The Amazing Love I See in God's Animals

I really love to watch the nature of animals and insects here among us.  They just amaze me, to see them do what they do.  Like this little bug in this picture, what are his or her goals for the day? How simple can their little lives be?  What makes them have the ability to do whatever they do?  Their brain must be so tiny that you could not even find it without mushing it.  Yet, God sees them just as important to life as any other creature on the Earth.  I look at our cat Shelby and just marvel at her.  The way she acts sometimes is something to behold.  I always thought cats were just stupid.  They're not like dogs, they don't sniff at the dinner table or lick in you in the face when you pet them.  They just kind of do their own thing.  Shelby has always liked to roam around in the outdoors all summer long.  Sometimes she never shows up till morning or she will pull the meowing at the front door right after I decide to set the alarm for the night. 

Since it has become a little cooler during the night she seems to be liking to sleep in the house at night.  When she is in the house in the morning she roams around the house looking for the kids while they are at school.  She misses them, and when they arrive she is in the middle of them.  She has become our spoiled little cat it seems, and I have taken a liking to her though. She is a good cat well behaved, doesn't get on the counter tops or the tables.  She just seems to like our being around her.  It's almost sad to think that nobody wanted her and just left her near our house.  She is just a cat that is sweet and has feelings. 

I wander in amazement  that God gave us such a variety of animals to choose from to become our pets and be able to enjoy them as much as all of us has.  Our God is a lover of his children and his animals he created.  He put a lot into making all  these wonderful creatures, that they have the ability to make the lonely feel wanted.  That they are able to be trained to help the blind walk, to help the elderly smile and make the sickest of children happy and cheerful.   For those who feel God is against them or feel that our God is a God that brings evil upon this Earth, think again!  He is God of great love.  If he can bring love to the simplest animals here, take a look at the love he brings to every man, woman and child.  Our God is a living Creator that continues to bring about pure happiness and great love to His people.  Make the choice to be loved by the Lord above. Take a look at your pet tonight and see the what the creator put into them to be able to do what they can do.  I stand in awe of our Creator!

God's Amazing Gift of Grace

You know it's funny about all the things man has taken credit for.  If someone invents something, the phrase is so and so has invented  this or that.  Then they make a lot of money and become great among their peers and accept the praise from everyone.  Their head inflates about 6 times it normal size.  They are known for years for inventing a device or finding the cure for cancer.  Even after they are dead they are still held in high esteem for their ability or talent to figure out this mystery of life.

So when I look at this picture of fire what is the phrase that comes to mind about the invention of fire.  "Man discovered fire!"  In never came out as Man invented fire does it?  Why doesn't it state "invent" instead of "discover?"  Somebody way back then realized that fire was supposed to be.  Discovered not invented.  It was God who invented it.  Fire was to be a natural part of his creation.  It's his, not ours!   So why is it nowaday's that it is invented for everything that is really discovered? 

As I read more about the fall of man in the garden of Eden, it seems it was all going to be told.  God was willing to show man all that is supposed to be in existence.  Who knows what God had planned to show man.  He was willing to show him all there is supposed to be in creation.  There was not to be any question about anything, everything was there every answer to every question.  Because God walked with man in the garden.  But then the fruit was plucked and then the bite was taken and sin was brought forth.  Our answers were turned into questions, and confusion set in and man had to discover what was supposed to be.  But instead of discovery it became invention, our creation, and we took the credit and didn't give God any praise for it.  I've come to realize over the years that all we have is the Lord's and not ours.  Everything we have, see smell, touch and taste is God's.  It is all loaned out from Him to us- It's called Grace.  Grace is a gift given to the undeserved, which is us.  Many live life in God's grace and don't even realize it.  The man who claims to have invented something, it's not his idea but the fact through God's grace God set forth to the man or women the knowledge to do something great.  But do any of us realize this?  Not all!  But some do and they realize that God has given us a clue through his gift of grace.  The answer or design was already in God's closet of inventions he just allowed us to figure it out so he would get a little thanks for something so great.  When we think we have invented something or found an answer to a life long question, don't take the credit give it all to God.  Grace is amazing isn't it?

October is Coming~ :)

I thought this was a pretty cool and spooky picture to put on here, because October is just around the corner.  October is probably my favorite month of the year. Two reasons, it is my birthday and anniversary month.  I will be 36 on the 3rd and will be married for ten years on the 2nd.  I always enjoy the fallish weather and the thought of pumkins and the beautiful leaves coming forth.  I just love football even more this month.  It's just a great time of the year.  I'm trying to think of things to write for this month.  I have no ideas though, I usually just write off the top of my head.  So if you have any great ideas or any inspirational stories to share I would be glad to share them with those who read this blog.  I need comments to let me know what you think of this blog, if it's bad or doing some good for most who read it.  Feedback is always helpful.  So please continue to read and give me your ideas in furthering God's word.  Thanks, Clint

He's Got The Whole World In His Hands!

