Rusty’s View

I just couldn’t go any further.  It had stopped me dead in my tracks.  What had I just said? My mind was frozen and focused on the last statement I had made.  What does it mean . . .? But . . . why did that catch my attention? It was just a statement  . . . wasn’t it???

Okay, maybe I should back up a little bit.

It all came about one day while I was praying.  It was a day like any other day.  There was absolutely nothing unusual about it . . . just another day.  If anything, it was a bit more hectic than usual.  Nothing to be upset about and not a whole lot I could do to change the way it was going, but, I had finally reached a point where I could take a break.

I sat at the table and read a little and began to think on the things going on in the world.  I was a little overwhelmed with some of those thoughts and decided to go to my favorite place of prayer.  I guess you could say it was, ‘just one of those days’.  I began to pray about whatever came to mind.  For a while my mind was jumping from one thought to another and then I settled into one of those special times you mostly only hear about.  I was praying for the needs of friends and acquaintances and it seemed that there would be no shortage of needs entering my mind.

I began to pray for certain needs that were on my own heart.  I had some friends that had some very urgent needs and really needed an answer or some encouragement soon.  I brought up several more concerns I was familiar with, and then, (I remember it very vividly), I was praying for the upcoming services.  While praying, I mentioned how God might call some of us to minister in special ways to those that would be coming to the altars and be anointed and prayed for.  He might call some of us to lay hands on someone and they be healed by His mighty power to heal and our obedience to the Holy Spirit’s urging.  He may ask of us to give sacrificially of our finances.  He very well could call on some of us to do great things for the kingdom and then — are you ready for this? - He may call on some of us to ‘just pray.’

Did you catch that?!? I said, “You may call on some us to, ‘just pray’. It was as though I had just been hit by a brick.  I almost felt like my heart had stopped.  ‘JUST pray’.  I couldn’t believe what had come out of my mouth and I had said it in passing.  JUST pray.

Has that ever happened to you? You’re going along, doing something and, WHAMO!! the Holy Spirit stops you dead in your tracks and demands your attention.  It was like He was saying to me, “Is that all it means to you?  WAIT A MINUTE!  Hold on, back up!”  The interruption definitely grabbed my attention.

I’ve been thinking on that subject a lot lately.  It sometimes seems to me, prayer is one of the hardest things to get the American Christian to do, at least on a consistent basis.  I don’t know whether it is because we have so filled our lives with so many things to do, or just because we are slowly becoming as “cold hearted” as the rest of the world thinks we are.

Think about it for minute.  Of course we pray when we face a struggle or severe need in our life.  It is no trouble getting us to pray when someone close to us is in dire need.  In fact, we are more than willing to pray when someone asks us to support them with prayer when they have pressing needs on their own hearts.  The most bothersome thing I notice about our prayer lives, (or may be it is just mine), is that we pray without vision.  WE JUST DON’T REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT OUR PRAYERS ARE, nor do we realize, WHAT AN IMPACT OUR PRAYERS CAN MAKE.

When we are overwhelmed for the moment, we pray with fervency.  It is much harder for us to pray with fervency and a vision, and do it on a regular basis, to make a difference in our city, county, state, country or world.  For some reason, we seem to need to see immediate results for us to continue to pray for something specific on a regular basis.

If you think what I’m saying isn’t true, then try this as a test.  Commit to only one hour a day, (for thirty days), set aside for prayer.  Be specific about a time keep it.  Go one step further. Make up a prayer schedule ahead of time and stay true to it.  Pray for someone or something or someplace with specific results in mind.  See how you feel about it after a few days and try to evaluate your effectiveness and persistence.

Now I realize some may say, “But, I already do that!”  (Wonderful!) Some may say, “I pray when I feel like it and when I am moved to pray.”  (That’s great!!)  But, consider this; how many of us pray on a regular basis for someone or someplace that we are not familiar with just because the Holy sprit has laid that task on us? Do we pray as if that person or place would not be helped if we did not pray? You see, that kind of prayer - prayer with a vision, committed prayer, (or offensive prayer if you will) - requires discipline and determination.  Discipline takes commitment and effort.  All too often, we’re too busy to pray or we’re not praying because we just don’t know what to pray for.  Let’s let the Holy Spirit expand us and our vision for prayer.  Let’s become more disciplined in our prayer lives to pray on a regular basis and to actually pray with effective intensity for those things.

