, what opportunities God will provide, or what path through the day you will travel. But, if you are willing and able, you could be led almost anywhere - even where you least expect to be found ...
Last week was simply awful.
I had a friend hurting and there seemed to be nothing I could do right in reaching out to them - throughout the whole of the week! It ended with my being unfriended on Thursday. I was devastated and posted my open position on Friday for a new best friend. Perhaps it was a bit tongue in cheek, I was hurting and in a cruel joke on me - it was humorous to think anyone could ever consider being my friend. This was the last active friend in my life. It was only with the greatest of prayer I agreed to meet with my recently lost best friend on Saturday morning. I had prayed bunches before hand, I thought I knew what to say, but Saturday was not much better than Thursday had been ...
Well, it did not go as planned and I ended up driving home in tears for my friend. I could not understand, everything was upside down and backwards. Nothing got through. I had no clue what they were going to do, what God was going to do with them, I was without a clue - this was so far from what I am familiar with. And friendless, I went home in a state of shock.
Many hours later I got a call from them and they were hysterical. I had received such a call like that once, in 1975, from two of my high schoolers. Confused, at the end of themselves, unable to even articulate a complete sentence. I thought they were drunk, it was graduation night and 2:00 AM. Their bodies were found the next morning. And I was utterly devastated and completely clueless. But, that phone call has remained in my active memory through all of these years.
And here again, the exact same words, the exact same confusion, the exact same desperation being confessed. Getting an address, after numerous tries, I flew to my old friend! No, not because I had anything to offer or gain, they had already rejected everything me - but because they were a part of my life and even if not still a friend, their life is far too important to be trifled with!
No, I was not their first choice to call.
No, I was not even their second choice.
They ran out of anyone they could think of they needed to call.
No, I am not the perfect one for such a task.
Just the only one to rush to their side.
And I prayed the entire way there that God could kill all traces of the old me and let only the new creation communicate whatever was needed. I know the old me to be too cold, when friendship, honesty and sincerity were going to be needed. No memory of the recent past could exist between us.
It took many hours to stabilize my friend emotionally, then mentally and finally spiritually. From desiring death to showing them there is hope, there is a reason to live, their life was not over - only Satan's hold over them was and the need to always remain so.
No, no more details than that are needed. Enough to just share that God used me in a big way on Saturday and helping to rebuild my friend ever since - step by tiny step. They are doing well, full of questions, full of fears, full of tears, but handling each day and letting me know instantly a prayer concern or question. God is so awesome when you can see Him in action! I am humbled.
And so, you would think Kris would now be a hero - at least amongst those whom knew what was going on, on Saturday. Nope. My children whom I had praying through this, were interestingly disinterested to learn all was well. Really? The people of my church's prayer chain just asked if intervention had been successful and commented that, that one could now be scratched off the list. Really? Gaelic Girl was in full war regalia from Saturday through today. And I got dumped on Wednesday night by her. On the one hand I am evil and on the other, oh yeah, I am still evil and how come God keeps using me without permission. Really? And of course, I had to hear from GG's therapist, whom wondered at how I could seem to "know" how to help people and yet be so completely clueless concerning GG. Really?
Is human life, any human life, so without value that there can not be a celebration of joy when one is rescued? Really?
Is there some inane characteristic within the Christian body that must correlate unrelated events to prove you evil, or themselves not evil? Really?
Is there some misunderstanding that when a person its bottom that there is a long term critical need for prayer? Really?
For my friend: prayer in all aspects of life as they are slowly returned back to where they need to be, an involved church found (and in Seattle? But it has to exist!), a good Bible Study found, prayer warriors are needed to run interference for them as they grow in strength and faith. Think back to your own struggles as a new Christian - and just imagine that your birth was at the point literally of death - that is how much prayer is needed by you for them! And, Satan is not done with the attack, I have no doubts that even now he is formulating how to call them back over to his side ... it will be tempting, it must appear to be what is desired, it must appear to be an answer from God, but it will be a lie and will predate whom they are today. Yeah, lots of prayer because the fight is not over.
Thank you.
Perhaps we truly are living in the very last days when the hearts of the many, have turned cold and love - even compassion - is no longer a commodity shared between humans ...
Last week was simply awful.
I had a friend hurting and there seemed to be nothing I could do right in reaching out to them - throughout the whole of the week! It ended with my being unfriended on Thursday. I was devastated and posted my open position on Friday for a new best friend. Perhaps it was a bit tongue in cheek, I was hurting and in a cruel joke on me - it was humorous to think anyone could ever consider being my friend. This was the last active friend in my life. It was only with the greatest of prayer I agreed to meet with my recently lost best friend on Saturday morning. I had prayed bunches before hand, I thought I knew what to say, but Saturday was not much better than Thursday had been ...
Well, it did not go as planned and I ended up driving home in tears for my friend. I could not understand, everything was upside down and backwards. Nothing got through. I had no clue what they were going to do, what God was going to do with them, I was without a clue - this was so far from what I am familiar with. And friendless, I went home in a state of shock.
Many hours later I got a call from them and they were hysterical. I had received such a call like that once, in 1975, from two of my high schoolers. Confused, at the end of themselves, unable to even articulate a complete sentence. I thought they were drunk, it was graduation night and 2:00 AM. Their bodies were found the next morning. And I was utterly devastated and completely clueless. But, that phone call has remained in my active memory through all of these years.
And here again, the exact same words, the exact same confusion, the exact same desperation being confessed. Getting an address, after numerous tries, I flew to my old friend! No, not because I had anything to offer or gain, they had already rejected everything me - but because they were a part of my life and even if not still a friend, their life is far too important to be trifled with!
No, I was not their first choice to call.
No, I was not even their second choice.
They ran out of anyone they could think of they needed to call.
No, I am not the perfect one for such a task.
Just the only one to rush to their side.
And I prayed the entire way there that God could kill all traces of the old me and let only the new creation communicate whatever was needed. I know the old me to be too cold, when friendship, honesty and sincerity were going to be needed. No memory of the recent past could exist between us.
It took many hours to stabilize my friend emotionally, then mentally and finally spiritually. From desiring death to showing them there is hope, there is a reason to live, their life was not over - only Satan's hold over them was and the need to always remain so.
No, no more details than that are needed. Enough to just share that God used me in a big way on Saturday and helping to rebuild my friend ever since - step by tiny step. They are doing well, full of questions, full of fears, full of tears, but handling each day and letting me know instantly a prayer concern or question. God is so awesome when you can see Him in action! I am humbled.
And so, you would think Kris would now be a hero - at least amongst those whom knew what was going on, on Saturday. Nope. My children whom I had praying through this, were interestingly disinterested to learn all was well. Really? The people of my church's prayer chain just asked if intervention had been successful and commented that, that one could now be scratched off the list. Really? Gaelic Girl was in full war regalia from Saturday through today. And I got dumped on Wednesday night by her. On the one hand I am evil and on the other, oh yeah, I am still evil and how come God keeps using me without permission. Really? And of course, I had to hear from GG's therapist, whom wondered at how I could seem to "know" how to help people and yet be so completely clueless concerning GG. Really?
Is human life, any human life, so without value that there can not be a celebration of joy when one is rescued? Really?
Is there some inane characteristic within the Christian body that must correlate unrelated events to prove you evil, or themselves not evil? Really?
Is there some misunderstanding that when a person its bottom that there is a long term critical need for prayer? Really?
For my friend: prayer in all aspects of life as they are slowly returned back to where they need to be, an involved church found (and in Seattle? But it has to exist!), a good Bible Study found, prayer warriors are needed to run interference for them as they grow in strength and faith. Think back to your own struggles as a new Christian - and just imagine that your birth was at the point literally of death - that is how much prayer is needed by you for them! And, Satan is not done with the attack, I have no doubts that even now he is formulating how to call them back over to his side ... it will be tempting, it must appear to be what is desired, it must appear to be an answer from God, but it will be a lie and will predate whom they are today. Yeah, lots of prayer because the fight is not over.
Thank you.
Perhaps we truly are living in the very last days when the hearts of the many, have turned cold and love - even compassion - is no longer a commodity shared between humans ...
Monday, March 10, 2014
Missionary Wife Falls
Unfortunately, we are now going to be discussing a friend, a very dear friend, someone so close it was originally thought 20 years ago that she was my wife! So we put distance between us physically so that assumptions would go away but not mentally. We have remained in close contact up until a few months ago.
Through the years, her husband became a very good friend as well of mine. He used to own one of the Munich hotspot techno bars! He was a mess back then - PTSD from what went on the Balkans, too much death. He was at the site where my cousin Bernard was executed in Bosnia - he told me things which have not even appeared in the Hague trials about what happened. So yeah, blood brothers.
You might remember my mentioning many years ago about a wife, whom decided against her husband's wishes to go on the mission field and leave him with the kids. He was a bit outraged, she really did not care less and told me from Chile that she may well not return.
Return she did, in time to have two more children, brought about by a couple's weekend for marriage counseling away. Okay, I thought it was funny - and true according to him. She was devasted and wanted to abort them ... and I thought, what has happened to my friend?
So, you know Kris, I confronted her. It seems in Chile she had become romantically involved. It wasn't serious, she left him behind, but it was physical. We prayed together about this and I encouraged her to never return to Chile and only go on mission trips with her husband after this.
All was well for a number of years, but well, last August I got a note from her that she was leaving the church - too much gossip and evil things were being said about her husband. So, I encouraged the both of them to find another church. There are plenty of offerings in my little town.
And, silence. Occasionally, I would get a recipe from her but never any real communication. The husband was growing increasing upset and at one point was arrested for for hollering at the oldest son. It was bogus, but it made him wake up and start to evaluate what was going on around him. Why was he reacting this way? It was too weird.