This is a picture of New York city taken from atop of the Empire State building by a friend of mine.  When I look at it I have one thought.  There is a lot of things going on in that picture. Even though it's just a picture of buildings.  There is a lot of action in this picture.  New York has a lot of people roaming that area. So that means a lot of thoughts are going on, decisions are being made, crime is on the loose, people are working, birds and insects and other animals are going about their business also.  Homeless people are searching for food to survive.  They are holding out cups to get a few handouts. Drug dealers are pushing their products to people and kids to make a dishonest dollar and hooking a new client.  Good decisions are also being made in this picture, somebody is probably accepting Christ at that very moment.  Many hopefully, have decided that they have had enough and said it was time to give it all to God.  There are people in this picture that have decided they can't take anymore and left their spouse or decided to leave this world by their own actions.
There is fear in some people from the day of 9/11 that wonder if a plane is going to strike their building.  There are people who are working and thinking about someone else other than their spouse and decide to take the action with the other person that they have been desiring for a long time.  I'm sure there are some bad and illegal business decisions going on in one of those buildings.  It being morning the prostitutes are resting from there long night of making money for sex.  The mafia also are still lurking in the picture somewhere getting ready to make some very illegal decisions to harm somebody in some way.  Cussing, there are a lot of people doing that in that picture especially on Wall Street. Yet, I'm sure somewhere in this picture somebody is praying, pleading to the Creator to help all these caught up in the world to take the step and repent. 
In one small picture of the largest city in the United States there is so much going on. An anthill in action in constant movement.  Probably doing more than what I have mentioned above.  Yet, one Being is in control of it all taking care of every thought, every person and every animal and plant and molecule on the Earth.  Seeing it all. Keeping it all in control and held together.  To me that is amazing! I stand in awe of our God!

So The Glory Of God May Be Revealed

I think this is a super idea for handicap kids to do. I found this picture on a friends Facebook page tonight. Her stepson is handicap and it was his first tops soccer game.  It's awesome to see something like this going on for these precious children.  The last time I passed a handicapped child it broke my heart.  It just kills me to see a child like that.  But it is humbling at the same time.  My complaints seem worthless and I feel puny.  I have no reason to complain when I see and think of children who are handicapped.  They have had a much tougher road than you and I will ever know.  I often think about the courage of these parents to live everyday to see their child in this condition.  I really think all those parents would trade positions with their child every day if they could.  We think the parents have a tough time with raising a handicap child, and we feel sorry for them.  But I believe that child is given to parents who are humbled by the experience.  I have never known a parent who was ticked off at God because they were dealt a bad card.  No! That child is well cared for and loved. 

I remember the verse in the Bible when the disciples asked about the handicapped person.  They asked, "Who sinned him or his parents?"  Jesus said it happened to reveal the glory of God.  It does, it allows us to see our selfishness and allows us to see how God works through everything and everyone.  It awakens us to think less of our complaints and allows us to want to love more.  Almost every person whom I have known handicapped are strong individuals that have excepted their inability to do most things and carry on with daily life.  We as individuals are constant complainers and really feel we deserve better.  But we have no excuse to complain about anything. Use your God given abilty and talent to give hope to all.  Include all, in every one of your activities.  Don't exclude anybody for any reason.  Show God's love to all and let the world know of God's love through our daily example.  Make footprints in time. 

The Constant Ride of Life. It's Killing Us!

There are many in this life that feel like their life is a constant ride on a ferris wheel.  They keep going in a circle that won't let them off.  They have no end to the ongoing drama in their life.  They have no peace, they just keep trying to answer life on their own terms.  They believe their life is their own and that they have to do it all by their selves.  Many have heard of the peace that God can give them, the rest and answers they are looking for are right there in front of them.  Stress keeps their mind at ruin.  They don't know how to slow down,  and the bad situations they are in have no end. 

