Liberty Thoughts(reprinted)

"Yesterday we celebrated an event that took place in the 18th century. It is an unusual event to commemorate with a holiday — not the first shot in a battle or the toppling of a government but the broadcasting, as it was in those days, of a proposition about the nature and the rights of human beings. How fruitful, how reasonable, how correct that proposition was, we have seen again and again throughout our history. 

That proposition was the Declaration of Independence.We know the words well, but they bear repeating: “That all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”The men responsible for the ideas in that document could, of course, know nothing of our world, and even with all the aids of history, we can hardly imagine what it was like to be alive in theirs, in 1776.

How capacious an idea the Declaration contains becomes clear when you realize that it still contains us all, however we vote, however we choose to celebrate this day.We live in our historical moment. And yet we are the product of a very different moment, a time when a group of men, driven onward by the pen of Thomas Jefferson, felt certain they could enunciate truths that were universal, good for all time.
Their claims were stunningly bold, both politically and philosophically. There are intellectual precedents to the Declaration. But there is only one Declaration. We are still enacting its thesis, still, after all these years, learning how to embody its aspirations. It is not just a matter of trying to remain true to Jefferson’s words. The strength and the wonder of this country is that the words remain true to us."

It's that time again

Though true enough, many have cause to celebrate this day, the alleged birth of a nation, but what of the sacrifice, what of those sacrificed? Do you think they're celebrating? 

Me, I wonder about much, like why kids spend summers away from a parent they want to be with, or worse, by themselves(?)! Joy though, joy is not a wonder for me, and I thank Him for that...

Jesus, Declare His Name(lyrics for PMNW

You can hear it playing @ www.prayermountainnw.com

Verse 1 

Nations gather, hearts are yearning to be free

Come together, sing His song of liberty

Verse 2

Nations gather, eyes are lifted to His face

Lord forever, captivating all with grace

Chorus:

Jesus- Declare His nameOver the earth, sing of His fame

Jesus- Heaven come downLift your voices hear the sound, declare His name

Verse 3

Tribe and nation, raise the banner of our King

Sovereign Savior, Only God, our praise we bring

Tribe and nation, rising up to speak His name

True Salvation, comes from He alone who reigns

Bridge:

In heaven and earth be magnified
In heaven and earth be lifted highIn heaven and earth be magnifiedIn heaven and earth be lifted high

©2009 Melissa Saulnier & Michael Bahn / Northern Gate Publishing & Found in You Music

(Admin. By Oikeo Music) CCLI# 5548356

Some days, most days actually

When I'm past the counting, or just standing beside the aftermath, my mind always drifts back to the reality of why we do, those things, that we do, more often than not.

And sure, it's just part two, of what will be an overstimulating weekend, and yet, standing there, watching the parade go by, smelling humanity, the fears, the pleasures, the thoughts that people think I can't hear, and I was overwhelmed with how shallow it all was. And no, I'm not a cynic. I rejoice @ market swings, am uplifted by tornadoes, gain great strength from the smiles of two year olds.

It's just that, sometimes, underneath last nights make up, who are really?
No, not that answer again.

I mean, if I saw you, the naked you, the undistorted you, the you that you sometimes hide from yourself, would I be uplifted? Would the you that You "really" are, would that you bring out the love in me, or, would it cause me to run?

For some days, most days honestly, I just wonder why people have to bring their game face(s) to the after party. Why not just own you? Own who you're becoming, embrace whom you've been. Me, I'd love you anyway, but, in all honesty, I'd love you more! Just ask anyone who's withstood and endured, they'll tell you, long after last nights mysteries are revealed, a man who chooses to love the real you, never leaves.

It's those people who you've deceived, they leave every time.
Some days, long after I've been w/out my awakened self, I sleep...

Though yes Wednesday

I am always seeking to enhance Life's Beauty, and the constant growth of our friendship(s),

I've discovered early on,
that it's okay to love a one that struggles with the idea of Love,
for it's those in our lives, that hunger for love the most.

Me, going back down to the hospital this morning,
I recognize that I'll need to have another help around the house now,
& that my patience isn't really..

I was thinking about you today;

And this song, reminded me why you need to relax more!
"I'm the man with all I've wanted
All the toys and playing games
I am the one who pours your coffee
Corner booth each Saturday

I am your daughter's favorite teacher
I'm the leader of the band
I sit behind you in the bleachers
I am Every Man

I'm the coach of every winning team
And still a loser in my mind
I am the soldier in the airport
Facing giants one more time

I am the woman shamed and haunted
By the cry of unborn life
I am every broken man
Nervous child, lonely wife

Is there hope for every man'
A solid place where we can stand
In this dry and weary land
Is there hope for every man?

Is there love that never dies?
Is there peace in troubled times
Someone help me understand
Is there hope for every man

It seems there are just so many roads to travel
It's hard to tell where they will lead
My life is scarred, my dreams unraveled
Now I am scared to take the lead
If I could find someone to follow
Who knows my pain and feels the way
The uncertainty of my tomorrow
The guilt and pain of yesterday
Is there hope for every man?

