I Wouldn't Have Missed It For the World

They got married yesterday and I wouldn't have missed it for the world... but we almost did!

I posted The Announcement back in September about a young couple's engagement and forthcoming wedding.
- God had some things for me to learn along the way... especially in regard to casting my cares and burdens upon Him. I had to learn more about letting go and trusting the Lord with the lives of those that are precious to me. -

Their wedding, you see, was in a city 130 miles to the North of where we live -- about 2-1/2 hours drive in good weather -- and yesterday was a snowy, borderline blizzard-like day here in Colorado. It took us over three hours to drive up to where the wedding was. There was blowing snow, very icy roads, and several accidents along the way up and back. We got tied up in traffic about 20 miles from our destination and moved about two miles in half an hour... needless to say, we started getting a tad nervous about making it on time. We have other friends that had planned on going, but decided not to go because of the bad weather. I can't say that I blame them since it was less than an enjoyable drive, but for us it was well worth it.

My previous post is about a group of four young men that have been together all of their lives. The groom was the second born of those young men. He and my son have been best friends pretty much all their lives. The bride was a close friend of my son's through high school and his date for the senior prom. This young couple is very special and important to us. Our son was the best man and our oldest daughter was a bridesmaid.

So this is a rambling post to say that we spent about six to seven hours driving yesterday to be able to spend about six hours celebrating (wedding and reception) with a precious young couple as they joined their lives together.

Thanks and all praise be to God Who made it possible for us to be there with them and to get us home safely.

Four Boys Became Four Young Men

Last evening four men gathered together to remember a time 11 or 12 years ago when we got together to pray over four boys. These are our boys: all within two years of age, that have grown up together from birth and have been friends all along the way.

This is not so common in these mobile days where families move from place to place and state to state for jobs and such. We've been extremely blessed that we've all been able to stay in one place and have our church family for the entirety of our children's growing up years, and so have our children.

These four boys played together, fought thousands of imaginary battles together, fought amongst themselves a time or two (more than once over a stick imagined to be a light saber), and played countless hours of XBox together. Most importantly they have prayed together and encouraged one another.

Now all four have left home and gone off to college.

Yesterday one got married.

Last evening we remembered these little boys that we prayed over. When we prayed for them, prayed that they would be Godly brothers for one another. That their friendships would endure. That they would be there to encourage one another. That as they were growing up there would always be the place to love one another, be able to bring correction to each other, that they would rally to each other and be there to help each other. God, in His amazing faithfulness, answered this prayer.

And last night at a wedding reception, we remembered.

Merry Christmas

I just wanted to take a minute and wish by blog-world friends

Merry Christmas!

May the Lord our God richly and abundantly bless you all.

Grieving

I have not much to say besides my heart is stirred with anguish and grief.

Two shootings today here in Colorado. Both at places of committed to serving and loving others; places committed to sharing and spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ come to earth that we might be forgiven from our sin and that we might inherit eternal life.

As of the most recent report, four people are dead, many others wounded.
Two of the staff at a Youth With a Mission (YWAM) ministry center in Arvada.
Two people at the campus of New Life Church. One an attendee and the other the shooter.

I have wept and my heart continues to grieve.

Come forth Holy Spirit, Comforter, to these many here who need you. Be poured out I pray on this generation.

Oh God, unless you guard the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.

Remembrance

The sermon our pastor brought last Sunday (11/25) was about being a remembrancer.
It was a reminder that we are to remember that which God has given us and that we have a testimony in establishing that which He has done in us and for us.

I spent a good amount of time this week thinking back over much that He has brought me (us) through in these years that I've known Him. (I use the term known very loosely, because I know that I still have much to learn to know my God.) That He knows me, I have no question. How well I know the Living God, well I must take from His word to answer that:
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)

I remembered back to when I was a 16 year-old in my room asking God for a sign to show me He was real. That evening He provided for me a sign that was specifically what He knew I needed. Oh how God knows us and our individual needs (I consider how Jesus appeared to Thomas). God revealed Himself to me the way I needed in that moment at that time. He had His hand on me before I came to know what a wonderful savior He is; He has lead me and guided me since.
Many more things I remembered and all those things point to His absolute faithfulness to bring me through. There are so many times that I didn't understand and I wasn't able to see how His hand was at work. He has delivered me from my ugly and utterly detestable failures; from the sin I could not deserve to be delivered from. He has healed hurts. He has spared my life, my marriage, and my family and allowed me to be called his child, a son of the living God.

As King David said:
I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4
For You have delivered my soul from death,Indeed my feet from stumbling,So that I may walk before God in the light of the living. Psalm 56:13
Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink;May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters. Psalm 69:14
For Your lovingkindness toward me is great,And You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol. Psalm 86:13
Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble;He delivered them out of their distresses. Psalm 107:6
He sent His word and healed them,And delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:20
(All scriptures from the New American Standard Bible)

Lord, to You I give all glory, all honor, and all praise. You alone are worthy.

Re-reading James

The morning after my last post I went back to the book of James and read the first chapter again.
The Holy Spirit has a wonderful way of highlighting the things we need to see.

James 1:19-21 (Amplified Bible)

19Understand [this], my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear [a ready listener], slow to speak, slow to take offense and to get angry.

20For man's anger does not promote the righteousness God [wishes and requires].

21So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls.

This has been echoing around inside me since I reread it.
I so easily get frustrated and angry with myself and with the church, when it seems that we miss the calling so obviously. Yet, it isn't always obvious. And my anger and frustration absolutely will not, and indeed cannot produce or promote the righteousness of God.
Thank God for His Spirit to convict me and remind me that there is always more to every circumstance than I can see, but there is never more to any circumstance than He can see.

I know there are those out there that have needs that need to be met, and I know God knows who He wants to meet those needs. I pray when it is for me to do, I am attentive to the prompting of the Spirit.

I read somewhat recently in My Utmost for His Highest that Jesus never gives up on us, therefore how could I dare to give up on anyone or cease hoping and praying for the breakthroughs in peoples lives that are so needed (paraphrased).
With God ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE.

Be Doers of the Word

I was strongly reminded of where I've been reading lately after reading a couple posts by some single ladies, Ame and Lizzie.

