Bradley's Forecast

10/6/08 (Lynchburg, VA) Forecast

Mostly Sunny all day, Warm, Chance of showers 5%

9am-12noon - Temperatures ranging from 54-64
12noon-4pm - Temperatures ranging from 64-76
4pm-10pm - Temperatures ranging from 76-54

Humidity betweem 60-90%
Barometric Pressure between 28.00-30.00

At War with the Wind

WWII Era author D.L. Sears has written a new book based on the Japanese Kamikaze attacks late in the war. The book is called "At War with the Wind" (http://www.amazon.com/At-War-Wind-David-Sears/dp/0806528931/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222127131&sr=8-1)My Dad Carl Spiron was an Electricians Mate on the Destroyer USS Haraden DD585 during this time. He has a very interesting story from this time period, and Mr. Sears interviewed him over the phone for part of the book. The book comes out on October 1st, but my dad already got his copy early. He is mentioned in the book, which is a deserved honor.

By the way, I can give a breif description of my dad's story. He was station in the Radar tower in the middle of the ship. Early on the morning of December 13th, 1944 he was switched with an officer who was on deck in the spray in the back of the ship. That very morning a Kamikazi hit the ship, right in the middle. Anyway, the book outlines the story even better and I will post more later. Here is some more info on his ship:http://ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/ships/DD/DD-585_Haraden.htmlhttp://www.ibiblio.net/hyperwar///USN/ships/dafs/DD/dd585.html

Bradley's Weather Forecast

My oldest son Bradley wants to be a meteorologist someday. He has had this as a goal since he was like 6 or 7 years old. A few years back he requested and got a wireless weather station of his own for Christmas. He has done and unofficial forecast for the family for several years. Now he has decided to try and prepare one more regularly. So, I will regularly try to post his forecasts here. i doubt it will be every day, but we'll see. He is very excited.

Today's Forecast: Mostly Sunny with highs in the upper 60's to low 70's. No real chance of rain in our area.

That's all he gave me today, but it will expand as time goes on!

My different view of the VP Debate

**********Wait, one more thing. I thought I heard Palin call Joe O'Biden once last night, and now a friend just confirmed it for me. That is too funny. O'Biden, HAHA!

**********OK. That is about all I can take for now. I am tired. I will keep the debate on tivo and write more later.

OOOH one more thing. What is with all the crazy faces Biden makes in the split screen? He looks like a lunatic.

**********There you go pointing backwards Joe. She called him on his main tactic.

**********I am back momentarily. Sarah seems to be doing much better. Woah, she just rolled her eyes. Ha Ha.

**********OK time for a break for me to get ready for bed. I am starting to doze off.

**********OK, Sarah dropped the ball on the 2 same sex marriage questions. Talk about train wreck and sticking her foot in her mouth. She needed to shut him up after she left her first answer totally vague and instead she agreed with him. great.

**********Drill Baby Drill. Now shes back. Hit him with his own words girl.

**********Biden is now reminding me of the crazy dude from Lost in Space. What was his name?

Sarah is kind of stumbling a little now. Get it together girl.

**********I'm glad Joe is talking to people like me who are genious IQ people. I think he's most likely losing all the normal folks with his numbers and double speak. Sarah is keeping it simple.

**********Woo Hoo Biden wants Fairness. that's a code word for giving tax breaks to folks who don't have jobs and don't even pay taxes. How is it fair to single out the middle class for cuts? I am in the middle, but we all need cuts - yes even business owners Joe.

**********How much do you think Biden payed for that terrable hair transplant?

**********Biden appears to be set to repeat Obama's themes from the presidential debate. Its because of the failed economic policies of the Bush administration. They are doing their best to position McCain as just a Bush continuation.

Sarah seems a bit stiff right now. Come on old.coot.say something mean and get her fired up.

