Sean Hannity recited a new Pledge of Allegiance on his radio show
earlier this week. However, he pledged allegiance to the United States
of France. I was inspired to actually re-write the Pledge to more
accurately reflect the changes taking place in my beloved country.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are witnessing a change from the USA to the
U.S.S.A. or the United Socialist States of Amerika. We, the people are
no longer in charge; the Congress and nine lawyers in black robes have
torn the Constitution to shreds. People who work hard are punished and
people who refuse to support themselves are being rewarded. America is
dead. Long live the U.S.S.A.!

I pledge allegiance to the flag
Of the United Socialist States of Amerika
And to the Government for which it stands
One Nation, under Obama
With houses and healthcare for all

I am feeling so FREAKING patriotic this year! I can't explain why. All day at work yesterday I was listening to 4th of July tributes on Talk Radio and was so full of pride in my country. I was inspired to write a prayer which I'm going to read to the rest of the family later tonight (after I read the Declaration of Independence and before we set off fireworks). Here it is.

Father God,

            We come before You today as we celebrate the anniversary of the birth of our nation. On this Fourth of July, please let us not forget Your blessings; and help us to remember the men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

            Over the past two hundred and thirty-two years we, as a nation, have strayed from where we started. This nation was founded on a belief that all people are created by You with certain freedoms and liberties. But we seem to have lost an important part of that belief: the belief that we were created BY YOU.

            Until just recently we, as Americans, believed that this nation was blessed by You. Our public education day once started with prayer, publicly acknowledging our dependence on You. But we've chosen to turn our back on you; and as a result, we've seen Your Hand of protection and blessing slowly begin to be removed from our land. You sent Your Son to die on the cross so that we could be free. And many men died to secure our freedom from the tyranny of British rule.

            Less than a hundred years after men like John Hancock, Tomas Jefferson, and George Washington risked their lives by signing the Declaration of Independence (an act of treason, punishable by death), another group of brave young men fought and died to free slaves in the South.

            And less than a hundred years after the Civil War, yet another group of brave young men died to protect Your Chosen People from an evil madman who was determined to wipe them from the face of the Earth. Today, we look back on those young men and women, and we honor them as "The Greatest Generation". You once promised Abraham that You would bless those who blessed him and his descendants; and that You would curse those who cursed him and his descendants. We were blessed alright. Because while we had one hand tied behind our back fighting the Nazis in Europe, we were engaged in another war - halfway around the world in Japan! Through Your blessing, we won BOTH wars!

            After World War 2, we went on to establish a Homeland for Your People to once again call their own. And for the first time in two thousand years, the Children of Israel returned home. Today, we are one of their few remaining allies in a world that hates and despises them.

            On this Independence Day, Father, I would ask that You bless our nation once more. I pray for the men and women on the battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq. Bless them and bring them home safe. Bless them in their missions as once again, Freedom and Liberty are in need of defense.

            I pray all these things in the name of Your Son Jesus. Amen.

            God, Bless America!

To all our brave service men and women out there defending our freedom. Thank you for fighting them over there so I don't have to fight them here. God bless you!

I wrote this poem back in 2001 after a rough breakup. This was during a time when I was bouncing around from fiancee to fiancee. I lost it in a computer crash and thought I'd never see it again. Then a few months ago, I Googled myself out of boredom and found it in a Yahoo! group!!! God is amazing. So I now share it with you.

Falling
by Peter Svochak

Falling
Why am I here? I liked it where I was.
Why did I jump? Why did I leave glory for this?
Now here I am, in free-fall. Nothing makes sense
Emotions are running wild
Love has been reduced to feelings
Life was so good. Life was great
Now here I am
Falling through space
Not sure of who I am
Not sure of where I'm going
I need Your direction
I miss You
You are my one True Love
When You died, You fell for me
Please bring me back
I need You
I miss the innocence of youth
Where babies come from holding hands and King Kong is hiding in the
basement
Where 21 is really old
There is no going back
Life is a one way road
And a second chance would only bring me right back here
I can't go back
Please bring me forward
I can't take another step without You
Hold my hand and tell me You love me
Bring me back to the tree
The Blood-soaked tree of Calvary
Let me stand under the shower of Your Blood
Let its crimson stain wash me whiter than Alpine snow
You are everything and Lord over even nothing
The beginning and the end
The I Am
You took nothing and made light out of it
Take my battered and beaten weary heart and make a man out of it
I need to hear that I'm loved. I need to feel Your arms around me
I love you, Jesus

Oh HELL NO!!!! Boycott Guitar Hero III. This is bordering on blasphemy! Not only against God, but against a god among Country Music artists - Mr. Charlie Daniels!

http://www.charliedaniels.com/soapbox-2008-040408.htm

A great lecture from Professor Rush Limbaugh; Dean of Students at the Limbaugh Institute for Advanced Conservative Studies.

