Merry Christmas!

We made it through the Thanksgiving season with rather traditional activities; turkey & dressing, family, special gatherings both at church and home. I think it is sad that we get so excited because of the tinsel and holly surrounding the Christmas season, the gift giving and receiving, Santa, and jingle bells, but do comparably so little when it comes to giving thanks for the many blessings we possess. 

I know that if it wasn't for the Christmas reason for celebrating this season, we really wouldn't have much, of lasting value, to be thankful for. I do love the Christmas season. The Christmas carols, the Christmas plays, the family get-to-gathers, and yes the overeating, are things that I enjoy. As I get older, I find some of the values of these things seem to change, but it is still a great and enjoyable season. 

I'ts important that we understand the reason for the season. Without beating around the bush, I'll tell you that the reason for the season is Jesus, The Christ, The Son of God. We celebrate His birth on December 25th. and that is the reason for the season. Somehow Santa Clause & the reigndeer, elves, trees, lights, trimmings, the snowman, etc., entered into the celebration. To some, that takes away from their idea of a joyous Christmas. To some it seems to add to the celebration. There are some people who do not believe in Santa or Jesus and the whole season is an annoyance to them. I say, every man has the priviledge to choose for himself, but I do hope each and everyone of you will know the joy of the season like I have found it to be with Jesus. I've made my choice: "As for me and my house", we believe that Jesus is the reason for the season.

How I Waste My Time

You wanna know how I wast my time at the computer? Here it is! Well, not all my time is wasted this way. I have several other ways in which I waste my time, but this is one of them. I thought you might want to waste a little time with me! :)

Testing the World Book Link

I am just testing to see if this link will work. If it does, I will leave it posted. If not you won't even know that I tried. So, if you see this, click on the link and purchase your real hard copy (guaranteed, no virus) of World Book.

Do You Think It's True?

Just Wondering! Does anyone remember that Premier Nikita Kruschev made the bold statement “We will bury you without firing a shot"?

Happy 4th of July

Check this out ya'll!





HaveFun!

I'm Back In The Saddle Again!

I was out of the saddle and down on the ground. The ropes were wrapped around me. I had lost control. I still held the ropes and pulled hard on them, but I knew that something was not happening like I thought it should. I was pulled from side to side, wondering if I’d ever be able to lift myself from the dust and stand with pride to face the crowd. Thanks to those who knew how to help me, I suddenly realized that the rustle and tumble of life was slowing, and I was coming to my senses again. Though I wanted to lie on the ground and nurse my wounds and bruises, I was driven to shake myself, rise to my feet, face the peering mob about me and lift my hands as a symbol of victory even if I felt like disaster had fallen my lot.

Now I miss the old rough ride that I had for so long, and sometimes feel that I am doing it again; but I am not in the same saddle and I can tell that my ride is not the same. Adjusting to the new style is quite a task, considering all the changes that have taken place since I last rode a normal steed, but there is hope for a safer journey, now that we have the assurance that the spurs are not under the saddle anymore. I can only drive as I have known to drive, even though my skill has improved by my last treacherous upset, so I will continue to head in the homeward direction. The sun is falling low in the East and I know that I will soon be arriving at my destination. For now, I can say that I am just happy to be Back In The Saddle Again.