**********OK! Thank goodness for Tivo. I am just getting ready to finally start watching the debate. So, I start the thing and Sarah gets apoint right off the bat with her polite : "Nice to meet you. Hey, can I call you Joe?" She disarmed him right off the bat. He reminds me of a mean old used car salesman. Eww.

And isn't it great to see Gwen Aweful I mean Obama oops I mean Ifill toughing it out with her broken leg?

I plan to blog about the debate tonight

If things go well, I plan to do some blogging tonight during or after the Palin/Biden VP debate. It could be very interesting and entertaining. If I don't post tonight, I will tomorrow. I personally hope that "debate camp" hasn't turned Sarah into a Republican clone with talking points. We need her to just be Sarah, and rip Biden into shreads. If she is able to be herself and Biden is himself, everyone will love her and hate the mean old man. We'll see how it goes.

Here is a great article, and I hope she does "go on the attack!"

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14220.html

OH yea, and one more thing. I hope she calls him a liar at some point since that is what he has built his political career on!

That's my 2 cent preview!

Big Government has eaten the Real America!

I just wanted to take a minute and rant! I truly love America, and I consider myself more patriotic than most. However, a lot about our system seems to be broken. Who broke it? People! Specifically, the want and need of power and money has enticed our governmental and business leaders to make poor decisions that have poisoned the well. The current financial crisis is one obvious issue, but there are many more. The corruption ranges from Political system, to legal system, to medical system, to education system, and so on. It is wide ranging, and the issues are quite different in their presentation. However, the theme is clear amongst all of them. Big Government has eaten the Real America.

When the country started off, the laws were very simple and not very numerous. Most of the national laws were very common sense. Locally, other laws were put into place to keep the peace, but again they remained very simple. Now logically, as a country grows it needs more law and order. But, starting with the Great Depression, it all changed. F.D.R. came up with the great society concept, and began a long line of “if there is a problem just throw money at it”. People were tight on money or didn’t have a job, so the government gave them money. People couldn’t afford medical care, so the government paid for it. Not enough people were in “proper” schools, so the Government stepped in and took it over. And now we have Big financial institutions, Big Government, and Big Government Programs working together to kill the financial system with Sub-Prime Mortgages. What is the answer? Government (in this case the Senate) steps in and “rescues” us. Now typically, if a fireman were to show up to rescue someone who is trapped in a car they would use their own tools to do the rescuing. But in this case, the Government is using our tools to do the “rescuing”.

All of these instances share the same “fix”, and the same results. The Big Government attitude is to SPEND, SPEND, SPEND with little care for where the money will come from. So they spend, and we pay. We pay in taxes, we pay at the pump, we pay higher interest rates, we pay more for groceries, and so forth. We work just as hard as always at the same pay rate, and yet pay more for everything. People are in the middle of expanding into families and taking on a mortgage and other expenses. Then the government steps in and says, don’t worry about not being able to afford a house. They offer Sub-Prime mortgages, people bite, and Viola we have a financial disaster. The disaster takes the form of rampant loan default, rampant, bankruptcy, rampant insurance claims, and a blur of other failures. But the government just continues to repeat they cycle over and over. Power and Money have made our government officials insane. By Albert Einstein’s definition, insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. But yet, they just keep heaping more and more BIG Government on trying to “fix” all the issues. The problem is that the more regulation and money they shove down our throats, the bigger the mammoth monster problems become!

So don’t wonder why we need rescuing. The media and the government would like us to believe that it is our fault. And it is to some small degree. But I believe that if they would just keep their hands out of my pie, I would be just fine thank you! I want to run my own life. I want to decide how I earn and spend my money. I want to judge my own investing strategy. I want to decide where to send my kids to school and not have my money stolen away to subsidize their failing school systems. I want to have a society where I’m not taxed to death to pay for program after program after program. I want to have choices. Continued increases in regulation simply rip away any and all options we have in America.

