Sunday, December 24, 2006

 
Jonathan Edwards

In his sermon “God, the best portion of the Christian,” said this: “The Mohammedans, for instance, suppose that in heaven are to be enjoyed all manner of sensual delights and pleasures. Many things which Mohammed has feigned are to the lusts and carnal appetites of men the most agreeable he could devise, and with them he flattered his followers. “

Somehow, the lusts to be controlled on earth are said to be rewards in heaven. For example, kill yourself while you kill a non-muslim and get seventeen virgins in heaven.
One of the questions I ask is: Does that apply to the teenage girls who blow themselves up? If so, what do the girls do with all those virgins?

Oh well

Saturday, December 23, 2006

 
C.S. Lewis

"This year, or this month, or, more likely, this very day, we have failed to practice ourselves the kind of behavior we expect from other people."
From; "The case for Christianity."

Think about it,
Charlie

 
What Denomination?

A woman went to the Post Office to buy stamps for her Christmas Cards. "What denomination?" asked the clerk.

"Oh, good heavens! Have we come to this?" said the woman.
"Well, give me 30 Catholic, 10 Baptist ones, 20 Lutheran, and 40 Presbyterian."

Ain't that sumthin?

Friday, December 22, 2006

 
Food for Thought

People look careingly only at the blossom and the fruit,and disregard the long transition when one is ripening into the other. Berthold Auerback

Ain't God good?
Charlie

 
The Twelve Thank-You Notes of Christmas Part 2
Dec. 31
Edward,
I thought I said NO MORE BIRDS. This morning I woke up to find no more than seven swans, all trying to get into our tiny goldfish pond. I'd rather not think what's happened to the goldfish. The whole house seems to be full of birds, to say nothing of what they leave behind them, so please, please, stop!
Your Emily

Jan 1
Frankly, I prefer the birds. What am I to do with eight milkmaids? And their cows! Is this some kind of a joke? If so, I'm afraid I don't find it very amusing.
Emily

Jan. 2
Look here, Edward,
This has gone far enough. You say you're sending me nine ladies dancing. All I can say is, judging from the way they dance, they're certainly not ladies. The village just isn't accustomed to seeing a regiment of shameless viragos, with nothing on but their lipstick, cavorting round the green, and it's mother and I who get the blame. If you value our friendship, which I do (less and less), kindly stop this ridiculous behaviour at once!
Emily

Jan 3
As I write this letter, 10 disgusting old men are prancing up and down all over what used to be the garden, before the geese and the swans and the cows got at it. And several of them, I have just noticed, are being a nuisance with the milkmaids. Meanwhile the neighbours are trying to have us evicted. I shall never speak to you again.
Emily

Jan 4
This is the last straw! You know I detest bagpipes! The place has now become something between a menagerie and a madhouse, and a man from the council has just declared it unfit for habitation. At least Mother has been spared this last outrage; they took her away yesterday afternoon in an ambulance to a home for the bewildered. I hope you're satisfied.

Jan 5
Sir,
Our client, Miss Emily Wilbraham, instructs me to inform you that with the arrival on her premises at 7:30 this morning of the entire percussion section of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and several of their friends, she has no course left open to her but to seek an injunction to prevent you importuning her further. I am making arrangements for the return of much assorted livestock.
I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
G. Creep
Attorney at law


Keep smiling

Thursday, December 21, 2006

 
Replacement Theology #3


“I say then, Hath God cast way His people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away His people that He forknew………..”
Romans 11:1-2

“For I am the Lord, I change not.”
Malachi 3:6

“I will bless them that curse thee, and I will curse them that curse thee.”

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17


Shalom for now,
Charlie

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

 
God is in control

Favorite youngest and her husband ventured to Kansas City to deal with some of he bureaucratic duties relating to the adoption of three deaf children from Ethiopia.

While there they met some people from Ethiopia who own a restaurant in K. C.
The owner and his employees were full of praise and thanks that Rebecca and Vernon would do such a thing. They gave them cell phone numbers and volunteered to help with interpreting the paperwork. hey also said once the children arrive they will invite the family to major Christian events held by Ethiopian community in Kansas City.

I'm curious as to what the events could be like.

Who would have even thought this meeting could have, would have happened except God?

