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This is a very quiet morning - unusually quiet for our windy little town. Somehow I get the feeling there are angels on assignment here. I'm sure of it.

They are everywhere this morning. They are beside beds, standing beside breakfast tables. They are standing in hallways and livingrooms. As magnificent as they are, they are unseen. But, they are present.

Angels... in the power of silence, are ministering comfort and strength. They go forth with compassion and whisper words of hope as they lean over and catch the tears, fears, questions falling from hearts, worn with the shortcomings of this world.

Angels, on mission from heaven, sent to breathe unspeakable peace and love to the lost and hurting with invisible embraces that can be felt yet not touched.

Angels, God's messengers of His Word of Love to a world, so needy, so loved.

There is a hush of gentle encouragement in our midst today, touching brokeness in understanding.

In the quietness of our souls, our hurts and sorrows lay bare, God cares. He knows.

They are here. Most definitely. These angels on assignment.

No need for a picture here.

No, there is no need for a picture here. None. There are hardly words to convey the feelings being shared at this very moment.

My young friends... Hug each other tight. Cry and talk. Cry and talk some more...go ahead and laugh. It's ok to be mad, to be sad, to feel confused.

My parent friends. The numbness and extreme sadness is shared by all. We are only older children, with the same feelings as our children. Maybe we understand how to cope a little better...maybe not. But, it's ok, too.

Many of us saw each other today. All we had to do was look at each other and we knew. It's the bond of the broken. We've been here before. Some of us, too many times. Whether this was the first time, or the tenth, it doesn't matter. The pain sucks our hearts out of our chests and we gasp for air. A young life snuffed out is heart-wrenching.

A community as small as ours knows suffering and loss all too well. The blessing in the dark is knowing there is a hand reaching out and an arm extended. Understanding and compassion become cushioning, in a sense.

We embrace each other and whisper, "I care". The words don't have to be verbalized, but they are there. We've watched each other's children grow up. We've been involved in each other's lives, simply because it's part of living in a small community.

We can't be anything but real right now. We can't do anything to take the pain away, but....
Mitchek family, we love you. We are so sorry. We are here for you, to support you, to hug you and pray.

My friends, we will pull together like we do. We will lend a shoulder and share this sorrow, like we do. We will love this family, like we do. We will do what we can do. Most of all we will just be there for them, for each other. Because we care, we do.

It's a brand new day...no ground hogs present.

Every day is a new day. I would hate to wake up to the same day - every day! If you've seen the movie, "Groundhog Day", you know what I'm talking about. Day after day Bill Murray, the disgruntled weatherman, woke up to the same day! Of course, he needed to change a few things in his life, which is why he was in that predicament. When he finally had a change of heart, he was able to go on with his life and the week progressed.

It would be frustrating to wake up to yesterday, day after day! Maybe yesterday was a grand day, but I wouldn't want to live it everyday. I know, I've said, 'I never wanted that day to end', when talking about a special memory. But,really? Day after day after day? No matter how great and wonderful it was, I imagine eventually even it would get old, if the great day didn't change at some point.

Thankfully, we don't ever have to worry, or look forward to yesterday being today, and today never ending.

God gives us a new day, everyday. Lamentations says, His mercies are new every morning. I like that. I may have 'messed up' yesterday, but instead of having a repeat of yesterday till I get it right, God is merciful and gives us His mercies, fresh and new every morning. We get a fresh start every single day of our lives!

When we wake up we can say,like the psalmist, "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." There is a new sunrise, everyday. There is a new beginning, everyday.

What a loving, gracious, God we serve.

Let's rejoice and be glad in this day. It's the only "today" we get today.

Veterans Day

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! In the midst of all the confusion in the world, we still have men and women who are willing to go through rigorous training to defend our constitution. There are people who willingly serve, putting their lives on the line, daily - for us.

Isn't it amazingly awesome?! I attended my son's graduation from bootcamp - my initiation to military life, and I was overcome with emotion. The dedication, discipline and demeanor of these men was incredible. I shall never forget that day.

I remember the day my son returned from Iraq. We were there with a huge banner, anticipating the arrival of our deployed. When these men marched onto the parade deck, there was screaming and cheering..but there was also silence and reverance. They had returned.

Today, I remember those I've met, those I don't know. I remember those who didn't return.

