A First Time for Everything

We are in our 7th year in the Albion Area. This is the first time I have had to sit and wait for a train on Main Street. Usually I beat it or the gates are just lifting. So today I watched all 100 cars go by pulled by 3 locomotives. You can tell we are from a little town, when this stuff makes the news.

John Deere Model L Still at Work

I found this gentleman south of Erie on Oliver Road mowing his grass with an old John Deere Model L. He said he has rebuilt the motor twice over the years, but it runs great. It was doing a great job. I call it a highly useful hobby.

RC Planes

Since we are getting back into RC planes we stopped by an airfield to watch an RC plane do 3D flying. After this pic I helped the pilot do some video work of his flying. I am buying back my AT-6 from Ben McHugh and plan on getting it up into the air. I picked up a SIG Senior for the boys to learn to fly. It makes a great hobby with hours and hours of fun.

Visit from a Friend

Wes Black is a friend of mine and he stopped by for a visit. He was amused as I used my Samsung Flipshot for a view over my Bible. Wes stops in for church occasionally and we hope he will come every Sunday.

Six Reasons to Write your Prayer

By Dave Keep
I’ve been journaling my prayers of late and am finding it to be very rewarding. Perhaps you don’t type fast, or your hand-writing isn’t any good, so I’m sure this isn’t for everyone, but here are six reasons I think you should consider putting your prayers on paper:

• Continuity. When you write down your thoughts/prayers you know where you’ve been and where you’re going so there’s a cohesiveness about them.
  
• Consistency. In my case, I journal on YouVersion, so there is a date stamp on each prayer journal entry. So if I haven’t prayed (at least in this kind of intentional way) for a day or two, it is apparent. This helps me cultivate a greater consistency in coming to the Lord with my praise and requests.
• Brevity. We tend to get wordy in our praying, don’t we? Since writing and/or typing is more difficult we will likely say what we mean and mean what we say. Thus we are more direct in our praying and more specific in our requests. That’s a good thing!
  
• Focus. If you’re anything like me, your mind tends to wander in prayer. However, in writing my prayers I am better able to stay on track and on mission.
  
• Reflection. As with any journal, writing your prayers allows you the opportunity to go back days, or weeks, or months to see the things you were praying about, as well as how God responded to your prayers.
  
• Praise. Then, you can offer praise for the answers given. Sometimes we move from one prayer need to the next without expressing thanksgiving for how God has come through on our behalf.

Write your prayer and you can also record the answer to that prayer. This will elicit worship and praise!

Obama Voters Read This

I normally don't get into politics. I save it for my wife, but I am loving it and saddened by what is happened. Said one Democrat and Republican who voted for Obama "He broke his promise 4 days into office by signing a "pork barrel" piece of legislation. I laugh because I was right. They were after supposed more money in their pocket over moral issues and anti-socialistic government. I have found myself not aligning myself with neither party. Both are comprised of people who will tell what ever they need too to get into office. I call them liars. I think anyone with a real care for our nation should read Glen Beck's "Common Sense". I am glad I am not tied down to this world. I was meant for another place. Some of you will understand that.

Below is important information concerning Obama's Health Care Bill. I have listened to the Fred Thompson Interview and would encourage you to listen as well (just click on the link below.). You can also go to http://www.defendyourhealthcare.us/ or listen to Fred Thompson Interview 's Fred Thompson: Interviews

Contact your senator and representative. Ask them to read Page 425 of the proposed health care bill . On Page 425 of Obama’s Health Care Bill, the Federal Government will require EVERYONE who is on Social Security to undergo a counseling session every 5 years with the objective being that they will explain to them just how to end their own life earlier. Yes . . . They are going to push SUICIDE to cut Medicare spending! Tell them to read page 425 if they don’t read anything else. Surely, some of them have parents. You might want to forward the following web site address to everyone in your address book. It provides the email address of every elected official in the United States.

The web address is www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml. It might help others make the necessary contacts regarding page 425 of the proposed health care bill.

