A Brokenhearted Trail

There was a guy with a big heart, who just so happened to like young adult and teenagers and not in some kinky perverted way so get your mind out of the gutter.

 He felt for them, because there are so many things that you have to go through as a teenager and a young adult.  The big hearted man had been though these things himself, as a teen and as a young adult.  Luckily, because this man acted like a kid himself, he was able to relate to these groups of the populace at large.

Since this man with the big heart was a minister, he decided to get involved with youth ministry.  For awhile, he was very happy, and he felt like he was actually making a difference in a few lives.  It made the man feel self worth, made him happy, made him feel like he had finally found what he was supposed to do in this world.  All was well and right with the world for 2 years.

 Then a bad thing happened.

It wasn’t an illegal thing, or a horrible thing, just a bad thing.  You see, the big hearted man had trouble with the man in charge of the place where the big hearted man did his youth ministry.  Things began to unravel and the big hearted man became sad.  Very sad.  In the end, the big hearted man had to leave this place.  The youth who once called him at all hours of the day and night suddenly wouldn’t have anything to do with him and treated him like he was not a big hearted man, but a bad man.  This made the big hearted man even sadder.

 He had hoped to find another place where he could once again become involved and make a difference.  After a few months of searching, he thought he had found this place.  So he went there, not with the intent to take over, but just to get involved.  Maybe help out.  Unfortunately, he met with resistance, and wariness, and rumors.  Then, once again, a bad thing happened.  This was a different bad thing than before, but in the end, the big hearted man no longer felt welcome, despite the best efforts of the man in charge of the new place, who also happened to have a big heart.

 Perhaps the big hearted man should have stayed and tried to work through it, but in the end, he felt he couldn’t, for various personal reasons.  Once again, the big hearted man was sad.

 The big hearted man began to feel lost.  The trail he had been traveling became rocky, and had steep hills to climb and he became tired and simply lost his way in the wilderness.

 Well, the big hearted man didn’t like feeling this way.  So, he decided to try and explore other avenues, to try and reach out, to try and make a difference, once again.

He tried and tried several ideas.  The problem was, everywhere he went, he met with resistance and ridicule.  The resistance wasn’t so bad, but the ridicule was.  That was hard for the big hearted man to take.  So now, the big hearted man has stepped back, not knowing what else to do, feeling sad, lost and awkward.  Maybe one day, something will happen, some door will open, and the big hearted man can once again find it in himself to try and make a difference.  Maybe.

But, the big hearted man learned a valuable lesson.  There are many ways to have your heart broken, and all of them hurt just as bad.

Summer came in with a bang

So it’s been awhile.  Again.  I’m sure those of you who read my blogs missed me.  At least I hope you have anyway.  There aren’t many of you, but I appreciate every one.

So why have a been gone so long this time?

Oh let me count the ways.

So, you ask, what has Kevin been up to?  Numerous things.  Good things and bad things.  Odd things and surprising things.  You know, the usual.  It’s been a busy last 3 months to say the least.  It has left me feeling to lazy to write actually.

Don’t worry, I’ll share, and even give you my usual.  Just not sure yet where this posting will go.  Lets find out together shall we>

The things I have been up to are listed here in no particular order or importance.  You should be able to figure out which ones are highly important to me though.

Coffee:  I still have this strange love affair with this mostly adult beverage.  Not the fru fru versions that the kids drink mind you.  I don’t care for the sickly sweet fraca mocha latte something or other stuff.  Coffee should never be turned into some kind of half milkshake.  But that is just me.

Friends:  I once had a friend who was closer to me than anyone has ever been.  We think a like in most things, enjoy the same things, and this guy is general one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.  His name is Tony.  Tony has one of those unique abilities to get along with anyone.  He rarely sees people’s “faults” in such away that would make him, like most of us do, ignore people.  I’ve learned to be like that somewhat from him.  I have a long way to go, but I appreciate what I have managed to learn from him.  Several years ago, he remarried after losing his wife.  Things were very hard for him over the last few years, through no fault of his own, and he somewhat lost touch.  Now we are back to talking and hanging out.  I’ve really missed his humor, his advice and his company.  Now I don’t have to anymore.

