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Archive for December, 2013

“The Joy and Courage to Overcome Pain” copyright 2013 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Posted in Overcoming Pain in One's Life a poem by John J. Rigo, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 31, 2013| 2 Comments »

 
 
Author unknown. Courtesy of Google Image search.

Author unknown. Courtesy of Google Image search.

I deal with extreme pain each day.
I use to curse the pain
I no longer do
but rejoice
in overcoming it.
 
The pain comes from a fall
over eleven years ago
a fifteen foot fall from a ladder
into concrete
while trimming a tree.
 
The results were
a fracture in my spinal bone
three disks in my back crushed.
 
Each waking hour
of every day
is filled with constant pain
many times
to a point of agony.
 
The pain follows me
to bed at night
ever relentless
constantly disturbing
my sleep. 
 
Each morning as I awake
I rejoice in a new day
to the joy of my Lord‘s creations
and His Love for me.
 
This body but a temporary home
of the Loving spirit that my God
has created for me.
 
My thoughts each morning
turn to the Crucifixtion of my Lord.
Surely the total pain
I have felt these eleven years
would never equal the agony
He suffered in just
one day. 
 
Thank you
my Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ
for the blessings of this day.
 
I know now
a place awaits
for me with You
in eternity. 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 

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“The Forgiveness Letter” copyright 2011 John J. Rigo, upcoming book “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Posted in Poetry, upcoming book "Passion Amidst Apathy", tagged , , , , , , , on December 30, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Courtesy of Google image search. No credit available.

 
 
I found myself at the apex of my life.
It was not a twelve step program that entered my mind
but a way to seek “Forgiveness.”
 
The list was long
and difficult to put together.
Many of the names were from many years ago.
 
A great amount of time was spent in finding addresses.
Many of the people of the list
were long dead.
 
It was a form letter I composed.
It began, “This letter is written to ask for your forgiveness
for any hurtful thing said or done to you in our relationship.
Please accept my apology for such actions on my part.”
 
There is now a large pile of letters with stamps on them
awaiting in a box to be mailed.
Some will be returned “undelivered.”
 
A large number of my addresses will never respond. 
A few will write back simply saying that the apology is accepted.
A greater number will write back listing my sins upon them
and close with black bitterness in their closing written words.
 
Then there will those who are the exceptional of heart.
In their return letters
they will also accept responsibility for any hurts
brought to the prior relationship. 
 
There will be a wonderful result in sending these letters.
I did seek “Forgiveness.”
Whether is was given or not
is not important.
 
What will be important
I will then know
who my neighbors in heaven
will be.
 
 
 

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More #3 from “Your Amazing Views”

Posted in More Amazing Views from Texas, tagged , , , , on December 29, 2013| Leave a Comment »

More pictures from “Your Amazing Views” with an easy method to post your pictures on this site. Click actual pictures to expand your views.

Your Amazing Views

It is Sunday morning, December 29th, 2013 here at Cedar Creek Lake in Gun Barrel City, Texas.  The following pictures demonstrate how the same scene in one’s life can change wonderfully each day.  Info on pictures are from the same view shot at the same time this morning.  Send in your photo’s today.  Again, that e-mail address is:  texascommentator@hotmail.com  or let me know what blog your pictures are on (via the comment section of my blog) and I will Reblog them on this site. 

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“Leadership: Sorely Lacking in Gun Barrel City, Texas”(Updated on April 8th, 2014) copyright 2013 John J. Rigo, Texas’ Commentator

Posted in The Leadership Failure of Gun Barrel City in Texas, tagged , , , , , , , , , on December 29, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Logo for Gun Barrel City, Texas

Logo for Gun Barrel City, Texas

American Legion Post 310 Gun Barrel City Texas' Dumpster facing residential homes.

American Legion Post 310 Gun Barrel City Texas’ Dumpster facing residential homes.

American Legion 310 Gun Barrel City Northside of Bldg facing Residential area. Illegally constructed building.

American Legion 310 Gun Barrel City North side of Bldg facing Residential area. Illegally constructed building.

