What Am I Thankful For?

     I now work in a nursing facility as a maintenance supervisor, so I work with a lot of older people who are unable to get out, and many who can not even get out of bed.  Yesterday, while I was making some electrical and drywall repairs in a room, the lady in the other side of the room began to talk about her plans for Thanksgiving.  While she was talking, I began to think about some of the things that I see in these people's lives, and consequently, things that I am thankful for.  Let me share:

1.  People who live in nursing facilities, are largely forgotten.  So many of the people that I work for have family who never come to see them.  Several even have church family that never come and see them.  I am thankful that even though my family is busy, we still have time to spend time together!  We eat at my parents every Sunday afternoon, along with my brother Justus(whbsboy.blogspot.com), and brother Jared, and their families.  This year on Thanksgiving, there will be 13 people at mom and dad's house! All family!

2.  People who live in nursing facilities are often physically impaired.  Can you imagine having to have someone that you have never met get you out of bed in the morning?  Changing your clothes?  Giving you a shower or bath?  Brushing your teeth for you?  Cleaning you up two, three, or even four times a day, because you couldn't make it to the restroom in time?  Humiliating to say the least, wouldn't you say?  Put yourself in this situation.  I am thankful that I can get myself out of bed on my own in the morning, and take care of myself!  If you don't have to depend on someone else to care for your basic needs, you should get on your knees and thank God that for His goodness to you.  All it would take is a car accident, or a good hard knock to the head, and He could take it all away!


There are so many things that came to mind yesterday, but it would take me forever to write it all out.  Think about what you are thankful for, not only on Thanksgiving, but always.

I Thessalonians 5:18
     In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Giant Print

     Sandra, and I drove to the Dallas area a couple of weeks ago for my cousins wedding, as well as both of my brothers and their families.  There were several other family members there as well, including my aunt, Cindy from Michigan.  Well, the next day, everyone was over at the house, and Aunt Cindy brought her 7" tablet over to dad to show him some pictures, to which dad promptly asked, "What's this? A giant print cell phone?"  It was pretty funny!

Awake America!

    Sandra and I visited Calvary Baptist Church in Edmond, OK tonight so we could see Bro. and Mrs. Harding, and hear him preach.  What we heard tonight was about as encouraging as anything I've heard about our country in a very long time.  God has really opened some doors for Bro. Harding, and Awake America!  Take a look at their website here. 

Bro. Harding has some exciting goals and prayer requests, so add them to your prayer lists!

The Joy of the LORD.

     Have you ever been around someone who is never happy?  I have.  It's not fun!

     Now, let me ask. . .What were they focused on?  More often than not, it's self.  Right?
    
     Next question. . .What are you focused on?  Count how many times you say the words, "Me, My, or I" the next time you have a conversation with someone.

     The last part of Nehemiah 8:10 says, "for the joy of the LORD is your strength."  Adam Clarke says about this statement:
     "This is no gluttonous and drunken festival that enervates the body, and enfeebles the mind: from your religious feast your bodies will acquire strength and your minds power and fervour, so that you shall be able to DO HIS will, and to do it cheerfully.  Religious joy, properly tempered with continual dependence on the help of God, meekness of mind, and self-diffidence, is a powerful means of strengthening the soul. In such a state every duty is practicable, and every duty delightful.  A cheerful heart is not only a continual feast, but also a continual medicine."

     When our focus is on the LORD, we can be joyful through anything, and that is not a forced joy either!

KJV Only. . . Or Not?

     Please forgive this post, because it may, to some, seem a little petty.   I read a couple of weeks ago that there was going to be a special speaker at an Independent Baptist church in the area, and although I was not surprised, I was, in fact, disappointed.  Some of you will recognize how the first part of this letter is addressed, but I will not say here who wrote the letter.

October 19, 2014

Dear Pastors:

BANK 2 CEO, ROSS HILL, A FRIEND OF OURS SINCE THE EARLY 1970s, SPOKE THIS AM AT OUR CHURCH. . . [END]



     I believe Ross Hill is a good man, and I have heard him speak in the past.  The reason, though, that I bring this up, is to point out that as Independent Baptists, we are pretty picky about who we let stand behind our pulpits.  I have nothing against Ross Hill.  He has done a lot of good things for a lot of people, but he does not use the King James Version of the Bible, which we believe is the ONLY Bible for English speaking people.

