Monday, August 6, 2012
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Steve warming up in the studio with some SRV
Steve in the studio warming up with Stevie Ray Vaughan's (SRV's) song "Lenny"
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Lemierre's Disease - My Near Death Experience
With all the news recently about the flesh eating bacteria that has cost a young mother her limbs and is threatening her life, I am reminded once again of my near death experience last year from a somewhat similar bacteria. I was asked to write about it back then, but I think I needed some time to really put everything in perspective.
Last year I came home from my honeymoon after enjoying a wonderful time with my wife. I felt healthy and energetic, however the night I got home I started feeling ill. It was obvious to me that I was coming down with some type of flu. I decided to tough it out at home for a few days hoping it would clear up (doctor's are always a last resort for me). After many days with no improvement, things seemed to be getting worse so I went into my local emergency clinic (it was the weekend and my doctor was unavailable). The physician there quickly diagnosed me as having strep throat. He gave me a shot, prescribed some medication and said that it would go away in a few days. I went home hoping to improve quickly.
Within a couple days it was evident that something was clearly wrong. I found myself vomiting blood. I knew this could not be simply strep throat. I went into the emergency room to get checked out. The physician checked me out but could only find the strep throat and said I would improve. I went back home, again hoping to improve.
Things continued to get worse at home. Finally I was hit with the most violent sets of chills and fever that I have ever experienced. The pain was incredibly intense. Unlike anything I had ever felt. My wife got scared and called an ambulance to have me taken to the hospital. Once I was there they checked me out but could not find anything additional wrong. The next thing that happened I later found out would save my life... the doctor ran a blood test, something not usually done for a typical emergency room case of strep throat. The blood test would take several days to come back, but they cared for me through the night and then sent me home without the results.
As I was checking out of the hospital I felt a slight tinge of discomfort in my foot. It was nothing serious so I dismissed it. I had no idea what was to come however...
Once I was back home, things grew worse. My strep throat cleared up, but over the next few days my foot swelled and turned an intense red color. I could not put any weight on it at all. In fact it became painful to even have it vertical if blood was rushing to it. I had to keep it elevated at all times. The pain grew worse and worse. I have some pain killers that I use when my back acts up, and I began to use them to try and deal with the pain of my foot. At first they helped, however soon they weren't enough to help with the pain at all. I cannot find the words to describe the pain to you. The best that I could do to try and describe it would be to say it was like someone putting your leg in a vice and clamping it with incredible force. It was horrific. Knowing that I needed stronger medication than pain pills, I finally relented to my wife's concerns and agreed to go to the hospital.
In the hospital they gave me Dilaudid, which was strong enough to help kill the pain. Over the next few days they tried many different antibiotics on me. None seemed to help. Every day the doctor and nurses would draw a line around the border of the infection and swelling on my foot. As the days went by I watched the border of the infection grow and grow.
We were frustrated and voiced it to the doctor. He was confused and could not come up with an answer for things. The doctor went back and reviewed my charts again. He noticed something that no one else had. The blood test that was given to me a week or longer before was now back and the results were in the file. He burst into the room. The first thing out of his mouth was "You're going to be in a medical journal!" I was shocked. What??? He went on to say how I had a very rare condition called Lemierre's Disease. He said that it was something he had never seen, in fact he had only heard about it in medical school. It was rare. Only 160 reported cases over the last 100 years. He said that even if it had been noticed by the lab technicians when it came back on the blood test, it would have been dismissed as an error because they wouldn't have know what it was. I now had a name for what I was dealing with, but I had no idea the danger I was in.
My family quickly did some research on it and found out just how dangerous it was. At first they did not share with my just how much my life was in jeopardy. They did not want to worry me. I was already in a constant state of numbness from the drugs required to keep the pain at bay so I didn't press them for information.
Even though this thing had a name, I was no closer to getting better. The infection continued to spread. Every day they drew more marks on my foot showing the spread of the infection. I began to worry about losing my leg, or maybe worse dying in that hospital. Never seeing my children again.
Both my wife and mother who were attending to me were both incredibly worried about the situation. We demanded that they bring in a specialist. Finally the hospital relented and one was brought in to help the doctor. This also saved my life. The specialist decided to switch me to only penicillin against the other doctor's recommendation. I did not see immediate improvement but I hoped for the best.
Days went by and things did not improve. The specialist had the bedside manner of a rock and was tough to put confidence in, but I trusted him and I prayed and prayed that God would heal me. Meanwhile my wife had done some research on the internet and found someone related to a family member who had survived Lemierre's Disease. He gave her some valuable information and passed my name on to his prayer chain. People all over the country were now praying for me.
I remember by bandmates and friends coming to visit me. Everything was a blur with all the medication I was on. I struggled to see them clearly and make out the words they said. I remember struggling to talk to them sometimes. The words did not want to come out.
We had almost lost hope. We were ready to switch hospitals and get a new set of experts. Then at the last moment, I began to see improvement. The penicillin fought off the infection enough for me to go home. I still could not put any weight on my foot, and I was in intense pain if my foot was not elevated. But I was happy to go home (though I would miss the stronger pain killers). The specialist said he did not want to mess around with this dangerous infection and put me on bed rest at home for a month on an IV.
I found out so much about my wife during this time. She had gone from newlywed to 100% caretaker in a matter of weeks. You learn the most about a person in times of crisis and I really learned what she was made of. I called her my "Nurse Wife" and she did everything for me. I had never been so helpless in my life. Literally relying on someone else for EVERYTHING. That's tough for an independent person like me who doesn't want to ever burden anyone else with things I am perfectly capable of doing myself.
I had lost 15 lbs within a week and had no energy but it felt so good to be home. For that month my wife changed my dressings and the bags on my IV. She dealt with all the home care nurses that would come in and check on me. So many things...
Eventually I got to the point that I improved enough to get around the house in a wheelchair. Ah...freedom. Soon I began to walk again, still fighting through the pain. But I will never forget the day they took the IV off of me and I was truly free. I knew after that day I would never take my health for granted again.
After that month at home they tested me and the infection was gone 100% from my system. Now a year has passed. I am completely healthy and my Lemierre's Disease is a fading memory. I laugh sometimes when I look down and try to remember whether the problem was in my left or right foot. This disease that almost killed me....so far away now.
For those of you that were wanting to know my story, here you have it. I mainly wanted to write this for anyone else out there with this rare disease. If your doctor is trying antibiotics and they are not working, please have the doctor try penicillin. It was the only one that worked for me. Oh and yes the best medicine of all....PRAYER!!!
