Republished on Hoosierpundit

While searching the web I found myself republished on another blog. Click on the title link to see another blog by Scott Fluhr. It's a political blog with a lot of good articles, at least for those of us concerned about Indiana politics, as well as what's going on in Washington.

The original articles can be found in the archives under congressman.

Either way it was a pleasant surprise, Kudos Scott, thanks for the link.

Remember Look Up, Live Life, and Be Thankful.

Kevin

Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania

Nestled in the hills of Leonard Harrison State Park in North Central Pennsylvania, and way the heck out of the way from anywhere, is the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania.




We found this little hot spot on a Trucker Atlas (for those of you who have never seen one of these, it's a huge atlas, bigger than your steering wheel so you can read it going down the road, driving a truck that weighs enough to kill anything you hit, trying to find your way around a scale house). We were in the area (within 60 miles of our hotel, 20 minutes from our job site) and decided to take a drive.

It's a neat little park with the Grand Canyon as the main attraction. It host miles of trails to enjoy, which we did a smaller one just to take in the fresh Penn. air.

The best part of this trip was spending time with friends. Eddie, Dave, and I travel and work together on a regular basis, and even though I'm the Boss (jefe) we are all friends. Dave and I sat on a log for a short rest and watched a deer graze in a small clearing, as we discussed life. It's nice to just relax even for just a short time.

Here's what I don't understand: Now this is just my personal observation, but most people I know aren't very adventurous. Most people don't seem to venture off the beaten path for little moments like these. Now don't get me wrong, I know several outdoors man, and people that camp, and I think that's awesome, but most people like 'the A/C clicker command center' of the living room.

Life is a gift that was meant to be lived. At the end of the day when I lay down I like to think back over the day and say, "today was an awesome day!" Besides if we get past thinking of just ourselves, there are people out there whose lives we can change even if for just the day, by reaching out to them and sharing small trips like these.

I hope today finds you adventuring the globe, sending picture texts, listening to something great on the Ipod.

If you find yourself adventuring drop me a pix and location.


Total cost for this trip, including diesel fuel, soda, and water bottle: $13.74

Remember Look Up, Live Life, and Be Thankful

Kevin

Pioneer Coal Mine

Pennsylvania, Coal country. Ever wonder how they actually mine coal to turn into the energy that we use? About a month ago I took a small journey into a mountain and found out.





Here's our story:



While on a business trip I ducked off the interstate with a couple of friends to a small eastern Pennsylvania town near Bloomsberg, PA that had a coal mine as a tourist attraction.




Pennsylvania is full of coal mines both working and abandoned. This particular mine was working around the time of the depression, and if memory serves was made into a tourist attraction back in the 60's. Anthracite Coal is the cleanest burning coal that can be found and can only be found in a 500 square miles area in Pennsylvania.







Here's what the trip underground was like:







Once inside, the guide showed us what coal mining was like "in the old back days" (a direct quote from my nephew). Coal was drilled by hand in very tight areas to place a charge to blow the coal apart. Then the coal was loaded onto carts pulled by mules and hauled to the surface.



We learned a lot about how coal was mined, but also about how families survived during this era. As I had time to reflect on my thoughts of the day, I had one thought come back to mind. The families of miners and of this era gone by were real families. The kind that eat supper together in the evening around the dinner table. Not with Chinese take out, but real food. When families went through hard times like the depression, friends, and neighbors stuck it out with them, and helped them through. In today's day, many of us don't even know our neighbors. Or maybe just the ones next door that has the stupid barking dog, but what about the one's down the street. We are to busy to know them. We are so wrapped up in our own little worlds that we don't have time to maintain a relationship with them.



I said this a thousand times, we must slow down and look outside of our little boxes. The coal towns across the Appalachian Mountains have felt the turn of the economy many times over the past hundred years. Without them we might be reading by candle light.



If we would spend a little more time with our families around the dinner table, and with the people around our neighborhoods we just might find something special. The track we are teaching the Y generation is of complete self centeredness. How do we change things? I'll tell you what my Dad told me a few years ago, when we were discussing the youth of America. One child at a time.





