Treasures

by

Wilma Clark Erwin

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     This time of year holds several emotions for me. It always has.

     First, I love all the garden vegetables so it is a great food time. Now, I don’t have the Zora, Mom, or Roy, Dad, touch with things that grow like my brothers and sisters. Roger is good with a garden. I still try to grow at least two great tomato plants near the house and baby them every day that my schedule allows me to be home. This year the plants are bearing wonderful tomatoes. Bacon and fresh tomato sandwiches are like no other!

     My family would tell you that I prefer a tomato sandwich to any meat on earth. True. They would also say a good bell pepper and two slices of bread would make a sandwich I’d rave about. Crazy, maybe, but true. Mrs. Bloomfield, Mrs. McRoberts or other school cooks would tell you in tough times when the tummy is stressed I prescribe a mustard sandwich for myself. Even though by now you’re shaking your head and gagging you can understand why this season is good to me.

     In addition to the above quirks, I love green beans, corn on the cob, and most that the Lord allows us to glean from the earth. You know He designed us from dirt and we love foods that grew from dirt. We are all still made from dirt and I’m loving this season where you get it directly from the earth instead of dirt in some other part of the country or the world.

     One other thing our whole family loves is cucumbers and onions in vinegar, salt and water. I do not have the Zora or Roy touch at this either; but over the years it has become more palatable. On vacation this year we kept a bowl on the beach house table. We must have eaten over twenty cucumbers that way.

     Second, I love this time of year because it is my ‘off’ time, if there is such a thing. I’m built on a 220 you know. This is the time when last year’s school year is finished. My Mother and Father would say that crop was ‘laid by’. That meant the work needing done on it was over. The next school year is a few steps ahead and just barely asking for hours from the day. The church world has been in summer camps and those hungry for spiritual food are full and happy. Others, not hungry or thirsty, never know when food is or is not on the table so they aren’t an issue. My time of preparing and serving Word is less at this time of year so there is a respite there also. Family is happy from vacation and thinking about the next few days we will all have together. Roger and I actually spend time in the same room or vehicle. My world is good.

     Third, I am a prisoner to the air conditioning. No, not a choice but confined. My lungs cannot get the oxygen needed to sustain good health when it is much over eighty and high humidity. Over ninety degrees and steamy isn’t for an old set of lungs that function at good living levels if guarded. So, my plans have to curtail any length of time outside. I had to learn this lesson the hard way a decade or so back. I kept going to places of heat. My body kept crashing. Doctors kept advising. Final, I admitted to myself truth. You, know I don’t always do that quickly or straight forward. Hope you do better at that than me. Anyway, my plans are for inside, guarded, breathing possible places. I have adjusted and so has Roger and the family. We plan for the cooler times to do outside things. My daughter-in-law accuses me of ‘meat locker’ temperatures and I admit to keeping it cooler than most partly because of past, bad breathing experiences.

     Fourth, we love almost every day. We rise with anticipation as to what the Lord will bring into our lives and the possibility of His new orders. Our lives are blessed and we know that. We have been allowed to meet so many great people and become friends with the world’s best. We are accustomed to being servants in His Kingdom and rise with anticipation as to what He has planned. Life is good.

     Fifth, use this day as best you can. You are the farthest from death this moment that you will ever be. You have been given a few more hours of time to affect your world for Christ. You can enjoy His Presence, read His Word, call or visit the sick and encourage them, write a note, email or Facebook an old friend to keep in touch, fix a meal for loved ones and on and on your choices go. Today is a day the Lord has made so be glad and rejoice in it.

     Many times I begin prayers with naming my own families names: Doug’s, Christine’s, Wayne’s, Wilma’s and Dwight’s families; then, I name Roger’s: Dorse’s, those Wayne loved, Mildred’s. I pray for all the extended families: Clarks, Bloomfields, Horsleys, and Jordans. Those are the four I immediately descended from and then Roger’s. Time then is focused on Roger and Wilma’s own: John, Kim, Kayla, Kasey, Tyler and David. Then each of those families. The church is always part of my prayers and not only Christ Open Bible and each one there but all the churches and denominations that are proclaiming the Name of Christ and trying to introduce Him to people so their lives can be forgiven, joyful, rich and full. Finances in their entirety are a constant discussion with the Lord and work related issues. Safety. The neighborhood, county, state, and country are discussed as is the world in need of His guidance. I pray for the truly sick for cancer and such brings a myriad problems far beyond the physical. I pray for those who seemingly are perennially sick to grow weary of it. All my life I’ve struggled trying to get people off the “I’m sick” wagon and onto the FAITH TRAIN. It seems to me so many people are always wanting to be sick for all the benefits our twisted world awards them. Bible says this will only work for a season and then accountability. I’ve seen many lives engulfed and wasted with the desire to ‘get all there is to get from our sick, perverted from right, system’. It is a form of slavery that rarely sets anyone free. After these and other similar prayers, my heart is ready for Word and how it will enrich my life this moment, today, now! I get to think upon the Lord, His Word and my own soul. I worship Jesus and thank and praise Him. I spend time just letting Him lead me in His Word and what thoughts He wants me to share with Him. He will also begin working with me on the messages that are to be next shared. Our time together is rich and full. He satisfies my soul and equips me for another day. This day He has mentioned people to visit and young people to invest time and effort into their lives. Roger and I take time individually to talk to Him and then we work as a team to do the doing of it. Too much for one to accomplish. Too much for two. We are always looking for the next one that will join the Kingdom and help….

     Blessings on sharing a quiet moment with my thoughts.

    Blessings.

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      How long has it been since you’ve set a minnow trap?

      Do I hear, “Wilma, the crazy questions you ask?”

      Setting minnow traps is something I’ve done with some of the best people on earth. Dad taught me and looking back I think it had something to do with the fact he wore work shoes most of the time. He probably got used to them on his feet and just wore them.  Wayne bought him a cloth, breathing, type of shoe later in his life and he seemed to like wearing them. And, of course, he had dress shoes for church, funerals and the like. He liked shoes Doug wore and sometimes they would even trade. He liked the Kentucky State Police boots Dwight wore but I don’t remember him wearing any of them, but I could be wrong.

      It more than likely had something to do with the fact the other kids could get in the water if they wanted to and unless it was certain conditions my lungs wouldn’t take it. Oh, I could and would do anything they would do; but the price of sickness had to be paid in a few days. It was simply a fact.

     At any rate, he taught all us kids, lots of things about stewardship of land and water. One of my teachings was how to set a minnow trap and keep them alive to the creek and during fishing. There are different kinds of traps, or there used to be. Now, only a few similarities are available.  There are wire traps, plastic and glass. Each has good and bad points.

     I was always taught to take more than one trap in case they ‘work’ one trap better on this particular day. Minnows have opinions too. Oh, yeah! If you don’t set the depth, path, and trap mouth direction to please them, you won’t get minnows.

     Also, you have to watch the trap.

Not too close or they won’t come around it.

Not too far away or your efforts might not be working and you won’t see it needs moved.

Not too quickly to move it or you will disturb their ‘working it’.

Not too long or a predator will appear and ‘take over’ the trap.

     Let’s talk a little about the predator. 

    Dad worked away on the camp cars through the week. He told me to set the trap on Friday afternoon so we’d have minnows for fishing. I wanted to set the trap a night early and go do something I wanted to do. I know that is hard to believe but it happened. Ha! Ha! Well, a few friends and I went to Montgomery Creek near our childhood home in Bentleyville, set the trap and went our way. My idea was to set the trap, do what I wanted to do and when Dad came home the next night my trap would be full. All would be good. All would be happy. NOT!

     “Did you set the trap this afternoon, Wilma? Have you got some good minnows?”, Dad asked.

    Careful to tell the truth, but not all of it, I answered, “I set it in a good place and we should have lots of minnows.”

    “Take the outside minnow bucket with you. You know the water will leak out the holes in the inner bucket and it won’t leave enough water for a good bunch of minnows to live even back to the house,” he advised.

     Whatever kids that were there didn’t want to go to Montgomery on a hot day so off I went. My bucket would be full and Dad would be pleased. I was a smart one.

     I bounced down the bank, turned to the little hole where the trap was set and started to grab the trap. I screamed, jumped up and down with heart beating so hard it felt like it would jump out of my chest. There were snakes in my trap. How could this be! I ran home and told Dad. He did that thing he did when he knew more than we had told-he smiled and looked me in the eye with, “Let’s go check your trap.”

     When we got to the trap there were snakes. There were three of them. They were all twisted and dead. He didn’t ask me to go get the trap. He knew how scared I was of snakes. He got a branch and retrieved the trap. I ran several feet away. He went to the bank, dumped the snakes, and used his shoes and the branch to dig dirt off the bank onto the snakes to bury them. He then piled a few gravel on the dirt. I know now they would have stunk and if he had poured them by my minnow hole I probably wouldn’t have ever wanted to go near the hole. He then started up the bank with both pieces of the trap in his hand. I never could look anyone in the eye in the sun for my eyes were too sensitive to the light. This day this was a blessing. I knew he knew.  The snakes went in to get the minnows and soon after their meal died from lack of oxygen. Their present state told Dad the truth.

     “Now Wim (uh, oh, not Wilma but Wim) when did you say you set that trap?” he asked.

     “Well Daddy I didn’t exactly say,” my ‘head toward the ground’ answer came.

      “Well, now you tell me exactly when you did set that trap. Was it this afternoon like I told you? He pointedly asked.

     “No, Daddy, I wanted to go with the other kids so I set the trap last night so I would have good minnows and still play,” I answered.

      He was frustrated with me. Somehow he wasn’t angry. He stretched out a calloused, railroad working hand, tilted my face up to toward his and said, with a giggle in his voice, “So your little deceptive plan didn’t work, did it? What if I had made you get the trap or worse yet made you empty it?”

      He didn’t even wait for an answer. He just reached for my hand and said, “Let’s find another hole and catch us some minnows so we can all go camping this weekend. Does that sound good?”

     It did.

    Back to setting traps. You need water that is one or two feet deep. You watch for where minnows are working the area. You partly, not a totally, break a few saltine crackers and put in the trap. You fasten the trap together, tie a string on it for retrieval and to fasten under a rock if the water wants to move the trap about. You place the trap in the water and be a good steward to it. If you don’t get minnows in a few minutes, turn the trap mouth a new direction. If you don’t get minnows in a few minutes move the trap. You’ll have to wash it out and re-bait. Also move away from where the crackers dumped or they won’t need to come in your trap. To occupy yourself, toss a small bait and catch a few blue gills for a trout line.

     Blessings on enjoying our Kentucky streams.   And, oh that you would be blessed to be or have a Daddy like ours. Happy Father’s Day Roy Clark up there with Jesus from all your family.

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     Let me thank everyone who has given the Kinney attention to correct problems.  I’ve heard many comments and some actions taken and others planned.  Together we can affect our Kinney for the better and it will better us in more ways than one.

     Speaking of the Kinney or any other flooding stream, have you ever noticed what is in the trees after the water recedes?  If you are answering things like, trash, old coolers, pieces of cloth, wood from upstream or any of the other hundreds of items that could be the answer, you are correct.  The tree stands tall above the water; then the floods rise to meet its branches. The limbs then become like a net catching anything and everything that is headed downstream and happens to get caught. The water goes down. The creek settles into its beautiful blue green self. But, up in the tree limbs still hang the trash in the tree limbs. In Kinney next to our house there is an entire old army tent hanging!

     Well, some people are that way about things in life.

     During some flood of human happenings, things get caught in their mind, heart or, heaven forbid, their soul. Then life moves on. Time passes. The time comes that life returns to normal. But the one who has let the things get caught in their mind, heart or soul is like the tree with the trash caught.

     Every time they see the person the trash is all that comes to their mind. Even when they hear their name they spring immediately back to the things caught in their mind. They simply can’t let things go. Rather than climbing the tree, loosing the things, putting them in the trash and ridding themselves of them, they treasure the trash.  Their beautiful mind, heart and soul lose the beauty possible just as the tree loses its possible beauty with trash in its limbs.

     Another thing that happens in these cases is the person with the ‘stuff caught’ loses true contact and relationship with the people-they just keep the trash! This was evident to me in conversation with a person recently. They mentioned a young man to me and asked how they were doing. I mentioned several good things about the young man. They immediately told me they wouldn’t pour water on him if he was burning. I was shocked since my knowledge of the young man was favorable. They continued to tell me of a one time happening long ago related to them by a relative who had a relative witness it. Upon this one bit of knowledge the young man had been ruled bad forever.

     I talk to people all the time who have someone they do not like. Many times families are split by trash in limbs. Years of love, affection and friendship end because one bleach bottle floated downstream and caught in someone’s mind’s netting. Much of the time one of the parties do not even know what they did or why they are hated.  Each did not walk in the other’s moccasins. Each did not view it from the same direction. One put an “X” over their other’s face and life - cut them out of the picture, so to speak.