Then Thursday, he and I talked on the phone for many hours. It seems she has been having an affair dating back to August with the same man, it is now out in the open and the husband has been pushed out to make room for this new guy.
I only learned this when I called him, because she had sent me nude pictures of herself. The first ones were inappropriate, by evening time, they had become quite - uhm, heartbreaking. My dear Elspeth had broken. (yes, her real name!)
I as floored!
But, I meditated on this over the weekend. Warning signs were there:
And she crumbled because she had walked away from her faith, the church and her friends.
God gave us friends to help support us, a church to help guide us and a faith built on rock.
Equally, God gave us a task to represent Him and when we fail and fall into sin, He will strip away our blessings. It is painful to know, to witness, to comfort the casualties ...
I do not know what to do or say. I can only offer distant statements of shock and sorrow for my vet friend. She is not really talking still to me, so nothing I can do there. And perhaps it is best I go away from her life ...
Prayer, lots of prayer.
Through the years, her husband became a very good friend as well of mine. He used to own one of the Munich hotspot techno bars! He was a mess back then - PTSD from what went on the Balkans, too much death. He was at the site where my cousin Bernard was executed in Bosnia - he told me things which have not even appeared in the Hague trials about what happened. So yeah, blood brothers.
You might remember my mentioning many years ago about a wife, whom decided against her husband's wishes to go on the mission field and leave him with the kids. He was a bit outraged, she really did not care less and told me from Chile that she may well not return.
Return she did, in time to have two more children, brought about by a couple's weekend for marriage counseling away. Okay, I thought it was funny - and true according to him. She was devasted and wanted to abort them ... and I thought, what has happened to my friend?
So, you know Kris, I confronted her. It seems in Chile she had become romantically involved. It wasn't serious, she left him behind, but it was physical. We prayed together about this and I encouraged her to never return to Chile and only go on mission trips with her husband after this.
All was well for a number of years, but well, last August I got a note from her that she was leaving the church - too much gossip and evil things were being said about her husband. So, I encouraged the both of them to find another church. There are plenty of offerings in my little town.
And, silence. Occasionally, I would get a recipe from her but never any real communication. The husband was growing increasing upset and at one point was arrested for for hollering at the oldest son. It was bogus, but it made him wake up and start to evaluate what was going on around him. Why was he reacting this way? It was too weird.
Then Thursday, he and I talked on the phone for many hours. It seems she has been having an affair dating back to August with the same man, it is now out in the open and the husband has been pushed out to make room for this new guy.
I only learned this when I called him, because she had sent me nude pictures of herself. The first ones were inappropriate, by evening time, they had become quite - uhm, heartbreaking. My dear Elspeth had broken. (yes, her real name!)
I as floored!
But, I meditated on this over the weekend. Warning signs were there:
- her personality change
- willingness to kill her children
- the affair in Chile husband still does not know about
- the stresses of more children
- the stress of a PTSD husband
- the stress of poverty as he lost his job
- the willingness to offer her body, for ... what?
And she crumbled because she had walked away from her faith, the church and her friends.
God gave us friends to help support us, a church to help guide us and a faith built on rock.
Equally, God gave us a task to represent Him and when we fail and fall into sin, He will strip away our blessings. It is painful to know, to witness, to comfort the casualties ...
I do not know what to do or say. I can only offer distant statements of shock and sorrow for my vet friend. She is not really talking still to me, so nothing I can do there. And perhaps it is best I go away from her life ...
Prayer, lots of prayer.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Prayer Works
So, thank you my dear readers, your combined prayers have literally worked a miracle so far this week!
Kathy's surgery went extremely well on Tuesday. I was able to yak at her a little yesterday and it turned out that her leg swelling (which looked much like mine) the doctors were theorizing was related to gall bladder troubles. So, they removed it on Tuesday and her leg returned to normal size on Wednesday! If that is not awesome, then I would be surprised by your definition! But, who would have thought a gall bladder would do that?
As for me, this morning was the first morning since mid November that my right foot was been close in size to the normal left one! If anything, I have been standing way too much for it this week and yet it has still gone down in size.
I have been having to stand for several hours at a time working on the Lincoln, sigh. So today will be day four of trying to pull a waterpump off of the engine - talk about badly designed ! You literally have to pull everything on the engine to get to the waterpump. Amazing. It is not like waterpumps are ever changed on cars!
And this has to be coldest week since 1992! The worse was yesterday where the temperature actually got up to 24 degrees! Today will be barely better at 30! And I have no cold weather gear anymore. So jeans and a flannel shirt are all I have for warmth. And I will still be out there as long as I can trying to pull that darn device today.
But, thank you for your prayers ... my leg and foot pain is greatly reduced, which is all that is allowing me to stand long enough to continue the progress at fixing that car - and I have to have it together tomorrow - sigh ...
Kathy's surgery went extremely well on Tuesday. I was able to yak at her a little yesterday and it turned out that her leg swelling (which looked much like mine) the doctors were theorizing was related to gall bladder troubles. So, they removed it on Tuesday and her leg returned to normal size on Wednesday! If that is not awesome, then I would be surprised by your definition! But, who would have thought a gall bladder would do that?
As for me, this morning was the first morning since mid November that my right foot was been close in size to the normal left one! If anything, I have been standing way too much for it this week and yet it has still gone down in size.
I have been having to stand for several hours at a time working on the Lincoln, sigh. So today will be day four of trying to pull a waterpump off of the engine - talk about badly designed ! You literally have to pull everything on the engine to get to the waterpump. Amazing. It is not like waterpumps are ever changed on cars!
And this has to be coldest week since 1992! The worse was yesterday where the temperature actually got up to 24 degrees! Today will be barely better at 30! And I have no cold weather gear anymore. So jeans and a flannel shirt are all I have for warmth. And I will still be out there as long as I can trying to pull that darn device today.
But, thank you for your prayers ... my leg and foot pain is greatly reduced, which is all that is allowing me to stand long enough to continue the progress at fixing that car - and I have to have it together tomorrow - sigh ...
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Some Days Are Hard
I knew I had over done it on Sunday. It was too harsh on my body to do all of the bending, lift, squatting, having to walk constantly because of my right leg's continual stiffening - pain, tremendous pain!
So, codeine Sunday night, codeine through Monday and still the pain was not bearable at times. I almost called my foot and ankle surgeon! Even cutting it off would be better in the long run! But, wisdom held out in favor of just taking it easy as best I could.
And "best", was not all that good! The silly car decided to start leaking water, so son and I had to change - the lower hose, of course! Could not be the top one, oh no, way too easy to take advantage of Kris' weakened condition. But, we got the hose changed - only 1.5 hours! And it still was leaking ... And I know we did it right and tripled checked everything.
So, it has to be the pump or broken block but the waterpump is an easier starting point. I knew as soon as I sunk some money into that car last month, it would start to nickel and dime me to death. Who needs a boat when you are named Plattner and carry the family transportation curse. Yeah, it is genetic - my sister and I curse the need for cars.
Even when my son was running me around for parts - one of his rear tires literally exploded. He decided it was me, that I weigh too much! He almost got a Dutch rub out of that one! But, I will concede this has not been my year to lose weight it seems! Leastwise, until the cardiologist finally settles on a pill mixture - I am shafted in the weight loss category.
I am just glad the car lasted through the weekend before dieing. Of course we had a high of about 30 today, why couldn't it have waited until summer! And now I have to pull the front end off of that Lincoln and the high tomorrow and for the next week - 29 degrees! I am going to be out in the cold, no doubt about that one! Think of me as you sit in your warm house or in tropical sunbeams, as I freeze! Of course, one nice thing is that with the current pill set - Swiss Boy is back! Yes, I love the cold again, just not quite this cold though!
And any prayers for healing would be greatly appreciated! You might want to include a lady named Kathy in my church whom with similar problems is having surgery today on her leg. So, I am curiously dreading the outcome of her surgery ...
So, codeine Sunday night, codeine through Monday and still the pain was not bearable at times. I almost called my foot and ankle surgeon! Even cutting it off would be better in the long run! But, wisdom held out in favor of just taking it easy as best I could.
And "best", was not all that good! The silly car decided to start leaking water, so son and I had to change - the lower hose, of course! Could not be the top one, oh no, way too easy to take advantage of Kris' weakened condition. But, we got the hose changed - only 1.5 hours! And it still was leaking ... And I know we did it right and tripled checked everything.
So, it has to be the pump or broken block but the waterpump is an easier starting point. I knew as soon as I sunk some money into that car last month, it would start to nickel and dime me to death. Who needs a boat when you are named Plattner and carry the family transportation curse. Yeah, it is genetic - my sister and I curse the need for cars.
Even when my son was running me around for parts - one of his rear tires literally exploded. He decided it was me, that I weigh too much! He almost got a Dutch rub out of that one! But, I will concede this has not been my year to lose weight it seems! Leastwise, until the cardiologist finally settles on a pill mixture - I am shafted in the weight loss category.
I am just glad the car lasted through the weekend before dieing. Of course we had a high of about 30 today, why couldn't it have waited until summer! And now I have to pull the front end off of that Lincoln and the high tomorrow and for the next week - 29 degrees! I am going to be out in the cold, no doubt about that one! Think of me as you sit in your warm house or in tropical sunbeams, as I freeze! Of course, one nice thing is that with the current pill set - Swiss Boy is back! Yes, I love the cold again, just not quite this cold though!
And any prayers for healing would be greatly appreciated! You might want to include a lady named Kathy in my church whom with similar problems is having surgery today on her leg. So, I am curiously dreading the outcome of her surgery ...
