BLOG QUEST

Usually, we all just go about our business. Our minds have eternal daily planners, turning pages, relegating our weekly routines. Time goes by, we carry on, and keep on the go. We share a little of this and a little of that. Then something happens that changes everything in a blink of an eye.

This year’s autumn trail has been very bitter, definitely not sweet in that it has been an unfortunate ending for acquaintances, friends, and family without a shot at late maturity. For any of us witnessing families lose loved ones to an accident, dreaded disease, or tragedy at a young age should cause any one of us to shudder.

It’s so true that no parent should ever have to bury their child no matter what their age. The pain can seem to be so insurmountable that they wish that they themselves could take their child’s place. Grief surely has no respect for any age.

Everyone of us can think of a life changing moment. I’m not talking about those little special pieces time. Life changing moments are when everything is going to be a whole lot different, never the same, from that point forward.

I immediately think of two distinct moments in my life. (Actually, I just thought of a third moment.) As I reflect, that third moment should always be the main moment that defines me because it was orchestrated from heaven. How many distinct moments will we have or have to endure in a lifetime I wonder? Of coarse the answer will vary between each and every one of us.

Over the last five years I’ve now realized that I have more of a tendency to just keep my distance, be an observer, and take a few notes.

For those of us who take our journaling seriously we have all experienced a pilgrimage. Some of us have become more acquainted through Blog Quest and are definitely a part of an expanded community. It still amazes me that you will still come by and take some time to read through my babbles, jokes, and even put up with some of my preaching. But I digressed…

I usually avoid writing about difficult times and certain situations because I’ve always had a heartfelt desire to be an exhorter. There are appropriate times to share my testimony personally with someone or with a group. Like what it felt like to be paralyzed, not being able to walk, laying in a bed most of the time, and be incontinent. But it has to be the right situation to share. Please take no offense because I’m very cautious with whom I share my testimony with. It’s really not just for new or for those few old friends to show up to know what’s up and have something to gossip about. Nope! Everyone and everything is not for a blog, Facebook, Myspace, Youtube, or reality television episode.

Nobody can fully truly understand situations unless they have been there or done that. There are just some things we are not going to fully understand unless we experience those situations for ourselves. Only if you have been in those trenches (for example like abuse, addiction, deadly diseases, and military warfare) will we ever fully grasp the depth of those certain conditions.

I’m reminded of a personal conversation someone shared with me that was so down right evil that I stated, “I don’t understand how anyone could do such a thing.” Their reply, “You don’t want to be able to understand.”

Hence, very difficult times for others in my immediate family and people whom I have become acquainted with has been why I had to almost completely step away from my computer. It is kind of like going off into the wilderness.

Life has a way of testing our beliefs. Just when we think we got it going on, the bottom falls out, and our clown nose falls off. That’s when our intellect wants to mess with our faith.

How Come You Let That Happen?

What’s With All This Disparity Between Your Promises and World Realities?

Oh yes! Just like you I ask these questions about paradoxes. Don’t be fooled - I’ve also witnessed the mightiest men and women of God do this too! Some of the greatest theologians battled with these questions.

This world does have an obscure dark side that at times hurls bombs of tragedy to bedevil, confuse and disconcert. I recently finished my months of study in the Book of Job. There was a point in this Godly man’s life when he had become so befuddled and wretched that he asked God why he was even born.

There are some things in life that will happen that we can never predict. Those unspecified occurrences or dastardly deeds that never in our wildest dreams could we ever imagine to have to face. We always like to think we and our loved ones are invincible. It’s as if it will always just happen to the other guy. We even like to think that death is always so far away. But in reality always surrounding us is darkness. Any sort of darkness is never an old friend.

