Trials Can Be Useful in Making Us Useful

 The world says Go big or go home. Doesn't God say, Get small, become more precious? The common carbon, when subjected to massive pressure and heat, sifted and ground at a mine, then further cut and polished becomes exquisitely beautiful and precious as a diamond. So we remind ourselves to rejoice when we are afflicted in many ways, knowing that the trying of  our faith forms patience. We will allow this process to continue until it is complete, until we are certain that when we have Jesus we have all we need. #maddogandqueenmary

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