On the Anvil

Life Changes....

Dusty — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 12:58:00 GMT

Ahhhh, my little bloggy friends, I have been amiss in my blogging faithfulness, and for that I apologize.

So much has happened, so much has not happened. Maybe I have become complacent in life....and lazy.

Where to begin?

I received a notice in the mail from The City of Birmingham, addressed to me as the registered owner of a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado.

It was for non-payment of a $60 parking ticket.

You see, the problem is, it was issued on a date while we WEREN'T IN BIRMINGHAM. The notice also informed me that due to non-payment (for this mysterious ticket that I knew nothing about), if I didn't pay within a week, a Warrant would be issued for my arrest.

Well, being the hard-headed person that I am, and knowing full well that I was NOT in the 500 block of 19th Street North on October 15th, I refused to pay it.

After numerous phone calls to some of the most WONDERFUL, CARING, CONCERNED, AND KIND City Employees (insert Sarcasm here)... It was determined that:

1. "We can't find a record of the ticket, so I wouldn't worry about it." (Phone call #1)
2. "Oh wait, here it is...Oh no, my computer system just shut down. Can you call back tomorrow?" (Phone call #2)
3. "I don't show any record of a warrant for your arrest. I would recommend that you call back the day AFTER the deadline and see if one has been issued." (Phone call #3...I was SPEECHLESS...)
4. "Oh, here it is. You claim that it's not legitimate? Well, you'll need to call the Ticket Office and take that up with them. We can't help you." (Phone Call #4)
5. FINALLY, after a phone call to the Citizen's Advocacy Office for the City of Birmingham (also known as "The MAN got you down, well we can help" Office), I spoke to a wonderful gentleman who agreed to get it fixed. (Phone Call #5)

It was finally determined that the ticket was issued to a RED TOYOTA, not a Blue Chevrolet, and they dismissed it, with apologies.

What is horribly terrifying is that, due to a small mistake by a meter maid entering in the wrong tag number, had I NOT received the notice (mailed to old address, but forwarded by USPS to Huntsville), the next time I got stopped/pulled over, I would have probably been arrested!

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Let's see, what other "drama" is happening around here?

Tristan is in Houston this week. Her mom sent her a plane ticket, and she went to spend a week or so with her.

In the meantime, Grandma is in the hospital getting her knee replaced (Surgery #1 on her "Fix-It" list). She's doing ok, but not recovering as well as expected. I think at 78, it would probably be pretty tough on me, too..

I took the kids to the Hospital to see her the other day. Gabriel loves her SO MUCH and didn't understand why he couldn't climb up in her lap and love on her. So, instead, he raised the lid on the portable potty chair in her room, sat down in it, scrunched up his face really tight, and announced, "Look. I'm old, and I'm going poop!"

The rest of the visit was spent making balloon animals out of rubber gloves.

Looks like she will go to a Rehab facility tomorrow for about a month. I've got to get with her Case Worker and figure out which one. If she ends up in a total DUMP, I'll never hear the end of it. Better yet, if she starts with me, I may just LEAVE HER THERE!

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So, in the absence of Wife and Grandma, I have taken some time away from working and am finishing cleaning the house.

I don't feel like there will ever be any PEACE (both physically and spiritually) in this house until it is under control. The JUNK removed: Old bad memories, clutter, dirt, filth, and whatever else I find.

This is what I removed in the first 24 Hours ALONE:

So, now the City of Huntsville Garbage collectors hate me.

Found amongst the "goodies":

1. Colt .38 Special Police Issue (about 50 years old). Turns out that everyone has been looking for it for years. One brother accused another of stealing it, and the whole time it was wrapped up in a brown paper bag in the bottom of the closet, buried under 400 pounds of clutter. (Gun NOT loaded, by the way.)

2. 1981 Hot Wheels "Pacer" car, in original packaging. Yes, the infamous "Pacer." That car that EVERYONE wanted....along with the Pinto and Gremlin.

3. VHS Porn. Apparently someone was into "Swedish Erotica" at some point in time.

4. Approximately 400 empty Wal-mart plastic sacks. All folded very neatly. I did my part to the contribute to the demise of our Environment and threw them away. For all you "recyclers" out there, who I fill no doubt catch some crap from on this one: OK, you come get them and take them somewhere. I don't have the time, I'm a little overwhelmed here.

5. A 1940's Monroe adding machine. Weighing in at about 80 pounds, this behemoth didn't even have eBay value. The Salvation Army got that one.

6. A Columbia metal desk from the 60's or 70's. Remember those old "Steelcase-type"desks that your teacher had in elementary school? Weighing in at approximately 350 pounds, I somehow managed to strong-arm him (by myself) out of Grandma's bedroom, down the hall, through the den, through the kitchen, out the door onto the Carport, and into the back of my truck. Salvation Army got that one, too... And, NO, I didn't offer to help unload it.

7. A dress, complete with tags and 1970's Belk Department Store box. All one piece, quilted bottom, red velour top (that feels like the material they make Airline seats out of), with shiny buttons. $14.00 on clearance back then. Found this one a couple of days ago, before Tristan left for Houston, and she INSISTED on modeling it for me. Tris is going to kill me for this one, but here it goes:

I LOVE my wife. She totally could have been on Ozzie and Harriet with that one!

8. Tax Returns dating back to the early 1960's. Does the IRS even AUDIT that far back?

9. 5 VCR'S. Sorry, sports fans, no Betamax, just good old fashioned VHS.

10. 6 Airline pillows. Who steals 6 Airline Pillows?

So, that's about it so far. Next project is to haul everything salvageable into the attic via the pull-down stairs in the hallway, which are conveniently missing the bottom rung, making life just THAT MUCH MORE FUN!

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I'm going to donate Platelets this week. I found out that you can give Platelets more often than regular blood. It just sucks a little worse, as it takes a lot longer.

And Lifesouth has a deal with Huntsville Hospital where you get $20 worth of Movie Theater (your choice) Gift Cards every time you donate IN the Hospital. I think I can donate about 25 times a year if I give platelets. So, with $500 worth of gift cards, I figure I can take about 60 of my closest friends to the movies by this time next year!

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Life is good. Church is good. Friends are INCREDIBLE...very "transparent," which in turn causes us to become transparent. But, if you know me at all, you pretty much already know that I don't have issues in this department!

Can YOU forgive?

Dusty — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 00:15:00 GMT

Warning: The following blog is pretty much rated PG-13, or maybe even R. Sorry, I just feel like sometimes real-life lessons need real-life examples. If you can't deal with it, click here to go to another site: www.disney.com

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Can you forgive?

Oh, sure you can.

"Back in college, my best friend, Margaret, screwed my boyfriend behind my back. But, I forgave her. We're not really friends anymore, though."

BULL CRAP. I mean, can you REALLY FORGIVE?

Webster's defines the word "forgive" as: "to give up resentment of or claim to requital for; to grant relief from payment of ; to cease to feel resentment against (an offender)"

So, based on even the WORLD'S VIEW of "forgiveness," we see that it means to "give up resentment", or in other words, "to not hold a grudge."

So, let me throw out a few examples (some based on actual incidents I know of, and some purely fictional), and just ask yourself, could I forgive the person in each of these examples? I mean, could I really look past it, assuming they showed some remorse and sorrow for their actions, and love them with the same love that Jesus showed?:

You catch your spouse shooting up heroin in the bathroom. They repent, go to Rehab, but a year later, they get arrested for having marijuana in the car (with your toddler in the back seat).

Your spouse cheats on you, repents for it, but several years later they get caught with their pants around their ankles with their secretary in the break room at work?

A drunk driver hits your car, killing one of your children.   He goes to jail, and then asks your forgiveness for what he did?

You catch your spouse looking at teen porn on the internet. They apologize and you think all is well, but then you catch them doing it again a few months later?

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I just finished reading "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. It is based loosely on the Biblical story of Hosea, which paraphrased is: The story of a man named Hosea, who is ordered by God to marry a hooker. She screws around, leaves, cheats on him, basically acts like a giant whore, but yet he keeps loving her, and taking her back. The story is basically an example of what the country of Israel kept doing to God, but yet his undying love and devotion kept His arms wide open, and kept Him loving the people of Israel.

In the fictional book, God tells "Michael" to marry a specific prostitute, named Angel. He married her, takes her home, but yet she leaves him time and again.   There is a deeper rooted problem to her unfaithfulness, caused partially by her rape at the age of 6, being forced into prostitution, and some serious psychological trauma. Angel leaves Michael at one point, feeling incapable of loving him properly, the way he deserves. She doesn't know HOW to love! But yet, time and again, he takes her back, because God instructs him not to give up on her.

Could I do this? Could YOU do this?

I guess what you have to ask yourself is this, "Is there anything that ANYONE has done to me that is really that much worse than what we did to Jesus?"

I mean, he was rejected, spit upon, took ALL of our sins upon himself, died a horrible gruesome death for us, and he did it ALL out of love?

He took ALL of our sins upon Himself.

Remember that time you cheated on a History test in high school? He took that one.

Remember that time you embezzled from work? He took that one.

Remember that time you got drunk on a business trip and cheated on your wife? He took that one.

Remember that time you looked at porn on the internet late at night when no one was watching? He took that one.

Remember that time you smacked the crap out of one of your kids (or even your spouse) out of anger? He took that one.

Remember that time you got pulled over for speeding and got a ticket?   He took that one.

Does this mean that sin is without punishment? Absolutely not. But is it OUR RIGHT to punish and to judge, or is it our OBLIGATION to forgive?

Do we as humans have any right to hold any resentment towards a fellow man when they wrong us, considering that what we did to Christ was so much worse?

Is there any limit on how many times you should forgive? In Matthew 18:22, Jesus is responding to Peter's question about how many times he has to forgive a person, and He says, "Seventy times Seven."   That's about 490 times. I think the point is, as long as someone is repentant, keep forgiving.

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So, maybe there's someone out there today that you need to seek forgiveness from. Or maybe there's someone out there that you need to forgive. Or maybe someone that you say you've forgiven, but you need to LET GO of the resentment and bitterness.

Or maybe you're OK with the whole forgiveness "business", and have learned to forgive as Christ did. But, then again, deep down inside, are you REALLY?

Are you REALLY prepared for the next time that someone does you wrong? Maybe it will be someone close to you. Maybe it will be one of those "unforgivable sins."   Can you forgive it anyhow?

On the 45th anniversary of his death....

Dusty — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:25:00 GMT

"If you read history, you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this."

-C.S. Lewis-

Weekend Update

Dusty — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:40:00 GMT

Tristan's Mom came to Huntsville this weekend. Had it not been for our move to Huntsville, and the resulting "opening of our eyes" about some things relating to Tris's family, she probably never would have not had the courage/curiousity to make that initial phone call a month ago.

That phone call started it all, and her mom left Houston, Texas at 4:00 A.M. on Friday morning, driving straight through. Arriving Friday night and staying all weekend.

She got to attend church with us on Sunday, and I just happened to catch this photo opportunity which pretty much sums it all up:

Thrift Storin'

Dusty — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 00:48:00 GMT

I awoke Monday feeling unusually energetic, and as I was off work, I vowed not to waste it.