And I also wanted to say this...you know your body better than anyone. If you feel that you have been misdiagnosed, trust yourself! Doctors are not always right and a second opinion is sometimes needed. In my case it saved my life. Most people that die from this disease die because they are misdiagnosed. They are told that they have strep throat (which usually precedes it) and if they never go back in to the hospital within about 10 days they are dead. If you believe what you have is more serious than strep please get checked out no matter what. Fortunately for me the infection went to my foot, but had it gone somewhere else my chances of surviving could also have been less. There is not much information on this disease online but some basic information can be found here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemierre's_syndrome
Last year I came home from my honeymoon after enjoying a wonderful time with my wife. I felt healthy and energetic, however the night I got home I started feeling ill. It was obvious to me that I was coming down with some type of flu. I decided to tough it out at home for a few days hoping it would clear up (doctor's are always a last resort for me). After many days with no improvement, things seemed to be getting worse so I went into my local emergency clinic (it was the weekend and my doctor was unavailable). The physician there quickly diagnosed me as having strep throat. He gave me a shot, prescribed some medication and said that it would go away in a few days. I went home hoping to improve quickly.
Within a couple days it was evident that something was clearly wrong. I found myself vomiting blood. I knew this could not be simply strep throat. I went into the emergency room to get checked out. The physician checked me out but could only find the strep throat and said I would improve. I went back home, again hoping to improve.
Things continued to get worse at home. Finally I was hit with the most violent sets of chills and fever that I have ever experienced. The pain was incredibly intense. Unlike anything I had ever felt. My wife got scared and called an ambulance to have me taken to the hospital. Once I was there they checked me out but could not find anything additional wrong. The next thing that happened I later found out would save my life... the doctor ran a blood test, something not usually done for a typical emergency room case of strep throat. The blood test would take several days to come back, but they cared for me through the night and then sent me home without the results.
As I was checking out of the hospital I felt a slight tinge of discomfort in my foot. It was nothing serious so I dismissed it. I had no idea what was to come however...
Once I was back home, things grew worse. My strep throat cleared up, but over the next few days my foot swelled and turned an intense red color. I could not put any weight on it at all. In fact it became painful to even have it vertical if blood was rushing to it. I had to keep it elevated at all times. The pain grew worse and worse. I have some pain killers that I use when my back acts up, and I began to use them to try and deal with the pain of my foot. At first they helped, however soon they weren't enough to help with the pain at all. I cannot find the words to describe the pain to you. The best that I could do to try and describe it would be to say it was like someone putting your leg in a vice and clamping it with incredible force. It was horrific. Knowing that I needed stronger medication than pain pills, I finally relented to my wife's concerns and agreed to go to the hospital.
In the hospital they gave me Dilaudid, which was strong enough to help kill the pain. Over the next few days they tried many different antibiotics on me. None seemed to help. Every day the doctor and nurses would draw a line around the border of the infection and swelling on my foot. As the days went by I watched the border of the infection grow and grow.
We were frustrated and voiced it to the doctor. He was confused and could not come up with an answer for things. The doctor went back and reviewed my charts again. He noticed something that no one else had. The blood test that was given to me a week or longer before was now back and the results were in the file. He burst into the room. The first thing out of his mouth was "You're going to be in a medical journal!" I was shocked. What??? He went on to say how I had a very rare condition called Lemierre's Disease. He said that it was something he had never seen, in fact he had only heard about it in medical school. It was rare. Only 160 reported cases over the last 100 years. He said that even if it had been noticed by the lab technicians when it came back on the blood test, it would have been dismissed as an error because they wouldn't have know what it was. I now had a name for what I was dealing with, but I had no idea the danger I was in.
My family quickly did some research on it and found out just how dangerous it was. At first they did not share with my just how much my life was in jeopardy. They did not want to worry me. I was already in a constant state of numbness from the drugs required to keep the pain at bay so I didn't press them for information.
Even though this thing had a name, I was no closer to getting better. The infection continued to spread. Every day they drew more marks on my foot showing the spread of the infection. I began to worry about losing my leg, or maybe worse dying in that hospital. Never seeing my children again.
Both my wife and mother who were attending to me were both incredibly worried about the situation. We demanded that they bring in a specialist. Finally the hospital relented and one was brought in to help the doctor. This also saved my life. The specialist decided to switch me to only penicillin against the other doctor's recommendation. I did not see immediate improvement but I hoped for the best.
Days went by and things did not improve. The specialist had the bedside manner of a rock and was tough to put confidence in, but I trusted him and I prayed and prayed that God would heal me. Meanwhile my wife had done some research on the internet and found someone related to a family member who had survived Lemierre's Disease. He gave her some valuable information and passed my name on to his prayer chain. People all over the country were now praying for me.
I remember by bandmates and friends coming to visit me. Everything was a blur with all the medication I was on. I struggled to see them clearly and make out the words they said. I remember struggling to talk to them sometimes. The words did not want to come out.
We had almost lost hope. We were ready to switch hospitals and get a new set of experts. Then at the last moment, I began to see improvement. The penicillin fought off the infection enough for me to go home. I still could not put any weight on my foot, and I was in intense pain if my foot was not elevated. But I was happy to go home (though I would miss the stronger pain killers). The specialist said he did not want to mess around with this dangerous infection and put me on bed rest at home for a month on an IV.
I found out so much about my wife during this time. She had gone from newlywed to 100% caretaker in a matter of weeks. You learn the most about a person in times of crisis and I really learned what she was made of. I called her my "Nurse Wife" and she did everything for me. I had never been so helpless in my life. Literally relying on someone else for EVERYTHING. That's tough for an independent person like me who doesn't want to ever burden anyone else with things I am perfectly capable of doing myself.
I had lost 15 lbs within a week and had no energy but it felt so good to be home. For that month my wife changed my dressings and the bags on my IV. She dealt with all the home care nurses that would come in and check on me. So many things...
Eventually I got to the point that I improved enough to get around the house in a wheelchair. Ah...freedom. Soon I began to walk again, still fighting through the pain. But I will never forget the day they took the IV off of me and I was truly free. I knew after that day I would never take my health for granted again.
After that month at home they tested me and the infection was gone 100% from my system. Now a year has passed. I am completely healthy and my Lemierre's Disease is a fading memory. I laugh sometimes when I look down and try to remember whether the problem was in my left or right foot. This disease that almost killed me....so far away now.
