hogans

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

2009-12-18T09:17:00.000-08:00

Casting Crowns has a song that makes you want to just Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
"While You Were Sleeping". Turn up your speaker and enjoy my Christmas Music.

Thanksgiving 09

2009-11-30T06:48:00.000-08:00

(Turn Up the volume on your speaker and enjoy my music)

We had a great time during the holidays. The only thing that could have been better is Lana and her family being here. Holidays get really hectic when the family grows and we have had to learn to share and to make the best of the day even when it is not perfect.

When Bud and I lived in Leoti, Kansas several hundred miles from family we really learned what "Family" and holidays meant. Our next door neighbor who was a sweet friend and the mother of 9 sons invited us for Thanksgiving dinner. Several of her sons and family would be there and she knew we were alone. Lana was 3 and Jana 5 months. Loppy ( as the girls called her) fell in love with our little girls. Her invitation was such a nice gesture but it wasn't the Thanksgiving we were use to. First of all the dressing was terrible. Maybe this is why Lana never developed a taste for dressing. In the north the dressing is made from different ingredients than my mothers Cornbread dressing. Instead of apple pie we had rubarb pie. Yukky I thought. It was really pretty good if you added enough ice cream but it wasn't mother's or granny Hogan's Pecan Pie. And, one of the worst things about the day. Texas A & M versus Texas Longhorns was not on our Television Cable and neither was the Dallas Cowboys. How could you celebrate the birth of this Great Country without Texas A & M, Dallas Cowboys, Cornbread Dressing and Pecan Pie. I remember Bud saying at the end of the day. If there is any way possible we will always drive to one of our Families for the Holidays. And for the most part we did. I remember more than one snowy icy Christmas that we spent on the road to Granny Hogan because we thought that was the thing to do. Note..I didn't say it was the thing to do but "we thought" it was the thing to do.

TRADITION reminds me of Fiddler On The Roof one of my favorite movies of all times.
TEVYE & PAPAS sings:
"Who, day and night, must scramble for a living,
Feed a wife and children, say his daily prayers?
And who has the right, as master of the house,"
To have the final word at home? And then he sings, "
[TEVYE]
Tradition, tradition! Tradition!
Tradition, tradition! Tradition!
Traditions

We all have our traditions but we have learned to adjust when everything is not perfect. Jana and her family came and yes, we had cornbread dressing, sweet potatoes, and pecan pie. We had Texas A & M Football played lots of Joker (this is a tradition that we have started the past several years that my family loves). But, we missed the extended family because they are so much a part of our tradition.

Last Sunday I heard my friend Bryan Burgess preach on the radio as I was in the car on a short trip. He told the story of William Bradford who was the governor of Plymouth, Mass. He helped to establish the first Thanksgiving. Bryans telling of the life of William Bradford helped me to focus on what is really important about Thanksgiving and why we celebrate. It is not about Cornbread Dressing or Texas A & M. It is an amazing story and you can read about William Bradford here. I encourage you to go and read his story. His parents died when he was very young. He became a Christian at age 12 and lost his inheirtance. I am thankful for our ancestors who loved God and Country enough to live and die that we could be free to form our own Traditions. Traditions are OK as long as we keep them in perspective.

I get a devotional from a school teacher in Crane, Texas. Her prayer for Thanksgiving has become my prayer. Did you pray for the food on Thanksgiving? There is so much more that we should be thankful for.

Lest we forget:

Thursday November 26, 2009

Daily Devotional by Melinda Clements/ Perceptions Ministry

Thank You, Lord!

I thank you for this day, my Precious Lord, for who you are and who I can be through you. I thank You for the precious blood of Jesus that took my sin and for you loving me enough to help me change.

I thank you this day, for this country and all the freedoms it represents and for each and every leader who turns to God in waking moments and ask in reverent prayer what he can do to make this country better.

I thank you this day for every man and woman who serves this country in the military who fights each day to protect me and the freedoms I enjoy. I thank You for their families and the commitments and sacrifices they have made so I can pray and do all the things I like to do.

I thank you this day for my family, each and every one; for my home, my job and my community and those who touch my life each and every day. I thank You for my life and the trials and tribulations that have made me-me!

I thank You this day for my health and the fact I live in a nation where there are doctors who work to help me stay healthy. For my wealth that is not measured in money or possessions but measured in the friends, family and God I am so blessed to share; I thank You this day for the food I partake in every day to nourish by body.

For all the blessings and miracles that take place in my life each day that I do not even recognize but are in place to make me a better person and my world a better place.

I love You, Lord--Spread blessings to those less fortunate and help me to realize the cross I bear is never as heavy as someone else's. Help me to see that things could always be worse. Help me to see You in each and every situation and to know there is nothing You and I cannot handle together. Amen.

Traditions are OK but let's add another one. Being thankful for what is really important in life.
Happy Fall Ya'll and get ready for some Christmas traditions.

Difference between citizens and politicians

2009-11-19T17:38:00.000-08:00

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he
asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Congressman was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it!

Stimulus Money

2009-11-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

Sometime this year, we taxpayers may again receive an Economic Stimulus payment.

This is a very exciting new program. I will explain it using the Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.
Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.
Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.
Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.
Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up.
Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:

• If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will go to China .
• If you spend it on gasoline, your money will go to the Arabs.
• If you purchase a computer, it will go to India .
• If you purchase fruit and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras and Guatemala .
• If you buy a car, it will go to Japan .
• If you purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan
• If you pay your credit cards off, or buy stock, it will go to management bonuses and they will hide it offshore.

Instead, keep the money in America by:
1 spending it at yard sales, or
2 going to ball games, or
3 spending it on coke
4.go to the beauty/barber shop preferable The Body Shop
5. go to the Dairy Queen for Ice Cream

(These are the only American businesses still operating in the US .)
***
I'm going to go to a ball game with my friend that I met at a yard sale,
and drink coke with her! That should help stimulate the American Economy and the Dallas Cowboys Paychecks.

Psalms 37:4

2009-10-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

4 Delight yourself in the LORD
and he will give you the desires of your heart.

I have been meditating on this verse of scripture for some times. My question has been, "What does "delight yourself in the Lord" look like?

Websters puts it like this: 1 : a high degree of gratification : joy; also : extreme satisfaction
2 : something that gives great pleasure
3 archaic : the power of affording pleasure

Life Application Bible says, "The knowledge of God's great love for us will indeed give us delight. It is great pleasure and joy in His Presence."

Do I take great pleasure and joy in God's presence? Am I joyful and do I have extreme satisfaction.

What is your definition of "delight"? Do we expect God to give us the desire of our heart, ie answer our prayers unless we are delighting in Him.?

What do you think?

Can't wait for Government Health Care

2009-10-11T20:40:00.000-07:00

-----(I'm not sure about these Numbers but I wouldn't doubt it)

A clunker that travels 12,000 miles a year at 15 mpg uses 800
gallons of gas a year.

A vehicle that travels 12,000 miles a year at 25 mpg uses 480
gallons a year.

So, the average Cash for Clunkers transaction will reduce US
gasoline consumption by 320 gallons per year.

They claim 700,000 vehicles so that's 224 million gallons saved per
year.

That equates to a bit over 5 million barrels of oil.

5 million barrels is about 5 hours worth of US consumption.

More importantly, 5 million barrels of oil at $70 per barrel costs
about $350 million dollars

So, the government paid $3 billion of our tax dollars to save $350
million.

We spent $8.57 for every dollar saved.

How good a deal was that ???

They'll probably do a great job with health care though!!

James A. Measles

2009-09-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

My brother James lost his battle with cancer on September 1, 2009 at 6:20 A. M. Mother's birthday. My sister Mary Lu said mother got a wonderful present. The Doctors gave James 3 months in August of last year but they agreed he was a fighter. He declined the chemo treatment when they said it would give him more time but he ask if he would be sick with his head over the commode for a year and then he would die. He lived a year only being in the hospital a few times for them to put in an outside drain tube from his liver. He was surrounded by his two children Shaila and Dirk, his loving wife Shari and a couple of his grandchildren. James slipped into a coma a couple of days before he died. They said the day before he died he sat up on the bed and kissed Shari and lay back down. Shari was a wonderful wife and caregiver. She lay by his side for the last month reading to him and talking about the wonderful years they had shared. I can't tell you what comfort it was to our family to know James was in such good care. That's what a good mate does. There were times she wasn't sure she could do it but she would tell you God gave her strength and grace.

This is a picture of James one time when he came home from the navy with my sister TiaJuana. Tia Juana died December 26, 1964. I can just imagine this is the way they met in heaven.
This is a poem "I'd Marry You Again" that Shari read to James over and over the last month. She said he would say when she finished reading it, "Read it again". It was on the back of the program.

(I added this photo of all of James' family taken last summer shortly after James was diagnoised. Dirk has 2 sons and 2 daughters; Shaila has 5 sons and 2 daughter in laws. James was so proud of his family)

This is Shaila and her family with Shari at the cemetary. Just look at the beautiful mountains in the background.
Dirk, Shari and Shaila.
The Pallbears were James and Shari's grandsons. Notice they are all wearing James' bolo ties.
James had a milirary funeral. He served in the Navy during the Korean war. James was very patriotic. He always had a flag flying in front of his house. His son Dirk went out and bought a Texas Flag and hung it at half mass on the day he died. When I saw that I lost it. James loved his flags and he never stopped being a Texan.

Ten of James' nephews and nieces attended the funeral service. Tia Juana's 3 children Bob, Steve and Tonya; Mary Lu's 2 daughters Shelly and Sharla; Bob's son Bryan and my 2 daughters Lana and Jana. The cousins had a really good time getting reacquainted. The oldest Bob is 61 and the youngest is Jana who is 42. Almost 20 years between them. Below on the back row is Bob Caddel, Jana Hogan Nelson, Dirk Measles, Lana Hogan Jordan, Steve Caddel, sitting: Tonya Caddel Canada, Bryan Measles, Shaila Measles Bergquest, Shelly Grant Hackler and Sharla GrantSchaffner. Bob and Steve came from Reno, Nev. Lana flew from Austin, Jana and Bryan flew in from Dallas, Tonya, Shelly and Sharla flew in from Lubbock. There were 15 of us Measles who came to celebrate James life.

My sister Mary Lu and her husband Billy Tom and I flew in from Lubbock and Bob and his wife Bernita flew in from Dallas.
Another picture of the cousins.
Shaila's husband Brad ask us to bring dirt from Lamb County Texas where James was born and graduated from High School and got married in Mother and Daddy's house in Olton. They said he never stopped being a Texas. This was a touching moment. They ask Mary Lu, Bob and I to sprinkle the dirt.
I am so grateful for family. My parents married young and both of them came from what we would call today disfunctional families. They worked hard and kept us all together during difficult times. I am so thankful to God for His amazing grace.

Dumb Questions

2009-08-26T21:05:00.000-07:00

This is a daily devotional that I receive and thought this one worth sharing.

Daily Devotional /By Melinda Clements / Perceptions Ministry
© Melinda Clements / August 2009 / Perceptions Ministry /All Rights Reserved For reprint information contact melindaclements@melindaclements.com
Dumb Questions

There is an old Chinese proverb that says, "He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes. He who does not ask a question remains a fool forever." There are no dumb questions. The only questions that are dumb are those you never asked.

How many times have we wondered or questioned the way things were and we just stayed quiet and stewed over? Perhaps it is because we are shy or maybe it is because we don't want to appear stupid. Sometimes I have questions even after I have heard the same thing over and over. I guess I'm the kind of person that needs to have a picture drawn in order to truly grasp the situation.

Sometimes I question God. Sometimes I argue with him. Many times I fuss at him to vent my frustration and my fears. The good thing is he lets me rant and rave and fuss and discuss and he waits until I'm spent and then he wants to know if I feel better. Sometimes I do and sometimes I don't.

I always have 20/20 hindsight. I can look back and see how I screwed up or how I hurt someone and I can see how I could have done things differently. I may have been talking when I should have been listening and for whatever reason I missed the concept.

My two children were very different. My daughter always had questions. She wanted to know why and the reasons behind the why. She never minded doing whatever I asked but she wanted to understand the philosophy behind the request. For my son it was pretty much okay and he would do whatever. He didn't care about the reasons why. All of us think about the reasons why. All of us get to the point where we question what is happening and why. All of stew over new concepts but will not ask the questions that will make it clearer and easier to grasp.

God always asks us to step out in faith. That means we rarely know the reasons why or the pertinence of the situation. Dumb questions are those we don't voice, either to ourselves, to others or to God. We can always question God but he reveals things to us in his time alone.

If you have a strong personal relationship with Jesus you will always be wondering why things happen. He will only let you in on the issue when the time is right for you.

I encourage my students to ask questions and seek help for those things they don't understand. God in all his wisdom answers all our questions in due time. Sometimes God says no to our prayers and requests. Sometimes we don't really need to know the answers or reasons. He will reveal to us what will be best for us in the bigger picture. That is what is referred to as "operating in blind faith." Scripture tells us, "faith is believing in things unseen" (Heb. 11:1). Faith is confidence in the reality of the spiritual things of God. If your relationship with God is strong you can question him about anything. That is what "personal" means.

I ask God dumb questions all the time and not once has he boomed at me and said, "Melinda, that is about a stupid question! Where did you come up with that one?" More times than not, with his promptings, I end up answering my own questions. Sometimes I've known the answer all along but just didn't want to admit it. I need God to reassure and nurture me. God is our father and teacher and he encourages wisdom, learning and understanding. He encourages discussion and debate. He encourages stimulating thought processes that result in a bigger and clearer picture. He wants us to grow in grace. Our ability to questions says a lot about our faith and our relationship with the Savior.

Dumb Questions are those that never come out for whatever reason. We can't learn if we don't ask. We can't grow if we squelch the very things that make us wiser. God wants to hear from you. Do that by prayer. Talk to him, discuss with him, learn from him and share him with others. That gives you a very valid and believable witnessing tool.

Remember he loves you and wants what is best for you. You are his work in progress and always remember, "God don't make no junk!"

Be Blessed This Day!

Melinda Clements

To Those who believe in God no explanation is necessary; to those who do not, no explanation is possible!

May you always fly with eagles, may you always run with wolves and walk the path of the buffalo; most of all may you always be my brothers and sisters in Christ.

2009-08-25T15:58:00.001-07:00

Eph. 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;

9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

I have been listening and singing this song all week. Sing with me.

Here is the song, NEVER LET GO, by Matt Redman:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqqtyuivolA

Here are the lyrics:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know You are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

*** Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

The Two Wolves

2009-08-22T18:55:00.000-07:00

A great explanation of life:

TWO WOLVES

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all.

"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.

"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Day Trip to Canyon, Texas

2009-08-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning I got up to a beautiful West Texas day and about 10:00 after having my coffee and reading my devotional I just felt like taking a day trip. I hadn't seen my Aunt Addie in over a year so felt I needed to go see her. It was 11:07 by the time I got ready and got on the road. My friend Glenna had loaned me some CD's by Andrew Wommack called, "The Authority of The Believer" so I stuck one in the player and I was on my way to Canyon, Texas. My mother's youngest sister Addie Hill lives in Canyon in a retirement complex. They provide some of her meals but her daughter let me know Addie will tell you, "This is not an Assisted Living". Addie is 87 years old (I think, don't hold me to it)so she was about 7 when my oldest sister Tia Juana was born. A couple of months ago Addie had a little stroke and she has been a little weak since so the Doctors did a hearth cath on her a couple of weeks ago to see if she had some damage to her heart. She told me the Doctor said he wished his heart and arteries looked as good as hers did. They adjusted her blood pressure medicine and she says she feels good now.

This is Addie and I in the hallway outside her apartment complex.

I took Addie out to eat to her favorite Mexican Food Restaurant and she insisted on paying. I had a hard time getting her to let me take her picture. I never understook why she and my mother were so obstinate about getting their picture made. I just had to fight her to get this done. They were both such pretty ladies but you couldn't always tell it by their pictures. Anyway, fight I did and after several attempts I finally got a couple without her eyes closed.

I got to Canyon about 2:30 and got in the car to head home about 5:30. Addie had plans for a game of 88 that night at the Center so I insisted she not cancel since I needed to be on my way home.

Cd's back on and away I headed down Interstate 27. About 10 miles north of Plainview I realize I am about to pass the house where mother, daddy and I lived not long after I graduated from High School. I had moved to Plainview, gone to work for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company where my sister in law Shari worked. I first lived with my sister TiaJuana and her family until my good friend from High School Latrell Stewart joined me at the telephone company and as my room mate in my first apartment. We worked together and lived there for about a year when Latrell decided to marry her High School sweetheart Jack Hysinger. About this time Daddy sold his farm at Vigo Park and bought a small farm north of Plainview about 10 miles.

This is a picture of the house we lived in on that farm. I did not have a car and although I thought I was going to be making so much money I could buy one right away that was not to be the case. I made $50 a week and by the time uncle Sam took his share I didn't have much left after rent, utilities,and groceries. We lived about 2 blocks from work and we walked. After Latrell moved I moved out on the farm with Mother and Daddy and bought myself a 1954 Blue Ford. It was about 1960 when I bought it. Daddy found it and brought it home to me sight unseen and I went to the Credit Union and borrowed the $600.00 to pay him for it. I paid it out every month to the tune of about $75.00 a month. I was so proud of myself and that car. But then, I had to buy gas. After Bud and I got married in 1962 Bud traded that car for a pickup for work. I was so sad to see it go but I got his 1960 model Ford and he couldn't understand why I was sad. I told him, "That's the car I chased you in."

After stopping for a picture of the house I headed to the Cemetary in Plainview after stopping at the Dollar Store for some flowers and flags to put on Mother and Daddy's grave site. I don't get to Plainview very often so when we do we try to go by and make sure the grass and weeds are not growing over it. It is perpetual care but just the same Mother always wanted to go by Tia Juana's space and we did that often when we lived in Plainview. I know they are not there but out of respect it just seems like the thing to do. Mother always loved flowers and Daddy was a patriotic man so I got a flag for him. It is just a memorial and I was reminded of the verse of scripture
Luke 24
The Resurrection
1(A)But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
2And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3but when they entered, they did not find the body of (B)the Lord Jesus.
4While they were perplexed about this, behold, (C)two men suddenly (D)stood near them in dazzling clothing;
5and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead?

Now I know this is talking about Jesus...but I'm just saying...why do we go to the cemetery? I guess I go because it makes me feel better. I don't know if they could hear me...but I told them what great parents they had been and how much I loved them. and I felt better.

