Firelance

absolutely brilliant, and barred from the superbowl

2009-02-03T11:56:00.001-06:00

Our economy's in trouble...let's...um...kill more babies!

2009-01-26T08:31:00.001-06:00

Read a brief interview here with the 3rd in line to the presidency of our growing anti-life government. Whether or not you care about the issue, or even if you are one of those disenchanted but good-hearted people who think that voters and politicians (esp. conservatives) just lean on the crutch of the abortion topic, do you not see the danger in this kind of talk? Have you not witnessed the outcome in countries that don't always make the news? Have you never met anybody in France who wept as he told you his government threatened to cut off his family's socialized health care if they *didn't* abort their down-syndrome baby? Take a stand if you have any sense.

Hope and change are in the air!

2009-01-24T09:38:00.001-06:00

I was driving home from work the other day and heard a news story on the radio about a Dallas couple being charged for beating their 6 month old baby to death. I thought of my own boys and the more I listened to the details of the baby's brutal death, tears started to form in my eyes which slid down my throat, giving me the urge to vomit.

I then got home and learned that our new president's 3rd (by my estimate) order of business in office was to overturn what was known as the "Mexico City Policy." Simply put, that means that our tax money has now been freed up to fund international groups in "developing" countries focused on population control by encouraging different forms of abortion. My friends, I've been in these countries and have heard testimonies of government officials pressuring poor villagers through intimidation and violence to abort their babies, no matter what stage of pregnancy. Don't you think that was an interesting move on his first couple days in office? Remember that he has vowed to sign the Freedom of Choice Act in his first days in office, overturning any state limitations on abortion, including late-term abortion.

That 6 month old baby boy in Dallas may have gotten off easy compared to what is ahead for those children who are about to enter the world.

So what were the first 2 orders of business? Ordering the closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility and delaying the execution of the confessed mastermind of 9/11, all to improve our international image. Is there a plan on where to put the remaining detainees? NONE. I propose that they put them all in the basement at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Do you want them in your city? I don't either.

And finally, enjoy this lovely letter from the new first lady:

The epitome of a sore loser

2008-08-29T07:14:00.001-05:00

I don't know why, but I cannot stop laughing at this picture of the Cuban Tae Kwon Do athlete who was disqualified after taking too much injury time:

Oh yes we can kill those babies!

2008-08-20T07:08:00.001-05:00

So many of my friends have posted this Obama video on facebook . I'm not going to lie, the guy is a great speaker. Eloquent, commanding, and can really give a good, inspirational speech...on the surface. If the substance speaks, well, never mind, it just doesn't, yet. I'm ready to hear what the change and hope is going to look like. In fact, I think that MOST IMPORTANTLY, he left out of this speech the one thing that he fought against most in his un-notable career as junior senator: LIFE. If he were to add it to this speech, it would sound something like this:

"When we tried to abort our babies, and failed, and they came out alive, they tried to tell us we can't try to kill them a second time. Thanks to me, the state of Illinois now says: YES WE CAN!"

You think I'm joking about this stuff? Look up his record on Illinois's "Born Alive Infant Protection Act".

My personal apology to Georgia

2008-08-15T10:53:00.001-05:00

Dear Georgia,

I am truly sorry about what is unfolding in your country today. I am sorry that you are suffering the aggression of an evil empire, out to dominate, annex, and exploit you. I'm sorry that your European neighbors have lost their moral compass and just want to be seen on TV using big, empty words, all the while exchanging flowers and toasts while the flashes flicker. The Sarkozy-Merkel crowd like the sound of their own voices and I doubt they will do anything to actually help you or carry out justice. I suspect that America is in an extremely tough position since, not only are we overextended and tired of fighting the war on terror, but half if not more of our country is also in the process of shedding our morality. Which brings me to a much deserved "thank you." Thank you for not only fighting Al Qaeda alongside American soldiers, but for also increasing your troop numbers while others, including our own people and potential president, want to cut and run.

Sadly, you are on your own, and my prayers are with you.

Well done, good and faithful servant

2008-07-02T15:10:00.001-05:00

Yet again I've found myself in a deep state of mourning. I haven't lost many that were close to me, in fact I still have all 4 grandparents, the youngest of which is 82. But last week we lost a dear friend, the first person I met at freshman orientation when I moved to Chicago 12 years ago. We were roommates at one point. Phil Penner died doing what he loved most, serving his Lord and savior Jesus Christ in Southeast Asia. There aren't a lot of answers, but in short, he caught dengue fever, which led to a bacterial infection that became septic, killing him suddenly.

