102nd General Assembly of The Church of God

It truly was a blessed General Assembly. The facility was excellent and inviting. The Spirit was empowering and beckoning. I think it was impressed upon each of us to move up a little higher. I know I have left that place with that feeling and it is not just a little movement that I desire. I sincerely want to be exercised for Him and His glory and His Church. There are so many wonderful things to tell. Perhaps words could never sum it up. I will try over the next few days to get up some of my best pictures. It was a wonderful, wonderful time. God was so good to us. It was like a homecoming being in Cleveland. Just around the corner we went to Gaut Street and Brother Tomlinson's old house. What a rich spiritual heritage we have there in that city.

Time For One More

Nearly everyone i know is probably too busy in preparations or travel to read this but i am going to post it anyway. First, for those of you traveling, may God bless and keep you all as you make your way to the General Assembly. I so look forward to seeing all of you during this blessed time. I can hardly wait. My weekend was not so good at work. I just kept thinking I will soon be in Cleveland at the General Assembly. That thought kept me going. I am excited about Children's Assembly and every thing else. I cannot wait to take it all in. It shall be glorious.

I am making all preparations to leave. It is an undertaking trying to get everything organized. I worry about little Mushu and how he will do without us (little imp). There is so much to take care of at our house. I do not wan to worry about things. Lord, please watch over those things and those that watch over those things. Mushu could become violent. That is normal though.

We will be leaving out tomorrow am (I hope). We have some people joining us and we are all going out there together. I absolutely cannot wait. I have my camera ready. So you can expect the paparazzi to be watching your every move. Relax and enjoy though. The worst thing that could happen is you could have a booger hanging from your nose and Ii would post the picture on here for the few people who read this to see. No biggie.

I really can't wait to see you all, booger or (s)not. God bless you all!!!!

A Decade and a Day

Yesterday marked a decade of wedded bliss for Tabithia and I. I had thought about it all day long. I could not wait for her to come home. I wrote her a poem. We were not gifting this year because we are going to Hawaii in about four weeks. It was a Church night so time for anything extra special was very limited and we were both fine with that...I thought. When Tabithia got home, I was still out with the dogs. That did not seem to go over very well but not that badly. I told her I could still be ready in the time it takes her. She took forever getting ready. By the time she was completely done it was 6:15. Then she began to pick fights over not being ready to go. I was ready. She started getting so nasty. I was just mad. I thought why has she come home to ruin this special day. the only embrace I wanted to give here included strangling. I could not believe it. Those little butterflies in the stomach feelings I was having turned to indigestion. It was about time to leave for Church, she did not want to leave too early. So we waited a little longer. We were a couple of minutes late but it was not started yet.

By the time we got there I wondered why I had even gone. I was not the least bit happy. Here this special day was ruined. We went through the whole service and finally to the end. I was still trying to salvage the night and go out after Church. Bro Robert, our CPMA booster, turned the service back to Bro Lawrence, our pastor. I thought we must be having a conference, maybe something we needed to take care of before the Assembly. I thought, "Oh, why does it have to be tonight." then as he took the stage a familiar song began to play, Valentine. I recognized it immediately but still thought it was like a happy anniversary thing but why were they playing it over Brother Lawrence. We were having a conference. About that time he asked me to come up front. As I stood there, down the isle came that mean old girl that had been so nasty to me an hour before. She had on that same dress she wore a decade ago. It had all been part of her devious plan to confuse me. All of a sudden an arch came from the back. We were having a wedding. I was so shocked and yes, my eyes filled with tears. Even though she had been so mean I said, "I will," again.

Someone told us after Church we were in "Double Marriage." All of the meanness had been an act. People are so crazy. They think they have to make you furious to keep you from figuring things out. I must say, it is pretty clever. For one time she totally surprised me. I just love that little girl!

That picture is the original. I don't have any of the new ones yet.

I Have Returned...

I have been away for about a week. I hope this does not strip me of my "most improved" trophy. I worked so much extra last week and this. Well, maybe it was just a day each week. Anyway, I was tired. It was so busy when I did work that it just zapped all my strength. I hope, pray this weekend is better. It has been a scorcher here. I so desperately need rain in my yard. It is a desert. I have been dragging hoses around for a month.