We live in the best country in the World. I don't say that arrogantly because I'm an American, I say it because where else can anyone get a college education, or own a business? It only takes hard work, the opportunities here are endless. I've been to other countries, the third world type, both as a soldier, and a missionary and trust me, we never knew we had it so good. Read about the Holocaust survivors, or WWII veterans that liberated countries in Europe. We have it good. I'm both proud to have served with the 101st Airborne and to live here in the USA. But these kind of opportunities also requires much responsibility. What are we teaching? What we do and What we say really does change how our society sees things.

Search 'your' world and find time to relax. Reflect on what footprint you are making as you journey through this life. I hope to make our country and our society a better place. At the end of life's day I want to say I did all I could, and I spent my life well. That I made a difference.






I enjoyed my trip back in time and into the mountain. If you are ever in PA, stop by for a visit. It cost less than a lunch for one at Applebee's, souvenir included.



Remember Look Up, Live Life, and Be Thankful.


Kevin

Adam's Falls

While on a recent trip through Pennsylvania I stopped off for a short Hike in the northeastern part of the state in a state park. Adam's falls is a trail along a small river through a Hemlocks forest.

As with most waterfalls of any size, they carry a certain majestic quality about them. A couple of friends of mine were with me to admire the view.

Hiking and being in the outdoors in general provides a nice break from the normal grind of life. The quiet and solitude it provides is like a refreshing rain for me. Life, at least my life, is always full of pressures, deadlines, goals, and busy, busy, busy. Life's balances seem to always end up tipped to far one way. So when I get a chance to nock off for a few hours and get away, I try to take advantage of the time. Which is how I found myself walking in the hemlocks. Just watching the water rush over the cliffs, hearing the constant roar, and feeling the mist in the air is an awesome place to sit and relax.

Life shouldn't be such a rush. At least here in America our priorities have tipped the scales to a materialistic society. This has driven the cost of living up through higher labor costs and manufacturing expenses, leaving us with a perpetual drive to make more and more. It doesn't take much thought to understand that this kind of life will lead to an unrealistic end. I'm not much of a materialistic person. I enjoy experience over things. Adventures instead of shopping, and for the majority, places like Adam's Falls, PA are free. All you need is a bottle of water and a good pair of shoes. I would rather collect pictures and experience than something I keep for a few years and then sell in a yard sell for pennies on the dollar. Or use as a tax write off at the Goodwill.

I find myself most in tune both with myself and God when I can get away from the noise and be quiet. I love early mornings before the world is awake and moving. Before the sun is shining and the dew is still in the air. I can find peace. I like to start the day early with a daily reader. I'm working my way through a book by Andrew Murray on Prayer. In times like these I talk to God and ask Him to show me direction for my life. My heart is torn because what makes me happy and fulfilled is helping people. And this is really what I think my purpose is supposed to be in life. But life cost money and we must spend out time working. But my thoughts in quiet moments always end up on the face of orphan children in Haiti, or one of many pictures I carry in my heart from the places I've been.

I try to take life day by day. My wife will argue the point because I am a planner and like things to be organized and all loose ends tied. But really I have found today has it's own troubles. I try to live each day the best I can. Taking advantage of each moment and making the best of them. As I write this tonight, I'm planning an excursion for tomorrow to see another place of God's beauty, but you'll have to come back to read about it.

I hope each of us find time to search our hearts, find God's peace, and then decide to do something positive with it. Never miss the opportunity to make a difference.

Remember Look up, Live life, and Be thankful.

Kevin

UP Coming Posts:

Pioneer Coal Mine

Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania

Mother Teresa

Congressman or real man?

I was recently on a flight from Baltimore (BWI) to Louisville with my crew from Hydro Tech. Arriving just before departure was none other than the previous congressman and current candidate for Indiana Mike Sodrel.

