ALMOST TIME TO LEAVE!

Well it's getting close and I'm just wondering what I've left off the list. I ordered a bike rack last weekend from Wal Mart and it showed up yesterday. I actually put it together and installed without having to call in any experts. Of course it hasn't actually carried any bikes yet so who knows. I did have a minor catastrophe yesterday morning when I decided to turn on the refrigerator and a/c at the same time on the Magic Bus. I guess 15 amps is just not enough juice to power both. Well when they both turned off a slight panic set in as thoughts of no refrigerator for a few months freaked me out. Being the expert electrician that I am, I immediately searched all the fuse boxes I know about in the RV (I'm sure there are at least two more places that I'm completely clueless about). Everything seemed in shape in the RV so I turned my attention to the power coming from the house. Checking that panel revealed no breakers that were tripped (I think). So I grabbed Lauren's hairdryer and figured I would test the outlet outside. I'm sure the neighbors were wondering why I was blow drying the vinyl siding. Well no juice was coming from the outside receptacle so at least I knew where the problem was.

After exhausting all possible remedies known to this man, I had to call in my master RV mechanic Dale who always drops what he is doing to help the helpless. Dale came over and flipped one switch and wham power was back. Who knew one little GFI button controlled all the outside receptacles??? It was worth buying him breakfast later. I sure am looking forward to calling Dale from New Mexico and asking what little button do I need to flip when there is no hot water in the shower!!

Well tomorrow night my GM guru Rick is coming over to change the oil in the Magic Bus. Yours truly would normally attempt this routine task, but I figure there's enough oil spills happening in the earth right now. But I will take copious notes on which bolt is the drain bolt because I'm sure the engine is held in place with the only other bolt under the Magic Bus. Ok I am off to start another project for somebody else to finish. God Bless, Art

WHAT A YEAR

I can hardly believe it’s been a year since I died. At times it seemed to drag on, especially when I wasn’t allowed to drive, and other times it flew. It has been the best year of my life. I have learned and experienced so much and have felt “alive” more than anytime in my life. When it comes to God what can I say? He is GOD. Everything that has happened is for his glory. Personally I’m still overwhelmed and humbled by all the miracles and events that happened a year ago. To family and friends, you are the greatest in the world. Your love, kindness, caring, support and prayers are tremendous blessings in my life. When I cry out to encounter God, He tells me to look for Him in all of you! We are His greatest creation.

I’ve gotten the opportunity several times this year to speak about those events and the impact on my life. I’ve also been given the opportunity to speak several times on my new passion of nutrition and health. So ironic given my past experiences, which I’m sure GOD chuckles about all the time.

I never would have thought I would spend a year unemployed, on disability, on a heart transplant list and be leaving in an RV next week to fulfill a lifelong dream. I am so humble and grateful for this experience. And I get to share it with my youngest son. This trip may seem to be about “us” but it is really about GOD and the experiences he wants to share with us. At least I try to tell myself that all the time. I can’t think of anything that makes your heart more alive, than getting an opportunity to live out your dreams! GOD-thank you!

I know this is not a risk free adventure, but what in life is risk free? I do have some fear and have not thrown “caution” to the wind, but if not now, then when? I don’t mean this flippantly but I’d rather die at the south rim of the grand canyon following my dream, than laying in a hospital bed dying waiting for an event that may or may not happen. I think my family understands my heart in this matter.

I hope to update this blog with pictures (help me matt) and keep you all informed about our travel experiences, including all the unexpected miracles along the way!! The only plan, if there is one, is to pick matt up on the 20th and head to the big hole (Grand Canyon) on the 21st. Well it’s time to start packing or at least think about it. Thanks for reading and God Bless, Art

IF IT WERE THE LAST TIME....

Yesterday I was out exploring the island and the following thought flashed through my mind. It probably borders on the morose but I felt the need to write about it anyway. My thought was “If this was the last time you’d ever see the beach, what would you do? And would you do anything differently?” On the way back to the magic bus my mind expounded on this thought and wondered if we applied that to everything in our life, how much better would this world be?