Janet and I are discussing tonight these defining moments in our young lives--losing two close friends (Nathan Taylor) in a year and a half, both men of strength and faith, fathers, husbands, men who truly lived for what was important. It is hard to cope, hard to swallow, and yet, defining.

God is so good to me, He provided a ticket for me to go home for the funeral. Surely stories and pictures will follow in the days to come, but please watch this short video clip of my friend, Phil Penner. It was an honor to know such a great man.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsmisXYW06M

Corregidor Island

2008-06-15T15:35:00.001-05:00

I had the honor to visit this island on our trip. The fortress, impenetrable in its day, until the airplane. Japan attacks Pearl Harbor and on the same day, begins their assault on the Philippines where thousands of Americans are stationed. General Douglas MacArthur in command, out of retirement, is given the order to abandon his troops, and friends, including President Manuel Quezon. He refuses repeatedly and submits finally to a presidential order coupled with promises of coming help. "I SHALL RETURN." He departs, no help comes, and the American/Filipino force surrenders. Bataan Death March follows, along with mass killings of POW's. They say that for 27 days, approximately 16,000 bombs fell on Corregidor before the surrender, shown below at the Malinta Tunnel. Very moving, all of it. 48,000 graves or names to commemorate it. MacArthur fulfills his promise and comes through. What a picture of him landing at Leyte Gulf! I have never heard such stories of camaraderie as those of the Filipino Scouts and American Soldiers. I love the picture of them below with the two flags flying in the backdrop.

Happy St. Patrick's day!

2008-03-17T10:21:00.000-05:00

I bind to myself to-day
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

I bind to myself to-day
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgment Day.

I bind to myself to-day
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I bind to myself to-day
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.

I bind to myself to-day
God's power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seduction of vices,
Against the lust of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.

I invoke to-day all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

Christ, protect me to-day
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop [deck],
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind to myself to-day
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity.
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

2007-11-28T11:50:00.000-06:00

"It gathers and feeds at the table of our memory, stepping uncautiously among the thorns. We grieve the loss of the one we had. We grieve the loss of the one we didn’t have. Of him who was and him who might have been. The one we may now rediscover at the digging of the great root, just below the soft and hallowed surfaces of the child’s forgotten earth." David Teems

I echo my sister's effort yesterday. I remember a year ago today, traveling out to the state where I grew up, to say goodbye to a friend who was like a brother. Lauren asked for stories about Nate, and I have a small one: Nate was the youngest among all 5 of us Mezger/Taylor boys, and one day we decided to climb Mt. Hogsback in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Nate couldn't have been older than 5. All I remember was thinking that he was too little to go, and that he should stay behind. Long story short, he pretty much led the way all the way up and all the way down. We were gloating about him to the adults when we got back and I just remember his calm, peaceful grin that we all seem to remember so well.

I tried to call people yesterday, but leave it to me to neglect my internet bill--I had been cut off. I'm glad to have spent the time with you all in Oregon last year and love you dearly. We're one year closer to glory...

For my Orthodox friends:

2007-10-21T13:13:00.002-05:00

and others too I suppose, but I thought you, especially would love this. I took my friend Jason to the coast last weekend while Janet was at a ladies' conference. We visited the ancient city called Salona, containing the remains of a 2nd century church! That is like, impossible to find outside of Palestine. Diocletian ruled Rome from the neighboring city, Split, and was said to have made Nero look like a choir-boy in his ferocious persecution of Christians. I felt something amazing in my spirit as I walked through the ruins of this place where so many were killed through preserving the Christian faith. Enjoy the pictures!

Why I don't believe in socialized health care

2007-10-03T09:08:00.000-05:00

I've got three sad stories for you today. Do with them what you will. Just let me say at the outset that they originate from Sarajevo, Bosnia where the whole country used to *enjoy* socialized health care. Though the war has brought "democracy" for the first time ever in its history, Bosnia still operates under socialism because it is all they know. Democratic problems cannot be solved by socialistic means,and these stories just scratch the surface of deep rooted problems:

Story #1: Amela and Mohamed live next door to us in a basement apartment. They are villagers who moved to Sarajevo to find work. Sarajevo lost up to a half of its population during and after the war. They were either killed or fled as refugees. Those numbers have been replenished by people like Amela and Mohamed. They are typically looked down upon as "not real Sarajevans", especially if they are from the village. Amela went into labor the other night at 1:00 am. Mohamed woke me up by knocking on our window and I knew right away it was time to go to the hospital. We found our way there--their first visit to the hospital--and walked in the front door. The hallways were cold, no lights were on, and the guy at the reception desk was out cold and not even hiding the pillow that he brought to work.
We start walking down the hall looking for life and a nurse comes around the corner and barks at us, "WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING!?" She opens a door and turns on a light, rubs her eyes and just stares us all up and down, obviously noting that they are very poor. She asks for Amela's ID card and Mohamed gives his. "ARE YOU HAVING THE BABY OR IS SHE!!??" Mohamed explains that she doesn't have one (I know that they can't afford it) but gives the nurse her medical record book. The nurse stares at it, throws it aside, and just stares at Amela for a minute in silence. "HOW CAN YOU LIVE LIKE THAT? YOU'RE 21, HAVING YOUR THIRD BABY, YOU CAN'T EVEN AFFORD TO OFFICIALLY GET MARRIED AND GET AN ID CARD. GET OUT OF HERE YOU PILE OF ______!" None of us moved, we were too shocked. Mohamed breaks the silence and says softly, "I'm sorry m'am but she's ready to push." Amela is ready to collapse at my side. The nurse literally sits there waiting for us to leave. Finally she gives up and calls in the doctor.

Story #2: The doctor comes in and kicks Mohamed and I out. We hear him berating her inside the room. Finally Amela comes out in a nightgown and is sent walking up some stairs. The doctor tells us to come back the next day and to bring her clothing, toothpaste, food, bedding, and toilet paper. TOILET PAPER.
We come back the next morning and are informed that she had a little girl. Of course we can't see either of them, "Come back tomorrow."

Story #3: The next day Amela is finally released with her baby. She tells us that when we had last seen her at 3 am they took her up to a room and disappeared for 5 hours. She was left alone on a delivery table while the doctor and nurse went back to sleep. She started to push around 8 am, just as the new doctor was coming in for the morning shift. Just after her baby was born, there was an uproar in the room next door because a lady had pushed her baby out unattended and the baby fell on the floor and died. The husband showed up with a lawyer saying that they should have at least let him in to deliver the baby and the hospital administration kept saying "mi nismo kriv"--"it's not our problem, you should have applied for that permission ahead of time."

We came home with the baby and Mohamed left the next day for Montenegro where he had been promised a construction job until next March. He worked all summer on some buildings just down the road from us and has still not been paid a cent.

Lord have mercy.

I'm not complaining, really.

2007-09-28T14:32:00.000-05:00

I never get to just sit down and write any more. I'd like to keep up this blog and put some stimulating posts up here and there, but I just don't think it's possible with little kids. So I guess this is sorry for letting this blog die, though that may sound presumptuous, as if you all are sitting around waiting for me to post.

Life is crappy right now. Not bad, crappy. Crappy diapers day and night. Pukey too. Nathan pukes like none other. You'll just be holding him and at the most random times, he just lets it fly. Sometimes it looks like he's painting the carpet. Or I just find him creating his own slip 'n slide with his puke on the kitchen floor. Simeon runs and screams like a madman and sometimes can't understand why I don't always do the same, meaning that sometimes I do. Teeth grow and then sleep stops. Last week we had three nights with 2-4 hours of sleep.

I'm still passionate about some of the same things, and my heart and mind are growing along with my sons'. I'd like to share them with you sometime, and especially tell you stories from Bosnia, but like I said, life is crappy. And crappy is good.

Brothers

2007-09-13T17:46:00.000-05:00

You may not know this, but my boys have the exact same age difference as me and my brother, Josh. That makes me feel good. Especially on Josh's birthday a couple days ago. I hope and pray that they grow up as close as we did.

Sweet Nathan

2007-08-31T14:53:00.000-05:00

conversation with the neighbor ladies last night

2007-08-28T02:53:00.000-05:00

Me: We're not going to be here for a few days. We have to go up to Hungary to pick up a friend.
Bahra & Amela: Why'd she go to Hungary?
Me: She had to see a specialist-doctor.
Bahra & Amela: We have everything right here in Sarajevo! What's wrong with you!!?? Spend all that money to go to Budapest and we have some of the best doctors and hospitals in the world, right here! Not even Belgrade has such a fine hospital.
Me: I'm pretty sure that she needed a special doctor and Budapest had one of the only ones in this region.
Bahra & Amela: No, you're crazy, you're the sick one! What a waste...

(Both Bahra and 9-month pregnant Amela smoke a few more cigarettes)

Me: Amela, how's the baby coming along?
Amela: Coming soon, but I'm not having my baby at the hospital here! I'm going to a private clinic somewhere else.
Me: Why not go to the (world class) Koshevo Hospital?
Amela: Are you kidding!!?? They have mice running around all over that place!! No way!!