Work:  I feel lucky to have a job in this economy.  But I wish I was making more money.  With my career, the way to make more money is to sell more.  Things have been rough out there though so that has been difficult.  Due to economics, I have lost a few customers, even as I have gained some.  It’s like I’m running to stand still.  Annoying, but that is life, yes?  I still have a problem with one of the chemicals I work with almost on a daily basis.  Due to my skin problems, contact with this chemical causes an instant burn.  Even now, as i write this, I have burns on me.  There are rather ugly, and the blisters look scary.  My daughter and wife look ill every time they look at it.  There are a few things in the works that if they come though, will be enormously beneficial to me and my family.  Frankly, they will save my bacon.  I’m desperately praying they come though.  Fell free to pray for me on this one

House:  I have, at least for the short term, managed to save my house.  It amazes me that with all the talk that Obama and his administration have done to supposedly make it easy for this to happen, that so many people are still losing their houses.  I don’t understand it.  All their talk, and the money they put into the market to help, has not been a help at all.  Why?  Because though the government has given money to the lenders to help and encourage them to write down interest in home loans, the lenders re still operating under their old philosophy of taking homes away from people.  Thousands of honest hard working Americans have lost their jobs due to this economy and despite promises of help from the government, thousands are still losing their houses every day. Simply because they are unable to land a job.  One of the best things that might have happened, was that there was a bill that would have allowed bankruptcy judges to rewrite home loans, since the lenders are refusing to do it.  It failed by a hand full of votes.  Stupid stupid stupid.  But why should are government lawmakers care?  They are all millionaires.  I’m looking forward to elections.  They all deserve to be voted out.

Seriously people.  It’s time for the American people to take back control of this country.  Our law makers, and even the president’s staff are not doing us any favors.  If they aren’t so busy fighting amongst them selves, they are to busy doing things they should not be doing.  This does not an effective government make.

Our country is currently paying the price for years of government neglect.  Bad decisions, along with other factors, has left this country in a state where a lot of our jobs were sold over seas in the name of more profit, so that CEO’s could rake in millions while the middle class workers lost their jobs.

This is only a small part of what our “government” has done to this country and it’s citizens.

How can an honest hard working middle class citizen chase the American dream when the very government who is supposed to sit back and let it happen does everything in it’s power to ensure it doesn’t.

Boy, I could go on for hours on this topic.  I’m sick of the current status quo in Washington.  I don’t think I can name ONE member who is worthy to be in office. Not because they aren’t smart enough, but because they don’t care about the citizens and the state of our country.  I don’t blame the wars we are involved in.  By rights, that should have helped create new jobs.  History has shown that when war was necessary, this country thrived because of it.  It was as if we were being rewarded by God by being the one bright light in the world, that stood for human decency and democracy.  I believe it isn’t happening now because our own democracy is such a poor state.

Obama was about change, but where is that change?  I don’t see it, and it sure hasn’t helped me.  Or my neighbors and friends, or this country.

In General:  I’ve seen a lot of crazy things going on in this country that defies common sense.  Parents came seem to display and neither can the government.  Take sexting for example.  Schools are trying to make is so that if a student sexes, even off school property, then they will be expelled for 90 days.  How does this make sense?  Are we so worried about children’s “rights” that we can’t do the right thing?  First of all, parents should have to the smarts to REMOVE picture messaging from their children’s cell phone.  As a last result, why not make it so that no one under 18 can have picture messaging?  That makes sense doesn’t it.  Kicking a kid out of school for 90 days does NOT make sense.  In fact, it’s plain stupidity.  Then of course, some children got kicked out for bringing their little green plastic toy soldiers to school because it violates the gun ban.  Ummm.  HOW STUPID IS THIS.  This world has gone backwards and is behaving badly.  Many people in charge need a spanking in my opinion.  They are simply acting bug nuts.  How about his one?  A young girls in school was handing a tylenol or Aleeve.  Don’t remember which.  She took it but then handed it back and said no, it would violate school policy.  This was witnessed by a teacher.  So what happened?  This girl was expelled because she TOUCHED the pill.  Even though she followed school policy and didn’t take it.  Our school systems aren’t teaching our kids correctly.  It’s sad.

I’m just going to close now.  There is still so much more I could say, but for now I’m going silent again.  There is only so much time I can spend thinking about all of this stuff without having my blood pressure go up.

The last thing I will mention is that my daughter is now a senior in high school.  I’m proud of her of course, but let me tell you, this makes me feel old.  I didn’t want her to grow up this fast.  But like the tide, there is no stopping it.

Until later, cheers.

~ Kevin

On Japanese Swords and Christianity

I’ve always had a fascination with other cultures.  I find people interesting, and to know me is to know I’m a curious guy, and I love meeting new people.  I will often times do research on things that I learn from others, because, well….. you just never know where something good can be found.

