Riddle

Riddle. Give your answer on the comments.
What does a rich man want, a poor man has and is stronger than God.

Quote from Whitmore Winslow.

"Can a man suppose that he was made for himself?
What a glorious motto for a man, "I Live for God!"

It is religion's truest definition.

It is a motto for a life.

Can a man suppose that he was made for himself?

Miserable thought!

Yet the world acts upon this belief. They devise, and
scheme, and accomplish apparently for others; but
the spring of action and the end of action is, SELF.

This is of course abhorrent to God.

Bo says.
Im afraid I know this truth but still act for SELF.

If

If a frog had wings it wouldn't bump its butt when it jumps. Why did he say that you may ask? I don't know. Don't have any thing else to say.

I saw a cool sign yest. "Today is the tomorrow you were worrying about yesterday". I thought it was pretty interesting. Don't know about you but I usually can't remember what it was I was worrying about yesterday, because I am worrying about tomorrow, today.

Another quote from Mary Winslow

"What, oh what shall I render unto You for Your wondrous goodness and patience towards me? Nothing have I to render. I am poor and needy, and dependent upon You moment by moment."

I have nothing to offer to the Lord. Thank goodness he requires nothing.

Pot calling the Kettle black

or something like that. I remember a few days ago, no, waite, maybe it was a few weeks ago. Could it have been a month ago? A certain person, who shall remain unnamed, sometime ago was encouraging a certain member of his family, who shall remain unnamed to BLOG. That certain family member did blog but there were some exchanges between the two, that if you didn't know better, you might have considered..... well..... strained. I would have thought given that exchange that the party of the second part would have continued on a more frequent basis their blog whereby sharing their life experiences with all who read these blogs but alas the one blog at or about the time of the above mentioned exchange was the only one offered. Strange?
Strange. But that is only the half of it. Would you believe me if I told you that the party of the first part, after offering such encouragement to the party of the second part to blog, has sense become even more lax in blogging than the party of the second part. Go figure.

I was looking on our web site this morning and on the links that Carol has put on it I found a site called Grace Gems. I opened it and found these quotes from Mary Winslow. They are from here letters and diary. They are wonderful. Here is one I thought was particularly good.

"What a brittle thing is all the glory, wealth, and honor of this vain world! How empty, and what trash does it appear! And yet men sell their souls to grasp it, and at last pass away from it and find it all a phantom. How unceasing is Satan in forever bringing it before our eyes, in some form or other! What is all the pomp and wealth and rank of this poor fleeting world, in contrast with the glory that shall soon be revealed in all those who love His appearing?"

Here is a
Link
if you are interested in reading more.

Eye of the beholder

There are many words, which have different meanings to different people. People view different situations differently depending on all sorts of influences in their lives. I think they mainly define and interpret all things depending on how it may effect them, or maybe better how they may like for it to effect them. Like the quote from Abraham Lincoln's "Address at sanitary Fair" depicts men's interpretation of Liberty.

"The world has never had a good definition of the word liberty, and the American people, just now, are much in want of one. We all declare for liberty; but in using the same word we do not all mean the same thing. With some the word liberty may mean for each man to do as he pleases with himself, and the product of his labor; while with others the same word may mean for some men to do as they please with other men, and the product of other men's labor. Here are two, not only different, but incompatible things, called by the same name---liberty. And it follows that each of the things is, by the respective parties, called by two different and incompatible names---liberty and tyranny.

The shepherd drives the wolf from the sheep's throat, for which the sheep thanks the shepherd as a liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act as the destroyer of liberty, especially as the sheep was a black one. Plainly the sheep and the wolf are not agreed upon a definition of the word liberty; and precisely the same difference prevails to-day among us human creatures, even in the North, and all professing to love liberty. Hence we behold the processes by which thousands are daily passing from under the yoke of , hailed by some as the advance of liberty, and bewailed by others as the destruction of all liberty. Recently, as it seems, the people of Maryland have been doing something to define liberty; and thanks to them that, in what they have done, the wolf's dictionary, has been repudiated."

Perhaps the greatest source of this type of interpretation or divergence is the Bible. Gods Holy Word. Man, how we can be so far apart is something else. Like the meaning of 2nd Peter 3-9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Armenians use this verse to say that God loves everyone and see, He is waiting to give everyone a chance to "Come to HIm". Calvinist read this verse and say see, He is talking to his chosen people, "to us-ward", and He will wait until the final elect creature is saved.
Others look at this and say see, there is so much disagreement and controversies in the Bible that I don't think I can believe any of it.

