Happy New Year 2009!

It's Merry Christmas!!!

YOU CAN'T STEAL MY CHRISTMAS

I don't know who they are
Saying I can't greet the crowd
The way that I want to
Can't say CHRISTMAS out loud.

I walk into a business place
See things that I rather not see
But dare I not say CHRISTMAS
And ask for a 'holiday' tree.

What happened to freedom of speech
And living in the land of the free
How can they take my CHRISTMAS money
But can't say MERRY CHRISTMAS to me.

Men and women have given their lives
So we could still go free
I wonder how they would feel
At saying 'HOLIDAY' TREE.

Come on CANADA AND THE WORLD... let's wake up !!!
Don't let our freedom escape
If they get by with doing this
What else will they take.
This is starting to get out of hand,
And I've begun to keep track
Well I've just about had enough
I'M TAKING CHRISTMAS BACK.

So MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone
I hope this gets all over the 'net
If we all stand united and take freedom back
'Twill be our best CHRISTMAS yet!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!!

The Colors of the Christmas Lights

This is from an e-mail forwarded to me. Thanks to Mary Ellen. :-)
Enjoy! ~ Ruth Anne




I used to be really particular about Christmas lights like not liking the white ones because they were too plain, but when the Lord showed me this, my perspective changed. Now my lights shine for the Glory of The Lord.

When I see YELLOW lights, I remember the star which shown above the manger in Bethlehem when Christ was born.

When I see the RED lights, they remind me of the blood Jesus shed for my sins and yours.

When I see the BLUE lights, I am reminded of the bruises that Jesus bored for our iniquities.

When I see the GREEN lights, they remind me of the new green grass of spring which symbolizes the newness of life which Christ gives us.

When I see the brilliant WHITE lights, they remind me of the purity that we receive through the cleansing of the blood of Christ.


All mixed together they are the most beautiful site in the World because they Glorify The Lord Jesus Christ and Praise His Holy Name,

NO WONDER JESUS IS THE
REASON FOR THE SEASON

Great Picture!

A music video done by a friend from church. :-)

Chloe is one of the Moody students at the church where I serve. She made up the video for one of her classes, and I liked it so much, I wanted to share it with others. :-)

A Little Change ~ Bradley Walker

This is an awesome song!! Enjoy!

Bradley Walker

More CMT Music

More CMT Music Videos

My parents drugged me.....

Amen!

Packing for Canada???

Video from the ministry of Clint and Penny Bragg

Clint and Penny Bragg are very dear friends of mine, and so I post their mission announcement video today.

S.M. Lockeridge's "My King"

Amen!

In God We Trust by Diamond Rio

This is a wonderful slide show that goes along with this song! :-)

For the birds.....

At work, we had a potluck dinner with fried chicken and Italian beef. Somehow, we ended up with WAY too many buns, and had over 4 bags full of French rolls left over. It was a LOT. Way too much.


Actually, it kinda reminded me of the loaves and fishes, because it really did seem like the buns multiplied, and I even kind of joked about it with one of my co-workers.


I think maybe they were like the loaves and fishes, and here’s why.


I have a neighbor at my new home, she lives in the condo directly below my condo, and every morning, she feeds the birds.


She has quite a flock that comes to us now each morning. Sparrows, robins, cardinals, sometimes bluebirds and bluejays. My cats (of course) love it, because they can watch birds flying all around, and it is great fun for them.


Well, because Alice feeds the birds, she buys a lot of bread and birdseed. A whole lot. She usually goes to the bakery outlet, and gets her loaves on a deal.


The birds really like the bread (of course they like the seed too).


So - back to work - we distributed the left over bread to those who wanted some, and I took a bag for Alice. It was really full, and actually kind of heavy.


But I figured she could use it with the birds.


What I didn’t know at the time, and didn’t discover until I got home and stopped by Alice's condo to give her the bread…


Alice was out of bread.


I didn’t know. But God did. And He made sure the birds had food tomorrow morning.

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26 NKJV)

Great Quotes

You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me.
~ C.S. Lewis

It will be a rough year for Trick or Treat.....

This is one of those sad but true political cartoons.... Guess that is what makes it funny.....

