Someone’s children

In today’s world it seems that some people do not teach their children right from wrong. I know that parents are not always accountable for their children’s actions. Some them are just rotten.  When I was growing up I could have never even imagined doing intention damage to someone’s property. I did not write on bathroom walls. I did not paint graffiti on walls or sidewalks. I think the most “damage” we did as kids was toilet paper people’s trees or shoe polish car windows and I truthfully cannot remember ever participating in either of these.
 
Just like here in Afghanistan we have people who are just downright disrespectful and nasty. Imagine this, you live in a metal connex. The metal connexes are stacked two and three high in two rows. They all face inward and have a hallway between both rows. Approximately 20 doors on each floor.  These heavy fire doors have assisted closure devices on top to ensure they close behind you. Now the respectful people guide the door closed with their hand to ensure it does not SLAM. Out of the 20 doors on the floor probably 10 of them Slam on a regular basis at all hours of the night. Makes me want to get up at 1 am and just stand outside of my room and slam my door over and over again until everyone comes out of their rooms to see what is going on. Then, with fire in my eyes, I would tell them "NOW YOU KNOW HOW I FEEL!"

Nasty comes in mainly in the restroom. There are some people who do not understand the plumbing here. Without gives too much detail let’s just say it is required to flush before, during and after. If you flush and it does not work then YOU STOPPED IT UP so use a plunger and fix it, but nope they cannot do that. They shave and leave hair in the sink, they cut their hair in the floor and barely sweep it up, they blow their nose in the shower and leave the evidence. I know they do not do this at home and this is my home for the next year. I wish their mothers were here to see these pigs.

So let’s see I am tired of the food, tired of the house, tired of most of the people and really wish I was at home with my beautiful wife, kids and grandkids. I miss everything about home, including the stuff I did not like to do, like mow the yard, take out the trash and even doing the Laundry would be okay right now..  ok well maybe that is a stretch.. I hate doing laundry…

Missing home, but praying for the 12

Military Intelligence?

Military intelligence has been defined as a military discipline that exploits information and analyze it to provide guidance to commanders as they make war time decisions.  The theory behind this concept draws on three types of intelligence sources.  

·         Strategic Intelligence is concerned with broad issues such as economics or a political assessment.  

·         Operational Intelligence is information useful in the planning of strategic objectives.

·         Tactical Intelligence is information to out bound patrols on the local threats and mission priorities.

Our government pours massive resources into the field of military intelligence, making it the backbone of our war effort.  Yet, with all of the recourses employed in this discipline, wouldn’t you expect the people in the military to also have some level of normal intelligence?  I know, for a fact, that there are many really smart people serving in the US military.  I also know, for a fact, that there are many whose behavior makes you question putting the word military and the word Intelligence together in the same sentence.

For example, consider if you will, the flight service center at the military airfield in Kabul, Afghanistan.  A fellow soldier and friend of mine was attempting to make his way from Kabul, back to Bagram Airfield where he is stationed.  With a smile on his face he approached the counter and inquired if any seats were available on the next flight out.  Here the ever helpful representative informed him that what was available to him was the back wall and a red line on the floor.  What he could do was go stand behind it until it was his turn and someone called him forward.  Obediently, although a bit stunned, he moved to the back wall and stood behind the noted red line.  Upon arriving at his newly assigned position, he turned around just in time to hear the same representative yell, “next!”

It was at this point that he realized that his journey might not go as smoothly as he had hoped.  After a rather intense conversation with the not so customer service oriented representative, he was informed that his plane would be loading shortly and he was to have a seat in the staging area where he could wait.  A mere three hours later his group was called forward to go through the security check point in preparation for their flight.  Along with the others, my friend was instructed to remove all metal objects and place them in the plastic bins located to their right.  

As instructed, he removed his bullet proof vest and placed it in the appointed plastic bin.  In addition he obediently deposited his Beretta 9mm pistol with three 15 round magazines, one M4 semi automatic rifle with 210 rounds of ammunition, 2 colored smoke grenades, 3 fragmentation hand grenades, an 18 inch bowie knife and of course for safety reasons, he was also required to remove his combat boots.  

As he moved through the metal detector, he became quite discouraged when the alarm went off and a very large security guard pulled him off to the side for additional screenings.  A total body pat down was performed and then with the help of a hand held scanner it was discovered that he had not followed instructions as his belt buckle was indeed made of metal.  After a scolding suited for a six year, my friend now being fully stripped of his belt and his dignity was sent back through the metal detector.  Once it was confirmed that he was not a terrorist want-to-be and that he was not attempting to sneak anything on the plane that might pose a danger to his fellow passengers, he was allowed to recover his belongings.