PART 1(6:36)


PART 2(6:50)

Wii have touchdown! Let me give the back story. Last Friday (1/4/08) when I got out of work (at 8am), I drove over to the Wal*Mart in Oak Ridge to see if I could catch the truck that had the Wii's on it. I didn't make it. BUT, while I was waiting there, this old retired Navy Vet came in with this week's ad which had Wii's in it. The clerk told us that if it's in the ad, it's guaranteed to be in stock to avoid false advertising.

So last night, I dragged Keri down to the Crossville Wal*Mart at NINE pm (Central Time). And wii were only the second people in line! Yippee! The lady in front of us told me they only had 4 consoles in stock. So I planted myself down and waited for 3 hours while Keri pushed a shopping cart around the store and looked at baby clothes.

Long story short - these little piggies left the market and went Wii Wii Wii all the way home!

This morning, after getting everything all setup, wii stood up and played! (And by wii, I mean EVERYONE - Keri, her parents, and myself) Bowling, Baseball, Tennis, Boxing, and Golf. I have NEVER worked up a sweat playing a VIDEO GAME before! And the Wii Sports disc that comes with the system also includes a personal trainer that lets you track your fitness results while you're playing. The first time around, I come to find out I'm as fit as a 45-year-old man! I gotta get to cracking!

Santa came to my house (well my in-laws house) on December 20 this year! What did he bring me? you ask. On Dec. 20, 2007 I received the last thing in the WORLD I ever thought I'd get - an e-mail from my biological father!! He found me online and through my MySpace page!

And with that, came a whole bunch of clues as to my past and my very existence! That's not to say that I don't doubt God put me on this Earth for a purpose. But to find out where you came from; if you're not adopted, you can't even imagine what it's like not to know your past, your history, your heritage. This has started out to be the BEST Christmas of my life!

I still have moments of skepticism. In the back of my mind, I'm constantly wary that this might be a brand new form of identity theft. But the more I communicate with him (so far it's just been via e-mail as I'm a little wary of handing out my phone number or of having it broadcast over a Caller ID) the more I'm beginning to believe he might be the genuine article. He gave me my mother's maiden name and her last-known whereabouts in 1978. He named friends of my parents that even I didn't know about. And my brother even told me, "Yeah! Donna! She drove that old Chevy Vega!" At which point I cracked up laughing. Only my brother would remember what car someone drove who he hasn't seen in almost 30 years. (Donna was the friend of my parents who arranged the adoption.)

Thursday December 6, 2007 Republican Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney delivered a speech regarding his Mormon faith and how (if at all) it would affect his Presidency. Here is that speech. No comments on my behalf. Just mega mega dittos!

Posted from http://www.mittromney.com/Faith_In_America


Thursday, Dec 06, 2007

"Faith In America"
Remarks As Prepared For Delivery
The George Bush Presidential Library
College Station, Texas
December 6, 2007

"Thank you, Mr. President, for your kind introduction.

"It is an honor to be here today. This is an inspiring place because of you and the First Lady and because of the film exhibited across the way in the Presidential library. For those who have not seen it, it shows the President as a young pilot, shot down during the Second World War, being rescued from his life-raft by the crew of an American submarine. It is a moving reminder that when America has faced challenge and peril, Americans rise to the occasion, willing to risk their very lives to defend freedom and preserve our nation. We are in your debt. Thank you, Mr. President.

"Mr. President, your generation rose to the occasion, first to defeat Fascism and then to vanquish the Soviet Union. You left us, your children, a free and strong America. It is why we call yours the greatest generation. It is now my generation's turn. How we respond to today's challenges will define our generation. And it will determine what kind of America we will leave our children, and theirs.

"America faces a new generation of challenges. Radical violent Islam seeks to destroy us. An emerging China endeavors to surpass our economic leadership. And we are troubled at home by government overspending, overuse of foreign oil, and the breakdown of the family.

