It's an extremely windy day today. I walked down to the lake and got a faceful of blowing sand. The waves were at least 4-6 feet and you can hear them pounding the shoreline from our house. I love the sound of waves hitting the shore on a quiet evening.

Wind...we've been experiencing alot of that during the presidential campaign! My mailbox is getting flooded with brochures, postcards, and other printed material with campaign literature. This presidential campaign has been a financial boon to the media. I am so ready for it to be over.

I went trick-or-treating with my grandkids tonight. What a riot. Tons of kids out and about in the neighborhoods. Autumn was a cat, Savannah was a dog, and Aitchie was Spiderman. I went as a fat-cat grampa. We had a great time scoring candy off the neighbors!

DOM

The politicians of the week are:
Mr. Nader and his running mate, Mr. Camejo!
There's a strong possibility that they could garner just over 1% of the national vote!
You go guys!

Hazards!
As I get ready to play golf again tomorrow, if the weather cooperates, I'm reminded of how hazards on the golf course can affect my game. Sand traps, ponds, rivers, ravines, woods, and much more can devour many well hit golf balls. What I've learned to do, though, is when I'm playing golf and as I prepare to hit the ball with a hazard looming in front of me, I do everything in my power to not focus on it. I won't look at it. I won't think about it. I won't talk about it. If I focus on the hazard, I know the ball will have a greater chance of finding its way there.

I think we can all relate in some way to this. When we're faced with hazards and we focus on them, we choke up. We lose our nerve. We lose our confidence. Maybe it's meeting with someone who doesn't know Christ, and we start thinking things like? Who am I to share this with him/her? What if they ask me questions and I don't know the answers? Maybe someone else is supposed to have this opportunity instead of me? Maybe it's God asking us to step out of our comfort zone to serve Him in ways we're not altogether comfortable doing. All of these thoughts are like hazards that take our mind and eye of the ball, and keep us from simple obedience and experiencing His blessing in our lives.

The bottomline is that we really can't do anything of value for Christ on our own, nor are we expected to. Instead we can do all things in Christ who gives us strength. Focus on Him and not the hazards.
DOM

Our daughter, Lisa is on her way across country. Watch for her at a truckstop near you! Lisa hopes to join up with Eric on Wednesday or Thursday of this week in Sierra Vista, AZ. Eric's step-dad, Dan, is driving the big rig with all of Lisa and Eric's "stuff". Dan is an incredibly giving person with a heart the size of Texas. Thanks Dan!

Here's a rundown on their journey so far: Departed Waterford, MI on Saturday, 10/23, and arrived in West Michigan the same day. Departed our home on 10/24 and arrived in Marion, IN the same day. Wow! They're really making good time! Departed Marion, IN on Monday, 10/25, and arrived in Joplin, MO that day. Right now, they're somewhere between Joplin and Albuquerque. Hold on, I'll give them a call.... No answer, so I left a messge.

DOM

I'm back in the pocket, after spending some exciting, yet relaxing days in Indiana with my new grandson and two year old granddaughter. I love grandkids! They are so real. If they're happy they laugh, if they're not happy, they cry. If they're content, they smile. If they don't get there way, the whine or cry. There's never any guessing necessary. It's so much easier than trying to figure out "what's wrong?"

Blessed with a great wife, 6 kids, and 4 grandkids!
DOM

I'm sitting at a computer right now, at Jody and Brian's house in Indiana. I'm typing with my right hand and it's really going slow...but that's okay because I have the incredible privilege of cradling my 4 1/2 day old grandson, Hudson, in my left arm! Hudson is our 4th grandchild and 2nd grandson.

There is something very special abo8t grandchildren. When your children start having children, there is a unique and special feeling and bond that spans the generation difference. I really enjoy spending time with my grandkids! I love teaching them! You know, you gotta learn! I can also learn so much from them! Their future is in front of them and we are all part of shaping and preparing them for it.

Thank you Lord for the blessing of grandchildren. They truly are an emerging generation. If you want to check what this little guy - Hudson - looks like, go to www.mgh.net and clict on the nursery. Then scroll until you the initials HN, with mom and dad's name.


DOM

I know you're all anxious for the results of this week's selection for Politician of the Week:

Here we go, drum roll please....

The Politician of the Week is: Michael Montandon, mayor of the city of North Las Vegas, NV.
Congratulations Mayor! Keep up the good work!

A friend of mine for Arizona sent this information to me this morning, in an e-mail communique.
I thought it was extremely interesting and wanted to post it on this blog for you to read and enjoy. I have witnessed the changing of the guard in Arlington Natioanl Cemetery, 3 times in my life, and it is one of those impressive and moving military ceremonies I've ever seen. This information makes it even more meaningful! Thanks for the "forward" Dan!

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the
tomb of the Unknowns and why?
21 steps. It alludes to the twenty-one gun salute, which is the
highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his
return walk and why?
21 seconds for the same reason as answer number 1

3. Why are his gloves wet?
His gloves are moistened to prevent his losing his grip on the
rifle.

4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time
and if not, why not?
He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb.
After his march across the path, he executes an about face
and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.

