A STORY ABOUT DALTON

My mother recently forwarded me a story written by Thomas Lake of the Atlanta Magazine. It's a little long...but it's was worth the read. It's been 14 years (or so) since I've lived in Dalton. I grew up in Dalton....and even though I don't know the city as it is now.....I remember it the carpet mills, streets, people and places....and the way it used to be. The story touched me.......

http://www.atlantamagazine.com/june2009/dalton.aspx

MOTOWN 25th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL

I remember sitting at home on the floor playing with my toys watching TV. I never knew who Michael Jackson was....until this moment. He had been singing a song or two from his youth...then all of the sudden he changed......he had stepped out on his own. I remember being in the 3rd grade and I somehow managed to get the Thriller album. I took it to school the next day and showed it to all of my friends. We were all so excited that my teacher Mrs. Woodsworth let us listen to the album in class. Those were the days.........

GOATS AND HORSES

This is my first attempt at uploading a YouTube video.

KING OF POP

We just heard that Michael Jackson just died a few minutes ago (just after 5pm). It's incredibly sad news. Whether or not you were a fan or even liked the guy.......the man had talent.....a gift.......and an ability to entertain and create. I personally believe this was a gift from God. Denise and I were just discussing the Motown Special that aired in the early 80's. He went from being a member of the Jackson Five to Michael Jackson with one song....Billy Jean. That TV concert made an impression on me as a child. To hear this new is sad. Our prayers is that he reached out to Jesus.

TOOS-DAY

The garden has been planted. I'm still amazed at how things work. You plow the ground up. Cast a seed and it grows. How cool is that. From one little seed comes a plant with the potential to produce food. We'll post some photos as the garden progresses.

This is Bear. I'm not sure how old he is......he's still a kitten. He's probably 2 months old. He's a cool cat.....has a personality like Garfield. He's a bobtail. He loves our guitar cases. I don't know why......but he does.

My Grandmother passes away several weeks ago. My sister Carol made this collage for the family. If you squint hard enough you can see (in the middle picture) my sister and myself sitting with my Grandmother. I remember those days. They almost seem like another life. I was always curious when I visited my Grandmother's house. She had so many interesting nicknacks and trinkets. As a child it seemed that the house was so big and the walls were covered floor to ceiling with photos. I remember the smell of a wood burning heater. Like I said....it seemed like another life......so long ago. Outside....I was just as curious as I was inside. Her yard was fun to play in. She had a yard full of flowers. Most of which I never knew what they were called. I remember lots of roses and elephant ears. My Grandmother is survived by many children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. From one came many.

OUR WEEK IN PICTURES

WHAT A WEEK!

This week has been a full week.

We've had family in the hospital.

(They're doing well now)

We've had family to graduate.

We've had to travel out of town.

(Ate at the Olive Garden *YuM*)

We've been sick. (We're recovering)

We've worked hard.

We've farmed.

We've suffered loss.

We've been to the movies. (UP was good)

It's been a very full week.

And I'm glad it's over.

A new week begins.

There are somethings that I just don't think about anymore. One of those is High School. When I graduated.......that was the last time that I set foot in that school. I was shocked years later to find out that the school had metal detectors at the entrances. I couldn't believe it. Things change and evolve naturally over time. I think that's good (but maybe not in this case).

I never really kept up with any of my friends from High School. It's been 16 years since my graduation. Wow! Time has flown by. I remember being excited about college. I didn't know what to expect.....other than it had to be better. It was. I enjoyed my college years. So in the spirit of celebrations we CONGRATULATE THE GRADUATES!

NOT MUCH TO SAY

Lately it seems that I've not had too much to say as far as blogs go.

We were both doing a blog a day (sometimes more) for a while. I guess the reason is that we've been busier lately.....work has picked up some......I've had lots of projects to complete around the house and we've been getting to go to Florida next month.

As far as business goes....I've been taking on smaller jobs (and been thankful for it). It seems that there are lots of big time contractors out there who love the larger jobs. But you know what? I like smaller jobs. You see results quickly and people seem to be easier to please. Plus it's less of a headache.

We've been trying to plant a garden all month long. As thankful as were are for the rain.....I wouldn't mind it slacking up a bit and allowing the ground to dry up some. Hopefully we'll get it in the ground before we head to Florida.

At the barn it seems that we're overrun with baby goats. I love'em. They're growning like weeds too. Those born in December/January are now weaned and ready to go to auction. To our suprise we had two born a week ago........we were really suprised. Yesterday was Rosie's birthday. She was born 2 years ago (May 21st 2007). Boy has she grown! She's as big as her mother.

