Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Asleep In A Storm

Asleep In A Storm

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
Printer Friendly Version

What a disappointing scene! A terrifying storm, souls in danger of death, but Jonah, the man of God, fast asleep.

Sailors are not soon frightened in a storm, but this time the fury of the gale was so great that “the ship was like to be broken” and even the sailors were driven to their knees “and cried every man unto his god” (Jonah 1:4,5).
Can it be that Jonah, the only man aboard who knew the true God, was sleeping? Sleeping while souls were perishing? This was the shameful truth, and not one of us would blame the terrified captain for rudely awakening him and crying: “What meanest thou, O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God!” (Verse 6).

But let us not be too ready to condemn Jonah, for we may be more guilty than he. Surely the world today is passing through a fearful storm and souls all about us are in peril of their lives. If they do not accept God’s way of salvation; if they do not trust in Christ, they will perish. And what are we doing about it? Are we pleading for them in prayer? Are we doing what we can to reach them for Christ? Or are we fast asleep?

“What meanest thou O sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God!” And when you have cried to God in behalf of your unsaved relatives, friends, and business associates, He will send you to witness to them of Christ and His love. Not until you have talked to God about them will you be ready to talk to them about God.

Politically, morally, spiritually, the night is dark, the storm is raging and souls are perishing, but “God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts” (IICor.4:6). “… We are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as do others” (I Thess. 5:5,6).

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Desperation Saturday

It's really cooled off here with all this lovely rain. It's got me feeling fine this evening and thought I'd share the fun.

Enjoy!

Desperation Samba
(halloween in tijuana)
By: Jimmy Buffett, Will Jennings, Timothy B. Schmit
1985
This song brings to mind two things. first, an image of robert mitchum
Standing in the doorway of a bar in tijuana, and second, a line by
Thomas mcguane, my brother-in-law, from his book, panama,
"the night wrote a check the morning couldn't cash."
- used by permission of author

Halloween in tijuana
Full moon in my eyes
I wonder how in the hell I got here
Without a disguise

Should I take this last step
Or turn myself around
Or follow my intuition into that border town

Yo quiero a bailar en mexico [I want to dance in mexico]
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos [ ...with our friends]
Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos

Pretty girls they beckon
From their rooms above
Skeletons are dancing
In the name of love

Don't know where I'm goin'
I don't like where I've been
There may be no exit
But hell I'm going in

Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos
Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos

I hear the people singing that same old haunting tune
I drink because I know it's me against the moon

Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos
Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos

-- spoken:
"tss, tss tss"
"hey, psst amigo!"

Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh

Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos
Yo quiero a bailar en mexico
We do the desperation samba con nos amigos

- notes:
Background vocals: timothy b. schmit, harry stinson
Featuring reggie young on gut string guitar and
Harrison ford on the bullwhip

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Just For Fun ~ Our Day In Pictures

A Banded NetWing beetle

landed on the office window.

(Sorry, it's a little blurry.)

Hubby was greeted by a baby Hognose snake

in the workshop this morning.

And we enjoyed zucchini lasagna for supper. YUM!

(our receipe here)

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

A Meeting Between A Crank And A Skank

I see that Obama is hosting a friendly cough tête-à-tête with former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton today.

President Barack Obama hosted Hillary Clinton for lunch on Monday, treating his former secretary of state to grilled chicken, pasta jambalaya, and salad, amid speculation that her possible 2016 White House run could also be on the menu. [more]

That's not quite right, is it dear reader. The only ones on the menu (read: cross-hairs) will be the American taxpayers. Again. The happy couple actually enjoyed roasted taxpayers and skewered TEA party, while spitting islamic wrapped wads on them and watching them simmer.

My husband coined the phrase, Crank and a Skank. It's really fitting when you realize that "Crank" is now a slang drug term.

Also, NBC will be snuggling up to the Skank soon too. They plan to run a 2 hour special about her highness and all her, eh, 'accomplishments'. I guess they'll leave the Insider Trading, and the Whitewater, Rose Law Firm, Beghazi scandals out of the lineup though. They are becoming quite extensive and too long to list in my humble blog. But, what difference does it make?! Right?!

Who says America doesn't have royality ... 

~Ride Safe~

Sparky

The Fascinating Fungus Amoung Us

We've been getting a lot of lovely rain this year. Along with the green grass and budding trees, our yard is full of so many interesting mushrooms! I've been on a real tear taking photos everywhere. (Hey, I'm a poet and don't know it! ha ha) I didn't try to learn all the names since mushrooms are very difficult to identify unless you're practically an expert. There are so many varieties! Below are a few of my favorites from around our property.