"Over the last year, we have embarked on a national debate on how best to preserve American leadership. Today, I wish to address a topic which I believe is fundamental to America's greatness: our religious liberty. I will also offer perspectives on how my own faith would inform my Presidency, if I were elected.

"There are some who may feel that religion is not a matter to be seriously considered in the context of the weighty threats that face us. If so, they are at odds with the nation's founders, for they, when our nation faced its greatest peril, sought the blessings of the Creator. And further, they discovered the essential connection between the survival of a free land and the protection of religious freedom. In John Adams' words: 'We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion... Our constitution was made for a moral and religious people.'

"Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.

"Given our grand tradition of religious tolerance and liberty, some wonder whether there are any questions regarding an aspiring candidate's religion that are appropriate. I believe there are. And I will answer them today.

"Almost 50 years ago another candidate from Massachusetts explained that he was an American running for President, not a Catholic running for President. Like him, I am an American running for President. I do not define my candidacy by my religion. A person should not be elected because of his faith nor should he be rejected because of his faith.

"Let me assure you that no authorities of my church, or of any other church for that matter, will ever exert influence on presidential decisions. Their authority is theirs, within the province of church affairs, and it ends where the affairs of the nation begin.

"As Governor, I tried to do the right as best I knew it, serving the law and answering to the Constitution. I did not confuse the particular teachings of my church with the obligations of the office and of the Constitution – and of course, I would not do so as President. I will put no doctrine of any church above the plain duties of the office and the sovereign authority of the law.

"As a young man, Lincoln described what he called America's 'political religion' – the commitment to defend the rule of law and the Constitution. When I place my hand on the Bible and take the oath of office, that oath becomes my highest promise to God. If I am fortunate to become your President, I will serve no one religion, no one group, no one cause, and no one interest. A President must serve only the common cause of the people of the United States.

"There are some for whom these commitments are not enough. They would prefer it if I would simply distance myself from my religion, say that it is more a tradition than my personal conviction, or disavow one or another of its precepts. That I will not do. I believe in my Mormon faith and I endeavor to live by it. My faith is the faith of my fathers – I will be true to them and to my beliefs.

"Some believe that such a confession of my faith will sink my candidacy. If they are right, so be it. But I think they underestimate the American people. Americans do not respect believers of convenience. Americans tire of those who would jettison their beliefs, even to gain the world.

"There is one fundamental question about which I often am asked. What do I believe about Jesus Christ? I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of mankind. My church's beliefs about Christ may not all be the same as those of other faiths. Each religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These are not bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance. Religious tolerance would be a shallow principle indeed if it were reserved only for faiths with which we agree.

"There are some who would have a presidential candidate describe and explain his church's distinctive doctrines. To do so would enable the very religious test the founders prohibited in the Constitution. No candidate should become the spokesman for his faith. For if he becomes President he will need the prayers of the people of all faiths.

"I believe that every faith I have encountered draws its adherents closer to God. And in every faith I have come to know, there are features I wish were in my own: I love the profound ceremony of the Catholic Mass, the approachability of God in the prayers of the Evangelicals, the tenderness of spirit among the Pentecostals, the confident independence of the Lutherans, the ancient traditions of the Jews, unchanged through the ages, and the commitment to frequent prayer of the Muslims. As I travel across the country and see our towns and cities, I am always moved by the many houses of worship with their steeples, all pointing to heaven, reminding us of the source of life's blessings.

"It is important to recognize that while differences in theology exist between the churches in America, we share a common creed of moral convictions. And where the affairs of our nation are concerned, it's usually a sound rule to focus on the latter – on the great moral principles that urge us all on a common course. Whether it was the cause of abolition, or civil rights, or the right to life itself, no movement of conscience can succeed in America that cannot speak to the convictions of religious people.

"We separate church and state affairs in this country, and for good reason. No religion should dictate to the state nor should the state interfere with the free practice of religion. But in recent years, the notion of the separation of church and state has been taken by some well beyond its original meaning. They seek to remove from the public domain any acknowledgment of God. Religion is seen as merely a private affair with no place in public life. It is as if they are intent on establishing a new religion in America – the religion of secularism. They are wrong.

"The founders proscribed the establishment of a state religion, but they did not countenance the elimination of religion from the public square. We are a nation 'Under God' and in God, we do indeed trust.