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

Do you remember that song we used to sing when we were just little rascals? It went like this: Who's afraid of the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf, the big bad wolf. Who's afraid of the big bad wolf, ..........ummmmm...............er, ah, .................well, I don't remember how it ended. Maybe it was something like, Tra la la la laaaa. The big bad wolf! What is the big bad wolf. Maybe it is something different for each one of us, but us church kids we may have thought of it as the devil. Now-days, we think of it maybe as the IRS or maybe the wonderful years of retirement with it's totally deficient social security income. Or maybe it's all those special on-line offers that promise so much but have proven to be nothing more than a scam artist's trap whereby he steals our identity and/or floods us with never ending spamming. It all seems to be devilish, doesn't it?
Well, I may have fallen into the hands of the big bad wolf this AM, but if I have, it will only cost me 39.95 plus 6.95 shipping and handling...........hopefully. Have you heard of the magicjack? It's a little plugin thing that plugs into the usb port of your computer, into which you plug in any phone and then start calling and talking to anyone anywhere for free, for one year. Then you are charged 29.95 each year thereafter for free local and long distance calling, plus some other phone benefits. I have heard of something like this from somewhere. It's not 'vonage' nor 'skype'. Hey! Why don't you just check it out for yourself. Go to http://www.magicjack.com/ and read all about it. Or, you can just wait a couple of weeks and ask me if there is anything to it. I should have my magicjack within 10 day and then I'll give it a try. If I don't get it, or if it doesn't work, or if there are a lot of 'buts' (notice - there is only one 't' in the word 'buts') that makes it undesireable, I'll be glad to let you know. Now, let me just add in right here, that I am not working for magicjack, nor am I being paid for this blog. I just wanted to add a blog to my blogspot since it's been more than a week since my last blog. I hope you have a good day and don't get taken by some scam. Leave that to us brave souls who are not afraid of the big bad wolf.

Now here's a few pictures from my yard, hopefully to cheer you up!

Ready...Set...Survey

If I look in your glove box, what will I find?
Car book, registration and insurance papers, cell phone charger, and maybe some mint or gum wrapers.
What jewelry are you wearing?
My wedding band
What is something your friends make fun of you for?
Acting silly or dumb. Sometimes I am dumb, but my friends think that I am just acting silly.
When was the last time you saw the second person on your list?
What list?
What is in your pocket right now?
A handkerchief. By the time I am ready to leave the house, I will have my pocket knife, some change, my keys and my wallet. In my shirt will be a pen, my date book and my reading glasses. All set and ready to go!
Where was your default picture taken?
In my front yard.
Who do you know that is in jail?
No one right now. Thank you Lord!
What was for breakfast this morning?
Oatmeal, rasin toast and fruit.
Something irritating about your living situation?
All the little odds and ends, in and around the house,that need fixing up.
Where are you right now?
In my home office, here in Cleveland, TN.
What was the most interesting thing that happened today?
I noticed that we collected only one can of garbage this past week. It's just 7:30am so, give me some time and I sure hope something more interesting happens.
When was the last time you got blood taken and why?
Maybe two months ago so the doctor could keep a check on my blood, making sure that it reads ok.
What were you doing at midnight Friday night?
I can't remember that far back! Probably checking my email.
Do you have a best friend of the opposite sex?
Yes! My wife.
Where were you three hours ago?
In bed sleeping.
What's for dinner tonight?
Not sure, but there will be one of those delicious blueberry slush drinks that my wife makes.
What makes you cringe?
Filth. I mean anything that is beyond dirty. You know, like nasty!
What was the highlight of your week?
My wife said that she believed her birthday this past Saturday was the best ever.
Taken any medicine lately and for what?
Thanks be to God, I am off all medicine.
Would you rather have straws for legs or slinkies for arms?
Maybe straws for legs because I could hide them with pants.
Of your friends, whose car do you want?
I don't want anyone else's car but I wouldn't mind having one like 'Grancee' has. Only 'Janis-62' and 'Grancee' know who I am talking about.
What is the last issue you thought about?
I thought about entering one of my poems in the Winning Writers poetry contest.
Do you fake bake?
I don't even know what that is.
What was the first thing you thought when you woke up?
"Okay, It's time to get up."
Something you dream about most of the time?
Most of the times when I dream, they are different.
When was the last time you hysterically cried?
Don't know if I have ever 'hysterically' cried. But I did a lot of crying while on medication for hep-c.
Was anyone with you?
Sometimes.
What was the last thing you got in the mail?
Snail-mail Spam, i.e. junk!
Tomorrow...?
Don't know. Every day is a new day.
I don't know about tomorrow. I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from it's sunshine, for it's skies may turn to gray.
I don't worry o're the future, for I know what Jesus said.
And today I'll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead
Many things about tomorrow, I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.
Who/What do you sleep with every night?
My wife and my c-pap.
Have you met anyone new in the past 24 hours?
No.
What are you doing after this?
Probably will put a power point message together that will be used to make church announcements.
What will you be doing at 8pm tomorrow?
I plan on being in church at that time.
What are you saving your money up for right now?
Regular saving - Well I just used some of it to pay my taxes.
My secret stash - A laptop computer, or a ham radio, or a mandolin, or maybe all of the above. If my wife finds out about my secret stash, it's all over!! :(