God is in control,

Charlie

 
Muslim Freedom

People who have anti Semitic tendencies probably don't think about the fact that
the Muslims who live in Israel have more freedoms than those who live in Muslim controlled countries.
Especially the women.

Have a great day

 
The Twelve Thank-You Notes of Christmas Part 1 Dec 25
My dearest darling Edward,
What a wonderful surprise has just greeted me! That sweet partridge, in that lovely little pear-tree; what an enchanting, romantic, poetic present! Bless you, and thank you.
Your deeply loving,
Emily

Dec. 26
Beloved Edward,
The two turtle-doves arrived this morning, and are cooing away in the pear-tree as I write. I'm so touched and grateful! With undying love, as always,
Emily

Dec. 27
My darling Edward,
You do think of the most original presents! Who ever thought of sending anybody three French hens? Do they really come all the way from France? It's a pity we have no chicken coops, but I expect we'll find some. Anyway, thank-you so much; they're lovely.
Your devoted,
Emily

Dec. 28
Dearest Edward,
What a surprise! Four calling birds arrived this morning. They are very sweet, even if they do call rather loudly - they make telephoning almost impossible - but I expect they'll calm down when they get used to their new home. Anyway, I'm very grateful, of course I am.
Love from Emily

Dec. 29
Dearest Edward,
The mailman has just delivered five most beautiful gold rings, one for each finger, and all fitting perfectly! A really lovely present! Lovelier, in a way, than birds, which do take rather a lot of looking after. The four that arrived yesterday are still making a terrible row, and I'm afraid none of us got much sleep last night. Mother says she wants to use the rings to "wring" their necks. Mother has such a sense of humour. This time she's only joking, I think, but I do know what she means. Still, I love the rings.
Bless you,
Emily

Dec. 30
Dear Edward,
Whatever I expected to find when I opened the front door this morning, it certainly wasn't six socking great geese laying eggs all over the porch. Frankly, I rather hoped that you had stopped sending me birds. We have no room for them, and they've already ruined the croquet lawn. I know you meant well, but let's call a halt, shall we?
Love,
Emily

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

 
Replacemen Theology #2

The gift to Abraham and his descendants was an unconditional covenant from God.

Genesis 17:7-8
“And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations and for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. And I will give to you and your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all he land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

There are people today who like to say the covenant was conditional, based on the faithfulness of Israel. That ain't what God said read Psalms 89:30-37.

Psalms 89:30-37
If his sons forsake My law, and do not walk in my judgments, if they violate my statutes, and do not keep My commandments, then I will visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. But I will not break off my lovingkindness from him, nor deal falsely in My faithfulness. My covenant I will not violate, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips. Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. His descendants shall endure forever, and his thrones as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever like the moon, and the witness in the sky is faithful."

Frankly, If God has changed His mind about Israel's right to the land we might just as well throw the book away and go fishin'.


Shalom for now,
Charlie

Monday, December 18, 2006

 
Israel's right to the land installmant #1

Genesis 12:7
"The Lord appeared o Abram and said, "to your descendants I will give this land."
Genesis 13:15
"For all the land you see, I will give it to you and your descendants forever. (Forever is a very looooong time)
Genesis 15:18.
"To your descendants I have given this land."

Mr. Carter, former U. S. president, is a professing Christian. It would appear he not only doesn't understand recent history, he doesn't understand biblical history.

Shalom for now,
Charlie

Sunday, December 17, 2006

 
 


"We live, in fact, in a world starved for solitude, silence, and private: and therefore starved for mediation and true friendship."
CS Lewis

Have a great day
Charlie Posted by Picasa

 
Corrie Tenboom

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

Shalom Y'all
Charlie

 
C. S. Lewis
The proper rewards are not simply tacked on to the activity for which they are given, but are the activity itself in consummation.
C.S. Lewis

Have a blessed Lord's day
Charlie

Saturday, December 16, 2006

 
Honky Tonk Piano

I was thinking today about the comments made by a "fallen" TV evangelist who has been back on the air. He said something like this: "Modern "Christian" music is of the devil."
It seems he doesn't like the style of contemporary christian music.
I am fascinated by what he said since his style of music reminds me very much of honky tonk piano, like the music one would have heard in a bar thirty or forty years ago.

King David was "A man after God's heart." David invented instruments for the specific purpose of praising God.