A solid place where we can stand
In this dry and weary land
Is there hope for every man
Is there love that never dies?

Is there peace in troubled times
Someone help me understand
Is there hope for every man?
There is hope for every man!
A solid place where we can stand
In this dry and weary land
There is hope for every man

There is love that never dies
There is peace in troubled times
Will we help them understand?

Jesus is hope for every man!

There is hope for every man
A solid place where we can stand
In this dry and weary land
There is hope for every man
There is love that never dies
There is peace in troubled times
Will we help them understand?

Jesus is hope for every man!"

Me, I just wanted to share....

Edited for deeper consumption

You know;

The world always seems so huge during those moments of indecision, until that is, you take a moment to reflect upon your part in it, and then, the memories of things to come, seem less challenging, than those moments that, have long passed behind us.

Which is why me, on a that particular Monday filled with so much promise, I just wanted to state what might not be obvious to you just then. Life, even a one as confusing and challenging as your own, is often, so much more rewarding, when you allow yourself to compare and contrast it, to the life you would have had, without it.

Yes, I know, we're no longer in Montreal, or for that matter, Monrovia, but, the alternative to trying hard, and crying every once in a while is nothing worth breathing around, and from that kind of darkness, not even I could see a better future!

So, breath deep, pour out a little, and thank your toes.
For with feet, there's motion. And in motion, change, and the winds thereof, happen...

So much is being said about miscommunication;

And yet, so little is being said about omission and concealment.

Yes. truly listening to another requires a voice, from which to hear from, and yes, though most people fail to ask the question(s), that's no excuse for leaving out the details.

Me, I'm not incredibly fond of breast enhancements. And yet, how many times have I been mislead into believing that it wouldn't matter? To whom, I always say, did it not matter too? If, a person says they dislike fish, but then order a Tekkamaki(Tuna Sushi), me, I get a little confused.

Which brings me back to this moment, when words aren't always shared explicitly. At some stage in our lives, we have to say what is true, no matter the consequences, for, at some point in our lives, we have to choose reality, over frivolity. Sanity, over consumption. Passion, over some empty humping on the couch!

Miscommunication, starts with the individual. You, your job is to speak clearly your thoughts, wants and ambitions, in the context of the encounter. For not speaking reality as the way forward; as you back out, you're only going to be leaving another peice of your heart behind. And how many of those, do you have left?

Just asking....

Feeling, is a higher sense

Not like rain so much, but similar to snow.
A sensation that you can smell, even before you feel it!

Anyhoo, I was blessed to get out and about yesterday, and though the day was more than pleasant, still, driving back again through the hills, I caught just a glimpse of you thinking about me, and I smiled. Distracting enough to give me pause, and yet, refreshing enough to remind me still.

Now though, it's Monday, and I'm leaving the comfort of my office for some mundane task, but like the coming of snow, I can sense you thinking, and I like that too....

Questioned, & Answered(I hope!);

"When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow, that is giving you joy now." (“I read this passage this morning, and am trying to wrap my head around how it applies to ALL joyous situations”).

If I can(?), when you could not walk, longing to learn how at first, and then later, after you got the habit of it, wanting to walk often, but, not being strong enough, your steps were limited. Now, years later, and free to move about as you're able, Joy is found in the freedom of movement. Not just something many others do not en(joy), but, in your sorrow and tears, all those years ago, you, you are presently free to find Joy in everything.

And in that, we should take heed, as we go about the new week:
Life, requires steps, in order for all things to become Joy!

But w/out perspective, nothing but sorrow impacts us enough.
And that, is the wrong way to acknowledge all that we're blessed with and by.

Fire & Ice

A love-hate relationship is a personal relationship involving simultaneous or alternating emotions of love and enmity. This relationship does not have to be of a failed romantic nature(but most are), and may be instead of a familial one. It more often happens when people have completely lost the intimacy within a loving relationship, yet still retain some passion for, or perhaps some commitment towards, each other. Thus, there is a thin line that divides love and hate.

The love you feel may never be seen;
all because the one you used to love, has become so mean.
Is love therefore hate? This is often questioned, but usually only mentioned in the end.
For me, my children love me,
but, sometimes that love has torn me apart
because of the choices they’re forced to make,
so she won’t break(repeatedly) in the dark!

People, the hate they’ve exhibited towards me, can’t be mistaken, but it alone, is more something that they have yet to accept or reckon. It’s true; people often hate you, because they’re not You.
So yes, there’s a thin line, I know it’s true, but in asking me, let me say that, most people, just like you, don’t know what to do. Seems we often care so much that it makes you shake, then, you start to wonder, and/or believe that you’ve made a mistake, for love should never turn to hate, because in all honesty,
hatred is one of life’s biggest mistakes!