When my cousin’s last moments of physical life were shared with me, and with the passing of our most recent Veterans Day to honor those who have served with their lives for others, a few words written by Commander Richard Byrd seem fitting. Commander Byrd is famously noted as a polar aviator and explorer. During a six month winter stay at the South Pole, when the sun does not make an appearance above the horizon for four months, Commander Byrd wrote a few sentences in his journal that were later edited for publication:

Then three weeks before the sun was to due to peek once again above the most southern tundra horizon he wrote:

This is about three people. First, a newlywed, a 25 year old woman. Second, a wife, mother of three young children, almost 30 years old. Both also daughters to a mother and father. Third, my cousin Brian, a husband, recently a brand new father, a son and a brother, 47 years old. Their ages all different but all three seemingly young, beautiful, and stylish in their own way.

There has been years upon years of research and fund drives. The annual KTTC/Eagles Cancer Telethon in Rochester, Minnesota, also the home for the Mayo Clinic, has again begun auditioning acts for it’s January show in 2010. This will be the 55th year for this cancer fund raiser. Through the years I have even had family members participate. Everyone’s goal as in any cancer charity drive is to help raise money so researchers and doctors can still try to find a cure for this dreaded disease. Yet, cancer still doesn’t discriminate. Three more people that are victims from an evil cruel work.

There were days, weeks, and months of prayer spoken over each of them for healing. Everyone waiting and wanting a miracle. And all the while the effects of chemotherapy and the spirit of cancer took it’s toll. Finally, all three of them became confined to their beds not being able to speak or care for themselves.

Regardless of who we are, our beliefs, or faith backgrounds, that previous paragraph should make any us have a sense of grief for others. Cancer is such a tough merciless disease. Cancer is never kind hearted or a gentleman. Cancer is a beast that destroys the beauty in a person. There is absolutely no beauty in cancer. It is always a beast.

In succession, it’s these three families that brought me to a point of silence. Nothing to say. Nothing to share. Just a loss for words and an empty notepad for an extended period of time. However, eventually, when we shut-up and shut-off, we have to find words to speak because silence can also be like the cancer beast that grows.

When I attended college in Oregon, I had to read Scott Peck’s New York Times best seller, The Road Less Traveled. The first chapter was entitled, Problems and Pain. The first sentence reads, Life is difficult.

It was not too long after that when I first truly (raising and flicking two fingers on each side of my head) that I became a Christian. I thought all my problems would be solved. The road of life would be silky smooth and life a piece of cake. I would have good health, a good marriage, and good times for everyone all around me. Yep, life seen through rose colored glasses.

Hello! That hasn’t happened. I’m willing to bet it hasn’t happened to you too. No matter how much we watch our words, pray the right prayers, and do our best to follow a moral code, those unspecified occurrences even some bad deeds are going to be dealt. We don’t always know what cards we are going to get.

Blaise Pascal, a famous scientist and mathematician saw faith as if he was playing in this year’s World Series of Poker with our lives being like a cosmic wager facing some uncertainty from a deck of cards. This seems fitting when we think of God like a pit boss. We place our bets, not knowing which cards are exactly left in the dealers deck hoping to win a spiritual victory bracelet.

I’ve wondered a lot about what my cousin now see’s after his last physical breath. He’s now disengaged from this world where the gaming of callous, selfish, greedy people still exists.

None of us can remember our births. We really don’t want to imagine our deaths. Birth, life, and death is a circling process. The premature death of a loved one raises many questions with no easy answers. Hallmark Cards, flowers in vases, or words of condolence are thoughtful. But they really don’t ease a families pain. You don’t ever get over it. The scar never goes away.

The only thing that really eases the pain for families and friends is the supernatural world outside of our natural world. But we all have questions about that. Certain family members have asked me about heaven. They have even asked questions about the Holy Trinity.

I don’t profess to be a know it all. I’m just an ordinary person trying to figure things out too just like you. But no matter what we really need to investigate our questions and worries. We should live to continually learn and as I like to say, “Always remain teachable” and now add, “Be a work in progress making personal changes for the better.”