How can I take this day for granted? How can I complain about anything? With all it's problems, the United States is still the best place to live...because of the brave who have served and presently serve in our armed forces.

They go through hell to do what they do. But, they do it. I know there are days they would rather just not get up...days they wonder...and yet, they put their 'best foot' forward every morning, because they're trained that way. They give above the hundred percent they think they're capable of because they are compelled to do so. They know how to sacrifice and not give in under pressure - because they've been trained.

These men and women represent our country, our values, our roots. Let's not forget the integrity, morals, and love of God and country that have sustained our nation. Let us stand together with those who serve,as one nation under God,valuing the rights and freedoms that have been bought with a great price.

I read the title. I had to say something. "Is Elvis the Richest Dead Celebrity?" No. He's in fourth place after Michael Jackson. But, what do dead men care about money? I know the article is talking about the amount of money still being made - even after he's passed on, but it just seemed strange to me. 'Trivial info. Does Elvis care?

Is the same importance put on money in heaven? I can see St. Peter (since we have him manning the pearly gates). "Hmmm...Elvis..wow! Is it really you?! 'You the man - according to my book here, you have money, holy moley. Everybody, listen up! This is Elvis Presley and he made so much money on earth - he was rich, rich, rich. Let's hear it for Elvis!" Is everyone impressed with earthly riches in heaven?

I doubt it. The streets in heaven are paved in gold. The foundations of the walls are garnished in precious stones - jasper, sapphire, emerald, just to name a few! And the gates are pearl - 12 of them! Twelve huge pearls.

I'm not saying we don't need money while we live here -it is necessary - period. Money doesn't make the worth of a man. It isn't even what a man does with his money that determines his worth. Elvis's friends and family said he was generous to a fault. He was known to give cadillacs away - he wanted no recognition. He gave a crippled woman a mechanical wheel chair once and when her daughter said she liked his car, he gave it to her.

But, St. Peter didn't pat him on the back and let him in because of his generosity.

Elvis was idolized. People called him the king. "Long live the king." Elvis didn't see himself as the king. In fact,when he heard a fan shout 'you're the king', he said, "I am not the king. Jesus Christ is the King. I'm just an entertainer." Elvis Presley had a spiritual mentor - minister/evenagelist, Rex Humbard, spent time listening and praying for Elvis.

From what I understand, he loved the Lord Jesus. Yes, he struggled. But, like Elvis said, "Don't critize what you don't understand son. You never walked in that man's shoes." "The image is one thing and the human being is another. It's very hard to live up to that image."

He was just a man. He was human and made mistakes. He loved to sing. He loved gospel music. He loved to entertain. Maybe his was bigger than life because of his success. But, in the end, he left this earth like we will someday.

Is Elvis the richest dead celebrity? He is richer than the richest on earth, if he is in heaven. No riches on this earth could compare. 'Nothing greater than standing in the presence of the Lord Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of Lords!

I'm certain, St. Peter would agree.

I said good bye to a good friend yesterday.Good bye for now anyway.
Mary Lou was 81 and though she had some pretty tough times in this
life, she always had a smile and a kind word. She always wanted to know
what was going on in my life when I saw her. She had a servant's
heart; a heart filled with the love of Jesus.

When I was a single parent with five children, we had Thanksgiving
with her family. That was pretty special in my book. It is a
sweet memory that is now a treasure in my heart.

She loved to cook and had made bierocks the day before she went home
to Jesus.

Mary Lou loved to dance. I never saw her dance, but she would tell
me all about it.
Her eyes would light up and she'd
laugh and laugh.
Her husband died some eight or nine years ago
and she didn't think she'd laugh again.

But God brought her a friend.She and Glen went fishing, like she and
her husband used to do.
They went dancing.
They visited and laughed.

At the funeral, Glen told me, "I will never find a better friend
than Mary Lou."

Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times."
Mary Lou was that kind of woman.

My prayer: Lord, there is a great cloud of witnesses in heaven (Hebrews 12:1). Witnesses who fought the good fight of faith, who finished the race. Great men and women, like Moses, David, Mary, and those we knew here on earth who were such a testimony of Your great Love.
When I think of those I knew here, like Mary Lou, I think...these are big shoes to fill. Lord, guide those of us here on earth, to be sold out to You in every area of our lives, so that when we leave, we can leave a legacy of Your great love to others. In Jesus' name. Amen