The View from My Chair

Today is Ashley’s birthday!  She’s my fabulous sister-in-law and hails from the beautiful state of North Carolina.  San Diego is home for her and my brother now, and their three adorable Spice Girls.  I’m sure she misses North Carolina and her favorite Duke basketball team now and then.  If I had money to burn I’d get her something really special for her birthday.  I bet she would enjoy a weeklong getaway with my brother at one of those Outer Banks rentals.  She’s a busy mom and member of the PTA, and even though it’s the big 40 today, she’ll be working the Gecko Gala elementary school fundraiser like any good PTA mom would.  You go girl!

He’s home and doing good!

This weekend I read the autobiography of Tass Saada.  I could not put this book down it was so interesting.  His life is nothing like my own or anyone else that I know personally.  Tass grew up as a Palestinian refugee and by the age of 17 ran away from home to join the Palestinian liberation organization where he became a sniper and eventually Yasser Arafat’s chauffeur.  His book tells the story of those years all of anger and hatred and living the life of a terrorist.  He came to the US in the early 1970s where he met and married an American woman for the sole purpose of gaining a green card.  But, God had other plans.  I won’t go into the story because you’ll want to read it for yourself.

Norm and I met Tass in early September 2001.  He spoke at my father’s church in San Diego telling of his previous life and his newfound life in Christ.  Tass came to know Christ through a friend of my family, Charlie Sharpe, whom I have known since I was a child.  It was interesting to read his life story and to find myself “connected” through a dear friend.  Tass and his wife Karen operate a humanitarian organization called Hope for Ishmael and for the past couple of years I have followed along with their travels and missions through their newsletter and website.  Often times they will send out an e-mail asking for prayer and it is my privilege to join with them in bringing their requests to God to intercede in the work they are doing to help those who have no hope.

This book taught me much about the hopelessness faced by Palestinian refugees as well as many Muslim Arabs around the world.  Tass explains the history of his people and gives great insight into the conflict as it stands today.  You’ll want to read this book not only to learn more about this man’s amazing life, but also to understand what the conflict between Jews and Arabs is really all about.  Tass carries a message of reconciliation and hope for Arabs and Jews.

Get your copy of the book today!

To all those who have served in the military I say thank you!  Your service is appreciated and valued.

Last night I spoke to my dad on the phone.  He’s still in the hospital but is doing very well.  It was good to hear strength in his voice and to have a casual conversation.  He’s actually enjoying getting much-needed rest while in the hospital.  My dad is very popular and I know that most of the people in his congregation are itching to go visit him at the hospital, but my brother urged everyone to remember that he needs lots of rest in order to get a full recovery.  He has had very few visitors so that’s a good thing.  I think he’s finally getting a good vacation.

Yesterday was a whirlwind of a day for my family.  My dad was scheduled for an angioplasty and possible shunt of a blocked artery.  It turned out his situation was far worse than previously thought and he was whisked into surgery for what turned out to be a quadruple bypass procedure.  He is doing well and has a long road of recovery ahead, but the prognosis is good.  His heart, although not receiving proper blood supply, is in good condition.  Now it will be even better than before as there is no longer any blockage.  I thank God for his hand of protection upon my dad.  The surgeons told my brother that it was a miracle he had not suffered heart failure or a heart attack previously.  We did not know that my dad had been suffering chest pains until last week when he said something to his chiropractor.  That wise man told my father to get a physical immediately.  A treadmill test indicated a blockage, but the cardiac doctor was unable to schedule anything at hospital until the following week.  My dad wanted to put it off even further, thank God it was not!

Dad and me May 1965

It’s difficult to be away from my family right now, but Internet chat and phone calls have kept me connected with what’s going on.  I’ll speak to my father on the phone this weekend when he is out of ICU.  Right now he needs as much rest as he can get.

He’s a wonderful dad and I look forward to seeing him at Christmas.  This photo was taken in May 1965 and shows my dad holding me in the palm of his hand.  It appears in the photo that we are at some sort of zoo with a seal exhibit.

Tuesday, Election Day, we all have choices to make.  I’m hoping everyone makes the right choice when it comes to elected officials especially the office of President of the United States.  Continue reading this post…

Friday we neglected to buy candy so we turned off our porch light to discourage kiddos from ringing our bell.  I think we had one kid show up about seven o’clock, but I didn’t answer the door since Norm was out getting our dinner.  About an hour or so later after we had finished dinner, I was at my desk surfing the Internet and Norm was in his office doing whatever he does there.  The doorbell rang but we ignored it thinking it was someone after candy that we didn’t have to give out.  It rang again a minute later.  Continue reading this post…