"We should acknowledge the Creator as did the Founders – in ceremony and word. He should remain on our currency, in our pledge, in the teaching of our history, and during the holiday season, nativity scenes and menorahs should be welcome in our public places. Our greatness would not long endure without judges who respect the foundation of faith upon which our constitution rests. I will take care to separate the affairs of government from any religion, but I will not separate us from 'the God who gave us liberty.'

"Nor would I separate us from our religious heritage. Perhaps the most important question to ask a person of faith who seeks a political office, is this: does he share these American values: the equality of human kind, the obligation to serve one another, and a steadfast commitment to liberty?

"They are not unique to any one denomination. They belong to the great moral inheritance we hold in common. They are the firm ground on which Americans of different faiths meet and stand as a nation, united.

"We believe that every single human being is a child of God – we are all part of the human family. The conviction of the inherent and inalienable worth of every life is still the most revolutionary political proposition ever advanced. John Adams put it that we are 'thrown into the world all equal and alike.'

"The consequence of our common humanity is our responsibility to one another, to our fellow Americans foremost, but also to every child of God. It is an obligation which is fulfilled by Americans every day, here and across the globe, without regard to creed or race or nationality.

"Americans acknowledge that liberty is a gift of God, not an indulgence of government. No people in the history of the world have sacrificed as much for liberty. The lives of hundreds of thousands of America's sons and daughters were laid down during the last century to preserve freedom, for us and for freedom loving people throughout the world. America took nothing from that Century's terrible wars – no land from Germany or Japan or Korea; no treasure; no oath of fealty. America's resolve in the defense of liberty has been tested time and again. It has not been found wanting, nor must it ever be. America must never falter in holding high the banner of freedom.

"These American values, this great moral heritage, is shared and lived in my religion as it is in yours. I was taught in my home to honor God and love my neighbor. I saw my father march with Martin Luther King. I saw my parents provide compassionate care to others, in personal ways to people nearby, and in just as consequential ways in leading national volunteer movements. I am moved by the Lord's words: 'For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me...'

"My faith is grounded on these truths. You can witness them in Ann and my marriage and in our family. We are a long way from perfect and we have surely stumbled along the way, but our aspirations, our values, are the self-same as those from the other faiths that stand upon this common foundation. And these convictions will indeed inform my presidency.

"Today's generations of Americans have always known religious liberty. Perhaps we forget the long and arduous path our nation's forbearers took to achieve it. They came here from England to seek freedom of religion. But upon finding it for themselves, they at first denied it to others. Because of their diverse beliefs, Ann Hutchinson was exiled from Massachusetts Bay, a banished Roger Williams founded Rhode Island, and two centuries later, Brigham Young set out for the West. Americans were unable to accommodate their commitment to their own faith with an appreciation for the convictions of others to different faiths. In this, they were very much like those of the European nations they had left.

"It was in Philadelphia that our founding fathers defined a revolutionary vision of liberty, grounded on self evident truths about the equality of all, and the inalienable rights with which each is endowed by his Creator.

"We cherish these sacred rights, and secure them in our Constitutional order. Foremost do we protect religious liberty, not as a matter of policy but as a matter of right. There will be no established church, and we are guaranteed the free exercise of our religion.

"I'm not sure that we fully appreciate the profound implications of our tradition of religious liberty. I have visited many of the magnificent cathedrals in Europe. They are so inspired ... so grand ... so empty. Raised up over generations, long ago, so many of the cathedrals now stand as the postcard backdrop to societies just too busy or too 'enlightened' to venture inside and kneel in prayer. The establishment of state religions in Europe did no favor to Europe's churches. And though you will find many people of strong faith there, the churches themselves seem to be withering away.

"Infinitely worse is the other extreme, the creed of conversion by conquest: violent Jihad, murder as martyrdom... killing Christians, Jews, and Muslims with equal indifference. These radical Islamists do their preaching not by reason or example, but in the coercion of minds and the shedding of blood. We face no greater danger today than theocratic tyranny, and the boundless suffering these states and groups could inflict if given the chance.

"The diversity of our cultural expression, and the vibrancy of our religious dialogue, has kept America in the forefront of civilized nations even as others regard religious freedom as something to be destroyed.

"In such a world, we can be deeply thankful that we live in a land where reason and religion are friends and allies in the cause of liberty, joined against the evils and dangers of the day. And you can be certain of this: Any believer in religious freedom, any person who has knelt in prayer to the Almighty, has a friend and ally in me. And so it is for hundreds of millions of our countrymen: we do not insist on a single strain of religion – rather, we welcome our nation's symphony of faith.

