The Three Minute Grandparent

The time is ripe for another blog from the pen of Ken.  Last night I spent time with my lovely daughter in law and son in Atlanta.  Number one son knows that I have a passion for smoked BBQ so in trying to add to my happiness, he and number one daughter in law took me to Thompson Brothers BBQ in Smyrna, GA for some authentic Southern BBQ.  The restaurant is located in a strip mall with dozens of other stores and eating establishments.  The frontage is only 30 feet across and 100 feet deep...what I would call a hole in the wall...no negative intended.  The people were friendly and the food....oh, the food.  This is the place for YOU if you like real smoked Southern BBQ.  I had the chopped pork and sliced beef and tried food from the other plates.  My favorites were the smoked sausage and smoked ribs...which I will order next time. Thanks, Thompson Brothers for a wonderful supper, and I will return in December while in Atlanta for our company confer...

Seat belts fastened, maps within view, time machine activated.....the hum and vibration increase to monumental proportions...the view changes and suddenly, we are viewing......Garnet.  The travel time was actually 1 hour and we never left 2010, however we suddenly are in the presence of the past.  Garnet Ghost Town was an active mining town on Bear Creek, founded around 1895 as Mitchell and quickly renamed, "Garnet." A fire in 1912 devastated much of the town...log cabins, bars, and hotel.  The town was inhabited in 2 separate time periods, each interrupted by World Wars 1 and 2.  Gold, Silver and Garnet stones were the searched-for items.  Some of the original cabins and store buildings are standing with much history attached.  We wandered in and out of the buildings, absorbing the history, allowing the voices from the past to speak, touching the historical surfaces and trying to imagine....what would it be like........ I took pictures....of everything.......

Missoula to Glacier National Park...a short drive...well, it is actually 150 miles or so.  The drive is lovely with sights of mountains, lakes, colorful trees among which are cherry and maple, and time in the car with family.  We made such a trip yesterday and had a great time. Our drive was in and out of rain showers as we passed Evaro Hill, the Mission Mountains, Flathead Lake,  thousands of Flathead Cherry trees and the scenery on the East side of Flathead Lake.  The drive...ahhhhh, the drive.  It is always lovely and relaxing...well,.... as relaxing as driving will allow.  The Montana scenery is always worth the drive, however, the fun was inside our car.  Our oldest son, Sam and our Daughter-in-Law, Ashley were with us as we drove.  As confirmed empty-nesters, we are thrilled when family comes to town.  Both were with us for the visit to Glacier Park....and we had fun!  Several hours in the car are sufficient to catch up with grown ...

According to a winning coach, winning becomes a habit.  Perhaps this coach is on to something.  We have many football teams in and around our city...high school and college and winning seems to be the goal. The high school of our 4 children's history is experiencing a winning year...so far.  The crosstown rivals are not, in fact one team has yet to win.  The college team in our lives has a win and a loss with another game today.  Our thoughts are toward winning the game, however a red herring has arisen....literally the opposing team has red turf.....yes, the playing field is RED. Playing football is a sport which uses a grass playing surface.  In recent years, some teams have switched to an artificial grass or turf which looks better on television and is easier to maintain.  My team's football rival for today's game has gone one better and made a switch to red turf.  After viewing a news video, I have come to the conclusion that the turf in ...

Win, you have to WIN.  Winning is everything.  No one loves a loser! Have you heard these chants?  Have you been part of a team when one of these chants was hurled at you?  Have you ever lost and felt like a loser?  If so, you're in good company, because everyone has lost at some point.  Is it fun?  Definitely not....but it is part of life.  (Don't you hate those cliches?) My team lost tonight and I feel ____________(fill in the blank). Vince Lombardi said, "If it doesn't matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?" Lou Holtz said, "I think everyone should experience defeat at least once during their career. You learn a lot from it." I agree with both statements; they come from the mouths of knowledgeable men who have both won and lost.  So, where does my team go from here?  Back to the practice field, back to the basics, perhaps sweating to the oldies? The team will be back next week as will I, cheering for them, su...

