Tonight…I come with a grateful heart…filled with thanksgiving and praise to my great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today I received word from my friend Hugo…that Cedar Sinai has accepted him into their lung transplant program He will need a couple more tests and then begin physical therapy prior to surgery. Due to his deteriorating condition…he is on the top of the list.

Hugo, his wife Maria and I all extend our thanks to the Kindred Prayer Team…for their many prayers on behalf of Hugo. Not only do we praise God for this wonderful news…we praise him that that He has revealed himself Hugo. Hugo received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior…and rests confident in his eternal salvation.

While Hugo faces so very much with the upcoming lung transplant…he has a peace in the midst of this huge storm. He says, “I know it is not over yet, since I have to make it through the operation, but God will be with me. “

I thank Kindred Community Church Prayer Team…for their prayers for Hugo over these many months. I am most grateful know that I can bring Hugo’s needs to you…and you will continue to faithfully pray for Hugo and Maria as they face this new chapter in their lives.

Thank you to my dear beloved Pastor, Chuck Obremski…who has lead us so faithfully…and whom God has used to reach out to so many…including my friend Hugo.

Be sure to check out Becky’s blog, “The Faith Expedition”. Some great postings from Becky. She’s very open and transparent in her sharing. I think Becky’s writing must be an encouragement to fellow Christians…and invite those that don’t know Jesus to take a closer look. Thanks Becky…I’ll be checking your blog regularly.

This is one of those songs…that is good to have stuck in your head…or humming throughout the day.

JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE

When my feeble life is o’er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore

Above is a beautiful Hawk…that has visited me a time or two.

My friends might say I’m for the birds…and they wouldn’t be too far off. I must say…I think I may be in good company after reading my new blogger buddy David Warren Fisher’s latest comments.

My favorite Blue Jay…who is always a treat to encounter. He’s so perky and sassy. I feel like I’ve got a good start to my day when I see him on my morning walk. 

I’ve learned..I don’t want to make any decisions in anger.
I’ve learned…I don’t want to make any decisions without going to God in prayer first.
I’ve learned that when I do mess up…that I need to run to God…and cry out to Him.
I’ve learned I need to keep my focus on him.
I’ve learned that when I’m not seeing the fruits of the spirit…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control…I’m probably not spending enough time in the Word of God.

Hebrews 4:12 – For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

For your reading enjoyment…below is poem by Tarzana Joe…Poet Laureate of the Hugh Hewitt show. When I heard this I couldn’t help but laugh at this humorous spin on the insanity of the main stream media. I highly recommend Tarzana Joe’s website…for those of you who love poetry…or on occasion fancy improving yourself. Tarzana Joe is a very gracious and humble man…and I thank him for sharing this terrific poem. Enjoy!


There’s an item in the news that can’t be ignored This week, Dan Rather won the Peabody Award An award give for—saints preserve us! Distinguished achievement and meritorious service And they gave another to Mary Mapes If you don’t believe it, I have the tapes

Now you may think it quite egregious
That those two should win a prize so prestigious But perhaps no reputation should have to break On the rocks of one small

little
unadmitted
mistake.

Ignore that by such thinking it would be a fact Hitler earned a Nobel for the Munich Pact And it should not matter that (curiously after reading the “Song of Roland”) He changed his mind and invaded Poland. And by the same token, it’s sheer affrontery That Benedict Arnold’s not on the Three Dollar Bill For his service to this country.

So lest you think this is pure infernalism I’ll explain their contribution to worldwide journalism
Any old scribblers can sit on the benches And scores of reporters toil in the trenches But there are some things only genius can do Only genius can conjure up something new

And the MSM, as it’s been branded
Was in desperate need of a new standard
A way to report whatever they want to
Thank you, Dan…
Thank you, Mary for
“Inaccurate, but true.”

Pity the soul of poor George Foster Peabody Nowadays, they’ll give his plaque to just about anybody Well, things can get better and we shall see… Perhaps next year, they’ll give one to me!
But ‘till then, here’s a truth that can’t be brooked Today, it’s an honor just to be overlooked.

http://pilgrimscribblings.blogspot.com/

Be sure to check out above posting on David Warren Fisher’s blog. Contributed by Annie Snelgrove.

It’s a terrific reminder…that we are all recalled by our Manufacturer…due to that common defect called Serious Internal Non-Morality (SIN).

The difference between a hero
and a superstar is that a hero
doesn’t need a crowd,
he only needs a cry for help.

Author Unknown

Folks…below is an article by Paul Oberjuerge on my beloved Pastor, Chuck Obremski. It really captures the experience that we as a congregation have had…in seeing Chuck battle cancer over the past two years. It’s been so rich and so deep in seeing God continue to use Chuck to reach out and touch people. Each day is a miracle and we are thankful for each day that God has granted us.