One of the cultures I have always been interested in is the Japanese.  Although there are many wonderful things to be found in their culture, it is their pursuit of mastery that has drawn my attention the most.

The Japanese like to make an art form out of many things.  Be it serving tea, making clothes, dancing, weapons, fighting, and even writing.

It is their total dedication to their art that just makes me go wow.

The Japanese believe that we are born knowing who we are and quickly forget it, and then spend the rest of our lives trying to define ourselves.  This is the pursuit of “The Way”.  There are many different paths to “The Way”.  Some spend it in practicing calligraphy.  Some in making weapons, some in the form of swords, archery, serving tea, and a whole host of other things.  There seems to be as many paths to “The Way” as their are people.

But each person who is dedicated to “The Way”, follow their path, with the intention of gaining mastery of it, with a dedication that is quite simply put, admirable.

We, as Christians, could learn a thing or two from this.  Seriously.

The way to salvation is much like “The Way” of the Japanese.  Both follow a path, both seek an end goal, both are fraught with perils and hardships along the way.

I’m said to admit that I think at times the Japanese are much better at staying on their paths that Christians.

Again, I think we could learn from this.

When a Japanese master takes on a student, he does things that the student often does  not understand, thinks are harsh, and there is often pain.  The master does this because he is seeking to break a lifetime of bad habits.  When you think the master is getting you to do something against your natural instincts, the master will simply say he is teaching you the correct way to do something.  The big difference is that a Japanese student will not question their master, where Christians seem to either ignore, or question everything that they wish in their pursuit of holy lives.

The biggest difference between the two, the Japanese way and the Christian, is that for the Japanese it is more a solitary journey with a guide, where in Christianity is is a total surrender to God.

The problems I see today facing the Christian world is the fact that so many denominations believe different things and are so judgmental towards each other on a personal level.

The Catholics believe it’s acceptable to drink some, while Pentecostals believe no drinking is acceptable.  Many denominations believe smoking is evil, while others don’t.  Some believe dancing if of the devil, while others dance in the spirit.  I could go on with this, but I won’t.

The simple fact is this.  There is only one way to heaven, just as the bible says, which is through Jesus Christ.  The greatest commandment is to Love God with all your heart, mind, and soul, and the second as like unto the first, treat your neighbor as yourself.

I believe that today’s Pastors should still seek to preach on what a Christian should and shouldn’t do.  But the judgments must stop.  It confuses people and it interferes with their walk with God.  Only God can change a person, their actions, and their heart.  Looking down on someone because of what your denomination believes is not the way to help guide them.  Not unless it is clearly in the bible.

To win souls to Christ, we must change our thinking as leaders.  We must remember that we are there for people, to help them, and to guide them.  Not to beat on them and judge them unmercifully.  We must lead a holy life as an example, and concentrate on what the bible SAYS to break a lifetime of bad habits.  Then we must let go and let God.  He knows more about that person than we ever will.

We must change our way of thinking.  We must plant the seeds of determination in the pursuit of salvation and holy living similar to they way the Japanese masters do it.  Just a thought……

~ Kev

Homeowner’s Blues

This entry is pretty much dedicated to those young people who are getting ready to, or have recently, purchased their first house.

One of the wonderful joys of owning your own house is well, you don’t have to sleep in a cardboard box in an alley with rats.  Although I’m sure there is joy to be found there as well.  Hey, if nothing else, searching through dumpsters for stuff is like a treasure hunt!  Another joy to owning your own house is   you no longer have to live with your parents.  Come on, that’s just lame.  Unless you don’t mind milking your parents, then that’s just smart investment planning.  Nothing quite says love like milking your inheritance now, instead of waiting for it right?

One of the not so joys of owning your own house is the maintenance.  You will be surprised at the number of things that will go wrong in your new home.  I’m not talking about those things you do to get yourself in trouble, like convincing your wife that this is a GREAT idea, and breaking the bed.  Get my drift?  That will earn you one of those “I told you so” smirks, and various bruises and possible broken bones.  Unless it’s your wife who has the bruises and broken bones.  Then I would suggest creating a new identity and moving to Alaska where she can’t find you.

When you’re young, you tend to think that hey, all I will have to do is cut the grass, slap some paint on once in awhile and it’s all good.  WRONG.  Anything and everything can and will go wrong in your house.

Some good examples?  Your wife buying a watermelon and setting it somewhere and forgetting about it.  Then it bursts and leaks and ruins your dry wall.

Or how about when your wife decides she just HAS to have to a new stove that requires both gas AND electric hook up.