As I currently sit at my laptop on this cloudy fall day in the Ozarks suddenly the sunlight slips through the clouds, sheds light through the window to my left producing my dim reflection on my laptop screen. Fifty years of life, and I can make out looking into the screen that my face is little more gaunt, and a little more weary from earthly battles. Some things I don’t want to remember. But today it’s as if they were a necessary transition for me to remember.

I’m very fortunate and am very thankful to still be an earthly survivor for my family. I hadn’t spoken to my cousin Brian in years. But when I heard how much he enjoyed his quiet time by the lake or by the ocean I knew we were connected as thinkers. Just like how our grandpa would sit and contemplate.

Towards the end of this past summer, there was this one day that Brian felt well enough to join our families in Minnesota away from all his treatments at the Mayo Clinic. After making peace with them all he stepped away to look over a field. I believe, I have this vision, that like commander Byrd he was looking over the land and viewing the horizon. Even though it was daylight there was that gloom of funeral darkness hanging around. But it was on this day He began to see the vastness in the sky, that twilight coming over the horizon, targeting him specifically and showing him that everything was going to be alright in God’s Light.

- Randy Alcorn

I apologize for being away but it was a necessary time to reflect. But I promise I won’t ever give up. You never give up either…

In closing, these words come up from my heart:

Greg

There’s been a nip in the air recently around our Ozark Mountains. Actually, we just had the tenth coolest month of August in recorded history. I keep telling everyone in Blogaritaville to beware of Global Snowing. Don’t go thinking I’m goofy! Remember Madonna, at the Live Earth concert a few years ago said, “If you wanna’ save the planet, let me see you jump!”  Yeah right that will fix things...

Holy Hanna of Montana

Our return to crisp days and brisk nights means two things: For many of us football season and in our neck of the woods, thankfully, some of our women start putting their bra’s back on that are the size of Montana. I’m telling you, walk into a Wal-Mart store, on a hot muggy day, and one would think the whole store is the dairy department.

Of coarse, lets not just pick on the gals. What about those over-forty year old bear impersonators, wearing white tank tops, and still sporting their old red high school physical education gym shorts. Put them on a unicycle and one would think the circus is back in town.

I don’t know about you, but I’m all for some sort of hair removal. And that goes for both genders too! Scissors, razors, Nair, Epilady, wax-on-wax-off, weed eaters, weed-b-gone… I don’t care. Just please use them.

Our summer season is in full swing, unless you live in Wisconsin. During this time of year, our daytime temperatures here in the Ozarks usually hover near 100 degrees. I definitely can’t sneak around because it’s too hot for shoes and my flip-flops are always flip-floppin’.

Summer time should be a time when we can shed some tension along with some of our clothes. When we experience a perfect summer day we can believe that everything is going to be alright. For me, early summer mornings are the best. A gentle cool breeze, birds singing, and a heavy dew on the grass that swirls a sweet fragrance around until is disappears with the rising sun. After our afternoon heat starts to subside early evening and sunset draws my eyes to the skies. Sometimes the clouds seem to outline a great big smile as God’s comfort signature of His amazing grace. Just this morning I kept my mind quiet, listened to my heart, and enjoyed watching-listening to a thunderstorm roll across our valley.

Gemuetlichkeit Days

“Gemuetlichkeit” is a German word which when translated on Google has a English definition of “comfort.” I’ll admit that once awhile on a really hot summer day I’ll get a craving and find refreshing comfort in an ice cold beer. Surely, that will tweak out some over zealous religious types over the topic of sipping saints. But let me assure everyone, I’m definitely not for drunkenness. Just a FYI, there are ministers and pastors in Europe who have their beer and wine with their meals. Martin Luther (initiated the Protestant reformation, teaching that salvation was a free gift of God received by grace through faith in his Son Jesus as the redeemer from sin. He showed in God’s Word that salvation is not through just good works or can be purchased with money), was married to Katie, who was not only a wife, a mother, an innkeeper, but also a brew master.

