Thunder Dog

I really don't like that I do it but I do. There is no excuse! The truth is that I am guilty of giving in to a temptation that all parents face. It seems that I am guilty of being over-protective. Well, when you have two blind children one might justify the fact that they are so or even just plain deny it based on necessity of circumstances. NO, the truth is that I am over-protective. Over-protective is even, really, just a nice way of saying "controlling parent full of worry and anxiety, scared to death something might happen to their kid". Ok, now that that is off my chest let me tell you about a wonderful book.

The story of Michael Hingson and his guide dog Roselle and how they escaped from the 78th floor of the WTC on 9/11 is absolutely remarkable! You can check out an ad for the book called "Thunder Dog" at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nRU4Rh2rBM
It is because of Michael's story that I decided to encourage my son and daughter to try riding a bike! Matthew absolutely loved it! Yes, a 5 year old blind boy learning to ride a bike.

I am so proud of my son and the courage that it takes to try. Don't gasp and think that I am throwing caution to the wind, I am not. I just refuse to be that person that limits my son from doing all that he can do or atleast trying. I am not going to disable him by my fear! He will get hurt and he will fall but I will be there (if at all possible) to help him back up. Thank you Michael Hingson!



"...Safety is from the Lord" Psalm 4:8
"...When I fall, I shall arise" Micah 7:8

Welcome to Holland!

This story has been a blessing to many people including myself. Just the other night I had a dream that my son and I were out at a park and I was passing a football to him and he was catching it and having a great time. Some things are difficult but this story is VERY encouraging!


I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this......


When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip - to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."
"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay. The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.

So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met.
It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around.... and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills....and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy... and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away... because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss.
But... if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things ... about Holland.

Emily Perl Kingsley 1987

Matthew Chases Daddy

Matthew is blind and usually doesn't run very many places because he is afraid he will run into things and be injured. However, when he chases Daddy he knows it's safe! What if God's children learned this lesson? We walk (run) by faith and not by sight :-)

check out the video

http://www.facebook.com/v/10150198219175705

10 Things I Have Learned From Raising Blind Kids

10 Things (among many others) I have learned from raising blind kids!

1. If there is candy in the house they will find it just as fast as any sighted kid (or faster)!
2. The cat isn't the only one who gets into the Christmas tree.
3. Facial expressions are natural not learned in most cases. (including sticking out their tongue)
4. It doesn't take sight to have a fascination with flushing strange objects down the toilet.
5. Many things in life are impossible to describe.
6. It is NOT ok to touch some things because they are blind and they want to know what it is.
7. Fear is far more disabling than being blind.
8. Two year olds know alot more than anyone thinks (our kids started talking in full sentences at 15 months).
9. Dogs aren't the only ones who can recognize people by their smell.
10. They still want to drive :-0

Your Eyes Will Adjust

Had a Seriously Ridiculous Awesome week at The Bogg Teen Camp. I heard a cool little story from David Vance about how he and his wife went to a very expensive restaurant for a Candle Light dinner. The music played and the food was great but as he looked across the table he wanted to see more clearly his wife's face. He motioned to the waiter and said "Could you please bring the lights up a little more" The waiter said "Don't worry sir your eyes will adjust".

As the World becomes more sinful we must be aware as Christians that it is natural for people to adjust to the darkness. I am not talking about adjusting as a missionary would to a foreign culture. I am talking about allowing sin into our lives and becoming Ok with it. It is easy to adjust to traditionalism and rituals in our religion rather than persuing a relationship with Christ the Light of the World. It is easy to adjust to the status quo of religion and an outward show. It is easy to adjust to duality. There is an outward show and we appear to be keeping sin out of the church but our lives are entrenched in the ungodly away from the assembly. Soon we are in a rut, soon we are pleasing ourselves, soon we are going through the motions soon we have forgotten that Christ desires mercy and not sacrifice. Soon we are not being a light to the World and we are Isaiah 58...read it when you have a chance. I would suggest that you use a version other than KJV so you can really understand what its saying!

