16 times in 16

Happy New Year I was sitting in church last night listening to pastor teach from Thessalonians. Somehow I wandered into Romans 16 and noticed the word salute...and how often it was used SALUTE - dictionary * an expression of welcome, goodwill, or respect. * to express warm approval * a gesture of greeting or respect. * to acknowledge with praise or honor * express commendation So...once again I wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 and pray.... Numbers 6 24 The LORD bless you, and keep you: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon you, and be gracious unto youe: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you (HIS) peace.

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the red nosed reindeer ?

CLICK THE PICTURE

Rudolph don't matter neither do Santa, in fact The reindeer don't matter nor do the elves ! Frosty don't matter, neither do the mistletoe or the holly or the chestnuts, in fact the snow don't matter. The christmas tree don't matter... maybe the gifts matter..we will see !!! The holiday don't matter nor do the ...whatever it is that you think is making you happy !!! who is saying all this....what a wuss... a real GRINCH....scrooge...no less !! not so fast, hold up, momentito..... (just a minute) All the above mentioned things seem to have become distractions..... the angels matter.... that's how the shepherds and Mary and Joseph and the wise men knew what was REALLY going on..... ...so what is really going on? ARE WE BEING HOODWINKED ?? big time !!! take health care....why the big fight? WELL, are you going to die or no? here is the scoop on death... first God said if you disobey (SIN) you WILL DIE.... along comes the devil... he says you will not die !!! so to die or not to die... this is the question ! now about the distractions at CHRISTMAS.... JESUS is the only thing that really matters !!!! He said that He has abolished death.... in fact He seemed to be making so much fun of it....telling the people that Lazarus was sleeping....then Getting up out of the Graveyard and laughing... as it were...in the face of his so-called killers. this is what HE said... don't be afraid of the ones who say they kill the body but rather pay very much attention to THE ONE who can really make you die... and cast you into HELL !!!! Brother Roberts went home this past week...and we were quickly told that he died of respiratory complications...so as to continue to validate and perpetuate the MYTHS of so-called modern medical science... as if "they" could have "helped" him stay on this side....the mysticism and fear associated with leaving "this side" is the lie that continues to be told by the one who, steals (kills) and destroys. This is why Christians talk about going home. Jesus said "my kingdom is not of this world" He also said "those who live and believe... SHALL NEVER DIE" because " I give to them eternal life...and they shall... NEVER PERISH" !!! I would like to suggest that many people are frightened "out of this world" and are tricked into "giving up the ghost".... by well-intentioned physicians who work part-time under the diabolic delusion that they have a cure for death. Behind all of this is the original deceiver, the liar from the beginning, the father of lies the same one who is making up all these so-called christmas attractions.... (DISTRACTIONS) you cannot serve JEHOVAH GOD and at the same time follow MAMMON...this is what Jesus said..... ...and HE is the only ONE THAT MATTERS AT ANY TIME....but especially now AT CHRISTMAS.

good intentions !!!

Joy to which world? the sad truth is that many will not know this Joy of Christmas unless you who have found it, SHARE IT.   There is a certain excitement that goes with the season. This is the time of year for many to have FUN... More fun shopping, partying and so on. ++++++++++++++ Christmas was once a moveable feast celebrated at many different times during the year. The choice of December 25, was made by Pope Julius I, in the 4th century A.D., because this coincided with the pagan rituals of Winter Solstice, or Return of the Sun. The intent was to replace the pagan celebration with the Christian one. ++++++++++++++ God nowhere speaks of making Christmas a part of Christianity, nor does He say to celebrate His Son's birth. He does tell us, though, not to add to His worship anything that is a tradition of the heathen. Such additions hinder rather than enhance our journey to God's Kingdom. - From BIBLETOOLS ++++++++++++++ Changing times and Laws and removing ancient landmarks - not a good idea !   ++++++++++++++ New Living Translation (©2007) - Ephesians 2:2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil--the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God...... ...And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.- Daniel 7:25 Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.- Proverbs 22:28 +++++++++++++++++++ Christmas pressures mean divorce in January A study has shown that January 8th is the busiest day of the year for divorce lawyers when up to one in five couples will enquire about divorce after the pressures of Christmas  - Reported in the Daily Telegraph +++++++++++++++++++ The price of Christmas spending on mental health Reported in Medical News Today... Here is a summary of the survey's findings: 19 per cent of people felt less able to manage their mental health because of worries about paying off the cost of Christmas 25 per cent were feeling depressed 20 per cent will have problems meeting their rent or mortgage payments this month Over 50 per cent admitted they had spent more than they could afford on Christmas 39 per cent used credit cards to cover the cost of Christmas 33 per cent estimated that it would take them more than six months to pay off their Christmas spending debt and the beast gave him power +++++++++++++++++++++ Research from moneysupermarket.com reveals that almost half of consumers (45 per cent) are worried about funding Christmas 2009. Their fears may be justified as two thirds of the population (66 per cent) will not save enough cash in time to cover their Christmas costs, meaning credit cards, overdrafts, loans and December income will be used to take up the slack. 45 per cent of UK adults are worried about funding Christmas this year 66 per cent will not save enough cash before Christmas to pay for spending 17 per cent are planning to use a credit card to fund the festivities ++++++++++++++++++++++ International Standard Version (©2008) "Constantly be on your guard so that your hearts will not be loaded down with self-indulgence, drunkenness, and the worries of this life, or that day will take you by surprise. ++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 Imitate God, since you are the children he loves. 2 Live in love as Christ also loved us. He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice, a soothing aroma to God. 3 Don't let sexual sin, perversion of any kind, or greed even be mentioned among you. This is not appropriate behavior for God's holy people. 4 It's not right that dirty stories, foolish talk, or obscene jokes should be mentioned among you either. Instead, give thanks to God. 5 You know very well that no person who is involved in sexual sin, perversion, or greed (which means worshiping wealth) can have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Don't let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that God's anger comes to those who refuse to obey him. 7 Don't be partners with them. 8 Once you lived in the dark, but now the Lord has filled you with light. Live as children who have light. 9 Light produces everything that is good, that has God's approval, and that is true. 10 Determine which things please the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the useless works that darkness produces. Instead, expose them for what they are. 12 It is shameful to talk about what some people do in secret. 13 Light exposes the true character of everything 14 because light makes everything easy to see. That's why it says: "Wake up, sleeper! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 So then, be very careful how you live. Don't live like foolish people but like wise people. 16 Make the most of your opportunities because these are evil days. 17 So don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord wants. 18 Don't get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit?your spirit."> 19 by reciting psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs for your own good. Sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts. 20 Always thank God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 Place yourselves under each other's authority out of respect for Christ.

