Sacred

I appreciate truly sacred things, and probably fall for some semi-sacred things, but I am deeply opposed to things being called sacred when they are just the opposite. In my opinion, a stone or crystal can not be sacred, nor can a forest or a wilderness ( by itself). Even the rock from which a tomb was carved is not sacred because it held a holy man.

What is sacred is what is used by God or used for God's purpose. I am to be holy, and devoted and dedicated to the Lord. When I do that, am that and be that, I am sacred unto Him. The shell that is my humanity has been made special by the light of God's Holy Spirit being deposited there. I am a lamp and He is the flame burning eternally in this temporal vessel.

I need both a sacred place in my heart, and in my physical dwelling ( but for now there is too much clutter and chaos) this will be a place of study, prayer and devotion, a chapel or sanctuary - even a "tent of meeting" for this traveler in the path on the way to a better promised land. I desire such a place, and more importantly I need to go there often. To give and to get. Giving praise and worship and getting the battle plan for today, getting strength for today's journey and finding my spiritual food.

God is making sacred more and more places on this earth, one heart at a time, one home at time. As the darkness gets darker, the light of His holiness shines brighter, and the fire of His love burns and cleanses out the dirt and filth that has been allowed but will not always pollute His earth and stain His creation.

2 long

for too long I have stood at the edge of God's river and dipped my toes into His goodness, scooping a little of this spiritual refreshment up to my lips for a taste of the holiness that He is.
For another season I have let the energy of the Spirit pass me by as I wondered what was wrong, why I did not have direction or clarity. I had sparks of insight and a warming of the possibilities of LIFE in Christ, but no real fire. My excitement peaked at meetings and on outings but crashed when I needed it most when I was alone or home facing a mountain of tasks that need to be accomplished, one at a time and done in order to bring order to my confused and chaotic house.
I wanted to quit, but that was not an option when others are counting on you.
I thank God for love.
Love of my family has meant so much in the years of giving mom (gradually) back to the Lord. their constant support and affirmation of me has kept me when outside circumstances have pounded away and tried to bring me down. The love of my brothers and sisters in Christ, both close by and all across the world have lifted me and made me smile and laugh, allowing me to worship and praise the savior of my soul. The love of one very special and precious woman has been a tangible gift and a bright light in the wake of my personal losses and struggles. Her joy and laughter mixed with practical wisdom have added ballast to the keel of my vessel and kept me upright in stormy times.
Last night at bible study I revealed some of my pain and doubts and asked for prayer. The answer was quite simply "do", forget what you Don't and focus on what you do. I am to stop telling myself what is NOT and recount from God's holy word what IS!
So this morning I read the bible FIRST, and the prayed, and then walked the dog (whom I really enjoy), before making my coffee or pushing the ON button on this computer.
I am putting God's attitude toward me into action: If I was worth Jesus hanging on the cross, then I am worth caring for my own soul by feeding myself spiritual food and taking spiritual drink from the spring of Living waters that is Christ himself.

Silver Saturday

hello.
I love my life, no doubt about that
even in the dark days or the less sunny seasons
I have kept my faith and my buoyancy with the help of
friends ( like you :-) ) and family - God bless them!
I have joy and peace that comes from knowing that
all is as it should be.
Proof of that last statement is this:
This is how it is, how could it be another way?

What God has given us is so much more than we expected
and so much more than we deserved.
My mom has had much more time than most women
to enjoy her comfy warm home, her dog, her beautiful mountain community
and recently to re-experience camping in the Sierra Nevada and locally.
She has been generous with her family, and it has come back to her,
she gets the kind of loving care and attention that we all would want.
I can sense the gratitude in her heart for being able to be
in her own home, not on strong pain medications
and able to visit freely with those who come to call and pray with her.

We are ever so thankful that God has made this day
and filled it with such beauty.
Thank you for your prayers.
Mom lives, and fully, until she is translated into God's presence at some future time.

thanks a bunch

My facebook page has been disabled
it took them ten days to even reply to my original complaint
and now another week later
they solve my problem, which I had already fixed,
By taking down my account.

So what?
I was just building a small prayer circle to pray for and help
individuals. Its harder to do that without my account...

But with God nothing shall be impossible

i had a dream

a long time ago
and it was clear what the message was
"just let go"
I am having trouble trusting God enough to let go of
this particular situation. Please pray for me to have wisdom
and the mind of Christ.
I need to be free

new kind of sicko

no ( mom), its NOT the swine flu
but it kicks like a mule!

almost one week has been sacrificed to this
head stuffing, back aching, nose running mess.

I am well enough to work, so i will do some of that tomorrow morning.