On the other side of the counter he recovered his boots along with his Beretta 9mm pistol, his M4 semi automatic rifle, all of his grenades, and the 18 inch bowie knife and was allowed to board for his flight.

I am so glad that the US military has this stringent level of security in place.  You just never know when someone will try to sneak something as dangerous as a belt buckle on a plane.

Feeling secure,

John P.

Praying for the 12.

Old Man in the Mirror

As I sat in the barber chair this morning I pondered, just who is this man looking back at me. Am I who I should be? Am I the father I have always strived to be? Have I loved enough, shared enough been kind enough or am I simple another man. My reflection looks old, the lines on the face are deep and it looks leathery. When did I get “OLD”? My oldest son has called me,  “old man” for several years but the man looking at me is not me, he is old. Where have all of the years gone? Have the best ones been given away to my country? If I were gone tomorrow would my memory fade as home has faded in my 5 LONG months away. Will I be remembered for anything that I have done or will I, am I simply just another Man in the mirror?  Take a little more off the top please, there is still too much gray showing.

Praying for 12

Robin Williams Makes me sick.

So night before last I went to see the USO show, knowing that Robin Williams would be the last performer as he was the biggest name on the bill. First was a female comedian, I cannot remember her name but she was funny, not VERY funny, just funny. Lance Armstrong was the announcer. He was funny but it seemed as if he had better things to do. He really seemed like he was not into it. Then came Kix Brooks and a song writer. I really wish they had not broken up, because without Dunn, they just cannot be the same. They did put on a good performance though. 

Then after about 2 hours of standing outside while the temp dropped from “OH MY gosh cold” to “you must be stupid for standing out here cold”, Robin Williams comes bounding on stage. I saw him arrive in and noticed his smile through the vehicle window. The smile of someone who truly loves what he was there to do. He put on a heck of a show. I think just because he supports the troops he is the best comedian of all time. I remember his Mork and Mindy days all the way till the present. 

After the show the performers staying and took pictures with the troops. This is where this blog really begins. The performance was over and as I began to move off the bleachers I noticed that my muscles seem to have frozen while standing there. With each step I walked my body got colder and colder. At one point I did not think I was going to be able make it back to my room before I collapsed. By the time I reached the door to the barracks I was trembling violently. I was chilled through and through. I went straight to my room and got in bed. There I stayed for 36 hours. I had feverish dreams about numbers. I woke up soaking wet and freezing with chills that hurt. Thanks to my friend Wayne for checking on me, I would not have eaten all day. This morning I still feel chilled but was able to make it to the office. Still feeling a bit sweaty and sick but could not stay in my room for another day.

So Robin Williams made me sick……………..was it worth it????????????? Yeah Robin Williams is awesome..

Pray for the 11

Almost Christmas . . .

I was recently reminded of the time I spent in Iraq back in 2005.  It was approaching Christmas and like every other soldier I was dealing with a host of heavy emotions.  Every fiber of my body wanted to be home, not just for Christmas, but for my children’s ball games, for their birthdays and for my anniversary.  These emotional wants were held in check by the fact that my fellow soldiers and I serve at our country’s bidding, not the bidding of our own desire.  If this means we’re away from home during the holidays to accomplish our mission, then so be it. 
  
I found a wonderful peace one day when I actually realized where I was.  I was in the middle-east where so much of what we call biblical history took place.  I found that even though the birth of Christ had taken place thousands of years before, the Christmas scene had really not changed much.  I actually saw camels that were being led by the stars.  I saw modern day shepherds who stayed awake and watch their flocks by night.  And of course, there were Army tanks patrolling the city streets.  The last part may not sound very biblical, but when you consider that the Roman Army was embedded in the area at the time of Christ birth, the stage for the story really hasn’t changed.  

With this said, it is Christmas in America, in the Iraqi desert, and in the Afghan mountains. I will spend this wonderful time of the year over 7,000 miles from my home.  But before you feel sorry for me, I recall another person who also left their home to accomplish a very special mission.  His name was Jesus Christ and he left his home in glory to be miraculously born of a virgin. Throughout his life he was loved and hated. Some saw His presence as a threat; others embraced the gift he offered them.  In the end, he changed people’s lives and as a result, he changed the world.

