New Blog

I have started a new blog called Alan's Mobile Life.  The address is www.alansmobilelife.blogspot.com.    I will be only be posting from my new blog from now on.  Thank you for visiting.  God bless you.

Putting Things In Perspective

Everything in life has to do with perspective.  How you look at something, determines how you will react to it.  If you look for the negative in a situation, you will surely find it.  It's so easy to find the bad in anything, it's our nature to do it.  What makes us different, what makes us stronger, is looking for the good, the positive, in life.  It's up to us to choose which way we will live our lives.  

I've heard it said that who we really are, is not who we are everyday, when things are normal, and comfortable.  The real us, comes out when the unexpected happens.  The unhappy, uncomfortable things, that happen on the spur of the moment, bring out who we really are.  We can put on a happy face to the world, and fool everybody into thinking we've got it all figured out.  But, we can't fool ourselves.  We can't fool God either.  He knows us far better than even we know ourselves.  

Because God loves us, He wants us to be the best we can be.  He will allow things to come into our lives to 'shake us up' every now and then.  They may look like bad things at the time, if we are faking our way through life, if we are looking for the negative in everything.  But, if we are being true to ourselves, and trying to see everyday life as a good thing, they don't look so bad after all.  Only through God can we see bad as good, negative as positive, down as up.  When we become a part of God's family, we inherit His attitude.  His way of looking at things.  We see through His eyes, not our own.  Because of this, life becomes an adventure, not something to dread.  

There are two different kinds of people.  The first, when 'bad' things suddenly come up in their lives, they panic.  They worry, usually about how it will affect 'them'.  They can't see past their own concerns.  They only see what's going on right now, right in front of them.  When we are worried, and scared, and looking at these things negatively, we can't learn from them.  These kinds of people only try to figure out how 'they' can solve the problem, and get it over with as soon as possible. 

The second kind of people, when 'bad' things happen, stay focused, looking for the reason behind the situation.  These people don't rely on 'themselves' to solve the problem.  They go immediately to the only One that can solve it, God.  If we give a 'bad' situation to God when it happens, He will help us to see past the worry, and the panic.  He will help us to see the lesson to be learned from even the scary things in life.  When we realize that He is in control, that this thing is no surprise to Him, then there is no reason to worry, or panic.  When faced with a life or death situation, there is calmness, and peace.  We sit back and watch what He is doing, and let Him take care of things.

Recently, as my last post shows, I was in what I thought to be one of those life or death situations.  As I was laying on the bed in the ER, with IV's in both arms, and struggling for every breath, I thought that this was my time to die.  I've often thought about when I will die, as I'm sure everyone does at one time or another.  As a Christian, I know that when I leave this body, I will immediately be in the presence of the Lord.  So, it's not really been my death I feared, it was the dying that I was dreading.  But as I lay there, waiting for my last breath, I suddenly noticed that I wasn't scared.  I had a wonderful peace inside me.  There are no words to describe this peace.  As the Bible says, it's beyond our understanding.  I know now, that when my time actually does come, I will peacefully slip from this life, into real life.  Life everlasting.  

I know this has been a long post, but my point is the same as always.  If you do not know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you can't have this peace.  You might try to fool yourself and go to church, and sing the songs, and put on the happy face.  But, when it comes your time to die, will you have this peace?  Or will there be absolute fear, knowing that you will be separated from the God that created you, and loves you, and wants you to spend your eternity with Him, not in Hell?  

If you want this peace, everyday, no matter how life is treating you, all you have to do is ask God to forgive you of your sins, and ask Jesus to be your Lord and your Savior.  Invite Him into your heart and your life.  Make Him a part of everything you do.  24/7.  When the unexpected happens, and it will happen, then you will be ready to go through it, with peace and calmness.  God bless you.  Amen.

Pericarditis

I have had some crazy, scary things happen to me in my 52 years on this planet, but I thought Thursday, June 9th was going to be the last day I ever spent here.  I woke up at 1a.m. thinking I was having a heart attack.  I had such a crushing pain in my chest, I couldn't even take in a breath.  I immediately got out of bed, hoping it was some strange effect of sleeping wrong.  I know, but I was hopeful.  When I stood up and realized it was still happening, I was truly scared.  Carolyn woke up and told me I was going to the ER.  I started to argue, but it's sort of hard to do when you can't breathe.  So, the adventure began.

We hurried and got to the car, still in our pj's, and rushed off to the hospital.  I'm so glad there weren't too many cars out at that time of night.  I was urging Carolyn to drive as fast as she could, and would have loved for her to run a few red lights.  Like I said, I was scared.  

