Church

Note From Arlene: Barry decided that this was an issue that should be addressed, so here is his very first blog. If he keeps this up, we will give him his own blogspot! Enjoy!

I was sitting thinking about my current church situation or lack thereof. We’ve been to a couple of different churches and were able to experience the way most churches are.

Having been in church 46 of my 50 years, I have become very accustomed to the way things are done.

In the last 2 years, my eyes have been opened to a new way of doing things. I look back on my married life and have been taught the act of morphing or a simple way of putting it is CHANGE! When I first got married Arlene was always changing the placement of the furniture. It’s a good thing that I didn’t drink because I would have been sitting on the floor more than the couch she changed it so often.

Looking back, her actions have allowed me to view change as a good thing! Sadly, the church world has not changed nearly as drastically as life, nor has it tried to keep up with changes.

While sitting at lunch, Arlene & I were talking about some of the churches we’ve tried and how none of them seem to draw me.

Easter Sunday morning I was hoping to see a church that was excited about the resurrection of Christ, but the service was very subdued thus causing me great sadness. While talking to Arlene the thought hit me; I know why so many people turn to sin. At least it entices or allures people unlike the church. Unfortunately, the church has lost its salt. It doesn’t draw people, not as God had intended. So who failed, God or the church? Beyond a doubt, it is the church. The church is content with status quo. It is not willing to stand up to the task of changing. It’s much easier to set back and dream of what used to be. Shame on us for not being willing to stand up to the task of reaching the next generation. Sometimes I see the church in the parable of a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one. The one given five talents multiplied, as did the one with two, however, the one with only one talent did not.

Where have we as a church multiplied what God has given us? Any thoughts on this?

Happy 70th Birthday Sis!

Today is my only sister's 70th birthday. She does not look 70 and I can't believe she is. She doesn't seem like she is that old and can clean circles around me. She always could though. It's one of her gifts or at times we have thought maybe it was a curse. I never had that gift. She used to be so bad...when anyone came to her house to smoke, she would clean the ashtray before they were done. She's mellowed out now though and that's a good thing.

We are all taking her to dinner tomorrow night to honor her life. We will be going to Applebee's only because most other restaurants couldn't fit our small...but growing family in.

Her husband that is 81 and doesn't look or act it at all
Her twin daughters will be there
Her three granddaughters
Her one great granddaughter
Barry & Me

Amber (Our daughter) and her husband, Chad
and their two little ones - Kaitlynne has to go to her dad's this weekend.

It should be a nice time for all. Any suggestions as to what to get her? She's not one of those people that say, oh, I don't want anything. She enjoys getting. Mostly she has a heart so big and enjoys giving. This is her day though, so there will be no giving to any of us! Enjoy, my dear Sister! I love you!

Josh

We got a phone call today that Josh passed away. He is now in his eternal home with his Heavenly Father! Please keep the family in prayer. Thanks!

Gatlinburg - The Smoky Mountains

Yep, that's our favorite place to go. We go at least twice a year and are going in just two weeks. We can't even wait, we are just praying that the weather cooperates and will be warm.

I think I can almost hear the sound of the streams calling us...Barry...Arlene...yep! It's time to go!

Where's your favorite place to go on vacation and why???

Josh

This is our friend's son in Georgia. Please keep them in prayer. He has been through way too much! There's so much power in prayer! Josh and his family are Christians but they are all tired, I am sure! My heart goes out to them.

Welcome to Joshua's Web Page

It has been provided to keep people updated about our son.

Joshua was diagnosed October 18th,2004 with osteosarcoma. He underwent a series of six chemo treatments before surgery on Jan. 13th,2005 to remove the tumor on his upper left leg. The surgery consisted of removing a few inches from the top of his leg bone, including the ball end, but not the hip socket. A metal prosthetic piece was put in place of the portion removed. After surgery, he continued with more series of chemo treatments.Joshua finished his treatments July of 05 and had cat-scans every 3 months. On his cat-scan January 13th,2006 they found 2 spots in his right lung. On January 20th, he had surgery to remove them. On his 1 month cat-scan on Feb 13th, a spot was found in his left lung and was removed on Feb 22nd.On July 27th, Josh's scan showed spots in each lung again. Josh had surgery on August 15th on his right lung to remove the spots in that lung. On Sept. 6th, Josh had surgery on the left lung to remove them spots.On Josh's scan in late November, both lungs showed spots. He had surgery on both lungs at the same time on Dec. 13th. They removed several spots from each lung.Josh had an MRI on Dec.22nd and found out that he has a mass in his left pelvis. He will try some more chemo to try and shrink it.


