Hey there!  This is kind of exciting for me.  I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile and now I’m publishing my first blog.  Cool!  Thanks to those who have encouraged me to do this.  I apologize for taking so long.  A couple of years ago, a dear friend from South Carolina called me one evening, and said, “I think you should blog.”  I thought to myself, that’s for young folk.  Immediately I thought, that’s an old thought.  So I’ve mulled it over and here I go.  Thanks Chuck for encouraging me to this.  Would you call this a launch?  Just wondering.

My plans are to comment about what I’m reading, faith, politics, relationships, this planet we share with others or whatever interests me.  These are few things I deeply about.

My hope is that you will benefit from my thoughts and I will benefit from your thoughts as well.

In case you are interested, I am a theologically conservative Christian.  I don’t know what you think about that, especially if you don’t know me.  Just remember that I am the worst sinner that I know, and deeply in need of grace, always!  And I hope I am sharing that grace with others!  Let me know, if I fail to communicate with faith, hope and love.

My wife and children are my favorite people to hang out with and they are quick to give me their opinions on whatever I’m talking about.  We do a lot of laughing and there is whole lot of love here.  I am so blessed and fortunate.  It’s really cool!

I get to do life with people who share a passion for Christ and those who are unchurched in Brownstown, Michigan, called Woodland Church. It truly is a loving and caring fellowship of faith, worship, a high value on sharing with others.

I love books!  When the UPS truck arrives at my office, I get happy!  I enjoy browsing used book stores, looking for theology, history , biographies and books about culture.  I plan to post my thoughts about books that I believe will have value to others.  Yes my favorite book is the Bible, especially, Luke, Acts and Proverbs.  My favorite translation is the New Living Translation.  Although, I’m very excited about the soon to be released ESV Study Bible.

Does life begin before coffee in the morning?  I don’t think so.  There is so much being written about the health benefits of drinking coffee, my guilt over several cups of day is gone! My favorite is Ethiopian Sidamo.  A few years ago, I visited a coffee roaster in Addis Ababa, Ethopia.  I was persuaded immediately this was the finest coffee I had ever drank, including Jamacia Blue, Columbian or whatever else that I’ve had.

I grew up disabled and benefited from public health services.  My parents taught me to have faith in God and to try really hard and above all don’t whine.  My Dad paid off the family farm that my grandmother and uncle lived on.  My Mom, was the daughter of a share cropper.  All of that to say, fiscally I am a conservative, but why in the world would we deny health care to those who are unable to earn enough to pay for it?

I believe in intelligent and strategic diplomacy.  I hate war!  I can not fathom the pain of families in war torn nations.  But I am not a pacifist.    My oldest son, proudly serves our nation and puts his life on the line in Iraq.  I love him and I’m so proud of him!

I don’t think there is a dime’s worth of difference between a Republican and a Democrat.  I’m pro-life and that includes caring for children after they are born and when they are elderly.

The platform matters.  We have to drill down on the budget, and do it here and do it now.  We can do better than borrow against the next generation’s future.

I’m a progressive conservative when it comes to politics.  Politics is a noble calling.   A statesman/woman does what is right and not what is popular.  Although, I may not always agree with a politician, I respect leadership that possesses integrity.

Leadership is the real crisis we face in America, not an energy crisis.  Frankly, I’m more concerned about having pure water to drink, clean air to breathe and protecting our fertile topsoil than I am oil.  Energy is vital too.  I have traveled in a number of third world countries and where there is a lack of available affordable energy, life is hard, real hard.

I am encouraged by the efforts of Detroit and Silicon Valley to develop transportation for us that will lessen our dependency of oil. I see more people biking and walking, they are making a difference for their health, the atmosphere and their wallets.  It’s especially cool when I see bikes at Woodland.  Schwinns and Harleys!

I like John Maxwell’s definition of leadership, “Influence.”  I will try to be a positive influence with my blogging.  I think I’m going to like this.  So far the advice, I’ve been given is keep it brief.  Okay!

With a Vision,

Dennis Clanton