Love Being Sober!

Dec 29, 2016

Happy New Year!   

God bless you all. 

This New Year's day, 2017 will be exactly two full years since I've had a drink. Yeah! 

I love being sober!

Thank you for what I didn't even ask for, Jesus. 

Ephesians 3 :20

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us “.

You Can't Lose With God

I fought and lost.
I screamed but nobody heard.
I tried to do good but it turned out bad.
I planned my strategy and there were many,
But when the battle started, there were none.
I prepared my weapon and it backfired on me.
I finally gave up and lost all hope.
Then I broke down and prayed to God.
It turns out I lost the fight, but it made me stronger.
My screams were heard, even when I was silent.
And when you try to do good, then it is good.
If your weapon is God's love, it will pierce the heart.

Gino

Happy Thanksgiving

Nov 23, 2016

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello Friends

Just wanted to wish you well on this Thanksgiving holiday and hope you have a great time with your family. My sister in law, Donna, asked if I'd say a prayer over dinner tomorrow and I said "yes", if it was alright if I wrote it down first and read it. 

Anyhow,,,I took a ride in my truck and started thinking about everything in this life that God has given me and continues to give me it was just overwhelming. And then, while thinking about this, I heard the Christmas song  [Oh Holy Night] on an XM radio station and got tears in my eyes. 

I started to think of where I might be today ( if I were even alive) if I never  accepted Jesus in my life. This is what I am personally most thankful for, and it is the foundation to the appreciation of everything else He has given me. The things that I so stubbornly was so blind to for so many wasted years. 

Then the tears were running down my cheeks because for the first time in my life I actually realized that God's love for us is greater than we can ever imagine. The Holy Spirit was beside me in my Dodge Ram and I don't know what words to use to describe the way I felt.

One thing that comes to mind to pray about tomorrow is how God provides the feast that we are about to eat, but never let us forget that this food is just fuel for our physical body to keep us walking this eart , but He also provides the necessary, spiritual nutrition for our souls as well, through the Holy Spirit, without which, we would surely perish from starvation of the soul.

 I think that the most purest, passionate form of thanksgiving that there ever was, was when Jesus said in The Gospel of John.........." I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty".

God bless you.

Gino & Paula

Forgiveness

Nov 6, 2016

Heh Friends, 

I'm just sitting here in the church lobby drinking a coffee, thanking God for all that He has let my life become and for all the good people He has brought my way.

It's so funny that today's sermon was something I think about all the time; "Becoming a new person in Christ". 

What a loving God we have to forgive & forget our sins, and wouldn't it be 'Oh so wonderful ' if we, as children of God, could do the same thing? I know it's very, very hard for us to forgive someone who has done wrong, but it is even harder to try and forget it; at least to the point of not letting it be the base of your feelings towards another. 

I just put my trust in Our Heavenly Father that one day others may see in me what you do, Friends

Bless you both. 

Gino 

12 Questions That Don't Need Answers

Oct 23, 2016

1. How can words ever describe the inner peace that Jesus brings us  through the Holy Spirit?

2. Or how do you explain the strength that is received from someone you can't even see?

3. Why do I cry now, when I see how people less fortunate than me live?

4. How can just reading the Bible pour so much love and compassion into our hearts?

5. Why is  the thought of having lots of money & fame no longer appealing?

6. Why do I feel so small lately?

7. What happened to all the worries & problems in my  life? They're still here , but now seem so trivial. 

8. When did my enemy become the person that I used to hate, into the person that I now want to help? 

9. Why does God  answer the prayers of someone so undeserving? 

10. And is it just a coincidence that suddenly wonderful, saintly people are crossing my  path? 

11. Why is  it that so many search  to seek what lies beyond our endless universe and others seem content in already knowing? 

12. Where are these words coming from that you are reading right now?

Look to the Stars

Dear Friends

I woke up early this morning, as I usually do, and walked outside with Ruby and stared up at the stars, like I usually do, and it suddenly made all my earthly wants and worries feel so small & insignificant in a way I've never felt before. 