     I learned a long time ago that trees need trash knocked out of them and the tree allowed to get back to its God created beauty. I learned also that when someone has an old cooler lid, a piece of plastic or the like caught in their mind about others and hold onto it, they no longer know the true person. They only know the person they have totally bad prisoner in their mind. When they hear good things about the prisoner they quickly dismiss the possibility of good with, “You do not know the real person-not like I do” or “I could tell you some things that would make you think differently of them.”

     No person is totally bad. No person is totally good, except Jesus.

     Dr. Hermiz preached a message about Jesus’ death. He took us to Golgotha and showed us the different people there. The Pharisees, Scribes and Priests mocked Him and did not take the forgiveness He died for. One of the thieves took the forgiveness and the other refused it. One of the soldiers helped crucify Him but later said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Each one took the forgiveness in their time; but Jesus paid the debt and laid it down for all mankind. It is up to each one of us when we forgive and get forgiven. I think Dr. Hermiz gave the right lesson for those who are victims of bleach bottles hanging in other people’s minds. Lay the forgiveness down at the cross and it will be there when the person decides to do ‘clearing the branches’ work.  Treat them as you want to be treated. Love them even if you don’t get to do it close up and personal. Pray for them to be blessed, loved and receive good things . Do what you can to keep your heart free of flooding debris.

     Blessings on ‘trash cleaning’ in all places where it is lodged.

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       Lewis County, as we well know,  is situated in the northeast corner of the state in the Ohio River Region. It has the longest boundary with the Ohio River of all the counties bordering it. Our 484 square miles make ours the thirteenth largest of the 120 counties in the state.  Our elevation ranges from 485-1400 feet above sea level. In 2006 our population was 13,741 or an average of 29.1 people per square mile while Kentucky has 101.7 people per square mile.

     Lewis County’s heavily forested hills have some of the best oak hardwoods in the United States. Throughout the county’s history, the forests have been the mainstay for laborers and their income, always producing vast amounts of lumber, barrel staves, tanbark, railroad ties, firewood, and numerous wood products.
     Our county is watered by several streams, the most notable of them being Kinniconick Creek, well known for its fishing and camping attractions. Other major streams are Salt Lick Creek, Cabin Creek, Indian Creek, the North Fork of Licking River, Montgomery Creek and Quick’s Run. The Ohio River, which serves as the county’s northern boundary, originally contained four interesting islands (now only three); one group, known as the Three Islands, was a major landmark for early settlers making their way downstream.

     The above facts came from Kentucky.gov.

     http://www.ket.org/kentuckylife/900s/kylife905.html site records the following facts: “Lewis County lore has it that Kinniconick Creek is 99 miles long—one mile short of achieving “river” status. Its meandering course is contained entirely within the 484 scenic square miles of this hilly and largely rural northeastern Kentucky county. The creek has long been a draw for water lovers of all kinds: Depending on which stretch you first encounter, you may associate “the Kinney” (as it is usually known for short) with muskie fishing, whitewater adventuring, or peaceful drifting.

      For this visit, host Dave Shuffett travels largely by canoe to sample a little bit of the variety of scenery along the Kinney. In the company of Dr. Herbert Bertram, he also learns much about the place of the creek in Lewis County history and in the hearts of its people.  The article also mentions Sam McEldowney and his home which hosted hunters and fishermen over the years.”

     My father was a man of stewardship of the land as were the men above. Stewardship of land meant taking care of what you found, keeping it as it was or bettering it. It was a way of life that was practiced on a continuing basis.  This is true for land management as well.

     We were always taught that what we did or didn’t do in our part of the stream affected those who lived downstream from us and those above us affected our land. Land values, erosion, water quality, habitat for all living creatures and man’s enjoyment of the Kinney were all dependent on good stewardship. We were taught by http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/ip/ip73/ip73.pdf

and other Ky. Universities that keeping natural areas maintained reduced the severity of flooding and erosion. Protection of natural areas increased overall livability and vitality of all living things. As a young pastor I have attended breakfasts with government agriculture agency workers,  teachers and those who cared for the land. Their purpose was to encourage pastors to teach stewardship of land and streams.

     We were taught healthy streams meandered, needed open, unobstructed access to the floodplain, needed a vegetated buffer zone on the stream banks and a variety of plant and animals living near the water. Deep and shallow areas in the meandering stream are natural also. If a stream un-meanders, the results can be drastic. Flood water will rush at a great speed in a straight bed.  The bed itself needs to be kept clean and unobstructed with access to the flood plain or again drastic effects. If the vegetative area that should buffer between homes and lived in areas disappear, again the water rushes where it is not wanted and damages. Erosion is also increased by these problems. People used to haul out loads and loads of gravel and this cleared the creekbed and deepened it also. I understand this is now somehow slowed but possible. I’m still researching that one.

     Recently I have been blessed to be on several areas of the Kinniconick.  Well, it was a blessing to be there; but what I saw hurt. Yes, it hurt. Lack of management from whoever should be taking care of our precious Kinney is not keeping up with her needs. I’ve tried to call several agencies to see who should be doing maintenance and have found nobody who claims the responsibility. Land is being eroded by the tens of feet. Slides are numerous. Trees, huge trees, are down everywhere blocking even small boats through travel. More trees are standing with most of their roots exposed and beginning to lean. Roads near the stream are also sliding toward the Kinney.

     And the trash that rides on her waters are another matter completely. We can all stop that! Those who do the work for the masses may have to pick up an extra trash bag of someone else’s garbage and clear the water ways.

     When I think back through the years and think of the Kinney, I think of peaceful boat trips or wadings and wanderings viewing the mesmerizing beauty of our home area. I see the haven for fish, bird and all sorts of native wildlife.  There are years of great memories with this friend of mine called The Kinney.

     My friends, our friend Kinney is in need of care. She can’t do the job she has always done without some good stewardship. I do not know what each of us can do but we certainly better be looking to find it. The Good Lord gave us this earth and put us in charge of her care. I have for years pleaded for leaving vegetation for small animals and trees for squirrels, etc. If each of us did one thing to be better stewards of our county, it would be a better place.  Plant a tree. Pick up trash. Ask who can remove debris  from our waters. 

     Blessings on good stewardship.  If somehow we could unite, we could be better stewards and do it in memory of all the great people we have known who loved our Kinney.

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    This month the completion of the King James Version of the Holy Bible is 400 years old. Last week we laughed at funnies from the church world. This week, I ask you settle in with pen and pencil and put your mind to work that should leave you thankful for having a Bible at all.

      Sometimes we take for granted the things we have at our fingertips and let them, like water, run right through our fingers. I fear this generation is doing that with Word. We have the most tools, media and helps of anyone who ever lived; yet we seemingly know less Bible than many who had to strive, suffer and die to have Bible. I thought we’d visit one man who eventually died at the stake to give the ‘plow boy’ the ‘Word’.

     Www.Wikipedia.org reports the following about William Tyndale (sometimes spelled Tindall, Tindill, Tyndall; c. 1492 – 1536) who was a 16th century scholar and translator who became a leading figure in Protestant reformism towards the end of his life. He was influenced by the work of Desiderius Erasmus, who made the Greek New Testament available in Europe, and Martin Luther. Tyndale was the first to translate considerable parts of the Bible into English, for a public, lay readership. (the common, everyday man, woman or youth) While a number of partial and complete translations had been made from the seventh century onward, particularly during the 14th century, Tyndale's was the first English translation to draw directly from Hebrew and Greek texts, (those the Bible were primarily written in) and the first to take advantage of the new medium of print, which allowed for its wide distribution.

   Johannes Gutenberg was the first European to use movable type printing, in around 1439, and the global inventor of the printing press. Among his many contributions to printing are: the invention of a process for mass-producing movable type; the use of oil-based ink; and the use of a wooden printing press similar to the agricultural screw presses of the period. His truly epochal invention was the combination of these elements into a practical system which allowed the mass production of printed books and was economically viable for printers and readers alike. Gutenberg's method for making type is traditionally considered to have included a type metal alloy and a hand mould for casting type.  The use of movable type was a marked improvement on the handwritten manuscript, which was the existing method of book production in Europe, and upon woodblock printing, and revolutionized European book-making. Gutenberg's printing technology spread rapidly throughout Europe and later the world.  His major work, the Gutenberg Bible (also known as the 42-line Bible), has been acclaimed for its high aesthetic and technical quality.

Tyndale’s work was taken to be a direct challenge to the hegemony of both the Roman Catholic Church and the English church and state.

      Tyndale began a Bachelor of Arts degree at Oxford University in 1512; the same year becoming a sub-deacon. He was made Master of Arts in July 1515 and was held to be a man of virtuous disposition, leading an unblemished life. The MA allowed him to start studying theology, but the official course did not include the study of scripture. He was a gifted linguist, over the years becoming fluent in French, Greek, Hebrew, German, Italian, Latin, and Spanish, in addition to his native English. Between 1517 and 1521, he went to the University of Cambridge. Erasmus was the leading teacher of Greek there from August 1511 to January 1514, but during Tyndale's time at the university Erasmus was away.

      Tyndale became chaplain to the house of Sir John Walsh at Little Sodbury and tutor to his children in about 1521. His opinions proved controversial to fellow clergymen, and around 1522 he was called before John Bell, the Chancellor of the Diocese of Worcester, though no formal charges were laid.  Soon afterwards, Tyndale determined to translate the Bible into English, convinced that the way to God was through His word and that scripture should be available even to common people. John Foxe describes an argument with a "learned" but "blasphemous" clergyman, who had asserted to Tyndale that, "We had better be without God's laws than the Pope's." Swelling with emotion, Tyndale responded: "I defy the Pope, and all his laws; and if God spares my life, ere many years, I will cause the boy that driveth the plow to know more of the Scriptures than thou dost!"

Tyndale also wrote, in 1530, The Practyse of Prelates, opposing Henry VIII's divorce on the grounds that it contravened scriptural law.

     In 1535, Tyndale was arrested by church authorities and jailed in the castle of Vilvoorde outside Brussels for over a year. He was tried for heresy, strangled and burnt at the stake in 1536. The Tyndale Bible, as it was known, continued to play a key role in spreading Reformation ideas across Europe. The fifty-four independent scholars who created the King James Version of the bible in 1611 drew significantly on Tyndale's translations. One estimation suggests the New Testament in the King James Version is 83% Tyndale's, and the Old Testament 76%.^[  Foxe gives 6 October as the date of commemoration (left-hand date column), but gives no date of death (right-hand date column). Tyndale's final words, spoken "at the stake with a fervent zeal, and a loud voice", were reported as "Lord! Open the King of England's eyes." The traditional date of commemoration is 6 October, but records of Tyndale's imprisonment suggest the actual date of his execution might have been some weeks earlier.Within four years, at the same king's behest, four English translations of the Bible were published in England, including Henry's official Great Bible. All were based on Tyndale's work.

Fox’s Book of Martyrs, By John Fox, Chapter 12 reports, “The Life and Story of the True Servant and Martyr of God, William Tyndale Such was the power of his doctrine, and the sincerity of his life, that during the time of his imprisonment (which endured a year and a half), he converted, it is said, his keeper, the keeper's daughter, and others of his household.

     As touching his translation of the New Testament, because his enemies did so much carp at it, pretending it to be full of heresies, he wrote to John Frith, as followeth, "I call God to record against the day we shall appear before our Lord Jesus, that I never altered one syllable of God's Word against my conscience, nor would do this day, if all that is in earth, whether it be honor, pleasure, or riches, might be given me."

     Blessings on truly becoming a student of The Holy Bible.

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The word “intrinsic” has been dancing in my mind all week.  I’ve been watching and walking with a long time, Godly, great friend to the doorway between ‘death of the body’ and ‘present with the Lord’.  My friend Bill had value. Ask just about anyone who knew him and they will tell you how vibrant, positive, encouraging, song filled, Bible filled and fervent in his love for his Lord and people that he was. He had intrinsic value. He had worth within himself from the Presence of Jesus. He let Jesus become part of him. He was made in His image and he allowed Jesus to come, move in and be intertwined with his nature. This relationship guided his actions, his moral compass and his love for all.

     An intrinsic property is an essential or inherent property of a system, the material itself or the human within. It is independent of how much of the material is present and is independent of the form the material. One large piece or a collection of smaller pieces. Intrinsic properties are dependent mainly on the chemical composition or structure of the material. In a human the intrinsic value lies within the human. It is his or her true essence.

       Intrinsic value has traditionally been thought to lie in the heart, mind and/or soul. The intrinsic value of something is said to be the value that that thing has “in itself.” My friend had value for who he truly was inside. He valued being right with The Lord and living the Word.

    He loved songs, poems, and Word. He loved. He valued right and righteousness. These things made him like the Lord who made him. It gave him favor and value with heaven.

      I see lots of people who cannot have value unless it is money, house, car or some other outside thing. When these things are diminished or gone, their value is gone. Not so with intrinsic values.

     I used to teach this as self esteem.

