THOUGHTS AT THREE A.M.

LIVING ON A SHOESTRING VERSES LIVING AN ABUNDANT LIFE!

Once again, I see someone who is starting over. Well, actually she's been in this position for some time, and it never fails to amaze me how slowly others do these things. I'm not putting her down. I don't put anybody down who has to start over from nothing. I have been  there too many times for me to say anything other than, "what can I do to help?" But,they frustrate me.They will sit there in whatever shelter they have been able to acquire,whether it is two rooms or a whole house, and whatever they move in with...their fourteen boxes and a dishwasher, or whatever, and two months later, you go by to see how they are making out,and nothing is changed. The boxes are still unpacked, sitting  exactly where they left them the last time I was there. They are still sleeping on the floor,with no beds for the kids, or themselves, using sheets and stuff to cover the windows,eating out of cans with plastic and paper for silverware and dishes. Clothes and papers and garbage strewn everywhere, so you have to kick a path to go from room to room, and yet, if they have gained anything at all, it is usually a big screen t.v., and cable, a dog/puppy or cat/kitten or both wandering throughout at will, creating yet more noxious mess,and complicating an already tight budget with the pet food costs. I try to be supportive, and gently mention that the CAP agency has an outlet store that would be willing to help them find furnishings; beds, tables, chairs, dinnerware and cups and so forth to fill in the gaps,at little to no cost to them,and they turn up their lip at my suggestion. As though second hand isn't up to their standards. Well. Maybe not, but personally I would rather my child sleep in a second hand or used bed, than to be bedding down on the floor. Or couches,or two chairs pushed together, anything to keep them from sleeping on the floor, like it's some kind of flop house! If not for the parents sense of well being and comfort, at least for the children's sake, this woman should be putting forth an effort to make it home. I know she's traumatized,but let's face it. Situations don't get better if you crawl into a cave and lick your wounds and just wait for things to change. Action must be taken as soon as humanly possible to overcome the loss,and wipe it from your child's memory...and your own!

I'm speaking from experience here. I have had to start over many times in my life, the most recent being almost 14 years ago, when Yon son and I moved into the place we have now. We had only the car to move with,upon which we piled a t.v. and two beds. That is basically all we had, beyond our clothes and personal effects. We hit the outreach store, and yard-sales, and within a month, we had two sets of tables and chairs, for the kitchen and dinning room,couches, chairs and lamps and end tables. We got curtains on the windows and bookcases for our books and plants,and everything was unpacked,orderly and put away, and the boxes were gone. We had dishes, pots and pans and silverware to eat with, and food to cook decent meals with,and with no more money,( and probably a great deal less) than the ones I am currently concerned about. No, we didn't have a big television, nor did we worry about getting cable. What disturbs me about this whole affair is, she is more interested in having something to sit and stare at, when all around her is work to be done to make a proper home for her family, and she is so busy dwelling on the past, she has no interest in going forward. Her priorities are so messed up, that she apparently thinks she has done well to get the cable and television. Meanwhile, she's living in a dump of her own creation,and seems to be content to let it remain so. But I know she's not happy with it. Anytime I talk to her about it, she weeps. I am just as sorry as I can be for her,but I am no longer in a position, physically, to help her,and right or wrong, I suspect that if I could roll up my sleeves and dive in there and start unpacking boxes and organizing things,and contacting agencies to find the furniture necessary,she'd just sit there and let me do it all,rather than to be inspired to do it herself.

Of course, I am only a friend, not family, so it's really none of my business how she chooses to live,but it hurts me to see this going on. It's not like she moved out of a palace into this hovel, but she had a much nicer home before,and even though she was never a Betty Crocker,she used to at least make half-hearted attempts to keep the place livable.  She kept it clean, basically, and her children had clean clothes, and at least two hot meals a day. Now it's all catch as catch can, and the children string dry cereal and Cheeto's from one end of the place to the other,and she just sits there. Worst of all, I can see our friendship rapidly eroding, because we seem to have less and less in common all the time. I can hardly bare to see this going on. I'm thinking, I don't even want to go back there. I can't stand the smell. Under those conditions, how does one remain friends? I still love her personality, but I don't have the fortitude to be around her.If I could, I would overlook the mess, but it's so awful, it makes me sick to my stomach. To tell the truth, I haven't been there for some time, but Yon son has. Just a day or so ago, he happened by, and came home and told me about it. Nothing's changed.

