I'm Not Lazy - Just Tired!

I don't know where I heard it the first time, but I've heard it many times since. Maybe, the most I've heard it is from my own lips. "I'm not lazy. I'm just tired." I used to think I was lazy because I had no reason to be tired, but still I didn't want to do anything and what I did was like pulling a locomotive along behind me. Well, at one point in my life, the doctors discovered a medical condition that attributes to extreme fatigue. That doesn't sound as bad as lazy, and besides if there is a medical condition connected to it, it seems to be more excusable.

You know, I'm not so sure that any ailment causes me to be so fatigued. Oh, I know that there are conditions that cause extreme fatigue, but I'm just not so sure that, that is the case for me. Besides, I have something else to blame my "fatigue" on now. So, if I'm pressured about my frequent sluggishness, I can choose to say that I have been diagnosed with a condition that causes me to be extremely fatigued, or I can blame it on something that may be more acceptable - I'm an old man now, at least by the standards of most young whipper-snappers.

As it is, you just never know. If I feel like doing something, I may do it and if I don't feel like it, I may not. Just don't ask me why?

Internet Confusion

The more I try to understand the internet, the more I realize I don't know very much about it. But, I keep trying. Sometimes I think I'm doing pretty good and then sometimes I don't. I'm trying to build a decent website. Now, I've started with a free website because I need to get the feel of it and decide if I think I can do it, before I put out the bucks. I've played with some sort of free website for several years now - off and on, but now I'm trying to get serious about it. I want to build a site that you will visit and buy something from - a site where I can make some money. After about seven or eight years of trial and error, computer crashes, viruses, loses and some wins, I am still confused. I hope I know more than I did back then but the technology has advanced much faster than my knowledge has grown. That means I'm more confused, even though I may be a little smarter. It looks like I'll have to upgrade to a more professional site if I want to do anything productive. I'll let you know if I do. Meanwhile, anybody got a job for me to do. I need to make a little money. LOL :o) Here's one that I am working on. It's still under construction. Here's another one.

My Brothers and My Sisters

If I say, "My brothers and my sisters," it may sound like I'm getting ready to preach you a message or tell you something spiritual, but this time it's not a sermon. I want to talk about my real biological brothers and sisters as opposed to spiritual brothers and sisters.

My oldest brother is Fred. He is the oldest of my siblings and should be the wisest, but I'll not get myself into a family feud about that. He has done extensive travel to Africa and held positions that scare me. I think he is quite wise.

The next oldest sibling is Wilmon (Wil). Wil lives in Texas and thinks like a salesman. He has been a very successful salesman and building manager and knows how to manage most things I guess, except us Brannen siblings. Soon he will be living here in Tennessee near the rest of us and perhaps he can then manage us a lot better.

I'm next in line as we descend the ranks of Brannen seniority. I needn't say anything about me. You can discover more about me on this website and other blogs that I have posted.

Not by our design, but as we come to the lower ranks of Brannen seniority, there are two girls. Not my fault girls. Must be God's design. Anyway, my sister, Bonita, was the youngest in the family until I was in high school and my two older brothers were out of the house on their own. I tried to teach her how to do a lot of things and it always seemed that I could get my way if I played the cards right. She really did accomplish a lot in her career. Among other things, she worked at a bank and for State Farm. Recently, she retired from State Farm and is now enjoying entertaining her family and her siblings. Oh, and she enjoys company from her friends as well. Now, let me tell you about the youngest child in the Louis Brannen family. Donice! That girl is as crazy as I am. We have a lot in common and have had a lot of laughs together. She and I wrote a song once. It was something about a dog I think, or maybe it was about a man or a women. I guess I should know but it never made the charts so it is sung so seldom, no one can remember it. I guess it is only fitting that she should be the one to reach the highest level of education and become the 'counselor'. One of these days I'm gonna let her psychoanalyze me and see if it will help.

Now I haven't put my sisters down by the content of this blog. Oh, no. Actually I think I've said more about them than the rest of us. Also, you must remember that if God designed it that way, then He had a reason. Besides, God said, "The first shall be last and the last shall be first". With that said, let me add, I have a great family. Two great brothers and two great sisters, of whom I am proud. I only hope I can do enough to return the feeling to them about me.