~Ride Safe~
Sparky

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ That Precious Deposit

That Precious Deposit

by Pastor Paul M. Sadler
Printer Friendly Version

Berean Bible Society

The story is told of how a wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.”

The young man held out his package. “I know this isn’t very much, I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.” The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It’s a gift.” The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the great works of art he had collected.

The man died a few months later. Shortly thereafter, there was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having the opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?” There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.” But the auctioneer persisted. “Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?” Another voice shouted angrily. “We didn’t come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!” But still the auctioneer continued. “The son! The son! Who’ll take the son?”

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll give $10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. “We have $10, who will bid $20?” “Give it to him for $10. Let’s see the masters.” The crowd was becoming angry. They didn’t want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. “Going once, going twice, SOLD for $10!” A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now let’s get on with the collection.”

The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I’m sorry, the auction is over.” “What about the paintings?” “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets every thing!”

God gave His Son 2000 years ago to die on a cruel Cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, “The Son, the Son, who’ll take the Son?” Because, you see, whoever takes the Son inherits everything! ¹

EARTHEN VESSELS

“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (II Cor. 4:7).

In biblical times earthen vessels were clay pots that had been thoroughly baked in an oven. They were fraught with imperfections, which meant that no two were exactly alike. Archeologists have discovered that those who lived during that period secretly buried their treasures in clay pots for safekeeping. As we shall see, the master illustrator uses this facet of everyday life to illustrate a grand spiritual truth.

Those who have taken the Son are heirs, joint-heirs with Him. As members of the Body of Christ, we are partakers of His glory, His power, and His reign. In short, we are the recipients of the wealth of heaven! While the believing Gentiles will partake of the blessings of the kingdom, they are not said to be heirs. In the kingdom, heirship is a question of nationality. In the present dispensation of Grace, heirship is based upon relationship. We are one in Him. Therefore, what rightfully belongs to Him, we have come into possession of, and will share it mutually with Him for eternity (Rom. 8:17 cf. Eph. 3:6).

Today when men want to safeguard their riches they place them in vaults made of steel and concrete. But God’s ways are not man’s ways. God has deposited the riches of His grace in earthen vessels. We need not wait until we arrive in heaven to learn what we presently possess in Christ. We have this treasure, that is, the gospel of the grace of God in earthen vessels. Those who have been saved by grace are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. But what we positionally enjoy in Christ must become a practical reality in the Christian experience if we ever hope to maintain a godly testimony among men. For example, we are forgiven in Christ, but grace teaches us that we are to forgive others even as Christ has forgiven us.

In the year 1818, Tamatoe, King of Huahine, one of the South Sea Islands, believed the gospel. He discovered a plot among his fellow natives to seize him and other converts and burn them to death. However, he organized a band to attack the plotters and captured them unawares. Having exposed the plot, he forgave them, and set a feast before his would-be captors. This unexpected kindness amazed the savages, who burned their idols and became Christians. ²

But why would God place these unspeakable riches in such an unsecure place? We are unworthy sinners, weak and frail, who have the sentence of death within us. Perhaps the hymn-writer, Robert Robinson, has expressed it best, “Prone to wander, Lord I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.” The answer to the question is found in the latter part of our passage. “That the excellency [exceeding greatness] of the power may be of God, and not of us.” While others usually think more highly of us than they should, essentially it is the power of God working through us that produces results in the Lord’s work.

Many years ago I was invited to minister the gospel at a Bible camp in the Rocky Mountains. On the last evening, I spoke on “The Danger of Falling Into the Hands of An Angry God.” Earlier that day I hadn’t been feeling well, due to altitude sickness. In addition to being exhausted that night, I was short of breath. At ten thousand feet it doesn’t take much to get winded. I now understand why it took Moses so long to return from Mount Sinai with the tablets of stone. He undoubtedly had to keep stopping on his way down to catch his breath! As I arose to speak that evening I thought to myself, this is going to be an absolute disaster. It was, or at least I thought it was, until I learned two months later that an entire family was saved that night. Brethren, the gospel is the “power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Rom 1:16).

At the Judgment Seat of Christ no one will be able to boast regarding what he or she has accomplished, for the power is solely of God and not of us. “He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” In the final analysis, God will receive all the glory and honor and praise and adoration for the great things He has done. We are merely vessels through whom God has poured out the riches of His grace to a lost and dying world.

What is your attitude toward the Mystery? When the final chapter of your life is written and the book is closed, will you be able to say with the Apostle Paul, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”? May you have no regrets at that day!

Notes:

1. Author unknown. ↩
2. Paul Lee Tan, Signs of the Times, Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, Assurance Publishers, Rockville, MD, 1979. ↩

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To The Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.
 