Monday, December 30, 2013
Some Prayer Items
As we approach the end of the year, these are some things you can be praying for in my life, if you choose to:
My best friend from high school seems to be recovering nicely, however, prayer is still needed. Cancer still exists in his body and does need to be destroyed. And, something spiritual needs correction and it takes God's intervention to accomplish that, always. So, much prayer there for him to become aware of whatever the issue, the resolution to address it, the support of his family as he does. Well, and thinking of support, he has to do something to address the loss of his income because of this cancer!
My new friend to see and know what God's will is - there is a path for her, it just needs to be found. Life is at a point where change becomes easy, if He will point the way.
Our government, society and culture has never been more God-less! All three are in need of prayer. All three need to be re-won back from the depth of sin they have fallen to. All three are completely redeemable both locally and nationally! But, workers are needed to quietly work to turn minds and hearts back to God.
For me, just to know what it is I am supposed to be doing and then help to do it. Everytime I resolve to return to work, I am sounded defeated by my body. For now I am working on relearning my art, at least it is hard to be continually injured doing that! But, I need to get some income this year as I have now exhausted all but my patent royalties, which will keep beans on the table but not repair the car or the dishwasher or the stove or the toilet or ... ! Sigh, life!
My best friend from high school seems to be recovering nicely, however, prayer is still needed. Cancer still exists in his body and does need to be destroyed. And, something spiritual needs correction and it takes God's intervention to accomplish that, always. So, much prayer there for him to become aware of whatever the issue, the resolution to address it, the support of his family as he does. Well, and thinking of support, he has to do something to address the loss of his income because of this cancer!
My new friend to see and know what God's will is - there is a path for her, it just needs to be found. Life is at a point where change becomes easy, if He will point the way.
Our government, society and culture has never been more God-less! All three are in need of prayer. All three need to be re-won back from the depth of sin they have fallen to. All three are completely redeemable both locally and nationally! But, workers are needed to quietly work to turn minds and hearts back to God.
For me, just to know what it is I am supposed to be doing and then help to do it. Everytime I resolve to return to work, I am sounded defeated by my body. For now I am working on relearning my art, at least it is hard to be continually injured doing that! But, I need to get some income this year as I have now exhausted all but my patent royalties, which will keep beans on the table but not repair the car or the dishwasher or the stove or the toilet or ... ! Sigh, life!
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
You and Your Tongue
James so elegantly, so simply, tells of the power of the tongue. Its power to destroy is probably easily known in all of our lives! See James 3:1-12...
But the Bible has much more to say on this subject! Solomon apparently had learned or observed many important lessons associated with opening your mouth. So, grab your Bible, open it up to the book of Proverbs and think on what you have been told about the tongue of yours:
Consider not saying anything at all!
Proverbs 10:19, 10:21, 16:28, 17:9, 17:27-28
You do not need to say everything you know!
You do not have to say everything you think!
You do not have to repeat everything you hear!
Though with caution, as requesting prayer from those you trust is very important to your life and walk!
Consider whether or not you actually know all of the facts!
Proverbs 14:3, 17:27, 18:13
Even if you are talking with an original source you have to stop and ask yourself if there is an agenda being run. And as these last two years have shown me - a liar is going to lie, even when confronted! You have to be careful in your sources. The ability to use discernment can be very powerful in cutting through the personalities, agendas and emotions to find out what really is going on.
Consider the best way to say what needs to be said.
Proverbs 10:19, 12:25, 13:3, 15:1, 15:4, 15:23, 16:24, 18:21
There are lots of ways of saying the same things, without baiting the listener, without provoking a defensive or offensive reaction and without using weasel words!
Hence, the need to engage brain - before engaging mouth!
But the Bible has much more to say on this subject! Solomon apparently had learned or observed many important lessons associated with opening your mouth. So, grab your Bible, open it up to the book of Proverbs and think on what you have been told about the tongue of yours:
Consider not saying anything at all!
Proverbs 10:19, 10:21, 16:28, 17:9, 17:27-28
You do not need to say everything you know!
You do not have to say everything you think!
You do not have to repeat everything you hear!
Though with caution, as requesting prayer from those you trust is very important to your life and walk!
Consider whether or not you actually know all of the facts!
Proverbs 14:3, 17:27, 18:13
Even if you are talking with an original source you have to stop and ask yourself if there is an agenda being run. And as these last two years have shown me - a liar is going to lie, even when confronted! You have to be careful in your sources. The ability to use discernment can be very powerful in cutting through the personalities, agendas and emotions to find out what really is going on.
Consider the best way to say what needs to be said.
Proverbs 10:19, 12:25, 13:3, 15:1, 15:4, 15:23, 16:24, 18:21
There are lots of ways of saying the same things, without baiting the listener, without provoking a defensive or offensive reaction and without using weasel words!
Hence, the need to engage brain - before engaging mouth!
Monday, December 9, 2013
Marsha
Since I am semi-retired, I have a great deal of time on my hands. Three days a week I watch grandchildren for my two with kids, two days a week I am flat on my lips recovering from the grandchildren the day before, as an average - one day a week I get to see a friend, one day a week I volunteer to help older people (think elderly, hospital, doctors, etc), and the final day I use doing projects at home - and am I ever so far behind the curve on that one - even my projects have projects!
So, two weeks ago I am driving an elderly couple to see their doctor in Seattle. Both in their late eighties and both are a real hoot to be around! I love their stories from the "good old days" and I think they like having someone to talk with. The woman turns to me, hitting me on the arm in her adorable way and says, "I heard someone named Marsha in your church has cancer. Do you know her?"
My mind had to race there. I really only know maybe a dozen women by sight at the church and none of them personally. The married ones stay away, whom I would feel safe around, and the others have no use for at all for tall, dark and European. Even the barracuda whom I have mentioned in the past stays away - I am just too different (?) - unless her bicycle breaks down and then I get a sobbing phone call. And the same really goes for the guys as well, Kris is just too odd. I guess...
But, I could think of two Marsha's in the church, one of them the cleaning lady, whom also runs the children's church area. But, although I may say hi to that Marsha, I really do not know much about her, much less the other one I have never said hi to. And I see the cleaning lady often at church, so I know it is not her.
Having no clue on this subject and hearing no rumors floating, I just wrote off the question - there probably is an answer, it just will not be ever known by me! And if it is the unknown Marsha, well mute point, I do not actually know her.
Saturday was bazaar day here in the south-end of Seattle. School gyms, lunchrooms, Masonic Halls, community centers all hosting craft bazaars. I do enjoy going and seeing what other artists are doing and in hopes of encouraging me to get out of the artist funk I am in - year three.
At one of the schools, I came across cleaning woman Marsha, with part of her family, we said hi and I moved on - just normal. I accept non-existence well, she is Norwegian and vocal concerning Germans and besides her husband is a manual laborer and I think I am not liked by him because I think too much rather than grab a hammer and pound on something! He is really good at pounding on things.
I had walked about ten feet when some of the women on the opposite side of the table were commenting at how horrible it was that Marsha has colon cancer and it is not going well. Well, that stopped me in my tracks.
For me to say hi to you, is to not be polite, it is to acknowledge you. The lack of any conversation is at best normal for me. I can write volumes and say barely two words. I was stunned that no one would tell anyone in our church about this! That none of her kids would say anything. That this church where deceitful gossip and outright lies have no problem circulating can not even acknowledge that one of our own is dying.
Really?!?!?!?!?
It just sickens me. Today is a Seahawks (football) game day, horrible attendance because everyone is positioning themselves in front of their TV and no one could even think to hold a prayer session for this woman?
Her son asked me one time whom the greatest Christian was in the church. I told him that it was his mother. He was stunned. I reminded him that even if she got paid to clean the church twice a week - it was still a testimony just to be willing to do it! I would probably opt for using a flame thrower on the girls toilet!
Yeah, I think highly of her because she took the lowest of positions - does an outstanding job at that, to support the activities and direction of the Church. And, I think she has done this for years! And nobody helps her ever - other than her daughter on occasion. That is the heart of service, that is the calling for each and everyone of us, to do the unlovely, to do the lowly, in quiet and without pretense or recognition.
Oh yeah, she will be rewarded in Heaven for her servitude while the millions whom have clamored for status, position and wealth in this sick generation will be lucky to reach Heaven with their backsides on fire! So, you want to be a servant of God? Think of the multitudes of Marsha's out there, unknown, unappreciated, unacknowled.
Take a moment this week and figure out a neat way to say thank you to the real Christian leader/witness/worker in your church; and remember that "imitation is the sincerest form of compliment" (charles caleb colton) ...
So, two weeks ago I am driving an elderly couple to see their doctor in Seattle. Both in their late eighties and both are a real hoot to be around! I love their stories from the "good old days" and I think they like having someone to talk with. The woman turns to me, hitting me on the arm in her adorable way and says, "I heard someone named Marsha in your church has cancer. Do you know her?"
My mind had to race there. I really only know maybe a dozen women by sight at the church and none of them personally. The married ones stay away, whom I would feel safe around, and the others have no use for at all for tall, dark and European. Even the barracuda whom I have mentioned in the past stays away - I am just too different (?) - unless her bicycle breaks down and then I get a sobbing phone call. And the same really goes for the guys as well, Kris is just too odd. I guess...
But, I could think of two Marsha's in the church, one of them the cleaning lady, whom also runs the children's church area. But, although I may say hi to that Marsha, I really do not know much about her, much less the other one I have never said hi to. And I see the cleaning lady often at church, so I know it is not her.
Having no clue on this subject and hearing no rumors floating, I just wrote off the question - there probably is an answer, it just will not be ever known by me! And if it is the unknown Marsha, well mute point, I do not actually know her.
