Let's Wrap This Up - My List

Rethinking My Thinking, Angela Mackey

Bridging the Gap Africa

The Pastor’s Blog, Charles R. Swindoll

Exodus Road, Matt and Laura Parker

Bible Studies, Ken Raggio

Life Coaching, Tsh Oxenreider 

Author, Writer, Speaker, Recovering Know-It-All, Sarah Bessey

Bossy Mom, Susan E. Hill

The list are at the top of a long list of blogging people having influenced my life and those I know. Others are not listed because:

1. I did not ask their permission to publicize their name
2. They are not public writers and therefore, you might not be able to see or hear them unless you attended their church or private seminars. 

These people are non the less very important to my life and many others. They have wisdom, patience, life experiences that could relate to most of the population; storms, illness, abuse, dysfunction, disaster, etc. 

What I have observed during the past decade among these people I know about in one form or another, is how life has changed them and ME. 

WOW! 2017!!!

Natural disasters of every type, human made disasters of every kind, and their emotional impact on everyone. We band together to help (as much as we can) each other and in many circumstances ask ourselves and "the experts", What happened and Why????

I am a practicing, professing Christian and these events challenge me to fall in the Word of God (Bible), pray/converse/ask/communicate with God to know how to handle the specific ones I, my family, neighbors and people in our area experience. 

Thanksgiving and Christmas find many of us recovering from SOMETHING. In all of this, I believe the Call to Find Something Good to be Thankful for. When I was sitting in our House Cave, talking to my daughter as the repairman worked on our AC system, I wondered HOW it was going to be repaired. 

Then, I thought of: 

• Bridging the Gap (building bridges in native villages) working in foreign countries to help save people walking across streams. 
• Exodus Road staff saving and relocating children and adults from human sex trafficking.
• TED talks and the incredible people that open their lives to help others adapt or recover to some of life's most challenging situations or just how to improve your speaking skills. 
• Blogs, sermons, books, internet streaming and YouTube channels provide exposure to incredible thoughts, suggestion, comments on how to live or rebuild your house/car/bicycle. 

There is SO MUCH to offer, if you just try. 

BUT, you say, I cannot write our build or travel. 

CAN you get a pen/pencil and paper and write a note to an author or speaker telling then how much they helped you? SURE YOU CAN! You local stores sell envelopes and stamps. The Post Office will actually sell One Envelope and One Stamp to put your note in. 

Recently, a person told me, REPEATEDLY, how she never won a lottery or had any talents and life was such a struggle. Later, my wife told me, that person just sold a house she could not climb the stairs anymore and paid cash for the one we were standing in. She has a better, prettier home in a beautiful neighborhood and the few items needing repair or replacement can easily be handled by help from family or friends. 

OH, YES, regarding our home. Nine 9 inches of water had two days to soak and ruin everything touching the floor. Our power remained on the entire storm and after and remained below the electrical plugs. The AC kept running drying out our house. We have appliances (frig, oven, bath, toilet) that sustain living and our mattresses were kept above the flood by their frames. 

SO, unhappy? Yes. Thankful? YES! Have spent four months with family (which, honestly, is always a strain on everyone) I mean, OMG, FOUR MONTHS of everyone's schedules being disrupted in some form. They have and are Gracious Hosts and gone to great lengths to make our stay as comfortable for all us. We have had visitors for up to one week (5 days) and were happy when the time came for Normal to return. FOUR MONTHS!!!

any way....2017 You have been a Monster. I am thankful it was NOT worse but REJOICE you are leaving!!!!

2018....REMEMBER YOUR MANNERS!!! Please.

And to ALL the Writers, Speakers, Workers of every sort, Keep doing what you are called to do, you have encouraged Many, MANY people, most of all...ME!!

God bless. 

WHY?

Do I have the Right/Privilege to know?

When I think and write about life and questions that arise because we do not understand or know information about our lives, I focus on Christian philosophy. I know more about Christianity than all the other religions, which is to say I do NOT know very much. People have studied the Bible and related material all their lives (50 years, 80 years, 125 years) and concluded, at their end, they barely knew God or how he works. 

AND they Definitely did NOT understand Christians!

In the Bible book Genesis and Exodus, God focused on individuals to mold and save nations, primarily Israel. He focused on Pharaoh and Moses, in one account, to prepare his people Israel and to announce himself to the Egyptians. 