this is not a fairy tale

HAVE A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS sharing stories of GOOD WILL with all your friends. Paul Levy, the guy who runs Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, was standing in Sherman Auditorium the other day, before some of the very people to whom he might soon be sending pink slips. In the days before the meeting, Levy had been walking around the hospital, noticing little things. He stood at the nurses' stations, watching the transporters, the people who push the patients around in wheelchairs. He saw them talk to the patients, put them at ease, make them laugh. He saw that the people who push the wheelchairs were practicing medicine. He noticed the same when he poked his head into the rooms and watched as the people who deliver the food chatted up the patients and their families. He watched the people who polish the corridors, who strip the sheets, who empty the trash cans, and he realized that a lot of them are immigrants, many of them had second jobs, most of them were just scraping by. And so Paul Levy had all this bouncing around his brain the other day when he stood in Sherman Auditorium. He looked out into a sea of people and recognized faces: technicians, secretaries, administrators, therapists, nurses, the people who are the heart and soul of any hospital. People who knew that Beth Israel had hired about a quarter of its 8,000 staff over the last six years and that the chances that they could all keep their jobs and benefits in an economy in freefall ranged between slim and none. "I want to run an idea by you that I think is important, and I'd like to get your reaction to it," Levy began. "I'd like to do what we can to protect the lower-wage earners - the transporters, the housekeepers, the food service people. A lot of these people work really hard, and I don't want to put an additional burden on them. "Now, if we protect these workers, it means the rest of us will have to make a bigger sacrifice," he continued. "It means that others will have to give up more of their salary or benefits." He had barely gotten the words out of his mouth when Sherman Auditorium erupted in applause. Thunderous, heartfelt, sustained applause. Paul Levy stood there and felt the sheer power of it all rush over him, like a wave. His eyes welled and his throat tightened so much that he didn't think he could go on. When the applause subsided, he did go on, telling the workers at Beth Israel, the people who make a hospital go, that he wanted their ideas. READ THE FULL STORY HERE

Beth Israel workers agree to go without to save jobs - The Boston Globe

Beth Israel workers agree to go without to save jobs - The Boston Globe

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returned

SHORT STORY......a troubled young man who, on his 18th birthday, leaves home.... discovers his girlfriend, has moved on with her life and is now dating an older college guy. Desperate for love and unable to cope, his troubled past catches up with him ...... Spiraling out of control and on a very dangerous path.....17 But when he came to his senses, he said, What numbers of my father's servants have bread enough, and more, while I am near to death here through need of food! 18 I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, Father, I have done wrong, against heaven and in your eyes: 19 I am no longer good enough to be named your son: make me like one of your servants. 20 And he got up and went to his father.