Saturday was bazaar day here in the south-end of Seattle. School gyms, lunchrooms, Masonic Halls, community centers all hosting craft bazaars. I do enjoy going and seeing what other artists are doing and in hopes of encouraging me to get out of the artist funk I am in - year three.
At one of the schools, I came across cleaning woman Marsha, with part of her family, we said hi and I moved on - just normal. I accept non-existence well, she is Norwegian and vocal concerning Germans and besides her husband is a manual laborer and I think I am not liked by him because I think too much rather than grab a hammer and pound on something! He is really good at pounding on things.
I had walked about ten feet when some of the women on the opposite side of the table were commenting at how horrible it was that Marsha has colon cancer and it is not going well. Well, that stopped me in my tracks.
For me to say hi to you, is to not be polite, it is to acknowledge you. The lack of any conversation is at best normal for me. I can write volumes and say barely two words. I was stunned that no one would tell anyone in our church about this! That none of her kids would say anything. That this church where deceitful gossip and outright lies have no problem circulating can not even acknowledge that one of our own is dying.
Really?!?!?!?!?
It just sickens me. Today is a Seahawks (football) game day, horrible attendance because everyone is positioning themselves in front of their TV and no one could even think to hold a prayer session for this woman?
Her son asked me one time whom the greatest Christian was in the church. I told him that it was his mother. He was stunned. I reminded him that even if she got paid to clean the church twice a week - it was still a testimony just to be willing to do it! I would probably opt for using a flame thrower on the girls toilet!
Yeah, I think highly of her because she took the lowest of positions - does an outstanding job at that, to support the activities and direction of the Church. And, I think she has done this for years! And nobody helps her ever - other than her daughter on occasion. That is the heart of service, that is the calling for each and everyone of us, to do the unlovely, to do the lowly, in quiet and without pretense or recognition.
Oh yeah, she will be rewarded in Heaven for her servitude while the millions whom have clamored for status, position and wealth in this sick generation will be lucky to reach Heaven with their backsides on fire! So, you want to be a servant of God? Think of the multitudes of Marsha's out there, unknown, unappreciated, unacknowled.
Take a moment this week and figure out a neat way to say thank you to the real Christian leader/witness/worker in your church; and remember that "imitation is the sincerest form of compliment" (charles caleb colton) ...
Monday, December 2, 2013
Nature of Friendship
Having lost most of my friends last year and most of my acquaintances as well, because I was willing to risk all to do what God told me - and would do so again - I have contemplated the nature of friendship this year.
In years past, friend or no friend, all was meaningless to me - but God had to change me from what I knew to this unknown I slosh through. But, it had to all happen at once, my nature to be changed, my friends to desert me - the timing perfect. And yet ...
God knew and God provided - a friend, a teacher, an equal. When I sat stunned and betrayed, part of me was still trying to work through the mystery of this. Do not ask me, God's ways and timing are not my own. I still marvel and wonder where ultimately all will be found ...
He gave me what He knew I would need and it caused me pause to contemplate much about life, being a human being, about me and about God. In there is the concept of friendship in all of its manifestations.
Proverbs 17:17 - a friend hurts when your hurt.
It takes God's LOVE at all times to be able to be a friend when times are hard. Hard times show you whom your true friends really are. And I contemplated that as i saw a slow parade through my room in ER's CCU during the wait for surgery and then the recovery. Those whom were not my friends evaporated and were not to be found. And yet, I know, because I do know, though some think themselves enemies of me, they will figure it out and return to find my friendship will not have changed.
Consider Job 6:14, a friend should be there for you - even if you decide to abandon God! That is commitment and love being spelled out.
Proverbs 27:6 -A real friend will say what needs to be said, even when it hurts you. They will confront you with the truth. Everybody needs a real friend - flesh and blood - someone whom will have faith in you, even when we have lost faith in ourselves.
Proverbs 22:24 - avoid the angry man, his ways will rub off on you!
A real friend will bring out the best in you. They will encourage you, they will stand, when others fall away.
Whom you choose as friends is extremely important, pick the wrong ones and you will become like them and waste years until you wake up and realize how you have been played.
Pick the correct ones and you will be encouraged into becoming the best that you can be - and perhaps - even more!
So across this past weekend, a time of reflection and thanksgiving, I am saddened that those whom I counted as friends for decades - were not. I rejoice for those whom have been so during that same time period and as I have been tried by fire, stood there with me, and suffered as well, then encouraged me to be what I could still be. Then I rejoice for the new friend, I never could have foreseen, never could have understood and can only marvel at God and wonder, "What is He still up to?"
In years past, friend or no friend, all was meaningless to me - but God had to change me from what I knew to this unknown I slosh through. But, it had to all happen at once, my nature to be changed, my friends to desert me - the timing perfect. And yet ...
God knew and God provided - a friend, a teacher, an equal. When I sat stunned and betrayed, part of me was still trying to work through the mystery of this. Do not ask me, God's ways and timing are not my own. I still marvel and wonder where ultimately all will be found ...
He gave me what He knew I would need and it caused me pause to contemplate much about life, being a human being, about me and about God. In there is the concept of friendship in all of its manifestations.
Proverbs 17:17 - a friend hurts when your hurt.
It takes God's LOVE at all times to be able to be a friend when times are hard. Hard times show you whom your true friends really are. And I contemplated that as i saw a slow parade through my room in ER's CCU during the wait for surgery and then the recovery. Those whom were not my friends evaporated and were not to be found. And yet, I know, because I do know, though some think themselves enemies of me, they will figure it out and return to find my friendship will not have changed.
Consider Job 6:14, a friend should be there for you - even if you decide to abandon God! That is commitment and love being spelled out.
Proverbs 27:6 -A real friend will say what needs to be said, even when it hurts you. They will confront you with the truth. Everybody needs a real friend - flesh and blood - someone whom will have faith in you, even when we have lost faith in ourselves.
Proverbs 22:24 - avoid the angry man, his ways will rub off on you!
A real friend will bring out the best in you. They will encourage you, they will stand, when others fall away.
Whom you choose as friends is extremely important, pick the wrong ones and you will become like them and waste years until you wake up and realize how you have been played.
Pick the correct ones and you will be encouraged into becoming the best that you can be - and perhaps - even more!
So across this past weekend, a time of reflection and thanksgiving, I am saddened that those whom I counted as friends for decades - were not. I rejoice for those whom have been so during that same time period and as I have been tried by fire, stood there with me, and suffered as well, then encouraged me to be what I could still be. Then I rejoice for the new friend, I never could have foreseen, never could have understood and can only marvel at God and wonder, "What is He still up to?"
Thursday, October 24, 2013
In Training
You, I, all of us, are in constant training; training to reach Godliness in our lives - it is the goal.
For as much as we might like it, you can not coast into Godliness. You will not accidentally discover it - it is something that you must be in training for.
Godliness Is A Big Deal
If you feed on the world - the things of this world, then you will be damaged spiritually - I have seen this far to often, even with my own childeren. Too many of us were never discipled when we became Christians, in fact, many of us were purposefully lead astray by "elders" whom may not have even understand the difference themselves.
Most will never actually achieve Godliness, you must be in constant training, it is the goal to which we strive.
Training is not in reading books about the Bible or listening to talks/lectures/sermons on the Bible - it is your purposeful study, meditation and prayer over what you are studying.
I know some are terribly confused and need something to help them. I have never been let down by Hendrickson's series on the Bible. Yeah, huge and wordy but it is assembled by some pretty straight men.
Understand, You Have A Choice
There are no excuses, "I don't have time!", sorry Godliness is a choice that you can make, that you must make! Why? Because it is your witness to the world around you, if you can show no difference between them and yourself, well guess what? No one will listen to you!
I read a few months back that the average American home has four Bibles. The average one ... Okay, so how many homes actually read their Bible? Surveys says, only 3%. Okay again, not everyone are Christians, but supposedly this is a nation of a great many Christians. By the way if 3% reflects real Christians then guess what! There are only 9,000,000 of us! No wonder we have lost this nation!
But, I am willing to bet there are millions of Christians, betrayed by their faith, lost, unable to find God, because they never read their Bible and only know what they have been told!
Be Committed
It takes discipline, that ugly "D" word of religion, but it also has a place in Christianity - to discipline yourself to be trained in the faith. Paul wrote on this in the terms of being an Olympian - the CONSTANT training, the fight to be your very best, to have the necessary drive to WIN. And winning is after-all everything at the Olympics.
You must take the time.
You must be committed to change.
You must be willing to fail.
You must force yourself to get back up...
To The End
Remain in training.
Hold on to your commitment.
Accept discipline when subjected to it.
Be willing to disciple others.
Best part is, you will never be there. The minute you think you have, well welcome to pride and you just failed and get to start over ...
Yeah
For as much as we might like it, you can not coast into Godliness. You will not accidentally discover it - it is something that you must be in training for.
Godliness Is A Big Deal
If you feed on the world - the things of this world, then you will be damaged spiritually - I have seen this far to often, even with my own childeren. Too many of us were never discipled when we became Christians, in fact, many of us were purposefully lead astray by "elders" whom may not have even understand the difference themselves.
Most will never actually achieve Godliness, you must be in constant training, it is the goal to which we strive.
Training is not in reading books about the Bible or listening to talks/lectures/sermons on the Bible - it is your purposeful study, meditation and prayer over what you are studying.
I know some are terribly confused and need something to help them. I have never been let down by Hendrickson's series on the Bible. Yeah, huge and wordy but it is assembled by some pretty straight men.
Understand, You Have A Choice
There are no excuses, "I don't have time!", sorry Godliness is a choice that you can make, that you must make! Why? Because it is your witness to the world around you, if you can show no difference between them and yourself, well guess what? No one will listen to you!
