My Cat Thinks I'm a Chair

One of the reasons I love this cat, is he likes to be on top of things... LITERALLY!

"Yes, human, you are my throne... get used to it."

I was talking to Chris and working on a computer problem, and my cat decided it needed to lounge upon me... Ahhh where would we be without animals in our lives? I love him!

For some reason, he likes to sit his bum on your head...

Like a leopard, he likes to dangle his paws on either side of you!

"As We Forgive" - A movie you should try to see...

I saw one of the most amazing films last night. It's called "As We Forgive." It's about the genocide in Rwanda that took place in the early 90s. For those of you not familiar with that massacre, or if you've heard about it and don't know what it was all about, I'd like to share some things with you.

As many of you know, I was in the Air Force Intelligence Directorate at Scott AFB, Illinois. I wasn't a dedicated intelligence resource however, but I made briefings which outlined the infrastructure status in countries we may need to move troops or supplies in to. I briefed the four-star general there every week about the roads, railroads, power, natural gas, airports etc. that a certain country possessed which would support our various ships, and aircraft. One of the reasons I opted to leave the Air Force was because of the genocide in Rwanda. I remember everyday having to be subject to CIA and the NSA's briefings on how many people were killed everyday, and of course, we were made to look at all the horrid pictures and video clips of people butchering eachother with machettes, axes, hammers, or even heavy clubs. It was brutal. I was completely losing my faith in man-kind. How could you be so calloused as to hack someone to death with a machette, regardless of sex or age.

Rwanda is in the heart of Africa

The crux of the issuse was this - there are two predominant people groups in Rwanda - the Hutus and the Tutsi tribes. The Hutus had traditionally been the farmers, the laborers and the lower class. They were darker skinned, more heavily lipped, nostrilled, and eyebrowed. Whereas, the Tutsis had lighter skin, finer features, with more of an asian cast to their features, and had traditionally been the ruling class, and had little but contempt for the Hutus. Initially, these two peoples had lived next door to each other for generations, and had many cross-marriages, and relationships. Then suddenly the Hutus were incited to revolt, and initiated the worst barbaric genocide I've ever seen. "Official" reports say that 800,000 Tutsis died, and half again as many Hutus. Over a million people were ruthlessly butchered in the most barbaric way.

Some skulls of the victims of this genocide

Now, here's the most amazing part. The majority of people in Rwanda - on both sides of the argument, are all CHRISTIANS! When all the murderes were rounded up and imprisioned, the jails could not hold them any longer, and so the president of Rwanda released all of the attackers who had confessed their crimes and expressed remourse and sorrow. This shocked the country. Buth then, the miracle happened. The church got actively involved with the process of forgiveness and reconciliation, and have created an atmosphere of peace, cooperation, love and forgiveness that is unparallelled in our history. The country is at peace. The Hutus and the Tutsis are once again living in harmony, and the movie shows how the murderes of families have been reconciled to their victims surviving families, and are spending their lives showing them how sorry they are for their crimes. The Tutsis on the other hand, have had to forgive and accept the Hutus pleas for forgiveness.

I sat there completely stunned at what I watched. One example was of a man who murdered the father, mother, and siblings of one woman's family, literally leaving her alone in the world. The show followed his confession, and his asking to be forgiven, and how hard it was for the gal to accept it. She was angry... But she said that she kept praying that the Lord would teach her to love and forgive this man who had brutally murdered her ENTIRE family. Now the man has built her a house, and is helping her with her farming, and has made sure that she is never in want. They openly love eachother, and give the praise to the Lord for their reconciliation.

The amazing part of it all is that the president of the country said flat out that had they not all trusted in the mercy and grace of the Lord to get them through this time, the country would still be divided. The whole show basically was one long documentary on REAL CHRISTIANITY. How many of us in this country could find it in ourselves, or have even been exposed to this kind of radical forgiveness... how many of us could do it? I don't believe I could. I was moved to tears to see the extend of God's healing power and the power of forgiveness.

I HIGHLY recommend you find a way to watch this show. I saw it on channel 115 on cable - PBS's "WORLD" channel... look and see if it may be broadcast again... it is ABSOLUTELY WORTH seeing more than once!

You can find the website here.

Check it out if you can!

I've just had a brush with eternity!

Dramatic title, huh?

What I'm talking about though, is the wonderful Father's Day gift I received from my beloved and my youngest, Zach! They blessed me with two months of oil-painting lessons from one of Utah's best artists - She is currently painting all the portraits of the Federal Judges in Utah!

Anyway, I've always wanted to paint in oils! I've painted a lot in watercolors, and done a lot of digital stuff, but always dreamed of learning to paint in oils. So, the first night was great. Our assignment was to paint a tree. We were shown many different styles of trees done by other artists to get ideas, and then we were cut loose!

I had to laugh while I was doing this... I was imagining Bob Rosse (sp?) putting a "happy little branch here, and maybe his little friend goes there..." and realized I was doing the same thing. I suddenly became very self-conscious and reflected on how I was acting... I peeked around the class and was relieved to see there were other "Rosse-ites" in the class as many of them appeared to be putting their "happy little something or others" here and there, and following it up with a "lovely puffy cloud" swish, followed by a self-approving little nod. I WAS NOT ALONE! I finished my tree... with some embellishments, and had time to brush in an awesome background on a new canvas for next week's class... it's a wonderful gradation in red... and the brush strokes that make oils so wonderful, are fascinating to me... any way, I gush...

Anyway, I thought, if for no other reason than my own self-amusement and interest, that I would post my assignments here, and hope for feedback? And to record any improvements... IF they come! Check them out!