Last week I built a new home for the ducks. That went went. I did get frustrated and had to take a swim break. I had too cool off in more ways than one. The grand total of duckie tenants is now at 5. I inherited some. I have also gained some rabbits. I never saw that coming nor did I want it to. The funny part is that some of them were mine to begin with. We moved them before we went on vacation last May to make it easier to care for them while we were gone. It became so much easier for me to leave them where they were. So, now I am about to get them home. Perhaps next week I can accomplish that task.

As for suits...Yes, I got three new suits at the New York Suit Exchange. Bro Ray, As best I can tell there is no web site. There are some very good deals though. I had a little trouble because of my unique size. I am kind of in between. The selection for me was not as large as for other sizes. No, I am not saying you are fat.

I really need to get off of here and take a nap. God bless you all. It is just a little over a week before we see each other again. Can't wait!

My Little Boy Is Growing Up...

Where to begin here. My last post was Friday. I went off to work that night had a really good night, thank God. I worked enough to keep myself going but not enough to run myself crazy. The real craziness was the next day. There is a place in Memphis called the New York Suit exchange. They have a sale every so often where you get three suits, three shirts, three ties, three belts, three pairs of socks...for $200. So I slept a little while and Tabithia woke me up to run over there. I went to bed at noon. She awakened me at 4pm. I had myself convinced the whole time that I would be fine. I thought I had had 6 hours sleep. I must have been delirious. When I realized I only had four, I was nearly in a panic. I thought I would be so tired. Saturday night was pretty calm, too. Oh, well, I had three new suits. It was worth it. We stopped at a barbecue place in Marion that I had always wanted to try, Tops. The quality of the meat was very good. It was just a little bland. It was not bad though.

I got home watched a little of America's Got Talent and headed off to work. Sunday all went well. I got up on Monday and was reading this book I found in my stuff the other day. It is called, "Preparing to Teach the Word of God." It is a really old book with yellow pages. IT was my great aunt's. Most of the time I may start a book like that, but when I realize how crazy it is I put it away. Some folks just believe anything. This book is different. It is very inspirational. It is a good book. Anyway, I was reading and someone rang the doorbell. I was not prepared for that nor dressed for it, so it took me a little time to get that way. The knock became more and more fervent. I could not imagine what they wanted. I finally got the the door and there is this hyper guy, Cooley, he called himself. He basically does a rap right there in my front yard. I thought, "O' no, it is one of those traveling salesman." Not so. He talked fast at first, but I never heard him get anywhere near that again. He actually talked very, very very slow. He wanted to pave my driveway. I had been intending to get an estimate for that. The driveway was gravel with a few potholes. They actually made us a good deal. So, I now live down a paved driveway.

I got to work that night and got a very good deal on lunch, $1. Then my day took a turn for the worse. It seems that my state license had lapsed. I had a major ordeal over that and hop that it is resolved. I worked all day yesterday on that. I have to call today to find out whether I have to drive tow hours to Little Rock or not. Every time I go there I get lost. I do not like Little Rock.

O yeah, let me quit rambling long enough to get to the title of this post. Mushu, it turns out can really jump. He jumps up to the edge of the pool without problem or hesitation. The reason I say he is growing up is due to the fact that he is eating dry food. I think canned food stinks and is gross. He does not feel the same. I had been wanting to try him on some dry food. Yesterday was the day. He dove into it. It went that well. I think he has been sneaking into the dog food when his bowl runs empty anyway. He is determined not to starve to death. He is pretty funny. He has had no major disciplinary problems lately. He is not too hard to put back up because it is 100 degrees here. He just pants outside. So do the dogs. I do, too. Bluh!

I guess I will go see what today holds!

Repetition...

Contrary to common thought, any sane thought anyway, my title has but little to do with my subject (I don't really have a subject). I could not come up with a title I have not already used. So, please excuse my redundancy. I instead chose to label my post as repetition. That is probably what the subject material is anyway. I have no material, but who said you had to have something to blog about. It could be a lengthy essay of my inner most thoughts. That is pretty shallow. It is probably just more of the nonsense I call merriment.