Updated April 8th, 2014:  With the activity on this posting on this day, I am sad to report that no women stood up for this Mayor slot or two city council seats.  A well-known female figure on a major board of Gun Barrel City indicated to me, that it was in her plans to run for a city council position in 2015.  Sadly, it is my belief is another Democrat in Sheep’s clothing.  The reason:  When asked what party she was registered with, Democratic or Republican, her response was, “Neither, I vote for the best candidate, regardless of Party.”  This tells me, she is a hidden Democrat or the same, a Liberal.  More on this subject in a forthcoming post. 

 

It is with a sense of humor that I observed new signage throughout Gun Barrel City, Texas.  According to a current article in the Monitor newspaper with our City Manager, Mr. Boren standing before them, these signs are supposed to clean up the code enforcement problem of dealing with excessive signage in the Gun Barrel City, Texas. 

These signs in themselves demonstrate the failure of the Gun Barrel City council to demonstrate Leadership abilities under the current city council as well as those in charge of its administration.  Failure to enforce code enforcement requirements in the city shows itself up in many aspects of the city, I for one have personal knowledge of such outright violations of code enforcement as a neighbor to American Legion 310 in Gun Barrel City.

These code enforcement issues lies with three commercial buildings/and or structures built on a residential property adjacent to American Legion 310 directly across the street from my lake front home in Gun Barrel City.  As far back as three years ago, our City Manager was made aware of these violations, promised to move one of the structures and never went forth with his promise.  It like many other code enforcement issues in our city was sweep under the old’ barrel rug.

This coming May of 2014 a great opportunity for change in the city politics of Gun Barrel City presents itself in the opening of the Mayor‘s seat and two city council seats.  Changing the current “Good Ole’ Boy System” to one of three administratively talented woman in the Gun Barrel area, renders our great city an opportunity to bring needed change to Gun Barrel City.  Let us pray that starting in early 2014 three woman of leadership qualities will let themselves be known in running for these seats on the city council of Gun Barrel City, Texas.     

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“Advice to a Young Man” copyright 2013 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Posted in Poem in advice to a young man by John J. Rigo, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 28, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 
 
Picture courtesy of Google Image search by walkoffthoughts.blogspot.com

Picture courtesy of Google Image search by walkoffthoughts.blogspot.com

This is a poem of advice to the young men out there.
It took me almost three-quarters of a century
to learn these many things about a woman.
 
First and most importantly
avoid at all costs
their flowing tears.
 
Tears to a woman
is another form of organism
for a woman.
 
Asking the question,
“Is everything all right or What’s wrong”
will only set-you-up for their frustrations.
You will become the target
of their own inner struggles with themselves.
 
The second most important thing
Do not make them the center of your world.
Create your own world
where you can find
inner peace and joy as a man.
 
Remembering these major outlooks in life
will render you many happy days as a man
in either a marriage or long-term relationship.
Knights in armor only do well
in movies and story books.

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Another view from “Your Amazing Views”

Posted in "Your Amazing Views" from around the World with WordPress, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 27, 2013| Leave a Comment »

This is my new WordPress blog site “Your Amazing Views.” An opportunity for WordPress members from around the world to share “Amazing Views” of where they live and play.

Your Amazing Views

Pictured above is another “Amazing View” taken this morning of the same previous location on Cedar Creek Lake.

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“A Christmas Message to my WordPress Family” copyright 2013 John J. Rigo, Texas’ Commentator and Published Poet

Posted in 45000 hits as of Christmas Day on Texas' Poetry Site, A Christmas Message to WordPress Family from John and Linda Stewart-Rigo, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on December 24, 2013| 1 Comment »

Silver Star Winery of Texas Silver Star Farm and Ranch of Texas

Silver Star Winery of Texas
Silver Star Farm and Ranch of Texas

It is here, Christmas Day, another counting of our lives on this earth.  Over the last year my WordPress family of now a little over 300 followers, and now at 45,000 hits as of today, December 25th, 2013, have become more important in my life, than ever.  Within that select group is another special group of individuals, that I wish where with me this day, sitting at our dining room table this Christmas afternoon. 