Visit my web-site: http://www.freewebs.com/labrannen

I Love The Country

We just returned from the country where we were looking at a house for sale, located in a boat dock community. We were looking for a house for my brother Wil, who is planning to mover here soon. Anyway, as I was looking at the houses and all that beautiful land along the way, I began to get a real desire to move to the country. Actually, every time I get out in the country, I get a strong desire to sell my house and buy one out where I can be a little more country. There are so many advantages to living out of the city limits and having plenty of space around you. Then again, there are advantages to living in the city. One of the things I would miss most if I moved to the country is 'Wal-mart'. Really, let 'Wal-mart' stand for all the stores and then you must agree that there is that advantage in the city. In the country, you have to make plans for a longer stay at home before the next drive into town. In the city you can just wait 'till the last minute and then get what you want. If you forget something, no problem, just run around the corner and get it. But in the country, you must wait until you go back into the city - or the nearest store, which may be miles away.

Well, I'm back home now, and I am sitting at my computer and I feel OK. I guess I'll keep the house I've got and think about visiting some country folk now and again. In the mean time, I will just keep looking at and longing for a house in the country.

Visit my website at http://www.freewebs.com/labrannen

L & J Specialties

It's about time!

I was just looking at the last blog I posted and surprised that it was a year ago. Man, time sure does fly. As a recent blog that I posted asks, "Where does time go?" I do not have the answer to that question but I have decided that it's about time to do something about a web site that I have had for a couple of years. Let me tell you what I am doing.

I have been looking and searching for some way to earn money without committing myself to someone elses time-schedule for 40 hrs. per week and without having to work on Sundays. In other words, I've been looking for a job where I can go in when I get ready and leave when I get ready. A job where I can work the days I want to and take off the days I want to. And vacations!? Whenever I want to and for ever how long I want to! Not a bad request, huh? If your sides are splitting with laughter right now, I understand. :) I know that sounds like a lazy man's request, so, OK, I'm just a little on the lazy side. But let me get back to my blog.

I have started my own company, business, enterprise, or whatever you want to call it, and I am in the selling business. I've always hated that business but I knew that was where the money was. I call my business "Janwell Enterprise". Actually I created that name for my non-existent business at least 25 years ago. Now, it is the name that will cover any number of ventures I will make in the selling field. Most of the ventures that I will be making will be "on line". As of the 5th. of March, I am the founder, owner, and president of L & J Specialties. I will basically be supplying "specialties", from ceramic 'what-nots' to the table on which to display it; from pocket knives to swords; from a cowboy hat to a wild western water fountain; from a mug for Mom to a mezzaluna chopping set for her kitchen. The list goes on! I will be selling some of these products on line, but I will be distributing catalogs and using other means to get the product in the hands of the consumers.

Now, with that in mind, let's get back to the web site. When I saw that I really had a legitimate product to sell and a legal and respectable course of action to per sue, I knew I needed a web site. Well, what do you know, I already had one! www.freewebs.com/labrannen. Yes, it's free, but that's what I need to get started; to feel my way out onto the world wide web with this business. I imagine I will need a bigger, more professional web site later. When I am making some moolah I will be able to afford something of that nature. Freewebs.com supplies that and the upgrade should be easy and really not very expensive when you are considering the price charged by many hosts. There are other sources available as well, so when that time comes, my plan is to go!

For now, just visit my site and enjoy. I only have five items posted on the website but if you will ask me for a catalog, I'll be glad to mail one to you. Tell me what you think and give me all the help you dare. At least sign my guestbook.

The Gift or The Giver?

Don't you just love to get a gift? I do! Some of us love it so much that we may be thankful only for the gift and not for the giver. As a matter of fact, it doesn't matter who the giver is, so long as we get the gift. Oh, we say that we really appreciate the person who gave us the gift, but you know, if the gift is more important to us than the giver, then we probably do not really appreciate the giver. Now, I do believe that there may be some of us who do appreciate the giver of the gift, but still, it may be hard to determine if we love the gift more than the giver, or vice versa.

