Free Ride

I’ve been Queen of the Thrones this week. We’ve been laid low all week with a minor stomach virus again. I don’t know what the virus name is but I pray it has missed everyone else in it’s devious rounds. I was ready for a colonoscopy afterwards. *lol*

I know: TMI!! TMI!! [Too Much Information]  *lol*

It looks like I am going to lose my doctor after all. I was praying that wouldn’t be the case, that somehow this cup would pass, but I just can’t afford his rates without better insurance. I had what the fascist behind the TelePrompTer called “cadillac” insurance. Then the term Obamacare reared it’s serpent’s head and shouted to the masses “Unfair! All must suffer equally. How dare anyone save and provide for the future! Misery for all!” And the masses heard and agreed. Now I’m stuck with “volkswagon” insurance and one tire is flat. At least I can still get my needed medicine, for now. I will eventually start looking for an affordable physician, but like Scarlett O’Hara said in the book Gone With The Wind, “I’ll worry about that tomorrow …” 

The days of free rides (quoting King O) are over. Redistribution of misery has begun.

At any rate, we both had started feeling chipper again. The better health and the balmier temperatures made me positively giddy. The bikes cried out to be taken for a spin. I had to get out of the house! And since Hubby is still trying to get past the break in period of 300 miles on his Honda CB1100, it was just another good excuse to burn a little fossil fuel. Today was one of those cloudless, sun low on the horizon type of days that we can be graced with in winter. The wind howled a bit too much for my liking, but, other than that, it was perfect.

I decided to combine errands with the ride since I’m averaging around 56 to 65 miles per gallon. Why waste the trip?! First made a run to our local power company to settle a minor matter. There were no issues as we’ve always have best service from them. The Customer Service is first rate. Just an accounting matter. Also, swung by the Pharmacy to pick up needed supplies. 

Then we where free as birds to go where our hearts led us. The world was our oyster. 

So, from Alma heading North-Northeast we meandered the full length of Bennett Still Road. I never realized it went straight to Baxley. There are cozy little farms, quaint old houses, livestock and fields of green sheltered by stately pines the whole length of the road. From Baxley we took Poor Robin back South to Highway 203, then on East to home. All in all it was a lovely ride. I feel “full” like I’ve just enjoyed a full course meal with no troubles in the world and someone else picked up the check.

Thank you God for the free ride of grace you give all believers (not too sin but be forgiven) through our Lord Jesus Christ.

“For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” [Ephesians 2:8-9] KJV 2000 

Thank you for putting the kickstand down and staying awhile.

Funny Friday ~ Nothing Loves You Like A Dog

"Dogs  Welcome"

A man wrote a letter to a small  hotel in a Midwest town he planned to visit on his vacation.

He wrote: I would very much like  to bring my dog with me. He is well-groomed and very well behaved. Would you be willing to permit me to keep him in my room with me at  night?"

An immediate reply came from the hotel owner, who wrote:

"SIR: I've been operating this hotel for many years. In all that time, I've never had a dog steal towels, bedclothes, silverware or pictures off the walls or use them as a coloring book.   I've never had to evict a dog in the middle of the night for being drunk and disorderly. And I've never had a dog run out on a hotel bill.

Yes, indeed, your dog is welcome at my hotel. 

And, if your dog will vouch for you, you're welcome to stay here, too."

~ Thank you for putting the kickstand down ~

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Part Four: I'm A Cowboy

As I stated in his first post, once weekly I plan to feature a guest writer, my husband. He has been painstakingly writing down the stories of his childhood to share them with his 9 year old niece. I wanted her to know what kind of childhood her beloved Uncle was able to enjoy. While enjoying them myself I thought these are so much fun to read, why not share them? So here are the short missives of his memories of growing up in wilds of Florida during the 1950's and 1960's. They're packed with misadventures, romance, and all the confusing things that can happen in our youth. Even though his hometown of Jacksonville is a big city with over a million residents now, during his childhood it was several small communities surrounded by countryside.

This is his story.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

I'm A Cowboy
by Steven R. Hudson

On a summer day a truck pulling a small horse trailer parked on our street.

