THE FINAL INSPECTION The Soldier stood and faced God, Which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shining, Just as brightly as his brass.. 'Step forward now, Soldier, How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek? To My Church have you been true?' The soldier squared his shoulders and said, 'No, Lord, I guess I ain't. Because those of us who carry guns, Can't always be a saint. I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was tough. And sometimes I've been violent, Because the world is awfully rough. But, I never took a penny, That wasn't mine to keep... Though I worked a lot of overtime, When the bills got just too steep. And I never passed a cry for help, Though at times I shook with fear.. And sometimes, God, forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears. I know I don't deserve a place, Among the people here. They never wanted me around, Except to calm their fears If you've a place for me here, Lord, It needn't be so grand. I never expected or had too much, But if you don't, I'll understand. There was a silence all around the throne, Where the saints had often trod. As the Soldier waited quietly, For the judgment of his God. 'Step forward now, you Soldier, You've borne your burdens well. Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets, You've done your time in Hell.' Author Unknown~

my son,.. douglas

,... today I am so blue,.. naw I mad, my youngest son,.. but My youngest and only blood son,.. got in trouble with the law. Being set up by the undercover to sell drugs to an 'undercover' to benefit a real drug dealer,.. but not him, so the story goes,.. no matter what.... breaks my heart today,... it has been forty five days of jail house visits and tears,.. but he won't be biking with me 'n my Harley nor skiing the black diamond in Nevada with Uncle Dwight any time soon.

I can't tell y'all how damaged I am by this,.... the tears flow and the nose plugs,.. but I, only I have to deal with it. I sit here and wonder how many other good family,.. dads,.. are so troubled today. I have prayed to the Lord Jesus Christ himself on many occasions to intervene,.... to no avail. Jesus did after all die on a cross,.. one he carried,.. kind of like having carry the rope to go around ones neck in a hanging... I digress. My heart is heavy.

And now,... just an hour later,.. still troubled but better,.. my brother Dan calls and expresses his love and concern for our well being... Lord, I love him and the rest and though he helped bring me to sanity,.. I still feel the pain of ones son in jail. So now my life is imprisoned for a while, but not forever. I am the son of hope and redemption, reborn with the favor of my God,.. and it does little to heal the pain,.. but give it a place it does,.. a place to reside,... while I live with the wife I've been so blessed with, and the daughter with grandchildren to love on.... another day follows this and "I will survive,.. and visit him as often as I may."

..and as was said in the seventies,... 'peace,.. out'

The Pacemaker of America

I was just texting my daughter on Facebook as she was at the 2010 Autoshow in some east coast city looking at cars from around the country and world and I suggested she look at the Fords,... aka: "Pacemaker of America",.. laughing to myself because when the "Heartbeat of America" fails,.. oh my the truth sets us free,.. (this reallly is an applicaton for employment in the marketing industry,.. I have these kind of ideas all the time)