Dad

I never recall a time when my Dad has been so down, so long. There may have been ocassions when I was younger and he was dealing with some things but I didnt recognize it. In the past 35 years or so I just don't think there has been such a time.

He normally has a can do attitude and is willing and confident about taking on just about anything. (Often that confidence displayed itself in encouraging us, his children, to tackle just about anything. Cost me some skin and a good bit of sweat at times but I am glad for the little push he provided).

He keeps saying, "the worst thing is just not knowing". I heard him say that 4 or 5 times yesterday, to 3 or 4 different people. I hope we will find out conclusivly today for him. I am probably more content to just sit around not knowing for sure. (We are so selfish).

For him it will give him something to fight and some direction. We all need that to get going.

"Ghost Rider"

I wonder what the critics are saying about this movie. I seldom go to movies any more and rarely here the reviews. I'm sure this one gets pretty good marks for the special effects. Content is so so. There really wasn't much sex,if any at all. The violence was kind of tame. All and all it was kind of boring. Cage is not a good actor in my opinion. I ask myself what he has that I didn't use to have. Must be who you know, or something like that.

The movie gives the devil a lot of publicity. He tricks Johnny Blaze (A.K.A Nicholas Cage) into selling his soul for a really quite admirable reason, curing his Dad's cancer. After the devil cures the dad he kills him. (Seems like these are things God does rather than the devil). Johnny is then relegated to a life of chasing fame and fortune with help from the devil. Oh by the way he had to ditch his girl to kind of protect her from his devil calling. More good deeds done while in the devils service.

Johnny occasionally wonders if he might have a second chance. He is ever on the watch for a SIGN. One shows up in the person of his old ex-girlfriend and things really begin to heat up. Know what I mean? You do if you saw the movie.

The devils son shows up on the scene along with some "Fallen Angels". I remember the fallen angels but I need to read the Bible again because I missed the part about the devils son. Any way the son was going to kick the hell out of his dad, no I mean kick the devil out of Hell and kind of take over. ( I wonder which book that is in? Maybe in one of those books in the Catholic or the Mormon bibles). The devil calls in Johnny and he turns into the "Ghost Rider". That is the part of the special effects that kind of wakes you up, especially if the theater has the volume turned up real loud. As you might guess, after much whaling and gnashing of teeth, Johnny wins and defeats the devils son and the three fallen angels. The devil offers Johnny "Mercy and Grace" and is going to tear up the contract on his soul. Guess what Johnny does? He refuses the devils offer and from that day forward vowes to take on EVIL and the devil all on his own.

HMMM, I wonder if there will be a sequel?

While driving home from the movie and about the time my ears began to stop ringing it struck me that this was really pretty close to main stream religion today. The devil gets more publicity and "Air Time" than the Lord. It is the enemy this and the enemy that. You will sometimes hear "Jesus said" which sort of leads into the current event the church leader is more comfortable talking about. Jesus kind of takes the supporting role. Kind of like in this movie.

The enemy has the power unless the church goer can take it away from him. That's what Johnny was successful in doing I guess. There are a lot of ways to do that. Or so it seems to be taught by main stream religion. Prayer shawls, blankets or patches are effective if the proper procedures are followed. Saying "In the name of Jesus" about a hundred times may get results. Being positive, having a grin on your face from ear to ear is good. Being a member of a mega church seems to help. Listening to sermons about marriage, stewardship, raising children, work, work, work, do, do, do, and more work will absolutely get you ready to face the enemy. Walking to Emmaus or working a prison walk is good exercise. If your still not ready though you get a second chance.

Old Johnny got his second chance. He beat the devil. He won his soul. He won grace. He is out there whipping the tar out of the devil. That's like choosing the Lord, making Jesus your saviour, getting saved, asking the Lord into your heart and so on. Man has his part to do. His will to exercise. When man is ready he can choose to be saved. Give him a little control over his destiny. He is after all, more than Gods robot. He ate the forbidden fruit which made him Gods equal.

IN HIS DREAMS!!!!

I'm so very glad I don't need a second chance. I much prefer the bible that teaches "All who were ordained to believe, believed". and "All who the Father gives me will come to me and I will in no wise cast them out". God got it right the first time.

NO SECOND CHANCES REQUIRED!!!!

Hospitals

If you have ever had family in the hospital you will relate to my story. They are amazing places. I can’t quite grasp the amount of activity that goes on in a large hospital. There is non stop coming and going. Did you ever have an ant farm? Ants going every direction. Ants for all kinds of functions and activities. Ants on every level and in every tunnel. There are working ants, guard ants, nursery ants and the QUEEN ANT. There are nurses. Many nurses. All kinds of nurses with various names and titles. There is a charge nurse, technical nurses, therapy nurses and your NURSE.