God is blessing me with such insight and such beautiful conversations
I am thrilled to know that He who waited a long time for me to understand the simplest things is now wanting to reveal to me the deeper things and unravel the mysteries that had eluded me in my years of selfishness and indulgence. Every day I learn something. Each step I take feels significant because it leads me closer to Him. Having friends that know the Lord and honor Him is an enormous blessing and one I will never take for granted.

Sit, stay!

if God were a dog trainer
and I were a pup
what would He say?

If he could use weather to
reign me in, this weeks message would be
"get into THE BOOK,
start praying
and do not jump about so much!"

it looks like a week of storms with a few breaks for grocery runs
plenty of snow shoveling, little use for the kayak buried in the snow.
I need to hear Him and learn, NOW
pray for me.

------------------------
its all working out just fine
so I am making cookies
with mom.

holy smokes, who said sharing a kitchen would be easy?

time to dig

digging down today
to the place where I am more real
the only way I know how to do this is
to be quiet
to pray and read the Psalms
and to run the chainsaw

good to do in the face of the coming storms
pray for me, please


------------------ 8 am ------------
adding to the list, MUST go kayaking on the lake
under the snowless clouds.
shoulders are already sore, so let's push them
a little more

---------3:19
really sore now and glad to be able to nap some
made a massage appt and one for therapy.
All quiet at home, not much rain yet.
The chainsaw is calling

No complaints*

Not a bad day in the desert.

I rose too early, before the sun, went for egg sandwich breakfast at local chain, yum!
Used the fitness center here at the Hilton garden Inn.
The fitness center is apparently a place you go if you don't have firewood to cut, split or stack.
Checked my email at the business center, alas, I had no business to do (hysterical laugh).
I went on to the business of writing a paper letter, something I love to do.
Woke my mom up about 7:30 and had her out the door about 8:30 for the appointment at the outpatient surgery center at 9am. they took out a cataract, That took three hours. it would have been less but she fought them tooth and nail, mistakenly thinking they were going to harm her. Whew! i would not have wanted to be the nurses and helpers. it took FOUR of then to hold her still for the operation, can you imagine?
holy smokes. her first words to me, "where were you when I needed you?"
Ok, got mom back to the hotel, settled in alright.
For me it was more fitness center, jacuzzi and swam a bunch of laps in the outdoor pool.
For folks in the northeast or Midwest, an outdoor pool in January is what you call a skating rink, just not frozen....
Now some blogging, email, and then dinner. Maybe Thai food.

Later I will work some more on my jigsaw puzzle and read a bit more of THIS AMAZING BOOK! ( link to amazon) by greg Cynaumon, Ph.d

Ok the asterisk *
no complaints*
Perhaps there are a few nurses or orderlies who have bruises, THEY might have something to say about the feisty old lady (89) who was not going to take being poked and prodded any longer!

such is life - for mom and myself.
I am taking care, and staying clear when she gets angry...

A single, solitary, simple seed

one
one thought, one idea, one person

it has to come down to this
ONE is important

One man, my dad was such a powerful influence in my life that giving up my relationship with him would wound me for a long long time - and I just found that out this week.

One mistake leads to another and pretty soon the ONE person you should have protected is not, is damaged and in neglecting that sacred trust, you kill off a part of yourself. One person not born can change history, one young man's dream crushed can lead to a life of waste and want.

ONE CHANGE; recovery, repentance, surrender, whatever I call it it comes to this, for me, I gave up so much of myself trying to find myself. Now in yielding to my heavenly father, God, I am discovering more than who I am and what I am here to do, I am finding that I DO FIT in the big plan and I AM CAPABLE of taking my place in my family and in my community as a strong man. Once the blinders came off and the chains forged by years of willfulness and rebellion were cut away, the freedom that came to my limbs, my heart and my new mind is beyond putting into a few words. I am wanting to dance, my voice which grumbled for too long, now sings. My path, once a serpentine swirl strewn with wrecked dreams, now stretches far ahead toward a bright horizon.

One new love, one (really) old love

I love GTY.org where I can listen by podcast to the 'Grace to you' radio program in podcast form on my windows media player. This connects me to the voice and passion of John MacArthur Jr., under whose preaching I first came to faith in Jesus Christ. Just recently, God's grace was renewed to me as I came under the conviction of my repeated sins and continued foolishness.
I am once again realizing that a testimony of faith in my mouth is useless unless it was matched by the testimony of my feet and hands, the demonstration of that faith in my walk and in my work.