We have an answer, an end to all this crud that has been put upon us.  I came to a point in my life where I just had to say enough is enough.  I had to humble myself and go to God and give it all to him. At that moment he came in and made it right.  There was alot in their he had to clean up.  Guilt, sin, loss of hope, fear and arrogance. It didn't happen over night it took a long time and a lot of prayer. Earnest prayer!  I didn't promise God anything I just asked for him to take over and transform me over time.  He has and continues  to do a good work in me.  I found the end of the ferris wheel, the world let me off and I met my Creator there.  Many in this world are hard hearted, they believe they have it all under control and that their decison of taking the steering wheel of life and driving it themselves will go in the right direction.  It won't!

I saw a sign the other day that read, "Do not conform but tranform."  We all conform to this world and follow what the planet says to do, but it doesn't make any sense.  We are just like the rest of the world, we conform.  Transform.  God wants us to transform in him.  That we might transform others into the way he wants us.  Nothing good comes out of the devils way of life.  It's amazing when you see the way God sees things.  Interest in money becomes less, helping others makes people happier. Thinking less of self and more of others makes things and life make sense.  Take your life to a higher standard.   Allow God to come into your life and feel his presence there right with you and in you.  He will never leave you,  when you have questions he has an answer.  Life is great when there is help in all things.

I have a list of books that I believe  God led me to. They are listed on the right hand column on my blog.  If you seriously have questions these books will give you the answers.  Many of them cleared up my questions that I had, they inspired me to believe in a God who is loving yet determined to keep me in line and give me all the insight I need to battle the pressures of Satan.  I have been transformed and in a life process to becoming what God wants me to be.  Allow him to get you off of the ferris wheel of life and become one with him.

Missing Oppurtunities From God. Lacking in Our Faith.

I don't give God the praise he deserves.  I get so wrapped up in the daily routine that I miss great oppurtunties to give praise to God the Father.  There are times in my life that I want to set the world on fire. To show others how many oppurtunities that God has given us.  Yet, I stayed away from them because I wanted to play it safe.  I didn't want to miss out, but I wanted to play the role of safety.  I believe God wants us to take the risks, he wants us to take a leap of faith and trust in him.  But we don't! Some do and have found great blessings by doing the leap. 

I don't want to play it safe anymore.  I want to be that person that takes a huge step out of my comfort zone and takes the risk.  If we fall on our face we can always get back up and take another punch or we can play it safe and duck the punch.  I usually am the person who is a day late and a dollar short.  That's how things have always panned out.  Maybe I missed the voice of God calling me to take a step toward an oppurtunity that he had planned for me.  Missing the chance to serve him through another person, is something i always play it safe with.  To me that is a very sad oppurtunity missed, and it saddens him because I had a small faith.  We as Christians need to look very closely at oppurtunities to grab an  offer from God.

I have been reading about how we should see with the eyes of Christ.  Our goals in life should not be about oppurtunties of making money, but chances to see others with the compassion of Christ.  To see somebody in need of love and a slight glimpse of hope.  We have been given more than our cup can hold from God.  He wants to be served and loved by serving others in the name of Christ. Money is nice, but it doesn't buy our complete satifaction and never will.  But serving others is how we will find a lot of satisfaction in life.  Satan wants nothing holy in our lives, so he takes us and makes us timid and selfish and we stay right where he wants us.  He keeps us focused on ourselves and keeps us from seeking the oppurtunity that God wants us to take on.  Our world wants us to be completely focused on our needs and satisfaction.  We need to take the leap of faith and seek God's oppurtunities as he presents them for us to do. May God bless us with a faith in him that will take on his unseen journey for us and others. 

Go Steelers!

Well, it's that time again when the Steeler nation gathers around the TV and rejoices to see the greatest team on Earth.  My jersey is on and my Terrible Towel is in hand.  Here we go Steelers, Here we go!!!!!!!!!!

A Very Good Speech!

I usually watch these Presidential addresses when they are on.  I remember when I was little and I would complain because they were on and keeping me from watching a certain program.  I used to complain when Clinton or Bush were going to speak, but now I really don't complain.  Tonight was a great speech, I never really study these speeches ever, but I did tonight.  I knew there would be some tension in the room where Obama spoke this evening.  At one point somebody yelled out "It's a lie!"  It's the first time I have seen that happen.  It disrurpted his speech for a moment, but it did not stop Obama from making his point. 

It was very clear in the speech of what his intentions are for health care reform, and I agree with it.  It sounded really like a good plan.  Obama addressed the lies, which was a very good thing to do.  A lot of the fear and anger have been because of all the misleading accusations from others who don't want health care reform. 

