Insights From The Rocking Chair

On the way to work this morning, I was listening to the radio as I do most mornings. One song, by Pam Thumb, stood out this morning. A line in the chorus stood out and is the title of this post. When I started this post, I also remembered a t-shirt slogan, "Life Is Hard....Then You Die". Both state the obvious, Life Is Hard, but only one offers hope, the other hangs you out to dry (you are on your own). This very moment many in America are suffering. They are facing incredible hardships in life. Job loss, foreclosures, family disintegration, war separation, financial distress, and the list could go on and on. It is very safe to say that many are looking for the next president to solve their woes. As has been for over 40 years, many are looking for the government to open the storehouse doors, and pour out blessings (money) on to us to save us from being so dumb. I have to question if there is any validity to that effort. When the well runs dry, where are you then? Hopeless? Y...

What a morning! It is the coolest morning of the new fall season. It finally feels like fall and I couldn’t be happier. I am not at home. I am out in the country. The only thing that would make this better is being in my camper at a campground. But this is okay to. I haven’t been here since back in the spring so it is good to get back. Coming through town last night on the way to her mom’s, my wife and I were making observations about how things have changed. This is where she was born and grew up. Our son was born here as well, and things are not the same. At one time this community had vibrant industry that employed many in the town and the surrounding area. Not true anymore. Retail stores lined Front Street. Not true anymore. The First Baptist Church had many young people, children, and young couples. Not anymore. Many have moved on… It is sad, but the reality, towns and people will change. The big question, what kind of change? Is the change better? God institut...

The following was a post that I was working on Saturday Oct. 4. I forgot to post it so I thought I would post it now. Jay is recovering fine and is itching to get to his normal activities. How many times have you had your plans changed? Plans that changed not of your desires but because of circumstances. Well, we have had a week like that. Like most we went to bed Sunday night only to wake up with our son complaining of nausea. I sent him back to bed and his mom called his work to let them know he wouldn't be in. Tuesday still sick. Wednesday still sick and a trip to a new doctor because ours has been sick and out of his practice. Wednesday afternoon in the hospital after finding that he was dehydrated. Thursday test and no clear picture of what was wrong. Hoping to go home Friday, but one more test. Test came back positive as gall stones. Saturday afternoon in surgery to remove gall bladder. That is where we are now. While I am typing this, I am waiting for a call letting us know...

On many occasions I have mentioned Noah, Julie, and Magdalena Roberts. In case you have forgotten, they are the couple whose baby was born with T18. I have been following their blog since the summer when the diagnosis was made. It has been an inspiration to me and hundreds if not thousands of others on how well they have dealt with each and every trial, setback, and rejoiced in every accomplishment. In her latest blog entries, Julie has told us about the weakness of Magdalena's heart. There have been many decisions to make in regards to her health and daily care. Some have been just down right tough. Julie has acknowledged many times that she knows that she and Noah have a God determined time with their little girl, but one comment today struck me. Julie wrote, "For a little bit of time I forgot she was sick, and I really began to think that she had become one of the less than 5% of T18 babies that make it to their first birthday. However, the cardiologist appointment has brou...

Lately, as I read through the news or listen on TV, there are stories upon stories of children being mistreated or killed. We are loosing generations because our children are being aborted, molested, beaten down physically, and mentally. They are tossed around like animals with no concern about their health. They are not loved. They are tortured more inhumanly than the military will torture combatants. They are kept from food and basic hygiene. They are shot and killed by drive byes, angry moms and dads, and out of control brothers and sisters, while in their own beds asleep. They are used as pawns in divorce disputes and tossed aside as if they don't exist. Why? I look at the countless pictures of little girls and boys, such as Madelene and Caylee. Their precious innocence and life are in the balance or maybe even lost. I look at the picture of my own grandson and just cringe at the thought that someone would even think to bring harm against his little life. And then, I go beyond ...

Here lately, I have been laughing out loud at comments made on various web sites. Sometimes I wonder if some of these folks ever went to school. I even wonder what they must be teaching in school in the subjects of history and civics. I am amazed that they can twist fact into meaning what they want, when they want and when it best suits them. I have to wonder what America will look like in just a few short years. Senator Phil Graham was recently ridiculed in the press for calling Americans "a nation of whiners". In reality, that is exactly what we have become. We have the greatest of all blessings here, but yet we have become obsessed with ourselves, our own individual feelings and best interest. I grew up during the Cold War era and in that time, Russia, the former Soviet Union, said they would destroy America without firing a shot, from within. Look around, what does it look like to you? Our "Christian Walk" looks more like a drag. A lot of us have to look in...