We always go to check on Shari's mother and daddys' gravesite because they are very close to where mother and daddy are buried. Shari's brother Don is right beside them. I put flowers on their graves too. Shari, this was for you and Sue.

/s1600-h/IMG_4513.JPG">

Back in my car and back on the road listening to Andrew Wommack. Maybe this trip was for me and not for Aunt Addie. These teachings just made me realize how far below we Christian walk from the standard that Jesus meant for us to walk. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit in Acts that we might have power.
Acts 1:8But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth."

We talk about the times we are living in and wonder when Jesus will come back to get his people but there is still much to be done.
Acts. 2 16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
21And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Jesus left us work to do and He sent us the Holy Spirit to empower us to do that work. I think I better get busy there is work for me to do.

Thought for today

2009-08-17T08:22:00.001-07:00

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in dispair; persecuted, but not abandoned, struck down, but not destroyed." II Corinthians 4:7-9

update on James

2009-08-14T21:12:00.000-07:00

Talked with Shari today. Last week at James' Dr. appointment she was told that they didn't have much time. The Doctor told Shari that he was a fighter and we all know that. He is getting weaker each day, having problems breathing and last night they put him on oxygen. He did sleep better with the oxygen. She said their massage therapist came and worked on him and especially reflexology on his feet and his nausea was better. She even showed Shari where the pressure point were on his feet. She said that had really helped. James was still asleep when I talked with her about noon so I called back tonight and talked with James. He sounded weaker than the last time I spoke with him.

Shari's sister Sue and two of her kids and their children came by to visit this past week. Kelly lives in Houston and Kevin has recently moved to the Dallas area. I believe along with about 10 children. They had a good visit sitting out in the front yard.

Shari and James both said again tonight how blessed they were to have Dirk and his family so near. They are in an out several times a day.

All day I have been singing a song that we learned in Bible School this year. wish I could find it and put it on my blog but the chorus was "The Word of the God is true, We can trust Him, We can trust Him".

Please pray for them especially that they will have the strength and courage to face the days ahead.

HIS WORD IS TRUE AND WE CAN TRUST HIM.

Summer Time

2009-08-13T19:02:00.000-07:00

Last week I met Jana and Bruce in Mineral Well and picked up Hogan and Ella to come spend the week with Gran. We had a great time even though Bud was not around to help and take Hogan to visit the horses, cows, goats and take them both to the Dairy Queen. I am a pretty good second but as Hogan said, "Poppy is my best friend" (which means he lets me get out of the car and pet the horses) They were lots of fun and are getting so big.

On Friday Jana and Bruce, Lana and Kellyn drove to Munday so we could take a trip up to Littlefield to see Mary Lu and Billy Tom. It had been a long time since they had been up that way and since Billy Tom is not traveling anymore they knew the only way we could all get together was to all go to Littlefield. On Saturday morning we all headed to Littlefield. Mary Lu and the girls had fixed cold cuts, cantelope and a delicious cake for lunch. We had a great visit all afternoon with Shelly, Sharla, her daughter Kaitlyn , Mary Lu and Billy Tom.

Littlefield has a new motel across the street so Jana and Bruce and kids stayed there and the kids had fun swimming. They took swimming lessons this summer and even though Hogan is just 4 he could swim across the pool and performed for us swimming back and forth.

Bruce and the kids enjoyed the pool and stayed with Billy Tom while the girls headed to Lubbock to the movie. We went to see "Julia and Julie". It was really good and entertaining.

After the movie we headed to Appleby's for a little "midnight" snack. Left to right: Jana Nelson, Sharla Schaffner, Kellyn Jordan (Lana's daughter) Shelly Grant, Kaitlyn Schaffner (Sharla's daughter) Lana Jordan, Mary Lu and Wilma. I think the people in the restaurant thought we were a little "high"...and we were. High on life and fun with Family. Wish the rest of our family could have been there.
Lana told Shaila we needed one more nose to make the night complete.

On Sunday Mary Lu, Shelly and Sharla again fed us. Fruit, sweet rolls, juice and coffee...more swimming and then lunch. Seems like we always find time for food. So, lunch was chicken spaghetti, garlic bread, salad, and banana pudding. I gained at least 5 lbs.

Shelly's grandchildren Ethan and Aubry and their Mom April came by to say hi and I snapped their picture. They are getting so big and are cute as can be but a bit on the shy side. Wonder where they got that...Not from our side of the family for sure.

We left Littlefield about 1:30 and after a "swing by" The Sonic we drove to Lubbock to visit with Bud's Aunt Foy. She is Granny Hogan's youngest sister who is ten years older than Bud. Foy is now living with her son Bud (which really confused Hogan and Ella) and his wife Sidna. We spent a couple of hours visiting with them and headed back to Munday.

We got home about supper time and decided we had had plenty to eat sooooo guess what? Everyone ask for Poppy's Perfect Popcorn which we are trying to find a way to market. It is the best the family plans to make a million marketing this popcorn. Now, we just need to get the word out to the masses.

2009-08-04T12:59:00.000-07:00

My grandaughter sent this to me and she is not even married. It is good advice to those considering marriage.

The Man Rules
At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down

Finally , the guys' side of the story.
( I must admit, it's pretty good.)
We always hear " the rules"
From the female side.

Now here are the rules from the male side.

These are our rules!
Please note.. these are all numbered "1 "
ON PURPOSE!

1. Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat.
You're a big girl.

If it's up, put it down.
We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports

It's like the full moon
or the changing of the tides.
Let it be.

1. Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want.
Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No

are perfectly acceptable answers

to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it.

That's what we do.
Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago

is inadmissible in an argument.
In fact, all comments

become Null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you think you're fat,

you probably are.
Don't ask us.

1. If something we said

can be interpreted two ways

and one of the ways

makes you sad or angry,

we meant the other one

1. You can either ask us

to do something
Or tell us how you want it done.
Not both.
If you already know

best how to do it,

just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible,

Please say whatever you have to say during commercials.

1. Christopher Columbus

did NOT need directions

and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors,

like Windows default settings.
Peach, for example, is a fruit,

not A color.

Pumpkin is also a fruit.

We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched.
We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong

and you say "nothing,"

We will act like nothing's wrong.
We know you are lying,

but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question

you don't want an answer to,

Expect an answer

you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear

is fine... Really .

1. Don't ask us

what we're thinking about

unless you are prepared

to discuss such topics

as baseball or golf.

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape.

Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this.
Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;

But did you know

men really don't mind that?

It's like camping.

Fun Times

2009-08-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

We started a new Bunco group last night. One of the girls dubbed us the "Bunco Babes". We had a lot of fun and a lot of laughs. It is a completely mindless game but it took us awhile to catch on. That's what happens when you get older and begin to lose some brain cells.

A former resident and friend came over from Seymour (about 25 miles) to give us instructions. Here is Cindy McWhorter and Brenda Huckabee trying to tell us, "This is serious business".

Sister in laws Shirley and Barbara Bowman. They didn't know the other was coming.

Cindy McWhorter and Brenda Huckabee (We went to church with Brenda and her husband in Plainview about 25 years ago)

Judy Hubbard, Jackie Lowrance, Ronnie Cude, Front row Nancy Harris and Barbara Bowman.

We had about 3 who didn't come and we hope they show up next month.

Praise God for the Stimulus Package

2009-07-27T15:55:00.000-07:00

(If you click on the pictures it will enlarge to full frame)

Bud and I left Munday last Monday (7-20-09) about 7:00 A. M. Bud had a trip to Fowler, Indiana so I went with him. I have never been to Indiana so thought it would be a good time to tag along. We left Coleman about 2:00 P.M. on Monday. We drove to Weatherford and got there about 3:30 P.M.

The trucker had to fill up with gas and there is a curfew on I-20 around Dallas from 4 to 6 so we walked around the truck stop and ate an early supper. We drove to Caddo Mills and found the truck a place to park and Bud and I drove on to Greenville to find a motel. We got checked in about 9:00 P.M. We had to be back at the truck stop at 6:00 A.M. (by now you know that this is NOT MY KIND OF TRIP...I DON'T DO 6:00 A.M. VERY WELL) It was really foggy so we couldn't leave until that burned off. We went into McDonalds at the Truck Stop and got a bit of breakfast and coffee. I really had to watch the amount I drank because they don't stop every town.

The trucker decided he had a problem with something on the truck and called in a mechanic ...we finally got on the road about 10:00 A.M. We spent that night in West Memphis, Tenn. We drove in hard rain a good bit of the day. They didn't have a permit to go into Illinois and we weren't far from there so the trucker called the office and had them fax the permit to our motel. Bud got up at 5:00A.M. and picked up the truck driver for breakfast. I actually got to sleep in until about 7:00. We waited until about 10A.M. for the permit and then we were on the road again. Now it is Wednesday. We drove to Gilman, Illinois and actually got there before bedtime. It was about 5:30 P.M. when we checked into the motel.

This is the rear escort driver Dee. We picked her up in Texarkana. Texas does not require a rear escort on this size load but other states do. The truck driver couldn't remember her name and kept calling her "that girl". He was a real red neck and not politically correct at all. She just laughed about it. Dee, Bud and I went to get New York pizza for dinner. They called it New York Style and even though Bud likes pizza he didn't care for this. I had a salad and a piece of pizza. That fast food gets old. We took all kinds of snacks and an ice chest of water, cokes and my gochi because they don't stop for lunch . But as I said we didn't drink much. Got up at 5:00 A.M. the next morning to wait again because of the fog and rain. Finally left about 8:00 A.M. We were only 35 miles from the job site but it was still a little foggy so we didn't drive very fast. They sent us to the wrong field...We waited for 2 hours and finally they took us back about 10 miles and when the truck was parked they cut us loose. I told you all of that to say..."Nobody but somebody like Bud Hogan could do this job." He has the patience of Job. I would go crazy. Bud says it reminds him of the army. Hurry up and wait and that is what we did.

The fields were beautiful with green corn and soybeans. It was a beautiful sight to see the wind towers in the background. I know the enviormentalist don't like this but I thought they were pretty.

If you will look over in the right background you can see a big crane that picks the towers up and place them on top of the base.

Job done...now for a little vacation.

Bud's nephew Mike Hogan lives in Culver Indiana and he and his wife work at Culver Academy. Mike is Director of Development. Natalie works with the Equestrian Program and especially working with youth in the summer camp program. Mission statement for Culver Academy is "Culver educates its students for leadership and responsible citizenship in society by developing and nurturing the whole individual - mind, spirit, and body - through an integrated curriculum that emphasizes the cultivation of character."

It was about 90 miles from the drop off site so we drove on over to see Mike and his family. The drive was beautiful. Corn Fields and Soybeans and rolling plains and lots of trees. Everything was so green and the temp was about 80-82. We had a really nice visit with Mike family. I slept until 8:30 the next morning and it was heavenly. Bud got up early and went down and had coffee as soon as it was ready. This motel had a full breakfast and the best Cinnamon rolls that would melt in your mouth. Bud said it was a little better than what he usually stayed in. Mike invited us to stay with them...but we didn't want to be in their way and they all work so we just had him make a motel reservation.

They took us on a tour of the campus and we got to watch Natalie and their daughter Natalie work with the kids in the summer camp program.

This is their daughter Natalie (14) helping her mom with the kids riding classes.

Mike and the girls took us to a wonderful Italian Restaurant for dinner that night. Natalie had to work at the camp so the girls entertained us with dinner and pictures from their riding escapades. Mike, Natalie (14) Lillian (16) and Bud. Their son Josh was at camp and we did not get to see him.

We started home about 1:00 on Friday. We had a beautiful drive on a lot of back roads coming home. We had decided we would just drive until we got tired so about 9:00 just east of St. Louis (by now we are on the interstate) there was a truck/trailer wreck and we were in a traffic jam for 2 hours. Drove about 10 miles during that time. I took this picture out of the front window...you can see the car lights for miles.

Cars, truck, vans as far as we could see in both directions. When we finally got through it was about 11:00 and by the time we found a town 11:30 and there were no motel rooms to be had...we went on to the next town and nothing except a suite which was a smoking room and I wasn't going to pay 150.00 for a smoking room so we went on down the road. Finally found a pretty much dump about 12:30. Didn't look too bad but it stunk. I had a can of frebreeze and thank goodness we took our own pillows. I didn't sleep too good. That was really the only problems we had on the entire trip. It went really well and we had a good time. I borrowed a friends little DVR and watched 2 movies, read 1 book and Bud and I listened to a book on tape on the way home. We got home about 8:30 last night and it sure felt good to get in my own bed. Needless to say we didn't get up at 5:00 A. but we did get up in time for church. My friend Cindy called and told me she was fixing lunch for us since she knew we were getting in late so I didn't even have to cook. I made a pea salad and cut up a cantaloupe. It has been a leisure day today. Bud had his usual coffee with his brother James and I took a nap.

As far as the stimulus is concerned it is my understanding that the big companies building and putting up these towers got some kind of a tax incentive to continue building the windtowers. Now that's a Stimulus Package I can live with...TAX CUTS.

Bud left again this morning for Iowa. Got to the site at 11:00 and finally left the yard at 4:00. Hurry up and wait.

No One Laughs at God

2009-07-17T18:04:00.001-07:00

A friend sent me the words to a song. I couldn't find it and it didn't have a name or who sang it but I thought the words were good enough to share. If you know anything about it please let me know. So true!

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one laughs at God when the doctor calls after some routine tests
No one's laughing at God when it's gotten real late and their kid's not back from that party yet

No one laughs at God when their airplane starts to uncontrollably shake
No one's laughing at God when they see the one they love hand in hand with someone else and they hope that they're mistaken
No one laughs at God when the cops knock on their door and they say "We've got some bad new, sir,"
No one's laughing at God when there's a famine, fire or flood

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious
Ha ha
Ha ha

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war
No one's laughing at God when they've lost all they got and they don't know what for

No one laughs at God on the day they realize that the last sight they'll ever see is a pair of hateful eyes
No one's laughing at God when they're saying their goodbyes

But God can be funny
At a cocktail party while listening to a good God-themed joke or
Or when the crazies say he hates us and they get so red in the head you think that they're about to choke

God can be funny
When told he'll give you money if you just pray the right way
And when presented like a genie
Who does magic like Houdini
Or grants wishes like Jiminy Cricket and Santa Claus

God can be so hilarious

No one laughs at God in a hospital
No one laughs at God in a war

No one's laughing at God in a hospital
No one's laughing at God in a war

No one's laughing at God when they're starving or freezing or so very poor

No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
No one's laughing at God
We're all laughing with God

Late 4th of July pics

2009-07-14T10:48:00.000-07:00

<

We had a great time at Lana's for their big 4th of July celebration. Didn't throw any teabags but had lots of flags and the yard full of people were standing on their feet clapping when the Kileen Military marched in the parade.

Lana's youngest daughter Kellyn is the one waving in middle on the firetruck. She is a Junior in Belton High School.

This is a picture of Levi and his "cousins" buddies. Two of them have the last name of Jordan and one is a Hogan. They tell everyone they are cousins...but who knows.
Levi is on the right in the red shirt. They are really good kids. Well mannered and good friends.

Nash, two week old son of Jake and Crystal slept through the entire parade. Pictured is Kellyn (17) Kelsey (20) holding Nash and proud father Jake.

Jana (25) and her boyfriend Mark and his little niece.

Hogan (4) and Kellyn (17)

Kelsey, Aunt Jan and Kellyn

Lana, Kellyn and Kelsey

Kaylee (Jake's daughter) Hogan and Ella (Jana's)

I don't understand computers or why some of the pictures were small and some large. I had a lot more but I seem to have misplace the cord to get them off the camera so I just stole these from Kellyn's Facebook pictures.

Hope you enjoy seeing some pictures of our family.

2009-07-11T09:32:00.000-07:00

Charlie Reese has been a journalist for 49 years.

545 vs 300,000,000 EVERY CITIZEN NEEDS TO READ THIS AND THINK ABOUT WHAT THIS JOURNALIST HAS SCRIPTED IN THIS MESSAGE. READ IT AND THEN REALLY THINK ABOUT OUR CURRENT POLITICAL DEBACLE.

545 PEOPLE
By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does.

You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.

You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.

You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.

You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.

One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country.

I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank.

I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason.. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes.

Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits.. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it.

The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.

It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.

If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red ..

If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ

If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.

There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like "the economy," "inflation," or "politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.

They, and they alone, have the power.

They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.

Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees.

We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper.

AMA on new Health Care

2009-07-09T17:13:00.000-07:00

Ron....I couldn't resist:

Apparently the American Medical Association has weighed in on the new Health Care Initiatives from the Obama Administration....

The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.

The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.

The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.

Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, 'Oh, Grow up!'

Oncologists fear it's malignant, while Osteopaths see it as holistic.

The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.

Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing. The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter."

The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.

The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.

In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington .

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-03T18:47:00.000-07:00

I am wishing all of my friends and family a wonderful and safe holiday. If you are going to be on the road PLEASE BE CAREFUL..

My grandaughter Kelsey who is a Junior at Texas A & M wrote this on her Facebook. I thought it was worth sharing.

Just to share...

Most weekends I drive to Belton. When I do so, I hit Hearne about twenty minutes out of College Station. Right after the speed limit changes from 70 to 55, there's a bridge.

And beside that bridge is a small, white, wooden cross. I noticed it the first time I drove through Hearne, my first trip back home after being away to Big Girl College. I make a habit of throwing up a little prayer every time I pass one of those little wooden crosses, something quick, basically, "Dear Lord, please put your arms of comfort around that person's family, and help them to get through their loss in your good time and in your love." So I did, and I went along my drive home.

The first time, that's all it was. The second time, I noticed that the flowers were a different color. Most of those little crosses get faded and battered with time, the fake flowers get dingy and weathered, and I don't know if that's a good thing. Maybe the family is moving on, or maybe it's too painful to visit that scene, where someone they loved lost their life.

This one is different. Every time I drive by, the flowers are bright and different. For Christmas there was a poinsettia wreath. On Valentines Day it was red roses. One sad day there was a Happy Birthday balloon. Today there were red, white and blue flowers and a little flag stuck in the ground.

I don't know, and I'll probably never know, who is behind the tender care taken with that particular white cross. But every time I pass it, I say a little prayer and tear up a little, because somebody still cares. Cares enough to pull over on the side of the highway and fix things up a bit.

Is it a woman who lost her child? The color coordination and varied choices seem like a woman's touch. Is it a husband honoring the memory of his wife? A lonely widower might take that kind of care for a woman he will never move on from. A sister, keeping her sibling's memory alive?

I don't know.

I'll never know.