I read a few months back that the average American home has four Bibles. The average one ... Okay, so how many homes actually read their Bible? Surveys says, only 3%. Okay again, not everyone are Christians, but supposedly this is a nation of a great many Christians. By the way if 3% reflects real Christians then guess what! There are only 9,000,000 of us! No wonder we have lost this nation!
But, I am willing to bet there are millions of Christians, betrayed by their faith, lost, unable to find God, because they never read their Bible and only know what they have been told!
Be Committed
It takes discipline, that ugly "D" word of religion, but it also has a place in Christianity - to discipline yourself to be trained in the faith. Paul wrote on this in the terms of being an Olympian - the CONSTANT training, the fight to be your very best, to have the necessary drive to WIN. And winning is after-all everything at the Olympics.
You must take the time.
You must be committed to change.
You must be willing to fail.
You must force yourself to get back up...
To The End
Remain in training.
Hold on to your commitment.
Accept discipline when subjected to it.
Be willing to disciple others.
Best part is, you will never be there. The minute you think you have, well welcome to pride and you just failed and get to start over ...
Yeah
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Now is the Time
1 Timothy 4:1-5
Now is the time!
There is no better time for you to come to your peace with your maker!
Nor is there a better time for you, as a Christian, to be witnessing to those around you!
We live in an age and culture where "truth" has become relative - or people have been lead to think by those whom argue there are no absolutes. Yet, a lie is still a lie, even when people desire to call it "truth"!
This is a serious problem for man has been led astray by the doctrines of demons, even those weak in the faith succumb to the fanciful lies of those listened to. Lies, presented as "truth", or deeper "truth", or meant to have an impact upon those within a certain age group or cultural setting. Tailor made death, to block the listener from actually finding release from what this culture teaches.
It always boils down to: "Whom do you say, Jesus, is?" (as well as how much do you add to the Gospel?)
These false witnesses in our midst, as Paul calls them, Snakes, no longer have an active conscious - they are dead to their sin and no longer suffer any conviction for their deeds. They sleep quite well facing their pending judgment.
The Christian message of LOVE has been mutilated by a culture to which innocence has been lost. Instead of the freedom God gives us, man has created a step ladder of do's and don'ts, never intended by God. Legalism, without compassion, judgement without trial nor defense, you will lose - you have already lost. Wake up!
But, we can still reach the world, it is hard, you will be judged, you will be misunderstood, the worse will be thought of you, but it can be done:
So, as you go forth today: Pray, Praise, live your life for Him - if you can't, then change your life ... and clean up all of those spots ...
A fitting tune for this moment in my life:
Now is the time!
There is no better time for you to come to your peace with your maker!
Nor is there a better time for you, as a Christian, to be witnessing to those around you!
We live in an age and culture where "truth" has become relative - or people have been lead to think by those whom argue there are no absolutes. Yet, a lie is still a lie, even when people desire to call it "truth"!
This is a serious problem for man has been led astray by the doctrines of demons, even those weak in the faith succumb to the fanciful lies of those listened to. Lies, presented as "truth", or deeper "truth", or meant to have an impact upon those within a certain age group or cultural setting. Tailor made death, to block the listener from actually finding release from what this culture teaches.
It always boils down to: "Whom do you say, Jesus, is?" (as well as how much do you add to the Gospel?)
These false witnesses in our midst, as Paul calls them, Snakes, no longer have an active conscious - they are dead to their sin and no longer suffer any conviction for their deeds. They sleep quite well facing their pending judgment.
The Christian message of LOVE has been mutilated by a culture to which innocence has been lost. Instead of the freedom God gives us, man has created a step ladder of do's and don'ts, never intended by God. Legalism, without compassion, judgement without trial nor defense, you will lose - you have already lost. Wake up!
But, we can still reach the world, it is hard, you will be judged, you will be misunderstood, the worse will be thought of you, but it can be done:
- Deal with the sin in your life, give Satan as few of doors as possible to whack you from behind
- Show holiness in your life, not empty piety, the real thing - how you should be living your life
- Prayer is your telephone line to God, use it and use it frequently
- Pray for your leaders, religious and civil
- Pray for your friends and family
- Pray for special needs, not the never ending shopping list
- Pray to thank and praise God for whom He is
- Remove from your life those things which hamper your success as a Christian.
So, as you go forth today: Pray, Praise, live your life for Him - if you can't, then change your life ... and clean up all of those spots ...
A fitting tune for this moment in my life:
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Responsibility to Family
I was lucky in my early Christian days, because I had no family. A cast out from my birth family, isolated to the Pacific Northwest of the USA where no one would have to deal with me, a clueless 18 year old and it could have gone terribly wrong - but it didn't. God brought into my life people whom unknown to me at the time, were needed to fill the holes in my life. There were those whom played the roles of parents, siblings, friends and even grandparents. Without them I would never have made it.
Last night was another of those nights where ending up in ER seemed to be a real threat, my heart just was not able to keep up with the stress of the day, much less the preceding weekend. I took my pills, found my blood pressure was not all that far off from normal, nor heart rate - weird. And I thought on the conversation which preceded this - an utter and complete disconnect. I still do not get it. And this left me thinking of the concept of family and our need for family.
In 1Timothy 5:1-16, Paul lays out an argument for what is now considered to be a literal expression of correction in the church, church duties, etc. But, is that really what Paul is talking about?
I do not think so, I think Paul is talking about family, God's family, your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, siblings, children - everyone in the Christian body, plays some family role in your life. In short, we are the family of God and everyone in it is to matter to us personally! I had a good friend from one culture where elders were all addressed as aunt and uncle! It made me laugh to be called uncle!
It is easy to ignore most of those family members, they are far away. Their deaths in a Kenya, at a shopping mall, or beheaded in Egypt or Syria have no impact on us we can see - and yet they do. We are obviously not natural relatives to one another, but we are a blended family. Much the same as in my early life, with brothers and a sister whom were blended with me by my father's many marriages. Most of them I had known most of my life, so it was no real shocker, just needing to find ways to adjust and not fight with them! And all of us, because we had known each other, found it easier to do this and at the same time have a level of respect for one another. Yeah, there were still problems of one parent or the other taking the wrong side in an argument, based on genetics, but over all we managed. Or in my own family of bringing four children together from different cultures and backgrounds, albeit all Russian, but mind you there were more than a few problems to deal with along that trail!
From Paul's outlook we are family and each is to be treated with respect, albeit differently based upon age, position, sex, etc. Not unreasonable at all. Except we live in a culture where age, sex and position is afforded no respect any longer.
When we see needs within our family, we are to meet them! The most vulnerable within any family are the widows and the orphans - they have no one to care for their physical needs. These are the ones we must care for. Whether it is cash or labor, we are called to help them in their distress - and in this culture, no one exactly makes their needs known - probably because they see the needs left unfulfilled in others lives.
And I think on "Pastor Bob" in his call for everyone to send him $1,000 to guarantee their access in Heaven - and the multitudes of "believers" send their $1,000 to his ministry and let the widows and orphans they do know about - go in need. Really? My Bible seems to tell that ALL of our responsibilities are to these two groups. It is not our place to judge them or question - it is to help. Even I, as crippled as I am, can still mow grass or pick weeds or even cook a meal to help a family member in need.
Back in the early 1990's, in another church, in another town, we had an orphan girl whom would come to learn about God. She walked about three miles to do so. I also learned that her father had been killed in a drug war shootout. Many would have nothing to do with her, she was after-all just white trash and no good would ever come of her. Really? This was the attitude of those in the church? I made it overt, my helping her. No there was little I could do: offer rides, an occasional meal, allow her to visit the house and just hang out. It made a big difference in her life. I probably could have done more but I still had lots to learn back then myself. Had I of been smart I might have tried to adopt her, hindsight is always 20/20. I still hear from her from time to time. Just a little example of what you might want to become aware of in your church and do in the effort to care for others.
Here in America I have been stunned by how unwilling people are to help others! If the cash does not go to the church, so that it is tax deductible, then no help will ever be possible! Really? God says take the tax deduction before helping others? That is plain evil folks - and don't expect God's blessing in you or your church's life!
Mind you, we are to individually practice charity but there is a responsibility which goes along with that as well. You are to know that your money or efforts are not going to waste. Yeah, we are not to just pass along the dollars and let God figure it out! There are lots of crazies out there. They will spend your money on drugs, alcohol, porn, gambling, video games or even Starbucks! So, you need to be watchful and know that money, if that is what you are giving, is going to be used wisely. But, more importantly - you are to be responsible - not the church to be in your place! By church I am referring to the organization doing any of the charity! We are to take care of family, they are ours to care for - carefully, responsibly and individually. And God will bless those efforts, because I know it will bring a reaction - one way or another.
Interestingly, back in the good old days of "Rome hates and kills Christians", there was a devastating flood in the Provence of Galatia, a chunk of today's Turkey. The Christian churches sent people, supplies and money to help the devastated towns. The Romans were in awe. They did not even help each other, much less those opposed to their very existence! It was a powerful witness at the time.
Yeah, we have floods and earthquakes, storms and destruction by nature and war. I wonder if there are any opportunities in there for you to help others in your family right now?
*****
(as a side note: I have in the past mentioned people whom could use support. Kim, an African missionary was one such whose work was supported by my readers. And I have been waiting to identify another, a Mexican, whom is caring for orphans in his little town in Chihuahua - wracked by drug wars, on his meager earnings. However, his area was devastated over the weekend by the flooding from twin typhoons which hit and then an earthquake! He is not in good shape right now, more than a few broken bones (he is my age!) and no medical care is available to him. His mother also sustained a broken arm. Not sure as to property damage and it might be another week to even hear more from him. So, I would ask that you join with me in prayer - for his healing, for his ministry, etc. It is needed, easy to do and free to give!)