Journal
Monday, April 2, 2007 10:52 AM CDT
Hello everyone, I know it's been awhile since I posted. Josh has had the pain pump for awhile now, it works better. We have to increase it now and then to keep up with the pain. The Hospice nurse comes out every week, she was here today and is returning Wednesday. His breathing has changed, a little more labored, they are delivering oxygen this afternoon. I will post more later.

Thanks, Matt, Denise & Josh

Diligently

I'm not very good with being diligent some days..how about you? I think if I were good at it, I would get more done and spend more time in reading the Word and prayer. At times I feel so inadequate, but then I realize that if I would spend more time doing what I am supposed to be doing that I would be adequate. We do what we can do and then God does the rest. It's up to Him as long as we are doing our part. There are so many scriptures regarding diligence that you would think I would "get it". Thank you God for your grace and mercy! Help me be more diligent in the Kingdom for you!

Diligently

1. Hard-working and careful.
Thesaurus: hard-working, industrious, steady, reliable, conscientious, painstaking, assiduous, meticulous, compunctious;
Antonym: dilatory, lazy.
2. Showing or done with care and serious effort.
Derivative: diligently - adverb

Exodus 15:26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.

Deuteronomy 4:9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons;

Deuteronomy 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deuteronomy6:17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.

Deuteronomy11:13 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,

Deuteronomy11:22 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;

Deuteronomy 13:14 Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you;

Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

Job 13:17 Hear diligently my speech, and my declaration with your ears.

Psalms 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

Proverbs 7:15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

Proverbs 11:27 He that diligently seeks good procures favor: but he that seeks mischief, it shall come unto him.

Zechariah 6:15 And they that are far off shall come and build in the temple of the LORD, and ye shall know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. And this shall come to pass, if ye will diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

He Is Not Here...He Has RISEN!

Picture this and then picture yourself being there when this took place. You know you placed Him in the tomb. Surely someone has stolen Him. His grave clothes are there and the stone has been rolled away just where in the world is He? That would be so troubling!

Then the word started to get around..from a lady, of course. She saw Him...Jesus...living!

Didn't He say he would rise in only three days...but what was all of that talk about? Many people had been crucified but they never, ever rose again. How is that possible? However, didn't He always keep His word?

God is so gracious to us and sent His only son that we might have life and have that life more abundantly.

Can you imagine if Jesus had never come to forgive us of our sins. Life can be hard at times now but we have that Blessed Hope. Without Jesus, we have no hope at all!

Thank you God for the gift of your Son and for Resurrection Day! Today is a great day to reflect on what Jesus, through His Father, God, did for us!

We can now have hope, joy, peace and life everlasting! If you don't know Him you are more than welcome to ask Him into your heart. He will live there. I know...HE LIVES IN MINE!

Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Luke 24:5 - 6

Cracked Eggs

You probably think I am going to post about Easter Eggs, right? Wrong! What I am posting about is going out to breakfast this morning and getting egg shells in my poached eggs. Egh! That is terribly gross and disgusting. I couldn't eat another bite. The waitress apologized and said that she can't eat after getting egg shells in her eggs either.

My question to you is--do you often get bad food in restaurants or is it just me?

Good? Friday

When I think about what today means...it's nearly more than I can handle. I can't even imagine what it would be like to have been Jesus many years ago today! The beating, the flesh being ripped from Him. The sacrifice...oh, the sacrifice. I also can't imagine being the One that would take away the sins of the entire world from then until the end of time. It is mind boggling to me. It is beyond my comprehension.