SO, I started with the 450+ asphalt shingles piled up by the curb at the end of the driveway.

You see, Guma's (Tristan's Grandmother) ex-husband was "general contractor" for 30 years. Personally, I don't think he was anything but a glorified handyman, as he never really produced an income, but somewhere along the way he self-appointed the title.

He liked to bring home EVERY SINGLE piece of left-over construction "stuff" when he finished a job.

He left about 6 years ago (who gets a divorce in their 70's anyhow?), and took with him only his clothes and his 25 foot long Oldsmobile Delta 88.

As a result, the last 3 months have consisted, not only of us moving OUR stuff in to this house, but hauling his leftovers off.

In the garage behind the house, there were at least 250 empty, dried-up Sherwin-Williams paint cans, dating back to 1976, a virtual "timeline" of the company's label changes on their paint cans over the years.

Oh, and did I mention? Paint is considered "hazardous materials" and has to be disposed of properly.

He also left behind about 500 asphalt shingles, of which there were only about 20 of any matching pattern or color.   Even Habitat for Humanity wouldn't take them, and the garbage men left them on the curb 4 weeks in a row.

But, now it's all gone.

And to top all that off, Guma asked me afterwards if I would mind planting some grass seed where the shingles had been lying on the (already dead) yard. I informed her that I would, "Look into that."

"OK, Lord, it's Heaven or the Nursing Home. She's going one of two places. You pick," I mumbled.

I'm still waiting for Him to get back to me on that one.

Tristan and I then managed to unpack and put away another 5 moving boxes or so of our clothes. We're kind of down to the "Why didn't we sell this or leave it behind" stuff now.

Put some of it in the attic, along with several things of Guma's that she refuses to part with. Lord only knows why we need to hang on to the Presto Hot-Air Caramel Popcorn Popper, complete with original box, owner's manual, and picture of a model on the box, wearing bell-bottoms and happily using HER Popper in her Harvest-Gold kitchen!

I guess Microwave Ovens may just be a passing "fad" and we may need to pull the ol' POPPER out some day.

So, after the dust settled this morning (Literally), Tristan and I decided that we should make the most of the rest of our day and wander the Thrift Stores.

There are honestly 15 Thrift Stores within a 10 mile radius of our house, which incidentally doesn't say much about the 'Hood we live in, as they typically don't open these stores in affluent areas.

Finds of the day included:

Brand NEW Target scarves, gloves, hats (found a Goodwill that gets all of Target's clearance merchandise from last year!) for $1.00 each.

A Brand NEW Jansport black Messenger-style laptop computer bag for $5.00.

A Brand NEW white shirt to wear for Catering events at work for $3.99. It's white and tuxedo-style. The brand is "Bowie." Yes, that's right, folks, as in "David Bowie." Apparently this clothing line never went over real well with the masses of Bowie fans who shop at Target.

Several books, including Billy Graham, RC Sproul, John Piper, and Max Lucado.

Not a bad day in all.

Had lunch together at "Nothing but Noodles." It's a pretty cool franchise concept that sells....yep, you guessed it.....Nothing but Noodles.   I had Pad Thai and Tristan had Eggplant Parmesan on Angel Hair pasta.

All in all, a great day spent with my beautiful bride!

There's a book somewhere in all of this.

Dusty — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:54:00 GMT

Somewhere in all of this bewildering wild ride that we call "our life," Tristan and I have a story to tell. I'm not sure of the "how's" or the "why's", but I felt God telling me to write a book, and I have for quite some time now.

He hasn't brought us through all the tears, pain, joy and adventures (with one incredible lesson unfolding after another) for nothing. We have quite a testimony. And NOT to share it would be a dishonor. If just ONE person can find some solace in my words, then none of it has been in vain.

So, I did it. I broke down and entered the world of high-techery, and ordered a shiny, new laptop computer.

If I'm going to write, I must be able to do it anytime, anyplace. The kids will be told that the new computer is actually a BOMB, so that they remain fearful of it, and never touch it. No fears of spyware and viruses that might possibly invade THIS computer, because my daughter decided that she should click "OK" on every single Internet "Pop-Up" ad that appears.

So, once the little Kathie-Lee-Gifford-sweatshop-children in Bangladesh finish assembling my custom-made-to-order pile of plastic, screws, circuit boards and what-nots, I will begin.

I just hope it's waterproof, 'cause I do some of my
best thinking in the bathtub.

He TRULY IS a God of Restoration.

Dusty — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:39:00 GMT

So, I get blindsided when I returned home from my daily shift at the salt mines the other evening. I just love it when my beautiful bride does this, and I now know why, all those years ago, my mother always said, "Wait until your father reads the mail and uses the bathroom before you speak to him."

Tristan says to me, "I found my Mother, and it only cost $1.95."

You see, for those of you who don't know, Tristan's mom and dad divorced when she was 5.   A bitter custody battle ensued, with Tristan being shuffled back and forth from Alabama to Texas.

The details are really sketchy, (and of course we have only had ONE SIDE of the details for the last 27 years), but Tristan's father and family won custody and she hasn't seen her Mother since.

So, she made the phone call. Her maternal grandmother answered the phone, and Tristan asked for "Linda."

.....and the conversation went something like this:

"Linda?"

"Yes?"

"This is Tristan."

....brief silence..."

and then a soft voice, "My BABY GIRL?", followed by tears of joy from both ends of the phone receiver.

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OK, this is the point in the story when I usually begin crying like a baby.

For some reason, I can only get this far into the story before I break down. I've told the story about a dozen times over the last 4 days, somehow expecting to be "tough, manly, and callused," but, nevertheless, the result is always the same.

Mother and daughter were reunited after TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS.

No letters, no phone calls, no emails, no Christmas Cards, nothing.

You see, Tristan was always unsure of the real story, and lived ONLY with the knowledge that she was given by a well-intentioned family.

Every story told has 2 sides, and for the last 27 years, she only had one.

Tristan has struggled with the questions over the years:

Do I contact her? Will she still love me? Will she remember me?

Her Mother, on the other hand, had stayed absent out of respect. A deep Respect for Tristan to live her own life, safe in the knowledge that she was in a loving home with a loving family, and knowing that was truly the best thing for her little girl. Her deep desire to avoid making Tristan's life a living Hell (that would inevitably ensue with Tristan's family if contact had been attempted) overrode the desire to reach out, as bad as the human soul longed to.

So she lived, day after day in the knowledge that ONE DAY, if Tristan so desired, she could reach out and make contact and initiate the relationship again, but she would leave that up to Tristan.

For Linda, this meant letting go. Letting go, knowing that it would be the most painful thing she would ever have to do. But she possessed a love that was so deep that it did so nonetheless, knowing that it was the best thing FOR that person.

I looked into the eyes of my 9 year old daughter today, and I simply could not fathom that amount of pain. If you don't have children, it may not be easy to understand. Flesh of my flesh, bone of my bones, there is no bond like that between a parent and a child, and I truly believe that bond is even stronger between a mother and child.

Linda last saw Tristan on April 10th, 1981.

27 years and 6 months to the DAY.

That's 10,045 long nights for a mother and daughter to wonder about each other, and to live in pain and anguish.

14,464,800 minutes.

But, through it all, Linda never forgot. She never quit loving her "baby girl." Tristan's baby pictures remained on her wall. Her Christening gown and baby books remained locked in a cedar chest, never abandoned, never forgotten.

Tristan had a few remaining pictures, and a few memories from a 5-year-old's mind.

She doesn't need details. Why they divorced, why the custody battle was ugly, why one family did this and one family did that.   None of that matters now. What difference would it make? Would it really matter?

For me, that's a tough one. There's a morbid curiosity part of me that always desires to know the details. Even though this means setting myself up for heartache and pain at times, I still persist.

And yet I love my wife for not wanting to know this. And her mother for agreeing not to discuss any of it, unless Tristan asks.

What a beautiful example of LOVE.   A love that transcends all the PAST, all the CRAP, and the UGLINESS, and the CLUTTER.   It strips away all the "Stuff" and all that remains is a RAW, yet beautiful emotion, as pure as any freshly fallen snow.

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And then it hit me Sunday during Communion at church, and I looked over at Tristan and saw it as well.

Linda became a Christian about 15 years ago.

In the last 12 years of our marriage, that had been a concern that Tristan had voiced quite often.

"What if I never see her?"

"What if I never KNOW?"

But, mother and daughter now live safe in the knowledge that, regardless of what happens, regardless of the brevity or longevity of the remainder of this lifetime, they WILL be together again in Heaven. NEVER AGAIN to be separated.

And, there in the stillness and sanctity of a small church sanctuary, our tears mixed with wine and communion crackers.

And I DID, for the first time in a long time, TRULY "Do this in remembrance of Me."

Krispy Kreme and Exercise....A WINNING Combination.

Dusty — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:34:00 GMT

"The Krispy Kreme Challenge is an annual race in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Beginning at the NC State Belltower, each runner runs 2 miles to the Krispy Kreme store located
on Peace St. in Raleigh. After downing a full dozen of the famous Krispy Kreme doughnuts, the runner
must run the two miles back. All in one hour."

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THIS ROCKS. Why didn't I think of this?

I think I may initiate the "Huntsville-Pabst-Chili-Fun-Run" next year.

Dusty.

Just one more reason I love my wife....

Dusty — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:39:00 GMT

Yea, we've had our ups and downs over the last 12 years. Good times....bad times. Times to cry and times to laugh. But, despite it all, over and over again, second only to God, she never fails to simply amaze me.

And so here it is, my shameless plug for an incredibly beautiful mind. A mind that, up until recently, I'd rather keep all to myself. But now <sigh>, I must share her with the world.

God has shown her that she has so many lessons to share, so much wisdom to impart. Some of it came painfully, and some of it at quite a cost. But, sometimes God speaks.......... and we listen.

And God told her to share her experiences with those out there. Maybe she can be that glimmer of hope to those lost and dying. Those women that can relate, and who may be going through some of the same trials that she has gone through.

So, (drumroll please), without further ado:

www.TrisGraham.com

Just one more reason I love my wife with every inch of my heart.

You ain't got not SCHLITZ MALT LIQUOR? You ain't Representin'!

Dusty — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 01:29:00 GMT

So, we've moved to Huntsville (long story, and if you don't know the whole story, there's probably a reason)

Maybe I'll post it all someday.

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The nearest Grocery Store to the house is not the best place to be after dark or before sunrise.

I've been there twice. Once after dark and once before sunrise.

And both times, I've been hit up for change by a total stranger. When I declined, they persisted.

NOW, those of you that know me... Know that I would truly give the shirt off my back to someone in need.

But both times, the person appeared to be drunk/high (base on alcohol smell, demeanor, gait, etc...)

On the second occasion, the grocery store employee called the police and got into a shouting match as the woman staggered off back down the street...

I guess the old cliche' comes to mind and the real question is: What would Jesus do?

Would he have picked the lady up and given her a ride, even considering that she was pretty drunk, pretty ROUGH, and acting crazy?

Would he have given her money, KNOWING that she needed it to pick up a six-pack? Offered to buy her something to eat? Ignored it and left, like I did? Stopped and tried to talk to her and used it as a chance to witness?