For those of you that were wanting to know my story, here you have it. I mainly wanted to write this for anyone else out there with this rare disease. If your doctor is trying antibiotics and they are not working, please have the doctor try penicillin. It was the only one that worked for me. Oh and yes the best medicine of all....PRAYER!!!
And I also wanted to say this...you know your body better than anyone. If you feel that you have been misdiagnosed, trust yourself! Doctors are not always right and a second opinion is sometimes needed. In my case it saved my life. Most people that die from this disease die because they are misdiagnosed. They are told that they have strep throat (which usually precedes it) and if they never go back in to the hospital within about 10 days they are dead. If you believe what you have is more serious than strep please get checked out no matter what. Fortunately for me the infection went to my foot, but had it gone somewhere else my chances of surviving could also have been less. There is not much information on this disease online but some basic information can be found here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemierre's_syndrome
Feeling better and ready to head home with my Nurse Wife
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Angels Among Us - My Burning Bush
Things were pretty hard for me recently. I had been dealing with some difficult family and legal issues and was wondering when the Lord would speak to me again concerning things. One day feeling overly burdened, I told my wife that I needed to go to my favorite spot to pray and so I headed there for the evening. Alone with God I expressed my heart to Him. I prayed for His intervention in the challenges I was facing. I asked for His direction, I submitted myself to His will even if it wasn't what I wanted. I asked that He would help me to maintain my integrity in an unfair situation that tempted me to fight back with likewise ruthlessness. And then I waited....and waited...and waited. And He spoke to me with that peace inside that let me know that I needed to really allow Him to handle things. To put my complete faith in Him regardless of what I was facing. That it would be alright.
Even though I felt confident that I had a peace in knowing how to handle things, I must stay I still felt unsure. I had that questioning in the back of my mind that we all get as Christians. Was this really God speaking to me or just my own thoughts? What if I trust Him and He doesn't come through? Won't I look like a fool?
And then a day came that changed everything...
My oldest daughter and I were in the bank. As we waited in the long line to see a teller, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that a woman in the line was looking at me. I didn't look at her directly and didn't want to think too much of it. Then a minute or so later she turned around and spoke. She said, "Excuse me, but I feel that the Lord is putting something on my heart so strongly. God wants you to know that even though you are going through a tough time, He is there and everything will be fine." She then looked at my oldest daughter. "Are you his daughter?" My daughter nodded her head yes. She looked back at me and said "I feel that you are gentle man, and (as she turned back to my daughter) you should stay close to your dad, through him you are going to see the love of the father. So many girls don't have a good father in their life. Stay close to your dad." My daughter nodded her head in agreement. This complete stranger spoke to me with a confidence and urgency that sounded like God Himself was reaching down from Heaven to speak to my situation.
I could feel the water well up in the back of my eyes. I honestly wanted to cry. It was like God had personally put His hand on my shoulder and told me to just trust Him. That He was going to handle things, regardless of what opposition I would face. I know that moment was meant to speak to my daughter's soul deeply as well.
This week as I was listening to the radio, I heard someone speaking about Moses going to face Pharaoh. Risking his life to go and speak words of judgement against a man that had the power to have him killed. Where did Moses get this confidence? Because he had seen God in the burning bush. He had seen and felt God's power in such a real and powerful way that he now had no doubt that he had the Lord on his side.
This woman was my burning bush. I have a confidence in my situation now unlike anytime before. God new that I needed a powerful sign to face the challenges ahead of me, and He gave it to me in the most unlikely of ways. If God is for us, who can be against us?
Praise be to God.
Steve
Hello 2012!
Hello 2012! I must admit that I am sorely behind in keeping you all up to date on the goings on in my life. 2011 was a year that I will never forget. I got married again to an amazing woman, almost died from an incredibly rare infection in my foot, and continued my challenges with personal family issues. And yet somehow through all of this I was able to keep making music (a subject for another post). I have been asked repeatedly to write about some of these things, and I am going to address them. I like to keep family issues private and respectful, but at the same time I think we can share encouraging things to others without beating anybody else up in the process. I will have a long post to share about my experience with almost dying last year which can also hopefully help anyone else facing the same type of infection.
Anyways, the bottom line is that I refuse to go down this easily. LOL The good Lord intends to keep me around for awhile to fulfill some other things He is doing, and so like a good servant I will heed the Master's call. I want to end this post with 3 keys to Godly wisdom which my Uncle (Pastor Larry Riddle) shared with me. They got me through some tough times when I wasn't sure why God wasn't stepping in and handling things. I hope they minister to you.
Principle #1
God is Sovereign
Principle #2
God's timing is always perfect.
Principle #3
I am God's child to do with as He pleases.
I just wanted to write a little about what they have meant to me as I have repeated them to myself in stressful situations.
God is sovereign. If you are wondering whether He can step into your situation at anytime and change things, He can. He may not choose to at the moment, but He is more than capable of handling our requests when we bring them to Him. And it doesn't matter how bleak the situation may look. God specializes in the impossible. In all things pray.
God's timing is always perfect. Sometimes He says yes to our request, sometimes no, and sometimes not now. Not now is not a no, it just means that He needs some other events to take place before He will act. There are many examples of this in the Bible. God is a master of strategy, and also long-suffering with us. I remember the story of Esther and Haman. Haman had secretly built a gallows to hang the jews from since he hated them, and he had a plan to set them up to be killed by royal decree by tricking the king. God patiently waited for Haman to build his machine of death, and during that time it looked as though he was going to get away with setting up the jews to die by his wicked plans. God however was not caught by surprise, and Haman's plan was exposed and the king had him hung from the same gallows that he had built to execute the innocent jews on. Just because you have not seen results does not mean God is not working in the background, aligning things for His purpose.
I am God's child to do with as He pleases. This is the toughest one. We all like being a child a of God. Having our Dad there to be so good to us. But like any good parent, He wants us to be holy more than He wants us to be happy. And He usually has purposes for our lives that don't always consist of easy things. So what if what He pleases to do with us is difficult, maybe seeming even unfair or unjust? This is where Christian maturity must take hold. To those whom much is given, much is required. He never gives us more than we can handle, but you can bet that if He gives us a lot He will expect us to handle it because He has given us the strength to do so. So if you are going through something unfair right now, remember that God's purposes for the events in your life may not be about your comfort and happiness. Maybe you are meant to minister to others who are facing similar challenges, maybe you are meant to grow into deeper levels of faith and trust in Him. Don't fight the storm. Know that there is purpose in it. Let the storm take you where it must. God has a plan for you in the midst of it and right in the place and time you will be at when it ends. There is purpose in everything we endure.
