The Stream of Consciousness officially lives over at Blogger now, but I wanted to drop in and leave a link for my most recent post.

Please visit when you have a moment. Some wonderful friends have enlightened a difficult week and I had to thank them again, as best as I know how.

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Friends, I've been on the fence for months. Frankly, I didn't post much at all in August. But I need to get my writing rear end in gear and having two blogs just doesn't make sense. I'm moving the Stream to its new home at Blogger.

I hope you'll come and visit me there - even become a follower of the Stream.

I may end up back here for some NaNo in the future, but, since I won't be participating in November 09, it may be awhile. JulNo is more my style since I have books I need to finish!

Come and see me over at Blogger!

Ciao!

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The days of my life tend to meld together in a formless timeline. I sometimes envy those people who can recall with clarity where they were when monumental events occurred in their lives. The moon landing; the Kennedy assassinations; and so many others. It didn't strike me until late this morning that today is September 11th. Eight years ago, terrorists attacked this country and we - most of us - watched it unfold on the Internet in disbelief.

Put aside your party affiliations; put aside your flowery speeches and hope for the future or your predictions of imminent doom - and remember.

Remember the people who died because others don't like us. You can rail at the government 364 days-a-year, but today, just remember the fallen, their families, the rescuers, the sifters and sorters, the cleaners and sweepers, the shoulders they cried on and anyone whose world changed forever on September 11th, 2001.

Don't gripe in the security line at the airport; be glad that you can fly. Don't rue your loss of freedom; you're still free. But the world we live in has been forever changed by that morning.

In this rare, specific event, I find a memory. One of sitting in the building I still sit in today. Of watching CNN, MSNBC, Fox News - it didn't matter which - and seeing the unbelievable unfold. I remember the prayer circle we had outside of our offices; holding hands and praying with people we hadn't even spoken to before, beyond a mumbled, "'morning."

I remember a kinder, gentler America after the tragedy of 9/11. I remember people yielding on the road, holding doors at the store, biting back a retort because, after all, how bad is my situation compared to those poor souls.

The America we lived in before 9/11 is gone. But sadly, the America we lived in right after 9/11 is gone too. It didn't take long, a few months at most, before people were pushing and shoving, retreating back into their shells and assuming the me-against-the-world posture that doesn't help much.

But I hope that we can find that spark again - and I don't mean the urge to run off and join the Peace Corps - just an urge to be nicer to each other. I care if you don't love God but it doesn't mean I don't love you. Sure, I'll tell you that you, too, need to love God, but don't hate me because of my beliefs - I don't hate you because of yours. I'll yield to you in traffic, I'll give you a dollar in the grocery line if you're short. That's what we do in America.

Remember...and be thankful.

A psalm of David.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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I grew up in Central Florida, Tampa to be exact. We had a pretty significant Cuban population and the cigar factories, restaurants, etc. added a spice that livened our communities and city.

We just returned from Central Florida - about an hour east of Tampa and a little south of Lake Wales. La vaca sagrada! Nance and I went to Wal-Mart in Lake Wales and we could have easily been in Mexico City.  To coin a phrase from Seinfeld, "Not that there's anything wrong with that." I was just surprised by the sheer number of Latino/Hispanic peoples in the area.

In a time when Americans are crying out for jobs due to the unemployment rate nipping at double digits, why is there still such a need for imported labor? I've heard so many sad tales of people losing their jobs because those jobs have been shipped overseas; but how does that square with so many jobs in our own country going to hard-working immigrant labor? Do we not want to work anymore?

Sorry - just had to start with an overall observation.

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I'm not much for waving my faith around like a flag but this morning - wow - this morning Nance and I were privileged to worship at 1st Baptist Church in Bagdad, FL. This is not our normal church home but close family are members there and we heard that Jeff Slaughter was going to be leading worship this morning. For those of you unfamiliar with Southern Baptists, we love Vacation Bible School, better known as VBS. And the churches that use Lifeway material are very familiar with Jeff, who writes the words and music to all the VBS songs. In addition, Jeff uses sign language and other motions that really bring each year's songs to life.