Pharaoh and Moses had HUGE egos and massive tempers. One eventually destroyed a nation, while the other set free a nation; because ONE rejected and defied God and ONE accepted and obeyed God. 

Moses could have returned to Egypt, announced God's plans, packed everyone and left. He COULD have, but God told him, this is going to take some time because I want to save more than My People.

Pharaoh COULD have told Moses and all Israel to Get Out NOW and the entire event would have been over in about a month. BUT he did NOT! God had hand picked this man to be the Key to the year long display of God's power and control over Earth. 

Here is my point: Parts of your and my life may be flowing smooth as greased glass while other parts are moving as if mired in Winter mud. Consider the following: 

• Part of your life ONLY involves you
• Part of your life involves another person or people

God told Moses, I will send you to Pharaoh to deliver my people Israel BUT he will not let you/them go. THEN I will display my power/control of their gods and this Earth. Moses and Pharaoh both had a huge tempers and egos, while the entire Nations of Egyptians and Israelis were basically watching God perform and these two men react. 

Christians often/regularly ask God to use them/us but our understanding of the consequences of our requests is so limited that we (like Moses and Pharaoh) end up re-asking God, WHY is this taking so long or happening like this? WHAT is going on?

Hurricane Harvey comes to the USA for a visit. Half a million people suffer mild to complete devastation, and others are not touched. Some are victims in need and others are Caregivers with resources to aid victims. News reporters observe how the best and worst surfaces when people undergo severe stresses and we focus on the Best because we REALLY want to Be Good and Do Good and Help our Neighbor. 

In that process is God, working to improve us and help us improve. Sometimes, the Victims become the Caregivers as "tools" to improve/purge/cleanse/educate/refine those taking care of them. One home is repaired in days or weeks, while another takes months, and the delays begin to look as if SOMEONE is directing the slow downs. 

While reading a novel or watching a movie, we are often given clues to the Plot which allows us to "engage" ourselves in the rationale of the characters and author(s). This Freedom of Information also, to some degree, causes us to "feel" in control and agree/disagree with the plot and outcome. LIFE does not always grant us such freedom. In fact, Very OFTEN we are blind to the What and Why of our scenarios as they play out. 

I have a carnal/flesh/resistant spirit/attitude/nature which make me fight what is happening in my life without my permission. Prayer/confession/humility and asking forgiveness gradually realigns me with God and we move forward (his pace, his direction) and I learn. 

Remember Pharaoh? He proclaimed, "I do not know your God and do NOT have to obey him." That statement is not entirely correct. He was governing GOD's people and they were praying/studying/conversing people about their God. Pharaoh HAD TO KNOW SOMETHING about Moses's God. Remember WHERE Moses originally came from?

SO, if you are in the Tool part of your Play and you think the other performers are ignorant of Your God, I suggest that may NOT be the case. God CHOSE Pharaoh and put him on the throne to Use Him; and I am persuaded to CHANGE him. Ask God which part are you playing in this scheme (and how well are you performing). 

NOTE: Personally, I am not doing well (in my opinion). 

When these times are over, I believe we will observe a deliverance on the scale of the Exodus (in a Spiritual/Emotional/Health sense) in our families, neighbors, towns and nation. Also, consider that a mixed multitude left Egypt with Israel to serve their God; but that mixed multitude was also emotionally and spiritually mixed up. 

If you have ever searched for THE perfect Church? It DOES NOT EXIST!!!

BUT the imperfect ones that work together to serve God and each other Do VERY well and have for thousands of years. We are almost there (End of Time) sort of concept, so let's give these remaining years our absolute best. We HAVE MUCH TO GAIN!

Closing out 2017 with anticipation of 2018 wonders and blessings and growth. 

ONE 1/4 Inch Hose

Have you ever thought of how much water/fluid can flow through a 1/4" water line? Valve fully open, unchecked, water pressure here approximately 50 psi. Inside a home, it is enough to wreak havoc.

Let's imagine 1 hour. I tried to find a calculator to determine the volume flow but for this blog, it was too much effort.  I will say, whether you have 1/2" of water covering 100 sq ft or 9' covering 1,700 sq ft, it's a nightmare. Tear up flooring, remove X inches high dry wall, drill holes in studs to air out the flooring, turn on multiple fans that simulate a Large military cargo aircraft; you probably have a good visual by now.