ANAHEIM – Terminal cancer has robbed Chuck Obremski of 55 pounds, half a lung, most of his hair and much of his energy. His faith remains unscathed. Which makes the Angels’ team chaplain perhaps more inspirational than ever before. “I think Chuck is a saint,” Kansas City Royals veteran Mike Sweeney said Sunday. “He’s coming out here to talk to us even with cancer eating up his body.”

Obremski, 48, has been the Angels’ chaplain since 1997. Whenever the Angels have a Sunday home game, Obremski goes to a spare locker room to conduct 20-minute services – one for the Angels, one for the visiting team. Even while fighting an aggressive and mysterious cancer for almost two years, Obremski has missed only one Sunday at the ballpark. “If this is the end of my life,” he said, “I’m going to do what I do till the very end.” He has chosen to use his condition as “one more thing to use as a lesson to teach.” Players are impressed. Even moved. “I wept the last time I was here,” Sweeney said. Said Angels outfielder Garret Anderson: “A lot of people wouldn’t react that way to a life-altering experience. He’s practicing what he preaches.”

During his Sunday session with the Royals, Obremski sat in a corner of the long, narrow room. Arranged before him were players sitting on folding chairs. A Bible and a single sheet with a lesson from the Bible – English on one side, Spanish on the other – were placed on each chair. “These bodies are collapsing tents,” Obremski told a dozen players an hour before the game. “I never thought the day would come when I look like wh

Check out the attached article by Frank Schaeffer.

Frank is the author of terrific book “Faith of our Sons”. Be sure to check it out…Especially if you have a son in the marines or serving in a branch of the military.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0786713224/104-2394205-1457544?v=glance

You went down the wrong road when you chose to compromise with the Democrats on their continuing misuse of the filibuster against judicial appellate court nominees.

I don’t get it! Now is the time for courage and fortitude. Now is the time to “suck it up” and take whatever verbal hits come from the mainstream media and from those who disagree. Now is the time to do right thing! Now is the time that we need to shut the door on this unprecedented abuse of the filibuster by the Democrats.

We needed to be positioned correctly for what will soon be one or more openings on the Supreme Court. If the Dem’s are doing this now for appellate court nominees…what do you think they’ll do when it comes to the Supreme Court nominees?

We can’t afford to throw overboard four strong conservative judicial nominees who will base their rulings on the Constitution of the United States of America…and not try to make law via the bench. Interpret the law…not make the law. We need every last one of them on the bench. Not sacrificed to appease the vocal sore losing Democrats.

These seven Democratic Senators have a different world view. Their interpretation of extraordinary circumstances will be quite different than a conservative Republican’s view. They made be fine neighbors and friends…good and descent people. But they can not be trusted when it comes to carrying out their political agenda.

To my Seven Republican Senators…you were absolutely wrong in your decision to compromise with the Democrats.

We need strong men and women representing conservatives who will demonstrate courage and fortitude. I sincerely hope that your constituents make your failure known to you by replacing you at re-election time with a person who will uphold conservative views unwaveringly. Send you off with a nice retirement package…for some fun and sun in Hawaii…but not allow you to continue represent the conservative base of our party.

Alright…I admit it…I was wrong in poising that question. Obviously you folks aren’t doing a lot of thinking these day. Not when you are using Paris Hilton in a pornographic commercial to promote your product.

Carl’s Jr. who would say is your main target customer base? Do you think that families are a big part of your business? If they are a significant portion of your business why in the world are you airing a commercial that is offensive to families?

Paris Hilton is a glorified slut. Your commercial is pornographic in nature. What you are doing is slapping every God fearing American family in the face.

Just what we need…more commercials to encourage our young boys to fantasize and view women strictly as sex objects or engage in sex outside of marriage. Just what we need to do…put more enticements into a married man’s head…when when our real goal should be to encourage and support strong marriages and families.

Frankly…I like Carl’s Jr’s food better than McDonald’s or other fast food places. But I can assure you this…my money won’t be spent at Carl’s Jr.

Now on the other hand if you come out with an apology and pull the awful commercial from the airways…I will feel comfortable in spending my money at Carl’s Jr. Until such time…my money is going elsewhere.

Celebrities…I beg of you…I implore you…please zip it when it comes to sharing your political rhetoric or your profound take on moral issues. I concur and second Laura Ingraham’s advise to “Shut up and Sing”.