I am absolutely convinced there is no higher calling for us.  There are some things not all of us are called to do, but prayer is not one of them.  We are admonished by the word to pray for one another and to pray fervently.  The word also tells us to pray in all things.  We can change the world.  We can break down strongholds that prevent people from hearing the truth that will set them free.  We can pray for God to supernaturally intervene in lives throughout the world.  It will take effort and determination on our part, but, we can do more than “JUST PRAY!”

Parting Thoughts:

I have to ask this question of myself and you.  Is our prayer a vision, or is our vision PRAYER?  We can all do more than JUST pray.  We can PRAY!!!  (Let’s do it with fervency.)

See Ya Next Time . . .

Rusty

©Sept 1993 & June 2009 - all rights reserved

Rusty Norman Blog - Rusty Norman - LivingLifenotes.com

I don’t like to spend a lot of time talking about politics or politicians, but this is too important not to spend a little time on. The state of our nation depends on our continued involvement and vigilance and our politicians need to know that We The People are keeping a watchful eye on their actions and on their inability to act sensibly for the benefit of the people that put them in office and end up paying the bills (and their salaries, I might add.)

Let there be no misunderstanding, I support the tea-bag demonstrations because I think the politicians in power have lost touch with the American people.  Their knee jerk reaction seems to always be, throw money at a certain problem or situation no matter what it is and no matter who has to foot the bill.  This is my opinion and contribution on this day of  tax day tea-bag demonstrations…

One thing has become completely clear to me in the last eight months; We can no longer give free reign and full trust to any, (and I stress the word, any), of our politicians whether local, state or national. Our trust and respect has been abused by them and they must earn back our respect and trust and we should not make it easy for them. They must prove themselves as deserving of  our trust and then, maybe, we will trust them once again.

I know … I hear you saying …”So, when should we have ever trusted them??”

Well, for a while I guess I was just to busy, (poor excuse, I know), to pay close enough attention and I actually thought they cared, at least somewhat, about us and our great country. It has been a long time since I have actually trusted any politician, but for some reason, I did want to give them at least some benefit of the doubt.

That was absolutely the worst thing I could have done at any time, especially now. I have neglected the thing that made our country great and that is paying attention to what my elected officials do or don’t do and, I have to admit, I am shocked at the arrogance of the politicians — all politicians — and their inability to understand what the American people are trying to say, especially on this day - tax day - in the United States.

It has also been a long time since I have been this disappointed with politicians on this scale and I am not just talking about the present administration. This is not a Democrat or Republican thing. This is about the American people, all American people, and where their elected officials have been, and are, leading them and the Nation.

This is about elected officials that are supposed to represent the people and about them doing what they have a tendency to do, make excuses and try to focus the blame on others rather than take responsibility for what they themselves have caused (or, at the very least  greatly influenced by their detachment from the very people they are supposed to represent.)  None of them are blameless and none of us are exempt from participation in trying to reign in this over-sized and out of control government.

“We the People” of these United States should remember our responsibilities. It is our job to hold these arrogant, out of touch, non representing representatives responsible for their actions and to be vigilant about it.

A quick check of the dictionary tells us that the word “vigilant” means, “to keep watch, stay awake: alertly watchful - especially to avoid danger.”

• Can we afford to not take these words to heart?
• Should we just blindly follow people that have lost touch with those they are supposed to represent?
• Should we trust them to lead us when they cannot bring themselves to take responsibility for their own actions?
• Should we blindly allow them to walk all over the Constitution they are sworn to uphold?

We no longer have the luxury of depending on them to do what is right for us because it seems they think their solutions and their own interests are the only ones of importance and we just don’t know, or understand, what is right for our nation and our families. We should “trust” them to do what is necessary and “correct” for us all.

I cannot disagree with this more strongly!!!

They are the ones that are, or should be, under suspicion and they are the ones that should have to suffer. They should lose their jobs and they should loose them immediately. They should  have to experience first-hand what their actions, or lack thereof, have caused. They must hear the voices of all Americans and not try to diminish the voices of those that speak loudly by their responsible actions and voicing their concerns of where the politicians of this day are leading us as a nation.

