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Mojo

Wednesday, June 12th, 2013

MONDAY MORNING:

Jo: “How is it going for you the first day back?”

Me: “I’m trying to find my mojo.”

After being gone for a little over a week, getting back into a routine is a little tough.

FIRST THINGS FIRST THOUGH!

A huge, huge, huge (did I say huge) thank you to all my guest writers:

You guys did an absolutely phenomenal job filling in for me. Even though I did not comment, I kept up with the discussions. I loved the interaction. Thank you soooo much for filling in so adequately for me.

It was a rather eventful vacation. In some ways, it was fantastic. I had the opportunity to spend a week without church business crowding out my time with Jo and my family. My six-year old grandson had unlimited energy and an uncanny knack for making me/us laugh. We played baseball, miniature golf, baseball, saw Iron Man in 3-D, baseball, ate, baseball, bowled, and did I say played baseball? He goes from the time he wakes up to the time he goes to sleep. I had to come home to rest. I think he might have even beat his Aunt Tami at miniature golf and possibly bowling. The dude is partial to chicken. I’m surprised he doesn’t have feathers growing out of his arms and back. He is also a walking Reds encyclopedia which fries this Pirates fan. I also got to see my niece’s 8 month old daughter for the first time. Visit with my sister-in-law. Ride bikes with my son-in-law. AND DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAVING TO DO WITH WORK.

In some ways, it was also the vacation from you-know-where. I took my bike thoroughly looking forward to riding with my son-in-law on Sunday and then riding each day for 2 hours or so on flat land. Monday, on the way to my sister-in-law’s, my bike rack malfunctioned and my bike was destroyed. I am 6’5″ and ride a 64cm bike. It is the last production bike made before a custom one. When I got mine in January of 2010 it was the last one in the country. It was in California. This is June…the height of cycling season. Guess what is not available? So, I am looking at a non-cycling summer, unless God performs a miracle somehow. There were several other not-so-good things happen that sort of put a damper on the week (temporarily).

I can’t complain though. I got to spend time with my favorite people on the planet, and had fun doing it.

Now all I gotta do is find my mojo. I know I put it here somewhere.

Do you have any vacation plans? Tell me about them.

Late arrival: After writing and posting this, I received word back from the rack manufacturer. Not only are they going to provide me with a new rack of another kind, but they are also going to cut me a check for the full purchase price of the bike. Thank you Thule. My bike shop guy (J’s in Terre Haute) also found me a bike that I will be able to pay cash for.

Posted in Family, Little Bit of Fun, Miscellaneous | 47 Responses »

Plans

Wednesday, May 8th, 2013

I have become sure of one thing when it comes to plans…

WHEN WOMEN ARE INVOLVED PREPARE TO CHANGE THEM!

That ought to garner me some comments from readers!!! In fact, my oldest daughter, who is involved in this “changing transaction” will probably comment and might even get her mom to read this post (hey, there’s always a first time for everything!) Just kidding. Jo has read a post or two before. But commenting? Let’s just say I don’t get paid by her comments.

Anyway, here’s the deal. Tami’s birthday is June 3rd and she will be (__) years old. I’ve always been told it is not good to tell a woman’s age so let’s just say it is between 35 & 40. Or maybe I could say I wasn’t quite 23 when she was born and I am not quite 61 yet. Providing I am still alive and kicking at this point, we planned (operative word) to go to Knoxville with our grandson and spend Saturday through Tuesday with her-celebrating her birthday; going to a Smokes baseball game (that way Braden won’t care who wins); maybe do the Titanic museum; and a whole bunch of other stuff in Pigeon Forge.

Hotel reservations. Check.

Money saved. (A reasonable) check.

Gas money saved. (another reasonable) check.

Schedule of leaving and picking up. Check.

Right to change plans with three weeks left? Double Check.

Say what? Yep. I got the call this morning. Plans have changed. We are no longer going to Knoxville or Pigeon Forge. Oka-a-a-a-y. The plan now is for Tami to come here, then ride with us to Columbus to get Braden, and spend the whole week with him in Columbus and Sandusky (where Jo’s sister lives). Ai-yai-yai (or however you spell that).

But in all seriousness…I am okay with it. Spending less money is always good, especially less gas money. Tami gets to spend a whole week with Braden instead of just a couple of days. Jo’s sister gets to see Tami. And I get to be driven crazy by a rambunctious 6-year old. The saying will be true: “I had to come home to get some rest.”

