Truth or loyalty

     In "The Great Controversy" E. G. White writes ( page 85) As men rejoice in the freedom which the truth brings them they are inclined  to extol those whom God has employed to break the chains of error and superstition.  Satan seeks to divert men's thoughts and affections from God, and  to fix them  upon human agencies; he leads them to honor the mere instrument and to ignore the Hand that directs all the events of providence.   Too often religious leaders who are thus praised and  reverenced lose sight of their dependence upon God and are led to trust in themselves.  As a result they seek to control the minds and conscience of the people who are disposed to look to them for guidance instead of looking to the word of God. 
      One man worked tirelessly for his church whether it be manual labor or teaching or advising or serving others.  To his pastor he was ever faithful but careful to serve the office and not the man.  As the church grew and families were added there can a time when a man came with whom the pastor felt a close bond and the two became fast friends.  A third man, a friend, relative, and neighbor of the pastors new best friend became party to the pastors friendship and as a result was given an office in the church.  The third man has taken his office seriously but has chosen to serve the pastor as a person rather than the pastor as an office. 
        As a result the first and faithful servant has been excluded more and more from the affairs of the church.  As a result of the focus on each other rather than the things of God a crack has been seen in the fabric that has held the church together and has caused it to grow.  I'm not sure if the fabric can be repaired before it becomes so large that the cloth is no longer useable.   

Black koi

Of my offspring from two years ago I kept 6 koi, two solid orange and the other four were three colors, orange, black, and white.  The tri-colored ones did not have the deep colors of the original parents and were mostly white but I was hoping that over time I could breed back some beautiful colors. 
   To my surprise one  of the fish spawned and I had hundreds of babies, most of which lived over the winter.  What was a bigger surprise is that most of the Koi are solid black, a few are blue and some are black with a bronze/orange belly. 
   

Even if you don't believe

I'm amazed at the number of people who get hostile when one mentions anything about Jesus or God.  There was an article on the web yesterday about money and how the bible was wrong.  One quote it the article was " money  is the root of all evil" and to prove the scriptures wrong the author quoted good rich people do with their money. 
    I'm glad they do but that isn't the quote.  The correct quote is "the love of money is the root of all evil"  Actually, money isn't even the focus of this quote.  What is at stake is where or what we place our highest priorities on.  Some people want to become great athletes so they use drugs to improve their chances or train so much they don't have time for family or friends.   Some people want to be rich so badly they have committed murder.  How about the person who so desires  another person that they commit infidelity or worse.  Wanting to have money or to be athletic, or to be with the person you love is not wrong.  What is wrong is being so fixated on something or someone at the expense  of life itself. 

   The second quote used in the article says that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into heaven"  This quote has nothing to do with being rich as the author believes but everything to do with what we place or priorities on. 
 You may have noticed I did not mention Jesus or God or religion once in my answer but the person who responded to my comments said, and I quote "jesus, jesus, jesus, why can't you religions types just shut up about jesus"  Small "j's" were his, not mine". 

     I admit there is a possibility that there is no Jesus or no God.  Maybe the day I finally admitted I could not dislodge the huge limb stuck in a tree  and said "God, this is your problem" and the limb fell out of the tree was just a coincidence. Maybe the day I admitted I would never be able to get rid of the huge stump and said "God, this is your problem" and a man with a big chainsaw just drove up looking for wood and cut the stump up for me. 
    Maybe hen the doctors told me my wife just suffered a brain aneurysm and air lifted her to a larger hospital. That hospital also said she had suffered an aneurysm.  Thirty two churches were praying for her.  Even though two hospitals and four medical tests proved she had suffered an aneurysm the doctors could not find it.  When my wife was suffering from double vision due to damage to her fourth cranial nerve and was told she would always have double vision, maybe it was just fate that  caused her eyes to suddenly go back into focus. 
    I live from social security and when my wife was hospitalized we lost her income plus incurred all the medical bills.  She had no income for over a year.  I said I would put my faith in God to take care of us just as He promised he would.  We paid all the medical bills, met all our monthly  obligations,
and even paid in full our car payment, all our credit card bills, and all other bills except for one without assistance from anyone and without touching my savings account. 
    Time after time I have had my needs met at the exact tine they had to be taken care of when it was impossible for me to do so.  You may believe it is just coincidence and you may be correct.  Let me ask  those of you who do not believe in God or Christ something.  If you are correct and this life is all there is how will you ever know?  If I am wrong and there is no afterlife then we are even.  neither of us will know.  But if you are wrong and I am right, then I get to spend eternity in heaven with my savior.  You will get to spend eternity knowing that I was right  and you were wrong. 
   When I was a young man I had my doubts too.  I studied all the major religions and philosophies.  I had to decide if God was real or not and if He was, whose God was He?  Then when I decided He did exist and the God of Christians was the only one that was alive I had to decide witch church to belong too.    I studied the bible and attended services from the Catholic church, the Lutherans, the Methodists, The Southern Baptists, the American Baptist, the Free Will Baptists, the Church of England, the Episcopalians, and a few I can't remember.  The churches I did not get to attend I studied their doctrines and I made my decision based on which church came closest to teaching and practicing what I believe the bible was teaching. 
    No I will not condemn you or criticize you for being a non believer.  I will tell you that Jesus is real and that he loves you and he died on the cross as payment of the penalty for your transgressions and if you accept His free gift you too can have eternal life.  What you do with that knowledge is up to you.  No, I will not tell you how to live, even if you become a Christian.  That is God's job to clean you up, not mine. 
   I do know that what many people, even those who claim to be Christian, believe the bible says and what it really teaches is vastly different.  For sure, many people can quote a few scriptures and many have a basic understanding of what the general concept of Christianity but few really study their bibles and pray asking for understanding.    Asking for and receiving a different translation is not the key to understanding the bible.  Study and pray are. 
   A good example would be the robe Jesus wore  at His trial.  Matthew says the robe was scarlet,  Luke said it was purple, and John said it was purple. Mark said only that it was gorgeous .  You can translated that all you want and you still come up with purple, scarlet, and gorgeous.  You can't go my so-called biblical scholars who try to convince you that the purple was so faded that some thought it looked red and make all kinds of color charts to prove their point.  The robe was dyed with Tyrian purple and Tyrian purple only gets brighter when exposed to sunlight and weather.    God didn't forget what color the robe was nor did the men writing down the scripture make a judgment call as to what they saw. 
   We do sometimes when one of us thinks something is blue and another person swears it is green.  No, each man saw  what God wanted him to see.  If you are a Christian contact me and I will explain the answer.  If you are a non-believer then the answer is not what you need to be focusing on at the moment.  Once you fully understand God's plan of salvation and accept that   then you can move on in growing in truth. 