Welcome to Wisconsin

There’s a big difference between having a beverage and my former days of when I majored in beer drinking and minored in boilermakers (shot of whiskey served with a beer) in college at Eau Claire. Gemuetlickkeit Days were everyday because there were beer and shot specials seven days a week at the local taverns. State Street in “Eaux Claires” (meaning clear waters) for the Eau Claire River, was a part of town where drinking lots of beer (over-refreshed) is the norm. The more people surrounding each other drinking lots of beer will inevitably rouse up some German songs and the next thing you know you’re ready to march down the road to the next town and conquer their beer supply. You know, Brian “Kato” Kaelin (O.J. Simpson trial fame) always has looked kind of familiar to me. We must have stumbled into each other from time to time? Strangely enough he didn‘t graduate from UW@EC either. Probably had the same college major as me.

Sometimes it’s good to be reminded where we have come from to reflect if we have matured.

Happy Music… Polka

Old-Time, Happy Music… Polka

Old-Time, Goodtime, Happy Music… Polka

Too Much Beer, Old Time, Goodtime, Happy Music…Mattress Polka

Nope, don’t expect to rock out to Lynyrd Skynard’s “Free Bird” when you are drinking with a bunch of people wearing lederhosen. By the way, if any of us guys run into someone whose wearing super-short, super-tight, yellow lederhosen, and singing Shania Twain’s song “I Feel Like a Woman,” just kindly excuse yourself because Bruno has had too much to drink.

Twitter me this Twitter me that!

I suppose I could have joined TWITTER to keep everyone better informed during my absences from blog writing. But then I am not yet into the Twittersphere.

Nope! My life doesn’t have to be twitterriffic to be happy and I don’t have to be concerned about being a tweatard, tweat-cast, or even have to retweet from my computer because I did not have proper twitterquette. I don’t even feel left out because I don’t have a twibe. However, I’m typing and sounding a bit like Tweaty Bird.

Micro-Blog

Have we come to a point in society where we have to share trivial and mundane text based quotes from our daily lives to friends, family, or even everyone in Tweedy World?

“I’m watching Sportscenter.”

(Even ESPN shares the Tweet of the day.)

“I’m eating at Taco Bell.”

“Now I‘m gastronomical.”

On your mark, get set, go.

God helped me find my way.

Shoulda’ Coulda’ Still Can do.

I’ve tried before I’ll try again.

Take as much time as needed.

Less we speak more we learn.

I’m still making coffee for one.

I’m proof that anyone can blog.

Right person for the right time.

Do more: Say Less: More Done.

Gossip will bite you from behind.

Sure shootin’ Jesus isn’t missing.

Everyone needs hugs from friends.

Road less traveled has traffic jams.

Brain designed to hear Godly heart.

Life lessons makes us soul survivors.

I love Jesus and double cheeseburgers.

Kissing ass produces dirty brown noses.

Technology has made our world smaller.

God removes dysfunctional to be functional.

Slow learner: Still Learning: Remaining Teachable.

There I twittered some thoughts right here on MSN Spaces. I once had a college professor who only gave essay exams and as students we were given the choice to pick one out of three questions and explain our answers in 100 words or less. Not as easy as we might think.

OK…Lets tweet ahead shall we…

“I’m kind of hungry.”

“Eating a bowl of Banana Nut Cheerios.”

“Whose tried new Banana Nut Cheerios?”

“I’m now having a second bowl of cereal.”

“La de freaking da!!!”

For some reason I’m still losing weight. Maybe it is just because I’m getting older and losing muscle? In becoming a wimp I’d better become a better fighter with the war of words. My MACHO has even changed into a Male Acting Childish Hormonal and Obnoxious.

Just the other day my son walked by and pinched me right behind my arm. Oooouch!!! After whining a bit I went into retaliation mode. Gadzooks!!! My son just stuck out one of his big paws, placed it upon my head and stopped me right away in my quick shuffling tracks. Then he just scoffed at me, “Pfft! Whatever dad.”