Who knows what incredible music he might have written if he'd had today's technology available to him. Maybe synthesized guitars? Maybe even honky tonk style piano.

I think in a future post I shall include lyrics from some contemporary Christian music.

Ain't God good?

 
Jimmy Carter is a dolt

His unwillingness to debate Dershowitz demonstrates that he has no knowledge of history and bases his book on the rewritten "history" of the drive by media. He knows Mr Dershowitz has that knowledge.

Mister Carter is unable to separate fact from fiction.
He also needs to study history, unrevised.

Years ago I was involved in ministry with developmentally disabled adults. Those people have more sense than does the former Pres.

It is sad that so many professing Christians are anti Semites, as is Carter.

These are fascinating times!

Shalom for now,
Dumb old truck driver

Thursday, December 14, 2006

 
And then there were three

Tonight favorite youngest called.
They have added to the list of children they are to adopt.
A fourteen year old deaf girl!
No one else wanted her and so they did. Her name is Salamonweet.
Cheaper by the dozen?
I hope not. Three at one time are enough.
I am proud.
God bless the children, God bless their soon to be parents.

God bless you.

Charlie.

 
The echo

“The tragedy of the world is the echo is mistaken for the Original Shout. When our back is to the breathtaking beauty of God, we cast a shadow on the earth and fall in love with it. But it does not satisfy.”
John Piper

Shalom Y'all
Charlie

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

 
A brief family history of 2006

Early in the year Charlie, the dedicated employee, over-stressed physically on the job and suffered injury to his lower back. This resulted in a spinal shot, time off from work and physical therapy. Finally, the doctor released him and he returned to work.
The environment there was a whole lot less than favorable, and the decision was made to sever the relationship and retire.
We had listed the house with a local broker, did some maintenance and upgrade on the place, and went to Missouri for the summer.
There, we have a house to use, lots of space for a garden, and our favorite youngest daughter and her husband as neighbors.
As the real estate market deteriorated it seemed unlikely the house would sell and that was OK with us. The entire effort was a “fleece”. If God wanted us to sell the house someone would buy it. Otherwise, we would continue there as we had for the previous thirty-four plus years. Offers to sell at a lower price were rejected.
Near the end of the listing on offer came that didn’t seem viable, but in two weeks we had returned to Florida and moved out.
Our son Robert had a large fifth wheel RV he wanted to sell. We bought it, moved it to an RV park, kind’a moved in and went to Texas for the Live Strong ride, visits in Texas with Donna, an in-law, Carolyn, a cousin, and returned to Missouri to enjoy the fall and prepare some land for a garden.
Now we have returned to Florida where Charlie does part time handy man work.
Aren, our favorite oldest granddaughter is a student at FGCU here in Fort Myers and we are blessed to have her visiting several times a week. She and Carol go shopping and have done some sewing together.
We are looking forward for what God has for us during our “seasoned” citizen years. Since our favorite youngest and her husband are on track to adopt two little deaf boys from Ethiopia, it seems likely we will be involved there, with them, a lot.
God is in control, we ask for, and wait for His Guidance.

Shalom for now,
Charlie

Monday, December 11, 2006

 
 
 Posted by Picasa
Amit

I was finally able to post a picture of Amit. Isn't he beautiful?

The world is full of what I call "Stray" children.
Some of them live on the streets of large citys, some live, unwanted, with their families, and some live in orphanages. There are even those whose lives are sacrificed, bombs strapped around them, to the god of radical Islam.
I don't know how or why Amit and Isaak became strays, but as I said earlier: Rebecca, our favorite youngest, and Vernon, her husband, expect fetch the two little ones from Ethiopa in a month or two.
I suppose because they are deaf they could be less likely adopted, but that works well for Rebecca, who operates a sign language interpreter service.
Jesus said: Let the little ones come to me. If you don't become like them, you gonna be locked out. (That is a Charlie Brown paraphrase.)

Shalom for now
God is good,

 
Yesterday I was reminded about a quote from C. S. Lewis.
“If we consider the unblushing promises of rewards in the gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires are not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”

Nuff said?
God bless,
Charlie

Sunday, December 10, 2006

 
Isaak


Our favorite youngest and her husband have been trying to adopt.
These are fine young folks, hard working and dedicated. The agencies and judges, it seems, did not want them to adopt.
God had other plans.
Isaak and his soon to be adoptive brother Amit, both deaf, are in Ethihopia waiting for the paper work to be finished and thier new dad to fetch them.
For some reason I'm unable to post the photo of Amit.
I'll try again.