     I used to teach kids not to get ‘other esteem’ but self esteem through being what they were meant to be in The Lord’s eyes. These lessons need so very much to be re-taught over and over today.

    Growing up among people of moral character was such a blessing. The redwoods’ stature and greatness had nothing on these common, everyday working, living holy and being right people. They simply set their course in the strait and narrow and sung and preached and taught their way home. They cooked, did dishes, did laundry, worked the garden, picked the beans, strung the beans, swept the floor, mopped the floor, changed the oil in the car, made the beds, mowed the grass, etc. They paid the bills. They left in their trail generations that rose up and called them blessed.

    They had real, life investing value.

    It made them real people-inside where it counts.

    They were not ashamed to do the everyday chores.

    They were not too tight to invest in others.

    They loved Jesus and didn’t care who knew it. Actually, they wanted people to know it.

    Do you have intrinsic value?

    Does your intrinsic value include value in heaven?

Blessings on being able to look in the mirror and see someone you value and you believe will have heaven someday.

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Our friend Sue Brown came up with some HOLY HUMOR.  Since the King James Version of the Bible is 400 years old this month, I thought we’d all just begin the celebration with Holy laughter. Thanks Sue.

                  1. A father was approached by his small son who told him proudly, "I know what the Bible means!"

His father smiled and replied, "What do you mean, you 'know' what the Bible means?

The son replied, "I do know!"

"Okay," said his father. "What does the Bible mean?"

"That's easy, Daddy..."the young boy replied excitedly," It stands for 'Basic Information Before Leaving Earth.'
2. There was a very gracious lady who was mailing an old family Bible to her brother in another part of the  country.

"Is there anything breakable in here?" asked the postal clerk.

"Only the Ten Commandments." answered the lady.
3. "Somebody has said there are only two kinds of people in the world.  

There are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good morning, Lord," and there are those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it's morning."
4. A minister parked his car in a no-parking zone in a large city because he was short of time and couldn't find a space with a meter. Then he put a note under the windshield wiper that read: "I have circled the block 10 times. If I don't park here, I'll miss my appointment. Forgive us our trespasses."

When he returned, he found a citation from a police officer along with this note "I've circled this block for 10 years.. If I don't give you a ticket I'll lose my job. Lead us not into temptation."
5. There is the story of a pastor who got up one Sunday and announced to his congregation: "I have good news and bad news. The good news is, we have enough money to pay for our new gym - fellowship hall building program.  The bad news is, it's still out there in your pockets."
6. While driving in  Pennsylvania , a family caught up to an Amish carriage. The owner of the carriage obviously had a sense of humor, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign… "Energy efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step in exhaust."
7. A Sunday School teacher began her lesson with a question, "Boys and girls, what do we know about God?" A hand shot up in the air. "He is an artist!" said the kindergarten boy. "Really? How do you know?" the teacher asked. "You know - Our Father, who does art in Heaven... "
8. A minister waited in line to have his car filled with gas just before a long holiday weekend. The attendant worked quickly, but there were many cars ahead of him. Finally, the attendant motioned him toward a vacant pump. "Reverend," said the young man, "I'm so sorry about the delay. It seems as if everyone waits until the last minute to get ready for a long trip."  The minister chuckled, "I know what you mean. It's the same in my business."
9. People want the front of the bus, the back of the church, and the center of attention.
10.  Sunday after church, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about? The daughter answered, "Don't be scared, you'll get your quilt."  Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later in the day, the pastor stopped by for tea and the Mom asked him what that morning's Sunday school lesson was about. He said "Be not afraid, thy comforter is coming."
11. The minister was preoccupied with thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play. "Here's a copy of the service," he said impatiently. "But, you'll have to think of some thing to play after I make the announcement about the finances."

During the service, the minister paused and said, "Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty; the roof repairs cost twice as much as we expected and we need $4,000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up." At that moment, the substitute organist played "The Star Spangled Banner."  And that is how the substitute became the regular organist!

12. When you carry the Bible, Satan gets a headache.....

When you open it, he collapses.....

When he sees you reading it, he faints.....

When he sees that you are living what you read,

he flees.....

And when you are tell someone about this message....

He will try and discourage you..... I just defeated him!!!  Any other takers?

Blessings on knowing enough about the KJV to celebrate all it can mean to you.  If not today, maybe tomorrow.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

     This year we should hear lots and lots of praise to The Lord when His word to the sun, moon, and all of nature takes again its normal course toward Spring. I say this because so many have seemingly longed for the day that winter is past and snows are gone for this year.

     As the spring equinox or "equal," hours of sunlight and darkness come to Kentucky we should find joyful people celebrating God’s command to all He made to continue in the seasons as He promised Noah.  The Sundays near March 20 should see a marked increase in attendance of those who want to go and celebrate Spring’s arrival, at His Divine Word.

     Spring and "springtime" refer to the season, and broadly to ideas of rebirth, renewal and re-growth. The specific definition of the exact timing of "spring" varies according to local climate, cultures and customs. At the spring equinox, days are close to 12 hours long with day length increasing as the season progresses.  In spring, the axis of the Earth is increasing its tilt toward the Sun and the length of daylight rapidly increases for the relevant hemisphere. Ours being in March. The entire hemisphere begins to warm significantly causing new plant growth to "spring forth" should make us think of Bible’s, “come forth”. Snow, a normal part of winter, begins to melt, and streams swell with runoff. Frosts,  a normal part of winter, become less severe. Many flowering plants bloom in a long succession sometimes beginning even while snow is still on the ground, continuing into early summer.

     As we think about Spring and the Summer that will follow, if He tarries His return, think about your favorite part of that season. Plan to savor each part of what His hand created for you and all of us. No matter how busy commit to stopping and letting your senses, mind, heart and soul take in the true magnificence of Spring’s renewal. Commit to giving Him credit!

     Look at the sights.

     Smell the countryside.

     See the rebirth in the millions of things that resurrect and begin a new season. Let your struggles find new strength and vision for better days. Life as many of us knew it is leaving. People are in dire circumstances and struggling from many sources.

     It is hard to struggle in life’s battles. It is also hard watching someone you care about struggle. It could be a spouse trying to succeed in the workplace, a child grappling with school, a relative endeavoring to get a business off the ground, or a friend dazed by a painful situation.  Like so many I’ve heard speak of the snow (“...just let it be gone and over with-I am so ready for the snow to be gone…”), we want to tell troubles to simply go away.

    While it is instinctive to want to help (and we often do by giving unsolicited advice), sometimes we need to learn to pray, asking help and mercy and simply wait-let the process unfold on its own. We can watch and be there should any help be required, yet not humanly intervene as we are so often prone to do.

       The wisest people I know practice this. When I’m going through a personal challenge, they make it clear that they are there but that I need to deal with it myself. In my younger years this response would drive me up the wall, because all I wanted was for someone else to step in and make everything alright. Now I understand where they come from, and am trying to do the same myself.  Today, so many people can't accept God’s control. They don’t read Word and don’t comprehend Truth. They simply want to remove every struggle instantly regardless of cause or possible lessons and changes that can only come through struggles.

     Yes. There are some things we cannot change.

     Yes. There is a time to be born and a time to die with “man born of woman and full of troubles” in between the two. This is simply the human negotiated contract from Eden. Fact. And, whether we like to admit it or not, some things we don’t learn without the struggle. The University of Hard Knocks has always been well attended and many surviving graduates emerge wiser. I do not like to struggle. I’ve never met anyone who did; but I’ve certainly known thousands who have learned and been strengthened on the ‘back side of the desert.’

     You’ve probably heard the story about a man who tried to help a butterfly out of its cocoon by slitting the cocoon open. The butterfly that emerged had small, unformed wings, and died soon after. It needed the struggle out of the cocoon to force the fluid into its wings, rid itself of acid, and to stretch and open the wings so the resulting butterfly could fly. By trying to shortcut the process, the man had instead doomed the creature.  Oh, that parents could use this wisdom.

       There are times that we need to struggle, to rid ourselves of the acids that make up sadness, fear,  and anger. It is only at this time when we are exhausted and still. It is many of these struggling times t we begin to hear His voice whisper to us, from deep within us. 

     Life has struggles. The caterpillar will be no more; but the butterfly will come and will fly. We too have times when we must admit there is nothing we can do about life as it is happening. We do not do this well because He created us to be visionary, active, creative and full of life-like Him. He also created us with choice to accept Jesus as His Son and fly with Him forever, if it is our choice.

     We have problems, or most of us do, letting Him be Lord.  We heard so many complain about His choice of a winter and its snow and cold; but, if you listen you’ll hear complains of the heat or rain, etc. We have to take the weather He sends and we have to live human lives. Fact.

     Some are saying, “Wilma why are you so deep today? No light funny for us today?”

     No. Today I feel there are humans struggling in their chrysalis, sensing life as they knew it is gone and I want them to know they can be a butterfly if they will let The Lord be Lord.  Well, I guess there is the funny and warmest fuzzy of all! We can fly and we can fly forever. It is our choice.

     Blessings on your struggle ending in a forever wings and flying with Christ someday.

_______

Sometimes today I see people who think they are so, so and maybe I need one more so, smart and cute.   In reality they are just caught up in today’s ignorance of truth and reality. Yes. I said it and I meant it.

      The other morning on a television channel they were giving the weather. This is a usual happening and has been going on for most of my life. Well, the giving of the weather has been going on most of my life but the other day a new and unusual way of explaining the weather caught my attention.

     The lady was dressed, as they say, “so today.”

     She was behaving in a manner that my Mother would have called, “being prissy.”  Today’s dictionary would say the definition of prissy is excessively particular about details and easily disgusted. Once might say one was prissy if they thought themselves "too nice about their food to taste camp cooking" or "so squeamish they would only touch the toilet handle with his elbow."  My Mother usually meant just being up in front of people, not knowing what you’re talking about and ‘showing off’.  Decide for yourself about this weather person.

    She showed the colorful maps of blue for snow, pink for ice and green for rain and explained how it extended over most of the United States. She further commented on the fact that we’ve had snow, snow, snow and more snow.

     My Uncle Orville Roe, a wonderful country man who milked cows for part of his living, would say that up to here the bucket was filling with good milk. She then did something he would say described Ol’ Blackie who sometimes kicked over the filled bucket of wonderful milk. Boy, did she kick the bucket of her forecast over!

     She then showed total ignorance (which is her only characteristic that could get her excused before the Throne). She was politically correct with her next statement. She would have gotten applause and laughter if she would have had a live audience. The network no doubt cheered her unique way of doing humdrum weather. But, oh, at the Throne!

     She said something like this, “Well Old Mother Nature is truly at it again. I don’t know if she has had one of the five hour energy drinks or has a mix of her own; but she has really been on a high these last few weeks. She just can’t quit partying and doing the same thing over and over again. I don’t know what she is on but if we could get it and sell it we could become billionaires.”

     My mind quickly went to a crowd Matthew tells us about in his twelfth chapter. Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, as was His custom. He healed a man’s withered hand. The crowd became very displease, wanting to accuse Him. Jesus asked them if they would help an animal that had fallen in a pit, even if it were the Sabbath. The crowd became very displeased, not wanting to hear of Jesus. He, on the other hand, ministered to the crowds following him. He cast out a devil. The crowd now decided to accuse him of using Beelzebub’s (Satan’s) power to cast out the devil.

      Mat 12:25-37  And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.

      And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.  Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

     My heart went out for this lady. She is caught up in today’s lies. God is in charge of weather not a pretend Mother Nature. God is not on drugs just because much of our society is. God does still want to be given credit for what He does and He certainly does not want us creating a drugged up being who gets high and makes it snow. I pray this lady will have someone bring her the truth.  I know forgiveness is hers if she will learn and repent and be converted. Jesus looked at the men who crucified Him and prayed they were too ignorant to know what they were doing; however, this is a serious charge to knowingly do.  We need to be careful inventing false things to attribute God or Jesus or Holy Ghost deeds to. It is dangerous.

     Blessings on reading Word and knowing of what you speak. Blessings on not sinning against the Holy Ghost. Blessings on being man and woman enough to speak Truth.

________________

     Recently I did research at the Barna Institute, which does research.  I found the following about what or who gets our attention when we think about changes needed in our lives. This comes from looking at the kind of resolutions people made to start 2011.

     When it comes to the types of resolutions people make, Americans not surprisingly focus on self-oriented changes. Among those planning to make resolutions, the pledges for 2011 went this way:

1. Related to weight, diet and health (30%);

2. Money, debt and finances (15%);

3. Personal improvement (13%);

4. Ending addiction (12%);

5. Job and career (5%);

6. Spiritual or church-related (5%); and

7. Educational (4%).

            When I read the list it was impossible not to notice that Spiritual or church-related issues were concerns for only 1 of 20 people and even less thought they needed to be taught. This is heartbreaking. Have we become a people who think our souls and minds do not need growth and/or maturity? Can this really be true? 

     I wrote the part above on one day. The well simply went dry in my mind. I read many important facts and ingested them for myself. They simply wouldn’t share with you.