How much danger do you put yourself in when you have your own safety (as a father and Husband) to think of?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

CHER: If I Could Turn Back Time

Dusty — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 00:42:00 GMT

'Nuff Said!

Wrong WAY!!

Dusty — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 23:58:00 GMT

So, I have been informed by a friend of mine that sometimes I come across as somewhat Harsh, Brash, and Self-Arrogant in my writing style (my wording, not his exact words)...

It's like this: I'm not perfect. I don't have all the answers. I don't think that I'm the only one that "gets it" and everyone else around me is confused and lost. I make mistakes, plenty of 'em. I don't know it all. I am a sinner...DAILY.

BUT, I learn from my mistakes. And if I have a chance to help others learn from my mistakes and avoid the SAME mistakes, I'll take it.

It's like a bus full of tourists. They're in a strange town and not familiar with the roads. The bus driver inadvertently turns the wrong way down a one-way street into the path of an oncoming tractor-trailer.

And there's a guy on the bus that sees the error in judgment. Which of the following is his best decision?

1.) He jumps off the bus and secretly hopes the others don't die in a fiery crash.
2.) He alerts the bus driver and everyone on the bus of the situation and helps lead them to safety.
3.) He does nothing and perishes along with the rest of the bus-riders.

OK, I know this is a very dramatic example, but let's stop and think about it.

I am not the apostle Paul by any means, nor am I a Saint (just ask my wife on that one!)

But, didn't the apostle Paul WRITE many letters to the various New Testament churches and Christians, letting them know, at times, of the error of their ways?

NO, NO, NO, once again, I am NOT placing myself on the same level with Paul, but if something is very obviously wrong, do we have a moral duty to bring it up, especially if people are not listening?

If it seems so obvious where we (as Christians and the modern-day church) have lost sight of the original goal, purpose, and passion, am I to just sit back and let it all go? I'm not a revolutionary, by any means, but didn't it take the vision, the guts to stand up for what's RIGHT, and the passion of ONE MAN to bring about change, OVER AND OVER in history? It's got to start somewhere and with SOMEONE.

And if I do it with the best of intentions, and with genuine LOVE, is it all so wrong?

Dauphin Island Adventure....

Dusty — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 22:43:00 GMT

I found out at the last moment that we were going to be closed ALL LAST WEEK at the Mission.

So, after a little scrounging and digging, I managed to come up with a "last-minute-special" on a little house on Dauphin Island.

And THIS is what makes it all worthwhile!:

GUILTY AS CHARGED.

Dusty — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 21:45:00 GMT

Ok, I admit, I'm GUILTY.

Guilty of not following through with commitments. Guilty of not being available for others in their time of need.

You know, I had a friend who was in a Rehab program a while back. I said I would go visit him, and I did a couple of times. Then I became too caught up in my own life to be able to make the time to "be there" for him. It was a whole 15 mile drive out of my way, and I just flat out justified it by making up excuses in my head.

So, I've come to the recent realization, (and I guess this goes back to my previous blog about telling someone you've been meaning to call them).....

If Jesus were on this earth today, I think He would have been out pounding the streets. Calling on the elderly, the widows, the sick, the shut-ins, the drug addicts in Rehab, the drunks in jail.

So, I vow from this time on to be a "friend." If someone legitimately needs me, I will go to them. Regardless of the time, the inconvenience, the discomfort, I am going to start trying to "be there" for people more. I want to be that guy that people KNOW they can call, regardless of day or night, and I'll just "LISTEN." .... And give out practical advice on the situation, if I have any!

Now don't get me wrong. In Matthew 7:6, Jesus says, "Cast not your pearls before swine..."

Paraphrased, I believe what Jesus was trying to say here is that our personal life experiences (the valuable ones that COST you something) are like pearls. The swine I believe refers to those who are TAKERS (for lack of a better word)... Those who don't appreciate or even CARE what you're doing for them or telling them. Those who don't appreciate the holy things that are freely given to them from the depths of another person's life!

So, in essence, I guess what I'm trying to point out here is that there ARE instances where God would rather see you SAVE your resources on those that would appreciate it!

If "Bob the Drunk" calls me every weekend from Jail wanting to be bailed out after a DUI, then I think I need to reconsider being at Bob's ever-beckoning call, since he's apparently not learning a lesson, nor getting help for his problem.

If "Larry the Party Guy" calls me at 2 A.M. on Saturday night and needs help getting his Drugs flushed down the toilet because the Cops are on their way, I may have to reconsider. I don't think I would consider that a Genuine "NEED."

Disclaimer: I know NO ONE that I can think of named "Bob and Larry." Although completely fictional, these names were based loosely on VeggieTales, although, to the best of my knowledge, neither of those two characters are drunks nor addicts. Come on, man, I had to pick 2 names at RANDOM!

So, I guess my point is, if you're sick and need some help, I'll be there.

If you're depressed and need someone to talk to, I'll be there.

If you're drunk and need a ride, I'll be there (the first couple of times, anyhow!.....hehehehe)

EMOTIONALLY, I'M GOING TO START BEING A TRUE FRIEND.

NOW I JUST HAVE TO FIND SOME!

Big Business

Dusty — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:14:00 GMT

-------------------------------------

God has been leading me down a path the last couple of years and I didn't even recognize it. He stripped away the material "stuff". The house that got foreclosed, the car that got repossessed, the bankruptcy, even friendships ...and He got us back to our ROOTS. It's like He's been saying all along, "None of that matters. NONE OF IT. It's just 'stuff.' All that matters is my work."

And He's right! (like He's ever WRONG!)

I honestly could care less if I lived out the rest of my years in a VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER. As long as my wife and kids have a roof over our heads and we're doing His Work, what difference does it really make how we live?

That's where it is starting to bother me. As Christians, WHEN did we ever let church become BIG BUSINESS? Yeah, yeah, I know. The church has bills that have to be paid, too.

But, I mean, get REAL. Do we really need all the STUFF? Did God REALLY say, somewhere along the way, "Please pour millions of dollars into a giant building, and expensive equipment, fancy church-buses, and flashy bling-bling," when there are churches that meet in warehouses, movie theaters, and outdoors?

Let's stop and ask ourselves. If Jesus were physically present on the earth in this day and age, would he have a multi-million dollar building? I can't say for sure, but I would bet my LIFE on the fact that the answer would be a resounding, "HELL, NO."

So, where did we get off track? And how did we get to the point where we worried too much about bringing in the "numbers" that we lost sight of building actual one-on-one relationships with those IN THE CHURCH?

I'm not talking about Sunday School or Pot-Luck Suppers.... Those are all feeble, yet noble attempts, that are literally just band-aids on the bigger wound.

I'm talking about our concentration NOT having to be so absorbed by meeting the budget that we actually have time to pick up the phone and call people and say, "Hey, how have you been? Let's have lunch and talk."

You only have SO MUCH energy and 24 Hours in any given day. And your Energy and Time are going to be divided amongst your various activities. WHAT activities are entirely up to you.

I'm talking about all of us as Christians caring so much that we spend more time OUT of the church, loving on people as Christ commanded, than we do IN the church, pouring over the spreadsheets and having brainstorming meetings trying to figure out how to get more people into the church.

Let's take care of the relationships with those we HAVE before we worry about those we don't have. When those on the outside see how much you are loving on those on the inside, they will WANT SOME OF IT, I assure you, and you won't have to actively pursue them as much!

And I've been guilty, and so has Tristan, of not loving people the way we should. Of being guilty of the same things that I sit here and accuse the modern-day church of. But, now we've realized that we can't necessarily change other Christians or how they think. It's hard, if not almost impossible, to change an entire mindset of a group of people!

I dunno, I guess I just sit and watch people walk into the Mission daily. People who have NOTHING. People who are in transition from homelessness to moving into a housing project apartment and having a roof over their heads at night again for the first time in years. And they're grateful for anything you can give them. That old pillow that's stained and lumpy? Sure beats NOT having a pillow under your head at night.

And I've never seen people more appreciative.

We live in such a VAIN SOCIETY. From our fancy churches to our nice houses. And we've completely missed the point.

IT DOESN'T MATTER. It's supposed to be about leading people to God, and loving on them, and taking care of those in need.

And I'm sick. Sick of the way we ALL have acted.

And I'm ready for CHANGE.

Mustard Seeds.

Dusty — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 11:58:00 GMT

Originally, the reaction that I got from people was one of, "You left your job? How will you pay your bills?   What about Health Insurance?

As Christians, it seems that we say we HAVE FAITH, but yet in reality at times we seem to be so lacking of it!

I understand and appreciate the concern for my well-being, and know that their hearts were in the right place, but where is the FAITH in those questions? Not a single comment of, "Wow, what a great example of Faith. Please let us know if there's anything we can do for your family."

It seems that somewhere along the way we were stripped of our ability to THINK for ourselves and lost the most basic of instilled abilities: To have child-like innocence. We lost our grip on that blind faith. Faith that gets you through tough times. Faith that enables us to move forward when you don't know what the future holds, or what is around the next corner.

Have we become so spoiled as a society that we must plan out every step of our lives, even when God has called us to do His work, and He assures us that He will take care of us, and that it will all "Be O.K."?

Matthew 6:31-35 says: "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself."

Does that mean we're supposed to stupidly squander our money, and not worry about how to pay our bills, take care of our family, etc? ABSOLUTELY NOT. God still wants us to be wise stewards of our money.

The Bible simply says, in Luke 17:6, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."

Do I think that faith combined with the knowledge that you are IN God's Will doing His work is powerful?

Absolutely!

So, I've come to the realization, that somewhere along the way I became guilty of placing too much confidence and faith in MAN, in Leaders, in Relationships, and in the Establishment. I let my confidence and faith, which should have rested SOLELY in God, be shifted to mere mortals. We are all human, fallible, well-intentioned, but yet sometimes lacking in the most basic of child-like emotions.

And so it becomes a paradigm shift of sorts for me. A realization that my faith and confidence cannot be placed in others. It cannot be placed in friends and family, nor in the Church, nor in other people, not even my wife. It can be placed in Christ ALONE.

-----------------------------------------------------------

This week I watched my son work in the Mission's warehouse, no air-conditioning, sweating profusely. Happily helping, fully cognizant and satisfied in the knowledge that he was helping others.

Gabriel rides next to me in the truck on occasion to help pick up donations, and he's zealous in his eagerness to help. He asks me, "When can we go pick up some more stuff for people?"   He's only 4 foot tall, and weighs in at probably 50 pounds, but that little boy will put his entire determination and spirit into trying to help me lift a washing machine into the back of the truck.

And THAT is when it hits home....   It's all gonna be OK.

Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire......

Dusty — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:41:00 GMT

And while I'm on a tirade, here is another one of my Pet Peeves:

Please don't say, "I'll pray for you" or "I've been meaning to call you", if you DON'T MEAN IT. (News Flash: That's called a LIE.) Stop and pray for them RIGHT THEN. If you've been "meaning to call" someone, and it's been a month, then you would have already done it. Plain and simple.

Unfortunately, we become so tied up in "canned responses" and cliches that our words seem to lose their effectiveness.

