Tail Spin - Friday Funny

There was a young lion who wandered from his father to test whether or not he would get the same respect from the other animals as his father did. As the young lion approached some monkeys, he roared and asked, "WHO IS THE KING OF THE JUNGLE?" The monkeys, being afraid, responded, "YOU are!" The lion replied, "And don't you forget it!" The lion repeated this to each animal in the jungle and got the same response until he came across a herd of elephants. The little lion roared and asked, "WHO IS THE KING OF THE JUNGLE?" The big bull elephant walked closer to the lion, swooped him up in his trunk, swung him around and around and threw him in the river. Battered and wet, the little lion replied, "Just because you didn't know the answer to the question didn't mean you had to get nasty about it!"

Most of us roar through life without God in the same way - as if we are kings of the jungle - until life throws us in a tail spin and shows us that we are not. Have a great Friday! - Don

Thanksgiving Turkey - Jeff Larson

Happy Thanksgiving - You know I love ya - Don

Thanksgiving for an unshakable Kingdom

The cornucopia is a time-honored symbol of abundance, long associated with Thanksgiving. However, it was symbolic well before this holiday existed. The word 'cornucopia' actually dates back to the 5th century BC. It derives from two Latin words: "cornu," meaning horn (as in the name of that one-horned creature, the "unicorn") and "copia," meaning plentyhorn of plenty, and the names are used interchangeably. It was usually depicted as a curved goat's horn, filled to overflowing with fruit and grain, but could actually have been filled with whatever the owner wished...to read more click here.

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,” - Hebrews 12:28

There is one day until out Thanksgiving Holiday in the United States. This verse says it all. God's Kingdom CANNOT BE SHAKEN! Now that is a big reason to give thanks. Over the years, we have tried many means to abolish God's Work and His Kingdom! Yet, it still is unshakable and still moving with mighty power; giving hope, grace, and discipline. I am thankful for that.

I am also thankful for you. The readers of this blog have opened a totally new window of ministry for me this year. I have renewed friendships from years past. I have honed current relationships with great dialogue. I have also had contact with people I would have never met before. Thank you Ed Bahler for prodding me to start blogging. Blogging is also on my Thanksgiving list.

I am also thankful for my Wife and Family! They are terrific and give beyond imagination. My family is just a preview of what is to come in December.

Happy Thanksgiving and remember....NOTHING CAN SHAKE GOD'S KINGDOM!
- You know I love ya - Don

His Love endures forever!

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:34

This phrase appears in the bible over 25 times. It is a reoccurring theme. It usually is attached with these words preceding it, "Give Thanks to the Lord." I am on a Thanksgiving theme the last week or so because it is the Thanksgiving time of the year. We are in the End of November and the beginning of the Christmas Season. In the United States, we set aside time to give thanks to the Lord.

This phrase caught my eye with the words, "His LOVE endures forever." How appropriate that God's love is enduring. The definition of "enduring" is to be lasting; continuing; durable, long-suffering; patient. WOW! I am glad God's love is lasting, continuing, durable, long-suffering and patient.

So, I have another thing to add to my Thanksgiving list this year....I am thankful for God's love and that HIS LOVE endures through my biases, temptations, and foolishness. He loves me....He loves you, too. I guess you have something to be thankful for as well.

Giving thanks is a wonderful thing...give thanks to the Lord, His love endures forever.

You know I love ya - Don

Stuffed Turkey!

There are only 6 days left until Thanksgiving! It is also HUNTING season in Indiana and probably in most of the United States. So, I thought this funny story would be cute for our Friday Funny.

Stuffed Turkey

Baby Bruno was sitting in his grandmother's kitchen,
watching her prepare the Thanksgiving meal.

"What are you doing?" Bruno asked.

"Oh, I'm just stuffing the turkey," his grandmother replied.

"That's cool!" Bruno said.
"Are you going to hang it next to the deer?"

