Thursday, June 24, 2010

part7: A Short Story- The Meeting

It had been a wild day since he received the call from Gerald.  Paul got a phone call from one of his lawyers and they decided to quit the case leaving Paul with no one to represent him in the fiasco. The lawyer had told him they couldn't defend a case like this one because it was a case they couldn't win. It was just too big of a mess and no one would believe he wasn't guilty of his deeds.  Basically, it wasn't going to be a money maker for them, so they bailed. 

It was about time for the three men to meet in the hotel room and Paul had no idea what they were going to talk about.  He heard a knock on the door of his hotel room and he went to answer it.  When he had opened it there were the two men standing there with polite smiles on their faces.  Smiles that were new to Paul yet had a comforting feel to them.  They sat down and he offered them drinks and  they introduced each other and they proceeded to go about business. \

So Paul asked what they could do for them, and the mystery man asks Paul what would he be willing to do for Him.  It was a weird question to Paul because he thought they were there to offer him help. Instead both men wanted to know what he would be willing to do for them.   The Mystery man asked him, "How can you help us to get yourself out of trouble?"  Nervous, he wasn't ready to make any type of bargain where he didn't get anything out of it.  Both men were serious about the question and didn't seem to back down.

Paul sat for a minute and thought about the question and asked what he was supposed to do.  The mystery man said live life the next couple of days and look around and see if there is anything around him that could answer the question.  Then that was it, both men left and said there goodbyes and said they would see him soon.  Paul was confused and didn't understand the point of the meeting. The whole session tore at him and he wanted to know why they wasted his time, but he said nothing and walked the men to the door.  The mystery man told him to remember the question and stay focused on life around him. And Paul said "Okay!"

The door shut and Paul turned around and slid down the door and focused on the question and  he couldn't really get a grasp on it. So he asked the question to himself over and over again and again.  "How can you help us to get yourself out of trouble?" To be continued......

Monday, June 21, 2010

Part 6: A Short Story - The Mysterious Man

As He arrived in the city he had one agenda on his mind.  His job was to come and be the man to clean up the mess others had made.  His clothes were a rugged look  finished with snake boots to match the outfit.  As his plane landed in the airport he grabbed his bag and left the plane.  The stewardess went through the plane and checked to make sure nothing had been left  by the passengers.  He was the last one off the plane and as the lady checked the seats she noticed he had left a book on his seat.

She saw him before she leaned over to grab the book.  She looked and the man seemed to disappear like a mist.  A warmth went through her as she grabbed the book off the seat.  To her shock it was a worn Holy Bible, which she had never found left on a plane before.  She looked inside the bible to see if there was a name inside the cover, just the words, "Trust Me!"  She decided she would keep it in case the man had boarded a flight back.  She just didn't want to part with it, there was something unique about this Bible.  She left it on the plane in case he might come back for it. She wiped a tear from her eye and laid it in plain view.

Paul spent the day in the courtroom going through some proceedings and then met with his ignorant lawyers for the rest of the day.  Ever since his dream about the man asking him to trust him, he started having some different views about what he had done and about the way he had lived his life over the past  couple of years.  He knew there was no turning back to correct the past.  He knew his life would be spent in a prison with others who had done worse things than he had. But life isn't fair and what he had done had finally pierced his heart.  How could he get through this mess without his friends and his loving wife? He was alone and felt unloved and still he hadn't realized how he had alienated everyone else through his ignorance.

 Pauls cell phone finally rang he hesitated to answer it, but he finally gave in and said, "Hello!"  The man on the other end sounded familiar and he said, "Is this Paul?"  Paul answered, "Yes it is! What can  I can I do for you?"   "This this is Gerald from the coffee shop, I have felt sorry for you and have decided to help you out."
"I really don't need any help, maybe some prayers!" Paul said.  Gerald said he was sending a man his way to give him some legal advice.  Paul told him he had a team of lawyers already, but Gerald said he needed to meet with this guy of his and hear him out.  Gerald asked him when he could meet him and Paul hesitated and said he could meet with him right now. "I'll send him over right away!" Gerald said quickly.  Do you know where I am staying?" Paul said. "Yes, I know where you are at!" stated Gerald.  Paul hurried and said "How do you know where I am at?"  "Trust me, I just know and so does he!" said Gerald. Then the phone went dead.  Paul went limp as if he was being watched by somebody and that his life had been in the view of everyone. He has been the talk of the town and the topic of every cable news channel, his privacy had been destroyed and he was the main cause of it all.  To be continued.....