James 1:22-27 (Amplified Bible)

22 But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth].

23 For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror;

24 For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like.

25 But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience).

26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious (piously observant of the external duties of his faith) and does not bridle his tongue but deludes his own heart, this person's religious service is worthless (futile, barren).

27 External religious worship [religion as it is expressed in outward acts] that is pure and unblemished in the sight of God the Father is this: to visit and help and care for the orphans and widows in their affliction and need, and to keep oneself unspotted and uncontaminated from the world.

My heart hurts to think how we dishonor and disgrace and cause to be put to shame, our Lord the Christ because we are such a self-consumed people.
Will we be those to whom Jesus says "Depart from Me, I know you not."?

Strange...

I just got off the phone from talking with my mom. She called to ask me a question about an email exchange between myself and my uncle (her brother) many, many months back.

My uncle bought himself a nice Harley-Davidson motorcycle, the like of which I would love to be able to have myself. We exchanged emails regarding having bikes and toying with the possibility of meeting up and riding together. I thought it sounded like a wonderful idea and if I could have fit some time in this year, would have been glad to do so. Then all email from him stopped. I haven't received any email from him since, even when I'd sent him some.

Back to the phone call... my mom was talking to my uncle yesterday (called to wish him a Happy Thanksgiving) and he came out with a story that I had responded to him in a rude manor, saying something to the affect that I would have to burn the email he sent me. Makes no sense what-so-ever. I never responded to him any such way. That, at least, explains why the emails ceased. The only thing is, I kind of wish I understood where this came from.

I guess there just isn't any explaining some things. I am aware that there have been many strange things like this that have happened between members of this family - misunderstandings or misreadings or something - that have caused rifts, hurt feelings, or something... and then instead of working things out, the just get in a tiff and quit communicating.

My nature doesn't lean that way, so it is very bizarre to me when this kind of behavior occurs.

I only hope that someday, somehow, God will work through to the hearts of all in my family, and that in the way that only He can, heal each one.

Kerry's Post Says It

I was going to sit down and blog about this Thanksgiving and how it has been with our family, Chris gone and Beth here from college, but after reading my wife's blog today, I think she captured it pretty well and I don't need to do much repeating. The only thing to add is that I would say it isn't necessarily just a mother's heart that feels that way.

Time For a Change

Today was the day to change up the look of my blog. I've gotten kind of tired of the old format.

I saw this one with the lighthouse and thought that it is more fitting since the title of my blog is Learning to Live in the Light.

May the Light of Jesus Christ shine upon you, and bring you peace.

Almost Thanksgiving...

Four days from now we will celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday as a nation.

I pray that we as a nation will remember the true meaning and purpose for this day.

To thank God of heaven and earth for the multitude of blessings that He has poured forth upon us as individuals, as communities, states, and as a nation.

God has blessed us abundantly beyond all that we could ask or think...
Yet we, for the most part, take it for granted. We act as though we could somehow deserve the favor God has shown to us; that we, as a nation, are somehow predisposed to receive His wondrous grace and blessing.
We are not.

Without the blood shed for us by Jesus Christ, the Living One, we can never come close to God, the Father.

Forgive us our sin, oh God, as we turn and repent from our truly wicked ways. Forgive us, oh Lord, and heal our sick and broken land. Be gracious to us for Your Name's sake, Lord.
Jesus, we thank You for all that You have done and for the life You have to bestow upon us, if we will only yield to You our hearts and lives.
Father, we ask for Your abundant mercy to be with, and Your covering to be over, the men and women of the armed forces of this country who are overseas serving, that do not have the opportunity to be with their families for this Thanksgiving. Guard their lives and keep them in the safety of Your busom. Dear Lord, thwart every evil plan of the enemy that is desirous to destroy them.
I ask these things of You, oh Mighty God, in the precious name of Jesus Christ the messiah, that You would show forth Your Glory in these dark and perilous times. -- Amen

The Last Day of Summer

Today was a gorgeous day here in Colorado Springs.
It might be the last day of summer.
We had a high temperature of about 75 degrees.
We had winds that qualified for gale warnings: 20-30 mph with gusts up to 45 mph.
It is 7:00pm as of the time I'm writing this and the temperature is still around 65.

Starting later tonight it is supposed to start to snow; the forecast says sometime after midnight. Lows tonight are supposed to be get down into the 20s. BRRR!

So you're probably wondering why I'm giving you the weather update for Colorado Springs. It is because even after living here most of my life, I'm still amazed at how drastically the weather can change in a short amount of time.
I went for a mountain bike ride this morning in shorts and short sleeved shirt; I'll be wearing a ski jacket to church tomorrow.

It is part of what makes living here so unique.

The Announcement...

We had a young couple come to our church today. This young couple also came to the picnic we had afterward and at one point stood up, asked for everyone's attention and shared their special news.

Setting the stage: One of these young people is a young man I have known since he was born, nearly 20 years ago. The young lady I have known for about four years. She was one of my son's very good friends in high school and even dated my son for a few months. I love both of these young people and have been praying for them both.

Their announcement is that they are engaged and are planning to wed either this winter or next summer.

I should be blessed for them, and I seek with my heart to bless them, yet deep within me is a lot of concern for them for many reasons. I'll not go into those reasons here, but suffice to say that I shall be praying for them all the more, and even more than that I shall be praying for God's timing for them, and for them to hear God's timing for them.
I know so well that it is easy to be anxious and impatient when we are young and desiring to be with someone that we care about, that we love. We were there once too.
I also know how difficult the road is, and can be, if we are moving forward without vision and especially without God's vision.


Lord God, I trust you with this young couple; with their lives; with their love for one another. You know that they are dear to my heart, and I know that they are even more dear to Yours.
I know Lord Jesus that they both love You and desire for You to be first in their lives. Help them to hear Your voice above all the voices that are speaking to them. I pray, Father, for Godly counsel and wisdom to be spoken to them from those to whom they will listen. I ask, Lord, that their ears won't be closed to the words spoken to them that may not agree with what they think and feel.
Please, dear God glorify Yourself and Your Name, for Your sake and Your testimony in their lives.
--Amen

Hi - It's Me Again

I'm here to make a posting. Shocking! Yes?