The only answer is for We the People to step up and say that we have truly had it. At this moment we can’t speak with our vote because all the political choices are quite the same. So, we need to find creative ways to be heard. We need to keep up the noise until they can’t take it anymore and real change actually happens. Woah! Sorry, I just took the short trip to Utopia! It was once exactly where we now live, and it can return, but only if we are ready to make it happen.

That’s my 2.5 cents. And boy do I feel better!

Top 10 issues above Barack Obama’s Pay Grade

So you have most likely heard by now about Mr. Obama’s answer to Rick Warren regarding the beginning of life. If not here is what was said:

Rick Warren: “…at what point does a baby get human rights in your view?”
Barack Obama: “Well, I think that whether you are looking at it from a theological perspective or a scientific perspective, answering that question with specificity, you know, is above my pay grade…”

Wow, can you say cop out? So, that got me thinking, how many other topics might Barack “plead the 5th on” as president? So, I have compiled a Top 10 list of things that just might be above Mr. Obama’s Pay Grade as the Leader of the most powerful country in the world.

10. “My fellow Americans, please stop worrying about inflations and rising interest rates. From the White House, it all looks fine to me.”

9. “What do you mean Al Qaeda has infiltrated Iraq? Not my Problem.”

8. “You mean I was supposed to do something to stop Social Security from
going bankrupt? OOPS! Come on, it’s been there forever.”

7. “Check this out, Time Magazine Man of the Year! See, I told you that all I had to do was smile and say lots of nothing and everything would be OK.”

6. “Wait, you mean we have more than 1 border?”

5. “No honey, it is way to hard for me to decide between the Blue tie and the
Red one! You Choose!”

4. “Woo Hoo, Pizza man is here! Meeting adjourned. You Joint Chief dudes hang here and work this whole war stuff out. I’ll bring you the leftovers.”

3. “Gentlemen, I’m glad you are so into this balanced budget thing, but I have a lunch date with Oprah, later!”

2. “La La La (fingers in ear), I can’t hear you talking about Oil Supplies being critically low! I love Caribou, they are so Majestic!”

1. “AcmadenaWHO? Tell him I’m busy! I’m instant messaging with Wolf Blitzer and Keith Olberman! Sheesh, the gall!

That’s my 2.5 cents. And it is well within my pay grade!

A Charger Fan's "Ode to Ed Hochuli"

Oh Ed, Dear Ed,
It seems you are quite the man!
But Ed, Dear Ed,
On Sunday you lost your head.

Oh NO Mr. Ed, Oh NO,
Don’t blow the whistle yet,
Cutler, yes Cutler just now lost the ball,
Don’t make a call you’ll regret.

NO Ed, Are you kidding Ed?
A Fumble it was just now.
Well Ed, Dear Ed,
You’ve killed the Bolts with a POW!

Thanks Ed, Dear Ed,
For admitting you did bad.
But ED, Dear ED,
The Chargers were who was had!

OH ED, Dear ED,
Should I give you a break?
Well Ed, Dear Ed,
It’s too hard for me to fake.

So Ed, Dear Ed,
I hope you have a good day.
Oh Ed, Dear Ed,
While the Bolts win the Super Bowl anyway.

That’s my 2.5 cents. My apologies to real Poets everywhere!
PS - This was written in jest as a response to some friends who have been hard on this lone Virginia Charger fan (it seems). I understand that mistakes happen and Ed is a great official, not to mention the fact that he could crush me with his Biceps.

To all the Charger Fans who have sent Mr. Hochuli hate mail and threats, please leave and go be a Raider Fan!

