The Pumpkin

A woman was asked by a coworker, "What is it like to be a Christian?"The coworker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin." God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

And mine is working just fine!

What If?

What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we didn't follow Him today?
What if God couldn't take the time to bless us today because we couldn't take the time to thank Him yesterday?
What if we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when God sent the rain?
What if God didn't walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day?
What if God took away the Bible tomorrow because we would not read it today?
What if God took away His message because we failed to listen to the messenger?
What if God didn't send His only begotten Son because He wanted us to be prepared to pay the price for sin?
What if the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart?
What if God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?
What if God would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him?
What if God answered our prayers the way we answer His call to service?
What if God met our needs the way we give Him our lives???

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd
That's Relationship!
I shall not want
That's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
That's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters
That's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul
That's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
That's Guidance!
For His name sake
That's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
That's Testing!
I will fear no evil
That's Protection!
For Thou art with me
That's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me
That's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
That's Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil
That's Consecration!
My cup runneth over
That's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
That's Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
That's Security!
Forever
That's Eternity!

Face it, the Lord is crazy about you.

Kinda early but this is so neat!

"For God so loV ed the world,

That He gA ve

His onL y
BegottE n
SoN
T hat whosever
Believeth I n Him
Should N ot perish,
But have E verlasting life."

John 3:16

Love Letter

My Child,

You may not know me, but I know everything about you ~ Psalm 139:1
I know when you sit down and when you rise up ~ Psalm 139:2
I am familiar with all your ways ~ Psalm 139:3
Even the very hairs on your head are numbered ~ Matthew 10:29-31
For you were made in my image ~ Genesis 1:27
In me you live and move and have your being ~ Acts 17:28
For you are my offspring ~ Acts 17:28
I knew you even before you were conceived ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5
I chose you when I planned creation ~ Ephesians 1:11-12
You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book ~ Psalm 139:15-16
I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live ~ Acts 17:26
You are fearfully and wonderfully made ~ Psalm 139:14
I knit you together in your mother's womb ~ Psalm 139:13
And brought you forth on the day you were born ~ Psalm 71:6
I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me ~ John 8:41-44
I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love ~ 1 John 4:16
And it is my desire to lavish my love on you ~ 1 John 3:1
Simply because you are my child and I am your father ~ 1 John 3:1
I offer you more than your earthly father ever could ~ Matthew 7:11
For I am the perfect father ~ Matthew 5:48
Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand ~ James 1:17
For I am your provider and I meet all your needs ~ Matthew 6:31-33
My plan for your future has always been filled with hope ~ Jeremiah 29:11
Because I love you with an everlasting love ~ Jeremiah 31:3
My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore ~ Psalm 139:17-18
And I rejoice over you with singing ~ Zephaniah 3:17
I will never stop doing good to you ~ Jeremiah 32:40
For you are my treasured possession ~ Exodus 19:5
I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul ~ Jeremiah 32:41
And I want to show you great and marvelous things ~ Jeremiah 33:3
If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me ~ Deuteronomy 4:29
Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart ~ Psalm 37:4
For it is I who gave you those desires ~ Philippians 2:13
I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine ~ Ephesians 3:20
For I am your greatest encourager ~ 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles ~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you ~ Psalm 34:18
As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart ~ Isaiah 40:11
One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes ~ Revelation 21:3-4
And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth ~ Revelation 21:3-4
I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus ~ John 17:23
For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed ~ John 17:26
He is the exact representation of my being ~ Hebrews 1:3
He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you ~ Romans 8:31
And to tell you that I am not counting your sins ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled ~ 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you ~ 1 John 4:10
I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love ~ Romans 8:31-32
If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me ~ 1 John 2:23
And nothing will ever separate you from my love again ~ Romans 8:38-39
Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen ~ Luke 15:7
I have always been Father, and will always be Father ~ Ephesians 3:14-15
My question is ~ Will you be my child? ~ John 1:12-13
I am waiting for you ~ Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad, Almighty God

Things to Ponder! Ponder??? What's a ponder? Things to think about!

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine.

I got to thinking one day about all those women on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back.

From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you?

How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched jeopardy' on television?