I didn't even look to see when my last post was. I know it's been a while.
Summertime has been here and I have not been on my home computer much. I hit it a couple times a week and that's about all it seems that I have time for. Check the email, sit down to pay bills, maybe try to read a blog here and there...
Tonight was pay bills and since I'm still on and Kerry went to pick up our youngest from youth group, I figured I'd do something strange and actually "POST."

I have been wanting to post this family picture we had taken while we were in Jackson, Wyoming (a.k.a. Jackson Hole, Wyoming). It is one of those rare times when we are (were) actually together as a family this year. We had a wonderful family vacation time and I am so grateful to God for allowing us the opportunity to have it. I had wanted to take my family to Yellowstone for many, many years and we were finally able to go, in what may have been the last family vacation for just the five of us.


Daughter number one (our middle child) started college (see last post) a few weeks ago. Though she calls frequently and isn't far away, I know this is the beginning of her independence and she is starting to learn to exercise it.
Our oldest is now in his junior year of college. He is working as a resident assistant (RA) this year and probably won't be home until Christmas and even then it will be right about on Christmas because he has some friends getting married in Texas earlier that week. One of these days some fortunate young lady is going to figure out what a catch he is and to latch on to him and he will be off somewhere else forever thereafter.
As for our youngest, she is always busy. She has a pretty tough class load, so she is often doing homework. She loves doing the school musicals and got a chorus part (extra) in this years production of Hello Dolly. She also has a job that she works on weekends. So we are already getting used to not seeing her around.
My wife has started a new job, putting her freelance days behind her for now. By working from home she was lacking for socialization (it's important for kids to be able to socialize, it helps them be well adjusted). I think she is enjoying the new job, but sometimes it is difficult to be certain. She did receive some encouraging news that one of her submissions going to be published in "Chicken Soup for the Empty Nester's Soul." Pretty cool! As our youngest stated, "Now you can be published like me!" Which for clarification, youngest had a poem of hers about the "Heroes of 9/11" published a few years back.

As for me these days... I go to work, try to get out and ride my bicycle at lunch, go back to work, go home, sleep, and then repeat that cycle. The most excitement is, as my wife says, playing connect the dots with the latest scratches and scrapes accumulated from the days bike ride. It's not quite that bad really, but sometimes it seems she is right.

That's all for tonight.

May God richly bless you and lead you in His wonderful paths of life.

Changin' Times

Our lives changed today.
Not in a bad way.
It is a good way really.
But change they did.

It wasn't easy; but it wasn't as hard as the last time.
Maybe having experienced it once already helped this time.

We helped move our second child into a dorm room at college.

The first time was with our son two years ago. It was hard because he was the first to leave the nest; and it was hard because the school he went to was about 800 miles away. We knew that seeing him after that would be for short periods of time with many months in between. That's how it has been.

This time was similar, but different. Our oldest daughter (our second child) is attending a university here in town. She could have lived at home, but (with some help from her mother) decided it was important to "experience" typical college life. So today we helped her move up to the campus and into her dorm room. In the helping her move in, this day was similar to helping move our son into his dorm. Carrying belongings up to the room, helping set up computer, finding a couple things that would be helpful and making a run to the store to pick them up, and attempting to minimally help her get things set up - but attempting to let her decide what to put where... and trying to keep her mama from "helping" too much. All a very familiar scenario.

It was/is different this time because, even though we drove away and left our girl someplace that isn't home, she is close to home. The college is about half-way between home and my work and is a mere 15-20 minutes away. This papa knows that a phone call can arrange lunch with her anytime. Having her come to the house for dinner, if she want to, is easy. Seeing her on weekends is not out of the question. These things make it a lot easier!

I know that we will miss her being around. Having those daily talks about how the day has been, what was interesting about it, etcetera. But it is good for her to be stepping out into having her own life - apart from us; even though not easy for us.
I know God will give us all the grace to walk through this with His perfect peace.

That's about all I can write about it for now.

Maybe next time I'll share a bit about how she has tried, and succeeded in, making her papa cry by emailing country song lyrics to him about somebody needing to spread their wings and leave home...

Grace and peace to all.

Wow! What A Ride!

Wow! What a ride!

That could be said about life because it truly is an awesome ride that we get to spend on this planet. God is so good!

It can also be said about the ride I took today on my mountain bike with some co-workers. We traveled to a much heralded location (a couple hours from home) to take an epic mountain bike ride (31 miles) and enjoy some of the magnificent scenery that we are blessed with here in Colorado.

The ride is the Continental Divide Trail from the Summit of Monarch Pass, it is also called the Monarch Crest ride. The average elevation of the trail is right around 11,900 feet above sea level; some places it gets higher and some places it goes lower but it is pretty high in elevation for riding a bike.
It was beautiful and spectacular, and a great time. This is NOT a trip for the faint of heart, nor for those without above average bike handling skills. Riding across high Rocky Mountain terrain - which includes slopes, rocks, roots, streams, mud puddles, and more... not to leave out some incredibly steep uphills and downhills - on a mountain bike requires some decent fitness and a heart for adventure.

We had a few mishaps, though none serious. I took a tumble early on and bent my front rim, which made for a tough start, but with some work got it ridable. A couple others in our group got flat tires, which were quickly repaired and we continued on. One had some problems with his dérailleur, but not enough to keep him from going on.

If I can get some pictures from the event, I'll post them in another post.

Blessings to all.

Out of Touch

Life is funny sometimes. There are seasons in life where one can be so busy that you barely feel like you can keep your head above water and there are times when everything is pretty relaxed and easy going. The latter has not been seen in this neighborhood in a while. Seems to have disappeared with the demise of Mr. Rogers.
For the last several weeks I've been working quite a bit and when I have been home I have NOT really felt like looking at a computer any more. Did I mention that I am a computer programmer? It isn't a good thing when somebody who makes a living working on a computer, doesn't want to look at a computer!
So for those of you out there that occasionally visit my blog, I know it has been pretty dry the last several weeks. Sorry! Life happens.
Tonights post isn't going to be much, but at least I'm putting something out. I just wish it might have more substance that it does. That would require thinking and I'm not sure how much of that I can really do at the moment.
I'll be trying to catch up with your blogs as well.