THIS is the testimony of so many of us... !!!

no easy way

Merry Christmas to all.... BUT... can we really say that as a people we could be a little bit less self-absorbed. ....ok so that may be a curious way of putting it...but you know....it's a touchy subject.... stressing about gifts for Christmas? giving and receiving and shopping traveling and troubling ourselves to live up to expectations...we put on ourselves...and others....WHY? I guess we are creatures of habit and don't forget TRADITION.... what does he think this fiddler on the roof who fiddles every night and fiddles every noon why does he choose so curious a place to play his fiddlers tune An unexpected breeze could blow him to the ground yet after every storm I see he's still around if you haven't seen it you should watch the movie "Fiddler on the roof". So anyhow what I am really trying to say is maybe we should think more about giving stuff away to people who are really in need...or give our time to serve somewhere. So many people object to involvement in church because they think that church is just another thing to do to make demands on an already crammed schedule. ...but what if church was a way to give to help someone else...it just seems to me that so much time and effort is spent these days in pursuit of SELF - INTEREST. RIGHTS ENTITLEMENTS Proverbs 19:17 One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed. Matthew 10:42 "And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward." And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40 By Kristin Ladd WomenEntrepreneur.com For social entrepreneur Pamela Hawley, the "season of giving" is about nine months too short. Hawley has been a philanthropist since she was 12, when she got her first startling look at poverty and hunger during a family trip to Mexico. Since then, she has been a volunteer around the world--from soup kitchens and crisis hotlines in the United States to poor neighborhoods in Guatemala. Now she has turned her lifelong passion for giving into a virtual business, UniversalGiving. http://www.cptv2.org/powerofgiving/node/4 Private Family Foundations In recent years, several private foundations have gained prominence in the media, and raised public awareness of their causes. Foundations, including the Bill and Melinda Gates, are often created with one philanthropic goal in mind. However, as the grantors often realize, establishing your own foundation can often make smart money sense, as well.Plus, your last name does not have to be Rockefeller or Getty to start your own. http://www.savewealth.com/planning/estate/foundations/ Hunger Needs a Voice® was birthed by Jordan Roberts, the daughter of Richard and Lindsay Roberts and granddaughter of Oral Roberts. The idea came to Jordan while she was on a missionary trip with Oral Roberts Ministries in Niger, Africa, in January 2007. http://www.hungerneedsavoice.com/about/facts.html From the very beginning, every penny Paul earned from the sale of Newman's Own products was donated to thousands of charities around the world - a sum totaling over $280 million as of August 2009 and growing. http://learningtogive.org/papers/paper117.html http://www.newmansown.com/genQA.aspx#q2a

Family Values?

Luke 8:20 Someone told Jesus, " Your mother and your brothers are standing outside. They want to see you." 21 He answered them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear and do what God's word says." ++++++++++++++++++++++ Dysfunction is becoming far too common a word in family circles....so say some. I don't think it is so new nowadays or rare in history. Here is a story of a guy who had a girl friend along with his wife...or so it would seem by today's standards....so the two women know about each other and the jealousy rages on for months on end taking all kinds of emotional toll on 'the family'. To complicate things the girl friend is now pregnant. READ THE REST OF IT HERE 1 Samuel 2:3 "Do not boast or let arrogance come out of your mouth because the LORD is a God of knowledge, and he weighs our actions.

I water it ...

.....So that no one will damage it - Isaiah 27:3   Planting a seed in the mind is good and that is what we do when we share encouraging words....   John 15:3 "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.   but please REMEMBER .... Just as it is the everyday returning to water your house plant or your vegatable garden so it is that I must not forget to keep giving the encouraging word.   King James Bible That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,   GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995) he saved us, but not because of anything we had done to gain his approval. Instead, because of his mercy he saved us through the washing in which the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and renewal. He will not let you fall. Your guardian will not fall asleep. King James Bible He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.   1 Samuel 2:9 "He keeps the feet of His godly ones, But the wicked ones are silenced in darkness; For not by might shall a man prevail. Psalm 41:2 The LORD will protect him and keep him alive, And he shall be called blessed upon the earth; And do not give him over to the desire of his enemies. Psalm 66:9 Who keeps us in life And does not allow our feet to slip. Psalm 127:1 A Song of Ascents, of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain. Isaiah 27:3 "I, the LORD, am its keeper; I water it every moment. So that no one will damage it, I guard it night and day.

making burdens light

MEMORY LANE - from sunday school Shining for Jesus everywhere I go, Shining for Jesus in this world of woe; Shining for Jesus, more like Him I grow; Shining all the time for Jesus. Shining all the time, shining all the time; Shining for Jesus, beams of love divine; Glorifying Him every day and hour; Shining all the time for Jesus. Shining for Jesus when the way is bright; Shining for Jesus in the darkest night; Shining for Jesus, making burdens light; Shining all the time for Jesus Shining all the time, shining all the time; Shining for Jesus, beams of love divine; Glorifying Him every day and hour; Shining all the time for Jesus. Shining for Jesus while he gives me grace, Shining for Jesus as I run the race; Shining for Jesus, till I see His face; Shining all the time for Jesus. ============= They were young and in love, but they both came from broken homes and they didn't know how to "do marriage." Money, success, drugs, and alcohol were Matt's idols. The day came when Laurie knew Matt's addictions were a danger to her and their children. She had to throw him out. In a lonely hotel room, Matt considered whether the gun in his hand or the pile of drugs in front of him would be the best way to end his life. He chose the gun ... but it misfired! Matt saw the misfire as a sign from God. He checked himself into rehab, and when he'd been sober for one year, he and Laurie attended a Weekend to Remember® marriage conference. Because of the investment of friends like you, they are now plugged into Christ, and their family is experiencing healing. You helped save their marriage and bless their children with a new, and Christ-honoring, home. You probably know other couples like Matt and Laurie--desperate for God's touch. You can help them! ======================= Oral went home today, .... may God continue to multiply his seed. Evangelist Oral Roberts dies in Calif. at age 91 (AP) AP - Oral Roberts, who helped pioneer TV evangelism in the 1950s and used the power of the new medium — and his message of God's healing power — to build a multimillion-dollar ministry and a university that bears his name, died Tuesday. He was 91 . VISIT THE MEMORIAL - click here