This is a real cake.....

A friend forwarded me this cake picture.... And I have NOTHING against Wal-Mart....I love the store.....

Wal-Mart Cake

Keep in mind this actually really did happen. This is someone who was moving from an insurance claims office.

Okay so this is how I imagine this conversation went:

Walmart Employee: 'Hello 'dis be Walmarts, how can I help you?'

Customer: ' I would like to order a cake for a going away party this week.'

Walmart Employee: 'What you want on 'da cake?'

Customer: 'Best Wishes Suzanne' and underneath that 'We will miss you'.

STOP LAUGHING! You can't fix stupid....

They gotta be kidding, right???

Urgent Warning to All Dog Owners (this is a joke!!)

WARNING TO ALL DOG OWNERS

Warning to all dog owners: Watch your dog!

The State Highway Patrol in conjunction with the FBI has issued a warning advising all dog owners to keep their dogs indoors until further notice. Dogs are being picked off one at a time on an almost continual basis throughout the city. They are falling in great numbers. Police in the city advise all dog owners not to walk their dogs - KEEP THEM INDOORS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!

Fireproof opens September 26th!

On Friday, September 26, FIREPROOF will open in more than 800 theaters nationwide. The new movie from the creators of Facing the Giants is an action-packed love story about a firefighter, his wife ... and a marriage worth rescuing!

While this faith-based film is flying under the Hollywood radar screen, real people in real communities across the country are rallying behind it. In fact, it will open in 95 more cities than originally planned thanks to local people buying 1,000 tickets to bring it there!

I don't know when I've been more excited about the opening of a movie. I hope you will see FIREPROOF on its opening weekend. Hollywood judges a movie based on how it does in its first three days, so it's important to go September 26-28.

If you want more information, go to FireprooftheMovie.com.

See you at the movies!

Dancing Squirrels!

Laugh for the day!

Something to bring a smile or two...

Two baby moose playing in a sprinkler with Momma Moose nearby. :-)

Great Quotes

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

I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up.
~ Tom Lehrer


And my thoughts....

So we have many useless people in Washington DC (aka Congress) with trouble communicating. Let's see, how can we get them to shut up? ;-)

In Memory ~ 11 September

Prayer for September 11th

A Prayer of Hope and Healing for Patriot Day

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today is a difficult day. The memories are painful and some of the wounds I fear may never heal. Yet I pray you will help me to go on living for truth, firm in my hope of your salvation. May I live for you, Lord, and by doing so, be an example to my friends and family. I pray, just like Jesus, I may learn obedience through these things that I have suffered. Help me not to question why, yet even if I do, give me courage to continue to trust you. Help me take the comfort and strength you've poured into my life and use it to comfort and strengthen others who need hope.

I pray I might become a better person and help make the world a better place because of this terrible event. Thank you for the heroes that gave so sacrificially on September 11. Help me to remember their courage and learn from them. I want my life to be worthy of you Lord, so make of it what you desire, and use me to fulfill your purposes. May the evil of that day cause me and my family to work harder to do good on this Earth and to bring your light into the dark places. Help me to never stop believing in you and living my life for you.

Lord, heal all those who were crushed and broken on that day. May they come to experience your presence and know your peace.

Amen.

Do It Again, Lord
Max Lucado
Sep 11, 2008

This beautiful prayer was shared by Max Lucado seven years ago after 9-11. It is just as pertinent today as it was seven years ago. I share it with you once again on this special day.

"DO IT AGAIN, LORD"
America Prays
September, 2001

Dear Lord,

We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll open a sleepy eye and think, "What a horrible dream."

But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.

There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)

We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn't.

And so we come to you. We don't ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don't request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We've read the accounts. We've pondered the stories and now we plead, "Do it again, Lord. Do it again."

Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord.

Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children, too, Lord. Do it again.

And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.

Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here last Tuesday, you saw there that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the smoke eclipsed our morning, so the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced.

And by dusk, heaven's sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock. But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.

We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Christians are praying with Jews. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours of unity.

And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you can do.

Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.

And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years you've used her to heal a hurting world.

Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

Through Christ, Amen.
Max Lucado

www.maxlucado.com

Meet Me in the Stairwell

You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say 'Good-Bye.' I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, 'Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.'