On Page 425 it says in black and white that EVERYONE on Social Security (will include all Senior Citizens and SSI people) will go to MANDATORY counseling every 5 years to learn and to choose from ways to end your suffering (and your life). Health care will be denied based on age. 500 billion dollars will be cut from Senior’s health care budget. The only way for that to happen is to drastically cut health care. The oldest and the sickest will be cut first. Paying for your own care will not be an option.
Now you know why Obama is trying to rush this through for passage -- before the people find out the facts.

Little gems from the Health Care Bill

• Page 16: States that if you have insurance at the time of the bill becoming law and change, you will be required to take a similar plan. If that is not available, you will be required to take the gov option!

• Page 22: Mandates audits of all employers that self-insure!

• Page 29: Admission: your health care will be rationed!

• Page 30: A government committee will decide what treatments and benefits you get (and, unlike an insurer, there will be no appeals process)

• Page 42: The "Health Choices Commissioner" will decide health benefits for you. You will have no choice. None.

• Page 50: All non-US citizens, illegal or not, will be provided with free health care services. • Page 58: Ever y person will be issued a National ID Health card.

• Page 59: The federal government will have direct, real-time access to all individual bank accounts for electronic funds transfer.

• Page 65: Taxpayers will subsidize all union retiree and community organizer health plans (example: SEIU, UAW and ACORN)

• Page 72: All private health care plans must conform to government rules to participate in a Health care Exchange.

• Page 84: All private health care plans must participate in the Health care Exchange (i.e., total government control of private plans)

• Page 91: Government mandates linguistic infrastructure for services; translation: illegal aliens • Page 95: The Government will pay ACORN and Americorps to sign up individuals for Government-run Health Care plan.

• Page 102: Those eligible for Medicaid will be automatically enrolled: you have no choice in the matter.

• Page 124: No company can sue the government for price-fixing. No "judicial review" is permitted against the government monopoly. Put simply, private insurers will be crushed.

• Page 127: The AMA sold doctors out: the government will set wages.

• Page 145: An employer MUST auto-enroll employees into the government-run public plan. No alternatives.

• Page 126: Employers MUST pay health care bills for part-time employees AND their families.

• Page 149: Any employer with a payroll of $400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays an 8% tax on payroll.

• Page 150: Any employer with a payroll of $250K-400K or more, who does not offer the public option, pays a 2 to 6% tax on payroll

• Page 167: Any individual who doesn't have acceptable health care (according to the government) will be taxed 2.5% of income.

• Page 170: Any NON-RESIDENT alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay for them).

• Page 195: Officers and employees of Government Health care Bureaucracy will have access to ALL American financial and personal records.

• Page 203: "The tax imposed under this section shall not be treated as tax." Yes, it really says that.

• Page 239: Bill will reduce physician services for Medicaid. Seniors and the poor most affected."

• Page 241: Doctors: no matter what speciality you have, you'll all be paid the same (thanks, AMA!)

• Page 253: Government sets value of doctors' time, their professional judgment, etc.

• Page 265: Government mandates and controls productivity for private health care industries.

• Page 268: Government regulates rental and purchase of power-driven wheelchairs.

• Page 272: Cancer patients: welcome to the wonderful world of rationing!

• Page 280: Hospitals will be penalized for what the government deems preventable re-admissions.

• Page 298: Doctors: if you treat a patient during an initial admission that results in a readmission, you will be penalized by the government.

• Page 317: Doctors: you are now prohibited from owning and investing in health care companies!

• Page 318: Prohibition on hospital expansion. Hospitals cannot expand without government approval.

• Page 321: Hospital expansion hinges on "community" input: in other words, yet another payoff for ACORN.

• Page 335: Government mandates establishment of outcome-based measures: i.e., rationing.

• Page 341: Government has authority to disqualify Medicare Advantage Plans, HMOs, etc.

• Page 354: Government will restrict enrollment of SPECIAL NEEDS individuals.

• Page 379: More bureaucracy: Telehealth Advisory Committee (health care by phone).

• Page 425: More bureaucracy: Advance Care Planning Consult: Senior Citizens, assisted suicide, euthanasia?