We have been warned !

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

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Proverbs 16:2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own sight, But the LORD weighs the motives.

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Proverbs 21:2 Every man's way is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.

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Proverbs 14:14 The backslider in heart will have his fill of his own ways, But a good man will be satisfied with his.

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Jeremiah 6:19 "Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing disaster on this people, The fruit of their plans, Because they have not listened to My words, And as for My law, they have rejected it also.

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James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Luke 14:11 "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes dishonor, But with the humble is wisdom.

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Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.

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Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

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Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor.

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Proverbs 22:4 The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.

to be continued

yes sir...we saw THE 5 DREAMGIRLS in PA last week this time...WOW !!! what a time....I was burned out..but my mental recorder was going full bore on sunday eve...the fellowship was awesome....thanks to Auntie Lyds.....where there is NO VISION...people perish !!!.....we finally all came together at about 8:30pm saturday night....thanks to Ronnie boy and his wandering ways...that's a whole 'nother story...anyhow...here are the DREAMGIRLS.

Other special Guests included Cousin Lennie and his beautiful 'last girl'..did I say beautiful...yes the beautiful and gracious (Queen) Elizabeth Martin....

whose birthday was also 11/29 as Sister Grace in whose honor the surprise party was being held.

better ?

the Christian religion hasn't been proven to make
people any better morally than any other religion.

DISCUSSION

Thanksgiving 2009

while he wrestled

Obama's two top health nominees follow their faith WASHINGTON — When President Obama named his choices for his administration's two top medical posts, he chose people of private faith and public acclaim whose positions may put them out of step with fellow believers.   ********************** the modern mind would rather think in terms of trans fats or cholesterol or carcinogens or any of a huge number disease causing factors.   but these were much simpler times and I believe mens minds may have been closer to the truth.   So whatever it is that is bothering us, causing the many trips to the doctor or the obsessions at the gym or the beauty parlor or the the anxious questions to the pharmacist.....   while we are thinking about this or that remedy to whatever it is that ails us....let remember that it was "while he was wrestling with God" that Jacob developed his "bone problems". 　 When the angel saw that he could not win against Jacob, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that it was dislocated as they wrestled. Genesis 32:25 see also Psalm 32:3, Job 30:17,  Lamentations 3:4, Habakkuk 3:16 and 2 Corinthians 12:7     this is not to say that one should not seek out the advice of "modern medicine" but just to remind us that "IT IS HE THAT HATH MADE US AND NOT WE OURSELVES"   there is a big tendency nowadays to leave God out of the equation... ...it is the FOOL that says (in his heart) "there is no GOD !!!   COULD GOD BE TRYING TO GET OUR ATTENTION? there may be a closer connection than we think between our Physical well being and our beleif in GOD !!! CLICK IT

Grace

We are here because of Grace

I once heard a friend of mine say that more than a democracy
this country is a meritocracy, that is everything you get is on merit.
To say it another way, "WE GET WHAT WE DESERVE"

Many people go a step further, they live lives based
on liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
They say I have a right to this or that thing, and they
will go to any length to secure their so-called rights.

There is no doubt that some people may deserve
this or that compensation or be entitled to 'a better life'
or in fact may not deserve what they are claiming, but
what about gifts?...yes what about things we receive
that have nothing to do with merit or rights.

Do you deserve a better birthday gift?
or better wedding present?...or in a few days
on christmas....will you say on christmas
morning as you look under the tree
I deserve all these gifts?

We are here because of Grace!
Our dad uncle sonny as some of us knew him
always seemed to me to be pointing people
to look beyond themselves.

I do not know for sure
but I suspect that on that
november day many years ago
as he and my mom looked at their
new born, their first born...they may
have both been thinking....
we do not deserve this beautiful blessing.
....Grace is mostly a bible word that means
unmerted or undeserved.

I was not there but I believe our parents
may have been thinking these things
because I later learned from my dad
that "the Grace of God that brings salvation
has appeared to all men teaching them that
denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should
live soberly and righteously IN THIS PRESENT WORLD."