Why I Blog

Our Front Door
Why do I blog? I‘ve been pondering that for several months. You know, we all have our sack of rocks to carry around. Mine is I’ve been dealing with the now imminent loss of a much beloved miniature schnauzer, Maxie. She's been my almost constant companion since she was about 4 months old. If she survives long enough, she’ll be 15 years old next October. Her deterioration has been excruciatingly slow. At the risk of being overly dramatic, it‘s hanging over my head like the sword of Damocles because I know she‘s “doomed“. She’s really going downhill, some days faster than others. Every day I keep expecting to find her lifeless body in the yard or laying in her bed. It’s tearing me up inside and I lost sight of why I blog.

But back to why do I blog. I started blogging to help keep me fresh, creative, and to learn from others. I blog to share ideas. I blog to maybe even make a few “virtual“ friends along the way. Lo and behold, I found I enjoy writing even if it’s about mundane every day stuff like “I cooked a new dish today". If I want to have topics to write about, then I must get off my over 55 year old duff and create. My blog is about my faith in Jesus Christ, motorcycling, my pets, family, my homemade creations, the garden, my digital photos, my (feeble) stab at decorating on a budget, Libertarian politics and whatever floats into my fluffy noggin. I’m not an expert in any of these areas, they are only the view of the world from my perspective.

The blog was started many years ago just for me. I also wanted a record of my existence. I wanted a way to share My Thoughts with that big cyber world out there. I didn't care if anyone read it but me and I lost sight of that. I am not a professional writer, and my grammar, I’m sure, leaves a lot to be desired, but I wanted to put my life down in words and photos.

So, pull up a cyber rocker and join me on the porch if there’s time. There’s plenty of beer or tea or whatever to go around, depending on your propensity. If not, that’s OK too. I just appreciate y’all stopping by for a spell. Thank you for your patience and for putting up with my Irish temper tantrums.

Have a blessed day folks.

~ Ride Safe ~
Sparky

Hiatus. 1. A gap or interruption in space, time, or continuity; a break

I don't get it.

I have over 80 followers but very few readers or comments. This has left me feeling a little disgruntled, miffed, depressed, disappointed. Truly, though, I may be simply bored with blogging. Or maybe I am boring. Therefore I have decided to stop for awhile.

For my blogger friends that do bother to comment and visit I will be visiting your blogs as usual. And do feel free to e-mail. Anytime.

Thank you and God bless,

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Remember, Freedom Isn't Free ~ Memorial Day Tribute

 

In spite of all the crazy things going on in the world. In spite of our once (real or imagined) noble government officials who seem to be comprised of entirely scoundrels, cads, heels, thieves and monstrously outrageous liars. In spite of an overwhelming fear of the future, the corruption, the rampant inflation, the dangerous atmosphere if you disagree with the officials and the ever multiplying scandals, I am still proud to be an American. I still wouldn't live anywhere else.  And it's mostly in part to the men and women who put their lives on the line every day, at home and abroad, who vow to protect the Constitution of the United States.

Besides, I truly have faith that things will get better here, for as Queen Elizabeth I said in 1583 after several failed assassination attempts, "They are seeking to take my life but it troubles me not. He who is on high has defended me until this hour, and will keep me still, for in Him I do trust."

So dear military, I humbly thank you for the sacrifices you've made for all Americans. I will remember that freedom isn't free. You are very appreciated by me today and every day. I support the troops but not the pointless wars, which is why I want you all to come home. I will always with every breathe of my body remember and honor our heroes and patriots who died for our country and our Constitution. You are here to protect Americans, not whatever worthless butt is occupying the Oval Office seat at the moment.

SO LET'S BRING THEM ALL HOME SAFE NOW!

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Funny Friday ~ Biker Bar

I called your house the other day and was told you were down at your favorite biker bar with some friends.

I wasn't sure where that was, but was told I wouldn't have much trouble finding it.

Sure enough, I drove just a couple blocks

and there it was ... 

 There is nothing like the feel of the sun on your face and the wind in your hair, is there?

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Dead Works

Dead Works

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society
Printer Friendly Version

Twice in Paul’s epistles he refers to “dead works”. In Hebrews 6:1 he writes about “repentance from dead works”, while in Hebrews 9:14 he declares that the blood of Christ avails to “purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God”.

Mark well, these references are not to wicked works but to dead works. These “dead works” are the so-called “good works” (whether moral or ceremonial) which men did — and still do — to make themselves acceptable to God. They are “dead” because they are not the product of regeneration or spiritual life, but the mere attempt on the part of unregenerate sinners to justify themselves before God.

Paul himself, once zealously religious, but wholly unsaved, had to repudiate his “dead works” and count them “loss” to find salvation in Christ, through whom alone he could produce good works which God could accept. (See Philippians 3:4-9).