So, I'm thinking, maybe what I'll do, is call and talk to her, like we used to talk. And this time, I won't pull any punches. Tell her straight out why I won't be over to visit, and encourage her to get up and start working on that home, for herself, for her kids, and so that we can still be friends.

But first, I am going to do a lot of praying about it, because I hate to hurt people's feelings. However, don't you think it's better that I wound her pride just a little bit, and take a chance that she will respond? I know it is highly likely that she will be offended, hate me for telling her the truth, and never speak to me again, but don't I owe it to our friendship to take that chance?

OUI?

LYRICS TO:"PAID IN FULL!"

as sung by JOHN STARNES with Jimmy Swaggart, and the crusade team!

See our savior hung between two  thieves- See the soldiers mock his name-

See his followers as they cry in disbelief- this could not be the reason that he came!

See him realize his life is through- feel the love burn from his eyes-

Behold the temple vale as it is torn in two!- Hear the one on calvary as he cries...

Paid in full!  I've done the work I came to do!

Paid in full! I've paid love's final price for you!

When all of Hell tries to tell you that You'll never win-

Just remember that the debt for your sin- Is paid in full!

See his children torn between two ways-Some still choose to mock his name-

Hear his followers now,they can boldly say-

We are the reason that he came!

See the ones who trust themselves alone, to do what only Christ can do-

Through Jesus blood alone we may approach the Father's throne-

and hear the words that he still cries to you!

Paid in full! I've done the work I came to do!

Paid in full! I've paid love's final price for you!

When all of Hell tries to tell you that you'll never win-

Just remember that the debt for your sin- Is paid in full!

the music stops,and in a high,clear accapella tenor, John sings:

Jesus paid it all!-All to him I owe! Sin had left a crimson stain!

He washed it white as snow- Yes! He washed it white as snow!

hallelujah!

OUI?

THE MIRACLE BOOK!!