They each have different functions. They are seldom inactive. On rare occasions they sit at a computer and log their activities. (For billing purposes I suppose) They move into your room, take your blood pressure and temperature and move on. If you stand in the door to the room where you can see down the hall you will see them move into other rooms. You can imagine, pretty accurately I believe, what they are doing. They will say something like “How are you Mr. So & So or Mrs. Such & Such?” “How are you feeling?” “That’s good” or “I’m sorry”. They will hook you up, play 20 questions, fix your IV, fix your bed, and clean your room, among about 100 other things.

They want to know how much you ate, how much you drank and how much of it came out the other two openings when you were through with it. Pain level on a score of 1 to 10 is important to them. They ask that question a lot. It seems like people learn to answer in the upper two thirds if they want medication. Five doesn't get much response but seven or eight will get you a shot or a pill in about an hour.

I have decided that you don’t want to be sick when you go to the Hospital. It is much too busy and strenuous for sick people. There is no way to rest or relax with all the activities the nurses have to perform. Just about the time you go to sleep, here comes someone to give you something or hook you up to something. If you’re really sick and feeling lousy they schedule all kinds of tests. Nurses show up with wheel chairs to take you where you need to go. If you can't travel that way they just send two people to wheel your bed down to the bowels of the place, out of site of family and authorities, and prod, poke, measure, draw, x-ray, and scan. All kinds of other procedures, they sedate you for, and no one can remember what actually went on. You wake up and have more sore places and bruises than you remember, before they rolled you away.

I am simply amazed at how well every thing works. I can’t say enough good things about the nurses. They are run ragged by everyone, they are subjected to terrible acting people with all kinds of repulsive conditions and yet almost to a person they manage to respond positively and respectfully and with a seemingly genuine compassion for your condition. My hat is off to the Nurses and to hospitals.

Diversity

Consider the pickle.

Do you like pickles? Well that opens up a whole nother set of questions. Which pickle? Sour pickle? Sweet pickle? Dill pickle? Cucumber pickle? Little pickle? Big pickle?

You know, don't you, that there is the "Right Wing Pickle Packer Society" that has evolved into the driving force behind all new pickle ideas. This group was organized in the 1800's to plan, promote, and project Pickles image into the 20th century. It has been and probably always will be a secret society protecting the identity of its members.

The passion of the pickle and it's affect on pickle lovers and haters alike is so volatile that the organization could not survive if it did not maintain anonymity. Can you imagine what would have happened when pickles were first sliced? The uproar from the vertical slicers alone would have crushed the very creative essence from that forward thinking group. Much less the pressure exerted on Congress from the horizontal slicers. I can't even mention the steps taken, and won't utter a peep regarding the dastardly deeds committed by the dicer crowed. But you get my point.

I and I alone know their identity and their where abouts. This information has cost me dearly, however. I haven't slept more than eight hours a night since being made aware of this information. It was conferred on me by the RWPPS when they needed information only I could provide. Why, oh why was I the only one in the world who had that knowledge? Why?

It will go with me to my grave other than to share it with ONE of my children. Which one do I tell? Which one do I condemn to a life of Hell? Which one do I give the secrete of untold riches, but utter disparity? Fame and success that will poison even their best friends opinion of them, but cause them to be sought out by the heads of state of every kingdom in the world. I feel the weight of all time on me but I must make a decision in the next 30 years or so.

I will end this post, leaving you with two thoughts to ponder: If all products had the diversity of the pickle, where would we store it all? AND, have you had one of the New "Vlasic Tabasco Kosher Dill Spears" ?

RWPPS you have scored again!!!

(Picture courtesy of Pickle Hill Public Broadcasting)

Snowing

8:30 A.M. Sat. morning in Amarillo Texas.

This is great!!! We have been sitting around trying to come up with fun things to do. Carol suggested we get a sled and tie it on to the pick-up and pull Mason thru the "Hood". I told her I didn't think that would be too safe. He might get slung off and break his collar bone or something.
I suggested we bundle up and go for a bike ride. She didn't think the tires would roll too good. I suggested we tie a bike to the bumper and I could pull her around town.

We wont use this bike. It's the new

one. I wouldn't want to mess it up.

It was a pretty expensive bike and I might be able to ride it this Summer.

We can use this one. It's my old one and it won't matter too much if it gets messed up. It didn't cost too much. Besides I will be able to ride the other one this Summer.

This is the neighbor from across the street. She likes to shovel snow. She does a very good job. There are several old people living on our block and she shovels everyones sidewalks.