But every time I pass that cross, I say another little prayer. And I like to think that some of the other drivers do the same thing. And I like to think that the person behind the flowers and the sad Happy Birthday balloon somehow knows that someone out there is praying for him or her or them.

I like to think we're all kind of connected that way.

So again I say Be careful on the Highways and remember why we celebrate.

Congressman Mac Thornberry speaks up!

2009-06-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

I received this from my Congressman. He is a great Representative and understands what is happening to this Country. Please read! And send to anyone you think will listen. Click Here for his website

Dear Friend,

A few weeks ago I shared my concern that Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic majority in the House would soon force a vote on a global warming bill. Although I voted NO and strongly oppose the legislation, the cap and trade bill has passed the House. This 1000+ page bill may be the largest tax increase in the history of our country. It will erode the quality of life for each of us, it will make it harder for a lot of people in our area to earn their living, and it will raise the cost of practically everything we need or want. The consequences for rural areas will be especially severe. Below is a discussion of some of the ways the bill will affect agriculture. But it is only one example of the damage this bill will do to our country if it becomes law. The fight is not over because the bill still must pass the Senate, but this radical bill is now one step closer to becoming the law of the land.

Sincerely,

Mac Thornberry
Member of Congress

The Impact On Agriculture

More than 100 national and state agriculture associations publicly opposed the global warming bill, H.R. 2454 - The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. They include the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cotton Council, The Fertilizer Institute, American Farmers & Ranchers, American Meat Institute, and the National Corn Growers Association.

The Heritage Foundation, one of Washington’s top think tanks, has done an analysis of the economic impact of H.R. 2454. According to a Heritage Foundation analysis, farm income would drop $8 billion in 2012, $25 billion in 2024, and over $50 billion in 2035 -- decreases of 28 percent, 60 percent, and 94 percent, respectively. The average net income lost over the years 2010-2035 would be $23 billion, which is a 57 percent decrease from the base year. Additionally, construction costs of farm buildings would rise by 5.5 percent in 2025 and 10 percent by 2034. By 2035, gasoline and diesel costs are expected to be 58 percent higher and electric rates would be 90 percent higher. Importantly, 25 percent of U.S. farm cash receipts come from agriculture exports. For some crops, over 50 percent of sales result from exports. With the high costs imposed by this bill, U.S. farmers will be at a severe disadvantage compared with farmers in nations which do not have a cap-and-tax system and correspondingly high input costs.

For our own area, a preliminary analysis by the National Cotton Council of the direct energy costs related to production, ginning, marketing, and yarn spinning costs indicates that every 10% increase in input prices will increase costs by at least $175 million for the industry. The estimate, which should be viewed as a lower bound, does not fully account for the ripple effects that higher energy costs will have on all industries that supply inputs to the U.S. cotton and textile industry.

Cotton is an excellent example of the reason we should all be deeply concerned about the international disparity that this bill would establish for U.S. industries. China and India, the two largest cotton and textile producing countries, are competitors with U.S. cotton in the international market. Both countries are significant and growing contributors to the emissions alleged to cause global warming, and both have thus far refused to sign onto any agreement to curtail their emissions. The additional production costs that will result from implementation of the provisions of H.R. 2454 will place U.S. cotton and cotton products at a clear disadvantage in international markets, which are critically important to the U.S. cotton industry.

Rural America Targeted by Allocation Scheme

According to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the monthly residential electricity bills in 25 states will increase 15 to 28 percent for every $20/ton of carbon dioxide allowances. Rural households already spend 58% more on fuel than urban residents as a percentage of their income.

H.R. 2454 distributes free allowances for carbon emissions to utilities under a formula by which both electricity sales and historic emissions levels are weighed. The effect of this scheme is that rural utilities which rely on coal-generated electricity, and thus have higher emissions levels, would not receive enough allowances to cover their emissions. 80% of the electricity that rural cooperatives generate comes from coal-fired power plants, which serve 40 million Americans. The bill does not provide enough free emissions allowances to regions of the country that are more reliant on coal. These utilities will then be forced to purchase allowances from utilities with surplus allowances, those that rely on hydroelectric and other energy sources with lower emissions levels. The cost of the electricity they produce will go up.

Farm Inputs Will Be Hit Hard

The fertilizer industry is a good example of the secondary impacts of this bill. The nitrogen industry in the United States, which produces agricultural fertilizer, has experienced declines over recent years due to the high cost of natural gas. Because H.R. 2454 would cause natural gas prices to skyrocket even further, this industry, upon which farming relies, is especially vulnerable. There are currently 27 ammonia plants operating in the U.S. -- mostly in rural areas. These plants each employ between 100 and 150 people with average salaries of $70,000 and benefits. The higher costs imposed by this global warming bill would cripple this industry’s competitiveness and force businesses to close or relocate abroad. Reduced fertilizer production domestically would increase costs for U.S. farmers and in turn raise the price of food at the supermarket.

It should also be noted that reduced nitrogen fertilizer production in the U.S. would likely lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions globally, as plants move to countries with less stringent environmental regulations. The U.S. already imports 55 percent of its nitrogen, 83 percent of which comes from nations with no climate change policies in effect. H.R. 2454 would exacerbate this problem. During Congressional testimony, the CEO of the Fertilizer Institute noted that within ten years there may be no domestic fertilizer plant left in the United States.

Conclusion: Higher Taxes, Fewer Jobs, And A Lot More Government Interference In Your Life

State Comptroller of Texas Susan Combs said on June 9, 2009, that if passed, H.R. 2454 could cost Texans 164,000 jobs and shave $25 billion per-year off the state's total economic output.

To place these numbers in perspective, according to a study by the Heritage Foundation, the impact on Texas District 13 will be substantial. We can expect to see a Gross State Product (GSP) Loss in 2012 of $449,910,000 and an average GSP Loss, 2012–2035 of $895,750,000. We can expect to see a Personal Income Loss in 2012 of $552,780,000 and an average Personal Income Loss from 2012 –2035 of $320,150,000. Our Non-Farm Job Loss in 2012 is projected to be 4,102 and our Average Non-Farm Job Loss, from 2012–2035 is projected to be 3,006.

In addition to its economic impact, H.R. 2454 establishes a myriad of new federal agencies intertwined with at least 21 existing agencies to reallocate trillions of taxpayer dollars in a supposedly fair and efficient manner. According to the U.S Chamber of Commerce, the bill will impose 397 new federal regulations that require traditional agency rulemakings. Along with these new regulations the bill imposes over a thousand mandates and even mandates efficiency requirements on electric appliances like Jacuzzis.

The bottom line is passage of H.R. 2454, The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, means higher taxes, fewer jobs, and a lot more government interference in each of our lives.

Here is a list of the Republicans who voted FOR: Or Didn't vote:
Republicans who voted yes for Cap & Trade

Bono Mack, Mary (CA 45)
Castle, Michael N. (DE at large)
Kirk, Mark Steven ((IL 10th)
Lance, Leonard (NJ 7th)
LoBiondo, Frank A. (NJ 2nd)
McHugh, John M. (NY 23rd)
Reichert, David G. (WA 8th)
Smith, Christopher H. (NJ 4th)

Republicans who didn’t vote

Flake, Jeff (AZ 6th)
Sullivan, John (OK 1st)

Smart Professor

2009-06-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

This was a pretty smart Professor:

An economics professor at a local college made a statement that
he had never failed a single student before, but had once
failed an entire class.

That class had insisted that socialism worked, and that no one
would be poor and no one would be rich, that it was the great
equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in
this class on socialism. All grades will be averaged and
everyone will receive the same grade." (So no one would fail
and no one would receive an A.)

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got
a B.

The students who studied hard were upset, and the students who
studied little were happy.

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied
little had studied even less, and the ones who studied hard
decided they wanted a free ride, too, so they studied little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling
all resulted in hard feelings, and no one would study for the
benefit of anyone else.

All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told
them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the
reward is great, the effort to succeed is great. But when
government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want
to succeed.

(Could not be any simpler than that..)

What causes Arthritis?

2009-06-23T08:51:00.000-07:00

WHAT CAUSES ARTHRITIS?
>
> A drunken man who smelled of booze sat down on a
> subway next to a priest.
>
> The man's tie was stained, his face was plastered with
> red lipstick, and a half-empty bottle of gin was sticking out of his torn
> coat pocket. He opened his newspaper and began reading.
>
> After a few minutes the man turned to the priest and asked,
> "Say Father, what causes arthritis?"
>
> The priest replies, "My Son, it's caused by loose
> living, being with cheap, wicked women, too much alcohol, contempt for your
> fellow man, sleeping around with prostitutes and lack of a bath."
>
> The drunk muttered in response, "Well, I'll be damned, " Then returned to
> his paper.
>
The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man
> and apologized. "I'm very sorry. I didn't mean to come on so strong. How long
> have you had arthritis?"
>
> The drunk answered, "I don't have it, Father. I was just
> reading here that the Pope does."
>
>
> MORAL:
> Make sure you understand the question before offering the answer.

I am guilty. Father forgive me for I have sinned! Every time I open my mouth.

Happy Birthday Jana

2009-06-17T19:46:00.001-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANA
I tried to call but you had a really busy day. Hope it was a great one.
This picture was taken Mother's Day weekend when I drove to Jana's for a Mother Daughter Tea at Jana's Church. We were trying to get a "Mother/Daughter" picture look alike for a contest our local paper was having. If you would just puff that hair up a little more we might have won the contest. Everyone says Jana looks like her mother. Sorry Jana. Hope you had a wonderful day.

Bible School

2009-06-16T20:35:00.000-07:00

My youngest 2 grandchildren were here last week for Bible School. Hogan 4 and Ella 2 l/2. They loved it. Ella loves playing the DVD and singing the songs and doing the hand motions. As her mother said to me today..."She is so much like her Aunt Lana". Here they are getting ready with names tags in place to go to Bible School

Last week 4 churches in our little town of Munday joined together and had a great Bible School. I loved Bible School as a child growing up. We lived wayyyyyyyy out in the country and we attended a Baptist Church but everybody within 20 miles attended this church. That is where I got my early training. I became a Christian when we lived in Olton, Texas at the age of 9 in a Cumberland Presbyterian Church. I will never forget that night. My mother had gone to California to be with my sister Tia Juana who was having her first baby James Robert Caddel. My Dad took us kids to the revival we were having and we BOTH GOT SAVED. Now that's another story for another day.

Back to my Salvation. I do believe that a person must be "born again" as Nicodemus said in John 3. When a person is "born again" he becomes a new creation. Ephesians 2: talks about being made alive in Christ.
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We moved to a little community about 18 miles east of Kress, Texas and lived for several years. Those were my memories of Bible School.

Last week I helped with Bible School. The Theme this year was Crocodile Dock. It was really good and a lot of people put a lot of work into making it fun and a learning adventure. I think at one time or another all of my grandchildren have come to Munday and attended Bible School. I haven't always been able to help every day but the past few years I have had the pleasures of being a Crew Leader and "following" 4-5 kids from class to class. Each year it gets better. The reason I put the scripture from Ephesian 2:10 (For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.) is to explain why I think some people are called to work in Bible School. You see, God prepared in advance a work (Bible School) for me (and all those other precious people who worked so hard) to do. He created and prepared others for a different work but for me I was prepared to help with Bible School. I especially want my children and grandchildren to be taught of the Lord.
Is. 54:13-14 13And all your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will], and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. 14You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God's will and order): you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you.

That is a beautiful promise for us and for our children.

This is the last night in front of some of the props. Aren't they just darling?

He was just a little boy,

On a week's first day.
Wandering home from Bible school,
And dawdling on the way.

He scuffed his shoes into the grass;
He even found a caterpillar.
He found a fluffy milkweed pod,
And blew out all the 'filler.'

A bird's nest in a tree overhead,
So wisely placed up so high.
Was just another wonder,
That caught his eager eye.

A neighbor watched his zig zag course,
And hailed him from the lawn;
Asked him where he'd been that day
And what was going on.

'I've been to Bible School ,'
He said and turned a piece of sod.
He picked up a wiggly worm replying,
'I've learned a lot about God.'

'M'm very fine way,' the neighbor said,
'for a boy to spend his time.'
'If you'll tell me where God is,
I'll give you a brand new dime.'

Quick as a flash the answer came!
Nor were his accents faint.
'I'll give you a dollar, Mister,
If you can tell me where God ain't.'

Here is a picture of 3 of my 5 kids. Kameron Redder, Kobe Rameriz, and Denice Arroyo. They were such a blessing and I can just see that Kameron (the blonde in the middle) walking home from Bible School one day and telling someone, "I'll give you a dollar mister if you can tell me WHERE GOD AINT."

I pray when these kids get my age they will look back on their Bible School Days with the fond memories that I have of mine.

Are we still a Christian Nation?

2009-06-09T20:33:00.000-07:00

In case there is any doubt in your mind: check this out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpQOCvthw-o

2009-06-02T20:24:00.000-07:00

We have been following the progress of little Clay Fite who was badly burned on February 14. They started a blog to keep friends and family up to date on daily progress. Read the good news today.

Here is the first post.

Clay(Fite) was admitted to the Parkland Memorial Hospital today for extensive burns over his little body. Chance had put a bag of trash in the burn barrel and started the fire then went into town for some things. Carson (age 10), Cody (age 6 - will be 7 on Feb 23) and Clay were out playing in the yard and decided that the fire had burned down too low and needed a little "help" to finish off the trash. One of the boys grabbed a can of gas out of the storage shed and coaxed another to "put it on the fire." Clay had climbed up close to make sure the job was done right, and as the gas hit the fire, it mushroomed up into the sky. Deidra was in the house and heard the explosion and immediately ran out the back. The front of Carson's pant leg was on fire and he managed to get it out then helped put out the fire that had started in the yard and on the fence. Cody was hitting flames off the back of his neck and somehow extinguished them. He only suffered minor burns to the back of his neck and a burn on the back of his right ear and singed hair. Although his brothers were partially protected by the burn barrel itself, Clay was right in the line of the fire, and when DeeDee saw him he was engulfed in flames. In DeeDee's panic, she grabbed the water hose and doused Clay to put out the fire. The 911 call that DeeDee placed claimed that they could not pinpoint the address. With 911 on the line and calling Chance from her cell phone, Chance ended up arriving within seconds from the grocery store. Chance immediately scooped up Clay and had him at the hospital in no time. The two other boys were taken to the hospital, treated and released. Clay ended up with burns on his face, head, back, stomach, arms, hands. He was wearing boots and jeans so the lower parts of his legs are fine. Clay was flown to Dallas with his dad by his side. Some friends drove DeeDee (she was in no condition to drive)to Dallas and they arrived within 15 minutes of the helicopter. Clay is in critial condition in the Burn Intensive Care Unit here at Parkland Memorial Hospital. The wonderful care of the staff in the burn unit has been great. Not only the staff, but other families of burn victims have been a huge help to the Fite family during this time. (End of first post but you can go here to read more.

There are things in life that we don't understand and one of them is why a child would have to suffer. I am always reminded of a verse of scripture my pastor quoted that has stayed with me.

Deu. 29:29 "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law."

That accident is "one of the secret things" but one thing that God has revealed to me over the years is II Cor. 1:3- 5 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; (4) who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (5) For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ."

We are able to comfort others because we have gone through trials and were comforted by God. I know the Fite family has been comforted because they have said so and I know they will comfort others. Praise Be To The God of All Comfort.

A Kinder, Gentler Marxism ???

2009-05-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

Thomas Jefferson once said, "When the government fears the people, you have liberty; when the people fear the government, you have tyranny."

Taking over banks, automobile companies, trying to eliminate free speech are just a few of the ways America is headed down the path of Marxism. Two articles that will help you understand what is happening in Washington are below. If you are more interested in the future of the country than American Idol please read Gene Veith from World Magazine.

A kinder, Gentler Marxism

The worldview of the "Social Democracy" America is heading toward | Gene Edward Veith

Barack Obama is not a socialist, explained Eric Etheredge of The New York Times. He is a "social democrat." The administration's attempt to control private companies and the free market should not alarm us, according to Etheredge and other pundits. European nations do this all the time. It is simply an application of the European political and economic theory known as "social democracy."

If social democracy is America's new governmental principle, we should know a little about it. To avoid biased spins and inflammatory rhetoric, let us consult basic, objective sources such as dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Here is the definition of "social democracy" from Merriam-Webster's online dictionary: "1 : a political movement advocating a gradual and peaceful transition from capitalism to socialism by democratic means 2 : a democratic welfare state that incorporates both capitalist and socialist practices."

Or if you would like another take you can read more from a Pravada article and see what one Russian thinks.

First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blind the foolish.

Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox churches are scandalously liberalized in America.

The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more then another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.

These past two weeks have been the most breath taking of all. First came the announcement of a planned redesign of the American Byzantine tax system, by the very thieves who used it to bankroll their thefts, loses and swindles of hundreds of billions of dollars. These make our Russian oligarchs look little more then ordinary street thugs, in comparison. Yes, the Americans have beat our own thieves in the shear volumes. Should we congratulate them?

These men, of course, are not an elected panel but made up of appointees picked from the very financial oligarchs and their henchmen who are now gorging themselves on trillions of American dollars, in one bailout after another. They are also usurping the rights, duties and powers of the American congress (parliament). Again, congress has put up little more then a whimper to their masters. Read it all here.

"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." -- Thomas Jefferson

As former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher once said, “Socialism is a great idea, until you run out of other people’s money!”

Life is 10% how you take it

2009-05-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

I got this from Mickey's funnies...it was too good not to share.

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us.

My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly.

So I asked, "Why did you just do that? That guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"

This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage -- frustration, anger, disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.

Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't.

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

Update on James

2009-05-26T14:08:00.000-07:00

I know some of you have been wondering about my brother James. I talked with my sister last night and she had talked with he and his wife. Said they were hanging in there but she could tell they were down some. Then today my niece had this on her blog.

"It has been about 9 months since dad was diagnosed with bile duct cancer. They told him he had about 3-6 months, he has been doing really well with the exception of having to replace his tube that drains the bile out of his body and getting a few infections. He is thin and weak but eats and has a great attitude!

The last week or so mom had been telling me that he is sooooo much weaker and that his stomach was really hurting him. He was taking more pain killers, lol, still not much, he was up to 2.5 a day! Dad doesn't like meds! I talked to him on the phone on Sunday night and he seemed to get a bit confused. The nurse came in on Monday morning to change his bandage and flush his tube. She took his temperature and it was 98. When she was ready to leave she asked that mom to come outside and tell her about some of her flowers she had in her garden. Really, she just wanted to talk to mom about dad. She said, "He is really confused, did the Dr.'s let you know that it would get like this?" Mom told her yes.... and she said, "it will just get worse..."