Do you eat the Stuffing inside the bird? I love the stuffing from inside the bird, but Karen tells me (So does my mother) that is is bad for you....something about bacteria....so I wonder how many people eat the stuffing from inside the bird. Karen and Mom do not, they make it in a separate pan and drizzle the juices over it to give it the "stuffed" flavor. Seems to me you can't call that "stuffing." You have to call it "drizzling" or something else.....So, how many people actually eat the stuffing from inside the bird?

You know I love ya - Have a great weekend - Don

Getting Ready!

“I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.”
- Psalm 63:4 NIV

If you have ever watched a weightlifting competition on television, you can describe the scene. A muscle-bound contestant resembling Hercules strides onto the stage wearing a body suit. As he prepares to reach down for the massive weights, his face takes on a certain aura. The lifter’s eyes are closed. It’s as if he is praying. Actually he is lost in deep concentration. As he collects his thoughts, he is marshaling all his strength for what is about to take place. And then after several moments of personal preparation, the athlete quickly jerks the bar up and pushes it over his head.

What a great parallel for the person who prepares to worship the Lord we love. The worshiper prepares to declare to all the nations that Jehovah God is the highest worth in all their life. In order to lift up the name of Jesus, we must thoughtfully prepare for what we are about to do. We need to focus out thoughts on the One we desire to worship. Closing our eyes to better concentrate, we may feel the need to confess wrong attitudes or sinful behavior. We no doubt will want to rehearse in our heads how the Lord has demonstrated His strength in the midst of our weakness. Much like the weightlifter who must mentally prepare himself for that which tests his limits, the awesome task of lifting the name of Jesus higher and higher requires us to go through a series of warm-up preparations and follow through actions.

As we embark on another Holiday Season, let us join together in clearing our minds and opening our eyes to the vision God has for the world and his desire for service. Join me in concentrating and preparing our hearts, minds, souls, and strengths to worship Him!

Looking forward to Thanksgiving – You know I love ya - Don

Thanksgiving as a way of life.

1O come, let us ^(A)sing for joy to the LORD,
Let us shout joyfully to ^(B)the rock of our salvation.
2Let us ^(C)come before His presence ^(D)with thanksgiving,
Let us shout joyfully to Him ^(E)with psalms.
3For the LORD is a ^(F)great God
And a great King ^(G)above all gods,
- Psalm 95:1-3

"Thanksgiving" is an American holiday. Yes, other countries have a day of "Thanksgiving." Some countries celebrate much like the United States, but there are some countries that take thanksgiving and apply it to holidays or festivals such as the Chinese New Year or in many European Countries there are "Victory Day" celebrations that celebrate and give thanks for the victory over Nazism. Many British countries celebrate, "Boxing Day." Boxing day is celebrated the day after Christmas and is much like the American Thanksgiving. Therefore, most, if not all cultures have a nationally recognized holiday to give thanks.

As I read Psalm 95:1-3, it becomes apparent that giving thanks is a Judeo/Christian concept that spread through all religions over time. God wants His people to give thanks. From the very beginning, God and Adam walked to together and Adam gave thanks to Yahweh. Giving thanks was also a lifestyle for every major God fearing character is the Old and New Testament. I have also lived it with examples of Christ-followers all my life.

My lesson for the day is that I need to have thanksgiving as a way of life. I am not talking about the food, the festivities, and the football...I am talking about....giving thanks. The point of Thanksgiving is to remember the things we have to be grateful for. It's our special time to look to God and say, "Thank You"... not just for the obvious, like food, but for the thousands of fortunate moments, the multitude of blessings that we receive each year.

You are on my list of giving thanks this year. I entered the world of blogging this year and I am thankful there are people like you that are willing to read and study with me on this journey towards heaven. Thank you and I will keep writing as long as you keep reading.

You know I love ya - Don

Makes me Lie Down in Green Pastures

Psalm 23:2, "He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters."

Yesterday morning I was awake but it was too early to get out of bed, so I was reciting scripture. This is a great technique to pass the time and take your mind off your insomnia. One of the passages was the 23rd Psalm and the Holy Spirit started to speak to me about the last week. Especially with verse two.