     I did other chores. I finished my day’s work with listening to Bro. Danny and Sis. Kathy on WKKS, as she took my place for the evening. They blessed my heart with talk of peace, encouragement and Word. Treasures simply wouldn’t come. I went to bed.

     In the night I dreamed or The Voice think we are crazy; but the above is simply a fact in our lives. The Lord needs no sound to speak to the inside of the creature He made in His image. Spirit to Spirit. Deep to Deep.

     Anyway, the bull in the china shop was what came to my mind. An old saying most of us have heard. Yet most of us have not actually witnessed a real, several thousand pound bull, loosed in a china shop. We know the saying. We understand the saying and perhaps you are muttering to yourself examples you have seen that illustrate the saying.

     Picture it. There is this nice shop filled with fancy, glass fronted cases to show the wares. Perhaps some or all of the tops of floor display cases have glass for the exact same reason. Even the shelves are glass to give perfect view of the beautiful product. There in this store we created in our minds is china: plates, cups, stemware that gleams in the light, figurines, gorgeous vases and decorative pieces. 

      Now, enter the bull.

      I know. One has to ask, in our mind, what has happened that a bull is loosed and has managed to find an open door to enter any store-much less one filled with breakable treasures; but, nevertheless our bull is in our china shop!

     Bulls do not care about china. Bulls do not care that things break!

     Bulls are not the least bit interested in hard, cold, inedible china! What is treasure to the china shop owner is simply soon to be trash to him.

     And, bulls do not like restrictive areas such as our china shop. Bulls usually just push, shove, throw their heads about, snort, paw with their feet and such in warning of more fierce anger to come. They do not take advise. They are not easily led, especially when they are loosed and you have no real, tangible tether on them. Their solution is usually to begin ‘throwing their weight around’.  Actually, this is the only solution I’ve ever noticed a bull utilizing. Picture the scene that follows.

     Within minutes what was beautiful, orderly and of value has suffered much destruction! It is simply a fact. Pieces are all that can be salvaged after someone finally gets the bull out of the china shop.

     Now, go back and read the list of what people made resolutions to change. Notice their appearance, health, wealth and personal improvement takes up nearly two-thirds of their goals. Again, notice that only one-tenth to one-twentieth thought their soul or mind needed improved, changed or maturing. Is the human race becoming the bull in the china shop?

     Are people becoming only self oriented, like the bull, and unable to see the results of their actions?

     Your next time on the highway consider these facts and see if you think people might becoming bulls in china shops. The next time you are among people dealing with people or speaking about how they handle them-ask yourself if they are becoming bulls in china shops of life. The next time you watch media of any kind ask yourself …

     Blessings on being one of the ten or twenty who still need your mind and soul improved. Oh, yeah!

_

     Today it is snowing. Yes, I do still like it. I know that makes some of you think about striking me with a rolled up newspaper or at the very least muttering, “Silly woman.”

     I still like the snow for all the reasons God gave it and I still like it because it calls the world to pause and know they are not in charge. I’ve never met the Mother Nature all the newscasters speak of but I do know the One who mentions to Job, near the end of his book, about the snow. He mentions that He tells it when to be on the earth and that is good enough for me. He also speaks of the treasures of the snow and that He knows where they exist.

     I like the snow because it gives unexpected, or somewhat unexpected, days of  ‘stop the world and let me off awhile’ kind of time. Instead of running here and there in one constant stream it allows for a staying home time, unless real, true emergency demands outings. It lets one truly think, pray, contact old friends by letter, card, phone, email, snail mail, facebook, or simply call in the neighbors for a meal or vice versa. It allows ice cream or fudge making. It allows dedicated time with The Lord and His thoughts.

     I like the snow because Roger and I are home. I like Roger. I always did and believe I always will. I enjoy time with him and my family who live nearby.  I like the extra time to cook, clean out a drawer or sort out the closet’s mess. I like the extra time to pray over messages, radio or Treasures. 

    Today, I’ve spent a great deal of time in prayer for many good friends are in serious health conditions. Also, many I love are not professing their love of Jesus and I can take my time talking to Him about them. I can talk to Him about me and my needs also in a leisurely way.

     Today, as I enjoyed the lesser pace and time with so many I love a new bulleting came that brought home the truth of a recent Treasures.  I mentioned old friends we never meet but grow up with through media such as television or movies. This morning an old friend like that died, David Nelson. He was the only member of Ozzie, Harriet, Ricky and David left. Now he too has gone to get whatever eternal reward he earned.

      Though my school was Lewis County in Kentucky and his were New York and Hollywood, we grew up together. We both sat by and listened as his brother Ricky sand Rock and Roll songs. We both were part of “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” He from one side and me from the other. He was older than me and I remember having a crush on him. He was always shown as polite, interested in his school work and honorable in his dealings with others. I liked the David I knew.

      He had other things in common with us not so famous. He simply succumbed to a body that aged and came down with cancer that finally took him from this moral plane. He too had a wife of many years, Yvonne, four sons and a daughter. I’ve read many an obituary for an old friend that would have sounded much like his, except for the famous part. He had seven grandchildren and I’m sure they were the apples of his eye. There are two of them with arms wrapped around his neck as he is presented his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles. I recognize the smile.

      His work gave him many chances to star in television and movies but people always knew his brother Rick’s name better. He survived both Ozzie and Rick so he had Harriet to be the mainstay of her life. Life happens to us all in much the same way.

     How are you using your snow time?

     Here’s a blessing upon you and that your snow time will be beneficial to heart, soul, mind and body.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

     A memory came back to me the other day as we talked about how people could ‘make do’ in times of hardship. I remembered my Mother using old newspapers for a multitude of purposes.  All the stuff we use today was simply not available and the same things needed done. She was a master of most things and the newspaper’s uses was no exception.

     Cousin Charles bought a farm that had an old smoke house in the field that lay in the bend of Kinney. Good fishing, swimming, and playing near the water drew Dad and Mom to make it into a camp. There was no electric so that tells you what was not there. She was such a manager that we hardly noticed. Truly. She could do whatever needed done.

     She took newspaper and sealed that smoke house until a Coleman lantern could actually take the chill out of the night air. She made her paste for the paper by mixing cold water and flour, boiling it, cooling it, beating it and using it. She could do anything. I am telling you she could do anything worth doing. 

     On the other end of the spectrum she made a cooler from newspapers. When we would go to the field to work and had no cooler she would freeze large chunks of ice and make ice water in a gallon jug. Then, she would wet layers of newspaper and put them around the jug. Of course this created a cooler like effect and we had cold water most of the day. I wonder sometimes how she knew so much. At the time I am sure all I thought of was the rows of corn we had to hoe or the beans that had to be picked; but now I know she looked out for even our thirst and her sharp brain helped her do that.

     As I thought about how Mom used things after they had served the purpose for which they were intended the newspaper came to my mind. She used the old newspaper for more things than one could think possible. But, when you put your mind to it there are dozens of uses just for a discarded newspaper. Here are some:  newspapers can be torn to size, folded and make a bigger handle to keep wire ones from hurting your hands, make suitable umbrellas or hats to protect hair when painting, used to dry and polish windows after washing, protect car seats or carpet from mud, make a tablecloth over outdoor tables, cover benches  to protect clothing where visits from birds or animals leaf droppings behind, make filler to tighten loose shoes or a mat to sit dirty ones upon,  stuffed into smelly foot wear over night to remove odors and dry them, stuffed into boots or hats to keep their shape when not in use, stuffed into purses or suitcases when stored to deodorize and remove stale odors, cover items before painting around them, wrap around loose fitting candles or such to make them fit, wrap breakable items in to cushion, put under a rug when shampooing to collect and dry excess moisture, place in window that is loose to prevent wind rattle, excellent to keep out the cold under doors, make patterns of all kinds, protect table while children paint, make paper chains, dolls, kites, party hats, tents and such, raise the height of an uneven table leg, emergency dust pan or pot holder, start fires, rolled tightly it can be a torch or remove cobwebs or kill flies or swat an unruly child, wrap apples or tomatoes and such while they ripen, make a funnel or megaphone, can be folded to make a fan, become a knee pad, can be put under the wheels of a vehicle when it is stuck in snow or mud, line trash cans, shelves, bird cage, pet’s sleeping box, etc., cover to muffle sounds, spread out between garden rows to discourage weeds,  cover plants to prevent frost, become a blotter, place on top of snow to become a bird feeder, and all this is not counting the uses for which it is originally created-reading!

       And, I am sure some of you are saying, “Wilma, I know several more uses for the newspaper.”

       Our throw away society might bear some scrutiny. It may not all be good. We may have moved too far from the center and become consumers in more way than one. Perhaps, as the old timers would say, “We’ve become too big for our britches.”

       We think ourselves too sophisticated to re-use things. Maybe we have just become wasteful in many ways. We lived good lives before we had every item we could wish to have. Our brains served us instead many times when now it is a run to the store. Just food for thought.

       Blessings on using your brain every day for every day items. 

_______________________________

     Let’s travel through history as much as possible and visit in Virginia. We will go back to the late 1700 in America and have, they would actually say, celebrate, a Colonial Christmastide.  We might take in the festivities at the home of George and Martha Washington. We could actually go anytime between the day after Thanksgiving and January sixth for they celebrated the twelve days of Christmas according to mountvernon.org and www.examiner.com.

          Mrs. Washington would actually host an enchanting evening of candlelit tours, fireside Christmas caroling with hot cider and ginger cookies. She would guide us visitors through her home and we would be in awe at the ambiance and authenticity of a traditional Christmas evening at Mount Vernon.  We would have an enchanting evening of fireside Christmas caroling, hot cider and ginger cookies.

    Her home, beautifully decorated by servants according to her wishes, would feature many homemade decorations such as popcorn garland, candles of red, wreaths of evergreen and such.  Her and husband George’s family Christmas heirlooms and gifts from dignitaries would be on display everywhere. Poinsettias and the hand-cut boughs of greenery would adorn the doorways of the mansion and especially the dining room.

      We're in for some real treats when we visit Mount Vernon. We can watch and sample all the homemade cookies, breads, pies, cakes and chocolate items. 

     Later, we would get in the swing of good humor and merriment as we try to keep up with the Virginia Reel. Perhaps we could visit George Washington’s unique, unusual animals.  He was fond of animals and is even know to have paid 18 shillings to have a real live camel come and stay at Mount Vernon at Christmas time.

   I would be particular interested when George told of his childhood for his father died when he was eleven just as my mother’s did.  My father’s mother died when he was four so the events of his childhood would peak my interest. His father’s death ended the plans to educate him in London. He would share that his preference would be that children be educated in America anyhow.

     He learned social graces, good table manners, and proper entertaining from his mother.  We would be on our very best behavior and watch our self while visiting their home.  It would be good to hear him tell of his keeping a journal from age sixteen. As Martha walked us through his private part of the house we would see the books of journals, accounts and writings. He was a man who kept good records. Perhaps we could get a peak at some of them or get him to read a few excerpts.  His handwriting skills were put to use at age seventeen when he began his own surveyor business. We would notice the difference in expectations of youth from his day and now. Oh, yeah!

     My son John would love the stories of fox hunting and how he trained and rode horses. He was known as a great horseman even compared to men who rode them daily. John Lloyd would have enjoyed this man and this home. He has always treasured the things from his grandparents’ lives and would have loved every minute hearing and seeing around George’s home and especially the tools and barn. Wouldn’t it be something if we were allowed to light a lantern, grab a blanket and take a ride in his sleigh!

     He could tell us about organizing his farm into different sections for different men to be responsible to manage. These skills he learned in the army. George would be a sight. He was red haired, over six feet tall and very athletically built. His skills and experiences could keep us into the night if we could get him to talk. We hear he didn’t particularly like to speak a lot.

      After our visit we would ride in the horse and buggy home. The cold brisk air would make us sleepy. We would fall asleep with pictures of gingerbread men, apple cider and hearing the Christmas story from the leather bound Bible that belonged to Martha’s father. All in all it would have been a great trip.

      Blessings.

__

      Happy New Year! We’ve just turned the first page on a newly wrapped collection of 365 days. It is so refreshing to have new things, new chances and new lives.

      All of this is happening in one way or another to this one and that one. Some people decided this year NOT to go to the bar and get drunk but to attend Watch Night Services at the local church-yes, I said CHURCH. New Year!

     Some are beginning new commitments like reading the Bible through. I’ve had requests to put the Read Through the Bible in a Year calendar on ChristOpenBible.com so I know more people are interested in 2009 being their year to read heaven’s plan for this world; and, the new one that is in the wings waiting to come on stage.

     Last year we were beginning a new church. This year we were a year old and had our first New Year’s Eve service and had great attendance, great music, great preaching (Richie preached on cleaning out the junk rooms, borders and the extreme N-S-E-W of our lives), and great Presence. And, we had food and fellowship. We did a new thing in history. It was awesome to have hugs from people who were not in church, at all, this time last year. Wow!