After the nurse left mom went in and sat on the chair by the window. She had the window open letting some fresh air in, she said it felt so good, but then she looked over at dad laying on the couch and his teeth were just chattering, he was COLD. She went and got him a couple of blankets and took his temperature again, it was up to 103. (That was FAST!) Dad was confused and a bit agitated... mom called my brother who thankfully only lives 2 doors down. Dad had been up all night throwing up, and now his temperature was up and he was confused, they decided they needed to take him to the hospital.

When they got him to the ER they gave him an IV and antibiotics. They ran some blood work and told them that he, again, had an infection. It seems that every time he gets an infection his gets a high temperature and a bit delirious. After they got it down to 99.9 they let him go home. I talked to mom after he got home and he seemed to be better. Shortly after I talked to mom ~ probably about 2 hours or so she called me back crying telling me that his temp was back up to 103 and she and Dirk were taking him back to the ER. (it was 104.7 when they got to the hospital) They again, gave him an IV and antibiotics. They really liked the Dr. that was there. They kept him over night... I just talked to them at about 11:30 (my time) and they had just gotten home. My sister in law had taken mom to pick him up. Dad sounds GREAT and mom sounds much better too!!! (the blood work and other tests should be in tomorrow eve)

It is really hard being so far away when things like this happen. Brad, being the wonderful man that he is, gathered us together and we had a sweet prayer for dad (and mom)... I am grateful for my dear brother and his good wife that are always there for my parents. It is a big relief for me to know that my parents are so well taken care of! I am grateful for tender mercies from our Father in Heaven.

Hang in there dad... I love you!!!"

I know God is in control because of His WORD. Ps.139:16 "Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Thy book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me. When as yet there was not one of them."

I pray God gives James and Shari peaceful days ahead. That God would watch over and care for them and give them strength.

Please pray for my brother and sisterinlaw.

Fun Times on Face Book

2009-05-18T09:47:00.000-07:00

It is amazing what and who you can find on Facebook. A lovely young woman Susan Whittemore Stone who graduated from Munday in 1992 found Andrea Macedo on Facebook. She sent me her information and after 17 years walaaaaa.........we're together again.

In 1992 We had a beautiful 17 year old girl from Brazil arrive in Munday as a Foreign Exchange Student. I will never forget picking her up from the airport. She was a cute little gal and she had on a short skirt, short sleeves and no coat. It was snowing outside. It was summer when she left home and it was freezing in Dallas, Texas. Andrea Macedo had never seen snow. She was just in awe. We immediately took her to shop for a coat and some warm clothes so she could start school on Monday. I think her Daddy was in shock when he got the credit card bill.

This is a picture of some of her classmates in Munday. She is the one in the center.

This is a picture of the Senior Class of 1992.

Here is a picture of the beautiful young woman today with her new baby boy.

Andrea is married and works as a bilingual teacher. She has been on maternity leave but will be going back soon. She says she is sad to be leaving her baby but her mother and mother in law will baby sit.

Face Book gets a lot of bad publicity but I have to tell you it has been really fun for me. I have connected with old friend and lots of family all across the United States. Thank you Face Book for bringing me back in contact with Andrea. It was sweet. Thank you Susan for doing the work. You are a beautiful young woman with a cute family. If you're not on Face Book maybe you should check it out.

Should a Christian be a Mason?

2009-05-16T10:32:00.000-07:00

Dr. David R. Reagan

I have questioned this for sometime. My father was a mason and I tried many times to share the truth with him. He was open at the end of his life. I do not see how a Christian can be a Mason...but I would like to know what you think so please comment.

By Dr. David R. Reagan

In the mid-1980's I was holding a meeting at a large church in Lexington, Kentucky, when I received a phone call at my motel from one of the church members. The caller identified himself as one of our radio listeners. He said he had heard a broadcast of mine about Masonry, and he wanted to talk with me about it. He asked if he could come to my room for a visit, and I agreed.

When he arrived, he shared with me an incident that had happened at his church. One of the assistant pastors had been teaching a course on the cults. One Sunday morning as he concluded his lesson, he announced, "Next week we will conclude our study of the cults by taking a look at the Masons."

My visitor said he was dumbfounded by this announcement. "I immediately protested," he said. "I told him I was a Mason, and I did not consider the organization to be cultic in nature."

"Well," the teacher responded, "I really don't know that much about it. I'm just presenting the material in my teacher's manual."

After discussing the matter back and forth for a few minutes, the teacher made an offer: "I'll tell you what," he said, "next week I'll present my material and then I will give you half the class time to present your rebuttal."

My visitor said he accepted the offer and went to work immediately studying Masonry.

I asked what he meant by "studying Masonry."

He replied that although he had been a Mason many years, he knew almost nothing about the fundamental beliefs of the organization.

When I asked how that could be, he explained that he had simply bought each of his Masonic degrees without doing any study.

"What happened next?" I asked.

He said he started his research by reading the Kentucky Masonic handbook. "When I got to page 95, I put the book down, repented before God for ever becoming a Mason, took a hammer and beat my Masonic ring to a pulp, and then sent a letter of resignation to my lodge."

"Wow!" I replied. "What in the world was on page 95?"

At that point, he handed me the handbook and told me I could keep it. I immediately turned to page 95 and found the following paragraph:1

"Masonry makes no profession of Christianity... but looks forward to the time when the labor of our ancient brethren shall be symbolized by the erection of a spiritual temple... in which there shall be but one altar and one worship; one common altar of Masonry on which the Veda [Hinduism], Shastras [Buddhism], Sade [Astrology], Zend-Avesta [Zoroastrianism], Koran [Islam], and Holy Bible shall lie untouched by sacrilegious hands, and at whose shrine the Hindoo (sic), the Persian, the Assyrian, the Chaldean, the Egyptian, the Chinese, the Mohammedan, the Jew, and the Christian may kneel and with one united voice celebrate the praises of the Supreme Architect of the Universe."

Notice how this paragraph equates the Bible with the pagan scriptures and then asserts it is possible to obtain salvation through any religion. In short, this paragraph refutes the Gospel which maintains that "there is salvation in no other name under heaven except the name of Jesus" (Acts 4:12).

How could any Christian give his allegiance to an organization whose beliefs make a mockery of the Gospel? And yet, thousands of professing Christians, even many pastors and elders, have done so by becoming Masons.

Is it too late for Conservatives

2009-05-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Dr. Donald May speaking in Lubbock, Texas (taken from his website here)

Ladies and gentlemen, This is a Time For Courage.

We are gathered here today on the Plains of West Texas in common purpose. We are here to remind our government that this is our country, We the People are still in charge, and our government is still our servant and not our master.

Our Nation’s founding document is The Declaration of Independence. It tells us that our rights come from God and not from a small group of Elite men and women.

Our Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” Our Constitution was written for ordinary Americans like you and me. Our Constitution protects us from our government and from the politicians.

Our President has complained that our Constitution gives ordinary people too much protection.

He has ridiculed us for the high value we place on our Bibles, our guns, our personal property, and our Liberty. He tells us we do not deserve to keep the money we have earned.

We are told freedom has not worked. Personal responsibility, free enterprise, and Liberty have not been effective. Our government will now make more of our decisions for us.

Other than our military, I can think of not one government agency I have ever found to be helpful.

And speaking of our military, how about those Navy Seals blowing the heads off those three terrorist pirates? Don’t you just wish our entire government would function with such efficiency, professionalism, and courage?

We watch in disbelief as our beloved United States is weakened economically, militarily, and morally by a Radical President and his eager accomplices.

Read "The Rest of the speech"

So...What's in your Wallet?

2009-05-12T08:06:00.000-07:00

We have become a nation of "enablers". Today I had to make a quick run to the Dollar Store. I was in a hurry to pick up a couple of items to make 2 dozen deviled eggs for the Party we are having tomorrow night for the graduating Seniors. I got behind a young couple probably 16 or 17. She is probably 7 months pregnant. Has an diamond ear ring in her nose. Now I know...we are not suppose to judge by the outward appearance but did I mention I was in a hurry. The young girl and the checker could not get her Lone Star Card to work. It seemed she only had $5.30 left on her card and she had $7.00 of stuff to buy. They finally figured it out and the clerk told her give $2.00 cash and finally they got the card to process. I just stood there thinking..In a couple of months medicaid (Our government ie me and you if you have a job and pay taxes) will pick up her hospital bill and then she will get a wic card to buy milk for the baby. The young lady wasn't old enough to be driving much less using a Lone Star Card. What is happening to this country and is anybody teaching responsibility? I don't want to pay for her stuff from the Dollar Store, I don't want to pay her hospital bill and I don't want to pay for the wic card. What does this say about my Christianity?

May 12, 12:08 AM (ET)
By ANDREW TAYLOR
WASHINGTON (AP) - The government will have to borrow nearly 50 cents for every dollar it spends this year, exploding the record federal deficit past $1.8 trillion under new White House estimates. Budget office figures released Monday would add $89 billion to the 2009 red ink - increasing it to more than four times last year's all-time high as the government hands out billions more than expected for people who have lost jobs and takes in less tax revenue from people and companies making less money.

My friend over at For Love of Home has some good thoughts and I thought particularly good from another blogger.

Turning things around will be very difficult. The same people who are corrupting our government are the same people who have been corrupting families. It is in the family where such changes would start.

We have to start with ourselves and our families. Then we share with friends. Then we encourage them to share with friends, etc. It will be slow, because people have to heal themselves before they can heal the government.

Did you start with yourself today? Have you shared with a friend? Could I just tell that young woman to get a job or tell her parents to pay her bills? Can I do that? Somebody needs to.

THE FISHERWOMAN

2009-05-08T13:46:00.000-07:00

Did I say my son in law was a fisherman....well check out my daughter Lana's catch this past week.

The Swine Flu Pandemic – Fact or Fiction?

2009-04-29T19:23:00.000-07:00

Dr. Mercola update: scroll down and read the real reason for the fear being put out in the Media.

The Swine Flu Pandemic – Fact or Fiction?

Frankly I think Dr. Mercola is on to something.

Dr. Mercola article

HAPPY BIRTHDAY (BELATED OF COURSE)

2009-04-25T14:18:00.001-07:00

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY GREG

I am famous for one thing in this world and I will go down in history as always being late especially for birthdays. But, like I always tell the family you never know what day you will get to celebrate your birthday once again. When out of the blue...here comes a gift or a card from Gran.

Yesterday was my son in law Greg's birthday. He is the fisherman in the family (don't tell my other son-in-law Bruce). One year I requested fish for mother's day and boy did I get fish. Greg is not only a fisherman he is also a cook. We had fried fish, blackened fish, steamed fish and probably another kind but it was all just delicious. Greg also has the ability to dirty up every dish in the kitchen and on the grill.

I must confess that I was never a good teacher when it came to teaching my girls how to cook. When Lana and Greg married he was the one who had to cook. Greg's mother is a great cook and she must have taught Greg how because he can cook. Last year at their 4th of July party at their house I think he grilled about 100 hamburgers. Here he is grilling on their patio. He's the one in the yellow shirt bending over the gril.

Greg's favorite position after a long day of cooking.

Hope your birthday was a great one....and you never know when you might get a card or gift in the mail so keep checking.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREG!

God is glorified in me.....

2009-04-20T18:38:00.001-07:00

God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him. John Piper

Whether you are an Obama fan, or not, EVERYONE IN THE U. S. needs to know....
>
> Something happened... H.R. 1388 was passed recently, behind our backs. You may want to read about it. It wasn't mentioned on the news... just went by on the ticker tape at the bottom of the CNN screen.
>
> Obama funds $20M in tax payer dollars to immigrate Hamas Refugees to the USA. This is the news that didn't make the headlines...
>
> By executive order, President Barack Obama has ordered the expenditure of $20.3 million in "migration assistance" to the Palestinian refugees and "conflict victims" in Gaza.
>
> The "presidential determination", which allows hundreds of thousands of Palestinians with ties to Hamas to resettle in the United States, was signed on January 27 and appeared in the Federal Register on February 4.
>
> Few on Capitol Hill, or in the media, took note that the order provides a free ticket replete with housing and food allowances to individuals who have displayed their overwhelming support to the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the parliamentary election of January 2006.
>
> Let's review...itemized list of some of Barack Obama's most recent actions since his inauguration:
>
> His first call to any head of state, as president, was to Mahmoud Abbas, leader of Fatah party in the Palestinian territory.
>
> His first one-on-one television interview with any news organization was with Al Arabia television.
>
> His first executive order was to fund/facilitate abortion(s) not just here within the U. S., but within the world, using U. S. tax payer funds.
>
> He ordered Guantanamo Bay closed and all military trials of detainees halted.
>
> He ordered overseas CIA interrogation centers closed.
>
> He withdrew all charges against the masterminds behind the USS Cole and the "terror attack" on 9/11.
>
> Now we learn that he is allowing hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refuges to move to, and live in, the US at American taxpayer expense.
>
> These important, and insightful, issues are being "lost" in the blinding bail-outs and "stimulation" packages.
>
> Doubtful? To verify this for yourself:
> www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2009-02-04-E9-2488
>
> PLEASE PASS THIS ON... AMERICA NEEDS TO KNOW
>
> WE are losing this country at a rapid pace.

We had better be praying is all I have to say.

Love Is....

2009-04-17T08:45:00.000-07:00

(Turn up your speakers)

Recently my niece Shaila had a post on her blog about Love. What is love. If the dictionary had a picture beside Love it might be this precious mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother.

Funeral services for Nettie Lambert, age 95 of Seminole, were held at 2:00 p.m.Saturday, April 18, 2009, at Assembly of God Church, with her grandson Rev. Ronnie Fisher officiating.

My sister Mary Lu and I drove to Seminole on Saturday to attend the memorial service for this precious woman. As grandson Ron Fisher said in the memorial service, "God blessed this family with the gift of His grace in 1952 when Nettie married F. E. Lambert of Seminole.

Nettie Lambert who had never married at the age of 39 married Uncle Flake AND his 8 children ages 3 to 17. Actually the oldest daughter Mary Faye was married so she actually only had 7 children to mother. Nettie became a grandmother in about a month and loved it. About 2 years later Aunt Nettie and Uncle Flake added a sweet baby girl "little Mary" as we call her to the family. Can you imagine taking on 7 children to raise?

I remember so well when I was about 11 years old and our family went to Seminole to a funeral for my Aunt Mildred. Aunt Mildred had TB. She must have been in her late thirties. The youngest children were Nita 3, Betty 4 1/2, Glenn 6, Randall 8. The twins were about a year older than me. I couldn't imagine what Uncle Flake was going to do with all those kids. I guess it didn't take him long to realize he needed to find someone who could help him raise those children.

Ron read excerpts from the love letters between Nettie and Flake during about a 2 month period. They were sweet.

The obit read:
She was a perfect mother. Every one got a fresh apple cake by mail on their birthday. During World War II, she worked for the defense department testing brakes on the fighter planes.

Nettie Lambert is preceded in death by her husband, F.E. Lambert in 1999;

Survivors include (left to right) Mary Faye Cocke of Powell, Tenn., Ernest Lambert of San Angelo, twins Colene Wagner of Waldron, Ark, and Allene Hester of Seminole, , Randall Lambert of Snyder, Glen Lambert of Fayetteville, Ark., Betty Fisher of Seminole, Anita Goolsby of Seminole, and Mary Meeks of Chillicothe, Texas.

Nettie had 25 grandchildren; 45 great grandchildren; and eight great-great grandchildren.

Nettie was an amazing woman and I just hope when I die half of the kind things could be said of me. She was a Godly Woman and as many said she was always encouraging but never condemning. Loving them when they were unlovable and in rebellion. Her goal in life was to love them and pray for them. What a legacy. Aunt Nettie you will be missed but as one of the children or grandchildren said, "Heaven is sweeter today and I plan to make it my goal to be there to see her again."

I wish I had a picture of those 8 children that she loved and cherished when she took them into her heart back in 1952. God is good.

Greater love hath no man than he lay down his life for his friend. John 13:16

That is what love is....laying down one's life for others.

Happy birthday Jake

2009-04-17T07:48:00.000-07:00

Our oldest grandson Jake turns 24 today. I can't believe it. He should still be about 12. He loves his little red headed daughter is a wonderful Daddy to Kaylee and a good husband (maybe we should ask Crystal about that) to Crystal.

Jake loves sports of all types but I think his favorite is baseball. He gives private lessons to little leaguers and enjoys it as much as they do. He has coached his little brother Levi in all his activities and always says "I taught him all he knows".

Jake loves to have fun and has his garage set up to play "Guitar Hero". I guess he is pretty good at it because he doesn't do much of anything that he can't win at. He is very competive in everything he does.

Here he is clowning around.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET BOY WE LOVE YOU.

Something is a Stirring and it just might be a Revolution

2009-04-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

Bud met some of his friends in Abilene for the tea party. He had an appointment to have my car worked on so he included the tea party in his day. Somebody in the family had to stay home and work to pay taxes and that would be me. Bud estimated about a 1000 people showed up but said the news media came early while they were setting up and on the news it didn't look like very many people.

One of our long time friends from Plainview who now lives in Austin drove down to San Antonio and caught Glen Beck at the Alamo. Looks like she got up close and personal. I snagged these pictures from Face book.

Lana and her family went to the Tea Party in Belton that Jana Lea had helped organize. I grabbed a few pictures but you can go read and look at her blog here.

Edith Burns and Easter

2009-04-11T20:34:00.001-07:00

My friend Stacy sent this story.

THE STORY OF EDITH BURNS...

Happy Easter!

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns.

One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.

Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved.

Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?"

Beverly said, "Why yes I do."

Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?"

Beverly said, "Well, it's all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Phillips said, " Beverly , don't call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room.

After being called back in the doctor's office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?"

Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I'm the doctor and you're the patient" With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you're not going to live very long."

Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I'm going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!"

Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!"

Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I'm very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter."

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse.

Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.

One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick.

Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you."

Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won't work.. I'm not interested."

Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family."

Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room.

Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I'm praying for you."

One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith's room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I'm so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day"

Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, "Do you believe in Easter but you have never asked me."

Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked." Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?"

Phyllis Cross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life "Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.

Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it's Good Friday."

Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter Phyllis!"

Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter.

When she walked into Edith's room, Edith was in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith's hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14: "In my Father's house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, "And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!"

Phyllis Cross left Edith's body, walked out of the room, and over to a table where two student nurses were sitting. She said, "My name is Phyllis Cross. Do you believe in Easter?"