"Recall the early days of the First Continental Congress in Philadelphia, during the fall of 1774. With Boston occupied by British troops, there were rumors of imminent hostilities and fears of an impending war. In this time of peril, someone suggested that they pray. But there were objections. 'They were too divided in religious sentiments', what with Episcopalians and Quakers, Anabaptists and Congregationalists, Presbyterians and Catholics.

"Then Sam Adams rose, and said he would hear a prayer from anyone of piety and good character, as long as they were a patriot.

"And so together they prayed, and together they fought, and together, by the grace of God ... they founded this great nation.

"In that spirit, let us give thanks to the divine 'author of liberty.' And together, let us pray that this land may always be blessed, 'with freedom's holy light.'

"God bless the United States of America."

I have been blessed in a BIG way this past week. (Last Friday actually). The following is a letter that I sent to the General Manager of a Country Music station here in Knoxville.

November 30, 2007
Ed Brantley
General Manager WIVK
4711 Old Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN
37919

Dear Mr. Brantley:

I am writing to you to commend one of your employees and on-air personalities. On November 29, 2007, I called Colleen Addair's "Reindeer Café" to request Joe Diffie's "Leroy the Redneck Reindeer". Colleen informed me that she didn't have it in the computer and even that the song seemed to have disappeared from the WIVK Christmas rotation as of last year. She then asked me if there was anything else I would like to hear and I made a half-hearted request for "Dominick the Donkey" by Lou Monte. Colleen had never heard of that song and I don't fault here there – I doubt anyone outside of my native New York City has ever heard of that song!

On the following morning, as Colleen was giving a rundown of the artists whose songs would appear in the upcoming hour, I heard her mention Joe Diffie among them. In the back of my mind, I was thinking that maybe she had indeed found the song and put it on the air for me. But to this Yankee, that thought was absurd. Nobody could possibly care that much about a total stranger. I never dreamed how wrong I could be. Not only was that exactly the case, but when the song was over she said something to the effect of, "Someone had called in yesterday requesting that song and I told them I didn't have it. So if you're out there and you're listening, that was for you!" I was shocked. As soon as I had a chance on my next break, I called Colleen to thank her.

Mr. Brantley, this has nothing to do with the song. If it was just about a song that I wanted to hear, I could have spent a dollar to download it from iTunes. I have never met Colleen Addair. The two of us are perfect strangers apart from the few times I've called her to request a song to play on-air. Yet she took time out of her day to think about me, hunt down a song I wanted to listen to, and grant a request that I made. Because of that simple act, I had a smile on my face the rest of the day and I couldn't wait to get home to tell my wife and my in-laws about how I was blessed by a total stranger! You have a new life-long listener.

I know this is entirely up to your discretion, but she is to be commended.

Sincerely,

Peter Svochak

Harry Potter is a VERY Christian book series. The Gospel is woven so delicately into the story, that you can barely see it's there. Yet I'm sure there were points in the story (across all 7 books) that gave you goosebumps and you weren't sure why.

First is Harry himself - Harry POTTER? God is the Potter and we are the clay. Harry is indeed a Christ figure throughout the story.

Secondly, let's look at Quidditch. Harry's position is a Seeker. Jesus came to SEEK and save the lost! Now let's look at the rules of Quidditch. There are really two games going on here. There's the game where you have to get the Quaffle into the hoops and avoid the Bludgers. Then there's the game where the Seeker must catch the Golden Snitch to end the game. No matter what else happens in the game, it's all over when this happens. And this almost always causes the team whose Seeker catches the Snitch to win. (ALMOST always) ALSO the rest of the game is completely forgotten once the Seeker ends it. Look at the Quidditch World Cup in Book 4, Ireland won in points, but Viktor Krum got all the glory for catching the Snitch for Bulgaria! Just like here on Earth, nothing else matters once Jesus saves us. No matter what happens in this life, Jesus always gets the glory!

