I Am A Published Author...(sort of)

Today I received my first blog book in the mail; I guess that makes me an author of sorts...sort of. The book has no ISBN number nor was it inducted into the Library of Congress; hence the "sort of" disclaimer in my title. The book contains all of my blog entries for the year 2010.

So far I have had over 6,300 page views from almost 60 countries including nations like: Nigeria, Isle of Mann, Latvia, Slovenia, Australia, Sweden, India, Thailand, Chile, Iran, China, Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea, and Tasmania to name only some. When I was a kid I fell in love with shortwave radio because I could hear radio stations from other countries. Blogging is a very cool way for me, to be read by people in other countries.I just want to have something meaningful to say. The internet certainly has changed our world.

The book is nice. I like it. In reading it, I was encouraged, by what I wrote to encourage others.

A Few Thoughts On Envy (part2)

I have recently finished reading the book of Job; what an amazing book from the Bible. I will confess that for a number of years I just could not "get into" the real meaning and purpose of the book, and the depth of it's meaning. I am not going to try to expound on the details of the conversation between Job and his close enemies. The part that strikes me whenever I read Job is what God had to say to Job after all of man's wisdom has expired. God asked Job a few questions: "tell me if you can"; and Job couldn't

I am perfectly satisfied with the notion that I do not always understand God's ways. I do not have all of the answers and any attempts on my part to speak for God only ever sounds trite and hyper-Christian. I do not speak hype, I am somewhat fluent in faith; very big difference. God is God and He can do what He wants; I do not need to understand, so I may not have a lot comfort; but we can pray and seek God in our difficulties. Hype always tries to tie a pretty little bow on our trials, and hype always simplistically attempts to make a lists of what God does in certain situations. Word of Faith people used to say "you are sick because you are weak in your faith, or there is sin in your life", much like Job's friends did; God was not pleased with them.

My second thought on envy is based in the realization that I do not always understand. Why others are blessed and it seems like I have been looked over...again. Remember King David had a similar dilemma; why do the wicked prosper?

"If I truly believe that every good and perfect gift comes from above; gifts to me, and gifts from God to others. I refuse to compare myself to others; my gifts are from God, to me, so I will work with what I have been given".

I am a minister and an assistant pastor I see other men my age and many younger with seemingly less gifting who seem to be blessed with big churches, successful ministries and Biblical titles; why not me? Envy might try to raise it's hands and slow me down with questions about why always others. Honestly I am blessed beyond what I could have imagined. I do not need to be part of a big church I only need to walk in the confidence and gifting that God has given me. I am not a great anything but God has given me me gifts. Comparing myself to others is a trap and a pit; I will not be envious of others. God has generously blessed my life.

A Few Thoughts On Envy (part1)

Let me say before I begin that I am a middle child, I am also a phlegmatic personality type (I love peace and unity...and naps...it is true), I grew up in a very modest home, and I never knew I was poor until after I wanted "things". But I also want to say that I do not feel like envy has ever been a problem for me. I am glad when others succeed; having said that...

Envy is a very sinister desire, we suspect it in others, but we seldom identify it in ourselves. It often displays it's ugly little disposition in trivial ways, but the root of it seems to be, that we do not have what we want our what we think we deserve. So, envy should be foreigner in the Christian community, but sadly it is not. We want to impress other people, or at least have what others have. We want to be on a level field with other believers and things should never be unfair; I want what you have.

It seems like envy, jealousy, and covetousness are like brothers, and they are very close. Often discontentment with things like possessions, status, and a perceived level of success, contribute to our feelings of entitlement and self-centeredness. When these feelings rise up we often think unkind thoughts, say unkind words, and we do stupid things to gratify our ego. Then we sink into the darkness of self-pity, bitterness, and depression. What a sad state of affairs. Is anything really worth all of that.

My number one thought concerning envy in my life is this:
"I will not envy because I know that God is generous and gracious. If a man or a woman is blessed in ways that I am not...I know that all of my (and their) spiritual blessings come from heaven".