This is why he later declared by divine inspiration: “For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…” (Eph.2:8-10).

“Dead works” are not only unacceptable to God, but an evil substitute for the faith He desires, “for without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb.11:6). But “he that believeth on the Son of God hath life” and this life is bound to bear fruit– the good works with which God is truly pleased.

The difference between the “good works” of the unregenerate man and the “good works” of a true believer, then, is that the former are “dead works” while the latter are the precious fruit of life possessed.

No man can please God while he denies the truth of His Word or rejects His Son, so graciously given to die on the cross as our Saviour. To try to win His favor by “good works” while rejecting Christ is like sending a gift to a man whose beloved son you spurn and despise.

“The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hands. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:35,36).

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Tea Party IRS Protests May 21

On behalf of Tea Party, Patriot groups, 9/12, liberty activists, and the American people, we are calling for anyone and everyone to protest the IRS’ complete abuse of power on Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at noon local time. [link]

Will you attend? Will you protest now while you still can? Or will you live under tyranny and lose all your liberties instead?

The choice is ours. For now.

h/o Legal Insurrection

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

A California To Texas Translation Guide

Presidential Mothers Of 5 Living Presidents #MothersDay

They say a picture is worth a thousand words ...

... this one has to be worth $16+ Trillion, wouldn't ya say?

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Tranquility Base

Now that I no longer suffer from the debilitating Thoracic Outlet Syndrome pain, I try to not pass up an opportunity to work outside. Today was almost perfect: slightly cool, light breeze, sunny blue skies. Excellent painting weather too except for the Buick size gnats and the mosquitoes.

When we first moved here, I named different parts of the property just for fun I'm weird like that. I even name my cars and motorcycles. This area I dubbed "Tranquility Base". Years ago I used to sit here reading the Holy Bible or one of my many Agatha Christie mysteries.

BEFORE

The area was wall-to-wall leaves, overgrown trees, cats claw vines, potato vines, etc. The swing needed light repair which my Most Excellent Husband happily obliged. It was now ready for swingin'!

 

AFTER

I raked the majority of leaves out of the area and put them in the new vegetable garden. Hey, never waste good mulch is my philosophy! Then repainted the repaired swing, hung two new wind chimes and planted shade tolerant flowers (Torenia) in an old black charcoal grill that I resprayed to match the swing and decorations. The orange colored Dwarf Azaleas are deformed from when the tree used to invade them. They are lovely this year in spite of the years of neglect. I'm hoping that once they're pruned and fertilized they'll look a little less scraggly.

Below is the Torenia. It's planted in an old charcoal grill I saved from the scrap heap.

 

I had never heard of Torenia until today, so, after getting home I looked up the flower on google and learned that this little beauty is in the Snapdragon family. 

Below, I hung an inexpensive cross wind chime over the plants. I gotta have my "tinklies". :)

Oh, and the Confederate Jasmine is in full regalia! The smell is so strong this year it wafts gently all over the yard. It's such a yummy odor. Even the birds & bees seem to enjoy it as much as we do.

I'm whopped now so I'm kickin' back with a brewsky and watching old Seinfeld reruns. Then I'll watch one of my pre-recorded old black and white movies. Hey, it beats the News these days. 

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Jackie Evancho - To Believe

"Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises." KJV Psalm 47:6

"Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased." King James Bible

Hamburger Vegetable Surprise

Ingredients

¼ cup Olive Oil
1 tbsp Garlic, minced
1 Sweet Onion, chopped
1 tsp Basil
1 tsp Oregano
1 lb lean Ground Beef
1 can diced Basil Tomatoes
3 cups frozen mixed vegetables
1/3 package of DaVinci Bucatini (pasta)


In a large fry pan at medium heat cook the olive oil, minced garlic, chopped onion, basil and oregano. Cook until onions tender. Then add the lean ground beef, continue cooking on medium heat. When beef is evenly browned add the can of diced Basil Tomatoes and frozen mixed vegetables. Let simmer.

In a separate pot, bring water to boil and cook the pasta or noodles of your choice until tender (we used DaVinci Bucatini). Then add pasta to the beef mix.

Simmer mixture on medium heat until most of the water cooks off.

Good served with grated parmesan cheese and garlic bread as a side.

Serve hot. Serves about 4-6 people.

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Funny Friday ~ Cialis Commercial

Caution: This commercial can cause numbness, dizziness, head shaking, regret, and nausea.

National Day Of Prayer - May 2nd

The National Day Of Prayer has been set for May 2nd this year.

Please try to attend a local event. Our nation needs you.