I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn't coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. 'I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!' I said.
'Of course I will show you the way home - only
believe in Me now.'

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan .
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name - though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn't hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; 'Come to Me... this way... take
my hand.' Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you. But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
'ready to go.'

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God

During the next 60 seconds, stop whatever you are
doing, and take this opportunity. (Literally it
is only 1 minute.) All you have to do is the
following:

Stop and think and appreciate God's power
in your life, for doing what you know is pleasing to
Him. If you are not ashamed to do this, follow the
instructions. Jesus said, 'If you are ashamed of Me, I will be
ashamed of you before My Father'

'Yes, I love my God. He is my
fountain of Life and My Savior. He Keeps me going day and
night. Without Him, I am no one. But with Him, I can do
everything. Christ is my strength.'

Only a physics professor's daughter....

....would think this was cool enough to post in her blog. ;-)

The MP3 cat

Plugged in and ready to rock! :-)

A story that needs to be told ~ Irena Sendler

One of those e-mails that goes around....

Got this video from a friend. This is a woman whose story needs to be told, and it needs to be remembered.

Irena Sendler (windows media video)

My dear, sweet Gegan

Her name meant "Poltergeist" in Gaelic. Gegan was a cat who lived life in perpetual motion. (Maybe she was running from the poltergeists!) I don't have many pictures of her, only because when I tried to take one of her, she would move, usually rather quickly! So my pictures of her were usually a big old blur. This really is the only one of two that I have of her standing still, and it is the only one that really nicely captures her little sweet face.

That sweet face is what I fell in love with, back in 2001, on the Siamese Rescue website. She was housed with a foster in Colorado. We adopted her - between the story of how she came to Siamese Rescue, as well her general personality traits. She seemed a wonderful fit for our family, and that she was. The guess at the time of her adoption was that she was somewhere around 11 - 12 years old.

Over the weekend, life got very difficult for her. She was tired, she was weak, and she didn't really want to eat. She'd been losing weight for a while, but due to her age, we didn't want to push tests and all of that on her.

On Sunday night, her actions began to make it clear that it may be the time. After she could not get up on the bed to join me in sleeping, needing my help, and then being able to hear her breathing in, very deeply on each breath, it was time.

At 1:02 a.m., at the emergency vet, Gegan crossed over to the Rainbow Bridge. I know she was greeted by Erich, and met Tabitha for the first time. And I'm sure by now, she and Smokey are back at the "mutual torture society" that they enjoyed playing on a daily basis.

Sleep well, my sweet Siamese Queen, who never wanted to be called a Meezer. Mommy loves you very much and will miss you sooooo much.

A Picture Worth A Thousand Words

The church where I serve has a sign today that says it all. I'll let it speak for itself. :-)

From the Inside Out ~ Hillsong

Enjoy! :-)

Hero Painting - Michael Israel

A friend sent this to me, and it is amazing. Brought me to tears, so have your Kleenex handy.

Funny - but true - quote

Cat lovers can readily be identified. Their clothes always look old and well used. Their sheets look like bath towels and their bath towels look like a collection of knitting mistakes.
~ Eric Gurney

Cool Church sign in Oak Lawn, IL

How often we do that - turn God's period into a question mark, or an option for ourselves! :-)

By the way, the church behind the sign is not First United Methodist. The church you see is Calvin Christian Reformed Church. Where I was standing when I took the picture, First United Methodist was to my right. :-)

More great quotes

When dealing with the insane, the best method is to pretend to be sane.
~ Hermann Hesse (1887-1962)


Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem more afraid of life than death.
~ James F. Byrnes (1879-1972)

Great quote

If Christianity has never frightened us, we have not yet learnt what it is.
~ William Temple

Bruce Carroll at the Summer Hope Concert Series

One of my favorite Christian artists is Bruce Carroll. When I got this video clip from YouTube from his site today, I knew I just had to share it.
Enjoy!

Awesome Quote!

I defend the Bible the same way I defend a lion. I simply let it out of its cage.
~ Charles Spurgeon

Amazing Bird! :-)

I also received this little movie from Animal Planet from Floyd as well. This parrot is absolutely amazing!