There is one plan that will never change…God’s plans. “I know the plans I have for you.” (Jer.29:11) “The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.” (Ps.33:10) “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Pr.16:3) I am one who believes strongly we have free will to make our own choices. But I do know when we follow God’s plan, things go a whole lot better. He has a plan for us. He has a plan for the future. The first is sometimes hidden. The latter we know: He is coming again. That plan will never change!!

How do you feel about God’s plan for your life? Do you know what it is?

One more thing about our vacation plans: one thing hasn’t changed!

I CAN STILL TAKE MY BIKE!

Posted in Christian living, Doctrine, Family, God, Little Bit of Fun | 47 Responses »

Perspective

Wednesday, April 10th, 2013

This has been a different week here at Cycleguy’s Spin. Let’s continue with a change in direction.

First, watch this video. For those unable to watch, a transcript is included on the link.

Okay, now be honest. How many of you chuckled. I did. I absolutely loved the optimism shown by that young man. That type of optimism comes from having a clear perspective of the situation. How many times have you done something only to have it fail? You have the choice of hiking up your pants and going at it again or throwing in the towel.

Or maybe you have had someone come along and offer you a different perspective, one that changed your whole outlook. I once read of the daughter who wrote her parents a note:

Dear Mom & Dad,

Just thought I’d drop you a note to clue you in on my plans. I’ve fallen in love with a guy named Jim. He quit high school after grade eleven to get married. About a year ago he got a divorce. We’ve been going steady for two months and plan to get married in the fall. Until then, I’ve decided to move into his apartment (I think I might be pregnant). At any rate, I dropped out of school last week, although I’d like to finish college sometime in the future.

On the next page she continued:

Mom and Dad, I just want you to know that everything I’ve written so far in this letter is false. NONE of it is true. But Mom and Dad, it IS true that I got a C in French and flunked Math. It IS true that I’m going to need some more money for tuition payments.

Not too shabby a way of putting things in perspective wouldn’t you say? Now…you can choose to be an Optimist or a Pessimist. You can choose to have your glass half full or half empty.

DEPENDS ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

Life is entirely too short to be languishing or moping around. Circumstances will not always be what we want or hope them to be. Life is a challenge or a bore; a victory or a defeat; an adventure or a misfortune. Depends on your perspective.

Where do you fall into this picture? What are you wanting out of your life?

Posted in Christian living, Just Wondering, Leadership, Little Bit of Fun, Pick me Up | 23 Responses »

Hero

Monday, April 8th, 2013

Our world abounds with SuperHeroes. Captain America. Iron Man. Spiderman. Batman. The list goes on. My world has superheroes also.

I am the husband of the original Wonder Woman. It is a wonder how the woman put up with me for almost 40 years. She even works at a job that she dislikes so we can have insurance (which is essential at our age).

I am the father of two fantastic daughters. I can never even begin to tell you how proud I am of both of them. They are both heroes in my eyes.

This post is about one of those daughters, Tami. First, watch this video.

A little over four years ago, I believe, Tami was diagnosed with Medullary Sponge Kidney Disease. Yeah, that is what I thought. What in the world is that? It totally changed her world. Through trial and error (lots of error on the medical end of it, i.e. you can eat this…no you can’t eat this…yes you can…you get the drift), she suffered through some horrible bouts with kidney stones. Finally, she decided to take matters into her own hands and through some tough times figured out what she can/cannot eat. For example, she cannot have chocolate , and certain fruits and vegetables. She has also figured out soy and gluten are enemies. Along the way she also began running and lost around 30 pounds. She began running/walking 5Ks. Last Thanksgiving, she ran with her sister in the Turkey Trot in Columbus, Ohio. I think it was about 5 miles or so.

This past Sunday Tami did 13.1 miles, a mini-marathon. Jo watched her progress on her phone. I was so proud of her I even announced it before I preached. She completed it under 3 hours. She did three things I cannot do: run, finish, and do it all under 3 hours. Late edition: for more on this check out here.

