What a ride!

After this latest lengthy absence from this little corner of the web, a bit of explanation is probably in order.

No, iy's not due to an extended road trip with a gospel music group(what fun that might be, though!).

And it's not because of any health issues(thanks be to God!)...I'm in pretty good shape for the shape I'm in!

I have alluded in the past to personal issues that keep me from posting here as often as I'd like...and it might just be the time to share the most consuming(and joyous)of those with all of you, right here...right now.

After just over a half century of living and working in this all-too-fallen world, I am finally going to do something that most people my age have been doing for quite some time by this point.

I am finally getting married/

What's taken me so long?

Well, call me picky, but given my inclination, I've never felt I could make a lifetime commitment to a woman until I was convinced that she shared my love for and dedication to Jesus Christ and His Word and Way. All the other sruff(llooks, income, personality, etc.)is nice indeed, but if my intended does not share the most important part of my being, then she cannot be my soulmate, which is what I believe God would want a wife of mine to be. Period. End of discussion.

Happily, I've found such a person. Leona is absolutely committted first, foremost, and primarily to Jesus...and wants her life companion to be the same. She has proven that repeatedly, over and over again, to the point where she motivates me to be as Christlike as I can possibly be, to a degree that no one I've ever met has. I need that as a part of my daily life. And her devotion to me is most reminiscent of God's love for me through Jesus, and I need THAT around me every day as well.

At this point, I can't afford NOT to have that kind of person and love in my life.

And I am looking very forward to returning that same kind of love and devotion right back to Leona, and soon I'll be doing that on a daily basis.

Leona is also gifted with a sunny and cheerful disposition, a most kind and caring heart, and a wonderful sense of humor that keeps life interesting and lively at all times...that doesn't hurt in considering her for a soulmate.

We have talked daily for nearly eight months, and have come to the mutual conclusion that God has deigned to join us together...so we are going to do just that.

But what a roller coaster ride this has become! Daily, my moods range from ecstasy to frustration to depression to wonder right back to ecstasy, in just minutes at a time!

Not having been in this state before, I'm concluding that this is just par for the course for an expectant groom...either that or part of the largest possible "teachable moment"(how I'm already tiring of that phrase!)one can imagine...and it's all in the education of a regular guy who's trying to live his life in the light of the gospel of Christ the best he can.

And I'm learning more and more daily the absolute joy that comes with belonging to somebody, and having someone to belong to him.

And I'm loving every minute of it...and can hardly wait for this next stage of my life to begin! Bring it on, Lord!!

I'll keep all of you posted on this latest divine adventure as it progresses...and I have NO doubt it will do just that!!

Just pondering

Every once in a while I just ask myself questions, and ponder over the answers to them...I imagine most of you do exactly the same thing.

Without going into all the reasons I bring this up, I'll simply share this one question with all of you, and not elaborate to much on it for now(although I could).

Is anyone else besides me old enough to remember when the adherents to Islam were called Moslems, and not "Muslims", a corruption of the name Moslems popularized by a Islamic cult which developed in the first half of the 20th Century here in the United States?

Islam is not understood well in this part of the world, not even by many of those who follow it here.

I'm just askin'.

Challenging days…

For the better part of my life, regardless of whatever has happened there, the presence of gospel music has always been a balm and a comfort...a soothing ocean of stability, direction, and inspiration in an otherwise stormy sea of life(boy, I sound like a gospel song, don't I?).

It got me through my college years, and those rough first post college years, when I actually had to start supporting myself financially.

And it got me through my first years in my chosen career field, even played a big role in that!

And it got me through the tense times around September 11, 2001, when no doubt all of us had a LITTLE uncertainty about our futures.

Now, though, the challenges are greater than ever.

The current economy is depressing, people are angry and contentious, the future seems so uncertain, and I am now entering the most topsy turvy, challenging, and potentially the most thrilling, exciting, and rewarding time of my life.

And, as always(because if it ain't broke, why try and fix it?), I'll have the sounds of gospel music as my life soundtrack as I enter this most exciting and challenging part of my life.

Some of my best friends are really concerned about how I'll manage all this...but, as has always been the case, I think I'll be just fine.

Keep those posts, comments, and most of all prayers, coming!

I'll be just fine!

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