I hope this ministers to you.
Steve
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Steve Riddle Band with Blues Legend Darrell Mansfield
Main Street Restaurant 4902 Main Street, Yorba Linda, CA 2 pm
Hope to see you there!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Music Awards Thank You
Thank you to all the fans that voted for us at the recent South Bay Music Awards! Although we did not win, it was indeed an honor just to be nominated. And we look forward to coming back even stronger next year!
Here's a snapshot of the band on the red carpet. Unfortunately Tommy isn't in the picture since he had another obligation that night, but he was there with us in spirit!
Reasons you should not drink and get a Tattoo
You might want to sober up before getting that tat you just thought up with your buddies...
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Keyboardist Marcia Escobosa Welcomed to the Band!
SRB is proud to welcome Marcia Escobosa to the band on keyboards. Marcia brings her blues and hard rock background to the band with of course a feminine touch that audiences will enjoy.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
States of Heart and Mind
I continue to be amazed at how powerful our minds are. It is amazing to see how our perceptions and beliefs determine who we are, who we want to be and who we will become. Life being in the continual state of flux that it is, we can find ourselves in interesting and unexpected situations, and often with little clear direction as to where to go and what to do. There are no road maps, signposts up ahead, or beacons of light in the distance. We are left with little more than our hearts and minds to lead the way.
The heart of course is a mixed bag. While we are to seek the desires of our heart we are always wary of the fact that our hearts are deceitful above all things. That is of course unless it has been changed. Once the heart of a man (or woman) has been changed it is a very dangerous thing indeed. Like a Salmon swimming upstream we are thrust against the tide of life. To follow our heart we must fight for our heart's true desires. This is not always easy. The tendency is always there for us to turn around and flow with all the others in the river. It means less struggle. Less resistance. Everyone around us will be so much happier that we have "finally gotten on with things" and are starting to fit what they want us to be. However a journey where we "go with the flow" is not a very interesting journey at all.
Sometimes I think the more resistance you encounter, the more it indicates that you are on your path. People seldom fight things they understand, but they do fight things they cannot control or comprehend. They seek to put those things (and folks) into neat little boxes that they can categorize. But the Lord may sometimes have other plans for us.
"A man's heart deviseth his way...but the Lord directs his steps." - this scripture has always fascinated me. Our hearts do indeed determine where we end up. That being driven either by a reprobate heart or one that is fully surrendered. It is our choice. Each time that I successfully surrender my heart more to God's will for my life it is a little more frightening. You feel a little more naked. But the good part is that over time you learn to trust, maybe even revel in the fear of not having control.
Why does scripture say that He directs our "steps"? Why not say our "path"? Or our "journey"? I think there is a purposeful use of an image of a step. A regular, steady, trodding. Repetitive. Unexciting and unglamorous. I think we all can look back on events in our lives that we maybe never imagined, but in looking back there was a clear succession of steps that led us there. Our steps are not steps on a sunny day with our destination in the distance.... they are steps in the dark, onto stepping stones that God shines a flashlight on one by one. They gradually appear and we step. They are not in a straight line. Like any stony path they wind and jog here and there. We cannot make sense of where we are headed. Yet each time we step forward in faith we find that another step is revealed. This encourages us that we are on the right path and to press forward.
"Be ye changed by the renewing of your mind". The mind leads the heart to change. Interesting. So many times we are told the opposite of that. But following a hungry heart only leads us to the first thing that we think will satisfy and it often doesn't. The mind knows better. The mind searches for what will not only satisfy but also sustain us. The latter may not seem so good from the outset. Or it may be more difficult to attain, but nonetheless it is what is required for us to be fulfilled. So how is our mind renewed? Only by increasing in wisdom. And there is really only one source of that which is God's Word. Scripture tells us that "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom". So it all starts with conversion. Belief. And then the diligent seeking of His truth. For once we believe we are then prepared and willing to receive.
And the beauty of this is that we never really attain. We just prayerfully learn to live with the way the game is designed. We play out our part of the story. And we daily remind ourselves that it is after all HIStory that we are telling.
The heart of course is a mixed bag. While we are to seek the desires of our heart we are always wary of the fact that our hearts are deceitful above all things. That is of course unless it has been changed. Once the heart of a man (or woman) has been changed it is a very dangerous thing indeed. Like a Salmon swimming upstream we are thrust against the tide of life. To follow our heart we must fight for our heart's true desires. This is not always easy. The tendency is always there for us to turn around and flow with all the others in the river. It means less struggle. Less resistance. Everyone around us will be so much happier that we have "finally gotten on with things" and are starting to fit what they want us to be. However a journey where we "go with the flow" is not a very interesting journey at all.
Sometimes I think the more resistance you encounter, the more it indicates that you are on your path. People seldom fight things they understand, but they do fight things they cannot control or comprehend. They seek to put those things (and folks) into neat little boxes that they can categorize. But the Lord may sometimes have other plans for us.
"A man's heart deviseth his way...but the Lord directs his steps." - this scripture has always fascinated me. Our hearts do indeed determine where we end up. That being driven either by a reprobate heart or one that is fully surrendered. It is our choice. Each time that I successfully surrender my heart more to God's will for my life it is a little more frightening. You feel a little more naked. But the good part is that over time you learn to trust, maybe even revel in the fear of not having control.
Why does scripture say that He directs our "steps"? Why not say our "path"? Or our "journey"? I think there is a purposeful use of an image of a step. A regular, steady, trodding. Repetitive. Unexciting and unglamorous. I think we all can look back on events in our lives that we maybe never imagined, but in looking back there was a clear succession of steps that led us there. Our steps are not steps on a sunny day with our destination in the distance.... they are steps in the dark, onto stepping stones that God shines a flashlight on one by one. They gradually appear and we step. They are not in a straight line. Like any stony path they wind and jog here and there. We cannot make sense of where we are headed. Yet each time we step forward in faith we find that another step is revealed. This encourages us that we are on the right path and to press forward.
"Be ye changed by the renewing of your mind". The mind leads the heart to change. Interesting. So many times we are told the opposite of that. But following a hungry heart only leads us to the first thing that we think will satisfy and it often doesn't. The mind knows better. The mind searches for what will not only satisfy but also sustain us. The latter may not seem so good from the outset. Or it may be more difficult to attain, but nonetheless it is what is required for us to be fulfilled. So how is our mind renewed? Only by increasing in wisdom. And there is really only one source of that which is God's Word. Scripture tells us that "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom". So it all starts with conversion. Belief. And then the diligent seeking of His truth. For once we believe we are then prepared and willing to receive.
