Why We Live For Eighty Years

On the first day, God created the dog and said: 'Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years.' The dog said: 'That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?' So God agreed.

On the second day, God created the monkey and said: 'Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year life span.' The monkey said: 'Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the Dog did?' And God agreed .

On the third day, God created the cow and said: 'You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer 's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years.' The cow said: 'That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?' And God agreed again.

On the fourth day, God created humans and said: 'Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years.' But the human said: 'Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?' 'Okay,' said God, 'You asked for it.'

So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves.

For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family.

For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren.

And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.

Life has now been explained to you!

True Road Hunting by Darryl Quesenberry

Only DQ and Jeff Foxworthy have what it takes to act....well as Paul Meyers said the other night "stupid", but hey we all laugh so I guess we get stuck in the same category. Join DQ on a turkey hunt with Little River Outfitters. This was the video they were showing at the 2007-2008 H.A.S.(Hunters After Season) at Allegheny Wesleyan College.

Rod - Our Snowplowing Man

This is Rod.

Some pics of snowplowing.

Our neighbors VW bug under more than a foot of snow.

Don't Forget to Take out the Bore Sight

If you do not want to look like this....

Or have your gun look like this.....





Then don't forget to take out this!!

Problem with Postmodern Philosophy

The First Law of Philosophy:

For every philosopher, there exists an equal and opposite philosopher.

The Second Law of Philosophy:

They're both wrong.

Ski Jumping

February 11, 2001 I did a jump like this and ended up breaking some ribs. I let the young guys jump and I video recorded them. First one down the jump was Tim Rice and the second was Brennan Muir.

This clip all 3 guys jumped. First Brennan Muir, then Tim Rice,and then Andrew Rice.

Holiday Valley

The ski crew picked me up at 7:00 at the BP at 6N and 90. Daryl unfortunately got sick and so there were only 15 of us. Marilyn, Brennan, Dustin, and Ashley Muir; Bruce ;and 9 of the Rice family(at least part of them) and myself enjoyed over 12 hours of skiing. Here is Marilyn making us all nervous....talking on the cellphone and driving. There ought to be a law about that!! LOL!

...And Ashley thought I couldn't get her pic.

The Three Amigo's giving the sign(whatever it is supposed to mean.) I think I didn't have my fingers twisted quite right. I hope the rest of the bad dudes in the gang won't notice.

Brennan and I waiting for the rest of the skiers to get off the lift.

Riding up the lift.

Posing for the camera at the base of a lift. Tim, Brennan, Jonathan, Andrew, Dustin, Ashley and myself.

A view from the Lodge of the MardiGras People Mover.

Inside the lodge eating lunch.

>

Ever Learning.....

"Ever learning, but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
--2 Tim. 3:7

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080227/ap_on_sc/peru_ancient_plaza

"The find also raises questions about what prompted civilizations to form throughout the planet at more or less the same time," said Ruth Shady, a prominent Peruvian archaeologist.

It is very sad that the rocks are crying out "Hello - There is a God!! We did not evolve!! We were created!!" but they cannot see the forest for the trees.

Driving through the Woods

My little nieces call the road to our house - the road through the woods. In the spring and summer the road stays cool with the long branches from the big maple trees that act as a canopy. In the fall that canopy turns into a beautiful tunnel of red, yellow and orange. In the winter, though most of the time bare, the overhanging branches load up with snow and give the most wonderful white entrance to our home.

A cool tree in my neighbors yard.

Here is Kenton last night shoveling about 6 heavy inches of snow. This morning when I got up there was about another 12" on top of that.

More H.A.S Pictures

You can read in the other post and see more pictures. Tommy Sanders just emailed these to me.

Paul Houseworth, Arnold Guntrum, Jim Gurnee and Kenton Gurnee

Kenton won a knife.

....and a video game.

Steve Giles giving away the prizes....digging in the box for the prize.

Reading the plaque: 2007-2008 Youngest Successful Buck Hunter

What a surprise for him and a huge smile!

Posing with his trophy.

A New Family Blog Member

Kenton started his new blog today. I think he will be sharing about his first trophy. Check it out at http://www.bullsbucksbullets.blogspot.com/

Winter Blues

Tim Calhoun posted this on his blog. If you are tired of the snow, watch this and enjoy the great photos from beautiful spots all over the world.