     Today I want to tell you about a new life around our home. He is the son of Richie and Amber Kasper who frequent our home and acquaintances as did his parents, grandparents and those before him. He is quite the little man.

     A few years ago our Sister Susie Z. bought us a Christmas carousel. The stained glass windows around the carousel open and close as the carousel turns. A light shines on the angel inside and music pours forth as all this is taking place. We have always admired it and actually don’t put it away with the Christmas decorations but give it a place of honor on the divider between our living and dining rooms. Visitors often comment on its beauty and we show them how elegant it is. It is a good witness.

     Elijah is soon to be six months old and this carousel has light, sound and movement-all the elements to attract him. He will fix his eyes on the carousel and do all within his power to get nearer the happenings of this beautiful Biblical decoration. The other night I turned it on and he, with his Mom’s help, literally walked up her body and stood on her jumping up and down out of ‘down right’ excitement. His eyes reflected the beauty of the carousel and his facial expression said, “Man, it doesn’t get much better than this!”

     Our grandchildren are in their late teens now and it has been a while since we’ve cooed, babbled, and done baby things. New life is so amazing!

     He wants to sit, even if he can’t, so he needs our help.

     He wants to have things in his hands even though he drops them and wants them picked up again and again.  

     He wants food and drink but he can’t get them for himself and has to try to communicate that to us.

     He gets wet or dirty and again has to fuss until someone ‘gets’ his message.

     He wants to crawl but needs hands behind his feet to help get him going.

     He likes to bounce but hasn’t yet learned tables don’t give in-even to babies.

     He wants to go where others do but has to be taken.

     You get the message? He is a new baby boy with a new year in front of him; but he needs Mom, Dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles and all others in his world. He needs them to help him become who he can become. Already he has many sounds that indicate he will be a talker. He has many, many moves that indicate he will be healthy and athletic. He has facial expressions that say he understands more and more each day. He has love to give that is so special it draws people to him.

     If Jesus tarries another year and Elijah continues as he is, he will be at an entirely new place. A year makes such a difference! There will be 365 days for people to help him become the baby of 1 1/2 years that will bring him to. By then, if all goes well, he will have learned to walk, say words, sing some if I know his Momma, and learn many new things (I’ll help with that one). He wont’ be still for us to love him like we do now. He’ll be on the move!

     He needs us now like no other time in his life. We get to be part of his growth!

     Jesus sees you and knows there are things you can’t do without Him and He wants to change all that. He’d like to help you get where you should be going. He’d like to be part of your growth and maturity. He’d like to change your emotional and Spiritual diapers and give you emotional and Spiritual food. He’d teach you how to really talk Holy and sing Holy. He’d like to put into your hands what you really need. He wants to help you learn where the table begins and your right to swing your body ends. He wants to be in your New Year of 2009. Consider letting this be your best year EVER!!!

     Let Jesus lead!!!

     Blessings.

_________

     Someone asked me recently to write a Treasures about “How to disagree in a right spirited way?” Wow! What a topic! I’ve spent some time on this one. My first attempt at ‘a’ method to disagree in a right spirited way goes like this.

     1. You have to decide how deeply rooted, within the real you and your personal belief system, the issue at hand lies. There are strata or layers with respective negotiable or non-negotiable issues within every person. For example, few would really end a relationship over whether one drank Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke. Which cola we choose rarely is deeply rooted enough to separate friends. Many decisions are simply personal choices and usually do not enter into mature people’s  ‘disagreement’ territory.

      However, if you are involved in a deep, deep strata layer, like whether you are Muslim or Christian in belief, you have a totally different matter. People who have totally different content in a strata layer will not ‘agree’ by the very nature of the issue. If you believe Jesus is not the Christ, the only begotten Son of God and did not die for the sins of man you will not want to agree with a person who believes Jesus is the Christ, the only begotten Son of God and did die for the sins of man. On that issue you are poles apart just as the earth’s North and South Poles. That shouldn’t keep you from working side by side, speaking friendly, caring about each other, standing in line together, or being on the same highway.

      2.  Next, practice looking at the real issue and attack the problem-never the person. Attacking the person, even verbally, will not bring good will much less resolution, even when it is possible. Gossip and backbiting the person, belittling them, ignoring, being rude to them and the such will cause the basic disagreement to become much, much more abusive and damage outward from the event like throwing a stone in a pond.

      Words once spoken can never be taken back. As a minister I’ve heard people tell verbal hurts they experienced decades ago. Hurtful words kill in more ways than one. Don’t be guilty of attack. Stand your ground on deep issues but care that you cannot agree. This will come through and soften the scene.

      3.  Look at the truth, the real truth and let it reign. Listen to what the other person says. Listen to understand where they are coming from. Walk a mile, mentally at least, in their shoes. Try to see things from their viewpoint. Even if you can’t agree on the issue, you can find common human grounds to care about each other.  On issues where you can ‘give and take’ consider what you can ‘trade-off’ to get part of your wants while giving the other person part of theirs. Remember people and relationships are far more important than material goods or winning.

      4. In my case, or a Christian’s case, you can think on Word, “What would Jesus say? What would Jesus do? How would Jesus show love?”

      5. Ask yourself to think on the initials WAIT-Why Am I Talking? Mentally think on why you are talking. What do you want to accomplish?

      6. If the disagreement is a deep issue and you know you are not going to move from the ground you stand on consider all the tools you have to at least remain friendly, though on different sides of the issue. Don’t take things personal. People do not make deep, inner decisions, for or against other people; but on what they truly believe.

      7. Remember you do have tools. The list of tools available to practitioners include negotiation, mediation, advocacy, diplomacy, activism, nonviolence, meditation, counseling and for some of us the most powerful one of all, prayer. Do not resort to being a bully and trying to force your point of view. Do not bully by trying to destroy the person because you disagree. Neither try to lift yourself up above them because you believe you are better. Keep good will.

      Disagreements happened in the past. They happened today and they will happen tomorrow. Some will be as simple as to who waters the flowers. Others will be as serious as who get custody of the baby. Some are money and material issues while others are deep emotional ones. Each will need a varying amount of meditation, mediation and prayer.

      Choose your battles wisely.

      Sometimes a quiet withdrawal can speak more than a million words and leave no mess to clean up.

      Silence is golden and thus valuable in many situations.

      Remember you do not always know the truth. You may think you do; but you do not always. Know this. Know also that people get in the middle and distort so don’t fall victim to one who sows discord.

      Remember people can’t always reveal their true reasons-for that matter you do not always either. Sometimes people have things to hide and digging in their trash will not make anything cleaner.

      Once you know you are on two different sides of what looks like a permanent issue, move on to other ways to have a relationship. Don’t continually go over the battle ground but rather take a walk on common ground. Love and care.

      Jesus would suggest a quick resolution and is quoted in Matthew 5:25 (KJV) with this advice.  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
      I’m not sure if I’ve answered what you asked me to write friend; but you gave me a tough topic.

       If we plant a tree, it begins to grow; if we set a post, it begins to decay.  You think, maybe.

       There was an old farmer who, in the prayer meetings of his church in describing his Christian experience, always said: "Well, I'm not making much progress, but I'm established." One spring when the farmer was hauling some logs, his wagon sank in the mud in a soft place in the road, and he could not get out. As he sat on top of the logs viewing the situation, a neighbor who had never accepted the principle of the old farmer's religious experience came along and greeted him: "Well, Brother Jones, I see you are not making much progress, but you're established.

       I seriously doubt the old farmer sat there or went home and left his wagon there for years, just continuing to say, “My wagon isn’t making progress but it is established.”

       I truly suspect the rule he thought gave him a good result spiritually was not even close enough for results he expected for a simple wagon full of logs.

       I’m astounded that people insist their couch match the wallpaper but do not find it necessary their life’s teachings match their doing.

        I think this world needs people who want to make progress in all good and Godly things. I think we need people:

...who cannot be bought;

...whose word is their bond;

...who put character above wealth;

...who are larger than their vocations;

...who do not hesitate to take chances when the right thing is at stake;

...who will not lose their identity in a crowd or in the dark;

...who will be as honest in small things as in great things;

...who will make no compromise with wrong-believing good will win in the end;

...whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;

...who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it;"

...who are true to their friends through good report and evil report,

in adversity as well as in prosperity;

...who do not believe that the end justifies the means;

...who can and will do good to them that hate them;

...who can and will pray for those who despitefully use and persecute them;

...who love their enemies and stay clean inside;

...who are not ashamed to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;

...who can say "no" with emphasis, although the rest of the world says "yes;"

...who can say “yes” with emphasis, although the rest of the world says “no;”

...who insist to themselves that they must be accountable for Jesus’ Kingdom,

their own personal growth, their family’s growth and their church’s growth, daily.

     The great preacher Charles H. Spurgeon says: "We have the likenesses of our boys taken on every birthday ... so that we see them at a glance from their babyhood to their youth. Suppose such photographic memorials of our own family life and spiritual life had been taken and preserved; would there be a regular advance, as in these boys, or would we still have been exhibited in the baby carriage or play pen? Have not some grown awhile, and then suddenly dwarfed? Have not others gone back to childhood? Here is a wide field for reflection."

     What if the plantings of Spring had remained only seed or small plants? Where would the tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, cabbage, corn, etc. be now? We expect things God created to grow and mature. Shouldn’t we expect the same of ourselves?

     Blessings on true growth and maturity!

     It seems I made quite a stir with the financial data about America’s debt to China. Well, I just gave data on one country-try, not researching how much we owe to other countries! I want to give you one more little tidbit about our economy and how off the ‘strait and narrow’ we are.

     Here is an article, printed in the Columbus Dispatch, from the The Atlanta Journal-Constitution written by Tammy Joyner this month. It is titled, Double Take-Bush didn’t have this kind of stimulus in mind.  

     It reads: “Atlanta-Seems Uncle Sam’s economic-stimulus checks are boosting an unlikely part of the economy. Adult entertainment Web sites began seeing a spike in business shortly after the first wave of checks went out in mid-May, according to Adult Internet Market Research Co., a New York company that tracks the adult online world.

     The checks paid up to $600 to individuals and $1200 to married couples. The online spike is unusual since the warmer months-beginning in May-tend to be slow for the adult online entertainment industry, said Kirk Mishkin, director of the market research firm.

     The firm was alerted to the increase by one of its for-pay Web sites. ‘Thirty-two percent of respondents referenced the recent stimulus package as part of their decision to either become a new member or renew an existing membership,’ said Jilliam Fox, a spokeswoman for LSGModels, the company that tipped off the research firm.

The market researchers polled the rest of its 800 pay-site members and 4,000 affiliates’ sites and found similar results after compiling data over seven weeks.

     Some 20 percent to 30 percent of the people who responded said the stimulus checks were an incentive to go on to the sites, Mishkin said.”

      The above is not the words from a country preacher/teacher; but those garnered from professional news people. My point being that we Americans know we’re funding wrong things but we don’t seem to care. Congress could have earmarked those funds for utilities, medical bills only, or whatever they wanted. Instead they put the money into hands of people to choose and they knew how America spends their dollars. Congress knows how they spend their dollars.

     Now, off my soapbox and back to here and now in the Erwin home.

     While people are squandering big bucks on Satan’s devices, the churches and Jesus’ kingdom is spending all they get their hands on to stand up for RIGHT. Look about you and you will still find CHRISTIAN people, homes and churches. They still scrape up money to send youth to camps to learn Bible, Jesus and righteous living. They are still trying to buy Sunday School materials, radio air time, television time, and such to get Jesus and His saving power out to the world. They still use dollars to keep lights on in little churches around the world. They still buy and distribute little crafts that teach Godly principles to children-any children they can get long enough to teach. They still give gifts to mothers on Mother’s Day and to fathers on Father’s Day to encourage families. They still spend big bucks on Vacation Bible School to bring in the neighborhood’s kids and give them some Real Bread and Spiritual Water.

      While the world is flocking to all places except Jesus’ church, The Church is still practicing the only true financial system ever founded-tithes.  Tithing was started when Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek. God thought so much of this system that He had Abraham pay tithes, when the Hebrew Tithe Collector tribe, Levi’s seed, were still in Abraham’s loins and three generations unborn. God is such an awesome God! (Read Genesis 14 and Hebrews 7 if you want an absolutely perfect financial system.)

      While the world is selling itself and drowning in debt, the faithful Christian is simply putting a tenth into The Bank of Heaven with the promise their needs Will Be Met. (Psalms 37:25  I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.)

     While the world is selling itself, the faithful Christian is investing in houses where Jesus is Lord so the Bible can be preched and taught. They continue to partner with Heaven, God, Jesus and The Holy Ghost-Branch Offices of Heaven! Yeah! 

      Though the end of time will be perilous for The Christian-those who endure will be saved! It is a promise. Death is the door through which one goes to heaven; but death will be the last enemy. All of heaven’s riches will be theirs for eternity and the gold people sold themselves for on earth will be pavement in the New Jerusalem. The world and the worldly people will descend to their place and victory will be forever for the Christian.