As usual my guys and I spread out so we could have a little room between us, when Mrs. Sodrel sat between another Lady and myself. I saw her coming down the isle with Mr. Sodrel so I knew she was with him, but he sat in the middle seat a few rows up. I ask her if she was with the Congressman, and she said yes. So I did the right thing and sat in the middle between my crew members and ask the Congressman to take my seat next to his wife.

Now I told you all of that not to make myself look like a do gooder, but to set the stage for the trip. The Congressman, after the usual thank you's for courtesy, was now seated just across the isle from my two good friends and myself. So as to not miss a great opportunity such as this, we discussed politics with the politician himself.

Now to clear up any misnomers from the beginning, I voted for Mike during for his first term, and for his re-election (which he lost to Baron Hill). And subsuquently this election which I voted early so as to not miss it while out of town on business.

I heard the Congressman speak at a Home Builders Association meeting four years ago, he is an elegant speaker, but what impresses me the most is the fact that he's a real person. He is a business owner in Jeffersonville, In and a life long Hoosier.

Our flight 'flew' by pretty fast as we solved the nations problems and discussed just what the *&^% Jimmy Carter is doing talking with Hamas. Congressman Mike Sodrel is not only a real person, but was genuinely interested in what three construction workers had to say. I'm sure he won't remember our names, or even our happenchance meeting, but besides our respect he has our votes.

Mike keep up the good work and get back to Washington. I'm coming for the Capital building tour as soon as you get back in office.

Remember Look up, Live Life, and be Thankful

Kevin

Rocky Ridge Trail

What do you do with a few spare hours? Watch your favorite show on Tivo? Take a long over due nap? Surf the net?

We decided to grab the packs and set out for a family hike. Nothing to over exerting, we hit two small trails for a bout 2 1/2 miles.





























We even brought Miley (the family dog) as a hitchhiker.




As with most working Dad's I can always find something that needs to be done around the house.

The Daddy 'honey do list' is always a revolving list of things that never seem to get done in the time appropriated by the House Queen.

So when we get the chance to drop out of the daily grind and drop into family time, we're in. We spend time talking together, looking at centipedes, and of course trying to catch Miley who found her first outdoors adventure lot's of fun. I mean imagine a world full of puddles to drink and places to pee.

We stopped at a shelter house for a soup lunch cooked over Sterno, a candy bar, and shared some pages from Brooke's library book The beagle in the backpack.

All and all it was a great afternoon. One more day down in the family memory album. I guess I could have cut the grass, but the grass will always be there. I choose the family.

Enjoy your days there's no promise of tomorrow.


Remember Look up, Live life, and be Thankful.


Kevin

Missions from the heart

What price would you pay? This was just one of the questions left on my heart after I returned from a recent trip to the Dominican Republic. I shared some of my stories with our Church a few weeks after I got back and thought I would share some of the questions on my heart with you.

I had this unique opportunity to go visit some of the missionaries living on the island of Hispanola through GO Ministries in Louisville, Ky. This was my 2nd trip of what I'm sure will be many to come. The Staff that live and serve there are remarkable people. Each of them different in their own way, I learned as I got to know them and worked alongside of them, but yet all having the same goals, furthing the Kingdom of God.

At 35 years old, which is older than dirt to my 10 and 12 year olds, but is still quite young to most people, I have lived a life of adventure my whole life, both before Christ and since. My body, although not aged in years but in mileage, shows signs of wear, scars, and tattoos. But I live life each day with the daily thoughts in mind of the great writer Og Mandino:

"This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is important because I’m exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, not loss; good, not evil; success, not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I paid for it. May I have sufficient wisdom and courage that this shall be my record for today."

Today, in some way, I want to glorify God. God has given me this day to use, and I want to use it wisely. Many times in my life I should have left this world. The bad choices I made in my past still remind me with aches and scars, but my life now I live for Him and in Him. I've learned to make good choices, and to invest in good things like people.