BARACKTASTIC

So, tonight is THE night you’ve all been waiting for all of your lives. The only problem is that you didn’t know it. You don’t know what I’m talking about, do you. Well, turn on your TV for a moment, pick up your local fishwrap, or get on the internet and you will know exactly what I’m talking about. People in newsrooms all over the country are about to burst with excitement for “their guy”. Tonight something more exciting and intriguing than the circus coming to town when you were a kid is happening. Tonight something more important than the discovery of Penicillin and gravity is happening. Tonight something that is more of a phenomenon than the Beetles on the Ed Sullivan show is happening. It is all over the news and everywhere else. You can’t get away from it, because it is just that big. Just ask the media, they’ll tell you. NOTHING this important has ever happened anywhere. Heck they needed a Football Stadium that seats 76 plus thousand people and that cost more than $364 million dollars to build to house the thing. They needed a set that looked like the Acropolis to equal the import of the actual occurrence. It has been anticipated for months and talked about constantly for weeks. I just can’t believe it is finally here. I am so excited, and I can’t wait. . . . NOT!

You see, it’s actually something really simple actually. It is a political speech by a presidential candidate at the end of his party’s convention. It has happened many times before. So unless he lives up to his media hype and actually walks on water, it will really be just another political speech. The United States political process has been around for 232 years. We have already had 43 presidents, and we’re trying to find the 44th. There have been numerous speeches just like this one. But wait, have there? If you listen to the media, no one like this tremendous man has ever been in this situation. He is: amazing, stupendous, super-colossal, wonderful, and . . . . NOT REAL.

I say: “Don’t believe the hype”. Look, he is truly the definition of an empty suit. He has no executive experience to speak of at all. He has been in the Senate for a short period of time, and has spent most of that campaigning and not voting. His only other experience is in the Illinois State Legislature. This is the man with all the Hype? Yes, it is! He is all words and no action. He is an amazingly captivating speaker, but says absolutely nothing.

So, then why is this night like no other and this man like no one we’ve ever seen? Well to find that out we must get to the bottom line of who his supporters really are. So let’s list them: all liberals, most news media members, Hollywood, and people who rely on the government for their living. So, what do these people love and want more than anything? They want: bigger government and more stuff from it, they want a watered down military that “just get’s along with the world”, they want to be able to live their lives with no moral compass, and most of all they want anyone but Bush.

So, as you get your popcorn and remote ready for tonight, my TV will be off as it has been all week. You can listen to the fluff till you are bloated with it. You can cheer, or laugh, or even get angry. I will not be watching. I have heard enough of nothing from the empty suit. So, someone please call me tomorrow if he actually drops ANYTHING of substance.

I will say one thing for sure. This empty suit has solidified my stance this week finally. I will be marching to the poll against my better judgment to pull the lever for Mr. McCain for sure. As a matter of fact I’d like to pass along a piece of advice for the McCain camp. Just shut-up! Barack is already doing the best campaigning for you. The people you will finally get sick of this madness and flock to the polls in November for McCain. You just need to sit back and say very little. The base is angry. They are all lying in wait and saying they will not vote for you. But mark my words, they will! They will come out in unbelievable numbers like you have never seen and McCain will easily win.

Please Lord let it be true!

That’s my 2.5 cents, take it or leave it!

OH to be a kid again

I haven’t blogged much lately because of several reasons: too busy, burned out, not motivated by the current state of politics, just plain tired and uninspired. But maybe I’ve been looking to the wrong areas for inspiration.

You know, I was sitting at my desk today, fretting and pouring over a ton of junk called paperwork. Then the picture screensaver on my computer caught my eye. It was on this great picture of my youngest son Trevor. When I saw this picture, I couldn’t help but laugh. It was taken while we were camping recently at Douthat State park near Clifton Forge, Virginia. He was attempting to eat a smore, but not having much success. It is the type of picture that makes anyone and everyone smile. But, that is the way Trevor lives every moment of his little, crazy life. If you haven’t met him, then you are missing out. He lives every minute wide open. He always has fun no matter what is going on. This also gets him in trouble sometimes of course, but he’s learning. He has an approach to life that I could and should take something from.

