Being a Tater

1. Some people never seem motivated to participate, but are just
content to watch while others do the work.
--They’re called "Speck Taters".

2. Some people never do anything to help, but are gifted at finding
fault with the way others do the work.
--They’re called "Comment Taters".

3. Some people are very bossy and like to tell others what to do, but
don’t want to soil their own hands.
--They’re called "Dick Taters".

4. Some people are always looking to cause problems by asking
others to agree with them. It is too hot or too cold, too sour or too
sweet.
--They’re called "Agie Taters".

5. There are those who say they will help, but somehow just never get
around to actually doing the promised help.
--They’re called "Hezzie Taters".

6. Some people can put up a front and pretend to be someone they are
not.
--They’re called "Emma Taters".

7. Then there are those who love others and do what they say they
will. They are always prepared to stop whatever they are doing and
lend a helping hand. They bring real sunshine into the lives of
others.
--They’re called "Sweet Taters".

What kind of “tater” are you?

Butt Prints In The Sand

One night, i had a wondrous dream;
one set of footprints there was seen.
The footprints of my precious Lord,
but mine were not along the shore.
But then some strange prints appeared,
and i asked the Lord, What have we here?
"Those prints are large and round and neat,
But Lord they are too big for feet."
"My child," He said in somber tears
"For miles i carried you alone.
I challenged you to walk in spiritual maturity,
but you refused and made me wait.
You disobeyed, you would not grow,
the walk-of-faith, you would not know.
So i got tired and fed up,
and there i dropped you on your butt,
because in life, there comes a time,
when one must fight, and one must climb,
when one must rise and take a stand,
or leave their butt prints in the sand."

"Revelation"

Give me a revelation
Show me what to do
Cause I've been trying to find my way
I haven't got a clue
Tell me should I stay here
Or do I need to move
Give me a revelation
I've got nothing without you
I've got nothing without you

By Third Day

Welcome Home

Homesickness is one of the burdens God doesn’t mind if we carry. God has “set eternity in the hearts of men” (Eccles. 3:11 NIV). Down deep you know you are not home yet.

This is not our forever house. It will serve for the time being. But there is nothing like the moment we enter his door. Molly can tell you. After a month in our house she ran away. I came home one night to find the place unusually quiet. Molly was gone.

She’d slipped out unnoticed. The search began immediately. Within an hour we knew that she was far, far from home. Now, if you don’t like pets, what I’m about to say is going to sound strange. If you do like pets, you will understand.

You’ll understand why we walked up and down the street, calling her name. You’ll understand why I drove around the neighborhood at 10:30 P.M. You’ll understand why I put up a poster in the convenience store and convened the family for a prayer. (Honestly, I did.) You’ll understand why I sent e-mails to the staff, asking for prayers, and to her breeder, asking for advice. And you’ll understand why we were ready to toss the confetti and party when she showed up.

Here is what happened. The next morning Denalyn was on her way home from taking the girls to school when she saw the trash truck. She asked the workers to keep an eye out for Molly and then hurried home to host a moms’ prayer group. Soon after the ladies arrived, the trash truck pulled into our driveway, a worker opened the door, and out bounded our dog. She had been found.

When Denalyn called to tell me the news, I could barely hear her voice. It was Mardi Gras in the kitchen. The ladies were celebrating the return of Molly. This story pops with symbolism. The master leaving his house, searching for the lost. Victories in the midst of prayer. Great things coming out of trash. But most of all: the celebration at the coming home. That’s something else you have in common with Molly—a party at your homecoming.

Those you love will shout. Those you know will applaud. But all the noise will cease when the Father cups your chin and says, “Welcome home.” And with scarred hand he’ll wipe every tear from your eye. And you will dwell in the house of your Lord—forever.

By Max Lucado

Resiliency

“The ability to thrive despite adversity, enables people of all ages and backgrounds to lead healthy and fulfilling lives despite formidable obstacles”

Robert Ackerman

The Journey

The past couple of weeks at school i have to say has not been easy and very hard to endure. It has been quite a challenge, no matter how hard i study or prepare i cannot get the material down. I'm currently taking biology, philosophy, and world history. We are craming a semester's worth of work into 6 weeks, its not a easy task.