To you who know me, I ask forgiveness for my failings and the neglect of the gift of salvation these past years and I commit to living on the higher plane of obedience to God's will and acceptance of His design for my life. Thank you for your prayers. Only God knows how much they have meant in this season of my life.
The blinders have come off, the lure of the easy solution and instant "happiness" are now clear to me as just that: LURES. Any fisherman will tell you that at the end of a lure is a hook. Once hooked the direction of ones life is altered, changed and no longer characterized by freedom, as the pull of the line and the pain in the mouth take over and like an energetic and purely reactive rainbow trout, I was running, jumping and zig-zagging through my days, without much hope of really getting anywhere.

Through prayer, and His word, God has removed the hooks from my soul and set me on a path of freedom. Not freedom to do as I wish, but freedom to live as He intended from the beginning.
"Grace to you" and the podcasts are my new love, God is my first love that I am returning to in this January season of my life. I am new again, and you know what? It just feels great!

Welcome home Rick

Two weeks on the Atlantic ocean must have been tough to bear.
I am so glad you are back and will see you this weekend, hopefully.
You are a wonderful brother to me and such a vital part of our family, thanks for all you do for myself and mom, and being so patient with each of us. We have worked through these many years to clear the brush and brambles from our relational paths, and now we stand ready for the next season and all the excitement it will bring.

Happy travels to my brilliant and talented sister on her trip to Canada. May the splendor of fall's display remind us all of the wonder of a planet made for our enjoyment and prosperity. Thank you for seeing the value in my dream, for helping finance the treehouse project and talking to me so often, as I sort out the past years, and plan for the brighter, better future.

I salute my older sister in Florida on starting a new business, and filling a need, serving people and doing so in an ethical, sensitive way. I am so inspired by your strength and energy. You give so much to your children and grandchildren, it will all come back t- you a hundred fold, as God sees your love, and wraps you in His love this day.

i was praying today as I work ( on my tan)
for several friends ( I seem blessed with so many)
for wisdom and grace.

for peace that passes understanding

for strength to do the right thing

for healing and wholeness.

--------------

I love working around my sisters place
and today I have three or four projects to 'play' at before my 5:30 Swedish massage appointment. (it is all in the name or research, I swear, just like congressman's trips overseas are all in the public service)

I am taking pictures and will do my best to upload something by tomorrow, Saturday.
It is good to blog again, and yes, it was good to take a break. Like beer, food, sex, you can overdo it with the computer.

prayer

I am amazed at God.
( shows how dense I can be )
I am glad for His healing power, gracious love
and tender mercies.
I can not imagine what my life was before him
( but I do have a few pictures, hehe)
It is appropriate that I say a few words, to Him, here.

Lord, thank you for the way the light comes in this morning
and reminds me of the gathering of your people which is to come.
Thank you that when I walk in the dark, through an unlit room
it shows what life is like without you; no reference points.
When I am sad or confused, your spirit rises up within me
and brings clarity, hope and joy.
The friends I have are true, the family I am part of is pure gold,
my children are gifts from you, to love and encourage for a short season,
and then I stand back and watch, in awe, as they do exceedingly abundantly
more than I could have ever done. ( but I will still try to keep up with them)
Lord, you have given this man so much more than I expected, and more than I deserved.
Thank you for all of that, and for your love, as well, displayed in your own son.

20 days to new habitat

I should be excited.
something new
leave all this current load of "stuff"
and go make a new home for myself and Hannah.

But the MOVING, Arrrgggg!

oh well,
pray I get god deal on a nice place near to my mom,
and that our transition there goes smoothly.

in "canning" news, I made a big batch of dill pickles,
more peach jam and a new mango- spiced peach blend.
I have sweets, just no where to eat them, yet.

True tale of a demon on the attack ( reposted)

I have to tell you this. (again)
It's part of my life, specifically May 1990 - Mother's day. Sunday.
My wife, Amy has just gone into the Safeway store on Ocean Avenue in San Francisco, a few blocks from where we lived for four years. We are moving and need some more boxes. I am in our car with the two boys, Oren and Jared, then 5 and three years old, waiting for her to come out. I am dressed in a shirt and tie, slacks, having just come from church. We lived in a very mixed neighborhood, some would call it poor.
I am sitting behind the wheel, at the curb, waiting when I hear a noise, noises from the crosswalk in front of me. A man is beating and jumping on another man who is down in the street. Reflexively I open the car door, and run to the fight, while many others stand and watch. I see an average size black man kicking the now unconscious man who is bleeding from his mouth and head.
I know he may be able to swing at me, but I also know I can not let him kill this other man. I stand directly in front of him, I can not say if I yell or just stand. He releases the mans head which he has been pounding against the pavement. He stands and we are eye to eye, I am looking at the blackest soul I have ever seen. I know this is a demon, murder is its name. I shout, with as much authority as I can, "Stop, in Jesus name!"


I could not call for help from another, I could not wait and see if the attack would stop, I could not do anything but what I did. I did not have time to look for a weapon that this man might have, nor did I take time to arm myself.