Sounds, they are everywhere.   I hear the sound of rain outside my open window, the sound of the coffee pot doing its perking thing, even the sound of neighbors bumping around in our apartment complex.   Our world is a noisy place. The most immediate sound in my life is coming from a computer as my wife plays a card game.   I question why a sound is needed for a computer card game?   As she moves cards from one column to another, a swoosh sound is made.   It almost sounds like a card dealer in a live game.   Another sound results from winning a hand??   The sound a child makes when he is victorious….”Ta-daaaaaaa”. Now don’t get me wrong, sounds make a common-place event sound uncommon or even spectacular.   Think about movie sounds, for example the sound of Bruce Lee’s hands moving in a fight scene, the sound of the starship Enterprise moving through space (even though space is soundless) and the sound of laughter or a laugh track in respo...

The sound of rain is relaxing, especially when I want to sleep or just relax in my chair.  Listening to rain beat gently against my windows is comforting, however, feeling the rain beat against me is just plain cold.  Montana rain is cold; winter, summer, fall....it's cold. The Dufflepuds from C.S. Lewis' The Voyage of The Dawn Treader , said, "Ah, you've come over the water.  Powerful wet stuff, ain't it?"  Not only is Montana rain "wet stuff," but it is also cold to feel.  Perhaps you have already guessed...it's raining, not hard but a gentle, steady rain and the air is getting cooler by degrees.  I stand at my upstairs window and watch the rain, feeling the cool wind blow against my face, while viewing a man walk his dogs, a young boy running to school, trying to avoid the rain, and the grumbler looking up at the sky, shaking his head.  Then I realized it....I need to go to Walmart, and that means....getting wet...and cold. I will try not t...

Death and Taxes....as sure as the weather is cold in Montana...or something like that.  Death is coming sooner or later, taxes are coming sooner and the weather is cool today, and sure to get colder.  Is that a problem?  No, No, No!  I like the weather in Montana. Liking the weather actually has nothing to do with what the weather is for the day, but it seems to be fun for some people to knock it.  I personally look forward to the new day and the weather that it brings.  The nip on the legs...yes...I am still wearing shorts.  Today, I wore jeans and it seemed to warm a bit.  As I was saying, the nip on the legs or nose, if you will, the biting wind blowing in your face and birds flying somewhere as if Old Man Winter were chasing them - these all point to Winter in Montana. WOW, I can hardly wait for snow and cold weather.  Hope you have your warm jammies, because....a fantastic Montana Winter is coming.  Bring it on! Warmly, Ken

The Handsome prince tells his princess, "I love you and we will live happily ever after."  And in make believe, they do.  The same statement was made in the movie, Enchanted , by the handsome prince and answered by Giselle (the princess) with, "but what about the day after ever after?" A good question....What about the day after ever after ?  Are we so goal driven that we stop thinking at ever after ?  Perhaps the drive is to make it to ever after , but then what? Are we even looking at the ever after ?  Or perhaps at what will happen in ever after ? In response to your thoughts, I realize that ever after is make believe, but what about your after ?  After what?  After your job...the death of a mate or friend.....your death?  According to The Bible, there is an after , and it is spent either with God or separated from God. Ever after....it's worth thinking about. Ken

Lead Like Ike – Greg Loftus. Thomas Nelson Publisher, c. 2010. Ten Business Strategies From The CEO of D-Day, reads like a history book while analyzing the WW2 D-Day invasion as a business operation. General Dwight D. “Ike” Eisenhower planned Operation Overlord with one mission, Defeat the Germans! His approach using CEO strategies turned the tide in a long and hard fought war. From gaining a beachhead on the coast of France to pushing into the heart of Germany, Ike determined his mission, planned for success, remained focused and continued to prioritize….these four are part of 10 lessons presented by Loftus in demonstrating strategy and tactics in war from a business prospective. This is no boring history nor business manual. It is the marriage of accurately researched history with knowledge of high level business practice. It is interesting from the standpoint of lessons that can be learned from business and it is a fascinating historical study of the planning and events related t...

Jesus fed 5,000 people without the issue of food prep nor delivery problems.  He just fed them in His own way, then he asked to disciples to get into their boat and move to the other side of the lake while He stayed by Himself to pray.  This was fairly usual for their friend to want some alone time with His Father.  The disciples expected Jesus to join them, soon, using another mode of transportation.  Perhaps Jesus could catch a ride on the next boat going across the lake.  He could also walk around the lake, or at the extreme, swim across the lake. Jesus chose an unusual method of transport across the lake; He walked on the water. After a short and excited business meeting, the disciples voted….that walking on the water was unusual and unacceptable.  Matthew probably reasoned that this was not a tried and proven method of travel.  James could have commented that the disciples had never done it that way before. Peter said, “Lord, may I join yo...