P.S. Thanks for that scripture reading Josh King :-)

Give Me Your Eyes

Lyrics for Dove Awards
Song of the Year 2009
Brandon Heath
"Give Me Your Eyes"


Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black top
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere,
Why have I never cared?

Chorus:
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
YeahYeahyeahyeah

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what's underneath
There's a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He's out of workHe's buying time
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?


I've Been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just moving past me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glanceS
o give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all along

10 Reasons To Have A Victorious Outlook On Life!

For the Believer in Jesus Christ here are 10 Reasons to have a victorious outlook on life!

#1
Jehovah God is still Lord of Heaven and Earth.....
Some will fret and worry becaue the devil is the "god" of this World. The "god" of this World means he is in control of this World System. The financial system, the educational systems, the religious systems, the media etc. During the millenium Jesus will control all these things. This does not mean that things are outside of Gods ultimate control. He is still Lord of Creation! He holds all things together. Acts 17:24-32

#2
Jesus Christ the Messiah is still Risen from the Dead.....
There is no other system of faith on the Earth that has a risen savior. Religion after religion can take you to their founders grave however Jesus is risen and has assured us that he is alive. I serve a risen savior

#3
One Day I will see the Miracle of the Ressurection and get my new body....
My eyes will see one of the greatest miracles of all time. I can't wait, I want my children to be close to me when it happens. As we are changed in the moment and in the twinkling of an eye they will receive their new bodies and they will be able to see my face for the first time. Then we will see Jesus together!

#4
Our Labor is not in Vain....
The things that we do for Jesus will one day be rewarded. I Corinthians 15:57,58 says "But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." I like what proverbs 14:23 says to the wise "In all Labor there is profit".

#5 All things work together for good.....
There are alot of things that seem bad to me but God tells me that they will all work out for good to those who are the called according to his purpose....well that's me and I am standing on this promise....how about you?

#6
He will never leave us nor forsake us.....
Ok, sometimes I hear sermon after sermon that somehow seems to say that if I don't follow God just right then he will abandon me or leave me hanging out to dry. I don't know where these thoughts come from. I don't think they are God.....He is a good father and even though he may discipline me it is in his amazing love and he will never leave me nor forsake me.....I can boldly say the Lord is my Helper......Since God is for us who can be against us? No One!

#7
Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the World......
I get tired of defeatest mentalities. Things are getting worse and worse...well that may be true but that doesn't mean that Christians are going to be defeated. I read the back of the book and we win! The Holy Spirit lives in me and he is stronger and mightier than the devil! When Lucifer fell he took one third of the angels with him, that means there are two thirds left! So for every demon the devil throws my way there are 2 angels on my side ready to overcome them. We are in a spiritual battle and our heavenly father is good and he has given us everything we need to Win!

#8
The Gospel of Jesus Christ can not be stopped.....
Before Jesus comes back the Bible says that the gospel will be published in all nations. In Matt 13:31-33 the bible also tells us that the Kingdom of Heaven is like leaven that will spread and fill the whole. Finally in Revelation 7:9 there are the saved that are from every nation, tribe, and kindred. The Gospel will not be stopped and people from every it goes will accept it! Jesus said all power is given unto me....go ye therefore!

#9
The churches of Jesus Christ will never go out of existance and hell can not stop her......
Jesus said I am with you "even unto the end of the world".....Jesus told Peter that the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church.....even if their are few accepting the truths of the Word and even though men won't like to hear sound doctrine.....there will be faith (the system) of faith that was once delivered to the saints when Jesus comes back!

#10
We will reign with Christ and live forever in the New Heaven and Earth!
Revelation 20....Read It!

Don't be defeated in your mind and actions....Don't let the World get you down! Go forward with Victorious Outlook! Be Like Caleb and Joshua not like the other 10 that no one remembers!