     There is not enough space here to declare why we believe this, but if you will read the book that I was required to read in Bible college, I think that will help you to understand.  The book is called "The Final Authority" by Dr. William P. Grady.

     I will also point out here that Ross Hill is not even Baptist.

     All of this, and the "Independent Fundamental Baptist" is ok. . . may I even say pleased, that this person spoke at their church.  Is it really ok to have a man preach using something that we don't believe is the Bible?  No.

     Again, please forgive me if  you think this is a petty post.  To me this is not really a petty issue, but is one of the foundations that our faith is built upon.  Without this unchanging pillar, we as Christians have nothing to stand on.

Edit:  BTW, This is not the first time that this has happened.

Sandra's Arby's Confrontation

     I thought you might enjoy the picture I took of Sandra, who was sitting at the table with me inside, and the guy in the drive through outside.  He never knew what was happening, but it worked out perfectly!  I had to really work to get Sandra to pose for this.  What do you think?  I love it!

Outhouse Blend?

     We have some friends who are missionaries to Peru, Matt and Sara McKendree, who are actually on furlough right now.  They are enjoying something called the "Outhouse Blend."  Take a look at the packaging from this coffee.  I have yet to taste it, but it sounds. . . well. . . very interesting!

The Death of a Loved One.

     As I was working today, I received news that someone that I know passed away this weekend.  I have only recently had the opportunity to know both her and her husband, and actually spoke to her husband on Friday.  As he and I talked, we discussed salvation a little bit.  He was carrying a gospel tract in his pocket, and I asked if I could look at it, and of course, he allowed me to do so.  A little later, when I stood up to leave, he said to me, "So, you know you are going to Heaven then?"
     
     "Of course!" I said.  "I asked the Lord to save me in October 1995, and the next Sunday, I got baptized"  Then, just to verify, I said, "We both know that baptism doesn't get us to Heaven though, right?"  He grinned at me, and said,

     "Trusting in Jesus as your Savior is the only way to get to Heaven."  I don't remember the exact date that he gave me, but he then gave me the testimony of having been saved some time in the 1940's!  Wow!

     That was a fun, and exciting conversation.  The next morning, his wife went to be with the Lord.  They had been married almost twice as long as I have been alive. 

     Sandra and I have been married for only 5 years, and I love her so much, that it is hard to imagine being able to love her more than I do now.  These two people were nearly inseparable after decades of marriage together. 

    Sadly, our "me first" society has kept many from the joy of sharing their life in holy matrimony with another person of the opposite gender "till death do us part." 

     I hope and pray(as well as determine), to keep the vows that I made to my spouse.  I also am looking forward to many decades of a wonderful and sweet relationship with her, as these two people had after so many years.

Back in Church Again!

     The last few weeks we have not been to church because Sandra has not been able to get around, but we did get out and go today!  It felt good to be back.  This morning we heard Bro. Scott Crabtree preach, and during the sermon give his testimony.  I don't know that I had ever heard his testimony before, nor had I ever heard him preach that I can remember.  Tonight was very exciting.  The pastor preached a sermon challenging us to get closer to the Lord, and to get to know His love better.  He asked everyone to begin to pray about the possibility of upgrading the facilities, or building new.  The current auditorium is pretty crowded, and there seems to be a lot of stepping and tripping over each other during handshaking time!  Not a bad problem to have!  There has been a lot of growth over the last several months, and God has been moving him to start considering the need for increased facility space.  We will definitely be praying about that!
     Again. . . it felt really good to be back at church again.  It just isn't the same watching the service online, although it is a good alternative when you just can't be there.

Surgery!