This book didn't even start out on paper. It began as a family history, carved into a wooden staff. As each child was born, or each family member died, their name and their deeds were cut into the wood,and each successive generation was taught to read it,memorize,and recite it. Finally, of course, it became to big for the staff,and was carefully transferred to paper-like scrolls, and papyrus and ink. As the family grew to be greater and larger,new writers came along, and took up the staff---the scrolls were carefully preserved,and sealed in air-tight containers. And still the book grew. Each new generation was taught the skills to carry on,along with learning the family history, and then,faithfully adding to it. Everything they did, whether it was good or bad, was written down, and without them even being aware of it, the book took on a pattern. For those who did the right things, there was a sign upon their lives of goodness following them. And for those who chose to do evil things, the evil seemed to visit their children as well. But throughout the ages, there were good men and women, and not so good men and women, and the family thrived, or started to die out accordingly. But there came a time, when, as a whole, the family grew so large, they forgot they were a family and they began to consider themselves "tribes".The tribes followed one God, for ever so long, until at last there came a time when they no longer followed him,but they scattered their worship, and became scattered in their lands as well, and still, they kept the tradition of keeping, the book. Some became nomads, who wandered around, not knowing where they belonged, or who the God of their fathers was. Some fell into traps, and became slaves. Not just once or twice, but time and time again. and still, they kept the book, and felt deep down inside a yearning for a way, and a place that for some would have been long forgotten, but because of the staff, or the scrolls, or the papyrus, new generations would turn back to the old ways, and then they would be brought back into their own lands,and begin again to fulfill the old traditions. Then God took an interest in them, and began to send prophets to tell them what he wanted them to do, and gave them a law to live by, that their lives would be long and happy upon the land. Sometimes they did it, and sometimes, they didn't,and it was all written down,dutifully, for the future generations to read about and learn from,as examples of how to live happy,long productive lives,and conversely, what sort of actions cause people to live unhappily disastrous lives,and slowly they began to understand that if they listened to the prophets, things went well, and if they didn't listen, or they stoned the prophets to death so that God could not communicate with them, and lead and guide them, things didn't go well at all. This took hundreds,perhaps thousands of years, but at long last, they began to revere the prophets,and follow their leading, and the family began to settle down and build great cities ,with nice homes,and farms and everyone began to see that taking care of each other worked out better for everyone than before when all anyone did was fight to have things their own way.  Then, after a gap of some six hundred years, a whole new perspective of that very same book began. In this new way, the authors focused on just one linear branch,one single blood line,following  the Davidic ancestors,and descendants,leading up to the promised "golden child." It is in this part of the book that the promise made hundreds of years before was fulfilled! Fascinatingly enough, this part is filled with as many twists and turns as any New York Times best-seller list of murder mysteries. From a suspicious husband-to-be dealing with a pregnant girl friend,to a sudden birth of the child in less than desirable surroundings, to the threat of a powerful man who sends his thugs out to kill that child,and ends up killing all other babies in the area, as the terrified family flees the country to save the child! There were hard times, that if you read this book, will keep you wondering what went on while they were out of the country, because again, there is a gap, and then the story is taken up again as they return to the land of his birth, and by now he is half-grown,home-schooled in the book of his family,and learning a trade from his "father." This is the most interesting part of the whole book, because there is more of his personal life, his personality and his motives given than in any of the other stories of his family, combined. Little instances are given where if you are paying attention, tells you more about this man, than you are ever likely to know about any man. He is strong, but a loving man, who not only talks about love, but teaches those around him the true meaning of love. He knows the law,and lives it to the fullest, and yet, goes beyond the law, knowing not just the letter of the law, but able to demonstrate his love, thereby putting into practice the spirit, the essence of the law. And as his life is played out on the pages of this book, there are points where there should have been a laugh track,and other parts where would have been music of beauty, astonishment, and power,but in the end, deepest sorrow....And then, Triumph! But even then, the book isn't over at this point. Because in his lifetime this golden child drew to him so many people who loved him, and believed in his approach to living,that what he had begun, did not just weep and throw up their hands and walk away from all he had done; but began to spread the word that life is more than just greed and hatred and wants. That it can be happy and glorious,with peace of mind, and not all bogged down with guilt and shame. And the afterword becomes, not an afterword at all, with just anti-climactic stuff,but is writings by his followers who then take the time to fill in the blanks that couldn't be brought out in the body of his life and fine-tunes your understanding of all the marvelous things that he did. The miracles he performed,and the truths that he taught.

And you finally begin to see that the book, The Bible, is one story. One story, written under the power of the Holy Spirit,by a multitude of authors, preserved and protected in a multitude of ways, until the time was right, and then God brought it all together, and caused it to be compiled,printed, translated,and published and bound together just as HE intended it to be, to tell US the one story!The story of man's redemption! From Genesis to Revelation, One story! All those thousands of lives, over thousands of years, God,through feeble sinning man, wrote one story! HE wrote a book to tell us that he loves us,and he has a way made clear and plain for us to find our way back to where we came from. We were in heaven,when came a war. We all know that part. But God said, I will make another place for those who do not wish to be with me to go, but now I must try every soul. And earth became a place of testing, for each of us to find our way back to him and have that  choice,to accept his love, or go to that place where his love cannot go.

If you doubt any of this, I have a question for you. Have you ever written a book? If so, you know how hard it is for even just one author to write a book that doesn't contradict itself several times. That is why editors were born. Then, after you have written it, how hard it is to keep it intact,and protected long enough to get it into print! Think about it. Where man finds it difficult to create such a work over the course of years,keep it in agreement with itself, and see it through to a happy conclusion! Consider the miracle power that it took God to cause hundreds, perhaps thousands of different authors to write a book filled with his love for us, that tells us who he is, who we are, and each one totally unaware of what everyone else is writing! Each piece separate and complete unto itself, and yet, when finally brought together, it never contradicts itself, it interprets itself, and gives us examples of every conceivable problem in life, and how to overcome them, and what to do if we make a mistake!