Parrot Movie

Tour of Babylon

I received this PowerPoint presentation from an online friend, Floyd in Nebraska, who I know from the Mike Huckabee Prayer Team. This is a tour of ancient Babylon (in modern day Iraq) from one of our servicemen in Iraq. It's really amazing. Enjoy!

Tour Of Babylon

Happy 4th!

Wishing everyone a happy
4th of July!

The Truth About Politics and Oil

I haven't seen anything better than what Glenn Beck broadcast on July 1, 2008. Watch and decide for yourself.

Chicago Barbies

For those who live in Chicago, you'll get a real kick out of this one. :)

Chicago Barbies.pdf

PBR Outreach Ministry ~ video from the June Billy Graham Special

Todd Pierce on the June Billy Graham special

Wiley Petersen Extra from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association

Enjoy! :-)

Birthday Party for a Whore

This morning in church, my pastor closed his sermon with this story. I happened to find it on the internet, and so I am sharing it here as well. It is from Tony Campolo's book "Let Me Tell You A Story":

If you live on the East Coast and travel to Hawaii, you know that there is a time difference that makes three o’clock in the morning feel like nine. With that in mind, you will understand that whenever I go out to our fiftieth state I find myself wide awake long before dawn. Not only do I find myself up and ready to go while almost everybody else is still asleep, but I find that I want breakfast when almost everything on the island is still closed–which is why I was wandering up and down the streets of Honolulu at three-thirty in the morning, looking for a place to get something to eat.

Up a side street I found a little place that was still open. I went in, took a seat on one of the stools at the counter, and waited to be served. This was one of those sleazy places that deserves the name “greasy spoon.” I mean, I did not even touch the menu. I was afraid that if I opened the thing something gruesome would crawl out. But it was the only place I could find.

The fat guy behind the counter came over and asked me, “What d’ya want?’

I told him, “A cup of coffee and a donut.”

He poured a cup of coffee, wiped his grimy hand on his smudged apron, then grabbed a donut off the shelf behind him. I’m a realist. I know that in the back room of that restaurant, donuts are probably dropped on the floor and kicked around. But when everything is out front where I could see it, I really would have appreciated it if he had used a pair of tongs and placed the donut on some wax paper.

As I sat there munching on my donut and sipping my coffee at three-thirty in the morning the door of the diner suddenly swung open, and to my discomfort, in marched eight or nine provocative and boisterous prostitutes.

It was a small place and they sat on either side of me. Their talk was loud and crude. I felt completely out of place and was just about to make my getaway when I overheard the woman sitting beside me say, “Tomorrow’s my birthday. I’m going to be thirty-nine.”

Her “friend” responded in a nasty tone, “So what do you want from me? A birthday party? What do you want? Ya want me to get you a cake and sing ‘Happy Birthday’?”

“Come on!” said the woman next to me. “Why do you have to be so mean? I was just telling you, that’s all. Why do you have to put me down? I was just telling you it was my birthday. I don’t want anything from you or throw me a birthday party? I’ve never had a birthday party my whole life. Why should I have one now?”

When I heard that, I made a decision. I sat and waited until the women had left. Then I called over the fat guy behind the counter and I asked him, “Do they come in here every night?”

“Yeah!” he answered.

“The one right next to me, does she come here every night?”

“Yeah!” he said. “That’s Agnes. Yeah, she comes in here every night. Why d’ya wanna know?”

“Because I heard her say that tomorrow is her birthday,” I told him. “What do you think about us throwing a birthday party for her–right here–tomorrow night?”

A smile slowly crossed his chubby face and he answered with measured delight.

“That’s great! I like it! That’s a great idea!” Calling to his wife who did the cooking in the back room, he shouted, “Hey! Come out here! This guy’s got a great idea. Tomorrow’s Agnes’s birthday. This guy wants us to go in with him and throw a birthday party for her–right here–tomorrow night!”

His wife came out of the back room all bright and smiley. She said, “That’s wonderful! You know Agnes is one of those people who is really nice and kind, and nobody ever does anything nice and kind for her.”

“Look,” I told them, “if it’s okay with you, I’ll get back here tomorrow morning about two-thirty and decorate the place. I’ll even get a birthday cake.”