And yes, poems never solve many things.
But when you move pass the past, things like why does he hate me, matter less, than the Joy of why does He love me(you)?

Or me, for that matter...

On Easter, and always;

In the distance,
things often look more complicated than they really are.

As for me,
I'll always keep my options open,
but then again,
that only distracts from all the Joy
I could be experiencing with You!

Alas though,
wanting is never quite like receiving,
but, my patience,
like my love,
is strengthened by the fact
that you're paying
attention nonetheless....

In the new week;

In the new week;

Why not try a new approach?
If you know me, you'd know, that fear isn't my constant companion. Sure, I'm not invincible, but that's not a reason to do things out of fear!

In the new week, try being beautiful, while not thinking about sexy. Eat, w/out thinking past meeting the need to exist.

Rationally, we know when we're not being ourselves, or, being true to our own objectives,
and/or standards, and yet, we compromise.

In the new week, think this thought:
What if, all that I wanted, was actually mine?
Would you be in place, where you could experience it in the full?

Lottery winning$ won't emotionally change your life.
Just as torrid sex with another, who you knew didn't really want you, wasn't ultimately all that satisfying, or edifying for you either!

In the new week, remember that we're not children anymore.
Except for you, but you're woman enough to grasp this;

This, is actually it!

Never land, didn't work out for Micheal Jackson, and you're not going to get that close to the sun anyway. Make the best out of what you know to be real, and in the new week, you'll see a different horizon, experience a real rainbow, grow flush, and still be dressed.

And in the new week, love yourself.
That'll play itself forward....

Yesterdays past;

Was it really all those years ago
when we were, what we're not today?

It feels just like yesterday
that I was remembering your laugh
and how I loved to feel it within me.

In remembering your smile now
and how it glowed against the night sky
I recall a perfection in all that
my mind had made of you.

I even remember your perfect little lips
and how you were always trying to kiss me with them.

But then that was the problem, wasn't it?
That's why we stopped being friends.

Somewhere amidst all the fun we were having,
love for your potential grew within my heart,
but I always was bumping up against the You,
that you, were never going to blossom into.

I didn't tell you, but you knew anyway,
and in that, you learned to withdraw from the power
of my presence upon your present,
and yet, still
each time you fell,
my phone still rings,
the inbox(s) explodes.

Roses,
get needlessly trampled under the Farenhieght.

Yet, Ms. yesterday;

Though I wish things could have been different for you,
Just as we've both wished you wouldn't run away, again.
Life isn't a series of yesterdays to live today within...

I've often wondered(​edited)

I've often wondered about the spell that you're under
And how the magic of your soul, can't see itself anymore

For to me, how can you love so deeply
without accepting that the pain, is all it'll produce

And yes, I've often wondered
How when the thorns only dig deeper still
Your only discomfort is the bitter weeping still to come

Me, I often wonder.....

Valentines day card, you may not have received;

Everyday is the same for me, in that I love as much as I can, as often as I'm able, for to me, without love, what's the value of the day anyway? Nonetheless, on this day, wishing that the distance(s) wasn't so dividing, I offer you peace, and a warmth that will last longer than we've known each other, so far...

Not that this is what'll happen to You;

But me, I choose to believe in Love.

The kind that is real now, and the kind that becomes so, after time...
...you though, as the night comes back around, and the candles flicker as the chocolate disappears, please, consider this one aspect of the holiday to come; will you, and how much should you, feel regret for what you'll accept, just to have something to talk about on Monday?

Not that I'm being pessimistic, for I Love Valentines day, the flowers and the poems, seem sweeter when so many get to share. But for me professionally, the weeks thereafter are my 2nd. busiest time of the year, do to all the wholes found in hearts that knew better, but wanted to live in the moment, and not themselves!

Anyhoo, be blessed as you go tonight and tomorrow, and remember, not unlike the Easter Bunny, Cupid is just another way to justify an up-tick in consumer activity, not some celestial happening that flows abundantly.

You, you need to be the same woman on Tuesday, as you are today. Otherwise, you'll be on my couch in that position that costs the most, and not that one, that pays the greatest dividends....

Reality is ugly, but that, I think is the point!

Giving, and seeking, and striving, and measuring, are all conceits that lead to nothing. Just as love isn't something to be meted out, or placed upon a scale, we, in our worldly view(s), we lose sight of the essential beauties around us, because of all the comparatives.

Plus, I like the Harlequin Romance fantasies!

Life is as simple as breathing, and when we treat it that way, we have less waste, less fraud, less abusive experiences. Which is why accepting what it is, is so much easier, than making it, what it's not. Love, and get it over with! Start with the kid who bags your groceries. Allow yourself the freedom to accept, and endure, without perfection, and your heart, as well as your spirit, will breath easier...

I'm glad you asked it that way;

Me, I’ve been living as usual. Working @ the church, we’re I’m(in no real order) IT support, developer of the Singles Ministry, 1st. Friday events coordinator, and head up the Broadcast ministry(not that you’ve listened online), and a few times a month, I’m singing with one of the worship teams.