I could be doing all kinds of things right now. I need to vacuum the pool again. I need to mow the yard. The weedeating is all done--Yeah, me! It is so seldom all finished at once. I really need to get on that mower though. Tabithia has mowed the last three times. What a doll! It is certainly my turn. I also have to take a nap. I know that does not seem a necessity, but I have to work all night long tonight so I normally lay down just to power nap sometime during the day.

It is so stinking hot here! You can absolutely see the air. It is near unbearable. Who has ideal climate right now? Maybe I should move there. If you climate is ideal now it probably get well below zero in the winter. I am not into that either. Mosquitoes are really not overwhelming this year. They are not exactly good, but in comparison to the swarms we normally breed in these parts, we are doing well. That is probably do to the fact that it has not rained in forever. I have heard that hot weather makes people cranky. I can tell by my tone that I need a cool refreshing shower. Don't take that to mean that I do not have good personal hygiene. I nice rain would be great. Spiritually a shower would be great as well, but I am not as cranky in that area. Really, we had Communion and Feet Washing last Wednesday night. It was a really sweet service. My feet are clean at least. You know, I really just do not like feet. When I was doing X-rays, I could not even touch a foot without gloves. I find them absolutely disgusting. That and spit. I cannot deal with saliva. That grosses me out worse than near anything. How did I get to this subject? Well, I am here. Feet, for some reason, are deemed untouchable by me. So, it is truly a humbling experience for me. Jesus really knew what He was doing there that night. What a lesson it teaches me every time. One brother said Wednesday that we hesitate to do the things that are good for us. Feet washing is good for us. It was a command that we should do unto each other as he had done. The Son of God, King of Glory knelt to wash His disciples feet. There is no one better than Him! I can do it.

Let me ask this. Does anyone else feel the emergent need to wash your hands afterwards? It was humbling to do it but I don't want to touch my face or blow my nose with foot stuff on me. The strange thing there is it is okay for me to blow my nose in service and not feel the emergent need to wash, but if I touch your foot--no way! I wash my hands after hand shakes, too. Am I a bad person? Does anyone else do any of this?

Finally...I'm Off...

Augh! Yes it does feel good to be off from work finally. Monday is my Friday. this week it was Tuesday. What a bad night it was. It seems I am having more and more of those. Last night I think it was just because I was so ready to be off for a few days. Now, I am off (my rocker). I need to mow, vacuum the pool, go to the revenue office and renew my vehicle registration, laundry, walk the dogs, water the yard...Am I really off? I would rather be doing this kind of stuff for a few days anyway.

I have so much other stuff to do as well. I am tired just thinking about all. Maybe I am just tired. I know that's right. Let's see. What interesting things happened to me? Hmmmm. Hmmmmmmmmm. I have really done very little but work since last entry. I had set the alarm this morning for around 7. Lately the alarm has had no effect on me. I turn it of unwittingly and roll back over. I don't usually have anywhere to be in the mornings. So, that is not a huge problem. *Yawn* This morning I was dreaming about the clock (I really don't like drams like that). Anyway, I had requested the floors be cleaned (as if I am not the one who does that). In come this girl from Church, Trishe with a vacuum cleaner (she works at Wal Mart and suddenly my bedroom becomes the discount center itself). She acts like I will be so proud the floor is cleaned because it really needs it. Yes, I am still asleep and she is making all kinds of racket cleaning the floor by my bed. On top of all of that, she did not clean it very well. Why do we dream crazy stuff? It is just a hodgepodge of random thoughts all run together. They are insane notions.

When I was a kid a dreamed about the same monster that lived in our house. He stayed in the laundry room most of the time. He was brown, furry and had big mouse-looking ears (I have another story about ears). He was quite ferocious and scary though. I would never sleep with arms out of the cover, never hang anything over the edge of the bed and always close the closet door. Our closet door had a small hole in it, too. I kept posters or patches over it all at times. I knew all the junk that was under my bed and in my closet prevented a monster from residing there. Just in case though, I made sure I protected myself in every way. The day time was different. When night fell, the room was on lock down. I am convinced the psychosis was brought on by dreams. It was killer Mickey that brought terror to this young child. In some of those dreams it was day time and I had to be very quiet or I would wake up the monster.