“No way,” said Harry (that was his name). “The birthday cake’s my thing. I’ll make the cake.”

At two-thirty the next morning I was back at the diner. I had picked up some crepe paper decorations at the store and had made a sign out of big pieces of cardboard that read, “Happy Birthday, Agnes!” I decorated the diner from one end to the other. I had that diner looking good.

The woman who did the cooking must have gotten the word out on the street, because by 3:15 every prostitute in Honolulu was in the place. It was wall-to-wall prostitutes. . .and me!

At 3:30 on the dot, the door of the diner swung open and in came Agnes and her friend. I had everybody ready (after all, I was kind of the MC of the affair) and when they came in we all screamed, “Happy Birthday!”

Never have I seen a person so flabbergasted. . .so stunned. . .so shaken. Her mouth fell open. Her legs seemed to buckle a bit. Her friend grabbed her arm to steady her. As she was led to one of the stools along the counter we all sang “Happy Birthday” to her.

As we came to the end of our singing, “Happy birthday, dear Agnes, Happy birthday to you,” her eyes moistened. Then, when the birthday cake with all the candles lit on it was carried out, she lost it and just openly cried.

Harry gruffly mumbled, “Blow out the candles, Agnes! Come on! Blow out the candles! If you don’t blow out the candles, I’m gonna hafta blow out the candles.” And, after an endless few seconds, he did. Then he handed her a knife and told her, “Cut the cake, Agnes. You, Agnes, we all want some cake.”

Agnes looked down at the cake. Then without taking her eyes off it, she slowly and softly said, “Look, Harry, is it all right with you if I. . .I mean is it okay if I kind of. . .what I want to ask you is. . .is it okay if I keep the cake a little while? I mean is it all right if we don’t eat it right away?”

Harry shrugged and answered, “Sure! It’s okay. If you want to keep the cake, keep the cake. Take it home if you want to.”

“Can I?” she asked. Then looking at me she said, “I live just down the street a couple of doors. I want to take the cake home and show it to my mother, okay? I’ll be right back. Honest!”

She got off the stool, picked up the cake, and carrying it like it was the Holy Grail, walked slowly toward the door. As we all stood there motionless, she left.

When the door closed there was a stunned silence in the place. Not knowing what else to do, I broke the silence by saying, “What do you say we pray?’

Looking back on it now it seems more than strange for a sociologist to be leading a prayer meeting with a bunch of prostitutes in a diner at Honolulu at three-thirty in the morning. But it just felt like the right thing to do. I prayed for Agnes. I prayed for her salvation. I prayed that her life would be changed and that God would be good to her.

When I finished, Harry leaned over the counter, and said, “Hey! You never told me you were a preacher. What kind of church do you belong to?”

In one of those moments when just the right words came, I answered, “I belong to a church that throws birthday parties for whores at three-thirty in the morning.”

Harry waited a moment, then he answered, “No you don’t. There’s no church like that. If there was, I’d join it. I’d join a church like that!”

Wouldn’t we all? Wouldn’t we all love to join a church that throws birthday parties for whores at three-thirty in the morning?

Well, that’s the kind of church Jesus came to create! I don’t know where we got the other one that’s so prim and proper. But anybody who reads the New Testament will discover a Jesus who loved to party with whores and with all kinds of left-out people. The publicans and “sinners” loved Him because He partied with them. The lepers of society found in Him someone who would eat and drink with them. And while the solemnly pious could not related to what He was about, those lonely people who usually didn’t get invited to parties took to Him with excitement…

Getting excitied....

....about the next installment in the Chronicles of Narnia movie series, Prince Caspian.

Here's a link to an interview on Christianity Today with Andrew Adamson, the director.

The Weight of the Story

Can't wait until May 16th! :-)

How to Clean the Toilet (a joke)

This is simply too much of a time saver not to share it with you.

1. Put both lids of the toilet up and add 1/8 cup of pet shampoo to the water in the bowl.

2. Pick up the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

3. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close the lid. You may need to stand on the lid.

4. The cat will self agitate and make ample suds. Never mind the noises that come from the toilet, the cat is actually enjoying this.