I commented to Connye, my wife, that standing water for two days or 1 hour is virtually the same destruction; maybe one more mold here and there but mox nix.

Looking at the aftermath and water reparation demo, I almost cried, hurting for my relatives. YET, if the flow had not been discovered and continued for, say, 5 more hours, their home would be in the same state of destruction as ours, due to Harvey.

Equality. We have our caste system in america but catastrophic events can bring a sense of equality to a family, neighborhood, city or nation, so fast you cannot calculate it. Saint/Sinner, Poor/Wealthy, Ill/Healthy, there are situations that can equalize our standing with Life and each other.

Our community has a social media page for neighborhood communication. I asked the status of my neighbors to get an idea where our home repair was in relation to others in our area. The replies have been encouraging, to me, because I can relate my progress to others and consider we are all moving forward in approximately the same speed for similar reasons.

Visiting neighbors on the sidewalk, or standing against a tree or just talking loud across the street, is a form of venting. Even though we cannot help each other, just knowing that the intent to help is present is also a forma of therapy. Being a Christian or not becomes a mute point, in times like these. We help each other because they are our neighbor; because they need help, as we do and because there is a basic sense of compassion to help that person pull their ox out of the ditch.

In time, all this will be a distant memory (memories) but the pain and grief will surface to remind us how fragile we all are. I recall the proclamations of those with Egos and/or Titles how Perfect they are In All Things and I know that ONE incident can change their magnificent selves into a humble, broken, possibly homeless lowly human. Am I anticipating this horrific change so I can gloat? No.

There is a sadness just thinking what these people are missing as they gaze down on us, from their lofty tower of greatness. A person wrote, "It's better to take a lower position/chair/seat and have others promote you than to proclaim your wonder, before all and someone/something bring you down in front of the crowd.

When we are recovered from this storm and all it contains, I do not want to forget My Need of My Neighbors, Strangers, Family and especially my GOD; His Word, His Spirit, His Love and Mercy and Compassion and Presence in the sound and shape of, "Can I help you? I have some cold water, would you like a drink? We have hot pizza, are you hungry and would you like a sandwich?"

Almost three full months. I may have mentioned that I asked God to help us return to our home in December 2017. It's not a command, or "Your Word Says.....". It's just a humble request to my loving Father to help my family and bring relief to our benefactors that opened their home to us.

One of my neighbors observed behavioral changes in our neighbors and the absence of laughter, friendly wave and it disturbed him that this Storm may have hurt us in a negative way. We both thought about that and decided Only Time and Faith and Healing will reveal how we personally recover.

I worked in UTMD for several years and trauma, whether from certain types of illness, war wounds, death can go deep into your emotions and spirit. I also noticed the Children Patients and their ability to rebound, laugh, encourage themselves and each other. Their Simplicity and Innocence and Trust and Love would continually revive their Joy and Forgiveness and Hope in their Future.

A man once noted to a group of adults, "Unless you become as little children..." Unless you surrender your hardness, bitterness, anger and become innocent, forgiving, loving, tender, merciful, caring, you WILL not survive." The ONLY way we can survive the difficulties and hardness and evil of life is to become as little children; Respect one another, respect and obey righteous laws, confess our sins and forgive ourselves and each other.

Well, I will let you know what the 2nd week of this December has for my wife and I. I pray this Christmas becomes truly a time of Worship, Family get together's, Joy and LOTS of laughter.

FORGET the gifts that drain your bank accounts and overflow your credit cards, just send us and each other LOVE.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Well...Well...Well

November 14. 2017 and we are still living with relatives....as are hundreds, if not thousands, of other people. I could post pictures of our home but they don't tell the Whole Story; that's just damage/destruction.

Over the decades, friends have suggested I think of what others may be experiencing. Hmmmmm, H o w, does one do that....?

UNLESS, one Experiences disaster/trauma/catastrophe! Ummmm, well there is THAT method.

Otherwise, the descriptions and explanations are just words and/or pictures or videos of destruction and people wading through waist deep water. In other words, some occurrences have to be LIVED.