Or one of the thousand cats your lovely wife (who is one of the women who is headed for freaky old lady cat status), tears up your carpet for no good reason.

Of course, there are the regular things.  Appliances break.  Light fixtures break.  Everything breaks.  Because you own the house, it’s now your responsibility to fix these items.  If you are lucky enough to make $ 947393748933203 dollars a year, no worry, just call someone to fix it for you.  However, if you are like me, most things have to get fixed by YOU.  Not fun.

Especially when your lovely wife (and don’t think she won’t do it) will do everything in her power to make removing or fixing things AS DIFFICULT AS POSSIBLE.  It’s payback for all the times you stayed out with the boys to long, or for all the times you “forgot” to take out the trash (don’t lie, you know you were faking), or stayed up to late watching football when she came in the room in brand new lingerie and tried to get you to come to bed.  Oh sure, you’re thinking “not my wife, she is cool, she would never do that”.  OH YES SHE WILL.  Women are devious and vengeful, and hold a grudge.  Trust me.

All of this can lead to those homeowner blues.  When you have to fix that stopped up sink when the game is on, or when your wife convinces you that you CAN put that new wooden floor down, even though you are NOT A FREAKING CARPENTER.

Well, my lovely example of homeowner blues is the recent difficulty of my hot water heater.  It’s leaking.  Like the titanic.  Water all over the floor.  We are trying to keep up with it but I really think we need like… a pump or something.

The thing is, I have a gas hot water heater.  Not only does it supply hot water to my daughter’s bathroom, so she can take her 2 hour showers, but it also is used to heat my house.  Which means it’s a big one.

Checking out prices to have someone come and fix it came as a shock.  I remember buying cars for less.  So, I had no choice, being pretty broke and poor, but to buy a new one and find a way to replace it myself.  I got the new water heater, but I’m still working on getting things ready and able to replace it myself.  Lucky for me, I have a father-in-law who knows his stuff, unlike my generation.  He actually KNOWS how to use tools, and do things like replace hot water heaters.

Don’t get me wrong.  If it was a standard hot water heater, I could do it myself.  I’ve done it before.  But we are talking a gas line here and water lines that go to mysterious places in the house, or maybe another dimension.  I’m frankly scared to do it on my own.

So now we are getting ready to replace the thing.  Hopefully all will go well.  Once we get things out of the way in our utility room and remove the washing machine.  It’s kinda in the way.  Just my luck.  My wife planned it that way.  I know she did.

Of course, this would all be much easier if I actually had the original book for my water heater.  We looked for it, and believe it or not, we knew exactly where all the books for our house were, even after 17 years of being here.  Problem was, the practical jokers who built my house gave me a book for an electric water heater that doesn’t even LOOK like mine.

So, I’m in a state of homeowner blues and I have got to get this done soon, before my floor rots out.  Or a portal to another universe opens from he weird fluctuations from the hot water heater and water leaking out the bottom.  Hey, it’s all part of home owner maintenance right?

Remember to drain your water heater once a year, to help get the junk out the bottom.  This will help improve the life of your water heater.  If you don’t, you’re gonna be in the same fix as me.  Pity me.  Pray for me.  Of, if you’re qualified, come fix it for me for.  I can probably scramble a couple of dollars from the couch to pay you.

~Kev

Malware Killer

If you are a frequent visitor of the internet, no doubt you have had the wonderful opportunity to experience the horror that are viruses and malware.  Well, unless you use a Mac, then maybe you haven’t.  But if you have a Windows user, like me, then chances are you have experienced the dread of discovering that your system has been INFECTED.

I’m not sure what motivates these people to create chaos with viruses, or malware that disrupts your computer experience of even your work, but hey, people can be odd.  Be it greed, or simple amusement, these malicious pieces of software give us nothing but grief.

There is a big market for Virus programs, such as Norton and McAfee.  There are a few other notable names out there as well.  No doubt, you have your favorite.   As a Comcast customer, we were once provided with free copies of McAfee and now they have switched to Norton.  Both are decent programs in their own way, and both have their negative points.

The biggest negative to me is their inability to stop malware.  HiJackers.  That kinda thing.  You know, the one where you suddenly get fake windows popping up saying your system is infected and download this software for X number of dollars to fix it.  This is nothing short of a computer kidnap.  Often times, not only do you get these pop up’s every 30 seconds, but it prevents you from using the internet.  This would annoy me even more if I had to shell out 50 bucks for Norton or McAfee.

Why can’t these virus programs stop malware?  I don’t know.