   If you continue to reject God then I wish you a long  life.   

Lawn Care Services

From time to time everyone needs help with their lawn care needs.  Maybe your mower is in the shop for repairs or you have to be away from home for a week or two or maybe you prefer to have someone else take care of your lawn care needs on a weekly bases.  Whatever your needs I know of two men who are in the business of mowing grass:  Jeff Smith and Wendell Herring. 
    I am not endorsing these two men nor am I recommending them.  They have just started their lawn care business and I have no idea if they are good at it or not.    What I can tell you is I know the two fellows and they are of good character, not given to strong drink and they have been dependable people for as long as I have know them. 

 The contact number for them is 336 858 7127 or 336  267 7887. 

What Color was the Robe?

"What Color Was the Robe?" was the title of my message tonight.  I don't get to preach often but I try to be ready.  Honestly, I believe this message was a good one for any preacher.  I know I learned a great deal through the preparation and I believe the congregation learned a lot tonight also. 
   I did record this message and I am going to make a few copies available to family and a couple of preachers.  I normally don't mail out copies but I will make an exception.  If you would like a copy e-mail me at dsprl2000@yahoo.com and leave me your address and I'll see you  get a copy. 

cranky old man

 Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!


author unknown

New building going up or in

One Way Baptist purchased a used educational unit, a 28 x 50  mobile  classroom, from Mod Space in Greensboro. 

Bugle Weed

   


Bugle Weed has taken over around the small pon but it is pretty nonetheless. 

After a little paint

Everything is done except for putting the gutters up and getting the wood off the roof. 

Duke Energy Does What is Right

I blogged recently about the dangerous situation left at the church after Duke Energy moved a pole and buried a cable.  At first they refused to fix the problem but today they did the honorable thing and fixed the mess they had made.  Whether  the act of kindness was of their own free will or not I do not know but they did what was right and fixed the problem 

Thanks Duke Energy

porch completed: sort of

  I was promised my porch would be finished today.  Only a half day was needed or so I was told.  The worker (as in one) showed up at eleven.  A couple of hours later another worker showed up.  I think my wife's phone call had something to do with that.  Anyway it was a little after eight when the workers left. 
   As you can see a corner is incomplete and there is a  small block of wood on the outside of the column.  I have no idea what that is for.  There is an identical unfinished block  on the other side of the porch with the safe little piece of wood on the outside of the column. 
  You may have noticed the calking around the wood.  I had the worker do that.  He was going to leave a 1/4 inch gap around all three columns (the one in the middle was framed out and finished.  There are several rough spots on the trim where the nails were beaten in.  Instead of using a piece of wood or cardboard to lay over the nail heads before pounding the nails in to prevent the dents and dings they just hammered away. 
  Another flaw which I didn't take a picture of is a long piece of trim that was put up in sections instead of as whole piece.  The trim on the right side of the porch was put up as a whole piece but the trim on the left was put up as two pieces.  On the end there is an almost inch gap and there is a 1/2 inch gap in the middle between the two pieces. 
    Of course the gutters will not be replaced until Thursday.
I had a bad feeling when on day one the crew forgot to bring a ladder and had to borrow mine.  They borrowed an extension cord without permission and today had to borrow another.  Let's not mention the trampling of a newly planted rose bush or the laying od the trim and gutters in the middle of a flower bed. 
  I'm glad I had the porch done.  Besides the functionality of it, the porch adds character to the house.  I was hoping for a little more attention to detail but the thing that bothered me most was the "I don't care about you or your problems" attitude of the contractor especially since he is fully aware of my wife's medical problems.  He should have been more patient and should have shown more caring   

Porch day 4--NOT

It's Saturday and even though the workers said they would be here, even in the rain and despite it being a weekend, the truth is they aren't-and won't be until Monday.  The gutter people won't be here until Thursday.  I like my porch and I'm sure I will have years of enjoyment from it and I will recoup some of the cost in lower energy bills, the hassle and disruption to our lives has stressed my wife out and irritated me.  I'm ready for it to be over.   

porch day 3

The trim around the front is gray and the siding on the house is yellow but I chose white to trim the porch in.  I think it looks good. Even though today is Saturday and it is raining the workers are supposed to return and finish trimming the porch. 

porch; day two

Day one: porch installation

What kind of neighbor are you?

     I was reading an article on renting versus owning (or buying) your place to live.  Renting has some advantages like cheaper insurance (renters versus home owners), lower maintenance costs, and more freedom to move.  And of course home owning has advantages too.  A renter will always have to pay rent while a home owner just might one day pay the mortgage off.  A place to live should not ever be viewed as a monetary investment   because changes are more than likely you will lose money or break even at best.  Home ownership is best viewed as an investment in your family and community.  How that investment pays off depends on what kind of neighbor you are.

    I live in what I call a cookie cutter neighborhood.  All the houses are roughly the same.  All about the same size, same color, and the same value.  There are two big difference in each place:  how the owners relate to their property and how they relate to their neighbors. 
   
   One family has a poorly maintained yard with debris scattered around the yard.  They have junk cars in the back, a big hole in the front of the house, rarely mow the grass, and have a dog tied to a tree in the front yard.  The property is an eyesore to say the least.  Another neighbor has a self build out building.  The walls are made of pressboard and covered in black tarpaper.  The wind has long ago ripped the tarpaper to shreds and the pressboard has turned brown with age. 

   The man across the street has a neater yard but deals in sports cars, particularly old Mustangs  with loud engines.  Noises coming from his yard makes it seem as if one is living in the infield at a NASCAR event.  Of and let us not forget the family with the big boxers that allows them to run the neighborhood without benefit of restraints. 

   It isn't just the noisy irresponsible neighbors that distract from the neighborhood.  There are some quiet neighbors that live in a clean place.  But they never   fix up the place: no flowers or trees  or friendly waves hello to anyone.  They exist for whatever reason. 

   Then there are a few good neighbors.  Once a man named Johnny  lived next door.  He planted flowers and mowed his grass and said hello and helped one  with the chores of daily life.  He was a good neighbor.  Another man who lives across the street keeps his house well maintained and has professional landscapers plant his flower gardens and trim his trees.  He has a nice yard.  Another neighbors home looks almost as neat but he does the work himself.  and he says hello now and then.

   Then there is that special neighborhood resident that has the professionally installed outbuilding,
the new carport cover, the manicured lawn, the fish ponds and memorial gardens and the fruit trees and the litter free yard.  This resident not only maintains his property but can be seen pickup up trash around the neighborhood and can be heard wishing others well. 