In my career as a construction supervisor, I travel a wide area of the states from project to project. The other morning I found myself looking out across a small creek at God's beauty, and in the afternoon over a large river watching an eagle fly searching for food. As I magnified his beautiful creations in my mind, my thoughts went back to half clothed children awaiting lunch at the feeding center in Batey Nueve. At first glance these children are much like those we have all seen on TV, but what I see in my heart and remember is the warmth of their smiles. These are God's most beautiful creation. Although poor and more often than not malnurished, they are not forgotten by Him.

As American's we want to change the world to our standards of living, but having been there, I wouldn't change their hearts for everything in the world. Although they have almost nothing, and need much, they have something alot of people here in the states don't have, the peace of God.

The time I spent with the people of the Dominican Republic and Haiti on the past two trips will live in my heart and memories the rest of my life.

They told me on the first trip to take time to decompress, to adjust back to American life, and I tried as much as I knew how, but I was left with this thought: I don't want to, I want these feeling to remain. The passion in my heart wakes me from my dreams of walking down the streets of Santiago on my way to morning devotional with friends. Thoughts of praying in an unfinished sanctuary in Hato de Yaque. Thoughts of high fives and hugs, playing with kids in the orphanage. Thoughts of how I can get back.

Questions left unanswered: What do I do now? Where do we go from here? My heart wants to serve. How does God want me to be involved? What can I do to help? I have begun the long task of self examination. A life inventory if you will, of where I am, and where am I going. This difficult task has so many variables: How do I position myself to serve? How far am I willing to go to serve the cause of Christ? What price would I pay?

My Dad worried about me while I was gone, as any Dad would, but I ask him "Do you believe in the cause?" Is it worth the cost of all I have to reach one person for Christ? I guess at the end of time I would have to say yes. But what about the here and now?

I guess it rang home with me during the 'Missions nite' service, where the first picture was taken, when I heard myself talk about a cup of coffee. For less than my cup of coffee I could have feed one child for the day. For less than my cup of coffee I could of sent one more child to school with uniforms and books to get a christian education. For less than my cup of coffee I could have made a difference in someones life. So how can I sit by and do nothing?

Life is about choices. Today I want to choose to spend my day for good and not evil, for gain and not loss. I want to choose to make a difference in someones life. I sat reading a book the other morning on my balcony hotel room, over looking a foggy golf course. And as I read the pages of Andrew Murray on Prayer I stopped to pray and thank God for the life He has given me. The opportunities and trials that have made me who I am. The places I get to visit and the things I get to see, all remind me that we are but a small part in this world, but like a stone tossed into a crystal mountain lake on a calm morning, a small touch can go a long way. We each need a word of encouragement from time to time. We each need to feel that we are important in some way. It's some of life's basic needs. You can be that encouragement, you can be that touch in someone's life. Today I want to stir the water in someone's life. I'm fortunate I guess that the guys on my crew are Christians. We get to sit around and share these thoughts with each other. Share our problems and our prayers. And sometimes even have the opportunity to share these with others that we meet along life's road. I started a book a few years ago that I titled A trip down the road. It's both literal in the stories of my travels and inspirational from my spiritual journey. God has brought it back to my mind and maybe it's time to put 'pen to paper' once again and finish it. Diane Miller from GO Ministries has already requested a copy, so I guess if it touches one person it's worth the effort.

So where do we go from here? The next step: A full month trip with the whole family to test the 'waters'. I use that word meaning the spiritual stream of God to see what direction it flows. I'm in the process of passport applications for the rest of the family, and downsizing my American lifestyle. Working through my personal finances to bring overhead down to a minimum. Assembling a prayer team to join in prayer for guidance and direction. Then shortly the task of Fund raising, of which some people have already began to commit funding. Setting Goals for the trip and getting the ball rolling.

I leave you with these thoughts; Life is fast and hard, take time out to evaluate where it is taking you. The roads you travel make an impact on peoples lives, both good and bad. In the end, I want my children and my family to look back at their lives and mine and say "We made a difference." My wife Felicia, My daughters Candace and Brooke, and Myself believe in and pray for the people of the Dominican Republic and Haiti. And we invite you to join us.

Remember Look up, Live Life, and Be Thankful.

Kevin ~ Living Life