An Almost Impromptu Funeral

In speech class both in high school and college we practised impromptu speeches. As a pastor there has only been about 2 times I have had to do that. Early this morning (2 AM) I got home to find out that a brother of gentleman from our church had passed away and the viewing was at 10:00 with the funeral following at 11:00. I arrived around 10:30 and begin to visit with the family. As 11:00 neared I wanted to leave, but felt impressed to stay since the funeral was to start in a few minutes. As everyone became silent and sat there, I looked around for the pastor and could not see him. I figured he must be in the office ready to appear. By 5 after which seemed to drag on for an hour of ominous silence I begin to wonder what the hold up was. The year before almost to the day I had a funeral in the same parlor where we waited 15 minute for a daughter to show up because she was getting her hair done. I figured they must be waiting on the family to arrive. Then after 10 long minutes had passed I saw a few looking my way and whispering....Ah there is no pastor. I got up and made my way to the directors office and was immediately asked if I could have the funeral. To make along story short I asked for a bible which they managed to find a beat up old Gideon Bible. I grabbed a sheet of paper from the fax machine and began to write down verses of scripture and search through the Bible. I was handed a newspaper obituary and in 3 minutes I was ready. The director said we would wait 2 more minutes and wait till 11:15. I was praying not for myself but that the other pastor would arrive. My prayers were answered. At 11:15 when we were about to walk out he bounded in the door straightening his tie and apologizing profusely. I wiped the sweat from my brow and got seated for the 19 minute sermon and eulogy. I believe it was the shortest funeral I have ever witnessed. We were being dismissed by 11:34. All is well that ends well. I think on an impromptu I could have given a longer service. Then again, maybe the family was just as happy for the short version.

Bubblegum and Blubber

Vincent informed Alyssa today that the reason why their dad is fat is because he swallows his bubblegum. So I guess the best way to lose weight is not not chew gum, because I may be tempted to swallow it and thus get fatter.

H.A.S - Hunters After Season

We had a great time last night in Salem Ohio. I was asked to bring my bullet collection for display and some of my mounts. I took my 148 5/8 buck from Muskingum County Ohio, a 123 archery buck from Indian County Pennsylvania and my black bear. I am not sure exactly how much it weighed, but what I brought home weighed between 400 - 420 lbs. I did not bring the carcas (spine, rib cage, pelvic bones etc). So it is possible that it weighed upwards of close to 500. I guess I will never know. The skull measured over 18".

Dad, Kenton, and Paul Houseworth enjoying some "lies" being told.

There were about 150+ guys in attendance.

Some of Daryl Muir's taxidermy work.

Kenton proudly posed with his 1st squirrel that Daryl Muir mounted. The squirrell is sitting on the branch Kenton shot him off. The leaves and sticks on the habitat base are from the base of that little tree.

Here is a blurry photo Dad took of my collection before it started.

Kenton just won a trophy for the 2007-2008 Youngest Successful Buck Hunter.

Paul Houseworth shared a story about shooting his ram rod out of the barrell of his muzzle loader.
Daryl Muir and I tied for a prize on the buck scoring contest. Our scores were with in inches of each score. We both nailed one score at 162". I won a cool Mossy Oak hoody.

Senior Citizens are Valuable

They claim they are more valuable than any of the younger generations and I quote"

"We have silver in our hair.

We have gold in our teeth.

We have stones in our kidneys.

We have lead in our feet and.....

We are loaded with natural gas.

Yep!! I say they are more valuable!!! :)

Another one from Tom and Connie Rodgers.

The Wheels of Life

At what stage are you in the "wheel of life"? I am at the one right in the middle of life with the van and all the kids. This May 20 I will be halfway to 70.
Thanks to Tom and Connie Rodgers for sending this my way.

Hungering and Thirsting for Righteousness

I normally keep my blog for the lighter side of life. I guess I will break tradition and post something of a spiritual nature. This past Sunday I preached on the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. The first four Beatitudes deal with our relationship to God. I covered the first three, but made a heavy emphasis on the last one - "Bless are they that do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled."

As I spoke on each beatitude I did not cover the benefits listed with them, rather I just emphasized what God wants for us as Christians. This 4th one is the key to all the rest. By following this Beatitude it will enable us to be able to easily succeed with the others. God says in both the Old and New Testaments that He wants us to be holy. The best way we can as humans be holy like God is to follow the example of God's son. Jesus Christ gave us the greatest example in the flesh. If you have a desire to be holy like God wants us to, study what He did and what He said. Being holy is being righteous. How many really truly hunger and thirst after true righteousness?

The text was Matthew 5. The context of this verse is very simple. It uses elements of our daily life that help us to understand what God wants for us in respect to being righteous. It says that we need to hunger and thirst after it. It is a concept we all easily identify with. It is something that motivates our fork and our glass many times a day.

When was the last time you went from Sunday morning to Sunday morning with out eating or drinking? Most of us think we are starving if we miss a meal or two. Most of us fare sumptuously at home and at buffets. We cannot do anything in our life with having lunch breaks, eating out, meals, drinking fountains. Without the time taken to fill our bodies with nutrition and nourishment, we would soon become dehydrated and anemic. Yet spiritually we can go from Sunday to Sunday and day to day without filling our spiritual life. How much more we would be blessed if we daily hungered and thirsted after God and His righteousness. What if when we got up we had our breakfast of time with Him. Spent a time during the day reading His Word and even in the evening gathered our families around God's word like we do the table and fill up again. I can tell it is the only way we can over eat or drink without sinning.