I noticed something different about this President than all the former ones.  He fights for the underdog, he believes we can all be on the same page in life and he wants to help all who can't help themselves.  I also noticed that when people stood there and clapped he didn't stand there and enjoy the applause like former Presidents.  He wanted to speak ang not stand in the glory he was being given.  If you watch this speech with an open mind, and hear without prejudice ears you will hear and see what I heard.  I'm not an Obama praiser or do I support all his actions, but I did see something I liked about him though.  Hopefully, this reform on healthcare will pass and workout the way he thinks it will and will do all he says it will do, then maybe we can all rest and finally feel good about something he did!  May God Bless Us all

The Fear Against Our Freedom

I wrote on my status tonight on Facebook asking people to give me a topic to write about tonight. The only one I got was about the controversy facing Obama's speech in the schools tomorrow. Which I have read the text and see nothing but a man trying to do the job that the teachers and parents aren't doing. Bringing inspiration to the next generation, telling them to stay in school and take the responsibility on themselves to get an education. Basically, let's not have another generation of bums. Which is what we're seeing. I know a lot of people right now that have just dropped out of school for no apparent reason. You need an education or you will be seen in the world as a bum. I know that sounds mean and I know there are a lot of people who have been successful without an education. There are few though.

But the controversy drives me nuts! Somebody has decided that they don't like Obama, so they have turned against him and decided to start a fight. I don't completely agree with all of Obama's decision, but nobody gives anybody a chance anymore. We are a closed minded nation who wants nothing to do with change. We went through a lot of crap with Bush for 8 years I'm sure we can take a little more. But hopefully things will be better. Bush started the mess with the bailouts and we now have to grin and bare more bailouts.

We are so fearful of this guy turning our nation into a communist one. We live in fear, we are angered about health care so much, that fights are breaking out in the protest lines. It just doesn't make sense. If you look at our health care, it's a system of total greed! All this controversy is being driven by a bunch of money hungry lobbyists and insurance companies who don't want to lose any of that green paper we give so much value to. Stand back and pray about all these lies that are triggering through our nation. I don't do politics at all. There is to much noise going on between two sides that really don't have a clue of what they're really doing either. It's just a mess. I'm sure I will get a comment on here that will try to persuade me into believing the agenda of either party. But I won't listen, my life revolves around God not politics. If God wanted me to live on the streets I would. Because He would have a reason, so that his will be done. Don't live in the realm of this world and its lies, live to see what God's will is for all of us and then live by His guidance in great faith. Thanks Jim for the topic, I think I went a little farther than Obama's controversial speech though.

Just Believe!

If you are struggling with your faith right now, you are not the only one I am sure. We're buried in a lot here on earth, and Satan is a tricky and evil player. I know that every bad thing that occurs is derived from him. Because God doesn't want any harm to come to his children at all.

There are people in this world that are deciding a lot of different things right now. Making decisions that could harm themselves or destroy their lives forever. When temptation comes to knock on the door of our lives, it usually doesn't give us enough time to think about what we are doing. We just end up doing it and suffer the consequences later. We live in a world that is constantly trying to reach out to our sense of satisfaction. Money is what all people believe will satisfy our lives. It won't! We're always pressured to buy products that will satisfy all our needs in life. But they don't! So we continue to try and figure out what can bring hope in this life. Nothing that is touchable will ever bring us complete hope for satisfaction in life. Many go to the bars to hopefully put away their sorrows for a little bit, yet it never happens. We are seduced by sex from another person, and that doesn't do nothing, but create more caous. Where do we go? What do we do?

I know you know that I am probably going to say God. And I am! There is hope for a lot of satisfaction in the Living God. The past two days off I had, I got a chance to be alone with our creator. The house was peaceful, nobody was home. So I read a lot and wrote some more on this supposed book I am writing. It was nice because I learned a lot about satisfaction through reading and about asking God to give me his view of the world. To see what he values and what he wants my life to be. I read about how Jesus saw the world, compared to our lousy view. When you try to change your view of life and try to see the world as Christ saw it, it really brings a warmth to your heart.

WWJD (What would Jesus Do?) makes sense. How would Jesus handle our unsatisfied lives. What would he tell us to do? I'm sure if Jesus were here physically and I told him I was bored, what would he say to that? I can't imagine the to do list he would have for me. I believe He would take me on a tour that would blow my mind. The hurting people he would tell me about that needed help. The homeless people he would tell me to feed and clothe. The abandoned children he would tell me about that needed hugs. He would have a huge list of people who were mourning a loss of a loved one that needed comfort. The sick and shut ins he would tell me about who need a prayer and a good conversation. But, His number one rule and his only rule would be "Have great compassion." How would I have time for all that? I think He would make the time for me to do it all, a whole lifetime to get things done.