The man is dark skinned, short hair, a knit cap of several colors. He is less than two feet away and staring at me. His hands, which were beating the life out of his victim moments before are hanging at his side. I am relieved at this, having never been a fighter, but having been punched a time or two. Something has changed in the attacker, like a switch was turned off. I do not touch him, but point with my long arm, long finger and long stare toward the sidewalk, and command
"Now, Go sit down on the curb!" and then I looked down at the man on the asphalt. Mouth open, blood abundant, eyes closed. He lies like a discarded rag doll, arms and legs splayed around his unmoving body. I or someone near me, yells for 911 to be called.
Out of the Safeway a man comes, carrying a cake in a pink box, straight over to us. "I am an EMT, let me go get my bag".
He comes back and I am relieved of my duty toward the victim. An ambulance comes in a few minutes, and a police car maybe ten minutes later. I answer a few questions for the officers, give my name and numbers. The officers talk to ten or so witnesses from the sidewalk crowd. None of them is more amazed than me at what has just happened.
This, I think to myself, is the going away event; one that will remind me of why I moved my family from the city, to the mountains. To a place of quieter living, less crowding, more peaceful surroundings and perhaps more peaceful people.

Wednesday edition:
people are asking what happened to the bad guy. it is so politcally incorrect to refer to him by such a prejudicial label. Here is what happened he went to prison, 2 1/2 years.
The whole story is both sad and funny, tragic and telling. I will try to drag it out for as long as I can ( i need more readers folks!!)

The assailant: He heard what I said, he stopped. and then he went and SAT on the curb,
and was sitting there when the police arrived. he was arrested and interviewed by the police detective. Here is what she said when she talked to me later on the phone. (paraphrase)
Mr. Schmidt I need to get some information about this event. We asked this guy about the attack ( he did not know the victim or have a motive, except, perhaps he was gay of effeminate.)
Cop: Why did he stop beating the other man? "the preacher told me to stop in Jesus name"
Cop: Do you believe in Jesus? No I am a muslim.

then the officer asks me, Is that what happened? I told her yes, I did not recommend it, but in this case it worked. That I told him to stop in Jesus name, but that I was not a preacher, just a guy in a tie. I told her I would be available to testify if they needed me. Now ten or more people were witnesses and gave the police information at the scene, but at the arraignment there was me, the victim, who still had some severe damage to his head, and the Muslim man.

He plead guilty. I told the man next to me that God had some special reason for saving him that day. I hope he did something wondeful with the rest of his life.
I'll never forget that day, nor cease to thank God for His power and authority.
When I am getting whooped, I hope one of you is near by to stick up for me.

Many thanks

I am busy with more work the next few days
but Saturday I have a fun trip planned.

If I don't post much, forgive me.
go see my other blogs here here and here.

May I say this:
NOTHING compares to being used by God to encourage
another to refresh and renew their relationship with Jesus.

For those who have been strong in advising me to get closer to God,
I thank you with all my heart. I am a stubborn man. It takes a lot to get me moving in the right direction. with a mule, you use both a carrot and a stick. With me I need the same.
Pull me a bit and push me too, and do not hesitate to whack me lovingly
when I stall and hesitate instead of going forward.

Ugly, but soon to be fabulous floor.

I thoroughly enjoyed my morning:
up at 5AM
computer, blogging, reading, craigslist work (YAY FOR THAT SITE!)
listened to the "Jesus Christ show" online.
traded emails with a Nigerian scammer, and still made it to church by 9am.
Good service, wonderful people and breakfast out with friends.
Home to mess about this place before heading south in a few hours to start my work week early.
I have plenty of challenges this week, and opportunities to shine.
"God keep me going strong, in the right direction,
let what I do matter, and what I think and say honor you."

Radio Messiah

on Sunday morning, I listen to the Jesus Christ show
on KFI online.
at first I thought, "No way this guy should say he is Jesus!"

I got over it, I even called in two times.

its a good program, it helps people.
and it deals out bible truth in a way that is applicable.
its 6 to 9 am Pacific.
try it some Sunday, before or after church.

Bless you, thank you for praying for me.
My life progresses toward something that makes more sense, even to me.

sunny Sunday

its ( almost) too beautiful to blog.
I am headed outside after this post
to wash a car or two, since there is NO snow or rain in the forecast.
I will tell you later of
new clients, different church service, and a recent visit with Dr. Stihl.
I am blessed with good health, loving family and friends,
and joy in the midst of each challenging season of my life.
and the sailboat? its sitting at $7600.00 but was described by the marina personnel as a boat in a box. (translation: Much a$$embly required. )
I am staying a good distance away.