If it was the last time to see you husband would you really be upset that he left the toilet seat up? If it were the last time to see your wife, would you really be upset that she bought a coat that was on sale? If it were the last time to see your son, would you be upset he didn’t mow the grass yet? If it were the last time to see your daughter would you be upset because she came in late last night? If it were the last day on the job, would you be complaining about the copier or your co-worker? If it were the last time to see your father, would you be upset he took your cell phone away?

If we knew for certain something was going to be the last time ever wouldn’t we act just a little bit different? Maybe we would act just a little better, have a little bit more patience, show a little bit more love and have just a tiny bit more compassion for others? But so many of us (including me) just assume our wife/husband will walk in the door at night or our kids will always be safe or our job will always be there or our parents will live forever. I’m not suggesting this has to be our waking 24 hour thought, but just the next time we get ready to complain, be mad or angry, let’s just stop and put things in perspective. There are no guarantees in life and we may just pass this way once. God Bless you, Art.

INTO THE BEACH-REAGAN

The rain stopped and I thought I’d head out to the beach with my good buddy Reagan this morning. I packed my chair including his ball of course. I didn’t know I was in for a spiritual lesson. Now the only part of this adventure I don’t look forward to is the actual walk to the beach, as Reagan normally pulls my left shoulder out of socket. Now as long as he hears my voice, obeys my command to heel we get along fine. But as soon as he starts looking around and sniffing every blade of grass, tree or shrub we have issues. Then it becomes a matter of whose will is going to win.

And then it came to me that this is exactly how my walk with God for 52 years has been. As long as I hear his voice and obey his commands we don’t have a problem. His yoke is light in other words. But as soon as I start looking at what the world has to offer and go to smell the grass on the other side of the path and struggle to follow my will, that yoke gets real heavy. And I think we all know whose will is going to prevail. Take it from me, free will without obedience is a recipe for disaster.

I’m afraid to admit however that I’m more like Reagan than I should be. I think with some daily training Reagan would learn the meaning of the word heel and I’d learn the meaning of obedience. I must be the world’s biggest hypocrite! You all have a great day and Reagan will try not to lower the seas today!! God Bless, Art

INTO THE WILD

Every now and then you make a decision that alters the landscape of you life. Sometimes it changes who you are or defines who you are. Recently I made just one of those types of decisions. After getting my driving privileges back in March, I wanted to ride my motorcycle out west and see the big hole. It's really been a life long dream of mine to spend some serious time out west. Well somebody suggested an RV and just haul the bike. I originally thought that was out of the question due to prices, but then I started researching and low and behold the recession had hit the RV industry too!

Well the next thing you know, Ol' Jed's a millionaire. I'm now the owner of a 2002 Fleetwood Bounder thanks to the persistence of my son and friend. For the techies out there it is 36ft long on a workhorse chasis with an allison transmission and a vortec 8.1L motor and one slideout, with only 21,000 miles. That means it is a "gas" engine as opposed to a "diesel" motor. I like to think she is brand new. Now some people throw caution to the wind and do things without thinking thru the whole plan. I'd like to think I'm not in that crowd but this just might qualify.

After one month of ownership I almost qualify as an expert RV Mechanic advisor. Let's just say I know people who know people that know how to fix things. I've had a brake bulb replaced which just happened to affect the cruise control, replaced blown fuses, repaired a split in a plastic hose, ran a fresh water line to the freezer, hooked up the antenna, digital box converter and dvd player and replaced two hose fittings. Now I'm sure there were some other little things that just escape my mind at the moment. Did I mention satellite tv was installed last week after only one hour on the phone with Direct TV? Now how hard is it?

I am currently on my second (maiden?) voyage at the beach after a great 5 day stay in the mountains at Lake Jocassee. I'm currently at Huntington State Beach Park which is south of Myrtle Beach and north of Litchfield Beach in S.C. We (Reagan and me) arrived about 5 o'clock and I set up the RV while he terrorized his new neighbors. After dinner we found the beach and thankfully only a couple of people were on it as Reagan felt like he had the whole thing to himself. He hasn't figured out the whole wave thing but I swear I've never seen a dog run so much. The only thing that really slowed him down at all was a beached jellyfish.