I cannot count the times I called my sister and said, "How about going to lunch in half hour?" She would gasp and stammer, "I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain." And my personal favorite: "It's Monday." ..She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because Americans cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches.. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect!

We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Stevie toilet-trained.

We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet.

We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going to," "I plan on," and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit."

When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting?

Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow." And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say "Hi"?

When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift....Thrown away... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

"Life may not be the party we hoped for... but while we are here we might as well dance!"

The Rain

I've always like this little story:


One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly, my daughter, Aspen, spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat. "Dad, I'm thinking of something."This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear."What are you thinking?" I asked. "The rain! ;" she began, "is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away."After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond. "That's really good, Aspen." Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation? So I asked... "Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does! that tell you?" Aspen didn't hesitate one moment with her answer: "We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us."I will always remember this whenever I turn my wipers on.

Our Bible study class was talking one Sunday about sometimes salvation not being fair. And what I mean by that is ok; take for instance:

• Someone who has been a very good Christian for a very long time. Now we know that person is probably going to Heaven and has got a first class ticket. Now what about the person that is sitting on Death Row. He's getting executed today, this morning. He's committed murders, rapes, you name it, he's done it. And suddenly he accepts Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. And he's so sorry for all he's done. And he's a new person by the grace and mercy of God. Now, is he getting a first class ticket to Heaven too? Or does he just get the cargo seat?
• What about the person who has accepted Jesus at one time in their life and they are so happy. And life goes on and they eventually stray from going to church, worshipping God, reading the Bible, so on and so on. They start drinking, partying, doing whatever but doing stuff that really they shouldn't be doing. Is this person going to have to be on stand by or do they get to go to Heaven too?
• How about that Youth minister that fell to temptation when a very pretty teenage young woman caught his eye?

Well, here's what God says about it: "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24. In God's eyes a sin is a sin. And everybody sins. Oh yeah, we try really hard not to. But what about that little conversation with your co-worker about that terrible thing that the other co-worker did. God hates gossip. Or about that extra $5.00 that the cashier over at the store accidentally gave you, did you give it back or keep it? What about that guy that cut you off in traffic this morning? Did you show him that certain hand signal?; we all know what that is.

When you get saved and you've got Jesus in your heart, you really don't want to keep sinning. You feel bad when you do. That's the Holy Spirit saying, "hey, you're messing up here!" We need to confess our sins daily and list them; not just say "Oh Lord, I am sorry for all that I did wrong today." You'll still go to Heaven because once you're saved, nobody can take that away from you. You are in the Father's hands and nobody is stronger. But you will be judged by what you've done, good or bad. When your children do something wrong, you discipline them. You still love them but they still have to pay for their actions. That's what makes them stronger, wiser, a better person.

Well, enough ramblings for awhile. God bless!

God Bless America!

When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:

"Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask
your forgiveness and to seek your direction and
guidance. We know Your Word says, "Woe to those who
call evil good", but that is exactly what we have
done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and
reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it the
lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
We have shot abortionists and called it
justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and
called it building self esteem.
We have abused power and called it politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and
called it ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and
pornography and called it freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our
forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God, and know our hearts today;
cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!"

The response was immediate. A number of
legislators walked out during the prayer in protest.
In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where
Rev. Wright is pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone
calls with only 47 of those calls responding
negatively.
The church is now receiving international requests
for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and
Korea.
Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his
radio program, "The Rest of the Story," and received
a larger response to this program than any other he
has ever aired.
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over
our nation and whole-heartedly become our desire so
that we again can be called: "One Nation Under God."

"If you don't stand for something, you will
fall for everything."

I've only been a Christian for a few short years. But I've learned so much since then. Do you remember the time you first asked Jesus into your heart and made him Lord over your life? If you can't, there's something wrong. That should be the best day of the rest of your life. You're reborn! Born again! New life! Wow! What a feeling! Here is just a few things that I've thought and wondered about since becoming a Christian:

• I was talking to someone one time and they said "well, we're all God's children." Well, not really. I guess you can say that since we were all created by God. But wait a minute. Satan was created by God. And I really don't think God is going to be calling Satan home to be with him anytime soon.
• I've heard someone say when asked if they've accepted Jesus as their saviour: "I believe in God. That's what counts." Well, not really. Even the demons believe in God. That's not what what will get you to Heaven. Not doing good works, not helping other people, not preaching at the pulpit, not being a deacon of your church, or even being the Pope. Jesus says in John 14:6: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." He does mean nobody! And I think I'm going to have to believe Him. So just believing ain't gonna get it. Jesus also says in John 3:3: "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." And again, I'm gonna have to believe Him. Wait, here it is again in John 3:7: "You must be born again." And you guessed it. Jesus said it.

