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In all of it's E-Book glory, my very first published novel...The Calling of Mike Malone is now available through MuseItUp Publishing, Amazon, the Book Strand, Banes and Noble (e-books)...and a list of other places.
I gotta admit, I REALLY like the cover....
Pray that it does very well so I can buy us an island and we can all go drink coconut juice for while! Now THAT would be a story! Lol!
TROUBLED SOUL
I sit in church all of my life
So do my kids and so does my wife
From lofty pulpits we hear them preach
But we never learn, ‘cause they never teach
There’s got to be something more to know
Seems lots of folks just go for the show
But I’m hungry for answers in my life
So are my kids and so is my wife
I cry out in anguish because of my fears
It gets so bad that I’m driven to tears
Is there really a God out there?
One who loves – does He care?
Where are the answers we so want?
We’re almost ready to embark on a hunt
We say our prayers and hope for the best
But our souls are stirred; we get little rest
We’re not willing to bounce around
Going to every church in town
Do you know someone who could help us out
Who knows what God is all about?
People have great need in their lives
So do their kids and so do their wives
When a believer speaks Christ’s redemption
Folks would come to know God’s intention
A loving believer to hold forth God’s Word
Teaching eternal life is assured
How better to help this man in this life?
How ‘bout his kids? How ‘bout his wife?
When they speak in tongues, they will know
Their believing wasn’t just a show
They will know they are born again,
Cleansed within of all sin.
Jerry W. Corrodi
I have to admit I am a little surprised at where we have arrived. When we started down this path, it was without a lot of thought about where it might lead. It seemed like a good path though and we had the time to walk for a while. There were some turns in the path, so when we started we couldn’t see too far along. But start we did and as I said, I’m a little surprised and certainly pleased with where we have gone so far.
That paragraph could probably be applied to a lot of things, but for me it describes the little endeavor that Lisa and I call the Song of the Week. It was almost a year ago that I listened to one of her songs on the computer in my office and commented online that the song blessed me. Two people asked for a copy and I said sure. That was the first step on this path. Now, almost a year later, I am sending out one of her songs to over 200 people each week.
There are people on the list that Lisa and/or I have known for 40 years. (I am not counting my sister even though I have known her longer than that. I sort of think that counting her shouldn’t count. Nothing personal Pat.) There are people on the list that we have never met. The people on the distribution list represent a wide range of Christian groups and there are some that do not affiliate with anyone at all. The people who get these songs come from the complete range of the political spectrum. Not everyone on the list is from the USA. All in all it is pretty cool and we are really blessed to send these songs to each one of you.
For some, it has been surprising to see how many songs Lisa has written and recorded. (I know it kind of surprised us. We still find old songs that had been forgotten.) The Song of the Week has been a nice opportunity to get her songs into a format that people can listen to. The first two albums she did (“Last Night in Galilee” and “Love Never Fails”) were only released on cassette, which is a format that not too many people use anymore. Plus, there are a lot of songs that have never been recorded or released and it has been fun to get started on that.
We’ll be starting the Song of the Week Year 2 pretty soon. Going forward, some of the songs will be repeats from year one. Our supply of recorded songs is not unlimited of course and some people that have only recently started would like to get some of the ones that have already been sent. There will still be some new songs too. There are only 52 weeks in a year and Lisa has a lot more songs than that. We are still getting some of them recorded and I can’t wait until we can share those with you. If you find that you have all of the songs that you want and would like to leave the the distribution list, we won’t take it personally.
Let me say up front that I enjoy living in Iowa. My family and I moved to the state in 1985 and to our present community in 1987. It has been a nice place to live, to raise a family and to have a business. Not being from here originally, I can accept the fact that it is not paradise. Biblically speaking, paradise has a very specific meaning and (as far as I can tell) it does not include large scale hog confinement facilities let alone rendering plants...but I digress. I enjoy living in Iowa.
But...you just knew there was a “but” coming. Every four years we enter “presidential primary season” and you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a politician, pollster or pundit. (Go ahead and say it...”Politicians, pollsters and pundits, oh my!”).
The mania starts in the summer approximately 15 months before the election as we get ready for the Ames Straw Poll and it ends with the Iowa Caucus (aka the “Hawkeye Caucaii”). ..oops I meant to say the “first in the nation Iowa Caucus”. We are pretty proud of being first in the nation and I want to make sure that you all know that we are first in the nation.
The straw poll, as far as I can tell, is mostly effective in telling us who we can pretty much ignore. I must admit that I haven’t taken direction from the straw poll results on this point – haven’t needed to. Over the years I have pretty much ignored them all. But I suppose that having a straw poll helps in this way.
The caucus is another matter of course. In the months leading up to the caucus, we expect to be able to meet and greet the candidates face to face. It is retail politics in full display. In one sense, you have to feel a bit sorry for the candidates. They may make an early morning stop in a small cafe to shake hands and be greeted by a guy in overalls and a seed-cap who wants to discuss farm price subsidies (and do so intelligently I might add). The candidate then turns to another table to find a nice grandmother who is totally up to speed on foreign affairs and especially on the mid-east. All before breakfast! That continues all day.
Finally the night of the caucus arrives. It’s not like voting in a primary which may take a few minutes out of your day. The caucuses are an evening event held usually when it is about 30 degrees below 0 and snowing. This keeps the less than committed (me) from showing up. You can expect to be there for hours, deciding on rules, listening to your neighbors extol the virtues of the favorite candidate, enjoying home-made baked goods, etc. Then, when your candidate has almost no support you get to be lured by the supporters of other candidates to join with them.
We’re just getting started on all of this right now. In the last 24 hours I have had phone calls from 4 candidates (thankfully I have caller ID). About every 10 minutes or so there will be a stream of ads on radio or tv. My plan is to sit it out again this year. Oh, I will vote, but the straw poll, the caucus, meeting the candidates...I am going to pass on all that. Several months from now it will all be over and I will still be enjoying living in Iowa.
Sad News. Joe 'Hansen" Purpura fell asleep on August 7, 2011
May 7, 1967 to August 7, 2011
Joe is the son of the late Ginger Hansen Polizotto who was in the Family Corps. Joe, his sister Suzanne Hansen and Philip were in the mini corps.
I am posting a note from Sue & Philip.
From Sue Belluardo & Philip Polizotto.
Hello Everyone... We are so sorry to be writing these words.... Our beautiful, brother Joe passed away, It is such a loss for our family. His kind soul, happy spirit, and gentle nature brought so much to this world. We will forever miss him and thank all of you for the kindness you have shown. We are so proud of our brother for showing the world his endurance, strength and positive attitude. He will be missed more than words can ever describe. Philip & Sue
I am adding that anyone wishing to send Sue or Philip a note or card can contact them at:
Sue Belluardo, 5 Hampshire Road, Mahwah, N.J. 07430
Philip Polizotto, 19 Dublin Drive, Lutherhill, Maryland 21093
If you know someone who would want to know this information, please let them know.
thank you,
Nancy Schempp