Are the things that we think are important and valuable really worth the time we put into them? I mean when we're on our deathbed and think back on our lives, the last thought that we should have is "Did I live my life for Jesus with the best of my ability, or did I get caught up with earthly matters that now seem so worthless and trivial". 

 For me , it shouldn't be about working overtime so I can buy more and  it shouldn't be about worrying about what people think about me. It should be more about making it right with God. The times that we spend together, learning God's Word are part of making it right. Times like these are the essential moments in my life now. 

Anyway, that brings me closer to God and building a relationship with Him has to stay my number one priority.  

Lord, please never let me stray and thank you Jesus for letting your  special, loving children cross my path in life. 

Gino 

New Day

Sept 18, 2016

Experiencing a new day start 

Waking up and feeling refreshed. 

Stepping outside and seeing the sun slowly rising, shooting its rays through the woods on a cool misty morning. 

Watching the squirrels and listening to two mourning doves answering each other off in the distance. 

Smelling the grass that was cut the evening before, mixed with the steaming coffee I'm holding. 

Breathing in the brisk morning air that has laid a blanket of dew on the ground that will be getting my bare feet wet in a couple of minutes when I take Ruby back to do her thing. 

Thinking about what's on my agenda today.

This is my favorite time of day. 

This is when I relate with God. 

This is when my devotionals come naturally. 

This is when I take everything in.

What a wonderful way for someone to show you that they love you. 

Thank you Lord. 

I love you too! 

Experiencing a New Day Start

Sept 18, 2016

Waking up and feeling refreshed. 

Stepping outside and seeing the sun slowly rising, shooting its rays through the woods on a cool misty morning. 

Watching the squirrels and listening to two mourning doves answering each other off in the distance. 

Smelling the grass that was cut the evening before, mixed with the steaming coffee I'm holding. 

Breathing in the brisk morning air that has laid a blanket of dew on the ground that will be getting my bare feet wet in a couple of minutes when I take Ruby back to do her thing. 

Thinking about what's on my agenda today.

This is my favorite time of day. 

This is when I relate with God. 

This is when my devotionals come naturally. 

This is when I take everything in.

What a wonderful way for someone to show you that they love you. 

Thank you Lord. 

I love you too! 

Your Child in the Gardens

The Endless List

As I awoke this morning I just laid there and prayed to God while basking in His glory, thinking about all He has given us and I wanted to say a prayer of thanks to Him that might really mean something. But where and how does one even begin a prayer for all He has done in our lives? If I were to make a list of all His greatness, what would be number one on that list? Would it be waking up and looking outside at all the beauty he has created? The blue sky, the trees & flowers, the birds, the glorious mountains or just everything in nature that I gaze at Dear Lord . There are so many spectacular wonders that you give us , the list is endless. But you know, when I stop and think about it, maybe a vision really shouldn't be number one on this list because there are people born blind into this world everyday and will never be able to see your creation like I can. Their world is dark and I think number one should be something that everyone on earth can look at.

Let me think about this again. Maybe number one can be hearing your creation. The wind, the rain, birds chirping, children laughing and playing, and other people's voices, especially the ones who teach me your greatness and love. They tell me what I need to know to better understand you and follow your ways. I hear so many wonderful things Dear Lord, the list is endless. But, once again when I stop and think about this, maybe hearing really shouldn't be number one on this list either because there are so many people born deaf into this world everyday and will never be able to hear their surroundings as I can. Their world is silent and I think that number one on this list should be something that the whole world can listen to.

OK, let's see......How about if number one were tasting your great harvest and bounty? Tasting the fruits and grains, meats and fish that you gave us. Like the bread that you once broke with your apostles to ever remind us that you are the bread of life. You have given me so much Dear Lord to relieve my hunger, the list is endless. But again, as I rethink this, enjoying a meal really shouldn't be number one either because there are people born into a life of poverty everyday and will never be able to taste the goodness of the land like I do. Their tables are bare and I think that number one on this list should be something that everyone on earth can fill their stomachs with.

