SISTER

For my wonderful sister who is always there for me! Love you!!

DAVE MATTHEW'S BAND SISTER VIDEO

Last email from David Bloom to his wife Melanie

This was the last e-mail that the CNN reporter, David Bloom, sent to his wife the night before he died of pulmonary embolism back in 2003 while he was reporting on the war in Iraq. I keep this e-mail printed out tucked inside my devotional book to read and reflect on from time to time. I pray that I will have the heart like David Bloom did.  

Last e-mail from David Bloom to his wife Melanie:

It's 10a.m. here Saturday morning, and I've just been talking to my soundman Bob Lapp about his older brother, whom he obviously loves and admires very much, who's undergoing chemotherapy treatment for Leukemia. Here Bob is - out in the middle of the desert - and the brother he cares the world for - who had been the picture of health, devoted to his wife and kids, is dying. Bob can't wait to be home to be with him, and I can't wait to be home to be with all of you. 

You can't begin to fathom - cannot begin to even glimpse the enormity - of the changes I have and am continuing to undergo. God takes you to the depths of your being - until you are at rock bottom - and then, if you turn to Him with utter and blind faith, and resolve in your heart and mind to walk only with Him and toward Him, He picks you up by your bootstraps and leads you home. 

I hope and pray that all my guys get out of this in one piece. But I tell you, Mel, I am at peace. Deeply saddened by the glimpses of death and destruction I have seen, but at peace with my God, and with you. I know only that my whole way of looking at life has turned upside down - here I am, supposedly at the peak of professional success, and I could frankly care less. Yes, I'm proud of the good job we've all been doing, but - in the scheme of things - it matters little compared to my relationship with you, and the girls, and Jesus. There is something far beyond my level of human understanding or comprehension going on here, some forging of metal through fire. 

I shifted my book of daily devotions and prayers to the inside of my flak jacket, so that it would be close to my heart, protecting me in a way, and foremost in my thoughts. When the moment comes when Jim or John or Christine or Nicole or Ava or you are talking about my last days, I am determined that they will say 'he was devoted to his wife and children and he gave every ounce of his being not for himself, but for those whom he cared about most - God and his family.' Save this note. Look at it a month from now, a year from now, 10 years from now, 20 years from now. You cannot know now - nor do I - whether you will look at it with tears, heartbreak and a sense of anguish and regret over what might have been, or whether you will say - he was and is a changed man, God did work a miracle in our lives. But I swear to you on everything that I hold dear - I am speaking the truth to you. And I will continue to speak the truth to you. And, not to be trite, but that will set me free. 

God bless you, Melanie. I love you and I know that you still love me. Please give the girls a big hug - squeeze 'em tight - and let them know just how much their daddy loves and cares for them. 

With love and devotion, 

Dave. 

Baby in a Basket

"You’re a Baby in a Basket” as Jerry Leachman likes to say. Jerry is the chaplain for the Washington Redskins up in D.C. and I've had the privilege of hearing him speak a few times while attending men’s breakfasts in Birmingham.  Jerry is also the chaplain and mentor for many of the big politicians and news guys up in DC, including the late Tony Snow. He mentored Tony in his final years while battling colon cancer. He said he would always remind Tony that he was a “baby in a basket” and was indestructible until God’s plan for his life was complete. I’ve been reminded of this the last couple weeks dealing with situations in my own life as well as thoughts and prayers going out to family and friends who are struggling with cancer.

You know the story…but when Moses was just a few months old, Pharaoh had a hit order on his life and all the Hebrew babies, so Moses’ family put him in a basket and sent him floating down the crocodile infested Nile River with obviously no chance for survival. But Pharaoh’s daughter finds him out of God’s perfect plan and takes him back to live with Pharaoh. Pharaoh had a plan for Moses’ life and it was to annihilate him, BUT GOD had another plan for Moses that he was going to deliver God’s people. And that little baby was indestructible until God was through with him. So as long as God has a purpose for us to be here, our obsession in life should not be to sit here on earth and just have fun, or to be the coolest, smartest, richest person in the world. We’re here to find out why God put us here, and become that person and fulfill our destiny. Until God’s plan for our life is complete, we’re a baby in a basket and are indestructible.  So when I start to fill up with fear or start worrying about a tough situation I’m in, I just remind myself that I’m a baby in a basket too. And God has everything under control, even though at times we can’t see what’s up ahead or understand why certain events are happening. We just need to trust Him and know He has a perfect plan for our lives. 