Never, never, never ... ever give up ... by Pastor C

"Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

-  James 4:7 (KJ 2000)

21 "Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you. 22 Accept instruction from his mouth and lay up his words in your heart. 23 If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored: If you remove wickedness far from your tent 24 and assign your nuggets to the dust, your gold of Ophir to the rocks in the ravines, 25 then the Almighty will be your gold, the choicest silver for you. 26 Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty and will lift up your face to God. 27 You will pray to him, and he will hear you, and you will fulfill your vows. 28 What you decide on will be done, and light will shine on your ways. 29 When men are brought low and you say, 'Lift them up!' then he will save the downcast. 30 He will deliver even one who is not innocent, who will be delivered through the cleanness of your hands."

- Job 22:21-30 (New International Version)

"Prayer is simply a two-way conversation between you and God."

- Billy Graham

God bless,

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

He Stopped Loving Her Today

I am so sad  that one of my favorite Country Western singers, George Jones, passed away today. [I detest the new "country" music. It's crap.]

George Jones, the definitive country singer of the last half-century, whose songs about heartbreak and hard drinking echoed his own life, died on Friday in Nashville. He was 81. [more]

Some time during his career, he also earned the nickname "No Show Jones" because of his drinking habits. Hey, we all have our demons folks. But, irregardless of his demons, whatever they where, he cranked out many memorable songs for us all to enjoy in perpetuity. My absolute favorite of his is, and always will be, "He Stopped Loving Her Today". Brings tears every time.



Thank you Mr. Jones for all your years of wonderful songs. I look forward to hear you sing with us in your distinctive twang in the Heavenly choir with our Lord Jesus Christ.

God's blessings to all his family and friends.

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

All a'Twitter #hackers

Yesterday, some Moonbat(s), probably based in Iran, hacked into the Associated Press Twitter account and caused havoc at self same place by creating a hoax. For some reason stating that the President was blown up made the Dow Jones part of the Stock Market plummet more than 200 points, or, to put it in real terms for the rest of us, more than $200 Billion dollars in value.

Wow.

Seems like with such good news as that the Stock Market would have soared with glee not panic.

So why would an artificial thing like an internet account with twitter, which I still don't understand why one wants to be there or what it does, would affect the Stock Market? Oh well. At least it's dragging itself back up the points again today.

Go figure.

WND Article About Obama's Hatred Of America #ObamaFAIL #ImpeachObama

Looking Spoon

It saddens me how much America has drastically changed just in the past 10 years or so. I grew up in the America when jobs where plentiful. It wasn't perfect by any means, but one was encouraged to make the world a little better place by working hard, saving money, and always doing the right thing. One was proud to say "I'm an American!" But now I noticed people don't like to admit they're American. We've been sliding for quite sometime, mostly in spirts, but it seems that our descent into oblivian has been happening at an even more rapid pace. Has anyone else noticed the disturbing upward trend in the suicide rate? So many seem so depressed, worried, harried, overwhelmed or unusually stressed. I know. I feel that way myself sometimes but I just take a breathe, say a prayer, read the Holy Bible, then make myself go do something fullfilling. My stress relief is going for a motorcycle ride, or gardening, or helping someone in need, or genealogy research.

One must pick one's battles carefully so as not to get overstressed.

Nations come and go, you know, and ours has had many downturns since the beginning. The first major one began about 1913 ... no, it goes back further than that. Being a genealogist, I read a lot of historical pieces by much more learned folks than myself. I noticed that our Nation took the first major downturn about 1845 or so. (See the Federal Census from 1850 that first started wanting to know everything about peoples households.) Then Abraham Lincoln happened in 1861 and he drug American ideals through the mud by throwing the US Constitution out the window, committing impeachable offences and even started our first "Civil War", or as we call it down here in the South, The War of Northern Aggression. He was our first really worthless President. From there our Nation had brief upswings of prosperity (under Calvin Coolidge) and downswings (Woodrow Wilson, both Roosevelts, Jimmy Carter, all the Bush's, Bill Clinton). Now we seem to just be roller coasting straight downhill with no brakes thanks to the sub saharan culture that has taken over Hollywood, the schools, our government, etc.

Today I noticed a link to this article about "Americans Snapping By The Millions" on another blog. Wow. It was as if the writer was reading my mind or, scarier still, listening to me yell at the TV! It's the same as what I've been telling everyone that will listen: Obama HATES America and all this doom and gloom and 'executive orders' are part of his evil plan to remake it in his graven image. The article is a good read. But those of you who feel depressed, please know you're not alone. JESUS LOVES YOU all the time. And if you want to talk about it further, leave a comment here. Please don't give up hope. Bad times come and go, but remember you're important and treasured by Someone bigger than all of us.