I have come to realize how compassionate Jesus was then and is today. Our decisions in life are probably not the choices He would make. I don't see Jesus worrying about his stocks going to pot or that his career is the most important thing in his life right now. I don't see Jesus making any of our decisions we make, except the one's that are selfless. The decisions we make about whether God or science has it right or wrong. He knows that answer because he is a major part of the Trinity. Our hopes and decisions in life need to be Christ like. What Would Jesus Do????? What is our first step in this messy world? I would first just "Believe" in Him and the rest will fall into order. We will still constantly be battled. For we our in a war between Heaven and Hell and our lives will continue to be flung around. But just "Believe in Him" and that will be the best decision ever and do what is on His list. There you will find a life satisfied.

Seeing With God's Eyes

I learned in a book I am reading titled, "The Beautiful Fight" on how to see with the eyes of God. The things we see with our own eyes is materiel things. He was describing taking off in a plane and passing the huge houses zooming past as they launched off the runway. As the plane ascended the houses got smaller and smaller. They seemed to be so small in size that their importance became less important. In God's eyes that is how he sees things on this Earth. Our material possessions that seem to be so important to us and puff up our pride is of no importance to our Father in heaven. He states we cannot impress God.

So he prayed to God and asked, "Lord, help me to see this world with your eyes. Otherwise I might value what you despise and despise what you value." Our world has truly been corrupted by Satan. He has set our values on things seen and not on what God wants us to see. Our lives should be on the people who have been rejected by this world. We should give our lives to everyone in need, and not our needs. We need to look at the riches from God that surround us daily. We should always look to what God has given us spiritually and not be in want for more worthless things. We should always desire Him and look at the Earth and find there is nothing worth desiring but Him.

Have we stopped seeing people as important and instead stare persistently at possessions, power and pleasure? Have we become so vain in this world that we have become spiritually blind? We see the seen as more comforting than the spiritual things God has intended for us to see. When I write on topics like this I am not just writing to others I am also writing to myself. None of us are perfect, but we all fall into this category of loving the world and not seeing the real reason for being here. Our eyes need to see what God sees as important. We can't deny that we judge people by the way they act or look, it's Satan's game and he loves to deny us holy eyes and give us a false vision of our true selves.

It drives me nuts to see the TV evangelists ask for money and talk to their flock about gaining more money because they love God. God may bless us in some ways with money but there is a reason he gave us money. Not to comfort ourselves but to give others the comfort we are enjoying. God wants our lives to be comfortable but not to the point where we are looked up to as untouchable or more important for others to come to us for help. Live humbly, live Godly, live as Jesus did.

For he had no possessions to give. When asked to pay taxes to Caesar he pulled a coin not out of his pocket but out of the mouth of a fish. Jesus came so that he could allow the blind to see and those who saw to become blind. If you want to see like the living God read about the life of Jesus in the four gospels. You don't ever see Jesus talking about his new house he is building or about his new car he bought with the shiny thousand dollar rims. He doesn't pull out a gun and do a drive by shooting because the Pharisee's disrespected him. No Jesus lived for others! He lived to save the world from the grips of Satan and his demons. He came to give to those whom the world rejected to show the mighty power of God.

Jesus didn't Facebook all day he healed and preached till he was completely worn out. Jesus became the example of God's eyes here on Earth and 2000 years later we are still not seeing like he does. What is wrong with us? Let's put our lives on the back burner and give ourselves to those who need our help and then we will reap the rewards in heaven. God bless!

Been Awhile, sorry

It's been awhile since I posted anything. I haven't seen any reason to write because my readers have fallen off lately. So I felt I was just writing to myself. Today I looked at the amazing beauty of the clouds. God is amazing in his ability to give us a wondrous creation to look at. I stood in awe today. God is wonderful, and yet many still don't believe. If they would just open their eye's and look at what is in of them they would realize all that is, just didn't happen. It was created.

I am excited that college football kicks off this weekend and the NFL kicks off on the 10 th. Can't believe it's already that time of year. I am from West Virginia so that is who I route for and a little bit for Ohio State and very little for Arkansas. So go WVU!

I have learned a lot this past couple of weeks through some really good books. Some I have read are Through painted desserts, To own a dragon - both written by Donald Miller. Great writer.

Enjoying God, by SJ Hill. Very good book. And another author who's books are dated back in the 80's, but have been reading a book of his called- "Who switched the price tags.' by Tony Campolo. It has been a really good book. So, if you are looking for something to read here's a few.