Last night was another of those nights where ending up in ER seemed to be a real threat, my heart just was not able to keep up with the stress of the day, much less the preceding weekend. I took my pills, found my blood pressure was not all that far off from normal, nor heart rate - weird. And I thought on the conversation which preceded this - an utter and complete disconnect. I still do not get it. And this left me thinking of the concept of family and our need for family.
In 1Timothy 5:1-16, Paul lays out an argument for what is now considered to be a literal expression of correction in the church, church duties, etc. But, is that really what Paul is talking about?
I do not think so, I think Paul is talking about family, God's family, your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, siblings, children - everyone in the Christian body, plays some family role in your life. In short, we are the family of God and everyone in it is to matter to us personally! I had a good friend from one culture where elders were all addressed as aunt and uncle! It made me laugh to be called uncle!
It is easy to ignore most of those family members, they are far away. Their deaths in a Kenya, at a shopping mall, or beheaded in Egypt or Syria have no impact on us we can see - and yet they do. We are obviously not natural relatives to one another, but we are a blended family. Much the same as in my early life, with brothers and a sister whom were blended with me by my father's many marriages. Most of them I had known most of my life, so it was no real shocker, just needing to find ways to adjust and not fight with them! And all of us, because we had known each other, found it easier to do this and at the same time have a level of respect for one another. Yeah, there were still problems of one parent or the other taking the wrong side in an argument, based on genetics, but over all we managed. Or in my own family of bringing four children together from different cultures and backgrounds, albeit all Russian, but mind you there were more than a few problems to deal with along that trail!
From Paul's outlook we are family and each is to be treated with respect, albeit differently based upon age, position, sex, etc. Not unreasonable at all. Except we live in a culture where age, sex and position is afforded no respect any longer.
When we see needs within our family, we are to meet them! The most vulnerable within any family are the widows and the orphans - they have no one to care for their physical needs. These are the ones we must care for. Whether it is cash or labor, we are called to help them in their distress - and in this culture, no one exactly makes their needs known - probably because they see the needs left unfulfilled in others lives.
And I think on "Pastor Bob" in his call for everyone to send him $1,000 to guarantee their access in Heaven - and the multitudes of "believers" send their $1,000 to his ministry and let the widows and orphans they do know about - go in need. Really? My Bible seems to tell that ALL of our responsibilities are to these two groups. It is not our place to judge them or question - it is to help. Even I, as crippled as I am, can still mow grass or pick weeds or even cook a meal to help a family member in need.
Back in the early 1990's, in another church, in another town, we had an orphan girl whom would come to learn about God. She walked about three miles to do so. I also learned that her father had been killed in a drug war shootout. Many would have nothing to do with her, she was after-all just white trash and no good would ever come of her. Really? This was the attitude of those in the church? I made it overt, my helping her. No there was little I could do: offer rides, an occasional meal, allow her to visit the house and just hang out. It made a big difference in her life. I probably could have done more but I still had lots to learn back then myself. Had I of been smart I might have tried to adopt her, hindsight is always 20/20. I still hear from her from time to time. Just a little example of what you might want to become aware of in your church and do in the effort to care for others.
Here in America I have been stunned by how unwilling people are to help others! If the cash does not go to the church, so that it is tax deductible, then no help will ever be possible! Really? God says take the tax deduction before helping others? That is plain evil folks - and don't expect God's blessing in you or your church's life!
Mind you, we are to individually practice charity but there is a responsibility which goes along with that as well. You are to know that your money or efforts are not going to waste. Yeah, we are not to just pass along the dollars and let God figure it out! There are lots of crazies out there. They will spend your money on drugs, alcohol, porn, gambling, video games or even Starbucks! So, you need to be watchful and know that money, if that is what you are giving, is going to be used wisely. But, more importantly - you are to be responsible - not the church to be in your place! By church I am referring to the organization doing any of the charity! We are to take care of family, they are ours to care for - carefully, responsibly and individually. And God will bless those efforts, because I know it will bring a reaction - one way or another.
Interestingly, back in the good old days of "Rome hates and kills Christians", there was a devastating flood in the Provence of Galatia, a chunk of today's Turkey. The Christian churches sent people, supplies and money to help the devastated towns. The Romans were in awe. They did not even help each other, much less those opposed to their very existence! It was a powerful witness at the time.
Yeah, we have floods and earthquakes, storms and destruction by nature and war. I wonder if there are any opportunities in there for you to help others in your family right now?
*****
(as a side note: I have in the past mentioned people whom could use support. Kim, an African missionary was one such whose work was supported by my readers. And I have been waiting to identify another, a Mexican, whom is caring for orphans in his little town in Chihuahua - wracked by drug wars, on his meager earnings. However, his area was devastated over the weekend by the flooding from twin typhoons which hit and then an earthquake! He is not in good shape right now, more than a few broken bones (he is my age!) and no medical care is available to him. His mother also sustained a broken arm. Not sure as to property damage and it might be another week to even hear more from him. So, I would ask that you join with me in prayer - for his healing, for his ministry, etc. It is needed, easy to do and free to give!)
Monday, September 23, 2013
Family Mattters
This weekend was might hard on me. My daughter continues to vex me and Satan continues to use every opportunity to hammer me. This time it was on FaceBook.
Apparently she decided to unblock me. Yeah, back in August 2012 she completely cut me out of her life, unfriended me, blocked me, changed emails, changed IDs, etc. Everything she could do to seperate herself from me.
Why even bother to mention this? Well, I do not know what to do! The father in me would run to her, or at least send a message and ask if this was an accident or a first step. This Kris, the one she never knew, whom was born December 29, 2012 - and it was a painful birth!, is completely out of his element here. I have no idea how to begin to address.
I thought to call her mom, but she changed her number and also unfriended me. Yeah, it was a power struggle she won - she kept her daughter's affection at the cost of killing me. So, if daughter took this step, without her mother's knowledge, there is no reason to get her deep with my sister I long to have as my friend again.
And, I promised not to stalk my daughter, and being a man of my word, I will not. But, if she wants to be in contact, I wish she would. If she thinks I hate her for what she did - I do not. If she thinks I could no longer love her, she would be wrong, she is my daughter until the day I die. She simply wastes my life, each day she has been gone.
Then again, I know my body is terribly weakened, Two hospitalizations, 164 heart attacks as of last April, one heart surgery that has not cured the problem. No I know my days are numbered every time I stress about something, every time I am surprised, every time I see a spider ... And I would have her back while I can still make a difference in her life and show her what she never understood.
Yeah, prayer is needed for her, for me, for her mother, for my niece - whom is what keeps me safe, sane and learning how to be human...
Apparently she decided to unblock me. Yeah, back in August 2012 she completely cut me out of her life, unfriended me, blocked me, changed emails, changed IDs, etc. Everything she could do to seperate herself from me.
Why even bother to mention this? Well, I do not know what to do! The father in me would run to her, or at least send a message and ask if this was an accident or a first step. This Kris, the one she never knew, whom was born December 29, 2012 - and it was a painful birth!, is completely out of his element here. I have no idea how to begin to address.
I thought to call her mom, but she changed her number and also unfriended me. Yeah, it was a power struggle she won - she kept her daughter's affection at the cost of killing me. So, if daughter took this step, without her mother's knowledge, there is no reason to get her deep with my sister I long to have as my friend again.
And, I promised not to stalk my daughter, and being a man of my word, I will not. But, if she wants to be in contact, I wish she would. If she thinks I hate her for what she did - I do not. If she thinks I could no longer love her, she would be wrong, she is my daughter until the day I die. She simply wastes my life, each day she has been gone.
Then again, I know my body is terribly weakened, Two hospitalizations, 164 heart attacks as of last April, one heart surgery that has not cured the problem. No I know my days are numbered every time I stress about something, every time I am surprised, every time I see a spider ... And I would have her back while I can still make a difference in her life and show her what she never understood.
Yeah, prayer is needed for her, for me, for her mother, for my niece - whom is what keeps me safe, sane and learning how to be human...
Friday, August 9, 2013
Bummer
So locked out of my account for the better part of two weeks - thank you Google for your haphazard rules and regulations, so that those without an interest in having Google know their phone number can no longer access their accounts!
My trip to Colorado was altered mightily when one of my classmates and one of two I was going to be seeing, decided to fall ill and spend the whole of my time there in the hospital. Make no mistake, I am gravely worried for him and have been encouraging ALL of my Christian friends and relatives to be praying for him. If that includes you, please do join us in prayer - for his healing, his body's ability to fight these cancers and maintain his will power. For his family: strength, wisdom, faith when there is no reason for any to exist. And then there is the problem of finances. He was the sole paycheck and they have little, much less enough to address August's expenses, much less, this disaster. In short, I am seeking many miracles. He has been a friend, a brother and someone I have looked up to for decades.
The point of this post this post is to give you a heads up on an important prayer item. I will tell you more about the trip next week, once i have had some sleep.
My trip to Colorado was altered mightily when one of my classmates and one of two I was going to be seeing, decided to fall ill and spend the whole of my time there in the hospital. Make no mistake, I am gravely worried for him and have been encouraging ALL of my Christian friends and relatives to be praying for him. If that includes you, please do join us in prayer - for his healing, his body's ability to fight these cancers and maintain his will power. For his family: strength, wisdom, faith when there is no reason for any to exist. And then there is the problem of finances. He was the sole paycheck and they have little, much less enough to address August's expenses, much less, this disaster. In short, I am seeking many miracles. He has been a friend, a brother and someone I have looked up to for decades.
The point of this post this post is to give you a heads up on an important prayer item. I will tell you more about the trip next week, once i have had some sleep.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Hit and Miss
It has been hit or miss since last Thursday as to whether or not my laptop would start, if the router would work and/or the modem would stay up! Just too plain hot!
