I have not been able to sit down with my funeral director friend yet to do a “next level” research bash. In the mean time Peggy is just hanging out.
Shine On!
Dave
A Muslim Country?
I’m wondering if it is going to be increasingly difficult to remember the good old days. Today, our president suggested that based on the number of Muslim’s in the US we could constitue the largest Muslim country in the world. That statement is one step away from a slippery slide into a whole other thought process about who we have been and who we are today as US citizens. 
As a amature historian I am proud of the Christian heriatage of the USA and I hope that we never, ever loose touch with that heritage. The presidents statement softens the worlds view and understanding of the USA but, at what cost? Just a thought!
Shine On!
Dave
Just for fun…
Just for fun, let’s imagine that an organization is formed ostensibly to protect the safety of Christian students who might be subject to bullying and stereotyping by their classmates. After all, many Christians were targets of hate speech – and worse – after Proposition 8 passed in California. Surely it could be argued that it’s time to use public schools and public money to promote and protect those who practice Christianity. Imagine taxpayer dollars spent to host day-long events with seminars describing what Christianity is all about. Now imagine such an organization moving beyond the goal of safety for Christians, and instead, finding ways to work Christian tenets into every facet of school curricula. (Taken from OneNewsNow.com)
That’s what’s happening in many places and in many ways in America today but, it’s not Christian teachings that are being presented. The homosexual community got a boost to it’s agenda today as our president has signed into law that June is now gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender month. It seems to me that we are in a time when we celebrate what is considered abnormal (still less that 5% of Americans classify themselves as homosexual) and openly criticize those who believe in solid, traditional Christian values (over 70% of Americans state they believe in foundational Christian principles). Christian beliefs keep getting squelched while behavior that is in direct oppostion to God’s Word (the Bible) is celebrated.
What’s next?
Shine On!
Dave
Proof of God’s Love
I got a great newsletter from a young couple who work for Campus Crusade for Christ in Wanshington, DC. They put out a huge banner at Georgetown University’s annual all-day block party that read “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” The quote from from Ben Franklin caught peoples attention which allowed our friends to talk to college students about the things in life that help us see God’s love.
They said, “Without endorsing drinking, we managed to have over 100 conversations and at least one person who said that he wanted to invite Christ into his life. Apparently anything can start a conversation about Jesus.”
So, what could you use to start a conversation with someone about Jesus? Just a thought!
Shine On!
Dave
Peggy’s still waiting
Well, the township police gave me two more phone numbers and both turned up to be “no longer in service.” My heart is breaking for Peggy, who we found in our house three weeks ago. I don’t know anything about her except that she died of cancer and that her urn was stashed above the heat duct some time ago. She has most likely been in our house for 25 years or more. She is on the kitchen breakfast counter today. We moved her to a higher location than the dinning room table so that she could see more.
We talk to her once in a while…”hi Peggy, we’re home” kind of stuff. I am hoping one day she’ll be reunited with a family member and finally laid to rest on a permenent basis. Until then, she’s a part of our family.
My next move is to contact a funeral director who is a member of our congregation who offered to help. I’ll keep you informed.
Shine On!
Dave
Peggy’s just hanging out
Well, we got a call from the Lower Paxton Twnshp police. Their first inclination was that we should dispose of Peggy. WHAT! It kind of sounded like they wanted us to just put her out in the trash. Now, I know these guys see everything but, I just can’t do it. So, we pushed them for a bit more information and they gave me two new phone numbers. I’ll be calling them to see if either one is a family member.
Until then, Peggy has now met our 21 year old daughter and is saying bye to our 19 year old who takes off tomorrow (Wednesday) for a 10 mission internship with TeamEffort. She watched as we signed our new re-financing papers for our house on Saturday morning and she surely smelled the brownies Julie made yesterday morning for our picnic at my in-laws house.
I’ll keep you posted.
Shine On!
Dave
Enjoying Family Life
This has been a busy week. I was out all day Tuesday on a staff strategic planning retreat. I was out today at a mentor training in Belfonte, PA. So, that means Peggy is still sitting on the dining room table. We think that she is enjoying family life again now that she been released from her resting place above the heat duct. Poor girl. She seems happy to be sharing good times with a family again after all these years in the dark, relegated to only listening. She’s sitting here beside me right now…silent and content. Tomorrow I begin the search again. Pray that I find her family and that her happiness can be made complete.
Shine On!
Dave
Can’t believe what I found!
On Saturday I was running a new coax cable to my son’s bedroom for the new tv he got for his birthday. Oh, by the way, it’s nicer than my tv. Anyway, I was up above the heat duct and in between the floor joices when I noticed a box sitting on top of the heat duct. I reached out and grabbed what was a very heavy box that is metal and just a bit smaller than a toaster. When I got the box down I knew exactly what it was…an urn. I know enough to look on te bottom to see if there is a name…and there is. UGH! Holy crap! I found someone in my house! Now what? I spoke with several of my neighbors who have lived beside this house for over 45 years. They knew who the lady (we’ll call her Peggy) was and that she had died at least some 25-30 years ago. She’s been in my house for 25-30 years! WOW!
So, now I’m doing some investigating in hopes of finding a relative who may want Peggy’s remains. I know that she had two daughters who may still live in the area. I’m hoping that with a little research and a lot of help from my friends that I can reconnect mom with her family. Until then Peggy is sitting on my dining room table. I dusted and cleaned her urn and I say hi when I walk by. What a hoot, huh?
I keep posting as things change and will keep you updated.
Shine On!
Dave
The Institution formerly known as marriage
I continue to wonder what new places our society will allow marriage to dive to next. As one state after another redefines what constitues marriage we who believe in a biblical understanding are being faced with how do we hold our values in an America that is changing. Here’s an article that states some of the issues and concerns…
http://www.ruthinstitute.org/articles/institutionFormerly.html
Shine On!
Dave