I've been reading The Half-Blood Prince in preparation for the upcoming movie. Even though the movies are a bit altered from the books........we still enjoy them. Speaking of movies...... lately we've seen Star Trek and Wolverine. We enjoyed both. I wasn't expecting Star Trek to be as good as it was.......a top notch movie. Today we took the little girl to watch Night At The Museum. It was good...had some funny moments.....cool special effects.....action......good family movie. I love a good movie...........

Excerpt from "A Tale of Three Kings" by Gene Edwards

"Why. David, why?"

The place was another nameless cave.

The men stirred about restlessly.
Gradually, and very uneasily, they began to settle in. All were as confused as Joab, who had finally voiced their questions.

Joab wanted some answers. Now!

David should have seemed embarrassed or at least defensive. He was neither. He was looking past Joab like a man viewing another realm which only he could see.

Joab walked directly in front of David, looked down on him, and began roaring his frustrations.

"Many times he almost speared you to death in his castle. I've seen that with my own eyes. Finally, you ran away. Now for years you have been nothing but a rabbit for him to chase. Furthermore, the whole world believes the lies he tells about you. He has come, the King himself, hunting every cave, pit and hole on earth to find you and kill you like a dog. But tonight YOU had HIM at the end of his own spear and you did nothing!

"Look at us. We're animals again. Less than an hour ago you could have freed us all. Yes, we could all be free, right now! Free! And Israel, too. She would be free. Why, David, why did you not end these years of misery?"

There was a long silence. Men shifted again, uneasily. They were not accustomed to seeing David rebuked.

"Because," said David very slowly (and with a gentleness that seemed to say, 'I heard what you asked, but not the way you asked it'), "because once, long ago, he was not mad. He was young. He was great. Great in the eyes of God and men. And it was God who made him king-God-not men."

Joab blazed back, "But now he is MAD! And God is no longer with him. And, David, he will yet kill you!"

This time it was David's answer that blazed with fire.

"Better he kill me than I learn his ways. Better he kill me than I become as he is. I shall not practice the ways that cause kings to go mad. I will not throw spears, nor will I allow hatred to grow in my heart. I will not avenge. Not now. Not ever!"

Joab could not handle such a senseless answer. He stormed out into the dark.

That night men went to bed on cold, wet stone and muttered about their leader's distorted, masochistic views of relationships to kings, especially mad ones.

Angels went to bed that night too, and dreamed, in the afterglow of that rare, rare day, that God might yet be able to give His authority to a trustworthy vessel."

AHHH....THE YOUTH OF TODAY

This is so funny........

The Gods of the Copybook Headings by Rudyard Kipling

This poem was published in 1919. A copybook was an exercise book used in schools to practice penmanship. The pages were blank except for the horizontal rulings to write on and the headings printed perfectly at the top. The headings were usually proverbial in nature. The gods of the copybook headings in the poem represent wisdom to me; while the gods of the marketplace represent beautiful lies and demoniacal doctrines. Written long ago, it has a feel of today, in my view. Oh, Stilton is a specific cheese made only in a few places in England.



"As I pass through my incarnations in every age and race
I make my proper prostrations to the Gods of the Market Place.
Peering through reverent fingers I watch them florish and fall,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings, I notice, outlast them all.

We were living in trees when they met us. They showed us each in turn
That Water would certainly wet us, as Fire would certainly burn:
But we found them lacking in Uplift, Vision and Breadth of Mind,
So we left them to teach the Gorillas while we followed the March of Mankind.

We moved as the Spirit listed. They never altered their pace,
Being neither cloud nor wind-borne like the Gods of the Market Place;
But they always caught up with our progress, and presently word would come
That a tribe had been wiped off its icefield, or the lights had gone out in Rome.

With the Hopes that our World is built on they were utterly out of touch,
They denied that the Moon was Stilton; they denied she was even Dutch;
They denied that Wishes were Horses; they denied that a Pig had Wings;
So we worshipped the Gods of the Market Who promised these beautiful things.

When the Cambrian measures were forming, They promised perpetual peace.
They swore, if we gave them our weapons, that the wars of the tribes would cease.
But when we disarmed They sold us and delivered us bound to our foe,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "Stick to the Devil you know."

On the first Feminian Sandstones we were promised the Fuller Life
(Which started by loving our neighbor and ended by loving his wife)
Till our women had no more children and the men lost reason and faith,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said: "The Wages of Sin is Death."

In the Carboniferous Epoch we were promise abundance for all,
By robbing selected Peter to pay for collective Paul;
But though we had plenty of money, there was nothing our money could buy,
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings said, "If you don't work you die."

Then the Gods of the Market tumbled, and their smooth-tongued wizards withdrew
And the hearts of the meanest were humbled and we began to believe it was true
That All is not Gold that Glitters, and Two and Two make Four-
And the Gods of the Copybook Headings limped up to explain it once more.