The other day i got so frustrated with it, i reached the end of my rope. I didn't realize how hard the journey was going to be to accomplish the biggest goal i have set for my life. I began to doubt myself and think what am i doing, this is crazy. I will never accomplish the goal, dream, and desire of my heart.

I always park my car by the student center at UCA and walk to the Lewis Science Center for biology first thing in the morining because philosophy is beside the student center so its easy to leave the campus when im done for the day.

There is a one mile straight road i have to walk down to get to the science center. As i was walking i was telling myself, i will never amount to anything, what i was thinking going back to school, this was to big of a goal and challenge for my life to try to achieve. School was pushing me over the edge, then as i started on the road a voice spoke to me and said STOP!!!

I looked around and nobody was there and im thinking, man i've really lost my mind. I started again and heard it again, STOP!!! i looked around again and nobody there. The voice then said look with your spiritual eyes, not your physical and then i realized it was the lord standing there with me.

Then the voice said look up ahead at the journey before you, as i did i saw that the road ive walked on the past couple of weeks is downhill and uphill, some bumps in the road, construction was being done on one of the buildings, but something that caught my eye was that the road eventually came to a end with a gate at the end and it had a crosswalk drawing on the road, a finish line.

The lord spoke to my heart and said to achieve the desire of your heart you will sometimes have to go thru some uphill and downhill battles, a few bumps in the road, and allow construction to take place in your life. But the lord said thru it all im with you and if you keep pressing on and dont give up you will cross that finish line and achieve the biggest goal of your life and achieve that desire of your heart.

WOW, that is what i needed to hear, that is what i needed to motivate me. So you know what, i refuse to quit, i refuse to give up and give in. I will be successful, i will graduate at the top of my class and achieve my desire and goal, i will prove those naysayers wrong who have always said to me in my life i will never amount to anything.

Its a new day, its a new beginning, i will complete the journey, i will win the race, i will be victorus because i am a victor and not a victim. And when i graduate and achieve the biggest goal in my life i will raise my hands in victory and celebrate.

houston trip

Were back from our youth trip to houston and it was a blast, i wish it could have lasted longer. i enjoyed the time off from no work or school. It felt good to relax and have fun. Friday night was a awesome baseball game with the houston astros winning in the bottom of the ninth, i love the sport of baseball so does Greg Thompson lol. The nasa center was very neat to tour on saturday and i have to say the mall we went to was the biggest one i have ever been in. It had stores i have never heard. I enjoyed the services at Joel Osteen church expect for the fact they put us under the air vent, i think they were hanging meat in that section. Most people know if i say its cold then it has to be cold and let me tell you i was freezing sitting there. It was a great time together, i honestly have to say this is the best group of students i have ever had the honor to work with. Thank you Mike and Michele for planning the trip and doing all that you do, you guys are very awesome and i love you and i love jacob, richard, bailey, sabrina, and kat also. i look forward to next year.

Mr. Fabulous
There is story behind why i am now called mr. fabulous. Just ask if your curious you will find it quit funny!!!

We Need Each Other

"Nobody is a whole chain. Each one is a link. But take away one link and the chain is broken. Nobody is a whole team. Each one is a player. But take away one player and the game is forfeited. Nobody is a whole orchestra. Each one is a musician. But take away one musician and the symphony is incomplete. You guessed it. We need each other. You need someone and someone needs you. Isolated islands we're not."

Life!!!

Well i know its been a while since i last wrote on my blog. Can i use the excuse i have been busy and life has been crazy??? I worked both camps again this summer both senior and junior camp and had a blast doing it. The lord gave me a opportunity to bless a student there going on a mission trip and little did i know in 48 hours God rewarded me for being faithful. Kids camp was crazier then usual this year. We had 81 kids, the first night of camp i had a magrine headache the whole time kids were running around the cabin screaming and going wild. I must add also for some odd reason they decide to give the kids candy and coke before going to bed. So while the staff is tired the kids on running on full energy. The worst part was hitting that stupid deer during senior camp. Why can't they just stay in the woods where they belong, oh no i bet they stand on the side of the road and play suicde.