Ain't God good?



"Poppy" Posted by Picasa

 
Wind in the Rigging
A half a lifetime ago, before marriage and kids, house payments and doctor bills, I was able to get involved in sailing. At night, while in a bunk below or curled up on deck, the action of the waves would cause the halyards to slap against the hollow metal mast. I like that sound.
Sometimes the wind, blowing through the rigging, would make a howling sound. It was soothing, comforting. (Unless there was too much wind, since I am prone to sea- sickness.)
Now after thirty five years at the same address Memaw and I have sold our home and live half the time in a rather large fifth wheel travel trailer.
There are no halyards, stays, sheets or spreaders, but there are fabric awnings. The small ones are secured to the exterior by nylon straps which vibrate when the wind blows. The big main awning sounds like the mainsail flopping.
When the force of the wind is strong enough the sound is rather loud. At other times it’s kind’a nice. Sometimes, in the middle of the night it disturbs my sleep.
Memaw mostly isn’t bothered because of her hearing loss, but I will probably alter those pesky little straps and perhaps, once that is done, sleep the whole night through.
When the breezes are gentle, I suppose, like the halyard slapping against the mast, I’ll miss hearing it.

Ain’t God good?

Charlie

Saturday, December 09, 2006

 
English was one of my better subjects
Still, spell chequer helps a lot

Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.

Shalom for now,
Charlie

Friday, December 08, 2006

 
JOHN GLENN (ON THE SENATE FLOOR)

Politically Senator Glenn and I agree very little but Setator Metzenbaum does not have a clue about the greatness of this nation, or it's military people.
How could he?
He is basically a socialist.

Mon, 26 Jan 2004 11:13

Some people still don't understand why military personnel do what they do for a living. This exchange between Senators John Glenn and Senator Howard Metzenbaum is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive impromptu speech, but it's also a good example of one man's explanation of why men and women in the armed services do what they do for a living.

This IS a typical, though sad, example of what some who have never served think of the military.

Senator Metzenbaum (speaking to Senator Glenn): "How can you run for Senate when you've never held a real job?"

Senator Glenn (D-Ohio): "I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 12 different occasions. I was in the space program. It wasn't my checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. It was not a nine-to-five job, where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts to the bank."

"I ask you to go with me ... as I went the other day... to a veteran's hospital and look those men
with their mangled bodies in the eye, and tell THEM they didn't hold a job!

You go with me to the Space Program at NASA and go, as I have gone, to the widows and Orphans of Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee... and you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their DADS didn't hold a job.

You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends buried than I'd like to remember, and you watch those waving flags.

You stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell ME that those people didn't have a job?

What about you?"


For those who don't remember ... During W.W.II, Howard Metzenbaum was an attorney representing the Communist Party in the USA.

Now he's a Senator!



If you can read this, thank a teacher.
If you are reading it in English thank a Veteran.


Shalom for now,
Charlie

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

 
Some Medical Chart Notes


The skin was moist and dry.

Occasional, constant, infrequent headaches.

She stated that she had been constipated for most of her life until she got a divorce.

Ain't that a hoot?
Poppy

 
"God creates out of nothing"
"Therefore, until a man is nothing,
God can make nothing of him." Martin Luther

Ain't God good?

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

 
Living in an RV is..........different.
It is good we have a real house to live in in Missouri.
There may be more grandchildren in our future.
It seems youngest daugher and her husband may adopt two little deaf boys who currently live in Ethiopia.

Aint God good?!

Shalom for now
Charlie

Saturday, December 02, 2006

 
The last few months have been rather hectic!
I shall save the details for another time (hopefully.)
This collage chronicles the involvement of our family in the Lance Armstrong Live Strong! Challenge Austin Texas October eighth 2006.
The riders are daughter Rennie, her husband Bob, grandson Jonathan, and MEMAW.
The family photo includes all the above plus Charlie and Lola.
Lola is an exchange student from Egypt.
Rennie rides on one leg, hence the live interview, an emotional time for Memaw as illustrated in the close up. The last photo is memaw returning to the car at the end of the day.


 

Aint God Good? Posted by Picasa

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