This weekend the girls and I visited High Point Park in Sussex County, New Jersey (the most northern county).   This is the highest elevation in the state at 1,803 feet.    In the park there is a monument (220 foot climb) was built in 1930 and is dedicated to New Jersey’s wartime heroes.    From the top there is a spectacular view of the ridges of the Pocono Mountains toward the west, the Catskill Mountains to the north and the Wallkill River Valley in the southeast.   Here’s some pictures.

Here we are at the monument.   No it’s not the leaning tower of pisa.


The 220 feet climb was a challenge for the girls.  The Statue of Liberty is a mere 150 feet climb which includes the base.


The view at the top of the monument.

another view…

Our young explorers were fearless and conquered.

Our explorers took their time and enjoyed the scenery.

beautiful…

The V sign for victory!   Monique being cool. 

A picture taken by a passing hiker.   Cheese…

A little over a week ago my brother Kevin and his family,  another brother Sean from Ireland and I went to the top of a “mountain” at the Delaware Water Gap.   The Delaware Water Gap is on the border of New Jersey and Pennsylvania where the Delaware River traverses a large ridge of the Appalachian Mountains.  We were on New Jersey side and the hike is 600 vertical feet over rough rocky paths.   It takes just short of three hours to go the top and come back.   It was great fun.  I was able to listen to one of my nieces talk on the phone to her imaginary friends.  I was amazed how well my little nieces and nephews did on the hike.  Enjoy the pics!     

The kids loved pumping the water fountain at the foot of the mountain. 


We’re off! 

Great views on the way up.

Another…

Here is a picture at the top.   No those aren’t ants down below – those are people.


The walk certainly tired out some of us.  

Elizabeth running in Verona, NJ – back in 2007 before her spinal injury

Looks like 2008 is going to be an active year for the Hanley’s.    My brother Pat recently invited/challenged me and my siblings to enter into the Downtown Westfield 5k And Pizza Extravaganza on July 23rd.  He knows my weakness (I love Pizza).  Ugh… but I haven’t ran a 5K in over six years!  So last week I got serious and worked out a schedule for my training for the race – as such:  

More importantly I’ve encouraged my two younger daughters (Elizabeth and Megan) to enter into the Milltown 1 mile Fun Run – which is held on July 4th.   Megan is excited because this will be her first fun run.  As for Elizabeth, many of you know she has been working on recovering from her spinal cord stroke.   It will indeed to amazing accomplishment if she can complete the race.    She basically been telling me that she can’t do it – and reluctantly agreed to enter the race merely to keep Megan company.  Then again she’s told me seven month’s ago that she wouldn’t walk again – and today she’s walking!  What is most important is the effort – just agreeing to enter the race makes me proud of her.

When I think about the horrors of death it is indeed sad and worthy of tears.   One of the most shocking recorded events in the life of Jesus, comes from the shortest verse in the Bible “Jesus wept”.   Jesus wept because his friend Lazarus died.  Jesus knew that he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead in just a few minutes – but still the ugliness of death brought our savior to tears.  Death is the one thing which will take us all one day, whether strong or weak, whether rich or poor.   

People today say that death is natural, just a normal part of life.  Not so, says the Bible.   When God created all things death was not part of the picture.   We were created to live forever.    In the Garden of Eden the devil – that old serpent lied by saying ‘Ye shall not surely die’.   Every time you see death it should remind you that the devil is a liar and how unnatural death really is.    

Death is not the end, but a doorway to eternity, whether to life everlasting or hell fire.   Such a question should be asked by each of us on this side of the grave, where are we headed.    I don’t ask this to make anyone uncomfortable or to raise their blood pressure – but because it is such a serious question with eternal consequences.   A question like this is often put aside for ‘later’  – but how often does ‘later’ never comes?

Why is death on my mind this Lord’s Day evening?    As I have written the other day – my father recently passed away.   What I did not say in the other posts is that I believe he is in heaven.   What gives me that assurance you may ask.   It is because he has told me that his faith is in Jesus Christ – and that is what he rests in for his salvation.    Also you could see the evidence of that faith in the good works that he did.    The gospel message of the Bible is as simple ‘repent and believe.’   The Bible says; 

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”  John 1:12

Believing in Jesus is not merely the aknowledging the existence of Jesus  – but instead it is to wholly believe, trust, love and adore the savior.    My father – while a wonderful man had sins of his own.    By God’s grace his trust was not in the works of man, but in the faithful works of Jesus Christ his Savior. 

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

So while death is so horrible and unnatural –  it can also be for the Christian a great blessing.  The apostle Paul stated to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.   What a wonderful comfort!   Another wonderful verse comes from the Book of Psalms where it it stated ; “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints”.  Indeed what wonderful assurance one has when they are with the Lord!   I look forward to the day when I meet with my heavenly Father, as I stand beside my earthly father in praise. 

“Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.” Proverbs 17:6

Yesterday I started my new job in the city.   The trip in was simple enough, because I worked in the Bank’s downtown building from 1992-1999 and went back for a little while in 2000.  I was grateful that I wasn’t there for 9-11-01.   Interesting enough I was asked to attend a business meeting the day of 9-11, but at the last minute they excused me from attending.   My boss back then (of British origin) went to the meeting and as soon as the first plane hit – he immedately jumped in his car and got out of there.  The British have been dealing with bombs and terrorism much longer then Americans – and they don’t wait around to get a better look – they get out of there as fast as possible.

So where was I?    That right I was writing about the events of ‘yesterday’ -  Yesterday  I walked to the train station (half mile away), boarded the train to Hoboken and then took Path train to lower manhattan.  When I got to the office (a hour and a half later) they had a desk for me, but no access to the computer.   First days are aways tough because they normally hand you alot of print outs of information which often have little to do with your position.   Today I have a meeting to attend with the Business Unit and a class regarding documentation gathering (viz. SDLC) – so I hope it will be more interesting.   The people are nice and you can immediately see that they are professionals.