I have wept from frustration, anger, loss of trust and respect. I have watched staff of suppliers (grocery stores, flooring, paint, mechanics) start crying because they could not help with whatever we needed. Short of staff, in the context of a catastrophic event; A business/church/person serviced or served an area for 20-30 years, hundreds or thousands of customers. NOW, a LARGE percentage of those past customers are coming to you for help repairing home, car, church, etc.,

According to the movies, all our problems can be solved in 2hrs or less with 20 commercial breaks. This is America. We have instant everything, 24/7. We have AAA, Insurance of every type, Bank Accounts, pristine lawns and homes in pristine neighborhoods (at least on TV). WAIT! Not everyone has one or any of these. Many did not have Flood (RISING WATER) Insurance or a savings account or bank account equal to the 20%.

Hey, Hurricane Harvey victims, think about a form of counseling for PTSD. If you are not familiar with that term, then Depression or Anxiety or How Do I Recover feelings. Recently, I posted a question on FB in our neighborhood, regarding the status of repairs of my/our neighbors. The replies were informative, refreshing, encouraging, sad and, in some instances, funny.

The point IS, I learned about our neighbors and we had a chance to share, which helped me, if no one else. We were not alone and were about the same phase of recovery? or at least headed in the correct direction. I sympathize with Puerto Rico, Florida, New Jersey/New York (remember Sandy). LONG after the celebrity fund raisers are gone and media has moved on, many of us will still be recovering AND will need an Ear to hear or Shoulder to lean on or just someone to Share with.

I tried to attend Church, this past Sunday, but was at my emotional limit and One question pushed me over into tears that would not stop. For those experiencing any of the above emotions or others, God has not forgotten us (even tho it seems so) but sometimes we NEED something/someone with flesh on it. I went home to bed and slept. Rest is absolutely essential for our emotional and physical health.

I realize that referencing God can seem cliche' or superficial and to some, totally useless. In my life, God has always been an influence and support and guide but has seemed VERY distant and quiet when I need that security the most.

You may have noticed, I am venting and this is my counseling session. Some call it "speaking to the universe" and I am fine with that analogy.

If you have not suffered a traumatic event recently or ever, then my request is for you to just be patient with the rest of us. We have learned or are learning the innocents have nothing to relate to; you just don't get it and that is okay. Until water was flooding our home at a speed too quick to save anything that it reached, I could not sympathize with former flood victims. Nor could I grasp water sitting in our home, our street, knee deep, for days. I can NOW!

Well, well, well. I think I'm done. WOW, I feel better! To everyone (government, civilian) that helped us, my wife and I sincerely thank you.

NOW, is this one of THOSE letters a person writes and destroys??

Ps: This Christmas, we will be back in our home, living and being thankful. At least, that is MY plan:) :) :)

WOW, All That Has Happened Since Then....

My last blog was in 2014 and the events of my life and others have suffered catastrophic changes. Storms of every sort; hurricanes, tropical storms, earthquakes, divorces, changes of command and leadership philosophy at every level or our country.

The SHOCK or PTSD experienced by civilians, in this country has been horrific and a gold mine of case studies for the social and psychological academics. For the average person, watching others suffer various forms of life change trauma is sobering enough but experiencing and enduring it is, as always, quite another form of understanding.

Allison, Katrina, Ike, Harvey, Irma are natural disasters that unlike Wars and Conflicts (which are still wars under a different label) cause a type of trauma that, it seems, our minds cannot fathom or justify.

For example: Wars: okay, humans are mean and often enjoy torturing and destroying each other in nightmarish ways. We almost can accept that. But natural disasters come from this loving, serene, comforting Mother Nature that most of the times cares for us like a Mother Hen her chicks and other creatures that show such love and care for their young.

Then, from that same benevolent nature spring these cataclysmic events that destroy our lives and routines in times ranging from minutes to days and last a lifetime. I, family, friends and strangers are experiencing that SHOCK now and it is a struggle to maintain our sanity, relationships and hopes for better tomorrows.

We humans are a wonderful lot and bond with each other thru binding together to survive. We tell each other, we are going to make it and we will, but we WILL BE CHANGED and DIFFERENT.

A person once said, when you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on. Another commented, tie the rope around you and let the rope hang on. Which ever method you choose, just hang on and keep putting your life back together.

Make this year 2017 the best one yet.