Red fade brush stroke details

Assignment #1: Paint a tree... It turned out to be an old oak with Spanish moss...

Another view of the red fade and brush strokes

Detail of the tree... No, they're not fence posts...

Tree painting shown from a distance for perspective

A very fast test painting in Corel Painter X - first time using the Bamboo Wacom Tab

Going forward, I hope I can resist the urge to remove my ear!

Van Gogh's Starry Night

My Father's Day this year was amazing. My beloved and my youngest son got together and purchased two months of oil painting classes for me! They start tomorrow! I have always wanted to paint in oils, but never had the money or the self-confidence to pick it up and try. I've always worked in watercolors - they make more sense to me, but with oils you can do so much more!

I have dreamed about oil painting, and now I'm going to have the chance to learn how. Something inside of me tells me that I'm going to really like it, and that it will make sense to me, and that I'll keep painting for life.

Thank you so much family for your love and your thoughtfulness! I won't let you down!

Now, where did I put that 10W-30? Let's get painting!

Guess what?! The Well is STILL full of LIVING WATER!

You know, there are just times when you have to "man-up" and call it like it is... and in the spirit of doing so, I have a confession: I have neglected to gather together with the saints - "...let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near..." (Heb. 10:25) My reasons for doing so are my own, and believe me, they're as lame as you assume them to be - but today, I took that first step to put aside my flesh, and my feelings, and my dislikes, and my fear, and I went to church.

City Church is a new little church meeting in a strip mall. They've done a great job with their space, and the worship is awesome. It allows for reverent soul-searching moments, as well as the fist-pumping excitement that comes from knowing you're redeemed. It's only the second time I've gone there - the first being with Guy Adams, one of my best friends - and today they had a guest speaker. Was it perfect? Was it everything I hoped it would be to supernaturally drag me back into the presence of the King? Well, no - but it was good. And I learned some things, and most importantly, God met me there - and laid His Word on my heart... and I came away more in His presence than I have been in some time.

Why now? Why did I choose to do this today? Well, the answer to that is two-fold. First, I've been blessed to be able to write a column for Examiner.com - covering the Christian scene in Salt Lake City - I'm the Salt Lake Christianity Examiner. Now you tell me... how effective do you think I'll be in that position if I'm not plugged into the body of believers in Salt Lake? Not very effective at all.

Second, the reason I chose now, is I'm tired of using all my past hurts and disappointments as an excuse to exclude corporate worship from my agenda. It's true, I love being anonymous at City Church... little or no baggage comes with sitting there listening to the pastor - but if the truth is to be known, I love Jesus Christ. I'm a believer. I'm saved by the blood of the Lamb, and my name is written in the Lamb's book of Life... this I know. So today for me was more than just covering a beat... it was reconnecting in a public way with the Savior of the world - who died for me. Hebrews 12:1-4 says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin." Yes, after all, I haven't yet given my life in my struggle against sin. And in spite of all of this, I can go to the well, and still receive living water!

I'm NOT saying I'm wonderful, or that I deserve some kind of praise for getting off my spiritual duff and giving my Lord His due in my life. I'm confessing my sin and my lack of endurance, and sharing this one small victory I had in the Lord. I'll be blunt. Today's service wasn't a memorable one - one that will live in my heart as a "most impacting spiritual experience ever!" Factually, I'll likely forget everything in due time - but what all of this signifies is a step in obedience to Him - who has done so very much for me.

Yes, it's a journey - and I'm not alone. Come Lord Jesus, Come!

I have fear... and I get what it means...

Well, today's the big day. I have an interview with a wonderful international company called "The Waterford Group." The position is for an instructional designer. I can do the job - no doubt about it, but it's a little frightening to be going to an interview. I've had very FEW interviews in my life - having been fortunate enough to be able to go from one position to another through my network, or by word of mouth, or by popular demand. So yes, I'm scared.

This is how I'm feeling inside...

I am trying not to give into fear. But if I can be so honest and straight forward with you, it just seems that it's all too good... that things are coming together for me... and I don't want to jinx it. I don't even believe in things being jinxed, but being an avid baseball fan, I know better than to disrespect the streak. I am qualified. I can do the job. I trust that God has his plans for me... that they're good plans... that He isn't out to keep me down, hurting and unemployed.

Speaking of God... every time I start getting freaked out, I hear in the back of my head, "You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, for he trusts you." (Isaiah 26:3) I guess this is called stepping out in faith... I'll let you know how that works out!

Thank you Linz for helping me make this happen. Thank you Chris for your words of encouragement. Thanks Rob and Guy for your prayers. Thanks all of you for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. Most of all, thank you God. There's too much to say thank you for Lord, but I know you know what I mean.

It's a journey!

I've got a writing gig I'm excited about!

I recently was accepted as the new Salt Lake Christianity Examiner for Examiner.com! I am really excited about the opportunities it will afford me within the local Christian community, and amongst those I fellowship with and love.

You can view the Salt Lake Examiner by simply typing in "www.examiner.com" and Examiner will automatically load the closest city to you. You'll be able to find my articles and my homepage on their site here.

I'm contracted to write three or four articles a week, and those of you who know me, and would like to offer a suggestion for a story, please let me know!

I'm excited... and I'm looking forward to the future!

Where to begin with all that's happened?

Ahhhh - The Breakfast of Champions!

I've been horribly lax in keeping up this blog, as well as keeping up my personal journal, and in keeping in touch with my loved ones and friends. I can't, nor will I post an excuse - I really don't have one other than those you've heard a thousand times before.