When we got to the hospital, the lady at the desk could see the seriousness of the situation.  I was clutching my chest, trying to breath, and moaning very loudly every time I tried.  They hurried up and got me in a wheelchair, and took me to the head of the line, rushing me back to the ER, and getting me in one of their little cubicles.  I was immediately surrounded by nurses, asking me questions, and trying to assess the problem.  They were very thorough, and professional.  Even in my state of panic, I felt like they were going to be able to help me.

I was given Nitro-glycerin to help with the pain.  I have never had one of those pills before, and never want one again.  They burn like crazy under your tongue.  But, it helped.  I was given a total of 3 nitro pills, and 4 chewable baby aspirins.  These helped to ease the pain in my chest, but gave me a really nice headache.  I was soon given an IV, and administered a nitro drip.  They also gave me something called Diloden.  I don't know how it's spelled, but did it ever work.  It calmed me down quickly, and helped stabilize my breathing.  I began to see the light at the end of the tunnel, and I wasn't walking toward it right then either.

After an hour or so of this, I was transported by ambulance to St. Vincent's Heart Center, in Indianapolis.  They were very professional also.  They took me to a little room about as big as a broom closet.  It was just big enough for a bed and a chair.  It was called the Short Stay area.  They were so nice and comforting there.  After the cardiologist came in, he had me sent right up to have a heart catherization.  I must have told those poor people 20 times, at least, that I wanted to be put out for this procedure.  I did not want to be brave and experience the sensation of having something shoved through my veins, from my groin, to my heart.  They were so nice to put up with me.  I will never win any awards for heroism.  The results came back, and my arteries, veins, or whatever, were clean.  The other blood tests, and ultrasound test, showed that I had not had a heart attack.  That was very nice to hear.  But then, if it wasn't a heart attack, what was it?

The cardiologist, Dr. Brindley, told me it was Pericarditis.  This is caused by a virus of some kind entering the sac around the heart, and causing inflammation.  According to the Dr., the pain is far worse than a heart attack, but there is no damage to the heart.  Another nice thing to hear.  It lingers for a week or so, making it difficult to breathe.  You also shouldn't try to lift anything heavier than 5 to 10 pounds, or try to do anything to excess, for about 10 days.  I am taking the next week off of work, without pay, so that I can get this healed up and gone.  I don't ever want that pain again.

Now, I am back home, recuperating.  One thing I learned from this experience, is the fact that, when faced with the possibility of sure death, I was not scared.  I found myself more concerned with making sure Carolyn knew that I loved her, and thanking her for praying for me, and being a good wife to me.  The thought of dying was actually quite comforting.  That comes, I imagine, from being prepared to die. 

Facing death is not something that happens everyday.  I remember telling people that I was not scared to die, but in the back of my mind, wondering if it were really true.  I am so glad that almost 18 years ago, I gave my life to Jesus, and accepted Him as my Lord and Savior.  I asked God to forgive me of my sins, and turned it all over to Him.  It was a decision that forever changed my life.  And, as it turns out, changed my outlook on death also.  

God is so gracious and kind to us, even when we don't deserve it.  Because of this 'experience', I am going to get behind on my bills, and probably lose a few things along the way.  But the cool thing is, I know that God has a plan for all of it.  Everything I lose, is something that I didn't need anyway.  There are other houses, cars, etc.  If God sees fit to let me lose something, He will provide something else.  I can't say that it's not a little scary to face losing a home I've been blessed with for almost 28 years, but God has gotten us through so many other things in our lives, I know He will be there for us now.  It's all His anyway, to do with as He pleases.  I am just 'borrowing' it while I'm here.  "It's so sweet, to trust in Jesus."  

May God bless you and yours.  And if you don't yet know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, today is a great day to accept Him.  You'll never regret it.  Amen.

John Piper Interviews Rick Warren About Doctrine

Video is cut in half, but you can still hear the interview. I hope you enjoy the conversation. It's over an hour and a half long.

Carolyn's 50th Birthday Party

We had a surprise birthday party for Carolyn's 50th birthday.  It is so hard to surprise her.  She asks question after question.  Also, I felt so guilty hiding things from her for so long.  I don't have much of a poker face, so she can usually tell when I'm hiding something.  

It was a lot of fun for her.  She really enjoyed having family and friends celebrate her birthday with her.  Family from Kentucky, and Rushville, and friends from our old church, Smyrna Baptist Church, all showed up at Carolyn's parents pole barn, and hid out until she and I got there.  I'm so glad it's over too.

