A Full House Is Best

This is not a post about a playing poker. It’s about last Friday October 10. That’s when my family from Pennsylvania arrived for their weekend visit. They stayed in a hotel about a mile from our house.

Having spent the morning finishing our preparation for their visit (you never really feel that you’re ready) we awaited their arrival for dinner. They had to unpack their vehicles and get settled in before they could come to the house.

I couldn’t wait until they got there so I drove down to the hotel to see them. The reunion was terrific. It was wonderful to see them all. My sister, Shari, looked great having lost over 90 pounds since her gastric by pass surgery last February. My sister, Peggy, was walking much better than she had since the last time I saw her. She had knee replacement surgery back in May. It was great to see both my brothers-in-law again too. My nephew was taller than when I last saw him last June and my niece had grown from being a little girl to being a tall preteen.

The family’s arrival at our house created an atmosphere of excitement busyness that hadn’t been there for a while. There was yet another reunion as my wife greeted everyone.

The reunion of our 4 dogs (2 of mine and 2 of theirs) didn’t go so well. I hadn’t thought ahead about the dogs getting caught up in the excitement of everyone arriving at the same time and it making them "edgy". There was some growling between my dogs, and my sister’s dog, Blossom. I quickly realized that I had mishandled the pet reunion. I put my dogs on their leashes and created a slow and calm greeting time in our back yard. This put an end to the growling for the most part. The dogs got along fine over the course of the visit but they never “played” with each other like they had the last time they were here.

There were two more “reunion” sessions as my two sons and their fiancés arrived at our house for our evening meal. We had a wonderful dinner of hamburgers and hot dogs cooked on the grill by my son, James.

After dinner we sat around and talked. James made some special Turkish coffee for my family to try. Some of them liked it and some of them didn’t. I don’t drink coffee so I didn’t even try it.

Pretty soon it was time to sing “Happy Birthday” to James and cut his birthday cake. As I stood there with everyone gathered in the kitchen I looked around and realized I was in a rare moment. Nearly everyone I love most in the world was gathered in my kitchen. I had a full house. It was a moment to treasure. I knew that there are very few times in my life that things got any better than they were at the moment.

The rest of the evening spent catching up and spending time with the family. We watched “Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader” and “Don’t Forget The Lyrics” on TV.

My nephew, Bobby, showed me how he could play the guitar and I brought out all my ventriloquist puppets to show everyone. Paula introduced our niece to the world of Webkins by giving her her own stuffed animal and letting her get online to register it.

There were a lot of other things that went on during our first day together but I can’t take the time to write all the details here. By the time it grew to be 10 o’clock or so the weary travelers from the Keystone State were ready to head to their hotel, get a good night's sleep, and get ready for the big event the next day.

We said “goodnight” and made the arrangements to meet at the hotel at noon the next day to drive to Nashville for Michael & Heather’s wedding.

Wonderful Wife, Wonderful Life

It’s been well over a week since my last post and what a week it was. I’ll be writing several posts with the details of our “Big Weekend” over the next few days.

The first thing I must write about before anything else is what a wonderful woman I married. Starting last Wednesday my wife had 5 days off from her job. Most of that time was spent preparing for and hosting my family here at the house.

From Wednesday through Friday morning we worked diligently to get our home ready to serve as a place of rest and relaxation during the time my family from Pennsylvania would visit. Paula made sure everything was ready.

During one of those days she even took the time to go into town. She spent several hours with our son, who is home on leave from the National Guard, helping him take care of a few things. We went to lunch with him; then she helped him get service put on a cell phone and take care of some business at the bank.

Other than seeing our son, Michael, get married on Saturday her best moment came on Sunday when she served my family some of her wonderful southern cooking. She prepared southern style green beans, deviled eggs and Mexican corn bread to go along with the chicken and pork chops James cooked on the grill. Other people helped make it but it was my wife who provided the menu and the recipes. She’s a great cook and loves making dishes she knows people will enjoy.

Having returned to work just yesterday, my wife now begins the busiest time of the year for her department. She’ll be working long hours from now until the end of November, probably longer.

While she would have liked to have just sat back and done nothing during her time off she gave of herself to make sure that both our Kentucky family and our Pennsylvania family had an enjoyable few days together. She didn't have to do it but she did.

I am truly blessed to be married to a woman who loves me so much that she gives of herself to make me and the people important to me happy. I want to let everyone know that the main reason I have a wonderful life is because I have such a Wonderful Wife.

The "Best Week" Begins

Yesterday was the first day of the biggest week of the year for our family. By the time next Sunday comes around my 20 year old son will be home from Iraq on leave, my 27 year old son will be married, and my sisters and their families have arrived for their visit.