“Sometimes, when people get what they want, they realize how limited their goals were.” While flying, I read this in the Delta SKY Magazine and have been mulling it over in my mind ever since. Have I settled for second best when the VERY BEST was available with a little more effort? Have I settled for what floats down the river with no thought of paddling upstream? Am I willing to settle for a rocking chair, when a “James Bond Jetpack” is available? By this time you are probably wondering, “What has gotten into Ken?” And yes, you probably should wonder. My 60th birthday is Sunday, August 1 and I wonder, have I settled for second best? One of the characters in the original series, Star Trek, said, “After a time, you may find that having is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as wanting. It is not logical, but it is often true.” – Spock in Amok Time. Wanting and Having – A circle that we all find ourselves traveling. I see it and I want it. Because I want it, I must have it. In his inter...

E3 and Me took on new meaning as I taught the second seminar series within Convergence ministries.   Rich Ratts had asked me to prepare the Discovering Maturity Seminar to be taken by E3 members after completing the E3 and Me Seminar .   Sounds complicated…actually…. prospective members take the first, E3 and Me , followed by Discovering Maturity seminar.   Rich has worked long in preparing the training outlines for our church and asking me to flesh it out was both an honor and quite fun. Rich and co-Pastor Bill Center taught E3 and Me while I co-taught Discovering Maturity with Rich – he floated between both sessions.   The material was exciting and meaningful, even though I had already studied and worked in expanding the information.   As with all good information, the teacher grows with each teaching session. As I have seem many times previously, Rich is an amazing teacher.   He is able to take any information, written or verbal, process i...

Singing with the Missoula Summer Band is always fun and quite a trip.   As a trained vocalist, I enjoy solo work with my wife,Rhonda as my accompanist.  We have worked together for many years...she knows me, my singing style and is not only my accompanist but my vocal coach.  She loves me and tells the truth as I prepare for many programs. Singing with the Summer Band is a different style of fun.  Gary Gillet, Band Director at Sentinel High School serves as the Summer Band Director.  He is director, coach, encourager and Sergeant at Arms for over 50 instrumentalists.  He is also an accomplished Trombone player and musician.  I have been privileged to sing with the band on numerous occasions including 4th of July at Southgate Mall and Wednesday evenings at Bonner Park.  Tonight was a special time as I sang for the 15th time at the 4th of July Celebration. Thank you Gary and instrumentalists in the Summer Band.  You are so gracious in allowing ...

Be Like Jesus?  Why, of course, I want to be like Jesus, so, I will go to church, read my Bible and try to live the best that I know how.  Is that good enough?  Actually, no! Paul said, "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him (Jesus) from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!"  Phil 3:10-11 NLT. Paul wanted more than anything to be like Jesus, and he gave up everything not only to follow Jesus but to become just like Him.  Paul was a rising star in his world, educated in the finest schools, apprenticed to an outstanding scholar/teacher, and busy in his community doing God's work.  On the day of his salvation while traveling to Damascus, Paul came face to face with the risen Jesus, recognized His authority and power and made a decision to be just like Jesus.  This led Paul to a life of suffering and eventually d...

Following the progress of someone is one way to ensure the right path and the correct outcome is achieved.  It is also an excellent way to follow the flight path of a loved one who is traveling to faraway places on a jet.  At least, I can track the loved one as they move from continent to continent and see the progress in terms of miles downrange and time to go. This past week, a son and daughter traveled to opposite points on the globe and I could not accompany them to protect as a Dad always desires.  Son traveled to Senegal and Daughter to China....and my heart went both ways.  As each left, I had obtained their airline and flight number and was able to track them on FlightAware , an internet based program that allows me to peek in on Air Traffic Controllers just a little bit.  It does not allow me to make changes to any part of the plan or flight....I am only allowed to "track" the flights of loved ones. Daughter's words to me as we hung up from cell ph...

