Tuesday, December 29, 2009; 6:15 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.; Asheville Police Training Room; in support of Getting Back to the Basics, founded by SGT Quinten Miller; gbttb.com.



Remove the Masks is a special presentation that allows an individual to examine life. It is intended to empower people to free themselves from the bondages of life which hide behind masks. Yes, we all wear masks. In fact we wear several of them.

In reality, although this is a season to be merry, everyone is not. I have talked with several of my friends and family members – and many are struggling with emotions. This is when it is very important that we pray for one another. People are hurting for various reasons and that hurt tends to magnify during this time of the year. I am talking about adults now. However, could you imagine what the youth are going through? It grieves my heart to see other people hurt. Therefore I wish to offer prayer up for and with all wounded hearts.

Heavenly Father, I first thank you for your love. You loved us enough to send your only begotten son to this earth to dwell among us to show us how we are to live on this earth. Thank you for Jesus! Happy Birthday Jesus.

Heavenly Father, I also thank you for your grace and mercy. Although life seems dreary sometimes, I know that it would be worst without you. Search hearts, Lord and anything not of you – please remove it. Fill those voids with your likeness. Empower the weak with your holy spirit and strength. Lead people and order their steps away from states of depressions. Order their steps, guard their tongues, and heal their wounded heart and broken spirit.

Heavenly Father, bless all the people in the world. You know each need. Spread a revolution of love and unity. Bless this 2009 Christmas and 2010 New Year season – like you never have before. Keep us from all harm and danger is my prayer. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Antonio, C.J. and I wish you a very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!




HANDBOOK 2010

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is
manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all
about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest
your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with His/her mistakes of
the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply
part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the
lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:
25. Call your family often.
26. Each day give something good to others.
27. Forgive everyone for everything.
28. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30. What other people think of you is none of your business.
31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in
touch.

Life:
32. Do the right thing!
33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
34. GOD heals everything.
35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37. The best is yet to come.
38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39. Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Last but not the least:
40. Believe it!

December 4 was the anniversary of 14 year old Keith's murder. I posted on Facebook and received a response from a schoolmate that put things back into perspective. I talked with his grandmother and father yesterday. They were dealing with his absence, but were also dealing with personal emotions.

I, in turn, put quality time in with two of my grandson's yesterday (2 years old Antonio and 3 years old C.J>) and spent quality time with him. We have snuggled, wrestled, ate, and laugh...enjoying the moments that we have together...and even watching Scubby Doo. You never know when or how the end will be - so why not enjoy te moments, make every minute count for good memories? Take time to hug, talk and listen to, nurture, teach, and love you children, grandchildren, and any child who needs it. It is an investment into the future.

Keith is gone, but he surely will never be forgotten. Here is Jim Hardin's Facebook response. He knew nothing about Keith or his death until I posted it on Facebook. I know it was a divine message - Keith, too, donated his organs:



Jim Hardin December 4 at 7:11am

Dear Priscilla,

I am very sorry to hear about Keith. Our FATHER especially loves HIS children...below is a story about a yung man, much like Keith, and his trip to be with our Lord. When you read you'll likely cry, remember Jesus cried too...

Jimmy's Letter

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?'
The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.'
Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?'
The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.'
Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else. 'I said no at first, but Jimmy said, 'Mom, I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom.' She went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else.. Always wanting to help others if he could'
Sally walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house.. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.
It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said:

'Dear Mom,
I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say'I Love You'. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.

Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said f or me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'where was He when I needed him?' 'God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.

Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper.. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I don't hurt anymore - the cancer is all gone.. I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?
Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.

May GOD bless and protect you as we prepare to clebrate and remember HIS birth.
Jim