God blessed us with a nice day.  It did start storming later in the day, but the birthday party was over right when the sky got dark and nasty.  All in all, it was a really nice day.

Life And Death

I am in this world

Susceptible to pain, grief, and failure

But I am not of this world

Accessible to grace, mercy, and forgiveness.

The world knocks me down

But the Hand of God picks me up

The darkness of the world leaves me cold

But the Light of God fills me with warmth.

I am bombarded by hate all day long

I gently extend a hand of love

Temptations attack me from all sides

God’s love surrounds me like armor.

The world says to hold on to all it has to offer

But my hands are open, to receive all God’s blessings

The world says that I can’t do it

But God says nothing is impossible with Him.

I appreciate the home God has given me here

But I have a better home waiting, not built by human hands

The world says this is it, no Heaven or Hell to worry about

But I believe there is more to this life, than what my eyes can see.

Light and peace, or darkness and fear

To me, of course, the choice is clear

I would rather live one day, in the presence of God

Than live a million lifetimes in this forsaken world.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus, take hold of my hand

And lead me into that faraway land

Where my eyes will never more close in sleep

And all that You have sown, I will evermore reap.

Written by Alan L. Crabtree - 11.9.2010

Passages (7 haikus in 1 poem)

The size of a door
Two sides short, two sides longer
Same as a coffin.

No coincidence
For all things have a purpose
It's God's perfect plan.

The womb, the first door
New life here just beginning
By God's loving hands.

Use your time wisely
Glorify God, help others
That's what life is for.

Cherish the seasons
Spring, summer, fall and winter
The order of life.

The grave, the last door
Life everlasting somewhere
Up Heaven, down Hell.

Which way will you go?
Life's final destination
It's your choice to make.

Written by Alan L. Crabtree - 2.10.2009

2 Timothy 3:16 - 4:5

The King James Version says:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;  Preach the word;  be instant in season, out of season;  reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and doctrine;  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;  but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

The New International Version puts it this way:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:  Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.  For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.  But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

Not matter what version you read, it all says the same thing.  We are living in the last days.  The days that the Apostle Paul was writing about, are here.  People ARE turning away from the truth, and following whatever teaching makes them feel good, for the moment.  They are turning away from the One True God, and making up their own gods.  Gods that will make them feel good about themselves.  Gods that won't tell them they are sinning, that what they are doing, and saying, and thinking, are okay.  It's normal behavior.  But the Bible says that when we come to Him, God makes us MORE than normal, MORE than natural.  He makes us to be SUPERnatural, as He Himself is.  Not that WE are gods ourselves, but that we become God's children.  


The world needs to hear what we as Christians have to say.  If we will endure hard times, and criticisms, and do the work of an evangelist, we will see people saved right up until the end.  God's Will will be done, on earth, as it is in Heaven.  Don't give up, don't give in.  Fight the good fight, run your race, do the work God has given you to do.  Then we will receive the crown of righteousness from Him, to be laid at His feet.  


Keep looking up, watching and praying, enduring till the end.  Lift up His Holy Name.  Amen.

September Sun

I haven't written in awhile, and, for some reason, this poem has been on my mind lately.  I wrote it on 10.13.2010.  I may have posted it before, but I need to again, for some reason.  God bless.

A slight chill is in the air,

Soft crunching underfoot,

As leaves finally break free

Of the tight grasp of the stubborn trees,

Lined along the sides of the streets

That run back and forth near my house.

The sad, bare branches

Become more evident every day

As they prepare themselves

For the inevitable winter

That is slowly creeping in,

And making its’ presence known.

The September sun shines brightly,

Throwing shadows in places

That July would never imagine.

Once again, getting our minds off summer,

And bringing forlorn thoughts

Of long sleeves, and sweaters.

God has His own special way

Of making us ready.

Like using autumn to gradually prepare us

For coming cold weather.

And allowing aches and pains

To soften the blow of old age.

As I sit and watch the children play,

My thoughts turn to earlier days.

When that was me, hiding in a pile of leaves,

Waiting for the chance to jump out and scare my friends.

Then we’d laugh and run, and run, and run.

All the while, ignoring the September sun.

Gone But Not Forgotten

I haven't posted anything on this blog for about a month and a half now.  I just haven't had anything to say that I thought was worthy of sharing.  There are so many things going on in the world, and my own little part of it, that I haven't really felt like sitting down and putting hands to keyboard.  