So I began thinking to myself about how we as adults tend to lose sight of the fun things life holds. I think I actually do better than most, but recently I have allowed stress and aggravation to sour my outward mood. I think it is important to me as a boss, friend, son, husband, and father to remain joyful even in times of stress and in the face of obstacles. You know it has become clear to me recently how my bad mood or poor attitude effects those around me negatively. It is also clear how Trevor’s smile and pep effect all of those around him positively. So, I am setting out recently to try to remain positive as much as possible. Well, how in the world am I going to do that? I have no clue on my own. I have had some good days trying this and many not so good ones. I am by nature a fairly negative person, and I want to fix that. So, I finally realized today that I can’t do it on my own (yes, I’m thick headed). I need help from my Lord Jesus Christ. But it has to go far beyond just plain help. I must immerse myself in his word every day for his joy to shine through me. In John 17:13 Jesus says: "I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.” So it is clear that I must spend more of my time immersing myself in the things Jesus said in order for my joy to be full and unfailing. For those of you who are hard headed like me this is a great verse because Jesus goes as far as to say that we actually needed to listen and heed what he said while here on earth.

So, look up at that picture of that gooey funny face and remember to let the joy of Jesus shine through you today!


That’s my 2.5 cents, and that’s all I’ve got!

Just the facts, Please?

Alright, it is no secret that I am rather frightened about Obamamania. Frightened? Why yes! It is frightening when folks in this great land of freedom begin to follow a candidate based solely on flowery words or the color of his skin. So many are choosing to look at the superficial parts of his candidacy and very few supporters care about what he really stands for. As I have said before, what he stands for is not a good thing for this country. He would usher in a new era of spending of which we have never seen it’s equal. Those of us who show enterprise and work production would be penalized with higher taxes while those who are not would be rewarded with more “social programs”. If you think this economy is bad, wait for the Obama recession with the inflation and unemployment rates it would bring. He would turn us so far to the left we would scarcely return.

On top of that I have shared with many my concern about his largely unproven track record. His record as a state Senator in Illinois shows a great propensity to spend. His record in the U.S. Senate? Well, there isn’t much of one. He voted very little because he started to campaign for President one year into his term. What a great service to the people who elected him. What votes he has shown up for have proven him a blatant socialist. At a later time I also want to expand on Mr. Obama’s friends and aquaintences. What they and his wife have to say is the key to understanding what this man actually believes. Don’t expect to hear any clarity from his mouth.

So, I ask supporters three questions constantly:

1 - Name one great accomplishment of Barack Hussein Obama in his life?

2 – Name one piece of Legislation that Mr. Obama has authored in his term in the U.S. Senate?

3 – What is one thing Mr. Obama will do to better this country if he is elected? (Or, name one thing of substance in his speeches)

Sadly, not one supporter chooses to answer.

Sadly, they DO NOT know the answers.

So then today, I found a columnist that is so much better of a writer than I that states it the way I have tried (unsuccessfully) to write it. Please read this article from Thomas Sowell here. Please, if anyone wants to disagree with me or Thomas or answer the questions, please comment now.

That’s my 2.5 cents, so there!

Read more of Thomas Sowell’s work here.

I'm Back

Alright, I am long overdue for a political post. The reasons for that are very painful and rather numerous. But all of a sudden, as November looms, I am all fired up all over again.

BURNOUT - The campaign started so early this time around that most normal folks with real lives and jobs are burnt out. I got so excited and pumped behind Mike Huckabee, that I spent the energy that I usually spend on the actual candidate too early. Why? Because I thought Mike represented the only real conservative, Christian voice in the race. Because I thought he could take a huge turn back to the right for the party I once loved. The reality is that the Republican Party has now moved so far left with the selection of Mr. McCain that they have occupied a position left vacant 5 or 10 years ago as the Democrats moved even further left. So, now I am left in a quandary. Yes, I will take my burnt butt to the polls and nonchalantly pull the McCain lever, but it will hurt. I constantly try to motivate myself to get out and work to get him elected, but I just can’t. I am very tired of the process, the endless coverage, the bitter negativity, and the lack of any substance or real stance on meaningful issues. I’m getting even more mad just writing about it.

