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

---

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!

Just HOW Important Is Faith?

During this time of socio-economic melt-down in our country, it's easy to get sucked up into the "Chicken Little" syndrome and run around screaming "the sky is falling! the sky is falling!" Which of course can't be considered exercising any faith at all, but when you think about it, it's practically the only thing those of us NOT in control can do - after all, we're on this rollercoaster built by politicians, and people who don't have OUR best interests at heart.

How does God look at "Chicken Little" faith? Can he honor the kind of faith that only sees a glass half full? Can he work within the confines of your faith if all the faith you can muster is to give up, throw your hands in the air, and begin looking forward to December 21, 2012? Jesus tells us that it only takes a VERY little bit of faith - that of a mustard seed,

“I assure you, even if you had faith as small as a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.” (Matt. 17:20)

But what if you're like a lot of us out there - where even "mustering up" even a mustard seed's worth of faith is hard right now? The best advice I can give is to TRY. Why? Well, if only a little bit of faith can move a mountain, and all you're trying to do it make to through the day, it would take so much less than moving a mountain - right?

I know this sounds simplistic, but I'd like to share something with you I came across in the Word this morning. As I was reading in Isaiah, I came across an amazing passage that I'd read several times before, but suddenly, it jumped out at me this morning. In chapter 7, verse 9 near the end, it says,

"Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm." (NLT)

It says it slightly different in other translations, but it really spoke to my heart this morning. If I don't have firm faith - even if it's a little less than a mustard seed's worth - the Lord cannot use that faith to help us stand firm in the face of adversity! "Unless your faith is firm, I cannot make you stand firm!" Think about it! The Lord desires to bless us - he wants good for us, and blesses us continually. But when we're facing an uphill struggle, and it seems impossible to reach the top, exercise a little faith - make sure it's firm - and trust that the Lord will make you stand firm through the trial!

I love this picture... a fortification - BUILT ON THE ROCK!

"Standing firm" to me speaks of being established, of being fortified, of being braced for whatever may come our way. Only God knows what our future's hold, and if He's willing to help us stand firm through through the experience at the cost of a little faith on our part, who wouldn't search their heart and see if they can't find a little bit of faith in the dusty corners of our hearts?

Who wouldn't go and seek out where their faith can be bolstered? Who wouldn't do what it took to find that little bit of faith to show forth firm to the Lord, trusting that he will establish us? I know I will. I must.

A little faith... firmly established in your heart, will cause the Great Lord and Master of all Creation to take notice of you, your situation, and your needs, and move Him to make you stand firm through it all. What an amazing promise. Find the faith friends. Put your trust in the Lord, and watch His hand at work in your situation.

Blessings.

I'm Grateful that SOMEONE Knows What's Going On!

I've stepped back from myself and have realized that I'm getting depressed. I've been asking myself why I was let go, why no one will tell me the "real" reasons why - or why they chose me. I've tried very hard to stay away from anger, knowing that it will only come back on me to roost, and I've tried very hard to not become vindictive or bitter, but to trust that God has this in control, and that it's part of a plan. Can I just tell you, it's hard to hold on to that sometimes?

I don't want to be depressed. It hurts, honestly. Stress adds to my pain. Depression adds to my pain. Frustration adds to my pain. Pain makes me more stressed, frustrated, and depressed. Talk about a vicious circle! Those of you who experience constant pain know of what I'm speaking.

Not too far from how I'm feeling!

Well, today as I was in the Word, and spending some time whining to God... What, you never whine to God? Come on! We all do it! ANYway... as I was whining to God this morning, I kept hearing a snippet of scripture rattle through my mind... "... I know the plans I have for you... something something something... to prosper... something something something..." And I couldn't pull it out of my head for love or money. When I started pulling down the bibles and opening up the study software, I finally found it - Jeremiah 29:11 - 14a. It gave me hope... and it helped my depression... and it put my thoughts back on where they need to be... Jesus Christ.

The passage says,

"...For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will be found by you,” says the LORD.

Wow. Abba Father has a plan for me. Not only that, but it's not one of disaster! In addition, it's one that will GIVE ME A FUTURE AND A HOPE! Incredibly, He'll listen! If I look for Him, I WILL find him! In fact, God's so sure of that, he says it again, "I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU!" Wow. Is it just me, or do you sometimes read things like that and ask yourself, "why was I whining? What was I worrying about? What a putz!" I did. I'm not a works salvation guy... it's just not biblical... but I am a salvation works guy... once saved, you've got a lot to do. While I know that God has a plan, it takes me to do the things that will produce a result. Like planting a field... if I don't plant the seeds, no matter how much God has a great plan for a harvest from that field, NOTHING IS GOING TO GROW. I need to sow the seeds of my success and then trust that my "Papa" will provide the harvest. Isn't that how it always works? Wow.