May God help all of us to have a hunger and thirst for the things of God. May we not let the many distractions around us get us sidetracked. You will be blessed and you will be filled!! Alright enough of my preaching!

Of Men and Tractors

What does a guy need the most in life? A tractor of course! (This can change depending on the season and mood.) Even if you have several....Yes you can always use another, especially if it is a good deal. The good deal part is the catch. Not only is the tractor priced low....which did not convince my wife to bite on the deal. Her comment was "Well if the Lord knows you need the tractor......just pray he send in all the money for it." I said ok....I think I did pray about it, but not as fervently as she did. I guess it was just something that she knew I realized was a good deal. All she was thinking about was monthly payments for several years. She prayed hard...I did not doubt.... but who is going to give me $6,300.00. A good deal is not a good deal when you don't have the money.

Long story.....here is a pic of a tractor that is not the exact one but the same make and model. I recieved a call today and the tractor was paid for....I am still waiting to hear if Dad will let me say he bought it for me. The tractor pictured here is priced firm at $9,500.00. Needless to say I think I got a good deal.

It is dangerous having a tractor dealer at the end of the road that my inlaws farm is on. I can not tell you how many times I have pulled in and asked prices on tractors that were traded in. Julie's Uncle Tim tested it out for me. It is a Ford 3600 with about 2,000 hours. It started right up at 20+ degrees out with no ether or heater. I will post pictures of it when it is delivered.

My Sweetheart!!

I apologize for not mushing on here on Valentines Day. I am not one for allot of PDA(Public Displays of Affection.) There is a time and place for everything! :) She definately was worth the weeding and waiting!

No comments about that skinny guy in the picture and whatever happened to him!

Glad I am not a Patriots Fan

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Bill Belichick has been illegally taping opponents' defensive signals since he became the New England Patriots' coach in 2000, according to Sen. Arlen Specter, who said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told him that during a meeting Wednesday.

I would hate to admit being a Patriots fan! Now we know why the Steelers lost the AFC game to the Patriots in 2004.

Flashback Friday

When: September 2000
Where: Haliburton Highlands - just south of the Alagonquin State Park, Ontario Canada
Who: While working as Operations Manager of a Shipping Company in Pittburgh an attorney asked me to join him on a hunting trip to Canada. I turned him down the first year. The second year he twisted my arm hard enough I finally gave in.
Why: Because at $900 for the liscence, gas, guide, food, and lodging, I thought it was a great deal. The guide even guaranteed us a bear that weighed at least 250 lbs.

This bear was the 4th I had seen. The first two days I had 2 bears within 5 yards of me. I had picked a spot along a river that they crossed and sat up along the trail. I was too close and could not get my gun up. I sat there for about a minute with the bear directly looking into my eyes. That was very cool. After seeing the same or similar smaller bear(250lbs) I decided to try a new spot. On the third day I moved to a new spot and saw a 400 pounder in the morning. I set up that evening in the same place and caught him passing through. He weighed 420 lbs field dressed. It was an awesome experience I will never forget. I shot at the bear and got a clean shot right behind the shoulders. The bear did what they mostly do and started to thrash around and let out the horrible wailing, moaning growl that is called there death wail. As the bear was doing this I set the gun down and took a picture. Then the bear started to run off. I quickly grabbed my rifle and squeezed another shot off at the running bear. I always thought I had missed that second shot. When I skinned out my bear I found the the two holes entrance and exit. Later when I had the meat cut up the butcher gave me the expanded bullet that he had cut out of the bear front right leg. That got me to wondering. I called up Daryl Muir my taxidermist who was tanning the hids of teh bear and asked him how many holes. He explained that it looked like the bear had been shot in the right side and exited the left. I had shot the bear on the left. After a short discussion I realized what had taken place. It was a once in lifetime occurence onlong the same lines of Robin Hooded arrows. My first shot had entered the bear on the left and exited on the right. The second bullet had gone in the same exact entry hole making the hole slightly larger. Sincethe bear was running quartering away from me the bullet had angled and lodged in the bears right front shoulder.

Here is the bear right after I shot it. I chased it down and walked up to it. I was told by my guide that I should have waited for a little while before taking out after it. I just wanted to make sure that he did not get away.

You can see the mass of his body with my gun laying along side of him. He was 6' 8" from his tail to the tip of his nose. His skull measured 11" by 7" for a total of 18". I will try to find a picture of his paw and scan in.

Here is my guide holding the bears paw.