So - let's catch up, shall we?

My last post about a fatty liver wasn't well received by a lot of people. I sort of sprung it on everyone, and just let it sit. I didn't call anyone to tell them about it, and I didn't go beyond that post much because so much is up in the air. Update on the fatty liver - I'm going in on the 11th of May to see the liver specialist up at the VA and possibly have a biopsy done. I'll know more then. I do know that this certainly signals the start of a new life of diet and exercise. The good news is that Chris wants to do this together, so that will be more helpful.

Where am I now? Well, I've been flaring with the wave-like pattern of stormy weather we've been having, which has quite nicely done two things to me: First, it's caused me to have to take more meds that I like, resulting in excessive fatigue, and irritability. Second, it's made me even more determined to get to the bottom of my diagnosis, and get on track to getting my life back.

OK - here's the new stuff: The doctors at the VA have taken extensive x-rays, performed a CAT scan, and an MRI of by spine and lumbar, and hips and pelvis. From all appearances, they have concluded that aside from some arthritis is my back, it would seem I am AS free. This is awesome! But at the same time, it's disconcerting, because AS seemed to explain the pain, stiffness, energy loss etc. The latest shot in the dark is going to follow a two fold track - first, they're going to begin MEGA doses of vitamin D - of which I have a severe deficiency. Apparently, a severe Vit D deficiency can cause your bones to lose calcium - well, my body can't absorb calcium from my food etc, so it's been robbing my bones for it. The doctor said this could account for the extreme bone and joint pain. In addition, they've told me that the initial sarcoidosis attack that started all of this SEVEN YEARS AGO, likely caused my body to develop a case of Fibromyalgia (FM). So, they plan to treat the bone loss, and Vit D. deficiency, and attack the FM with some of the latest meds they've come out with.

Now, many of you will ask, "Why haven't you said anything about this!? This is exciting!?" Well, I know it sounds corny, but I didn't want to believe it could be so easy. After all these years and tests, for it to come down to a vitamin deficiency and FM, just seemed to miraculous. And frankly, I didn't want to jinx things by saying this is what it is. Unless you've been here, you may not understand that one... Frankly, I'm having a hard time believing it too. I'll have to see how I feel after the mega vitamin D gets here and I start down that path. It's almost too much to hope for that I could again lead a normal life - mostly free of pain, and fatigue! It's just almost too much to even hope for!

So - the fatty liver may or may not be a problem. It could be controlled through diet and exercise, or, it could be controlled by dropping some of the many medications I hopefully won't need in the near future. I can't imagine how hard my liver must be working to process all the narcotics and chemicals in my system... ugh! The doctor said that some people live all their lives with a fatty liver and it never harms them. Hopefully, we've caught this in time and there's no lasting damage!

There you go. You're caught up. To those I've hurt by being so unavailable, I offer my sincere apologies. This is what happens when you're living my life and taking my journey. Thanks for being patient. Below is an apology recorded just for you!

A Fatty liver? - WHAT THE HELL?

I came back from the Doctor yesterday, and without putting much thought into it, I vented on Facebook, and ended up freaking a whole lot of people out... The doc was concerned about the high liver count I had, and while I'm free of Hep C or Hep B, it turns out that I have a "fatty liver" which, according to the doctor, isn't good. I'm being seen by the liver specialists up at the VA - don't know when yet, they have to call me.

While doing some reading on the whole mess, of course there is the OMG, the world is coming to an end, scenario, and just as interesting, it could completely resolve itself with changes in diet, and exercise, and avoiding alcohol - which I pretty much do already.

Being that I don't drink to speak of, the doctor asked if I had been a heavy drinker in the past. I told him of when I was stationed in Iceland, and how of the 365 days I was up there, I drank to intoxication almost every one of those days - but when I came home, I literally just stopped. I asked if that could have done this, and he said he didn't know. I asked if this could be the result of my liver trying to process all the damn chemicals I have to take every day, and he said it very well could be the reason... in other words, it's entirely possible that the meds I'm taking to give me a somewhat quality of life, could be killing my liver, and hastening the inevitable.

I've had time to digest it a little bit, and while I'm not dispairing of life, I am pissed. I am SO SICK of this shit. I want to scream. I am really really sick of this bullshit. I'm pissed. There it is.

I don't have much more to share regarding the Dx, as they haven't told me anything definitive, but the doc showed me my liver on my CAT scan and my MRI, and what should be a dark mass, looks likght grey, with lots of spots through it... If left unchecked, it can cause scarring and eventual cirrhosis of the liver - where so much scar tissue is present, that the liver cannot function any longer - possibly requiring a transplant. The Doc's exact words when he was looking at my liver in the images was, "Hmmm that's not good."

So, while I'm not dead yet, my body systems seem to be failing me. I'm having a very hard time seeing the glass half full right now.

The symptom is called NAFLD - or Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, or "NAFLD" - the danger being that it could turn into "NASH" - Non Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis. Here are some details:

"NAFLD refers to a group of conditions where there is accumulation of excess fat in the liver of people who drink little or no alcohol. The most common form of NAFLD is a non serious condition called fatty liver. In fatty liver, fat accumulates in the liver cells. Although having fat in the liver is not normal, by itself it probably does not damage the liver. A small group of people with NAFLD may have a more serious condition named non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In NASH, fat accumulation is associated with liver cell inflammation and different degrees of scarring. NASH is a potentially serious condition that may lead to severe liver scarring and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis occurs when the liver sustains substantial damage, and the liver cells are gradually replaced by scar tissue (see figure), which results in the inability of the liver to work properly. Some patients who develop cirrhosis may eventually require a liver transplant (surgery to remove the damaged liver and replace it with a “new” liver)."