AMERICA HAS ALREADY LOST – At this point it is pretty clear to me that no matter who get’s elected, we have all lost already. Like I have said before, any of the 3 captains we now have to choose from are steering their ships due Left. The only difference is that Clinton or Barack Hussein Obama are piloting a cigar boat with dual 350 Horsepower Evenrude engines, and McCain is steering a small sailboat. Both are going to the same place, just at a different pace. I will not belabor a point I have written about several times before, but the current system of selecting a candidate is broken. I also feel strongly that now more than ever we need a real, conservative third party. I no longer affiliate myself with the Republican Party. I can not. This party is so far from Reagan Conservatism it is scary. I will vote Republican in November, not because I want to, but because I have to. Either Democratic Candidate will destroy our country so badly on four years that it would take 8 to 10 years to overcome the damage.

DARE I SAY APATHY - I have spent 20 years bashing of friends, acquaintances, and others about their political apathy. It has most disturbed me when I find Bible believing Christians who are not only apathetic but don’t even vote. This totally burns me up. I believe strongly as both a Christian and a Patriot that we must be involved in the political process all the way through. If you don’t vote, then you have no voice in the democracy. However, for the first time in my lift I have recently been teetering on the brink of apathy. The Republican Party and apparently a majority of its voters have given us someone other than a real Republican. I can not get excited (yet) about this candidate I find myself stuck with. Mr. McCain is a good man, yes, but to me he is way off the Right path on too many issues. I actually agree with him quite a bit, but he totally burns me up on way too many issues that count. I also fear that he will end up like our current President. He is a man with great potential who squandered opportunities and allowed power, P.A.C.s, lobbyists to lead him down a free-spending swath right across the backs of true working men and women. Has President Bush done some great things, YES! But I fear men like him and Mr. McCain because they obviously wear lots of “sheep’s clothing” in campaign time only to reveal the true wolf when in office. So, why will I mobilize when the time comes? Why will I vote and campaign for Mr. McCain? Because I have a much deeper fear of Barack Hussein Obama (and Hillary) who will likely win the Liberal nod. He is the most liberal politician of our time. He has zero substance now in campaign time. He wields a barrage of flowery meaningless dialog that simply hides what his voting record screams out. Please don’t be fooled. This man is a liberal like none we have ever seen. If he gets elected we will see proposals that will make your head spin. We will see taxes increase right away. We will see nationalized healthcare pushed down our throats again. We will see gay marriage shoved down our throats. We will see our involvement in the U.N. increase. We will see our troops removed from Iraq and Afghanistan. We will see terrorism flourish and attacks will again come to our very homeland. We will see gun laws tighten like a noose around our necks. We will see our Foreign relations crumble, and we will soon be “giving away the farm” to dozens of other countries. We will leave the Barack Hussein Obama Presidency on the brink of a one world government. I could go on and on. I am for the first time in my 20 years of being voting age actually scared for our country. If this man gets elected, the American I have grown up in, the one my father fought for in World War II will cease to exist. You think I’m going overboard? We’ll see! So many Barack Hussein Obama supporters I know have no idea what the man stands for. They just think he is different, and a great speaker. If you are willing to vote for a man whose policy you do not even really know, then you will get what you are asking for. He is ill prepared and ill experienced to lead such a great country. And once he finishes we will no longer be that country. SO MUCH FOR APATHY!

BOTTOM LINE: I for one will not sit here and let Barack Hussein Obama ruin my country. So, against my better judgment I will get behind and vote for Mr. McCain. I urge all that love our great country to follow my lead and get the truth out.

My true prayer is and has been that a true conservative candidate will step forward and unite the true Republican base. We are left searching and with no real unifying choice. So I now will fight for the creation of a true conservative third party to become viable by the 2012 election cycle.