• Page 425: Government will instruct and consult regarding living wills, durable powers of attorney, etc. Mandatory. Appears to lock in estate taxes ahead of time.

• Page 425: Government provides approved list of end-of-life resources, guiding you in death.

• Page 427: Government mandates program that orders end-of-life treatment; government dictates how your life ends.

• Page 429: Advance Care Planning Consult will be used to dictate treatment as patients health deteriorates. This can include an ORDER for end-of-life plans. An ORDER from the GOVERNMENT.

• Page 430: Government will decide what level of treatments you may have at end-of-life.

• Page 469: Community-based Home Medical Services: more payoffs for ACORN.

• Page 472: Payments to Community-based organizations: more payoffs for ACORN.

• Page 489: Government will cover marriage and family therapy. Government intervenes in your marriage.

• Page 494: Government will cover mental health services: defining, creating and rationing those services

HSBC Was Here!

See my wife's blog for pictures from Sunday AM. I feel terrible we did not get a picture of Sis. Jackie Foley. She was such a dear and fit right in with us. We enjoyed the group immensely and the did a wonderful job. Thanks so much girls for giving Pastor a special request at the end!

Some Siding

Papa Jack on the roof.

Proof of a Goof

Our Bed

After a year of complaining that she was always on my side, we figured out why.

She says it is because I weigh too much and I say it is the trailer.

PS. By the way...I am right!

The floor is giving away and he trailer is tilting.

Our bed is 3" off from side to side.

Micro Toad

These little dudes were jumping all over Keepville. The kids caught about 3 dozen of them and put them in a jar. This is one I caught on the way home from church. I think that (s)he made a dozen jumps from my hand to the ground, before I let him go. Here he is in full leap.

Beulah Grove Youth Camp

President Sams taking a call.

When we asked Vince why he was found sleeping beside some cabin, he replied "I played so hard I got tired, so I laid down and took a nap."

Marilyn Muir

The youth evangelist Rev. Travis Johnson and his lovely wife Jody.
Dr. Dan Stetler - President of Hobe Sound Bible College.

Dr. Dan Glick - 1st base umpire.
Chatting with my buddy Travis.
Rachel Grate studying for a quiz.


Having a chat with the prez.

Let me take time to say that this man and his wife (Rev. and Mrs. Clair Sams) are a true example of a president and wife team. They love their pastors and are always a cell phone call away to chat. They have a vision and are well loved by everyone. They are fun to be with, they have great personality, and yet are godly. Who would have ever thought that could be a combination? It has been a breath of fresh air into our lives being part of the Bible Methodist group in more ways than anyone will ever realize.

Rev. Sams studying in his cabin.
Julie's Aunt and Uncle - Bill and Beth Blair.

Mike Mater - President of the Youth.

Rev. Deron Foreman preaching. Note: He is not wearing a suit and tie - imagine that!

Vice President Durr

Julie and one of her best friends.

Marilyn and Martha solving the world's problems.

Pres and VP - where are the secret service?

Ken Miller - Beat This!

Thanks to David Smith for the link!

An email from him:

Byron,

Check out this marksmanship: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ieWrWLjii0 I saw this guy in person several years ago, and saw him shoot a quarter out of the air.

David Smith -
Sales Consultant

direct 336-790-6804 fax 336-790-6833

Your Kaufman Trailer Connection

Hometown Hero

Most of the time you hear in the news of people doing things that are brave. Many times things go unnoticed. This time our dear friend and congregant Larry Miller got the bad end of the deal trying to help a young boy not get trampled by a cow at the local livestock auction sale barn. He grabbed the boy and pulled him to safety just before the bull and gate got the best of him. He picked himself up and got in his truck and drove home. His small finger was about tore off taking 11 stitches to sew it up and his right arm was broke. I saw the X-rays and realized to drive home in all that pain would been terrible. He never said anything to anyone, never planned on suing the action house, he did not ask to be driven home, he drove home homself 20 to 30 mph and he did not call his pastor till 3 days after. I am sure some parent somewhere is totaly unaware what happened but would be thankful their child was saved from being trampled by a cow.