House Elfs
They're slaves. They live in squalid conditions and they wear dirty rags. They're usually also owned by dark wizards. Isaiah 64:6 tells us, "All your righteous acts are like filthy rags." While the House Elfs were doing their best to serve their dark masters, all they had for clothing were filthy, disgusting rags.
How did the Potter release the slaves from their bondage? He gave them CLOTHES! Just like Jesus saves us and gives us spotless robes. Specifically, let's look at Kreacher (whose name sounds like Creature ... Hrmmm ...). He was torn between two masters - the Black family and Harry (who had just inherited Kreacher after the death of his godfather, Sirius Black). He would always wind up beating himself up when the orders of his former masters conflicted with the orders of Harry and vice versa. Again, the Potter stepped in. Harry showed Kreacher love and respect and kindness. Once Kreacher stopped serving two masters and served the Potter alone, he became a new Kreacher (Creature). He started wearing clean rags. The house all of a sudden was free of dust and filth, and he had true JOY!

Then there's also what I previously blogged regarding Harry's death and resurrection. Click here to read that.

The Harry Potter epic is complete! Be warned - I will give away details from the book! So if you don't wish to be spoiled, leave now, go read it, and come back and read this later. Through a happy accident, I recieved my copy of the book in the mail on Thursday afternoon and was able to finish reading it  a few hours after its release at midnight on Friday.

Book 7 starts out with a tear-filled and heartwarming goodbye as Harry leaves his aunt and uncle's house for good. The moment he can no longer call that house "home" he leaves the protection of his mother's sacrifice of love and he is vulnerable to attack from Lord Voldemort and his Death Eater followers. On the flight to the Weasley house (called "The Burrow") Mad Eye Moody is hit with a Killing Curse from Lord Voldemort - the first of many casualties in this book.

Next we move to Ron Weasley's house for the wedding of his brother Bill to Fleur Delacour. The reception is cut short after a Patronus from Kingsley Shacklebolt informs everyone that Voldemort has attack the Ministry of Magic and killed Minister Scrimgeour. Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off immediately to find the remaining Horcruxes containing pieces of Voldemort's soul and then to ultimately kill Voldemort once and for all.

Of the seven books in the series, this is the darkest and most adult-themed. The kids are getting older; and therefore, the violence has increased and the language has matured. I'm not just talking about the use of big words. I also mean the use of swear words. Ron is frequently heard saying the word (direct quote) "Effing" and at one point towards the end, someone calls someone else a bitch.

Casualties include - Remus Lupin and his new wife Nymphadora Tonks (right after they had a baby too! Fortunately, Remus named Harry as the baby's godfather.) Tonk's mother, Malfoy's cronie Crabbe. Probably most heart breaking were the murders of Dobby the house elf and Fred Weasley! Bellatrix Lestrange (who murdered Harry's godfather- Sirius Black in Book Five) also recieved her ticket to the here-after from Mrs. Weasley after Fred was delivered the Avada Kadavra "Killing Curse". Severus Snape received a lethal bite from Voldemort's snake Nagini. As he was dying, he gave Harry some very informative memories. But more on that later.

Harry also died ... sort of. After Snape dies, Harry rushes back to Dumbledore's office to utilize the Pensieve and take a look at Snape's memories. And for the very first time, we get to see exactly where Snape's loyalties lie and what exactly what went on behind the scenes of Dumbledore's topple from the top of the Astronomy tower in Book Six. Severus Snape most definitely had left his Death Eater days behind him and acted as a spy for the Order of the Pheonix. Snape was very much in love with Harry's mother, Lilly and it pained him to have to look at Harry and see Lilly's green eyes looking back at him all those years. It also pained him to find out that Harry MUST die in order to destroy Voldemort. When he killed Dumbledore in Book Six, he was acting on orders from Dumbledore himself since Dumbledore knew he was dying anyway.

In the end, Harry knows he has to face Voldemort alone and unarmed. Now THIS is where the plot gets REALLY interesting! This was the point at which I saw Harry as a Christ figure. He walked willingly into Voldemort's midst, knowing his mission was one-way. He stowed his wand inside his robes and walked right up to Voldemort and stood there without flinching as Voldemort pointed his wand at Harry and yelled "Avada Kadavra!" (instant, painless death). Harry woke up in a pristine and hazy-white version of (of all places) King's Cross station in London! Do you get that? He was killed to save the world and he appears at the KING'S CROSS! After a conversation with Dumbledore about the battle and Harry's part, Harry is sent back! He is ressurected! However, he does his best to keep this fact hidden and plays dead for a while, to allow Voldemort to let his guard down.