Unfortunately, history proves that politicians, dictators and all who seek power over their detractors do the same thing. These people try to:

• focus attention on others (in this instance, those with conservative values), that have legitimate concerns and try make it look as if “they” are the ones standing  in the way of progress.
• That “they” should be feared because “they” are the ones to blame for the present circumstances.
• If it weren’t for “them” standing in the way, this “new direction” would “solve” all of the problems “they” caused.

Does this sound preposterous to you? Does this sound as if it CANNOT happen?

Believe me, fellow Americans, these things absolutely can, and do,  happen when good people stand by and do nothing. We cannot ignore what is really going on and we cannot stick our heads in the sand and hope it will all go away somehow if we ignore it.

My fear is that the politicians will ignore the message of the people on this day and either marginalize or diminish their message by continuing their political rhetoric of denial saying this is a fringe group of far right conservatives; that they do not speak for more than a small fraction of the country; that their voices should be ignored  and that they should be considered as trouble-makers and spreaders of hateful actions and speech and possibly even considered as social terrorists…at the very least, extremists.

Nothing could be further from the truth as I see it. These people care about their nation and their children’s future as well as their own.

This is a critical time for our United States. The actions of our elected officials need to be scrutinized and those that have brought us to this point should not be blindly trusted to lead us to their vision of “paradise” without that scrutiny.

We need to be vigilant and we need to be so, NOW!! We can no longer go on allowing them to say one thing and do another. We must hold them accountable  to their words and actions even as they expect us to be accountable for ours.

God, PLEASE, forgive us for the neglectful way we’ve handled our oversite of the Nation you’ve blessed us with…and…God… PLEASE… bless America by Your grace, with strength, wisdom and understanding as we pursue, with your help, restoring health to our nation…

Rusty sings A song by Don Francisco “The Traveler”. HAPPY EASTER!!

CLICK THE PLAYER BELOW to hear this article about Just A Fan’s View

Hi, everybody. This is Russ and I am just giving you some info so you can tune into our new podcasts and articles at Just A Fan’s View.

As you probably already know, we talk about Nascar and it is the place where we talk about the upcoming races and then we have the ‘after chatter’. I guess when it comes right down to it, you could say we have the pre-race chatter and the after-race chatter. No matter what, we have fun, we love Nascar Racing and we talk about it from “Just A Fan’s View”.

If you’ve already been listening to or reading us, we have moved to our new site and if you haven’t checked us out you need to <click here> to go to the site.

Thanks for checking on us here and we’ll see you on the other site.

See you at “Just A Fan’s View”…
Rusty

This is just an observation from this casual political observer, but one truly concerned for the health and well being of the United States.

It seems to me that we - (the United States) - are in for no change with the new Obama administration, (other than the media will probably support everything he does and paint it in a positive way.) Even though that is what his campaign touted as what we needed and he would bring. It almost seems he hasn’t the confidence on his own so he is bringing in a bunch of Clinton administration folks to make it, “Less change than we told you there would be from people you already know what to expect.” It also seems that we, the American public, can now echo what was said during the Biden speech at the Democratic convention directed at the Republican party, “That’s NOT change, it’s just MORE of the same!”

I don’t care how many times the president elect gets on radio and Tv and says how bad this present disaster is for us nor do I care  how often he tells how concerned he is for us and how quickly he needs to move to minimize the damage. To me, this is the same as the last time a democrat was elected to the white house. They immediately came out with an excuse as to why they wouldn’t be able to fix the problems the nation faced at that time and that, “Things were worse than they thought.”

My opinion of the matter is that partisan politics put us where we are and partisan politics and “blame gaming” will do no good for the present state of affairs.  Until the politicians admit they are the ones to blame and they take full responsibility for their actions NOTHING WILL CHANGE.

Both parties were asleep at the switch and both parties should stand up and take the bull by the horns, forget about what will keep them elected and do what needs to be done. I personally, don’t think this will happen and I don’t expect ANY quick fixes. I do expect higher taxes and more pork than ever before. I even expect them to come out and say, “You’re going to have to trust us if you want us to fix this and make change really happen and you will have to see that we are re-elected and that we can change the constitution to bring about the necessary safeguards to “protect your future”. After all If you don’t trust us and give us the time, it will most certainly be more of the same, (because the previous administration left us such a mess.)