As I arrived down at the Condo pool earlier this week, it was completely deserted, save for the pool cleaning guy, stooped over the filter basket. I asked him how he was doing. He was an older gentleman, sweat soaking his shirt, with a look of exasperation, and he said to me, "Not real good. I'm hot and I'm tired."

And, ya know, that opened the door to a whole new conversation. One that otherwise would have ended with, "I'm fine. How are you." And we both would have gone our own separate ways, knowing deep down inside that we were BOTH LIARS.

So, start today by telling someone something and MEANING IT.

In a Van down by the river!

Dusty — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 04:33:00 GMT

We've been looking for a house to rent out towards Helena/McCalla. It's time to move. There's nothing holding us down in the Vestavia area anymore, and after more and more re-exposure to the suburbs, we really miss living out there. People are people wherever you go, but somehow when you strip away the huge house payments and the smog, something seems to "lift" in people's attitudes and mindsets. Yeah, yeah, I know, you get the "redneck factor" as an added bonus, too.

I just miss living out away from the noise, away from the complexity of the daily hustle and bustle. Out where the air is clear, and life is..... maybe, JUST MAYBE..... a little bit simpler and more relaxed.

So, if anyone out there KNOWS of a place that's reasonable, we come with an excellent rental history for the last 5 years, and I'd be more than willing to take on odd-jobs to offset the rent, if needed!

SO, that's my current prayer request. And God made it abundantly clear that He will provide a place for us when the time is right. And the price will be right. And I feel that it will come through word-of-mouth, not the newspaper or a Realtor. Am I nuts? Maybe so. Maybe I just "Get it."

Stay tuned and find out!

Update.....

Dusty — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 02:49:00 GMT

WOW, I just realized that I haven't blogged in about 6 months. Once faithful, I have slipped into some sort of inward-gazing lackadaisical mindframe. Not that anyone probably reads this anyhow, BUT.....

So, I guess for starters, the best way to sum up what has happened to Tristan and I job-wise is to post a copy of an email that I sent out to my Men's Group a few months ago (I'm too lazy to re-type it all...hehehe):

-----------------------

Guys,

On Sunday, March 16th, God spoke to me during church (totally unrelated to the sermon) that the money that Tristan and I had in our Savings Account for a house was NOT for a house. I wrote it in my Bible at the time and showed it to Tristan... We couldn't quite figure it out.

Over the course of the next 2 weeks or so, He revealed to me that I was supposed to be working with the poor and needy. I realize now (after re-reading my last 2 years worth of blogs, that this has ALWAYS been my
passion, but I had not been in touch with God like I should have over the last year or so. He made it abundantly clear that everything we have been through in our marriage in the past 12 years (bankruptcy, foreclosure, re-learning how to live frugally and BUDGET, being able to be self-sufficient, etc...) was all part of his bigger plan. And I truly feel that he has big plans in store for Tristan and I in a Ministry of our
own someday.

About 3 weeks ago, I had dinner with an old friend of mine, who used to go to downtown Birmingham with me and the kids to feed the homeless. We hadn't talked in a long time and it was just kind of a random meeting. I told him what I thought God was doing, and out of the blue, he said, "Have you been to Oak Mountain Missions and talked to the guy that started the place, named Roddy?"

That place had been on my heart a long time ago, but I had never pursued it, and admittedly had pushed it to the back of my mind.

I prayed about it for the next week, and God placed it on my heart that I should go there. At the time, I didn't know how or why, but I went the next day.

I walked through the door and asked for Roddy, I just looked at him and said, "My name is Dusty, and I really don't know why I'm here, but I feel that God wanted me to come here and that maybe you could use some help." He didn't hesitate or even bat an eyelash, but immediately put me to work sorting donations, unloading trucks, assisting people picking out clothes, furniture, etc.... (volunteer work).

Over the course of the day, he mentioned in passing that he might be replacing one of his Drivers who just wasn't working out due to personal problems. I left that day, and told him that I'd eventually be back to volunteer some more. The place just felt "RIGHT" and Roddy just felt "RIGHT", as well. I was truly at peace there.

Then, later that week on Sunday night, my dad and I sat down and had a talk. He could tell I was miserable at work, and I really was. It's hard to sit still at work when you feel God calling you to bigger and better things.

Then, in the midst of my conversation with my dad, he admits that he has not cashed THIRTY-ONE of his own paychecks because the business hasn't always had the moneysince adding me as an additional employee (plus Insurance, etc...). WOW. Thanks for the confirmation, Lord, you actually just made what I'm about to do THAT MUCH EASIER for me!

So, I asked if I could resign. Business was slow and he has plenty of help to cover the schedule.

I went on my way, with dad's blessing, and in the course of the conversation, when I told him that I was going to go into Ministry work of some sort, he said, "You know, your mom and I knew about 15 years ago that you would

probably end up in Ministry of some sort, but we never mentioned it to you."

So, I walked away from a family business and a Future. Walked away from a chance to own my own store someday and be set FOR LIFE, probably. And, believe it or not, it was the BIGGEST RELIEF to walk away. It was like a burden was lifted.

It was kind of like doing a U-Turn in the road when you suddenly discover you've been driving in the wrong direction!

So, I spent the next 2 weeks or so at home with Tristan, helping her get the house in order and doing Spring Cleaning, and just spending much-needed time together with her while the kids were at school.

Then, towards the end of that 2 week, on a Thursday night, while Tristan and I were doing our devotions, God pretty much hit me over the head and said, "What are you waiting on? Go talk to Roddy."

So, I dropped Tristan off for her doctor's appointment on Friday morning and had an hour and a half to kill. I went down to Oak Mountain and asked Roddy if he was really serious about hiring someone. I explained that things had changed since I saw him last, and that I was no longer currently employed with my family, as God had told me to resign and prepare my house for doing HIS work, and that it didn't matter what the pay was or how many hours a week, and that he'd probably think I was over-qualified and crazy, but that I just wanted to and NEEDED to work there (I didn't really mention the part that Godwas TELLING me to work there, although in hindsight I probably should have!)

He gave me an application and told me to come back the first part of the next week. At the last minute, as I was
leaving, God placed it on my heart to ask Roddy if I could leave my phone number for him, and if he had
time over the weekend to talk, that I would explain/introduce myself further. Roddy told me to just write it down on one of the blank index cards on his desk,and so I did.

That night and the next day (Saturday), I had a church Men's Retreat in Springville, Alabama, up in the mountains. It was 8:30 Saturday morning and I just happened to be standing in the ONLY place at the Retreat where I

could actually get a cell phone signal. I really had no business being in that spot at that moment, as it was

no where near where I was supposed to be! My phone rang, and it was Roddy.

He said, "I know this is going to sound odd, but a lot can happen in 24 hours. I've been on the phone with the Military and the Red Cross all night. My 27 year-old daughter is in the military and is stationed
overseas. She just found out she has a hole in her liver (turned out to be a leaking bile duct) and is being rushed to a hospital in Japan where no one speaks English. I'm going to have to leave right away for Japan. Is there
any way you can come in Monday at 7:00 AM, and let me give you a crash-course in running the warehouse, dispatching the trucks, handling donations and deliveries, and organizing the volunteers? I'm going to need
you to step into my shoes for about a Month while I'm gone and run this place."

I swear to you guys, I know I am very creative and have a VERY overactive imagination, but I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried!

It's amazing when you TRULY follow God's will for your life, how he provides and takes care of you. It's like riding in the "curl" of a giant wave!

Tristan turned in her two week's notice at the Church about a month ago, and is no longer working there. She is now being a stay-at-home mom. I came home today and she was scrubbing the bathroom with a toothbrush. God has made it clear to her that her "mission" right now is to be a stay at home with the kids and be the mom that she should be and that they needed MORE of in their life. Working at the church was taking too much out of her mentally and physically and our household was going downhill (my fault, too....), as well as interfering with

our time that we were able to spend together during Services, as it seemed like shewas practically LIVING in the church bookstore all day on Sundays and all night on Wednesdays.

The money isn't tremendous and it's only from 7 AM til Noon, Monday thru Friday (25 hours per week), but I KNOW that it's going to lead to bigger things and that God has his arms around us, both spiritually and financially. So, in the meantime, I'm not worried about it and it's not about the money, anyhow.   I just HAVE to do what he wants me to do. I can't run away from Him anymore. I HAVE to answer his Call and quit trying to do my own thing and be "successful." I've spent 35 years doing that.

And the amazing thing? The Mission is like a giant yardsale of used items pouring in, and boxes full of food coming in from grocery stores, and day-old bread from Panera, Pepperidge Farm, Publix, and chips from Golden Flake.   And furniture and appliances that need to be cleaned up and minor repairs, and it's just amazing that it's a COMPILATION of everything I've ever done my whole life!

Thank you ALL for your prayers this morning and for your continued prayers. All I can say is, I'm not spiritual giant, not by any means, but guys, I'm TELLING YOU, if any of you out there have ever felt God calling you to a
different vocation (and/or you're currently miserable in the one you're in....), do NOT hesitate to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY.   Open your heart to Him, get all the junk out, and be RECEPTIVE to what He wants you to do.

It is not the least bit scary, even though you'd think it would be, when you KNOW for a fact you're doing His will. It's like having big, old, strong arms wrapped around you every step of the way, and it's EXHILERATING.

And if you know for a fact that you're doing what he wants you to do, but you dread going to work everyday (and it's become a drudgery), then PRAY and try to go into your job every day with AGAPE LOVE, and I assure you that it will change!

In Him,
Dusty

--------------------------------------------

So, since that time, Roddy came back from taking care of his daughter (she's doing better and back to work now). Apparently I did such an impressive job that he brought me up at a board meeting and they voted to keep me on as Warehouse Manager!

The Mission doesn't sell ANYTHING. We just give it all away. People DO have to be pre-qualified, however, to come in (through an outside agency such as DHR or one of the Shelters), and they have to have a referral.

But it's really cool. The bills get paid every month, whether through Donations or Grant Money, the money just SHOWS UP. I guess when people find out that their donated items are NOT being sold but GIVEN AWAY with love, that sets us apart from some other agencies which apparently have turned into big business.

And it's nice to have a boss who TOTALLY "Gets It"... I mean, he went out on faith to start this place almost 15 years ago. He did it totally on FAITH and obedience to God, and has continued to run it exactly as God instructed him year-after-year ever since then!

Well, last month I felt that I could do more if I had a truck instead of the old Astro Van. Maybe I could run extra errands or deliver extra Bread to different Shelters after work if I had room to haul it.

So, I decided to pray. And I decided to pray specifically!   I asked God (if it was His will), if I could have a Full-Size Chevrolet Truck, extended cab (to have room for the kids), and I didn't have much to spend.

I waited about 3 weeks and kept praying.   I tried not to get discouraged, but it really wasn't that hard, because deep down inside, I KNEW he was going to come through!

Then I found it on Craigslist. A 2000 Chevrolet Silverado, extended cab, tool box, bed liner, CD Player, Air Conditioning that ACTUALLY WORKS.....and the price?   $3,000.00

No Lie. I figured it was a mistake or maybe a typo. But I called the guy. Turns out it was high-mileage from a long commute, but the price was RIGHT, 3 Grand....