This little computer I installed a fan in to help cool the circuits, then I have a 30" fan blowing on me and all of the workstation equipment and behind that a large air conditioner - and it has been a struggle keeping the temperature under 75! So lots of line drops, lots of wireless and hardware failures and flat out will not restart on the laptop.
But, I have been busy and hope to post a picture tomorrow of what I have been up to in the sweltering heat! Lots of hard work and with a back that has been out the entire time as well! Oh well. Work on the computer in the morning coolness, then do the physical stuff in the later heat - which backwards from what I needed. But, you will like the results when I can get the picture resized in photoshop tomorrow.
I am getting stronger and regaining some of my hand muscle, as well as, brain function.
Two weeks ago it took me 6.5 hours to change a bicycle type and tire. Sunday it was only 30 minutes! How is that for improvement?!?!?!? Still have some of the hand stiffness. Not sure as to why but bit by bit Kris is fighting back to humanity. No, probably no awesome adventures left to await me (that I know of!), but I will be satisfied to see my life resolved as soon as possible.
Ran into KJ, one of "my boys" from years back. Skinnier than a starving greyhound! Guess he lost his job, has been on the street and not doing well. He is talking about going back home to his mother (really bad idea!) so I have him set up for an interview Friday. Not the best job in the world, but it pays enough to actually live on with paid benefits. Never any coincidences in our lives as Christians. Just as it was important for him to stumble across my path and get a free meal, it will probably be shown why it is important to me as well, later.
Also ran into James, I told you about him months ago. He was taken down by some police, whom thought he looked suspicious and broke both of his wrists. So, he was laid off as a bus driver because, hey he can't drive any longer. Guess he is now involved in a multi-million dollar lawsuit against everyone but the tidy bowl man! We had a long talk and yeah, he needs prayer for healing - physically, mentally, emotionally; but more importantly he needs discipleship. That later point is a sore point for me because none of the churches in my town invest in this. So what few Christians there are, are misled and/or babies in the faith - not that I am the rock of Gibraltar, but at least I did invest years into being discipled.
Well, need to get this posted. It is grand-kid day and they will be awaking soon.
Shhhhhhh, be wery, wery quiet ..... I think I hear the wustle of a wabbit ..... heh, heh, heh, heh!
This little computer I installed a fan in to help cool the circuits, then I have a 30" fan blowing on me and all of the workstation equipment and behind that a large air conditioner - and it has been a struggle keeping the temperature under 75! So lots of line drops, lots of wireless and hardware failures and flat out will not restart on the laptop.
But, I have been busy and hope to post a picture tomorrow of what I have been up to in the sweltering heat! Lots of hard work and with a back that has been out the entire time as well! Oh well. Work on the computer in the morning coolness, then do the physical stuff in the later heat - which backwards from what I needed. But, you will like the results when I can get the picture resized in photoshop tomorrow.
I am getting stronger and regaining some of my hand muscle, as well as, brain function.
Two weeks ago it took me 6.5 hours to change a bicycle type and tire. Sunday it was only 30 minutes! How is that for improvement?!?!?!? Still have some of the hand stiffness. Not sure as to why but bit by bit Kris is fighting back to humanity. No, probably no awesome adventures left to await me (that I know of!), but I will be satisfied to see my life resolved as soon as possible.
Ran into KJ, one of "my boys" from years back. Skinnier than a starving greyhound! Guess he lost his job, has been on the street and not doing well. He is talking about going back home to his mother (really bad idea!) so I have him set up for an interview Friday. Not the best job in the world, but it pays enough to actually live on with paid benefits. Never any coincidences in our lives as Christians. Just as it was important for him to stumble across my path and get a free meal, it will probably be shown why it is important to me as well, later.
Also ran into James, I told you about him months ago. He was taken down by some police, whom thought he looked suspicious and broke both of his wrists. So, he was laid off as a bus driver because, hey he can't drive any longer. Guess he is now involved in a multi-million dollar lawsuit against everyone but the tidy bowl man! We had a long talk and yeah, he needs prayer for healing - physically, mentally, emotionally; but more importantly he needs discipleship. That later point is a sore point for me because none of the churches in my town invest in this. So what few Christians there are, are misled and/or babies in the faith - not that I am the rock of Gibraltar, but at least I did invest years into being discipled.
Well, need to get this posted. It is grand-kid day and they will be awaking soon.
Shhhhhhh, be wery, wery quiet ..... I think I hear the wustle of a wabbit ..... heh, heh, heh, heh!
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Redo?
Do you ever face a situation and wonder, " What is God trying to tell me here? " ?
As some of you know, I adopted four Russian orphans back in the 1990's, whom are now all adults, some with their own families now.
God led me to try and help the daughter of a friend, and well , yeah, that one went very badly. Though the book is not closed, except in her mind.
Then God brought my "niece" along and she accomplished what daughter tried to do. I am so terribly proud of her.
Yet, before all of them was a young Welsh girl whom came to me for help and legally there was nothing I could to help her other than be a mentor, much as I did with daughter in her earlier years. And, she faded away into the black hole of culture, so adept at consuming innocence.
And tonight, I had a message from her on facebook, asking if I would be willing to meet with her ..... Is this a redo from God? A chance to correct a mistake I may have made decades ago by not filling in for her one (mostly missing) parent? I felt tremendous guilt at the time because I did the "right thing" and rebuffed her approaches, turned her to other women in the church, asked for prayer and did what I thought was right. But, what happens when all drop the ball? It happened to her, it happened to my daughter, it happened to my niece.
When the family fails, when the church fails, when the individual believer fails - someone has to pick up the pieces and it will either be an ill prepared servant trying to do the right thing or someone from the culture preying upon the young.
She is a part of the burden I have carried for decades. The knowledge I could have at least tried but allowed others to talk me out of a Christian duty which then went unanswered by anyone.
Of course, now that I think on it, I had just been shafted by a foster child, when this Welsh girl came along. So, it was a might easy to not do the right thing. Just as daughter played with my head and made it easy not to do the right thing for my niece....
I can still see the torment in my niece's eyes as she tried to express her frustrations to me/ with me - when I knew all along but had done nothing and that was wrong of me.
Perhaps something the Christian Church needs to relearn, as I did: if you can not make yourself vulnerable - at risk - for others, then you never will reach the lost and hurting. You and your faith have just become worthless.....
As some of you know, I adopted four Russian orphans back in the 1990's, whom are now all adults, some with their own families now.
God led me to try and help the daughter of a friend, and well , yeah, that one went very badly. Though the book is not closed, except in her mind.
Then God brought my "niece" along and she accomplished what daughter tried to do. I am so terribly proud of her.
Yet, before all of them was a young Welsh girl whom came to me for help and legally there was nothing I could to help her other than be a mentor, much as I did with daughter in her earlier years. And, she faded away into the black hole of culture, so adept at consuming innocence.
And tonight, I had a message from her on facebook, asking if I would be willing to meet with her ..... Is this a redo from God? A chance to correct a mistake I may have made decades ago by not filling in for her one (mostly missing) parent? I felt tremendous guilt at the time because I did the "right thing" and rebuffed her approaches, turned her to other women in the church, asked for prayer and did what I thought was right. But, what happens when all drop the ball? It happened to her, it happened to my daughter, it happened to my niece.
When the family fails, when the church fails, when the individual believer fails - someone has to pick up the pieces and it will either be an ill prepared servant trying to do the right thing or someone from the culture preying upon the young.
She is a part of the burden I have carried for decades. The knowledge I could have at least tried but allowed others to talk me out of a Christian duty which then went unanswered by anyone.
Of course, now that I think on it, I had just been shafted by a foster child, when this Welsh girl came along. So, it was a might easy to not do the right thing. Just as daughter played with my head and made it easy not to do the right thing for my niece....
I can still see the torment in my niece's eyes as she tried to express her frustrations to me/ with me - when I knew all along but had done nothing and that was wrong of me.
Perhaps something the Christian Church needs to relearn, as I did: if you can not make yourself vulnerable - at risk - for others, then you never will reach the lost and hurting. You and your faith have just become worthless.....
Friday, May 10, 2013
Slow Times
My life seems to be remarkably slow this week, well what can you expect? I got platinum in my heart these days! So, sort of like a catalytic converter on American cars, only in cars it is known to start fires and corrupt fuel efficiency, whereas in me I get to just putter along. I so want to run my metal detector over my chest and see what it reads!
My first post operative doctor's visit went well, he wants me back next week for another stress test. Yeah, just show me an IV needle and that ought to just about do it! Then he is chomping at the bit for getting me in to the Swedish hospital for the real work at restoring my heart.
I remember last thursday laying there in the operating room and thinking, "Yeah, this just had to happen - after I was made human .... And, it may well be that I would not have survived without feelings. Feelings bring hope. There is not much hope when your arteries are clogging and you have virtually no cholesterol to speak of. There is no real long term solution.
I have been up and walking quite a bit this week, trying to do two miles a day or so. So far the only real stress was surprisingly getting my haircut of all things! Yeah that one should have been stress neutral at the most! And what should have been the most - set my heart at peace. Go figure, this body and God's ways, I may never understand them.
As usual for this week, I can not sit for long without exhaustion, so if you are praying for my healing, please continue. If you are praying for my destruction, well that would make you my daughter, whom ought to talk with me. If you do not pray at all, you might want to consider this quaint practice - it does change things, often our own perspective.
ciao!
My first post operative doctor's visit went well, he wants me back next week for another stress test. Yeah, just show me an IV needle and that ought to just about do it! Then he is chomping at the bit for getting me in to the Swedish hospital for the real work at restoring my heart.
