It's becoming increasingly difficult to ascertain whether what "they" are telling us is true or not. In almost every arena, the "experts" are telling us what is going on in the world, what products are good or bad for us, and who is honest and who is not. It reminds me of the defendant (who has pleaded not guilty) in a murder trial, when asked to swear to "tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me God", indignantly responds......"hey man, I may be a murderer, but I ain't no liar." Oops, for the defense.
We are facing a boatload of problems; Covid, variants, vaccine or no vaccine and if yes, which one, economy, racial tensions, political disharmony (inter and intra party), terrorism (foreign and domestic), scammers, hackers, identity thieves, open for business or shelter in place, established companies going under and startups acting like Fortune 500 icons, newscasts which tell widely differing accounts of the same event.......
How are we to know who and what to believe; and why are we hearing from so many of the dozens of also-ran Democratic 2020 presidential candidates who seem to be part of the "Biden team", and what about the loyal(?) Republican opposition?
..........so help us, God. In my mind, HE is THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH........
Sent from my iPad
.
Friday, January 29, 2021
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
January 26,2021. Holiday Island, AR. Something About Seven
As Karen and I spent our second day moving things from our RV to the cabin, it dawned on me that we spent seven years living full time in the RV, seven years volunteering at the Passion Play. We owned our second home in Fort Collins for 21 years (7x3) and before that had lived on Timber Lane in Fort Collins from 1990 to 1997 (7 years) when the "500 year" flood forced us to do major repairs to the house and one year later we sold it. We had paid $77,000 for the house.
We lived in Lakewood on Moore Street from 1977 to 1990, just shy of 14 years (7x2) when we moved to Fort Collins and the Timber Lane house. I celebrated my 21st year as a Christ follower (7 x3j in June of 2020 the same month we moved into the cabin here in Holiday Island. When you add the digits in my birthday it comes to 25 which when added to each other come to 7. My all time favorite baseball player, Mickey Mantle, wore number 7 and when I raced across the country in RaAM 1983, I finished in seventh place. My favorite number has always been 7.
I guess you can tell, I didn't have anything real profound to write about on 1/26/2021 whose digits when added come to 14 (7x2j. It's been a long, but very productive day. A solid seven hours of sleep would sure feel good. See you next time.
Sent from my iPad
We lived in Lakewood on Moore Street from 1977 to 1990, just shy of 14 years (7x2) when we moved to Fort Collins and the Timber Lane house. I celebrated my 21st year as a Christ follower (7 x3j in June of 2020 the same month we moved into the cabin here in Holiday Island. When you add the digits in my birthday it comes to 25 which when added to each other come to 7. My all time favorite baseball player, Mickey Mantle, wore number 7 and when I raced across the country in RaAM 1983, I finished in seventh place. My favorite number has always been 7.
I guess you can tell, I didn't have anything real profound to write about on 1/26/2021 whose digits when added come to 14 (7x2j. It's been a long, but very productive day. A solid seven hours of sleep would sure feel good. See you next time.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, January 23, 2021
January 23, 2021. Holiday Island, AR. Memories
As Karen and I have been rummaging through the boxes we brought from Colorado to Arkansas, and now going through the things we carried with us in the motor home for the past seven years, we are "unearthing" some memories of not only our married years, but many things from our early years and things which belonged to our parents which were passed down to us, and so many things we "just couldn't live without".
It's really amazing to unpack boxes of medical records, receipts, check registers, books, cd's, DVD's, audio tapes, VHS movies, thank you notes, insurance policies, bank statements, investment records, calendars, old clothes, dishes, silverware, travel brochures, photographs and so much more. It's fun to recall a lot of our past by the items we never threw away or gave away, and just packed away so we can decide what to do with it NOW. Most of it is not Antiques Roadshow quality, or of any interest to anyone but us, but it is part of our past and what has been a wonderful adventure.
Our motor home will soon be part of our past also, and it served us well as we took our Ministry of Miles on the road seven years ago. This coming week we hope to have it all spiffied up and ready to put the For Sale sign in the window. We'll let our "Campers' on Mission" friends start spreading the word that a 2006 Fleetwood Discovery 39L is on the market and see what happens. God already knows who wants it and we pray it will be someone who will enjoy it is much as we did and use it to serve Him as we have done and will continue to do. It only has 30,000 miles.........
Interested?