Well, gotta go for now. But I'll ramble on some more later.

The Worlds Easiest Quiz

Only 4 correct answers is passing!

1) How long did the Hundred Years War last?
2) Which country makes Panama hats?
3) From which animal do we get catgut?
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
5) What is a camel's hair brush made of?
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?
7) What was King George VI's first name?
8) What color is a purple finch?
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?



All done???? Check your answers on the comment page.

Here we go.........

As you can see from my past posts that I'm not much of a writer. I do a LOT of talking; or so my husband says. But to write it down? Yeah, right. But someone asked me what a blog was and I said "oh, it's just ideas, pictures, discussions, ramblings of someones' very personal life and thoughts." And then I though: well, my blog is not like that. I've got nothing of ramblings. Nope, no ramblings here. Well, I guess I need to put some ramblings on here. So in the future I will ramble about stuff. I don't know what kind of stuff, but the world is so full of stuff that I'm sure I can think of some stuff to talk about. And feel free to just join right in. People look at me weird when I ramble to myself.

My Oath To You

When you are sad.....I will dry your tears.

When you are scared.....I will comfort your fears.

When you are worried.....I will give you hope.

When you are confused.....I will help you cope.

And when you are lost....And can't see the light, I shall be your
beacon.....Shining ever so bright.

This is my oath.....I pledge till the end.

Why you may ask?.....Because you're my friend.


Signed: GOD

It's Strange

Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill
seems like such a large
amount when
you donate it to church, but
such a small amount
when you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when
you're at church, and how
short they seem when you're
watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't
find a word to say when
you're praying,
but you have no trouble
thinking what to talk about
with a friend?


Isn't it strange how difficult
and boring it is to read
one chapter
of the Bible, but how easy
it is to read 100 pages of
a popular novel or ZANE GREY book?





Isn't it strange how everyone
wants front-row-tickets
to concerts or
games, but they do whatever
is possible to sit at the last
row in Church?

Isn't it strange how we need to
know about an event for
Church 2-3
weeks before the day so we can
include it in our agenda, but we can
adjust it for other events in
the last minute?

Isn't it strange how difficult it
is to learn a fact about God to share it
with others, but how easy
it is to learn, understand,
extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how we
believe everything
that magazines and newspapers
say, but we question the words in the
Bible?





Isn't it strange how everyone
wants a place in
heaven, but they don't want
to believe, do, or say anything
to get there?

Lord, Don't Let Me Be Late!

A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class.

As she ran she prayed, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!"As she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off,and started running again.

As she ran she once again began to pray, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!...But don't shove me either."

What does love mean.......through the innocent eyes of children!

You just know that your name is safe in their mouth."

Billy - age 4
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"Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other."

Karl - age 5
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"Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs."

Chrissy - age 6
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"Love is what makes you smile when you're tired."

Terri - age 4
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"Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK."

Danny - age 7
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"Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more.
My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss"

Emily - age 8
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"Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen."

Bobby - age 7 (Wow!)
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"If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,"

Nikka - age 6
(we need a few million more Nikka's on this planet)
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"Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday."

Noelle - age 7
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"Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well."

Tommy - age 6
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"During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling.

He was the only one doing that. I wasn't scared anymore."

Cindy - age 8
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"My mommy loves me more than anybody .

You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night."

Clare - age 6
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"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken."

Elaine-age 5
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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford."

Chris - age 7
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"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day."

Mary Ann - age 4
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"I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones."

Lauren - age 4
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"When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you." (what an image)

Karen - age 7
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"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn't think it's gross."

Mark - age 6
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"You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget."