How about if number one were family? Your mother and father, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, or just about your whole family tree. There are so many people to mention Dear Lord , the list is endless. But I really don't think that this should be number one either because there are so many children born into this world today that are abandoned at birth, left on doorsteps and train stations, or are put into orphanages and shelters and will never be able to know the closeness of a family like I do. Their world is lonely and I think that number one on earth should be something that everyone on earth can experience.

Maybe number one can be our soul mate. The one you know you want to spend the rest of your life with. That person that gives you that feeling of real true love. The butterflies in your stomach love. Happy and care free, walking on clouds love. The person you want by your side as you go out and take on the world. There is nothing that two people in love can't accomplish Dear Lord, the list is endless. Even though this one might rate up there pretty high, I still don't think it should be number one because there are so many people in this world that have never felt the love that others have to give. Their world is without feelings. They are snubbed and pushed away when all they really deserve is to be shown love and affection with a tender hug. But they are afraid to open up their hearts to anyone because they have never known tender loving care like I have and I think that number one should be something the whole world can feel.

Number one might be these magnificent legs you gave us to walk on. Man, how I love to walk! Just to walk this vast land that you created is simply indescribable. To walk roads that lead everywhere and some that lead nowhere at all. To walk on the sand along the ocean and feel the invigorating power of the waves and the mist on my face and thinking how this water you put here cleanses us and keeps us alive to remind us that you truly are the living water. There are just so,so many places for me to walk to Dear Lord, the list is endless. But once again, this can't be number one either because there are so many people in this world that have been born with deformities or are crippled from a disease and will never be able to walk the paths that I can and I think that number one should be a hike that everyone on earth do together.

How about if number one were "free will" ? Now we're getting close I think. You gave us each a distinct brain to make our own decisions and choices. How great it is to be a unique individual and be our own person. Each of us different from anybody else in the whole entire world. To be the one and only is incredible.  We have the choice to ignore whatever we want or believe whatever we want, for whatever reasons we want. We have the choice to believe in God, and the choice not to believe in God , for whatever reasons we want. Reasons like "People just use religion because they are insecure and afraid of dying" , or "It doesn't make sense, no one can rise from the dead" or "Why doesn't he appear before us" ? or "If there is a God, why is the world a mess?" or "Science & evolution proves it wrong". There are so many reasons that people have for not believing in you Dear Lord, the list is endless. Free Will can't be number one on this list either because the world just cannot agree that Jesus is The Universal Savior and because of this there will always be war and attempts of genocide in this world. " I ask you, why does it have to be this way Lord???  There are just so many things that I don't understand but I know it's part of your perfect plan, so I'll just put my trust in you and leave things in your hands.

Number one ??? I know what number one is for me and what it should be for everybody on earth. It's so simple. It doesn't matter if your blind or can see, whether you can hear or are deaf, hungry or stuffed, married or alone, whether you can walk or crawl or if your rich or poor. The number one thing on this list that we should all be thankful for is that our Lord, Jesus Christ died on the cross for us so that we may have everlasting life. Many have given up on you God , but thank you for never giving up on us. There is just so much more that I have to thank you for 

Dear Lord. THE LIST IS ENDLESS !

This life you gave us is quite a challenge Dear God and this world that we live in is forever changing , but one thing is for certain, this prayer that I've written will always remain the same.
Gino

A Quarter of Truth

Thank you Friend 

"God is our refuge and strength " from the Psalm you sent, is enlightening to say the least. 

There is a little pewter piece, the size of a quarter  that I keep with me at all times just for a  little reminder when I feel distressed. On it there is an engraving that says "Do not be afraid I am with you Always". So simple but it gives me strength like you wouldn't believe. 

God bless you always Friend. 

Gino 

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear 'though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the sea; Psalm 46

A Letter to Myself 20 years ago....I Wish

On Aug 10, 2016, 

A letter I wish I could  send to myself back when I was in my twenties.

Dear Gino 

Just take some time, clear your mind and really think about this earth we live on and how everything came to be, including us. It is perfection to say the least. It's such a perfect harmony that if you upset it just a tiny little bit, life will cease to exist. Such an extensive, intricate balance could never have been constructed naturally nor continue to sustain life without the help from a much higher power  to keep everything in order. 