A diagram showing the progression

A picture showing from L to R, normal liver, fatty liver, and cirrhosis liver

A really good website that explains this process very well can be found here: http://www.thelivercentre.com.au/development/fattyLiver/default.htm

So, in spite of the "Woe is me, the sky is falling" sound of this post, a fatty liver can resolve itself, and be absolutely harmless. - But on top of every other damn thing in my life right now, it wasn't welcome news... so there you have it - The REST of the story!

You know? It's safe to say that America is in a bad spot...

As I was "Stumbling" through the internet today, I happened across this article, and I've provided the link as well... If this is the sort of leaders we're going to for spiritual direction and truth in the modern Christian church, it's NO wonder this Nation is too proud to bend the knee, and humble themselves - They've been told they're ok the way they are. Sad.

This article can be found here: http://www.christianpost.com/.

Survey reveals majority of clergy in every mainline Protestant denomination do not believe in the inerrancy of the Bible

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A majority of clergy from mainline Protestant denominations are much more likely to identify as liberal than conservative, according to a new in-depth survey.

Almost half (48 percent) of all surveyed clergy from the seven largest mainline denominations say they are liberal while 34 percent identify as conservative. Also, 56 percent of mainline clergy identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party, compared to 34 percent of those who affiliate with the Republican Party, results from the Mainline Protestant Clergy Voices Survey (CVS) show.

The survey, released Friday, was conducted by Public Religion Research and is reported as the largest survey of mainline clergy in seven years and the broadest ever in scope. The research group, which studies the intersection of religion, values, and public policy, surveyed senior clergy from the United Methodist Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, American Baptist Churches USA, Presbyterian Church USA, Episcopal Church, United Church of Christ, and Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

With the exception of United Methodist and American Baptist clergy, a majority of clergy in every denomination identify as liberal. Clergy from United Church of Christ (74 percent) and the Episcopal Church (66 percent) are most likely to say they are liberal.

Dr. Robert P. Jones, president of Public Religion Research, noted that mainline Protestants have been moving slowly away from the GOP since the early 1990s and trending Democratic in recent years.

Although the report highlights that mainline Protestants constitute sizeable portions of each party's vote and have become a potential swing constituency in many states, they are also "arguably the most neglected of the major religious groups in the American religious landscape."

"Mainline Protestants are probably the most under-examined major religious group in the United States," Jones said in a statement.

According to the report, mainline Protestants are often overlooked because of significant membership losses since the 1960s as well as their lack of prominence in the public spotlight.

But the report stresses that they make up 18 percent of all Americans and remain a critical part of the American religious landscape.

In addition to political issues, the research firm surveyed mainline clergy on theological and social issues.

According to survey results, two-thirds of mainline clergy disagree that "the Bible is the inerrant word of God, both in matters of faith and in historic, geographical, and other secular matters." Only 29 percent of mainline clergy agree with the statement.

A majority of clergy in every denomination except the American Baptist Churches USA do not believe in the inerrancy of the Bible, with clergy from the Episcopal Church least likely to believe so.

When it comes to prioritizing political and social issues, mainline clergy are most likely to say social welfare issues are the most important issues facing the country that the church should address. Only 10 percent say cultural issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage are the most important national issues.

Notably, only 13 percent of mainline clergy say moral or church problems, such as membership loss, are the most important problems for the church to address. American Baptist and United Methodist clergy, meanwhile, report that moral or church problems are most important.

When citing possible causes of membership losses, 46 percent of mainline clergy disagree that mainline churches are declining because they are becoming theologically liberal; 38 percent agree. American Baptist clergy (51 percent) are the most likely mainline group to credit the decline to theological liberalism in the church while only 19 percent of UCC clergy agree.

The report also breaks the stereotype that mainline Protestants are more focused on social justice and sociopolitical action than individual morality and evangelism.

According to the survey, 69 percent of mainline clergy believe that religious communities should concentrate on fostering both social justice and individual morality. Only 19 percent say religious communities should focus more on social justice; 12 percent say they should concentrate more on individual morality.

Also, 51 percent of clergy say both sociopolitical action and evangelism are equally important. Thirty-nine percent say evangelism is more important and 10 percent say sociopolitical action is more important in the mission of the church.

Other findings:

• 51 percent of all mainline clergy support the legality of abortion in all or most cases
• 65 percent support either same-sex marriage or civil unions
• 54 percent do not support the teaching of creationism alongside evolution in public school biology classes
• 43 percent disagree that evolution is the best explanation for the origins of life on earth
• 78 percent agree that the federal government should do more to solve social problems
• 67 percent agree that government should guarantee health insurance for all citizens, even if it means raising taxes
• 65 percent agree that the U.S. should maintain a strict separation of church and state

The Mainline Protestant Clergy Voices Survey builds upon earlier studies of mainline clergy in 1989 and 2001.The sample was generated by obtaining a random sample of 1,000 senior clergy from each of the seven largest mainline Protestant denominations. The survey was mailed to clergy between March 3 and September 15, 2008. The final data was based on 2,658 respondents.

Too funny to resist...

I saw this online, and in that it's a running joke in our family, I couldn't help but put it here... Congratulations... You've been Rick Rolled!

Ahhh... it all makes sense now!