I started working on the first chapter on a book the other night. It turned out pretty good, but it will be a long time bfore I will ever finish it. A work in progress. I need your prayers. Have a good tuesday,and God bless.

Been Awhile, sorry

Twitter?????

You can follow me now on Twitter through my blog. I don't quite get Twitter. I thought it was like Facebook, but it isn't. I don't think my life is that interesting to follow. So, I guess I will give it a shot. Tweet away!

Our Fear

This is a picture of our cat Shelby. She has it made around here as you can tell by this picture. Her life seems to be so easy. She wakes up in the morning and waits by the back door for us to open it up. She stretches and makes a funny noise and heads right to her food and water. She sleeps a lot and lets us know when she wants to go out and roam. She'll come back and wants our attention by laying on the floor and rolling around. She really is a sweet cat. Very gentle with the kids and especially Macy. Macy is our middle child and is very focused on her tasks at hand. That being annoying her brothers or picking up the cat and carrying her around like a football. She reminds me of the little girl on the movie "Finding Nemo." That girl was rough with all her pets, but Macy is very good with the cat though.

I sometimes am jealous of the cat. I wish Iwas her and didn't have to deal with the problems in life. I'm sure when she goes outside she isn't worrying about other cats saying awful things to her. She doesn't have to listen to other cats talking bad about other cats either. Her only dilemma is not getting hit or being attacked by another cat or animal.

Our lives our different from cats though. We do sometimes have to worry about outside dangers also. But, we have to deal with and listen to all the junk the world and its inhabitants bring about all the time. I have come to realize why Christ said for us not to love the world or anything in it. I

am to the point that I really don't like anything in the world sometimes and I don't tolerate people in the world either. As an adult, you start to see the lies of Satan and man. You don't trust as much as you did when you were little. Every situation you look at it closer. You analyze it more. You don't allow certain people in your circle. Our trust has gone down the tubes as adults. We know more about hurt and sin. Emotions play more in our decisions than they did when we were young.

I have seen how "Fear" plays an important role in our in our country. The recent fight over health care reform is stirring the fears of many. I haven't had much fear about it though. Many are upset about it for many reasons though. The 3 factors I see in all this mess is three factors involving a fear about something. 1) Fear of losing their freedom in this department. There are so many people fearing this admistration is going to take away our freedom. People fearing communism is going to reign in our country. That is just crazy! If people would listen to the President and not listen to all the other crap everybody else is saying, things would make sense. He has clearly stated the reasons and it not communism or socialism.

2) Fear of losing money. Money is our driving force in our country. If we don't have it we will just die. I don't think we would die without having a lot of money. Money only has any value because we give it value. We love having it and fear when we don't. Money is the root of all evil but also the root for fear.

3) Fear of losing our status as a country and as human beings. When we were hit on 9/11 we feared everyone. Everyone who wasn't white or from this country we feared. I did too. But, then God knocked some sense into me and allowed me to quit being afraid. And I did!

So we started our ships and flew our planes over two countries and bombed the snot out of them. One to show our power in the face of fear and second to show them we were mad and scared all at once. Avenging the country instead of the persons involved in doing the awful act did nothing but stir up the hornets nest. So the hornets flew and got mad and started our fear again.

Fear gets us no where in life. Love will get us farther. Yes, it will take longer than just dropping a BOMB. But fear does not help us get to heaven, love does. All over the TV there is fear. We can't get over our fear, because people are constantly driving more fear. How do we get over our fear? It's easy trust God and read his words in the Bible. That is how I have gotten over this fear that the world tries to instill in us. When somebody says to fear something I don't. I pray and look for his answer. I guess you would call it a cat philosophy. But, there are things I do fear though, I just have to work it out. But, don't you see the fear out there in the world? Some of it is just to scare us, when it really is nothing to fear at all. Then there are some things that are legit to fear and I do fear them. And it is stupid to fear, but we do.

I think we should live like the cat. Don't have any fear and know someone is going to be there take care of our needs. She does and lives like a queen. If we would trust God and have great faith in him, things wouldn't be so scary. I saw a sign at a church that read, "Faith can see what eyes can't." That is so true! Can you imagine how much better we could see the world if we looked through the glasses of faith. We could see through all the lies and fears of the world. We could see what God sees. WOW! How easy is that?

Missing The True Meaning Of Being A Follower Of Christ

Lately I have been reading the writings of Donald Miller. He is the author of the book, "Blue Like Jazz." So far I have finished two of his books, and I have seen his point clearly. Our world is strapping us down and forcing us to swallow it's way of thinking. Through politics, advertising, Television and even the way we think as Christians. We are really missing the point of serving and loving The Son of God.