   Is this a nice neighborhood depends on which neighbor one chooses to be. 

Duke Energy (with pictures)

One Way Baptist Church purchased a modular unit like those used as classrooms by the local school systems.  n order for the church to use the building a utility pole needed to be moved.  The easiest thing for the church would be for Duke energy to move the pole.  The church could then bring the unit it and get it set up and then Duke Energy could then bury the electrical cable and remove the pole. 
   Of course Duke wasn't concerned about the church so they said no.  The church then had to build a construction box and run power from the church to the box.  Then Duke energy would come out, bury the cable and then remove the pole.  Even though it would have only been fifteen feet father to run the cable around the parking lot, Duke energy said no.  The best thing to do would be to pack the dirt down after the cable was buried but again Duke Energy said no.  It would have been far better for the church if Duke Energy had used a trencher but   of course they brought a backhoe.  Instead of a ditch 8" wide there was one 20" wide. 
  Last week the church had a man, a private contractor, Tim Pope from Burlington remove two tree stumps.  He was less invasive than Duke Energy was in removing a single pole. 

   Crew from Duke Energy Arrive 4 hours late

  Lineman punched a hole in new pipe holding power line

Property before duke started.  The picture shows how Tim Pope left his work area.

Sink hole created because Duke Energy refused to pack the soil.  The parking lot is full of sink holes as well and is unsafe to use.

Mess left by Duke Energy.  Loose piles of dirt is scattered across the work area as well as being full of sink holes

A tree stump protrudes from the ground in Duke energy's work area. 

 

 

 

 

Would you let a private contractor leave your property like this?  Then why should Duke Energy get away with this?

Duke does another disaster

       Well, Duke didn't actually show up to do they were contracted to do for the church.  They hired an outside crew which obviously were not experienced in what they were to do.  It took one workman over an hour to climb a telephone pole and then he couldn't do the job he went up to do so he had to call another truck in to do his job.  On the way down he punched a hole in the pipe that was just installed to run the electrical line through. 
     The job was simple enough:  disconnect the power line from the church and from the second pole and bury the line from the first pole to the meter box that will attach to the new building once constructed, the remove the second pole.  The job did eventually get done but the yard was left in a mess.  I will post pictures tomorrow.  A man cam last week and dug up two tree stumps with a backhoe and didn't create near the mess that Duke crew did to remove one small pole.  There is no excuse for such incompetence in my opinion.  Duke should be ashamed of itself.    
   

If Duke Power shows up

    Today is the day we have long waited for.  I've been mowing the grass at One Way Baptist Church now for several years and I hated mowing around the two trees and the telephone pole.  Don't get me wrong, I liked the trees.  The nut tree was my only bit of shade and I so looked forward to picking the first fruit from the plum tree.  Oh, it was well beyond mature enough to have fruit but it was neglected for too long.  It took several years to shape it up and this would have been the year for it to produce again.  Unfortunately it had to go to make room for our new building. 
     Today Duke Power or Duke energy, depending when one was born, is supposed to move our pole and run the wires underground.  Once the pole is moved  there will be room to put the new building.
    For those of you who are concerned about the trees, please don't be.  I know  many trees have been cut to make room for growth but other trees will be planted to take the place of the ones cut.  I had 4 trees on my property when I purchased my home and I had two of those cut.  I've planted over forty trees to take their place. 
  Yes we are on an expansion program at One Way Baptist and I know some of you may want to avoid the church because you are afraid that you may be asked to dig a little deeper in your pockets to help.  You may but we have decided that we want to involve the community in our growth because a community benefits from having a church around.  We had a chicken dinner bot long ago and we had a yard and bake sale last weekend.  Other projects are soon coming.  I'm getting ready to ploy for our pumpkin garden and hopefully this year will be the best one ever. 
   We want to be involved in the community.  We are growing both physically and spiritually.  We now have a youth pastor and a youth program and when our new building is in place we will have some Sunday School rooms.  If the Lord tarries one day One Way will not be a tiny church but a large dynamic one.  We have the dynamic part down. 
   

Garden now planted: time for a deep freeze

I seem to have no luck with gardens.  A few years ago we had a freeze after I planted my garden even though I waited a week past the last date this area had ever recorded a freeze.  One year we had no rain so last years I planted my tomatoes in their own space so it would be easier for me to water them:  it rained so much my tomato plants drowned and all my seeds rotted. 
   Today is the eleventh of April, a week before Easter, the traditional time for me to plant my garden.  So everyone, get your blankets back out.  It's time for a deep freeze. 
   Now there are certain things like onions, beets, and lettuce that can be planted early and will easily withstand a slight frost.  Unfortunately none of them have sprouted yet even though it is supposed to be 7 to 10 days   and it has already been 14. 
  Other things are looking good.  I have several apple trees with blooms on them and about six peach trees with blooms as well as both of my Cherry trees.  My blueberries are growing and my grape vines are finally showing some buds.  My crabapple and crept myrtles are showing any signs of life yet.  I know it's too early for the myrtles.  The crabapple and the dogwood   were just recently planted and are just mere twigs and it may be too early.  I have a baby peach coming up where the one eastern yellow was that died.  I didn't plant that one so I wasn't expecting that. 
  Anyway, I hope this is going to be a good year for vegetable. 

God in NOT dead, the movie

     My wife and I drove to the Brassfield Theater on Battleground in Greensboro to see the movie "God is Not Dead".  The professor isn't really claiming God is dead.  Actually, his claim is God never existed.  The theory behind the big bang is that because there is gravity then something can be created from nothing.  One scientific law is that something can never be created from nothing.  Even if it could where did gravity come from? 
     No amount of logic or science or superstition can ever answer the question about the true beginning of creation.  The big bang theory does not refute god but just reinforces the Genesis account of creation.    It is my belief that most people who disbelieve the biblical account do so because they don't want God to be real because if He is then they really do have to give account of their life once they die.  What I find hilarious is the number of people who reject God because he doesn't intervene in the tragic events of life yet they don't want to accept God in the normal routine of living. 
  Anyway. the topic of discussion in the movie "God is Not Dead".  The audience was sparse and were older folks; I was one of the younger ones.  Christianity should not be an Old Folks religion yet that what is seems it is today.  The truth is, it has always seemed to be an old folks religion.  Sometimes a person just takes a long time to recognize the truth.  Anyhow, it was a really good movie, believe it or not.     