I like this quote at the bottom of the article:

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing,” James 1: 2-4 KJV.

And may I add:

"fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 English Standard Version

And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Acts 16:31 English Standard Version

Our Day In Pictures: Southeast Georgia Countryside

Today it was quite pretty but too windy to ride comfortably. So we parked the metal steeds took the 'cage' (4 wheels for you non-riders) for a spin. All these photos were taken on Big Creek Road then Bennett Still Road in Bacon County, Georgia.

 This was an abandoned farm house

on Big Creek Road. From the outbuildings

still standing, they must have specialized

in raising tobacco.

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A little ways from the above place,

just around the corner on Bennett Still Road,

Sweetie spied this cute little place.

The horses looked so contented and well fed.

Just had to snap a pic.

Hope you enjoyed the ride too on this lovely Sunday!

Ride Safe

~ Sparky ~

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ The Apostle Of Grace

The Apostle of Grace

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
Printer Friendly Version

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus was an amazing event. Saul loathed the very name of Christ. He blasphemed Him and caused others to be tortured so as to compel them to blaspheme that holy name. He led his nation and the world in rebellion against the resurrected, glorified Christ — the world which had already disowned and crucified the lowly Jesus.

But as Saul went to Damascus, still “breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1), God did a wonderful thing. Rather than crush the leader of the world’s rebellion, He saved him. Christ broke through the heavens, as it were, to speak words of pity to His greatest enemy on earth. As a result Saul’s rebellious spirit was broken and in one moment the pitiless persecutor became the docile, indeed the devoted follower of Christ.

More than this, Saul of Tarsus, the persecutor, became Paul the Apostle. To him the glorified Lord committed “the dispensation of the grace of God” (Eph. 3:2) and “the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Now he went everywhere proclaiming grace, telling men how God loved them, how Christ had come into the world and had gone to Calvary to pay man’s debt of sin so that believing sinners might be saved.

“The gospel of the grace of God,” found in Paul’s epistles, does not blame anyone for the death of Christ. Rather it presents the cross as good news. It declares that “we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7). It says that “God hath concluded them all in unbelief that He might have mercy upon all” (Rom. 11:32) and that “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20). Thus the vilest sinner may believe and rejoice in the consciousness of sins forgiven.

---

To the Reader:

Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Great Editorial - Just Ban Democrats From Owning Guns #guncontrol

Here is an interesting editorial with an interesting solution.

Works for me.
(click image to enlarge in new window)

Funny Friday ~ What's Your Birth Number

I'm not into Numberology or anything silly like that. I just thought this was fun. Really, all of us are all these numbers at any given time in our lives, don't ya think? Anyway, what's your number? I'm a "#1", for what it's worth.

Sparky ~:)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

WHATS YOUR BIRTH NUMBER?

Once you have discovered your Birth Number. Put your number in as a comment below for us to know who we are.

Have fun! Your birth date describes who we are, what we are good at and what our inborn abilities are. It also points to what we have to learn and the challenges we are facing.

To figure out your Birth Number, add all the numbers in the Birth Date together, like in the example, until there is only one digit. A Birth Number does not prevent you from being anything you want to be, it will just color your choice differently and give you a little insight.

Example:
March 20, 1950
3 + 20 + 1950 = 1973
1 + 9 + 7 + 3 = 20
2 + 0 = 2

Keep going until you end up with a single digit number. 2 is the Birth Number to read for the birth date in the example.


#1 THE ORIGINATOR
#2 THE PEACEMAKER
#3 THE LIFE OF THE PARTY
#4 THE CONSERVATIVE
#5 THE NONCONFORMIST
#6 THE ROMANTIC
#7 THE INTELLECTUAL
#8 THE BIG SHOT
#9 THE PERFORMER


# 1 - THE ORIGINATOR

1's are originals. Coming up with new ideas and executing them is natural. Having things! their own way is another trait that gets them as being stubborn and arrogant. 1's are extremely honest and do well to learn some diplomacy skills. They like to take the initiative and are often leaders or bosses! , as they like to be the best. Being self-employed is definitely helpful for them. Lesson to learn: Others' ideas might be just as good or better and to stay open minded.

Famous 1's: Tom Hanks, Robert Redford, Hulk Hogan, Carol Burnett, Wynona Judd, Nancy Reagan, Raquel Welch.



#2 - THE PEACEMAKER

2's are the born diplomats. They are aware of others' needs and moods and often think of others before themselves. Naturally analytical and very intuitive they don't like to be alone. Friendship and companionship is very important and can lead them to be successful in life, but on the other hand they'd rather be alone than in an uncomfortable relationship. Being naturally shy they should learn to boost their self-esteem and express themselves freely and seize the moment and not put things off.