Sent from my iPad
It's really amazing to unpack boxes of medical records, receipts, check registers, books, cd's, DVD's, audio tapes, VHS movies, thank you notes, insurance policies, bank statements, investment records, calendars, old clothes, dishes, silverware, travel brochures, photographs and so much more. It's fun to recall a lot of our past by the items we never threw away or gave away, and just packed away so we can decide what to do with it NOW. Most of it is not Antiques Roadshow quality, or of any interest to anyone but us, but it is part of our past and what has been a wonderful adventure.
Our motor home will soon be part of our past also, and it served us well as we took our Ministry of Miles on the road seven years ago. This coming week we hope to have it all spiffied up and ready to put the For Sale sign in the window. We'll let our "Campers' on Mission" friends start spreading the word that a 2006 Fleetwood Discovery 39L is on the market and see what happens. God already knows who wants it and we pray it will be someone who will enjoy it is much as we did and use it to serve Him as we have done and will continue to do. It only has 30,000 miles.........
Interested?
Sent from my iPad
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Sunday, January 17, 2021
January 17, 2021. Holiday Island, AR. On The Mend
Yesterday was a month since my pickup truck accident. The bruise on the outside of my left knee has gone from the size of a baseball to the size of a silver dollar and has progressed from red, blue, black, purple, green, brown, yellow to its current almost normal skin tone. This should have taken about two weeks, but longer for us up-in-age folks.
As for the truck, maybe we'll know more this week. I've done a few chores around the cabin, taken some walks on the dirt roads, stayed away from the fitness club and minimal time at the Play or RV the past month; and just awaiting the echocardiogram scheduled for the 28th and the scheduling of my shoulder surgery. It has been a lazy time, but a chance to enjoy the cabin, catch up on files, mail, looking through bins and boxes, appreciating the slower pace and thanking God for how He has watched over us, protected us and provided so bountifully.
Every time I look at this cabin and our acreage, at all the things we have "reaped" where we haven't "sown", the prayers answered and the "mending" which God has brought to our life, I am amazed at how blessed we are. With so much happening "in the world" it is refreshing to have a place to escape it and wait on God and His path for us.
Pray for America, our leaders and our people, for mending of hurts, mending of emotions and mending of hearts; a humbling and a return to civility and gentleness and thanking God for His favor, when we have not always favored Him. No matter what we are being told, we have gone beyond what we can fix or solve in our own strength. We need God, we need His plan, we need His Kingdom......and we need it NOW. In advance and with believing faith......Lord, mend our land........THANK YOU LORD.
Sent from my iPad
As for the truck, maybe we'll know more this week. I've done a few chores around the cabin, taken some walks on the dirt roads, stayed away from the fitness club and minimal time at the Play or RV the past month; and just awaiting the echocardiogram scheduled for the 28th and the scheduling of my shoulder surgery. It has been a lazy time, but a chance to enjoy the cabin, catch up on files, mail, looking through bins and boxes, appreciating the slower pace and thanking God for how He has watched over us, protected us and provided so bountifully.
Every time I look at this cabin and our acreage, at all the things we have "reaped" where we haven't "sown", the prayers answered and the "mending" which God has brought to our life, I am amazed at how blessed we are. With so much happening "in the world" it is refreshing to have a place to escape it and wait on God and His path for us.
Pray for America, our leaders and our people, for mending of hurts, mending of emotions and mending of hearts; a humbling and a return to civility and gentleness and thanking God for His favor, when we have not always favored Him. No matter what we are being told, we have gone beyond what we can fix or solve in our own strength. We need God, we need His plan, we need His Kingdom......and we need it NOW. In advance and with believing faith......Lord, mend our land........THANK YOU LORD.
Sent from my iPad
Thursday, January 14, 2021
January 14, 2021. Holiday Island, AR. New Phone
My cell phone decided not to work a week and a half ago. It had a long life, as cell phones go. I took the old phone with me to the store and all of a sudden it came to life. It was similar to IRMA, our Garmin GPS which went nuts one day, but came to life when we were about to trade her for newer model. IRMA is still with us to this day, but my old Samsung 6 has been relegated to WI-FI status (if we ever get WI-FI service at the cabin). I now have a Samsung A51 for my contact with the outside world.
Remember when we traveled across the country using pay phones, CB radios, paper road maps, cash and vacancy signs on motels as our travel aids. Boy, have the times changed, but it was a far cry from covered wagons, shooting your supper and cooking out over a wood fire.
We live in a fast-changing world. We see so many new things every day. New medicines, new companies selling products we have never seen before, life styles and world views which defy the moral standards we grew up with, rampant technological advances(?) and having so much of our personal lives available to the general public and being vulnerable to hackers, scammers, identity thieves, spammers, robo callers and people who want to take what is ours and make it theirs.