So in the infamous words of Tigger - TTFN

Rocky Mountain National Park

As my wife Kerry posted on her blog, we enjoyed a wonderful time in the outdoors. Here are a few of the 200+ pictures I took. I brought the resolution way down for the sake of uploading and viewing.

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In case you didn't know, you can click on the pictures for a larger view.
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The picture on the left is one that I just thought was really cool. I love streams and the depth that they reveal as it winds its way back into the woods behind.

This picture on the right is of Morraine Lake. It is a very picturesque setting. The water is only about five to six feet deep across much of it, but looking at it from different angles reveals that there are definitely some much deeper spots.
And the water is VERY COLD, it is fed by melting snow, some of which can be seen on the high peaks in the background.

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The shot below shows a small pondlike area a little below the Morraine Lake.
Trout could be seen swimming around in it.

Too bad I didn't bring a fishing pole. ;)

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Another photo of the same area from a different angle with different light.
The white in the upper right (back in the trees) is snow. The snow is melting and dripping down the rocks into the pool.
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I couldn't resist this shot on the left with the leaning tree and the reflections captured on the water. It is one of my favorites.

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The photo on the right shows the dark storm clouds that form quickly over the Colorado mountains.
Severe thunderstorms can occur quickly and the lightning at these high altitudes is extremely dangerous. Shortly after this picture was taken my wife and I found shelter in a cave to wait out the storm. It rained for about 45 minutes and we witnessed a terrific display of lightning flashing all around us.

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One of the many elk that roam the park. While they look like deer, and are related, they are much, much larger.

This big fellow on the left was nice enough to smile for the camera. At least that is the way it turned out looking like.

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Bugling Bull?
Not this time.
This big bull let out a big yawn...
All the laying around in the sun, munching on grass and letting people take pictures gets tiring.

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It is always a special treat for an amateur photographer like myself to be fortunate enough to catch moments like these.

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A Classic Shot

If I Only Knew...

How many times, I wonder, have I said, "If I only knew then what I know now, I would have done things so differently."

I just caught myself thinking it again about something. Not anything really important, but just that thought crossed my mind.

I've thought it a couple different times lately with regard to the mountain bike I bought. If I only knew a year ago that I would have gotten into it like I have, I would have purchased a higher end bicycle... one with rear suspension and higher quality shifters, derailleurs, and brakes. But as my friend at the bike store reminded me, there wasn't any way to know. Not that the bicycle I bought was not a good one, it is just that there are things I've learned since that would have affected the decision I made at the time.

I know I have thought it many times over the past couple years regarding some really stupid choices I was making a few years ago; thoughts about quitting on God, my marriage, my kids, and my church. I got burned out on the boring doldrums of day-to-day life. I was looking to see what my life was about. Had I done anything worthwhile? Was I a success or was I a failure? I was trying to find my worth in the world. The events of September 11, 2001 kind of kicked it off. All of a sudden everything that I thought had been secure, wasn't feeling so secure any more. I thought I might be able to find my self-worth somewhere else, maybe with someone else. --- Lot's of nonsense really. Thankfully God kept me and showed me very clearly how foolishly I was thinking and acting. Thankfully He also restored all that I had considered throwing away. I have since seen through eyes of His Spirit how much would have been, not just lost, but destroyed. So now, with 20-20 hindsight, I look back and can say "If I only knew then what I know now, I sure would have done it differently."

Of course God knows and I have to remind myself of that.

So now I am trying to be attentive to those times when I am apt to utter the phrase, or even to think it, that I am to take every thought captive unto the obedience of Christ Jesus and demolish every lofty thought and speculation that would raise itself up against God...

Thankfully, every time I consider "If I only knew...", it just means I've learned something important and I need to be mindful of the lessons that God teaches me through the life He has given me to live. I'm pretty sure He meant for me to live it in fullness. After all Jeremiah 29:11 says that God has a plan for our lives that include a future and a hope.
-- This is something that I'm glad I already know!

Lights to the Soul

There have been a lot of painful experiences going on in lives around us. I understand that pain is part of this life, and that we can't avoid it.
* A friend of ours, a financial officer for a worldwide ministry, had one of the employees that worked for him brutally murdered in the parking lot of their workplace yesterday morning. She was a single Christian woman with two daughters and was caring for her mother.
* Another friend of ours has a friend with breast cancer. (Also a Christian.) The lady had major surgery this past Monday. She is now recovering and awaiting pathology reports. She will have to start chemotherapy in a couple months.
* Another friend of ours knows a lady who lost her 10 month old baby.
* A lady my wife has worked with lost a son this past week. (Also a Christian.) Not sure from what or how old he was.
* We know several Christians with physical afflictions of some sort or another and with varying degrees of pain; some are pretty extreme. Some have had knee surgeries, some ankle surgeries...

Jesus did not promise us that this life would be free from all pain just because we chose to follow Him. Rather, He told us that we would encounter pain and difficulties; then we are to count it all joy. That we are to persevere through these trials. That is no small order.

***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

I saw a picture of a friend the other day and was reminded of something I've read in scripture: That the eyes are the lamp (or light) to the soul.
The person in the picture is a Christian and it was a wonderful picture of that person. But behind the smile, the eyes reveal years of hurt and pain. I had to stop and pray for this one, and it has been heavy on my heart since.

Father God, You know the plans You have for us and Your Word says that Your plans are for good, not for evil. We live in a sinful, fallen world and we are affected day after day by those around us; some believers, some not. Only Your mercy and grace extended to us allows us to carry on and still have hope. We cannot hope in ourselves nor can we hope in even those close to us whom we love and care about. We can only place our hope in You, the Sovereign King of all Creation. Lord I pray for these around us that are enduring such difficulties and pain and I humbly ask that You would send Your ministering angels to them and Your Holy Spirit to comfort them in their hours of distress. Thank You precious Lord Jesus for interceding for each of these and for us before our Father in heaven in the perfect way that only You can do. I love You Lord and I continue to place my trust in You especially in the midst of these times in which I am not able to understand or comprehend Your purpose and plan.
I would also ask for my friend in the picture, that You will heal the scars of the deepest hurts and pains of heart that this person bears. I know that Your will and desire to do so and You will accomplish it in Your perfect time.
Amen.