The other day was particularly painful for me... and I spent the majority of my day in pajamas and not far from the recliner or the bed. It had been in the mid 60's, and suddenly yesterday we awoke to this!:





Just a couple days before I'd remarked in my journal that March had come in like a lamb... the day I wrote that, we were in the low sixties... very spring like... beautiful! Then, the clouds rolled back in, and more snow came our way. It's supposed to do the same thing this weekend... and I have to say that my bones agree with that forecast!

So, if March came in like a lamb, and immediately turned into a lion, does that mean March will be mellow for the rest of the month, or does that mean that this is only a taste of things to come? Hmmm.

"Cottage cheese, Cottage cheese, ooohhhmmmm....

Or, "How some funky '70's style meditation and the sweet milky goodness of cottage cheese helped me through a difficult time."

Weird title, I know. When I was in high school a friend of mine told me about TM or Transcendental Meditation, and shared with me how the person used their own "mantra" and they could tune in... or something to that effect. He said that if you didn't have you're own mantra, that you could use the "universal mantra" (sort of like God's "1-800" number) "Ohm." I asked how you could get your own mantra, and he said you just come up with something. I've always been fairly sarcastic, so when he said that, I came back with, "So, if I twist myself like a pretzel, make the OK sign with my fingers, and repeat, "Cottage Cheese, Cottage Cheese, Cottage Cheese...." over and over again I'd reach Nirvana? (Hate the band, don't know why I'd want to go there!)... And, when he had stopped laughing, he said yes... pretty much.

"Straining for Nirvana!"

OK... so what does that have to do with anything? The price of rice in China? Llama's in Peru, or bagels in Tel-Aviv? Well, I'll tell you!

Since coming on-board with the VA for my medical care, they're really going the distance to properly diagnose my problems, and see if they can't put me back at 100%! I'm very happy about that! Anyway, in the course of doing this, they ordered an MRI of my hips, sacral vertebrae, and lower back." Well, I'd never been in an MRI machine, and I got a very broad range of stories about other folk's MRI's, and what I could expect. Everything from, "you better hope they knock your ass out, you'll lose your mind!" to "I felt like I was trapped and was going to die." to "the combination of claustrophobia and the loud noise made me crazy!" to "ah, just close your eyes and relax! Nothin' to it!"

The Human Sausage Stuffing Machine - AKA: M.R.I.

I had jokingly told a friend of mine that I was going to close my eyes, and simply pray the 23rd Psalm and the Lord's Prayer over and over again, and I was pretty certain I'd be OK. This friend accepted my plan with a modicum of uncertainty, but that's exactly how I survived my MRI! "They stuffed me in da machine like they was loadin' up a canoli, and commenced to examinizin' my insides." At that point, I simply closed my eyes (thanks Chris!) and began a steady slow breathing, and prayed the 23rd Psalm and the Lord's Prayer. Period.

This is a CANOLI - In case you were not aware. (HA HA! NOW YOU GET IT!)

My only complaint was that it started to get pretty hot inside the tube, and even though they had a fan blowing air down they length of it, it just got warmer and warmer. At one point I opened my eyes to see just how close I really was to the walls, and raised my thumb up only an inch or so and hit wall, so it was PLENTY tight. I decided that there was great wisdom in what my beloved had to say... "keep your eyes shut and relax..."

When I was done, I asked to see the images. I'd never had an MRI, I'd seen one, but not had one - anyway, I looked at all of the images and though I can't say for certain, it did look as though my sacral joints may have something going on (see image below, focus on circled area highlighted in blue) ... but I really can't say. I'll find out on Wed.

The Effected Area

The only other sensation to report was that on occasion, I would get these running little tickles of electricity along the areas closest to the machine wall. It was no worse than the little pads they put on you to stimulate the muscles at a chiropractor - but weird! So, a little discomfort, a tight little space, fingers in the "OK" position, and repeat after me, "Cottage Cheese, cottage cheese......"

This Picture Pretty Much Says it All

I've often believed in just such a scenario. Much like ancient Rome... it didn't need the Goths to destroy it; it had long since decayed on the inside.

The VERY BEST kind of Entry for a Blog!

We go together, like peas in a pod!

Today is our twenty-sixth wedding anniversary!

There is nothing I'd rather write about today than my love for Christine Mareah Davis Hunter! I am so very fortunate to have her. If you know us, you'll understand that statement. I have been given the greatest gift and blessing a man can ever hope for - a beautiful, gracious, lovely and hot sweetheart for life!

My favorite picture of Chris and I

The 25th anniversary is the Silver anniversary - and true to form, it didn't come off in our lives as being anything super special. Chris and I have always played our anniversary very low key for numerous reasons - we forget (Chris more than I believe it or not!), we're tired, we're always broke, or any other myriad of reasons... but not this year. I don't have money. I don't have an extravagant gift to give you - as much as I wish I did. But I have talent in writing. I have words in my heart. I have a venue where anyone in the world can pop on and see how much I love Chris! And Chris can know how proud of her and how wonderful she is in front of all mankind! OK, so it's not silver - so what! I want to focus on the next anniversary.

The next anniversary that gets a "material" assigned to it is the thirtieth, and that material is PEARL. Chris, I am looking forward to the Pearl anniversary because of it's lovely symbolism. A pearl begins typically as a grain of sand, or some other such irritant which gets lodged in the mantle of an oyster. It begins as a small, seemingly nothing speck of sand. Then, as the years progress, the irritation causes the oyster to slowly build up layer upon layer, the lustrous shining pearl. Our marriage is like that. We were one of many couples married that month, that year. And our lives together were very much like many other newlyweds. But there was something wonderful going on in ours... instead of throwing out the irritant at the first sign of struggle, we came together and built on our irritations and by doing so, we built up layer upon layer of beautiful, precious material that shines to our friends and family, and binds us together. I think they made the 30th anniversary a pearl for a reason - it shows determination, hard work, and viewing marital irritants as opportunities for growing together, rather than a source of destruction. If there was ever a jewel to describe our marriage, the pearl is it!