There are way too many "circumstances " that are taken for granted and when you stop and  think about it even the simplest attributes to our survival are more complex than any human being could ever perceive ......so don't try to understand it. 

Learn to except it and believe that there is more  to your existence than what you can physically see, but when your eyes are wide shut your vision is limited to  the  darkness. The darkness is living your life without Jesus in it because He is the real light and even though you might  think you can see just fine, all you are really doing is staring into a blind alley. 

Seek out His word and you will be in awe of His wonder and glory and soon you will come to find that your darkened alley is starting to look like a lit up path. You will have a 'peace of mind ' that you have never experienced before and you'll wonder how you ever survived this long without it. 

Worship God and praise Him! Let yourself be drawn into His greatness and He will  take all  the weight off your shoulders. You will come to find that His truth is the most important thing in your life and nothing else comes close, nor should it. 

But please don't just think of it as an investment for your salvation for when your life here on earth is over.

 Do it because it overwhelms you with joy and fulfillment. 

Do it for others that love you . 

Mostly, do it because it is why God created you.

Gino 


Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path........I incline my heart tp perform your statutes forever to the end .  Psalms 119

Was That You?

Help me believe without a doubt that you are my Lord & Savior. Let me feel your complete love and help me live my life in your footsteps Jesus. I give my all to you and I open up my heart and mind to your love and knowledge. Don,t ever let me fall back on my faith because it is the most important request that I ask. Please never let me forget that my worries here are just earthly in nature and have no bearings on my confidence in you. 

I know you don't judge me but there are so many times that I judge people and form an opinion on them and take for granted they are not worth my time when I don't even know the least little thing about them and what made them the way that they are today............then I stop and think. What if this person that I am snubbing is Jesus in disguise, testing me? Who are am I or anyone else to say that this could never happen? Jesus may be walking this earth in any form that he wants if he truly wanted to. He might have been that dirty, toothless man standing in front of Walmart begging for money, you never know. Or he might have been that new guy at your work that needed help , but you just walked by him because someone of your  years of seniority can't be seen doing something so not worthy of yourself , you never know.

 Or you might have been that guy who stopped and helped me when my truck was broke down along the road. You gave me a ride to a garage and while they were working on it , you took me out and bought me lunch and wouldn't accept a dime for everything that you've done. I'd like to think that one was you Jesus. 

You never know, any of these people might have been you. We all run into people everyday of our lives that need help in some ways and when we just walk by them, how do you know for sure that it's not Jesus in disguise testing you? You Never Know. 

"Was It You, Lord?"

And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you , as you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers,  you did it to Me." Matt 25:39-40

Stay Sober For the King

July 23, 2016

Stay Sober For the King

Once again I am outside here enjoying this day of many days that the Lord has given us. It's sort of weird that in my drinking days I never cared for hot days like today , but now, I really don't seem to mind them, in fact I love  them. 

And also, in my drinking days I really hated cold weather as well , but they also are days that I have grown to love as a sober man. Come to think of it, any day I woke up in my drinking days was just another day for me to hate, no matter what the temperature was outside or in.

 It seems nowadays though , every new day that I wake,  I can always find another different  reason why I am grateful to be sober. 

Every day that I can write to people I love & care for is a good reason. Every day I go to work, (and actually like it) is a good reason .

 Every morning I wake up & don't have to worry about when I'm going to get my first drink of the day is a great reason. 

Mostly, every day I can walk in Gods glory and praise his greatness is the best reason for being sober. 

Stay sober for the King ! That is the motivation behind my abstinence. 

Do I really want to be drunk when I stand before the Lord in judgment? What a sad day that   would be, so, "Stay Sober For The King".

Thank you for letting me share with you and try to stay cool,,,,, or hot if you like it.

God bless you.

Gino 

Good Morning

July 17, 2016

Waking up to these Remarkable, Gorgeous Mornings

I’m so glad that I am a sober man now because I truly don't remember waking up to these remarkable, gorgeous mornings like I have lately. 

Who could look at this and ever deny God? How great thou art !!! 

These words just can't say enough. 