Merry Christmas!

To all my friends, to all I've ever met, to those I've never met but read this message, and if I have any enemies, to you also:

I'm Lonesome Today!

I’m lonesome today! Wednesday morning, my wife Janis and my mom left for Louisiana, leaving me here in the house all alone. Whoopeee! Right? When the cat’s away, the mice will play! Isn’t that the way I have heard it was supposed to be? I thought so, but it’s not working. I don’t know why, but the house seems to be a lot emptier now than when I’m here alone but knowing that Janis will be home about 3:30 or 4:00pm and knowing that my mother may call me at any time. Yesterday, I spent a lot of time on the computer, went to my brother-in law’s house and pestered Mike a little while, and then there was church at 7:00pm. I made it through the day ok.

Today is different. I had a doctor’s appointment this morning at 10:00am (I’ll speak to that in another blog) and after the doctor visit, I took my prescriptions to the drug store and then went to the library. Why not? There’s nothing else pressing to be done. I picked up a couple of DVDs dealing with cabinets, counter tops, and floors. I may learn something from these and they will take up a little of my time while it seems to be passing rather slowly. I decided that this would be a good time for me to go to the thrift store that our church, North Cleveland Church of God, has just recently opened, and see what it looks like. Besides I had a bag full of pants that are too small for me, thanks to my weight loss, and I wanted to give them to the thrift store. I looked around for several minuets and found that it was really a nice store with nice ‘stuff’. Of course, all the ‘stuff’ was used, but it was good. I may have to go back and get some clothes for myself that will fit me in my smaller size.

I left the thrift store and drove out to Grace Assembly, where I used to pastor, and drove around the church. It looked like no one was there so I left and went back by North Cleveland Towers where my mother lives. I know. She’s in Louisiana, but William and Wilbur also live in the Towers. They usually go to some restaurant to eat so I thought I might be able to catch them before they left and invite myself to join them, but they were not there. It was about 11:45am and I was right there at the church so I parked in the church lot and thought I’d just go in and check to see if a pledge I had made about a year and a half ago was paid. It was, so now I guess I’m cleared to pledge to missions and maybe to the “The Miracle Is In The House” campaign that our pastor is launching.

I came back home and heated up some good home-made soup that my wife had left for me and drank a slim-fast shake with it. No, wait! It wasn’t a slim-fast shake. It was an equate shake of some kind. Kinda like a slim-fast.

I guessed then, that I could work on the daily crossword puzzle and I tried, but I didn’t get too many answers, so after cleaning the dishes, I came to this computer and here I am. It’s just 2:00 pm, ya’ll! What am I going to do? Maybe after I post this blog, I’ll take a nap. That sounds like a good idea. As a matter of fact, I think I’ll stop this ‘jibber-jabber’ and do just that.

Oh! Don’t worry about me. I’ll be going to the Peacemaker’s fellowship meal tonight. It’s catered and cost free. I’ll post again in a few (or more) days. See ya later!

A God of Love

I am still reading the book Carpe Diem by Ed Madden, copyright 1993, by Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc. I know! I'm a slow reader. Maybe that's the reason why I didn't go on to some higher level of education. I can see myself reading a book with many short chapters (like this one) instead of one with few chapters but long ones. I need a stopping place ever so often, where I can put the book down and pick it up tomorrow without loosing the value of the content. My 'hats off' to those of you who can consume a book in one evening. I envy you.