5. How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes,
twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

6. What are the physical traits of the guard limited to?
For a person to apply for guard duty at the tomb, he must be
between 5' 10" and 6' 2" tall and his waist size cannot exceed 30." Other
requirements of the Guard: They must commit 2 years of life to guard the
tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb, and cannot drink any alcohol on
or off duty for the rest of their lives. They cannot swear in public for the
rest of their lives and cannot disgrace the uniform {fighting} or the tomb
in any way. After two years, the guard is given a wreath pin that is worn on
their lapel signifying they served as guard of the tomb. There are only
400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their
lives or give up the wreath pin. The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from their feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the
top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as they come to a halt.
There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty
in front of a full-length mirror. The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor
watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid
to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are
and where they are interred. Among the notables are: President Taft, Joe
E. Lewis {the boxer} and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy, {the most
decorated soldier of WWII} of Hollywood fame. Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.

ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM O LORD, AND LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON
THEM.
In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington, DC, our
US Senate/House took 2 days off with anticipation of the storm. On the ABC
evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the
hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They
respectfully declined the offer, "No way, Sir!" Soaked to the skin,
marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding
the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be
afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously,
24/7, since 1930. Amazing!
We can be very proud of our young men and women in the service no matter where they serve.
God Bless and keep them.

The emergent one,
Dibs

Have you ever noticed that when a new business park or subdivision is developed, the roads are seldom staight? Why would someone put in curvey, meandering roads? It has to be less costly to pave a straight road and then plot out the lots for the future homes or businesses in straight lines - 90 degree corners - with the same diminsions. All you would need is a good ruler. For someone anal-retentive, as my daughter-in-law calls me, it only makes sense to save the bucks and put in straight lines and predictable corners. Here's the rub. A developer, is not typically anal-retentive. A developer is looking for a certain appearance - a community feel - and for safety.

This whole winding road speed bumping trail, reminded me of the fact that when my life is running in straight lines - head-down and a 100 mph (or for you Kiwi's- 160 kph), I'm totally oblivious to what's happening around me. However, when I'm forced to slow down due to some God-designed curve or His strategically placed speed bumps, it's then and usually only then, that I'm really able to see and truly notice what's happening around me.

Next time you're in a hurry and you run into some obstacles along the way that force you to slow down a bit....don't complain, lift your head, be open to what you are encountering, enjoy it, and then thank God for it.

You can run but you can't hide,
DOM

We're heading for Watermark today! We're anxious to celebrate their first year anniversary as a church plant. It's always a faith-builder to see lives changed and transformed as a result of people's lives intersecting with Jesus Christ. I love hearing about the stories of life transformation taking place through the Holy Spirit's activity with Watermarkers!

As a dad, I'm so thankful for Steve. I am also very proud of his commitment and obedience to lead and carry out the vision of Watermark to make an eternal impact in the community of Grand Haven. Watermark is no longer a dream, but a reality because of Steve's courage to "pull the trigger" and move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit. I have seen Steve grow and mature in His faith, as he's navigated the challenges and opportunities of church planting.

Way to go Steve! Way to go Watermark! Congratulations on one year of faith-full ministry. I'm praying that the future will know no bounds as you seek to carry out the vision and purpose of Watermark! Christ is all!
DOM

In the heat of a political campaign, there is no shortage of rhetoric flowing from the mouths of some of the candidates, about what government can do for us. Much of these "promises" fall by the wayside once the candidate gets elected and he runs into the bureaucratic maze of government. In other words, the very things that a candidate was committing the government to do, IF he is elected, ends up getting stymied by the government itself! What a conundrum!

So much to learn from the politicians. That's probably why I love politics!

Politician of the Week:
Mayor Tom Hessler of Sierra Vista, AZ - Way to go, Mayor Hessler! Keep up the good work!

Gayle and went to see the movie, Ladder 49, today. It was a good movie - certainly a rooster flick with a touch of schmaltz to make it interesting for the ladies. The movie portrayed the importance and desire that most of us have - to belong. Throughout the movie, we were able to watch this sense of community and belonging unfold before our eyes. The firefighters portrayed in this movie were comrades in arms, dealing with life and death issues when responding to an alarm. These firefighters and their immediate families became one big extended family. The movie reminded me again of the desire we all seem to have - to belong; To be accepted and loved by others; To be cared for and care for others. This "community" understood each other. They celebrated together and cried together. They did life together.
They also were willing to risk their lives to save others. My collar's getting a bit tight right now, and I'm having a hard time swallowing. "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

Isn't building community and creating places for people to belong, exactly what we as a body of believers are to be doing? Hanging out together...caring for each other....praying together...reaching out to others...encouraging each other....celebrating with each other...crying with each other...loving each other. Sounds like the book of Acts to me! I often think the world does a better job of providing places to belong and building community, than the church. What's so amazing about this, is that a community of believers has so much more to belong to, and a much greater reason to belong!

What are we waiting for?

DOM