As it will be in the future, it was at the birth of Man-
There are only four things certain since Social Progress began:-
That the Dog returns to his Vomit and the Sow returns to her Mire,
And the burnt Fool's bandaged finger goes wabbling back to the Fire;

And that after this is accomplished, and the brave new world begins
When all men are paid for existing and no man must pay for his sins,
As surely as Water will wet us, as surely as Fire will burn,
The Gods of the Copybook Headings with terror and slaughter return!"

A Merry Heart

Proverbs 15:15

KJV "All the days of the afflicted are evil; but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast."

NAS "All the days of the afflicted are bad, but a cheerful heart has a continual feast."

NIV "All the days of the oppressed are wretched, but the cheerful heart has a continual feast."

Amp. "All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]."

CAP AND TRADE?

Cap and Trade......Kyoto Treaty part two.......

Al Gore strikes again......

THE LORDS PRAYER (1973)

by Sister Janet Mead.......I believe she was a Nun.

RIVER MONSTERS

I've started trying to watch a new show that comes on Animal Planet on Sunday nights called River Monsters. Basically the host travels the world in search of legendary freshwater river fish. This particular episode he's in Europe searching for a catfish that attacks humans. I was shocked at the size of this fish (being that he caught it on a rod/reel). Other episodes he caught a 100+ pound Alligator Gar....swam with piranhas....caught a 100+ pound catfish in South America.....etc. Personally I don't think that I would want to catch a fish of this magnitude. Probably freak me out and I'd never fish again or I'd get grossed out (face it.....fish tastes good but isn't always pretty out of the water).

1982

1982.......just a year after the debut of Mtv.

I remember that.....most people do.

Back in the day when Music Television played 'Music Videos'........(now a thing of the past). I think the last time I watched Mtv was in the 90's. Anyways.....it's 1982 and I'm watching music videos. Men Without Hats had their only chart topping hit (that I know of)......

To me it was a fun song. A silly song. Made me want to get up and dance. The songs no Beethoven's Fifth.....but that's ok.....it's just a fun song. Enjoy.

"Tilly"

"Tilly" is a book written by Frank Peretti. It is not a long book, but it is a powerful one. In it, a woman is somehow translated inside her home to heavenly realms. She is married and has two living children. But, during her experience, she meets Tilly, her aborted daughter. Tilly is overjoyed to spend time with her mother, but is also hurt and confused that she was not allowed to experience life on earth with her family. The book is about forgiveness, healing, reunion and reconciliation.

Some of my friends had chosen abortion and were remorseful; other friends had experienced the sorrow of miscarriage. I had never thought of these little ones as being in heaven; it had just never occurred to me. This book was encouraging and hopeful.

Later on, a friend related her story to me. With her permission, I am relating it as best I can, as it is along this theme.

The woman had borne two children. She had also had two abortions. One was at the urging of her doctors and her husband, as, because of some complications, it was doubtful if either she or the baby would live. The other was because, during a time of separation from her husband, she had an affair. She had reconciled with her husband, not realizing she was pregnant.

Years later, when both children were grown, the woman begin to experience health problems. She was scheduled for a delicate surgery in which the odds were, by no means, certain. In talking inwardly to God, she felt He asked her if there was anything she wanted as she prepared for surgery. She responded that she wanted her children with her. Her request was granted as they were both able to be there and at her side in the hours preceding surgery.

After they were asked to leave and she was given anesthesia she had another experience. There were two strong, young men in the room beside her. She thought they must be her guardian angels. She spoke to them; one was responsive and friendly while the other turned his head at her greeting. "Why are you mad at me?" she asked, as the anesthesia took its full affect.

After a successful surgery, she often thought of this encounter, and would frequently ask God, "Why wouldn't the one angel talk to me; why did he seem to be mad at me?"

Tears streamed down her face as realization struck full force, and remorse, love and gratitude filled her heart. Those weren't angels. God had fully granted her request.

IT'S BEEN 3

People have their song......their movie......and even their restaurant.

We have our tree.

Three years ago today Denise and I were married under a Dogwood tree at Noccalula Falls. It was about 2 in the afternoon.......we were married by Richard Trader. It was a beautiful day. I know many of you guys have been married years...maybe decades longer.......but 3 years have flown by so quickly. One thing I can say about being married.......there are no voids in my life. Everyday is full of life. Nothing like being happy and having a good wife!

Proverbs 18:22

He who finds a wife finds a good thing And obtains favor from the LORD.

HOO-RAH

HEROES

There are still heroes out there. Most real heroes are never awarded medals.....never recognized....but they are heroes none the less. I'm not talking about those on TV....in Hollywood.....but real men and women working 9 to 5 and serving others with a passion in their heart. I was inspired by Capt. Richard Phillips heroic sacrifice for his crew. How he was held hostage for days and had a nation behind him...praying for him. We were so happy this afternoon when we heard of his daring escape and freedom from pirates. Real heroes.