Of course being a Calvinist myself I believe God is in control. He hardens who he will and opens the eyes of who He will. He has mercy and compassion on whom He will. He is sovereign in All things. Romans 9:15-21" For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
[16] So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
[17] For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
[18] Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.
[19] Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?
[20] Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
[21] Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Some will say then what is the use of Preaching, what is the use of seaking, if God only chooses. It's His will. Do it. He tells us to preach and by preaching he will bring people to believe. He tells us to seek him. And those who do will find Him. Not because they "DO" but because He has "DONE".

More Canyon tales

Mason and Carol have both talked about our week-end on their blogs but I would like to add my two bits. We did have a very good time on Saturday. We went to the Museum in Canyon first and I enjoyed it very much. I will need to go back someday by myself as I was rushed through and not allowed to take the time to see everything and read all the captions on the displays. I am always a little surprised at the quality of the museum. It seems like it would not be as nice as it is being in such a small town as Canyon and in the Panhandle of Texas. I remember going there as a young boy, prob. around 9 or 10 yrs old. I liked it then and have enjoyed it each time I have returned. One highlight was seeing the collection of guns that my Aunt and Uncle donated. He had reminded me a few weeks ago that he had given his John Wayne collection to the museum and as we toured thru the other day Carol asked what John's middle name was. I said it was Woodsen and she pointed out the collection.
It is neat to see the display on the oil industry in the Panhandle. As a resident you know most of the names of the ones that were successful in the business but it is neat to see their pictures and the old photographs of the drilling and boom towns. I imagined my Grandparents in Borger a little after the boom.

We had a good walk. I was surprised at Masons ability to hang with us. I was afraid he would run out of gas and get to whinnying but he made it pretty well. He did go off on his own however. After he started I got a picture in my mind and after realizing I had let him start too early I got a little concerned.



I couldn't shake the picture so I climbed the mountain after him. I went on adrenalin. I kept thinking I prob. couldn't make it. My 55 year old legs got a little shaky but I kept on going. When I got on top I called his name. No response. I scared some deer and I wondered what else I would jump. I called again. My breathing was pretty loud but I thought I heard a call. I waited a minute and tried to be quiet. I heard the sound again. I hollered again and then I heard clearly a "Hello" in return. I looked toward the sound and saw a white shirt. I was so relieved. I have heard the news reports and saw the headlines of peoples kids lost in the woods and even in the Canyon. I didn't want it to be about us.
We joined up and started to look for a way down. We could see a trail way down below and knew that we could prob. join up with Carol and Corbin if we could get to it. We choose a route and started down. It did get kind of serious in one spot. Had we slipped we might have slid about 30 feet onto some rocks. Not sure how bad it would have been but certainly not a lot of fun. It took a long time to get down. When we did I quit worrying about our safety and began worrying about what Carol was going to say. I was pretty sure she would be upset at us. We got on the trail and started making our way back to where it would intersect the main path. We turned to our left and began to walk in the direction I felt would take us to the truck. We heard someone calling and looked up to see Carol and Corbin at a rest stop about 100 yards away. We had taken a wrong turn and luckily we were close enough for them to see us and get us on the right path. She was not upset. She handled waiting an hour on us very well. I was very relieved again.

Next time we will not go off individualy and we will read this link before we go.

Pictures at last

Now I am soooo happy. I have been taught to do pictures. My great and wonderful wife has enlightened me, educated me, instructed me in picturing on my blog.
Maybe next time she will teach me to link.

A Picture is worth a thousand words.

Every blog I look at has pictures but mine. I feel like a blogger failure. I have no pictures. I want pictures. I think pictures are nice. Who will teach me to blog a picture? I wonder if I can even learn to blog pictures? I have a lot of pictures in my Kodak albums. Will I be able to use them, or will I have to get new ones? If I have to get new ones, what will I take new ones of. Cows? Houses? Cars?
People? I guess the sky is the limit. I can take a picture of just about anything I want. Some folks take pictures of the weirdest things. I hope my pictures are not considered weird when I Blog them. That is if I learn to blog them. Pictures that is.

I also want to be able to blog "LINKS". Links are so cool. You just double click on a link and it takes you to a different website. I like links. I want to learn to do links. Would someone please teach me to link.

I have a secrete. I seldom have secretes.
I bet you all think Carol and Mason have done all the moving. I want you to know I have done my share. I have one more trailer load and I will be finished for this move. The one think most of you don't realize is that we will be doing this all over again before this year is out. The only solace is that we wont be moving 80 miles this next time. Only a few blocks as the crow flies.