My question is, why should we trust them and their judgment and why should we trust them with our future?  They (both parties) have only been playing politics and accomplishing nothing for years, (other than the present state of affairs which leaves us all in a very deep hole.

I have to say I am more than a little disappointed to see so many old administration faces in a new administration that promised all Americans so much change. I do hope the media and the pundits remember what was promised and what actually happens from this point on. We’ve experienced the same thing over and over again.

Why is it that politicians are allowed to exaggerate the truth to such a large extent and so many voters only see the forest and no trees? Why is it that, more often than not, voters vote for the “charisma” and not the truth? Eloquence does not equal excellence, or anything close (and actions still actually speak louder than words.)

I am not at all against change for the better nor am I against change that really is change and, contrary to what some of my friends may think, I am not concerned with which party a responsible politician is associated with.  I just want what is best for all of us and I want all politicians to be as responsible for their actions as they expect large corporations and small businesses alike to be. (Just so there is no misunderstanding, I am not a liberal by any stretch of the imagination.)

Unfortunately, the only thing this election proved to me is that once again it doesn’t matter what the politicians say, it is more important  to remember they are just looking for a job that we as taxpayers pay for. They seem to forget that they are supposed to be the servants of the people and that those people should be able to trust what they say and do.

I for one am tired of reading and hearing about all of the different scandals so prevalent throughout all levels of government. Why should we as a nation of people be expected to accept corruption in government? Are we expected to “toe the line” while politicians continually fail us both morally and lawfully?  I guess when it comes to politics, trust is a relative term meaning, “You need to believe what I say not what I meant when I said it and don’t hold me to the same standard I think you should be held to.”

I know this is just rambling on, but I am sick of what politicians on both sides of the isle have failed to accomplish. We could talk of Wars, but, Wars will always be with us and it has very little to do with what I am talking about here. The place they have most completely let the American people down is in the preparing of the nation for the future and financial areas.  That is what affecting most people throughout these United States and the politicians have completely failed us in this area. This is the area that is now costing people their jobs, savings and their hope and futures.

How long will we allow ourselves to be fooled by so much rhetoric? Why is that we the American people are continually asked to bail out people that have been completely irresponsible? Why should we only be able to experience politics as usual? When will the ridiculous deception of the people, supported by what is called the main stream media, end?

It is more obvious than ever that the truth the people need to hear the most will never be told by the media as long as it does not agree with their view of the way America, and all the earth, should be.  For the most part, the media is a propaganda machine which cares little for individual rights or concerns. It continually convinces people that what they believe is wrong and only the truth the media preaches can be believed.

How sad that we the people must continually suffer from the untruth and editorializing of the main stream media and those that control it. Do they really think we are so weak that we cannot handle the “Real Truth”?

I for one intend to stand against the liberal media view. Does this mean I am conservative? Probably. Does this mean I only look at things from one point of view? Of course not … I want the truth, not propaganda. I want the truth not some sugar coated rhetoric that makes me feel safe and comfortable while the nation crumbles around us. Give me the true facts, not the slanted editorializing that only tries to propagandize us.

I long to see the day when I can truly believe what I am told rather than some shaded interpretation of someone’s idea of what I should be told for my own good.

This nation and all of its people deserve much more. I firmly believe that now is the time for politics as usual to end. The United States’ future depends on facing the real truth of where we are and what we must do to get to where we want to be…

See ya next time…

Rusty

©2008 Rusty Norman

all rights reserved

 

 081202 JAFV After Chatter: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This will be a short report on the After Season-After Chatter. Not because there’s not a lot to talk about, but, perhaps I jumped the gun just slightly. I fully intended to have the new site up and running on its own, but, I need at least one more week. When I make the move it should be fully functional. That’s when I hope to have the RSS feed info available and all the other little details that I want to be there for you.

You see the problem is that I went away on a short vacation for Thanksgiving and just didn’t keep after the work side.  I goofed off and I needed it. Now I am back and I am running just a little behind, but I will catch up soon…

All of that aside, Nascar has really been buzzing with all of the challenges and situations that have come about because of the economic downturn here in the United States and around the world. It seems that everyone on the outside looking in has a suggestion for Nascar to help, “save the sport”, whether they need the help or not. I have listened and read  with interest and amusement as people have let their thoughts be known.