Security Force

     I entered a drawing for a chance to win a new John Deer lawn tractor knowing that it was a promotion for an alarm company.  Actually I wanted to install one when my wife and I purchased our home but she objected.  I figured she would say no this time too but to my surprise she thought it was a good idea. 
   I believe what changed her mind was some of our neighbors.  The family that once lived across the street were nice enough people, or at least the parents were but the boys were trouble.  One was in and out of jail constantly, mostly on drug charges.  They were buying from the people who lives on Stout street and when they boys were home it was a hot bed of drug activity.  Of course they didn't like me because I would make them turn their loud car stereo's down. 
   The son of the people who lives in the first house entering the neighborhood was arrested on thief charges recently and we do have some neighbors that live like trailer trash.  One has a big hole in the front of their house while another has debris piled up in his yard. Their place always looks like a natural disaster just occurred. 
   We have had some trouble with a few of the neighbors, mostly small stuff like people letting their big dogs run loose or teenagers trespassing in the yard.  I don't want to turn this into a gripe column  so just suffice it to say the neighborhood isn't as nice as I hoped it would be. 
    We had the basic security system installed with sensors for my shed and the special fire alarm system.  I much prefer to have a security system than a gun.  My Dad had a gun for protection but one night two thieves broke into his place while he and Mom slept.  They found his gun and held it to his head while the thieves did their work.  I just don't think I can be held hostage with a keypad.  An alarm system is good 24 hours a day while a gun is only good if you are the one holding it and you are at home. 
   I'm not anti-gun by any means but it isn't the thing for me.  For everyone's safety, mine included, I think it is far better to allow the police to handle situations where violence may be needed. 
   The point I want to make in this article isn't about my alarm system but about the young man who installed it.  He is an ex-marine just recently married and a Christian.  I'm not talking about the average run of the mill Christian who is a person who goes to church now and then but never really prays and who has a passive faith.  No this young man incorporated his faith into his work and could quote his favorite scriptures.  The best part of the whole evening is when he, my wife and I  had prayer together before he departed. 
   That doesn't happen in today's world.  Or so one is lead to believe. 

Why do some rank so low?

     A report was just released that predicted a person's likelihood of success.  An Asian was ranked highest, then white kids,  Both groups were given scores of over 700.  Ranked low on the scale were blacks and native Americans with scores barely over 400.  Why the big difference and why are some ranked so low?
     In the Asian group, it was only the Asians from Japan, China and the Philippines that were ranked really high while other Asian groups   didn't fair so well.  To me that rules out the ethnic influence.  I never really believed that race had anything to do with ones abilities to learn but a great deal to do with if we learned.  In other words, a kid doesn't fail because he is black but fails because he is raised in a black environment.  Whoa, I know I made some upset by that comment and I certainly don't mean to do so. 
   I have black relatives and they are highly successful people.  In fact my niece just graduated high school at 15.  Being intelligent has nothing to do with skin color but the values held by the community one was raised in has a tremendous influence on how well you do in school.  In certain Asian communities education is highly  prized and the children in those communities do well in school.  The biggest problem is sometime the parents push the kids too hard academically and the children suffer in other areas.  But in certain other cultures education is looked down on and the children in those cultures do not fair as well. 
   It isn't a matter of giving underprivileged children more opportunities  but changing the prevalent attitude about education in those communities.  There seems to be a big emphasis on sports and music in the black community but the reality is being highly successful in those endeavors is akin to becoming rich by playing the lottery. 
   I can understand the low scores from the Mexicans.  Again, the scores are not ties to race or ethnic background.  People from Cuba do much better than citizens from Latin America. In these cases it isn't so much a bad attitude towards education as it is fear of being deported because they are in this country illegally.  There is a distrust of others and the language barrier.  These people are denying themselves opportunities. 
   I live in a mixed race neighborhood and how people live is different based on ethnic background.  The black families seem to be the nicest people in the neighborhood but the black children seem to be the most likely to be arrested,  The Mexican families have messy yards, are very unfriendly and are less likely to obey local laws like licensing and building codes and burning permits.  We do have some  Asians in the neighborhood but they tend to be more private. 
   The white families show the most diversity and the teenagers tend to be either extremely nice kids or total jerks showing a total lack of upbringing and discipline.  It seems the more pride a family takes in their home the better behaved their children tend to be.  I don't know how that relates to success but I would think it would all relate. 

Busy week ahead

Normal everyday stuff plus warmer weather stuff plus church stuff is all coming together at one time so I have more to do than I can possible get done.  Here is a partial list of things I need to get done:
   I have three garden spaces.  The early spring vegetables like carrots and lettuce need to get in the ground now.  Pepper seeds should have been started a month ago but with a death in the family and doctor appointments and sickness that task hasn't been done.  I'm behind on getting the trees cut up at the church and the wood stacked.  I need to buy some clover seeds for the back half acre at the church so I don't have to mow this year. 
   I've got to create and put up signs for four handicap parking places at the church.  Saturday morning I'm to meet the contractor at 8 am to discuss the remodel of my front porch, the be at the church at 9 for men's breakfast and prayer at nine and visitation afterwards.  Afterwards I have the youth meeting banquet to attend then a kids birthday party.  Jesse wants me to be with him at his nursing home ministry at 7 pm.  Somewhere in there I need to study and prepare my Sunday School lesson for the class I teach.  I also have to be available for the electrician who is building a panel box so we will have power to the church and the new building.
   On Monday I'm having two truck loads of mulch delivered which I need to get spread quickly and get cross ties for the new parking spaces.  Some time this week I need to practice my role play with my wife for Wednesday Soul-winning class.  I also need to fix the liner in the pond where the roof contractor knocked one side of it into the water and install the pumps.  Friday we are having a knew carport built.
  The church is having a fund raiser to get money for furnishing the new building and I need to find time to  visit various businesses to solicit items to sell at the yard sale.  The yard sale is April 12 so time is running short. 

What are they talking about?

The biggest complaint I hear from people who claim to be atheist and/or agnostics is that Christians try to cram what they believe down the non-believers throat.  "Let us choose for ourselves" they beg.  But how is one to choose unless one knows each side? 
  One says he can't believe without scientific proof yet science can't prove God doesn't exist. 
One person said he just couldn't believe in a two thousand year old fairy tale.  What's he talking about?

Should marijuana be legal?