The oyster lives in dangerous waters where it is open to predators, pearl divers, storms and other potential disasters. In spite of all that is pounding away on marriage from the outside, like an oyster, good marriages have a husband and wife that will come together like the halves of an oyster, and protect the soft flesh of love and relationship inside, and especially the pearl signifying our growth and life together, deep inside. Marriage in this country has taken a beating - and if you look at the shell of any oyster, it's anything BUT beautiful. Living in rocky, surf beaten shoals has a way of doing that! And like a lot of people, many would look at the outside of an oyster, and seeing the course shell, the seaweed, and algae, would consider it worthless as an institution, and throw it callously aside - and never stop to consider the potential within.

Chris's and my marriage has been anything but idyllic. Sure, we've had wonderfully passionate moments, a few-fairy-tale like times, and our share of sunsets to enjoy with each other, but Ward and June Cleaver we ain't. Chris is one of six girls in a family of 9 kids. Those of us men fortunate enough to have snagged us a "Davis Woman" found out quick that we had one of the most bull-headed, stubborn, and down-right aggressive females the world had to offer on our hands! She is determined, stubborn, focused and driven. I found out early on that the sheer amount of effort it took to engage in a drawn out fight with Chris was too taxing, and gave up trying to win!

My little sister Lisa and Chris... They're much alike

Which isn't to say that Chris wears the pants in our family - quite the opposite... it's just that Chris doesn't like being told what to do... in fact, she's told me that the word, "NO" to her is much like waving a red cape in front of a bull. It's irresistible - she absolutely MUST do what she wants at this point simply to prove the point that, "ain't no man gonna tell me what I will and will not do. Uh uh - no way, no how, sistah!" (Add your own head bobbing, finger snappin, big eyes, and pursed lips - or look at the gal to the right to get the attitude!) So, I'm no dummy... I figured out how to please my wife - I rarely if EVER say "No" to her! But not why you think... and here's why - Chris is so considerate of me, of our situation, of our fiances etc, that she never asks me without first knowing every single detail of why, and if we can afford it, etc. etc. And I trust her that she has our best interests at heart, so I know it's alright, so I say yes. I trust her. I trust her as much as I love her.

Anyway - sorry for the ramblings here, and to finish the oyster/pearl thing... We've taken the obstacles in our life, and have come together to form something lasting, beautiful, and of great value and worth. I love you Chris!

I recently wrote a poem about how much I love Chris and posted it on PoemHunter on the web. A little old lady (named Mildred - come on... she HAS to be old!) wrote a comment on the poem saying I must do a lot of looking to see all this detail. It's simply called "Chris."

Chris

Simple grace found in a sweet round face;
Eyes that sparkle with mischief and joy;
Cheeks red with passionate blood, and a smile.
O, the smile which always steals away my breath and pain.

Belly laughs from a belly large with life and love;
Eyebrows making question marks as her eyes sparkle
with tears of joy. Her nostrils flare with mirth in a
way I can never imitate!

Hands that knit as easily as they pull weeds, or
make keepsakes for ones she loves. Hands that know
the art of compassion and loving touch - bringing assurance
and peace in a troubled, fisted world.

All are bound up and make up the heartbeat of my life.
The very presence of her makes my life take focus and
assume purpose. It's my luck that these eyes, hands and
softness love me back.

My Muse, and the Love of My Life!

I've also taken some time, being that this is our 26th Anniversary, to write down 26 things that I love about Chris. I could come up with lots more, but this is just a start... afterall, we have a lot more life to make even more!

26 reasons why I love Chris.