5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a 'power-wash and rinse.'

6. Have someone open the front door of your home. Be sure that there are no people between the bathroom and the front door.

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift the lid.

8. The cat will rocket out of the toilet, streak through the bathroom, and run outside where he will dry himself off.

9. Both the commode and the cat will be sparkling clean.

Sincerely,
The Dog

Being "baptized" (a joke)

Johnny's Mother looked out the window and noticed him "playing church" with their cat. He had the cat sitting quietly and he was preaching to it. She smiled and went about her work.

A while later she heard loud meowing and hissing and ran back to the open window to see Johnny baptizing the cat in a tub of water. She called out, "Johnny, stop that! The cat is afraid of water!"

Johnny looked up at her and said, "He should have thought about that before he joined my church."

A new spiritual mentor for Obama

From the April 30th Values Voter Blog:

A New Spiritual Mentor for Obama

I sort of heard through the grapevine that Barack Obama might be in the market for a new spiritual mentor.

Maybe Obama would benefit a lot from giving Governor and former Pastor Mike Huckabee a call.

Mike doesn't have a church anymore, since he left the ministry long ago to become a state Governor for 10 1/2 years. But he's still very spiritual. And Barack might really benefit from a chat with him.

On the one hand, Huckabee seems to care more about Obama as a person today than his former Pastor, Jeremiah Wright, does. Obama's old mentor doesn't seem to like him very much. On the other hand, Huckabee has always been complimentary of Obama even though they have very different ideas on politics and policies.

Wright seems to be doing everything he can to nuke Obama's campaign and to introduce racism into a conversation where race previously hadn't been an issue. On the other hand, when Obama was at his lowest and most vulnerable point following the disclosure of the initial set of Wright's garbage rants, Huckabee took the high road and played peacemaker. While condemning the remarks themselves, the former Governor did not use the situation as an opportunity to pile on. And while not justifying Wright in any way, he encouraged people to try to understand the world from which he came, which is a world that Huckabee himself has some understanding of.

And it seems clear that Jeremiah Wright was spending so much time talking about conspiracy theories and America's wrongs that he might not have had time to talk about, you know, spiritual things. I'm betting Wright may not have spent that much time talking with Obama about the usual spiritual mentor topics ... God, the Bible, and things like that. Huckabee would make a much better mentor in this regard and can talk about both spiritual things and social issues at the same time. And Huck can do this without insulting anyone and without the need for prime-time coverage for himself.

And maybe while they're talking, Mike can share his perspective on Jeremiah 1:5 ("Before I formed you in the womb I knew you ...") or Psalm 139:13 ("you knit me together in my mother's womb"). Since Obama is so respectful of people who disagree with him on abortion, maybe this conversation will help him to rethink his "judgement" on the topic. After all, many more Americans have died as the result of abortion than in Iraq. And of all the things Wright has mentioned as being harmful to black people, abortion is hurting us more.

Huckabee can even give Obama some political advice on some practical matters, such as holding a multi-racial and cross-spectrum coalition together in places where it can be hard to form them. You see, Huckabee earned the support of 48% of African American voters in Arkansas - unheard of for a white republican in the very heart of Clinton country. Also, since Huckabee knows quite a bit about balancing budgets and about helping the people to be healthier and have better schools - all without taxing people to death - he might be willing to share his notes on this as well.

Obama needs change in the type of people who give him spiritual advice. He seems open to having a conversation that crosses the traditional political, racial and geographic boundaries. And since he has an opening for a new spiritual mentor, he could learn a lot from taking some advice from a man from Hope who has shown him a lot more kindness and courtesy than the other man from Hope (or others who are on "his side"). This guy is definitely conservative, but, unlike Wright, he isn't mad about it or about anything else. He's already been fully vetted. He has a lot of experience as a Pastor and has a lot of good advice to offer. The new guy doesn't act as if he thinks the whole world revolves around him. And he doesn't throw anyone under the bus.

More Chicago PBR.

Just thought I'd share the highlights video from the rodeo this weekend. :-)

PBR on Saturday in Chicago!

I went to the PBR rodeo on Saturday April 26th and had a great time. Results of the entire PBR rodeo can be found on the main Professional Bull Riders website.