Luckily, I was able to find this fantastic program that kills what virus killers won’t.  I’ve been running it for a year and have yet to come across a piece of malicious code this program couldn’t root out and remove.

Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t visit a lot of sights that subject me getting viruses or malware, but I still get them.  The only thing I can say is, Thank God For This Program.

I would highly recommend this program to anyone who is looking to complete their protection of their PC.  It’s worth the money.

It won’t catch the malware as it tries to install, but if you run it frequently, you will remain free of malware. Along with your virus program, you can rest a little easier about the operation of your machine.

Check out this fantastic program at:

ExterminateIt!

It’s been a kinda weird week

At least for me.  I’m not the only one though.  It’s been a weird week for Jay Leno and Conan O’Brian as well.  Of course, let’s not forget NBC.

I’ve been trying.  Racking my brain, listening to others, listening to myself, all of that jazz.  But short of a magic crystal ball, no real good information or advice has been forthcoming.  So what is exactly is the deal?

I’m trying to find out where I fit in.

When it’s said like that, it sounds kind of sad, but it’s not meant to be.  We all long for a place to fit in, to be accepted for who and what we are.  The problem is, rarely can you find such, unless you have the luck of the Irish.  Something my father apparently didn’t pass on to me.

Years ago, I was called into the ministry.  Which, if you know me, or knew me I should say, was like a vast cosmic joke.  I mean KEVIN being called into the ministry?  You’ve got to be kidding!!!  But.  It happened.

It changed my life.

In so many ways.

I changed.  Not in a bad way.  In a good way.  I liked the new me.  I loved the new me.  I had a passion for helping people and ministering to people.  I wanted to share the Love Christ showed me with others, so they too could experience it.  It’s a tough row to hoe people, I know that.  I was warned of it, and I have experienced it.  I’m not here to complain about it.

But something funny happened on the way to me becoming fully involved with ministry.  I had a bad falling out with my church, my pastor, and his family.  I felt at the time that God had released me from that church and me and my family left there.  I was extremely broken hearted over it, and in some ways, I still am, struggling to let go of the past and move forward.  But….. I’m only human.

We found another church.  A church we liked.  Unfortunately, we once again found trouble.  Not with the pastor, who remains my pastor and a terrific friend, but with several families there.  Once again, I was left heartbroken.

I know that this thing isn’t supposed to be easy.  If for no other reason than ministry is about the people, people who have flaws and make mistakes.  Just as I am flawed and make mistakes.  But nothing has seemed to work for me.

I have two friends who went into ministry, one at the same time, one later and both are currently pastoring churches.  Sure, they are experiencing the highs and the lows of that, but it was almost as if all the right doors were opened for them.  That has not been the case for me.  Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way jealous of them.  God put them there, so how can I be?  I am proud of them both, and support them both.  I also pray that God will grant them many won souls for Christ.

But me?  Every door has been shut to me.  Each door I tried to open was locked.

I had a fine ministry going.  I was a youth pastor.  I love teens and young people.  I’m 40+ years old and most of the time would rather be in their company than those of my age group.

Part of that is that some things younger people aren’t as judgmental on as adults my age.  I dislike judgments of any kind, and try my hardest not to be judgmental.  I think there are to many people who are in church who do nothing but judge, and the body of Christ suffers for it.

Be that as it may, I lost that ministry.  Because of their parents, my entire youth group turned on me and let me tell  you, that was a very painful moment for me.

I lost friends my age because suddenly, I was no longer in a position at the church where I was ministering at.  That also hurt.

My family was accused, as well as I, over something false, and there was nothing the pastor could say or do to change this person’s mind.  Plus, it was something this person had done once before with another family in the past.  I feel we were blameless, but that is life.

So now I am left with my wife and daughter who have no desire to be in church any longer.  They have been hurt enough.  I can’t really say I blame them.  There are days I don’t want to be in church either.  But not for the same reasons.

Basically, I don’t belong anywhere.  I have no place.  I have no avenue for the future.  Where do I belong?  Where do I fit in?

My pastor says he thinks I should start an internet church.  There are plenty out there, and some are extremely successful.  But once I started looking into it, nothing was coming together.  Once again, I was met with locked doors.

So with my ministry in shambles, and things in my personal life, I honestly feel locked out of a lot of things.  And that I don’t belong anywhere.  It’s not a good feeling at all.

Don’t feel sorry for me or pity me.  That is not what this post is about.  Instead, this post is about me admitting that I feel like I don’t have somewhere to belong.  That I don’t fit in anywhere.  I don’t mind people reading it or commenting on it, but this post was basically to me, for me, by me.