They will never know who was the 82 year old hero was.

Thanks Larry!

Where is God?

Does this remind you of your prayers? Are they unreasonable? Should we put more of our own effort into real physical attempts first? Were they lacking in faith? Should they have risked their daughters life in this manner? Read this little article: Father on trial for daughter's death.

My opinion: Seek medical attention first and then start your prayers! God expects us to use our head. God can and will answer prayer, but He never healed everyone that was sick around Him although He could have. He chose to heal ones that would cause them to believe. Since Christ is not physically here now.....are "healings" only brought on by special people that are given the gift of healing, or is it our faith?

Your thoughts?

Post them.

A Faster Way to get Donuts!

The Prodigals Sons Older Brother in the Church

Keller and Nouwen on elder brotherishness in the church.....

Tim Keller:
There is a big difference between an elder brother and a real, gospel-believing Christian. But there are also many genuine Christians who are elder brotherish. If you came to Christ out of being a younger brother, there is always the danger of partially relapsing into addictions or other younger-brother sins. But if you've become a Christian out of being an elder brother, you can even more easily slide back into elder-brother attitudes and spiritual deadness. If you have not grasped the gospel fully and deeply, you will return to being condescending, condemning, anxious, insecure, joyless, and angry all the time.

Elder brothers have an undercurrent of anger toward life circumstances, hold grudges long and bitterly, look down at people of other races, religions, and lifestyles, experience life as a joyless, crushing drudgery, have little intimacy and joy in their prayer life, and have a deep insecurity that makes them overly sensitive to criticism and rejection yet fierce and merciless in condemning others.
-The Prodigal God (Dutton, 2008) pp. 70-71


Henri Nouwen:
Outwardly, the elder son was faultless. But when confronted by his father's joy at the return of his younger brother, a dark power erupts in him and boils to the surface. Suddenly, there becomes glaringly visible a resentful, proud, unkind, selfish person, one that had remained deeply hidden, even though it had been growing stronger and more powerful over the years.

Looking deeply into myself and then around me at the lives of other people, I wonder which does more damage, lust or resentment? There is so much resentment among the "just" and the "righteous." There is so much judgment, condemnation, and prejudice among the "saints." There is so much frozen anger among the people who are so concerned about avoiding "sin."

The lostness of the resentful "saint" is so hard to reach precisely because it is so closely wedded to the desire to be good and virtuous.
-The Return of the Prodigal Son (Doubleday, 1992) p. 71

Hat tip to Stephen Ley.

http://frightfullypleased.blogspot.com/2009/07/keller-and-nouwen-on-elder.html

Shooting Clay Targets with an Arrow

HT JB

Memorial for Stephen Wiford

Yes, we forgot the camera...I wanted to get a few pics with some friends that I have not seen in quite awhile. It was left at home and so my trusty cell phone had to do the honors.

Here is the esteemed Luke Byers leading the songs.

Here is a pic of myself and two cool dudes vegging in the back of the van. Julie said she would drive when the clock said 8:30. After she dozed her eyes back to sleep I advanced the clock to 8:29. After a few minutes I showed her the clock and pulled over. She grumbling that she had not gotten much sleep got behind the wheel while I enjoyed some wrestling, story telling and a few winks in the back with those two cool dudes. I did confess after we were almost home. I was laughing so hard I could not tell her, and so the two cool dudes did the confessing.

Crocodile Dock

My friend Pastor Bob was holding VBS this week and our kids loved it. While I was at home nursing a very painful eye injury, Julie was able to go to the program and catch our children in action. Glad I was not there to be embarrassed by the kids acting like their mother.

Not sure what Vince was doing...but he seems to be in his own world.

Here was Alyssa...not sure why she is half way out into the audience instead of with the other kids, but like Vince she sure is enjoying herself.

Wherein I Get an Ice Cream Cone

To get this:

I had to work here:

With this guy:

End up here:

With the white of my eye turned to jelly like this:

Because of this stuff:

End of story and I am living happy ever after!

For further details see here: http://gurneejourney.blogspot.com/2009/07/eye-vs-acid.html