  

Morris and Ellen's Wedding

Two of my great friends, Morris and Ellen, tied the knot this past month. It was a beautiful wedding weekend in rural Georgia. I’m so happy for Morris and Ellen and was so honored to be a groomsman in their wedding. It has been a pleasure being a part of both of their lives and getting to watch as their relationship has progressed the way it has. I’m so happy for you guys.  The wedding and reception were so much fun. It was great catching out with some old buddies at the hunting camp Thursday and Friday night and spending time with my wonderful date Katherine.

Here are some of the pictures from the weekend.

 

Following the Equator

I just finished reading Following the Equator by Mark Twain. It was an excellent book and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves traveling as much as I do. I hope to one day get to experience the wonderful travels that Mark Twain did. 

This was the last of five books he wrote about traveling the globe. He wrote this book late in his life after suffering bankruptcy, in attempts to make some money by touring the globe giving speeches. The book at times appears to have been written fairly quickly for he rambles on and on at times as if to just fill up pages. There are also many subtle thoughts of anti-imperialism of the British and American Empires, as well as negative thoughts towards missionary’s goals for the aboriginals that I partly did not agree with. And although he makes some good points that kick you in the gut, I wouldn’t agree with everything he had to say.  

As I read the book I could just see and feel myself there along with Mark Twain on the boat as he crossed the globe. Oh what a great experience it must have been to travel like he did in the late 19th century!  To be a on a boat traveling from Hawaii to Fiji to Australia to New Zealand to India to South Africa….it must have been incredible! I’d give anything to be out on the deck right now staring up at the Southern Cross with my dear friend, Mark Twain.

Jimmy Buffett is really who first got me interested in reading this book. In his song, “That’s What Living Is To Me”, he uses Mark Twain’s quote he started this book with, “Be good, and you will be lonesome.”  Jimmy Buffett also wrote “Remittance Man” and “Take Another Road” about this Mark Twain voyage.

I will blog about some of the cool stories in this book at another time; it’s getting too late tonight. But the following is a quote from another one of Mark Twain’s books on his travels.  Travel really is a valuable and important aspect of life. 

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.”      — Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad

Failure is a misunderstood and underutilized asset

I read the following today in the Business Digest newsletter my dad sends me each morning. I’ve heard this story many times before but it really struck me as fascinating this time around. Failure really can be such an asset and starting point for something great.  

Failure is a misunderstood and underutilized asset. Within every failure is an opportunity to learn. For inspiration, consider part of this man’s resume:

• Age 22: Failed at business
• Age 23: Ran for legislature and lost
• Age 24: Failed at another business
• Age 27: Had a nervous breakdown
• Age 31: Defeated for elector
• Age 34: Defeated for Congress
• Age 39: Defeated for Congress
• Age 46: Defeated for Senate
• Age 47: Defeated for vice president
• Age 49: Defeated for Senate
• Age 51: Elected president

Name: Abraham Lincoln

Lions, Lions, Lions

I just finished reading two excellent books on lions in Africa. The first book was a Christmas present from my friend Marcus, entitled The Man-Eaters of Tsavo by Lt. Colonel J.H. Patterson. It was an excellent pick by my friend as I thoroughly enjoyed it. Colonel Patterson gives his personal account of the legendary Tsavo lions that killed over one hundred people in East Africa during the construction of the Uganda Railway by the British government. Colonel Patterson was hired on as the construction manager for the bridge being built over the Tsavo River. The book describes his incredible adventure of hunting and ultimate killing of the man-eaters by risking his life on many an occasion. The book also describes his many other adventures of traveling through East Africa on many different hunting trips for all kinds of wild game.

“I think that the incident of the Uganda man-eating lions…is the most remarkable account of which we have any record.” – President Theodore Roosevelt

The second book, A Lion Called Christian by Anthony Bourke and John Rendall, was also an excellent book, but was on the far end of the spectrum from man-eater lions. This book was about a friendly lion that developed a remarkable friendship with two guys in London in 1970. Anthony and John bought the lion cub, named Christian, from the pet department of Harrods in London in attempt to save him from a life of misery caged up in a circus or zoo. They take him home to live in their flat above a store where they work. They have many adventures in the store and across London where Christian quickly became a local celebrity. After many months of living in London, Christian gets to be way too big for them. They look into many different options for a life for Christian and end up concluding that they must reintroduce him into the African wild. After a year of living with Christian, they eventually are able to find a group that was able to successfully release him wild country of Kenya.

Their story became famous with the release of this youtube video that shows the reuniting of the guys with Christian a year after reintroducing him into the African wild. 

