A Slower Pace

Right now, as I type this, it is 11:00pm and it is 89F degrees outside with 90% humidity.

It reminds me of a saying I used to hear from folks that lived out in the California desert — “But it’s a dry heat”.

My reply living here — “Uhhhh, no it’s not! It’s pretty much a suck-the-air-out-of-your-lungs heat.”

I hope you are cooler where you live. I thank God I have affordable, operational air conditioning.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Every Saturday I meet several other Christian men for an Emmaus Accountability group. We review our week, share our highs and lows, encourage each other, and hold each other accountable on our walk with Jesus.

So this on this beautiful Saturday morning on my drive to Accountability, I was exposed to several “ordinary to me” scenes that I thought I would share.

Scenes from a morning drive

• A doe and a buck running along side my car in a dew-filled meadow
• Mist rising from a farm pond
• Fog rising through a four board country fence
• A hand painted yard sale sign
• Deep green corn reaching for the baby blue morning sky

Interestingly, I tried the speech conversion tool app on my iPhone so I could hands-free talk this list and send it via email. Below is the interesting result.

Games from 3 Morning Dr.
Haizhou and about running alongside my car in a few still meadow.
Miss rising from a farm pond.
Bob I’m running up of four for 10.
Can you give yard sale time.
Deep green corn reaching for the baby blue morning sky.

Note to self — don’t ever use voice recognition app without proofing output.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

1. No Tenure / No Pension – A Congressman collects a salary while in office and receives no pay when they are out of office.
2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social Security – All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.
3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all Americans do.
4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise. Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.
5. Congress loses their current health care system and participates in the same health care system as the American people.
6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the American people.
7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen are void effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this contract with Congressmen. Congressmen made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their term(s), then go home and back to work.
8. This amendment / law cannot be repealed or superceded.

THIS IS HOW YOU FIX CONGRESS!!!!! And God knows Congress and other areas of government sure need fixin’!

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

While Slappy McSploder and I were arranging, sequencing and fusing fireworks in the garage this weekend in preparation for Thunder Over Finchville, we had the mancave TV on to Speed Channel and ESPN. One spot that caught my attention was a feature that ESPN did on ultimate fighter Rad Martinez. Now, I am not an ultimate fighting fan, but in watching this piece, I developed a deep respect for this young man and his commitment to something other than himself. I highly encourage you to watch the video clip below.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

I pledge allegiance
to the cross
that Jesus Christ died on.
And to the salvation
for which it stands
one way,
through Christ
unconditional
with forgiveness and eternity
for all….. who place their trust in Him.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

I pledge allegiance
to the flag
of the United States of America.
And to the republic
for which it stands,
one nation
under God
indivisible
with liberty and justice
for all.

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

Today I hope you take the time to be thankful for all that God has blessed you with. And if you live in the United States, you have additional liberties, rights and privileges that other’s elsewhere in the world do not — which calls for more thanks.

I love hearing our national anthem — the “Star-Spangled Banner“. I love the fact that they play it before sporting events. I love seeing others give it the same respect and reverence as I do — standing, removing their hat, and saluting or putting their right hand over their heart. However, I did not know until today that there were additional stanzas. How cool is that? And the fourth one is particularly impactful.

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation.
Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust;”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

Here is a video of an old, proud Marine singing it.

Because freedom isn’t free!

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

I love the 4th of July! And I love fireworks! Put ’em both together on our property, add about 100 people and you have a great celebration.

The video below is our rain shortened display in celebration of our great country’s birthday.

2011 Thunder Over Finchville on Vimeo.

God bless America!

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

I just returned from an awesome patriotic worship service at our home church. The men’s choir belted out some inspiring patriotic hymns, a recognition was given to all branches of the military and to those who have served, and the sermon was (as it is frequently) impactful and hit home.

While I am proud to be an American, as a believer in Jesus Christ, my home and true citizenship is in heaven. And it is through repentance, forgiveness and salvation where we find our true freedom.

One quote really hit home for this 4th of July holiday weekend. It was:

“The statue (of Liberty) liberates the citizen.
The cross liberates the soul.”

God bless the United States of America!

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net

The quote below was in my morning devotions. It is particularly relevant because more and more in today’s culture public and private opinion standing as fact or gospel.

“Opinion is no substitute for the truth of God’s word.”

Amen!

…..Dan at aslowerpace dot net