Can You Imagine...

How much courage and determination it took to erect this cross?

This is a picture of the Italian peak of the Matterhorn. It stands 4477 meters above sea level...nearly 3 miles straight up.

Each year, 12 climbers lose their lives attempting to scale this perilous mountain. Over 500 climbers have been killed over the years.

Yet, despite these incredible conditions, a brave group of Christians, in 1902, after 3 failed attempts, managed to erect this giant testimony of their belief.

Now, remember, in 1902, they didn't have helicopters to carry the heavy stuff for them. Their only support came from their companions.

Just raw guts, and this cross still stands, over a century later.

Wow. Wow.

What did those climbers have that we, as Christians today, lack? Would I have been a member of that amazing group?

No way! I know, in my heart, that I would have pooh poohed the whole idea, thought it was nuts. I would have bet the whole thing would fall down in a month...Cynical...soft shell Christian.

How can we be like those iron men?

Y'know, we don't have to carry a cross up a mountain to do the Lord's work. How many times during our ordinary day are we given small opportunities to honor Him? Little times of witness, a nicety given freely to a stranger, a kind word, a helping hand lended to a needy person..

Or, how about family witnessing? How often do we do and say things to our beloved family members that we never would say to any stranger of any faith?

You always hurt the one you love...how true is that?

Yet, he or she is also our neighbor, and the Lord made it simply clear with the love your neighbor as yourself command.

Do you practice compassion with yourself? Find a way to rationalise the sin? I sure do. But, boy, when I see that speck of wood in Deb's eye, I sure forget the Noah's ark in my own.....every time...

Hey...my hat's off, forever, to the brave ilk that do amazing things for Our Lord. The climbers, writers, preachers, missionaries, all living sacrifices to the creator of the universe.

I guess I'll never be counted among them, with my mustard seed of faith..

Yet, I am going to try, in the small things, to be a little more like them. Be a little braver when I'm asked to do something a little out of my comfort zone. Really try to treat my family as well as I treat strangers.

Can you imagine......

YOU GET THE POINT!!

Brand New Day

So......

As I walked around our block, in the 17 degree weather, bundled up to the max, I passed a house that's been under construction for about 4 months already. It's an amazing structure, composed of a combination of foam and concrete, with wood only being used for flooring and for the roof.
Today, in the freezing cold, up on the roof, braving wind chill temperatures near to zero, were three roofers doing their job.
Now, we live on a hill to begin with, so it's much windier here than in most other places anyway. And when you put yourself high on a roof, in that unceasing wind, you suffer.
As a firefighter, many times I was subjected to cold...it came with the territory. Our job was to enter a burning building, which is always a bit warm, fill it with water, and change it from hot to cold. Then, we had to exit, into whatever degree day it was, and spend hours picking up often frozen tools and hoses. Pretty uncomfortable, to be sure. But, we were always able to get back to the warmth of the firehouse to thaw. Only rarely were we called out immediately to another fire.
But those guys on the roof have no such respite from the cold. They are there all day, every day, until their work is finished.
That takes guts, determination, strength of will...I admire them.
Would that I had such courage and determination in my daily christian walk. If only my own strength was such that I would never fail to do what it took to be what I should be for my Lord. Yet, so often, I close my eyes to His sacrifice, and take for granted my salvation, straying from the word to follow my own selfish desires.
Yesterday I talked of the love I have for my wife. She is not only my life companion, but my best friend also. And, she has become my partner in Christ, showing by her example how to live. I watch her in the morning, as we awake, lifting her arms in prayer. She is so aware, all the time, of where we are, and should be. I tend to forget.
My bad.
God does things for a reason. He has saved me from the penalty of my sin. He has given me a partner to help me regain sight that I have lost over the years.
I am thankful. For the guidance, needed badly, of my loving partner.

Father, be with the brave men on the roof. Please keep them, and all who suffer in their daily work, whole and safe. Thank you for the partner you have blessed me with. And, as always, I pray for stronger faith, courage , and determination in my daily walk. I love you, Jesus.

YOU GET THE POINT...

I LOVE MY WIFE!!

THERE...I SAID IT!

A couple of days ago, I would gladly have traded her for a moldy slice of swiss cheese. We had battled, mostly quietly, about some non-issue. I felt my back rise, on cue. And, before I knew it, I was ready to ship out, or trade her.
Strange. We've been together forever...37 years, all told. Married fo r35. Yet, it sometimes only takes a word, misplaced, from one of us or the other, to seemingly derail all the affection we've shared all these years.

Luckily, the storms usually pass as quickly as they began. And, after all these years, they leave very little residue.
Still...
I wonder what it will be like in Heaven, where we will be remade perfect? Our tempers eliminated, we will see only what God meant us to be in each other. What He, in His loving eyes, sees in us daily. What will that be like?

Personally, I look forward to it. If anything, I'm really tired of my own weaknesses, of falling in the same old ways, failing her and the Lord..can't seem to quite get it right here.

Someday, though, we'll look into each others eyes and see pure love, pure God.

Wow!

YOU GET THE POINT!!!

WELL WELL WELL

WELL............IT'S BEEN AWHILE

Since I blogged. Lately it just doesn't seem too worthwhile a venture. Not that I don't appreciate my vast audience. I love you deeply, all four of you.
Have since you three were born, and Deb, since before we married...
But, it got to a point where I seemed to be offending some folks, not meaning to at all, and I realised the responsibility one has when expressing one's thoughts publicly.

That said, I'm ready to try it again.

WE'LL BE HEADING OUT TO SUNNY FLORIDA IN 8 DAYS...

Are we ready? Well...we've had close to a hundred inches of snow so far.
Not that it's an unusual amount. It's totally normal for this place. We may be a little ahead of the snow game, but 125 inches a year is what we get. So, that said, we won't be missing too much winter...we've had it already!