She isn’t done though. After teaching since 1998, she has decided her experience needs to be shared with others, particularly children. Thanks to the generosity of someone, she has enrolled in an online course that will require one year of schooling (she will be able to keep her current job) with a goal to become a health/life coach, focusing on children’s health. She wants to help children and parents learn proper eating habits to deal with allergic reactions, medical conditions, etc that are so hard to find answers for (just like hers). To learn a little more about her dream, check out this post, this one, and this one.

She is my hero…in more ways than one. In honor of her, I want to dedicate this song to her. I told her she needs this on her play list when she runs.

Who is a hero to you? Have you let them know?

Posted in Christian living, Family, Little Bit of Fun, Pick me Up, Story | 30 Responses »

Encore

Sunday, January 27th, 2013

It has been an interesting few days around here. As mentioned here, I spent a few days last week fasting and praying. Meanwhile, on Wednesday my the church secretary was diagnosed with Influenza A. Thursday both Jo and our new Youth Pastor, Ryan, were diagnosed with it. It was then a “Bill Watch.” When will I come down with it? Fortunately, as I write this, the report has been good. I know I am not out of the water yet, so don’t want to even think of saying, “I didn’t get it.” As soon as I say that I can see God saying, “So…you want to brag a little? Brag about THIS!” And then down comes the lightning bolt filled with the Influenza A virus. There are several things you don’t know about me since I am (for the most part) your virtual acquaintance.

I take tons of vitamins. A Men’s Multi. Mega doses of C. B complex. CO-Q 10. Ginseng.

I never touch a bathroom door handle. NEVER.

I wear a mask. Just kidding. My grandson thinks I am a superhero though (Optimus Prime or Captain America).

I use a lot of hand sanitizer.

I never cough into my hand. I cough into the crook of my elbow.

I don’t kiss my wife. Okay, so I fibbed on that one, but right now the forehead is the closest we get.

I drink (non-alcoholic) a lot. Lots of water. An occasional Diet Dr. Pepper. Green tea.

Exercise. Ride a bike (although it has been since before Christmas that I have been out). Bowflex.

Jo told our daughter that I follow her around spraying Lysol. Not true Tami. (some of it).

You might be thinking, “That sounds to me like you are OCD.” Nope. Just trying to be careful. Good health is not something I want to take for granted. I lost my mom to cancer in 2004. I have lost some dear people to that disease and others. I think it behooves all of us to take care of ourselves and try to keep this instrument God has given us (our body) as healthy as we can. Like I said, I may still get the flu. Over the past 2 months I have had a cough off and on. For awhile when I laughed I would start coughing. I spent some nights in my ManCave sleeping in my recliner. It could very well be that I had some symptoms of the flu and now have an immunity to it. I don’t know. I am grateful that God has given me the ability to do my job this morning (when I am writing this) and not have to call on Ryan at the last minute.

I do hope you have been and will remain healthy. If you would like me to pray for you, please say so and I will be glad to do that. Now…to redeem this post, I would like to play a video I showed Sunday. You may have heard it or seen it.

Any thoughts?

Posted in Christian living, God, Just Wondering, Little Bit of Fun, Miscellaneous, Sermon Series/Topic | 32 Responses »

Interlude

Tuesday, December 18th, 2012

Time for an interlude. I have been posting some pretty heavy stuff this week so far. If you care to read you can find it here and here. But I personally need to take a break. I don’t have much I want to say frankly, except

“DRINK YOUR OVALTINE”

or something silly like that. This past week I watched a video at this site. I was so taken by it that I showed it Sunday during the welcome and introduction time. I simply said, “I think we often get too serious at Christmas time. We need to laugh some.”

Then I showed this video.

I heard people howling.

I saw people laughing.

I had one of the young people, a 9 or 10 year old boy, whom I know has had a major upheaval in his home life this past year, ask me specifically the guy’s name and would I write it down.

It was good medicine. I think it will be good medicine for you as well. I have seen this several times and still laugh when I do. I needed it. The Bible does say “laughter is good medicine.” I am inclined to agree. So enjoy. While you are at it, why not check some of his other stuff on YouTube. This dude is seriously funny and proves you don’t have to be vulgar to be funny.

Now…resume checking to see what Sele and Ed have been writing the past couple of days.

Posted in Christmas, Little Bit of Fun | 24 Responses »

Closet

Wednesday, December 12th, 2012

I am coming out of the closet. NO…not THAT one. For all of you who maybe Googled and saw that word I am sorry to disappoint you. But I do have news…I am coming out of the closet to share a secret that I seriously doubt any of you know. Ready?