Speaking Truth in Love

2009-04-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have visited my friend Sam's Blog "Faith In Living Color". I have linked to this blog on more than on occasion. If you have not read his last post please go over and read it here.

Speaking the Truth in Love: Sam Jackson

Honest and loving discourse is an art form that is rare and virtually non-existent in political discussions. It is all too common to reduce political discussions to rants, tirades and gross misrepresentations that seek to relegate the promoter of an opposing view as not merely irrelevant, but almost as not truly human. This kind of poisonous posturing can be much more destructive than beneficial and can ultimately damage the mindset of our posterity who are the most precious carriers of the values we seek to promote and hold most sacred. Read the rest here:

We can all learn something from this blog post but not just political discourse. Friends, family even our enemies need to know Truth. Are we willing to lay down our life to speak Truth in Love?

Quote of the Century

2009-04-06T07:24:00.000-07:00

Subject: Quote of the Century...........
>
>
> > You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy
> > out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another
> > person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to
> > anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody
> > else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to
> > work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the
> > other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody
> > else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about
> > the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
> >
> > The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931-2005
Though Dr. Rogers said it in 1984, his words are so relevant to what we are facing in America today. In fact, it was even read and posted in the Congressional Record by Congressman Steve King from the state of Iowa on January 14, 2009.

Dr. Rogers still has a web page here. Some good stuff over there.

Shaila's Update on James

2009-04-03T18:52:00.000-07:00

Had an update from Shaila on James: They spent spring break in Utah and met their college kids at James and Shari's.He keeps hanging in there. Thanks for all the prayers. Please don't stop.

Dad's billy tube had come out some and the nurse noticed it when she was at the house on Friday so she called the Dr. and they had him come right in. Mom and I took him into the Huntsman Cancer Center on Friday and they put a new tube in. He is still pretty jaundice, you can notice it mostly in his eyes... he is very very thin but he eats REALLY well!!!! THAT makes us happy! He still loves his root beer floats! He was told he had 3-6 months back at the beginning of September but he is now starting his 8th month! He has a GREAT attitude, very very positive!!! He keeps telling the Dr's that he will see them in 5 years! I HOPE HE DOES!!!

God Help Us Remember

2009-03-29T22:31:00.000-07:00

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." --Thomas Jefferson President of the United States1801-1809

16th President of the United States. March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU READ THIS????
THE
GETTYSBURG
ADDRESS

Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth
on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and
dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing
whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so
dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-
field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of
that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave
their lives that this nation might live. It is altogether
fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate…we cannot
consecrate…we cannot hallow…this ground. The brave men,
living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it
far above our poor power to add or detract. The world
will little note nor long remember what we say here, but
it can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the
living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished
work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly
advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the
great task remaining before us…that from these honored
dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which
they gave the last full measure of devotion; that we here
highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain;
that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of
freedom; and that government of the people, by the people,
for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

November 19, 1863

Fixing the ecomony

2009-03-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

Got this from a friend and thought it sounded like a solution...especially since I am one of the "over 50". What do you think???

The Business Section of the St. Petersburg Times asked readers for ideas on "How Would You Fix the Economy?"
I thought this was the BEST idea....
I think this guy nailed it!

Dear Mr. President,
Patriotic retirement:
There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force - Pay them $1 million apiece severance with the following stipulations:
1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.
2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.
3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis fixed.
It can't get any easier than that!
PS If more money is needed, have all members in Congress and their constituents pay their taxes…

Now how much simpler can that fix be?????

Peter Marshal Commentary

2009-03-25T19:49:00.000-07:00

Peter Marshal is a minister and the son of Peter Marshal Sr. who was Chaplin for the U.S. Senate during the 1950ties. This is long but good.

American by the Grace of God

"Why do you not know how to interpret the present time?" (Luke 12:56)

Every once in a while I come across something that reminds me what a gift of God it is to be an American, and to have the privilege of living in this country. Such is the powerful story of one Peter W. Schramm, born in Hungary, who came to the United States as a young boy with his parents and sister in 1956, refugees from the vicious Soviet suppression of the Hungarian uprising.

I well remember those young Hungarian Freedom Fighters, and their futile but heroic fight against the overwhelming military force of a brutal Soviet invasion. As Schramm tells it, "on October 23, 1956, students gathered at the foot of Sandor Petofi's statue in Budapest and read his poem "Rise Magyar!", made famous in the democratic revolution of 1848. Workers, and even soldiers, soon joined the students. The demonstrators took over the state-run radio station and the Communist Party offices and toppled a huge statue of Stalin, dragging it through the streets. Rebellion soon spread throughout the country. The demonstrators--now Freedom Fighters--held Soviet occupation forces at bay for several days.

"On November 1, the Hungarian Prime Minister announced that Hungary would withdraw from the Warsaw Pact [the Soviet military organization for all their satellite and occupied countries, Ed.]. At dawn on November 4, the Soviets launched a major invasion of Hungary, in an offensive involving tens of thousands of additional troops, air and artillery assaults, and 6,000 tanks."

I vividly remember what Schramm was writing about, for though I was only 16 years old in 1956, I understood clearly what was happening. I listened to the TV and radio news stories of these young Hungarians (many of them no older than I was), armed only with Molotov cocktails (homemade gasoline bombs in bottles), rifles, pistols, hand grenades, and whatever weapons they could steal from dead Russian soldiers, fighting bravely in the streets against tanks and artillery and aircraft. The West, and particularly the United States, stood by, watched, and did nothing but lodge protests with the Soviets, while daily the Freedom Fighters broadcast urgent pleas for help. I recollect clearly my anger and frustration with the Eisenhower Administration for not going to their aid. Of course, that quite possibly would have meant war with the Soviet Union, which we weren't willing to risk in order to rescue Hungary.

The resistance was crushed in less than a week. "The last free Hungarian radio broadcast spent its final hours repeating the Gettysburg Address in seven languages," wrote Schramm, "followed by an S.O.S."

Stop reading this, and think for a moment of what that last sentence means.

These young people in a foreign country--who undoubtedly had never been to America and knew little of our history--so valued the timeless principles expressed by our greatest President in his brief but eloquent remarks at Gettysburg that they chose them for their last words. How can anyone begrudge Abraham Lincoln a prominent place in the pantheon of men who have made a godly impact on the course of human history? When the Civil War threatened America's future, Lincoln was raised up by God to save the nation by summoning our people to return to the Biblically-based moral and spiritual ideals annunciated in the Declaration of Independence.

Yet, in recent years, he has been falsely accused by some would-be historians as a racist, and is still tragically misunderstood as a tyrant, destroyer of constitutional liberties, and perpetrator of big government (none of which are true) by many Southerners. In the Civil War book of our adult history series, which I am now working on, I shall do my best to set that record straight. Meanwhile, back to Schramm's story:

"Over 20,000 Hungarians were tried and sentenced for participation in the uprising, hundreds receiving the death sentence. An estimated 200,000 Hungarians--of a population of nine million--became refugees. 47,000 came to the United States." One of those young Freedom Fighters somehow escaped the Soviets, and late that fall ended up at Mt.HermonPrep School, in Massachusetts, where I was a one-year Senior. We were honored to have him with us.

Peter Schramm and his family also came to America in that fall of 1956, when he was not quite ten years old. He, his parents, and his four-year-old sister shared a small apartment with his father's parents and his brother near the eastern railroad station in Budapest. But his story actually begins some years before then.

When the Communists took control of Hungary in 1949, they "expropriated" his parents' little textile shop--he wrote that it was about half the size of his current living room--and everything in it. That same year, they sentenced his father's father to ten years of hard labor. What was his crime? He had in his possession a small American flag. When asked at his "trial" (these were nothing but "show" trials, in an attempt to deceive the Western press) why he had it, he replied that it "represented freedom better than any other symbol he knew." At that time, Peter's father, William, tried to persuade his wife Rose to leave the country, but she couldn't bear to break the ties to family and friends. Soon, William was sentenced to a year of prison. Someone had turned him in for calling a Communist a tyrant (which he had!). When he was released, he washed windows and made illegal whiskey to try and feed his family.

The grandfather got an early release from the labor camp in 1956, and returned to the family "looking like a victim of the Holocaust," Schramm writes. But his spirit had not been broken. The first thing he wanted to know was whether the family still had the American flag. They didn't, of course; it had been confiscated by the police. But incredibly, Peter's father William had managed to find another one, and had carefully hid it away. When they took it from its hiding place Peter says that just "seeing that flag somehow erased much of the pain and torment of my grandfather's years of imprisonment; it seemed to give him hope."

Now, because the Freedom Fighters had taken over the railroad station, Soviet tanks were positioned in their neighborhood. The fighting was fierce. Bodies lay everywhere; one lay just outside their window for days. As it became clear that the revolution would fail, everyone knew that the Soviet oppression would come down on them harder than ever. If they were going to get out, it had to be now, while there was still a chance.

The deciding event happened one day when William went out to get bread. A hand grenade landed next to him, but miraculously failed to go off. When he came back to the apartment--but let Peter tell it: "He came home and announced to my mother that he was going to leave the country whether she would come or not. Mom said, "O.K., William. We will come if Peter agrees. Ask Peter."

"But where are we going?" I asked.

"We are going to America," he said.

"Why America?" I prodded.

"Because, son. We were born Americans, but in the wrong place."

"He said that as naturally as if I had asked him what was the color of the sky. It was so obvious to him why we should head for America that he never entertained any other option. Of course, he hadn't studied American history or politics, but he had come to know deep in his heart the meaning of tyranny. He hungered for its opposite and knew where to find it. America represented to my father, as Lincoln put it, 'the last, best hope of earth.' "

These sentiments about America were not unusual among Hungarians at the time, Schramm notes. "Among the Hungarians I knew--aside from those who were true believers in the Communists--this was the common sense of the subject. It was self-evident to them."

They could not tell anyone that they were leaving, not even Peter's grandparents and uncle. In that way, the relatives could answer truthfully to the police that they knew nothing about it. So, the little family had to leave with next to nothing--a small bag of clothes and a doll for each child and one small bag for both parents. And William also had 17 one dollar bills, "which he had been hoarding for years; good as gold, he always said" [Alas, that was then, Ed.].

Boarding a train headed toward the Austrian border, they discovered that many of their fellow passengers had the same idea. The Russians were stopping the trains and searching them, but the Schramms kept their heads down and said nothing to anyone.

When they left the train with hundreds of others, it was dark, and the border lay many miles away, across fields and farms. In spite of trying to keep separated and take different paths, they soon began drifting together, since they were all headed in the same direction. Haystacks had to be avoided, because Russian soldiers often hid in them, and they were told never to respond to a crying child, since that was a favorite Russian trick. Soon they came across a boy whose father had been shot, and took him into their group.

Finally, the moment came. "We crossed a little bridge in the dark before morning. Someone heard the sound of German on the other side of the bridge. It was the Austrian border post!"

They were free, at last.

At first they were led to a big barn in Nickelsdorf, Austria, where they slept, then moved to an Army camp near Innsbruck, where they were housed and fed. Peter's father got a job while they were waiting to be interviewed for refugee placement by the embassies of different countries. When the representative from the American embassy came, he asked William if he had any relatives in America. There were none. "Don't you know anyone in America?" was the next question. As it so happened, they did.

Back in 1946, before Peter had been born, his father had managed to build a car out of spare parts, which was a rare thing in ravaged post-war Hungary. He would scour the countryside in it, looking for junk to trade or sell. On one such trip he had come across a broken-down Volkswagen, driven by a de-commissioned U.S. officer who had been born in Hungary and was touring the country preparatory to returning to America. After Peter's father helped him get the car running, he refused payment, but did take the grateful driver's card. It read: "Joseph Moser, DDS, Hermosa Beach, California." "If you ever need anything," Moser told him, "don't hesitate to call." William had given the card to Peter's mother for safekeeping, and by the grace of God, she had brought it in her satchel! They showed the card to the American, and he promised to check it out.

He followed through, and surprisingly (or maybe not, if you know the ways of the Lord!), Dr. Moser was still in Hermosa Beach. Within a week the Schramms were sent to Munich, and then took a plane to New York City. On Christmas morning, they were taken to Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, for processing, and a few weeks later took a train to Los Angeles, where they were met by Dr. Moser and his family.

Peter continues the story: "Sponsorship meant that they had to guarantee that we would not become a burden to the American people. (Moser) had to house and feed us for awhile. Mom and Dad both got jobs right away, Dad at the local newspaper lifting heavy things, and Mom cleaning houses. Soon we had a little beach shack to live in, and my parents were able to purchase their first restaurant with their savings and a bank-financed loan. The whole family went to work. We had to tear the place apart before we could open it. After it was opened, my sister and I washed dishes as Mom and Dad cooked and waited on tables."

About the time Peter went to high school the family moved to StudioCity and bought a bigger restaurant. Schramm's Hungarian Restaurant was located across the street from some of the movie studios. After graduating from Hollywood High in 1964, he enrolled at San Fernando Valley State College (now California State University, Northridge) while continuing to work for his parents. By this time, Peter had become an avid reader, and was beginning to build his own library.

But he had not yet learned what he would later come to understand about American history and politics. Sadly, he notes, "even in the early '60s, (before 'political correctness' had been heard of), it was already common for teachers and professors to teach that America was an amazingly hypocritical place. All I needed to know about Abraham Lincoln, one teacher said, was that he was a racist."

Thankfully, he did not imbibe this poison, and through becoming involved in California Republican politics was eventually led to a doctoral program in government at ClaremontGraduateSchool in 1971. There, he "came to understand what Lincoln meant when he said that the ideas of the Declaration of Independence were the 'electric cord' that linked all Americans together, as though we were 'blood of the blood, and flesh of the flesh, of the men who wrote that Declaration.' This was what it meant to be an American."

It still is.

Schramm writes: "America became home to me, and these days I continue my life as a student of America. The difference is that now a university pays me to study, rather than my paying for the privilege. Here at a liberal arts college in central Ohio, I'm in the ironic position of teaching . . . Americans . . . how to think about their country. . ."

"When I teach them about American politics and American history, I start with a simple thing about their country and themselves. I tell them that they are the fortunate of the earth, among the blessed of all times and places. I tell them this is a thing that should be as obvious to them as it was to my father. And their blessing, their great good fortune, lies in the nation into which they were born. I tell them that their country, the United States of America, is not only the most powerful and the most prosperous country on earth, but the most free and the most just. Then I do my best to tell them how and why this is so. And I teach them about the principles from which those blessings of liberty flow. I invite them to consider whether they can have any greater honor than to pass undiminished to their children and grandchildren this great inheritance of freedom."

Amen, and amen.

47 years and countng

2009-03-17T20:09:00.001-07:00

As you can see by the date...I started this post on Tuesday of last week but with two little kids around there is not much time for blogging.

Last Tuesday Bud and I celebrated our anniversary. 47 years...my oh my where have the years gone? Most of the time I don't think I am older than 47 but my body reminds me. We celebrated by taking Ella and Hogan to Abilene to the Zoo. We had a big day planned. Best laid plans...and all.

Jana, Bruce and two of their older kids had gone with a church group skiing in Colorado.

We ended up going to Chick Fil A and spending about 3 hours while Bud sat at the car dealership. Just had a light out. The kids and I celebrated with green ice cream.

By the time we got to the Zoo they were about to close so we drove back to Stamford to the City Park. It was lots of fun. They have a nice duck pond.

And a really nice playground.

We had an unexpected surprise at the park. Bud's niece Jamie, her husband Cody and their two little sons Rylan and Mason were at the park. They live there (not at the park but in Stamford) Cody and Jamie own Iron Hand Steel. They go to the park to play volleyball with other family and friends. They are such a cute family.

I think the kids had fun even though we didn't get to the Zoo that day. I had to work on Wednesday and Thursday so Bud took them back on Thursday and they had a lot of fun seeing all of the animals.

We took them home on Friday and got home today. They were glad to get home to Mommie and Daddie and we were glad to take them. We really had a good time with them but as I said in an earlier post...Age is a matter of mind and this week my body minds.

Reason to smile

2009-03-15T22:27:00.000-07:00

The Good Old USA is in Serious Touble

2009-03-12T19:51:00.000-07:00

Folks, we are in trouble. If you want to live with your head in the sand don't read this.

Written by Senator Tom Coburn

Tuesday, 10 February 2009

[Senator Coburn recently gave this speech on the floor of the Senate]

We are going in exactly the wrong direction. We ought to be standing on the principles that made this country great.

There ought to be a review of every program in the Federal Government that is not effective, that is not efficient, that is wasteful or fraudulent, and we ought to get rid of it right now. We ought to say, Gone, to be able to pay for a real stimulus plan that might, in fact, have some impact.

I would be remiss if I didn't remind everybody that next week we are going to hear from the Obama administration wanting another $500 billion. Outside of this ["stimulus" bill], they are going to want another $500 billion to handle the banking system.

I want to make sure the American people know what is in this Stimulus bill. I think once they know what is in this bill, they are going to reject it out of hand. Let me read for my colleagues some of the things that are in this bill.

The biggest earmark in history is in this bill. There is $2 billion in this bill to build a coal plant with zero emissions. That would be great, maybe, if we had the technology, but the greatest brains in the world sitting at MIT say we don't have the technology yet to do that.

Why would we build a $2 billion powerplant we don't have the technology for that we know will come back and ask for another $2 billion and another $2 billion and another $2 billion when we could build a demonstration project that might cost $150 million or $200 million? There is nothing wrong with having coal-fired plants that don't produce pollution; I am not against that. Even the Washington Post said the technology isn't there. It is a boondoggle. Why would we do that?

We eliminated tonight a $246 million payback for the large movie studios in Hollywood .

We are going to spend $88 million to study whether we ought to buy a new ice breaker for the Coast Guard. You know what. The Coast Guard needs a new ice breaker. Why do we need to spend $88 million? They have two ice breakers now that they could retrofit and fix and come up with equivalent to what they needed to and not spend the $1 billion they are going to come back and ask for, for another ice breaker, so why would we spend $88 million doing that?

We are going to spend $448 million to build the Department of Homeland Security a new building. We have $1.3 trillion worth of empty buildings right now, and because it has been blocked in Congress we can't sell them, we can't raze them, we can't do anything, but we are going to spend money on a new building here in Washington .

We are going to spend another $248 million for new furniture for that building; a quarter of a billion dollars for new furniture. What about the furniture the Department of Homeland Security has now? These are tough times. Should we be buying new furniture? How about using what we have? That is what a family would do. They would use what they have. They wouldn't go out and spend $248 million on furniture.