     The last few weeks have been hectic to say the least!  Some of you already know that Sandra had to have surgery on October 1.  It was supposed to be a simple outpatient surgery, but it turned out to be a rather difficult outpatient surgery that took twice as long as the surgeon expected.  She did end up with pneumonia, but is doing pretty good right now.  It took over a week for her to recover enough to get up on her own, but once she was able to do that, she has gotten better very quickly. 
     A funny story that you might enjoy.  I've never really had any problems with blood.  I could clean up an animal...you name it...no problem, right?  Well, we were in the pre-op room with Sandra and the nurse while the nurse was putting in the "catheter" for her IV.  I have only ever seen the needles that they use to draw blood, so this thing was a shock!  Get a medium point ballpoint pen, and push the tip out as far as it will go.  That catheter was as big as the base of the ballpoint.  I watched the nurse put that thing in her arm, and wow!  Suddenly I was loosing it.  I was feeling woozy, so I sat down in the chair, leaned back, and took a deep breath.  I felt someone slapping my leg, and I looked up and saw the nurse headed right for me.  I was a little puzzled at why she was so concerned, but didn't remember falling asleep!  Needless to say, I scared Sandra and the nurse when I passed out.  Never done it before, don't ever plan on doing it again!
     Sandra is doing much better today.  She actually went to the outlet mall today with her sister for a little while.  She was completely worn out when she got home, but I was glad that she went.  She needed to get out of the house for a little while.  The exercise was good for her too.

    Oh, She did get out to sit in the sun for a little while the other day too.

Nathaniel

"Fallen Ministers"

     I was sitting in my office tonight, looking at my bookshelf for something specific, and pulled out a book entitled, "Heart Talks with Ministers."  This book was compiled by a Nazarene minister and has several different articles, or chapters by other men.  This book has no copyright date in it, so I don't know when it was written, but there is a handwritten name and date in the front dated 1931 as a gift.  I came across a chapter entitled, "Fallen Ministers," and wanted to share an excerpt with you.

     "Little indiscretions, little deviations from the pathway of strict prudence, little violations of the conventionalities of refined society, are courses which, in their relation to the opposite sex, have led many a minister on to more adventurous things, and have resulted either in his moral ruin, or in so smirching his character and reputation as thereby to render his continuance in the ministry a stench in the nostrils of the public, and an occasion of casting suspicion and reproach upon all ministers, however decently and holily they may have lived.  The minister of the Gospel who does not observe that plain and sensible rule given by John Wesley to preachers, "Converse sparingly and conduct yourself prudently with women," will almost certainly become a moral pest in society, involving himself and the church in contempt and disgrace.
     There is no justification for a brother, in shaking hands with a lady, to hold her hand unduly, press it to his own, gaze into the depths of her eyes, etc., even though he shout hallelujah! while doing so.  If she has not the moral courage or the disposition to rebuke his course, someone else should do it, and in a way to impress him strongly with the impropriety of his conduct.  There is no justification for a preacher's holding so many private conversations and having so many private correspondences as some do with certain female members of their congregations, even though the private interviews and communications may be ostensibly on religious topics.  Religion always thrives better in the daylight and in relations between the sexes that require no privacy.  Nor is there any valid excuse for a minister's devoting himself in the way of personal labor, especially in campmeeting and revival work, chiefly to trying to help the female sex.  With some men this is a suspicious circumstance.  They seem to feel specially called to labor with girls and women.
     Not that judiciously  endeavoring to instruct and help those of the fair sex is in itself wrong; but it is the paying an over attention to them, and that to the neglect of others just as needy and worthy, that should be guarded against, lest it cause one's good to be evil spoken of, and at least familiarity should breed contempt, or something worse.  And, of course, he who cultivates what is generally known as "spiritual affinity" outside his own family relations, is to be regarded with grave suspicion, since "spiritual affinity," so-called, is almost sure to become fleshly affinity, or free-love before long, if allowed to run its course.  Alas! how numerous have been the instances in proof of this!"

                                                                         Bishop W.T. Hogue
                                                                         Heart to Heart Talks with Ministers
                                                                         Chapter 7, P 56-57
    

"The School of Affliction"

     That was the title of the sermon that Pastor Mike Ridge preached this morning in church.  It was an excellent sermon, I must say! 

     One of the things that he talked about was the fact that "The School of Affliction" gets our attention.  Sometimes it is how God has to get our attention.  He used a story in II Samuel about Absalom and Joab to illustrate the point.     Absalom had not spoken to his father for quite some time, and wanted to contact him, so he sent a message to Joab, requesting his presence.  Joab ignored the request.  Later, Absalom sent him another request, but to no avail.  Joab still would not respond.  Finally, Absalom told his servants to go set Joab's barley field afire. . . That would get his attention!  Joab then made his way to see Absalom. 