We are strong

There is really strength in our natures. Deep down in us somewhere resides a tremendous resource for endurance and survival. At first glance its not apparent. We whine and moan and groan at the least discomfort. Its too hot, its too cold, Im tired, Im bored. Sounds like a kid but if were honest we still do it at fifty. But we make it thru all those things. We get to the end. We all have survived some real hardships and tragedies.

Where is this coming from you ask. My Uncle John is amazing. He had a stroke about 12 years ago. He was paralyzed on his right side. His wife helped him thru the first 5 years. She helped him dress and bathe and those kind of things. She drove for him most of the time. She kept house and fixed meals and tended to the dogs. She read to him and paid the bills and I guess did about most things you can imagine needing to be done for the necessities of living. But she died. She had a heart attack and was suddenly gone and he didn't have anyone to do those things for him anymore. I thought he would just have to go into a home at that time so he could be cared for. I wasn't surprised when he wanted to try it by himself but I don't think I expected him to be able to make it. Well he did make it. He has lived by himself for several years. He has done all those things above for himself. I never gave it much thought as I made token visits to his house. He would have clothes on. He provided his own meals. His home was not a wreck. His yard was watered and kept up. His dogs were fat and happy. Sometimes he would be somewhere he had driven himself to, gotten his wheelchair out of the car and gotten himself into it. I never gave those things much thought until recently. I went to his house one evening when I saw his garage lite on. I walked into the house and he was in his wheel chair in the living room. He said he had been unloading his car for awhile and was resting. He had been to Amarillo and brought back a load of groceries. He had been working for about an hour to get about half the stuff in and put up. I finished it up for him and it took me no more than 3 minutes. I since have watched him do a number of things. It takes him a long time to dress and undress. He uses his teeth to pull off his shirt sleeves. He has to kind of shrug off clothes a few inches at a time. It is a major thing to comb his hair and shave. Im amazed at his patience and perseverance. I have never really herd him complain. He will fuss a little but not really complain.

He has had a set back recently. He had another lite stroke and cant get up and down by himself now. He is in an old folkes home now. He things he will get out but I don't know. Yall pray for him.

That whining and moaning is our weak nature. Unable to do anything for ourselves. The deep strength was put there by our Creator and Sovereign God. He fuels those inner fires that heats the boilers of resolve and effort required to follow the plan He laid out for our lives before the foundations of the world.

Copycat

I sometimes listen to Rush at noon. I think he has really lost a step in the past couple of years. He was really good when he had Clinton to bang around everyday. But now he seems to do a lot of stammering and just doesn't get to the point like he use to. I don't listen to him much. I prefer Michael Savage and even Bill O'Brien. Sometimes they are a little over the top though.

Today I was listening and guess what one of the callers wanted to talk about. You guessed it! He was talking about how all the reporters at the Olympics were trying to stir up stuff and drag the athletes into some type of controversial junk. I wonder if he read my blog and got that idea from Me? You never know who is reading these things you know.

Now if the rest of you will just have a whack at the media maybe they will get the idea and make changes. Yea right.

Our Sunday school lesson was over Ephesians 2: 11-22. Paul is telling the Gentiles and Jews that they are now united in Jesus Christ. The Jews are no longer the only ones with a relationship to God. The Gentiles had no history in the faith. They had no knowledge of the Law, the ceremony, the messiah. They were truly blind to Christ. It is truly a miracle that any came to believe. I think this really portrays Gods work in salvation. Matthew 6:44 "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." And verse 37 in that same chapter "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." THE FATHERS WORK.

I thought Carol would give an update on the House Quest. Im going to keep quiet. If you talk to her ask her to let you know what's going on.

Sickening

This morn. I sat down at the computer and the today show had some video clips of interviews of some of the Olympic medalist. Katy Couric and Matt Lauer were interviewing two figure skaters. Matt interviewed a girl from Russia who had won the bronze medal. He complimented her and then told her he couldn't help but notice that she seemed a little disappointed in her marks. She said that she knew that her performance was not worth more. She said she was not disappointed. He then ask her what she thought about the American girl being placed over her even after falling twice and her only having fell once. He was trying to drag her into saying something negative but the girl handled it very well. Couric did the same thing to the American skater only in reverse. They were trying to sensationalize and create a controversy on the scoring. Lauer then interviewed a black speed skater and tried to get a race issue going. I thought that really stunk. There was a place to critique the site and I told them my opinion of the interviews. It wont do any good but that type of reporting should be shown for what it is. They have bad character and ethics and taste and they are dragging us down to there level. They are just poor reporters and this sensationalizing is the only way they can grab a few viewers.

Rise up America and take back good manners, ethics, morals and character. Don't let those idiots continue to do your thinking for you. Form an opinion and let it be felt by the media that is robbing us of right and wrong.