Overdue Update

My last post was about mountain biking and I mentioned that I would add a post after racing... and no it didn't actually take me this long to recover, things have just been busy.
The picture in the previous post was NOT me. The picture on the right IS me (and a longtime friend of ours on the right), waiting, and waiting, and waiting... for the race to begin. I was hoping to finish in about an hour and my time was 1:06:41, so I was pretty pleased. I had fun and I learned from the experience. Now I'm thinking about trying another race next month that will be longer and have more climbing and more descending.

My wonderful wife and I celebrated our 22nd anniversary last Friday and we took a little trip up to Estes Park, CO (a town NE of Boulder) and then and stayed in a nice little bed and breakfast called Mountain Shadows B&B. I got a cabin for us called 'Sweethearts Forever'. Pretty romantic. We had a wonderful couple days and spent time talking and laughing and remembering what life is like as a couple rather than as a couple parents. Thursday afternoon we shopped all the little shops in Estes Park. Friday we went for about a six mile hike to a lake in Rocky Mountain National Park (see also link2 and link3). We had a rain storm blow over so we found refuge in a cave under a big boulder with a retired couple from Durango, CO. So we just sat tight and visited with them until the storm blew past. What a kick! After we got back to the car we took a drive up to the top of the world; well at least it seems like the top of the world. The road is named Trail Ridge Road and it winds along for several miles along the tops of a couple high mountains well above timber line (no trees grow there) and the views are spectacular.
Down the west side of the park we saw large bachelor groups of bull elk. See the animals behind my wife in the picture. Too cool!
And finally, a little further along, we had the awesome treat of viewing a cow moose with her calf... from a distance of course. Thank goodness for telephoto lenses! Mama moose looks like she endured a hard winter carrying baby. God knows what she needs and we're praying she will regain her strength.

So, summertime is upon us and we are busy having fun and enjoying the creation God has blessed us with.

Peace to you all in Christ Jesus our Lord!

This Should Be Interesting

The bug has bitten me and the poison has messed up my brain.
I must be totally sick. I've gone and registered to ride in a mountain bike race this coming Saturday. It just seems like it will be a fun adventure. I want to know if I can do it; If I can finish the race. I don't have any pretentious thoughts about winning. I'd be more than surprised if I did. But I'm going to go out and give it my best shot.

The whole biking thing started as a way to try to improve fitness and now I am pushing myself a step further. Curiosity has now gotten the better of me and it is time to test myself to see what and how I can do. For me it will be just between me, the bike, and the mountain course. Seven and a half miles doesn't sound like far, but try climbing a thousand feet up a mountain on a bicycle at an altitude of 10,000 feet. It can be a bit of a challenge.
Since it will be my first ever race, I have signed up for the beginner level at my age grouping (40-45). Ten guys entered this race for this age group last year and the time it took ranged from just under 55 minutes to an hour and 55 minutes, with the average being around an hour.
For those of you who might be curious about this endeavor you can click this link to take a look at the website. It will be Race 2.
Pending my survival of this Epic SingleTrack experience, I'll post about the adventure, what I've learned from it, and whether I'll try such a thing ever again. ;)
And for some amusing reading check out the biker slang page.
I'm going to try to bomb it and hopefully I'll avoid the balance blackout and not come home with bacon on the arms and legs.

AMExpression Moving Up

I just went to an online friend's blog-site and found she is moving up in the world. I've changed the link on my page to her new site. AMExpression has her own domain for posting her blogs to at http://www.amexpression.com. I am blessed for her.
Check out her new site and be prepared to be blessed. Whoo-Hoo! Go Ame!

Listening and Pondering

I'm sitting here tonight finally taking a breathe. I'm listening to some mp3s that my father-in-law gave me to listen to of a group called Il Divo and a song (among many good ones) "I Believe In You" with Celine Dion. Wow! It's hard not to sing along. ;) Be glad you don't have to hear me bringing down their fabulous voices.

It seems like there is always a thousand things to do and another thousand things that need doing. The last couple weeks have been as busy as any I can remember. My daughter's high school graduation was obviously a huge contributor to that as well as having lots of relatives.
Last Saturday I finally made a day to go trout fishing with my dad. What a wonderful day he and I had. My mom had been urging me to go out with him since April.

Work has been somewhat topsy-turvy the past two months. As I've written before I've been moved to a new project, along with about six or seven others that were part of my previous project along with three guys from another project. We've been learning how to work together as well as learning the new application we're working on. It is exciting and exhausting and has been a bit tumultuous trying to get us all on the same page. It has been a good thing, but change can be uncomfortable.

I've shared a time or two in the past that I've been mountain biking. I've embarked on this endeavor to get in better physical shape, but as my wife points out, I don't tend to do much part way. When I get into something, I get into it all the way. When I started I never thought about attempting to race, but I like to challenge myself and so I think the next challenge is to attempt a real mountain bike race on a real mountain. I'm thinking of entering one on next Saturday in the beginner division for the "getting closer to getting older guys" aka men's beginner for ages 40-44. It's a good way to get some experience and attempt to determine if I'm interested in doing more races. I'm realistic about it. I don't necessarily expect to win, but I want to go out and give it the best I've got and see how it goes.

My youngest daughter has been working at a bicycle shop since spring break. She is actually becoming interested in biking. I wasn't sure that would ever happen, but the ice has started to melt. She demo'd a mountain bike from the shop this afternoon and went for a short ride with her mother and me. She was a little shaky, but not too bad given the relatively few times she has ever ridden a bicycle past learning to ride when she was five or six. I'm hoping she will get into it somewhat seriously like her papa has because it would be good for her in many ways. We'll see where it goes. She has a fiery passion and a low key competitive spirit so it could be interesting. She got a little bit of a rough introduction to it today when she got a little cocky and had a close and unpleasant encounter with the gravel. She is mostly okay, but came away with a few scrapes and bruises.

And saving the best for last...

My wonderful wife and I will celebrate our 22nd anniversary on the 22 of this month. That is pretty amazing and I am very grateful to be with this awesome lady for all these years. There is no one on earth I would have rather shared the last 22 years with. She is beautiful inside and out and is absolutely my best friend. !!!What a blessing!!! We've had our tough times but our God is good and He is faithful and has brought us through them all. I'm looking forward to the next 22 and then the next 22 after that, God willing. And after all these years, we're reminded daily about how much we still have to learn about how much it takes to be good for each other. Thankfully we have a heavenly Father that does not get weary in sending His Holy Spirit to continue teaching us.