I guess I shouldn’t feel too bad because when we were at the University of Missouri football camp the lady who runs the athletic department said, “Oh! We got a big one here! Look at the size of those feet!” Seeing how my son’s measurements were 6/4 and 265 pounds I can see why she made that statement. Last year at this time he was 6/3 and 245 pounds. Three more years of high school and we shall see where he ends up for college?

By the way, I sat next to a couple who drove up from Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas and have been invited to many camps with their son. Their son already has offers from Texas A.M., Baylor, and the Air Force Academy and will be a high school senior. They told me the in’s and out’s of the invites and what camps to go to and not to go to for JR. They were impressed with JR’s workouts and said we should move to Texas and that he would be starting at their son’s high school. Junior was a little tight and nervous in the first session but then loosened up, had fun, learned a lot, and excelled to the fullest of his abilities. His sisters were impressed while lil’ grandbaby Charlee walked around in the grass like a drunken sailor eating white clover.

Over the last month I really have missed chronicling some details of my life, with of coarse a little sprinkling of something to hopefully make us all laugh, and sometimes maybe leading into some more deeper heart-felt feelings. It really is a benefit to live in the 21st century.

And on the 8,643,983,348^th day the Lord said, “Let there be a cereal bar and café."

Why didn’t one of us think of “Cereality.” Going to a cereal bar and mixing different boxes of cereal, adding toppings, and then package it up in a Chinese food style container to be eaten with a sippin’ spoon-straw with as much milk as we like. They even offer unlimited soy milk for lactoids (people who are lactose intolerant). Talk about speaking to our inner child.

I betcha’ if Sigmund Freud was still around he would Twitter about pajama clad employees and friends saddling up onto a bar stool to set around an island eating various mixed up child-like cereal concoctions not only for breakfast, but for lunch, dinner, or a late night snack. If we had a Cereal Café here in Branson I’d sneak some of those pop-rocks (little exploding candies) into my friends cereal containers and of coarse snicker as they spewed out their cereal in surprise.

Baba Ganoush

My youngest daughter (Emma) turned 21 years of age last weekend and for all her hard work in college I decided to fly her boyfriend (Mike) in from New York. That was the big surprise I had to wait and share publicly. She didn’t even have a clue and told me it was her best birthday present ever. They both had a wonderful time while he was here and I also planned it out with her boss so that she had the weekend off from work while Mike was here visiting.

On Saturday evening, I took everyone (oldest daughter Jad-e-poo, Chad the Man, lil’ Charlee, birthday girl Emster-Doodle, Sir Mike-a-lot, my son J.R. the human eating machine) to a relatively new Mediterranean restaurant called the Bleu Olive.

I’m kind of a food critic and good food along with good service can be a rare find with the peek of tourism during the summer season in Branson. But we had excellent food and service. So much so, I even made a comment on the TripAdvisor web site. It has been awhile since I had an excellent piece of slow roasted lamb shank, along with perfectly spiced hummus, red pepper feta spread, cucumber tastiki, roasted eggplant baba ganoush., and olive tapenede served with char grilled pita bread.

With Mike being from New York and having ate in some of the finest restaurants he was even impressed with the décor, the food, and especially the prices compared to the Big Apple. Side note: Did you know that Minneapolis, Minnesota has the nickname "The Mini-Apple".

My son and I are invited to New York next year and I will make sure to have at least one dinner at the world famous Peter Luger Steakhouse. Surely my son and I will tackle one of those porterhouse steaks which comes from one of the most prized cuts of beef. Ssssssssizzzzzzlllllle!!!!!

Alrighty…I shall “Twitter” off with this Blog Quest Tweet of the day…

“Don’t wait for your ship to come in if you haven’t sent one.”

Dot.gone…Greg