The Break of Dawn

You might not know but we have 5 dogs in our family. Yes, when I say family, they are all inside dogs and they hang out with us, even sleep with us. Needless to say I think they rule the roost or they call the shots.

It seems like around 2:30 or 3:00 in the morning they have to go outside to the bathroom. Our backyard is awesome at night, the position of the stars in the sky will suck you into the heavens. As the morning comes, the dogs usually get moving around about 6:00, and that is what I want to talk about today.

Around 6:00 is the Break of Dawn, and when I let the dogs out again it is a beautiful blend of night and day. When you walk outside my back door we have an in-ground pool and it is landscaped like a resort pool, but that just gives us a place to relax and start. We also have a pasture (not ours - our neighbors) of about 16 acres that is surrounded by trees which is the home to many birds and even a few deer.Our property is elevated a little so we can see for quite a distance.

This week, the blend of the moon still in the sky, the sunrise coming up over the pasture, the cool crisp air and the fog that is nestled just a few feet off the ground has given me a chance to reflect on the greatness of God and the true beauty of His creation. Yes, creation we have not evolved from a tadpole, we and everything on earth was created like a masterpiece painting by the one who is above all else. God's signature is all over the place, especially the "Break of Dawn", I have enjoyed gazing into the Artist's work this past week. He even created a symphony to go along with it, as the birds and all creatures come to life each day it is a beautiful thing to experience.

So, I would like to encourage you to look for the masterpiece entitled "Break of Dawn" in a backyard close to you. It is a life changing work of art by an artist many have heard of but few know and love.

Life's Comfort Foods

I thought I might lighten the discussion today. We all live very busy and time depraved lives these days. There are days where our schedules just do not alow for a good meal at home or we get home late and just do not feel like cooking, so what is your food of choice when things are limited due to time, schedules or just exhaustion?

One of my comfort foods are a couple of Peanut Butter ( Jiff or Skippy - Creamy ) and Jelly ( Welch's Grape Jelly ) sandwiches and a big glass of cold Milk. I have been eating these things as long as I can remember. Just ask my Mom, Paula or Andrew.

When I am really tired and do not feel like a PB & J, I go for a big bowl ( not a regular bowl ) but a big bowl of Wheaties. Maybe I still dream about being an Olympic or Sports Champion and being on the box one day. I still want to make a difference in people's lives, maybe it started as a kid - to be the guy that people look up to, respect and want to be like.

OK. let's get down to the real deal and cut through all the hype......we all like ice cream, you know you do, it might be you haven't enjoyed a good ice cream in awhile but think about it. When you were younger, did you get a treat every now and then of ice cream? It could have been the Ice Cream man that came around the neighborhood or going to the Ice Cream Parlor or Dairy Queen. We all should have a fond memory of ice cream.

I have found that - Blue Bunny Cookies and Cream really satisfies me at this stage in life. Just between you and me, it is usually after 8:30pm at night.

Life is short, enjoy it!

Slavery

Over the past few hours since I first blogged, (I hope you enjoy reading my thoughts) I have been thinking about slavery. Slavery not the way we probably first imagine it, but slavery in today's time and our generation. What are you enslaved too? Could it be your job, your house, cars, boats.......the debt you have built up over your lifetime. Could it be you are bound up by the thought that you are never pretty enough, your self esteem is low; you are enslaved by doubt and lack of confidence. It could be your weight, which goes hand in hand with the lack of self confidence. What is holding you back from being all that God wants you to be?

Are you a slave to the computer? ( Ouch that hurt, didn't it....) Do you spend every waking hour in slavery to the Internet and what it has in store for you. Slavery is being controlled by something or someone that has dominion over your life. In the Bible, it could also be said that it is an idol, God's commandments state: You should have no other God's (idols, masters, dominion) above Me. Have you gotten off track with God's perfect will for your life? Think about this - What would you do if time and money were not a problem? What would you do if you only had 30 days to live? How and what would you change in your daily routine?

I know I have many times in my life and I have to regroup and get back focused on what is truly important. You might be enslaved to alcohol, drugs, pornography, gambling, over-eating, or even just being lazy. I would encourage you to break free from the chains that enslave you. Make the decision today to start fresh, today is the first day of the rest of your life. It is bright, beautiful and the world is your playground.

Go swing on a swing, rock on a teeter-totter, talk a walk, hold hands, fly a kite, ride a bike........look for the birds, squirrels and the little things that are so important in God's creation. These things seem to get lost in the speed our lives are travelling these days. It is never too late to begin again.

So, shut the computer down, if you have a convertible take the top down, sun roof - slide it back and turn up the ipod or radio - let the wind blow thru your hair and the sounds of U2 "Beautiful Day" penetrate your soul.

Hope and freedom is found not in the things of this world, the bible says you must be in the world but not of the world. I believe the starting point to break out of the things that have you enslaved; is starting or restarting a relationship with the God that created you, thru His son - Jesus. Jesus said " I come to give LIFE and give it abundantly. Are you living an abundant life currently? If not........seek the one that created you and sent his son to die for you.

I pray that today is a new beginning for you and that you have a "Beautiful Day!"

Monday's

I would like to welcome you to my blog and my very first entry. Why is it that Monday's take on a totally different feeling than say a Friday or Saturday? For me maybe it is just today or it might be most Monday's it is really hard to get motivated to start back to work. Is it because I would rather be doing something else or maybe I would rather spend my time at this point in my life with the ones I just left behind this past weekend. I reflect back on what is important in my life now versus the past and I find myself, missing my beautiful wife Paula who has been by my side for over 22 years. I wonder what my son - Andrew is doing at school and ponder what the world will be like when he is in high school, when he goes to college or even when he gets married. I wonder about my Mom and Dad, how much more time will God grant me with them. I love them very much. I tell them that often but I wonder if they really know how deep it is.

I have chased after corporate dreams and political dreams, I still have them but I ponder what is my legacy going to be. I want to make a difference in people's lives. I am a very passionate person and believe we need to get back to the traditions and belief this great country was founded upon......God, Family, Country......united not divided. I wonder when the divide became so noticeable? Do you think we can ever get back to what is truly important or will they just be memories in a scrap-book or a web page.

What do you dream about? What do you cry about? Let's make a difference in the world today. Take a step towards your dream, your passion, your purpose in life.

Monday is not over yet.