When we talk about Christmas our minds produce a host of beautiful images.  We can all visualize the manger, shepherds, angels, and a city called Bethlehem.  But, do you realize that all of these images are pictures from the second act of the story?  The birth of Christ was not the beginning.  The Christmas story began over 4,000 years before the manger in a place called the Garden of Eden.  It was in the garden that our Heavenly Father gave the greatest Christmas gift of all time.  He made the choice to forgive rather than to condemn.  His path of forgiveness walked through the laws of the Old Testament, down the New Testament streets of Bethlehem and up to the top of a hill called Calvary.  This is the Christmas story that brings me peace for today and hope for tomorrow even if I am sitting in Afghanistan.  

This year my Christmas celebration will be eating dinner with a few thousand of my new found friends, looking at pictures of my loved ones, and thanking God for the gift of His son. It will be merry because I choose to make it so. 

Are you still looking for that special Christmas gift? It’s not too late and I have the perfect suggestion.  “Hold the one you love… and cherish the love you hold.” 

May we all embrace our Heavenly Father’s love along with that of our families. May your days be merry and bright and may we all join as heaven and nature sing… Joy to the world; the Lord has come. 

Merry Christmas to all,

John P.

Pray for the 11

Forced March

Today we had a forced March. We lined up in formation at 9 pm(give or take) and marched down to a hangar here. We only knew that some dignitary was coming, we did not know who is was and really did not care. We would have much rather gone to bed as the night before we had a fallen hero ceremony for a soldier killed in action. As we walked through the door we could see off to the left, a band set up on a stage. At first we thought we were being forced to attend a Rock concert where the music was not mixed properly. The drums drowned out the singing so we were unsure of what the songs actually were.

From my vantage point on my tip toes I could see a podium with two microphones. Then I saw a soldier come across the stage and put the presidential seal on the front of the podium. Whether you voted for him or not, whether you think he has run this country into the ground or not, whether you respect him or not, I was in the same hangar with the president of the United States. It was kind of neat. Once he walked out and started to speak I was ready to leave. I came, I saw, I wanted sleep. Then he “acted” as if he was going to cry over the awarding of purples hearts. Was this a ploy to gain more votes or a sincere sadness in his heart for soldiers here, no one will ever know. I know what I believe.

Pray for the 11

Am I a heathen?

Yesterday I got into an altercation with a MSG. He was confronting two soldiers about something that they did not do.  When I started the conversation with him I could have begun it differently. I could have told the two soldiers to carry on or told the MSG to leave them alone or something other than what I said which obviously instigated what turned into an UnGodly shouting match that ended with me calling him something that I never should have been said. He was wrong and was very disrespectful  but I let myself stoop to his level. I am tired of people only thinking about themselves and only themselves. This person is supposed to be a leader of troops yet none of the troops here respect him and he continually disrespects them. Being a Christian but not showing the values of one has made me miserable today. Thus the title of this blog am I a heathen. God challenged me yesterday, It is not a pass or fail but a test to make me stronger. What I learned is listed above.
I am ready to go home….

Pray for the 11

Ode to the Cookie

That kind and gentle woman
Who changed my life today
I find she is the one to blame
For my tooth decay

She made those cookies look so nice
The batter mixed complete
To only eat one dozen each
A task I could not meet

One by one I munched away
With no regard for fat
How shocked I was to finally see
My stomach in my lap

I knew that I should stop at once
Before I had my fill
But darn those cookies taste so good
I didn't have the will

The only thing a man can do
With cookies on his face
Is thank that woman far away
As no cookie went to waste

John P.

Pray for the 10.

The Short Fat Man

The short fat man, who works here in Afghanistan, would like to thank all involved in his weight gain. Just yesterday he received three boxes. One loaded from top to bottom with bags of cookies. The other two loaded from granola bars, chili, refried beans, Corn chips, movies and numerous other things. He did not mention the sugar cookies or the pumpkin bread because I think his first thought was to hide these items from everyone and not share.  However after looking at the massive feast in front of him, the fat man decided that it would be impossible to eat everything that had arrived and that it was necessary to share these items with others.  Even a Short Fat man can get too much to eat.