How about buying $600 million worth of hybrid vehicles? Do you know what I would say? Right now times are tough; I would rather Americans have new cars than Federal employees have new cars. What is wrong with the cars we have? Dumping $600 million worth of used vehicles on the used vehicle market right now is one of the worst things we could do. Instead, we are going to spend $600 million buying new cars for Federal employees.

There is $400 million in here to prevent STDs. I have a lot of experience on that. I have delivered 4,000 babies. We don't need to spend $400 million on STDs. What we need to do is properly educate about the infection rates and the effectiveness of methods of prevention. That doesn't take a penny more. You can write that on one piece of paper and teach every kid in this country, but we don't need to spend $400 million on it. It is not a priority.

How about $150 million for a Smithsonian museum? Tell me how that helps get us out of a recession. Tell me how that is a priority. Would the average American think that is a priority that we ought to be mortgaging our kids' future to spend another $150 million at the Smithsonian?

How about $1 billion for the 2010 census? So everybody knows, the census is so poorly managed that the census in 2010 is going to cost twice what it cost 10 years ago, and we wasted $800 million on a contract because it was no-bid that didn't perform. Nobody got fired, no competitive bidding, and we blew $800 million.

We have $75 million for smoking cessation activities, which probably is a great idea, but we just passed a bill, the SCHIP bill, that we need to get 21 million more Americans smoking to be able to pay for that bill. That doesn't make sense.

How about $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges? I mean, did we talk with Dell and Hewlett-Packard and say, How do we make you all do better? Is there not a market force that could make that better? Will we actually buy on a true competitive bid?

No, because there is nothing that requires competitive bidding in anything in this bill. There is nothing that requires it. It is one of the things President Obama said he was going to mandate at the Federal Government, but there is no competitive bidding in this bill at all.

We have $10 million to inspect canals in urban areas. Well, that will put 10 or 15 people to work. Is that a priority for us right now?

There is $6 billion to turn Federal buildings into green buildings. That is a priority, versus somebody getting a job outside of Washington , a job that actually produces something, that actually increases wealth?

How about $500 million for State and local fire stations? Where do you find in the Constitution us paying for local fire stations within our realm of prerogatives? None of it is competitively bid.

Next is $1.2 billion for youth activities. Who does that employ? What does that mean?

How about $88 million for renovating the public health service building? You know, if we could sell half of the $1.3 trillion worth of properties we have, we could take care of every Federal building requirement and backlog we have.

Then there's $412 million for CDC [Centers for disease Control] buildings and property. We spent billions on a new center and headquarters for CDC. Is that a priority? If we are going to spend $412 million on building buildings, let's build one that will produce something, one that will give us something.

How about $850 million for that most ``efficient'' Amtrak that hasn't made any money since 1976 and continues to have $2 billion or $3 billion a year in subsidies?

Here is one of my favorites: $75 million to construct a new ``security training'' facility for State Department security officers. We already have four other facilities already available to train them. But they want theirs. By the way, it is going to be in West Virginia . I wonder how that got there.

So we are going to build a new training facility that duplicates four others that we already have that could easily do what we need to do. But because we have a stimulus package, we are going to add in oink pork.

How about $200 million in funding for a lease - not buying, but a lease - of alternative energy vehicles on military installations?

We are going to bail out the States on Medicaid. Total all of the health programs in this, and we are going to transfer $150 billion out of the private sector and we are going to move it to the Federal Government. You talk about backdooring national health care.

Henry Waxman has to be smiling big today. He wants a single-payer Government-run health care system. We are going to move another $150 billion to the Federal Government from the private sector.

We are going to eliminate fees on loans from the Small Business Administration. You know what that does? That pushes productive capital to unproductive projects. It is exactly the wrong thing to do.

We are going to spend $524 million for information technology upgrades that the Appropriations Committee claims will create 388 jobs. If you do the math on that, that is $1.5 million a job. Don't you love the efficiency of Washington thinking?

We are going to create $79 billion in additional money for the States, a ``slush fund,'' to bail out States and provide millions of dollars for education costs. How many of you think that will ever go away?

Once the State education programs get $79 billion over 2 years, do you think that will ever go away? The cry and hue of taking "our money" away, even though it was a stimulus and supposed to be limited, it will never go away. So we will continue putting that forward until our kids have grandkids of their own.

There is about $47 billion for a variety of energy programs that are primarily focused on renewable energy. I am fine with spending that. But we ought to get something for it. There ought to be metrics. There are no metrics. It is pie in the sky, saying we will throw some money at it.

Let me conclude by saying we are at a seminal moment in our country. We will either start living within the confines of realism and responsibility or we will blow it and we will create the downfall of the greatest nation that ever lived.

This bill is the start of that downfall. To abandon a market-oriented society and transfer it to a Soviet-style, government-centered, bureaucratic-run and mandated program, that is the thing that will put the stake in the heart of freedom in this country.

I hope the American people know what is in this bill. I am doing everything I can to make sure they know. But more important, I hope somebody is listening who will treat the ``pneumonia'' we are faced with today, which is the housing and mortgage markets. It doesn't matter how much money we spend in this bill. It is doomed to failure unless we fix that problem first.

Failing that, we will go down in history as the Congress that undermined the future and vitality of this country. Let it not be so.

Update on James

2009-03-09T00:45:00.000-07:00

I had a really nice visit with Shari and James on the phone tonight. They still do not know what they will do about another drain tube for James. I don't think the Drs. really know what to do. They are concerned that two tubes would be very uncomfortable for him. James sounded great. He has as always a positive attitude. We discussed the fact that the Drs. do not know so they really can't give him any answers. The Doctors really thought James would not live this long so they are just taking one day at a time. They are basically waiting on the Doctors to decide if they will do anything else.

Shari and I were just talking about getting old. Sharla, Mary Lu's daughter once ask mother, "Mama did you get old all at once or did it just come upon you?" I really think it just comes up on us. I don't really think I am old...until I go baby sit for Jana's two youngest kids. They are just precious but they can sure wear you down. Last week Hogan the 4 year old has Scarlet Fever. I didn't know people still had that. But, anyway he had strip throat and woke up with a rash all over his body. Jana took him to the Doctor and they diagnoised him with Scarlet Fever. He was a sick little guy. Then Ella who is 2 got the strip throat and Jana had an abcessed tooth. So guess what I did? I headed to Mesquite to help out. By the time I got there everybody was a better but the weather was terrible. Thank God for McDonalds Play Ground.

Now I ask you, "How could you not want to baby sit with these two precious little ones?"

I came home on Tuesday afternoon and that is when I knew that I was old. It just came upon me. I was glad to be in my own bed. I remember mother and daddy never wanted to be gone from home overnight because they wanted to sleep in their own bed. Now I understand how they feel. I worked on Wednesday and Thursday and I am now rested after a few days off. I think it was just a dream. Today I don't think I am old. I am young again.

A friend sent me a birthday card a few years ago that said, "Age is a matter of mind, it don't matter if you don't mind".

The New Diet that will work

2009-03-04T21:06:00.000-08:00

This is for my friend Jackie. If the rest of you would like more information please send $19.95 to me in the next 24 hours and I will give you more dieting information that will work for anybody. If you send the money in the next 12 hours I will double the diet tips.

The Pasta Diet'
The Pasta Diet and Your Health

ITALIAN PASTA DIET -- IT REALLY WORKS!

1. You walk pasta da bakery.

2. You walk pasta da candy store.

3. You walk pasta da ice cream shop.

4. You walk pasta da table and fridge.

You will lose weight!

AND...

For those of you who watch what you eat, here's the final word on nutrition and health.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the English.

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than the English.

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the English.

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than the English.

5. The Germans drink a lot of beers and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than the English.

CONCLUSION:

Eat and drink what you like.
Speaking English is apparently what kills you

Margaret Thatcher

2009-02-25T20:31:00.001-08:00

"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's
money."

~~Margaret Thatcher~~

Are you Blessed?

2009-02-24T08:09:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine challenged me to study what is called "The Sermon on the Mount or The Beatitudes". What is my "Attitude"? What is Your "Attitude"? Sometimes the King James Bible just doesn't get through to me so I read it in Peterson's "The Message." I need help Jesus.

Matthew 5 (King James Version) Read The Message is next.
Matthew 5

1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5 (The Message)

Matthew 5
You're Blessed
1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:

3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

6"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

Are you blessed today or are you like me....We need to kinow Jesus.

Stimulus Bill Explained

2009-02-21T11:13:00.000-08:00

A friend sent this explanation of the Stimulus bill and I think it is pretty good.

Shortly after class, an economics student approaches his economics professor and says, "I don't understand this stimulus bill. Can you
Explain it to me?"

The professor replied, "I don't have any time to explain it at my office, but if you come over to my house on Saturday and help me with my
Weekend project, I'll be glad to explain it to you." The student agreed.

At the agreed-upon time, the student showed up at the professor's house. The professor stated that the weekend project involved his
Backyard pool.

They both went out back to the pool, and the professor handed the student a bucket. Demonstrating with his own bucket, the professor said,
"First, go over to the deep end, and fill your bucket with as much water as you can." The student did as he was instructed.

The professor then continued, "Follow me over to the shallow end, and then dump all the water from your bucket into it." The student was
Naturally confused, but did as he was told.

The professor then explained they were going to do this many more times, and began walking back to the deep end of the pool.

The confused student asked, "Excuse me, but why are we doing this?"

The professor matter-of-factly stated that he was trying to make the shallow end much deeper.

The student didn't think the economics professor was serious, but figured that he would find out the real story soon enough.

However, after the 6th trip between the shallow end and the deep end, the student began to become worried that his economics professor had gone mad. The student finally replied, "All we're doing is wasting valuable time and effort on unproductive pursuits. Even worse, when this process is all over, everything will be at the same level it was before, so all you'll really have accomplished is the destruction of what could have been truly productive action!"

The professor put down his bucket and replied with a smile, "Congratulations. You now understand the stimulus bill."

I just want to add one thing. There will be water spilled and evaporated as the carrying goes on....so when all is said and done there will actually be less water in the pool. Go figure.

Thanking God

2009-02-21T09:54:00.001-08:00

There is never a time when we don't have a list of things to pray for. We are told in scripture "In everything give thanks." So today we are thankful.

Our great gran daughter Kaylee got to go home from the hospital yesterday. A few days earlier than the Drs. expected. Children are resilient. She is still on antibiotic but is feeling better every day. Praise the Lord for a quick recovery.

Brother James went into surgery and had his tube replaced. He still has good days and not so good days. It seems the liver has about 12 drain tubes and he only has 2 which are actually draining correctly. They will decide next week if they will put another tube to help drain the other side of his liver. He says he feels a little better and his billy count is a little better. Praise God for some progress.

Both of Jana's babies Hogan and Ella have been sick. Hogan strip throat and a rash. They called it Scarlet Fever. The Drs. said to keep him somewhat isolated but that is hard to do with a 2 year old in the house. Ella just has a cough and runny nose.

There is a little boy in Olney, Texas who had a bad accident and is in Cook Children's Hospital in the burn unit. His name is Clay Fite. Here is the site to read about his accident and updates. He needs all the prayers we can give.

We are told to pray for those in leadership ie President and all who are in authority in order to have a peaceful life. 1 Timothy 2:2

And last but not least we are always told to PRAY FOR THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM. Israel has elected Benjamin Netanyehu as Prime Minister...if he can bring together a coalition of the other parties.

< 99% of the ballots in: A clear majority for the right wing under the Netanyahu's leadership. Netanyahu: "the people have spoken I'll lead the next government". Right wing block has a 65 to 55 majority in Knesset.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Netanyahu claimed victory late Tuesday night after all TV stations exit polls project a clear majority to the right wing block of 65 seats to 55 for the left. Netanyahu addressed his supporters in Tel Aviv saying: "God willing I'll be the next Prime Minister. I'm sure I will be able to form a wide and stable coalition government that will know how to cope with the crisis and promote reforms in the education" Netanyahu has detailed his next political moves:" I'll start by turning to our partners of the right wing; we've already set up meetings for tomorrow. Then I'll seek out the rest of the Zionist parties (meaning Labor and Kadima) in order to unify all of forces of the people."
Netanyahu also responded to Kadima's claims that they won the elections "There is no doubting the conclusion that the right wing under the Likud has won a decisive victory… the question is not what the polls said, but what the reality states, in the going out Knesset the right wing had only 50 seats and today it has a majority, in the last elections the people voted us into the opposition, and in these elections we increased our votes more than any other part.

Thanking God that He is in control and that He hears our prayers whether it is small things and the bigger things. Again as one of my favorite writers Jan Karon says,

"The real issues of life aren't the ones in the national headlines but the ones in our small personal spheres of life."

If you don't believe this just ask Clay Fite's family. Please pray for this family.

The Stimulus Package

2009-02-17T22:00:00.000-08:00

It's a done deal! The President signed the bill:

From my friend over at A Patriot's Heart.

Here is a partial yet disturbing list of what can only be seen as special interest projects offered up in HR1:

▪ $650 million for digital TV coupons

▪ $50 million in funding for the National Endowment of the Arts

▪ $200 million for the National Mall, including repairs of grass destroyed during the inauguration festivities

▪ $400 million for "National Treasures"

▪ $99,600 for doorbells in Laurel, MS

▪ $500,000 for a dog park in Chula Vista, CA

▪ $3,450,000 to "rehabilitate" sidewalks in Alexandria, VA

▪ $600 million to buy hybrid vehicles for federal employees

▪ $150 million for Smithsonian museum facilities

▪ $75 million for "smoking cessation activities"

▪ $200 million for public computer centers at community colleges

▪ $6 billion to turn federal buildings into "green" buildings

▪ $850 million for Amtrak

▪ $100 million for reducing the hazard of lead-based paint

▪ $110 million to the Farm Service Agency to upgrade computer systems

And my favorite – and, evidently, Nancy Pelosi's as well – $30 million for a wetlands restoration project in the San Francisco Bay Area to protect, among other things, the endangered salt marsh harvest mouse. Not coincidentally, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has championed preserving the mouse's habitat in the past.

The larger point I am trying to make – aside from the fact that this piece of legislation is as much a stimulus bill as my electric bill – is that because of our collective habit of taking the less engaged avenue in governmental oversight, in attributing blame for this act of pure politics over good government, we will allow the mainstream media and political operatives to place the onus of either congratulations or condemnation onto President Obama. While the president does deserve a portion of the condemnation that will surly rise once our citizenry wakes-up from their “hope & change stupor” only to realize they have been manipulated into believing that installing doorbells in Mississippi and protecting the salt marsh field mouse will somehow save the economy, the true ownership of this massive fraud rests with Congress. This is the Pelosi-Reid Special Interest Appropriations Bill, not an economic stimulus package.

I agree with Lindsey Graham, "The American People have been scr__ed."

Kaylee update

2009-02-17T19:06:00.000-08:00

I just talked to Lana and Kaylee was moved out of ICU into a room today. They were happy to see her moving around and playing a little with some play dough and blowing bubbles with gum. They of course want her to blow and use her lungs. They expect her to be in the hospital for a few more days but were happy to see some improvement. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Brother James

2009-02-17T07:54:00.000-08:00

My brother James goes into see the Doctors today for a consultation to decide if they will put another tube to drain the right side of the liver. He already has a tube to drain the other side. He is weaker and needs to make a decision. How do we pray? I am still working on Phillipians 3:10 I have been memorizing it from the Amplified Bible so this is my prayer for James:

That James' determined purpose is that He may know Him, that James may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly. This is from the Amplified Bible but here it is in the King James in context.

This is Paul talking about his faith in Christ in verses 7-10

"7But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;"

I pray that James will come to know Christ more and more during this difficult time in his life.

Great Gran Daughter Kaylee

2009-02-16T09:36:00.001-08:00

UPDATE: Antibiotic seems to be working..Kaylee is eating a little.

"The real issues of life aren't the ones in the national headlines but the ones in our small personal spheres of life." Jan Karon

Our great gran daughter Kaylee is in ICU at Scott and White. She will be 4 in March. All the world problems take a second seat when we have an emergency in our family. A good family friend Durwood Thigpen is in ICU in Abilene with heart and kidney failure. Please add both of these precious people in your prayers.

I copied this message from my daughter's blog. Please Pray.

Our 3 year-old granddaughter was admitted to the hospital on Thursday night with a severe case of pneumonia. They were not able to halt the infection and her left lung filled up with fluid. They transported her to the Scott and White Pediatric ICU Saturday morning in order to drain the fluid from her lung and she's there now. This is an incredibly painful procedure for an adult, let alone a little bitty girl. She now has a large tube sticking out of her tiny little chest and she is in a great deal of pain.

The doctors have been unable to find the right antibiotic to kill the bacteria in her lung and her lung continues to fill up with fluid as fast as they can pump it out.

Please pray for these specific things:

1) That the doctors are able to find the right medicine to kill the infection. That is the most critical.

2) That the drain they've placed in her lung pumps out the fluid better so that they don't have to put in an additional tube to drain the fluid. As I said, it's very painful and we don't want her to endure another.

3) That she will have as little pain and as much peace as possible during this week. As you can imagine, she reacts to the adults around her. Pray that everyone around her is full of faith and optimism and encouragement for her.

4) Pray that the next two days are as stress free and pain free as possible. The doctors have said they will be much more aggressive in their treatment during the next two days, which means she's going to be in even more pain because of the things they plan to do. Lift her up during this time.

5) Obviously, anything else God might lead you to pray for as she and her Mommy and Daddy need all the prayers they can get. They are all hurting and exhausted, but our little kitty cat most of all.

We do have an amazing blessing in all of this. Her doctor has actually had this same procedure with his own lung....3 times. He is incredibly attentive to her and very compassionate about her situation. He's made sure that she is as comfortable as they can possibly make her. And he's been very helpful in explaining not only the medical things that are going on, but telling us all how she's feeling and what she will and won't want to do. He's been checking on her repeatedly during the day and even came in today and sat with her for 45 minutes. Having this man dealing with our case has been wonderful for her parents and really, all of us.

However, glimmers of our feisty little pumpkin pop up. Today Veritas and Vision made up a little song for her to the tune of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, because she has a little red monitor on her toe. She's got tubes and wires everywhere. Oxygen in her nose, IV in her arm, tube in her chest, heart monitors, blood pressure cuff on her leg, plus this thing on her toe that lights up red. The song went something like, "Kitty, the red-toed kitty cat, had a very shiny toe, and if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows..."

And she started grinning and sang, "All of the other reindeer, told her she was pretty, brave and sweet..." She made up several very flattering verses.