Some of the insight from seasoned writers and fans has been interestingly sound. Some has been outrageously out of touch and one-sided. A few have exposed their obvious envy of the ones that make the most money because they think those people should not be paid as much as they are and that their salaries should go to those that may be let go because of economic reasons. That seems to be the impression of more than a few but is usually because they are comparing the work they do with the “work” they think the drivers and others do. Hey, business is business and I think those that are successful right now, must know what they’re doing or they wouldn’t be successful.

Yes, it’s true, I have my own opinion as I know others do, but, let me say right here and now, you can’t fix it if it ain’t broke. There is a lot to talk about and a lot to consider but let”s remember that some of the facts are just now coming available. I know there is a lot we all should consider as fans and interested parties of the Nascar sport, but for some of the picture to clear up, we’re just going to have wait and see how it all plays out.  We can jump into the fray or we can wait a week or two and most of the foggy stuff will clear up and we will have a better view of the coming season and what really needs to be thought about for the good of all involved.

I don’t think there is anyone I know that has not been affected by the economy. Even while I was on my short little vacation in the southeastern United States I could tell the economy is affecting many people. In fact, you don’t have to listen very closely to find many of the conversations turning towards the times we are facing as individuals and a nation.

Those involved in Nascar are no different than those in any other “business” and those involved have to make hard decisions as much as the next guy. The situation is, times are tight and expenses have to be brought under control in one way or another. You can’t continue to spend money you don’t have unless you want to face some dire circumstances. There is absolutely no reason to spend money if you don’t have to. Isn’t it interesting how even big businesses have to face tight economics the same as small businesses only on a different scale and this downturn makes this more obvious than it might normally be.

Well, I think I’ve said about all I need to say on the subject for this week. Next week, look for more on taking a look back to this last season, thoughts on the C.O.T. and looking ahead to what teams (and fans) may find themselves facing in the new year.

See ya next time …

Rusty

©2008 PCN Productions and Rusty Norman

all rights reserved

 

 081118 JAFV Homestead After Chatter: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

As the whole nation, (Nascar Nation, that is), already knows, Jimmy Johnson became only the second person in Nascar history to win three Cup Championships in a row.  Joining him in that place in history with Cale Yarborough is his crew chief, Chad Knaus; the only crew chief ever to win three consecutive championships. The after chatter about the possibility of a fourth for the 48 Team has already started.

Although I know the airwaves, blogwaves and netwaves have been buzzing with the Jimmy Johnson three-peat, I have to say a few things about the weekend, but I’ll try not to bore you to death with repetition. I have my own view of the weekend and I just have to speak out about it and not all of it is just about the cup series.

It was no big shocker to me that Jimmy Johnson won the Sprint Cup and took his third consecutive title in Nascar. The 48 team, (and I purposely stress the ‘team’ part) is hard to beat.  They have definitely raised the bar higher and could very well repeat this scenario again next year.

I do think several others will want to weigh in before they let that be accepted as gospel for 2009, though.

I know for a fact, Carl Edwards and Bob Osborn will have something to say about that. They ran exceptionally well this year and, except for some bad luck, could have very handily taken the Sprint Cup Title this year. I know they will be tough again next year and their performance over the last year warrants more conversation from this “Just A Fan’s View” during the off season. (This is another subject that will be run into the ground between now and Daytona in February, I’m sure.)

Along with the 99 team will undoubtedly be strong performers from this year like Greg Biffle, Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt, Jr, Kyle Bush, Kevin Harvick and, yes, even Jeff Gordon, Jeff Burton and Tony Stewart. Although Tony is going to have his own team this coming year, I expect him to make some noise and show some  strength in the 2009 season. I do expect all of these teams to show their strength starting with Daytona in 2009 and the new season is sure to be an interesting mix of several teams flexing their muscles for the entire year, possibly even some that haven’t been mentioned that much in the last year.

If there was anything that frustrated me while listening to the broadcast version of the Cup series race, it was the constant pumping by certain commentators in trying to keep the listeners on the “edge of their seats.” I have never heard so much overkill in recent memory.  It seemed to me the commentators thought if they didn’t keep the viewers thinking that anything could go wrong at any moment, the viewers would change over to some other program and their ratings would plummet into the tank. They just kept on reminding us “if this, or that” happened it would be “The Thing” that would ultimately change the outcome. In fact, at times it seemed they hoped something would happen just so they could say, “See, I told you so.”

