MY HERO PHIL RILEY

Bob Schubert and I were both leaders of the Dakota Impact. Bob led evangelism. I led music. Destinies were changed. Epic adventures were experienced. God was glorified. It was an honor to have worked with Bob. The years were 1977 to 1980?

GROWLING AT MAROONS FOR MENTAL HEALTH

I'm in the process of catalyzing my son in law into a FEARLESS MAD DOG. I wrote him a note. It turned into a thank you note to my hero Dakota District Superintendent Reverend Phil Riley.

My dear son in law: Reminder: to practice good mental health, always growl at people who are irritating you. This is sometimes alarming to Day shift people or parishioners of large churches. My bosses at large Nazarene churches sheltered me from judgemental critics by calling me a youth pastor. I also had a fierce Shepherdess partner Lynne who would whisper in my ear, make sure I was presentable, and help by remembering everyone's name. District Superintendents put me in small churches and whenever possible, let me loose on the music. My dear friend Phil Riley actually took pity on me and my garish Neru suit, bell bottoms and long poofie California haircut and purchased every pastor a THREE PIECE SUIT, had every pastor send in their measurements to a professional tailor, and also sent each pastor THE BOOK... HOW TO DRESS FOR SUCCESS. In the IMPACT photo you can see Reverend Riley's influence on me. I'm wearing that suit!

I also could play the piano and lead a youth choir on. Rather than using written music, I would teach the kids to learn by ear. My style was a fusion of rock and roll along with Gather style gospel music. Our choir also had a bass guitarist, Ernie Hockey. Ernie also had a set of drums that one of his friends played. The music was compelling, especially when combined with spontaneous testimonies from kids before singing a solo verse backed by the choir on chorus. God gets the credit.

All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

Walmart Delivery

I have to make a shopping list for Walmart delivery tomorrow. I couldn't get to sleep till 2 and still woke up at 6:30. I suspect I may not be able to nap today. Gives me plenty of time to get done on my daily projects, including my favorite, taking care of my beautiful bride, Mary. #maddogandqueenmary  #alzheimers #lymphaticdrainage

Here's our latest picture, squinting in the bright sun.

Alzheimer's: Mary Is Improving

 #storytime x3

1. Kitty was in a favorite hiding place. Now she's snoozing next to Mary on the bed.

2. The EMT went down our street but didn't turn into our driveway which means I didn't accidentally hit my Humpty Dumpty emergency call button on my neck like I did when it was on my wrist. Boy, the firemen pound the door loud when they're checking on me! Since I live in Plymouth Indiana the best small town in THE WORLD there was no charge.

3. Mary is retraining herself to use the bathroom. I've never heard of an #alzheimers recovery like hers. #amazinggrace (my version is called Limbo Low Carb/High Fat moderate protein after my gurus Kelly Hogan and Stephanie Person. I've been changing Mary's diet incrementally and going by her A1c, which is down to 6.1. Making some more changes this week. Got a blood test coming up and I'll get back to you with that. Please please don't throw me out even though I'm a wild child because I use you guys for a reference point and I thought you'd be interested in Mary's amazing progress. My two daughters each have a helper so I have someone coming in almost daily and sometimes more to help with cleaning, cooking, while I focus on music therapy for Mary. Yes, I am blessed.

My oldest daughter is now working for me 30 hours a week, a social services plan to keep me out of a nursing home, and Mary also has full service to keep her out of a nursing home, with me as the care giver. Becky likes to cook low carb, which she gets paid to do. We're experimenting with recipes. Mary loves the salmon with cheesie butter sauce. Because of Mary's shortened bowels she tolerates a large amount of soft cheese which settles her tummy. Eggs, sausage patties, chicken salad. I made a fake cheese cake from super eggy French toast, 1/2 brick of cream cheese, and sugar free strawberry jelly. That's her favorite. Chicken salad straight out of a bowl, smoked oysters with a touch of cream every morning... Stephanie Person idea along with pre cooked sausage patties, also Stephanie. I noticed the biggest improvement when we added the smoked oysters, which greatly improved our complexion. I'm 74, she's 73. I think we look good.