Signed The Short Fat Man

Thank you MoM and PoP for the wonderful boxes of goodies. They will be enjoyed by all, actually have been enjoyed by all already. Breakfast this morning was Pumpkin bread and coffee with two friends, John P. and Wayne S. The Sugar cookies arrived in tact with the exception of a few broken edges. As you can tell by the picture I was already miserable yet I could not part with the two items in my hands. 

NOTE: I had to delete and cover up a couple of things in the back ground of the picture for soldier safety.

Wilma, Thank you so much for the cookies. They arrived pretty much intact and were enjoyed by many of the soldiers here yesterday.

It is great to have the support of friends and family back home. Just know that I am turning into a Short Fat Man….haha

Thanksgiving 2010, what am I thankful for:

I am thankful for the sirens that blare in the wee hours of the morning. INCOMING, INCOMING, INCOMING.
I am thankful for the concrete barriers that protect us as much as possible.
I am thankful that the mortars are guided in by ALLA and that he is a bad shot.

Seriously though:
I am thankful that I have an understanding God and that he loves me.
I am thankful that I have family back home who are waiting for my return.
I am thankful that I was provided with a wife who shows me unconditional love even though I am a bonehead on occasions (okay, more often than not).
I am grateful that my children are growing up in a home where they are taught right from wrong.
I am grateful that my oldest son finally is beginning to understand the meaning of life and that his wife is there by his side.

The majority of the things I am grateful for are back in the states, but here I am thankful that I do not live in a tent and that my job does not call me to kick down doors or travel the dangerous roads of this place. I am thankful that I have friends who push me to do the right things, no matter how hard they might be.

Time for a laugh

Last night at around 2000, that is 8 pm for you civilian folks. I left the office. I walked down the stairs like I always do. As I walked out into the parking lot I saw a dog in the shadows across the parking lot. Remember this is not the big city, lights are at a minimum here, so there are dark corners everywhere. So here I am all alone with this dog across the way. Since I have never seen a dog here it struck me as odd. As I walked it seemed to be following me. At one point I stopped and it stopped. I was starting to worry. The hair stood up on the back of my neck in a kind of fearful warning. I began to walk and it began to walk. As I focus on the darken side of the parking lot I came to realize that I had almost pulled my gun on my shadow. There was just enough light coming from two directions that my head appeared only 10 or 12 inches off the ground and gave the appearance of a dog. Oh, thank God I figured that one out before firing on my own shadow. I would have never lived that one down with my friends..

A card of Hope...

I received a card at the same time I received the boxes from Grandma and Aunt June. This card was so special that it deserved its own entry. Sometimes in my blog I express feelings of the moment or feelings that last but this card touched on one of my blogs of a fearful heart. I am not sure which but this card from Dawn is one that was most definitely to lift the spirits. 

               She Writes" 
Jay,
Hi, just thought I would drop you a few lines to say "hi". I just got home from work. I was  getting ready to go to the gym. (ha,ha) And I thought about you. God laid this on my heart to share with you. I don't know why, but I know that God knows. :) I believe it was Abraham Lincoln who said "courage is not the absence of fear." Well... me I have always been afraid of the dark. However right after I got saved God showed me this verse:" For God has not given us the spirit of fear: but of power and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 Anytime I feel afraid I just say that verse and I find comfort in God's word. Another Good verse is: "be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord." Psalms 31:24 

However my two favorite verses are these: "Casting all your care upon Him: for he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7 and Jesus said "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

Mom, was telling me that on your blog that it sounded like your spirits were down. Well I hope this lifted your spirits. Stay safe and be careful.

Praying for you and Rosario always
Your cousin,
Dawn :)

Yes, my spirits are lifted. "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." Nelson Mandela.

I learned a long time ago that fear is a healthy emotion that will warn you of impending  disaster or problems. When I talk of fear I assure you that it is a passing emotions as I cannot and refuse to walk anywhere in fear. I do go through a range of emotions as do most soldiers. The one that gets me the most is lonely. Even being surrounded by friends lonely is a hard one to shake. The only cure for lonely is my wife and soon enough we will cure each others lonely.

One Bible quote about fear that I really like is from John 14:27 "Let not your heart be troubled or fearful". But of course as a soldier my favorite verse is John 15:13 " No greater Love has no one that, this that he lay down his life for his friends.

Dawn, keep up the words of encouragement and may all who read this be encouraged. For in him all things are possible...