Jeff was in town last night and put on a great concert and worship service for hundreds of children in our area. We couldn't make that show, held at Immanuel Baptist Church in Pace, FL - a much larger facility - where almost 800 folks praised the Lord in song.

But we were in Bagdad, not really knowing what to expect in this wonderful, small-town church. To put it bluntly, we were blown away. The Holy Spirit was definitely present and working. In addition to the great prayers and songs led by Jeff, Pastor Chet gave an invitation that led to at least one salvation.

After the service, I went up front to speak to a couple of friends that are members at FBC Bagdad; Jeff was patiently autographing CD's, shirts and just spending time with and talking to anyone who had questions for him. As Nance got her CD signed, Jeff called me over and we had - I don't know what you would call it - an annointing; that's the closest I can come to describing it. Jeff sensed God at work in my life and we shared a few minutes of heartfelt discussion about what God was revealing to him about His purposes in my life.

All I can say is that Jeff truly has spiritual gifts, obviously led by his wonderful piano playing, songwriting and singing, but within that man beats a heart that is truly given to God.

Jeff is a living testament to the greatest commandment: Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

You just don't see that kind of honest, humble sincerity, grace and faith in today's reality show world. Thank you God, for sharing Jeff with us this morning.

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Conor has left the nest. He drove away this morning, disappearing into the rising sun as he headed off to college. He was staying with his cousin Chase in Clearwater tonight and will head to Webber in the morning for pre-season check-in. Two weeks of two-a-day and more soccer practices, then we'll be down for orientation on the 24th.

Our son is now a man - may the Lord God bless and keep him.

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My wife recounted this phrase to us in Bible Study this past Sunday. A patient of hers was telling of how, when she was frustrated, she thought to herself, 'Jesus is coming next Friday,' and whatever the situation or conflict, it didn't seem like such a big deal.

This morning, I took Dale (our German Shepherd) out, as usual, just before dawn. As we walked toward the south forty, Dale snuffled around and I windmilled my arms trying to work out the night's stiffness. Looking up, I saw a brilliant silver-white ball shining down from the west. Through the broken clouds, the full moon was setting and its brightness had yet to be dimmed in the lower atmosphere.

A little to the left and higher in the early morning sky, another light shone. Much smaller than the moon but equally incandescent, a star peeked out from behind a swath of cloud. My first thought was, '"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."

Silently thanking God for showing me such beauty as is in His creation, Dale and I wandered back into the yard and there in the east, another star beamed, even brighter than the westward star. Now, I thought, 'For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.'

This beautiful example of God's creation stuck in my head and as I read the Bible this morning I found even more comfort and hope in Psalms 103:8-12...

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Jesus may not be here next Friday, but our hope remains undimmed, as we carry the promise of His return in our hearts.

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Okay, yesterday's post was silly; and it wasn't even Friday. Somehow, I had to top that for the real Friday silliness. Thanks to a great soccer blog over at The Beautiful Game, I was able to come up with this gem:



As every player and fan knows, but won't admit, diving is getting out of control in today's game. Maybe we could get Mr. T. over to the UK in time for next week's Premier League kickoff! On second thoughts, they probably wouldn't care for the tank.

Enjoy your weekends, soccer fans and writing friends!

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I don't know if this qualifies as a meme, but I somehow got on the subject of Chuck Norris facts this morning - and it just won't go away.

I had never seen this one before and found it inexplicably hilarious. I'm better now, but I had to post it.

WARNING: If you are going to respond with your own favorite CN fact, please, keep it clean! I don't know Mr. Norris personally, but I do know that he is a Christian and would not care for some of the more crass 'facts' that are attributed to him.

Thanks in advance,

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Anderson has been at Manchester United since May of 2007 and in all that time - he has NEVER scored for the Red Devils. Today, he finally opened his account with this superb free kick:



Congrats to Antonio Valencia as well; the new signing showed up the veteran midfielder above and scored his first goal in his first game for his new club. It wasn't pretty but it counted! The build up was pretty skillful and United deserved the win.

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