      Blessings on putting your money to work where it can be an eternal investment!

______________________________________________________________________________________________

     Do you think gas at $4.00 a gallon is the sign of other, much larger, problems? Do you think food prices soaring and the housing market problems are symptoms of any other larger issues? Is it possible Americans have played the games we’ve played too long? Is sending our work overseas and buying foreign products catching up? Should we have noticed that drugs, alcohol and family deterioration make us vulnerable? 

     Do you think our democracy’s foundation is at risk? How does a country keep operating with debt that has such a high number most of us cannot imagine its real meaning? In 2007, according to author Bill Bonham in The Evangelical Advocate, we owed $5.1 trillion (5,100,000,000,000) or $17,000 per American. Much of this debt is owned by the Peoples Republic of China. What percent of Americans could pay their share of that money if it took it to keep America free?

     Many, many people talk now about their own indebtedness. Many are seeing themselves getting into deeper and deeper debt. Many fear they will have no home to live in if prices keep soaring. Once families are pressed to choosing between the house payment, food, gasoline and other bills the late fees on unpaid bills are killing them. Some places now charge those who get behind $29-$50 a month, and increase their percentage rate also. One person recently showed me a bill that had $15 interest on the hundred for one (1) month interest. That would be $180 interest in a year on $100 dollar debt. If you can’t pay the hundred how are you going to pay the $280?

      June 11, 2008, New York Post article, “CHRYSLER BUILDING ON THE BLOCK SOVEREIGN ARAB FUND TO PAY $800M”, by LOIS WEISS read in part, “The latest Big Apple trophy being coveted by oil-rich sovereign wealth funds is the landmark Chrysler Building. Sources say the super-rich Abu Dhabi Investment Council is negotiating an $800 million deal for a 75 percent stake in the Art Deco treasure that has defined the Midtown skyline since 1930.” How many of America’s businesses and properties are owned by other countries? Should we be concerned?

     This article could go on and on but ‘a word to the wise is sufficient.’ I hear people say they will have to cut back. Duh! You think maybe! I hear some say they will have to miss church or miss tithes to ‘help’ themselves. Here is one that suggests we start with anything and everything else. The symptoms above might just not be only about America-they might also be symptoms of Bible prophecies.

     Joshua would suggest we choose who we’re going to serve. He said for him and his house they were going to serve The Lord. That is my choice also. A fallen world, getting more fallen all the time, calls for serving the One who knows all things, controls all things and owns all things. My advice to us all is to get out of debt as much and as fast as we can. As for me I want to be owned by Christ and heaven. The tougher times get the more I want to commit to Him and honor Him and His teachings. We can all do better!

        Families used to live without hundreds of things we think we have to have. Families did a lot of things they aren’t doing so much now, like growing gardens, cooking in the home, and even drinking water from the tap or well. How did we ever survive?

        Enough from me but so many people in trouble has urged me to give us all a “HEADS UP” call.

        Blessings.

_

     Have you recently known the Presence of The Lord-known it for yourself? Many people today seem to be searching for something to fill their inner longings. The television is full of policemen warning that they will be out during the holiday celebrating the birth of our country. They will be out to stop drunk drivers from occupying the road with the rest of us-or they will be trying to stop them-the police seem to know they are far outnumbered.

     Have you ever thought what the reason is, that so many must seek alcohol or drugs to numb their inner self? If you look about you, or listen to news, you will see and hear, that people are seeking something (or someone or some activity) to fill their inner longings. They make news doing it. They do all the usual, predictable forms of vice and now are adding many lower animal level behaviors, all in search of filling their inner longings. I observed on the news that a young couple became intoxicated with some of their friends, put their couch on wheels, tied it to a vehicle and rode it through town, even took the Golden Gate Bridge before a policeman stopped them. What inner longing were they trying to soothe? Is this a filling for some inner longing?

     Again I ask, have you recently known the Presence of The Lord-for yourself? Few seem to be finding their way into the Presence of their Maker, to come under the Heavenly Spout where The Glory of God is dispensed. How long has it been since you, yes, you, have prayed, repented, praised and grown so close to God’s throne, in Jesus’ name, that you felt your life’s load lift and you felt the very Presence of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Acts 3:19 gives you that privilege to soothe your inner longings. Read it new and consider its promise: Acts 3:19 (KJV) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; Doesn’t that scripture tell you that repentance with a mind to convert (change from seeking to fill inner longings in earthly ways to seeking to fill inner longings in spiritual ways) will bring a pure condition before The Lord (your sins will be blotted out-in heaven) and the TIMES OF REFRESHING SHALL COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD! Wow! Wow! Wow!

       People do not seem to know there are answers to their inner longings!

       People seemingly have forgotten or no longer practice getting into His Presence and having Peace.

       People seem to keep getting another PIECE of drink, deed or activity and missing the PEACE.

       People seem to always be on another SEEK only to have what they sought run through their fingers and off again they go SEEKING. They are NOT happy people; but people always on a quest. The home doesn’t interest them. The spouse doesn’t interest them. Their own flesh and blood children doesn’t interest them. The last drunk or drug binge only makes them want one more-it doesn’t fill their need. Having a job and paying their own house rent or electric or water bill doesn’t interest them. They are on a quest much like the dragon hunters of myth. They seem to seek their own special dragon, that when finally found and conquered, will bring their elusive filling of the longing inside. People can’t seem to lay hold on life-simple, satisfying life-much less LIFE!

       Few seem to know they can be blessed for seeking Jesus and His Kingdom above all other things. They can seek Him as first in their life and ‘have all they need (food, drink and clothing) added to them.’ The number of thieves we have in our midst plainly tells they either do not know this truth or they can’t attain to it or else they would have no need to steal.

      Even fewer seem to ‘get it’ that Jesus promised open rewards and blessings to those who will give their alms (helping hand to others, good deeds or tithes) to Him, on in His Name, to draw close to Him, trust Him,  and not always be ‘doing’ to be seen of men.

      He likewise promised open rewards and blessings to those who will truly come to Him and talk to Him (pray). He said if one talks to Him in secret (shares life with Him) they will be openly rewarded. Also He gave a third way to be blessed or rewarded, to fast. Fasting is pretty much nixed in today’s world. Since so many are still on the milk, this meat totally eludes them. So many mighty Spiritual principles are unclaimed because so few can understand His Word and so many are ignorant of the Truth, Life and Way.

      The four inner ‘longing fillings’ suggested by Jesus above, are only a few of what He has promised, in the Word He left for us, to tell us how to find that illusive filling for our inner longings.

      If stealing could fill one’s need, wouldn’t thieves be happy?

      If drugs and alcohol could fill one’s need, wouldn’t addicts be happy?

      If money, status or popularity could fill one’s need, wouldn’t those people be happy?

     I find it strange that so many are being deceived into chasing their own dragons when all the time we’ve been told and shown how to really be happy. I’ve lived among those who know PEACE. I’ve been under the spout where The Glory comes out. I’ve talked with and been blessed by The One who can dispense the filling for my longings.

      I’ve laughed in His Presence!

      I’ve cried in His Presence!

      I’ve come away with Word for myself and for others!

      I’ve had answers to prayers and direction to steer me in good times and bad!

      My question again is:  Have you recently known the Presence of The Lord-known it for yourself?

Blessings.

__

     A positive attitude and positive words can build what nothing else on earth can build. Attitudes are actually the emotional underpinnings of motivation. And, motivation gives, even compels, incentive and action. The Big Mo, as author John Maxwell, leader in Leadership across the Christian and secular world, calls it, gets things done. Shut down Big Mo and your system will slow, lose inner strength and drag.

     Attitude determines our predisposition to many things. Attitude can cause us ‘to try’ and can cause us to ‘throw in the towel’ without even giving something or someone a chance. Eagerness and zeal come from attitude being positive. Good attitudes enhance the probability of positive outcomes-no matter what we’re talking about. Zig Ziglar states, “Your attitude will determine your altitude.”

       I hear people who constantly ‘feed upon’ the negative. They tell you about their sicknesses, their troubles, their lack of finances, their children’s inadequacies, and on and on and on and on and on. Well, you get the idea. They are feeding their minds on the negative. They are Spiritually speaking the evil that Satan wants them to dwell on and speak of. Undesirable circumstances feed their Spirit. The results are never good.

       I hear other people who constantly ‘feed upon’ the gossip and ill happenings in others’ lives. They tell and rush to tell bad truths and often enhance or create much of what they say (lies). They are Spiritually speaking Satan’s words and helping his kingdom thrive and spread. The undesirable circumstances feed their Spirit and the results are not good.

       If we speak of our lack of ability, education, health, finances, and on and on, we speak of negative—we are speaking ill health to ourselves. What we need to do is feed upon what ‘can be’ if we truly serve Jesus and allow His Holy Spirit to lead our lives. All can be whole. All can be Holy. All can work to our good if we claim our calling in His will. He created us for a purpose and will enable us to achieve our purpose IF WE WILL OBEY HIS WILL. It is impossible to get into circumstances He cannot bring us through-IF WE WILL OBEY.

      We need to possess our minds, hearts, and souls with Word and claim what is possible. We need to speak what can be and claim it. Jesus, the greatest teacher of all time taught us how to handle negative things. He said if someone hits you-turn the other cheek to him. It is He who defends us.

We are to love our enemies!

We are to bless them that curse us!

We are to do good to them that hate us!

We are to pray for them that despitefully use us!

We are to pray for them that persecute us!

       Doing the above is what makes us His children. Though Jesus has died for all men He still gives those who ignore Him, curse Him or try to destroy Him sun and rain. He applies His goodness to all men whether they serve Him or curse Him though a day of judgment will come.

We are to love all people-not just those who love us!

We are to salute or greet all people-not just those who salute or greet us!

       Jesus was good to ALL people. He was truthful to the scribes, Pharisees and others but He was good to them and continued to teach and preach the truth to them. He was perfect! He wants us to put His principles to work and become perfect.

Mat 5 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

We should not use the words like dummy, (I was recently corrected on that one. I don’t usually use it but slipped in silly fun and said it to someone-The Lord corrected me. I repented and want to convert from it.) stupid, silly, and such. We should never use curses (damn or worse) in speech unless we want a curse or destruction to come. The word hell describes a place of destruction. Recently I heard a man say his grandchild was “as cute as hell”.  What on earth was he saying? His grandchild was as cute as outer darkness, gnashing of teeth and misery. I think not! He was foolishly allowing negative and Satanic language attitudes to be what he expressed over his generations. Foolish! Foolish indeed! Fooling in the eyes of heaven’s citizens!

We need to speak good!

We need to think good!

We need NOT to be destroyers but BUILDERS!

Blessings on good, Godly attitudes that spill out and pour ointment over those you are near and love.

_

        Have you noticed how much confusion there is among people today?  It was prophesied that variance would come, in the last days especially. Luke 12:53  The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. We should not fall into the trap of helping confusion build walls where love should be. Know that Satan wants to destroy unity for unity has power for God and good. There will be differences of opinions and times when people who love each other go separate ways; but we need to keep our souls clean and not help confusion. What is confusion and what power does it have?

        Confuse is a word that means: 1. to cause one to be unable to think clearly-to throw off, 2, to cause one to act without true understanding by giving false information, 3. to mistake one thing for another, to blur, to assemble without order or sense, to jumble, to make something unclear or incomprehensible, or to bring to ruination.

 God is not for confusion. He is The God of Peace, especially in the church of the saints. One way to tell if you are a saint or on your way to being one is whether you author confusion.  1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. Envy, bitterness, strife  and lying against the truth is wisdom that is sensual and devilish while wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. The fruit of righteousness requires peace to be sown in.  Jas 3:14-18  But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.  For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

God hates seven things which includes many that bring confusion.    Pro 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,   A heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

     God states that people defiling His laws for sexual purity and sex only within marriage of a man and a woman will cause confusion. He states two specific examples in Leviticus 18:23 and Leviticus 20:12.

      God says that a man calling his children the son of a perverse rebellious woman as part of correction is bad. King Saul tried to justify, with strong language to his righteous son, his wanting to kill young David. Strong language about his son’s mother did not hide Saul’s evil heart. Rather it exposed it more.

      1Sa 20:30  Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto him, Thou son of the perverse rebellious woman, do not I know that thou hast chosen the son of Jesse to thine own confusion, and unto the of thy mother's nakedness?

      God’s man Ezra explained that confusion comes to nation when they trespass God’s laws.  Ezr 9:7  Since the days of our fathers have we been in a great trespass unto this day; and for our iniquities have we, our kings, and our priests, been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, and to a spoil, and to confusion of face, as it is this day.

      Job felt confusion for all the troubles that came upon him when God bragged to Satan that Job would be true and Satan was allowed to confuse Job’s life. God allowed Satan a season to confuse and try Job; then God came to Job and restored and replenished him.