To each of you I render a special hug, and a heartfelt thanks for the many sharings via comments on my poetry work and personal view comments.  When the quality of your friends become many steps above the folks that you call you friend that are your reality friends, one truly knows then, they found the right place to be.  That place for me in my heart, is with my WordPress Family.  Blessings and peace to each of you in your future and our eternal lives together, with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

John J. Rigo and Linda Stewart-Rigo
Silver Star Winery of Texas
Silver Star Farm and Ranch of Texas
Eustace, Texas 75124

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"One Night" copyright 2005 John J. Rigo "Rainbows Amidst Storms"

Posted in "Rainbows Amidst Storms" Second Published Book, A Christmas Poem by John J. Rigo, Winner of Collin County Texas Poetry Award, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on December 24, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Courtesy of sion.hr

 
Steely the night shown against iced blackness
with a white diamond star blazing in the heavens.
Hints of soft voices whispered in the wind.
 
The weary shepherds pushed forward on their staffs
looking forward to the comfort of their tents.
Beyond the hills the sky glowed.
 
A choir of voices was heard with a sweet clarity
the sound of bells vibrated among the sound of horns.
The animals spooked deaf to the commands of their masters.
 
The wind increased in its volume and strength.
The shepherds were filled with fear.
Light overshadowed the darkness
during the midst of night.
 
Within the light formed
the most beautiful soft
white and gold of human-like forms
shining against the sky.
 
The shepherd’s breath stopped in their throats.
Filled with excitement and happiness beyond their capacity to describe
their skin prickled.
 
Heavenly voices brought words to their ears
words singing of kindness
understanding
peace
and anticipation to these men of the field.
 
The voices told of a special child that would
unlock the gates of fear and bring eternal love
to the future of the world.
 
This happened on a special night
a long long time ago. 
 
 

 

 

 

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“Re-Run” copyright 2012 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Posted in Passion Never Dies, Remembering the Passion of Youth, Silver-headed men never Die, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 23, 2013| Leave a Comment »

 

Courtesy of the special collection of the University of Washington

 
 
It had been many years since he felt that way.
It was a rerun in his memory of the past.
There was fifty years between them.
She was outright flirting with him.
 
He was uncomfortable with it.
He was sitting right there with his Bride.
She acted like his bride was not even in the room.
 
Maybe it was how she got right into his face.
She looked at him like he was something really special.
She touched his knee under the table
as she kneeled before them on the side of the table
to take their dinner order.
 
Just when he accepted that his youth was long gone
she had to come along and remind him
what it felt like to be desired.
She was unfair in doing what she did.
 
Leaving behind the passions of youth
is not an easy thing for a man to do.
The move from passion to wisdom
is painful for any man.  
 
Perhaps ladies there is a lesson here.
Men of Passion never die in their hearts.
The burning heat of creation is part of their DNA.
Never treat your man like he is no longer alive.
 
Within every silver-headed man
still lies the young boy
remembering
wanting
desiring.
 
Laugh not at Passion.
It is as old as the centuries.
Forever faithful.
Forever remembering.
What it was like
to have been loved. 
 
Commentary on Poem:  Shortly after I posted this poem and shared it with one of my friends, their comment was, “John, some folks would just about do anything for a big tip, especially a twenty year old.”  His comment was filled with great laughter.  Frankly I joined the laughter with many big “Ha-Ha’s” on my part.  There is much truth in the saying,  “There is no fool, like an old fool.” Lol 
 

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“Relative” copyright 2012 John J. Rigo, upcoming poetry book, “Passion Amidst Apathy”

Posted in Do we have souls?, The Gift of Our Souls, tagged , , , , , , on December 23, 2013| 2 Comments »

 

“An Exploding Sun” Courtesy of cbsnews.com

A Sun in our universe
exploding into billions of pieces of ash.
An existence of billions of years.
 
A daily occurrence in our Universe
is such in the millions of light years
around us.
 
Our lifetimes upon this Earth
but an average of seventy-odd years.
Dust and ash will we also become.
 
Is there a difference in these two happenings?
We can only pray there is
in an eternal soul blessed by the Father.
 
Make a difference in the Universe.
It is your gift to your Father.
Give a part of yourself this day. 
 

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