I LIKE CLASSICAL MUSIC Take the yellow type and figure I am whispering.

You may be saying, “What? I think Jesus is about to come soon! I thought he listened to rock?” And you would be right. But one time in my past I found that I really liked Classical Music. I also heard it made you smarter when listening to it at night. Couldn’t prove that by me. Now…point of clarification. My “love” for CM (no not Country) STOPS whenever opera or an orchestra & chorus enter the picture. Give me just the music and leave out the high-brow singers who sing in a language I cannot understand (even if it happened to be English). And when you get a boatload of people singing words I can’t understand, well….

So here is another secret (and I hope I don’t get shot for this): I have never listened to Handel’s Messiah. I’ve tried. Believe me when I say I have tried. I wanted so much to say, “I did it! I listened and liked it!” But I can’t. Not even the Hallelujah chorus. Least not in the Messiah. Every year at Christmas it makes its appearance, even though it certainly fits better at Easter. I have heard it done in other venues by other singers and to say it is a majestic piece of music is an understatement. Handel outdid himself. In fact, this quote came from him after composing “Messiah”:

“I did think I did see all Heaven before me and the great God Himself.”

Anyway, I won’t belabor the point. I do appreciate the message of Messiah, and especially The Hallelujah chorus. So with that in mind, I might as well double shock you. Here is what I consider one of the “funnest” and yet well-done versions of the chorus. I featured it in this post with a light show. Now, hear it as it was performed in concert. If envy ever becomes a spiritual gift, I want a voice like Richard (the bass).

Do you listen to CM? What are your thoughts? Oh, one more thing: Handel had something else right:

“What a wonderful thing it is to be sure of one’s faith. How wonderful to be a member of the evangelical church, which preaches the free grace of God through Christ as the hope of sinners. If we were to rely on our works–my God, what would become of us.”

Preach it GFH!! Now mosey on over to Sele and Ed to see what they have to say.

Posted in Christmas, Little Bit of Fun | 25 Responses »

Crazy

Tuesday, December 11th, 2012

I was riding my bike today in 30 some degree weather with a 6-7 mph wind out of the SE and I started thinking how some people would think I am crazy. As in nutcase. As in “Certifiable” written across my name. When my right thumb went numb (how’s that for poetry) and my fingers began to tingle, I knew it was a real possibility they could make a case. But I stopped and put my other pair of gloves on and all was right with the world…except for the wind I had to ride against for the next too many miles.

Long story short…I began to think of other crazy things people do around this time of the year and began to form a list in my head as I was riding. Here are a few I came up with and I’m going to ask you to join in with your contributions at the end.

While the wind was freezing my nose off, I began to think of those “crazy” people who do the Polar Bear swims. You know…that sounds appealing in the middle of a 100+ degree day in August, but for the life of me I wonder what gets into people who bare all but a swim suit (I am guessing) and take a dive in subzero weather into a body of water that is probably close to the same temp. And they call me “Certifiable?”

Since we are in the Christmas season, and by now I suspect the gift-buying is in full swing, I think it is “crazy” to go out and buy things people don’t really ~~need~~ want, and give them (sometimes) to people we really don’t like, and we do it all by using plastic. Not plastic wrap. Not plastic totes. PLASTIC. As in credit cards. Then January/February rolls around and it is then we realize how “crazy” we were. Personally, I am not a Dave Ramsey poster child since I am not out of debt, but I have never regretted the day I cut up all my Plastic (and finally paid it off), except for my debit card. No mon; Nofun. No bills; Big .

It is “crazy” in a sad way how many will be involved in alcohol-related accidents during the holiday season…all because they don’t say NO or have a designated driver. Drivers are crazy enough as it is without self-medicating.

It is “crazy” how rude some people can be and how many Scrooges there are.

It is “crazy” how much chocolate is consumed and diets blown during the holiday season.

It is “crazy” how some churches think they have to have something every night and make their people compete with non-church stuff.

It is “crazy” how many people in Third World countries go without clean drinking water. Check this out.

It might not be “crazy” but it is inconvenient. Listen here

I’m done. What are some “crazy” things you can think about during this holiday season? Join in the fun.

While you are at it check out two other crazy guys who took the Christmas post challenge: Sele and Ed.

