As you know my political thoughts may not be exactly yours, but we can still be friends. It seems to me that the world is turned upside down right now and our politicians have lost their way in life. When I hear things like this: Our president will now make it mandatory that all youth serve in a special Help core where they will be taught the current administrations views on all matters. That this was passed in the Senate and the House is beyond my worst fears for America. It would seem I am watching as the spirit of the AntiChrist takes over the minds of the people who were once free to think as they wished. Now, it is different; we must think as we are told to think. This is wrong and it has always been wrong.
So, what can we do about it? Write to your President and tell him what you think. Remember, if enough of us write him, he will know he has to please the people at some point in his time in office. This is only one example.
Mr. Ted Kennedy has sponsored the bill and it has passed. Read about it by going on the internet and make up your own mind. HR1388. Could it be history is repeating what they did in Germany so long ago?
I write the President about all the things I can do nothing about because I am not elected to "represent" the people. Now, we have been told that anyone who does not accept Abortion on demand, has a gun in thier home, belives in a man marrying a women instead of another man, or believes people should have permission to live in this country if they are from another country. All those kind of people are now considered "threats" to our country as they are the right wing conservatives.
Our government gave billions to Hamas in Palestine so they could end up shooting more Israeles and yet we at home are now considered dangerous because we belive in conservative values.
Well, if you have a complaint, you had better get out your pen and paper and send a letter to the Senator or your state or the President of the USA. Remember, He is the top man; the angry people will be heard sooner or later. It seems more folks getter madder by the minute. It does not matter what the news casters tell you; the folks are home are not happy.

Remembering when......

What you are looking at in this picture is a creek that is below the house, down the hill, from where I grew up. It was a delightful place to play and all my cousins and I, and others who came to my house would go there. It was the first thing everyone wanted to do; lets go to the creek.

We would run ourside, climb down the embankment and hang on to the bushes and trees to get closer to the water and then we would play in the creek. It was fun.

There were crawdads in the creek. I guess that would be a crab of a sort. I know I used to catch them and bring them home to my mom. Sometimes we had 30 of them in a pool of water at our house. I don´t recall ever eating one as the water was contaminated even back then, but we would play with them then take them back to the creek. How we enjoyed finding them.

Sometimes the creek would overflow its boundries and in the winter a city block (where the creek was located in a huge hole near our house) would be flooded and a torrent of water would go through the conduits the city had put in our creek. It was frightening to say the least and yet we would go and just watch the water as it flooded by us and took everything in its sight. We stayed up far away from the water of course, but it was fun and fasinating to see it going by down below.

When things would get back to normal we would begin our times of exploration at the creek. There was always new trails to follow and some even down to the might river Willamatte. It was a big river and our little Perriwikle creek would flow into that one.

Why do I write about that time of my life today? Strange, but it seems I now wonder what in the world my mom was thinking to allow me to play in such a place. There was a railroad track beside my house, and a lot of "travelers" were on those trains. They were not paying passengers but just people who traveled on box cars. Sometimes they would get off and go down to our creek.

It was a dangerous place to play, in that we could have slipped and fallen into the creek and no one would have known for hours. There was so many places we could have been badly injured there but not once did we ever think of that. Now, I know I would NEVER have allowed my kids to play there. Well, at least I don´t think I would have.

Those days were so different. There were evil people then as there has been since the beginning but nothing in the magnitude of today. Peoples minds today are continually on evil and what they can do to promote their evil ideas. Our laws have it is easy for evil men to become wealthy exploiting others.

Society today has accepted bad behaviour as "normal" or a "choice" and nothing more. Freedom has given the worst of us to prey on the innocent and be accepted as having a different way of living or thinking about what is correct or what is normal.

Normal has become a setting on the dryer and nothing more.

I saw the picture of Perriwikle creek and it made me remember a different day. One where the people had a code of life that was intererly different from todays. Many things in our world today are good and many improvements have been made. These have made our life better in many ways. But, there is a change that has come to all of America. We are accepting more and more the things we used to believe were wrong. It would seem to me there is little that is "wrong" anymore. Do whatever seems good to YOU to do........that is the message of today.

I for one, do not agree and still believe there is a right way to live and a wrong way to live. God has decided that and it was a long time ago.

Hugs for all who take the time to read this thought today.

Just wanted everyone who reads this today that I have written my letter to Mr. Obama and I hope he will get to read it.

I was polite. I can say that for myself. However, I did tell him I was not a terrorist because I live by the USA constitution and that I believe it is OK to have a gun. I am OK because I do not believe in Abortion, nor same sex marriages, nor letting people who don´t work get paid by the governemtn by the people who do work. You and Me!

I told him all that a lot more. I hope he reads it.

But, if you hear I have gone to jail for telling him how I feel, at least you know what I told him.

Have you written a letter to him yet? It is your oportunity to tell him just how you feel about how he is running (ruining) the country.

For now, that is our priviledge.