I'm going to need to go get some gum after while. Sure hopes she gets mine shoveled before I go.

If she doesn't make it maybe I can get this boy to do it.

Changing the subject.
I read a little about Ted Kennedy this morning. The story I read was about he and another Democratic Senator attempting to work with the Soviet Union in 1983. The other Senator was Tunney. It seems Kennedy had the idea that they could team up with Russia and cast doubt about President Regan by portraying him as a "Warmonger" and the Soviet's as desiring to peaceably co-exist. They were going to get media to play this up and hurt Regan's chances for re-election. Needless to say it didn't work. The story is being looked into and when there is more evidence that it is true I will share that. Interesting isn't it.

Well time to hook up the bike. I'll also bring a report on that later.

Carol, OH CAROL!

PETA

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. What an organization. I always assumed they were an organization that would help animals in trouble. That they were an animals friend.
Think again. When asked to help feed and rescue the animals caught in the storms in Colorado they declined. They took the position that sense the animals were going to end up on someones plate anyway why should they help. Why should they help ease the animals suffering. Why indeed. Just another case of people with a cause that only serves there own selfish interests. They can play on peoples emotions to raise money for their so called concern over animal welfare but when it comes to parting with some of that money to really help ease the animals situation they show their true colors. The Governor of Colorado termed them a "Bunch of Losers" and then said, "don't give your money to PETA". I second that motion.

Retraction

I got a little carried away yest and expressed my opinion a little too strong. I do get very frustrated with the political rhetoric. Something is wrong when most people who run for this office are such poor leaders. I know I'm biased. But its more than that. I look at who the Democrats are bringing to the race and they just all so miss the mark. They might be OK to serve on a small town City Council but not to run this country. They are so Political. All they work for is to get on the opposite side of any issue. The republicans are not a lot better.

We have too much at stake in this Country today to be so partisan. We have troops in harms way and rather than try to make the right decisions they really are only concerned about pouring water and doubt on the other parties actions. Rather than do what it takes to win a war they are only worried about what position it takes for them to get re-elected. You would think that should reflect the so called Will of the People but don't make that mistake.
As a people we are soft in the belly, soft in the head. We want what we want and we want it now. If we can get it easy and quick it doesn't matter how we do it. If it gets hard and takes awhile we don't want to exert the effort. We will move on to something that is easy and quick.

It really is a long time to election day. Those who are serious about the state of affairs will probably be buying new televisions in the next few years. They will probably throw a brick through the one they currently have.

Presidential Campaign

I'm already ill and this thing is not even started yet. I wish these idiots could be held accountable for all the Hot Air they put out. They make a speech and then spend the next several weeks explaining that they really didn't mean what we heard them say. They see which way the wind blows and then twist and squirm and out right lie to try to seemingly have said what they perceive the wind whispered back. These are the candidates for the highest office in this land. Maybe even a sadder note is that these people are currently making laws and policies in the Senate and House or are other leaders elected to lead this land.

Stories

I am reading a Mark Twain book "Roughing It". I really like his style of writing. He tells lots of stories within the story in this book. The other night I was reading and began laughing. I laughed hard enough that I'm sure my neighbors next door heard and wondered what kind of party I was having. I laughed hard enough that I got tears in my eyes. He told a story that I was able to visualize the scene in my mind and it was just hilarious. I must have associated it with something in my past because I could feel and even hear the picture that was in my mind.
Some people have such a talent of story telling. Wish I did.
My Grand-dad Kizziar could tell stories. We would go to his house and my Dad would get him started by asking about old "So-in-So" or "What about such-in-such". He would tell stories then until we left. I wish I could remember them or that we would have recorded some of them.
"Roughing It" was Clemens 2nd book. I think he wrote 11. I have read 4 so far. Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Pudd'nhead Wilson and now Roughing It.
I think I will try to find The Innocents Abroad next.

The Best

This has been the best Holiday time. I don't know why really other than it has just been very enjoyable.

It started with Thanksgiving at Tyler. The Cowboys game Mason and I went to was great and then the meal at Rudy's and Glenda's was really nice. It was just a very pleasant time.

Christmas was fun. Jocelyne surprised us by coming home from Austin. We had fun at Gruver. We were able to talk to Charlie a little about sovereign Grace. I had thought he had no interest in discussing what we believe and then found out that he is really searching and undecided about his faith. It was a lot of fun I thought at our house on Christmas day. Carol cooked a great meal and I enjoyed the fellowship with our (Grown-up Children) and watching Corbin play with the Nerf Gun he got for his present. We went bowling later in the day and that was fun.

Now it is New Years day 2007. I think it is going to be a great year.

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.