There were only 12 qualifying rides on Saturday night. While my favorite rider, Wiley Petersen (more on him below) did not have a qualifying ride, he made just under 7 seconds, and it was great to see him ride in person. Here are a couple of good pictures.

First, I have a nice picture of one of the bulls being lassoed after the ride getting him back to the corral.



Next picture is a really nice mid-air bull ride shot. This is Brendon Clark riding on Hatrack.



And while the number one bull rider in the world, Guilherme Marchi only rode about 3 seconds, I did actually catch a picture of him on the bull in those 3 seconds!



And more on my favorite bull rider, Wiley Petersen. He's the 2007 World Finals winner, and is also a born again Christian with an incredible testimony. After each and every ride, he kneels down in the arena in prayer before stepping out. It was great to get the chance to see him ride. This is the picture I was able to take of him on the bull he rode, Buckwheat.




Update on May 6th:
I have also added these pictures to a picture album on my Facebook profile.

Blake Shelton - Austin

This is among my favorite songs. Those who know me will also know why I'm posting it right now. :-)

So much fun - There's only one of me! :-)

I had a friend send me the coolest little URL - How Many of Me? And I found out that there is only one Ruth Anne Wheeler in the U.S. Me. :-)

Check it out, and see how many of you there are.

HowManyOfMe.com

http://howmanyofme.com" There is 1 person with my name in the U.S.A. http://howmanyofme.com "How many have your name?

New $5 bill

Sad to say....this may be true sooner than we care to think.

Dog Pack Attacks Gator In Florida

At times nature can be cruel, but there is also a raw beauty, and even a certain justice manifested within that cruelty.

The alligator, one of the oldest and ultimate predators, normally considered the 'apex predator', can still fall victim to implemented 'team work' strategy, made possible due to the tight knit social structure and 'survival of the pack mentality' bred into the canines.

See the remarkable photograph below courtesy of Nature Magazine. Note that the Alpha dog has a muzzle hold on the gator preventing it from breathing, while another dog has a hold on the tail to keep it from thrashing. The third dog attacks the soft underbelly of the gator.

The photo below is not for the squeamish!

(3 puppies attacking alligator toy)

Great Quote

Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it has been found difficult and not tried.
~G. K. Chesterton~

White Sox Home Opener ~ April 7, 2008

Take me out to the ball game..... The boys of summer are back! And today, we won! What a glorious day to be at Comiskey (it will always be Comiskey!!)!

Here are some of my cell phone pictures....I forgot my regular camera. Enjoy! :-)

The teams are lined up and service men and women from all branches of our military are lined up in single file to open up a flag on the field.

Service men and women are opening up the flag on the field

Flag unfurled on the field

Smoke from the opening fireworks over the scoreboard

Fighter jets flying over the ballpark.
You can barely seem them, little smudges in the air in the center of the picture.

Cool video about an autistic young artist

While I never have cared for the term "savant", having a brother who is a high-functioning autistic man, this video of Stephen's drawing of Rome is awesome.

Happy April Fools Day!

Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics





Glitterfy.com - Glitter Graphics



The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." ~ Psalm 14:1a NKJV

Handy way to keep up with Toby Keith! :-)

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Blessed Easter!

AN EASTER PRAYER

Thank You for the gift of HOPE

You gave us on Easter morning.

Because of You we know

That no problem is too difficult

And even death does not

Have power over us.

Thank You for the gift of JOY

You gave us when You were resurrected.

Because of You we know

That no matter how challenging life may be,

In the end, we will rejoice again.

Thank You for the gift of LOVE

You gave us when You laid down Your life.

Because of You we know

That there is no sin too great to separate us

And we are incredibly valuable to You.

Thank You for the gift of LIFE

You gave us when You left the tomb.

Because of Easter we know

This world is just the beginning

And we will spend forever in heaven with You.

We celebrate You, JESUS

With hearts full of praise and gratitude

For who You are and all You’ve done for us!

It's the time for the Peeps!

And what Easter would be complete without Peep Research?


And one more Easter Peep joke:


see more crazy cat pics

Answered Prayers

I received this on e-mail today from a friend. Too good to not share.