Linda

Pillars

Pillars. Just what are they anyway? They speak of strength. They speak of foundational strength. To some they are landmarks in a persons life that give you strength.

Landmarks. Something that happens in a persons life that marks that period of their life that could never be forgotten.

Long ago I experienced somehting in my life that has been a "pillar" of strengh to me.
We were planning to go to Brazil as missionaries and it seemed at the time there were many obstacles in our path of ever seeing the land that we knew God had called us to.

I remember standing at my kitchen sink washing dishes and I was praying and asking God to help us in our situation and provide the way for us to get to Brazil. I was very depressed and praying as I washed my dishes. God understands no matter what some might say or think. He does care and he does understand our difficulties of this life.
I remember how I was praying and wanting to belive in a miracle for our family, when I truely felt God´s love and his arms around me. I felt so much comfort that day; it was so real to me.
I was not discouraged any longer. I had felt God´s presence. I knew HE was with me and HE would see to it our needs were met.

That has been over 35 years ago. We have been in Brazil all these years and that experience has been a "pillar" in my life. I look back and remember what God did then and I can look ahead because of that day and KNOW that what God did for me then, HE will do again for me. I will always look back to see the many pillars God has set in my path.

I can not see the future nor do I want to see the hard times ahead of me, but one thing I know when life throws me a curve and I think surely I will not make it past this trial, I will remember, what God has done, He will do again. I do not know how, or when or anything about it but I know God is real and He delights in helping HIS own.

Thank God for the gift of remembering.

Love to you all who joined me today in reading my thoughts.
Linda

Share the Secret

The Secret

One day, one friend asked another, "How is it that you are always so happy? You have so much energy, and you never seem to get down."

With her eyes smiling, she said, "I know the Secret!" "What secret is that?" To which she replied, "I'll tell you all about it, but you have to promise toshare the Secret with others."

"The Secret is this: I have learned there is little I can doin my life that will make me truly happy. I must depend on God to make me happy and to meet my needs. When a need arises in my life, I have to trust God to supply according to HIS riches.I have learned most of the time I don't need half of what I think I do. He has never let me down. Since I learned that 'Secret', I am happy."

The questioner's first thought was, "That's too simple!"But upon reflecting over his own life he recalled how he thought a bigger house would make him happy, but it didn't! He thought a better paying jobwould make him happy, but it hadn't. When did he realize his greatest happiness? Sitting on the floor with his grandchildren, playing games, eating pizza or reading a story, a simple gift from God.

Now you know it too! We can't depend on people to make us happy. Only GOD in His infinite wisdom can do that. Trust HIM! And now I pass the Secret on to you! So once you get it, what will you do?

YOU have to tell someone the Secret, too! That GOD in His wisdom will take care of YOU!But it's not really a secret... We just have to believe it and do it... Really trust God!

Graphics By: Mark C. PhillipsAuthor of message unknown

I know this may seem to you that I do not share MY thoughts in that putting someone else thoughts. However, in reading the thoughts here stated, they are much better that my own. I hope you will enjoy reading this thought of the SECRET. Let us all spread the news. (the secret must not be kept secret) Tell everyone.

Linda

Loveliest flower was I to see, In the garden of Gethsemane.

My head erect, my pure white face

Such a delight for all to embrace.

For all who entered the garden gate,

I'd boldly lift my head and wait'Til they gazed upon my beauty fair.

All who came would see me there.

On the night before he was crucified, Jesus entered.

He passed me by. He wept and prayed in silence there.

All my friends bowed their heads in prayer.

In pity and sorrow they gathered round, Except for me.

I could not be found. I would not join in.

I was much too proud. Bow my lovely head?

No, I would not allow! News spread quickly, the very next day.

All 'round the garden, I heard everyone sayJesus was going to be crucified.

Oh, I wanted to run. I wanted to hide!

I'd been much too vain to hang my head low,

That first Good Friday; long, long, ago.

I would not join the others who prayed with our King.

Now, how can I bear such a sorrowful thing?

No longer will I proudly face the sun.

My head will hang lowly, ashamed of what I've done.

My blossom forever will down turned be,

In honor of Jesus; at Gethsemane.

Dot McGinnis

A Day to Remember

Today is Easter. I hope it means more to you than just new clothes and eating ham and lots of chocolate bunnies.
Easter is a day the Lord told us to remember. We are to remember his Death, Burial and His Ressurection.
As I look around, hear the news, see the pictures and hear the talk I think most people have no clue what today represents to them as an individual or to their family or to the human race.
Jesus purchased our salvation on the cross. He willing died for all of us. No one was left out; even those who had crucified Him that terrible day.

If I do anything today, I would want it to be my remembering his sacrifice by telling him Thank you many times. Thanking him for my salvation and all he gave me that day long before I was born.
Thank Him for the fact he did rise again and lives for evermore. Our whole gospel is wrapped up in that fact. He is not dead. He is alive. What a wonderful message. Let us never forget that message.
I would love to see you today and give you a hug and tell you that Jesus lives for evermore.