Coming and Going... and My Head is Spinning

Rambling thoughts about the past week and a half...

Our son moved in for about three weeks and has now moved out. He has moved into an apartment while attending summer classes at Focus on the Family Institute. It is kind of different for us to have him in town but not living with us. Quieter too.
Our oldest daughter has graduated from high school and has registered for college and has signed up for classes. She is also working three jobs to make and save money for this school year.
Our youngest daughter is working full time at a local bicycle shop so she can earn money for a car.

We had family in town for about a week. Saw a lot of some and very little of others.
Some of my wife's family was staying with us. Others spent quite a good deal of time with us. It was fine, but it was exhausting.
My youngest sister was in town for a week staying with my other sister (in between us in age) and I saw her all of a couple hours. I missed having time to visit with her. She lives in Arizona with her husband and two children and we don't get to visit with her very much.

My lovely wife encouraged me to get away on Saturday and have a day fishing with my dad. I took her up on it. Had to fight myself to go. Friday evening I was thinking to myself that I was tired and it would be too much work. Thank goodness we went anyway. We had a wonderful time. I know I treasure the time I get to spend with my father, and knowing how I feel about getting to spend time with my son, I'm sure dad was blessed by it too. There is just something special about that kind of time... time to talk as we drive, time to enjoy walking the river, being excited about catching a couple fish, being out-of-doors, enjoying the beauty of God's creation.

A friend of mine emailed me today asking if I would like to go up to a mountain bike race this coming Saturday. I'm not thinking I'm ready for a race, but it might be cool to go up and ride some of the other trails in the area for familiarization for a possible race later in the season.

I'm trying to figure out what my wife and I can do for our upcoming anniversary. Twenty-two years and I'm very grateful for such a gorgeous, caring, and wonderful helpmate. Unfortunately I think Hawaii is out of the question this year. May for our 25th anniversary, God willing. Guess it will have to be something closer this year.

It's late. I'm rambling even more than I intended. I'm going to bed.

Blessings to you all.

Whoosh! Two Down and One to Go

My second child graduated from high school today. The first graduated two years ago. The next one will be in three years. So we're two down with one to go.
I'm not quite sure how this day came so fast. Wasn't it just yesterday she was a little baby girl being handed to me in the hospital and me exclaiming, "What am I going to do with a girl?" I've since found out. God has very much blessed my life with all my children. My son and my two daughters.

We are very proud of our young lady, she graduated with honors in the top 5% of her class. Not to be considered a small achievement, especially since she took honors classes and advanced placement (A.P.) classes for college credit... and speaking of college credit, college is looming on the horizon not too far away.

The emotions have gone every way today. I've been misty eyed and joyous. We had a house full of friends and relatives to celebrate this wonderful life accomplishment achieved by my oldest daughter. What a day it has been!

Right now I am tired and short on words, but I just wanted to get out a quick post about the events of the day since it has been a busy and emotional week.

I'll try to post again soon when I have had a bit more rest and I have regained my ability to think a little more clearly.

Computer Problems Flushed

*** typed with a bit of a British accent ***
Well in li't of me last posting, me decided that flushing was mayhaps the option o' least resistance...
Unfortunately, me disposition dont take to such thin's lightly and me had to go on the 'ard way.
*** end of badly done accent ***

Yes, I managed to slog on through and purely by the grace of God, and one unnecessarily purchased hard drive later we have two computers back up and running. The operating system on Chris' machine was really messed up so after Chris spent two days copying files manually from a command prompt to a backup drive we reformatted the hard drive and completely reloaded WindowsXP from scratch and what seemed like piece parted it back together. It is up and running and probably running better than when we first got it from the manufacturer because it doesn't have all the extra fat and fluff on it (reference recent Mac vs PC commercial).

I spent a good portion of today working on my parents computer. I have had it for at least three weeks trying to find the time to get to it. They have Norton System works installed on it. I don't recommend it for people that are not computer savvy. The Anti-Virus stuff works pretty well, but the utilities can get you in trouble. Norton GoBack decided it wanted to keep going back, and go back, and go back... The error message would come up and say "NortonGoBack has detected that your system is unstable, rebooting." I figured out that the system was unstable alright, because GoBack was installed on it.
After buying a new hard drive to load the operating system on (so as to try not to lose important data), and loading the operating system, I was finally able to get to a command window on the original drive and delete the offending application. Wa-La! Magic happened and everything was mostly happy in computer land once again.

I think my son has given up on PC and is ready for Mac. Can't say I blame him. My wife's mac laptop has given me the least problems of any of the five computers we have (six if counting my parents PC).
I'm thinking I'm about ready to scrap Windows for Linux. Nobody writes viruses to exploit Linux, mostly because, well you just pretty well can't. Since Macs run on a variant of Linux with the Mac OS built on top, they are pretty secure and the need for Symantec (aka Norton), or McAfee, or any other such anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-malware stuff is mostly unneeded which is sounding REALLY appealing after this past week. And guess what: the Linux operating system is free! No upgrades that cost $100 - 200 every couple years.

Ok, I'm done with my Linux commercial for now, but I am expecting that after my daughter's high school graduation and all the relatives go home, I am going to be installing a new OS on my computer and testing it out. I'll post more about it after seeing how that goes.

So in honor of tigger... TTFN!

Overwhelmed by Computer Problems

Right now the computers in my house that are having difficulties is growing.

My youngest daughter has an old computer of mine. It is at the place where it just isn't all that happy with the new operating system and software that is installed on it. It is slow to boot and it throws tantrums and holds its breath until it passes out; usually when my daughter is working on a paper or trying to do something important for school. I've been putting off doing anything with it as long as I can.

A couple weeks ago my parents computer decided it was going to take a vacation. The Norton GoBack installed on it was in cahoots with Windows and now every time it boots up, the GoBack lights up and says it has detected something is unstable (I call it MS Windows) and it is going to reboot. It doesn't ask if it is okay, it just figures it knows best and helps you out. Flash-click-restarting --- screams coming from the user, "I didn't ask you to do that! Stop it!" I echoed those screams when I was trying to figure out how to fix it.