The Reality of Death and Living with PURPOSE.....

Dusty — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 14:15:00 GMT

I snapped this picture a couple of months ago at my parents house when my grandfather was visiting. He was sitting alone. Trying desperately to make sense of the tackle box and fishing gear that laid before him. His mind struggling to tie the knots that he had probably tied thousands of times before.

Papa was a Veteran of World War II. He was discharged when the Navy discovered that he had bad eyesight. He later found out that his same Unit ended up at Pearl Harbor and many of his friends had died. Apparently God had other plans for him in life. Plans that NOW, years later, all make sense.

He took the knowledge that the Military had provided him as an X-Ray Technician and immediately put it to use in the outside world. He started out at the bottom, working in a Hospital, eventually working his way up to Hospital Administrator with a Masters in Psychology. He worked as a counselor, sharing with others the knowledge and wisdom that God had given him, always willing to try and make a difference in other lives.

Papa has lived a good life. Married to the same woman for 65 Years. Father of 3 creative, artistic, talented beautiful children. Successful in both his personal life, as well as his business life. Never controversial, always seemingly the pillar of strength in both his family and community.

You see, my 87-year-old grandfather was just recently released from the Hospital back home in Missouri. My grandmother isn't really able to take care of him at home by herself and so he's now spending his remaining days in a Nursing Home Rehab Unit. The doctors didn't give him long to live.

He was the kind of person you could talk to about anything. Always full of soft spoken, wise advice, rarely raising his voice.

"This, too, Shall pass" still echoes in my ears as the advice he gave me when I was going through a rough time about 12 years ago. And it did. It DID pass, and life blossomed more than I could have ever imagined.

He had a stroke about 8 years ago, and things slowly worsened for him. What started out as a mild stroke progressed into other health problems, eventually spiraling downward into the last stages of Alzheimer's. Unable to speak, frustrated, unable to accurately put into words the thoughts that I KNOW are running through his brilliant mind.

So, I found out the other day about the prognosis of "4 weeks to live", and at first, panic and fear set in. The fear of losing someone you love. The fear of death.

Then, the other day at work, my dad told me, "You know, Papa told me a few years ago, 'Don't worry about me if I die, I know where I'm going and I'll be in Heaven.'" And then it really sank in......... all the recent years of living in misery would be over for him. The misery of merely surviving, unable to adequately take care of himself, trapped in a body that won't cooperate with a mind that is probably racing with thoughts.

So, I pray. NOT for God to further extend what has already been a GOOD LIFE, yet, at the same time, I don't pray for him to die.

I just pray that God will help the suffering to end one way or the other, whichever way He sees fit. And I pray for those that are left behind, that they will be able to see this as a time of rejoicing and not of sorrow.

So it is inevitable that there is a funeral in my near future, yet I don't intend to go. Not out of lack of respect, but for what purpose? To mourn the loss of life of someone who will be in a better place? Besides, I think my time would be better spent here, keeping things running and moving smoothly. I think that's what Papa would want for me.

I'm content with the memories I have now. Not of an empty soul-less body lying in a casket, but the memories of Papa who laughed and smiled. The Papa that I KNOW I'll see again someday.

And I'm happy. Not because he's going to die..... that's unavoidable for all of us. But because I KNOW FOR CERTAIN that he's going to a better place. A place where he'll once again be able to walk and talk and go fishing again in some great big Heavenly lake stocked with every fish of every imaginable size, shape and color.

I don't know if we'll have internet access in heaven, but if we do, and if by chance you read this blog when you get there...... Papa, please KNOW that you were and ARE truly cherished. That you lived a life full of purpose and meaning and you touched a lot of lives in the process.

I LOVE YOU.

Philippians 1:21 (New International Version)

For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Why I love my wife......

Dusty — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:51:00 GMT

The Demise of Slut T.V. .....

Dusty — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:15:00 GMT

I am TRULY saddened.

Due to the Hollywood Writer's Strike, the production of the "Fill-your-mind-with-useless -garbage-when-you-could-be-spending-time-doing-things-more-productive-like-eating-dinner-with-your-family-or -reading-a-good-book" Television show, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES, will cease immediately, as they are "running out of scripts."

Ok, here's a script for your Season Finale, Hollywood:

All the women on the show get Divorces, venereal diseases, temporarily lose their minds, and live happlily ever after somewhere else with their Yard Boys, who they've all been doinking on the side, anyhow. Their kids and husbands get amnesia and forget that they ever existed and are miraculously healed from all the mental scarring that Mommy Dearest caused, and go on to live their own lives with NEW SPOUSES and new mommies and daddies, and no one misses "Mommy The Tramp".

So, that's my tirade for the night. I'm just sick of some of the trash that is on Primetime televsion anymore.

AND WE WONDER WHAT IS WRONG WITH OUR SOCIETY????

As for the Writers going "On Strike" and for Labor Unions in general, let me ask you this: If you don't like the pay that you are receiving, and don't feel that it is fair, THEN QUIT. Why did you agree to it in the first place? Just walk away with your little writer's pad and pencil, and start over somewhere else doing something that you feel you are adequately compensated for.

All in all, this might be a good thing.... it may be like the SODOM AND GOMORRAH cleansing of Hollywood that this country so desperately needs!

GOOD NIGHT, I'm going to watch Dog The Bounty Hunter call some one a "MotherF*cker" and then pray for their soul and salvation 5 minutes later.

Now THAT is true entertainment!

How to GIVE LIFE...

Dusty — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 02:06:00 GMT

I KNEW it, but it never really hit me until recently that my wife actually HAD Childhood Cancer and survived. I'd heard the stories about what she went through 15+ years ago, seen the scar on her leg where the Osteosarcoma and a portion of the bone was removed, seen the pictures of her with short hair, right after it started to grow back, post-chemo, but I didn't know her then, and I didn't experience it, and it was all so surreal because it didn't happen to me.

Then I recently went to "Kandles for Kids" at Liberty Park with her and the kids, a nightime memorial for survivors and families of those who DIDN'T survive. And I watched a neighbor family who started www.curingchildhoodcancer.org after they LOST their beautiful 5-year-old daughter, Janie, to Cancer. And I sat in my lawnchair, and watched my own kids in amazement, and watched the families of victims of childhood cancer with candles lit in the darkness, held HIGH in honor of their own children who didn't make it, and I cried, tears streaming down my face in the darkness, realizing how truly fortunate I was to have Tristan, Windsor, and Gabriel today.

And then I went to church the following Sunday, and the LifeSouth Bloodmobile was parked out front. And I heard the still, small voice of God and He said to me, "Give blood, I did. It'll be alright, I'll hold your hand."

I went inside the church and found Tristan, and grabbed her hand, and blurted out, "C'mon. Don't ask, just follow me."

I guess I should back up.... About 15 years ago, I went to Paramedic school, and part of our training was to practice starting IV's on each other..... To make a long story short, I had a bad experience with a fellow student jabbing a needle in my arm for almost 7 minutes (without managing to find a vein, but finding EVERY bone, tendon, and piece of cartilege in between..) I almost passed out and the Instructors eventually had to step in and stop the exercise.

Ever since then, I can TAKE blood, SEE blood, or watch blood being drawn, just DON'T bring a needle near me.

So I went inside the Bloodmobile and gave blood. I turned my head and never looked down at the needle or the donation bag. And I felt peace. One quick glance at Tristan, who stayed by my side through the entire procedure, and the look in her eyes was worth it all.

And the rest of the day I felt relaxed and an incredible sense of euphoria. I KNOW it was partially from the fact that I had just lost 1/8 of my blood, but it was an incredible, peaceful feeling.

3 weeks later, I got my Blood Donor Card in the mail, complete with my "blood type" (which I had never known), and discover that I am type O-Negative.

Less than 7% of the population has this blood type and it is a "Universal" Blood type, meaning that ANYONE, regardless of their blood type, can use type O-Negative blood.

And it's like God whispered to me and said,
"See, I told you I'd hold your hand."

The Demise of Cosmo

Dusty — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:46:00 GMT

So, our Beta fish, Cosmo, disappears. Just disappears. There one night, and gone the next morning. Not beaten up and left for dead, not mangled and mauled by a late night intruder, and he didn't hang himself in his cell. He just disappeared into thin air.

Empty bowl, clean water, no signs of foul play, and the cat was acting cool and nonchalant (Suspect #1).

Tristan and I decided to just leave the empty bowl where it was on the kitchen counter for about 2 days, hoping the kids wouldn't notice.

WRONG. Windsor discovers the fish is gone and has a major meltdown, mommy explains that the fish "died", and all hell breaks loose. Fortunately I'm at work at this point.

So, I'm thinkin', "God, what good could possibly come out of this one, and did you really HAVE to let the cat eat the FISH!?"

Then someone at work jokingly says to Tris, "Maybe the fish got raptured," and THAT'S IT. It all hits home.

This is the perfect opportunity to explain the Rapture to my kids. Which will probably lead into a deeper discussion of Heaven and Hell. I'm sure this will include a few questions by my six-year-old son, Gabriel, about whether or not there will be blood and guts, swords, guns and football in Hell, too.

But, WOW, so the death of a fish leads to a chance to witness to my own children on a deeper level about God, and opens up all kinds of doors.

Man, what an amazing fisherman that God guy is.

Hittin' the Jesus Lottery...

Dusty — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 02:29:00 GMT

WOW, so much has been going on lately that I haven't had time to write and don't hardly know where to start! So, I guess I'll just number the recent events (and rants/raves) in my life in chronological order and start like that:

1. WORK. Started the new job, and all is going SMASHINGLY well (I always wanted to use that word.) I'm getting used to the drive again, and the Astro van is absolutely wonderful on the highway. Captains chairs, armrests, cruise control, and I sit up high enough to look down on people. I mean, what more could I ask for!?!?... besides getting my A/C fixed, of course, and the fact that it is TRULY an ugly vehicle.

2. HONDA ELEMENT. We bought Tristan a new car. Ok, not NEW, but NEW TO HER and not really that old. A 2003 Honda Element with about 60,000 miles on it. Sorry, the Mercury Sable had to go... As much as I despise car payments, we managed to get a fair amount of Trade for the Sable and put a little money down, and we now have a VERY SMALL payment, which we plan to try and pay off in one year! The Sable was having numerous problems that were going to lead to some big repair bills in the near future, and besides, Tris's been a real trooper and driven a LOT OF JUNK over the last 5 years or so, so it was time for her to have something NICE, DEPENDABLE, SAFE and RELIABLE, and something that she actually LIKED on top of that!

3. EN FUEGO. We went to the EN FUEGO Concert (Spanish for "On Fire") with the Middle Schoolers from M'top a couple of weeks ago. That's a big old "Christian Woodstock" concert in Verbena, Alabama (I think "Verbena" is Spanish for "Between nowhere and Hell.") We were fortunate enough to have a brand new Charter bus to ride down on, though, (which looked real nice parked next to the Podunk Baptist Church's 1984 Dodge Ram 16-passenger van, which was a cross between Doo-doo brown and grey primer in color.)

It was absolutely incredible. The bands were awesome, and the weather was great. It rained on the way down, but quit by the time we got there.