50 pounds of "stuff" in a 30 pound bag

In my 20 some odd years of military service I have learned numerous things. One thing I have learned is how to pack. I can squish and fold and roll and push and squish more until I can get 50 pounds of "stuff" in a 30 pounds sack. But I have to admit that this week I learned that you can put a full shopping cart load of goodies in two small postal service boxes. I received two boxes yesterday from Grandma Connell and Aunt June in Amarillo. 

When I picked up the boxes I realized their weight. Upon opening these boxes I realized that I know nothing about packing. I am going to give you a list of items in these two small boxes. 5 or 6 Industrial size tubes of toothpaste. Two containers of coffee (1 1 pound and 1 3lb) 2 boxes of granola bars, 8 to 10 packs of gum (my favorite by the way) one large bag of trail mix. 7 Movies most of which I have not seen or will really enjoy watching again. 20 to 30 bags of hot cocoa and enough to tea to throw a tea party for the whole unit. 

Great job Grandma and June in shopping and packing this box it will last us for a while.... a long while....

And all the Soldiers Say Thanks Grandma and Aunt June.

One of Those Days

Have you ever had one of  “those” days? You know the kind I am talking about. That dark and miserable day when for no good reason, life just does you wrong. Maybe you overslept or you forgot about a project at work. Maybe your child clambered into your room at two in the morning begging to sleep next to you and then promptly wet the bed. I have good news for you, you are not alone. Do you remember Alexander? He is the main character from Judith Viorst’s book Alexander and The Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day.

From the moment Alexander wakes up with gum in his hair, things just don't go his way. As he climbs out of bed he trips on his skateboard. At breakfast his brothers discover toys in their cereal boxes, while Alexander finds nothing. He doesn't get to sit by the window on the way to school, his teacher doesn't like his drawing and he is deserted by his best friend during lunch. Later he finds out that he has a cavity and then he has to eat lima beans for dinner. For poor Alexander, life just continues downhill. His bath water is too hot, he gets soap in his eyes, and his pet cat goes and sleeps in his brother’s room. Can you relate? How are you and Alexander supposed to deal with the stress of days like these?

On behalf of those serving in the United States military, we want you to know that we understand. Indeed, sometimes life can be harsh. I think it is fair to say that sooner or later everyone has one of those bad days. Officially, there is a scientific term for this phenomena, it is called “life.”

It has been suggested that the soldiers serving in Afghanistan could well have the inside track on this “bad day” thing. Perhaps we can make your day just a bit brighter by offering you a small touch of perspective. Ponder with me if you will. Exactly how bad was your day? Care to compare?

For your consideration, may I present the Engineer Route Clearance Platoon, or as we call it, the RCP. The mission of the RCP is a fairly simple one. Travel the open roadways of Afghanistan and find all of the road side bombs that have been planted there by the Taliban. Nothing to it, right? A normal RCP day begins around four in the morning and by daylight the 35 soldiers of the RCP have loaded up in their vehicles and are on the road. In their search for Improvised Explosive Devices they are often required to dismount from their vehicles and move across an area on foot looking for indicators. An exposed electrical wire or an abnormal pile of rocks can only mean that a bomb is near. This task also makes the RCP a central target of ambushes and taking sniper fire is common place. At the end of an exhausting sixteen hour work day, the roads are safe, lives have been protected and just like you, our soldiers want to go home where they can kick back and relax.

That was the plan last week when one of the RCPs returned through the main gate. All that stood between these boys and their X-Box was downloading their equipment and refueling their vehicles. Like every other night, the vehicles were convoyed to the fuel point and parked as they waited their turn. As the boys began to brag about their heroic exploits, they heard the familiar whoosh and whistle of a mortar shell flying through the air. Then, in the middle of their tales there was a frozen moment when no one could move. The whistle that is often heard trailing off in the distance was getting louder. I won’t attempt an exact quote of the sergeant who realized what was happening, but I am told it sounded something like “%#;*%$*#!”

Mortar shells normally miss everything and fall harmlessly to the ground with a dusty thud, but in this case, it is really quite amazing what one mortar shell can do when it strikes dead in the center of a fuel storage tank. Let’s just say the 4th of July came early this year. In the end, all but two vehicles were totally destroyed by burning fuel in the explosion, yet not a single soldier was hurt. Explain it any way you choose; fate, luck or protection from the almighty, but I know that the families of 36 soldiers are very happy tonight.

The next time you begin to feel down and discouraged and you think that this might be one of those terrible horrible no good very bad days, just think about the boys of the RCP and smile. Life really is good.