I still have the strangest dreams. They do not haunt me now. They simply annoy and exhaust me. Sometimes you just wake up so tired like you have run or worked all night. Sometimes that is the case. Other times it is the nonsense that my psychotic subconscious invents.

Speaking of psychotic. Yesterday I saw this girl with pink hair and what I thought were mouse ears on her head. So she got the attention she craved as I had to look again to be sure. Yes, she did. She was not Mousketeer though. Later I saw her walking around again. She had some sort of furry animal tail attached to her shirt. I am not sure what look she was going for. Perhaps she is a descendant from Daniel Boone, NAH! At least I just dream the craziness while other choose to lie it.

Where Was I...

It has been a few days since I have had the opportunity to post. I certainly do not want to mess up now and be stripped of my trophy (NARR Most Improved). It seems that I came back from the brink of death. I worked Friday night as usual. I went in 4 hours unusually early at 7 pm. I worked ferociously to stay caught up. I was really quite busy. In 5 hours I averaged 4 patients per hour. That is pretty busy. Some patients are on the table longer than that. As soon as one was off another was ready to go on. It was back to back. In the next 8 hours I did the same number for a total of 41 procedures. That is a lot for one person. The time passed very quickly though. I ended up staying over the next day to help finish a chest tube placement. I worked 16 hours, 45 minutes. What a day that was. I was ready to go to bed for sure. I still managed to drive by a yard sale on the way home. I drive by and if I see something I am interested in I stop. If I don't I keep on trucking. Saturday, I kept on trucking.

The complete and utter chaos of Friday-Saturday was completely dispelled on Saturday-Sunday. I scanned a grand total of 3 patients. Only three!!!!! I studied my Bible for hours. I prayed with the CT table as an altar. It was a wonderful night. I learned so much about the transfiguration. I had no extra reference books so it was all from the Holy Ghost. He really will show us the deep things of God. I immensely enjoyed my time alone with the Lord. It was so wonderful. I was hand writing all of these notes and could scarcely keep myself caught up. I was bouncing off the walls when everyone got there the next morning. Speaking of bouncing off the walls. There is a sliding glass door that goes to the back of our department. Our lockers are back there and some equipment. It is really cold back there so I closed the glass door. When my co-worker, Sunie, came in she failed to notice the door was closed. I think you may have seen the Windex commercial. She walked face first into it. BAMM!!! The sad thing is I missed the whole thing. I turned out to be a good weekend, make that a great weekend!

Mushu has been his normal rotten self. Yesterday right before I left for work, we wrestled a bit. he appartently won judging by the big bleeding scratch on my hand. We use alcohol hand cleaners at work. I was reminded of Mushu with every application. Somehow when you come home and there he is purring you just melt and pick him up. Awe! Ain't he cute! (Little imp).

What Title Have I Not Used...

I tried to put a title on this but realized i have already used that one. I don't want to be redundant. I would hate to offend my one and only faithful reader, Sister Smith. Augh! Thank you so much for making the trivial moments of my life seem like interesting material. How kind.

The chronicles of Mushu continues. The cat was so bad last night. He went outside and I could not get him back in. I closed the garage door down and pretended to abandon him. I thought when I put that door up he would be there scared to death that I had deserted him...NAH!!!! I don't no where the little beast was. I went out and called and called. Finally about when i determined he was going to camp out last night, he comes up like nothing ever happened. I was mad at the little feline, but not furious. I was going to pick him up and put him back in the garage. He ran from me again. I was getting furious at this point. I don't know how people with real children ever do it. He ran under the car. I took my flip flop off and threw it at him. Does that sound like sanctified behaviour? Don't tell me you parents never threw a shoe at your kids or at least thought about it. Those Smith kids, the youngest especially, probably needed a shoe tossed at them with love. Can you throw a shoe with love? Anyway, I looked under the car and there he was just looking at me like I was a dummy. So I retrieved my shoe and threw it again. My intention was not rage but rather to force him out of his hiding spot. He is such an impish little beast at times. I hope there are no PETA supporters reading this. If there are, I eat chicken, too! That is what I think about that. Finally, after the last throw of the flip flop, the cat chases it into the garage. I go in behind him. He realizes he is in for it and tries to get back outside. I was getting even worse at that point. He was just making this situation worse and worse. I blocked him in more than one direction, he tried to get around me still. I reached to put the door down with the keypad the whole time playing defense. As soon as my furry friend was imprisoned safely in the garage, I changed my game plan to offense. I was not intending to spare the rod or the flip flop as the case may be. He ran from me all over that place. I never did get to properly discipline him. I had fed him, after that I covered it over. I refuse to reward bad behavior. He had already had his allotment for the day anyway. What a bad child! This is precisely why I do not have kids. They would act up and I would just find whatever was handy or footy and whack them.