I hope your day turns out as incredible as this morning.

God bless you Friends

Gino 

To the Addict

June 18, 2016

Have you heard about the lonesome loser? That was me. A loner by nature but a loser by choice. 

Why by choice? I chose to ignore God all my life just like I chose to pick up that bottle and drink. The trouble was that I didn't want to put the bottle down until it got to the point where I couldn't put it down. Oh, I wanted to, so very badly, believe me, but the addiction is so magnetic that the consequences of death seem more appealing than quitting. 

That is an alcoholics and a user's mentality anyway. We don't want to die, and we know that what we are doing is eventually going to kill us, but we can't quit. So, when one dies of an overdose or drinks himself to death would that be called an intentional suicide or accidental? Like playing Russian roulette . The player doesn't want to die but he knows that if he keeps going his luck is eventually going to run out. 

Do you really think that I wanted to keep drinking all of those miserable , wasted years? 

Do you really think that a drug addict wants to keep using every day? No ! but it scares us to death when someone even mentions to us about quitting or getting help, because in our minds there can't be any help, and if there was , we are to far gone by now anyway. Yes, I was to scared to quit. I've been using alcohol as a crutch for so long that I didn't think I could ever walk again without it. 

Why didn't I pray for help you might ask? Because God could never subdue my urge to drink. This was beyond miracles or anything under God's power. I have been drinking almost 40 years and for my final encore I tried to drink more than a human being could ever endure in a week . I laid in bed, past out, laying in my own puke, urine and feces and that is no exaggeration. Now how could God possibly have anything up his sleeve of tricks to get me out of this one?

I'm not going to give you some kind of miraculous speech of how God spoke to me or how  I saw the light and got down on my knees and begged for mercy . Nor am I going to say that when I was in a coma for two weeks that I had envisioned something supernatural or had majestic dreams , because they never happened. 

What I am going to tell you is that after that took place, I am able to stand here , one and a half years later without a drink and tell you that this should have never happened . This just doesn't add up. I should be dead, and if there was a slight chance that I did somehow survive, then I should have some kind of physical or brain damage.  What I also can say to you is that three amazing things have happened to me since then and I never thought that in my lifetime I'd be saying what I am about to say.

Number one. I know that I am going to heaven.

Number two. I know that Jesus died for my sins and I now have a personal relationship with God .

Number three. I don't drink or even have a desire to drink anymore.

If I can say this then one day so can you.

I am nobody special . I am just an ordinary child of God like you.

Gino

Try It Together

May 19 2016

Try it Together

After many times trying and giving my all, and even more times failing for all my efforts, God finally tapped me on my shoulder and said "Now let's try it together ".

Gino 

Caring Family

Caring Family 

May 14, 2016

Hi Friends,

Thank you so much for caring and praying for Paula. She is holding her own. The past couple of days we have been busy with Holly's graduation and then last evening Donna had a big graduation party for her. Even though it doesn't seem like much, it plays Paula out. The chemo treatment really has her tired a lot which is a normal side effect. Maybe we can try and get together when your back from New York. We'll keep in touch. Good luck with your brothers, Friend. Like I said at our lunch, I can sort of relate to his situation because I was very addicted to alcohol ,but to be addicted to a substance plus alcohol must be awful , and if he is in the same state of mind as I was , then Friend , your brother is miserable and feels nothing but complete hopelessness because recovery and getting help is not in his picture. That's where I was anyway. 

People like your brother  will at some point, hit "rock bottom" and the only way I survived it is because I had a caring family that stuck by me, and I have no idea why (at that moment) anyway. Hitting "rock bottom" though , whether he has or not, can be a point of no return or can be the last eye opener he will receive. The worst fear in an alcoholics mind is RECOVERY because the mere thought of not having it frightens us to no end, and it upsets us just to talk about quitting. I pray that God touches him and somehow lets him see His Light and may he accept help from his Saviour, family & doctors because he is slowly running out of options. 