Last week... I went to have a fifteen minute ear surgery and it turned into a three hour procedure to remove a cholesteatoma (click for more info). This is an abnormal skin growth inside the ear. We thought we had gotten it all last spring and was going to check if it had come back. Well it had and there was more in places the Surgeon could not see. Needless to say, I was down for the count.
Last week... Karen's Aunt Linda passed from this life (see my last post on Monday, Nov. 3rd.) Which meant we were traveling to Mid-state New York for the service on Saturday. With the drugs, Karen had to do all the driving. There was also no Internet available and very little noise. Nunda, NY is a very rural place. We stayed at the Colonial Motel and it is a wonderful place to relax and recover.
Last week... The George W. Bush era began its last few days. Whatever your political views, these last eight years have been very hard on the U.S. ...9/11, Afghanistan, Katrina, Iraq, more hurricanes, tornadoes, and even a bridge collapse to just name a few. We have spent a great deal of time on our knees for this man and His family. (We did for Clinton and we will for Obama.) Without God, I am not sure how anyone could stand against the amount of turmoil this world brings. Karen and I are at least two people that think President Bush has done an outstanding job. We thank God, G.W. Bush was in the White House the last eight years.

So, all this was on my mind and God took us to a place to recover, grieve, and ponder the reality that He is still in control. It is also very comforting to me that even when I don't want to...God MAKES me lie down in green pastures. I was forced to rest, but it was in green pastures. I love that part of New York and the Colonial Motel is a fabulous place to be disconnected from the world. God knows exactly when it is time for His follower to disconnect and retreat from the front lines. Thank you Lord, for making me lie down for a week and please help me to receive it every time it comes.

You know I love ya - Don

Linda Burns - You were one of a kind, that we will never forget!

This is Karen's Aunt, Linda Burns. In this life, she was a perfect example of Proverbs 31. She passed from this life to the next today, 11/3/08, around 8:30 PM. She will be missed and loved until we meet again.

A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Linda, You know we love ya.....Don, Karen, Matthew, and Alice

A Bad Monday

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.

Psalm 63:1-2

This is a great POWER verse for a Monday. A believer that takes times to recognize God in their lives on Sunday and visits the sanctuary is bound to have power on Monday. As believers, we took time to visit with the Creator of the universe, Jehovah God, the Almighty, and the Savior of the World. You have seen Him...your thirst was touched...and you beheld His power.

(All that is assuming you were awake and alert to God for these things...)

Today, we get to go forth and live with God in our daily lives....WOW! Evil will press in and try to topple your day, but if you cling to His grace and these assurances of power, how could any day be a bad day.

You know I love ya and keep pressing in! - Don

All Saint's Day - may we never forget!

The Church has always honored those early witnesses to the Christian faith who have died in the Lord. (The Greek word for "witness" is martyr.) During the first three hundred years Christians were severely persecuted, often suffering torture and bloody death -- because they were faithful . They refused to deny Christ, even when this denial might have saved their own lives, or the lives of their children and families.

The early history of the Church is filled with stories of the heroic faith of these of witnesses to Christ's truth. The stories of these saints -- these baptized Christians of all ages and all states in life, whose fidelity and courage led to their sanctity or holiness -- have provided models for every other Christian throughout history.

Many of those especially holy people whose names and stories were known, the Church later canonized (that is, the Church formally recognized that the life of that person was without any doubt holy, or sanctified -- a "saint" who is an example for us.) The Church's calendar contains many saint's days, which Catholics observe at Mass -- some with special festivities.

But there were thousands and thousands of early Christian martyrs, the majority of whose names are known only to God -- and throughout the history of the Church there have been countless others who really are saints, who are with God in heaven, even if their names are not on the list of canonized saints.

In order to honor the memory -- and our own debt -- to these unnamed saints, and to recall their example, the Church dedicated a special feast day -- a sort of "memorial day" -- so that all living Christians would celebrate at a special remembrance for the lives and witness of those "who have died and gone before us into the presence of the Lord"...

To read more click All Saint's Day.

May we never forget and have a great All Saint's Day! - Don