Jessica - age 8
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And the final one --

A four year old child whose next door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man cry, the little boy went into the old gentleman's yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there. When his Mother asked what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, "Nothing, I just helped him cry"
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When there is nothing left but God, that is when you find out that God is all you need. All you do is simply say the following small prayer.


Father, God bless all my friends in whatever it is that You know they may be needing this day! And may their life be full of your peace, prosperity and power as he/she seeks to have a closer relationship with you. Amen.

Yeah, where the wind comes sweeping down the plains. Oklahoma storms are so awsome. Enjoy!

If anybody can tell me how to get rid of this big space between my title and my pictures, I'd sure appreciate it. I can't seem to figure it out. :o(

If you don't know Christ.........

If you have never received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, why not do it right now?

Simply repeat this prayer with sincerity: "Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God. I believe that You became man and died on the cross for my sins. I believe that God raised You from the dead and made You the Savior of the world. I confess that I am a sinner and I ask You to forgive me, and to cleanse me of all my sins. I accept Your forgiveness, and I receive You as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen."

"If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved...for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9,10,13.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9


Now that you have accepted Jesus as your Savior:

1) Read your Bible daily-it is your spiritual food that will make you a strong Christian.

2) Pray and talk to God daily-He desires for the two of you to communicate and share your lives with each other.

3) Share your faith with others-be bold to let others know that Jesus loves them.

4) Regularly attend a local church where Jesus is preached, where you can serve Him and where you can fellowship with other believers.

5) Let His love in your heart touch the lives of others by your good works done in His name.

The Guards

1. How many steps does the guard take during his walk in front of the Tomb Of The Unknowns, and why?
21 steps. It alludes to the twentyone gun salute, which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

2. How long does he hesitate after his about face to begin his return walk and why?
21 seconds for the same reason as answer 1.
3. Why are his gloves wet?
His gloves are moistened to prevent losing his grip on the rifle.
4. Does he carry his rifle on the same shoulder all the time and if not, why not?
He carries the rifle on the shoulder away from the tomb. After his march across the path, he executes an about face and moves the rifle to the outside shoulder.
5. How often are the guards changed?
Guards are changed every thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.
6. What are the requirements to be a guard?
He must be 5' 11" to 6' 4". His waist size cannot exceed 30". He must commit 2 years of his life to guard the tomb, live in a barracks under the tomb and cannot drink alcohol on or off duty for the rest of his life. He cannot swear in public for the rest of his life and cannot disgrace the uniform (fighting) or the tomb in any way. After two years, he is given a wreath pin that is worn on his lapel, signifying that he served as guard of the tomb. There are only 400 presently worn. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of his life or give up the wreath pin. The shoes are specially made with very thick soles to keep the heat and cold from his feet. There are metal heel plates that extend to the top of the shoe in order to make the loud click as he comes to a halt. There are no wrinkles, folds or lint on the uniform. Guards dress for duty in front of a full-length mirror. The first six months of duty a guard cannot talk to anyone, nor watch TV. All off duty time is spent studying the 175 notable people laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. A guard must memorize who they are and where they are interred. Among the notables are President Taft, Joe E. Lewis (the boxer) and Medal of Honor winner Audie Murphy (the most decorated soldier of WWII) of Hollywood fame. Every guard spends five hours a day getting his uniforms ready for guard duty.

GRANT THEM ETERNAL REST O LORD. LET PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE UPON THEM.

In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington DC, our US Senate/House took 2 days off in anticipation of the storm. On the ABC evening news, it was reported that because of the dangers from the hurricane, the military members assigned the duty of guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier were given permission to suspend the assignment. They respectfully declined the offer "No way, Sir!" Soaked to the skin, marching in the pelting rain of a tropical storm, they said that guarding the Tomb was not just an assignment, it was the highest honor that can be afforded to a serviceperson. The tomb has been patrolled continuously 24/7 since 1930.