Many Christians have tried over the years to bring God in our government. Like falling to things like The Republican party as the Christian party. Trust me that party is far from a Christian party. Many fell for the crap that people made us to believe about Bush and his Christian party. It fell way short of Jesus and his teachings. Yet many are so hard headed into believing stuff like this, it just blows me away. Neither party is worth calling the Christian party. Those representatives are just out for their own good. So they thought they could use the term Christian to get elected. I never believed it one bit. I really feel God is not in the business of politics at all. Jesus wasn't! God wants a faithful relationship with us not a political party.

All of us over the years have had troubles with judging others. I have trouble with doing such an ugly thing. When I feel I am going to judge someone now I say to myself, "They are a child of God, and You have no right to judge." Because I am no one special. So why do I do I need to say anything against them. I often say, "They are more special than I am, But we are all Special in God's sight." It's hard, but we can all quit doing it.

The world constantly beats us down, with the ads of beauty. You never see anybody on ads that are somewhat ugly. In the TV world everybody is beautiful. That's why it is fictional, yet we fall for it. In God's world all humans are beautiful. He looks from the inside out, He sees what we can't see. We could easily see it if we looked the way he did. Miller told of a story about a church that used beauty to represent its youth group. This church hassled and recruited the most beautiful people they could to join the youth group. So all the jocks and cheerleaders and all the popular people joined this group. They figured if beauty would come and all the rest would follow suit, because the group was pretty and people desire beauty over ugly and nerdy.

So the youth group had games they played and competitions among the different groups within the youth group. As a team would win the trophy the crowd would cheer as the handsome jocks won it every year. But one year a group of less pretty people won it, and as they went to get the trophy the crowd wasn't so cheerful. Because the most popular didn't win. That just irritated me as I read that. Ignorant people!!!!!!!!!!! He also was told a story about a church that was rather large and had a huge TV following. He knew of an usher that worked the services. He said they would tell him to seat the rather good looking people toward the front in case the camera panned over that direction viewers would see the beautiful people. Crazy!!!!!!!!

Doesn't Christ teach us to sit at the back not to sit at the front where all the hypocrites sit so everybody can give them the praise they want. I don't like the spotlight at all. I shy away from it. I'm not saying I am the most humble person in the world, but I don't like the attention. Our world continually shows us that we need to be noticed. It puffs our pride to own the best of things, to have the best job or have the best looking at our side. When you read the 53 chapter in Isaiah it states that Jesus was probably not the best looking of people. That people would shy away from him. Another sign of humbleness of God. While many looked for Christ to roll down from heaven in a throne of glory, it shocked them to see that he didn't. Christ came in the most humble manner and left in the most surprising of all. Dying for others instead of saving himself.

God wants us to a humble people. To be content with what we are and what we have. Live within our means not our dreams. I will never be a Michael Jordan or a Tiger Woods, yet I have the most precious gift of all. An eternal contract of love sponsored by the loving creator himself.

Live as a humble person and live forever. Less of self and more of others and Christ.

A Crazy Way To Wake Up

I went to bed last night about 12:30. I sat up and finished reading the book by C S Lewis titled "The Great Divorce." It was about 1:30 am when I finished the book, so I turned out the lights and fell asleep. I was sleeping in Brayden's bed and Cayden was asleep on the floor beside me. I was sound asleep, I mean I was in deep sleep. Comatosed in sleep. I know I was dreaming something, but have no clue what it was about. Whatever it was I was peacefully dreaming it.

At 3:40 am Shannon came busting through the door yelling, "Get up!!!!!" Boy, did I! Without any haste, I sprang up as if a drill Sargent was in my face yelling at the top of his lungs at me. She said, "My mom called and said we need to take cover because a tornado was close by or heading in our direction!" I woke from a peaceful dream to a scene out of Wizard of Oz. Wind was blowing, thunder was rolling and cracking and the Sirens were going off.

So, I got up and got dressed and we headed out the door to go down to our safety room. We have to go outside to get to the room below us. As we headed out the door Macy had a blanket over her head I was holding Cayden and Shannon had the Storm Station in her hand. The lightning was so intense and the rain was just whipping around our heads. It was quite frightening. I kind of enjoyed it though. I was shaking not because of the possibility of a tornado hitting our house, but because of being awakened in such a Hellish way. I told her after it was over I have never been awakened like that ever. I still am laughing about it. I thought somebody had broke into the house the way she came storming into the room.