Of course, I have my (ir)regular jobs coaching, which as I cut back, frees up for more service @ the church, but, it does keep me grounded to a more global reality, which being a bon vivant @ heart, you need around here. Plus, my family owns a property management company that serves Jackson & Josephine counties, and as my mum ages, I’ve been doing more of the project managing, but, I do find to write, cook, entertain, walk the river ways, and think of you, so I think, all & all, I have no legitimate complaints!

So, in order to answer, what I believe is the root question(s), yes, I do see people in the real, as it were, and yes, the guest house is open to most travelers, but, I am not interested in what I can readily find, for in that, what would be the joy?

Life is about living in the now(cave men had no time for planning), exploring the vistas that surround us all, and of course, breathing deep enough, to expel all the dead air within us, and breath afresh!

You, you need not live that way, but as for me and my house, life is a precious gift, that when its gone, regrets are not what worries us….

Obsequious

Origin: 1375–1425; late ME < L obsequiōsus, equiv. to obsequi(um) compliance (obsequ(ī) to comply with (ob- ob- + sequī to follow) + -ium -ium ) + -ōsus -ous

Obsequious has the root sequus meaning "to follow", and so an obsequy is the last duty performed for a person after their death, while an obsequious person is someone who "follows after" or is eager to be a follower;

Me, oddly enough, I meet people who are emotionally dying all the time, and it seems to me, that lately(the after Bush Year), I've walked far more back from the brink than usual, and no, I don't usually count, but my accountant reminds.

Anyhoo, me, how is it that I have no one to follow, or for that matter, the desire to follow another? Seems weird in that, why me Lord, kind of a way, but reversed!

The only way I can describe is to admit, that I now understand why some very powerful men have a strong desire for demanding wives, they crave someone else making the decision other than themselves!

Like cheap Spanish Champagne, I know this craving will displease me soon, but for the recurring moments that it's with me, I'm reminded that the reason why I put so much time into the radio station(www.kcgp.org) is that out there somewhere, is someone who needs to hear what's being broadcast, and if I'm called to serve in that way, I need to be about it!

Obsequious;
It means that I don't always have to lead, and that I surrender to the reality, that in order to do so affectively, I have to submit myself, to Him, who does...

Just to clear it up(for myself) then;

Honestly, I'm never mad when I should be, just as I am never sad, just because it looks like I might want to be. For myself, I choose life, and in that, I choose to live my life more abundantly! You, you may be mad, or glad, happy or sad, about the decisions you've made, and in that, I may have some part to play.

But in this, I am just responsible for me.

I live, I love, I invite, reject, console, offer condolences, and stay connected to those who respect the limits of our engagement, anything less than that dignifies disrespect, and why would I want to do that, when I'm the one that made the choice to allow you so close?

Friendship, like love requires an understanding.

Circumstances change, and relationships do too, but the disconnect that starts from not revealing the truth until after the choice has been made is not my fault, even when another states that they kept it to themselves, because they knew I wouldn't approve. Funny, if I know going in, what the consequence is, that usually keeps the mistakes to a minimum.

Anyhoo, I'm never turning away, as much as I get turned that way.

In that, I guess the lesson is be honest with me(and yourself), and that way, when you're in over your head, I'm not the one who misses your cry for help.

Calm
Patience
Clarity

All these are the best answer to any question.
But you knew that...

For all the men I knew in this year passing(3);

Anyone ever tell you why women are so complicated?

In the New Year, let this guide how you interact with your own woman, and any we may share as friends. Women, woman are generally credited with a much higher E.Q. (emotional intelligence) than us. And they also tend to have a greater awareness of other people, and emotions. In this way, women also tend to have greater access to their own wider range of emotions.

Whereas we will often complain about women thinking illogically (because 'logically' and 'rationally' is the only valid way to think- or so we often assume!) and going through mood swings, what we need to recognize is that we'd never want to be in a world populated only by men, because (oddly enough) we have emotions as well, and we usually only express them completely, in the company of Woman!

Women also give us greater access to this wider range of our own feeling, and it's through their expressed joy(s) and exultations, that we're pulled to even greater heights as human beings, just as it's through their sorrow and tears, that we explore our saddest depths.

This, if we're really honest about it, is what we like about them.

Anyhoo, this is why, in the New Year, I'm asking you(men) to put more attention and effort on what your lover wants; more attention on making her happy, as well as deeply contented with your presence in her life.

A Woman's life is enhanced and magnified through the experience of their partner, and though we rarely talk about this, when your relationship with this woman is over, the lack of an enhanced and magnified experience, is what makes it so hard for you, to replace her with a better woman.

For the last Jack(!), just like your self, has left his ex empty as well!

See how this can snowball? It's been said:
"The life of a man on his own, is predictable and black and white.
The life of a man with a woman is Technicolor and covered in glory."