Prayers Can't Be Answered Unless They Are Prayed

Life without purpose is barren indeed -

There can't be a harvest unless you plant seed,

There can't be attainment unless there's a goal,

And man's but a robot unless there's a soul...

If we send no ships out, no ships will come in,

And unless there's a contest, nobody can win...

For games can't be won unless they are played,

And Prayers can't be Answered unless they are Prayed...

So whatever is wrong with your life today,

You'll find a solution if you kneel down and pray.

Not just for pleasure, enjoyment and health,

Not just for honors and prestige and wealth...

But Pray For A Purpose to Make Life Worth Living,

And Pray For The Joy of Unselfish Giving,

For Great Is Your Gladness and Rich Your Reward

When you make your Life's Purpose the choice of the Lord.

America's Dream: Chasing Happiness

The current Billy Graham Evangelistic Association TV program is wonderful! And not just because one of my favorite Bible teachers, Pastor Bob Coy, gives his testimony in this program . It also has the football coach of the college team by where I'd like to retire (Boone, NC - Appalachian State University), and the current bull riding champion, Wiley Petersen, along with wonderful music by Michael O'Brien, Third Day and Matthew West.
Watch and enjoy!

I love this quote about creation!

Saint Augustine taught that God created the world out of nothing. Creation was something like the magician pulling a rabbit out of hat. Except God didn't have a rabbit and He didn't have a hat.


R.C. Sproul, The Holiness of God

Total Lunar Eclipse

Tonight is a total lunar eclipse. We had a fully clear sky, so I figured I would try and take a few pictures. To my surprise, a couple actually came out fairly well, so I'm putting them up here on my blog.

Just an interesting fact: The next total lunar eclipse will not be until December 2010. almost 3 years in the future.

Here is one of my first shots of the eclipse - full picture, taken just after 8:30 pm (I time stamped it on purpose):




Partial eclipse shot taken at about 8:30 pm - center of the picture, and looks more like a half moon in the night. I cropped it to bring it up closer:




Total eclipse is roughly the center of the picture - looks like a red dot. One small branch of the tree is pointing upward towards the total eclipse. Again, I cropped it to make the moon seem closer.:

Prayer for the REAL candidate for change

I received this from the Mike Huckabee Presidential Prayer Team. It was originally posted in the Austin Huckabee Meetup group, and modified to fit the entire nation.



Heavenly Father, thank You for giving supernatural favor to Mike Huckabee and for sending all of your laborers to surround Mike. We ask of You dearest Father to please make a way for Mike to lead our nation and for the people of America to honor a man who truthfully honors You and Your Word. We know and have faith that You are bigger than any circumstance and that You love to use someone like Mike to humble the proud. We know what the circumstances look like and what others are saying of Mike Huckabee's chances, but You put this desire in our hearts, and we will honor it until we see it come to pass. You are faithful and just and quick to perform your Words and Promises, I pray and ask this in your precious Son's name, Jesus Christ - Amen.

The Emerging Church - New Age Stuffed in Christian Skin

I heard a podcast from Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa recently that has opened my eyes to an evil in the midst of Christianity - the "Emerging Church". The teaching was done by a gentleman named Warren Smith, who came to Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa to speak on January 23, 2008. You can listen online here:
http://mp3.calvarychapel.com/twft/weekly/m3u/OWS001.m3u

If you would rather watch it online, use this link instead:
http://www.twft.com/video/I62233.mp4

Warren Smith is a man who comes from the New Age movement, and has done extensive studies on the "Emerging Church". It was amazing to me to hear how many things they take directly from New Age, only to put it into a new format - Christianity. Warren Smith wrote a book about this very thing - Reinventing Jesus Christ - The New Gospel.

Jesus Christ is the same - yesterday, today and forever. May those who are so good intentionedly trying to make Jesus Christ over into something more appealing to them come to see the error of their ways.

Cute Snow Day picture!

I'm always a "sucker" for a fuzzy face. This picture from the Chicago Tribune caught my eye - and my heart. :-)

Mags, who belongs to the Broderick family in Frankfort, takes a break from romping in the snow. (Tribune photo by Scott Strazzante / February 1, 2008)