Here is the Sentinels site http://www.tombguard.org/general.html

Deck Of Cards

It was quiet that day, the guns and the mortars, and land mines for some reason hadn't been heard. The young soldier knew it was Sunday, the holiest day of the week. As he was sitting there, he got out an old deck of cards and laid them out across his bunk. Just then an army sergeant came in and said, "Why aren't you with the rest of the platoon?" The soldier replied, "I thought I would stay behind and spend some time with the Lord." The sergeant said, "Looks to me like you're going to play cards." The soldier said, "No, sir. You see, since we are not allowed to have Bibles or other spiritual books in this country, I've decided to talk to the Lord by studying this deck of cards." The sergeant asked in disbelief, "How will you do that?"
"You see the Ace, Sergeant? It reminds me that there is only one God.
The Two represents the two parts of the Bible, Old and New Testaments.
The Three represents the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost.
The Four stands for the Four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
The Five is for the five virgins; there were ten but only five of them were glorified.
The Six is for the six days it took God to create the Heavens and Earth.
The Seven is for the day God rested after making His Creation.
The Eight is for the family of Noah and his wife, their three sons and their wives - the eight people God spared from the flood that destroyed the Earth.
The Nine is for the lepers that Jesus cleansed of leprosy. He cleansed ten, but nine never thanked Him.
The Ten represents the Ten Commandments that God handed down to Moses on tablets made of stone.
The Jack is a reminder of Satan, one of God's first angels, but he got kicked out of heaven for his sly and wicked ways and is now the joker of eternal hell.
The Queen stands for the Virgin Mary.
The King stands for Jesus, for he is the King of all kings.
When I count the dots on all the cards, I come up with 365 total, one for every day of the year.
There are a total of 52 cards in a deck; each is a week - 52 weeks in a year.
The four suits represent the four seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.
Each suit has thirteen cards - there are exactly thirteen weeks in a quarter.
So when I want to talk to God and thank Him, I just pull out this old deck of cards and they remind me of all that I have to be thankful for."
The sergeant just stood there. After a minute, with tears in his eyes and pain in his heart, he said, "Soldier, can I borrow that deck of cards?"

Please! Let this be a reminder and take time to pray for all of our soldiers who are being sent away, putting their lives on the line fighting.

Prayer for the Military:

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them. Bless them and their families. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

House For Sale

This is a house that we all CAN afford but one we CAN'T afford to be without!


http://wandascountryhome.com/forsale/index.html

John Glen's Assessment of the Iraq War

Things that hopefully will make you think a little........


1. There were 39 combat related killings in
Iraq during the month of January.....
In the fair city of Detroit there were 35
murders during the month of January.

That's just one American city, about as
deadly as the entire war torn country
of Iraq.

2. When some claim President Bush shouldn't
have started this war, state the
following ..

FDR...led us into World War II. Germany
never attacked us: Japan did.

From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost,
an average of 112,500 per year.

Truman...finished that war and started one
in Korea, North Korea never attacked us.

From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost,
an average of 18,334 per year.

John F. Kennedy. ..started the Vietnam
conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us.

Johnson...turned Vietnam into a quagmire.
From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost, an
average of 5,800 per year.

Clinton...went to war in Bosnia without UN or
French consent, Bosnia never attacked us.

He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a
platter three times by Sudam and did nothing.

Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.

3. In the two years since terrorists attacked us:

President Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban,
crippled al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran and North Korea
without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000
of his own people.

The Democrats are complaining about how long the war is taking, but...
it took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the
Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation.

We've been looking for evidence of chemical weapons in Iraq for
less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing
records.

It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy
the Medina Republican Guard than it took Ted Kennedy to call the
police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick killing a woman.

Wait, there's more.......................

Some people still don't understand why military personnel do what they
do for a living. This exchange between Senators John Glenn and Senator
Howard Metzenbaum is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive
impromptu speech, but it's also a good example of one man's explanation
of why men and women in the armed services do what they do for a
living.

This is a typical, though sad, example of what some who have never
served think of our military.

JOHN GLENN ON THE SENATE FLOOR

Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004

Senator Howard Metzenbaum to Senator Glenn:
"How can you run for the Senate when you've never held a real job?"

Senator Glenn replied:
"I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps.
I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by
anti-aircraft fire on 12 different occasions. I was in the space
program.