Sunday, June 20, 2010

4 Fathers; Two Grandfathers, One Paternal & One Heavenly

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I really have a lot to be thankful  for when it comes to great examples of fathers. I can't be any luckier than to have the father that I do. When other father's are out hanging out with their buddies playing golf or heading to the bars or the horse track. Mine was taking care of his family and loving his wife. My Dad took care of his family better than any other I know of. He traveled almost 200 plus miles a day to a small town in Ohio to go to work to feed his family and pay two tuition's to 2 private Christian schools.

When the weather was bad he and his co-worker were traveling the snow covered roads of interstate 70 to get to work. I thought traveling to Little Rock was bad for five years, there is no way I could've traveled that far for almost 20 + years. But he did, and I am grateful for it.

I try to be just like him with his care free world of no worries, and I do until it comes to finances and then I don't even come close. I am thankful for my father and for his love of his family and Christian faith to always stay in the game no matter how far life pull can pull you down. He would be a great coach for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Even though they have had 19 years of losing my dad would see some way of coming back to win. Thanks Dad for your example of life and for being "The worlds #1 DAD."

I had two grandfathers that were great examples of humbleness. One I was very close with and the other I knew well. I don't mention him much because I just never saw him that much, but I see his example through my own Dad. William Singer was his name I knew him as "Papap." I wish I could say alot about him but I didn't know much about him. We would visit him at least once a week and he would give me and Paula a jar of coins he had collected for us and he would ask us what we had been doing and he and Dad would talk about different stuff.



I remember the smell of the house to this very day. I remember almost being attacked by the rowdy German shepherd next door. I would be half way up my dad's back from fright. I remember going up the crooked and cracked steps on the side of the house.



We would walk in the back door and there Papap would be sitting there waiting to see us. He was a quiet man and always sat in his favorite chair watching his TV. I sit here wishing I knew him better, but I was young and not much for conversations then. But my memories will always linger as I remember my Dad going up almost every night to fix his meals as he was growing older and becoming sick. My example of him is, even though the world was still evolving around him it wouldn't have any change on him. He would remain a humble man and love and appreciate his son very much. Thank you Papap for your love and example in life.



The other grandfather is my "Papaw." I've mentioned him in past blogs and how grateful I am still to this day for his example. I was close to him and his happiness still remains in my life today. I think of him every Christmas that comes around. When I watch a baseball game it reminds me of him. When I look at his smoked set of pipes on my bathroom counter I think of him. His strength keeps me strong in everything I do.



I remember going to work with him when I was little and sitting there as he would fix a piece of furniture for Sears. I remember him coming to my baseball games when I was little and cheering me on. Those were just good times. I remember the time when he was older and couldn't drive very well and him and I and his dog Astro went to go shopping at Elm Grove shopping center. We were going down the little hill to the shopping center and he was going off the road and almost put us over the hill. And I yelled, "Papaw were going off the road." He just gripped the wheel tighter and got right back in the right lane. He said it would be OK. I don't even remember what we were going there for, but it was eventful.



But I am grateful for his example of love and his great ability to teach me not to worry about anything. Just grab your toolbox and go to work. Keep on keeping on was his motto, and just let it roll off your back. He never said that but that is what he was trying to teach everyone around him. He enjoyed his kids and his grandchildren to the fullest and just loved life no matter what.

Thanks Papaw for your example and the great memories you gave us all in life. I only wish he could read this, maybe they have Internet in heaven, who knows!



Out of the the four father in my life, none can ever match our Heavenly Father. His love is abundant and always overflowing. Our cups overflow. We need nothing because of him. Through Him I have these memories in life, through Him I have the ability to live free from sin. With Him I will never be alone in life, even with my greatest sin I am always forgiven. I could be beaten, robbed and stripped of everything I own and he would find a way of bringing me through it.



He is love and the founder of love. He created me for a reason, to become something the world might not recognize. To serve those in need both spiritually and physically. He might not have created me to be in the spotlight, but to maybe give somebody a good cheerful laugh or just to be a good example to someone who needs it.

He moves in a mysterious way to give us a new hope everyday we awake. We can't rely on the world to give us hope, but through Him we can always find the chance for greatness. We look blindly waiting for His answer and take off the blindfold and see He has already given us the answer or another angle to look at the situation at hand.



He is more than deserving of a father's day card. He deserves our full attention every moment of our lives. He deserves the love and praise of every person whoever walked upon this planet, but yet we give Him a couple of hours on Sunday and and hour on Wednesday and we think that is enough. It's not even enough time to fill a tiny glass jar.