A couple of observations, though:

a. Don't eat "Festival Food" unless you have a stomach of lead, or you enjoy diarhhea. "Alligator On A Stick" is probably not REAL ALLIGATOR when served by a man with 4 teeth from the back of a pickup truck..... <meow>....

b. Parents, PLEASE don't let your little girls wear shirts that say "Jesus is my Homie" if the bottom half of their attire is going to scream "LOOK AT MY ASS".   Either Jesus can be your "Homie" or Daisy Duke can make your shorts, you're gonna have to pick ONE OR THE OTHER.

c. Fanny Packs. This is the 2nd major Christian event I have been to in the last 2 years where I saw WAY too many fanny packs.    I really don't want to see you reach down and pull a snack out or your "crotchal-waistal-region" and EAT IT. Yes, they are convenient, I admit, but so are BACKPACKS.

d. I am getting old. I was the only one at the entire concert of 31.5+ Million people that brought a Poncho and a lawn chair. ..... I guess the only thing left now is for me to buy a fanny pack...

I was, however, the only one who was both SITTING DOWN and DRY.

4. Vestavia Hills PTA. I have decided I have officially written my LAST check to the Vestavia Hills PTA. I wrote 2 checks on the 6th of August for the kids' school registration, and they were not cashed until August 30th. This resulted in my excessive swearing when trying to balance my checkbook for 3 weeks.

Dear PTA: You don't NEED my money. Quit saying you do. People that need money DEPOSIT THE CHECKS that people write them. I understand the excuse that you "only make one large deposit once all the checks are in", but what about the INTEREST you could have been drawing on that money the entire time (however small it might be)???

Sorry, you will get no more of my money.   Not one dime.....

Oh well, at least my kids will no longer have to sell gift wrap and Christmas apples/oranges to relatives who only buy it because they feel obligated.

5. Football and Cheerleading. It is once again time for our wonderful Alabama fall sports programs to start back up. Windsor had cheerleading pictures on Sunday afternoon at Vestavia High School.

Did you know that the air temperature is almost 15 degrees HOTTER on an astroturf football field than it is in the surrounding stands? Seriously, no lie.   Miserable.

And I stand and watch the overbearing mommies and their precious little Jon Benet Ramsey daughters, and I want to get violently ill...oh, wait, maybe that was the heat from the ASTROTURF.

But, alas, we ALMOST got Windsor out of cheerleading this year. Then she decided at the last minute that she wanted to do it after all. <sigh>

6. SWEEPSTAKES. I am ALL ABOUT entering contests and saving bottle caps, etc, etc..   So, last week, Tris and I were LITERALLY down to our last 20 dollars or so for the week, without having to dip into savings, which I won't do unless it is a life and death emergency. Given, thanks to our wonderful Dave Ramsey budget, all of our bills, groceries, gas, etc.. was already paid for that week, but still, I like to have a little "buffer" for unexpected expenses.

One afternoon at work, my dad hands me a couple of envelopes and says, "Oh yeah, here, these came to the store and were addressed to you."   Well, apparently, I had entered the Mountain Dew Summer Sweepstakes at some point over the summer, and the envelopes each contained a check for $25.00! Not only did feel like I hit the lottery, apparently I did it TWICE. So, I'm chalkin' that one up as "The Jesus Lottery."\

Scare the Hell out of 'em.

Dusty — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 13:38:00 GMT

So, here I am on the 4th of July morn'...The kids are already outside playing, I'm on cup of coffee #3, and all is quiet and peaceful.

And then it comes blaring out of the TV, quiet at first, then louder, building to a crescendo... My first thought is that the fire alarm is going off, maybe there's a tornado outside, or possibly an AIR RAID.

No wait, it's John Hagee preaching, red-faced and slightly resembling a blowfish. And I start to watch, mesmerized. I guess it's been a while since the "old Baptist days" of my youth, and I forgot what it was like to be yelled at by a Minister.

And I start thinking. Our pastor, Dr. Bill Elder of Mountaintop Community Church in Birmingham, Alabama (SHAMELESS PLUG for my church) doesn't yell, at least not very often. He is mild-mannered and soft-spoken, yet beautifully eloquent.

So, here's what's going through my head this morning:

I guess it takes all kinds. Maybe the people of John Hagee's church in San Antonio, TX are hard-headed and need to be yelled at to understand the point. Maybe that's a Texan-thang, and everything REALLY IS big in Texas. Maybe those cowboy hats are like "John Hagee Protectors." I'm sure that's just his personal style, and he's done it for so long that it's become second place, and he doesn't even realize he does it. His church appears to be big enough in size, so apparently it's working for some.

I'm just not a big fan of the "Hell, Fire and Brimstone" style.   Do "unchurched" people find themselves drawn to a church where they know they're going to get screamed at? When they flip on the TV on Sunday morning and see some guy hollering and shouting, does that in ANY WAY make them want to get up, shower, get dressed, and drive to Church?   Or would they be more likely to sit down and listen to a Teacher-type, who will teach them, explain it, and show them The Way out of love and compassion?

Is the INTIMIDATION FACTOR really necessary??

So, do they teach this speaking-style in Seminary?    How to YELL OUT the strong points, and then back down on the minor points? How to "accent" every other syllable? Do they have "HOLLERING FOR JESUS 101" Classes?

How would Jesus have taught? Would he have SCREAMED out the Sermon on the Mount, or would he have been more timid, choosing instead to teach with kind words, a soft manner, and love?

So, hats off to John Hagee. Buddy, you just might want to check in with your Doctor on a regular basis, I suspect your blood pressure is probably through the ROOF.

But, please, if it's workin' for ya, just keep on SCARIN' THE HELL OUT OF PEOPLE.

Disclaimer: No representation is made that the quality of Religious services to be performed is greater than the quality of services performed by other Churches. The views and opinions published on this website are my own and do not necessarily represent the views of any of the Businesses, Churches, or People mentioned herein. If you don't like what you read, feel free to Post a Comment or click away to another page!

Pimpin' out the Astro Van....

Dusty — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 02:06:00 GMT

OK, so I'm leaving the "appliance parts warehouse Manager" job. The company has been having financial difficulties for a while, and I've been kind of hanging in there to see what would happen. No one in the company would listen to my advice on how to turn the company around, which was basically, "Pay the BILLS."

In the meantime, unbeknownst to me, God had bigger and better plans.

Without going into great detail, totally out of the blue, my dad approached me and we sat down and talked, and effective tomorrow, I will now be BACK at The UPS Store.....(with a few changes).

One specific change that I'm stoked about is that I will be back at the Campus store with my dad and brother. We always had fun working together, making fun of each other and cutting up.

So, in light of the big event, I treated myself to a new vehicle. Something with a few hundred-thousand miles left in her, that wasn't TOTALLY ugly (unless you ask Tristan's opinion), that would double as a kid-hauler on weekends, that RAN GOOD and had a radio (please see previous vehicles).

So, here it is, The PIMP VAN:

I traded the Cargo Van (mentioned in the previous blog) in on it. Anyone that knows me, knows that in any given year, I will probably go through AT LEAST 5 cars. BUT, no car payments, and I usually either break even or make a little money off the cars when I sell them!

So, life once again is good. Sorry, no amusing anecdotes tonight, as I really am tired and don't have my wits about me. Maybe another night when I'm a little more rested!

Goodnight to all.... and, YES, I WILL let you ride in my van! bahahahahahahahaha......

Slump-dee-dump

Dusty — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 01:15:00 GMT

I think I'm in a slump right now.

1. Work is OK, unless you count the fact that the owner of our company doesn't know how to run a business, and the only solution to all of our Corporate problems apparently is CUTTING OUT EVERYONE'S OVERTIME.   Not selling his Porsche to pay the bills, or maybe not maintaining a Race Car at the Company's expense. Nice, real nice.

Anyone out there HIRING? I just need decent benefits, and the ability to make MORE MONEY when I MAKE YOU more money.   I don't enjoy busting my butt, trying to turn your company around (and even sometimes being successful at that), and then being rewarded with NOTHING and having all my overtime taken away, in addition. PAY YOUR EMPLOYEES IN DIRECT RELATION TO WHAT THEIR VALUE IS TO YOUR COMPANY. PERIOD. IT'S REALLY SIMPLE. THEY'LL BE LOYAL AND STAY WITH YOU IF YOU DO, I PROMISE.

Why is this such a hard concept for Business Owners, and how do they manage to stay in business without doing it !?!?!?

No, I don't do Sales. Not interested.

2. Several friends recently asked me to do them favors, and each time I just COULDN'T DO IT. I really couldn't. I had made prior plans with my wife and kids, and am trying to be a better dad and stick to my word. This actually happened THREE TIMES in the last week. And each time I felt like crap for not doing it, and then, to make myself feel worse, I convinced myself that Jesus would have done ANYTHING FOR ANYONE. Or would he?!?!?

3. Have you ever known someone who brought up the SAME THING from their past, OVER AND OVER again and just wouldn't let it die?   Get over it, it's over.   Grieve and MOVE ON and don't mention it again. NO ONE REALLY WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT IT AND YOU'RE MAKING YOURSELF LOOK PATHETIC.   Well, that's what I wanted to scream, but I just smiled (and gave them a Vegamite sandwich.....)

4. I broke down and bought a new computer. Our last 4 computers have either been hand-me-downs or old computers that I pieced together. The current computer works fine until you shut it off, then it takes 2 hours of trying to re-boot to get it to come back up. It's on it's last leg, and my patience has worn out.   The new one will have a 22" Flat Panel LCD monitor. SWEET!

My 8 year old asked me which part of our budget the computer was coming out of. Tristan and I nearly fell out of our chairs in amazement. She was worried that it came out of the "New House Fund."

NO, it wasn't in the Dave Ramsey budget, but I considered it an "Emergency."

5. I started listening to the SwitchFoot song, "This is Your Life." It says, " This is your life, are you who you want to be? This is your life, is it everything that you dreamed that it would be when the world was younger,
and you had everything to lose?"

WOW. I have to start thinking about that one. I really want to be a Missionary, but I'm not sure how or where to start on that one. I've been praying about it, though.

6. I bought a cargo van last week.   It was cheap, and everyone needs a van. Bumper Sticker I'm considering: "NO, I WON'T HELP YOU MOVE."

SERIOUSLY THOUGH, I WILL help you do whatever you need for $50 an hour (this includes Gas). One Hour MINIMUM. So, just let me know if you need help. Otherwise, I'll probably sell the van later this month and make some money off it.

I guess that's about it in my fun life.

Life is good, the money is hanging in there, and the home life couldn't be better.

I've decided that my next job will be only working from 4 A.M. until Noon everyday, as I REALLY enjoy laying out by the pool with the kids. Sun is relaxing, and it has Vitamin D in it, too. Vitamin D builds stong bones, and since I'm lactose intolerant, I need all the help I can get in that department.

I'm too young to break a hip.

Christians Need to Lighen UP!

Dusty — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 16:18:00 GMT

It's kind of interesting. I can track Statistics on my blog page, and one of the statistics that I can view is from "Referring pages." (i.e.....How did people get to my blog page and from WHERE?)

One of the referring pages was from a Google search on the phrase, "Christians Need to Lighten Up."

