::: post-protestant thoughts :::

Original Release: 1985

You're having a hard time and lately you don't feel so good
You're getting a bad reputation in your neighborhood
It's alright, it's alright
Sometimes that's what it takes
You're only human, you're allowed to make your share of mistakes

You better believe there will be times in your life
When you’ll be feeling like a stumbling fool
So take it from me you'll learn more from you accidents
Than anything you could ever learn at school

Don't forget your second wind
Sooner or later you'll get your second wind
It's not always easy to be living in this world of pain
You're gonna be crashing into stone walls again and again
It's alright, it's alright

Though you feel your heart break
You're only human, your gonna have to deal with heartache
Just like a boxer in a title fight
You got to walk in that ring all alone
You're not the only one who's made mistakes
But they're the only things that you can truly call your own

Don't forget your second wind
Wait in your corner until that breeze blows in

You've been keeping to yourself these days
Cause you're thinking everything's gone wrong
Sometimes you just want to lay down and die
That emotion can be so strong
But hold on
Till that old second wind comes along

You probably don't want to hear advice from someone else
But I wouldn't be telling you if I hadn't been there myself
It's alright, it's alright
Sometimes that's all it takes
We're only human
We're supposed to make mistakes
But I survived all those long lonely days
When it seemed I did not have a friend
Cause all I needed was a little faith
So I could catch my breath and face the world again
Don't forget your second wind
Sooner or later you'll feel that momentum kick in
Don't forget your second wind
Sooner or later you'll feel that momentum kick in

peace :::

things are progressing ... pretty well this process is EXTREMELY draining physically . . . i had the nurse take this picture for jonathan and thought i would post it too . . . the big (yellow) bag in the picture that looks like urine is NOT actually . . . close . . . those are my white blood cells that have been filtered out . . . 9 pints!!!

it was sort of an interesting experience today . . . . i have been discipling this guy (dwayne) for about . . . 4 months now . . . we haven't been able to meet as much as i would like because of the Christmas season at the store and my health . . . . i'm very bothered by that and we are working on being more intentional about spending time together . . . (when jonathan was really little and he was learning to spell i would ask him how to spell LOVE . . . and in a well rehearsed fashion . . . proudly, with an approving big smile he would correctly spell love: T – I – M – E) real discipleship has to be about sharing our lives together and not only the gospel . . . dwayne and i are working on intentionally prioritizing t - i - m - e . . . and today was just another step in the right direction . . . except i was the grace recipient this time . . . he has had an extremely difficult life . . . marriages, years of drugs, kids, and he is working through it . . . decisions that cannot be reversed easily . . . (i know a go deal about those sorts of things not because i have read about them) . . . (HE IS USING MOST EVERY AVAILABLE TOOLS AT HIS DISPOSAL . . . and that's saying something!). . . we got to talk for an hour or so on the way to the hospital . . . . he seems to be doing really good . . . he is consistently doing the next right things to the degree that he is making real progress . . . we are talking about doing a bible study at the store together . . .???. . . when i get healthy enough . . .

while ‘on the machine’ there was this rc priest next to me having the same procedure . . . (fr. farmer) we began talking about what i was reading (analogy :0 ) . . . biblical authority . . . by nt wright . . . he asked me about my journey . . . he was gentle and good natured . . . when i told him i attended an episcopal church he said . . . ‘oh, you mean catholic lite’ . . . i told him that the taste-great ~ less-filling thing was killing me at this point . . . . it was a very pleasant conversation . . . and he gave me the name of a friend who is a priest that lives near me . . . he said that this priest has pastoral gifts . . . which i need . . . very interesting day indeed . . .

God’s peace :::