PLEASE SAY A PRAYER.

Hospitality

2009-02-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

hos·pi·tal·i·ty

1 a: given to generous and cordial reception of guests b: promising or suggesting generous and cordial welcome c: offering a pleasant or sustaining environment

If there was a picture in the dictionary under Hospitality it would be of our good friends Shirley and Perry Pierce.

Bud is not working these days (which is another story that I may get to one day) so we decided last week on the spur of the moment to drive to Victoria, Texas to visit our old (yes, Ron we are old) friends. They have been inviting us down for years but somehow we are always too busy. Busy, busy, busy! We are all too busy. We should never be too busy for friends.

Bud and Shirley grew up together at Pumphrey, Texas. They rode the bus together and from what I hear Bud bugged and aggravated her all the time. Perry moved into town about the 7th grade when they were in Winters Junior High. They all graduated together and off they all went to College Station where Perry and Bud attended Texas A & M. That was back before A & M was coed so I think Shirley took some courses but mostly had children and babysat. Perry and Shirley were in the school business with Perry serving as a coach, teacher, principal and superintendent. Shirley also worked in the schools as Librarian. Bud came to Plainview married me and the rest is history. A few years back we all got together at a class reunion and they invited me to be part of the friendship. We have said for years we wanted to get together but just never got it together. When we called on the spur of the moment they were so gracious to invite us down. I have never been treated so royally. Talk about good cooking and lots of it. They just outdid themselves and I have about 5 extra pounds to show for it. We had so much fun.

Thanks guys for showing us such a great time.

Simple is not a word in our vocabulary. We always try to add all we can into our trips. Our grandson Levi was playing one of his last basketball games in College Station so we decided we would go see our gran daughter Kelsey who is a Sophomore at Texas A & M.
We went to see Levi play Basketball and he had a really good night.
Levi's made 31 points and they still lost. Bad coaching and bad referees I always say. Anyway, he played good and we had a great time watching him play. Then we watched Kellyn cheer for the J-V Team.

Kellyn has been a cheerleader all of her life and she is really good at it. Cheer leading is not what it was when I was in school. You have to be an athlete to do all they do. We had fun. Kellyn is on the back row on the left.

We got home about midnight on Tuesday and I had to go to work on Wednesday. I need some help from the Stimulus Bill...and from what I read I can expect anywhere from $7.00 to $13.00 a week. I think I may just retire on that.

2009-02-04T19:33:00.000-08:00

Don't pass the Stimulus Bill

2009-02-02T21:07:00.000-08:00

Over at the CORNER:
at National Review: Read it all here.

Only 12 Cents of Every Dollar Is For Something That Could Plausibly Be Called a Growth Stimulus [Andy McCarthy]

A good quote:

Mahatma Gandhi gave a pretty good description of our current situation in one of his quotes:

"The things that will destroy us are: politics without principle; pleasure without conscience, wealth without work; knowledge without character; business without morality; science without humanity; and worship without sacrifice."

View from a black woman

2009-02-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

In fairness I thought I would post this "A black woman's view".

Anne Wortham is Black, an Associate Professor of Sociology
at Illinois State University and continuing Visiting Scholar
at Stanford University's HooverInstitution. She is a member of the
American Sociological Association and the American Philosophical
Association. She has been a John M. Olin Foundation Faculty Fellow, and
honored as a Distinguished Alumni of the Year by the National
Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education.

(Thanks Cuz Ron)

Fellow Americans,

Please know: I am black; I grew up in the segregated South. I did not vote for Barack Obama; I wrote in Ron Paul’s name as my choice for president. Most importantly, I am not race conscious. I do not require a black president to know that I am a person of worth, and that life is worth living. I do not require a black president to love the ideal of America.

I cannot join you in your celebration. I feel no elation. There is no smile on my face. I am not jumping with joy. There are no tears of triumph in my eyes. For such emotions and behavior to come from me, I would have to deny all that I know about the requirements of human flourishing and survival – all that I know about the history of the United States of America, all that I know about American race relations, and all that I know about Barack Obama as a politician. I would have to deny the nature of the "change" that Obama asserts has come to America. Most importantly, I would have to abnegate my certain understanding that you have chosen to sprint down the road to serfdom that we have been on for over a century. I would have to pretend that individual liberty has no value for the success of a human life. I would have to evade your rejection of the slender reed of capitalism on which your success and mine depend. I would have to think it somehow rational that 94 percent of the 12 million blacks in this country voted for a man because he looks like them (that blacks are permitted to play the race card), and that they were joined by self-declared "progressive" whites who voted for him because he doesn’t look like them. I would have to be wipe my mind clean of all that I know about the kind of people who have advised and taught Barack Obama and will fill posts in his administration – political intellectuals like my former colleagues at the Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

I would have to believe that "fairness" is equivalent of justice. I would have to believe that man who asks me to "go forward in a new spirit of service, in a new service of sacrifice" is speaking in my interest. I would have to accept the premise of a man that economic prosperity comes from the "bottom up," and who arrogantly believes that he can will it into existence by the use of government force. I would have to admire a man who thinks the standard of living of the masses can be improved by destroying the most productive and the generators of wealth.

Finally, Americans, I would have to erase from my consciousness the scene of 125,000 screaming, crying, cheering people in Grant Park, Chicago irrationally chanting "Yes We Can!" Finally, I would have to wipe all memory of all the times I have heard politicians, pundits, journalists, editorialists, bloggers and intellectuals declare that capitalism is dead – and no one, including especially Alan Greenspan, objected to their assumption that the particular version of the anti-capitalistic mentality that they want to replace with their own version of anti-capitalism is anything remotely equivalent to capitalism.

So you have made history, Americans. You and your children have elected a black man to the office of the president of the United States, the wounded giant of the world. The battle between John Wayne and Jane Fonda is over – and that Fonda won. Eugene McCarthy and George McGovern must be very happy men. Jimmie Carter, too. And the Kennedys have at last gotten their Kennedy look-a-like. The self-righteous welfare statists in the suburbs can feel warm moments of satisfaction for having elected a black person. So, toast yourselves: 60s countercultural radicals, 80s yuppies and 90s bourgeois bohemians. Toast yourselves, Black America. Shout your glee Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Duke, Stanford, and Berkeley. You have elected not an individual who is qualified to be president, but a black man who, like the pragmatist Franklin Roosevelt, promises to – Do Something! You now have someone who has picked up the baton of Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society. But you have also foolishly traded your freedom and mine – what little there is left – for the chance to feel good. There is nothing in me that can share your happy obliviousness.

November 6, 2008

Update from Shaila (James's daughter)

2009-01-31T21:05:00.000-08:00

Just thought I would send out an email to update everyone.
Dad had his MRI last Friday and went to the Dr. yesterday to get the results.
His Dr. said that the tumor has grown but it is NOT in the liver and it has NOT metastasized!!! So, THAT is good news! The liver is still functioning well. The reason he is still jaundice is because the right side of the live is not draining. The tube he has in is working well and draining the left side of the liver. So, she gave him some options. He can do chemo (which he does NOT want to do) radiation again, or put in another tube to the right side of the liver. Then he would have TWO tubes hanging outside his body, NOT THE END OF THE WORLD!!! But, the one tube has not been totally comfortable for him so he is just waiting to see for the time being....

He has an apt on Feb. 19th to replace the tube that he currently has. At that time he can decide if he wants to add the 2nd tupe.

Dad asked his Dr. when she was going to fix him. He also told her, "Mark my words, make me an apt NOW for 5 yrs. from now and I will see you then." So, as you can see he has a great attitude!!! He DOES have some strength back. He swept out 1/2 of their garage yesterday!!!!! And, today he went outside with the care giver that comes in on Mon, Wed, and Fri. He is a very nice guy that helps him in the shower, shave, and then walks him a bit. He has not been using his walker at all!!!! And, he only used his cane when he went out today and walked a couple of blocks!

He is loving his "root beer floats" that they go get frequently from Costco. He got a handicap sign for the car (no, he is not driving) so, mom drops him off at the door, he walks into the food court at Costco and mom parks close by and joins him. They order an ice cream and a root beer and pur it over the ice cream and then he is a HAPPY CAMPER!!!

Anyway, keep praying... he is doing well and we are happy with him and for him! We love you all and thank you for your love and support!
Shaila

2009-01-31T15:09:00.000-08:00

THAT OBAMA DUDE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT "CHANGE"

Well H---!(Heck)

I'VE BEEN THRU "THE CHANGE" AND TRUST ME, YOU DO NOT WANT TO GO THERE!!!!!

Famous Quotes

2009-01-30T21:20:00.000-08:00

These are profound and true statements. They get better the more you read.

In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a
shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a congress.
John Adams

If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the
newspaper you are misinformed.

Mark Twain

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress . .
.
But then I repeat myself.

Mark Twain

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a
man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.

Winston Churchill

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the

support of Paul.

George Bernard Shaw

A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow man,
which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.

G Gordon Liddy

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep
voting on what to have for dinner.

James Bovard, Civil Libertarian (1994)

Foreign aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people
in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.

Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and
car keys to teenage boys.

P.J. O'Rourke, Civil Libertarian

Government is the great fiction, through which everybody endeavors
to live at the expense of everybody else.

Frederic Bastiat, French Economist (1801-1850)

Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short
phrases:
If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it And if it stops
moving, subsidize it.

Ronald Reagan (1986)

I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.

Will Rogers

If you think health care is expensive now, wait until you see what it
costs when it's free!

P.J. O'Rourke

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money
as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.

Voltaire (1764)

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn't mean politics

won't take an interest in you!

Pericles (430 B.C.)

You thought you had a bad day

2009-01-29T18:22:00.001-08:00

O.K. you thought you were having a bad day. Check this out.

2009-01-28T07:13:00.000-08:00

Jana sent me this picture of Hogan and Ella the caption was, "This is how Hogan dresses when his father is in charge." Bruce is a mess. They are having fun in the cold and Ella didn't have a Bib for sure There are some pictures of him being "Spider man" in the Christmas photos over at Lana's blog.

Lana put some pictures from our Christmas that we finally had on Martin Luther Kings Birthday Weekend. That was the best weekend for the family to get together because the College Kids and other school kids had off that Monday. We had a great time together. The weather was beautiful and the kids (even the grown up kids) played outside. We are not very good at taking pictures but you can go over here if you would like to see the family.

Confronting Islam

2009-01-26T10:24:00.000-08:00

World Magazine named Zakaria Botros as their "Daniel of the Year" for 2008. He is an amazing man who is a Coptic priest who is taking the internet and the airwaves to confront Islam. Read about this 75 year old man who says,"Fear is not in his vocabulary".

If you would like to see what he is doing on the internet go here.

My question to myself and those of you who read this blog, "When can a Christian Retire?"

pray for James and Shari

2009-01-26T08:29:00.000-08:00

Shaila had this post over on her blog at daBergs
Dad has been feeling pretty good lately. He loves to get out for just a bit each day when the sun is shining. His favorite thing to do is go by Costco's food court and get a root beer float! Cute, isn't he?! He has had some problems with sleeping at night and getting up in the middle of the night throwing up... not sure why but he only gets nauseated at night time, somewhere around 2:30 am! Poor guy. But, he thinks he has gotten that under control. The Dr. put him on some nausea meds before bed time. Here is a darling pic my mom took just before Christmas of him hanging their "lighted wreath".

Dad has been REALLY yellow and starting to itch again. Mom called and told his Dr's up at the Cancer Center last week and so had my brother. They were not calling back... My brother finally talked to them on Tues and they told him to take dad in to do the blood work on Tues (Jan.20th) and have the results faxed over to them (the Huntsman Cancer Center) Well, when they got the results Wed morn and saw that dad's billy count was very high they finally worked him in for surgery THAT VERY DAY to replace his tube. Since the billy count was so high they figured it was clogged and needed replacing. They were to be at the hospital yesterday at 11:30 am. Dad couldn't eat. They did not get him in to the O.R. until around 7 pm!!!! They took him in for the surgery but when they put the dye thru the tube they found that it was NOT blocked, it is working. SO, they told us that that means either the tumor has grown or there is scar tissue from the radiation blocking it somewhere else. He goes in today(Friday) at 1 for an MRI and then on Tues (Jan. 27) at 3 to find out what the MRI said. The Dr. said depending on WHERE and HOW BIG the problem is they will try to put in another tube... so pray! And, while you are at it, pray for my sweet mom! It is hard not being there but I am grateful for a good brother and his sweet wife who live right there beside them!

Here is a cute picture of dad that my brother sent me from the hospital when he was waiting for the tube replacement on Wed.

I am like Shaila...I wish I were closer and could be there with them but in the meantime I just use this picture and put my hand on the computer screen and pray...God is not limited by time and space so I believe that James feels my prayers. If you would like you can do the same. Just pray for James as you look at his picture...God knows....

View from a black man

2009-01-24T01:45:00.000-08:00

My nephew Melvin sent me the blog of a guy he went to West Point with back in the eighties. He is now a Pastor and I enjoy reading his blog.

I especially wanted to see what he had to say about the inauguration. It is impossible for me...a white woman... to really understand what this means to to a man of color. If you want to understand a little better go read his blog at:
Thanks Melvin for sharing this site with me.

Ice Cream and the Election

2009-01-23T18:31:00.000-08:00

Ice Cream & The Election

I don't know who wrote this but thought it worth sharing.

Excellent analogy!

From a teacher in the Nashville area.
Who worries about "the cow" when it is all about the "Ice Cream?

The most eye-opening civics lesson I ever had was while teaching third grade this year.

The presidential election was heating up and some of the children showed an interest.

I decided we would have an election for a class president.
We would choose our nominees. They would make a campaign speech and the class would vote.
To simplify the process, candidates were nominated by other class members.

We discussed what kinds of characteristics these students should have. We got many nominations and from those, Jamie and Olivia were picked to run for the top spot.

The class had done a great job in their selections.

Both candidates were good kids. I thought Jamie might have an advantage because he got lots of parental support. I had never seen Olivia's mother.

The day arrived when they were to make their speeches Jamie went first.
He had specific ideas about how to make our class a better place. He ended by promising to do his very best.

Everyone applauded. He sat down and Olivia came to the podium. Her speech was concise.
She said, "If you will vote for me, I will give you ice cream." She sat down.

The class went wild. "Yes! Yes! We want ice cream." She surely could say more. She did not have to.
A discussion followed. How did she plan to pay for the ice cream? She wasn't sure.
Would her parents buy it or would the class pay for it? She didn't know.
The class really didn't care. All they were thinking about was ice cream.

Jamie was forgotten. Olivia won by a landslide.

Every time Barack Obama opened his mouth he offered ice cream and fifty-two percent of the people reacted like nine year olds. They want ice cream.
The other forty-eight percent of us know we're going to have to feed the cow and clean up the mess.

Please Pray

2009-01-22T18:14:00.000-08:00

James's daughter Shaila sent this comment:

Dad went in for the surgery last night but they put a dye thru it and it is NOT blocked, it is working. SO, that means that either the tumor has grown or there is scar tissue from the radiation blocking it somewhere else. He goes in tomorrow at 1 for an MRI and then on Tues at 3 to find out what the MRI said.

PLEASE PRAY.

2009-01-21T05:29:00.000-08:00

I woke up this A.M. with this in my mind and on my heart. "Except The Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it." Ps. 127:1 So, I tell myself, "Wilma, relax, God has everything under control." Another verse comes to mind. The heart of the king is in the Lord's hand and He turns it which way He will... or something like that. Obama has said his first act would be to sign into law the Freedom of Choice Act which would give abortion on demand and the government would pay. Today, I will pray that God will change Obama's heart. Check out this video: http://hotair.com/archives/2009/01/21/video-new-catholic-vote-ad-welcomes-the-era-of-hopenchange/

PLEASE PRAY TODAY FOR JAMES. It seems his drain tube is stopping up. He is turning yellow again. They have tried to get him into the Drs. but you know how that is. They wanted to do blood test, etc. before changing it out. Shari says they had hoped to go at least 3 months and it has only been two. Pray for an opening today and they will get it done.

Hope.for Change

2009-01-20T06:36:00.000-08:00

Polls have been taken on whether or not we want Obama to succeed. I have mixed emotions. I hate to see the country go to down. I don't like any kind of suffering. I don't want to go one day without food. I don't want to go without heat. Don't deny me my computer, my coffee, my comfort. In that respect I guess I want Obama to succeed in bringing the country back to some stability. I really don't think we are in a real depression. Too many people have big screen TV's, and every person in the family has a cell phone. People on food stamps, government housing have cell phones and cigarettes. I understand why blacks are so euphoric. This is a proud day and I do believe the country has made an amazing amount of progress since Martin Luther King, Jr. made his famous speech. I wonder what he would say about today. I did not vote for Barack Obama but there are several black men that I could have voted for. Men who share my conservative views. Thomas Sowell, Armstrong Williams, Ken Blackwell, Michael Steel to name a few.

I pray for CHANGE....CHANGE IN THE HEART AND MIND OF BARACK OBAMA.

Here are a couple of articles that are very interesting and help to bring clarity to my thoughts.

“Hope is not a strategy…”

By R.J. Godlewski
© January 20, 2009, All Rights Reserved
(Right Truth Exclusive)

A few fellow classmates of mine at American Military University, when analyzing the historical threat generated from Islam, spoke of the “hope” that the religion would somehow calm down, mature, or be cleansed by Muslims that are more moderate. My instructor rebuked them saying “Hope is not a strategy” and then challenged us to come up with a strategy to fight such ideologies. I accepted that challenge, as much as I could, but that’s not what this commentary is about.

Hope is a wonderful feeling, the yearning for expectations and anticipation as my archaic dictionary tells. It is an emotion that I feel whenever I hear the B-52’s wail out Sugar Shack or AC/DC crank up their exploits about the woman that shook them “all night long”. Yet, hope is not an action any more than prayer is a strategy. God might work in mysterious ways, but our own personal involvement dictates responsibility, effort, and resilience.

We now find ourselves at the dawn of the Obama presidency and the entire nation is buzzing with, you guessed it, hope. Expectations are high throughout the planet. Everyone is warm and fuzzy with anticipation for “change”. Nearly everyone is voicing “hope” that “Obama succeeds as president”. Not me. Personally, I’d like to see the man fail catastrophically – it would teach a gullible nation a lesson or two regarding the deification of someone with very little practical experience. No, I will not hope that the Obama Administration succeeds. I merely pray that our nation survives.

