It's absolutely freezing here. Well it's actually well below freezing here. Currently it's five degrees. I just started getting myself back on track with the running and then this comes in. It makes it so much harder to get out. Sure, I've got the treadmill, but I hate running on it. It's a last resort for me. Blah!
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Speaking of running. I feel very out of shape. I've managed to get myself up to five miles. But that's my long run so I'm running 3-5's right now. I will continue for a couple more weeks and try to fit in an occasional six miler as my long run. Hopefully I won't be in the shape I was in last May-June, which was terrible. It's always hard for me this time of year not only the weather but also the job. Working in a tax related business is hard on the running as this is our busy time. By the time I get out, who cares about running? I'm usually too tired to worry about my physical condition. Pretty soon we'll be getting into countdown mode.
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My youngest son has got to do some interning this summer for journalism. He's going to see if he can get Stephen King to help him in this. He only lives about 10 miles from us and we have mutual contacts. My son had a friend in HS whose dad worked for S.K. doing maintenance jobs and such. I didn't know it, but David has met S.K. more than once around town especially when he worked at the local store. He said he's a pretty friendly guy. I've never met him, or maybe I have and just haven't noticed. He's never been somebody I read much anyhow. I mean I read Carrie when I was in HS and seen a couple of his movies....but that's about it. I've heard he's nice, but he's still kinda strange in my opinion.
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We had a homosexual man write us this week a very nice email asking what we thought of having him and his lover attend our church and worship alongside us. . He said he loved Jesus and wanted to worship at our church because he's heard alot of good stuff about us. Evidently he has friends here. After much thought, the Pastor wrote him back a very inviting but forthright letter. In it he clearly outlined the plan of salvation, the matter of sin, repentance and the forgiveness that goes with it. He directly said that Homosexuality was considered sin (in God's eyes) and something that has to be dealt with along with any other sin. He said he would welcome the two of them with open arms even now as long as they had the idea they were working towards leaving a lifestyle of sin. In our church now we have people stuggling with issues and sinful lifestyles but they are working on leaving it behind as best they can. It's a process. In fact we have two police chiefs from two diff towns in our fellowship that are struggling with the fact that certain people are "allowed" in. But chuch is supposed to be a place for sick people to be well. But in order to be well, they must want to be well. Like Jesus asked the lame man...."Do you wish to be well?" Then he said, "Go and sin no more or it will be worse for you."
Well we received a follow up note from this man thanking the Pastor for taking the time to write. Then all he said was "God bless your ministry." So we took that as meaning, thanks but no thanks. Time will tell where this will lead.
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So, I'm reading this book about a psychotic dog named Marley. He reminds me alot of my Quincy Dog. Actually the dog in the book, Marley is much worse. First of all he's much heavier which can amount to bigger problems . My dog is only about 55-60 lbs to Marley's 97-100. Marley seems to have more mental problems than mine. But I do see similarities big time. Both dogs got out of their heavy metal cages at whim. Both involved blood in doing so. Both have a way of setting their owners on edge when left alone. Both have a big fear of thunderstorms and have to be watched as their behavior could mean trouble for their owners. In Marley's case, destruction in some form or fashion was normal and in Quincy's case running away is a problem. Anyway Marley 's owner found and read a book by a dog expert from Britian who said in cases like ours there is only one thing that can really be done. That is, put them to sleep. Her direct quote was this:
"Only the owners of unbalanced dogs can really know where the line can be drawn between a dog that is sane and one that is mentally unsound. No one can make up the owner's mind as to what to do with the last kind. I, as a great dog lover, feel it is kinder to put them to sleep."
Even the lover of dogs and successful trainer of thousands of dogs their owners thought hopeless was saying there are some dogs that are simply beyond help. I'll admit I have thought of it, but I can't do that. I'm in it for life. I'm not a quitter, and I'd feel awful if I ever did go to such an extreme. To me, it would be like giving up. Sure, he's unstable and he does drive us nuts but on the other hand he's also got the greatest personality of any dog I've ever met.
Of course as I write this, he's here by my side sound asleep. How can I even think he's mentally unsound? At least right now he looks perfectly normal. He should be exhausted. He slept at the neighbors again last night after doing his thing over here while we were at work yesterday. Another story for another day.
Gotta go for a run.....in the cold.