Folks you have no idea…of rapidly growing list of celebrities whose movies I will never see or music I will not listen to, much less purchase. Your political views are so naive. (I’m giving you the benefit of the doubt when saying naive.) The manner in which you so freely espouse your views, takes ones breath away. For you to believe that any thinking person gives a hoot and a holler about what you think or feel is truly amazing. You are uneducated and lead insular lives…you don’t hear other points of view or the reasons behind it. Therefore you don’t have to confront or examine your own point of view. The lives you lead…don’t even suggest that you have any concern for morality or accountability to a Holy and Righteous God.

Absolutely we live in a free society in which you can freely speak your mind…and support whatever causes you feel are worthy and just. But I beg of you…please stop being so vocal on your political views and the moral issues of the day. God may have blessed you with extraordinary talent…but that doesn’t mean you’ve been gifted with intellectual capabilities, wisdom or discernment.

As you continue to speak up so loudly…my list of people whose work I can never view or listen to again…grows by leaps and bounds. I’m even willing to sacrifice hearing from those few celebrities whose views I do agree with…if it means not hearing from the leftist Celeb’s any more.

When I see your movies now…or hear your songs…instead of seeing an intriguing character, a well written story or a hearing a moving song…I remember your outspoken comments on politics or America and how wretched you think we are.

As you continue to speak up…the number of people willing to spend their hard earned cash supporting a celebrity whose political views and life is in complete opposition reality and morality will continue to decline.

For your own sake…for you own financial benefit…Leftist Celebrities…please zip it!

The first Sunday…following Chuck shaving his head. A number of the Kindred guys standing with him…also shaved off their locks.

Gayle at Brighton Gardens…2004 

5/29/05 – I’m learning that you don’t have to have memories to be happy. My mom, Gayle…is a relatively bright and cheery person day to day. Sometimes she has her days…where she’s difficult and feisty. But overall she’s happy. Her memory continues to decline. Usually she knows I’m Susan. Sometimes she thinks I’m her daughter…or her sister…or and old school mate.

Sometimes I’ll quiz her to see what she’s thinking about…what she remember about the past. Her memory continues to slip away. Not sure how much of it is the memories slipping away as opposed to her verbal capabilities declining…and not being able to express or put into words what she thinking, remembering or feeling.

Before I was so focused on the losses and everything this wretched disease was taking away. But now over time…I’m at a place where I’m focused on “the now”. Making the time I do spend with her a fun time. In the past I was more focused on some anger that all of a sudden here I was having to be responsible for, take care of and be loving towards a parent with whom I didn’t feel particularly close to. I carried some resentment over things that happened, or were said…and now here was someone taking withdrawals from an emotional bank account that she hadn’t made many deposits into.

Thankfully that’s has changed. Not perfect…and it has it’s bumpy days too…but overall it’s better. My expectations are much less…more realistic. I’m not trying to balance things…and keep things normal for Gayle…when obviously things will never be normal again. The best choice was moving her into the Alzheimer’s unit…where she gets more care and is made to participate in activities. It’s simpler and at her level. The people around her are also at a declining functioning level. So she doesn’t seem to pretend to be normal as much as she use to.

Like all things viewed in 20/20 hindsight…I wish I had done things differently earlier. I tried for so long to keep things as normal as possible for as long as possible for her. Thinking that’s what she wanted. When in fact…it probably made things worse. She tended try and act normal when it was beyond her capabilities. That ended up causing frustation, stress and anger.

Sometimes seeing her now…I feel like I’m seeing what she was like as a child. I see her so vulnerable…and I’m grateful to God for providing Brighton Gardens…and the money for her monthly rent. Yet…I still do pray that God would be merciful and let her pass away in her sleep…before she’s too far gone. But until such time…provide for her needs and mine…and give strength and wisdom…and some good times and fun too.

We Will Always Remember…Sept 11th
The events from almost four years ago now…stay firmly planted in my mind. There is not a day that goes by…that I don’t remember or reflect on the events of that horrific day. Sometimes it’s before I’m even out of bed…or when I’m out for my morning walk. Every time I do my laundry…I think of Sept 11th…because that is what I was doing that early morning. I thank God that I haven’t forgotten…and am forever changed. I am so grateful to be an American and live in this beloved county…the United States of America.

September 2005

Will you ever see a jet flying overhead
without being reminded of September 11th?

Will you ever see a plane again
without remembering images of a plane crashing into a building?

Will you ever see a skyscraper again
without envisioning innocent people plunging to their deaths and buildings crumbling to the ground?

Will you ever again see a fireman or policeman
without imagining them rushing in to save lives…only to loose their own?

Will you ever…see the American flag
or hear America the Beautiful
or see our proud and brave military
without a tear coming to your eye?

I hope not…I pray not…
Remember 9/11…

By Susan Bunts
Written on October 25, 2001