You know that God gave us the greatest gift of all, His Son. God has also given us many other gifts: life, health, a house to live in, food to eat, and many other necessities of life. 1 Cor 12:7-10 talks about some spiritual gifts;

7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;

10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Romans 12:6-8 talks about spiritual gifts,

6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;

7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;

8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

Look at the gifts He gave the church in Ephesians 4:11-12,

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Now, read this: Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? We can't overlook Psalm 68:19, Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

God is the giver of every good gift that we receive, whether it be spiritual or temporal, but if we are more interested in getting the gift than we are in loving The Giver, then we are missing the mark. May we "seek...first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; (then) all these things shall be added unto (us)". Matt 6:33

The Fountain of Youth!

I can remember, when I was in school, something about Ponce de Leon searching for the fountain of youth. He never found it. Others have searched and some are still searching for it. Let me tell you, it is not to be found by mankind. Not a fountain that will keep you from aging and help you maintain a young and healthy body. However, there is a well of living water that can be found in you and in me, if we will drink of the water that Jesus, God's Son, gives.

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

We would pay a large price to get that kind of water; water that would make us live forever.

I'm afraid that it would cost more than we could afford to pay. Perhaps that is why Jesus says that He will give it to us for free.

Re 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Can you imagine living forever in the bodies that we now have? These bodies that we have could not take it. We will need, and will get a new body. One that will not get old and wrinkled, or sick. That new body will not be cursed by evil but will be incorruptable and one day we will have that kind of body. I believe that Jesus is the water of life and I must drink Him in. I'm glad that anyone who wants to drink of Him can do it. It doesn't cost a cent. It's free.

Re 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Well, What Can I Say!

Just click on this link and that will suffice!

More About Janis and Teacher of the Year

If you'd like to read more about Janis, as well as the two other system winners, Click Here. This article appeared on the front page of the real live newspaper, along with pictures - much better pictures than before. (Cleveland Daily Banner, dated Friday, March 13, 2009)

I Am Proud Of My Wife

For those of you who know my wife, Janis, you know that I am indeed a blessed man. What an excellent lady she is. When we met, she had already begun her career in teaching. She was teaching English at her High School alma mater, Calwell Parish High School, in Columbia, LA. All of our married life, she has been a teacher - an excellent teacher.



Being a minister, I traveled from place to place in my career seldom stopping very long at any one place. I knew she was an excellent teacher and the school system and the principal of the school just didn't realize what a great employee she was. If they had known, they probably would have given her special recognition every where we went. Instead, just about the time she was making her mark, about 2 yrs., I felt the urge to travel on, so we packed up and moved to another city and/or state, there to start all over again in our lives. For me, it was a new church and the preaching ministry and for her, it was a new school and the teaching ministry.

She stayed at one school for 9 years even though I pastored two different churches during that time and we lived in two different cities, or towns. She probably enjoyed those years best of all. She was teaching Special Education at that time and she was recognized as the Special Education Teacher of the Year for LaSalle Parish. I think her supervisor realized what a great teacher she was but that recognition didn't seem to carry the prestige as being recognized as Teacher of the Year would have and does carry.


Now in my retirement years, we have settled in (for now anyway) here at Cleveland, TN and Janis is making her impact again, in the Cleveland City School System. She was recently nominated by her peers as a candidate for Teacher of the Year at her school, Cleveland Middle School, and chosen by the supervising committee to receive that recognition and was then a candidate for the City School System as Middle School Teacher of the Year. She achieved the next step of recognition by the City School officials who selected her as Cleveland City Schools Middle School Teacher of the Year. Now, that means she, as well as the winner for the Bradley County School System will be entered for the regional slot in the state of Tennessee. I guess it could go on, but we are so appreciative for this recognition that we will just bask in the sunshine of it and enjoy it for now. Check the article in the Cleveland Daily Banner dated 03/03/09.


Where would she be and what would she have become if I had stayed in one place for 20 or 30 years? Who knows? It may have been good and it may have been bad. But the fact that she was willing to up-root so many times and restart the whole process, shows me that she held me and my career, the ministry, in high regards. What can I say? Isn't she the greatest? What a blessed man I am. You can see why I am proud of my wife.