And then finally, HE himself gave us the solution to the very problem of the entire focal point of the book. The human sacrifice, as played out in example by Abraham, and his son Isaac! Remember? God stayed Abraham's hand,and showed him a ram, caught in the bush, to sacrifice instead! God told us in Genesis that this sin that had been brought into the world had to be paid for by a blood sacrifice. This then was the basis for the children of Israel's priests to sacrifice lamb after lamb, spotless and pure, on every high feast day. And then, amazingly enough, God caused his own son to be born, spread the word,and then to become that pure, spotless sacrificial lamb to redeem mankind. On both occasions, God himself provided the sacrifice....and then he superseded himself, and brought his son back to life! Truly, a book of miracles, that continue on today!

OUI?

THREE BEAUTIFUL LOVING THINGS!!

HEART SHAPED BOXES,SWEET SURPRISES,AND WOOOO!

1.Yon son has already brought me a box of candy with the most lovely message on the front of it for Valentines day,and I haven't even come close to finishing off the last box of candy he gave me. Of course, this one is heart shaped!

2.I also have a vase full of lovely flowers,and have been getting calls from loved ones from near and far wishing me a happy Valentines day. Such sweet kindnesses from everyone who knows me,and they are standing in the gap....filling that void left by my Tom. Sometimes, it seems as though he was here only yesterday,and it is hard to believe that he's been gone nearly four years. 

3. I wrote an article several months ago, on a current affair, from a television show, about a musical sensation, and now, all of sudden, what do you know? I've gotten hundreds of hits on that article in the last couple of weeks! Blogging is such fun!

OUI?

LYRICS TO "I'VE GOT THE LORD, AND THAT'S ENOUGH!"

(AS SUNG BY TERRY BRADSHAW AND JAKE HESS,AND THE GAITHER HOMECOMING FRIENDS!)

All: I've got the Lord,and that's enough, that's enough, that's enough!

Jake: Now there's always somebody laughin at me- really I don't mind !

They always stop, and try to plot my progress, most of the time!

Terry: But the mean things they say, they don't make me feel sad-

I can't lose a friend that  I never had!

All: I've got the Lord- and that's enough, that's enough, that's enough!

Jake: He raised me!

Terry: And he saved me!

Jake: He bought me!

Terry:He taught me!

Jake: He's my keeper!

Terry: Oh,Jake, He's my God!

Jake: And I can feel him- he's walkin right by my side!

Jake: I got the Lord- The Lord!

Terry: I got the Lord- the Lord!

Jake: I got the Lord- the Lord!

Terry: I got the Lord- the Lord!

All: I got the Lord! And that's enough, that's enough, that's enough!

Terry: I've so many times, when I didn't have a dime- couldn't call on nobody but the Lord! You know he heard my plea, came to see about me- He's my all in all!

Jake: Now when they pushed me down, he picked me up- He stands by me when the going gets rough-

All: I've got the Lord!- and that's enough, that's enough, that's enough!

Jake: He raised me!

Terry:And  He saved me!

Jake: He bought me!

Terry: And he taught me!

Jake: He's my keeper!

Terry:Jake, He's my God!

Jake: And I can feel the Lord walkin any time by my side!

Both: I got the Lord- The Lord!

I got the Lord- the Lord!

I got the Lord-the Lord!

I got the Lord- the Lord!

All: And that's enough, that's enough, that's enough!

Jake: He raised me!

Terry: He saved me!

Jake: He bought me!

Terry:And he taught me!

Jake:He's my keeper!

Terry: Jake, he's my God!

Both : And I can feel him walkin any time by my side!

Both: I got the Lord!

All: The Lord!

Both:I got the Lord!

All:The Lord!

Both: I got the Lord!