James will be home either Tuesday or Wednesday. Michael & Heather will be getting married on Saturday. Thursday morning my sisters will leave eastern Pennsylvania and make the nearly 800 mile journey to south central Kentucky. They should be here by Friday.

Today I did some housecleaning. Tonight Paula and I cleaned out the habitat of my son's bearded dragon, Spike.

I am extremely excited about all that's going to be going on. I pray God's blessings on everything and everyone. I may not be posting as often as I usually do this week. Rest assured, however, that by this time next week I'll have plenty of things to write about because of what I hope will be the "best week of the year."

Coming Home On His Birthday

Today is my son, James, 20th birthday. He's on his way home on leave after being stationed in Iraq since April. He'll be home for two weeks. Because he's traveling no one has gotten a chance to say "Happy Birthday." It's a bit of a landmark birthday too. He turns 20 today so he's no longer a teenager. So let me take this post to wish my youngest son "Happy 20th Birthday." I can't wait to see him in a couple of days.

A Special Message To “Anonymous”

This post is written for one specific person. That person is the one who has been leaving comments as “Anonymous” on my blog posts since the beginning of the month. I ask that those of you who read this blog on a regular basis and aren't "Anonymous" allow me this one specifically addressed post.I feel the need to write a very important letter to someone who doesn't agree with what I write in this blog. Thank you for your understanding.

Mr. Anonymous,

First of all I would like to say “thank you” for going back and reading all my blog posts. When it comes to blogging the key is to get people to read what you’ve written. You have helped me accomplish that. Most importantly you are reading about the things God is doing in my life.

You are entitled to your opinions and I respect your right to express them. I can understand how a man who is blinded to God’s truths by the sin in his own life would consider what I write to be foolishness. The Bible mentions in several places that those who are “of the world” (meaning not followers of Jesus Christ) see God’s wisdom and truth as foolishness.

If you think your comments hurt me you are right to some degree. The things I write about on this blog leave me vulnerable to the insensitivity of those who disagree with what I state as truth. However they are not my truths they are God's truths. Your harsh words may be aimed at me but they are really directed toward God and His Son. The conflict you have with Him you’re going to have to fight apart from me. (I’ll give you a hint: God will win)

If my words stir up such negative feelings in you perhaps it’s because I’m hitting a nerve somewhere in your soul. I’m declaring the truth to your sinful nature and it’s rebelling against it. Satan has a strong hold on your life and he doesn’t want to let it go.

Nevertheless I don’t have any negative feelings for you. Your words are evidence to me that I am being persecuted because I am proclaiming how God’s truth is transforming my life. I want you to know that even though I may not know who you are I love you with the love of The Lord. I will pray for you. Why do I say that? Because Jesus Christ commanded in Matthew 5:44 “…Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."

In Romans 12:14 the apostle Paul writes “Bless those who persecute you.” If there is any way I can show you kindness or friendship I will not hesitate to do so. My goal is to find a way to bless you, Anonymous

Just one last thing I want to tell you. I have adjusted my blog settings so that any future comments you send will not be displayed until I approve them. However they will come directly to my email box. You can also email me directly by using the contact link in my profile. I’m not cutting you off completely but I am monitoring your activity on MY blog. I will be glad to engage you in debating ideas and truths but I won’t let my blog become a forum just for that purpose. It’s intended to be something other than that and it’s my responsibility to maintain its integrity. So you will no longer see your comments on my blog.

I’m challenging you to come out from behind the screen of anonymity and start a two sided dialog about your opinions and beliefs. Are you up to the challenge?

God Bless You. Remember God loves you. Jesus Christ died for your sins and I’m praying for you.

The Humazoo Makes A Comeback

Okay, what’s A Humazoo? See the disk shaped device in the picture to the right? That’s a Humazoo. It’s a smaller round version of the better known kazoo. While holding it in your hand you hum into the open side which vibrates a piece of cellophane underneath the white area and makes music..

The reason I have this somewhat unknown novelty instrument pictured here is because this past Wednesday night I used it again for the first time in over 35 years.

I discovered the Humazoo back when I was 11 years old. I was at church summer camp. The gift shop had humazoos for sale. My cousin and I each bought one. Later in the week during an afternoon hike to an area playground area we used our small round disks to pace the groups’ walk by humming the song “Colonel Bogey’s March” (better known at the theme from the movie “Bridge over the River Kwai”) into our instruments.

If you aren’t familiar with that song you can hear it and see it played on an old phonograph on You Tube by copying and pasting the following web address into your web browser. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo_93HWTyrk

All the kids liked our playing and the marched to our tune. It was one of the first moments in my life I can remember what it felt like to be both a leader and popular among my peers.

Flash forward to a few weeks ago when I was preparing to be one of the music leaders for my church’s Wednesday night children’s ministry called AWANA.I knew what songs I wanted the children to sing but I had no music for them. I looked for a way to draw them into thinking singing with no music was fun. I had used kazoos in children’s ministry before but wasn’t all that crazy about them. Then I remembered the Humazoo.