I know I need to find the right direction.  I know I need a sign.  I know I need a lot of things, including an attitude adjustment.  I also need to stop letting other’s opinions of me stop putting stumbling blocks in my way.  I have no idea what God wants from me, and that is not a good thing.

But I will continue to struggle.  I will continue on my path in this life.  Over the rough spots and the easy ones.  To give up is to fail, and in God’s eyes, failure is impossible.

Until then, I will still be here, with the “what if” dreams and thoughts.  And the “I wish” dreams and thoughts.  And the “I want” dreams and thoughts.

Until next time…..

~ Kev

The Old Timers – How did they do it?

A mystery was solved, a rather intriguing one if you ask me.  These type of mysteries always make me wonder.  How did the people of that time accomplish some of the things they were able to do?

The Country:  Canada.

The Place: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

The Building: St. John’s Anglican Church

The church was built in 1754.  As you can imagine, the architecture of the church was absolutely beautiful. With the type of wood working that is usually found in very old buildings.  The church is the oldest Anglican church in Canada.  A lot of love went into this building.  Unfortunately, an arson decided to burn down the church on halloween 2001.  No one has been caught.  A lot of history was destroyed.

But the members of St. John’s decided to do something pretty remarkable.  They decided to rebuild the church.  Not just rebuild a new church.  No, they decided to rebuild the church, as it was before the fire, using what was left of the building after the fire, and existing wood that was salvageable. A costly task, estimated at 7 million Canadian dollars.  They managed it of course.

Using photographs, and excellent carpenters, they managed it.  But one task, given to a woman, brought out a mystery.

It had to do with stars that were painted on the ceiling over the alter.  The problem was that there were not a complete set of photographs for the woman to recreate the pattern of stars.  As she debated the problem, she followed a hunch.  She had a feeling that the star groupings were not something just randomly painted.  So, she contacted an astronomer.  He examined the photos that were available and found the constellation Perseus.  The problem was, the location of the constellation was wrong for the night sky in Lunenburg.

Acting on his own hunch, he used a computer program to show what the sky would have looked like on Christmas Eve, year 0, the celebrated birth of Jesus.  You guessed it, the stars matched.  The painted stars recreated the night sky of December 24th, year 0, in Lunenburg.

So how did someone in the 1800’s, when the stars were painted on the ceiling, recreate the night sky from that date?  What a feat!  I find it amazing.

Here are pictures of the church before the fire:

Here is a picture of the church after it burned, which gives you an idea of what they had to work with to reconstruct the church:

Here is a video of the star mystery:

Some of the information in the video is incorrect.  Such as the fact that the bible does not indicate that Jesus was born on December 25th, but it’s still interesting.

If you want more interesting facts on this historical landmark, go here.

Enjoy!

~ Kev

Happy Birthday Jesus

The wind of that morning was probably chilly.  Not the chill of winter, because it was spring.  The time of new things.  The chill air swept through a small town, a town of only about 30 houses, plus a few other buildings.

In what was probably a small cave, which was called a manger, was a young man and woman.  The woman was tired, having labored through the night after a long journey to this small humble town.  But though she was tired and weary, she was no doubt smiling with accomplishment and joy, the man, her husband, with pride and the awe that men get when women give birth.  They gazed at a small figure, wrapped and swaddled against the chill in the air.  They gazed on the very first and most important Christmas gift ever given.

Legend has it that at the moment the babe was born, every winged animal not in the air took flight across the entire planet.  Animals who had been sleeping or hiding suddenly leapt and ran.  Even the very bees took to the air, their buzzing wings sending a song of joy into the air.  It was as if the entire universe had just let out a giant breath it had been holding for far to long.

The town had no clue how they had been honored.  They had no clue what had happened.  They only knew that it was yet another day in a town purposely kept small, to avoid Roman attention.  The town was named Bethlehem and the man and woman were there due to Roman decree.  A census was to be taken.  So the man, Joseph had bundled up his pregnant wife Mary and took her to his town of lineage.

The town might not have realized what was laying there.  But someone did.  Three someones actually.  Three men from the East.  Wise men, men who knew things, men who studied things.  They had travelled far and long, following the direction of all things, a star, brightly lit.  A star so bright it could be seen during the day.  They travelled until they came upon the new parents, and the babe.

In the surrounding area, a group of Sheppard’s, sleepy from watching over their flock all night, came to alert, scared out of their minds.  For someone was suddenly there, someone who wasn’t human, so how could they not be scared?  But the one who appeared was not there to cause harm, but to deliver a message.