He deserves so much more!!!!!!!!!!! I think more about my career and when I will land that dream job or when I will sell my next policy and when it will pay out. I think more about myself and how pitiful my life is, when He's given me and everybody a life greater than any king. When we pass in life where will we be? In a pit of fire or in the glorious hands of our creator? Our lives are our number one priority. We think about the next paycheck and wonder what HD television set we should buy. Instead of giving Him the praise, we give a baseball player on steroids more praise. A home run, a touchdown and a basket have become more important than our love for him.



Everyday should be Father's day for our God. I'm guilty of all this, my lack of faith has been very weak lately. Satan gets his hold on me with allowing me to worry about things and making me put my priorities first instead of our Lord's. I need to give Him the praise He deserves and give Him my problems so I can fulfill His destiny He has planned for me.

Thank you God for all that you are and more. Your example leaves me in AWE!

Posted by Clint Singer at Monday, June 16, 2008

Friday, June 18, 2010

Part 5 A Short Story

Weeks had past since  Paul's criminal acts had caught up with him.  Still staring at the ceiling of the hotel room, he had no idea how he was going to get out of every misdeed he had done.  It wasn't that he was going to get out of anything. He had a criminal trial that would be coming up soon and he remained out on bail for the time being.  No one had called to help him in any way.  His life for the time being was in complete shambles.  Nobody wanted anything to with him except for his million dollar lawyers.  They were just in it for the money and really didn't care if he went to jail. But it was their duty to protect Paul and do their best to get him out of trouble or get an easy prison sentence.

Paul shut his eyes that night and went into a deep sleep.  A deep came over him, and a vision came to him and asked him one question, "Do you trust me?"  The question was repeated a few more times before he woke up.  His vision was of a man with a suit on and had a dingy look about him. His hand held out and he asked the question again "Do you trust me?"

As morning approached Paul's wife was getting used to her new routine.  With no husband home she was the one to get the kids fed and on to school.  Her heart broken really smashed and destroyed by the man she had trusted for so many years. She remembers the day they were married and how sweet of a guy Paul was. His ability to preach at their church and the blessed words to come out of his mouth were a deep memory she would never let go of. Because that was the Godly man she would always want to remember.  The new memories of the scandal and his obsession with power were the ones she had erased from her mind for now. The past was the only thing she could cling to, not the future.

After dropping off the kids at school she had no idea where she was headed for the day. The house had become a lonely place for her almost dungeon like.  Getting out was her escape from the matters at hand.  She decided to take a drive past Paul's hotel just hoping he might be walking out the doors and she could get a glimpse of him.  She was a forgiving person all her life and really wanted to put this matter behind them and be married and in love the way they used to be. That would only be a dream in this reality, you can't just snap a finger and have everything go back to normal.  Prayer was all she could grasp onto for an answer and healing.  As she drove on, a sign approached her that said, "Do you trust me?" Chills went down her spine as if that was what she was just thinking.  Trusting in God would be the way to get through all this.  But could she regain her trust in Him like she used to, in God or Paul.  Life was baring down  hard and was getting worse as the days lingered on. How much more could she take? Silence from Paul was killing her she just wanted to talk to him, and trust him again.   To be continued....

Monday, June 14, 2010

Part 4: A Short Story

As Paul walked back to his hotel he encountered many different signs on his way.  He walked through a park full of people enjoying themselves. Children running and playing with each other, parents holding infants and having picnics.  It seemed before his presence that these people knew what life was all about. Their troubles in life seemed to fall away from them right now, like they had a reason to get out and put behind them the troubles of their lives. A sunny beautiful will do that to you. 

He continued his journey back to the hotel room and ran into a camp of homeless people, and though they were living in the streets and had nothing to their name except their clothing they still looked somewhat happy. He was finally seeing life outside of his office.  A life he used to know, before he took his high classed job as a CEO of a large company.

He began spending long hours at his new company.  Every waking hour was about the company and how he could make it a successful one.  His priorities were too be an honest CEO and give back to the employees and the city he worked in.  His good intentions turned into something worse.  He found a way to start stealing money from his company and its clients.  His power became his hunger for more, to the point he started cheating more and stealing more.  His lust for more power had become his downfall. 

He decided that the money he had stolen had not been enough to suffice his immoral hunger.  He became a cheater in another game, a game of wooing women on the side without his wife knowing.  At times it became clear that his lifestyle was wrong and that one day his addiction would lead to his own destruction.  The power of addiction though will make you feel it is OK and that addiction made him want more.  To be continued.....