I feel like i'm on a roller coaster ride in life right now. There are some good moments but their have also been some twist and turns. But i must add the goods moments out weight the twist and turns. I have to honestly say i wouldn't trade the good moments for anything in the world and i thank God for those moments and many more to come. The past couple of weeks have been the best time in my life and very thankful for everything that has taken place. I want to also say thanks to all my mom's i have at church who have asked if i'm okay and that they are here for me if need them and that they are praying for me, it means alot to me if your reading this to all my mom's and i thank you for it and i want you to know i love you. Yes i am okay, just been tired alot lately with alot on the mind, but God is working them out for me.

Can i share something with you. In my life there are things i've been praying for alot lately and still havent't seen anything yet. I got to the point, "God it has to happen now, i can't wait any longer, now God now." I'm sure i'm not the only one who has been down that road. But you know i realized in trying to make it happen now, its not much fun and it makes life harder, but if i can just learn to wait upon the lord he knows when the best time will be for those things to happen and come to pass. So i will wait upon on the lord and i know when i do that i will see the desires of my heart come true, i will accomplish my goals i have set out for my life, i will have a life full of joy, happiness, and a abudent life. Just gotta trust him. Love everybody and if you are reading this, tell somebody today you love them.

Who Said Religion Isn't Fun?

A very gracious lady was mailing a package to her brother in another state. The box contained a Bible. When the clerk asked if anything inside was breakable, he replied, "Only the Ten Commandments!"

There are only two kinds of people in the world: those who wake up in the morining and say, Good morning Lord and those who wake up in the morning and say, "Good Lord, it's morning!"

A pastor announced from the pulpit one day, "I have some good news and i have some bad news. The good news is that we have enough money to pay for our new building, the bad news is, that money is still in your pockets!"

Many people want in the front of the line, the back seat in church, and the center of attention!

While driving in Pennsylvania, a family came upon a Amish man in a horse-drawn carriage. The owner of the rig obviously had a sense of humor because he had attached a hand-printed sign to the back of the carriage which read: "Energy efficient vehicle, runs on oats and grass, CAUTION: do not step in the exhaust!

I'm Back

It's been a while since i last posted in my blog, its hard to keep up with this thing. Well i finally finished one year of school, i'm not happy with my academic standing after my first year. Many people say it's because i haven't been in school in a while but that is no excuses for my sorry grades, i hold myself to a higher standard then that. My grades will come up and i will graduate at the top of my class. The first year of school has been exicting a little stressful also, i learned its hard to work a 30 hour week job and maintain 18 hours of school, its no easy task which is why i am going to 3 days a week now. I'm fixing to start summer classes which will put me a year early graduating that is the only reason for doing them. i'm really looking forward to the fall semester because i start taking classes that are geared towards my major.

Its almost summer time which means church camp is just right around the corner. i love church camp and working in them. Church camp is where my life was turned around and i always enjoy working in it to hopefully help turn another kids life around for God. i will again be working both senior and kids camp this year but with a little twist. I will be taking a online class and one in the classroom while i'm working in camp. I have a class in june from 8:00-9:30 so i will be leaving the campground early in the morining and coming back before lunch. It may sound like a hard task but i can do all things thru christ which strengthens me.

I'm very proud of myself for running 3 miles wednesday with Tom and Lacionda from my church. We went running down by the river and i have to say i felt great when i got done running. i thought i would be tired and out of breath but i didn't, i was pumped and wanted to do more. I think we are going to start doing this every wednesday which i am very exicted about. I am back in the gym again but with a different angle this time after taking a health fitness class this past semester. i work on muscles 3 days a week and cardiovascular the other 3 days so i dont hurt myself. Well i promise from now on i will do a better job on posting in my blog, so till next time remember this great quote i heard one time, "IF HARD WORK PAYS OFF, THEN EASY WORK IS WORTHLESS."

Laminin

i just finished watching a powerful video that talked about the protein Laminin, i challenge you to do a google search on this and look at a image, but please wait and read this first, i also have put a image at the bottom. That is a image from google, but there is a actual scienctific photo of Laminin taken from the human body with the same look to it.