I didn't get back to sleep until 5:30 am and didn't wake up until 10:30. I do remember seeing the storm map up on the screen before I went to bed. I think I will pay attention for now on.

The Amish

One of our trips while we were in West Virginia was the Amish country in Ohio. I have always had an interest in this culture. It seems to be a simple life they lead. They don't allow anything in their lives that is technologically advanced. No electricity, cars, Internet, television etc... They plow their land by hand and horses. Everything they do is old fashioned. It would be a tough life for any of us to live. Yet, they seem to do it very well.

Their children seem very behaved and seem to have no trouble living like they do. Some Amish have indoor plumbing and some don't. We toured a house that was very old fashioned. It had plumbing but no mirrors. They had a baby doll laying on one of the beds. I have one pictured above. None of their dolls have faces. The reason is they do not believe in graven images. My wife asked me why. Probably they feel that if they had mirrors or if their dolls looked like Barbie they would maybe become self absorbed by their image. They would not be living the life they are taught by worrying about what they looked like. I can see that. They believe that thinking of self is an evil that doesn't serve their family or their community needs. So, I wonder. Do they not no what they look like? I know they can't not no what they look like. There are many things that cause a reflection. Glass windows, looking into a stream of a river. They have to know. They don't have cameras and really don't like for people to take their pictures. Strange!

So, one thing that bothers me about the Amish is that they don't pay taxes. That kind of irritates me. Another thing that bothers me about them is their "Shunning." Once their children becomes a certain age they have the right to go out and experience the world. Anything goes. Drinking, sex, parties and anything that goes against their religion. But, the part of this that is not right is the shunning. If the child decides not to return to the Amish community to live, they shun them. They are forgotten entirely by their family and the entire Amish community. I mean complete abandonment. It's like moving into the witness protection program in our community. No contact with anybody. No forgiveness!

To me that defeats the whole life style they try to live. In Christianity, that is the base of God's love for us. We must forgive others like he forgave us through his Son Jesus. So if the Amish don't forgive a person who decides to choose the world instead of their life style is not following the life God has laid out for us. That bothers me.

But, I sometimes wish I could live a life without modern advances. I don't really want to go to that extreme though. They do say most children that leave and get a taste of this evil world normally come back. I guess the shunning does work in some ways. It is an interesting way of life. I like it because it allows me to see how things were back in time. I will choose this way of life any day, I'm not big on plowing my own fields or not being able to watch Sports. I think I will follow the route I'm on right now.

It Was Good To Go Home

I was in great need to go home to West Virginia. It had been a year and a half since I have seen or stepped foot on WV soil. I had a longing to be home. I really miss all my family and friends there. One of my main goals was to go to Pittsburgh and raid the Steeler store. I just bought a couple of things there though.

We did make it there and got to tour the Steelers stadium, which was awesome! But, I really needed to go home and see the people I have loved and grown up with. I really missed everybody up there. I don't know anybody in that town anymore. The only people I know are those who attend church with me there. They are the ones I really miss, especially my family. I feel I miss out on a lot with them.

So, I was glad to see them and talk to them.

When I grew up in Wheeling, WV. I always thought why anybody would spend their vacation there. Now I know. It's home and always will be for me.

As we arrived back in Arkansas. The first thing I noticed was the southern draw. I escaped it at least for a week. It was kind of good to hear it again. It's amazing the differences between the North and the South. Where we live, it's a very Christian town. So, there is a lot of good going on down here. A lot of church going people here mixed in with a lot of non church goers. Where in the North there's not a huge Christian environment. I sometimes wonder why? People here seem to be a little more kinder where in the North people are nice but don't have a great ability for personal communication. People here in the South will wave as they pass by you. Where up North you don't see that. It's weird!

I've noticed also, that it's hard to build a close friendship with people here in the South. They seem timid. Yet, in the north I've always had close personal friends. I guess they're not as timid. Again, weird?

Words that differ form the two regions. People in the south say "How y'all doing?" Northern people in my area say, "How yun's doin?" I prefer "Yun's" over "Y'all" any day. Southern people say, "Ya doing alright?" Northerners say, "How ya doin?" When I first arrived in the south back in 1994 someone asked me if I was doing alright? I was confused. I thought they thought something was wrong with me. Then I realized I was in Bizzaro's world and they meant something else. The south is strange to me this very day. I love the North and always will. "Yankee for life!"

I am very happy I was able to go north for my vacation though. This week I will be writing about my vacation and some things I have noticed about the north. I hope you will read it. To those back home it was nice to see you all again. You will always have a special place in my heart. Know that you are missed and loved. May God bless us all!