    Confusion can be a trial to allow us to prove we will remain true to our Lord no matter what is said about us or how others reproach or blaspheme us. We do not have to forget God just because others deal in confusion. Psa 44:14-17  Thou makest us a byword among the heathen, a shaking of the head among the people. My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face hath covered me, For the voice of him that reproacheth and blasphemeth; by reason of the enemy and avenger. All this is come upon us; yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.  We can pray as the Psalmist did and proclaim to Christ, that in Him, we have put our trust and we will never be put to confusion.  Psa 71:1  In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.

     David often prayed for confusion to hinder the work of his enemies knowing this would be enough to give him the victory. Confusion can bring ruination. David wanted God to put confusion as a mantle upon his enemies. Isaiah said that confusion could break down a complete city. Isaiah also said to trust in Egypt (not God) would bring you to confusion. Jeremiah takes the power of confusion a step further and says we will lie down in shame and cover with confusion when we sin.    Jer 3:25  We lie down in our shame, and our confusion covereth us: for we have sinned against the LORD our God, we and our fathers, from our youth even unto this day, and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.

     Blessings on speaking and living Peace to have peace-not confusion.

___

This week I’d like to try my hand at bragging on Kentucky-Lewis County-our home. We have taken some time to go fishing and how wonderful it is.

      Drifting along in Kinney one can look up and see the beautiful sky and the green canopy of trees above. In days past Kinney has rolled to heights and roughness that the trees have had their roots ‘dug out’ and exposed on the creek side. This lack of the earth’s stability has caused them to lean over the creek. Even though one knows this eventually means doom for each tree so affected, the canopy overhead is beautiful.

      In the canopy one sees squirrel, their nests and their play. If you sit quietly you can watch the squirrel at work and see them climb about in ease. They chatter to each other and chomp on treasures they have brought back to their high, safe place.

     And, their intended safe place may not be so safe. Roger and I sat one day in the boat and watched, what was to me at least, an eerie sight-a snake climbing in the canopy. This long, huge black snake slithered it’s coils back and forth on the tree bark until it rose to great height in the tree. At one point it stretched itself (I do declare it truth) about three feet straight out like a yard stick to reach the next branch. It stopped me from sitting in a boat under trees and fishing!

     Not too long ago we were silently floating along and came into a sycamore that was down in the water. Our boat slid against the tree and we began catching fish. Soon we noticed slight movement in the tree. It was a beaver lying as still as he could to be unnoticed. For a few minutes we watched him hide then he gave up on us and down under he went. The next time we saw him, he was several feet from us.

     Upon occasion we have watched deer as they swam the creek to evade dogs on their heels. It reminded me of the Psalmist writing about the hart (deer) panting for the water. Psalm 42:1  To the chief Musician, ... As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. The Psalmist thought we should, and indeed we should, have souls that pant for the Lord, as the thirsty deer pants for water.

      And this year the cicada are humming loudly to add to all the usual bug, frog, bird and other creature sounds. The cicada is an insect with large eyes wide apart on the head and usually transparent, well-veined wings. They are commonly called locusts, although they are unrelated to true locusts, which are a kind of grasshopper. These cicadas are related to leafhoppers and spittlebugs. They do not bite or sting, are benign to humans and are not truly considered pests; although they destroy certain young trees. Now, they are lying about everywhere, dying. The creeks catch their share of them. You can hear them loudly buzz as they hit the water.

      As you watch the cicada on the water you can see the usual dragonfly and the all too despised gar. His long nose according to most fishermen need NOT be stuck into fishing. Most fishermen moan and groan at their quick splashes giving the allusion of a muskie and only being a gar.

      Oh! The wonderful, illusive muskie! How we hunt the creeks and lakes in search of him and when he gives us a quick look we are thrilled even if we don’t catch him. And there are the bass-they are fun. And we even like to find the blue gill for baiting a trout line.

      We have a beautiful place to live. We have such beautiful greenery! We have birds, butterflies, and all sorts of wildlife. We have horses in fields to take our early American hearts for a pleasant feeling. We have been blessed to live here. There are other pretty parts of the world. That is for sure and certain but Kentucky can hold her own with any of them.

      Get out this summer and take all the generations to the creek. Play. Swim. Picnic. Have good Godly fun. Enjoy what you have all about you.  We do!

     Blessings.

_____

     I would like to send this tribute to all Moms, Dads or substitute parents who are brave enough to be ‘mean’ in their children’s eyes-to withstand the pouting and ‘fits’ to hold for the right, regardless. It is written about Mom but will apply to any mature adult willing to suffer children’s ill will in order to rear children in the right way.

     When my own Mother died she had a poem about being a ‘mean’ Mom in her purse. She knew we were then old enough to understand the logic that motivates a parent. I pray more of us will be able to tell our children, as my Mean Mom told me:

I loved you enough to ask where you were going, with whom, and what time you would be home.

I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover that your new best friend was a creep.

I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your room, a job that should have taken 15  minutes.

I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, and tears in my eyes. Children must learn that their par ents aren't perfect..

I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your actions even when the penalties were so harsh they almost broke my heart.

But most of all, I loved you enough to say “NO” when I knew you thought you would hate me for it-temporarily.

Those were the most difficult battles of all. I'm glad I won them, because in the end you won, too. And now that your own children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates parents, you will tell them.

Was your Mom mean? I know mine was. We had the meanest mother in the whole world!

While other kids ate candy for breakfast, we had to have cereal, eggs, and toast or even gravy & biscuits.

When others had a Pepsi and a Twinkie for lunch, we had to eat sandwiches and soup.

And you can guess, our mother fixed us a dinner that was different from what other kids had, too.

Mother insisted on knowing where we were at all times. You'd think we were convicts in a prison.

She had to know who our friends were and what we were doing with them.

She insisted that if we said we would be gone for an hour, we would be gone for an hour or less.

We were ashamed to admit it, but she had the nerve to break the Child Labor Laws by making us work.

We had to wash the dishes, make the beds, learn to cook, vacuum the floor, do laundry, empty the trash and all sorts of cruel jobs.

I think she would lie awake at night thinking of more things for us to do.

She always insisted on us telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Our Mom actually had the nerve to require us to learn Bible, go to church and live by Bible laws. Can you

Imagine. Telling her others ‘didn’t have to do it’ didn’t dent her determination one bit.

By the time we were teenagers, she could read our minds and had eyes in the back of her head.

Then, life was really tough! Mom wouldn't let our friends just honk the horn when they drove up. They had to come up to the door so she could meet them.

While everyone else could date when they were 12 or 13, we had to wait until we were 17.

Because of our parents we missed out on lots of things other kids experienced.

None of us have ever been caught shoplifting, vandalizing other's property or ever arrested for any crime.

It was all their fault. They planted honest, Godly thoughts in our hearts that accompanied us everywhere.

Now that we have left home, we are all educated, honest adults.

We did our best to be mean parents just like our parents were and now are passing it to grandchildren.

I think that is what's wrong with the world today.

It just doesn't have enough mean Moms and Dads!

Blessings.

______

     I hear so much in the business and education world today about the missing “fidelity, integrity, truthfulness or authenticity”.   This story is an email sent to me by my daughter-in-law, Kimberly, who knows I love a good illustration of old truths. Enjoy. I’m sorry the author is not on the email. It is called The Seed.

     A successful Christian business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.  Instead of choosing one of his directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.  He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were shocked, but the boss continued." I am going to give each one of you a SEED today  one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO"
      One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.
      Six months went by--still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however. He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.
      A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection. Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick at his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room.
     When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful--in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him! When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives. Jim just tried to hide in the back.
       "My, what great plants, trees, and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"

      All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the financial director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"
      When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story. The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief executive! His name is Jim!"

      Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his  seed. How could he be the new CEO the others said? Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow. All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive!"
      - If you plant honesty, you will reap trust
      - If you plant goodness, you will reap friends
      - If you plant humility, you will reap greatness
      - If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment
      - If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective
      - If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation
      - If you plant faith in Christ, you will reap a harvest
      So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later. Two thousand years ago Paul wrote to the church at Galatia the same story but with fewer words, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap". (Gal. 6:7)                                                                                                                                                             Blessings on good seed sowing and good reaping.

__________________

Recently Roger and I have had the opportunity to minister to many new congregations and meet new people. It is always a joy to do this. At times we can get ‘tunnel vision’ and only see one spot in time, people or geography; then we are given the opportunity to see a bigger picture. Roger and I have met so many great Christian people in so many denominations this year.

     In church after church you find great people like the ones you’ve known all your life. You soon learn that each church has its personality and probably, purpose for Jesus. I call them flavors. Some are quiet and some are quite jubilant. All are about the business of The Kingdom-each with people trying to get ready for heaven and to take others with them. Sadly, most if not all, with people in masks, hiding who they truly are behind a Sunday Mask. They sound and look good but their proof is not in the pudding-they do not live holy lives 24/7. They can’t trust Jesus and love people more than they …… Gossip outweighs the Gospel. You get the idea.

       You find the churches with different ‘Spiritual states of health or disease’ just as Jesus reported in The Book of Revelation. Jesus told of seven: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodiceans. He found two of seven or a little over 28% were truly faithful and without fault. The others had diseases of bad doctrine, leaving Him as their first love, idol worship, false Jezebel spirits, those that had a name of being living but really did not have His Power of life in them and those who were no longer hot or cold but lukewarm and fit only to be spit out.  There are many ideas of how to apply those truths but I somehow think we still have all those kinds of churches here on earth today. It is sad that so few could truly hold Jesus, The Life Giver, in their total commitment to Him!

       Then, in contrast to the above faults you find people like the graduate at Ohio Christian University who went to the altar and I prayed with her. She was leaving for Africa as a missionary but was concerned for lost loved ones here in America-not her safety far away from home.

      You find people who meet the evangelist for a meal and take them to a Gospel Bookstore to get ‘seed for the sower’.  Some will ask if they can take Roger fishing or me to the mall. It is amazing when a fellow minister asks you to prepare your message in his or her study and ask for prayer while you are there, for them and the church. Then there are the homes that know you gave up your hotel before Sunday School and have to stay until after evening worship so they invite you for the day. They cook a meal and plan a study room and give their home as yours. This country is still full of great people who love Jesus and don’t mind an occasional 24/7 assignment. Revivals still happen that way—of people and churches!

      After preaching a message in a Revival about people wanting to ‘halt’ but decide to trust The Lord and go on, I received a beautiful poem. It was from Robbie O’Brien and read.

      “Wilma”

She spoke the truth from His Word today

And showed us all how to find our way.

Down on our knees we bowed our heads

And found our way through the Words she said.

By God’s own voice this woman was called.

To spread His Word to one and all.

So I must thank her from deep in my heart

That through God’s Word we can have a new start.

Thank you Wilma your message was clear. I am a Christian but many times lately I wanted to halt. God has a plan for all of us. Now all we need, is to, start looking for it, instead of avoiding it.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

     Recently I was part of our church team that attended a church education seminar. It was very interesting, informative and Spiritual.  Many, many, many times in my profession as an educator I’ve attended meetings targeted toward improving myself, my school and ultimately my students. It was so refreshing to attend one meant to teach me how to improve ‘how the church serves people’.

     The agenda contained three possible tracks for learning from the pastor to the youth. Each had sessions and speakers geared toward that age and experience range. One of the session I’d like to share with you today was about discipline.

     Discipline is a word that means:

(1) training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training to produce specific moral or mental behavior

(2) controlled behavior resulting from training,

(3) a state of order based on submission to rules and authority,

(4) punishment intended to correct or train. 

      Disciple is the word Jesus used to refer to those who took His instruction, believed in Him and received Him into their lives.  This gave them His teachings and preaching to practice in their daily life. They let His teachings become their standard for control in their life-hence, a disciple.  After embracing His discipline they would become teachers of the same.

     The entire process of discipline is to change a baby (or immature person) from self centered, inability to control themselves to self controlled and able to control themselves.

      The entire concept is to take a little person, say three months old, who cries at midnight, two o’clock and five o’clock for a feeding-with no control over himself or herself to wait for a better time for parents who need sleep-to a self-controlled adult who can be trusted to drive, work, marry and even parent themselves. Discipline is the training that changes us from having to be ‘outside’ controlled to being ‘inner’ controlled.

      The process involves training and the best time for it to start is as young as possible. A child who reaches for the electrical outlet will be told “No.” They will have a hand slapped and the word “No”. They will be punished to teach and train them to stay away from electric. Why must this be learned? Electric can hurt and even kill them. They must learn or be endangered.

      Un-disciplined people cannot control themselves according to rules and authority lines. They are immature and self centered, unable to deny themselves instant pleasure regardless of the consequences to themselves and others. We see this often in today’s undisciplined world. We see people who live uncontrolled until a spouse calls their hand. They, instead of seeking training and discipline, will “go wild” and refuse to accept discipline. They get a gun. Many times they kill their own children (their own flesh and blood) to get even (talk about out of control) with their spouse-then they shoot the spouse and kill themselves to avoid punishment. Oh yeah! This is true only if the Bible is NOT true and God does NOT exist. Otherwise they have it all to face before a True and Just Judge of all affairs of mankind. (This is what the Bible says and what I believe).