...that is a direct quote of a passage from the bible book
of Titus...our dad was a deep thinker and a prolific writer
but much of his writings remain unpublished in the traditional sense....
it is true however that our lives bear some kind of testimony
to the things that he believed and taught....he did print a piece
that may still be in circulation somewhere entitled "TAKE STOCK"

the article was in the form of a gospel tract and it was about
Grace.....God's Grace....so as I said today we are here because
of Grace....we all know who is this Grace....
but do we all know what is that Grace?....
the Grace of God?

HERE IS HOW ONE SONG WRITER PUT IT.

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

Refrain

Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
Grace, grace, God’s grace,
Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Refrain

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can avail to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

Refrain

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

“Where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 5:20
AMEN

(remarks on the occasion of the celebration of the birthdate of Grace 11/29/09)

RAMBLING

I was listening tonight song on the radio...hosted by Bill Peirce I have been hearing this program now  for nearly 50 years... from the hampton street days on TRANSWORLD RADIO. It seemed strange to me that I was hearing the "pop" (secular) song on this religious program Anne Murray was singing you needed me.... I was just about to go see if the dial had shifted when I heard the deep voice of the announcer "this is night sound" NIGHTSOUND WEBSITE "You Needed Me" is a song written by Randy Goodrum, who describes it as being about "unconditional undeserved love."[1] It was a number one single in the United States in 1978 for Canadian singer Anne Murray. The song, included on her 1978 album Let's Keep It That Way, was also a top-five country single and won Song of the Year at the Academy of Country Music awards. The Anne Murray version was number one in Malaysia for ten weeks. WIKI You gave me strength to stand alone again To face the world out on my own again You put me high upon a pedestal So high that I could almost see eternity You needed me, you needed me WIKI "I Will Survive" is a song first performed by Gloria Gaynor, released in October 1978. It was written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris. The song was rated number nine on George Carlin's 10 Most Embarrassing Songs of All Time. [Napalm & Silly Putty (New York: Comedy Concepts, Inc., 2001), 187.] First I was afraid I was petrified Kept thinking I could never live without you by my side But I spent so many nights thinking how you did me wrong I grew strong I learned how to carry on and so you're back from outer space I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face I should have changed my stupid lock I should have made you leave your key If I had known for just one second you'd be back to bother me Go on now go walk out the door just turn around now 'cause you're not welcome anymore I got off wondering about these songs... no..the second one was not played on nightsound.. and I didn't catch what the program was about. I used to work in an orpanage as a houseparent that was where I first heard the survive song.. some kids were really belting it out... I never forgot it.... I was thinking on thanksgiving listening to someone on the radio read first Corinthians chapter thirteen it dawned on me that I am seeing that love in my home everyday... maybe not all the time but...yes it is definately there... ...and I am thankful to God and to my family for the love. 1 Corinthians 13 4 Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn't jealous. It doesn't sing its own praises. It isn't arrogant. 5 It isn't rude. It doesn't think about itself. It isn't irritable. It doesn't keep track of wrongs. 6 It isn't happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth. 7 Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up. 8 Love never comes to an end. There is the gift of speaking what God has revealed, but it will no longer be used. There is the gift of speaking in other languages, but it will stop by itself. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will no longer be used. 9 Our knowledge is incomplete and our ability to speak what God has revealed is incomplete. 10 But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will no longer be used.

born to warn

this is so beautiful.... how can we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?   In 1739, wen the Count was mak­ing a sea voy­age from Saint Thom­as, West In­dies, he wrote this re­mark­a­ble hymn. Al­though as a boy he was ed­u­cat­ed in pi­e­tis­tic teach­ings, he is said to have been con­vert­ed by see­ing the fa­mous paint­ing, "Ecce Homo," which hangs in the Düss­el­dorf Gal­le­ry and pic­tures the bowed head of Christ, crowned with thorns. Per­haps he still cher­ished in his mem­o­ry that vi­sion of the Man of Sor­rows, when in this hymn he wrote of the "ho­ly, meek, un­spot­ted Lamb," "Who died for me, e'en me t' atone." Price, p. 57 Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness My beauty are, my glorious dress; 'Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, With joy shall I lift up my head.   Bold shall I stand in Thy great day; For who aught to my charge shall lay? Fully absolved through these I am From sin and fear, from guilt and shame.   The holy, meek, unspotted Lamb, Who from the Father's bosom came, Who died for me, e'en me to atone, Now for my Lord and God I own.   Lord, I believe Thy precious blood, Which, at the mercy seat of God, Forever doth for sinners plead, For me, e'en for my soul, was shed.   Lord, I believe were sinners more Than sands upon the ocean shore, Thou hast for all a ransom paid, For all a full atonement made.   When from the dust of death I rise To claim my mansion in the skies, Ev'n then this shall be all my plea, Jesus hath lived, hath died, for me.   This spotless robe the same appears, When ruined nature sinks in years; No age can change its glorious hue, The robe of Christ is ever new.   Jesus, the endless praise to Thee, Whose boundless mercy hath for me— For me a full atonement made, An everlasting ransom paid.   O let the dead now hear Thy voice; Now bid Thy banished ones rejoice; Their beauty this, their glorious dress, Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness.   HEAR IT HERE