And the beauty of this is that we never really attain. We just prayerfully learn to live with the way the game is designed. We play out our part of the story. And we daily remind ourselves that it is after all HIStory that we are telling.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
SRB Nominated For A Music Award!
The Steve Riddle Band is proud to be nominated for the category "Best Blues Band/Group of the Year" at the upcoming South Bay Music Awards in Southern California. They will be held Monday April 27th at the World Famous Improv at the Irvine Spectrum. We need your votes! Please take a quick second to go online to their website and click a quick vote for us. The link is http://www.southbaymusicawards.com/Nominees.php
Monday, April 6, 2009
Think Californians are Angry?
Are Californians done with the Terminator and our state government? When fast food places start posting signs like this I think the answer is clear.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Rules Men Live By
Got sent this from a friend today. It was so funny I had to post it...
Rules Men Live By -
These are our rules! Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!
1. Men are NOT mind readers.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl.
If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports - It's like the full moon or the
changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do
not work! Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to
almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help
solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are
for.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an
argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.
Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways
and if one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one
1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us
how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it,
just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to
say during commercials..
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and
neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default
settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color.
Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1 If we ask what is wrong and you say
"nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong.
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer
to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything
you wear is fine... Really .
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about
unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or golf.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
1. Thank you for reading this..
Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; But
did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.
Pass this to as many men as you can - to give them a
laugh.
Pass this to as many women as you can - to give them a
bigger laugh.
Rules Men Live By -
These are our rules! Please note... these are all numbered "1" ON PURPOSE!
1. Men are NOT mind readers.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl.
If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports - It's like the full moon or the
changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do
not work! Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to
almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help
solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are
for.
1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an
argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.
Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways
and if one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one
1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us
how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it,
just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to
say during commercials..
1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and
neither do we.
1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default
settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color.
Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1 If we ask what is wrong and you say
"nothing," We will act like nothing's wrong.
We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer
to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything
you wear is fine... Really .
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about
unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or golf.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!
1. Thank you for reading this..
Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight; But
did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.
Pass this to as many men as you can - to give them a
laugh.
Pass this to as many women as you can - to give them a
bigger laugh.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The New America
Tough times. And they look to be getting tougher.
In the county I live in here in Southern California, unemployment is at over 12%. Everywhere that you look are foreclosed homes for sale and empty commercial business properties for lease. If you are like me you probably know many people that have been directly affected by the loss of a job or loss of revenue at their place of business. It's hard to stay optimistic as we watch wave after wave of bailout money going out the door to inept and failing corporations, with dishonest corporate officers and politicians still playing games. Political Parties point the finger at each other and play party games in the media even though these rascals are all cut from the same cloth. People like Bernie Madoff steal people's life savings and leave them to a terrifying future in the most vulnerable years of their life. States like mine are bankrupt and rather than fixing the problems they cut things that matter like education and increase taxes on an already struggling populace. Crime is on the upswing, and it seems like it isn't even a shock anymore when you hear about a mother or father killing their own children. A popular punk band has a song that states "Welcome to the new dark ages..." I fear they may not be far off track.
Statistics show that fewer and fewer Americans profess to be Christian anymore. It's common knowledge within the evangelical community that Church attendance is on the decline. And although we are seeing more megachurches than ever before, most of those are either stable or declining in attendance, and many of the smaller Churches are dying. Secular culture is winning the battle for the hearts of Americans...
Secular counselors will tell you that they are inundated with desperate people right now. Folks looking for hope. Looking for answers. They have nothing left to hold on to. In truth what can a counselor offer them? A positive message? Some type of reassurance? Can they analyze their past and help them to feel better about their current predicaments? At best they can only console them. What our brothers and sisters need is the guiding hand of a Lord that can actually come to their aid. A power from on High that can step into their situation and work miracles. Join me in prayer for this great nation of ours. And let us also pray that together we as a body of Christ can help reach out to those who don't know the Lord and do our part in sharing the message of the Gospel. America needs it now more than ever.
In the county I live in here in Southern California, unemployment is at over 12%. Everywhere that you look are foreclosed homes for sale and empty commercial business properties for lease. If you are like me you probably know many people that have been directly affected by the loss of a job or loss of revenue at their place of business. It's hard to stay optimistic as we watch wave after wave of bailout money going out the door to inept and failing corporations, with dishonest corporate officers and politicians still playing games. Political Parties point the finger at each other and play party games in the media even though these rascals are all cut from the same cloth. People like Bernie Madoff steal people's life savings and leave them to a terrifying future in the most vulnerable years of their life. States like mine are bankrupt and rather than fixing the problems they cut things that matter like education and increase taxes on an already struggling populace. Crime is on the upswing, and it seems like it isn't even a shock anymore when you hear about a mother or father killing their own children. A popular punk band has a song that states "Welcome to the new dark ages..." I fear they may not be far off track.
Statistics show that fewer and fewer Americans profess to be Christian anymore. It's common knowledge within the evangelical community that Church attendance is on the decline. And although we are seeing more megachurches than ever before, most of those are either stable or declining in attendance, and many of the smaller Churches are dying. Secular culture is winning the battle for the hearts of Americans...
Secular counselors will tell you that they are inundated with desperate people right now. Folks looking for hope. Looking for answers. They have nothing left to hold on to. In truth what can a counselor offer them? A positive message? Some type of reassurance? Can they analyze their past and help them to feel better about their current predicaments? At best they can only console them. What our brothers and sisters need is the guiding hand of a Lord that can actually come to their aid. A power from on High that can step into their situation and work miracles. Join me in prayer for this great nation of ours. And let us also pray that together we as a body of Christ can help reach out to those who don't know the Lord and do our part in sharing the message of the Gospel. America needs it now more than ever.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Thoughts on the New Year...
Happy New Year everyone! It seems the older that I get the less I look forward to a year ending and another one beginning. But I think there was a definite purpose in the Good Lord giving us a yearly cycle. Cycles are a pattern of His Creation (God is of course the master artist). He uses cycles in everything: time, seasons, birth (life) and death, growth, etc. I find for myself that the start of a new cycle is always a huge time for reflection. This is the time where we usually make wild resolutions for the new year as we look back at all the things we should or shouldn't have done. So we (people) usually join a gym, try to give up a bad habit or two, decide to volunteer more in our community, change our diet, take up a new sport or hobby, do those repairs around the house we have been procrastinating about, finally decide to move into a career we love, go back to school, patch things up with friends or family we haven't seen (or decide to not to see certain toxic ones anymore), etc.