Written 2 days ago...

2007-08-23T12:18:00.001-05:00

Today has been a dreadful day. Three years ago today one of my dearest friends got married in truly the most unique and beautiful wedding ceremoniy that I have ever attended. It was as originally fasioned as the very bride and groom who exchanged their vows. I remember welling with emotion as Lauren sang her song to a barefooted, bearded, beast of a man, my youngest son's namesake: Nathan Taylor.

Nathan has gone home to Jesus, and it is still very hard to deal with. Even more so for our dear sister. Here is a portion of the Tennyson's "In Memoriam" that somehow made me think of Nate throughout the day:

I held it truth, with him who sings
To one clear harp in divers tones,
That men may rise on stepping-stones
Of their dead selves to higher things.

But who shall so forecast the years
And find in loss a gain to match?
Or reach a hand thro’ time to catch
The far-off interest of tears?

Let Love clasp Grief lest both be drown’d,
Let darkness keep her raven gloss:
Ah, sweeter to be drunk with loss,
To dance with death, to beat the ground,

Than that the victor Hours should scorn
The long result of love, and boast,
‘Behold the man that loved and lost,
But all he was is overworn.’

Picture of Bosnia

2007-08-19T01:57:00.001-05:00

I know that there are many pictures here, but they all show a picture of this region today: broken. We had a WONDERFUL visit from our friends the Nemeths who faithfully serve in another broken town called Vukovar. The time was rich, the food was hearty (one word: MacKenzie), the kids had fun, and we were encouraged. By the way, if you don't know what you're looking at, these pictures were taken just outside of town where the downhill events took place for the 1984 Olympics. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place platforms, so we heard, were ironically used as an execution site during the war here.

Photos that make you cry

2007-08-12T15:19:00.001-05:00

We've done songs already, how about photos? I must have seen this one captured at a KKK rally in Michigan over a decade ago and still can't get it out of my mind:

I suppose you could link your photo in the comments section. Either that or post it on your own blog.

Small business opportunity in E. Europe

2007-08-06T06:26:00.001-05:00

Every time I leave the confines of the fmr. Yug. I am amazed at the visible differences in my surroundings. And then, after being gone, whether for a short period or long, coming back in is just as shocking. I helped my friend Chris drive his wife Norma to Budapest the other day. She had to fly home immediately for a family emergency. The second, I mean the very second, we crossed the border back into Serbia, we noticed that we were "home" by all of the small businesses set up on the roadside. If any of you are interested, it looks like a promising, steady income. You basically sacrifice a little time and go to a local police academy, and you're all set. With the badge, gun, and radar, you can make loads of cash, totally under the table and therefore tax free!