It is also beyond my comprehension to think about the people that were there. Especially His mother. Wow, as a Mom, I can 't imagine, nor would I want to imagine, watching my child die in such a horrible fashion.

Why would anyone want to give ME eternal life? Why would He want to give YOU eternal life? What a sacrifice that was. The amazing thing to me is that His blood still flows freely to forgive us. Talk about Grace. Talk about Love. Talk about Forgiveness.

We hear all of the time that someone would give their lives for another. I would venture to say, not too many of us would if it actually came down to it.

I would say that today is a Good Friday! It is redemption, love, sacrifice, forgiveness and so much more! Have a Good Day!

It is finished! John 19:30

Prayer Requests

Today I received some news about a lady I have known since she was a kid. She had an MRI and three spots showed up on her brain. They said it was nothing serious and it wasn't MS. Thank God. She has requested prayer though anyway. She doesn't have to go back for a year. Please pray for her.

I also got an email from a friend that said a person we went to church with when Amber was born fell to the floor yesterday, had a heart attack and died. His wife and family are in shock.

We were at Walmart yesterday and I said to the cashier, I like to pray for people, do you have any prayer needs. She said no, but just pray I can be an inspiration to people.

Little Tristin still sounds terrible tonight. He is coughing. I am sure that the medicine is helping him, but it just takes a little while.

Tomorrow Kaitlynne has to go with her dad until Tuesday. She told me she really wanted to stay with our family. She has gone through way too much to be just 7.

We have a friend, Mike, that is diligently looking for a job. He has sent out numerous, I mean in the hundreds of resumes. His resume reads wonderfully and still no offers. Please pray for him.

Our friend, Angela's mother in law passed away a couple of days ago. Please pray for this family.

I am having a lot of trouble out of my hands and feet currently. It is a side effect of the chemo. Last time I was on chemo it went away after a while. This time they are much more numb than before but don't hurt like they did last time.

Some of the people left yesterday, some today, some Sunday and some Monday, our former pastor is taking 4 different crews I believe about 50 people, to New Mexico/Arizona to work on the Navajo Reservation. They will be there until Saturday. Please pray for them to minister to the Indians there through the love of Jesus.

With this being Easter weekend, there will be many people in church that don't usually attend. According to statistics Easter Sunday is one of the most attended services there is. Let's all remember to pray for them that they would come to know the Lord. Pray for the Pastors that they would say what God would have them say.

Pray one for another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent

prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16

Tristin

Yesterday I took Tristin shopping with me. I was going to Penney's to take back an outfit I didn't really like that I bought for a wedding on Saturday night. I wasn't planning to take him, but he really begged to go with me. Amber had taken him to the doctor earlier and his blood count was low. I didn't know how he would be and I figured most little boys or big boys for that matter, don't like to shop. Tristin, however, I found out, loves to shop. He said Granny I yuv to shop. He doesn't say his "l's" well. He talks so cute.

He went through Penney's with me like a little trooper. He seemed to enjoy every second of it. Granny, can we go on the alligator. I said Tristin, yes we can, but it's an elevator. He said ok, can we go on the alligator now. I said el-e-va-tor. He repeated it and then the next time he mentioned it, it was back to alligator again. Why fight "city hall"? He's so much smarter than me.

I took him over to buy him a new pair of shoes, just cause I wanted to. He LOVES 'lightin a queen" from the movie Cars. I found a pair of tennis shoes that were light up "lightin a queen" and asked him if he wanted them. Granny, (kind of disgusted) those shoes are too small, they won't fit me. I proceeded to try to explain to him that they were just for display and they would have them in his size. The lady tried them on, in his size of course, and he started running up and down to get them to light up. It was so cute. We went to the register and the lady said to me, oh, you get a second pair for $1.00. Now that's a bargain I couldn't pass up, so I found a pair of blue sandals. Did I mention blue is his very favorite color? I showed them to him and the display pair was smaller than the 1st pair. Granny, again, very disgusted, they are too small. Well he got two pair of shoes and was just so happy.