In parting, I will add the one thing that keeps me from exploding. All of this doesn’t really matter. This is all prophesied in the Bible. We (in my opinion) are on the brink of the end times. So truly, the Barack Hussein Obama direction may be what God chooses to lead us to the returning of his son. If so, Dear Lord, let it be.

That’s my 2.5 cents, so there!

I saw it coming...

I just wanted to re-post a comment I blogged about in January of 2006. I'm not usually the type to say I told you so, but I will here. And don't expect your "representatives" (yea, right) to do anything to help us now. I don't know about you, but the cost of gas is killing me. I just pray that someone with some pull finds some guts to stand up and push through some reform. Get the EPA, and the environmental wackos out of the way and drill. Then build some new refineries and get the gas flowing. Let's get energy independent, and we must do it now!

Anyway here's my profetic post:

Get used to it!
I've heard a lot of complaining and griping over the past 4 to 6 months about the price of gas going up, up, up. Up until a few weeks ago I was one of the loudest shouters (who me, and I'm usually so quiet). Then oil drilling in the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge was voted down by Congress yet again. I just can't believe that the Republicans have a majority and still can't sneak this one through. It is one of the most important domestic economic issues to ever face our country, and yet political pressure groups have so much power and influence that it may never pass. We have the worst case of politicians who are in the pockets of lobby groups we've ever seen. The Congress is no longer lead by the best interests of their constituency, but by what is the best for their continued political power and $ Gain $.Today the Oil prices went up yet again, and they are quickly headed to where they were after Hurricane Katrina. All I'm saying is don't expect Congress or even the President to get as upset as we are and actually do something about it. Because while we're making our measily salary and living month to month, they are sitting there in their multi-million dollar houses with their mades and nannies asking what the problem is. So stop worrying and losing sleep, because your representative sure isn't.That's my 2 cents!

Happiness comes from God alone!

I have a reputation for being quite a hard head. Lessons others learn and hold on to tightly sometimes take me quite a while to learn. Then, when I do learn them, I seem to forget them very easily. This is the case with waiting on the Lord and the happiness that most see from true patient openness to God's leading. I can not even begin to tell you how many times God has gotten a hold of my heart through circumstances and life changing issues. These are the times when I am able to slow down and truly hear and heed the still, small voice of God. Then in what seems like hours, I've allowed myself to take full control yet again and do things my way. I even realize then and now that my happiness is 100% linked to where I stand in relation to God controlling my life. If I am yielding to him and relaxing in his arms, then I am happy and thriving. At the times where I am control I may feel slightly more comfortable for a time, but I begin to be less and less happy and very bitter.

I found this verse today and thought it was fitting for this issue:

James 5:11Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

I have seen in my life and the lives of many friends the impact at laying our lives at the alter of God. We have so many things in our lives that we hold so tightly to, and they begin to get in the way of letting God control our major decisions. I have been inspired by friends this week that chose to consider giving up a big dream vacation because of a family medical situation. Then things begin to ease and look a lot less grim. After they gave up that tight hold, God gave it back to them with a peace that is unexplainable. It is amazing how many decisions lie ahead of me right now. It is completely overwhelming when I try to take it all on all by myself (cause I'm so tough- yea right), but with God nothing is impossible. It is amazing upon that realization how the clouds roll back and the peace comes over my life. And with peace comes real and true happiness. That happiness is only achievable with a life truly laid on the alter for God to control.

Now, don't get me wrong, I haven't changed that much. I'll still slip back into bitterness and overwhelmed dispair. God will still have to slap my hand. For now I will bask in the happiness and peace that only my God can give.

Twilight Jumpers!

I wanted to share this shot as well. It is a silouette of one of my Boys and two children of some friends. This was taken at dusk near Smith Mountain Lake Virginia. I personally love this shot.

Smith Mountain Angels

I just wanted to share a shot I took 2 weeks ago near Smith Mountain Lake. It was taken in the evening. I wonder if it will look anything like this when Jesus comes again breaking through the clouds?