Day before yesterday I took a mental health break and read the book, "The Shack" by William P. Young. It's not a big book. I read it in one sitting - through and through. If you've never read it, may I suggest that you should? It will change your life! Anyway, as I read it, I realized that "Papa", or "Abba" is extremely fond of ME. And I also realized that while things are not always "mountain peak" experiences, I'm alright in spite of my pain. That reminds me of something. A very wise brother in the Lord, Kirk Jackson - a brother who helped me find Jesus while in the Air Force - told me once that we all want to live on the mountain peaks, but God does all his work in the valleys. Well Kirk, I'm in a deep dark valley, and Dr. God is doing surgery, and it hurts. Do I trust Him? Certainly I do. Does it give me hope? Amazingly, it does.

It's all part of the journey. It's all part of HIS plan... I pray that He'll give me the strength, endurance, and joy to see it through.

Blessings!

Unemployed Musings...

Greetings faithful fans and readers... all ONE of you! LOL...

As I've embarked on this grand unknown journey, I've had some time to really think about the things that matter most, and the things that are worth hanging on to, and NOT. I'm blessed. I have a beautiful wife, wonderful children, a nice home (for now!), and many, many other things that make my life wonderful. I know that Chris doesn't feel that way. And believe it or not, I understand.

With the passing of her little brother, this seems like one huge ol' kick in the gut while we're down. And to some extent, it is. But it's not over, and I feel very encouraged to say that God's not done with me, or us. It's hard to see God's hands in any of this in fact, and every day that goes by is a test of whether or not I'm going to fling it all in His face and walk away. I doubt I will though... I'm hooked... I need Him too much. In light of that, I wrote this for my sweetie.

The War Is On!

There's not a thing that I can do
But watch you in distress and tears.
I'm trying hard, you know it's true,
To put at rest your doubts and fears.

I have no job, and things look black,
Our hopes and dreams seem all stalled out,
But I'm not done! No looking back!
The war is on, begin the charge complete the rout!

There's lots of fight left deep in me!
The world's never seen my type of fire!
I'll see us through, you watch and see!
Things need not seem so dark and dire!

A plan is set by God above,
And I'm but just a lowly actor,
We'll make it through, I swear, my love!
This need not be our end's disaster!

I'll do the things to get us by,
You watch, this won't spell the end of days!
The darkened clouds will leave the sky,
And we'll once again see bright sun rays!

I'm sorry, dear - I've brought us here
I wish things could be safe and sure,
But there's no room for doubt or fear,
When trusting God with vision pure.

We'll fight together, you and I;
We'll stand and see this trial through.
And side by side we'll more than try;
We'll win this fight! No less will do!

So wipe the tears from 'neath your eyes,
And take my hand and stand with me!
It's not so bad, don't buy those lies!
We'll win the day, just trust in me!


Michael Hunter

I trust that God has something better, greater, and more inspiring for me. I'm standing on that.

It's a journey... not always an easy one.

The Testing Has Begun

I think that the Lord is absolutely amazing. A few weeks ago I posted the bit about stress during Christmas. The words of encouragement from the Gospel of Matthew were amazing then, but they're even more amazing to me now.

I lost my job on Tuesday, December 30, 2008, and then lost my insurance coverage the day after on the 31st. With the previous week having to deal with the loss of our brother(& in-law), it was one blow on top of another. I can see how it could cause some to be bitter, and to feel as though the Lord isn't in this, or that He was somehow punishing us, or not protecting us. And if I were totally honest with myself, I'd have to admit I've wondered. But when I spend time in worship, or in prayer, I can't bring myself to point my finger at God. I know that all things work for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28), but there are times when it's really hard to put your complete trust in those words - and by extension, in God.

Job, and his "friends", Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar

I don't believe that God uses coincidence to reach us, but I do believe that there is something called Divine Providence that sometimes causes certain things to align during a trial. I happen to be reading the Book of Job in the Old Testament right now. I read the bible from cover to cover in cycle continually throughout the year, and right now, I happen to be in Job. The elements of the story are not my own, it's true, but who can deny that Job represents all of us when we're down and out? It's hard not to get lost in some of the more abstract comments Job and his friends make, but there are times that something comes out that is so clear, so perfect, so applicable, that you just know that the Lord was drawing your eyes and heart to the passage. For instance, this morning in my reading, I came across some very uncharacteristic words from Eliphaz - who is normally a "look dude, you're obviously so steeped in sin that God is slapping you around to punish you" kind of guy, that I had to read it a couple time to ensure I was understanding! this is what he said:

“Stop quarreling with God! If you agree with him, you will have peace at last, and things will go well for you. Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart. If you return to the Almighty and clean up your life, you will be restored. Give up your lust for money, and throw your precious gold into the river. Then the Almighty himself will be your treasure. He will be your precious silver!