a note from Simeon

2007-07-15T15:28:00.000-05:00

dear blok readers-

this is my very first blok posting, and i don’t really understand what this whole blok thing is all about… i think it has something to do with froks though, right?
anyways, some of you have been asking about me and how i’m doing, well, i thought i’d let you know. here goes:
i’m now 2 years 3 months old and my Mommy & Daddy (M&D) say that I am all TWO! what is it they say? terrific twos? something like that. i am now aware that i have my own will and sometimes i like to exercise that will.
we finally moved into our new home and guess what? i got my own big boy bed! no more cribs for me- no siree bob. i sleep in the corner of the room with my Winnie the pooh pillow, my pas (stuffed doggie) whose name is zubie, and my bikie (blankie). right now my bed is on the floor so i don’t fall off of it- it’s also easier to jump on the bed too.
i’ve made 2 new fwenz that live next door- “SelmaBelma, SelmaBelma” (Selma’s 2 and Belma’s 3). they’re alot of fun for being girls, i guess.
we’ve also had some fwenz stay with us in our house. ryu stayed with us (he’s lowee’s younger brother), lowee and jack-a-bee, and kinney. it was fun having jack-a-bee live with us. while he was here he learned how to crawl, drink out of a sippy-cup, and has eaten lots of new foods- he’s growing up so fast!
we had a lot of fun when ryu, lowee, and jack-a-bee were here, but we had to say ba-bye to them. that made me sad, but that just means that we have more room for other people to come and stay with us (hint-hint).
let’s see another thing i’m really good at is giving nicknames. if you think my parents are good at giving nicknames- i think that i might even be better! Let’s see there’s Mulu (Merle), Lute (Luke), Wistee (Kristy), Lokin (Logan), and many others too.
my days are filled with lots of activity. i eat bekfis (cereal-pease, or ekks, or toas) and then i like to go to the pekara (bakery). i usually run there and back and if i’m good i get some of the choca-it croissant.
then we stop by the house with the caws (cows) and sheepas. i like to go there b/c it reminds me of my favorite song: “donald” (old macdonald). then i go play! i especially like the wee next door. it’s a big kid wee where i have to hold on to the chains. and now there’s a really big slide that i go down only with mommy.
then there’s lunch and then mi-mis (nap) and then when i wake up from my nap i get a snack! sometimes i even get a cookie! more playing, dancing around, running around, tickles and that kind of stuff.
did you know that i helped build my house? when Daddy and Ryu were working on the hardwood floors i got to give them the nails and i also got to hamma (surprise-surprise). i like building like BobBuilda.
a couple of weeks ago i had a full weekend! 1 day we went up the mountain and had a pic-nic. i got to run up and down the mountain, i flew my first kite, and went bug hunting. then the next day we went to a wedding! i got all dressed up and got to run around with all the other big kids. Mommy and baby Than danced the electric slide together and Daddy sang a Bob Marley song. Kinney wanted to take a picture of my, but i made her work for it: “Mimo smile”, “Kinney wun”, “Mimo picture”, “Kinney wun”, i did let her take a few pictures of me since she did run a little bit.
and then, the next day we went the center of town where the ground is made out of slippery stones and i got to run! i also got to ride on a choo-choo Thomas!
one time we also went to the wadee. i mostly threw rocks into the wadee.
now that we are in our own home i’m thinking about using the potty. thinking only right now- i’m not ready yet, but soon. M&D said that if i use the potty then i’ll get choca-it…i’m still thinking about it though. the other day i got choca-it when Daddy bzzzd my head. even though Daddy bzzzd my head for some reason i still get a sweaty head…maybe i need another bzzz and more choca-it too.
every night before i go nigh-nigh i tell daddy “ah-song” and together we sing songs about Je-us. Daddy forgets a lot of the words so i have to help him out. like:
i love you LORD
and i lift my VOICE
to worship YOU
oh my SOUL
re-JOICE
take joy my KING
in what you HEAR
may it be a sweet, sweet SOUND
in your EAR
after we sing we pway together. we even pway for you too! ti-ti (thank you) for praying for me, Mommy, Daddy, and baby Than. it really helps when we talk to Je-us. he helps us out a lot. so keep pwaying for us and we’ll keep pwaying for you too.
okay. ciao for now! pah-pah! (how kids say bye-bye here).

Looks so real it's scary

2007-07-11T06:16:00.000-05:00

Fun facts about Bosnia for you:

2007-05-04T07:36:00.000-05:00

If you're 30 or under like me, then you'll notice that more guys than not sport the fauxhawk. What is that you ask? I'm no expert in the field, but I think David Beckham started it a few years back. He's that worldwide phenom unknown to many Americans, from that game that most Americans don't know about: Football (or soccer). Here's what it looks like:

Janet wants me to try it...no way. I told her she can experiment on the boys. Another thing to get used to here: Smoke everywhere. I mean everywhere. What can you do? Here's a quick vocab lesson: something that cracks us up here is the lack of vowels in the language. Take the word "carrot" for example: MRKVA. Or my favorite, the word for patience: STRPLJENJE.

All for now. Thanks for reading!

other blog

2007-05-03T04:48:00.000-05:00

Until we have internet in our neighborhood in Sarajevo, i'm going to be commuting to this cafe every once in a while. I don't have much time for both blogs, so for the time being, please check out our latest at www.mezgermemo.blogspot.com

The Lord's

2007-04-17T18:03:00.000-05:00

My sister Leslie has done it again, putting some deep emotion into words. So, I must borrow:

A few years ago I had the privilege of being the photographer at a wedding. This was before I was really doing much photography, so it was truly a great honor. It was the wedding of my friends, Nathan and Lauren. Yesterday I was honored once again to be able to take pictures of another significant event. This time Nathan wasn’t in the pictures, but his son was. This time the pictures were taken to show that he is missed by those he left behind. After he went home last November, a number of people who were close to him went out and got a tattoo that he had wanted to get. The tattoo is in Hebrew and loosely translated, it means “The Lord’s.” This weekend, all the people with the tattoo were here in Dallas. His wife, his brothers, his sister, his cousin, his friend (my brother). They were all at church on Sunday and I couldn’t help but get choked up when we sang the last hymn:

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way
When sorrows like sea billows roll
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say
It is well, it is well, with my soul

…And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend
Even so, it is well with my soul

We’ll all be home soon with Nate. In the meantime, it is a blessing to know this beautiful family and to live this life surrounded by love. Thanks for asking me to do these pictures, Lauren.