     Absolutely!  I realize I'm one of the last people one would expect to say yes to that question.  Am I giving my blessing to marijuana use?  Absolutely not.  I honestly don't think anyone should smoke
the stuff.  Then why would I be for legalizing it? you wonder.  For the same reason I would not want alcohol to be illegal again. 
     I think we should make it legal in order to hurt the drug cartels and illegal growers and all the crime associated with the marijuana supply chain and gain some much needed tax revenue.  I also believe we should put as much effort into combating marijuana use as we do cigarette use.  After all people are going to do what they want to do regardless of what is right or what is the law. 
     When I was in high school the only people who used illegal drugs were already wanted by the law for a host of crimes, many of which were of the violent nature.  People, especially kids, didn't use the stuff and most of us never heard of it.  It wasn't until the Vietnam war occurred that kids started getting into drugs.  I suppose it was another way to show opposition to the war and to the government which was waging that war.  Kids don't mind giving their lives for things they believe in but if you are going to ask one to die it better be for a valid reason.  Oil rights so big oil companies can line their pockets with cash just didn't seem to be valid enough. 
    However we got here isn't the question.  We are here and the problem isn't going to go away and as long as the drug remains illegal the problem will only grow.  Kids don't trust the government nor do they trust law enforcement.  After all, the laws are to harsh for something they view as harmless, fun,
and their right to do and it is the governments fault for not allowing them to do what they want and they are resentful of law enforcement for trying to stop them from enjoying themselves. 
     Medical marijuana is a joke and everyone who doesn't have their heads stuck between their legs knows this.  I don't think many people have sympathy for crack heads, heroin addicts, or meth users and I believe the number of people using the harder illegal drugs will decline if marijuana is legalized.  The illegal drug pipeline will shrink because the number of people seeking to obtain marijuana illegally will decline dramatically.  That's the law of supply and demand. 
      I don't want to see people smoking marijuana, using hard illegal drugs, sniffing paint, drinking alcohol, or abusing legal drugs.  I just don't see the need to alter my mind for the sake of having a good time.  If we can't enjoy each others company without one or both of us having to take a substance that alters our perception of reality then I would rather not try to be your friend. 

Ready for Spring

     My large garden space

   Fruit trees:  cherry, apple, peach

  small garden space in background

  peach tree blooms just opened

  Rose garden

 

 

 

 

 

 

Big Bang theory is valid

A scientist who is created with developing the big bang theory was told that another scientist validated his theory.  He celebrated with a drink. 

Of course his big bang theory is correct but instead of his belief that the big bang created the earth and life on it, the opposite is true.  Read Genesis chapter one verses one and two.  It says that "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  And the earth was void and without form. 

There is a period after the first verse meaning there is a space, or period of time between the first verse and the second verse.    In verse 28 God told man to replenish the earth.  Replenish means to replace that which was lost.  So what does this all mean?

A careful reading, study, and understanding of the scriptures paints the following picture:  God created all that was created.  At a certain time Satan rebelled against God and set out to destroy God's creation.  Once that deed was done God had to clean the mess up that Satan had left.  So the big bang was the thing that destroyed the earth and not the thing that created life. 

Stupid is as Stupid Does

"Maine man's 'gun' turns out to be a tattoo" reads a headline in todays news. 
  When I was growing up there was a popular saying that said "stupid is as stupid does.  I never really understood that phrase until I read this story.  It seems some workers observed a man who was shirtless and had what appeared to be a gun tucked into his waistband so the police were called.  The "gun" turned out to be a tattoo.  It could very well be that this is just the first of several times this will happen to this man. 
  I can just imagine  him being pulled over for a traffic stop and a police officer seeing the tattoo while approaching the man's car and ordering him out.  Such an incident could be life threatening.  Actually, it already has been as he was surrounded by weapon bearing officers. 
  Getting a gun tattoo is the brightest idea in the world. 

Renae Juska confused in own article

    I have no idea who Renea Juska is outside of an article that appeared on the World Wide Web for Yahoo.  It was one of those little interest stories that appear at the bottom of a feature story that piques ones interest from time to time.  The title of her article was the top athlete's who became actors. 
  Stacy Keibler was listed at number 16 and the description of her begins with these words "as the only woman on the list".  There isn't anything wrong with the description except that Ester Williams was listed at number 31.  It was a short article.  She wrote it.  Hopefully she did some research yet she couldn't remember she had already listed another female on the list. 

My Body Doesn't Cooperate

Yes, I admit, I over ate for many years so I really shouldn't complain that I'm a diabetic.  However, for over 5 years my diabetes was controlled by my diet and I had slimmed down considerably.  Then two years ago my A1C jumped from 7.0 to 14.0 and I had to go on insulin.  What was significant about that was I had just begun walking 3 miles at the gym and trying to get 70 miles a week in.  If exercise was supposed to help why did my diabetes go crazy?
  The doctor warned me that I would put on 10 to 15 pounds after I started insulin   and I did plus an extra 15.  I used insulin for 3 months and then went on pills, a low dose metformin and a low glipiside (sp).  My test results have all been good  with reading of 6.9 to 7.4.  my total cholesterol
has been between 100 and 150.  The two areas I was having problems were in good cholesterol and triglycerides. 
   To combat the weight gain I started eating two eggs and a serving of plain oatmeal in the morning, a controlled portion lunch and a bowl of light chicken noodle soap from Progresso for supper with an apple or a bowl of salad mix with vinegar dressing for a snack.  I only drink water for most meals with an occasional bottle of diet green tea.  I take my medicine with cranberry juice, and regularly eat the recommended portion of almonds and walnuts.  I recently started going back to the gym.
   My biggest concern was the eating eggs daily, even EB's, would make my cholesterol too high.  Well, what a surprise my last lab results were.  My A1C was 8.4, my weight had gone up, and my cholesterol was way too low.  (36 for LDL and 24 for HDL).  So what are the recommendations for increasing HDL.  Exercise, eat almonds and walnuts, eat eggs, and drink cranberry juice.  It seems when I do what I'm supposed to my body does the opposite. 


  

25 Ways To Modify Your Pushups

I think that is the dumbest headline I've read in years, if not the dumbest ever and I've read many that don't make sense.  I understand the headline alright but I'm not doing pushups and I certainly have no interest in modifying one either.  I'm old and overweight but I can still do one or two if I so desired.  I can assure you I have absolutely no desire to do one.   If you are so into pushups that you want to modify the way you do them then that is fine for you but I don't need or want to know about it. 