This “One nation, under God” already has a Lord to watch over it. Our role is to roll our sleeves up and work hard to better ourselves, our community, and our world. Christ hints at this when He says “We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do” (Luke 17:10). In other words, we won’t get off our fat asses and do something to improve the world unless we either make a fantastic amount of money for it, gain recognition for the effort, or are forced to do so at the literal point of a barrel.

Read it all here.

Another intesting history lesson:

Historical Review Of Iraq Situation by Raymond S. Kraft

The following is a must read for every American and free people across the globe. If you do not believe that our way of life is threatened by radical Islam, or even if you do believe, you must read this:

Sixty-three years ago, Nazi Germany had overrun almost all of Europe and hammered England to the verge of bankruptcy and defeat, and had sunk more than four hundred British ships in their convoys between England and America for food and war materials.

Read this article here.

Need a good lawyer?

2009-01-15T21:02:00.000-08:00

This was sent by a Court Reporter…

THIS IS JUST TOO GOOD NOT TO SHARE!
Subject: Disorder In The Courts

These are from a book called 'Disorder in the American Courts' and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
_________________________ ___________
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: He's twenty, much like your IQ.
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Getting laid
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
W ITNESS : Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death.
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 pm.
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________
And the best for last:
ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.
THINK ABOUT IT! MOST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ARE LAWYERS.

Update on James

2009-01-14T04:50:00.000-08:00

Got this update from Shari. I talked to she and James last week and they sounded pretty good.

Hi everyone,
It has been awhile since I've sent a note. Thought I'd just say hi and let you all know that we are doing pretty good here. James has had about 5 nights now that he has not been up throwing up most of the night. He hasn't been sleeping very well though. He takes his medication and his gochi juice and his ensure sometime between 8:30am and 9:30am every morning. Then he listens to his CD that Gerald White sent him and he goes back to sleep and stays in bed until about 2pm unless we need to go out some place. He dresses each day. We still have the home health people coming on Mon., Wed., and Fri. On those days the guy comes and shaves him and baths him and he dresses and stays up most of the day. He will rest on the couch or sometime goes back to bed for an afternoon nap. He does rest a lot. His skin is turning yellow again and that bothers me. I think I will call the doctor tomorrow and see if she thinks he should go in before Feb. 19th when they will change out his tube in his side that drains the bile. He doesn't talk much. But he does seem to have a good attitude. When I need to go to the store or bank he always wants to go with me. He stays in the car and waits most of the time. He wishes that the weather would clear so he could go out for a walk. We still have about a foot or so of snow on the ground. It has been so cold and snowy for several weeks.
Shaila and her boys have been here. They all came last Sunday. She and Chad left on Friday morning for home.
The other boys left for Idaho on Wed. because school was starting back again. We had a good time with them. We had a big snow storm on Monday and Tues. So we stayed in most of the time. It sure has been quite around here the past two days. Not much is going on here.
Dirk was gone last week to New York and Chicago on business. He left on Tues. last week and came home Friday morning at 10:00am. It was nice that Shaila was here while he was gone.

New Year's Resolution

2009-01-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

I don't do New Year's Resolutions...I stopped a few years ago because I could never finish what I seemed to start. Yes, I always resolve to lose a few pounds and get back to a healthier lifestyle but as far as making a New Year's Resolution that is over.

Our Christmas was not like any we have had in many years if ever. Christmas is always built up in our minds and frankly it never is actually what we dream. Many people (not me for sure) have their shopping done by Thanksgiving. I am usually trying to finish up Christmas Eve. I am known in the family for being always late. This year we had planned for the family to all get together the weekend after New Years. Our youngest daughter Jana and her family were in the middle of moving from a big house that they needed when they had 5 children at home to the small house they had lived in when they first got married and only had 3 kids. Because we live 4 hours away the best way we could help was bring the two little ones to our house while Jana and Bruce were moving. We kept Hogan and Ella for 5 days and drove them home on Christmas Eve. Jana had the tree up and the packages wrapped. She didn't take after her mother. She still wraps packages and I throw them in a sack.

Then the fun started. Hogan had a cough when he came home with Bud. He felt bad for a few days but as kids seem to do he was fine by Christmas Eve but Poppy wasn't. Bud was full blown sick by Christmas Day. I guess smoking for 50 years did not help his lungs or immune system because he is quick to get a cold and cough. The rest of us celebrated Christmas Day with Bruce's Family but Bud stayed home (at Jana's) and I took him a plate. He just got worse as the week went on. Finally I convince him to go to a prima care and get medicine and he felt better overnight. The rest of the family was sick at one time or the other and I spent most of the Christmas Holiday running a hospital so to speak. I thank God for my good health.

We are all feeling better by the time Lana's family is to arrive on Friday, the 2nd. But, that was not to be. Lana's son Jake's mother-in-law (got that??) passed out and was throwing up blood so long story short they didn't get to come. I still have all of my "sacks" in the trunk of my car. So much for plans. I reminded Bud on Saturday of the old saying my brother always uses..."Fish and company stink in 3 days". If that is true we were rancid and I am sure Jana and Bruce were ready for us to go home and get back to a normal life. As we planned to leave my son in law Bruce did a really sweet thing. He ask us to stay because he wanted to take Bud to see the new Clint Eastwood movie. Bud is feeling like a new man with his shot and drugs so off they go to a Sat. Matinee. When they got home Jana and I went out for a pedicure and to a movie. When life hands you lemons...go get a pedicure I always say.

So what does all of this have to do with New Years Resolutions? Proverbs says, A man plans but God directs his path". We can make plans but if we let the disruptions of life rob us of what is important about Christmas and the New Year we are the looser. Ultimately God is in control.

So...my new devotional book gave me the best resolution that I could make for 2009.

Phil. 3:10a "My determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person." (Amplified Bible) I think I will meditate on that for the first month. I am at "My determined purpose". One of the definitions from the dictionary of determined is "the act of settling a dispute". The dispute is within me. Is God who He says He is or is Jesus the biggest fraud in history? I want to know Him....how about you?

By the way, we "plan" to have Christmas with the family next weekend.

Happy Birthday ML

2009-01-06T18:49:00.001-08:00

You've come a long way baby: Love that hair.

I thought I would share some of the pictures from Mary Lu's Birthday Party that her girls gave her on Sunday. Today, Wednesday is actually her birthday but we celebrated early. This is with gran daughter Kaitlyn who is Sharla's daughter. She so graciously sent these pictures to me.

This is Mary Lu with me and our cousin Carol Blackwell

This is Mary Lu's daughters and our niece Tonya Canada who is TiaJuana's baby girl.

Happy Belated Birthday Kellyn

2009-01-05T17:56:00.000-08:00

My gran daughter Kellyn turned 17 on January 1st. I was in Mesquite and couldn't get to the blog to post a birthday message. We were all suppose to be together on January 3rd but that didn't happen so here I am a week late but my family knows that I am usually late so here goes:

Kellyn you are a very special young woman. I can't believe you are 17. You have grown up way to fast. God has a special plan for you and I bet it will involve kids, back flips and hand stands because you are gifted with both. Hope your birthday was great. Love you bunches. Gran

JESUS IS COMING AGAIN

2008-12-26T10:03:00.000-08:00

Bud and I came to Jana's and Bruce's home for Christmas. We attended a Christmas Eve Service and their Pastor Roger Raymer gave this Benediction:

The Lord Jesus Chris who we exalt a Christmas is not jusst a baby in a manger. He is not a character in a children's story. He is far more.

The first time He came, He came veiled in the form of a child. The next time He comes, and we believe it will be soon, He will come unveiled, and it will be abundantly and immediately clear to all the world just who He really is.

The first time He came a star marked His arrivl. The next time He comes, the whole heavens will rol up like a scroll, and all the stars will fall out of the sky, and He Himself will light it.

The first time He came, wise men and shepherds broght Him gifts. The nex time He comes, He will bring gifts, rewards for His own.

The first time He came, there was no room for Him. The next time He comes, the whole world will not be able to contain His glory.

The first time He came, only a few attended His arrival....some shepherds and some wise men. The next time He comes, every eye shall see Him.

The first time He came as a baby. Soon He will come as a Sovereign King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Are you ready? The next time He comes He will come as a thief in the night.

Merry Christmas to all

2008-12-24T03:40:00.000-08:00

2008-12-23T20:00:00.000-08:00

Will the Christ Child Come?
Written by Gaye Willis

One Christmas we had an interesting experience that I would like to share.
Halfway through December we were doing the regular evening things when there
Was a knock at the door. We opened it to find a small package with a beautiful
Ceramic lamb inside. We looked at the calendar and realized that the 12 days
Of Christmas were beginning! We waited excitedly for the next night's surprise
And only then, with the gift of a matching shepherd, did we realize that
The lamb was part of a nativity set.

Each night we grew more excited to see what piece we would receive.
Each was exquisitely beautiful. The kids kept trying to catch the givers
As we slowly built the scene at the manger and began to focus on Christ's birth.

On Christmas Eve, all the pieces were in place, all but the Baby Jesus.
My 12-year-old son really wanted to catch our benefactors and began
To devise all kinds of ways to trap them. He ate dinner in the minivan,
Watching and waiting, but no one came. Finally, we called him in to go through
Our family's Christmas Eve traditions. But before the kids went to bed, we
Checked the front step - - no Baby Jesus! We began to worry that my son
Had scared them off. My husband suggested that maybe they dropped the Jesus
And there wouldn't be anything coming. Somehow, something was missing that Christmas Eve.

There was a feeling that things weren't complete. The kids went to bed and before
I went to bed, I again checked to see if the Jesus had come - - no, the doorstep was empty.
In our family, the kids can open their stockings when they want to, but they have to wait
To open any presents until Dad wakes up. So one by one they woke up very early and I
Also woke up to watch them. Even before they opened their stockings, each child
Checked to see if perhaps during the night the Baby Jesus had come.

Missing that piece of the set seemed to have an odd effect. At least it changed
My focus. I knew there were presents under the tree for me and I was excited
To watch the children open their gifts, but first on my mind was the feeling of
Waiting for the ceramic Christ Child. We had opened just about all of the presents
When one of the children found one more for me buried deep beneath the limbs of the tree.

He handed me a small package from my former visiting teaching companion.
This sister was somewhat less-active in the church. I had been her visiting teacher
For a couple of years and then, when she was asked to be a visiting teacher, she requested
To go with me. I had learned over time they didn't have much for Christmas, so that
Their focus was on the children. It sounded like she didn't get many gifts to open,
So I had always given her a small package -- new dish towels, the next year's Relief
Society lesson manual -- not much, but something for her to open.

I was touched when at church on the day before Christmas, she had given me this
Small package, saying it was just a token of her love and appreciation. As I took
Off the bow, I remembered my friendship with her and was filled with gratitude for
Knowing her and for her kindness and sacrifice in this giving me a gift. But as the
Paper fell away, I began to tremble and cry. There in the small brown box was
The Baby Jesus! He had come!

I realized on that Christmas Day, that Christ will come into our lives in ways that
We don't expect. The spirit of Christ comes into our hearts as we serve one another.
We had waited and watched for Him to come, expecting the dramatic "knock at the door
And scurrying of feet" but He came in a small, simple package that represented service,
Friendship, gratitude and love.

This experience taught me that the beginning of the true spirit of Christmas
Comes as we open our hearts and actively focus on the Savior. But we will most
Likely find Him in the small and simple acts of love, friendship and service that we
Give to each other. This Christmas I want to feel again the joy of knowing that Christ
Is in our home. I want to focus on loving and serving. More than that, I want to open
My heart to Him all year that I may see Him again.

"She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name esus,
Because he will save his people from their sins."
Matthew 1:21 NIV

May the spirit of Christ be with you and yours
This Christmas and always.

Partridge in a pear tree

2008-12-22T19:46:00.000-08:00

There is one Christmas Carol that has always baffled me. What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially the partridge that won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?
This week, I found out.

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were
not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone
during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.
It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning
plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each
element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality
which the children could remember.

-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-The five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit--Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit--Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-The ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.
So there is your history for today. This knowledge was shared with me and I found it interesting and enlightening and now I know how that strange song became a Christmas Carol...so pass it on if you wish.'

Merry (Twelve Days of) Christmas Everyone

Christmas Cookies

2008-12-20T19:46:00.000-08:00

Christmas Cookie Rules

1. If you eat a Christmas cookie fresh out of the oven, it has no calories because everyone knows that the first cookie is the test and thus calorie free.

2. If you drink a diet soda after eating your second cookie, it also has no calories because the diet soda cancels out the cookie calories.

3. If a friend comes over while you are making your Christmas cookies and needs to sample, you must sample with your friend. Because your friend's first cookie is calories free - rule #1 applies to your friend.
It would be rude to let your friend sample alone, and being the friend that you are makes your cookie calorie free.

4. Any cookie calories consumed while walking around will fall to your feet and eventually fall off as you move. This is due to gravity and the density of the caloric mass.

5. Any calories consumed during the frosting of the Christmas cookies will be used up because it takes many calories to lick excess frosting from a knife without cutting your tongue.

6. Cookies colored red or green have very few calories. Red ones have 3 and green ones have 5 - one calorie for each letter. Make more red ones!

7. Cookies eaten while watching Miracle on 34th Street have no calories because they are part of the entertainment package and not part of one's personal fuel.

8. As always, cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breaking causes calorie leakage.

9. Any cookies consumed from someone else's plate have no calories since the calories rightfully belong to the other person and will cling to their plate. We all know how calories like to CLING!

And finally...

10. Any cookies consumed while feeling stressed have no calories because cookies used for medicinal purposes NEVER have calories.

Food for thought

2008-12-19T06:21:00.000-08:00

“The lot is cast into the lap, but the whole disposing thereof is of the Lord.”
Proverbs 16:33

This was my Bible reading today. What do you think about it?

2008-12-18T16:50:00.000-08:00

After two hard days at work I thought I needed to give an update on James. I got an email from Shari and she says they are having more good days. Seems like he does have more problem with nausea during the middle of the night. I wonder if lying flat could be part of that problem...I know people who have reflux have that problem and if they prop up on pillows it helps. Anyway, Shari says James gets up late but puts clothes on. He was getting outside to walk some most every day but she said they have had some snow and cold weather which has hindered him some. They have tried to get out and do a few things most days. He has a good attitude which always helps. Dirk has been to Hawaii on business (who believes that???) so she has had to take care of a few medical things that Dirk had been doing and was really proud of herself. We can do some things we don't like...can't we Shari. So good to hear another good report.

Remember the Lord

2008-12-16T16:30:00.000-08:00

I received this from a friend today and couldn't resist sharing it.

As I was studying this morning, I came across a passage of scripture that sounded as though I was reading from one of America's national newspapers. Should we be surprised that our country is in such a turmoil?
God was reminding the people of Israel what would happen to them or any country that forgets the Lord . Deut. 8: 10-14
"When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws, and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."
verses 18-19 "But remember the Lord your God, for it is HE who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. "If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God."
America prides itself on how far we have come, but has forgotten who brought us.

I would just have to say Amen and Amen! Forgive us Father.

A true Conservative

2008-12-16T12:13:00.000-08:00

Sanford: Stop raiding TARP funds for private enterprise

Mark Sanford continues to add to his conservative credentials. After penning a refusal to request bailout funds, Sanford has written the White House to add his voice to those opposed to a bailout of Detroit’s automakers. The chair of the Republican Governors Association calls this a tipping point in American economics:

“I believe this would be a very great mistake,” Sanford said in a letter written to the President on Monday. “It would open the floodgates of federal monies for every distressed industry across this country–and there will be many in this economic slowdown.”

“I believe we are at a tipping point in moving from a market-based economy to a politically-based economy, wherein one’s success can be determined not by good decisions and good work, but by the size of one’s voice and connection to Washington,” Sanford wrote. “The real economic stimulus of this country lies in the daily work and effort of millions you have seen across this land. These bailouts not only represent an enormous cost they are left to carry, but a shattering of the rights and responsibilities that have historically been linked to achieving the American Dream.”

Sanford hits the nail on the head. The American government does not have a mandate to select winners and losers in the market, apart from buying products for its own use from the private sector. People on the Left talk about crony capitalism, but this is nothing less than crony socialism — the government subsidy of selected private enterprise, based solely on their political impact.

Even as “investments”, as bailout advocates describe the package, the loans make no sense at all. None of the automakers have a problem selling cars; they have a problem showing a profit. Why would any lender, private or public, invest in that failing model, let alone lend money on its basis? They can’t pay back loans when they lose money on their car sales, and nothing that management and labor have yet produced shows any serious attempt to solve that problem. This is exactly what Chapter 11 bankruptcy exists to resolve.

The first time I heard Sanford speak, I wondered why he hadn’t thrown his hat into the ring in the 2008 presidential sweepstakes. His leadership on limited government and refusal to throw away money we don’t have should put Sanford in the first rank of candidates for national leadership in 2012, if we’re bright enough to recognize it.

Happy Birthday Hogan

2008-12-15T07:00:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday to Hoggie Bear:

This is a picture of Hogan and his dog Sparky. Sparky was part of the family long before Hogan and he wasn't very happy when Hogan was born. Sparky doesn't like noise and he would just go crazy when Hogan would cry but he got over it and they became friends. Whichever room Hogan is in you can bet Sparky will be there too. He has ridden his back, pulled his tail, kicked him and Sparky just turns the other cheek so to speek. We all need that kind of friend.

Hogan is 4 years old today. He is a special baby. He was prayed into this world and he has been a blessing to all. Know what Hogan???? I love you Darlin. Hope you have a very happy birthday.

Happy Birthday Jana Lea

2008-12-12T06:50:00.000-08:00

25 years ago today God sent us a beautiful baby girl who has been a joy for all these years. Our first grandbaby. I can't believe she is all grown up. She is a working woman now and has joined the world as a taxpayer. Yea, Jana I hope you can help pay mine and Poppy's Social Security for years to come.

This is Jana when she graduated from Tarleton University in Stephenville, Texas last December. She worked really hard getting through college sometimes working 2 jobs but she did it. Jana you are a beautiful young woman and we are so proud of you.

Poppy and I wish you a Happy Birthday and hope it is a wonderful day. We love you.

Santa Christ

2008-12-11T06:29:00.000-08:00

I am still caught up in Emmanuel...God with us and found this article from a friends blog.

One Christmas Eve in my teenage years, I opened a book a friend had given to me as a present. I found myself so overwhelmed by its teaching on my recently found Savior that I began to shake with emotion at what had dawned on me: the world had not celebrated His coming, but rather had crucified Him. Go read the article here.

Why are we surprised when atheist don't believe there is a God when Christians don't seem to understand that Jesus birth has nothing to do with all the hoopla we make it. God forgive us.