Sunday, November 23, 2008

No Pain-No Gain

My Mother-in-law(love) sent this to me via her blog. It ministered to me and I hope it does you as well.

"NAOMI WAS LEFT WITHOUT HER TWO SONS AND HER HUSBAND." RUTH 1:5 NIV
You gain through your pain
When their husbands died, Naomi, Ruth, and Orpah experienced a unique bonding process. Unless you've been through it, it's hard to understand. It's a fellowship not born of age, race, background or status, and it brings together the oddest people. When you're hurting, don't look for understanding and support from those who haven't walked in your shoes. People can't give you what they don't have. Often the best they have to offer is the kind of advice that's glib, and quickly becomes annoying. Furthermore, until you start to make sense of your pain and see the greater good in it, you can feel like a victim. but once you see God's grace at work, and His hand in it all, you can begin to move ahead to marry, to have another baby, to get another job, to dream another dream, to live again.
Charles Spurgeon wrote, "Just as old soldiers compare stories and scars, when we arrive at our heavenly home we'll tell of the faithfulness of God. Who brought us through. I wouldn't like to be pointed out as the only one who never experienced sorrow, or feel like a stranger in the midst of that sacred fellowship. Therefore be content to share in the battle, for soon we will wear the crown."
When life suddenly changes and you're fighting just to get through another day, remind yourself that Satan hasn't snatched the steering wheel from God. No, God is aware of what you're going through and He still has a plan for your life. Be encouraged. You gain through your pain. Victory is born out of struggle. Hold on to His hand; He will bring you through this!Bob Gass (A WORD FOR TODAY)

Thursday, November 20, 2008

His Permanent Address Book

Yesterday I was updating my address book for Christmas mailouts. I always write in it in pencil. As I was going through the names, I got disturbed by how many names I was erasing from it due to deaths. I suddenly felt sad and melancholy. Then, eventually just started crying due to how many I had to erase, missing each one and feeling somewhat lonely without them. I could still see a vague shadow of their names where I had just erased. (certain erasers don't erase all that well) Instantly, I felt the Lord comforting me by His still small voice. Just as I have not forgotten my deceased loved ones, neither will He forget me. Although, they are not with me in the flesh, they are with me in spirit. Just as Jesus is not with me in the flesh, He is with me in Spirit. He reminded me that He too has an address book....The Lamb's Book of Life. And, once He inscribes a name into His address book, it can NEVER be erased. Everyone in His book has the same address as He does. As I erased the last name, I saw a vision of Jesus dipping His finger into His own blood and scribing that same name in His book. O Death where is thy sting? None. Just a relocation and a name in a permanent address book. I pray you are in His permanent address book.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Arrow Homeschool Cross Country Meet 10-25-2008

In high school and college I ran cross country and track. I never dreamed my kids would want to do the same. As long as they love it we encourage them on. Shane gets to be their coach which he loves doing. It is something we get to do as a family and makes for good exercise. It also helps them understand somewhat of what Hebrews 12:1-3 means...

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.


Getting ready for the race.
Pinning on race numbers.

Brothers ready to run.
Garrison, smallest of all the runners.


4 yr. old Garrison at the finish.
half mile: 4min. 27s.

Chase running the mile


Chase finishes 1st
Time: 5 min. 49s


Amara running the mile.


Amara finishes 1st
Time: 6min. 48s


Grant finishes 1st in the half mile race.
Time: 3 min. 22 s


Justice finishes 2nd in the half mile.
Time: 3 min. 36 s


Caroline Bishop (in blue shirt) running the 2 mile.
Caroline got 3rd


Rachel Bishop running the half mile.
Rachel got 3rd


The Bishop girls go to our church.


After the meet they had an autumn festival with several bluegrass bands. This is the Barnyard Boys.

The Stamatis runners showing off their medals.


The Stamatis and Bishop medalists. What a great day.

Friday, November 7, 2008

The Pigs Have Come Home To Roost ;)

photo by free-stock-photos.com

My brother shared this with me recently and I thought it was hilarious. I just had to share it with you.
This guy really sent this letter to the following...

The Rt Hon David Miliband MPSecretary of State,Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA),Nobel House17 Smith SquareLondon SW1P 3JR

16 May 2007

Dear Secretary of State,
My friend, who is in farming at the moment, recently received a cheque for GBP3,000 from the Rural Payments Agency for not rearing pigs.
I would now like to join the “not rearing pigs” business. In your opinion, what is the best kind of farm not to rear pigs on and which is the best breed of pigs not to rear? I want to be sure I approach this endeavour in keeping with all government policies, as dictated by the EU under the Common Agricultural Policy.
I would prefer not to rear bacon pigs, but if this is not the type you want not rearing, I will just as gladly not rear porkers. Are there any advantages in not rearing rare breeds such as Saddlebacks or Gloucester Old Spots, or are there too many people already not rearing these? As I see it, the hardest part of this programme will be keeping an accurate record of how many pigs I haven’t reared. Are there any Government or Local Authority courses on this?
My friend is very satisfied with this business. He has been rearing pigs for forty years or so, and the best he ever made on them was GBP1,422 in 1968. That is - until this year, when he received a cheque for not rearing any. If I get GBP3,000 for not rearing 50 pigs, will I get GBP6,000 for not rearing 100? I plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding myself down to about 4,000 pigs not raised, which will mean about GBP240,000 for the first year. As I become more expert in not rearing pigs, I plan to be more ambitious, perhaps increasing to, say, 40,000 pigs not reared in my second year, for which I should expect about GBP2.4 million from your department.
Incidentally, I wonder if I would be eligible to receive tradable carbon credits for all these pigs not producing harmful and polluting methane gases? Another point: These pigs that I plan not to rear will not eat 2,000 tonnes of cereals. I understand that you also pay farmers for not growing crops. Will I qualify for payments for not growing cereals to not feed the pigs I don’t rear?
I am also considering the “not milking cows” business, so please send any information you have on that too. Please could you also include the current DEFRA advice on set aside fields? Can this be done on an e-commerce basis with virtual fields (of which I seem to have several thousand hectares)?
In view of the above, you will realise that I will be totally unemployed, and will therefore qualify for unemployment benefits. I shall of course be voting for your party at the next general election.

Yours faithfully,
Nigel Johnson-Hill

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Tough Love from a Preacher's heart

God Tube is the "Christian" version of You Tube. This is my favorite video out there.
Warning: This is shockingly powerful, intense, passionate and unapologetic! It is only because I love you and want to be with you in heaven that I share this. So buckle up, hold on to your seat and click here to view....

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=19fd9c84c942a08316e0

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Brothers are for keeping..So are sisters-in-law!!


My brother Cory and his wife Kristin.
Cory took this picture. Absolutely beautiful.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Sacrifice

I love our troops. I also love these pics of them that are out there circling the web. I just wanted to share them with you.









I just had to throw this one in for fun.