It's not depression or anything, it's just taking time off to think.  We all go through phases every now and then, and this is just one of mine.  So, it might be a while before I add a new post.  Or it might be tomorrow.  I'm so fickle.  

The important thing is, GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME.  AND, ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD!!!  AMEN.

Getting Better All The Time

Well, now it's been two weeks since my shoulder surgery, and I'm actually starting to get better.  After my visit to the ER last week, I wasn't sure what was going to happen.  What my family doctor, Dr. Nancy Griffith, found out, was that the medicine that my surgeon put me on after surgery, was causing an allergic reaction.  He put me on Loratab, so Dr. Griffith put me on Tramadol, a different kind of painkiller.  So far, it's made a HUGE difference.  I'm not living in a cloud, I've stopped swelling up, and it takes away the biggest part of the pain.  

Unfortunately, I have been experiencing some depression.  I was starting to go through some depression for about a month before my surgery, but I just tried to pretend it wasn't REAL depression.  I'm usually happy-go-lucky and try to find the sunny side to things, but this was really starting to affect me.  Since the surgery, it has started getting worse, probably due to the Loratab.  Since I've switched meds, it's a little better, but not gone.  Again, I believe there is a reason for everything that I go through.  God will take care of it, whether by divine healing, or some form of medication, whatever He sees fit to do.  I trust Him.

I've been to therapy three times now, and it's starting to loosen up the shoulder, although it still feels like somebody has beat me with a baseball bat most days.  The therapist says that I've got really good range of motion for this soon after surgery, so that's good to hear.  I'm supposed to go back to work on March 22nd, so I hope this thing heals pretty quick.  I've missed church for the last two weeks, due to the pain, and the mess I was going through last week.  I'm going to try to make it next week.  I'm really missing it.  

Things are starting to look up for me.  Thank You God.  You are Good.  All the time.

BORING! BORING! BORING!

Well, it has been one week since I had my surgery.  Actually, it will have been one week as of 12:30 today, but who's counting?  I thought it would be a straight-forward surgery, in-out, 6 weeks recovery, and back to work.  Not so much.  

Two days after I had the surgery on my shoulder, I was going to the ER because of excessive swelling in my abdomen.  Over the course of two days, last Tuesday and Wednesday, I gained 14 pounds.  Needless to say, I was concerned.  When I got home from the hospital Tuesday, I didn't eat or sleep until late Wednesday afternoon.  Then on Wednesday, I had two small meals.  Not enough to gain 14 pounds.  Due to the swelling, I had pressure in my abdomen/chest, making it hard to breathe.  Because of this, I was getting light-headed. We contacted our family doctor, Dr. Nancy Griffith, at home, and she said to go to the ER to be evaluated.  That was four hours I'd like to get back.  They made me wait for 2 hours in the waiting room.  After they took me back to the actual ER, they took blood, did an EKG, ran tests to check my pancreas, liver, kidneys, and heart.  The doctor told me all the tests came back normal.  When he was releasing me, he told me to stop weighing myself, as if that was my problem.  He made me feel like a hypochondriac idiot.  Four days later, I don't feel much better.  I have dropped about 3 of those pounds, but that's still not normal.  I went to my family doctor yesterday, Monday, to let her check everything out, and she was concerned, and very upset at the ER doctor.  She gave me water pills to take for 3 days, and then I go back to her office to be weighed, and have blood drawn to run more tests.  I'm hoping everything turns out ok.

Back to the boring part.  Since the shoulder is still throbbing, and my stomach is killing me, I'm not doing much more than sitting around the house, mostly on the couch.  This is where I'm sleeping for now also.  I am supposes to sleep sitting up so I don't roll onto my shoulder.  This is not my ideal way to sleep, of course, since I enjoy sleeping next to my lovely wife.  I told Carolyn that I know things are bad, because I actually can't wait to get better and back to work.  

I am trying to comfort myself with the fact that everything happens for a reason, even illness and pain.  I am confident that once I get through all of this, I'll be able to look back and see that it was all necessary.  God has a plan for my life, and I trust that He knows what's best for me, and will work ALL things out for the good.  To God be the glory.  Amen.

Surgery And Such

Well, tomorrow is the day for my surgery.  I am having surgery on my left shoulder.  It seems a bone spur has formed on my shoulder bone (?), and is rubbing against muscle and such.  It causes my arm to go numb, and causes a dull, constant pain throughout my arm, down into my fingers.  It causes me to wake up a lot at night.  It's also very irritating.  So, I am having it taken care of.  I will be off work for about 6 weeks. 

