Losing a friend

I just learned that Bob DeJong, my old friend and mentor from ServiceMaster passed away in his sleep Monday night. I received an e-mail last night letting me know that Bob is safely in the arms of his savior.

Evidently he complained to Barb of a stomach ache while they were at their home in Payson, AZ and he decided to take a nap. When Barb was going to bed, she noted that he was sleeping and didn't disturb him. In the morning after she finished her devotions, she thought she should wake him and found that he had died during the night.

It is a great loss to his family, my friends Scott and Sheri (losing a father and father-in-law), Barb, and to many, many people at ServiceMaster. We can indeed praise the Lord, knowing that he is now in the presence of God for eternity.

In addition to all this, we should pray for Shari, Scott's wife, who will be undergoing a bone marrow transplant for cancer next week. It's a difficult week for the DeJongs and I know you will join me in praying for them at this difficult time.

Coolidge learned, maybe

President Obama may be discovering what Calvin Coolidge figured out in 1921 as presiding officer of the U.S. Senate. Coolidge wanted to "Master the rules governing the world's greatest deliberative body." However, "It didn't take long" said Coolidge. He quickly discovered that the Senate only has one rule, which is that "the Senate will do whatever it wants whenever it wants to."

I am not a Coolidge fan, so don't get me wrong here, but we should learn from history and our past mistakes. Coolidge also said, "Don't expect to build up the weak by pulling down the strong."

Only in God

Kierkegaard said "Christ is the only sacrifice: no added sacrifice is needed."

Hebrews 7:18-19 says "There is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness for the law made nothing perfect, and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God." We draw near to God because of Christ and his sacrifice on our behalf. Christ is the sacrifice and gave everything for you and me!

This old way of getting it right so God would somehow bless me (through the law)... "is set aside." there is no longer a promise for blessings in exchange for our obedience. We now have a "better hope;" we've been invited to draw near to God. Did you get that?

Hebrews 7:25 "Therefore He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

Think about it, the consequences are fantastic! Here is a beautiful song done by John Michael Talbot which expresses this wonderful blessing, Only In God.

Eric gets married

Yes, it's true! Eric found Jenny, the love of his life and they got married last week. It is interesting to note that the Arizona Cardinals won the NFC Championship during Eric's wedding in Florida (Eric is from Phoenix). Looks like he won on all levels!


Eric, it also looks like you married way over your head. You better work hard at this pal. I met Jenny at a Rockies game last summer, so I speak the truth here.

Comment on Othello

Othello's lines in which he says to Desdemona just before killing her: "Has Desdemona pray'd tonight?" are an indescribably moving and horrible form of insanity. He doesn't say, "you" but speaks as a mother or father would speak to a child: Has Wendy done this or that? They are masterful lines. It reminds me of some of Stephen King's lines for Jack Torrence in The Shining.

Music

Maybe it's time to talk a little about music. I do like a wide variety except top 40 billboard junk. Rock is okay up to a point. A famous rock star was once asked if he could read music. He answered, "Yeah, but not enough to hurt my singing." If they can't sing or play, and hold you hostage while they do, show no mercy!

We do try to get to Red Rocks once in a while. Last year we saw Celtic Woman and Lyle Lovett. Now, there is some variety. We liked both concerts. When I hear some of these rock groups, I clap - both of my hands over my ears. There are exceptions. I took Noelle to a U2 concert in Memphis several years ago and loved it. Nancy and I also enjoy the CSO from time to time as well.

In spite of ourselves

Okay, due to many requests here is the song I told you about the other day by John Prine and Iris Dement. You'll like it, I'm sure.

"In Spite of ourselves"

This is my story

I'm sure Nancy is tired of me complaining about "Church music." I don't like it. Most of the time it just sounds like a bad lounge act at the Holiday Inn. It's not very uplifting and doesn't really pull me into thinking about God or prepare me for worship.

I have never payed much attention to "Americana" music. I do like John Prine and was listening to him the other day. One of Prine's songs is "In Spite of Ourselves" which he sings with Iris DeMent and we just howled over it. Then I ran across this one by Iris. Here is a hymn, done in a way that captures my heart and draws me to God. Here's a link to her video on You Tube. It's out of sinc with the audio, so just close your eyes and enjoy it.

"This is my story."

Nuggets get revenge

Chauncy Billups scored 26 points with the flu while Carmelo Anthony sat on the bench with a broken hand on Thursday night. The overtime win for the Nugs was 119 to 113. It looked like turnovers killed the Suns and fast break points really helped Denver, not to mention some serious 4th quarter courage. We've now won 7 of the last 8 games!

