Mile Stones

Life mile stones like hitting the big 5-0 are a good time for reflection. It's a good time for looking back at where you've been and wondering about the things you wish you could have done differently. it's also a great time for looking forward and hoping that you have matured and grown a little wiser. I pray that through the process of living these past 50 years I have learned enough about life and love and God's grace to help make me a better person.

Here is just one of the strange things that I've learned along the way:

Outwardly I feel like I'm falling apart. My glasses and my waist size are both getting thicker. Physically I feel 50. But inside I haven't changed much. My soul, my inner self, still feels just like it did at 18, 25, 30, and 40. I am convinced that if this old body holds on until 90 the spark inside me will be just as strong or stronger than it has ever been.

I keep finding that the words in the Bible are really true after all:

II Corinthians 4:16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Up Up and Away

Well, this week I finally pasted the half century mark. I celebrated my 50th birthday Tuesday by going to work and trying to pretend like it was just another day. My Coworkers bought me pizza and an icecream cake for lunch (so much for my new diet) Later that evening Lynetta surprised me with a very unusual gift.

For the past few years Lynetta has listened as I bemoaned the fact that I was tired of just watching other people live. I told her that with what time I have left I want to experience life for myself. No more sitting on the couch watching other people's adventures - I want to experience my own adventures. So, to shut me up she bought me a Hot Air Ballon Ride!!!!! Me and my big mouth.

I have always wanted to bungee jump too, but I was always afraid that when the time came for my feet to leave the platform that I just wouldn't be able to move. So, it's up up and away. Depending on the weather conditions I should be flying over Nashville within the next few weeks. I will take lots of pictures and some extra underwear.

Happiness Is....

Happiness is building your grandkids a new tree house.

Death before Change

I heard an interesting and disturbing statistic this week. I heard that more than 600,000 people have open heart surgery (CABG) each year in the United States. Of those 600,000 people, 90% make little or no lifestyle changes and end up right back on the operating table or dead within two years. Those who smoke continue to smoke. Those who are over weight and out of shape continue to live and eat just like they always have.
I work in the Cardiac Cath Lab at Maury Regional Hospital. I meet these people every day. Many of our patients are return customers. I see the disbelief, fear, and dread in their eyes when the doctor comes in and tells them that their arteries have clogged back up again. They say, “How could this be?” “How could I let this happen again?”
A heart attack is a major life changing event – it is literally life or death - do or die. If you are blessed enough to survive the first one you had better make the necessary changes in your lifestyle to prevent the second one. Everyone knows that. Everyone understands that. But the sad fact is that less than 10% do anything about it.
Is it because we fear change worse than we fear death? No, I don’t think so. I’m convinced that the 90% desire changes more than anything – but they are incapable of change. It is like pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps. They don’t know how to live any other way.
What would it take to change your lifestyle? We all think that we are above all of this foolishness – I did. I told myself that I was much too smart and well educated to fall into that trap. But fall I did. (Proverbs 16:18)
I had my Heart Cath back in June. While there were no blockages, there was significant Coronary Artery Disease (arterial sclerosis). I admit that since June I have made no changes in my lifestyle. I have actually gained 5 more lbs. I am the 90%

Empty Nest?

Here is a sure fire way to avoid the "Empty Nest Syndrome" that most couples our age experience. Simply fill your house up with Grand kids. (it really helps to have a built in babysitter like Krysi)


Tyler and Emily Klair spent the night with us Friday night. We enjoyed playing around a campfire, riding the Four Wheeler, and going out for ice cream. Early the next morning Kinsley and Karlie came over to join in the fun. We went to soccer games and out for Happy Meals. It was quite a weekend.

At this rate Ma and I will probably be living in a nursing home before we ever experience that "Empty Nest Thing." Here is one more picture that I couldn't resist posting. Emily Klair took this one of Granny late Friday night. It looks like Granny has had about all of the fun she can handle. :)

Follow up to Counting the Cost

So what does all this mean and what does it have to do with me?
Well, the elderly couple in the previous article are my parents. I have told the story before about how I was disowned and disfellowshiped by my parents because of my "liberal" religious views. It has been six years this month since my parents have spoken to me or my children. I feel guilty about comparing their religious zeal to that of a radical extremist, but I must admit the concept is really similar.

I suppose after six years I should be over it - in many ways I am - in many ways I'm not. I still stuggle with how I am suppose to feel about all of this.

Please understand, I think my parents ideas and action are simple, misguided and cult-like. But I do not think of them as bad people. They are not bad - They are just the opposite. If you ever got the chance to meet them you would love them too.

I have come to accept the fact that nothing in this life will ever change this situation. I had a conversation recently with one of my parent's old freinds. They were talking about how sad the situation was. I assured them that I would change it if I could. They sadly agreed that there was nothing that could be done.

I know that I will not be welcome at their funerals. Perhaps I should just have my own little service for them and move on.

Counting the Cost - How much is too much?

The headlines were the same today as they have been for the past several years: “Six Killed in Suicide Bomb Blast.” It happens so often now that it seems we are becoming immune to it. The details of such tragedies are only deemed news worthy now if they happen close to home on American soil.
Have you ever wondered what would cause someone to go to such extremes? What could possibly motivate a person to strap a bomb to their own body, walk into a crowd of innocent people, and push the detonator? We use words like Radical Extremist to define these people. We tend to think of them as sick, twisted, disturbed, evil or insane. They would prefer that we used words like loyal, brave, servants, soldiers and Martyrs.
I admit that I know nothing about the Koran. I have never read it. I have however heard a few “Moderate Muslims” on The Fox News Channel claiming that the Muslim religion is really a religion of peace. They claim the Koran does not teach or promote such radical hatred and martyrdom. They claim that these “extremist” who are bent on killing themselves and everyone else are misguided and do not know their scriptures. But many readers and followers of the Koran obviously disagree with this view.
Is there such a thing as a Christian Radical Extremist? What does one look like?
I know an elderly couple who used to be members of a 1000+ member Church. What set this couple apart was their belief that passages like I Corinthians chapter 5 should be taken very literally. (Do not fellowship with immoral brothers, do not associate with or even eat with Christians who sin) Over time and through much study and reinforcement they came to identify and lump into this category of “sinners” anyone who happened to disagreed with their traditional religious views.
To make a long painful story shorter – Over time, while being loyal to their conviction, they have slowly disassociated themselves from most everyone they know. Friends and family were not immune to this strong doctrinal stance. As a mater of fact this couple has disowned and has no contact with two of their own children and several of their grand and great grand children. They have disassociated themselves into a very small corner. They now worship in a small congregation of 30 – 40 people
So, what is the point? On the one hand such loyalty and willingness to obey at any cost must be commendable. To sacrifice even fellowship with your own children to hold true to your convictions must be a grand virtue. Didn’t Jesus say that anyone who loves their father and mother, son or daughter more than me is unworthy of me? Surely one who is willing to sacrifice his own life for his cause or his God must be held in high esteem.
So when does religious fervor, dedication and commitment end and radical extremism start? How much is too much? How far is too far? I’m sure that the exact line is debatable. But I think it can most easily be defined by the victims. True religion should have no victims.
Matthew 22:37-40 Ecclesiastes 7:16