Apparently back in June of 2006, I was blogging about the Cruise we took and I said that some Christians needed to lighten up.

Well, I hope whomever was searching that phrase on Google found what they were looking for (and THEN SOME!)

--------------------------------------------

Today is Sunday, and we went to the 9:00 AM service at Mountaintop. It was good stuff about Brokenness and Healing.

It's a rainy, lazy kind of Sunday and I'm torn between taking the kids to the Library and visiting the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (which is FREE on Sundays).

My kids are color-blind. Windsor refers to Frances in her class as "the boy with brown skin", not "Black" or "African American." We've never pointed out differences in skin color, and so they don't know any different. I don't know if I can explain it all to her in one afternoon, though, not to mention trying to explain hatred, racism, and segregation and why some people are that way.

Pesticides and the American Culture

Dusty — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 20:09:00 GMT

We took the kids to "Whole Foods Market" today, which recently opened here in Birmingham. Whole Foods claims to be the "World's Leading Natural and Organic Foods Supermarket."

I have come to several conclusions after my trip to Whole Foods Market, conveniently located in Mountain Brook, home of healthy people and fruitcakes:

1. If you drive a Mercedes, you will park VERY carefully, so as to not get it damaged.....UNLESS there is only ONE parking spot left in the entire Whole Foods parking lot and it's in between a Monster Truck and a Ghetto sled, and it's about 2 feet narrower than a normal parking spot.

THEN, and ONLY THEN, can you make an exception to the above rule, and hold your own Gumball Rally with your fellow Mercedes drivers to see who can get the parking spot first.

2. I like pesticides. I think they probably help build our immune systems. I mean, mosquitoes still exist, even after our attempts to eradicate them, and they've come back meaner and stronger. So, I don't feel it necessary to pay twice the price for "Organic," when "Pesticidic" seems to suit me just fine.

3. Rich people and Healthy people are NOT generally ATTRACTIVE people. Apparently their beauty is on the inside, or maybe they keep it in their Prada handbags and only use it on special occasions.

4. Whole Foods is a fun afternoon, but generally overpriced and overrated. I fed my kids lunch just by walking through twice and trying all the samples. I got out of there for a $1.49 coconut (I don't think it was organic, who would spray pesticides on a Palm Tree??), a 50¢ Paul Newman Chocolate Bar (Paul Newman thinks of EVERYTHING!), and some Mineral Water (it's sterile and I LIKE THE TASTE!)

So, we left there and went to Winn-Dixie, because they had Pot Roast on sale, and saw Don Siegelman. I didn't have a clue who he was, but told Tris, "That guy looked familiar, and he smiled at me very politely."

She informed me that I was an idiot, and "That was Don Siegelman, you ding-dong."

Maybe he was there for the Buy-One-Get-One-Free Pot Roast, too.

Generational BONDAGE

Dusty — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 04:21:00 GMT

BONDAGE, WHIPS & CHAINS, CALL ME EDNA.

If you came here looking for S & M, sorry to disappoint you. But now that I have your PERVERTED, SICK, TWISTED LITTLE MIND curious, feel free to read on. Jesus loves everyone, even PERVERTS.

--------------------------------------------

I've decided that there will be nothing left in our family by the time everyone dies off and it trickles down to me, and I accepted that a long time ago. It wouldn't make sense to live my life with the anticipation of an Inheritance.

3 Generations will be gone and there will probably be nothing to show for it. That's just the way life is, and now as a Father, Husband, and the leader of my family, it is up to ME and myself alone to lead the way and break any Generational Bondage.

One of my siblings the other day gave my parents a list of my parents' possessions that they desired to have.   My parents were in the process of Moving, and this particular person presented my parents with a LIST of things that they wanted.   Not only do I find that to be just WEIRD, I think it is selfish, rude, and sad that people put that much emphasis on material possessions.

Tristan and I stopped and looked around us the other day at friends and family who are in debt up to their ears, and we decided that it was sad.   Sad that people are in Financial Debt so bad that it probably seems like there is no end in sight. You know the funny thing is, we decided that people probably look at us funny because of how we live and a few of them probably look down on us or feel sorry for us.   And I think it's hilarious, because we couldn't be HAPPIER.

You see, we FOUND financial freedom. It didn't come in the form of a large inheritance or a great-paying job or a big house or a fancy car.   It came in the form of being able to sleep at night because you don't have bills hanging over your head. It came in the form of living the simple life and being GENUINELY HAPPY while doing it.

Money, Money, Money. It makes some people's worlds go round.

Dusty — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 03:25:00 GMT

Work is good. I am still working in between the Adult Bookstore and the Ghetto Nightclub, right down the street from the ABC Store and Church's Chicken.

I like my job. It's tough at times, but challenging. Enough so that I don't get bored. Our company is in the process of closing our main Corporate Office/Warehouse, and moving it all over to my location. So it will be double the headaches, responsibility, and workload, but I like it that way. Overtime Pay has been good to me, also.

Tristan is back at Church working in the bookstore and she is also working as the "Administrative Assistant to the Director of the 18-20Somethings College and Career Ministry." Ok, I don't know her OFFICIAL titles, but she's super hot and sexy and she's good at what she does, and I love her, and that's all that matters!

--------------------------------------------------------

We have decided to put off trying to buy a house/condo for a year or so. We'll work on saving up some more money in the meantime.

You know, it's funny, I listened to someone (a WEALTHY and respected businessman) tell me the other day, "You've GOT to have credit. You'll always want to have credit cards, and you'll ALWAYS have some debt."

HORSE CRAP.

We haven't had credit cards for the last 4 years. We've paid CASH for everything. Has it stopped us from buying anything by not having a Credit Card?   YES.

It probably stopped us from buying a Plasma TV or Furniture that we really couldn't afford. That's IT.

I agree that decent credit is helpful when buying a home, but it is NOT ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

Oh, but what about emergencies, you ask? What if something horrible happens and you need a credit card for emergencies? More Horse Crap.

Put some money in the bank in an "Emergency Fund." Then if the car breaks down, or the hot water heater blows up, you just pull some money out and use it to fix it. You'd be amazed at how much LESS STRESSFUL a catastrophe can be when you know you already have the money set aside to fix it!

"But I get SkyMiles and bonus rewards for using my Credit Cards," you say.    SUPER. GOOD FOR YOU.   You paid $2,500 in interest charges last year and you got a $50.00 Olive Garden Gift Card and a roundtrip airfare to Sioux City, Iowa. SUPER. Let me know how that works out for you.

I got a $50.00 CVS Pharmacy Gift Card from my Credit Union for using my DEBIT CARD last year.....and it cost me NADA, ZILCH.

Why should you listen to me, you ask? Why should you listen to someone who went through foreclosure, bankruptcy, etc, etc....?

I don't really care if you do. All I know is that it WORKS FOR US.

ZUKI

Dusty — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 03:01:00 GMT

Since I haven't blogged in so long, I think I will blog various random nonsensical thoughts and spread them all out in seperate blogs to make it look like I've been faithful in my daily blogs.... A lot like random MACHINE GUN FIRE in a drive-by shooting.

So, here goes:

-------------------------

I had to put the 1990 Toyota Camry out to pasture. 265,000+ miles and there were just too many little random things that were starting to get on my nerves that I didn't feel like spending the money to fix. Like....I dunno.....AIR CONDITIONING, A STEREO, and a MUFFLER.

I just couldn't take one more summer of singing out loud (to my OWN tune) in a hot car that sounded like a Sherman Tank.

So, I got a 1992 Suzuki Sidekick, similar to this one:

Just like before, It's OLD. And it's PAID FOR. And it needs a few minor repairs. BUT, it has Air Conditioning, and a CD Player, and it's fun, sporty and practical.

And my wife claimed it. So, I'm back in the Mercury Sable.

I don't care. Both cars have A/C and Radios. I'm happy.

Damn Yankees.

Dusty — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 02:19:00 GMT

Wow, It's been a while, sports fans......

I've been here, there, everywhere. I've been near, I've been far, but always just a phone call away.

Ok, so we sent the kids away to Huntsville for Spring Break. Tris's Grandma wanted to keep them for a few days, and the kids wanted to go, so....what the heck? I mean, if you were 5 and 8 Years old, wouldn't you want to go somewhere there were NO RULES?

So, we pick up the kids in Huntsville after 5 days at "Camp Grandma", and Frances looks at me and flatly states, "You need a bigger freezer at your house."

hmmmmm...where on EARTH is this one going?

She continues, "Your kids ate 5 half-gallons of Chocolate Ice Cream in the last 4 days."

I'm speechless. My son is lactose-intolerant.

God love our Senior Citizens. Someone has to.

---------------------------------------

On the way to Huntsville, we stopped at Stuckey's. You know, the old red-roof, home of Pecan Logs, with the Dairy Queen inside of it? I think they've been around for 100 years.

And there's this woman in line at Dairy Queen, and she's harassing the 4 sixteen year old guys that work there because they can't DIP her cone in chocolate like the picture shows (something about the ice cream machine making the ice cream too soft for proper dipping...)

She's extremely pissed and she's being really ugly with these 4 kids, who obviously are not Ice-Cream-Machine-Technicians, and I start laughing. Partially because it's so FUNNY that a middle aged woman, well-dressed, and "normal" looking is making such a scene, and partially because I realize that I am surrounded by Yankees, travelling up Interstate 65 on their way back to Michigan, Ohio, and Iowa after getting WAY TOO SUNBURNED.

And they're all angry, and they're all rude, and they're all sunburned. And it's JUST FUNNY.

Funny because we get called "Rednecks" in the South and we're told we act horrible and embarassing, and here are all these Yankees, the same ones who COULD NOT DRIVE on the Interstate for the last 50 miles. Probably some of the same ones who ran me off the road 10 minutes ago in their big Tahoe with the Michigan license plate, the "Big Mac" luggage carrier on the roof, and "P.C. or Bust written with shoe polish on the back window.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is.............. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are all PRETTY MUCH THE SAME. We've all got a little "redneck" in us somewhere.

We all were made by the same God, in His image, Bad-drivin', Ice Cream spittin', Sunburnt and ALL.

And you know that He has got to be sittin' back, watching the freaky lady in Dairy Queen making a scene, and just shaking his head in amazement.

Rejuvenation

Dusty — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 01:12:00 GMT

Christmas went OK this year. I was a little worried how everything would go, in light of my last blog, and any possible misunderstanding from family.

Geoff called me Christmas Eve morning (Sunday) and asked if I could pick up Becky (also known as "Grandma") from her apartment in north Birmingham. Grandma is our fearless leader when we go downtown to work in Linn Park/Shelters/Etc.. She was formerly homeless herself, and so she knows the ropes, and a lot of the people, as well. She acts as a great liason between the folks down there and any of the "well-wishing Volunteers" who don't always understand. Windsor and Gabriel think she's awesome, and she adores them, too.

Some wonderfully kind vandal was kind enough to break Geoff's car window out on Saturday night, so, needless to say, he was running a little behind Sunday morning, once he discovered it.