It had been more than 35 years since I’d used one but I was convinced that it would be the hook that would get the children interested. A few years ago I had found a place to buy Humazoos on the internet. Back then I had gotten one for me and sent one to my cousin in Pennsylvania. When I went looking again, found them, and ordered some to use during AWANA.

This past Wednesday night was my night to lead the singing in the opening session of AWANA. While leading a song called “The Hot Dog Song” (it’s a song about Jesus set to the tune of the old Oscar Meyer hot dog jingle)I had two children come up front. I gave them each a Humazoo to use then I let them keep them. It was a way to introduce the instrument to the group. I will use them again when I lead the singing portion of AWANA once a month for the rest of the school year.

I’ve written all that to tell you this. If you are looking for new or different but effective way to present the gospel and minister to people draw on your own life experiences. Think about what has sparked your interest in hobbies, events, people, or places and use it some way in your ministry. God is the designer of the tapestry of our lives. He has already provided us a lot of the things we need to glorify Him for the rest of eternity. Talents, experiences, interests, assets God has blessed us all with these things. His word promises that we’ll receive many more; but only if we give them back to Him through service to His glory. The first way we can do this is using our blessings to spread the gospel.

After you read this post pray and ask God to show you something in your life that can be used for His glory. You may have never considered what He shows you to be a means of spreading the Gospel but it can be.

I never thought a small children’s toy instrument could be used to help children sing praise to Jesus but now it has. To me a Humazoo was not much more than a tangible part of a fond memory. It brought back a remembrance of leading a group of 11 year old boys to a playground. Now with God’s help it may be a part of leading a child to Jesus. Seeing that happen is always a blessing.

An Answer To The Prayer Of A Princess

This past Wednesday night was the season finale of the show “America’s Got Talent.” While many of you know that my favorite contestant, four-year old Kaitlyn Maher, (who I’ve dubbed AGT’s Little Princess) was not part of the final competition she was part of the final show.

Although I knew that my favorite little girl singer was from a Christian family because of the mentions about Kaitlyn’s singing in her church and a scripture reference displayed near her picture on her “My Space” page. Her "My Space" blog entry copied below confirmed it. It also reaffirmed for me the fact that God answers our prayers in ways far beyond what we could ever dream about.

What a gracious and wonderful God He is to all of us. His Love is so encompassing that He even takes the time to listen to the prayers and desires of a 4 year old. This post just goes to show you that there really is something to having “the faith of a child.”

I’m thrilled that I had the opportunity to see and hear Kaitlyn sing one more time on the AGT finale. I am also thrilled that she knows, loves, believes in, and prays to the creator of the universe.

The following article was written by her father and posted on Kaitlyn’s “My Space” page on Thursday October 3. Read this blog post and see if Kaitlyn Maher doesn’t touch your heart one last time.

Kaitlyn got to see the "sparkles come down" !
It was April of this year and we were driving up to New York getting ready for Kaitlyn's first audition. "America's Got Talent" had contacted us and asked us if Kaitlyn would come audition for their show. We thought, "Ok, this will be fun. Kaitlyn will get a chance to sing before some folks who will provide her some great input and then we'll be on our way and get some dinner with family in NYC." It was on this drive that Kaitlyn piped up from the back seat about what she was hoping to experience out of this process. She obviously had much bigger dreams -- you gotta love the blue sky imagination of a 4 year old.

You see, Kaitlyn's whole goal when she started "America's Got Talent" was simple. From the back seat she told me, "Daddy, I just want to see the sparkles come down at the end", meaning, she wanted to see the confetti drop at the finale. And so, she did what she knows to do about something that's important in one's life -- she prayed to God. Yes, my 4 year old daughter said a simple prayer to God asking that He please let her see the sparkles come down.

That was back in April of this year. Last night, the first of October, now six months and many performances later, she stood on the stage at the finale and did indeed get to watch the "sparkles" rain down on her. This may not be a big deal to some, but to her, this was her goal accomplished... her prayer answered. I mean, think about the odds of a 4 year old girl participating in a national talent contest with contestants of all ages and all talents and making it onto the finale. I know statistically that is beyond any odds you'd ever think remotely possible -- except for the simple faith of a child.

I want to encourage you that when you have a need in your life that is bigger than you on your own should be able to accomplish, remember the faith of 4 year old child who knew that God is not too big to care about something so small. Take your need to Him in prayer and He will meet you there. He promises that He has an awesome hope and future for you with plans to prosper you and not to harm you and that when you seek His face, you WILL find Him. The key, though, is that you must seek Him with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

If He cared enough to let Kaitlyn see her sparkles come down, don't you think He cares for you?