    You see good discipline can benefit us from the cradle to the grave-and beyond! Come back next week and let’s look more at DISCIPLINE.

    Blessings.

__________________________________

     Last week we spoke some on Discipline. Remember the definition?

Discipline is a word that means:

(1) training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training to produce specific moral or mental behavior

(2) controlled behavior resulting from training,

(3) a state of order based on submission to rules and authority,

(4) punishment intended to correct or train. 

     Let’s look at The Lord’s opinion concerning discipline.  We have great writings throughout the Scriptures. Let’s look at this one.

     Hebrews 12:5-11 (KJV) ⁵ And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: ⁶ For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. ⁷ If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? ⁸ But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. ⁹ Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? ¹⁰ For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. ¹¹ Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

     Let’s get some word definitions to understand more fully.

Exhortation means urgent appeal by strong advice.

Chastening means to restrain, to subdue, to punish, to rid of excess, to refine and purify.

Rebuke means to reprimand or officially criticize.

Scourge means to flog.

     Here the Word says not to despise the chastening (restraining, subduing, refining and purifying) of The Lord. Do not faint when he rebukes (officially criticizes or reprimands) you. For if you have submitted to Him and become His child He will chasten you and treat you like His child and not like a child that belongs to someone else. He won’t force correction on you no more than you go into town and correct a stranger’s child. You have had fathers and mothers who corrected you (or that was His plan) and sometimes they punished you after their own pleasure yet we reverenced them (that too was His plan).  They were over you only a few years-in this country it is intended to be until you are eighteen (by then you are to be a DISCIPLINED ADULT). God, on the other hand, wants to discipline you for your own profit. He wants you to become so “inner” controlled that you will be Holy.

     He knows that being chastened is not joyous at the time of the punishment or correction or purification. He also knows that we grieve when we are punished or chastened. (We might pout.) He also knows that chastening RECEIVED will later cause you to be a better person. He knows that continually learning to submit to rightful rules and authorities and becoming more and more “inner” controlled will bring you into a state of maturity. You will become able to DO the RIGHT thing and resist the wrong things. You will, in a lifetime of accepting inner control, become a righteous person and that had rewards. REWARDS!

       The biggest reward for becoming a disciplined person is the inner peace and ability to operate in both the earthly and Spiritual worlds successfully. A great side effect is that a mature, disciplined person (yourself) will be part of your family’s everyday life. A person with maturity will be constantly available to teach and train those you love-YOU!

      Discipline is one of life’s greatest concepts and gifts from our Lord. Jesus made the trip to earth, in a human form, to teach us how to live a victorious, successful life. He defeated the enemy death that Adam and Eve loosed upon us and gave us life forever. He sent The Holy Spirit to live within each of us as a Full-Time Tutor! He will also move into your inner being and guide you—if He is asked. What more could we ask?

     Blessings.

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Good morning and thank you for all the expressions of love, prayers and well wishes for my birthday. WKKS and JOY FM were filling the air with well wishes. How neat! It was nice to have people calling and emailing and stopping to visit. The milestones of our birthdays have two big effects on us: they remind us of the blessings given in order to reach each year’s end and they remind us of the passage of time usually allowed humans and how much of ours might have already been lived.

     This year has been a happy, dance about the room kind of celebration. My health has been better and Jesus and I have been closer than ever before. I have given more thought to how blessed my life has been: great family, great friends, great job, and most of all great motivation within me. That is awesome! Each passing year gives me a greater zeal to live my life to the fullest. I want to make a difference in a life each day of my life. I want my life to have counted so that when my day comes to leave the body behind and go through the air with the angel I’ll truly be free.

     Daily visions of ways to spend my day spring into my mind and heart. That is awesome! Life hasn’t gotten dreary or dull, but more exciting. As we age and gain more influence from having known and served more people we have more chances to spend a profitable day. I often think that each day could be spent a thousand times, and other than the limited physical, it could be spend again. Isn’t that great that The Lord Jesus motivates us to such a high degree!

     Birthdays always have an edge of ‘forever’ with them since Mom, Dad, Aunt Ora and such can no longer do the special little things they did. They slip into my mind and leave footprints on my heart and tears in my eyes. Roger does something for me that is always good-that is just Roger-good and doing good things. John’s ‘Happy Birthday Mom’ means more than any thing this world has to offer. Emails from ‘my girls.’ My sister Chris stops by with our annual gift-so cherished-two pair of pajamas EXACTLY like I like and wear-things a sister knows. The surprise at church and at work add much to the day. Churches and ministers from places we’ve served or been neighbors to check in with cards, calls or ways of saying, “We appreciate you.”

     Several cards had little children’s names printed. How precious is the awkward printing of a child’s name! It is one of life’s most cherished gifts. Then, there are the names of those in generations that speak promise because they could have much of life to share and those older, cherished friends’ names are so very precious.

     This year’s birthday was celebrated with a new sincerity, a new awareness of how precious life is and a new zeal to live each day.

      As we age we realize there is a day up ahead, much closer than before, when we go to see Jesus. The day we drop off the earthly and take only our eternal soul with us. That day would scare me terribly if I didn’t know that Jesus’ precious blood and grace has covered my sin. Sometimes I think about the call. That Word from heaven-from the throne room- “Come home.”

     I so want to hear, “Come home, good and faithful servant, you have been faithful over a few things…”

     What a BIRTHday! To be birthed eternally into the sleep in Jesus where those of the ages rest until the getting up day. And to think of that day sends excitement over ones entire self-to rise and receive a body like Christ’s new one-to sail through the air-to meet Jesus mid-air and to go with Him to His home! That is a PLAN!

     Sometimes I think about sitting at the table for the Marriage Supper of The Lamb of God. I can feel the great expectation when Jesus steps up to drink of the cup, like He drank from at the Last Supper. He said He would not drink of it again until we were all with Him in His home. Can you imagine!

     The best is yet to come! Oh, yes there are some terrible dying stages for earth and it’s systems. All here will be gone and the dying throws will be horrible, especially for those without their name in The Lamb’s Book of Life-the non-Christ people; but for those ready there will be grace (He knows how to care for His own). So, no matter how my next birthday come I will live them expecting GREAT THINGS.

    Blessings.

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     When I was growing up in Bentleyville at Garrison my best friend in the ‘field’ was Thelma Stanley who now is Mrs. Burton Lawson.  They live in Richmond, Kentucky and have for many years. We try to keep in contact mainly through email. Burton has been ill and needed surgeries and prayer, especially this year so we’ve been in contact more.

     She shared a writing by Colleen B. Hubert that I though many of you readers would enjoy having. It takes me back to Bentleyville days with Mom hanging clothes on the line in the yard and all us kids making trips back and forth to Bentleys Grocery.  If you were alive at this time in history you, no doubt, will take a memory trip to your childhood days. Enjoy.

  IN THAT LONG AGO TIME WHEN THINGS WERE SAVED,

WHEN ROADS WERE GRAVELED AND BARRELS WERE STAVED,  

WHEN WORN-OUT CLOTHING WAS USED AS RAGS,

AND THERE WERE NO PLASTIC WRAP OR BAGS,

AND THE WELL AND THE PUMP WERE WAY OUT BACK,

A VERSATILE ITEM WAS THE FLOUR SACK.  

PILLSBURY'S BEST, MOTHER'S AND GOLD MEDAL, TOO

STAMPED THEIR NAMES PROUDLY IN PURPLE AND BLUE.

THE STRING SEWN ON TOP WAS PULLED AND KEPT;

THE FLOUR EMPTIED AND SPILLS WERE SWEPT.                                     

THE BAG WAS FOLDED AND STORED IN A SACK

THAT DURABLE, PRACTICAL FLOUR SACK.

THE SACK COULD BE FILLED WITH FEATHERS AND DOWN,

FOR A PILLOW, OR T'WOULD MAKE A NICE SLEEPING GOWN.  

IT COULD CARRY A BOOK AND BE A SCHOOL BAG,

OR BECOME A MAIL SACK SLUNG OVER A NAG.

IT MADE A VERY CONVENIENT PACK,

THAT ADAPTABLE, COTTON FLOUR SACK.

BLEACHED AND SEWN, IT WAS DUTIFULLY WORN

AS BIBS, DIAPERS, OR KERCHIEF ADORNED.

IT WAS MADE INTO SKIRTS, BLOUSES AND SLIPS.

AND MOM BRAIDED RUGS FROM ONE HUNDRED STRIPS  

SHE MADE RUFFLED CURTAINS FOR THE HOUSE OR SHACK,

FROM THAT HUMBLE BUT TREASURED FLOUR SACK!

AS A STRAINER FOR MILK OR APPLE JUICE,

TO WAVE MEN IN, IT WAS A VERY GOOD USE,  

AS A SLING FOR A SPRAINED WRIST OR A BREAK,

TO HELP MOTHER ROLL UP A JELLY CAKE,

AS A WINDOW SHADE OR TO STUFF A CRACK,

WE USED A STURDY, COMMON FLOUR SACK!

AS DISH TOWELS, EMBROIDERED OR NOT,

THEY COVERED UP DOUGH,

HELPED PASS PANS SO HOT,

TIED UP DISHES FOR NEIGHBORS IN NEED,

AND FOR MEN OUT IN THE FIELD TO SEED.  

THEY DRIED DISHES FROM PAN, NOT RACK

THAT ABSORBENT, HANDY FLOUR SACK!

WE POLISHED AND CLEANED STOVE AND TABLE,

SCOURED AND SCRUBBED FROM CELLAR TO GABLE,  

WE DUSTED THE BUREAU AND OAK BED POST,

MADE COSTUMES FOR OCTOBER (A SCARY GHOST)

AND A PARACHUTE FOR A CAT NAMED JACK.

FROM THAT LOWLY, USEFUL OLD FLOUR SACK!
SO NOW MY FRIENDS, WHEN THEY ASK YOU AS CURIOUS YOUNGSTERS OFTEN DO, "BEFORE PLASTIC WRAP, ELMER'S GLUE AND PAPER TOWELS, WHAT DID YOU DO?"   TELL THEM LOUDLY AND WITH PRIDE DON'T LACK, "GRANDMOTHER HAD THAT WONDERFUL FLOUR SACK!"

Blessings.

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      A minister friend of ours had a different Easter this year than ever before in his life. He is a man our age and has been blessed to have his Mother all these years. The last few months her health has been failing. Her ninety (90) years had been mainly good health but as my Mother would say, “Something has to take us out of this world since death is an appointment.”                                 

      Easter day she left the ‘throw away carton’ called the body and left for heaven. After hearing about her departure my mind kept thinking about her getting to go on the day we celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection Day. Wow!

      This year many of the sermons given me around the Easter season were about judgment, which follows death for each of us, Jesus’ love for us that He’d give His life for our sin, and Resurrections. His first resurrection was in the Jordan River when He asked John to baptize Him. He was buried in the water and resurrected to His Father’s voice and The Holy Spirit’s blessing. What a great example of the resurrections ahead!

      He preached and taught-then gave His life for our sin. He entered death by turning His spirit into His Father’s hands willfully, trusting Him to resurrect Him. He, as Peter tells us, then went to preach to the spirits in prison which were disobedient in the days of Noah. (Is that awesome or what?) After His mission there He returned, having defeated Satan and death, which Satan had tricked mankind into in Eden. In Revelation He makes the statement that He has the keys to death and hell. His death paid the price of a sinless Lamb for the sin of the world’s people. His resurrection defeated death. He gave mankind a way to defeat Satan and death if they choose Him.

  Then, The Word teaches a Great Resurrection Day coming for all Christians in the graves and those alive who are His. I Corinthians 15, I Thessalonians 4 and Revelation 20 all teach of this resurrection time ahead. Grandma got to go home on a very special day-Resurrection celebration day.

Now, it has been three days and today was the day of the burial-always such a sad day. The day we know our loved ones are gone from the body is tough. I remember wanting to scream and scream and scream when my Mother died. I didn’t but I wanted to. Although the angels’ presence could be felt in the air, my selfishness at not wanting to let her go, overtook the victory she had won, for awhile at least, in my heart. My soul and head knew she had made heaven’s jet plane and was gone to be with Jesus but my heart wanted my Mommy. We are human and can’t help that.

Another tough time is when we take that last walk with Mom. My heart thought today several times about Bro. Jim walking Momma’s last mile. Many times he would pick her up and take her out to eat-she had several favorite places. They would sometimes drive on to our home and we’d visit with her for a short time. Today, I thought about his walking Momma home.

 An old song, Will The Circle Be Unbroken?,  has a verse that ran through my mind. It has verses that read:

Lord, I told the undertaker,
"Undertaker, please drive slow;
For this body you are hauling,
Lord, I hate to see her go"