I think if you are like me you will find yourself to be a creature of habit. Although we all enjoy variety and the newness of change, challenge and excitement in our lives, for the most part we find what we enjoy and kind of stick with it. This can be as simple as the food we like to eat or as complex as our worldview and the various social relationships we find ourselves involved with. I find that I often need to "recenter" myself. This is probably done by both men and women in different ways, but the way I do it is more typical of what us guys do. We get alone. We retreat. Some folks call it to our man-caves, but it can really be anywhere. For some it's the mountains, a particular spot on the beach, a river or lake, their garage, a trip to the desert, maybe even a gravesite of a loved one. I have probably a handful of places that are important to me like that. This is where I can get alone and talk to God. Really look deep into myself, pour my heart out to Him and wrestle with my demons (which we all have). This drives women crazy because they want us to talk about things to give them a feeling of comfort, but this time is not about them. It's about us. Recentering ourselves. And we need it.
I look back on my life, and I try to objectively look at the great things that God has done. The times He has been faithful, the times He has watched over me, protected me, provided for me, and guided me. I try to look back at SPECIFIC prayers that I prayed and I can always see many that were answered. I have seen many dreams fulfilled in my life. Challenges overcome, children healed, opportunities presented to me. It is looking back on God's past goodness to me that I find the confidence that He will bring me through any present challenges or unseen future ones as well. And no matter what bad has come, the good has always outweighed it.
We MUST do this. We as people tend to take God for granted (as we usually do with other things in our life as well). Oftentimes when we find that we have accomplished a goal it isn't as fulfilling as we thought (you get the job you always wanted and it has as many downsides as the job you hated before, you go out with the gorgeous woman that stops you in your tracks only to find out she has a horrible personality, your spouse doesn't fulfill all your needs, your kids grow up and leave, you buy the new car and now the payments drive you mad, etc. etc.) Why is this? Well you may have heard it said before, but NOTHING is perfect this side of eternity. And that longing in our hearts for perfection (Heaven) cannot be found in this world. So when our goals don't measure up we get frustrated and usually point that frustration to some extent at God. The children of Israel did this frequently. They were always forgetting the things God had done for them and usually had a "what have you done for me lately?" mentality. And usually when He stopped doing for them the reality check was pretty harsh.
Why does God have us repeat communion over and over again? It's because we forget. We need to be reminded. Its like reading scripture over again that we have read before. We need to not only enlighten ourselves with His wisdom, but also maintain it. And if we take it for granted that's usually when we fall.
I think that recentering ourselves will be ever so important for us all this year. 2009 will be a year of serious economic challenges for not only our country but throughout the world. Can we trust Him with our doubts and fears?
Some things to ponder...
Do you have a roof over your head? A bed to sleep on?
Is your neighborhood relatively safe?
Do you have food in your home? If not do you have access to buy it convieniently if you need to from a grocery store?
Can you worship your God freely without the threat of harm coming to you from your government or neighbors?
Are your children given the opportunity and access for public education?
Does your community have hospitals and health clinics with sterile instruments and modern equipment with competent doctors?
Are you able to work for an employer with reasonable employee rights under proper working conditions for a fair wage?
These are just some things to think about, but the truth is that most of us are so blessed to not be living in conditions that exist in certain parts of the world. So I welcome 2009 in with you. May the Lord bless us all and keep us all under His wing. Let us be thankful for all that He has done. And let us prayerfully ask for help where needed.
That should help last me a little while until I need to remind myself again. :)
I think if you are like me you will find yourself to be a creature of habit. Although we all enjoy variety and the newness of change, challenge and excitement in our lives, for the most part we find what we enjoy and kind of stick with it. This can be as simple as the food we like to eat or as complex as our worldview and the various social relationships we find ourselves involved with. I find that I often need to "recenter" myself. This is probably done by both men and women in different ways, but the way I do it is more typical of what us guys do. We get alone. We retreat. Some folks call it to our man-caves, but it can really be anywhere. For some it's the mountains, a particular spot on the beach, a river or lake, their garage, a trip to the desert, maybe even a gravesite of a loved one. I have probably a handful of places that are important to me like that. This is where I can get alone and talk to God. Really look deep into myself, pour my heart out to Him and wrestle with my demons (which we all have). This drives women crazy because they want us to talk about things to give them a feeling of comfort, but this time is not about them. It's about us. Recentering ourselves. And we need it.
I look back on my life, and I try to objectively look at the great things that God has done. The times He has been faithful, the times He has watched over me, protected me, provided for me, and guided me. I try to look back at SPECIFIC prayers that I prayed and I can always see many that were answered. I have seen many dreams fulfilled in my life. Challenges overcome, children healed, opportunities presented to me. It is looking back on God's past goodness to me that I find the confidence that He will bring me through any present challenges or unseen future ones as well. And no matter what bad has come, the good has always outweighed it.
We MUST do this. We as people tend to take God for granted (as we usually do with other things in our life as well). Oftentimes when we find that we have accomplished a goal it isn't as fulfilling as we thought (you get the job you always wanted and it has as many downsides as the job you hated before, you go out with the gorgeous woman that stops you in your tracks only to find out she has a horrible personality, your spouse doesn't fulfill all your needs, your kids grow up and leave, you buy the new car and now the payments drive you mad, etc. etc.) Why is this? Well you may have heard it said before, but NOTHING is perfect this side of eternity. And that longing in our hearts for perfection (Heaven) cannot be found in this world. So when our goals don't measure up we get frustrated and usually point that frustration to some extent at God. The children of Israel did this frequently. They were always forgetting the things God had done for them and usually had a "what have you done for me lately?" mentality. And usually when He stopped doing for them the reality check was pretty harsh.
Why does God have us repeat communion over and over again? It's because we forget. We need to be reminded. Its like reading scripture over again that we have read before. We need to not only enlighten ourselves with His wisdom, but also maintain it. And if we take it for granted that's usually when we fall.
I think that recentering ourselves will be ever so important for us all this year. 2009 will be a year of serious economic challenges for not only our country but throughout the world. Can we trust Him with our doubts and fears?
Some things to ponder...
Do you have a roof over your head? A bed to sleep on?