I am really, really dreading this surgery.  I trust the surgeon, Dr. Rolston, but all surgery holds any number of unforeseen risks.  I am praying, a lot, and trusting in God for His perfect will to be done.  

I think the paperwork, and waiting on approval of Short Term Disability payment, is just as irritating as the surgery itself.  In some ways, even more so.  I only stand to receive a little over half of my regular pay for the next 6 weeks.  I guess the fact that I'll be saving all that money I usually spend on gas for the car, is slightly satisfying.  

We're looking at ways to cut back on spending.  We are going to get rid of our Dish Satellite TV.  We have hooked a computer tower with a WI-FI receiver, to the TV.  We'll be able to watch some TV shows, and other things, on our TV now.  We also signed up for Netflix.  That will cost $9.99 a month.  So, we are doing pretty good, so far. 

My one consolation in all of this, is the fact that, hopefully, after 6 weeks of healing and physical therapy, I'll be able to start getting more use out of my left arm.  I'm hoping by summer, I'll be as good as new.  After all, God is in control, not me.  Whatever happens, I can rest assured that He will see me through it.  God is good, all the time.  And, all the time, God is good.  To Him be all the glory, and honor, and praise, for ever and ever.  Amen.







 

My Daily Prayer

My Father in heaven.  Your name is special and sacred to me.  Set apart from all other names.  As I long for Your kingdom, let it be in me today.  Let me live out my life on this earth, as I will live it in Your kingdom.  Focusing completely on You.  May Your perfect will be done in me, as it is done in heaven.  

Please provide the nourishment that I need today, both physically, and spiritually.  Help me to rely upon You for my needs Father.  Everything comes from You.  

Please forgive me of my sins.  Help me to forgive those that do me wrong, as completely and unconditionally, as You have forgiven me.  

Please let me not give into Satan's temptations, but deliver me out of the hands of the evil one.  

To You belongs the kingdom, and the power, and all glory, forever and ever.  Amen.

It's CHRISTmas Day!

It's another CHRISTmas day.  It's funny, but I enjoy the idea of CHRISTmas less each year.  What I mean by that is, I dread the idea of HAVING to buy presents, and expect presents. When I was younger, of course, I LOVED getting presents.  And, I've always LOVED to give presents, too.  But as there are more and more years behind me, I see the reason for the holiday is being lost in commercialism.  It saddens me so much to see people spending money they don't have, on presents that don't matter, and giving them to people that don't appreciate them.  Not REALLY appreciate them, anyway.  

I miss the old days when you bought a few gifts for a few people, and you enjoyed it.  I miss hearing the scripture read everywhere, describing the scene in the manger.  The swaddling clothes, the wise men, the gifts.  I miss the respect people gave the holiday.  Now, they're afraid to say the word CHRISTmas.  Happy Holidays.  Season's Greetings.  So sad.  

I want a CHRISTmas where we shut things down.  Stores, restaurants, all non-essentials.  That way, everybody would HAVE to stay home and enjoy their families.   You would have to wait a day or two to go spend your gift card.  Imagine that.  

We need to enjoy the day, the IDEA of the day.  Remember that it is about the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  A gift given to us by God Himself, that we might believe on the name of Jesus, and be saved in the name of Jesus.  Without this gift, we would all be lost, and bound for Hell.  

Spend some time with your family.  Go to church.  Read God's Word.  Give of yourself.  He has given you a marvelous Gift.  Give the Gift away.  The world needs this Gift more than any other.  One size fits all, and you'll never have to return it.  

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  GOD BLESS US ALL!

A Box Of Stars

My post today is a poem I wrote back in January of this year.  I wrote it as part of a poetry exercise.  The exercise was to look around and find an item in the room, and write a poem about it, without much forethought.  I was sitting in my bedroom at the time, and looking around the room, I saw the box on a shelf that contained a folded flag.  It was the flag that my wife received when her adoptive dad passed away.  When I saw the flag, the first thing that popped in my head was, a box of stars.  I wrote the poem in about 15 minutes.  It's kind of a sad poem, about death, and loss, and loneliness.  It is one of my favorites, mainly because of how it came to be written.  Enjoy.

A box of stars
A single rose
Marble squares
In single rows.

Sad goodbyes
Wiping tears
Asking why
Sad despair.


A quiet house
No longer home
No longer loud
Voices gone.


Get out of bed
A life to live
Look ahead
So much to give.


One day, then two
They're all the same
The life you knew
Is like a dream.