As I said in my blog on September 23rd., I would share some of the book with you as I travel through it, so here is something I'd like to share. Actually, I thought about posting this on Careplace, an internet site where people with health problems meet and support one another, but I thought it might be helpful if I could get some insight from some of you. Ed Madden was not a protestant, evangelical pentecostal, as far a I know, so I am really surprised to hear him talk as well about the love of God as he does. I would love to hear from you, and those of you who have some theological knowledge of the subject, your comment would be most appreciated.

"I went to Catholic grade school and high school and learned to fear God. I came to know a God who was always watching me, who knew my innermost thoughts even before I did and who would have no hesitation about punishing me for the least transgression of his innumerable laws, or even more importantly, the rules of the church."

Ed Madden goes on to tell us how he saw God some years later. He said, "I learned of a God who loved, and like any lover, was always ready to forgive. I studied a Jesus, the Messiah, the Christ, who taught mercy, compassion, and above all, love....

"Those of us with terminal illnesses know that in a longer or shorter period we will be face to face with our God. I am not afraid. Jesus taught us to call God "Father." .... Who loves more than a parent loves a child? Should I believe that my love for my daughter, which I consider boundless, is greater than God's love for me? If so, I would be a better parent than God.

"No, my acceptance by God will depend not so much on how good or bad I've been here, but on how much he loves me. He loves me not because I am so loveable but because he is so loving. My sinfulness cannot discourage me when I read Jesus saying that it was for us sinners that he came. Some of the most tender moments in all the Gospels are the stories of his dealings with sinners. Never once did he condemn common sinners. Indeed he reserved his scorn for those who considered themselves righteous and law-abiding."

And in conclusion he said, "Our God is a God of love, of forgiveness, of mercy. Our God...is the God of the Scriptures; this is the God that Jesus described to us. This is the God I've come to know these many latter years. This is the God who will welcome all us prodigal children back home soon."

Am I missing some important theological error here? What do you think?

Go to this link if you would like to read more of his book. There, you can also order the book if you would like to buy it. I think it costs anywhere from $19.95 to about $26.00 - plus tax, shipping and handling you know.

Carpe Diem

I’ve just picked up a book entitled Carpe Diem – Making the Most of Every Day with a Serious Illness by Ed Madden, published and copyrighted by Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Inc. in 1993. Ed Madden was a newspaper columnist for ‘The Reporter’, ‘The Dorchester Reporter’ I think. I’ve only read the Preface, the Acknowledgements and the first of His 53 entries, each about one and a half pages long, but it has inspired me to share a portion of it with you as I read. Here are some highlights of his first entry entitled “The Journey Begins”.

“I have just entered upon a new adventure, the most exciting, challenging, spirited experience of all my 53 years. I’ve discovered I have cancer.
“Of course, had I been given the choice…the ailment would most definitely not have won out. But, as in so many of the other wonderful things that have happened to me – my birth, choice of parents and siblings, my rearing in Boston, my schooling, my magnificent body and looks, the choice was not mine.
“I can hate it, fume against it, pout and sulk, but that hurts only me. Or I can put it in its place and go on about my business, and that’s what I intend to do.
“But just as Ireland engaged Italy in the recent quarter-finals of the World Soccer cup, knowing the outcome in advance, I will enter my game with gusto and play with all my heart. I’ll use the best resources that medical science has to offer me, but I have something even better – my own will and desire and spirit….
“Of course, I will be the winner too. It will be through the agency of this cancer that I will pass over the River Jordan to the Elysian Fields, where the peace and happiness never end.
“I decided to go public with my illness…to assist others to whom the revelation of their cancers or other terminal illnesses has been devastating. It always helps to know that we have companions on a journey.
“Horatius Flaccus, the Roman poet whom we know familiarly as Horace, said it well: Carpe diem.”