Christmas Day Carol

When my Mom was born, all mothers who went to the hospital, an incredible luxury 94 years ago, stayed in the hospital for a full week. Mom was the 9th of 10 children and there was a large built-in audience for her first homecoming. Since Mom was born on the 18th of December, she arrived home on Christmas Day. Hence her name was Carol. Her serious business skills (120 words a minute typing and 200 words a minute short hand dictation) were a great asset to my Dad's hard working, carpentry, mechanical, and welding skills combined with a mischievous personality. This symbolic gift from God brought many souls into a joyous knowledge of God. She taught me to be fearless when facing bullies and life, to make family life fun, to pursue my passion for music, and to have fun serving God without reservation. She drove the station wagon loaded with 6 kids pulling a camper to Florida and back while Dad worked the high paying firewatch for the strike shuttered US Steel. Tim and I arguing over setting up the camper tent in the dark, then Tim and I almost losing the camper (along with little brother Kelly hiding in Dad's homemade kitchen box attachment) over the steep mountain edge probably have her a gray hair or two. She was a grandmother when she rode the world's tallest, steepest, and fastest wooden roller coaster, the Chicago 6 Flags American Eagle, with me and her granddaughter Becky. The stories of her fearless adventures would fill a book. Thanks, Mom.

God's A-team and Elon's Twitter

I follow Elon Musk pretty closely because he was my stepson's boss for 6 months a decade ago. I'm really excited about where Twitter is going because my inspirational posts reach over 100 counties and his satellites reach the previously unreachable like Iran and soon China. I already have fans in Russia. I was designed from the ground up to do this and Elon's Twitter will help. This was set up by God and He loves it when a plan comes together. God's team is the A-team. Hannibal Smith In the movie version is Liam Neeson. He is a Hollywood actor that is so handsome My youngest daughter has named her third son Liam. Liam Neeson also starred in the first episodes of Star Wars.

May the force be with you.

Rev 12: Red China and Babylon

Rev 12: Red China will bully and corrupt it's way, with the help of Babylon, to dominate the world, sacrificing millions of children. Small bastions of freedom will be eked out in the wilderness, America, with the help of Israel. Fearless shepherds will rise. God will confound the mighty with the despised. God is always a step ahead of the adversary.

Thank you, Jesus, for clarity. Now is the day of salvation. Repent, for the coming of the Lord draws near. He that endures to the end shall be saved.

We are at war... by proxy. Don't be fearful. The gospel must be preached to all nations, especially the communist nations.

#maddogandqueenmary #amazinggrace

#maddogandqueenmary #amazinggrace

DON'T PANIC! Jesus and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

 All glory goes to God. I say that to remind myself that sometimes I do amazing things, but it is only because I am created in the image of God, and I sense He is working in me now.

War is here. Thankfully, it's not all out war. It's obvious from watching the news. Also, Christ said so in His Word. There shall be wars and rumors of wars. DON'T PANIC! I'm paraphrasing the KJV, "See that ye be not troubled!"

Putin has made his move. Xi is next. There is a 90% probability he will move against Taiwan before he retires in 5 years. My spidey sense says Xi will make some sort of move against Taiwan in the next 21  days. The probabilities of that are also 90%.

All of this must happen because the Gospel must be openly preached in China, the stronghold of the Dragon in Revelations. The jaguar (USA?) will be stripped of it's wings. The new world power will rise and it will not be a huge country but a tiny one. God will confound the ancient with the newborn country, less than a century old. The massive size, population, and resources of the BRICS God will confront not with the diminishing role of last centuries super power, the USA, but with the small size nation of... Israel!

Stay tuned. More to follow.

Nancy Pelosi and My Crazy Idea

A Note to Shelley Pearson: 

For some reason I really like Nancy Pelosi. She's fearless. Reminds of a dear Democrat friend.

I'm deeply saddened by this tragic event in her life. I think the political rhetoric should pause for a while. Let's mourn. Keep up the efforts to get out the vote, but let the rods of Grace be shoved deep into our angry hearts. The wrath of man doesn't work the righteousness of God. Let us forgive one another so we can experience God's forgiveness.

I have a crazy idea. I see my closest friends are stepping back a few steps. More to follow.

#maddogandqueenmary #amazinggrace 

Adopted

 I have a lot to say on this subject, so this post will be continuously edited and reposted.

II'm in the process of expanding my understanding on important words, one at a time. 

I have noticed that God appears to speak to me both through the Word and in the Spirit one word at a time.