I shared the pain with an IT buddy of mine and had him just as perplexed as me. If you're wondering about tech support... it has been outsourced - to India. I'm still trying to get this one figured out.

My son Chris came home from college for the summer, set up his computer and turned it on... It was working fine whey he left Oklahoma, but somewhere along the way it developed altitude sickness on the trip home and starting coughing up its windows registry, one misplaced bit at a time going from bad to worse with each step suggested to try to fix and recover. Now it is in a really funky state. You can see and use the icons on the desktop, but there is no task bar to be found. It just went away. Attempts to recover have not met with any success. It foiled my attempt to load a linux operating system: just shook its sad little head and said, "No way, Jose!"

So I'm rethinking this whole technology thing.

The good news is I found this helpful picture that explains computer hardware in easy to understand terminology so even a programmer (like me) can understand. But if I fail to be able to figure it out, I'll just resort to the function key (See picture at right)!

End of School Year = Busy Week

Not much time to blog this week. Not even much time to read others blogs this week. Not much time to breathe this week.
Work has been all day meetings since Monday which is tiring all by itself. They are necessary and will help us produce a better product, but... I don't like all day meetings.
Every night this week has been filled with some activity for one or the other or both daughters.
Monday night: Teacher's Choice Awards and Senior Recognition. Youngest daughter was recognized by two teachers for being an excellent student. Oldest daughter is in the top 25 in her graduating class. [I'm very proud of them both.]
Tuesday night: Choir concert for both girls. Both sing beautifully. This is oldest's last H.S. choir concert.
Wednesday night (tonight): 3.75 and Educator Honoring Banquet. This recognizes the seniors that have maintained a 3.75 or higher GPA and those students get to recognize a teacher that has been special or influential. Oldest daughter did a fine job of speaking well while honoring a science teacher that she had all four years and noting the qualities that make him an outstanding teacher.
Thursday night: Band concert for youngest.
Friday night: Nothing planned that I know of or can remember... Phew! ... One more night to go... I think...

Our oldest oldest (Chris) has college finals this week. Oldest daughter has four A.P. tests this week. I'm sure youngest has more stuff going on, but I don't think I've seen her long enough to find out what.

Oh! And Mother's Day is Sunday... Can't forget that. My sister has been trying to get in touch with me for two days so we can solidify plans with family. Hopefully tomorrow I can connect with her. I think I'll send her an email. :P

I wish there was more I could add, but this is about all that I have left today. Bless you all and I'll try to catch up in a couple days.

Senior Prom Night!

My middle child, our oldest daughter (OD), had her senior prom the night before last. What an exciting experience for her. She had a couple girlfriends over and the "got ready." Actually I had two daughters going to prom last night. One of the girlfriends is our "adopted" daughter [so she is our middle daughter MD and explaining that is for a different post]. So in the picture on the right, MD is on the left in the light blue, OD is in the middle in pink and the young lady on the right is another of OD's girlfriends.

All three moms were on hand to help Prom preparations of this magnitude is definitely not a guy thing. This proud papa stayed out of the way and watched three already beautiful young ladies transform into princesses ready for Cinderella's ball. They were all stunningly beautiful! [Yes I am biased, but they were still exceedingly gorgeous!]

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Pictures and flashes and more pictures and more flashes. I think I took about 120 pictures.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Their dashingly dressed princes arrived here to pick them up to start their evening. Young man 1 (YM1) My OD's date had his act completely together; he had the corsage and tickets and looked very sharp. The next young man (YM2) arrived and doing well, but not quite as well as YM1, had the corsage, but... forgot the tickets and his student ID (required for entrance to the dance). MD's date, YM3 was running a few minutes late. He showed up looking great! But... he forgot... uh, the corsage, the tickets, and I'm not sure what else. Keep in mind OD, MD, and YM3 have known each other all their lives. YM3 comes in shows off his tux and MD comes down the stairs. YM3's jaw dropped and he stuttered and stammered at seeing MD. "Wow! You look great!" is what I think he managed to get out.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Pictures and flashes and more pictures and more flashes.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Then suddenly they are ready to head off for dinner and the dance and all the mom's and this papa were left watching them head off. It is a momentous occasion for them and for us.

Ah the joys of having our children grow: mixed emotions galore!
I am happy for them; and then again I am sad that the time seems to have passed so quickly. (It also means I'm getting older, even though I don't feel it.)
My daughter that I was just yesterday singing the Collin Ray song "I Think About You" to, has gone to her senior prom and is about ready to graduate high school.

Wow! It has happened so quickly!

I think about you, eight years old, big blue eyes and a heart of gold...

Thank You God!

I just visited the blog for Especially Heather who I wrote about a few days back.
The Lord moved mountains for her to be able to have surgery for a brain tumor within literally about two weeks.
I have to confess that having her come through well (better than might expected for a surgery that traumatic) brings me to tears of gratefulness before God.
The number of posts to encourage her is over 320 since yesterdays post. That is a lot of support for somebody that most, like myself, don't personally know.

Please join me in giving thanks and praise to God for His mercy to Heather and her family.

My Wife the Writer

Just some thoughts that came to me after reading my wife's blog today.

Oh, how I have tried to encourage my wife Kerry in her writing only to meet with the resistance of something like, "I can't do that yet, we haven't covered it in the writing class I'm working on."
She is already a very good and very capable writer. I try to gently remind her that the class is to help her develop the tools needed for "successful" writing, not for just writing.

I pray for her to be able to just be free to sit down and begin to pour out the multitude of treasures hidden within her heart and mind and put aside all the other stuff, including self-critique, until after she is done getting the thoughts down. I know it will come. She is a creature of habit and it is difficult for her to break those habits.
And my contribution to the matter... far too often has just been expressed frustration with her because I am more of a "just do it" personality. I attack things get the bulk of the thing done and then go back. When that applies to writing I may edit 46 times after I've finished, but if I don't get the thought out and down, swoosh, out of the brain it goes and it just may never come back again. Really!

Anyway for those of you that read this, I invite you to pray with me for Kerry and her writing so that she can know she is successful, not because of accomplishments, but because God has said that she is more than able through Christ who strengthens her (and us).