Posted in Christmas, Little Bit of Fun | 31 Responses »

ZOO

Monday, November 26th, 2012

Zoo by definition is “a park or an institution in which living animals are kept and usually exhibited to the public.”

I have another definition for Zoo:

SHOPPING ON THURSDAY NIGHT (THANKSGIVING) OR FRIDAY (THE DAY AFTER).

How do I know? I went to the zoo as a favor to several womenfolk in my family. You know that statement we often say: “I will never do that?” I have said that before concerning ~~hunting~~ shopping either of those two days and I BROKE MY OWN RULE! Well…all I can say is

I WILL NEVER…AND I MEAN NEVER…SHOP AGAIN ON THURSDAY NIGHT OR ANY TIME FRIDAY.

I’m not even sure Zoo covers it. Insane asylum works. Pure bedlam works. Safari even works. I gotta tell you that other than being with my wife, daughter and grandson, there was nothing that would ever EVER get me to do that again! The line in Super Wally World wound from the cash registers all the way back to the electronics (and they are notoriously slow). Just trying to get through the store was like taking my life in my hands. I parked a mile away (but was the good guy by dropping the family off at the front door…pat on back well-deserved). The line at Kohls…well let’s just say I waited in the truck for 35 minutes (and they are pretty fast). There were people following shoppers out to their car just to get their cart. I was really proud of my grandson. An iPad or iPhone and he was a happy camper and never once complained. Other than family, the bright spot of the two days was lunch at Max & Erma’s on Thursday and Chilis on Friday. Both had good food and were relatively unhurried. And surprisingly empty. Just the way I wanted it. My one great shopping experience was Performance Bike shop on Friday. Hmmm…I was the only one who enjoyed that one. Wonder why that was?

It is easy to see how retailers, cashiers, etc might tend to get a little testy. If I had to look at that many people fighting, shoving, being harried, I might want to say, “Get a life people! Go shop online!” It is also why the naysayers and boo birds and grinches come out this time of the year. Normally sane people turn into lunatics. Cool, calm and collected people fight over the shirt with the peace sign.

Me? I was glad to get away from it all. Part of me just wants to scream; part of me wants to cry. I see so many people who may have no clue what the Christmas season is really all about. I think what shopping I plan to do I will either do online or buy gift cards, and then curl up with a good book or movie.

Did you experience any of this? Any thoughts?

Make sure you check out Sele here.

Posted in Christmas, Little Bit of Fun | 36 Responses »

Magic

Sunday, November 25th, 2012

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

Some like to call me a big kid. I accept that (upon occasions). I was reading this post by my online friend Larry and realized someone had it worse than me. I mean…I have had some select Christmas CDs sitting on my dresser, but didn’t start listening to them until Friday on the way home from Ohio. I am going to highlight a song later in this post from what has become my favorite Christmas CD to listen to.

In my Thanksgiving post, I stated that I would be posting a Christmas post every day from this point until Christmas day. I did that last year and it was fun…so much so, I thought I would do it again. My posts will be wide and varied. Some will be music-oriented. Some will be serious. Some will be downright silly. Some will be memories. Some will be my hopes for the future (Christmas wishes). I would like to ask others to join me in this venture. I will be posting every day except Saturday and Sunday, unless something strikes me. My hope? I want this to be a fun time. A time of reflection. A time of observing. A time of awareness. A time of excitement. Why? Simple. Many of us adults get so bogged down with tons of other things (many of them year long struggles) that we lose the magic that is Christmas.

SO JOIN WITH ME AND SELE WON’T YOU? EITHER IN READING AND COMMENTING, OR IN WRITING A MONTH LONG SERIES OF POSTS ABOUT CHRISTMAS PAST, CHRISTMAS PRESENT, AND CHRISTMAS FUTURE AND ITS IMPACT UPON YOUR LIFE.

Here is my first entry. It is a song that sums up the “fun” Christmas should be. Serious? Depends on your perspective. And before you ask: yes, this singer was an influential part of my music makeup during my youth and I still listen to his music. To see the lyrics (if you have trouble with them, click the “Show More” tab underneath the video.

Will you join me? How is Christmas fun to you? Did this video/song bring back any memories for you?

Posted in Christmas, Family, Friendship, Little Bit of Fun | 33 Responses »