The place we're going is in the 60s and 70s already. And, being Florida, sunny Florida, we will be expecting, well, sun. Have not really seen a ton of that lately.
On the down side, we love our new church. Did I say that was a down side? Sounds strange, I know, but for the first time in at least a couple of years, we're connected again. Not musically...I'm not singing up front...but in the best sense of connected. We want to be there...the worship, as I've gushed before, is a blast. Steve is leading with the same fervor he showed early Eastern Hills...it all seems fresh again. When Sue joins him, or when the 5 ladies quintet sings, the place really rocks.
Mick nails me every Sunday. Every one. Awesome.
Awana is perfect. Kids are responding, timing is smooth, peeps are loving the work.
The Y class is full every week...that's a wow. Great people.

I love it all. Will miss it all. Yet....

Mike, her brother, sent us a picture of the site we'll be on for the next couple months..green trees, blue skies, two pools, warmth...sunshine...

Gotta go.

Jessica melted my heart, once again, when she demanded I blog when we're gone.
I don't have a ton of folks who care about that, but the ones I have that do care are worth a ton of gold.

YA KNOW WHO YA ARE!!

And, I love ya.

YOU GET THE POINT!!!

10 MINUTE VERDICT!!!!!

STEPHANIE 1 BAD GUYS 0

Hey....my talented, brilliant attorney/District Attorney daughter had her first official "all her own" court case yesterday. I don't know who she was up against...only that whoever they were will think twice about breaking the law again.
Steph was obviously well prepared. The defense attorney laid out his arguments carefully, and, one by one, Stephanie shot them down.
That's my girl!
The jury took only 10 minutes to find the defendant guilty as charged...according to Steph's colleague, this was the shortest time ever needed for a jury to convict.....!
Wow....Perry Mason, lookout......
Steph Sautelle at your service....

We love ya, Steph. You go girl...

YOU GET THE POINT!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIA!!!

YES....MY #2 GRANDDAUGHTER(CHRONOLOGICALLY) IS ALSO

now officially 2. Years old, that is. And, she is one beautiful doll...
Here is her official granma's house party...

A BRAND NEW DAY

HAVE YOU EVER

Awakened to a new day feeling like it really was the first day of the rest of your life?
It's a rare thing. In 55 years, it maybe has happened to me about a dozen times. But, today, just that thing did happen.

This time of year is always the most difficult for me. The lack of sunshine, the shortened days, and an eerie feeling that something awful happened to me this time of year as a kid, leaves me fighting for survival.
Depression looms large.

Yet....today I opened my eyes to hope.
No explanation. Just a feeling. That it's not too late to start over. To get your butt in gear, your life in order, your loves back into focus.

I love Jesus. Flat out. First. In the middle of the night, He's who I need the most. His name chases out all fear, all I can't breathe panic attacks, all shaky ground, always.

Of course, I don't show it in action. My heart is restless, and I seek the world. It's out there, all right. And temptation calls out, at my weakest moments, and too often, I call right back. Sometimes I wish it would all end, just so I won't let Him down again.

Yet, today, He has given me new hope. A brand new start. New eyes to see with. A new heart to love my wife,my wonderful, beautiful daughters, their fun filled golden hearted kids.

What a life! Surrounded by love. His, theirs...undeserved, unearned, unconditional love.

What a life!

Thanks Father.

YOU GET THE POINT!!

BIG DAY TODAY...

MY 55TH BIRTHDAY.

I made it. Never thought I'd hit double nickels. 55. Wow. When I was a kid, I thought 30 was old. Never thought I'd make that mile mark either...yet, here I am.
Officially, I am now a senior citizen. Wow. It used to be 65, but for some reason, probably because they knew I was getting close, they changed it to 55. So, I can now live in "special communities" for 55 and older. Man! How cool is that? Miles and miles of nothing but grey hair and wrinkles, with yours truly leading the pack!! Of course, Deb couldn't join me for 3 years...I suppose she could visit occasionally, if she promised to look and act a lot older...we'll see! I can now sign up for trash removal with one of our local companies for a BIG discount, and they will pick it up at the actual house for no extra charge!!
This is big stuff, and I thank God I made it!!!

Actually, I'm going to share what I wrote to Him this morning.
I've had plenty of time to perfect my "game", but it's not there yet. Will it ever be?

This from my journal:

Lord,
Today is the birthday of one fortunate man.As we both know, I am genetically flawed. My self-center is much too large, my self-control much too small. If those parts of me were on a teeter totter, my self control would never even touch the ground. I need to fix this. For a birthday gift, I ask you for the strength and courage to turn it around. Not just for today, or the next few weeks. Give me a way, and maybe a reason to fight the good fight, and change for good.
We all have a higher purpose, Lord, I truly believe this. Yet, our Selves too often loom too large, blinding us to whatever that higher purpose might be. Today, at age 55, I ask from the heart, that you, Jesus, would lead me, directly and clearly, with a firm hand and clear sight, through the desert of my life into the promised land of a future solely dedicated to you and yours.

me

HAPPY BARFDAY......

TO ME!!! YAYYY!!

Right. After 40, the birthdays are not so much for celebrating, as for surviving!

But, families will help...check out the Jade pic below...

more to come tomorrow, which is the actual feast day...HA!!!!

She sleeps a lot. Me too. I'm older though. We actually have a lot in common, now that I'm retired. We both really look forward to meals, like to be cuddled and burped, and....sleep a lot.

Life sure is funny, ain't it?

YOU GET THE POINT!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

TO YOU ALL.........

I hope your new year is even more blessed than the old one...
May all your hopes, dreams, and aspirations become reality..
May love surround you, every moment of every day,
And may you feel the Everlasting Arms around you always.