We serve a very generous God. Much more generous that we deserve, our problem is (I think) that we do not always trust God's wisdom, or understand His economy.

So Why Am I Afraid?

A little scary

Not everyone loves Ronald

There are a million reasons for a person to be afraid. Without the proper perspective and frame of mind a person can find a reason to fear in almost any arena of life. Some people fear clowns (coulrophobia); they are afraid of the unknown. Why do they have such big pockets, and what is inside? Why do they wear so much make-up; why is their nose so big? Why are they so happy?

Fear can grip us to the point that we become paralyzed; afraid to move ahead, afraid to stand still and afraid to go back to what we have always done. Fear is irrational. Fear is never your friend. Fear will keep us locked up in a house of loneliness. I read a book at a time in my life when fear had a strangle hold on my daily thoughts; I know a little of fear.

The following is from a book by Jenetzen Franklin;
40% of the things we worry about never happen.
30% of the things we worry about are in the past and can't be helped.
12% of our worries concern the troubles of others, and we have no part in them.
10% of our worries concern illness, real or imagined that may or may not have happened.
8% (Only 8%) of the things that we worry about are things that might really happen.

The words fear not, or be not afraid, occur over 360 times in the Bible, that is enough don't be afraid's for each day of the year. When we frame plan and view our lives through the lens of God's word and His promises for and to us we find far fewer things to fear. Trust God with your concerns and don't allow them to become fears that paralyze you.

Behold God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid. Isaiah 12:2

Why Oh Why Cant It Be Like That Here?

Almost four years ago now I took a trip to Martinique to see my brother in the French Caribbean and I enjoyed it immensely; I was able to totally forget about it being winter here. Now I am not typically an unhappy sort of guy, but I am sick of cold weather already and it is only the middle of December.

"Help me Jesus I am fading (freezing) fast"

This last year we have become Home Missionaries by helping out in a growing Home Missions church pastored by my very good friend Jeff Peckham. I am wondering if the Lord sent me someone else's mail; maybe I was supposed to go to Fiji or Barbados; at least that is what my cold fingers tell me when I go outside. (Please understand this is all in jest, I know I am in the middle of God's will for my life). Why can't it just be in the 60s I would love to mow the yard again.

The Bible says that godliness with contentment is great gain. I have been so blessed, especially in the last year with the birth of a brand new granddaughter Coralie; she is such a sweetie pie. I am content in spite of the cold. Let winter come and stay if it wants I am blessed.

Wow, I Thought I Was The Only One

I wonder how many friendships have been formed and forged because of a common experience or a familiar mindset. I remember sitting in a middle school class and feeling very much out of my element; I had just arrived from a summer of fun and a small elementary school to a much larger social landscape. D. C. Everest Middle School had students from all over the place and we are all placed together in a really big school.

I was sitting in a classroom back in the...along time ago, and I did not know anyone. I looked around the room to see if there was anyone else who looked terrified and a little insecure; (because I was) and I found one. Seated in the row of seats right next to me was this guy who looked a little nervous and shy. What did I have to lose? I asked "so, where do you live?' It was that simple and a conversation began, he liked to go hunting and fishing, and confessed to being a little intimidated at the new school thing. His name was Nathan. We had an encouraging sort of friendship for awhile back when I needed it.

I wonder how many friendships we miss out on because we never speak up? If we would only brave up a little we just might be surprised at what others could add to our lives. I find it a little too easy to mind my own business; I could be in a room full of people and not say a word. Our cell phones and Ipads have made seclusion in a crowd easy to do. Don't look up or around, it is easy as pie...(I have made many pies and honestly it is not as easy as it sounds). But really, who knows how many good things I have missed out on.

No Please No Not Again...Wooly Caterpillar 2011

Winter of 2010 on our road

Well it "seems" to be official at least to the weather men and women that winter is about to give us a prophetic sample of what is ahead; I keep hoping that this is all a bad dream and that it will start to warm up instead.

The weather man's forecast is for a long harsh winter. I have heard from and seen a number of people who have said the same thing. A Pittsville Wisconsin woman told me that her trees have produced more acorns than she normally sees and that she seen a lot of squirrels gathering up the acorns. Judy (the woman from Pittsville) uses acorns and squirrels as her winter weather predictor; I say good enough for me.