I remember last thursday laying there in the operating room and thinking, "Yeah, this just had to happen - after I was made human .... And, it may well be that I would not have survived without feelings. Feelings bring hope. There is not much hope when your arteries are clogging and you have virtually no cholesterol to speak of. There is no real long term solution.
I have been up and walking quite a bit this week, trying to do two miles a day or so. So far the only real stress was surprisingly getting my haircut of all things! Yeah that one should have been stress neutral at the most! And what should have been the most - set my heart at peace. Go figure, this body and God's ways, I may never understand them.
As usual for this week, I can not sit for long without exhaustion, so if you are praying for my healing, please continue. If you are praying for my destruction, well that would make you my daughter, whom ought to talk with me. If you do not pray at all, you might want to consider this quaint practice - it does change things, often our own perspective.
ciao!
Friday, April 26, 2013
There is Still Hope
Thursday was a beautiful day, lower 70's, bright, sunshine. I had finished physical therapy for the morning and walked the half mile to a grocery store, picking up enough for for two days worth of meals and then started for home. Well, I didn't get much past started, because my knee, even in its brace, collapsed. Luckily I was but a few hops from Starbucks. So, I picked up an iced tea and sat in their outdoor section, alone but in full enjoyment of the morning.
Humming birds buzzed around my head, some chick-a-dis thought my banana bread looked mighty good. And about 150 feet away sits Tony with a sign readying, "World War II Veteran, help need.".
Now Tony has been a fixture there for about three years now. I heard that he lives with a grand-daughter whom works at the grocery store and as she works, he tries to pick up some extra money for them. Very sad how this culture fails its true heroes. Sadder still at how the local church ignores the needs of those, in or outside, of their ministry! Here sits a ministry opportunity ... unanswered by any of the 24 churches within a one mile radius. I have even seen my own pastors walk past him with no comment. Cold, distant, out of touch, pure evil, but I am not condemning the pastors, for they are but a reflection of this culture.
I sat there for perhaps an hour and no one approached him at all. And I thought to myself, this is an evil and vile culture when the old can not even sustain their lives without begging! Then, when reduced to begging, there is no one to help. So, I prayed, "Lord, I really do not know this man's story, and I know that I have never helped him since he showed up after I lost my job. But, please bless that man as you deem appropriate. Amen."
Within minutes a guy walked up and started arguing with the man. I am not sure what was said but the young guy stomped off. Then one of the Starbucks workers came outside and took him a drink. I thought, wow! As she walked back, but too far for me to have politely said anything, I quietly mouthed, "Thank you."
Her eyes lit up and she smiled and mouthed back, "I love him..." The grand-daughter perhaps? But, no, it turns out.
He quietly sat there with his Starbucks, sign in the other hand.
The young man whom had some sort of argument returned with a sandwich and cold drink from one of the local shops and set them on the sidewalk beside him. By now the Starbucks lady rejoined and they all walked back to the table beside mine as she was telling Tony she was on break. They talked for a long time, so I heard his story. The young man as he left promised to bring him lunch everyday. As the young woman had to return to work, they hugged and he got up to walk back to t his chair. She gave me another look, quizzical but kind. The only new female I have encountered this year I thought I could trust, if I had to, and I would like to just end this year with the one I have as a friend now.
I picked up my bag and with cane in hand joined him as he walked back to his chair. He was being honked at by an impatient woman wanting to drag race out of the drive through lane. I gave her a contemptuous look and she took her hand off of the horn and allowed the two to of us to walk across the driveway, slowly as she now chatted on her phone.
Tony is a neat old man. We talked for about half an hour. Yeah, I will probably yak more with him when I can walk that far again!
Those two young people have renewed my hope for mankind. Each different, probably each with their reasons for helping him, but two is more than I have ever seen help him in the previous three years.
And should this weekend's gun show go well, I guess I will be able to help him a little as well.... I should probably add that the only reason I was at Starbucks is because my youngest daughter gave me a Starbucks card this month. She is a dear and spoils this odd duck of an adoptive father, God has saddled her with. Which is lucky for me or I would never have been at Starbucks otherwise.
Humming birds buzzed around my head, some chick-a-dis thought my banana bread looked mighty good. And about 150 feet away sits Tony with a sign readying, "World War II Veteran, help need.".
Now Tony has been a fixture there for about three years now. I heard that he lives with a grand-daughter whom works at the grocery store and as she works, he tries to pick up some extra money for them. Very sad how this culture fails its true heroes. Sadder still at how the local church ignores the needs of those, in or outside, of their ministry! Here sits a ministry opportunity ... unanswered by any of the 24 churches within a one mile radius. I have even seen my own pastors walk past him with no comment. Cold, distant, out of touch, pure evil, but I am not condemning the pastors, for they are but a reflection of this culture.
I sat there for perhaps an hour and no one approached him at all. And I thought to myself, this is an evil and vile culture when the old can not even sustain their lives without begging! Then, when reduced to begging, there is no one to help. So, I prayed, "Lord, I really do not know this man's story, and I know that I have never helped him since he showed up after I lost my job. But, please bless that man as you deem appropriate. Amen."
Within minutes a guy walked up and started arguing with the man. I am not sure what was said but the young guy stomped off. Then one of the Starbucks workers came outside and took him a drink. I thought, wow! As she walked back, but too far for me to have politely said anything, I quietly mouthed, "Thank you."
Her eyes lit up and she smiled and mouthed back, "I love him..." The grand-daughter perhaps? But, no, it turns out.
He quietly sat there with his Starbucks, sign in the other hand.
The young man whom had some sort of argument returned with a sandwich and cold drink from one of the local shops and set them on the sidewalk beside him. By now the Starbucks lady rejoined and they all walked back to the table beside mine as she was telling Tony she was on break. They talked for a long time, so I heard his story. The young man as he left promised to bring him lunch everyday. As the young woman had to return to work, they hugged and he got up to walk back to t his chair. She gave me another look, quizzical but kind. The only new female I have encountered this year I thought I could trust, if I had to, and I would like to just end this year with the one I have as a friend now.
I picked up my bag and with cane in hand joined him as he walked back to his chair. He was being honked at by an impatient woman wanting to drag race out of the drive through lane. I gave her a contemptuous look and she took her hand off of the horn and allowed the two to of us to walk across the driveway, slowly as she now chatted on her phone.
Tony is a neat old man. We talked for about half an hour. Yeah, I will probably yak more with him when I can walk that far again!
Those two young people have renewed my hope for mankind. Each different, probably each with their reasons for helping him, but two is more than I have ever seen help him in the previous three years.
And should this weekend's gun show go well, I guess I will be able to help him a little as well.... I should probably add that the only reason I was at Starbucks is because my youngest daughter gave me a Starbucks card this month. She is a dear and spoils this odd duck of an adoptive father, God has saddled her with. Which is lucky for me or I would never have been at Starbucks otherwise.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Loss of a Musketeer
It was October 1973, I became a Christian thanks to the efforts of a lady in my uncle's church. Swedish Rocket Scientist did the same due to a random witness whom crossed his path in college. His younger brother also separately had become a Christian through a radio ministry. We were all baptized together. Add Dutchman and there was now a foursome of trouble makers. :) Often accompanied by Dutchman and our cousins. We have had quite a 39 year run!
Through the years we all stayed in touch. We all supported one another in all ways. We are a band of brothers. Yes, you can pick your family.
Monday evening, I got the call we have all dreaded, the death of one of us.
It was Ed, the little brother of SRS. SRS and his sister were in Olympia at a hospital where their lone relative was following another stroke. SRS had just moved her there last week from the homeland so that she would be closer to him and his siblings. So the police left a message on the sister's phone.
Of course, since that was all there was in the message, we had no idea what happened. SRS was finally able to meet with the coroner Tuesday and it turned out he died of a heart attack while visiting a friend. It is good he died with friends, but he may well have not even have known it. Heart attacks are no my idea of a great way to go..... But, his family has a long history of them, their father having his first at 53 and then the final one at 56. Ed was 59.
Last Tuesday, Dutchman and Swede had met with me and discussed what to do about Ed. He has been chronically under employed his entire life and with retirement rapidly approaching - well, what is he to do? Thursday, SRS met with him to discuss this. Nothing was settled and SRS left him with things to think about. That was the last any of us heard from him.
If you would be in prayer for strength for what is left of their family through this hard time, it would be appreciated. And pray for consciousness for Ellie, the aunt, with a chance to witness yet again to her and for her to choose wisely.
Through the years we all stayed in touch. We all supported one another in all ways. We are a band of brothers. Yes, you can pick your family.
 |
| From Rear: SRS, Sister, Ed. |
It was Ed, the little brother of SRS. SRS and his sister were in Olympia at a hospital where their lone relative was following another stroke. SRS had just moved her there last week from the homeland so that she would be closer to him and his siblings. So the police left a message on the sister's phone.
Of course, since that was all there was in the message, we had no idea what happened. SRS was finally able to meet with the coroner Tuesday and it turned out he died of a heart attack while visiting a friend. It is good he died with friends, but he may well have not even have known it. Heart attacks are no my idea of a great way to go..... But, his family has a long history of them, their father having his first at 53 and then the final one at 56. Ed was 59.
Last Tuesday, Dutchman and Swede had met with me and discussed what to do about Ed. He has been chronically under employed his entire life and with retirement rapidly approaching - well, what is he to do? Thursday, SRS met with him to discuss this. Nothing was settled and SRS left him with things to think about. That was the last any of us heard from him.
If you would be in prayer for strength for what is left of their family through this hard time, it would be appreciated. And pray for consciousness for Ellie, the aunt, with a chance to witness yet again to her and for her to choose wisely.
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