But this is what I say:
In the New Year, be a man worthy of being connected to.
For the next woman you choose to try this with, may have had experienced less,
than she deserved before you!

And me, I'm still getting tired of righting all these wrongs…..

You deserve to live your dream(w/out me);

When it all boils down; You deserve to live your dream.

The dream that you have held onto, for what seems like forever. You deserve a person who looks at you with adoring eyes, some one who understands when your mood changes, and then, changes again.

You deserve the one who Listens, & hears, Not only your words, but your heart!
Remember, you deserve to live your dream;

Wait patiently for the one who will dance with you, even when there is no music, that one who will read to you, even when there's no book. Singing your favorite song to you, although off key, in time, to your own special rhythm(s).
You deserve to live your dream;

Evenly yoked, unafraid not to pray, with you, and for you.
A one that has planned past all your schemes.
The one that will catch you, if you decide to lean back,
The one whose words are, transformed into your actions...

You, you deserve to live your dream(s), w/out me;

So, go into the New Year, and do not allow yesterday, nor yesteryear,
to cloud your judgment, dreams, and visions about tomorrow!

Just take care and make sure that you are prepared to receive that dream, you keep dreaming though. For it just might turn out to become your own self inflicted, nightmare!

Happy New Year nonetheless...

The week(and the year) concludes;

And I'm left with the Joy of all that was yesterday,
and the unforgiving reality of feeding the homeless again today!

Joy though, it'll last well pass the moment you've forgotten about it, and in that, my heart isn't as heavy as it was when the power went out, but in truth, I'll always find love wherever I am, so with that(and the powers return), I'm happy still...

1st of all, the movie comes out this week nationwide;

and 2ndly:

Very poetic and soothing, true enough, but without words that comfort, how can a man get his viewpoint accepted fully? And in your words, I can see that you heard(saw) what I was saying, so we were all blessed!

And yes, having a relationship that solidifies your basic human needs, without undoing the years of independence can be quite a challenge, when most are under the impression that the only way to hold another, is to contain them, in some symbolic way, that’s easily explained to friends and family.

And in that, I know that under the mistletoe, a few will be tempted to change their direction, just for a second of that hallmark ideal of a relationship, but please, remember that almost all those tears shed, are directly related to surrendering into what seemed good and pleasing to others, even though deep inside, you knew that the time had come, to move past just wanting to come again, this time!

Me, it was a great weekend, and even though Jean had her security detail in my dossier again.
Eugene wasn't long enough, nor did many people come out for the "Festival of Lights".

Next time I'm singing in Redding...

Things even I believe(author unknown);

"I Believe;

That just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.
That we don't have to change friends,
if we understand that friends change.
That no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a
while and you must forgive them for that.
That true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

"I Believe;

That you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life. That it is taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
That you can keep going long after you think you can't.
That we are responsible for what we do,
no matter how we feel.

"I Believe;

That either you control your attitude, or it controls you.
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done,
when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
That money is a lousy way of keeping score. That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time. That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

"I Believe;

That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.
That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself. That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief. That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for whom we become. That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret,
for it could change your life, forever.

"I Believe;

Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
That your life can be changed in a matter of hours, by people who don't even know you. That even when you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you ~ you will find the strength to help.
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

"I Believe;

What lies behind us and what lies before us are infinitesimal matters, compared to what lies between, and within us."

A holiday story(via Terri) edited;

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, Doctor, I’m afraid to die. Can you tell me what lies on the other side?
Very quietly, the doctor said, I don't know!

You don't know? You're a Christian man, and you don't know what's on the other side? The doctor was just then holding the handle of the door; and on the other side of that door, came the sound of very excited, scratching and whining. And as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room, and leaped upon him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, did you notice my dog reaction? He's never been in this room before, and he didn't know what was inside. Actually, he knew nothing except that his master was in here, and when the door opened, he sprang in to me, without any fear whatsoever. So, I may know a little of what’s on the other side of death, But I do know one thing for sure, I know my Master is there, and that is enough.

So as you venture up and over hill and dale this holiday season, remember this:
May you trust God openly, that you are exactly where you are meant to be every moment between now, and when your steps are no longer your own.

1st of all, the movie comes out this week nationwide;

and 2ndly:

Very poetic and soothing, true enough, but without words that comfort, how can a man get his viewpoint accepted fully? And in your words, I can see that you heard(saw) what I was saying, so we were all blessed!

And yes, having a relationship that solidifies your basic human needs, without undoing the years of independence can be quite a challenge, when most are under the impression that the only way to hold another, is to contain them, in some symbolic way, that’s easily explained to friends and family.

And in that, I know that under the mistletoe, a few will be tempted to change their direction, just for a second of that hallmark ideal of a relationship, but please, remember that almost all those tears shed, are directly related to surrendering into what seemed good and pleasing to others, even though deep inside, you knew that the time had come, to move past just wanting to come again, this time!