I have many personal and Bible stories that  support that observation, but I will move now to the word that I am convinced is the word fo now: Adopted

I find my heart has fallen in love with many countries lately. Mexico, Greece, and China may have been the first ones because of  their glorious food. Next was Kenya, because of individuals I met. When I went online in 2007,  the British Isles, including London and Scotland were next. Then in 2009 I started making friends with the great nation of Pakistan. Lately I have made a lot of friends in Bangladesh. The list of countries is expanding rapidly. I notice a lot of views come from Russia.

I also notice some followers are adopting me as an eccentric but encouraging father figure, for which I am very honored. 

Although I would like to help in every way, my finances are very limited at the moment. But we will see what the future holds.

Since Thanksgiving 2023 my new neighbor has of recently been visiting me quite frequently and like my first wife she's adopted and she's a joy to be around even though she's almost half my age. We will see where this goes. It seems like I still have more story to tell. Later Gators. Like my neighbor keeps telling me, age is just a number?!

  

Zero Carb vs Limbo Low Carb

I wrote this post to my friends in Zero Carb Health, a group I belong to and use as guidance for my own way of life. Since I'm unable to strictly adhere to their tenants now I've made my own philosophy called Limbo Low Carb or... how low can you go?!

Chorizo... Food of the gods?! Why I'll never be a Jew or a Muslim BUT I will always love them because they raise grass fed ruminates and chicken and high quality eggs. Mary's triple jeopardy of IBS, Type 2 diabetes, and late stage Alzheimer's put her under Hospice care for quite a few months but she gradually graduated to visiting physicians. We're home bound. I'm moderately disabled so I don't drive. We live in a small town with ideal senior care AND delivery service in a classy no steps apartment. Both my daughters and one son in law work here daily. We have an extremely  qualified friend of the family, Notre Dame graduate school science teacher farm girl who's advising mom is a nurse-practioner. She's been coming as many days as needed. Plus my brother and sister-in-law live 30 minutes away and help with Doctor visits etc. Seems like God had a master plan.

As Hannibal from A-Team would say, I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER!

Yes, my daughters negotiated a tough deal where I have to eat one frozen Meals on Wheels a day before they'd agree to helping me and Mary's die hard sweet tooth made me add two slices of very eggy French toast thickly coated with cream cheese. Mary's sister's husband solves the problem by cutting up all her food for her (same Alzheimer's) but I don't have time. Mary feeds herself and eats her angus hamburgers with a keto bun which takes a lot of time pressure off me. Unlimited chicken salad in a bowl is another meal she will stuff herself with. We eat identical meals so we can eat together, saving time. Because her bowels and urination are sometimes uncontrollable I keep busy with changing our bedding, her stylish leopard PJs, cleaning her and the floor, laundry, and her rearranging everything. Seriously, we have a lot of fun together, watch a lot of silly science fiction like star trek and work well together except when I piss her off, which is often because I am a man. Thanks for listening.

 

Mary's Thermostat

My friend marvelled that some people sleep in a warm room with no fan on.

I'm that guy. Uh, yeah. I think I was that way before I worked the very hot towers, 14 toastey babies 12 feet tall 800 degrees for drying 8 passes of ignition core. If the room temp drops to 78, my hands and legs cramp up. I used to take 20000 milligrams of potassium daily until I learned to stay warm. If I want to keep the house cooler to save money I layer up, put a stocking cap on, and wear cotton gloves on. Because Mary won't keep a cover on herself at night I dress lighter. She's ok at 78 but I get the shivers so I'm her thermostat.

9-28-22 Mary's 73rd Birthday!

9-28-22 Mary's 73rd Birthday! Shhhh. She's snoozing. #maddogandqueenmary #nightowl #amazinggrace #alzheimers #catzen

Her oldest son and two grandkids called last night to wish her a happy birthday. She absolutely recognized their voices. Saying ABSOLUTELY is how Millennials say I AM CONVINCED.

Routine Change Up

Changed up the routine tonight. Went to sleep without caffeine. Used chicken salad instead of peanut butter to take my night time pills; Mary ate a healthy portion of angus burger with keto bun late, plus she ate a little Minudo soup just before that and her ice cream with her ground up pills, so I was comfortable with letting her have a dose of Pepto Bismol and a Lorazapam just before she went to sleep. The two of us went to sleep quickly by 12:30.

I got up slowly at 2:30 and decided to have my weak cup of coffee, using the same pod I had used earlier.

While I was up, I enjoyed a conversation with Pitar from Bangladesh. Coffee helps.

 #maddogandqueenmary #coffee #alzheimers #nightowl #amazinggrace