Counting my blessings,
 John P.

Understanding -

Yet another Soldier will suffer..... as he makes his way through this place he seems to be in a downward spiral. I had heard that this man was rude and hateful, so God made it a point to have me try to speak to him.

I asked if he was sick and he snapped at me. I stopped him and said in a peaceful calm voice, "What is going on in your world?" "Why are you so down on life?" He stopped and grasped the door and at first I thought he was going to slam it but instead he closed it swiftly and caught it just at the point of closing. He turned and said "Chief, my wife is leaving me." In my talks with John P. I have learned there are always two sides. I have known this my whole life but it has hit home a little more in my dealings with John. I spoke to this man with what I can only describe as inspired words. The following day a completely different man showed up for work, smiling. 

On this earth I am but a grain of salt, all by myself I cannot prove my worth...
The God who put me here has made me wonder why on occasion, Have I done as instructed am I pleasing to his eye?

Why?

"You can't always sit on the fence while the world passes by, sometimes you've got to ride." Chris LeDoux

If you live your life in hiding, your children will only know how to hide. Four Engineer soldiers died this week. I am becoming numb to the loss of life as have the people of the United States of America. Another soldier giving his life for his country is just another news story these days. The concern is how many of "them", the enemy, did we kill. I think not enough as they lay in wait to kill my brothers. They were supposed to go home soon. Please dear God make it stop, bring peace to a world that is probably already too far gone. Maybe we cannot instill love in everyone but we can pray for peace. And the Soldiers say Amen.

The Kindness of the Turkish People

While on this road trip I had the opportunity to try some different foods. On the base I am currently on there is a group of Turkish people who work contracts for the government. They said that after being here for a while and eating the "American" food they could not stand it anymore. I told you that food was not good at the base I am on. Well the food is really terrible on this base.

On their small compound, almost hidden from the rest of the base, they constructed a brick oven and their own kitchen. When I was invited I was told that they make pizza each day for lunch. Well they don't always eat pizza for lunch. When we arrived we were greeted with a friendly smile and a hand shake by two very nice people. They directed us to a table where we sat and waited for our food like we were in a Five star restaurant. When the food came out it looked wonderful, it looked like a chef had carefully arranged it.

It was not until later that I found out that it actually was arranged by a chef hired to feed my new friends and their workers. The food was fabulous and I left there with a full belly. THIS was by far the best meal I have had in this miserable place. Thank you to the Turkish people and my new friends.

Test Fire or Real?

Date: Wednesday, November 10, 2010, 7:51 AM

In my half dazed state, I was sitting down to dinner with my beautiful wife, Rosario when I was brought back to reality by three machine guns firing in unison. Holy Crap what is going on as I remove ther dreamed sushi and wine taste from my mind. Was this a test fire or were we fired upon? I pray it was a test fire but I will never know.

Patience

A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.
Proverbs 15:18


Patience is a virtue I do not pretend to possess.
Lots of time in life, this has led to unhappiness.
Today I prayed for a little patience in the hopes of some peace.
I pray that my ruffled feathers and anger will shortly cease.


I pray for understanding as I carry on this day.
I pray that the ones who make me mad stay out of my way.
I hope that God can hear me as I plead from here below.
I say that he can give me what it is I need to grow.


Lord if it is your will, I leave this in your hand.
With your help I will get through it, yes I know I can.
With you on my side there is nothing I can't win.
And all the folks in the congregation reply with a big AMEN!

Give one another day

I woke up this morning and I was still here. I was hoping that my bad dream had ended. I keep thinking that just maybe if I sleep a few minutes longer that I will wake up in my big bed at home with my beautiful wife beside me, but it has not happened yet. 

I have found encouragement through the words of my Friend John P. He is a Christian and has challenged me to study my Bible. He attends the Church of Christ services with us and asks all kinds of questions, as he comes from a Baptist background. (he also attends a Baptist Service). I really like his questioning as it sheds a new light on what is biblical and what is "just because." 

As I study and learn more about religion I find that all religions have their "just because" elements. As people walk through life they chose a religion that fits them and soon they will see that the "just because" in some denominations outweigh the scriptures.  I have moved around to many different Churches in the last twenty years of my life and sometimes I moved because of the "just because" and other times because of someone preaching opinion or talking down on people.

 Religion is a choice, you can choose wherever, whenever and however or chose not, but you have still made a choice. God knows your heart and that is what will count in the end.