Laminin basically keeps our body from falling apart, its the glue of the human body. Laminin holds our body together, it holds the skin and organs together. what's so amazing about Laminin is what it acutally looks like in our body.

the protein Laminin that holds our body together is in the shape of a cross, WOW very amazing, In my heart right now i'm so thankful for the awesome God we serve and that he hold us together. In Colossians 1:17 Paul writes and says, "He holds all creation together."

I realzie thru it all God has holds us together just like Laminin holds our body together, he has given us the protein to go the extra mile, to press on, to keep going, to keep fighting the good fight, and go the extra mile. So if your reading this and going thru a hard time, just remember, we have Laminin inside all of us. God right now i praise you and thank you with all my heart that you hold me together, that you are my Laminin thru difficult times in life. Thank you for the cross of Jesus Christ. "O great God be glorfied, our lives laid down, yours magnifies. Oh Great God be lifted high, there is none like you."

Ever Wonder Why???

Very powerful video, check it out!!!

He Walked Among Us

"When God chose to reveal himself, he did so (surprise of surprises) through a human body. The tongue that called forth the dead was a human one. The hand that touched the leper had dirt under its nails. The feet upon which the woman wept were calloused and dusty. And his tears…oh, don’t miss the tears…they came from a heart as broken as yours or mine ever has been. So, people came to him. My, how they came to him! They came at night; they touched him as he walked down the street; they followed him around the sea; they invited him into their homes and placed their children at his feet. Why? Because he refused to be a statue in a cathedral or a priest in an elevated pulpit. He chose instead to be Jesus."

Max Lucado

Walk It Out

It's not what you think it is, just watch it!!!

God's Guidance

"We receive enlightenment only in proportion as we give ourselves more and more completely to God by humble submission and love. We do not first see, and then act: we act, then see...and that is why the man who waits to see clearly before he will believe, never starts on the journey."

Thomas Merton

True Story

A man in Seattle was trying to siphon fuel from a motor home in an attempt to steal it. Police arrived and found him lying on the ground, sick as a horse. It seems that he tapped into the vehicle's sewage tank rather than it's fuel tank! The owner declined to press charges, saying that it gave him the best laugh he's had in a long time.

Prayer for this generation

What happened in this video is my prayer that the samething will happen to this generation of students. This friday and saturday night, march 28-29 we will be having a Arkansas Youth Conference at Indian Hills Church. I ask that you join us in prayer and join us this weekend as we take this generation of students, warrior's for god back from the enemy and help them on this journey thru life.

Here is a link for more information about this weekend's youth conference.
http://www.nlrchurch.com/html/youth_conv.html

Letter To The Pastor

I came across this letter studying and thought it was pretty funny!!!

Dear Pastor: You often stress attendance at worship as being important for a Christian, but I think a person has a right to miss now and then. I think every person ought to be excused for the following reasons and the number of times indicated.
1. Christmas holidays (the Sunday before and after -- 2
2. New Years Day (the party lasted too long) -- 1
3. Easter (must get away for the holidays) – 2
4. July 4th (National holiday) – 1
5. Labor Day (Need to get away period!) – 2
6. Memorial Day (Visit hometown folk) – 1
7. School closing (kids need a break) – 1
8. Family Reunions (mine and wife’s) – 3
9. Sleep late (up too long Saturday night) – 9
10. Deaths in family – 2
11. Anniversary (2nd honeymoon) – 1
12. Sickness (1 per family member) – 5
13. Business trip (a must) – 1
14. Vacation (3-4 weeks) – 6
15. Bad weather (ice, snow, rain, clouds) – 2
16. Ball games – 2
17. Races – 2
18. Unexpected company (just can’t walk out on them) – 2
19. Time changes (Spring and Fall) – 2
20. Specials on TV (Super Bowl, etc.) – 3
Pastor, that leaves two Sundays per year. So you can count on us being in church on the fourth Sunday in February and the third Sunday in August unless we are providentially hindered.