Mama did us that way. At times it was whatever she could find. I was disciplined by a big stick on the side of the road. My older brother received the handle end of a fish net. My youngest brother met a piece of PVC pipe. We needed it. They probably did worse than me (in many instances still do). Actually lick for lick, I probably got the most. I was always in trouble. It must have worked its way out of my system or the miraculous work of sanctification eradicated that nature. I lean more toward the second.

I need a kitty discipline class. This little monster is about to get it. Most of the time he is really good, even when he is biting until he leaves marks. That does not bother me. When he refused to listen to me or even respond, I can't handle it. He is very hard headed. Any suggestions?

Catching Up...

I certainly do not want to break my blogging habit although it seems like so many have broken theirs. Ahem! Anyway, let me see here. What shall I blog? This past weekend was a much better one. There were not nearly as many disastrous moments. I worked as usual. The first night was very calm, the next a little busier. The weekend as a whole was not bad though.

Children's Church went well. We are making "Glad Bags." It is a ziplock (Glad) bag with different colored index cards with things on each card that make us glad. We are cutting out the letters from magazines to spell out the words. I was then in charge of Sunday Night service. the bad thing was I woke up at 4 pm extremely nauseated and otherwise sick. I felt some better at Church. But as I was about to take the stage, I was very, very ill. I thought I was going to toss my cookies. (I know, isn't this a great blog topic. At least I did not mention the diarrhea I experienced. I can't believe I just did that. Yes, I can.) We started singing some praise choruses. He Hath Made Me Glad and then He Is Lord. The more I focused on the solution, the problem minimized before my very eyes. God is so good. It just so happened that my message was along the same lines.

We consider David as a great king, powerful in battle, even as a child he slew a lion, bear and giant. In all of that he never exalted himself. It is evident in the Psalms he penned that he gave God the credit He was due. David often mentioned his problems and enemies setting traps. David realized his insufficiency while at the same time saw the sufficiency of God. This mighty man more often portrayed himself as helpless without the power of the the Lord. When the ark of the covenant was returning to the city of David, he appeared as less than royal to his wife. David told her he would be more vile than that. In other words he would abase himself before God. He realized he was nothing without Him.

I never want to get caught up thinking I am sufficient. I need the help of almighty God. I cannot do it on my own. I certainly could not have on Sunday night. Thank the Lord for His help in my time of distress. Thank Him for his presence at all times. In the 70th Psalm, David wrote, "...let such as love salvation say continually; God be magnified."

Camp Pictures

I am doing these one at a time because I am having trouble getting them uploaded. Here is the little girl that sought for the Holy Ghost so long. With her is our Jr Camp Director, Sis Valerie Riley who is also my VLB coordinator at Jonesboro. She is so great with kids. I turned my flash off so it was not a distraction. So, there is a little motion. I like it though. It lets you know just how much her hands were jerking. It was absolutely precious, a moment I would not trade for anything.

Camp Pictures

Here is little Hannah Furlong. She is so earnest in the altar. She prayed with all she had. Then she prayed with others. She seems like a very good little girl.