The message that the someone delivered fell on ears that weren’t quite sure yet what to think.  But the message was good.  It was so good that suddenly the someone started singing, and praising God, and a multitude of voices that could not be seen joined in, all singing praises to God.  For this day, the prophecy of a Savior had come to fruition.  Those sheppards were given instructions on how to find this gift from God.

So away they went, and found the manger, and the parents, and wise men, and a small babe, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

They gazed upon the babe.  With wonder.  With awe.  No doubt their bodies trembled, those sheppards and wise men.  For they were looking at something that was human, but not.  With the purpose of God shinning forth from Him.  Such a small innocent looking baby, shinning with heavenly light, a gift to the world.

If they had only known then what was to come, the purpose for which he was born, they would have rent their clothes and wept.  But that was for another day, years in the future.  For the moment, they basked in light of His purpose, His innocence that would never disappear, and Holiness He exuded.

There, surrounded by the Wise men, representing The Father, The Sheppards, representing The humble Son, and The Parents watching over their babe, representing the ever watchful Holy Ghost, was a most humble babe who would change the course of human destiny forever.

His name was to be Immanuel, meaning God with us.  And He was.  And God looked, and saw that it was good, as he had known it would be.

Jesus, the Christ, the Savior, was born.

All Hail the King of Kings.

Happy Birthday my Lord.

Something winter this way comes

I’m like most people where snow is concerned.  It’s pretty to look at, fun to play in (when dressed appropriately – ahem) but it sure makes a mess.  But I can even deal with the mess.  Snow just brings out the kid in me.  Like last year, when I helped decide it would be fun to take our 4 indoor cats and throw them outside in the snow and watch what happened.  Fun was had by all.  Except for the cats that is.  For some reason, they were not amused.  Oh well, I had fun, and that is all that matters right?

For those of you who are animal lovers, no cats were harmed in the “throw the cats in the snow marathon”.  I’m just saying.

Like I’ve said in the past, Richmond usually gets the short end of the stick for snow lovers.  We are right on that boarder line where we either get rain, freezing rain, or sleet.  But this makes twice in one year we have gotten more than flurries, which really makes me question the idiotic nice scientists who are pushing global warming.  We haven’t gotten this much snow in Richmond in 20 years I think.

I guess I’m not the only one who has their inner child pulled out by the snow.  At least judging from this nice piece of snow art.

Maybe the artist was also making a statement about global warming, since the global warming summit thingy made front page news.  Who can say?

Now, I’m the type of guy that really hates sitting around the house with nothing to do (other than my wife’s never ending to-do lists which she seems to think I will work on while she is working – yeah right babe.  She is a sucker like that).  So, even when we get snow, I just have to find an excuse to go out.

It could be that I just like driving in the snow.  I will neither confirm nor deny.  I plead the 5th.

Which brings me to my point.

Why are all these people out on the road, interrupting my sightseeing run to get extra milk?  Never mind me, I can actually drive in the snow (no really, I can).

Something about living in Richmond makes people turn stark raving mad when we have snow.  They all immediately jump in their cars and hit the roads, especially when the officials beg us all to stay home.  Just another example of the man trying to keep me down in my case, and a truly desperate plea in everyone else’s case.

Let me tell ya.  Richmonders can NOT drive in the snow.  Period.

Some of these drivers are to be expected.  The adolescent boys in their jacked up 4-wheel drives out having fun doing donuts in the snow, drinking, and trying to impress their hormonal girlfriends running food to the needy.  Then there is the law, trying to help stranded motorists and keeping the peace (no, I did not pass a poor policeman in his car, trying to make it up a hill, all the while laughing evilly – I have an evil twin and it was him I tell ya).

I mean, while I’m out driving, minding my own business, I have to put up with either someone going 5 miles an hour, or 100.  I have to put up with the yuppies in their SUV’s, thinking they are invincible in the snow.  I have to put up with the Notherners who have moved down here and are sure they won’t have a problem because of all he snow they have driven in from their home state.  Usually, it’s the Northerners who have to be rescued first from the ditches.  Which makes me giggle for some reason.

Of course, I like to tell my wife these amusing stories, which in turn, leads me to get yelled at, because she is convinced I can’t drive at all and I end up sitting at home.

ALL BECAUSE YOU PEOPLE WON’T STAY HOME WHERE YOU BELONG WHEN IT SNOWS.

Life isn’t fair man.