Last night they had to take him to the hospital because his symptoms became worse (it was just a virus, thank God) anyway, he wanted to wear his shoes. Today they put him in a camouflage outfit and he still wanted to wear his shoes.

I feel like I am the most blessed woman in the world. Thank you Lord, Jesus!

Don't you see that children are God's best gift? The fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Psalms 127:3

The Little Children

This is a picture of Kaitlynne playing dress-up!

She is 7.

She's a wonderful kid!

Such innocence!

It came up over the weekend that a mother here in our town tried to sell her daughter for sex. Not only did she try to sell her daughter for sex...she went to a hotel at the airport and took beautiful dresses for her daughter along with a bag of sex toys. Now all of that is horrible and it really does hurt me every time I see it on TV or hear about it on the radio. This little girl is 7 years old. That is just disgusting! Most of all, I think of my little granddaughter, Kaitlynne. She is 7 years old and I could not imagine anything like that happening to her. Thank God, the mother (and I use the term lightly) got caught by an undercover agent at the hotel. This woman has 4 other children that are all in the State's hands now.

They are concerned that this has happened multiple times to this little one and possibly to the others also. Can you imagine how messed up these little ones are? Please remember to pray for them.

Some of my greatest dilemmas have been times in the prisons when I have to minister to ladies that have sexually abused their children. They don't generally tell me what they have done, but sometimes they do. It is hard. Please pray that if I encounter this woman I will be able to minister the love of Jesus Christ to her like I could to any other person. That is what I am there for...to show Jesus' love.

Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not;

for of such is the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 10:14

Reminiscing With Friends

Last night we went to a “church family” wedding. It is a family that I have spent much time with throughout my life. It is through them that I met the man of my prayers. It was a large wedding with most of the people from our home church in attendance. It was so wonderful to see everyone again!

It was equally wonderful to talk to so many people that had been consistently praying for me.

The guy who aggravated me and irritated me most when we were much younger (all in his good fun) came up to Barry and told him that his feet never hit the floor in the morning until he prays for me. That was so touching!

A lady came up to me that had gone through breast cancer herself said that she is awake most every night during the early hours praying for me and others. She has now started a ministry to cancer patients. How ironic, she told God when she went into nursing the only thing she didn't want to be was a nurse working with cancer patients. God surely has a sense of humor.

It was wonderful to see so many people. As the years go by and we all get older, it is amazing to both Barry and me to see the amount of people that never, ever lose contact. It’s like when you see them, you haven’t lost touch with them at all…no matter how long it may have been. You can just pick up where you left off.

It was also a pleasure to be able to see those that help “mold me” for Christ. This one particular lady is 83 years old and she is a big part of why I am saved today. When I went astray from the Lord, she never quit calling me and inviting back to church. She just kept on me. I have never forgotten that. I sent her a letter thanking her for her 80th birthday.

Some of our friends, Helen and Ernie also helped shape me and helped me become who I am today because of the Word of God they poured into my life and continue to do so even today! They minister in the prisons with us and continue to pray daily for me.

My blogging buddy Pat was there too with her husband Hal and, as always, it was wonderful to see them. When her husband came up to me, he hugged me and kissed me and told me that he loves me and is praying for me. He had tears in his eyes!

I also spent quite a bit of time with their daughter, Amy that used to baby-sit for us when our daughter was little. What a wonderful woman of God she has turned out to be!

There were many other people there that have touched my life but there are so many that I can't put them all down here.

One other lady that I will mention though is Ginny. I can't remember how old she is but she has a daughter around my age. She came in glowing to the wedding. She had just been declared in remission from Leukemia the day before. Thank the Lord! I have been praying consistently for her since I heard about her.

It was just such a wonderful night and because of all of the people that came up to me and Barry telling us they are praying, they absolutely helped energize me for this long journey that I have been on. I pray and believe that it now has become shorter!

A few weeks ago we went to our former Pastor’s church in Ohio and that too was a true blessing. He sent an email tonight that absolutely touched my heart. I thank God for all of the friends God has allowed us to minister with throughout the years! Especially this man. He taught us so much. He ministered where there was a need!

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. Philippians 1:3