Review of DAD’S BIBLE, The Father’s Plan, with notes by Robert Wolgemuth, published by Thomas Nelson, New Century Version Bible. Dad’s Bible is an exciting concept for Fathers with added helps, notes and ideas for effective child nurturing; the NCV Bible is extremely clear and readable. The layout of Scripture and related helps makes reading a joy. Reading the Bible should be a joy and this version is right on track with a clear and modern translation that will “communicate the same meaning to today’s reader that would have been understood by the original reader.” The helps are arranged such that each section of the Bible communicates “Godly Character,” or information on “Dad’s in The Bible.” Other helps include: Walking in Authority, Passing it On, Building your children, and others. For example, David the King wanted to build a Temple for God in 2 Samuel 7, and received an answer from God through Nathan the Prophet. The Biblical account is very clear reading, and the helps include...

The song, "Anticipatipation" was brought to mind as I awaited my Mother's arrival in Missoula yesterday.  Rhonda and I have prepared the house, looked forward to her arrival, thought of all the stories we want to tell her and been reminded of how much she means to us.  As you can tell, we really are excited to have her here with us. The same can be said for our anticipation of the Second Coming.  We are excited about Jesus coming again.  Now, don't get me wrong...I do not have a death-wish, nor am I looking for a way to "escape this world."  I am excited and am anticipating my Savior's return.  Preparation is the key to His return...knowing Him as my Savior, daily living for Him, sharing through my life choices and daily living that Jesus is The Only Way....yes that is fairly close minded, but when I read His Word, the Bible, I am assured that Jesus is The Way. Am I excited to see my Mother?  Yes!  Am I excited to see my Jesus?  Yes...

Today....my wife and I washed all of the valances, cleaned and rearranged the guest room, cleaned all of the light globes from all over the house, installed the portable AC for the Summer, and....defrosted the refrigerator.  Some of you may not even realize that a refrigerator can be defrosted....yes, it can. I manage to do the defrosting once every 3 months which involves throwing out old meat and leftovers, throwing out the ice (frozen condensation in the freezer), wiping down the refrigerator and finally rearranging the food...back into the now clean refrigerator. Rhonda keeps saying that I can hardly wait to get back to work, just to get some rest.  Actually, it's not that bad and it feels good to have the house clean and the fridge doing it's thing without all of the extra ice.  It smells better, too. Life is like that refrigerator, we build up junk and need to get rid of some bad habits, perhaps anger has been growing and needs defusing.  I found myself an...

Time flows like a river, or so I have heard, however it seems to surge ahead and slow down with me.  I wish that it would flow quietly and consistently.  Time is the great healer, or so I have heard, however it seems that time only dulls the pain...it never goes away. Time...it's something we never seem to have enough of, or perhaps time is crawling by and never seems to move.  What can we do?  Screaming is one option!  Dropping out is another option!  Stopping and observing time would also work.  Soooooo, what do we do? "My times are in your hands..." Psalm 31:15  The Psalmist knew that God was already in charge of time, specifically "my times," so....I can rest knowing that as time flows, God is ordering my life according to HIS timetable. In J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Fellowship Of The Ring" Gandalf told Frodo, "A wizard is never late or early.  A wizard is always ontime."  I can rest assured that God is never late or early, He is...

We are called to be Jesus to a lost world.  Tony says it here.

The Hoover Dam is an engineering marvel that was begun in 1931 and  completed in 1936.  Taking thousands of men and man hours working around the clock, this marvel continues to wow even the hardest to impress.  It gives new meaning to the word, "Large." Our first and most important stop  in touring the dam was to the lowest portion where the water is brought into the electrical turbines used to create electricity for many of the  western states.  The first step in  building the dam was to divert the  Colorado  river so the dam could be anchored in solid bedrock.  Once the river was diverted and the area dried, workers dug down another 137 feet to hit solid rock and on this the dam rests.  It was all quite impressive. A song learned as a child came to mind, "The wise man built his house upon the rock..." and it gave me such a vivid picture of Jesus as my eternal rock.  While in the bowels of the dam, I felt hard concrete and roc...