Me, it was a great weekend, and even though Jean had her security detail in my dossier again. Eugene wasn't long enough, nor did many people come out for the "Festival of Lights".

Next time
I'm singing in Redding...

Going out on a limb

No matter how many times we think about it, the truth remains that what we really want, is another who cares enough about us to listen. A one who delights in our company, enjoys our subtleties, and embraces the outline of our convictions.

Should that not be what you think, I understand.
But I thought it was worth sharing.

So, whereas I am human, Ideally, I like meeting the same; Someone within whom lives a creative soul and a loving heart. Not prone to anger or disruption, yet willing to express an opinion that doesn't make apologies! Great looking on the inside would be a plus. Anyone can buy and apply make up, so the container is not as important as that which it contains!

Surely my eyes can see and my hands will feel, but always when the road grows rocky, it is better to have a good person by your side and not just someone who is good looking! A willingness to get your hands dirty is a plus.
As is a love for life and a willingness to move beyond the past into the present!

In the between though, I really just like being myself....

Nothing makes a difference, w/out change(ing) too;

Sure enough, pain has no off season and yes,
false friends will at least do it to you while facing forward.

But more often than not, it is we, who just need a better perspective on our own lives, needs and desires, in order see more clearly, those in front of us, who really can make a holistic difference in our futures, and move directly pass,
those who never did, in the past!

Church now, and then Eugene for lunch.

Much love to the strong, and more than just gentle passion to those who are feeling weak this weekend. Remember though, there is a better way, but you'll never find it if you're unwilling to change the direction of your longing.

As for you, chin up!

She's watching you,
and she will become You, no matter what you tell her differently....

Great questions all;

And yet, how do I answer them?

Surely, it's much better to be loved, than to have a one who can only smell your lust. And yes, as long as the sun shines, in order to enjoy another, it will always be better have them want the inner you, rather than need to be within you.

But, some just are really needy!

For me then, on the other side of the upcoming holiday, it's just easier to work through the week, than it is to worry about the soon to be, weekend, but then again, I like change. Which isn't my way of saying I can't be still, more than it's my real desire, to not become stagnate.

For you, and for all those like yourself, even I, and not that it has to be hard to know the difference(s), between a man who wants you, while he so busy explaining why you're just what he's looking for. But try this; realize that what he's looking @, might not be you at all. For when his hands are upon you, and his lust is in front of you, how is it that you're even in his natural view? Now that's a better question, than any answer I can provide.

Life, like love has more to do with how you feel, than, how you feel.
If you get my overall meaning!

Yes, even I love how another looks, but then again, even I know that when the rains pour down, even the most durable top soil can be washed away, under the pounding!

Love yourself, and others will want too as well.

Love your outer appearance, and even I'll seek to impale you on my manly desire, while just as easily forgetting that the real you isn't just something that I behold, as it is a someone that I affectionately, empirically, eternally, hold.

And on that note, off to the studio.

Which, if I didn't mention it before, provides me with a means to tell where it is any, and everyone is listening from(internet streaming is like that). So to say that you listened over the weekend(s) past, only reveals that between us, for you, there's an unnecessary need to say what isn't necessarily true.

What a shame that is.

But then again, it could be the reason why he used the drapes
instead of a warm cloth...

Just for the hope that lingers within;

"Tell me you don't sleep at night, I know
Because of how things have been
Tell me how you just don't trust your life to someone

Don't trust that love can win
Just as sure as God lives in my heart I'll say
Take heart, it won't say this way

If there's one thing you can count on
If there's one thing you can know for sure
If there's one thing you can count on
Things are gonna change

If there's one thing you can count on
Things are gonna change

I'm sure it's hard to be where you are now
Won't say I've been there before
But I'll be at your side in silence
Words are wasted before a broken heart
Where I've failed in the past to be there for you
You'll find this truth comin' through

If there's one thing you can count on
If there's one thing you can know for sure
If there's one thing you can count on
Things are gonna change, oh yeah
If there's one thing you can count on
Things are gonna change

Oh, don't give up,
Well, I've seen some hard things
I never thought that I would ever smile again
Holdin' on when I feel half-hearted
I keep my faith without a way to explain it

'Cause I believe it won't always be like this everyday
Hold on, and trust what I say
If there's one thing
If there's one thing

If there's one thing God has promised
Things are gonna change,
If there's one thing you can count on
Things are gonna change

Things are gonna change

Gotta have a little faith
Maybe add a little trust
Add a lot o' love
You see your gonna rise above the things that are so rough
'Cause we have a hope
Things are gonna change"


Bryan Duncan

I've also learned that:

The beauty of caring, isn't so much in being the one cared for, or about even. For the beauty of caring is how it reminds me of my own humanity, and grace. And as the world spins presently underneath us, that's a good feeling that can't be readily packaged, and/or found locally!

Anyhoo, busy is what you do, and I'm sure your life's still a hand full right now, but, maybe one day, when you've backed away from those flashing lights that blind you still, I know you'll find more than enough time to share a moment and that hug, which will warm more than both of our lives.