Sincerely, A Faithful Member”
(Source: Unknown)

Praise You In This Storm

I came across a inresting scripture the other day as i was studying, it was psalm 79.
King David is crying out to God for help during a difficult time. There are three motives King David is making for God to act, the misery God's people are experiencing, the tender mercies of God himself, and the humiliation brought to his name. They are also praying for deliverance of his people and revenge on their enemies.

What caught my attention was the ending of the psalm, "THEN we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will thank you forever and ever, praising your greatness from generation to generation." They said after God took care of those motives, deliverance of his people, and revenge on their enemies "THEN we your people" will praise you.

If we are honest with ourself we do the samething, God i'm not going to praise you till you deliever me or till you take care of my needs. Till you do i'm going to sit here with my arms crossed, but if we will first praise him and thank him then he can began to move in the circumstance. During any storms of life if we will first start with praise then God can do mighty things in our lives.

I think about King Jehoshphat in 2nd Chronicles 20, when the messangers told him the enemy had declared war on Jehoshaphat, he didn't panic or tell God i will only praise you after you take care of the enemy.

Instead he started with prayer and worship and even when they went out to battle they put the worshipers or the choir on the front line and began to sing, Give thanks to lord for he is good, his love endors forever. When they arrived at the battle sight the enemy was already destroyed.

If we can start doing the same thing before we know it God will take care of our battles, remember he said the battle is not ours, but his. So next time you find yourself in the middle of a storm, start with praise first and not last and watch God doing amazing things in your storm. GIVE THANKS TO LORD FOR HE IS GOOD, HIS LOVE ENDORS FOREVER.

New Church

Several of us from church went sunday and looked at a new building we are talking about moving into. This new building is very awesome and sweet, their is so much room in their. It would put us in a new location with better opportunity for growth and greater things to come. It can do such so much for us as church, in our pioneer club, and team 180 group. I hope we get the new building, if your reading this blog please pray with us that everything works out so we can move into the new building.

Indescribable

It finally snowed in central arkansas, its about time. I love playing in the snow, it fills my heart with joy, we got 3 1/2 inches at my house. Snow is one of the most awesome things God has created, it is indescribable, God is so amazing.

Apology

Poweful video!!!

God Moment

This past week i had a God moment, i have a 35 minute drive to school everyday and i spend that time praying, talking and listening to God, and turning on my radar. As i was praying one morining for those who are sick and need healing in their body i prayed this way and i have prayed this way for a while now and i asked God, To heal these people and to SHOW HIS GLORY."

After i said the lord spoke to my heart and said, "Do i need to heal these people to show my glory?" I was speechless, i didn't know what to say. I just kept driving down the road in silence thinking about that statement. All day i ponder that thought about what the Lord spoke to me and then i relized, no God doesn't need to heal them to show his glory, don't get me wrong, God can heal people and is still in the healing business today.

But the point i'm getting too is this, if we just look around creation itself revels God's glory, those people i was praying for, if they look back over their life and see what God has done for them, his glory is written in and thru their life, when i think back over the past eight years of my christian walk i can count many times God has showed me his glory in and thru my life.

So God, sorry it took me so long to answer your question, but no you don't have to heal them to show your glory, although i know you can and will heal them, everyday of my life you reveal your glory to me by waking me up in the morining, with the car i have to drive places, the job i have, the ability to see, hear, think, and every wonderful thing you have done for me. And to those i was praying for their loved ones standing there by there side, they have seen God's glory already at one point in their life so he doesn't have to heal them to show his glory he already has.

Life Principle

I came across some interesting statistics, someone went to the trouble to research what people do with their time, and came up with these results:

If we live to be 75, most of us will have spent 3 solid years, 24 hours a day, acquiring an education, grade school, high school and college.

We’ll have spent 7 years eating, 24 hours a day, some more, some less, obviously. We’ll have spent 14 years, day and night, working. We’ll have spent 5 years riding in automobiles or airplanes.

We’ll have spent 5 years talking with each other, again some more and some less. We’ll have spent 1 year sick or recovering from sickness. And get this, we’ll have spent 24 years of our life sleeping!

We’ll have spent 3 years reading books, magazines and newspapers. And 12 years amusing ourselves, watching TV, going to the movies, fishing, etc. That totals up to 75 years, and that is what the researchers say, on the average, most of us will have done with our lives.