Camp Pictures

This picture is the great "Snot-rag Race." Yes, it was my doing. The snot-rags (tissues) started on one side of the building. Everyone had to stand up, salute pass and sit down. It was hilarious. Bro Darren Dixon looks like a ghostly blur. He was really moving

Camp Update

We had a wonderful Jr Camp. There were 12 saved, 13 sanctified and 3 filled with the Holy Ghost. I know one little girl was for sure. She has sought for Holy Ghost baptism for three years at camp. Not just a little bit either. We left Monday night at 11 pm and she was still praying. Everyone else had been ushered downstairs. These kids start getting rowdy if not occupied. The last evening service (Tuesday) she came once again to the altar and sough the Lord just as hard. She cried and hollered (Southern term in case you were wondering) and jerked. There was about 5 staff members and one camper still left wither her. At around 9:30 pm that little one finally yielded to the most glorious sounding tongue. It was so beautiful. I still well up just thinking about it. She was determined. How determined are we sometimes? What a lesson that little girl taught me. Often we may pray a bit and decide that it must not be the will of the Lord. I want to hold on like that little girl. Here is an excerpt from a poem I read:

So down he fell and with him hope--

He couldn't win it now--

Embarrassed, sad, he only wished

To disappear somehow.

But as he fell his dad stood up

And showed his anxious face,

Which to the boy so clearly said:

"Get up and win the race!"

He quickly rose, no damage done-

Behind a bit, that's all-

And ran with all his mind and might

To make up for his fall.

My heavenly Father is looking on, saying, "Get up and win this race!" I feel heavenly encouragement today! Praise the Lord!

Camping Out...

I am the evangelist at Jr Camp this year which started yesterday. I struggled for a message for these kids and seemed rather empty handed. When I feel like I have nothing is often the times that God really does a work. I have known about this for some time but there is so much that I have been preparing for. I have to get one thing out of the way then move on. So, struggled and struggled and struggled. Then I came across an old skit I had found. I adapted it and had Jr Camp's Got Talent. Different members of the staff came up and "performed." It was very interesting. Some said they were there because their moms made them or other reasons. r they thought they were very talented or very pretty. They got sent home. The contestants who did not feel they had a talent were the ones who went on. Then I read from Jeremiah chapter 9, the what to's and what not's of glorying. I told the story of me as a timid young child who was afraid to move when God asked me to move. I felt conviction in my heart at the age of 7-8 years old. I was too scared. I sat back while other came. Then every head bowed, every eye closed. I asked with a show of hands who wanted to have Jesus in their hearts. There were hands. I asked them to come. We went through sanctification and Holy Ghost baptism with show of hands. Then everyone else, just so that those bashful ones had the opportunity too. We were in the altar until 10:30 pm o later. There was one girl still there when we left. I don't know the number but so many of those kids we really seeking the Lord. It was amazing.

Let me tell why we had to leave. I knew that we were dangerously low on gas and the camp is in the middle of nowhere. Tabithia took my car Sunday to go to the beauty shop. She took my keys as well. She had to do to the Dr with her grandmother so she left around 1:30 pm so they could eat first. Shortly after she left I needed to go somewhere, but I could not find my keys. That is because they were in her purse. I was stranded at my own house. I did not get in the car until it was time to leave. We were almost there when I looked at the gauge. We barley had anything. The gas light should have come on at any second. God stayed the gas hand. We made it to camp and back to Jonesboro on a fraction of a tank. Thank God. Tonight is the last nigh o service for the Jr's. I pray God has His way again.

Nearly Disasterous...

As noted in my previous post, last weekend was our Regional Convention. It went well on Friday night. The boosts were going well, Bro Carter gave an excellent message. I had o leave right about he time for the altar call. Let me just tell you why. You knew I was going to anyway. I worked so hard to get all of my props and program ready and packed into the car. I had to leave the convention and go to work. I would be there all night. So I had to make sure that i had all of the things I needed for the next day. I had a change of clothes and all the essentials to take a shower the next morning. I had everything ready. While sitting in the convention I realized that I did not. I had forgotten my scrubs and my work shoes. I could not wear the hard soled shoes I had on, besides they would not match my scrubs at all. What scrubs. I leave the convention a little earlier than what I planned so that I could go to Wal-Mart and get a pair of shoes to work in. While I am doing that Tabithia is getting gas. I grabbed just a few food items to eat during the night on my way to the register. Off to Jonesboro we go. I get to the hospital in just enough time to go down stairs to surgery to borrow a pair of scrubs. Clocked in and worked my 12 hours.