Ice storms and crazy neighbors

Yes we had an ice storm Thursday night and yes a lot of people lost power.  Power at the church came back on around 7 Friday night but my neighborhood, just two block away didn't have power restored until Saturday night around 7.  All the houses surround my neighborhood within the city limits had power restored a full 24 hours before we did. 
   Fallen ice laden trees caused the majority of the damage and the trees that fell at the church were no exception.  A cedar tree from one neighbors yard snapped in two and landed in our yard.  We haven't heard a peep out of them about that tree.  But another neighbor  had a tree fall from her yard.  It went through their privacy fence into another neighbor's yard then across our fence into the church yard.  I showed up at 7:30 this morning and started cutting that tree up.  When the preacher showed up an hour later I let him take over the cutting and I stared carrying off brush and stacking logs.  At 11:30 this woman comes out in her bathrobe.  I saw her shaking her finger at the preacher so I came over to find out what was going on.  I couldn't make any sense out of what she was saying. 
    I tried to get her to clarify her problem to me but she said she was finished talking.    After talking with her a little more and with the other people there I think I understand her problem.  She claims that two people promised her that we would not be cutting the trees that were within 6 feet of the property line.  She was upset that we were doing so as it was her intention to replace the existing fence with a new one and she didn't want the new fence damaged.  She was also upset because we cut the tree that fell fro her property onto ours as she had promised someone they could cut the tree and use it for lumber. 
    Well, she should have informed the church as soon as she made that decision and certainly not four hours after I started cutting on that tree.  She also claimed that two people promised her we would not cut the trees along the fence line closer than 6 feet.  One, she said, was a black man and the other, she thought, might have been me.  Well there is no such person as a black man associated with the church.  I believe the person she is referring too  was a gentleman that I gave some wood too and then allowed to cut up a huge stump for his own use. 
     The conversation I had with her came about when she drove her lawn mover into a ditch and I tried to help her out but couldn't.  I did, however, manage to help her off her mower.  She said she was the girlfriend of the man who owned the house.  I asked her if she knew where the property line was and she knew where one boundary marker was and she showed it to me.  She asked me if I was going to cut the trees along the fence line and I told her that I personally wasn't going to be cutting trees but that the church would be cutting all the trees.  At the time most of the property was overgrown with trees, weeds, briars and brush.  I told her that we were not going to be cutting the trees next to the fence until we found out exactly where the property line was. 
    After clearing the property I found three of the boundary markers.  The property boundary showed all four sides were of equal length so knowing where three markers were, the fourth was easy to determine.  It so happened that the fence was built   on the line.
    What makes me call her a crazy neighbor is that she didn't have a clue as to who promised her what, she was concerned about damage to a fence that didn't exist, and that we cleaned up a mess caused by a tree falling from her property onto ours.  She said the preacher was the reason she never attended church and she said that a Christian would never have suggested that she repair the damage caused to church property  by said tree. 
   It just amazes me how many people know how a Christian should act when the truth is Christianity is no a code of conduct but a relationship to Christ. 

Permit is in hand

   I did what they said I couldn't do but not I but the Lord.  The contractor believed it would be weeks before I could get a permit and then he refused to pull the one from the county even though the county required him too.  The preacher was ready to call the deal off because he said the contractor  would never cooperate an it would be way to expensive and risky for us to pull the permit because we would have to assume all the liability and we have no insurance. 
  Before I set out on my quest to obtain all the necessary permits this morning I went to the church and asked God to bless my quest because what we wanted to do was for His glory and His honor. 
    This afternoon at 4:00 I was on my way home with all the necessary permits and the permit was issued in such a way that protects us during the contractors part of the job, protect the contractor during our part of the job, and protects the contractor and us during the electricians part of the job.  All permits are paid for and construction is set to begin on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 when we did not expect work to begin until the middle of May.  I had no doubts because I know the power of God. 

Unintelligent response

     I wrote in response to some ones question or comment about "gay marriage".  My statement was as follows "Gay means happy.  I prefer to call things what they really are and in this case the proper word is homosexual.  Homosexuals claim they are born that way.  I'm not going to dispute that.  All humans are born with flaws.  No one has every had to teach a child to lie.  And when a situation presents itself children will steal.  No one has to teach them to do that either.  Parents and other adults have the task of teaching children  to do the right thing.  They just naturally will do the wrong thing if they view it to their benefit.  Being born with a flaw doesn't mean that we have to continue with that behavior when we are adults.

   Some responded to that statement by saying "Well then, you can't call yourself Christian.  You have to call yourself Neo-Jewish."  I've never heard the term Neo-Jewish.  I've heard of Neo-Nazi, of which I am not one.  No where in my statement did I claim to be a Christian, Jewish, or white.  I did not state religious beliefs or opinions.  I stated facts.  I no of no person who ever lived (except for Christ) that has never told a lie.  I don't have to know ever person to claim by statement is true.  Just like 'no two snowflakes are alike is true based on sampling, my statement that no one ever had to teach a child to lie is also true. 

   I didn't even state, or even imply, that homosexuality was wrong.  I do think it is as wrong to call homosexuals gay as it is to call people wops, or spics, or japs, or crackers, or fags, or anything that is not what they really are.  The only thing I claimed in my statement is that just because a person "is born' with certain urges or feelings doesn't mean they have to practice that when they become an adult.  A homosexual may always be gay but a homosexual doesn't have to practice homosexuality any more than  a heterosexual person has to have sexual relationships when they become an adult.  Both the homosexual and the heterosexual person can remain celibate if they so desire.

   Now, exactly why would the man claim I could not call myself a Christian?  I believe his was an unintelligent response. 

Courier-Tribune

  I was surprised that the local paper published my first two articles.  So was Mike Hunter, a local businessman and one of the political players in the community.  In fact, Mr. Hunter asked me to sign one of the articles I wrote.  I was doubly surprised when I was sent a schedule for my next four  articles  since I was originally asked to only do two.  I really don't know if the response was that positive or if the paper was desperate to fill the space.    In any case I am glad to write articles for the paper because I am, after all, a writer.  I know I'm not of such a caliber that I could earn a living by the written word even though I do believe I can write better than some that do.  I have had a book published and have been paid for some of my work but most of my writing I do for the benefit of others.  I do write the monthly newsletter at church.  I like writing because I can express myself better through the written word plus I don't have to watch you turn away from what you are reading if I bore you like I would if we were talking. 

    What I am writing  for the paper are articles for the "Faith page."    The first article I wrote was on faith and the second article was on prayer as was the third(to be published one day).  My next three articles will also be on prayer.  Why prayer?  well, I'm glad you asked.

    I hate using the telephone and I am hard of hearing so everyday conversations aren't easy for me.  My brain also works differently than the brains of most people.  I am analytical and logical and I'm amazed how people can carry on meaningless banter and find it entertaining.  I also realize   that relationships are important for personal well being and if one doesn't talk, one doesn't maintain relationships without communication, even with God.  I believe talking with God several times a day in vital.