Windsor and I picked Grandma up and then ran back to the house and got Gabe and Tris. We all 5 headed to Mountaintop to meet up with about 50 other people to go downtown and hand out Coats, sandwiches, and hats with the "Hands and Feet Ministry."

I had about 6 or 7 Bibles that were given to me by Jimmy that runs the Flea Market that I go to. He told me that he didn't believe in selling the Bible, and that I could have them if I found them a good home. Windsor and Gabriel covered up the people's names inside of them with stickers and Christmas decorations, and made them "just like new."

We gave a few of the small, pocket-size New Testaments to Geoff to give out, and then I had the privilege of watching my 2 kids give them away to a couple of the guys down at the Firehouse Shelter.

Guys who towered above them like Giants. Guys who were 10 times Gabriel's age. Guys who were callused and worn, who had no doubt suffered numerous trials and heartaches, taking the Word of God from the hands of the innocent, who have not known anything but warmth, love and security. There's just something beautiful and metaphoric about that.

When we left there, we went to the 11:00 A.M. Christmas Eve service at church. It was a great service. Not flowery or show-offy. Some beautiful music, great lights, and an AWESOME message that hit home. Our pastor, knowing that Christmas is the only day that some people come to church, and that sometimes you only get ONE SHOT, gave a Christmas Eve sermon that included Salvation.

We let Windsor stay in the service with us, rather than go downstairs to the Children's Department.... And I watched her little eyes as she LISTENED and LEARNED.

After church we went to Moe's (Welcome to MOE'S!!!!) with Grandma and Geoff. Tris, the kids, and I had chipped in with Geoff to buy a Women's Devotional Bible for Grandma, because her last Bible "disappeared" when she was staying in the shelter. I think it really meant the world to her, because she looked like she was going to cry while she was hugging everybody.

Then off to my parents house to open presents. I was really impressed with how smoothly it went.

Windsor got a digital camera/video camera, and Gabe got a digital camera. Tristan and I got a HUGE Karaoke machine, with built-in TV Screen, 2 microphones, that also doubles as a TV or DVD Movie Player.

We had to leave my parent's house early to be at the Jimmy Hale Mission at 7:00 PM. My good friend, Paul, was speaking at the Christmas Eve service, and several of our musical-talented-types were performing. We arrived a little late, due to the rain, and it was PACKED. No seats in sight. Until 4 of the guys realized that Tristan and the 2 kids were standing in the back, and politely got up and gave them their seats. We tried to refuse, but they insisted, and it nearly broke my heart.

We got there just in time to hear the last half of the last song, and they were JAMMIN'!! The place burst into applause and hollering when they were done.

Then Paul preached about how we are all "losers", and how even the shepherds on Christmas Eve so many years ago were "losers." About how we may be rich or poor, black or white, it doesn't matter, we are all the same.

It was an awesome, awesome day.

And then Christmas morning, it hit me. I watched my 2 kids take pictures of EVERYTHING in sight with their new cameras. I watched my daughter sit (on the kitchen counter), with her leg crossed like a lounge singer, with the new Karaoke machine propped up on the kitchen table, singing her little heart out (and she was GOOD, too..) And it hit me. Here I was, all worried about what on EARTH I was going to do with a Karaoke machine, and now I had 1,000 uses for it.

Geoff used to take a projector down to the Firehouse Shelter to show football games. What if we did Karaoke?
Windsor got a guitar for Christmas and is going to take lessons. What if she had a Karoke machine to play along with?
Tristan and I work with the College class at church. What if we had a Karaoke party?

So, I realized that in all my selfishness and sheltering protection of my children, that maybe, just maybe, I almost missed out on several opportunities for them to bring joy to others.

5 Things I want to do before I die:

Dusty — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 03:51:00 GMT

1. See both of my children get married.
2. Swim naked on a beach in Hawaii.
3. Make a Million Dollars and give it away.
4. Watch my car turn 500,000 miles.
5. Own my own home, free and clear.

I've been Naughty.....AND Nice.

Dusty — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 02:02:00 GMT

Hello Dear Reader...(BOTH of you.) I want to apologize for not blogging lately. I have been caught up in the momentum of the Holidays and have been quite the social butterfly.

Where should I start?

Tristan and the kids and I decided that we wanted to be selfish this year at Thanksgiving and so we had Thanksgiving with some friends...with NO family involved. And it was simply lovely.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against my slightly-dysfunctional family or my wife's. We just felt like doing what we wanted to do for once. Big mistake with Tristan's 78-year-old Mom. On the other hand, I don't think my family noticed I wasn't there.

We had a BLAST. The drive home only took 5 minutes, the kids behaved wonderfully, and everyone went home happy. No one fought or made snide little comments (as my family tends to do, with our strange sense of humor.)

I have NO REGRETS, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

FAST-Forward TO THE UPCOMING CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES:

We're going on the day of Christmas Eve downtown to one of the shelters to give out Gloves, Socks, Coats, and Sweaters to the homeless. It's called the "Hands and Feet" Ministry. My kids are excited and we already have one HUGE box full of mostly sweatshirts.

Then, off we go in our sled, over the river and through the woods to family's house to eat an excess of food, and open an excess of Christmas presents. (And with that comment, I will forever be labeled as "ungrateful.")

And then off to the Asylum to see Tristan's Dad and step-mom and have our kids open LITERALLY DOZENS of presents, one at a time, taking turns, so that everyone sees everything, and no one misses anything. More presents than we can fit in the car. More presents than we want or NEED.

Don't get me wrong, it's just not me anymore. I WANT to do something nice together with my family, I just don't know why we can't go do something nice for people who don't have much instead, or just mail the money to some random needy family.

Why do my kids need nice big expensive toys? Why do they need more toys than they could EVER possibly play with? Why have we become such a gluttonous and materialistic society?

OK, OK, I know. I'm going to get a lecture from my mother now about the ONE Christmas back in 1986 when Mom and Dad decided to give all of our "Christmas" to a family that needed it. We kids ended up in tears, crying. That was an EXCELLENT idea, that still sticks fresh in my mind, but was just poorly executed. Two problems:

1. You wouldn't tell us kids who our Christmas presents were going to. I think we were old enough to have handled knowing who it was.
2. You gave me an ELECTRIC NORELCO RAZOR instead. Enough said.

Why can't we do that again? Why can't this entire society get up off our fat, lazy, rich butts, and give up ONE Christmas? Just ONE Christmas. That's it. Keep one present for each person if you must, and then just give the rest of it away. Would you really miss it? Would your children REALLY be scarred for life?

So, my point is this:

I have 2 Children who were raised simply, partially out of necessity, and partially as a conscious decision on the part of their mother and myself.

2 children who are perfectly content with a pad of paper and a set of markers. Who would LOVE to just be read a book or taken to the park instead.

2 wonderfully precious children who have BIG, OPEN hearts of gold, who know the TRUE meaning of Giving to others....Who love without question and believe without reason.

I just don't get it. <sigh>

----------------------------------------------
Tristan and I are going to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra for Christmas this year. That is our ONE gift to each other, concert tickets. We got to thinking about it, and there are lots of things we would LIKE, but there really wasn't anything we NEED, and the money could be put to better uses.

But think about what we WILL get for Christmas. An awesome Christmas MEMORY. A memory of a Christmas concert with friends. Years after the Norelco Razors, ties, slippers, and other assorted gifts are sold in a yard sale, we'll look back and say, "Remember the year we left the kids with Grandma, and went to see T.S.O. together, just you and me?"

And THAT, my dear friends, is what Christmas is about to me. About GIVING, about MEMORIES, about spending time with FRIENDS (and dysfunctional families).

So, if I darken your doorstep this Christmas Season, and you so choose to send me home with a "Parting Gift", like the Monty Hall of Christmas Extravaganza.... Please remember, I am eternally grateful for your kindness and thoughtfullness, but unless it is something I can eat, there is a possibility I may just sell it on Ebay or give it away.

And if you don't get a gift from me this Christmas season, please don't take it personally, I probably just decided that there are people worse off than you are.

DON'T GO TO CHURCH!

Dusty — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 22:48:00 GMT

DON'T GO TO CHURCH....

.....BE the Church.

___________________

So, I'm thinking recently about a shirt that a friend of mine wears to church that has the above Slogan on it, and I decide to do a Google search on the words: "Don't Go to Church"......

WOW....the results were quite enlightening. The first two pages or so of results were primarily reasons that different people have for why THEY don't go to church. The reasons ran the gamut from: "There are too many hypocrites in the Church" to "I'll go to church after I quit drinking/smoking."

GUESS WHAT? Nobody's perfect. That's not an excuse nor a cop-out.

It's simply a statement: NOBODY'S PERFECT.

Which got me to thinking.. Why do we have such a hard time attracting people to church? We live in a world that is desperately crying out, searching for a way, but yet we have such a hard time getting people to come to church.

It's sad. If I weren't a Christian, and I were on the outside looking in, I wouldn't want to be a Christian. I wouldn't want to become what I saw in the lives of most Christians.

I don't think we have to be cool, hip, or trendy necessarily to attract people to Church.

But what if we just simply weren't condemning, two-faced, and self-righteous? What if we were kind and gentle? What if people saw something in us that they had never seen before elsewhere? What if they saw a light so white and a fire burning so brightly that they were magnetically attracted to it out of curiousity?

Lately I have been trying to figure out why my church is so different. So comfortable. So REAL. I've been trying to figure out why an incredible 70% of my church comes from an UNCHURCHED background, and yet they get along better than most other churches that I've attended, where the members were Christians who had attended there their whole lives? I realized that not only were the people at my church NOT PERFECT, but for the most part, none of them acted like they thought they were. They let their flaws show, and don't try to hide the fact that they make mistakes.

That's perfect for me.

GOD DOESN'T NEED PERFECT PEOPLE.

Are you there God?

Dusty — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 00:16:00 GMT

Are you there God?

Lately I have been feeling distant from God. Not like He's not speaking anymore, because I know He is, but maybe like I'm not listening anymore.

Now, as I try to focus back in, and get back in touch, I wonder where I went wrong, where I got off track.

Was it when I started a new job?
Was it when Tristan went back to work and I picked up more household responsibilities?
Was it when I dropped out of my Men's Group at church?
Was it when I started volunteering for more things at church?
Was it when I started neglecting my daily prayer and devotions?

At what MOMENT did I become so busy and distracted that I forgot to talk to God? At what point did I decide to take Him for granted, to subconsciously take advantage of His grace, knowing that like a Shepherd, He'd always be there when His lamb who strayed returned to the flock?

I didn't stray far, at least I don't think I did. I didn't stray into any major sins or bad habits. I just quit talking to Him. It was kind of like I inadvertently said, "I'm sorry God, I TOTALLY forgot everything you did for me. I was so busy taking care of the things of THIS WORLD that your Kingdom completely slipped my mind." WOW. WOW. WOW.

So, as I enter this time of reconnection, healing, and repentance, this time of taking my spiritual "Medication" to try and get well again, I humbly confess:

"God, I don't know what to say, except I AM SO SORRY. I guess I should say 'Thanks', also, for not hitting me with a lightning bolt or something to get my attention. If you're not too mad at me, can we spend time together again? There's a lot that's happening in my life that I want to share with you. I miss you. Thank you for LOVING ME."