a year of bird blogging

This is not going to be a deep entry...I just noticed that this blog has turned one year old. And in that one year there has been 56 (as of this entry) entries, some viewed and responded to and some just viewed. And I have no problem with either...the one thing that I found very interesting is the fact that there were a couple of views from people in other countries.

It used to be that if I wanted to speak to other countries, I would have to either have a "pen pal" (for those of you that are younger and don't understand this term; it's when you used to write letters back and forth to a friend that was from another place) or have to run up expensive phone bills to talk to them. Now however, with the internet; I can talk with, share thoughts with, and communicate thoughts and experiences with people from not only all over the United States, but throughout the world.

So when things are used in a good way, technology and other things such as these blogs can be very beneficial to mankind in general; however it is when it is used for evil or other such excesses that it becomes a threat to humanity. It is not because of the technology, but rather the heart, mind and soul behind it that causes it to be either beneficial or harmful to mankind. That is what so many fail to understand; that even if we were to live in a perfect "Utopia", there will still be the threat of something that can destroy it, because we have never learned how to permanently tame the savage heart of man.

But notice I said "we", when I say that I mean we as humans, because we as humans can get around the programming and training used to calm us down. There is only one way to tame our savageness and that is though the sacrifice of the cross and what Jesus did for us. And in the end, when all is said and done, I hope that this blog has been a way to point to Him and His work, not only in my life, but also in the lives of others.

tribute to a friend

On Wednesday evening, my family lost a dear friend when Felix Castillo went home to be with the Lord. His testimony and what he went through was something that the Lord used; for it makes what I went through look like a bed of roses.

Felix was a up-and-coming boxer who had won the regional Golden Gloves title in 1978. He was also going to be on the United States boxing team in 1980 when President Carter boycotted the Moscow Olympic games. From there; he had gone undefeated in 22 professional bouts and was well on his way to a world title shot when he contracted lupus, which basically destroyed his career. (To learn about lupus; go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lupus). At that time the doctors only gave him two months to live...however the Lord helped him to win the biggest bout of all, during that time Felix called on the Lord and was delievered out of his bed. He fought a few more times, but then decided that the work of the Lord was more important.

Was it easy for him? Not quite, he then went through a kidney transplant, left and right hip replacements and three heart attacks (things I cannot imagine going through) and yet continued to give his testimony and shared what the Lord had done through him. While he was at Theo Avenue Baptist Church, I got to know him and become somewhat of a good friend of his. And now he is home....

Whereas he may not have won a  championship"title" while here on the earth, he now has something much more valuable than that, something that can never be taken away. And while the trophies and titles may rust away, he has something of greater worth:  the presence of the Lord, a home worth more than all the mansions of titleholders combined, and a body that will never betray him or fall to any disease. Felix, may the Lord bless you on your journey Home and bless you with the words, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant."

Some thoughts on the birth of a baby boy

For the second time in 9 months, I am a grand-uncle...Jacob Albert Lozano Jr. (or simply known as JJ by my sister and me) made his presence into the world at 12:13 p.m. this afternoon. As with his older sister, I have a goal that I need to get to, a goal that I stated in an earlier blog entry... (see http://1ncisfan.blogspot.com/2010/04/grand-uncle.html)


But seeing the newest member of my family got me to thinking about a story that was in the news last week. In that story, they arrested a man who killed babies who had survived abortions with scissors. This article just sickened me to death thinking about such a thing being done. I wrote an article last year mentioning what I think about abortion  (see http://1ncisfan.blogspot.com/2010/01/real-date-that-will-live-in-infamy.html) and let me emphasize my point even further by mentioning that anyone who practices this procedure should no longer be called "Doctor", because they are no longer in the practice of saving lives, but of ending them before they even begin.

I remember my time in the hospital and if the doctors there were as committed to death there as this man was, then I would be part of the ground of San Fernando Cemetary. If the first part of being a doctor is the phrase "First do no harm", then why is that some have decided to harm? It seems oxymoronic to me that people commit themselves to this kind of task and that others would consider unborn children "non-people" and abandon this first ideal of not doing harm....

So as I look at the picture of Jacob and see the continuing growth of Kayla,

I recommit myself to the end of this grisly practice and hope that one day when birth or adoption are the norm rather than death.....

some thoughts of what happened in Arizona

I apologize for the fact that it has been eleven days into 2011 and I have not done a entry....but I have some thoughts on what happened this weekend in Arizona....

The first thought I have is rejoicing over the continual healing of Congresswoman Giffords. Just today I am hearing the good news that she is breathing on her own. Having gone through that struggle in 2008 (and needing a tracheotomy to help breathe); I can only say that it is so wonderful that he is breathing and is recovering step by step. I can only imagine what her family is going through, it is probably the same struggles that my family went through. If so, I pray that people will come and stand by her family's side and support them in whatever way they can.

The second thought is about the prejudice that many have shown in this matter. For years we have screamed about tolerance and equality and in less than a week we celebrate the life of a man who stood for true tolerance and peace. Yet it fit some to smear and label all people who stood against them even before all the facts were in. Have we strayed so far from Dr. King's ideals that we no longer recognize them?

Third thought...as bad as those on one side are, those on the other are just as guilty and by that I mean Westboro "Baptist" "Church"...I cannot believe that you will use the funeral of a NINE year old girl to publicize your agenda...I have written about them before- http://1ncisfan.blogspot.com/2010/04/support-snyders.html -and cannot comprehend how those who claim the name of Jesus can act in such a un-Christlike manner...Do they think that when they stand before the judgement seat  that the Lord will approve of the actions that they have performed? I don't think so, I actually think that the Lord will condemn them the same way He did the Pharisees. It is time for these people to use the items that the Lord has given (a brain and common sense) and realize that what they are doing is keeping people away from the Kingdom.

There is a song that says "Clowns to left of me, Jokers to the right...Here I am stuck in the middle with you".....after seeing the last few days I think that is where I am finding myself today...but hopefully that middle is where I am closest to God and if not, I pray that He may give me the wisdom to know which way to move.....