“Then you will delight yourself in the Almighty and look up to God. You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows to him. Whatever you decide to do will be accomplished, and light will shine on the road ahead of you." (Job 22: 21-28)

I'm not quarreling with God, but I do seek His peace. I need to listen to his instructions and store them in my heart. It says that I should give up my lust for money - to basically toss it into the rushing river, and God Himself would be my precious gold and silver... He will be my treasure! At a time like this when I'm wondering where the next mortgage payment is coming from, and if I'll be able to keep the lights on, I felt encouraged by these words and want, more than anything, for the Lord to be my all in all - my treasure! Not only that, but I want Him to hear my prayers, and I want to fulfill my vows to Him, and to know that whatever I decide will be accomplished (within His will of course), and most of all, that His light would shine on my road ahead! I needed this. I needed it bad.

Knowing that I'm not to worry about what I'm going to eat, wear, live etc. and knowing that He will light my path, gives me the strength I need to stand up today, and tomorrow, and place one foot in front of another to do what it will take to provide for my family, and that as long as I'm on my knees before Him, He will hear me, will be my treasure, and will be my light.

Yes, it's a scary time for us. We don't know what will happen. But I believe I've been called according to God's purpose, and I know that I love Him. Therefore, I know that things will be alright.

We're told that:

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it. You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where briers grew, myrtles will sprout up. This miracle will bring great honor to the LORD’S name; it will be an everlasting sign of his power and love." (Isaiah 55:10-13 - NLT)

And,

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Is. 55:10-11 NKJV)

I am standing in faith that God has my best interests at heart. That doesn't mean my life it goingt to be "trial free," but rather that I won't have to go through those trials on my own.

I'm on my life's journey, it's true... I've got wonderful travel companions, and the Lord to direct it all. In that, I will rest.

I Loved Him Too...

The month has been so hard on our family. My sweetheart's little brother - and my brother in law - Micheal J. Davis passed away unexpectedly two days before Christmas. My heart breaks for his family, all his brothers and sisters - my wife among them - and for his five kids. He was young. It shouldn't happen that way.

My memories of Mike are - for the most part - very positive, and fun. When I was in the Air Force, we drove all the way from St. Louis to Sacramento California to go to an Amway rally, and Mike was there. We had a blast. Mike was smart. He was always looking for the angle. He always presented himself professionally in a way that was pretty amazing. Too bad none of us ever went anywhere with Amway - but it served to give us some good memories!

Another fun memory I have of Mike is when he was involved in Private Investigation. Mike, Jamie, Chris and I all played like we were kids wanting to see the home our grandfather had built in a Sandy neighborhood, in order to get inside the house and prove this woman was co-habitating with her boyfriend before her divorce was final! We conned our way inside the house, and that lady showed us the house from top to bottom - literally every room - with us making up memories as we went along. The boyfriend was "sick" in bed - HER bed. I'd say Mike proved his case. Just as we were leaving another neighbor pulled up, and the gal told them that we were grandkids to the man who'd built the house... well, THEY KNEW THE FAMILY, and obviously we weren't it! Needless to say, we boogied. That was fun!

Another amazing memory of Mike was when he lived with us in a small house in Sugarhouse on Stratford Avenue. Mike and I put in the absolutely most amazing garden you've ever seen. We had irrigation water to feed the garden, so we created all of the elaborate canals and channels to water the entire garden. It was awesome. Mike loved that garden. So did I. We had many fine late summer afternoons out there barefoot tending the plants. It was from that garden that the ever famous Hunter Family "Zucciskettiewatersquash" came into being. It was one of the best times of my life.

Another fond memory is the last New Year's Eve Party we had at our house a few years back. Mike and I had admitadly had too much to drink - but what's new huh? Anyway, we got this crazy idea and went and locked outselves in the bathroom together. While in there, we were daring eachother - I'll do it if you do! back and forth - back and forth, until we agreed, and got out the hair clippers, razors and shaving cream. In little more than a half hour, we both looked like Kojack, having shaved our heads bald, and bic'd them smooth. While it wasn't too popular with my sweetie, it was a fun memory I'll always have of Mike.

In addition to that, whenever I saw Mike - regardless of the situation, he would always throw his arms around me and tell me how much he loved me. Not too long ago, he did some tile work for us, and while he was there, he threw his arms around me and gave me a kiss on my cheek, and he pulled me close and told me that he loved me so much for taking such good care of his sister, and also for always making him feel safe, unjudged, accepted, and welcome in our home. Mind you, this was after I had to tell him he couldn't live with us after getting out of prison... with all my meds, it would have made it too much of a trial I believe... but he wasn't bitter. His hugs were always powerful, unashamed, and worth every minute. Ever since I'd first met Mike as a little boy, he had always greeted me that way - a bear hug, a kiss on the cheek, and his assurance of his love for me. I will dearly miss that.