You'll heal, with time
God makes a way
You'll soon feel fine
But not today.

Today Is My Birthday!

Every year on my birthday, I am always surprised that I have made it through another year.  When I was younger, I never imagined myself living past the age of 40.  I just assumed I would never see 41.  So, when I did make it past 40, I didn't know what to expect.  Every year I think, will this be the last birthday for me?  I know it sounds odd, but when you've thought something was going to happen for so long, it just gets stuck in there somewhere. 

Today, like every day, I thanked God for another day of life, and in this case, another year.  He has really changed things for me and Carolyn in this last year.  I try to imagine what He will do in the coming year, but I can't go there.  I don't even know if I'll be alive tomorrow or not, much less another year. 

All I do know, is that I am 52 years old, I have a wonderful family, a wonderful and blessed life, and God loves me.  When I finally do leave this place, I have a much better place to go to.  Living for all eternity with my Heavenly Father, and Jesus, His Son, sure beats living here any day.  I will live here as long as God wants me to, then I will go home.  What a day that will be.

The Fast

The fast, much more than a day without food
Does do both the soul, and the body much good,
It clears the mind of its' earthly things
And makes way for answers, that God may bring.


Once desire for meat is set aside
And gnawing hunger pangs have died,
Our time's best spent reading God's Holy word
And silent, sweet fellowship with Almighty Lord.


Though the bond between spirit and Spirit be weak
Our healing begins with the bending of knee,
And while we are promised, His love and His care
True closeness may be found, through fasting and prayer.

A Better Day

The sun rises on a beautiful Monday morn, bright
With the hope of new tidings, unforeseen 'til now,
The happenings of Sunday, can shed on us, no light
For in the rarity of this day, nothing familiar can be found.


How the wind may blow, where the mind may go, who can know
It's a present, waiting to be ripped open,
What's inside, will decide, how the whole day will flow
It's enough to make one spend the entire morning hoping.


Hoping and praying, for a better day than others
So many in the past, are not worth being mentioned,
Today could be the best day, from breakfast on through 'til supper
The sort of day that, when it’s done, keeps us up at night just wishing.


Wishing for another day, just like the one we’d had today
But how could one improve upon perfection,
For sixteen hours, we’d had it all, at least it had felt that way
Let’s give thanks to the Lord, for one good day, but pray for repetition.

Ringing The Bell

Carolyn and I did something today that I have never done.  We helped ring bells for the Salvation Army.  Granted, we only did it for an hour, but the experience was pretty cool.  I've always seen the volunteers standing out in all kinds of weather, ringing those bells, and I always wondered who they were.  Where did they come from.  Well, they are me.  I am them.  Anybody can volunteer to help collect money for the Salvation Army. 

The cool part for us, besides being able to help people, was getting to stand with our friends, Karen and Brook Evans.  They are friends of ours from our church.  We also got to talk to several people going into, and coming out of, Kroger.  I was surprised by the amount of people who just automatically stopped and dropped money in the bucket.  The little kids who put every individual coin in one at a time were my favorite.

I am a people watcher.  I am not a stalker, I just like to watch people interacting with each other.  You can tell alot about a person by how they react to the public.  I like to go to the mall on a busy weekend night during Christmas shopping season, and just watch people.  It's better than any TV show I could watch. 

I have attached a link to a little video I took of Carolyn, Brook, and Karen while they were doing their volunteer duty.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zw3Kn4c_1FA

God's Love

This is a poem that I wrote today.  I thank God for the words He gives me.


I am in this world
Susceptible to pain, grief, and failure
But I am not of this world
Accessible to grace, mercy, and forgiveness


The world knocks me down
But the Hand of God picks me up
The darkness of the world leaves me cold
But the light of God fills me with warmth


I am bombarded by hate all day long
I gently extend a hand of love
Temptations attack me from all sides
God’s love surrounds me like armor


The world says to hold on to all it has to offer
But my hands are open, to receive all God’s blessings
The world says that I can’t do it
But God says nothing is impossible for Him


I appreciate the home God has given me here
But I have a better home waiting, not built by human hands
The world says this is it, no Heaven or Hell to worry about
But I believe there is more to this life, than what my eyes can see


Light and peace, or darkness and fear
To me, of course, the choice is clear
I would rather live one day, in the presence of God
Than live a million lifetimes in this forsaken world


Come quickly Lord Jesus, take hold of my hand
And lead me into that faraway land
Where my eyes will never more close in sleep
And all that You have sown, I will evermore reap.