That time passed rather well. It always does when you are busy. I did have a little time to look over my boost again at the beginning of the shift. That was all of the time I had. I realized I left my peanut butter I bought in the car. So when I got the chance to eat it was just a bread sandwich. Ummmmm. It was really good bread though. The time came for me to make my exit. I go down to surgery, take a shower, get all ready. I had everything I needed. I am all ready except my clothes which are hanging in the car. By this time it is 11:30 am. I started looking for my keys. Where oh where are my keys? At moments the panic of the situation begins to overcome me. What am I going to do? I needed to be on the road like then. I had extra time allowed because my props had to be assembled. I could not travel with them together. After a long period of looking everywhere again and again (even the stupid places where you know you would never put your keys of anything else). I called Tabithia again and she was making arrangements to get a spare key to me. She was booked and could not come. Finally she found someone to bring them, but they were eating. They had to finish first. Finally my key arrived at 1pm. I was on program at 1:45. It takes about that long to get there, change clothes, and make it back stage. Believe me i know. By the time I am trying to get my last minute preps done, remember my props are not together, I was being beckoned to the stage. Bro Smith said, "Bro Jason are you ready?" What kind of a question was that? No, I was not ready. I had to cut quite a bit out. God taught me a very important lesson. Maybe lessons...One...trust Him. He will get you there on time even if it was your own stupidity (by the way my keys were found in the back seat of the car. I had so much to carry in that night, I must have sat them down.). Two...Cut the pageantry and preach the word. Three...Just because I think I have it all together does not mean I have it all together. Four...Make a checklist days before while still clear headed. Then I will know everything is done.

That was Saturday. I went home to rest after that. I got my things for Sunday and that all went better except that I grabbed black socks instead of blue. Sunday at a convention is kind of a dreaded day. most people are ready to hear appointments by that time. They really don't care what else you have to say. I might be exaggerating of speaking of myself (surely not me). Well, that afternoon (no one had eaten or anything) appointments are made. No I am not pastoring for those wondering. I have had another Regional Coordinator change. I am now working back in Sunday School. It was a good convention what parts I was able to attend. It seemed that everyone mentioned getting along with one another. You would think we would have mastered that by now. Hmmm. It really is not the big things like smoking, drinking, swearing that are apt to take us down. But our adversary does sneak in Eden style to twist and turn small things into big deals. Christ said that love was an identifying mark of the Church. The devil would like nothing more than to steal that identity from us. That is our biggest fight. God help us all.

But A Short Time To Work...

Our regional Convention is just hours away. I need to get my boost finished. I know I mentioned blaming God for our craziness in an earlier comment. But the Lord has given me much to cover in 10 minutes. That seems an impossibility. I just wanted to post here while i can. It will be busy for a few days with convention, work, camp. So I will try to get in here when I can.

I have worked on a project for a few weeks now and I finished phase 1 yesterday. I have successfully stretched my faux stone pathway from the driveway to the back porch. It is faux stone because it is recycled concrete from a man down the street. he does concrete work. There was a mountain of broken concrete in his yard that I had wanted to stop in and ask if I could have. I never did, but one day he had it loaded in a truck to take to the dump. I turned that car around and asked him to dump that in my yard. It has been there for over a year. Finally I have begun to work it in. I tried to make a patio last year and that did not work out. I like the sidewalk much better. I have to go to the other side and do the same thing from the porch to the pool. Then the mound of dirt in my back yard can be put where it needs to be. I am really pleased with this. The best part is all I have in it is sweat equity. That is no freebie but at least it has not hurt the pocket.

Thankful...

It seems that we go through life thinking that the things we face are impossible. I now know that is not so. Last night at Church, I sang the song, "The Anchor Holds." I later testified how steadfast, immovable Christ is. He is the leaning place, the anchor, deliverer, shield...No matter what we have faced in our lives, He is more than sufficient. He is superfluous. We have all been through things in our lives that really tested that. We learned about grace and faith and are still learning.