And amidst all this, my new phone knows more about me than I know about myself. Is it listening to me while I sleep, monitoring our private conversations, building a record of my activities which are open to prying eyes and evil-minded people? Poor Samsung 6, awaiting WI-FI and it's potential return to some of its former glory. Oh, for simpler times.
Sent from my iPad
Remember when we traveled across the country using pay phones, CB radios, paper road maps, cash and vacancy signs on motels as our travel aids. Boy, have the times changed, but it was a far cry from covered wagons, shooting your supper and cooking out over a wood fire.
We live in a fast-changing world. We see so many new things every day. New medicines, new companies selling products we have never seen before, life styles and world views which defy the moral standards we grew up with, rampant technological advances(?) and having so much of our personal lives available to the general public and being vulnerable to hackers, scammers, identity thieves, spammers, robo callers and people who want to take what is ours and make it theirs.
And amidst all this, my new phone knows more about me than I know about myself. Is it listening to me while I sleep, monitoring our private conversations, building a record of my activities which are open to prying eyes and evil-minded people? Poor Samsung 6, awaiting WI-FI and it's potential return to some of its former glory. Oh, for simpler times.
Sent from my iPad
Monday, January 11, 2021
January 11, 2021. Holiday Island, AR. Out Of The Box
For nearly seven years, Karen and I lived in a 39foot Class A Motor Home. When we found the cabin in the woods in May of last year, it meant we would be expanding our "box" from about 400 square feet to over 2200 square feet, have a wrap-around deck, and plenty of room to roam outside. Of course, it meant a totally different life style and while Karen never stayed in the RV after we moved into the cabin in June, I split time between both locations until the Play season ended on October 31. Then I became a commuter, with the RV being an occasional oasis.
With the virus, the potential shoulder surgery, my truck accident and my leg injury, the bigger box has been a real blessing, and It would have been a lot different if we didn't have it and had remained solely in the RV for the past seven months. Both of us have felt very fortunate to have found the cabin, been able to afford it, done some fixing, furnishing: personalizing it to make it feel like our own home. We are so thankful that what happened happened and that God let it happen at the time it did. Yes, there have been some obstacles, delays, plans being delayed or modified, but they have all added to the new season we find ourselves in and it's new challenges.
Out of the box, but still committed to seeking, asking and knocking .......taking one day at a time and trusting God for all HE has in store for us. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
With the virus, the potential shoulder surgery, my truck accident and my leg injury, the bigger box has been a real blessing, and It would have been a lot different if we didn't have it and had remained solely in the RV for the past seven months. Both of us have felt very fortunate to have found the cabin, been able to afford it, done some fixing, furnishing: personalizing it to make it feel like our own home. We are so thankful that what happened happened and that God let it happen at the time it did. Yes, there have been some obstacles, delays, plans being delayed or modified, but they have all added to the new season we find ourselves in and it's new challenges.
Out of the box, but still committed to seeking, asking and knocking .......taking one day at a time and trusting God for all HE has in store for us. Thank You, Lord.
Sent from my iPad
Friday, January 8, 2021
January 8, 2021. Holiday Island, AR. Too Many Words #3
Earlier today I set out to blog about the unsettling events of the past week. Since so much has been said already, and the vitriol and finger pointing has not abated, I didn't want to say much. Thus the title, Too Many Words. I added the picture (already posted) as a final "feel good", but I guess the total content was too much to be sent, and it never reached the blogspot. I tried a shorter message, including the picture, but it too was too "wordy" and never made it, and was kicked back to me. I then just posted the picture.
I guess enough has been written and we will have to endure the final insults, accusations, resignations, hateful words, investigations, charges, prosecutions and other attacks on the Trump Presidency, and then await what will probably be an internal battle to see which wing of the Democrats gets its way for the next 2 years until the next midterm elections. And by the way, we are still at the mercy of a persistent virus and a lot of words flying around about it.
Enough said, on my part. No wonder Americans rate the five least respected professions to be: newspaper reporters, tv reporters, car sales people, lobbyists and finally, most dishonest....members of Congress. Those are my "words" for today. Hope you enjoyed the picture.
Sent from my iPad
I guess enough has been written and we will have to endure the final insults, accusations, resignations, hateful words, investigations, charges, prosecutions and other attacks on the Trump Presidency, and then await what will probably be an internal battle to see which wing of the Democrats gets its way for the next 2 years until the next midterm elections. And by the way, we are still at the mercy of a persistent virus and a lot of words flying around about it.