Pretty Funny

Im not sure where, but sometime Sunday when Carol and I were in Amarillo we saw a funny saying. I thought it was pretty good. I will share it with you. You have prob. heard it before but I don't think I had.
"Some days you're the Dog and some days you're the hydrant"
Ha,Ha I think that is funny. Maybe way corny but funny.

I had a great day. Got work done. Had a little creative time(which I haven't had much of lately) and got to have lunch with a friend. We had a good conversation about kids and parents. He told me of a time when he heard a prayer. Said he would always remember a particular part. The person praying asked the lord to help him be a good parent to his children and to also help him be a good child to his parents. As we have children we spend a lot of time learning and practicing parenting. Im afraid I haven't spent much time ever being a good son. I want to practice that a little.

Well, say good night Gracie. Good night Gracie

Lights? Tunnel? What tunnel?

How can you ever tell if it is the light at the end of the tunnel or if its that darn train. Again.

I really had a great day when I sit back and reflect. Things went fairly smooth. No bad fires to fight. Time for some preventive things. No major screw ups. Some good conversation with my fellow man. Pretty good.

I had a call that I had dreaded to make but it went very well. Sometimes Im just too skeptical. Sometimes I just look for and expect the worst. I think I will turn over a new leaf and starting today, just look for the good things. I wish it was that easy. That I could will myself to be like that all the time. I will try to take a few steps in that direction. I will keep you posted.

My wife is in a good mood this evening. She is a special gal. She is looking particularly pretty this evening. She found a house she liked. I will get to see it this week-end. Maybe it will make me look pretty. We will also look at a friend and associate of mine's house. Maybe we will like it also.

Well I must needs go. More later God willing.

Worms

We are so funny. Us little worms. Stirring around, debating this debating that. We think and plan and act out our plans. We feel so smug when our plan comes together or we feel so miserable when it doesn't. We act as if we are in control. We are quick to take credit for the good things and seek to blame someone or something for the bad.
I love the Lord. But if I am honest I love myself more. I wonder to what degree I can love Him when my love for self is so strong. I cant change me, I hope He will. I think He will. He changed the leper. He healed the man at the pool. He made the blind to see and he can change me.
I like the new testament Romans. Paul really reassures me when he too struggles with sin. 7:15 "For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not: but what I hate that do I." Paul, I can relate.
Chapter 8 is great when verse 28thru31 explains,"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did forknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" Man, isn't that wonderful.
I know that he will change me in his time.
I have been able to get internet hooked up at my house in Gruver. I installed an antenna that connects me to the server at the feedyard. I will really enjoy it I think.
Well it is getting late. Time for this worm to turn in.
mlGw.

Anticipation/humiliation

We are waiting for the couple who wants to buy our house to come. We will be discussing and completing the initial contract. Carol and I have looked it over and discussed the various details and think we are comfortable with how we have filled it out. There are a lot of mixed emotions and thoughts that are involved in this major change in our lives. We want to do what is right. Both in selling this house and in relocating our lives to the next place. We believe in Gods providence and so know that what happens is his will. Regardless of what happens. Somehow, though, doubts always manage to find their way in and many thoughts push and pull your mind in lots of different directions. It will be OK.

I had lunch with a young man today that I do business with at the feedlot. I had made an agreement with him on corn stalks this fall and put cows on the stalks for the feedlot. We had agreed on 45 days and he would provide water. We had some discussion regarding additional days if needed. In my mind I was sure we had talked about 45 to 60 days. He was just as sure that we had talked about 30 to 45 days. When we got to 45 days he became pretty adamant about wanting the cows removed. I didn't have room for them in the lot and couldn't move them. We agreed on extra pay for extra days. Again his recollection of the payment was more than what I remembered. In the future I will put all this in writing. I know better but this seemed so simple and straight forward that I took the easy way out. I was also extremely busy at the time (not really an excuse I know). He is a good customer and neighbor and I wont rock the boat. I will pay what he felt we agreed on. Its not much and certainly not worth jeopardizing future dealings over.

We talked about our deal only briefly and then I tried to learn more about him. He's in his late twenties is married and has to young girls, ages 1 yr. and 4 yrs. His mom divorced when he was young and remarried when he was about 12. I asked about his relationship with his step dad. He said they didn't have much in common. That they got along alright but nothing special. That's kind of sad.