I was in Eland on Saturday and picked up a "wooly" and he only had four rings the black on the front and the back were about the same which means that both Fall and Spring were going to be fairly normal.

So my prediction is that we are going to have winter this year but it will last a relatively short 4 months. 

Please bear in mind that it is not really a snowfall or the beginning of winter unless you can track a cat or any other fairly small animal in the snow. So the wet sloppy accumulations I get this week may not classify as the beginning of winter. Last year the wooly caterpillar nailed winter with it's forecast; and I will guess that this year it will be the same. With absolutely no meteorological training this little guy can guess with the best of them, and so can I.

No wooly bear caterpillars were harmed in the posting of this blog.

Check out last years prediction. Wooly Bear 2010 

If

Rudyard Kippling

This is a poem that I wished I had leaned as a young boy or even as a young man. Had I understood this poems significance I would have committed parts or all of it to memory.

It seems like so few men are being real fathers. I think that a father is a man who will do everything in his power to give his son's and daughter's safe passage to adult hood, and will pass to his kids as much of his fathers and grandfathers virtues and values as he can.

I understand that life is difficult at times but not near as difficult as a child's life when they are with out some sort of paternal mentor and moral compass. A father may start out on a dirt trail but during his life he does as much as he can to pave a highway for his kids and grandkids.

My dad worked all week as a tree surgeon and then worked private jobs cutting down trees on the weekends to earn money so his kids lives would be the best that he could make it. Thanks Dad.

I would encourage anyone to commit this to memory and try to live by some of it's principles. This poem was written to a young man, helping and teaching him how to become a man.

If
By Rudyard Kippling (1865-1936)

If you can keep your head when all about you 
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: 'Hold on!'

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
' Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch,
if neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!

I Think I Know Where Luke Might Be

It is obvious to me now that Luke had a hard landing in a field in east central Wisconsin in a small town called Auroraville. It appears that C3PO is in some type of dormant hibernation phase until Han and Chewy come to rescue him. I wonder if Luke is incognito as a humble citizen of Auroraville?

This photo was taken in Auroraville, Wisconsin while I was taking pictures for an e-zine article on the history of Pentecost in Wisconsin.

A totally unexpected find.

Over Under Around and Through

There was an old song written and sung by a man named Gary Paxton and the words declared that "there's gotta be more to livin' than people just waiting to die" How true. As a pastor/minister when a thought hits for an encouraging word I try to keep a notebook nearby so I can write things down and maybe let that thought develop into a sermon; (just for the record it never works out as well as I would like). I wrote something down the other day that has sort of stuck with me. Here goes.

There has got to be more to my life and the way I live than the dreams I have for the future, and the achievements or regrets I have from the past; what about today?

The Bible says that Jesus is an ever present help in a time of trouble. It also says that if I will seek Him I will find Him, as a matter of fact there is a reward for seeking Him. He will never leave me or forsake me, He is with me until the end. All of these passages refer to my today situations. I have often wondered why as Christians we always mention God in relation to trial or trouble and for a long time I did not have a good answer, but then I realized that when things are going really well for us Jesus is often the last thing on our minds. But when we do face difficulty we can turn to Him and He is always there.

Don't get stuck spinning your wheels between yesterday and tomorrow, do something that matters today. Something that matters to someone who could never pay you back, something that might affect someone else's eternity. James tells us that pure religion and undefiled before the Father is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep ourselves unspotted by the world. Do something out of the ordinary.  Today begins when you tie your shoes, and head out the door. 

Over, under, around, and through, this how we tie our shoe.

The Wisconsin Valley Fair...(fairly fun)

Kiss Kiss

I do not like big crowds so a trip to the fair has never been one of my favorite things; not like...well you know;

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings. Like you know, "The Sound of Music". Which is not one of my favorite things either.