The words "My Jesus" spoken on Idol???

So I got home really late last night, and when I walked in the front door, my wife said "you aren't going to believe this." So she pushes play on the TIVO and I hear Ryan Seacrest say "with 'shout to the Lord' it's your top 8 ladies and gentlemen." She was right I didn't believe it. They started the music and I was shocked as the words "MY JESUS MY SAVIOR" came out clear as a bell on the most watched show in America (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6G0U8Vg6nY). Now, I've since heard (and seen) that they also performed the song at the conclusion of Wednesday night's show, but that part didn't air due to time constraints. Interestingly, that Wednesday night version had them saying "My Sheppard, My Savior", (http://www.idolstalker.com/american-idol-top-8-shout-to-the-lord/) and then the one that actually aired changed to Jesus.

Scarlet and I discussed for a minute about whether any of them even understood or meant any of the words. Then we both realized that it didn't matter. Millions of people (lot's of un-churched folks) were hearing a blatant praise song to Jesus my Savior. What a powerful moment. I don't know if they were throwing us a bone, patronizing us, or trying to capitolize on the popularity of Praise and Worship music; but I am so glad they chose the song and performed it well.

Praise the Lord!

That is my Shock and Awe 2 cents!

China Olympic Noise

OK, let me start by saying that I in no way condone the Civil Rights practices of the Chinese Government. Actually, I condemn both those practices and their oppressive form of government as well. I do however find it comical that politicians and crazy protesters take an event like the Olympics and the Torch run to make a point.

The issues with China’s treatment of their citizens and Tibetan citizens are not anything new. It is the same as it has been since the Communist Regime first took power. Yet we choose to not punish them properly, and we reward them every day. This country as a whole has already been treating China as if they have had favored nation status for years. We have free and open trade with China. As a matter of fact it is very difficult these days to find anything in America that isn’t made in China. It is an absolute embarrassment as an American how difficult it is to buy American. I did this for years, but find it almost impossible now. Just looking right here around me now most everything is made in China: Mouse, Cell Phone, Coffee Mug, Watch, you name it. Heads of state for years have made cordial visits to China, and acted like everything is just fine thank you. Anything negative in any way is really a little tap on the wrist. Money flows every day from our country (and yes our government) to China. Everyone has stood by for years and condoned China’s human rights failures but not flat out condemning them.

So now all of a sudden we’re supposed to be outraged but things that have been going on for quite some time because the Olympics are in China? Give me a break! This is only done by Hillary’s Campaign and these Left wing groups to either forward an agenda or get free publicity. I assure you they are not really outraged at China. I am so sick and tired of Folks putting a faux opinion out there when it serves their purpose instead of really trying to change things for the better. Also, this is the Olympics for Pete’s sake. It’s a bunch of games and competition between countries and it has very little real impact on any thing of substance diplomatically. If President Bush boycotts the Opening ceremonies, I guarantee you that China will not “Free Tibet”.

If we really want China to change things, we need a long term plan to hurt them where it counts, in the wallet. Anything short of real economic threats, are nothing but a big joke.

That’s my 2.5 cents, so there!

You might be a redneck if. . .

You are nearly as uncomfortable as me when in a High Class Resort hotel. You can see me letting my hair down (ha) here after 2 straight nights of wearing the same suit to dinner. The Homestead is a very nice place and I enjoyed it, but I'm just not so good in High-society settings. After the Bellboy took my luggage up to the room I came up and spent 5 minutes trying to open my door with the card. It turned out when he walked back by that I was trying to open the door with a card that was attached to the useless mini-bar key.

So, maybe this California boy IS a redneck after all.

Homestead April 2008

These are a few of my favorite shots from a business trip to the Homestead resort (Hot Springs, Va.) last week.
Enjoy and see the rest at: http://picasaweb.google.com/knuckleheadva/Homestead