It's raining today at least in the a.m. which is why I'm writing so early. I think a friend of mine, the only one I have, LOL is stopping by today sometime. I promise (kinda) to update this more frequently now that the great adventure "INTO THE WEST" is beginning. About the only thing lacking on the Magic Bus is the motorcycle lift which should be installed next week. Another degree in engineering was needed to figure that one out.

I love the sound of the ocean waves, or is it the idling of a diesel motorhome I hear?

Nutrition

NUTRITION

I was asked a few weeks ago to speak on nutrition at church. Now I know what you are thinking, “Here we go again another talk about fruits and vegetables”. Well stick with me here because my take on it is a little different. It gave me the opportunity to organize my thoughts and review my life in regards to what worked and what didn’t when it comes to health.

We have a relationship and addiction to food. Most of us even have had or are currently having an affair with food. I am talking about the emotional connection we create with food. Our affair with food is very similar to a sexual affair. We lie to others and ourselves about what we eat and how much we eat. We hide from our spouse or children food that we want to eat for just our self. We feel guilty when we overindulge. We plan and dream about how good something is going to taste. Food is pleasurable and a reward for a myriad of life situations. Our relationship with food can be summarized as lying, hiding, guilt, pleasure, dreaming and fantasizing. This also doesn’t even address the issues of cost, timing or availability, but you get my point. Generally we have become an obese nation of people living to eat.

What will it take to become a nation of folks who just eat to live? First we have to break the emotional connection we have with food. This is why all diets do not work. They do not address this relationship. Reward yourself with anything besides food. Exercise, sports, hunting, shopping, sex are all better choices for rewards than eating. We must realize that it is a matter of life and death and disease. Eating to live is a choice, a lifestyle. Our health is not the responsibility of the medical community or insurance or some government program. WE are responsible for our HEALTH and until we end our affair with food it will be a fleeting goal.

The Bible says our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we are to honor God with our body. You’re not going to want to read the next questions. But if it makes you change your lifestyle, so be it. Do we honor God when we go through the drive thru? Do we honor God when we go to the all you can eat buffet? Do we honor God when we go to the local tavern and drink a gallon of alcohol? My point is simply we treat our animals BETTER than this priceless gift God has given us called our BODY.

The first rule of life is that we are GIVEN a body for our journey. Love it, hate it, it’s the only body we will ever get here. Cherie-Carter Scott has a great book about this called, “If life is a game, these are the rules,” which addresses this issue in detail. Check it out, you can read it in a week or less.

In closing, the first step to a healthier, nutritious life is ending your affair with food. It’s a choice and a decision to be healthy. One that I wish I had made 30 years earlier.

God Bless,

Art

Passion

PASSION

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about passion. It is defined as,” any powerful or compelling emotion or feeling, as love or hate.” It is so remarkable and refreshing when you actually meet someone who has passion for what they are doing and who they are. It is so easy to see it in musicians who love what they are doing or preachers who have the integrity to speak the truth. Having been in the business world for most of my life, I’ve got to admit I rarely saw it in the various careers people chose. I would have to say I saw it most in successful sales people.

If you ask most people who they are, the answer you get most of time refers to what they do and not whom they are. This led me to the belief that what you do, is not who you are. Then one day young wise Matt and I were discussing this and he stated, “If you are following your passion, then you are what you are doing.” Which brings me to how many people are not following their passions? How many people are just going through the motions or punching the time clock mired in mediocrity? If you love what you are doing and doing what you love I commend you. But can you just imagine for a moment if we all were following are passions, how much better this world might be? How much more joy, love and peacefulness would we encounter on a daily basis?

So as we enter the holiday season and start a new year, maybe it’s time to check our hearts. Are you following your passion or stuck in a job that is making you miserable? When will you decide to be happy? When will you choose joy, peace and happiness over despair, drudgery and perceived security? Are you fooling yourself playing the game, “I’ll be happy when……”. Well times up, decide today. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! God Bless, Art