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capitalists not all greedy

money can be neutral political systems may be neutral it is the human mind that when it is MADE UP produces the effects and realities that we experience and call life. some of these effects include poverty which can be painful but not always the BIBLE SAYS be ye kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as GOD for CHRIST's sake has FORGIVEN YOU some want to have a long debate about capitalism VS socialism I do beleive that if a mind is made up for and by the GOD of the BIBLE where kindness and other biblical and Godly principles are applied THEN GREED IS NOT PRODUCED A christian capitalist while acquiring private property and competing in a free market is guided by kindness and is conscious of boundaries and of market shares and of the "HAVE-NOTS" an example of such a person that comes to my mind is American businessman R.G.LeTourneau. Find the story here another notable example is ANDREW CARNEGIE Many persons of wealth have contributed to charity, but Carnegie was perhaps the first to state publicly that the rich have a moral obligation to give away their fortunes. In 1889 he wrote The Gospel of Wealth, in which he asserted that all personal wealth beyond that required to supply the needs of one's family should be regarded as a trust fund to be administered for the benefit of the community. read a biography here

thanksgiving...renewing my mind

MARY: I don’t know about you, but I find that I am frequently having to re-learn something from last year or last month or last week. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could learn everything we need to know just once, and that’s it! But life is not that way and we are all prone to forget—prone to wander from what we know—prone to do our own thing and go our own way. So, if we’re going to become spiritually mature, we have to be good at re-learning.


For example, we often need to learn to be content. Most of us are victims at times of looking on the other side of our fence and deciding that the grass over there sure looks greener than our grass. It just sometimes seems like our lives are painted drab gray and everybody else has bright red or yellow!


ME: Mathematics and Mind - As I was driving along from the bank, I heard a news report about the senate vote on the health bill. I was struck by the fact that both sides were making opposing claims about what the new laws would do. Everyone starts with the same FACTS, namely x number of people are without health insurance. The disagreement seems to be about what effect the new law will have on that number. Another number that is in contention is what the cost will be.

FROM POLITICAL HOTSHEET
"Democrats called a revamp of the
nation's health care system long overdue"

"Republicans cast the bill as a costly government
takeover, built on budget gimmicks."
(http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/19/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5713960.shtml)

MARY: Someone once wrote: "The uncommon life is the product of the day lived in the uncommon way." That means that a person whose life is exciting and full is one who finds meaning and satisfaction in the seemingly insignificant, daily things in life.


Let me give you a very simple example: I have some china that I really love. And it gives me great pleasure to set my table with that china, to hold it, even to wash it. I enjoy my china. I remember once, when my daughter was much younger, that she found it rather strange to hear me getting excited about this china which I had owned for years.


And I said to her, "If you can find pleasure and joy in the little things in your life, your life will be full of pleasure and joy. Otherwise, it's going to be very drab most of the time, with a few high points only now and then."

ME: Just this week two teanagers walked in the front door of our house making reports. The thing that sruck me was that the one who pretty much always had high grades was significantly down on one grade only. The other who was always pretty much happy to pull in C’s and D’s was now proudly displaying this one A.

So me, as usual always looking for DEEPER meaning in life... immediately noticed that there was a common denominator. The one low grade was a math related subject and the one high grade was also a math related subject.

So what is the connection betwen the senators and the students?
Our senses bring us knowledge or facts...but UNDERSTANDING.....that is something else.


MARY: Regardless of how humble and unpretentious your daily life may seem, you can elevate it if you can learn to enjoy and appreciate what you have. As the Apostle Paul tells us in Philippians 4, it is learning the secret of being content in any and every situation. Contentment brings meaning to our daily lives, and frees us from the dreariness of looking over our fence at someone else's grass.


Have you enrolled in the school of contentment? You can begin today by appreciating the small things, smelling the roses that are in your life, instead of being focused on what you don't have and looking over your fence all the time.

ME: More and more I am hearing from teenagers and young adults...the expression...
YOU ARE NOT MAKING SENSE or that makes no sense at all.
So what am I to make of this?
A. I can conclude that I am just going the way of the world – senility....OR
B. I can delude myself into the generation gap theory....OR
C. I can put up a fight and be gang bashed every time....another option
D. Is to just shut up and leave stuff alone...in other words mind your own business
But out or whaterver...you are no longer relevant...D can include A,B &C.

None of these options are useful..so As our president so astutely observed there is a time when one retreats into faith for refuge, of course his way of saying it, was a little less encouraging.