1. Chris is not afraid to be adventurous with fashion.(Her zebra shirt will live in infamy.)
2. Chris is not a gal that you can run over the top of. (I know there has to be a black woman inside her somewhere -- when she gets mad her head starts bobbing and attitude oozes out of her.)
3. Chris attracts people to her. I've never known anyone who people want to touch or be around more than Chris. (While we were doing Shiloh, I may have been the pastor, but Chris was the source of comfort for most people who came to church there).
4. Chris is an amazing mother. Everything from homeschooling to simply go for our children has been done with grace, determination, excellence and finesse. Our children have a tremendous example in their mother.
5. Chris is genuine and gentle. She has a tough exterior, and inside her heart is very gentle and very vulnerable. Too many times I have hurt her. I wish I could take it back now. With Chris, what you see is what you get, there is no pretense.
6. Chris is amazingly intelligent. For the longest time, she didn't think she was smart, but her grades in school show that she truly is a genius. Not only is she smart, but she's also intelligent. What I mean by that is, she has great common sense.
7. Chris is a genuine artist. While other people who engage in scrapbooking and crafts make it look like something that came out of a Mormon bazaar, Chris has a true flair and artistic ability that comes through in everything she does. All of her projects are of such quality that it's hard to believe she is not a professional.
8. Chris is a powerful woman. Chris has a very strong sense of who she is. She does not rely on other people for her own identity. She is strong. She is self-aware, and she is confident.
9. Chris has the rare quality of being beautiful inside and out. She thinks I'm joking when I call her my Venus, but I'm not. After all these years, she takes my breath away, and I cannot believe that I am fortunate enough to have her as my wife. Not only is she beautiful on the outside, but she's the most beautiful person I know on the inside. I honestly wish I could be more like her. The things that make her beautiful, are her gentleness, her sincerity and her humor. She is so attractive on so many levels it is very hard to articulate what makes her so beautiful. But she is, and I'm glad she's mine.
10. I love how Chris helps me to be a better man. Without her I would be a self-centered obnoxious jerk. Like I used to be. Being around Chris makes me want to be a better man.
11. I love how Chris is others centered. Chris has always put others before herself. She has shown me what it's like to love unconditionally.
12. I love that Chris knows how to use power tools. It seems a reversal of roles and it is. But I am glad she knows how to repair things. There are so many things that would be broken still today were it not for her skills.
13. I love the raccoon in Chris. I think it's hilarious that she loves shiny things, and how she spirits them away. It's a good thing she's not really a critter or she'd be stuck in a trap right now.
14. I love how Chris loves her family. No matter how they treat her she is always kind and gentle with them. When they need to have someone be strong with them, she is. Chris is a master of tough love. But it's never administered unfairly. She is very consistent with how she loves her family.
15. I love how Chris isn't like her family. Sometimes when I look at her, it's hard for me to believe that she is from the same family. When her family is acting like the Clampitt's, I just sit there and scratch my head, wondering where in the world Chris came from. (And thanking God at the same time!).
16. I love how unselfish Chris is. She is going to school now so that I don't have to work later on if my body won't let me. That is real sacrificial love. I wish I knew how to do that.
17. I love how Chris gets excited about what she's reading. I may not want to hear about microbiology, but when she's excited about it it's hard not to listen.
18. I love how Chris treats animals. When we first met Chris did not like dogs, she would pat them on the head and then go wash her hands. Now she can't live without them. Her dream is to own a ranch somewhere where she can have a hundred dogs. I love watching her with Zim and Bambi. As soon as her lap appears, so do they.
19. I love Chris's needlework and handiwork. Every time I come up the stairs and look at the Angel in the frame, I'm stunned.
20. I love Chris thinks about the future. I enjoy talking about seeing Venice and Rome. I love talking about seeing Europe together. I really hope and pray that someday will be able to do it.
21. I love Chris's sense of wonder. When we were on Guam and would snorkel, I could see the joy in her eyes. I remember sharing the beauty of nature together, and watching the sun set at Agana Beach.
22. I love how excited Chris gets over gadgets. From her very first microwave oven on Guam to all the little craft gadgets she has to have, she is definitely a gadget junkie. Between her power tools and her electronic gadgets, she truly is a 21st-century woman.
23. I love how Chris cries over shows like Extreme Home Makeover. Chris has an amazing heart. She's so tender and loving inside, that when she sees others' struggles, she's moved to compassion for them.
24. I love to watch Chris with her kids. Our kids are SO lucky. I hope they know that. They have - hands down, the best mother that ever graced the face of the earth. I've always been in awe of Chris and the fact that all of our kids - aged 25, 22, and 19 will all still climb into her lap and love on her. The kids will tell their mother anything... and know that she loves them just the same. Amazing.
25. I love how determined Chris is. Let me share with you how much Chris routinely has on her plate. College classes - her's and Zach's. Untold HOURS of intense study. Tutoring responsibilities. Teaching responsibilities at SLCC. Cleaning the house. Paying the bills and taking care of finances. Repairing things on the fly. Caring for others. Supporting our kids activities. Being a full time mother, wife, and companion. All of this but scratches the surface. But here's the amazing thing - she maintains a 4.0 GPA, the house, her kids, her schedules, her family... and nary breaks a sweat. I'm certain she has super hero underwear on every day!
26. I love that Chris loves me. There's nothing in the world as sweet as knowing someone loves you completely. Chris loves me completely. It causes me to tear up, and thank God that she is mine, that she is my blessing, she is the love of my life. There's nothing in this world that will ever take her place in my heart. She is my Venus. I love her!

My Family - and the kids who adore their Mom!

I could go on and on - and maybe I will another time, but for now, I just want to say this to Chris:

My darling,

My soul is complete because of you. I am so grateful for everything you are to me - for all you do for me - for all you mean to me. I don't deserve you that much I know - but I want to spend the rest of life with you, to grow old with you, to be with you always, and to make you know that I may not deserve you, but I love you, and will for the rest of my days and beyond.

With all the pearl-building love I can muster,

Mike - Thanks Chris.

All of this, sealed with a kiss!

"Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.
She is a loving deer, a graceful doe.
Let her breasts satisfy you always,
May you always be captivated by her love!"
Proverbs 5:18-19

"A worthy wife is a crown for her husband."
Proverbs 12:4

"A wise woman builds her home."
Proverbs 14:1

"The man who finds a wife finds a treasure,
and he receives favor from the Lord!"
Proverbs 18:22

"Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious that rubies (or pearls!)
Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life!
She brings him good, no harm,
all the days of her life...
She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
She carefully watches everything in her household,
and suffers nothing from laziness.
Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her,
'There are many virtuous and capable women
in the world, but you SURPASS THEM ALL!' "
Proverbs 31:10-12; 25-29

"A quarrelsome wife is as annoying
as constant dripping on a raining day.
Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind,
or trying to hold something with greased hands."
Proverbs 27:15-16

I love you Chris. Happy Anniversary! And let's keep up the irritation so we can build a beautiful legacy for our kids to follow!