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Part 3: A Short Story- The Coffeeshop


His stay at the coffee shop was brief and Paul really wished he had
never entered the doors. Gerald could not allow him to leave without
giving him more kind words a handshake and a business card, that Paul had placed in his suit coat before leaving.


As he made his escape from Gerald's grip, he scampered out into a world that he really was unsure of. His wife had basically told him to stay away for awhile until she thought this mess through. Friends were very small in number right now and going to his office was not a place of safety either. His only place right now and for awhile would be his room at the hotel.


As he walked through the doors of the coffee shop and into the open air he looked to the darkened sky and let out a huge sigh and thought about his next move. Being caught was not his intentions of his little
escapade of thrills. He thought now about  not trusting anybody with
anything in his life. The one he trusted to keep things hush hush was
actually the whistle blower. A person he didn't realize would fall quickly to his conscience. Before he was found to be in trouble he had felt out who he could trust in his circle of friends and one stuck out to him like a giant tree of trust.


Instead he became like a tree in the midst of a hurricane. Easily bent when he saw the storm coming! To be continued...

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Part 2 Short Story

She didn't care if he'd ever talked to her again. He'd been keeping

secrets for some time, sneeking behind everyone's back for his own purposes. She knew things were tense between them and things hadn't been right for some time. She decided to let things take care of themselves, and maybe God would make their marriage right or perhaps the way it used to be, perfect!


He was a kind man, he gave to everybody and stayed right with God for the better part of their marriage. His children thought he was a king and so did she. Her love for him had never swayed until yesterday. When it all came upon her and her children. What became of him? What path was he choosing to follow? Why was he so easily deceived? Questions that had to be answered, yet who had the answers? Who would actually stand up and give the true answers to what he had become?

Many days had passed since the man woke to his nightmare of reality. He started making a list of those who got caught in   his storm of deceitfullness. Hoping to find at least one person he could lean on and ask for help.He left his hotel room about about 8am to go to a coffee house down the street. His hope was not to be seen by anybody he knew. The embarrassment of the situation had been too much to bare. Yet he needed some breakfast and had no choice because the hotel didn't serve breakfast. As he entered the coffee shop he felt as if everyone knew of his sin. As he thought he felt the eyes of every patron were looking at him in judgement.

Nobody even knew him or even what caous he had caused to destroy and hurt so many people close to him. He looked around for an empty table and found there were none available. Only one seat open at the bar, with an awkward shaped older gentleman sitting there. He went to take his seat and place an order for plain black coffee.  The older man looked over to him and asked if he wanted to read the paper, the man said no.  little did he know his face and his embarrassment made front page news. "My name is Gerald" the older man said. The man stated, "That's nice!"  Gerald turned away and drank his coffee and ignored the rudeness of the younger man.  "Do you live around here?" The younger man said "Yes, I do!" "What's your name son?" said Gerald.  "Sir, my name is Paul, and I would really like to keep to myself right now." Being shrewd was not a trait from his past, he had always been a man full of life and great kindness, but his burden weighed upon his shoulders now. Being rude was his best defense to keep others from seeing his shame.  To be continued....

Thursday, June 03, 2010

A Short Story- To be Continued!

The man woke up one morning and felt he had been wronged by somebody.  His world had been turned upside down in the blink of an eye.  His life has always been great, he had his share of ups and downs and failures had been over come.  Yet, things in His life weren't right.  He made a choice against his will.  A choice he didn't think he would ever make, but sometimes choices can't be decided on their own, someone has to make them. He did!


How can he make this bad decision go away?  He hurt many including his family. He could take actions in his own hands, but sometimes those who are hurt can't be so easily swayed by an apology no matter how sincere it is.  Verbal wounds can penetrate some and others allow harmful words and actions to cut deeply.  Forgiveness is not on their menu of correctness.  Wounds continue to bleed for some and then their are others that can take the wound and allow it to heal over time.


He thought hard all morning how to make his actions to be an easy forgiveness, no good ways to do it came to his mind.  He challenged different scenario's to say the right things to those he hurt. Nothing came. The situation had become a bad one in a matter of minutes, he thought of ending it all.  To him that was no way of take care of making people love him again.  He hoped people would call him and tell him it was okay and that they forgave him, no calls came.  People were instantly erasing his number from their address books on cell  phones. His thoughts were of people alienating him completely, there was no remorse for what he had done.   Where were the answers?   To be continued........