   Oh but God is real and the bible is a fairy tale, some will say.  Science has proven that creation was not by intelligent design but just happened.  Well no, science has proven no such thing.  Evolution is just a theory and there is nothing in the evolutionary theory that isn't accounted for in the creation story.  There is just so much about the evolutionary theory that defies belief but honestly it is much easier to accept as truth what others have taught us from our youth up than it is to study and observe and draw our own conclusion.  After all, how did you come to accept evolution as the truth?  I'm sure it wasn't through your own observation and work. 

    In fact, most people who study nature concluded that everything was created by a heavenly being.  People just don't like that idea because if that if true then they are accountable for their actions and they will be held to a higher standard than they really want to live by.  They don't want their lives measured by perfection because it makes one feel so vile and dirty.  Well we are vile and dirty. 
The truth is there is nothing we can do to change that.  Once a filthy rag we will always be a filthy rag.   A rag does not have the power to change what it is or even to clean  itself.  Even if it could it would just get dirty again. 

    Yes, really.  Find you a white towel or handkerchief or piece of cloth and lay it out.  Check on it every month or so and one day you will notice that it is dirty.  One cannot remain pure in this world no matter how withdrawn one tries to be.  That rag will never be pure and clean again.  If it is washed the dirt will leave particles or stains behind and the soap will leave residue and the act of washing will leave damage behind.  And no matter how clean one gets the rag it will immediately begin to get dirty again.

   So what are we to do?  We can pretend that God doesn't exist and religion is a fairy tale, we can choose to accept that we aren't as dirty as others so we must be good enough.  Yea, we may be cleaner than many Christians but that doesn't change the fact that you are a dirty rag.  Our standard isn't to be the cleanest dirty rag but to be without blemish. 

     We can't clean ourselves up.  It is impossible.  So what are we supposed to do?  Well, the truth is that's not your problem.  That's God's problem.   We just need to let God do what God does.  We just need to quit thinking we are special because we aren't so dirty or to quit denying there is such a thing as pure.  Denying clean doesn't mean that clean  isn't obtainable.  If we just accept that we are dirty and that God is the only way to get clean   then we shall be clean indeed. 

    So, what does this have to do with prayer.  Prayer is our way of communicating with God.  We don't have to change anything about our lives.  You don't have to obtain a high moral standard to b accepted by God.  That is why not all Christians have obtained the lifestyle the world has come to believe that Christians should obtain.  Christianity is not a moral code or a code of conduct or rules and regulations but a relationship and that relationship is maintained through constant communication with God through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

   This isn't just something I feel or believe.  This is something I know.

SR-71 blackbird

The SR-71 Blackbird was a spy plane that was as fast as it was beautiful.  I saw one once, in Okinawa,  some forty + years ago when I was a sailor on my way to Vietnam.  In my job, I was familiar with the plane and was absolutely dumbfounded the first time I tracked one. 
   I can't talk about the particulars of my job but suffice it to say that part of my job was keeping track of air traffic in and around North Vietnam during that bloody war.  I was used to plotting the course being flown by Migs and F-4's and other aircraft, both foreign and domestic.  The biggest part of my job was knowing the location of all aircraft in the air in the war zone so we could keep our planes and pilots as safe as possible. 
   The first time I tracked on the plane entered the southeastern corner of North Vietnam and flew straight across the country and then turned and flew  in a slightly northeastern direction exiting the country in the east, turning again and flying to the dead center of North Vietnam and then turned north and flew out of the country.  The entire episode lasted about 2 1/2 minutes.  At first I thought it was a joke and that my superiors would think I made it up but it turned out to be legit. 
   I was shocked to learn that on one faithful trip the North Vietnamese  launched a Mig 23 from their most northern airstrip as soon as they detected the Blackbird in the Gulf of Tonkin.  The Mig flew as fast as it could in a steep climb and kicked in its afterburners for added speed and distance.  When the Mig reached it highest point it fired all of its air to air missiles.  It was a potluck gamble to shoot down a SR-71 and it almost worked.  The migs missiles  missed the tail of the Blackbird by about 100 yards.  That was a streak of luck to get that close.  No Blackbird was every lost to enemy action.
  I had access to the top secret books with the specs of the Blackbird but even that document would not list the planes speed.  It just said mock 3+. 
a special on TV last week claimed it's speed was in access of 1600 miles per hour.  I don't know how fast it was I do know it was impressive. 

How others see us

There is an interesting article on Yahoo about how foreigners view America and Americans and I can filly understand their views.  I have spent a great deal of time in other countries and sometimes I encountered things puzzling to me.  I was invited to a dinner an true to my upbringing I ate everything on my plate and did take a bit more of some foods and I finished those too.  I ate until I thought I would pop and I was surprised and hurt to learn that I had insulted the hostess  by leaving a clean plate.  Leaving a little food on the plate indicates that one is full.  leaving a clean plate says that one didn't enjoy what they ate. 
   In another country one waves their hand downward not from the top as Americans do.  Waving from the top signifies the calling of a dog and is viewed as an insult to the locals.  In another, children are not allowed to wear clothes, even diapers, until they are potty trained.  We would think that shocking to see naked children in public but the children of that country learn to "go potty' faster than any other children. 
    In America our children are encouraged to ask questions in school but in some countries, a question means that the student is stupid or the teacher is doing a poor job of explaining things.

  It isn't that our way is necessarily a better way  for often it isn't.  More often than not a different way of looking at stuff is just that:  different but no better nor no worse. 

Gay Marriage Support Grows

Gay means happy and I'm all for happy.  It would be better if people used toe correct term  which is Homosexual.  It seems that whatever people want to push they will achieve as long as they can convince others that the old way isn't fair and you can think of no good reason why things shouldn't be different. 
   People are born that way is the claim of homosexual rights advocates.  That may be true.  People are born liars, thieves, and with all sorts of abhorrent behaviors.  I have never heard of a parent who had to teach their children to tell a lie.  When the time is right, the kid will lie to avoid trouble.  One doesn't have to teach a kid to steal.  That comes natural.  We do have to teach our children manners, to tell the truth and to share. 
   It seems that not all lies are bad and it seems to be okay to steal if we believe enough other people are cheating too.  To be honest though, most of us would prefer not to be lied to or stolen from or beat up or killed.  We would rather be able to trust people, especially those we accept as our friends.  So, as parents, we continue to try to teach our children proper behavior and good relationships and hope they grow up to be good honest citizens who can function well in this world without being hurt too deeply or often nor taken advantaged of.  We realize that just because our child is born with the ability to lie, to cheat, to steal, and to use violence to get what they want, that behavior is not a good thing. 
   In other words, being born that way isn't a good excuse for bad behavior. 
  