Famous 2's: President Bill Clinton, Madonna, Whoopee Goldberg, Thomas Edison, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.



# 3 - THE LIFE OF THE PARTY

3's are idealists. They are very creative, social, charming, romantic, and easygoing. They start many things, but don't always see them through. They like others to be happy and go to great lengths to achieve it. They are very popular and idealistic. They should learn to see the world from a more realistic point of view.

Famous 3's: Alan Alda, Ann Landers, Bill Cosby, Melanie Griffith, Karen Roundbutt, Salvador Dali, Jodi Foster



# 4 - THE CONSERVATIVE

4's are sensible and traditional. They like order and routine. They only act when they fully understand what they are expected to do. They like getting their hands dirty and working hard. They are attracted to the outdoors and feel an affinity with nature. They are prepared to wait and can be stubborn and persistent. They should learn to be more flexible and to be nice to themselves.

Famous 4's: Neil Diamond, Margaret Thatcher, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tina Turner, Paul Hogan, Oprah Winfrey



# 5 - THE NONCONFORMIST

5's are the explorers. Their natural curiosity, risk taking, and enthusiasm often land t! hem in hot water. They need diversity, and don't like to be stuck in a rut. The whole world is their school and they see a learning possibility in every situation. The questions never stop. They are well advised to look before they take action and make sure they have all the facts before jumping to conclusions.

Famous 5's: Abraham Lincoln, Charlotte Bronte, Jessica Walter, Vincent VanGogh, Bette Midler, Helen Keller and Mark Hail.



# 6 - THE ROMANTIC

6's are idealistic and need to feel useful to be happy. A strong family connection is important to them. Their actions influence their decisions. They have a strong urge to take care of others and to help.They are very loyal and make great teachers! They like art or music. They make loyal friends who take the friendship seriously. 6's should learn to differentiate between what they can change and what they cannot.

Famous 6's: Albert Einstein, Jane Seymour, John Denver, Merlyn Steep, Christopher Columbus, Goldie Hawn



#7 - THE INTELLECTUAL

7's are the searchers. Always probing for hidden information, they find it difficult to accept things at face value. Emotions don't sway their decisions. Questioning everything in life, they don't like to be questioned themselves. They're never off to a fast start, and their motto is slow and steady wins the race. They come across as philosophers and being very knowledgeable, and sometimes as loners. They are technically inclined and make great researchers uncovering information. They like secrets. They live in their own world and should learn what is acceptable and what's not in the world at large.

Famous 7's: William Shakespeare, Lucille Ball, Michael Jackson, Joan Baez, Princess Diana



# 8 - THE BIG SHOT

8's are the problem solvers. They are professional, blunt and to the point, have good judgment and are decisive. They have grand plans and like to live the good life. They take charge of people. They view people objectively. They let you know in no uncertain terms that they are the boss. They should learn to exude their decisions on their own
needs rather than on what others want.

Famous 8's: Edgar Cayce, Barbara Streisand, George Harrison, Jane Fonda, Pablo Picasso, Aretha Franklin, Nostrodamus



#9 - THE PERFORMER

9's are natural entertainers. They are very caring and generous, giving away their last dollar to help. With their charm, they have no problem making friends and nobody is a stranger to them. They have so many different personalities that people around them have a hard time understanding them. They are like chameleons, ever changing and blending in. They have tremendous luck, but also can suffer from extremes in fortune and mood. To be successful, they need to build a loving foundation.

Famous 9's: Albert Schweitzer, Shirley MacLaine, Harrison Ford, Jimmy Carter, Elvis Presley

Senate rejects expanded gun background check #ObamaFAIL

Praise God! Our gun rights are safe for a few more days anyway.

'Course, asswipe O'Blamer had to go into total meltdown pout when he lost. Poor baby! [playing worlds smallest violin]

Obama chastises Senate over failed gun reform amendment

Who the heck does he think he is!!!??? Plain and simple, Obama is a tyrant. Also, if the law had passed, it would have created a whole new class of "criminals" of which many of us would now be. The law would have made it illegal to even gift a gun without it being registered. To anyone. It would have been a total, absolute nightmare and not solved any criminal problems.

We've really escaped the bullet on this one.

The Eric Holder - Gosnell Abortion Clinic Connection

Since the main stream media are now a failure at reporting news, it's up to Christians on the internet to keep this story in the forefront. There's a lot more to the Gosnell story than meets the eye: It stinks on so many levels.

The wife of Eric Holder, the Attorney General of the United States, is a co-owner of the building in which Gosnell's abortion clinic was located, "Holder failed to disclose his wife’s ownership of the building. The attorney general’s financial disclosure reports for 2008 through 2011 show Holder neglected to report his wife’s co-ownership."