As I looked at these statistics I began thinking. Let’s suppose that you spent every Sunday or Wednesday of your life, for 75 years, through infancy, childhood, adulthood, old age, in God’s house worshiping during the Church Service. Now if you did, how much time would you have spent worshiping God? Figure it out, the answer is less than 5 1/2 months.

Think about that, 5 years in an automobile and just 5 1/2 months in Church! Twelve years amusing ourselves in front of a TV, and just 5 1/2 months in Church.

LIFE PRINCIPLE: We are called to live our ENTIRE life to honor God!

The Passion

Sabrina Butler, one of our students from Team 180 just recently returned from Winterfest. She shared with me this video about the guy in the video who was at Winterfest and did this sandshows, its a very powerful video.

Belief Not A Requirement

I came across this column in the Democract Gazette the other day, it was a opinion column where people write in a letter and voice their opinion on certain topics. I have my opinion on it, so what is your opinion on the artictle:

"FOLKS, ONE MORE TIME. IF YOU PAY TITHES TO A PASTOR WHO VOTES DEMOCRAT, NOT ONLY IS HE GOING TO HELL, YOU'LL GO TOO. IF PASTORS ACCEPT GAYS WITHOUT ASKING THEM TO CHANGE, THEY ARE GUILTY OF THE SAME THING. YOU DON'T HAVE TO BELIEVE IN HELL TO GO THERE. READ THE BOOK, SOME FOLKS WILL SAY, "SHOW ME," BUT WILL NEVER PICK IT UP. ABOMINATION MEANS ABOMINATION, MURDER MEANS MURDER. THIS IS NOT MY OPINION, IF GAYS WORK TOGETHER, WHATEVER THEY SHARE SHOULD BE THEIRS. WE DO NEED MIKE HUCKABEE WITH HIS SMALL FAULTS. ARKANSAS IS A HUNTING STATE. DO WE WANT TO GO BACK TO DEMOCRAT GUN CONTROL? THINK ABOUT THAT IN DEER CAMP JUST BEFORE ELECTION TIME."

Team 180

Thanks to my best friend and pastor, Greg Thompson, we now have a page up for the our youth group at church Team 180. The page is very awesome and talks about who Team 180 is, what we are doing, our mission, and what we are about. Thanks Mr. Greg, the page is very awesome and very cool, thank you for putting it together.

http://nlrteam180.blogspot.com/

Christianity

MOST FOLKS THINK CHRISTIANITY IS AN OUTDATED RELIGION. BUT IT TURNS OUT IT IS NEITHER OUTDATED NOR A RELIGION. IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT WHEN MOST OF US READ THE WORD CHRISTIANITY WE REALLY NEED "RELIGIOUS INSTITUTION," AND A BAD ONE AT THAT. SURPRISINGLY, WHEN THE WORD WAS FIRST COINED IT REFERRED TO SOMETHING MORE SIMPLE AND PROVOCATIVE AND SHOCKING.

FOR STARTERS, JESUS WAS NOT A CHRISTIAN. HE NEVER ASKED ANYONE TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN, NEVER BUILT A STEEPLED BUILDING, NEVER DREW UP A THEOLOGICAL TREATISE, NEVER WORE RELIGIOUS GARMENTS...HE SIMPLY CALLED PEOPLE TO FOLLOW HIM. JESUS ISN'T THE PROUD FOUNDING FATHER OF CHRISTANITY. HE ISN'T EVEN THE PATRON SAINT OF CHRISTIANITY.

DON EVERT AUTHOR OF, "JESUS WITH DIRTY FEET"

Today

Part 1 is at the top and Part 2 wraps it up at the bottom.

Persecuted for the Gospel

Every day, somewhere in the world, Christians are still being persecuted greatly. Some are cast into prison for preaching the gospel. Some are exiled to labor camps, never to be seen again. And some will pay the ultimate price for their faith and give their lives for the Lord. You might think that this can’t happen to you, not here in the United States of America. Don’t be fooled, it can happen even here.