And my prayers are also out to his wife for sticking  with him because I couldn't even imagine living like that. And kudos to my Paula for enduring me. If you think it will help, tell him about me. Tell him about this guy you know that laid in bed for two weeks and did nothing but drink. This guy couldn't even make it to the bathroom so there was urine and excrement all over his bedroom which later everything, including bed and carpet had to be thrown out. But this guy didn't care because he hit rock bottom and felt complete hopelessness and would rather die than get help. 

Tell him that this guy woke up after two weeks in a coma and realized that he was very,very lucky because God gave him a second chance. But there are no guarantees on second chances so please let him know not to gamble on God's good will. 

And please tell him Friend that I was a very heavy , "at home" drinker and I never thought in a million zillion years that I would be where I am today.

But I am , and if I can do it....... so can he.

God bless you Friends and Good Luck

Gino

I'm All In

Please let me start doing what it is you meant for me to do . I give myself , my all completely to you. My earthly possessions mean nothing to me, take them all, take all my money as well. I come before you and beseech you to take me as the man you created. You know everything about me and know my limits so use me at my maximum capabilities. I will give everything I have.

You know all my faults and you have seen me naked so many times, and I don't mean without clothes. Jesus, I know you know all so I know that you know how deeply these feelings inside of my heart go. It's all I think about Dear Father, so I guess you could say "your my everything ". It just seems like the Holy Spirit keeps my soul awake 24- 7 and is giving me a journey I never knew was possible. But, I want you to know God , I am not afraid of whatever it is you have in store for me. I'm all in. Amen. 

My Journey

God is With Me 

and my Journey Through Life…           Apr 29, 2016

As I look back on today and the past month that led up to it, I can't help but wonder sometimes.......

Is God is up in Heaven looking upon us  thinking, "Oh, my dear children I know you may feel the pain & suffering right now but, if you only knew what you are about to  become a part of,  you would not fret".  

"All your life you have put your trust in me and now, I really need you to let your faith in me be your fortress because now is your time to shine ". 

I wonder if that shine is the brightness that everyone sees right at the end? 

I'd like to think that I will be a stronghold for Jesus in my final moments. 

What a remarkable and amazing journey you give me lord. I never would have imagined that it could be like this!  I'm all in. 

Gino 

Paid in Full...Too good to be True?

April 22, 2016

Don’t Miss the greatest investment in the universe .

Astronomers say  that for every grain of sand on Earth , there are a million stars out there. 

I say "Oh yeah, I just saved 15% on my car insurance, that's about how much that means to me ". 

Now tell me something I want to hear.   Like, did you know for every person that accepts Christ in this world there are ten thousand that don't ? Now,  to me that is mind boggling . I  just picked those numbers  because I don't think anyone really knows, but  it got your attention didn't it?  

If people hear something that's to good to be true then the majority of them are just not going to believe it. When I started to work at PPG all of the employees had a chance to invest  money into a savings plan in which the company would match every dollar you put in with one of their dollars, and it's still like this today. You put in a dollar, they put in a dollar.  Now that's pretty hard to believe. 

You know what's harder to believe ? There are people that never participated in this and took advantage of it because this was just to good to be true for them, I guess  , I really don't know why.But I  bet when they go for their retirement and they see how much more they could have had they wish they had the chance to do it all over again.  But they can't. 

I  wonder if it's like that with us? If people go through their whole life not giving Jesus a chance but when they stand in front of God to be judged they ask for another chance because they never really thought that it ever could have been true. But at that point it is to late! 

 I started to invest in God's everlasting love late in life so now I'm pouring every thing I live for into it, and now  God is not only matching me on this ,but he is giving it back to me ten fold. I am now paid in full. And this I am 100% sure about. I'm all in. 

I love you Lord. I love you Travis, Morgan & Vince.  I love you Paula.  I love you Donna, Rob, Britney and your family I grew to know.  I love you PastorChuck .I love you Ron & Diane. 

Gino 

Don’t Miss the Greatest Investment in the Universe

April 22, 2016

Astronomers say that for every grain of sand on Earth  there are a million stars out there. 

I say "Oh yeah, I just saved 15% on my car insurance, that's about how much that means to me ". 