HERE ARE THE SCRIPTURES Proverbs 3
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

So, in making our decisions the FACTS are only a part of the equation.
Once we put the facts through the BLACK BOX of our thinking, the conclusions that we draw will be determined by the principles and beleifs that are in OUR MIND. The mathematics of our mind.

HERE is what we are asked to do.....

Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants-what is good, pleasing, and perfect.
Romans 12 GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)

Most popular television programming produces an effect that runs counter to the mind renewing mentioned here......

here is more of Mary

Another thing high on the list of things I have to relearn is how and when to let go. You know, there are times when we simply have to let go and turn situations over to God. Letting go does not mean that we don't care, nor that we wouldn't do whatever we could do to help the situation. It simply means that we recognize where our abilities end and where we relinquish situations to God's control.


For instance, most parents face this "let go" decision with their children. You raise your children the best you can, you try to teach them biblical principles, but at some point, you let them go. Perhaps you let them go make their own mistakes, but you know there's no other way for them to learn. You let them go make their own decisions, even if you could make better ones for them.


I answered a letter from a listener who was struggling with letting go of his dream to be married. He really wanted a partner and was obsessed with that dream and just could not let go of it. You know, often we have to let our dreams go—those cherished things we've been hoping and longing for. They may be very good things, like getting married. But God often wants to know if we love him more than we love our dream. And so we have to let go. Sometimes those dreams are returned to us fulfilled later on; sometimes they are not. But until we let go, they will possess us and rob us of joy and contentment.


We have to learn to let our burdens go. Jesus has told us to turn our heavy burdens over to him and accept his light one in exchange. I think many of us feel guilty when there's a problem in our life if we aren't feeling the burden all the time. But that's not the way God wants us to respond. He wants us to drop our burdens at his feet a­nd just keep letting them go. I can tell you that many times I verbally tell God, "Lord, I'm dropping this right here. I'm letting it go, because it's too heavy for me."


What is it that God wants you to let go of today? Let me encourage you to do it. You can trust God. He's able to take care of the situation, but first you have to give it over to him. Unclinch those fists right now, and just keep learning to let go.


Here’s another one: We need to learn and re-learn how to humble ourselves. In Numbers 12:3 Moses is identified as a "very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth." What was it that made Moses so humble? After all, he had great power and wealth, and the highest position in his country. He had spiritual privileges, talking with God face-to-face, and he performed incredible miracles. How could he be so humble?


Well, first, he spent 40 years in the desert, because of a failure on his part. Humbling ourselves means we have to learn that in our own strength, we are failures. For ten years of my life, I thought I could make things happen, as we say. I had to learn that in myself I can do nothing.


Then, you remember that Moses had a speech impediment. He stuttered and couldn't give a speech, so Aaron became his spokesperson. That had to be humbling for a great leader. It was a constant reminder to him that his talents and skills were not sufficient. The Apostle Paul had that same experience—a thorn in the flesh, he called it—which God did not remove because he knew Paul would need that thorn to remind him of where his strength came from, to keep him humble.


I encourage you to learn to be thankful for the impediments you have, the things missing in your life, which contribute to helping you learn humility. It's extremely important that we be truly humble, and, like Moses, we need reminders of our needs so that we can humble ourselves.


One reason Moses was able to be humble is that the highest priority of his life was to know God. Moses knew God better than any other person on earth. He spent lots of time alone with God. You know, when we start to focus our lives on knowing God, humility is an inevitable result. You learn true humility as you learn who you are in comparison to who God is.


In Philippians 2 we read that Jesus humbled himself to become a servant. Servanthood is one revealing sign of true humility. Recently someone was complaining about the fact that when he came to church, no one gave him any attention and he couldn't form any real strong relationships because people weren't friendly. And I thought to myself: A servant doesn't react that way. A servant doesn't come into a group to see what that group can do for him or her, but rather, comes ready to do something for others. We learn to humble ourselves as we learn to serve others.


Have you learned when to ignore people? Well, you may need to re-learn it! Of course it's important for us to be good listeners, but the opposite side of that truth is that there are times we should absolutely ignore what other people are saying to us. Let me give you an example.


In Mark 5:36, we read, "Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, 'Don't be afraid; just believe.'" This was the man who asked Jesus to come and heal his sick daughter. On the way to his house some of his friends met them and reported that his daughter was dead, so there was no need to bother Jesus anymore. And in response to those words of death and doom, Jesus told Jairus to believe and not be afraid, and he completely ignored their bad report.


When he got to the house and announced that the child was not dead, everyone laughed at him. But Jesus ignored that, too. He just went in and brought the girl to her feet, alive and well.


It seems there are always people around to give us negative, discouraging words. They may be well-intentioned; they may be your best friends. But if their words of advice and information are faith-destroying words, then you should ignore them.


Jairus had to choose to believe Jesus in spite of what his friends said to him, even when they laughed at him. If others are giving you faith-destroying words, you too can choose to ignore them, refuse to be afraid, and continue to place your trust in the word of the Lord. Jesus gives us words of life and hope. We must cling to them and not be afraid. He is faithful to do what he has promised. You can trust him. So, learn to ignore others when they give you faith-destroying words and advice.