Judge Roy Moore was the Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court. But because of religious persecution against Christians, he is no longer a member of the Alabama Supreme Court, and there’s a good chance that he will no longer be allowed to practice law at all. Why? It all resulted from his stand for Christ by refusing to remove a statue of the Ten Commandments from a public building in Alabama. The freedom of religion is no longer a freedom for Christians and any of us could face similar persecution anytime that someone wants to come against us for our testimony in Christ.

On April 20, 1999, our nation was shocked by the massacre of high school students at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Many people believe that the two students who did the shooting were specifically targeting Christians. Not all those killed or injured were Christian but many were.

One eyewitness said, "I saw them shoot a girl because she was praying to God."

It is known as fact that at least three of those targeted for death were devout Christians.

At one point the terrorists asked a roomful of trapped and panicked students if there were any Christians present. One brave young woman named Cassie Bernall, who was only 17, stood and declared her faith in Christ. The killer smiled and then shot her dead. Cassie never expected to die for her faith, but when the time came, that’s what she did.

John Tomlin was a 16-year old who attended church with his family every Sunday. He had recently completed a missions trip into Mexico, witnessing and working for the Lord. He had even helped do build a house for a poor family who had been living in a shack. He was killed because he confessed Christ as his Lord and stood for his belief.

Rachel Scott, only 17, had thought about graduating early to travel with a Christian drama team and become a missionary or work with troubled young people. She let her light shine everywhere she went. On this fateful day, her faith and love for Jesus was recognized, and she was rewarded for her confession of faith with a bullet that took her life. Today she is with the Lord that she loved so much, killed for her testimony in Christ.

A lady in Houston, Texas was ordered by local police to stop handing out gospel tracts to children who knocked on her door during Halloween. Officers informed her that such activity is illegal (not true), and that she would be arrested if she continued.

Raymond Raines, a Pentecostal, was in the 4th Grade. He always bowed his head to say “Grace” before he would eat his lunch. He was told that it was illegal to pray and will placed in detention to force him to stop. He had to go to a private school to escape religious persecution.

Two girls in middle school were told that their Bibles are "garbage." The teacher threw the Bibles into the trashcan, and took the girls to the principal’s office. Three students at the same school had schoolbooks with the Ten Commandments on the covers. School officials threw the book covers into the trash, saying that the Ten Commandments are "hate speech."

A federal judge in Texas ruled that any student who uses the word "Jesus" during the school’s graduation ceremonies would be arrested and sent to jail.

The question is, “How much do you love Jesus? What will you do in the face of persecution?

Greatest Batter in The World

There is an old story about a happy little boy who went out into the field wearing a baseball cap. In one hand he carried a baseball, & in the other a baseball bat. His face bore a look of tremendous confidence.

Cocking his bat, he tossed the ball into the air, saying, "I’m the greatest batter in the world!" Then he swung & missed. "Strike one," he said.

He picked up the ball, examined it, & then threw it into the air again. As he swung, he repeated, "I’m the greatest batter in the world." Once again he missed. "Strike two," he said. This time, he stopped to examine his bat to make sure there wasn’t a hole in it. Then he picked up the ball, adjusted his cap, & tossed the ball into the air for the 3rd time.

He repeated again, "I’m the greatest batter in the world," & swung with all his might - & missed for the 3rd straight time. "Wow" he cried, "What a pitcher. I’m the greatest pitcher in the world!"

Happy Birthday

Today is the birthday of my best friend, pastor, and somebody i look up to and admire Greg Thompson, Happy Birthday Greg. I thank God that me and Greg have crossed paths, every sunday when he preaches his messages touch home and build great hope and exictment in my life. I could not have asked for a better friend, anytime i needed anything, needed help, or advice he is always there to help me on this journey called life. Thank you for all you do and what you have done for me in my life. Happy Birthday Mr. Greg wishing you have a very happy day full of joy and exictment.

biggest fan contest

Well, i knew one day my brother dressing up like a big razorback fan would pay off and it did. My mother and I enter my brother into the Biggest Razorback Fan contest sponsered by the Arkansas Democract Gazette and out of the eight photos posted my brother came in 1st place and won a $100 prize set. I'm so proud of my brother for being the biggest razorback fan in the state of Arkansas, it makes me wanna cry. Who knows i may start dressing up like him on gameday, on second thought probally not.

"Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, i would still plant my apple tree."
Martin Luther King

You Know Your Getting Older When...

2007 has come and gone by very quickly. Everytime we start a new year i start feeling more and more older, when the new year starts the countdown begins to when i turn another year older because my birthday is in january. so i did some research to find out how do you know when your getting older and here is what i found, do you have any of these problems:

Your joints are more accurate than the National Weather Service.
Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.
Your back goes out more than you do.
The twinkle in your eye is only the reflection of the sun on your bifocals.
You feel like the morning after when you haven't been anywhere the night before.
You finally got your head together, now your body is falling apart.
Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable size.
You wake up with that morning-after feeling and you didn't do anything the night before.
You don't care where your wife goes, just so you don't have to go along.
It takes twice as long to look half as good.
Many of your co-workers were born the same year that you got your last promotion.
People call at 9 PM and ask, "Did I wake you?"
You can live without sex but not without glasses.
The clothes you've put away until they come back in style... have come back in style.
You look forward to a dull evening.
Your mind makes contracts your body can't keep.
The pharmacist has become your new best friend.
There's nothing left to learn the hard way.
You come to the conclusion that your worst enemy is gravity.
You start video taping daytime game shows.
You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.
Your idea of a night out is sitting on the patio.
You look for your glasses for half-an-hour, then find they've been on your head all the time.
You wake up, looking like your driver's license picture.
Happy hour is a nap.
You begin every other sentence with, "Nowadays..."
You constantly talk about the price of gasoline.
You don't remember when your wild oats turned to shredded wheat.
You sing along with the elevator music.
You are proud of your lawn mower.
You wonder how you could be over the hill when you don't remember being on top of it.
Getting lucky means you find your car in the parking lot.
The little gray-haired lady you help across the street is your wife.
Your idea of weight lifting is standing up.
Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.
Your ears are hairier than your head.
You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it.
It takes longer to rest than it did to get tired.
You talk about "good grass" and you're referring to someone's lawn.
The end of your tie doesn't come anywhere near the top of your pants.
You give up all your bad habits and you still don't feel good.
Your childhood toys are now in a museum.
You can't remember the last time you laid on the floor to watch television.
You confuse having a clear conscience with having a bad memory.
You frequently find yourself telling people what a loaf of bread USED to cost.
You know all the answers, but nobody asks you the questions.
You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.
You got cable for the weather channel. Old Folks MTV!
Your new easy chair has more options than your car.
Your little black book only contains names ending in M.D.
Everything hurts and what doesn't hurt, doesn't work.
You find yourself beginning to like accordion music.
You have too much room in the house and not enough in the medicine cabinet.
You get into a heated argument about pension plans.
"Getting a little action" means you don't need to take a laxative.
Conversations with people your own age often turn into "dueling ailments."
You buy a compass for the dash of your car.
You take a metal detector to the beach.
The car that you bought brand new becomes an antique.
You are cautioned to slow down by the doctor instead of by the police.
You realize that caution is the only thing you care to exercise.
You don't remember being absentminded.
You have more patience; but actually, it's just that you don't care any more.
Your memory is shorter and your complaining is longer.
Your drugs of preference are now vitamins.
You tip more and carry less.
You read more and remember less.
You get propositioned by AARP.
Younger women start opening doors for you.
You begin to become invisible in the dating and mating game.
The highway patrol sigh or shake their heads but don't give you a ticket.
You scout for a warmer place to spend the long, cold winters.
You are no longer 'promising'.
Younger men ask you for advice.
You work on your short game.
Youthful injuries return with a vengeance.
Youthful indiscretions harden into bad habits.
You shop for health insurance the way you once shopped for a new car.
Your medical expenses go up 50%.
A 'late night' now ends at 11 pm.
You learn where your prostrate is.
You develop a knack for wearing hats.

Its sad but i fall into a few of these catagories, guess it proves i am getting older, just as long i dont lose my hair and grow a big gut i will be okay!!!