Now, if you are reading this, you apparently have access to the www, so do a google search on Carpe diem and see what the wikipedia definition is. For those of you who cannot do that right now, lest you forget, I’ll do it for you. “Carpe diem is a phrase from a Latin poem by Horace (Odes 1.11). It is popularly translated as seize the day, although a more literal translation of "carpe" would be "pluck" (pluck the day), as in the picking or plucking of fruit.”

Seize the day!

My Health Progress and My Honey-Do Progress

It's been ten days since I have posted a blog! Shame on me! But I have been moving right along. Some 'up' days and some 'down' days. I have just finished week number 24 of my 48 week journey. At my next doctor visit, I will give a little more blood for the test that will determine the viral load. If you remember, I started with a 7.2 million reading and after about 13 weeks it was down to 164,000. That's good, Yeah! I'm expecting to hear them tell me that the load is undetectable when I get the results from my next encounter with the blood needle. Hmmmmmmmmm! I will still have the remainder of the 48 week journey to complete, so I may still have some days that are not real good but what I've experienced thus far, I can cope with for 24 more weeks, if I just don't get sick and tired of being sick and tired.

Just so you'll know that I am not an invalid, here are some pictures of what I have been doing. Those of you who remember the way it was will perhaps appreciate it more than others. Oh, and also, this is not really just so you can see that I'm doing good in my body, but it is also for the purpose of bragging I suppose. :o - lol

Two More Bloggers

I've added two more bloggers to my blogroll.
1. Fred Brannen - My oldest brother, a missions representative to East and West Africa for the Church of God, and
2. Phil Hoover - A graduate of the Church of God Theological Seminary.
You may want to check them out.

Great Songs!

Here's a couple of songs that have really ministered to me lately:

Through The Fire

Praise You In This Storm

These are also very good:

He Came Looking For Me

If We Are The Body

Sibil! This is For You!

I just received a comment from Sibil on my blog entitled, "My First Entry". I'm not sure how to email a message to her, so if my attempt to do so did not work and, if you're reading this, Sibil, this one is for you!

Even though you are scared, and I think all of us heppers are to some degree, you still seem to have the right attitude about this unknown journey. That is so important. I have read some comments at http://www.careplace.com/ and a few other comments from 'I don't remember where', and it seems that so many are bitter and negative about the situation, and some seemed justifiably so. I can only thank God that I have not, and you have not, gotten to that place. If you have read some of my blogs, perhaps you know that I believe in and trust in God and am confident that the Bible is the true Word of God. I believe the Bible, or God, gives us the right to be positive. I am not positive that I have hepatitis-c and am eventually going to die from it, nor am I positive that the treatment is going to deal me a severe blow, but I am positive that God has a plan for my life, and your life, and it is a good plan.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope. - NAB
2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control. - NAB

Your faith in God is important, but you will probably need the support of your son and your brother and all of your friends whom you confide in, from time to time. I do hope your boss will understand and support you. As your learn more about this 'dragon', that's what heppers call this virus, you will see that you are not lazy. In your comment you said, "Been tired, work part-time, have to take...'"naps"', and just feeling blah. Figured it was my "'no routine'" routine." I can identify with that. I used to say that I was lazy, and I'll admit there were times when I believed that I was truly lazy, but so often I would say that just to laugh at the feeling of fatigue, caused by the 'dragon', that I lived with. I have found a few helpful sites that you may want to explore. Scroll down the right side of my blog site and you will see some links to "Web Sites For Your Health". Be sure to check out 'Be In Charge'. I have talked to them two or three times at length.

I would encourage you to continue to pray, get more involved in church, and read the Bible. It certainly won't hurt you. I believe it will help.

I have found that using these blog posts to report my progress has given me a lot of 'therapy'. Maybe something like this, or even just keeping a journal of your journey will help. I will pray for you and believe that God will do something good for you.

God Bless You!