And the last thing we need to re-learn is to persevere. Lots of people make good starts; not too many complete the course.


We read in Hebrews 12:1 that we should run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Note that each of us has a unique race marked out. Your race may be different from mine, but the important thing is to hang in there and cross the finish line.


The night is darkest just before the dawn, and all too often we quit the race when it gets dark and bleak, when the finish line is just around the corner. In the first chapter of James we read that "perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Without perseverance we won't reach spiritual maturity. That's why we need to learn and re-learn perseverance.


How often do you feel like quitting? I can remember saying to the Lord at one point, "What use is it, Lord? I don't see light at the end of the tunnel and I'd just like to walk away from the whole thing." You know, if you have those kinds of thoughts you might as well talk to God about them. He knows what you're thinking anyway. But God reminded me that I'm called to be faithful, to persevere, and I had to learn it all over again.


Hebrews 12:13 says, "Don't wander away from the path but forge steadily onward. On the right path the limping foot recovers strength and does not collapse." Therefore, we need to make certain we're on the right path, and then, stay on it regardless. Even if you're just limping along, don't stop. As we hang in there, our limps are healed and we're able to cross the finish line.


How often do we quit as soon as we develop a limp? We failed, we weren't able to accomplish something we had planned, the resources we were counting on didn't come through, things didn't go as smoothly as we hoped. We quit! But the Bible says keep going on the right path even with your limp.


Paul wrote to the Corinthians "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful" (1 Corinthians 4:2). Proving faithful is perseverance, and we can learn to be faithful and to persevere. I'm telling you, I'll take a faithful person any day over one with bigger talents or gifts who isn't willing to hang in and get the job done—to stick with it through thick and thin times.


I want to encourage you today to learn perseverance. Quitters don't win and winners don't quit, and God's looking for people with endurance. Let's stick by the stuff and make it to the finish line by his grace.


So, I hope you’ll remember to re-learn to be content, to let go when you should, to be humble, to ignore faith-destroying words, and to endure to the end. Five things we have to learn and re-learn.

FIND IT HERE--> (http://www.christianworkingwoman.org/node/553)

antimicrobial peptides..?? ! !

Virus Killer:
Swine Flu, H1N1,
Tuberculosis,
even the Common Cold

Dear Friends,

By the way, if you ask anybody who takes 5000 units of Vitamin D3 a day, they'll tell you they just don't get sick anymore; the colds and flu just don't happen. How that works is amazing. Your body makes hundreds of naturally occurring antibiotics called antimicrobial peptides and people have been looking for a long time to see what up-regulates genetic production of them, what increases productions of antimicrobial peptides.

Just in the past couple of years is has been discovered that Vitamin D really up-regulates productions of antimicrobial peptides. Of course it makes sense. Do you get many colds and flu's in the summer time? No, not really. People have always thought that the reason for that is that people are crowded in the winter time but it turns out it's probably simply due to the fact that your Vitamin D levels in the winter are a quarter or sometimes one-third what they are in the summer time.

You know a lot of times when even scientists talk about science they confuse facts and theories. For example, it is a fact that children with rickets get lots of infections. But scientists will tell you that children with rickets get lots of infections because their rib cages are soft. But even the scientists don't know. The statement they just made: one part is fact and one part is theory.

Or, more people get heart attacks in the winter because they are shoveling snow or because they're crowded or because of influenza: there are a lot of theories about it. The fact is they get more heart attacks in the winter; everything else is theory. It's important to separate fact and theory.

Read on to unlock the simple secrets of this effective supplement!
(Read More...)

....hmmm

hiding the shame

Graven Images - show us the father and it sufficeth us. My cousin Lennon Alanzo has the same birthday as myself. My twin brothers were born on the day before our birthday. I am a second child...and have a tendency to play supportive roles in most of "my movies"....but cousin Len has consistently played leading roles in all of his movies and so has my sister Grace. Grace and Len, you see, are FIRST children. As is Terry. and Loma..I beleive...Len however, has an added element.... he is also AN ONLY CHILD. I was trying to remember wether our cousin Trever was older Than his sister...without actually knowing the facts I thought about it a LITTLE (no pun intended) and am willing to bet that His sister is older. {let me know if I am wrong} Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. A while ago I came across a book titled THE BIRTH ORDER FACTOR. I did not read it through...but I never forgot the idea suggested by the title.... that where you fall in the family among siblings will affect your personality ...period.!!! Furthermore, wherever you end up in life you will demonstrate characteristics similar to others  in your "birth order group" Recently cousin Len was doing a construction project and I was his helper. He kept diving one idea into my head. RON YOU HAVE TO DO IT RIGHT.....did I mention that I was older than him...it don't matter...he (tink he) de boss !!! As we forgive those who trespass against us... to be continued in the CHRONICLE <click here