 I really did enjoy the fair. My grandson Caleb entered a painting (blue ribbon), a bird house that I helped him with (blue ribbon), and a model boat (red ribbon); way to go Caleb you are awesome. I got to see some Franks; no not hot dogs real people. I am always curious what other Franks look like, really we are not a bad group of guys. I saw some animals, and other peoples exhibits. It was a fun day that Mary and I shared with my niece, my daughter and my three grandsons. I did eat an elephant ear pastry as well. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Bluebird House

Caleb's Model

Caleb's Painting

Sheep Show

Crook...I mean a carny

Frank

Frank

A handmade guitar

New Friends

Little Cow

Alrightnowyoutellme (11 reveal) "Chelydra serpentina" Snapping Turtle

The common snapping turtle is most common in the south and eastern U.S., they can be found in ponds, lakes, rivers and along walking trails in Central Wisconsin which is where I came across this little fella. The common snapping turtle is a very crabby turtle; however when they are in the water they are less aggressive. We have found them hatching along the side of a gravel road and as they emerged from the hole where they were left they were already mad at the world. I picked one up that day and instantly his beak-like mouth open and was ready to take a chunk off my finger.

Snapping turtles in the wild can live for up to 30 years, but please do not get the notion that they would make a good pet; they are hard wired to be mean. A snapping turtle is very flexible so if you attempt to pick one up you may be surprised at how far back his jaws can reach. If you ever see a snapper trying to get across the road please think twice before you simply push him or drag him because you could scratch his underside on the pavement and cause damage to the turtle.

Snappers like turkey vultures eat carrion or dead things (mostly dead fish)...yuck, but will also eat crayfish, frogs, plants and algae.  The knobby shell of a snapper is called a carapace which smooths out with age, and the only real predators that they have are men and boys (and some women but women are generally smart enough not to take on the snapper, most guys are not).

The famous snapping turtle that made it to Hollywood
Toka or Rahzar...???

"Island of Saints" by Andy Andrews

Island of Saints is another amazing book by Andy Andrews, and although I am not a professional writer or book reviewer I must tell you this is a great book. I bought it at a thrift shop in Merrill, WI for around  $1.50 (hardcover). I was sort of excited because I really appreciate his work as an author. I told Mary to drive home and I would read out loud; sort of like an audio book up close and personal...sort of.

I had no idea that the Nazi military had subs in the gulf of Mexico during the WWII.  I was hooked almost immediately on the very idea that the country was in an even greater danger than I had ever learned in history; (just for the record I am not a big history buff). So the idea that we had overcome a danger so close to home was intriguing to me. Andy tells the story of digging up the roots of an old tree and finding a can buried in the ground, the buttons, photo, ring; and who was the child and the woman (?) in the photograph? Yet because I am not a history buff I put the book down and allowed it to sit idle for a few months before I picked it up again.

Andy tells the story of a German submariner and the politics and loyalty to duty and the Nazi regime aboard a Kriergsmarine U-boat; and his near death experience at the hands of another German and the beating by a hard hearted military widow after he washed up on shore. I am certain that great deal of research went into the telling of this story, but it was personal to Andy. The can and it's contents were found under his own tree on a small island situated along the Florida and Alabama coastline of the north coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

I would try to retell parts of the story to whet your curiosity but it is told so masterfully that any attempts to do so might ruin the story for you.

The sub-title of the book speaks of the "One Principle That Frees the Human Spirit"; that description is what sold the book for me. I want my heart to be free of clutter and baggage that keeps me from freely giving what I can to others. If I am bound by the baggage of a broken down life how can I give to others, and tell them about the true freedom that is in Jesus Christ. My heart longs to be free, your heart wants to be free and this book truly addresses one of the monumental areas that we find ourselves bound in; the power to forgive. Forgiveness is not about the other person forgiveness is personal it's about you and taking back your life.

I must tell you that you need to read the last "part" of the book. The book is divided into three parts and part three is the clincher. Enjoy; it is a must read.

Alrightnowyoutellme (11)

Alrightnowyoutellme,
what might this nasty thing be?
I found her on land,
she digs in the sand.
Better watch out or
she may tear off your hand.