All: The Lord!

All: I got the Lord! And that's enough! That's enough! That's enough!

OUI?

ANNA NICOLE SMITH, DEAD AT 39!!

Shocked, surprised and saddened at the news of her demise, I was taken aback to hear that this once vibrant former bunny had died. And yet, after giving it some thought how else could this sad saga end? This beautiful woman, who had gone through such enormous changes,from the pinnacle of success, to a brilliant marriage, to such a sudden tragic loss first of her adored husband,and then being denied her inheritance,still she strove to carry on. Her only bright aspect of her whole life, her son, then stood by her and helped her with her reality show, and was her cheering section, always.

And then, when she finally seemed to be getting on with her life,and had found someone to make a family with, she gives birth to a baby girl...and three days later her son suddenly dies.

Given all the grief and heartache that poor woman has gone through, her suddenly dropping dead should be no surprise at all. She had lost it all, and one little morsel of humanity, only five months old apparently was not enough for her to live for. I pretty much saw it coming, as the interviews in the last few months showed her going down-hill, a little more all the time.

Anna Nicole  Smith died because she had lost the will to live.

OUI?

TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AFFAIRS ARE RAMPANT! WHOSE RESPONSIBLE?

I just heard about another case again today, in Illinois! A teacher having sexual relations with a 17 year old student! What is happening here? Why is this going on? I would think that by now, there would have been some investigating going on as to the teacher's education and background! Where does the overall fault lie? Is it with the collages that train these prospective teachers? Do they just kind of gloss over the part about being  the adult in the situation? Have standards of the schools fallen so low that there is no longer a morals clause in the contract the new teachers sign, or has that too been thrown out along with God and the Bible? Or have the employment forms now failed to mention that it is against the rules for teachers to sleep with the students? And while we're on the subject, why haven't ABC, CBS, or NBC made an in-depth study of these teachers and their backgrounds and schooling? Maybe there is a connection between these women, and their collages where they got their teaching certificates!

Now, I know that teenaged boys can get very hung-up on a pretty teacher, and there are any number of ways for them to finangle ways to spend time with them alone. They can feign ignorance, and plead for more personal attention;and a soft hearted lady can find herself in the clutches of an amorous,hot-blooded youth before she even realizes his intentions. But somewhere between "can you help me?" and the point where he breathes "Let's do it, honey!" There has got to come a time where she can straight arm him and become aware that all is not kosher! No matter how charming he may be, certainly she has to come to the understanding that he has more than Algebra and Literature in mind,before they are steaming up the car windows, or buttons and zippers are involved!

Have these students parents done nothing to educate their children about the birds and bees? Did the teachers skip too many classes of their own in collage,and are therefore incapable of discerning the proper behavior with children? Do they themselves not understand what the word NO means?

Personally, I think it's time to bring the prudish school marm back! You know, the  kind that wears the tweed skirts, the shapeless blouses, and orthopedic oxfords, without a stitch of make-up and wearing coke-bottle glasses,the thin hatchet face,and the hair done up in a bun! Or, just old, fat and smelly,but still sharp as a tack!Or at the very least, School boards should now arm every young attractive teacher with a list of those sorts of "tutors" for their students who plead for extra help! You may find my suggestions  strange, because after all, everyone knows that students learn better when they have the slightest bit of a crush on their teacher,and yet, is it really the best environment for a school to have teachers ankling around, Pregnant by the pupils?

I think not!

OUI?

THREE BEAUTIFUL FEBRUARY THINGS!!

ART OF CONVERSATION, A FUZZY NURSE PURRS, A TIMELY PIT STOP!

1. After several years of practically no contact, my sister called today,and we spent a pleasant 2 hours just chatting! What sparked the call? Questions about our jointly owned Grant Wood easels!

2. I haven't been feeling very well,so I've been doing a lot of sleeping. Every time I went to bed, Molly would plant her fuzzy butt on the round pillow she loves, right next to me. And everytime I woke  up there she was, still...purring at me. 