With ALL of my love - all for you ALONE,

Mike

All I can say is, "It was a BLAST"

It's been some time since I told on myself! But after talking to a good friend of mine today, I figured it was time to let the world know that this reporter has been through the fires of adversity and made it out the other side - without eyebrows maybe, but made it nonetheless!

Guy - my friend - and I talked today, and he shared how he almost blasted himself into the great beyond by using a match to find a gas leak in his water heater! When he described the thudding explosion, the blue flames of death blasting past his face, and the unique smell of burned eyebrows, I could hardly stop laughing! I'd found a real soul mate! I thought I was the only one!

Our fireplace was sort of like this one... except ours opened like and oven!

Let me take you back to the winter of 1983. Chris and I had only been married for a few weeks, and we were living in LaVerkin in southern Utah. That winter was an exceptionally cold and wet one, and the only source of heat in the apartment we lived in was a fairly large wood burning stove. Now I'd gotten pretty good at remembering to bring wood in from the outside every night so it could dry out, but I had forgotten the night before this memorable event. One of the first purchases in our newlywed life was a full chord of firewood - knowing the winter was going to be cold! On this particular day, I'd forgotten to bring wood in the house to dry out, and we needed a fire. Remember with me if you will...

I went outside of the house, into a freezing rain storm, and brought in as big an armload of wood as I could carry. Of course, it was soaked. Typically when this would happen, I would find my trusty can of charcoal lighter fluid, and douse the wood, paper and kindling to get a FAST cheery fire going. But alas, this day would dawn with two cold newlyweds, a wet load of fire wood, and an empty can of Kingsford Lighter Fluid. DAMN!

Chris was still under the covers, and I was doing my damndest to be the good husband and make the place warm, so I embarked on a scavenger hunt through the house to try to find something flammable! Under the sink I found dish soap, bleach, Ajax - nope, nothing flammable! In the broom closet I found Pine-Sol, but nothing that would burn. Finally, in the bathroom cupboard I came across a bottle of fingernail polish remover - with a BIG WARNING in RED letters to keep it away from open flame! (A word to the wise - they put those warnings on bottles like that for a REASON! For the love of God and all that is flammable, HEED THEM!) Needless to say, I was excited about my explosive find, and quickly made for the living room.

To get an idea of this stove, it was wider than it was tall, and the door opened live an oven door, down and towards you. Because it was low, the only way to really load it, or start a fire was by kneeling on the floor in front of the opening. This will be important in a minute...

Being a Boy Scout, I know a thing or two about fire craft and such, so I made a nice little "log cabin" form out of the smaller wood, and filled the inside of it with newspaper. Around this, I arranged a few other bigger pieces... AHHH All was set for a nice cheery fire! I made sure I had the wooden matches next to me before I expertly spun the lid off the lemon scented polish remover, and liberally poured the whole bottle over the top of my stylish little cabin-of-warmth. I put the lid back on the bottle, picked up the box of matches, and while kneeling down, leaning towards the wood in the stove, I confidently struck the match and reached forward to...

Have I expressed how important it is to HEED the warnings on labels of household goods? You know, you can never be careful enough. Make sure from now on if something says, "don't drink this stuff," then DON'T DRINK IT! Likewise, if it says, "KEEP AWAY FROM OPEN FLAMES," there a pretty damn good reason for it! OK? Are we clear? OK? Alright, back to my story...


I confidently struck the match and reached forward to light the wood when there was a sudden, earth-shattering KABOOM - and I mean a K-A-B-O-O-M! and a wall of blue, angry, face-searing fire came flying towards the match, my arm, my face, and well... ME! In the micro-nano second before I consciously registered the explosion, and saw that wall of flame, I had a fleeting thought - it's really amazing I still remember it, given the circumstances, but as I was kneeling before the cast iron implement of moron reduction, I thought, "you know Mike, this could be a bad idea..." Of course such logic was a tad too late, as the rapidly exploding ACETONE vapors, made quick work of the hair on my arm, my eyebrows, my wanna-be mustache, and a ring of hair around my face!

I know it wasn't nuclear, but the explosion made me wonder if I'd ended the world...!

I was still kneeling before the fireplace, a smoking match in my hand - which was still held out to the soaking wet wood, when Chris came flying around the corner from the bedroom. I was frozen in position before the open door, my face smoking, little bits of my hair crisping and falling away, and capable of only one sound, "bluh bluh bluh..." spoken reverently and quietly to the wood, kindling, and newspaper that were not even slightly WARMED by the damned explosion!! Chris demanded to know what happened, but before I could explain, she took in the empty nail polish remover bottle, the wet wood, the smoking match, and her husband who found out that day that sphincter contol is a HIGHLY OVERRATED ABILITY, and broke into hysterical laughter... all at my expense... and richly deserved I may add!

My small inner child looked like this during my adventure!

My ears were still ringing several hours later as my darling and I sat on the couch in our cold little apartment and tried to figure out if a "comb-over" would hide eyebrows! - It didn't. I learned a valuable lesson that day however. NO, I haven't stopped using too much lighter fluid! - just ask Chris! I learned that if you're going to do something this stupid, it's better to do it alone where no one can laugh at you, and where no one else will have the same memory of you, on your knees, shaking to beat the band, and watching the little crispies that were once your eyebrows rain down like soft goose-down on your bewildered upper lip - devoid of a struggling mustache! I also learned that I was lucky not to have come out of this looking like Freddy Krueger!


So, today when I found out that Guy nearly blew himself into the great beyond, I felt an instant bond appear between us. We've faced the angry blue flames of death together, and have lived to tell the tale... Even if we have to tell it with no eyebrows!