Humbly Grateful

I've been praying for a lady I don't know named Heather.
Why, you may ask, would I be praying for somebody I don't know? Because God has moved my heart with compassion for her and for her family is the only thing I can reply.
Heather has a tumor on her brain and is currently wisely seeking for medical expertise. Heather is a Christian woman with a strong faith.

Why does God choose to allow some people to walk through extremely difficult circumstances?
I don't know.
Why does God allow the same people that have had one difficult circumstance to go through another, and maybe another, and maybe another... maybe what seems like a lifetime of one thing after another?
I don't know.
Why does God allow His saints, His people to endure these kinds of difficulties?
I don't know this either.

As an example, we have personal friends that have had many difficult things in their lives over the past many years: Multiple Sclerosis, cancer, tumor, family estrangement, other medical problems.
Sometimes it just seems like it will never end. I know from the Bible that God does not impose these circumstances on His people, but I believe from reading Job that if it occurs, it is because He permits it; and from reading Jeremiah 29:11, that there is a purpose in it.

These people are strong, well-grounded believers in God; they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He came in the flesh as dwelt as a man; that He died for the forgiveness of our sins as the perfect atoning sacrifice; and that He rose again from the dead three days later and after appearing to those who had known Him, He ascended into heaven to be seated at the right hand of God the Father.

Then I consider that there many others that believe the same, but for some reason are not touched directly by these seemingly overwhelming trials. I am humbly grateful to fall in this category. Thank You Father God.

Jesus, it says in Your word that Your heart was moved with compassion for those that came seeking You and for the healing You have the power to give: paralytics, blind, sick, diseased, oppressed and possessed by demons; even the dead. You touched them and healed them and made them completely whole and set them free. Oh Lord, we long to see Your glory fall in these days for healing and deliverance. We desire to see Your majesty manifest in these days that many souls would come to know You and worship You. We live in a lost and dying world that desperately needs the hope and life that ONLY YOU can give. Come Lord now in these days and display Your power for all the nations to see. Lord we need You! And Lord... I love You!

Our Gifts of Life

I walked down the aisle,
With my new found wife beside
We stepped on through the door,
To live the gift of life.

And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away

I looked into his eyes,
Our new born baby boy
A gift of heaven above,
To fill our hearts with joy

And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away

I looked into her eyes,
Like a dove, she seems to fly
On wings so pure and gentle,
A beautiful daughter so full of life

And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away

I looked into her eyes,
Our little giver of joy
Her smile so full of laughter
A gift so pure and bright

And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away

They seem to grow so quickly
The time just seems to fly
Yesterday they were babies
Now they've filled our life

And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away

They sure have grown so quickly
The time has sure gone by
We're blessed that we've received
Our Gifts of Life
We're blessed that we've received
Our precious Gifts of Life

And the days just seem to fly,
And the years keep flowin' on by,
And the days just seem to fly... away

I wrote this song a few years back; not yet knowing as fully as I now know, and still not yet as fully as I shall still come to know.
My oldest daughter is but a few weeks from her high school graduation and getting ever closer to leaving for college. It was not an easy endeavor taking my son to college, now almost two years ago; I can only venture to guess that it will be harder to leave my little lady. Our youngest is now only three years from graduating high school and I cannot, dare not, will not think about that now.
Grace for those days does not yet belong to me.

And the days just seem to fly... away

Getting Tuned In

Have you ever had to mess with an analog radio to try to get it tuned in? Do you remember those, the kind with a little dial that you have to move back and forth just so to get it so you can hear the radio station without the static. I know those are fading into the past in this digital age. Today the tuners on our car radio still have a dial that you can turn to the left and the right to change the station, but it moves from one digital channel setting to the next so when you get to the exact frequency the radio station is broadcasting (like 98.3 MHz), you have a corresponding digital setting.
I remember when I was younger, before everything was digital, radios had dials and the tuning knob would take you through all the space in between 98.1 and 98.9 when you were trying to get to 98.3 and getting it set could sometimes be just a little touchy... and radio stations didn't announce that they were broadcasting on the decimal somewhere in between the whole numbers, they rounded up or down; the local station that broadcast on 92.9 announced its location as 93. Simple.

I started considering this this evening after an adventure...
I am trying to find new places to go ride my mountain bike in hopes of actually getting this decaying body back into something resembling being in shape again (which is no small task). So even though the weather forecast was gloomy and the skies were threatening, I went out to ride in a city park close by that provides some moderately challenging terrain. I was hoping to get about a five mile ride in before the weather got bad. I had mapped out my route before going, but since I had not ridden there before I was not familiar with where all the trails went. I was having fun and I missed the place where I had intended to turn off to the trail to take me back to my pickup. About that time I was crossing an open area on the top of the bluff and it started lightning and thundering pretty intensely.
Now I often talk to God while I'm on little outings because it is usually a good time to do so. There generally aren't too many interruptions. [Sometimes I also ask for help to keep breathing.] Well I mentioned to Him that I noticed the static electrical show that was dancing around me was impressive, but it was also making me a little uncomfortable and that I understood that I needed to get back, but the trail was leading away from where my truck was parked. I reasoned that it shouldn't be too much further to where the trail was supposed to head back the other way so I went on a little farther, maybe another 1/4 mile. *** This is where it ties back to the fine tuning. ***
I need a digital tuner so that I can clearly GET the frequency God is broadcasting to me on. Somehow it seems that I am still using an analog tuner that gets a little fuzzy from time-to-time and I am not quite getting the clear signal. And I think the lightning was messing with the reception too.
I know God speaks clearly, so the reception problem has to be on this end. God said, "You should stop and go back that other way to the truck." What I got was something like, "You should <crackle> go <crackle> that <crackle> way to the truck."
Okay, so not really... there weren't any static crackles in the reception, though there really was plenty of electrical static. I confess that there was just that stupid thing in me that says "just a little further and I can turn around there and go back..."

"I'm sorry Lord. You spoke. I heard, but I only kinda listened. Thank You for having mercy on this servant and only allowing me to get a little wet, when if I had really listened I would have been back at my pickup before the rain started to fall. You truly are merciful."

Oh, and as for the analog tuner, I think I need to replace it with a digital tuner attached to a PA system so it can get through my hearing difficulty.

--God bless.