Enough said, on my part. No wonder Americans rate the five least respected professions to be: newspaper reporters, tv reporters, car sales people, lobbyists and finally, most dishonest....members of Congress. Those are my "words" for today. Hope you enjoyed the picture.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
January 5, 2021. Holiday Island, AR. On Hold
I was supposed to have my rotator cuff surgery on December 16, 2020. I really should have had it a year earlier, but I had cold feet and put it off. Unfortunately, the shoulder didn't get better with therapy and my falling down a few times and aggravating it didn't help much either. When I saw the orthopedic surgeon this past December 9th it was time for action and he and I were both prepared to proceed the next week.
But my primary VA doc wanted an EKG and the reviewing doctor requested an echocardiogram and on the 16th instead of surgery, I wrecked my pick-up,and the pick-up damaged my left leg, so things ground to a call. The echo never was scheduled and today I found out the earliest time I can have it is January 28th. So we're on hold and who knows what will happen between now and then, and when we can do the surgery after that, if the cardiologist gives the okay and the primary care doc gives her release to allow the surgeon to operate.
Does it seem like maybe the surgery is not to be? Not for me to say. Too many variables, beyond my control. Kind of like the whole situation we are facing with the virus, the restrictions in place for businesses, hospitals and life in general. And then there is the political turmoil and the decision on what will happen in Georgia and the control of the Senate remaining "red" or turning "blue" or somewhere in between. Are we on hold and at the mercy of too many chiefs and no indians. Ask the Washington Football Team what they think of the Cleveland Indians, Buffalo Braves, Edmonton Eskimos, Golden State Warriors, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves...........and a bunch of college and high school "incorrect" team names. But.......I digress........on hold for.............?
One day at a time, sweet Jesus.
Sent from my iPad
But my primary VA doc wanted an EKG and the reviewing doctor requested an echocardiogram and on the 16th instead of surgery, I wrecked my pick-up,and the pick-up damaged my left leg, so things ground to a call. The echo never was scheduled and today I found out the earliest time I can have it is January 28th. So we're on hold and who knows what will happen between now and then, and when we can do the surgery after that, if the cardiologist gives the okay and the primary care doc gives her release to allow the surgeon to operate.
Does it seem like maybe the surgery is not to be? Not for me to say. Too many variables, beyond my control. Kind of like the whole situation we are facing with the virus, the restrictions in place for businesses, hospitals and life in general. And then there is the political turmoil and the decision on what will happen in Georgia and the control of the Senate remaining "red" or turning "blue" or somewhere in between. Are we on hold and at the mercy of too many chiefs and no indians. Ask the Washington Football Team what they think of the Cleveland Indians, Buffalo Braves, Edmonton Eskimos, Golden State Warriors, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Braves...........and a bunch of college and high school "incorrect" team names. But.......I digress........on hold for.............?
One day at a time, sweet Jesus.
Sent from my iPad
Saturday, January 2, 2021
January 2, 2021. Holiday Island, AR. Starting Over
Every year, I start reading the Bible from "the beginning". January 1 means Genesis 1 and Matthew 1, as well as my Hugs for the Heart devotional calendar which reads:
O Lord,
Help me to live this year
Quietly, easily
To lean upon Thy great strength
Trustfully, restfully
To wait for the unfolding of Thy will
Patiently, serenely
To meet others
Peacefully, joyfully
To face each tomorrow courageously
Yes, starting over, but building on what has gone before, looking to God for His plan, His purpose for me, and how I am to serve Him, serve His Kingdom and come closer to truly knowing Him, being more like His Son, and staying diligent to the promptings of The Holy Spirit. A new year, but more importantly, one more day to live In Him and For Him. Thank You, Lord, for each new year and every new day.
Sent from my iPad
O Lord,
Help me to live this year
Quietly, easily
To lean upon Thy great strength
Trustfully, restfully
To wait for the unfolding of Thy will
Patiently, serenely
To meet others
Peacefully, joyfully
To face each tomorrow courageously
Yes, starting over, but building on what has gone before, looking to God for His plan, His purpose for me, and how I am to serve Him, serve His Kingdom and come closer to truly knowing Him, being more like His Son, and staying diligent to the promptings of The Holy Spirit. A new year, but more importantly, one more day to live In Him and For Him. Thank You, Lord, for each new year and every new day.
Sent from my iPad
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