YOUTUBE---CHRISTIAN THE LION 

A Good Book, Roaring Fireplace & a Fine Cup of Coffee

There is nothing quite like an enjoyable evening cuddled up by a roaring fireplace on a nippy winters evening with just a cup of coffee and a good book. I have found myself here each night this week by the fireplace with a wonderful book that I just can’t seem to put down due to its excitement and the thought of starting my next book. Tonight, I would have to agree with C.S. Lewis when he said, “You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me".

 

Montana

I flew out to Montana last Saturday morning with my best friend Marcus for the week, to visit his grandma’s ranch outside of a town called Roundup. I love the West and was so anxious to get back out there and experience the wild ruggedness that it has to offer. There is just something about it that puts a big smile on my face just thinking about it.  To quote myself on one of my solo road trips back in 2005, “my mouth is starting to hurt; I’ve been smiling for the last 23 hours on my drive out here”. To most people it is a vast part of the country that is desolate for a reason and its ruggedness has nothing to offer, much less be admired, but to me, it’s one gigantic slice of heaven far too great for me to comprehend.

Marcus and I had so much fun out there with his, my new, Grandma Payton. She is such a wonderful lady, who so graciously opened up her ranch to me as if I was her own. I couldn’t have asked for a better host for the week. Grandma never let our stomachs reach half full. She was always feeding us something, including her famous homemade bread and honey butter, which I dare say is the best I’ve ever had.

We spent the week doing all sorts of fun stuff that every man should be so gracious to encounter at least once in life. We helped her with lots of ranch work that she had been putting off, since her late husband passed away and ankle injury last year. We fed the horses each morning and evening, cleaned out the stalls, fixed a cattle guard, fixed the diesel truck, cleared out some debris and picked up a load of sawdust from town. These may have been work activities, but it sure didn’t feel like it. We were always ready to conquer the next work activity. Our fun activities, if you will, were shooting guns, riding horses, prairie dog/coyote hunting, visit to West Yellowstone, riding four wheelers & the big Ford 350 diesel around in the snow. In the evenings, after a big dinner made by grandma and my studly grill skills, we would watch classic western movies. It was such a wonderful trip and I can't wait to get back out there again!  

Unloading a load of Sawdust

Arabian Horses 

Driving the F-350 around

Montana Evening 

Prairie Dog Hunting

New Years in NYC

Once again, I had the great opportunity to spend New Year’s Eve in Times Square with some of my buddies. It was wonderful to be back in the great city of New York with all its hustle and bustle. I went with the same guys I did last year: Bo, Marcus and my brother Chris. This year we were able to stay a few extra days to hang out and enjoy more of the city's shopping and restaurants. And luckily, this year we did not break record cold temperatures like we did last year waiting on the ball to drop. That’s not to say we weren’t freezing, we were, especially the last couple days when it got windy. It just wasn’t as bad as last year, and we were more prepared.  

My brother and I on New Year's Eve

Marcus and I on New Year's Eve

Me in Times Square on New Years Day

Chris, Marcus and Bo on New Year's Eve

As for New Year’s Resolutions…

Out at Times Square with my buddies, I said my resolutions were to: 1) Get back in shape & eat healthier. Which I realize was on my list last year, and I actually did really well for the first 7 months or so while trying to get in shape for my sister’s wedding and beach/lake trips. But as soon as July hit…..wow, did I ever start slacking off! I don’t remember what it was, but I seriously just stopped even trying! I guess it was the summer coming to an end or feeling the need to get my winter coat growing for warmth this winter! But regardless of why, I ended the year right back where I started.  I will once again try again this year….even if it is just for wedding and beach season. 2) I want to get my career/business growing more successfully this year and/or make a change if need be, desired or feel called to.

Since then though, I’ve given it a little more thought and talked it out with a friend of mine and I need to add to that list. In 2010, I really want to get my life back on track both mentally and spiritually. Part of the year in 2009, I really just lost focus and just disengaged from life mentally, spiritually and socially. It was like I climbed up in my attic and just took a year off from life. I mean that’s not to say I didn’t have any fun or didn’t have a good year. I did, I had some really great times in 2009, some great trips, experiences and real fun times, but there were those weeks where I really struggled. It was a tough year struggling with my career at times, relationships, seeking direction, despair over circumstances in my past, and all those things together wrapped up in my relationship with the Lord. It was just a stale, distant and what felt like a non growing relationship for the most part. But looking back it was a great growing experience and I really have grown in so many ways. It was just a tough growth period, which made it feel stale and at times impossible. I know I had reasons behind my actions, and looking back I am glad I went through that, but now I’ve conquered it and I’m ready to get back out there and engage. I want it back. I want my smile, my happiness over the close relationship that I had with the Lord and get back on track and engage in life.