Is your neighborhood relatively safe?
Do you have food in your home? If not do you have access to buy it convieniently if you need to from a grocery store?
Can you worship your God freely without the threat of harm coming to you from your government or neighbors?
Are your children given the opportunity and access for public education?
Does your community have hospitals and health clinics with sterile instruments and modern equipment with competent doctors?
Are you able to work for an employer with reasonable employee rights under proper working conditions for a fair wage?
These are just some things to think about, but the truth is that most of us are so blessed to not be living in conditions that exist in certain parts of the world. So I welcome 2009 in with you. May the Lord bless us all and keep us all under His wing. Let us be thankful for all that He has done. And let us prayerfully ask for help where needed.
That should help last me a little while until I need to remind myself again. :)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Roby Duke
It's been over a year since Roby Duke passed on to the other side...found a neat video of him tonight
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Mw8A5B-gs
Rest easy in Jesus' arms brother.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7Mw8A5B-gs
Rest easy in Jesus' arms brother.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
150 Dots - Higher Definition
Today I came across this fabulous quote from painter Chuck Close -
"I discovered about 150 dots is the minimum number of dots to make a specific recognizable person. You can make something that looks like a head, with fewer dots, but you won't be able to give much information about who it is. " - Chuck Close
If you've ever seen Chuck's work in real life you know how truly stunning it can be. To stand 20 meters from a Chuck Close painting will amaze you, but to stand 6 inches from it will drive you to truly ponder the astounding depth of his gifting and how he translates it onto canvas. His work is largely composed of smaller "dots" or other types of minor markings, that at a distance blend into a tapestry of amazing detail and accuracy in representation of his subjects. If you've never stood before one, stop what you are doing immediately and drive to the closest museum that features one to check it out. (and trust me, pictures of his work online just cannot compare to standing before the real deal!)
Anyways, this quote made me immediately ponder each of us and those we encounter in life. How many times we think we truly know someone and yet we don't really know much about them at all. Or vice versa. Sometimes we can grow up in a parent/child relationship and still not know one another, or maybe we do or have lived with a spouse that we don't really intimately know. Sometimes folks we feel are friends are really not as close as we might think. Or others may be far more devoted than we even imagine. Sometimes we can realize that our impressions of people are completely wrong, built on assumptions, past experiences, hopes, fears, expectations (realistic or unrealistic), ignorance, guilt, shame, love, lust, desperation, you name it. We sometimes see each other in less than the 150 dots. Vague, blurry images of one another that we tell ourselves are accurate. Sometimes we choose to distance ourselves from others. The safety in not really being intimately known keeps us from possibly experiencing pain or risking vulnerability. Like a Chuck Close painting, when seen from up close we may not be as attractive as from far away. We may be far rougher and less polished. Less the perfect tapestry that others perceive when they don't know us well.
I have high-definition television at home. It's interesting because I get many of the same channels in both regular television and high-definition. I sometimes like to flip between the two. It's interesting to see the same news anchor in the soft blurry halo of regular TV and then in the crispness of high-def, where every wrinkle, freckle, scar and beauty mark shows. I imagine some of these anchors wish they weren't seen in such detail. We are after all, most of us, interested in some respect as to how others see us. But you know what? I still prefer the high-definition. I prefer seeing the real and the true nature of things, warts and all. I think we all do. Because that's what we relate to.
I think of the "higher-definition" that God must see us in. The omnipotent, omnipresent God, who knows every thought, every heartbeat, every hair on our head. Every tear that we cry. Every wrong we have done. Every good deed we have endeavored to do. He reads our mind, knows our heart, witnesses our deeds and foresees our future. The depth of His knowledge of us is incomprehensible to me. And most amazing of all, yet He chose us before we chose Him.
Have you ever seen the difference in quality of early photographs of the universe from the ones we are capable of taking now? We can now take bright, vibrant, sharp pictures of planets at the edge of our galazy, and we've even recently had our first glimpses of planets in a galaxy outside our own. Compare that to the grainy black and white images of the late fifties in which planets are hardly decipherable. My how far we have come in such a short time! And the more we discover, the more we realize that we do not know.
Now imagine the depths of the one that formed the Universe. How amazing that we understand virtually nothing of His creation, let alone Himself. And to think that one day we will see Him and know Him so much more clearly. How stunning that will be!
Scripture says, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. " I Corinthians 13:12
I'm not sure about you, but I'm waiting for a Higher-Definition experience!
"I discovered about 150 dots is the minimum number of dots to make a specific recognizable person. You can make something that looks like a head, with fewer dots, but you won't be able to give much information about who it is. " - Chuck Close
If you've ever seen Chuck's work in real life you know how truly stunning it can be. To stand 20 meters from a Chuck Close painting will amaze you, but to stand 6 inches from it will drive you to truly ponder the astounding depth of his gifting and how he translates it onto canvas. His work is largely composed of smaller "dots" or other types of minor markings, that at a distance blend into a tapestry of amazing detail and accuracy in representation of his subjects. If you've never stood before one, stop what you are doing immediately and drive to the closest museum that features one to check it out. (and trust me, pictures of his work online just cannot compare to standing before the real deal!)
Anyways, this quote made me immediately ponder each of us and those we encounter in life. How many times we think we truly know someone and yet we don't really know much about them at all. Or vice versa. Sometimes we can grow up in a parent/child relationship and still not know one another, or maybe we do or have lived with a spouse that we don't really intimately know. Sometimes folks we feel are friends are really not as close as we might think. Or others may be far more devoted than we even imagine. Sometimes we can realize that our impressions of people are completely wrong, built on assumptions, past experiences, hopes, fears, expectations (realistic or unrealistic), ignorance, guilt, shame, love, lust, desperation, you name it. We sometimes see each other in less than the 150 dots. Vague, blurry images of one another that we tell ourselves are accurate. Sometimes we choose to distance ourselves from others. The safety in not really being intimately known keeps us from possibly experiencing pain or risking vulnerability. Like a Chuck Close painting, when seen from up close we may not be as attractive as from far away. We may be far rougher and less polished. Less the perfect tapestry that others perceive when they don't know us well.
I have high-definition television at home. It's interesting because I get many of the same channels in both regular television and high-definition. I sometimes like to flip between the two. It's interesting to see the same news anchor in the soft blurry halo of regular TV and then in the crispness of high-def, where every wrinkle, freckle, scar and beauty mark shows. I imagine some of these anchors wish they weren't seen in such detail. We are after all, most of us, interested in some respect as to how others see us. But you know what? I still prefer the high-definition. I prefer seeing the real and the true nature of things, warts and all. I think we all do. Because that's what we relate to.