Voldemort tells Hagrid to carry Harry's body back to Hogwarts for a victory celebration and it breaks Harry's heart to not even let his good friend know that he's not dead. The book ends with Harry vanquishing Voldemort and winning Voldemort's wand in the duel. With all eight Horcruxes destroyed, Voldemort is truly dead and never coming back.

Now we flash forward 19 years into Harry's future (September 1, 2017). It's the first day of school and Harry and Ginny are bringing their two sons - James (after Harry's father) and Albus Severus (at which point I needed a couple of Kleenexes before I could continue reading) to Platform 9-3/4 to board the Hogwarts Express. James is starting his Second Year and Albus his First. Their third - Lilly will be starting school in two years. We also join up with Ron and Hermione who are dropping off their two children (Hugo and Rose). Ron has just recently received his Muggle drivers license. And Draco Malfoy is dropping off young Scorpius. No mention is made of exactly who Draco's wife is. Neville Longbottom is now teaching Herbology at Hogwarts and no word is made as to Harry's old professors.

This has to be the best farewell to a literary character I've read in a long time. Second only to Frodo's journey to the Undying Lands in Lord of the Rings.

The road that goes from my in-laws' house into the town of Crossville is 18 miles long. I've lived here long enough to pretty much know the twists, turns, dips, and miscellaneous roadkill in the middle of the road. So I'm travelling along at a decent 60mph (The posted speed limit is 45) when I pass a Sheriff's car heading the opposite way. I had enough knowledge of his presence to gradually slow down (gradually slow so he wouldn't see the nose of my car dip down, indiciating a rapid change in speed - meaning I had been speeding). After I passed him, I saw him slow and make a U-turn to come after me. My thought was, "Oh .... $%#@!" So I slowed even more and prayed he didn't have his radar gun on.

Well he didn't; but he was doing a very good job of pacing me. I know my speedometer is off by a few MPH. (ie. When it reads 55mph, I'm really only doing 50) By my speedometer, I kept between 42 and 47. He must have followed me for a good 3 or 4 miles at that speed before he finally decided to put his lights on. I pulled off into a hunting station along the road where I was informed that I was driving 15 miles UNDER the speed limit and impeding the flow of traffic! (To which I wanted to say, "What traffic? There's never more than 2 cars on the road at the busiest time of day!" But I kept my mouth shut.) After what felt like half-an-hour, he comes back with my license and gives me a verbal warning to (and I quote), "Just try and drive a little faster in the future."

Is Tennessee whacked or what?!

When my brother got married to his first wife back in 1997, I was his Best Man. He gave me a gold Citizen watch as a gift. Well the other night, I had a dream that I was looking for that watch and my mom wouldn't let me have it. She told me she was holding onto it but that I couldn't be trusted with it. We got into a fight and I wound up waking up screaming, "I WANT MY WATCH!!"

My wife rolled over and very groggily said, "What are you talking about? It's on the night table right next to you," and went back to sleep. I thought it was funny. Just wanted to share.
 

Blog and pics of the wedding are coming. I just moved and am still getting settled in to a MUCH slower life up in Tennessee. Please be patient. :o)

Now I'm sure most of you are familiar with the new Jim Carrey movie "The Number 23" (At least you MUST have heard about it and its plot.) Well this is no joke - my life seems to be ruled by the number 17. Follow me down the path.

My birthday is 17 to perfection. (Literally)
17 x 7 = 119 (I was born on 11/9)

I met Keri on 3/17/06
3+1+7+6 = 17!!!

I married Keri on 2/17/07
2+1+7+7 = 17!!!

I had my first serious car accident (which also earned me enough money from the insurance settlement to buy Keri's engagement ring) on 5/12/06
5+12 = 17!!!

My full name: Peter James Svochak
17 letters!

Keri's full name: Keri Leanne Svochak
17 letters!

The names we picked out for our first boy and girl (Completley at random!!)
Joel Andrew Svochak - 17 letters!
Emma Louise Svochak - 17 lettters!

On our honeymoon, we stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Orlando. What was our room number? 317 - the day we met!

We live off of TN-298 Genesis Rd. This is a stretch, but there's two 17's (2, 9+8) - one for me and one for Keri. As if that wasn't enough, our address is also 298! (Genesis is also significant for us because we're starting a new life here in Tennessee!)

So basically, I don't need to pay $10 to see Jim Carrey in a psychological thriller. I'm living it right now!