Me, I'll continue to live with the eagerness which keeps us both tethered, though disconnected in this moment, for I know the future awaits us, in the distance unseen!


So be blessed my busy one.


And yes, I miss your voice(words) too....

In the distance

That has grown between us, I'm still stuck with wondering what you're thinking. Stuck with wondering if this is a barrier you're erecting, or just an extended seperation, until you can come to terms with that part of yourself, that you've yet to reveal to me. Still, I do think about you my reluctant one.

Wondering what the weather is like around you. If the dog(cat) is happy, things that I can only imagine, but, I like to imagine what life is like outside of my own, but still, I wonder about you.

Well, we have Red Rain(Christian Rcck band from New Zealand) coming in today around 4:30, concert @ 6:00, so I have a busy day ahead, but before I lost myself in my own world, I just wanted to walk across the bridge to your own and say hello...

sí haría una diferencia?

So yes, I live in the Rogue Valley, and more often than not, I’m on the 5 heading south out of the mountains, if not but to just to remind myself that large green covered hills are walls of nature, but still, walls nonetheless!

And, thinking in the distance, the one thing that I always recall about a good friendship, is the sound of water. The rushing of a stream or the splatter on an uneven surface, each of these refresh and recharge the water, which is to me, is what most connections are missing, even as it begins anew for some.

So no, I’m not the next guy in a series, or a variation on the themes the last one employed either, and in that I think , may live the key to a different outcome for us both!. Unless of course, you’re looking to repeat what created the void that made this meeting possible, and in that case, there’ll be no need to write me back!

In the between, please enjoy the week as it unfolds for you….

Reality requires understanding,

and when we miss a B/Day, or forget to call after stating that we would, sometimes, feelings get disturbed.

As for myself, if I'm not sure a person is married, or expecting,
it helps, when they tell me, or I think to ask them myself!

All of which brings me back to reality,
a place that w/out understanding is very stark indeed!

Life(inspired by you!);

Has your name all over it!
And yes, life is a neutral element in it all!

Water isn't harsh, or soft, it's just water.

Circumstances obviously will affect the outcome of things,
but life just exists, we humans, we ramp it up, or tear it down
as we move about.

Me, I see life as a canvas.

Brush in hand, I'm just trying to paint you into a beautful
sunrise,or a placid lake side, enjoying the birds,
maybe even holding hands.

Mostly though, I'm awaiting the moon tonight.
She promised to look in on you on her way by.....

Monday, and I was thinking about choice;

Indeed, when you can, most everything you want can be yours, but the choice isn't so much about the moment, as it is the thoughts that follow after.

Me, I just like what I like.
Like whom I enjoy.
Choose to do those things,
be @ those locations,
share those emotions(and more),
as it enhances my global experience!

Yes, there are other ways to accomplish the same results.
And yet, me, I choose what pleases me most.

Like you....

Closer friends, produce better results.

Sometimes,
we need to move ahead of the circumstances,
by allowing ourselves to separate from the past,
freeing the future to take hold of the here and now!

As for myself,
changing seasons
always awakens the desire
to see myself more clearly.

You, I wish the same result.

Beautiful(to me) is more than a word;

Not sleeping again last night:


Love
Like air,
knows only
the inhalation of itself.

Me,
me,
I breath deeply!

Mostly
because
anything
less is death,

But
also
because
that's what I choose.

Life!

Most assuredly I am;

Happy & Secure
Confident & Cheeky
Pretty straight forward & Independent
Successfully an Optimist
Spontaneous & Capricious
Open-minded & Real

Unfortunately(for some);
I really enjoy Laughter
And I absolutely love it when people make me laugh!
And people with a quick wit and a fast mouth, don't always excite me.
Luckily, traveling and experiencing new places and people does though.
Also, I’m a good listener & An avid conversationalist
With good Intellect & Romantic fantasies galore!

What I require(& Desire) is;
Honesty & Integrity
Validity & Compassion
Thoughtfulness & Consideration
Adequate Chemistry & Good personal hygiene is a must!

And whereas I have a lot to share,

I'd love to experience another I can look into, and learn from.
I know, but life really is so short,
and there's so much more to appreciate,
when you respect and enjoy another person.

Me, going into the new week,
I'm looking forward to experiencing a person
who's enough like me(but different) to enjoy all of that, & more.
And yes, we're more than just mySpace affiliated,

But everyone needs a gentle reminder.

Even me!

The Way a Christian should Love:

1 Corinthians 13

13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, [1] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; [2] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Superficial Relationship & Stress

Are two things that I've been wondering about lately.

And yes, these thoughts have a lot to do with the fact that a "past" friend allowed herself to be turned into the Singapore version, of an American serviceman's housewife, but I think, more than the fact that he grew to hate her himself, she also was lost in this world of deception.