Fishing with Paul McCartney

I read somewhere the other day that Paul McCartney has decided to stop fishing because fish don't want to die and be eaten any more than he does. I found this particularly amusing. The idea that animals and fish are somehow on a par with man is just not right. Blaise Pascal wrote "The greatness of man is great in that he knows his own misery. A tree does not know its misery." And I would think that a fish doesn't know it either.

Okay so that means it is misery to know one's misery, but to know it is to be great. I'll agree to this. In fact, all this misery is really proof of God's greatness. God was great when he put down his crown and became miserable like us, here on earth. That must be the ultimate in misery, to give up so much to be miserable with us and for us and literally serving us. The contrast is stunning.

SK writes, "There truly is a fellowship of suffering with God, a pact of tears, which is intrinsically very beautiful." And he says, "The highest expression for the worth of earthly life (of temporality) is precisely the expectation of the eternal or its nearness." How is it that fish, animals, and trees, grasp this?

Prairie Dogs

Just a few hundred feet from our house is the Jefferson County Open Space. When Nancy and I walk some of the trails in the neighborhood, we go right by this prairie dog town. In fact, we can hear them chirp from our back porch. Sometimes we see coyotes circling and sneaking up on them for a fast meal. Glad I'm not a coyote!

The morning commute

Working at home certainly has its advantages. I took the photo below this evening from the back porch. We had about 4 inches of snow from 6:00a this morning until noon or so. I worked from home, so the morning commute was stress free! It's pretty nice when you don't have to drive in it. It's a brisk 29 degrees and the high winds have stopped.

This morning's walk

This morning I got up and went for a walk down to Chatfield Reservoir. The water was frozen, so of course I had to walk out on the lake. It's my nature to do these things.

The lake was spectacular. Fishermen were out and it reminded me of the time we lived in Denver during the 80's. I remember ice fishing with my friend Bill Silliman. We always felt that good ice fishing was a matter of timing. You have to get there yesterday.


Here is a great example of ice fishing on Chatfield Reservoir. It kind of makes you wonder if fishing isn't a sport with a worm on one end and a dummy on the other! I think ice fishing is really a jerk on one end of the line waiting for jerk at the other!

If you talk to these guys though, you realize there are more fish taken out of the lake than were ever in it!

Then it occurred to me.... my words to Nancy. Not tonight dear, I have a haddock! Okay, so that one smelt!

A new President

George Washington wore high-heeled boots, tight satin pants, a ruffled silk shirt, and a curly wig. He ran for President in the thirteen colonies and won! In Waco, Texas, he'd have to run for for his life.

Now we're about to inaugurate a new President. It's interesting that if you want to hunt, fish, drive, or own a dog, you need a license. But anybody who wants to can run for President.

I find it interesting that business is serious about cutting back on their spending, and citizens seem to be cutting their spending habits too. Everyone is serious about fiscal responsibility. Is the government? During the campaign the Democrats complained loudly about the national debt. Now that they're in power I suspect they will be more like Phil Gramm who said, "Balancing the budget is like going to heaven. Everybody wants to do it, but nobody wants to make the trip."

Not talking?

Nancy and I celebrated our anniversary today. These geese sitting on the frozen lake in our neighborhood appear to be "not talking," but Nancy and I are talking, even after 32 years. She's the best!

I am reminded of Farmer Brown. He and his wife were about to have their twentieth wedding anniversary. Mrs. Brown asks, "Should I kill a chicken for tonight?"

Farmer Brown says, "Why blame a bird for something that happened twenty years ago?"

Then there was the actress who couldn't remember if it was her fourth wedding anniversary with her fifth husband or her fifth with her fourth!

Portland, OR

I was in Portland, OR the first part of this week. I visited with my friends Theresa and Genaro. We had a nice visit and went to dinner together. There was still snow on the ground in the Portland area from the last big snow. By the way, this photo is from last year in West Fork, AZ

Pagosa Springs

Nancy and I went to Pagosa Springs over the New Year's holiday. This little restaurant near the condo was still well covered with snow from the last snowstorm. Notice the snow hanging over the roof on the far right hand side.

We drove by the Sangre de Cristo Mountains on our way home. It appeared as though the wind was still blowing hard up high.

On the way back, Nancy and I stopped in Bailey and had a hot dog for lunch.

New Years Day!

I'll never know why people celebrate the ending of a year. It only means that your car depreciated again! And you know, I just don't like eggnog. It's like drinking milk from a smashed cow. Last year we toasted the New Year at home. Nancy had rye and I had whole wheat.

And one last thing to pray for in 2009. I want my troubles to last as long as my resolutions.