No more clues for you.

Schroeder's Chocolate Sauce

Well once again we will crack open our Peanuts Cook Book and try out another recipe; this month it is a chocolate sauce for ice cream. Ice cream is the perfect treat makes no difference what the season or time of day it always seems to satisfy that inner longing for comfortable eating. I sent this recipe to my daughter and she is going to give it a try...I will let you know what she says. Christal said that she may try making it with Agave syrup instead of honey; her son has food allergies and in the past has had to go somewhere special to get the type of chocolate ice cream syrup that he can eat.


Just a reminder that this book is over 40 years old and they cooked a little differently than we do now; things were not so convenient back in the day. I can well imagine that big sisters still act the same way that Lucy did however...my youngest sister has always acted that way. (just joking Jackie)

Long Live Lemons

It is hard to believe that the summer is already over half done. I am not going to complain about how busy I have been or any thing like that. I am just thrilled to be here and alive; everyday is an adventure, some days are a slow moving boring sort of adventure but an adventure none the less. I have read some good books this summer and grown a great deal as a Christian and a minister.

Remember Calvin and Hobbs? The boy and his stuffed wild tiger who hated school but secretly liked the neighbor girl Suzy. Bill Waterson compiled a collection of Calvin and Hobbs comic strips and called the book, The Days Are Just Packed; what a hoot.

I am trying not to over analyze my Summer but I do not want to miss the beauty and magic of everything that I am blessed to experience. I am grateful for trouble and hardships as well as blessings and creature comforts. I do think that this has been one of the most difficult summers financially but I am sure that things will work out somehow. I will keep trusting the Lord to help me out when I need it most.

Sometimes I think that the ones who have the least are the ones that manage best at squeezing every blessing and positive experience out of their difficulties. How many times have we heard stories of physically impaired people accomplishing amazing things because they just wont give in to self pity. People who seem to have less, finding and experiencing more in their lives. Heres to hardships, may the Lord make me more than I am because of them.

You know what they say about lemons...Lemonade anyone? How about lemon meringue pie, or lemon bars, or a lemon loaf with a sugary glaze over the top...mmmm.

I know It Has Been a Long Time; It's Churches Fault

Our hair salon to church remodel is moving along very nicely and things are really progressing. The church that I moved to was having services behind a tobacco outlet/liquor store and things were going pretty good. It was however getting too small for the growing congregation. We had over 50 people on Easter Sunday and typically run over 30, but the room was very small for a church; kids were forced to walk outside to get to the door that would take them to their Sunday School room, not bad in nice weather, but it was terrible in winter and stormy weather. In the spring Sis Chris would sweep and scoop water out of the youth room in order to have a youth service, because the rain and snow melt would seep in under the door; the door bottom was lower than the the level of the sidewalk.

So we are very grateful for all of the people and churches who sacrificed to help us get the down payment to purchase our new building. It was a Christian Science church for many years and then a hair salon, but the Lord knew it was going to be Riverside Apostolic one day and kept it for us.

There is still much to do like carpeting, a new door  and lights. So you pray for us; Br Peckham is a good pastor who loves the city of Marshfield. Any one need a Bible study?

Before 

Our 1st service (click on it)

We Saw This the Other Day

(Taken with my 200mm lens at max zoom)

We were out birding about two weeks ago and as we were driving through the George W. Mead wildlife area I spotted way off in the distance a "something" that I could not identify. So I took some pictures with my digital camera and zoomed in to see if I could figure it out and the "something" turned out to be  a small family of baby foxes.

I am sorry that the photos are not better than they are but a poor photo is better than no photo.

This is a previous post about foxes:
Crafty Beast.

(Cropped on the computer)

Whatsthis? (4reveal) Great Blue Heron

I have always thought that the "hairy"feathers on the back of a Great Blue Heron were sort of interesting. This photo was taken at Wildwood Park in Marshfield, WI. He was fishing at the edge of the pond and did not want to move so Mary took his picture. If you look close you can see long black hair feathers on the back of his head as well.

So check out this link to find out more; Great Blue Heron