Not so much because she was $20,000.00 worth of extra parts and pieces, but more so because in playing this part(role), she had lost her own heart, her own place in the universe, and in that, who wanted "her" really?

Me, I counsel many couples who claim that their partner(s) have lost that loving feeling, or that the intimacy isn't what it used to be, when in truth, what's missing(or discovered) is the person, that the other had believed in, fell in love with, gave themselves over to, wasn't the essence of the person, but just a role they were willing to play, but now, no longer would they perform it freely!

Superficial relationships, whether they be about age, or money, or pure physical lust, in the end, only cause problems for each of the participants. Sure, I know you think you can turn it off and on at will. And I'm sure that you still believe that you're the only one who knows that you're lonelier than your smile reveals, but for me, what with summer coming to a close, I'm just going to keep my closet set on maximum clean, and wish that you would also do the same.

He's only going to reject you in the end,
just like all the others before him did, and, for the same reason!

So why put up this false self?
Why even put up with this false sense
of what kind of woman, you really are?

Be you.
Be proud of you!
Be someone you too can love.

Me, I'll be on sabbatical until the 2nd. of September.
Feel free to call if you're in the area.
Otherwise, at least wear modest clothes until the sun retreats.

Cracked Wide Open(by Nicole Luongo):

"Slowly
over time
piece by piece
my heart
was
cracked wide open
by your hollow words
manipulative lies
and
Oscar-worthy guise

It took me a long time
too many years
to get wise, to realize
I am - and will always be -
a prize

The irony is -
we've both been cut
you were sliced open
by a scalpel
cancer
the cause of your pain - removed;
your stitches will heal

I was cracked wide open by you -
my heart's cancer
the never-ending pain
is all too real

The pen is my scalpel
words are my stitches
because
this wide open crack
that is now my heart
desperately needs to heal."

3/19/09.


For,
as I always seek to remind you,
chasing(or being chased by) vanity
always leads to less than the beauty I offered you!

Rumi said(and words to take into the weekend);

"...And, just the moment
when you are all confused...
leaps forward a voice...
'hold me close,
I am Love,
I am always yours'..."

Therefore:

Heat is
fiery
red
hot
passionate

Love is:
forever
patient
kind
strong.

heat
plus love
equals
True Romance.


Which is better w/friends!

Yesterday

Love,

not unlike the sun itself is more than just warm,
more than just consistent,
more than just above you,
always looking down.

For love is,
and in that,
your assurance is more than just hope itself!

Me,
I'm just happy
your happier still.....

What if you used your imigination(s) to help others?

"The Italian Tomato Garden

An Italian man lived alone in New Jersey.
He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden,
but it was very difficult work, as the ground was hard.

His only son, Vincent, who used to help him, was in prison.

The father wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

Dear Vincent,

I am feeling pretty sad, because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year. I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. I know if you were here my troubles would be over. I know you would be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.

Love, Papa

A few days later he received a letter from his son:


Dear Pop,

Don't dig up that garden.
That's where the bodies are buried.

Love, Vinnie

@ 4 a.m the next morning, FBI agents and police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies. They apologized to the old man and left.

That same day the father received another letter from his son:

Dear Pop,

Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now,
That's the best I could do under the circumstances!

I love you,

Vinnie"


Yes, in this we see the creative genius of a one who has much humor, and uses his circumstances to bring about a wanted desire by another, and yet, using only his words, change is manifested.


You, if you really stopped squandering your resources on reluctance and denial, even you could do such a wonder for another, but 1st., you'll have to accept the fact that circumstances do not dictate outcome(s).


Words dictate, and in that way, your efforts are increased;

genesis 1:14

Why is it that you can't find(or hold onto) Love;

If you are not aware of who you are,
You therefore can not be loved.

For in not knowing ourselves,
we will be fear.

In love we expand,
in fear we shrink.

In fear we become closed,
in love, we flower completely open!

In fear we doubt,
in love we trust.

In fear we become lonely,
in love we never disappear.

In love we admire the trees, birds, clouds, sun,
and all the stars that live within us.

Whereas in fear, we disregard all that we should surrender to,
and only give ourselves over the darkness that love abandons!

Love is when you have the desire to know your inner self,
and in that way, all can love you too, no matter the contents!

Fear, as I've said so often before, is not your friend.
Love on the other hand, is the friend that you've always wanted become.



Be blessed then as the weeks ahead unfolds all around you,
and remember, love is the free gift that no matter how you pay,
is yours to keep, no regardless what anyone else has to say about it.....

Firewerks and other thought(s);

Though this day reminds us of the birthing and subsequent Independence gaining of the United States of America.

Are you celebrating you're own personal freedom(s)?
Are you even free?

Of course, please, have a happy and safe holiday weekend with your family and friends, and please pray for our troops abroad, and those still able to be close to home, but also, take a moment and remember the cost, the continued sacrifice, and reflect on all the work that's still left to be done!

Happy national holiday.

But honestly, are you truly free?