Eric Holder Failed to Disclose Wife’s Abortion Clinic Ties

Well, well, well!! This is just more every-day, garden variety, corruption in the Obamanation's "transparent" administration. 'Nothing to see here, folks; the media's not reporting it. Move along.'

Thank God the media are being shamed by that photo of empty media seats at the trial of this man who, if convicted, will be the biggest mass murderer in American history. Gosnell made a fortune from murdering babies and, it appears, Eric Holder's wife also benefited monetarily from the murder of live children outside their mothers' wombs.

This story is HUGE. No wonder the already mass murderer Eric Holder, the Obamanation himself, and their sycophants in the media want to pretend it's not happening.

No wonder the Left want to disarm American citizens with this bogus back ground check malarkey. Disarming us they can murder more of us who do not conform to their deviant lifestyles post abortion style.

What A Can Of Worms #gayrights

This whole "gay rights" thing is not about them not having "rights". It's about one group having power over another. It's about the tearing down and the moral decay of our society.

More aptly put is a quote that Dr. Benjamin Carson made during a television interview [emphasis mine]:

Marriage is between a man and a woman. It is a well-established fundamental pillar of society, and no group — be they gays, be they NAMBLA [North American Man/Boy Love Association], be they people who believe in beastiality — no matter what they are, they don’t get to change the definition. So it’s not something that’s against gays; it’s against anybody who wants to come along and change the fundamental definition of pillars of society.  It has significant ramifications.

If the Supreme Court states that it's OK to marry anyone or anything, it really will completely and utterly tear at the fabric of our society that has taken centuries to establish. What's to stop the legalization of incest? Or beastiality? Or the further destruction of children and families? Nothing will stand between those of us who know the difference between right and wrong and those who wish to destroy the American culture completely.

It will be just another

brought to you by the lost souls in our Supreme Court.

h/t Legal Insurrection: Polygamy would have to be permitted

DownsizeDC.org

Downsize DC.org

Quote of the Day: "Government spending is taxation." — Arthur Laffer
The so-called "sequester" will happen tomorrow (march 1st.) But federal spending will still increase, even after these "cuts." Is that what you want? To impose REAL spending cuts, Congress must...
Never again raise the debt ceiling!
We wrote Congress asking for this using our Cap the Debt campaign. We invite you to do the same.
You may borrow from or copy this letter...

I'm not panicked by "sequestration." I’m disappointed by it. The so-called "draconian" cuts will only reduce .....
* domestic spending to 2009 levels
* defense spending to 2007 levels -- which is still many times China's military budget.
And federal spending will actually INCREASE by $2.39 trillion over ten years. (http://bit.ly/ZxuEPS)
I DENY CONSENT to this increase! I demand immediate, real, and lasting cuts.
Why?
Because most of what you do is MORALLY ILLEGITIMATE. Criminal.
How can I tell?
Because you would call me a criminal if I did them.
* I can't kill except in self-defense; but you murder constantly.
* I can't hold my neighbors against their will because I dislike what they ingest; but you do it.
* I can't run a Ponzi scheme like Social Security.
* I can't threaten violence against people to fund my activities the way you do.
* I can't threaten violence to make businesses operate the way I prefer, but your unelected "regulators" do.
ALSO...
* I can't counterfeit currency, but the Federal Reserve does.
* I can't borrow money forever, but you think you can.
The debt ceiling "deadline" is May 18. Don’t raise it. Maintain it. That will balance the budget instantly, with NO dire consequences. *You'll still have enough to pay the troops and entitlements.
* But you'll have to repeal wasteful, criminal, immoral laws and programs.
* And make deep cuts to the bloated, corrupt, imperial Pentagon.
You won't do this, of course. You'll claim you favor reducing the deficit, or fiscal responsibility, or some pie-in-the-sky balanced budget amendment, but only so you can avoid taking real action, like refusing to raise the debt ceiling.
But that's okay too. Your continued devotion to criminality will serve as another example to support the message I'm sharing with my friends and neighbors. More and more people are seeing the illegitimacy of what you do.
Your institution must conform to basic moral axioms like the Golden Rule and the Zero Aggression Principle. You must stop initiating force to get your way. Do this soon, or the people will have to institute new forms of government. Either way, justice will prevail.

END LETTER
You can send your letter using DownsizeDC.org's Educate the Powerful System.
You can support the Educate the Powerful System using our secure contribution form.
Thank you for your participation. Remember to share your letter with interested friends. You can awaken them to the violence and criminality inherent in the system.
Jim Babka & James Wilson
President & Policy Research Director
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.
h/t http://clintoncountyin.blogspot.com/