Now tell me something I want to hear.  Like, did you know for every person that accepts Christ in this world there are ten thousand that don't? Now,  to me that is mind boggling!  I just picked those numbers  because I don't think anyone really knows, but it got your attention didn't it?  

If people hear something that's too good to be true then the majority of them are just not going to believe it. When I started to work at PPG, all of the employees had a chance to invest  money into a savings plan in which the company would match every dollar you put in with one of their dollars, and it's still like this today. You put in a dollar, they put in a dollar.  Now that's pretty hard to believe. You know what's harder to believe? There are people that never participated in this and took advantage of it because this was just to good to be true for them, I guess, I really don't know why.

But I  bet when they go for their retirement and they see how much more they could have had they wish they had the chance to do it all over again.  But they can't. 

I  wonder if it's like that with us? If people go through their whole life not giving Jesus a chance but when they stand in front of God to be judged they ask for another chance because they never really thought that it ever could have been true. But at that point it is to late!  I started to invest in God's everlasting love late in life so now I'm pouring every thing I live for into it, and now  God is not only matching me on this, but he is giving it back to me ten fold. I am now paid in full. And this I am 100% sure about. I'm all in. 

I love you Lord. I love you Travis, Morgan & Vince.  I love you Paula.  I love you Donna, Rob, Britney and your family I grew to know.  I love you PastorChuck.

I love you Ron & Diane. 

Gino 

Heaven....but Now?

Do you want to go to Heaven?…   

Hi … 

I thought a little humor might brighten our day.

Kenny Chesney wrote a song once that goes like this,  "Everybody wanna go to Heaven but nobody wanna go now." That says alot. I'm hoping everybody wants to go to Heaven , but now?  

My Scenario of this is this. 

 "Right now???  Really, right now Lord" ?  "Your really, really giving me the opportunity to go to Heaven right now?"  "You mean I'm done here on earth Lord?"  Wow! that went quick. "You mean it Jesus? You're giving me the chance right at this very moment to  be with you forever in Heaven? " OH MY! Paradise at last!   HALLELUJAH!  Hooray! Yeah Yeah Yeah.  "This is what I've devoted my life for". "Man, I'm the luckiest guy in the world right now ". "Yes sir,  look at me , I'm one of the Chosen ". "It doesn't get any better ". "OK, Alright, we're wasting time,  lets get this show on the road"! "I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready"!

OH, wait, wait, wait. 

Wait one second!  "I think I, ummm,,,,,,,,,there was something I ummm, wanted to do".

"Aaaaaaaa,,,,,,,,,,,, Lord?"

"Aaaaaaaa,,,,,,,,,,,,Do you really, really need me right at this moment" ? " I kinda wanted to try another ALPHA, and, aaaaaaah... I really did want to go to my friends Bible study a few more times, because I know how you wanted me to read over your brochure before entering your Kingdom ". 

"Yeah, I think I should do that "."Oh yeah,  and then there's my Grandson ".

 "You created me to be his very favorite person in the whole wide world , and I really think I should swallow my pride and give him a few mores years of my time , because you taught me that I should sacrifice my needs for others and what an opportunity to show you Lord ". 

"Oh, and I'm pretty sure he would want me to stick around to see him graduate from college. I really didn't to wait that long Jesus, but after all, graduating from college is a big deal and I know you would want me there for him". "Aaaaaaa, did I mention he's probably going to be a doctor ?"  "I'm not sure how many years that will take, but for You I know it will seem like seconds ". "Then I'll be ready Dear Lord , then I'll be ready ".

 " You know something God?, I was just thinking, I might as well hang around till he gets married if I'm sticking around this long , don't you think? "  "I know it'll be tough once again, but there are no boundaries for the extent of sacrifices a grandpa will go through for his grandson ".

 I'm so proud of myself. What a good man I am. 

"ALRIGHT ! FINALLY!  I'm ready to go to Heaven God, and I'm sure this time ".

"But, aaaaaaaaaa,  ya wanna know something

 Jesus ? I forgot about the Great Grand Children!!! "

Man, that Kenny Chesney sure does know what he's talking about. 

God bless you ……

I love you Jesus, my Lord and Savior. 

Gino