Well, the brother in charge of the service began to tell his story. Al that he had faced in his life. His title was "Getting Past Your Past." He told the story of Joseph and how he was his OT hero. He went through so much at the hands of his own family and yet was merciful toward them later. He was used as an instrument of God to save His covenant people. The brother's story was unfathomable. He was subjected to all forms of abuse beginning at age seven. "Rescued" by DHS only to be passed around from family member to family member where he only suffered more abuse. One year after coming back from basic training he felt impressed to go to Church camp. He had to quit his job just in order to be there. Once there he went through each service and nothing happened. Until the next to the last night, the Lord prompted him to tell his story. The nature of some of the abuse was so hard to talk about that he was reluctant especially in front of the young crowd that was there. He refused to do it. The Lord dealt with him all night long until the next day he told his counselor that he wanted to testify. That night he told all the details of his story. The altar filled with those who thought they were the only ones who had faced such abuses. Some of the campers had held things in even from their parents. Suddenly there was a moment of relief.

I thank God for the mercies He has shown in my life. I for the most part have had a good life with few scars to haunt me. I just thought during all of that, this man forgave and overcame that. How small are the things, mostly trivial, that stand between people today! We really must get past our pasts. I have endured nothing like this brother. O' may mercy and grace be just as superfluous from me.

More Babies At 16750 N Ozark...

Yes I am back from the most horrible work weekend I have had. I was so tired. In fact, I still feel quite drained from the chaos. I scanned patients nonstop all night long. Many of these were the baser sorts of people. They were the drunk, the od'd, the inmates of society. Augh!!! Enough was enough.

Tabithia mowed the yard Sunday in my hour of rest. She mentioned seeing some baby rabbits at the south end of the house. I was out with the dogs on Monday for a little while, all of us getting our exercise. I can actually out-do the lazy dogs. They end up lagging behind. It is so hot though. Well, I had my camera and noticed that there was a gold finch perched on the sunflowers. i just had to try to snap a picture. So I took a picture, moved in closer, took another. I was so focused on the bird that I was not paying much attention to what the dogs were doing on the "south side of the house." I turn and catch a glimpse of the master hunter lab of mine, Carlie (see slide show on previous post). She was intent on getting something next to the house. She raises her head from the flowers/grass/weeds and has a little brown bunny in her mouth. I yelled her name (she just happens to be yell trained very well) She dropped what she was doing. The little brown bunny falls to the ground motionless. I picked it up and sat it (or tossed it lightly) back in its shelter. I got the dogs out of there quickly and repenned them. I went back to check the bunny snack. It was already gone. I had seen one hopping around after that. I trust it lived to hop again. It really was a hoppy ending.

It has been an honor to be home to all of God's creation this year. I have a butterfly cocoon I am keeping watch on too. It is just a regular Wild America at my house. I loved that show.

Empty Nest Syndrome...

Well, as of last Tuesday the bird nest was empty. I wish I could say it went well for all of them. Hopefully some of them. I know at least one possibly two did not. Let me just say that Mushu was not responsible. Besides he drags all of his prey back to the garage. the other day I threw out a piece of pizza, the really big slices that the people were too lazy to cut small enough that it would actually fit in your mouth. I knew the dogs were about to get out and they love to find a treat, kind of like Easter eggs. Well, I went back around the corner later and Mushu who was about the size of the enormous slice of pizza had dragged it back tot he house and eaten much of it. What a piggy!

I have to get get my Dad's birthday present here in a little bit. His birthday is tomorrow. I always have to call my Mom to ask her when it is. I cannot remember the day. I know it is shortly after the 4th. He is so hard to buy for. For Father's Day we got him a care package stuffed full of goodies. He has been through much of that but I do not want to make him any fatter. He wants a new wallet so I may check into that. I am the same way. I am hard to buy for. I have everything I need and most of what I want. We sure go crazy trying to buy for folks that don't need anything. Think of all of the money that is wasted each year on something that is of no use to the giftee. I am starting a nationwide campaign today for SENSIBLE GIFTING! I just have to come up with a catchy name. Far too many are asking for bread and receiving stones, asking for fish and receiving scorpions. Something must be done. Society must be saved from bad gifts. National Association for Gifting Smartly (NAGS). I like it. Please do your part to gift smart today and everyday!