    The point was that sometimes God tries to get our attention. . .He calls, and calls. . .but we choose not to listen.  Then God has to send some sort of affliction our way to get our attention, just as Absalom sent an affliction to Joab to get his attention. 
     The plea was not to make God have to send affliction in order to get your attention!

This post does not do the sermon justice, but it was a really good sermon!

The Eternal God

     While at church this evening, something was mentioned that, although very basic to Christianity, is amazing to think about.

     Consider that God is eternal. . . that means not only that God lives in the past, but that He also lives in the future. . . simultaneously.  Absolutely amazing!  I don't know anything about tomorrow, except that God is already there working in my life.  He doesn't just know what is going to happen to me tomorrow, but because he is not subject to time, He is already there, with me, walking beside me helping me though the day, week, month, etc. 
     I cannot completely wrap my mind around the fact that He can do that, but it brings a peace and comfort that is just amazing.
     Isn't it great to be a born again Christian!?

Hauling lumber with a 6' pickup bed

This is not an easy feat!  Try several 16' 2x6's. 

I believe there were 12 of the 2x6x16's, and 8 sheets of 1/2" particle board.  There were no apparent weight issues, but the length was a completely different story!

My Dog (Even though I don't have one)

     Sandra and I were visiting a church today, and were invited to lunch at a member's house, which was a blessing, and while we were there, they printed this off and gave it to us.  I thought you might enjoy!

My dog sleeps about 20 hrs a day.
She has her food prepared for her.
She can eat whatever she wants, whenever she wants.
Her meals are provided at no cost to her.
She visits the Dr. once a year for her checkup, and again during the year if any medical needs arise.
For this she pays nothing, and nothing is required of her.
She lives in a nice neighborhood, in a house that is much larger than she needs, but she is not required to do any upkeep.
If she makes a mess, someone else cleans it up.
She has her choice of luxurious places to sleep.
She receives those accommodations absolutely free.
She is living like royalty, and has absolutely no expenses whatsoever.
All of her living costs are picked up by others who go out and earn a living every day.
I was just thinking about all this, and suddenly it hit me like a brick in the head, Holy Smokes,
My dog is a democrat!


Hope you enjoyed that! 
She may have even been able to run for president!

Cool Water Pump!

       I now drive a 2005 GMC Canyon, and love it!  Of course, it is a big change from the '03 Silverado 2500 that I was driving.  Trying to get used to a smaller bed with less capacity has been a challenge to say the least.  You should have seen me trying to carry a truckload of 2x6x16's the other day down the NW Expressway here in OKC!  Redneck to say the least!
       Well, my water pump started to leak the other day, and was making some pretty rough noises, so I went and got the $50 water pump, and decided to change it on Friday evening.  The water pump is completely different from any I have ever seen. . . of course, the truck is a little different too.  It has a 3.5L inline 5 with plenty of get up and go.  The water pump was about 7" from front to back with a diameter of about 4".  There were no inlet and outlet connections, which I thought was very odd, but rather, the impeller is out in the open, and it appears that the impeller uses the actual engine to direct where the coolant goes.  It was pretty cool.  The only downside was the fan nut, which is a 36mm nut, which only has room for an extremely thin wrench to get in to break it loose.  The Auto Parts stores sell a special wrench to be able to do this, but they only want about $60 for it.  More than the water pump. . .really GM?  I'd never use it again, so I spent about 3 hrs trying to get that stupid nut broke loose!  I got it, and it cost me nothing, but a little bit of time.  Overall, it was a pretty simple job.  Much easier than I would have expected, and definitely much easier than other water pumps that I have replaced!

Surprise!

Well now!

 A good friend of mine just called me yesterday, and told me that he found my blog! Well. . . I had pretty much completely forgotten about it until he called me!  Thanks, Bob! It took me a couple of hours to figure out what my username and password were, and it is taking me forever to type out this post!  Sandra and I don't have internet at the house, so it is on my phone. Any posts will be pretty short until we get a keyboard that I can use with my phone.