I feel sorry for Vice President Cheney. What a humbling experience. There you are riding high as the second in command of the most powerful nation in the word and then pull such a lame stunt as shooting a hunting companion. I can almost feel his humiliation. That moment has to be playing over and over in his mind. I have been there numerous times. Wishing the thing had not happened. Sometimes forgetting it for a minute but always remembering with that sickening feeling coming over me again. But you know. It never lasts. Time has a way of taking care of just about all things. Im sure he thinks now that he will never live this down or get over it but he will. I hope I can remember this the next time something like that happens to me. And something like that will happen to me again.

More later God willing.

Slow down, men at work.

In the future things will be happening so fast that you will have to see tomorrow what you did yesterday. Does that make sense? We all have so much going on in work, personal affairs and leisure time that life is just a blur. It seems there is no way to slow down either. We are all the same Im sure. We have to work to earn a living be that running a feedlot or running a home. On the side we have to fix a crack in the wall or get the tax return in the mail. Leisure time? Define that. That should be sitting on a balcony with a cool drink and a good book. (Or something like that) I sometimes mistake rest for sitting in my TV room flipping and occasionally napping. I think I do that as a way of rebelling against the alternative but I really don't get any true satisfaction from it. Is there a balance? I have read the self help books and have heard the opinions of others. No change. Iv been doing this sense getting into my twenties and Im now in my fifties. What drives us to cram 29 hrs. into 24? It is internal with me I know. Probably pride related and certainly self driven. Well enough of this I don't have time to belabor it any more. Maybe I will come back to it later.

I met a nice guy Thursday evening. We met for Dinner in Amarillo and discussed his coming to work for HCF. He has good experience with a company that is very successful in the cattle industry. Seems to have the skills we are looking for and I think he would be an asset to our team. One draw back however, he can't come for about 3 months. We need someone sooner but maybe we just need to be patient.

I talked to Jocelyne briefly last nite on the way home. She was going to get her oil changed in preparation for a drive up the coast today. She said the sky was clear and it was really nice. Said she could see Mt. Rainier. I have a picture in my mind of that Mountain and every time we talk I see it.

More later God willing.

Cool Hand Luke

Remember the part in Cool Hand Luke when the road gang was oiling and sanding a roadway?
Luke began to make a race of the work. Those guys were slinging sand like crazy and running to the next pile and slinging it. They finally ran to and slung the last pile of sand and realized they were at the end of the road. They looked around for more to do but they were finished and there was still several hours in the day. I was just out checking on the different depts. and guess what, its 4:00PM and everyone is about finished for the day. It seems we have spent the last 4 months working hard and steady but always finishing a little later in the day than you would like and always knowing that there was plenty to do tomorrow. This wont last but just for today it feels kind of good.
Whitney, Mason, Caleb (Mason's friend), and I went to see Tech and Texas play basketball in Lubbock last nite. We had an enjoyable ride over. Whitney and I visited and the boys watched videos. Carol fixed us sandwiches and snacks which we ate on the way. She made some strawberry nut bread that will make your tongue slap your brains out. It was goooood!!! She said she did it because we prob. wouldn't have time to stop. But I know at least in part she knew I would spend way too much money eating out if we went to a restaurant. I'm glad she went to the trouble to fix us up. Tech lost the game but it was still fun to go. I have been to basket ball games at Sul Ross and WT but this game had more of a university feel. There were 10,000 people there but Spirit Arena was not full at all. The band was good. The cheerleaders were excellent and the referees were perfect. The cheerleaders were like very well trained professionals. Every move was crisp and energized. The refs. called the game as if it was in Austin. There was plenty of chances to holler at em and marvel at how they could make such a one sided biased call. It was great. I had a guy in the seat next to mine that really was a fan. He had a good time and we had a good time watching him. I worried about driving back and getting sleepy. I did get sleepy around Plainview on the way back and Whitney drove on in to Amarillo. I was able to sleep and made it on the Dalhart with no problems. I would say the evening was a great success.
More later God willing. We will see.

Numero Uno

This is the first post to my blog as you can tell by there not being any previous ones. You will also be able to tell in the immediate future that I don't have a clue about proper grammar. That may or may not be important. I guess it depends on your perspective. That is the last time I will apologize for it.
I have wanted off and on over the years to journal and this appears to be a means of doing that. Can I really post the things I might journal though? We will see. Will I keep this up or will it be the first and last? We will see.
This morning is starting out just fine. Pretty typical Sunday with the Sun coming up and Me hopping on the computer for awhile. I usually prepare a lesson for us to study at Church. I get these from one of several sovereign Grace websites we like. This morn., however, I am blogging.
Mason is spending the nite with my sister and Carol and I are home alone.
She helped me get started with this and is now getting ready for a walk.
Guess I better get ready also.
I will do this again God willing. We will see.