Looks like I’m stuck here, looking out the window.  Now, where did all our cats go?  I think they are hiding.

~Kev

I’ve got that loving feeling (again).

Right now, everything in The Life of Riley is pretty much… well, like The Life of Riley.  Meaning everything is running smoothly and well.  Except the part where I haven’t won the lottery yet.  My wife is being domestic and nice to me.  Giving me extra kisses, not forgetting to say goodnight, calling me on the phone just to check in on me and generally being sweet.  My daughter, the sass master of all time, is being nice to.  She is speaking to me in the mornings (she is a horrible morning person), texting me to let me know where she is like she is supposed to, and listening to me lecture her when needed without rolling her eyes or sarcastic comeback.

Lucky me right?

All of this leads me to realize I can choose one of three multiple choice options in response.

a) Be appreciative and say awwwww and try to be nice in return

b) Accept it as my due, since I am the big bad man of the house and deserve such due to my awesome good looks and mighty charm

c) Realize I’m being buttered up like a Christmas Goose

Well, my Momma didn’t raise no dummy despite her claims to the contrary and I know my two women well.  After all, I’ve been married for 20 years, and my daughter is 17.  Which means I only really have one option here.  Option C.

That’s right folks.  I’m being set up.

The problem is, I haven’t been able to figure out for what.  To say I’m starting to get nervous is an understatement.  Sure, sit there in your chair and roll your eyes at me and mutter “wow isn’t he the suspicious sort”.  You’re either young (read naive) or don’t know my girls.

Both of them were born for the natural instinct that God gives all women.  Manipulation.  Both have large, female disney character style eyes, and pouty lips.  When they unleash their arsenal of weapons, it’s difficult for any man not to give in.  Oh, did I forget to mention the tears?  Big giant ones that slowly roll down their cheeks that somehow, can get turned on and off with a snap.  I know there must be a switch for that somewhere, but I have been unable to find it.  I did look.  Using my male authority, I had them both facing the wall, with hands on it while I frisked them.  Even amongst the giggling, squirming and annoyed questions of “what do you think you’re doing”, I failed in that quest.  Sherlock, I’m not.

But let’s do some reviewing shall well?

One year, when our daughter was still a rather obnoxious baby who had us wrapped around her little finger toddler, my wife decided she just HAD to have a Christmas tree in her room for her.  Well, being a man, I thought that was a bit of overkill.  Think of the expense, I reasoned, the trouble, the extra lights and ornaments.  Needless to say, that didn’t go over very well.  The worst part of it was, it had to be a specific tree.  Do you remember the fad years ago with the six foot trees that were really skinny?  Yup, had to be one of those.  And of course, she picked that year to try and get one, when everyone else wanted one.  She ran all over town, with me on the phone calling every store in the phone book.  It took a number of days, but she finally got that tree.  Yeah, I could have put my foot down, but I really didn’t want to face the big eyes, giant tears, and pouting.  So I was a wuss and went along for the ride.

You try saying no to this.

Or how about the whole year my daughter worked on me to get that nose piercing she just had to have?  I tried to be an adult, explain why it was “not a good idea” and all I got was the face, and the tears, and the moans, and they lectures from my wife of you just don’t understand young girls (which is true btw).  So yeah, in the end, she got the piercing.  Again, try saying no to the cuteness of the Kitty Princess.

Then there was the time a few months ago my wife convinced me to get my eyebrows done at one of those new kiosks in the mall where they use thread to painfully rip remove portions of your eyebrows, therefore shaping them.  She will deny this of course, but it was all her idea.  Hey, I’m a man, and I’m hairy.  I may look like a gorilla, but being a man, I don’t really care right?  Well let me tell you, that is one I will not make the mistake of falling for twice.  After the tears of pain stopped, I had to walk around with a glowing red forehead for an hour.  I looked ridiculous.  Like I had a neon sign on my forehead.  Not to mention the pain.  Man, the things women do to make themselves look good is beyond mentioning.

Of course, there is also the clues.  Even though I’m no Sherlock, I can still spot the signs.  The whispering, the sudden cessation of talking when I walk in the room, only to see two innocent smiles.

It all adds up one thing.  I’m in trouble peeps.

I’ve looked for clues around the house.  Scraps of paper, match books, the sudden appearance of brochures.  So far, I haven’t found anything.  But it’s coming.  I just know it.

I’ve got some vacation time.  I’m thinking of running off to the North Pole and help Santa, but I don’t know.  I’m afraid of what I’ll find when I return.

~ Kev