As I sat by the pool watching a young Father and his young daughter play in the water, I was able to view complete trust at work.  The wise Father had wrapped his daughter in a body-suit life preserver which allowed the young swimmer to move about the pool freely.  Dad showed the little girl how to kick with her feet and pull with her arms which she began doing with gusto.  She was able to "swim" all about the pool, which was quite large.  Dad watched his daughter carefully as she moved away from him. The trust began to come into play as she realized that she was quite far from Dad and began to call for him.  Very quickly, Dad was by his daughter's side holding her with his strong arms.  As the daughter calmed, she regained the desire to strike out again to another far point in the pool.  Again upon realizing how far she was from Dad, she would call and Dad would instantly be by her side. Dad never taunted or belittled daughter, rather he encouraged he...

Don't like the weather??  Stick around, it will change in 5 minutes.  I heard that saying while growing up in the South, going to school in Central Florida, living in Texas and now living in Montana.  The weather can change in a moment's notice, seemingly.  We check the weather regularly on the internet and have learned to accept change as a matter of fact. Change...the word can excite and frighten.  As a child, I asked my Father when I would grow up.  I wanted change...right then.  Now that I am older and "grown up", I wish that I could return to....well, you get the idea. Many changes have been wonderful; marriage to the most wonderful woman in the world, 4 wonderful children and 2 of them with wonderful spouses, friends, getting to know my Mother and sisters as a grownup....many great changes that I embrace. Some changes have been hard to accept; aging and all that accompanies the process.  Looking into the mirror get rougher each year,...

Airports are fascinating places, sitting at a window watching planes move from landing to their gate and back to the runway. On first look, the planes seem to know exactly where to go even in the maze of gates and other planes that we call an airport. Workers holding little red wands walk around and the planes appear to follow. Amazing how this huge plane wants to follow the person holding the red wand. These large planes appear to be self-powered, self-sufficient and self-motivated, yet…one or two workers walk, the plane follows…and the planes don’t seem to mind. I wonder what would happen if the workers were not available with the red wands? Actually, we both know that chaos would result and rather quickly. The plane…or rather the pilot is watching for the worker with the red wand…in fact, the red wand becomes the pilot’s guide through a rough maze. What are you watching as you travel through this life? Is there someone who is your guide? Actually, Jesus is the guide, waiting for y...

Reunion - An exciting word to family.  A time to gather with parents, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins. The Colson family has always been big on reunions.  We laugh, laugh and laugh for hours, moving from one person to another, sharing old and new stories, looking at photographs and laughing again. I like reunions, if you cannot already tell.  My parents instilled a sense of family in me by going to family reunions, dinners on the ground, visits to grandparents and meeting family whenever the opportunity arose.  I love my family and want to be with them whenever possible. Heaven is getting ready for a reunion of believers from across the ages.  One day, all who belong the the Family of God will gather for an eternal reunion, never to leave.  That is most important to me...always together, no sad goodbyes.  I am ready to see family members that left many years ago...my Father, my Grandparents, old friends...What a glorious day that will be...

Waiting...it causes even the strongest of us to quiver, bargain and get angry eventually.  Flights that were scheduled and planned, itineraries that had become part of our lives suddenly...cancelled or delayed....so...we are ....waiting. God has a bit to say about waiting, in fact, He gives a promise for waiting.  "They that wait on The Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not be faint."  God knows that part of life is waiting so HE planned for it.  When I wait for Him, I allow Him to build new strength into my life. Imagine waiting a bit so God can recharge you.  That sounds like a bargain.  I sit/stand/walk and allow God to do His work through me, which in the process is giving new strength to me. Question...Is it fun?  Do I like it? Answer...No and no! Am I learning to wait?  Yes, I am in process and want to know more.  God's wait-training al...

The Blog is built, the shell is in place, all that is needed are some meaningful words.  Blogging seems to come naturally for some folks while others struggle for words to share.  Some blogs also seem to be naturally controversial while others radiate friendliness, "homeyness" and good cheer. My desire is to share my thoughts, while not boring you...share something meaningful, while not "meaninful-ing" you to tears......and be able to share what Jesus is doing in my life.....one pilgrim on the road sharing with other pilgrims. I will leave comments to the blog open for the time being.  I want to hear from you, however, I am not interested in arguments nor will I digress to that point. I am looking forward to sharing and hearing as we both grow in the blogging arena. Ken