It breaks my heart that Mike had the struggles in life that he did. Some would say that his trials in life were the fruit of the seeds he'd sown along the way. I agree with that. I do. It's true for all of us. Mike's life leaves a powerful legacy and lesson for all of us - if we'll honestly look at it. I know Mike fought a long and difficult battle with the demons that plagued his life, and we should never forget his times of victory, amidst the battle. The book of Proverbs tells us that a wise man will fall down seven times and rise again. Mike's life was a constant war, and he fell down a lot... but my brother rose again. He would stand up - no matter how much it hurt him, and he'd start again. It's not about reaping what we sow. It's about never giving up. About never staying down the next time we fall. If Mike left a legacy for his children to follow it was this - you can fall down, but you must always get back up.

Thank you Mike for your life, your love, and your example. I love you, and I always will, and I know that you'll be cherished and alive in our hearts until that time when we can plant another garden together in the sweet by and by.

Christmas Stress

Why is it that this time of the year seems to bring out the greatest amount of stress in our lives? You'd think it would be just the opposite - getting together with friends and family should be relaxing... but I suppose when the whole world is keeping up with the Jones' it makes for a time of stress rather than fun.

I'm not keeping up with anyone, but I'm still feeling an incredible amount of stress this year. Our economy, our job situations, the threat of social/economic collapse all combine to make one stressed out. Feeling stressed, I went to where I normally go when I'm having a hard time. The Word of God. And, after a short prayer, wouldn't you know that the Lord has the answer to this issue to? As I opened the bible, I came across this passage in Matthew 6: 19-34 (NKJV):

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

It always seems that when we're running around with our heads cut off, trying to do all that society and ourselves have put on our plates, that the Lord comes through with a quiet reminder of where our hearts, eyes, and minds are supposed to be.

May it be so for you in this time of stress.

Merry Christmas.

Mike

P.S. I went back and read that same passage in the Message... I've never really liked the Message much, but when I read that passage in the Message, I was blown away... it talks to me... maybe it will to you?

“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

“Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!

“You can’t worship two gods at once. Loving one god, you’ll end up hating the other. Adoration of one feeds contempt for the other. You can’t worship God and Money both.

“If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in the care of God. And you count far more to him than birds.

“Has anyone by fussing in front of the mirror ever gotten taller by so much as an inch? All this time and money wasted on fashion—do you think it makes that much difference? Instead of looking at the fashions, walk out into the fields and look at the wildflowers. They never primp or shop, but have you ever seen color and design quite like it? The ten best-dressed men and women in the country look shabby alongside them.

“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

In the intended Spirit of the Season,

Mike

It's all about the NUT JOB in my Life

It has all become so clear to me... I'm dealing with a NUT JOB!

Antisocial Personality Disorder is also known as psychopathy or sociopathy. Individuals with this disorder have little regard for the feeling and welfare of others. As a clinical diagnosis it is usually limited to those over age 18. It can be diagnosed in younger people if they commit isolated antisocial acts and do not show signs of another mental disorder.

Antisocial Personality Disorder is chronic, beginning in adolescence and continuing throughout adulthood. There are ten general symptoms:

1. Not learning from experience
2. No sense of responsibility
3. Inability to form meaningful relationships
4. Inability to control impulses
5. Lack of moral sense
6. Chronically antisocial behavior
7. No change in behavior after punishment
8. Emotional immaturity
9. Lack of guilt
10. Self-centeredness

People with this disorder do not consider other people's wishes, welfare or rights. They can be manipulative and may lie to gain personal pleasure or profit. Impulsiveness, irritability, aggressiveness, irresponsibility, and a reckless disregard for others are traits of the antisocial personality. Low self-esteem, paranoia and a need to continually belittle others typically manifests in the person with the antisocial personality. People with this disorder may also show aggressive denial tendencies, especially when questioned or called to account; a psychological assault usually follows on those who try to cause the individual to take responsibility for their behavior or actions.

Socioeconomic status, gender, and genetic factors play a role. Males are more likely to be antisocial than females. Those from lower socioeconomic groups are more susceptible. A family history of the disorder puts one at higher risk.

There are many theories about the cause of Antisocial Personality Disorder including experiencing neglectful parenting as a child, low levels of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, and belief that antisocial behavior is justified because of difficult circumstances. Psychotherapy, group therapy, and family therapy are common treatments. The effects of medical treatment are inconclusive. Unfortunately, most people with Antisocial Personality Disorder reject treatment. Therefore, recovery rates are low.

And to think - all this time I've been coming at it from a totally different angle... I'm so glad this has been cleared up. Now I know how to proceed... with extreme caution... I'm dealing with a potential Postal Worker!