  

weather was hard, illness even harder

I enjoyed the snow but I hate not being able to get out.  Now that I'm retired I don't have the excuse of 'I have a job I have to get too".  Being older I also have to be more cautious about what I do. 

Back in 1985 I missed a day of work because I felt like crap.  That wasn't the only day I have been sick in my adult life.  Good fortune or not, it seems all my illnesses came when I was on vacation or over an extended period of off time, like a three day weekend.  I never missed a day of work, save that one, due to sickness. 

  Colds, flu, and feeling bad are foreign to me so this sinus thing I've had for about a week is baffling me.  winter has always been hard on my sinuses but a spray bottle of saline solution usually does the trick.  But for the past week, my sinuses have drained so  much that at times I thought I would drown.  Even when my nasal passages would open up, there was a constant drainage down my throat and I would cough so much it hurt.  The drainage and the coughing has left my throat so strained that I had to forgo teaching my Sunday School class today. 

  I purchased some regular nasal spray but the directions say no to use more than three days and not to use if you have high blood pressure or are a diabetic without consulting a doctor.  I do have an appointment:  next month.

   The time this stuff is the worst is   when I crawl into bed.  I either can't breath, can't stop coughing, or can't shut the mucus faucet off. 

   I don't have a fever, don't know what his crude is and have no idea come long it will last or how to treat it.  I do know I'm ready to be done with it. 

We;re growing

Sometime this week I am heading to Kinston to view some NC Educational Modular Building.  sometimes things just don't work out as hoped.  A few months back, it the summer time, we had a lead on a 28 x  50 ft building  but by using the time we needed to get the money together the building was no longer available.  It wasn't a big disappointment that we didn't get it.  We had just started to grow.

Three years back we had two families to leave the church, one to go into the mission field and one to take a position with a church in Thomasville.  Their departure left us with the Pastor and his wife, my wife and me, a 92 year old woman and an 82 year old man.  We were kind of like the crew and passengers of the USS Minnow: just riding a sinking ship.  We started praying but it seemed every time we added one another would leave.  Two and a half years into our 9 pm prayer service we seemed to be stuck at 13.  unfortunately, it was a revolving thirteen. 

Then, six months ago we started to grow.  We added two families, then another, then another, and now we have two more families that are seriously considering joining us.  We are averaging around 29.  In the last five weeks, we had 45, 29, 29, 40, and today about 35 (unofficial count).  Not many, you say? 

Well our building is over two hundred years old.  The building was occupied from 1960 until 1990, then it sat empty until 2006.  That church folding in 2009.  The building only holds 40;  the preacher and 39 congregants. 

   We now have a youth group started and we need room for them plus we need room for them to have a Sunday School class. 
  
    We now have the money to get a building.  Of course we'll need a little more to fix it up right and to finish the parking lot but we are close.  Once we get the new building we'll have room for twice the people.  We don't have chairs for them yet but that will come. 

   If you want to be a part of our growth you can do one or more of the following:
     1.  Come visit us and give due consideration to joining us.
     2.  Make a cash contribution to help us obtain and furnish our facilities.
     3.  Pray for us

I'm excited about what's going on in that little church but not because of the number of people being added or about getting new facilities but because of the lives being touched there.  We had three teenagers come to accept Christ this month

Friendly barb isn't friendly to me

My son likes to take pictures at the DJ events he organizes and tonight my wife asked why he never posted pictures of his self.  Some one posted back saying "Who would want a picture of an Asian bro."
  I didn't think it was funny and I told the man so. 
   He responded by saying that he was a good friend and the person who kept my sons car in good repair. 
   I informed the fellow that any putdown no matter how well intended is hurtful.  Secondly my son was an American, not an Asian.  Thirdly, I told him that I raised my son to be a good and kind man and I was proud of him.  Then I told the guy that fixing his car made him a mechanic.  I am his father. 
    I am not his natural father but that doesn't make me less of a dad.  He is the person I choose to carry my last name.  I didn't have to settle for pot luck like most fathers do.  I got to know him before I decided to make him my son.  As far as I am concerned he is my flesh and blood.

You say he's your friend.  Then treat him with respect. 

Wealthy Want Own Town

Wealthy people in Baton Rouge want to incorporate the area thy live in into a different township so they can funnel their money into schools for their kids and not have to fund the schools in poorer neighborhoods.  That is all very well and good for the wealthy folks but that means that kids from the poorer neighborhoods will have to struggle even harder due to a lack of resources.

I suppose what the wealthy want to do makes sense for themselves and it certainly isn't illegal;  it has been done in other areas.  The Poor neighborhoods can always protest and gripe and complain and all the protests, griping, and complaining may fall on deft ears.  But there is hope for them.  The rich are voting with their pocketbook and that vote is powerful.  well, the poor have pocketbooks too and while they don't hold as much money there are usually more poor than rich. 

If the people in the snubbed poorer neighborhoods vow not to work  in the rich people areas, then the rich would cease to be rich.  There would be restaurants but no busboys, cooks, or waitresses.  There would be grocery stores but no one to stock the shelves, unload the trucks, bake the bread, or man the cash registers.  There would be banks but no tellers, movie theaters but no ticket takers or projector operators. 

I think the rich would regret their decision.

Good Morning

It's Wednesday.  Today I'm going to walk a little, having my morning prayer on the square, affix a door stop to the sanctuary door,  take the recyclables to the recycle bin, fill out a tax form, and then relax before attending church this evening.   I'm looking forward to visitation tomorrow night and to Sunday singing with Mountain Joy. 

   Hopefully soon we will have a much larger building which will, I promise, have enough room for you. 

A growing concern

Allissa came to rededicate her life on Sunday, Zack accepted Christ on Monday and today, Timothy did too.  Wow.  Three teenagers in one week wanting to serve the Lord.  Our little church is growing either by older people liking us and deciding to join or younger people deciding  to serve Christ.  The young are bring their friends.  Three months ago we had no one you would consider young, but now we have nine.  and today we had a family visit Sunday morning and they returned Sunday night.  They have a teenager named Ryan so if they decide to join that would make ten. 

 It's not the numbers that I'm excited about but the people that are being reached and whose lives are being changed that I care about.  Soon we are going to need a larger building. 

Next Sunday morning we will have our Sunday singing with Mountain Joy.  We will have Sunday School at 10.  If you want to come you are welcome.  Read James chapter two and you will fit right in.  If you have not heard Mountain Joy you have been missing a blessing.  They are not only talented musicians and singers but they live what they sing about.  That is why I like they so much. 

Come join us.