It wasn't my checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. It was not
a nine-to-five job, where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts
to the bank. I ask you to go with me ... as I went the other day...
to a veteran's hospital and look those men - with their mangled bodies
in the eye, and tell THEM they didn't hold a job!
You go with me to the Space Program at NASA and go, as I have gone,
to the widows and orphans of Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee...
and you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their Dads didn't
hold a job.

You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National
Cemetery, where I have more friends buried than I'd like to
remember, and you watch all those people waving flags.

You stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell ME that
those people didn't have a job? I'll tell you, Howard Metzenbaum;
you should be on your knees every day of your life thanking God
that there were some men - SOME MEN - who held REAL jobs. And they
required a dedication to a purpose - and a love of country and a
dedication to duty-that was more important than life itself.

And - their self-sacrifice is what made this country possible.

I HAVE held a job, Howard! What about you?"

For those who don't remember - During W.W.II, Howard Metzenbaum
was an attorney representing the Communist Party in the USA

If you can read this, thank a teacher.... If you are reading it in English, thank a Veteran.

I Do..... Not

Some describe Paul as homophobic. He says homosexuality is "not natural," even "shameful." He stops only a hair shy of name-calling when he implies that practicing homosexuals are perverts: receiving "due penalty for their perversion" (Romans 1:27).
Creative Bible interpreters say that when Paul spoke of "unnatural" sexual behavior he was condemning homosexual acts by heterosexuals. But this interpretation doesn't come from Paul. It comes from the prevailing belief today that homosexuality is natural for some people.
As politically incorrect as it may be, when Paul says homosexual acts are unnatural, he means they're sinful, they're contrary to God's plan. Paul is repeating what God revealed to Moses more than a thousand years earlier. For along with prohibiting adultery, incest, and having sex with animals, God said: "It is disgusting for a man to have sex with another man" (Leviticus 18:22). "It is an abomination."
Even if homosexual tendencies are determined by genetics or by events in life, and therefore we are not responsible for our sexual desires, we are responsible for our actions. And though it would seem unfair for God to place such a burden on human beings, people in this sin-damaged world carry a wide variety of burdens.
"If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens," Jesus once said, "come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me" (Matthew 11:28-29).
Whatever the burden, Jesus promises to help us carry it and learn from it.


That was taken from a book I have; How To Get Into The Bible, page 338.

You are St Brigid's Cross: St. Brigid is an Irish
saint who hand-wove a cross,out of rushes she
found by the river. She made the cross while
explaining the passion of our Lord to a pagan
man.


What Kind of Cross are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Please God...

Real Church Signs


Do not wait for the hearse to take you to church.

If you're headed in the wrong direction, God allows U-turns.

If you don't like the way you were born, try being born again.

Looking at the way some people live, they ought to obtain eternal fire insurance soon.

What is greater than God, More evil than the devil, The poor have it, The rich need it, And if you eat it, you'll die?

Peace Of God Inside

Open your heart and open your mind,
Inside, Peace and Joy you will find.

This can only come from heaven above,
True and pure is God's eternal Love.

You will find that you are not alone,
For many are waiting at God's throne.

Jesus life on earth was the price He paid,
And God's time you will find is not delayed.

That was written by a good friend of mine called Sir Laughalot. Thank you for sharing Sir. :o)
http://poetry.com/

I knelt to pray but not for long,
I had too much to do
I had to hurry and get to work
For bills would soon be due.
So! I knelt! and said a hurried prayer,
And jumped up off my knees.
My Christian duty was now done
My soul could rest at ease.....
All day long I had no time
To spread a word of cheer
No time to speak of Christ to friends,
They'd laugh at me I'd fear.
No time, no time, too much to do,
That was my constant cry,
No time to give to souls in need
But at last the time, the time to die.
I went before the Lord,
I came, I stood with downcast eyes.
For in his hands God held a book;
It was the book of life.
God looked into his book and said
"Your name I cannot find.
I once was going to write it down...
But never found the time."

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Thank you for visiting and God Bless You!
forgivenforever

When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.


-Billy Graham

Drawing God

A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's artwork. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.

The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."The teacher paused and said, "but no one knows what God looks like."

Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

In Crisis

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling. Psalm 46:1-3

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be nor more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4.


My heart goes out to all of the victims of hurricane Katrina. My prayers are with you and your families.