3. Just as the call was about to end, Yon son came through the door, to check on me,and they spoke for a while, very sweetly too. Praise God, will wonders never cease?!

OUI?

A REVELATION OF SELF-CONSCIOUOSNESS, VERSES GOD CONSCIOUSNESS!!

IT'S  an old truth, but still, true none the less. That when you are not concentrating on yourself,you can rise above your circumstances,ignore difficulties, such as pain, and get more done. This particularly true if you are excited about what you are doing. I've known that for a long time, but sometimes we have a tendency to forget it,and let things get us down. This is frequently brought back to my mind, when I hear Jimmy preaching, and he mentions the part in Genesis where Adam and Eve fell from grace, and lost" God-consciousness", and gained "self-consciousness." Now, you may doubt the veracity of that statement, but given full consideration, it makes perfect sense. Never are we more miserable than when we are self-conscious. Our palms go clammy,our faces sweat,and we can't seem to make an intelligent response to a simple question, when we feel put on the spot. Likewise, in a marriage, the most miserable people are the ones who are so focused on the big "I", that they can't seem to be giving to their partner. The happiest marriages are the ones where each partner is putting forth all their efforts to please their spouse, and not being all concerned about what they are doing for them! Janet Jackson's song, "What have you done for me lately?" is a perfect example of the kind of thinking I am talking about. Now, where I know she didn't start the mind-set, still, I have seen more of this attitude in the public eye since that song came out. In fact, it is far more prevalent now than ever before. It was a very popular, catchy tune, and probably made a number of women begin to think along those lines, to the point that what might have been a very fulfilling relationship, change. It's too bad, too, because always you are going to find yourself unhappy with your circumstances when you take your eyes off your spouse, or your Lord, and put them on yourself. Always. When we  turn "we" into "I" the dynamics of the relationship changes. "We" work together for the common good, and the eyes on the prize moves us forwards, from the salad days of a relationship to the busy, working hard on home and family, and finally to the comfortable stage, when we can once again spend time together just relaxing and having fun. The only difference between a married couples relationship and your relationship with the Lord in this analogy, is that for the most part, when you are working on your relationship with your spouse, there will definitely be times when you might catch yourself feeling as though you are putting more into it than he or she is. Yet, this is a temporary bit of selfishness,and is easily overcome by putting your eyes back on your focal point. But with the Lord, as long as you keep your eyes on the Lord,and what he did at Calvary, you will never be disenchanted, never feel as though he doesn't love you anymore, or that he pays more attention to someone else than he does to you! Time and again, I have had the truth brought home to me that I cannot outgive God! No matter how hard I try, I cannot possibly do more for him than he has done, or does do for me! Whether it is tithing, or talking to someone who needs to hear about the Lord, or praying with someone, or writing about God, or studying the Bible,while I am involved in it, hours can go past my pill time, or I can miss going to bed long after I am yawning, I may be cognizant of my discomfort, or my weariness, but I can ignore it, and go on. But the instant I stop and pay attention to it, I will fall asleep, or run for the pills!

OUI?

 

LYRICS TO" THE LAUGHING SONG" AS DONE BY GEORGE YOUNCE!

Oh, my name is Ticklus Ruben from way down in old Vermont-

I've been tickled by almost everything!

I've been tickled by a feather, I've been tickled by a wasp-

I've been tickled by a yeller bumble bee!

Ah-hahahahahahaha! Ah hahahahahahahahahaha!

Eh hahahahahahahaha! Ah hahahahahahahaha!

Yeh he hahahhahahahah! Haha hahahaha ha ha ha!

Ha ha hahaha ha haha ha ha ha! Ehe hehehehahahahaha!

AAhahahahahahhahhhahahhhahhaha!

Eh he hah hahahahahahahhahahah- ha ha ha ha ha haaaaa!

Yeh he hahahahahahahahahahaha!

Aha! aha! ahahahaha!

That's all lady!

hehe!

This song sparked genuine laughter in George, and all of the Homecoming friends, and the entire audience everytime he did it! Too cute!

OUI?