I think of the "higher-definition" that God must see us in. The omnipotent, omnipresent God, who knows every thought, every heartbeat, every hair on our head. Every tear that we cry. Every wrong we have done. Every good deed we have endeavored to do. He reads our mind, knows our heart, witnesses our deeds and foresees our future. The depth of His knowledge of us is incomprehensible to me. And most amazing of all, yet He chose us before we chose Him.
Have you ever seen the difference in quality of early photographs of the universe from the ones we are capable of taking now? We can now take bright, vibrant, sharp pictures of planets at the edge of our galazy, and we've even recently had our first glimpses of planets in a galaxy outside our own. Compare that to the grainy black and white images of the late fifties in which planets are hardly decipherable. My how far we have come in such a short time! And the more we discover, the more we realize that we do not know.
Now imagine the depths of the one that formed the Universe. How amazing that we understand virtually nothing of His creation, let alone Himself. And to think that one day we will see Him and know Him so much more clearly. How stunning that will be!
Scripture says, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. " I Corinthians 13:12
I'm not sure about you, but I'm waiting for a Higher-Definition experience!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Change
Here we are post our recent historic election of the first African-American President in our nation's history. My intention in this post is not to indicate which way I voted, due to the fact that I think each candidate and their respective running mates had pros and cons, and that most intelligent and experienced voters are usually selecting the lesser of two evils in whomever they select. However I think one thing is clear, the public is craving change. Voters that I talk to are largely apathetic. They have heard it all before, they have seen politicians talk one way to get their vote and then do their best to forget whom they are representing once in office. Many people told me that they were not going to vote at all. And although most Americans are in dire financial straits and media projections anticipated one of the highest voter turnouts in modern history, it turned out to really just be a typical election in terms of turnout. And although the numbers appear greatly stacked in the victor's favor due to the electoral college system, in the popular vote it was actually far closer than I think many expected.
I'm sure that you are as concerned as me. Every day the news appears to be getting worse and worse. They are talking about possibly bailing out the car companies now (who have been in trouble for years). Just another casualty in a long line of troubled industries (banks, housing, airline, trucking, fuel, etc.). Every day I hear of another large company closing or greatly reducing it's workforce. I live in California where Arnold Schwarzenegger is raising taxes through the roof on us, and the astonishing thing is people are voting for many of these increases. Unemployment is nearly 10% in my county and home prices have fallen in half over the last few years. We are in the epicenter of the home mortgage crisis with a massive number of foreclosures, which are projected to continue for at least another year. Our country now has a high school dropout rate of approx. 25%. Staggering. We spend more money on education than anyone else and our students are failing at appalling rates. Personal freedoms and privacy's are being removed, restricted or are in jeopardy. Religious freedom may someday become a thing of the past, with Churches relegated to glorified community organizations. I keep hearing how crime is supposedly going down, but it seems like every week now I hear horrific stories that we have now become so accustomed to hearing that nothing shocks us anymore. This great nation is a shadow of it's former self.
So I look to my television screen and see a man who appears to be interested in bringing us all change. I see throngs of people crying their eyes out and believing that he will surely save us from ourselves. I hope they are right. However I know the problems that we are entrenched in are far too deep for a great orator to rescue us from. Will there be substance to the change he promises? Will he bring us more than simply inspiring speeches? Lord knows we have had far too many years of politicians that could sweet talk us. Like the thrice-divorced woman who has repeatedly picked lousy men to wed, we have matured and know what we need in a President (man). We need real change. Regardless of political affiliation, please join me in prayer that it will come.
I'm sure that you are as concerned as me. Every day the news appears to be getting worse and worse. They are talking about possibly bailing out the car companies now (who have been in trouble for years). Just another casualty in a long line of troubled industries (banks, housing, airline, trucking, fuel, etc.). Every day I hear of another large company closing or greatly reducing it's workforce. I live in California where Arnold Schwarzenegger is raising taxes through the roof on us, and the astonishing thing is people are voting for many of these increases. Unemployment is nearly 10% in my county and home prices have fallen in half over the last few years. We are in the epicenter of the home mortgage crisis with a massive number of foreclosures, which are projected to continue for at least another year. Our country now has a high school dropout rate of approx. 25%. Staggering. We spend more money on education than anyone else and our students are failing at appalling rates. Personal freedoms and privacy's are being removed, restricted or are in jeopardy. Religious freedom may someday become a thing of the past, with Churches relegated to glorified community organizations. I keep hearing how crime is supposedly going down, but it seems like every week now I hear horrific stories that we have now become so accustomed to hearing that nothing shocks us anymore. This great nation is a shadow of it's former self.
So I look to my television screen and see a man who appears to be interested in bringing us all change. I see throngs of people crying their eyes out and believing that he will surely save us from ourselves. I hope they are right. However I know the problems that we are entrenched in are far too deep for a great orator to rescue us from. Will there be substance to the change he promises? Will he bring us more than simply inspiring speeches? Lord knows we have had far too many years of politicians that could sweet talk us. Like the thrice-divorced woman who has repeatedly picked lousy men to wed, we have matured and know what we need in a President (man). We need real change. Regardless of political affiliation, please join me in prayer that it will come.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Free Dr. Pepper for every man woman and child!
I like a company with style and class! Evidently Dr. Pepper was so skeptical of the long-awaited Guns and Roses album ever coming out that they promised a free Dr. Pepper to every man woman and child in this country if it came out before the end of 2008. Well it looks like the album will drop on November 23rd, and Dr. Pepper is stepping up to the plate and fulfilling it's promise. Very cool! A soft drink company with style and integrity! Too cool!
Now I feel even better about my addiction to it. So when you see me on TV one day in Dr. Pepper rehab you will know that at least I chose the drink of a truly top-notch outfit. You go with your bad self Dr. Pepper!!!!!!
http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/10/22/guns-n-roses-bring-a-free-dr-pepper-to-all-americans-heres-how-to-get-yours/
Now I feel even better about my addiction to it. So when you see me on TV one day in Dr. Pepper rehab you will know that at least I chose the drink of a truly top-notch outfit. You go with your bad self Dr. Pepper!!!!!!
http://newsroom.mtv.com/2008/10/22/guns-n-roses-bring-a-free-dr-pepper-to-all-americans-heres-how-to-get-yours/
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