Hey … Commentators … Nascar fans watch Nascar races because they want to and they do it in their own way. They don’t tune in just to hear you talk and they may not watch every second of the race any more than the people in the stands do but they definitely know what’s going on.

I think the commentators often sell us, “the fans”, a little short. Maybe I should say, a lot short. It is almost as if they think we are completely ignorant of what the race is all about.  You see, fan’s know that a part could break, a tire could blow or a driver make a mistake and end the drama in the actual competition for the championship. I find it more than a little disappointing that they think we, as fan’s, are completely in the dark without their input. That if they don’t tell us not to go away during the commercial breaks we could miss ‘the moment’ that changed the outcome.

I would merely present these as a couple of “What If” scenarios that very well could have happened on Sunday.

‘What if’ there would have been a major accident at the very start of the race that took Jimmy Johnson completely out of the race and him finish 41st or worse. I wonder how they would have tried to keep the fans interested then. What do you think the would have talked about for the rest of the broadcast?

‘What if’ Carl Edwards engine would have blown at lap 63.  How would they have tried to generate interest until the end of the race.

‘What if’ both of these things had happened? What then …?

My point here is that anything could have happened, including these two I mentioned. Anything could have happened to remove the drama from the race and we, “the fans”, knew it. That’s why we watch it and why we don’t lose interest when certain things do, or don’t, happen. That’s why they call us fans!

Oh well, we can, and will talk about this and more in the “off-season”.  I think that’s enough on that subject for now, though. (Feel free to leave a comment on the subject yourself, if you want.)

Since I first started this, I’ve focused mainly on The Cup series and I will continue to devote a lot of time to it next season too, but I am planning on expanding to covering the other two series, also. There will be plenty of stuff to talk about since there is so much going on throughout Nascar and I don’t want to ignore any of it. With all of the changes going on and with the economy’s impact on the sport, I know that there will be a need to look at it from “Just A Fan’s View” and that is what we will do.

In fact, I would like to start with a few thoughts on the Nationwide and the Truck Series championships in this week’s “After Chatter”. I just want to give you some thoughts as I reflect on the season ending races this last weekend in Homestead.

I was thoroughly impressed with the level of competition for all three series. In particular this weekend though, I acquired even more respect for the man, Ron Hornaday. He is not only one heck of a racer, but he is also one heck of good sport. Some of the situations he faced this year would have devastated others but he handled them with class and humility.

I have watched how he handled personal situations this year and how he handled the outcome of the championship race for the Truck series and I am more firmly convinced than ever, he is definitely a man of distinction, character and class. Although he was disappointed with not winning the championship, he was an impressively good sport about the loss. He even made a point in an after race interview that he intended to congratulate Johnny Benson on winning and then he went down and did it on camera.

He also had an impact on two other racers, one I knew about and one I did not. Kevin Harvick and  … Jimmy Johnson. It has been interesting to watch Kevin Harvick mature as a person and an owner/racer over the last several years and I have more respect for him now than I ever did. As for Jimmy Johnson … well, he is … the three time champion. What more can I say?

As I watched the laps wind down to the end of the Nationwide championship, I found myself hoping that Clint Bowyer would win, just because … but I couldn’t help pulling for Carl Edwards. I think it is the first time I have watched a Nationwide series race all the way through in a long time, but it didn’t have anything to do with the drama of who might win. I just wanted to see who did win.

Just a little sidenote that I know others have already pointed out, Carl Edwards finished as runnerup in two of the three series this year. Wow, what does that say about his chances for next year’s championships?

Well, this is the end of the year for Nascar racing, but not the end of “Just A Fan’s View” for this year. We will be back the first week of December and, hopefully, every Tuesday after that with our “Just A Fan’s View” until Daytona when I hope to get back on the twice a week schedule.

Hey … this is Russ … and I hope to see you December 2nd here at “Just A Fan’s View”. Until then, Have a great Thanksgiving!

See ya next time …

Rusty

©2008 PCN Productions and Rusty Norman

all rights reserved