The driver got out and began knocking on doors. This was not at all unusual in those days for door to door salesmen were common. Very few mothers worked outside the home and selling vacuum cleaners, encyclopedias, Bibles and even cleaning brushes could be a lucrative enterprise for a man with a gift for gab. When the man arrived at our door we learned that he was a photographer and in the trailer was a pony and cowboy costumes. For a small fee you could put on the cowboy garb and get your picture taken on the pony. I was so excited when Mom said yes to my pleas. When the man helped me into the saddle I was ready to ride off with Roy Rogers, all I needed was a pair of six-shooters and a rifle in the saddle scabbard.

The creek became a favorite spot for us boys. We would cross Beach Blvd and follow a narrow muddy path along it's banks. Usually we were there to hunt frogs which dove into the creek by the hundreds as we disturbed them from their hiding places along the bank. Frog gigs were fashioned from Maple limbs, sharpened with a pocket knife and then hardened in a fire. Sometimes we would gig a few unlucky frogs but we tired of this when we could not convince any of our moms to fry up the legs for us. Baloney sandwiches would have to do for lunch. The creek was a truly beautiful place. The water ran clear when it hadn't been muddied by heavy rain. The banks were lined with huge old trees. Their roots were exposed along the foot path and formed a maze that we had to step over as we walked. Moss grew heavily upon overhanging limbs forming a drapery that hinted of danger and mystery in our young minds. Bees and butterflies swarmed on the purple flowers of Pickerel Weed that grew thick in the shallows and the buzz of Katydids and Cicadas filled the air, heavy with summer humidity. We walked along barefoot, a pair of shorts or cut offs and sometimes a T-shirt, our feet calloused and hard and our skinny bodies brown as bugs. A scene right out of "Lord of the Flies".

My first encounter with a venomous snake happened while on a minnow and crawfish hunt with friend Peanut. There was a pair of fancy brick gates on Huffman Blvd that marked the entrance to Center Park and a large pool of water at the culvert here that always held big crawfish. As we neared the gates we could see a large banded and heavy bodied snake at the base of one gate. It was a Canebreak (coastal Timber) Rattlesnake. As we approached it started rattling a loud buzz like escaping steam and reared it's head defensively, warning us to come no closer. We didn't. We were awe struck at the size and power of this beautiful reptile. Peanut climbed up on the gate so he could get a better look. I stood where I was and after a while the snake crawled away. We talked about that snake for days and it grew bigger and more fearsome with every telling.

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Glorious Deliverance

Glorious Deliverance 

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society
Printer Friendly Version

In I Thes. 1:10, the Apostle Paul, by divine inspiration, assures believers that the Lord Jesus Christ has “delivered us from the wrath to come.” He refers, of course, to deliverance from the penalty of sin. But in other passages he declares that we are also delivered from the power of sin.

In Col. 1:12,13, for example, he gives thanks to God “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.”

This deliverance, and the glory of our heavenly position and blessings in Christ, we may enjoy experientially now, by grace. Rom. 6:14 says: “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law but under grace.” This does not mean that it is not possible for the believer to sin, but rather that it is possible, in any situation, not to sin. Thus the same passage in Romans goes on to say that we should not yield ourselves as servants to sin, but to God, who, in grace has broken sin’s power over us.

Finally, the believer in Christ will one day be delivered even from the presence of sin, for at our Lord’s coming for us “we shall all be changed” (I Cor. 15:51). Believers should long for Christ’s coming for them, not merely because these bodies of humiliation will then be glorified, but because from that moment on they shall never again be tempted or defiled by sin. What a change that will be!

In II Cor. 1:10 the Apostle includes all three tenses of the believer’s deliverance. Here he tells how God has “delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver, in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us.” This is why he could write to the Philippians about his confidence that “He who hath begun a good work in you will perform [complete] it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).

Some may not feel the need of deliverance now, but we all need deliverance from sin and its results. If you have not yet experienced this deliverance, why not place your trust in Christ who died to “deliver us from the wrath to come.”

---

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."

To this we would add that the same is true for the articles written by others that we continue to add, on a regular basis, to the Two Minutes library. We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

Do Do Do, Lookin' Out My Back Door #sunset

Our sunset this evening.

The photo doesn't really do it justice. It was quite stunning.

Today was especially lovely for a February.

It graced us with cool, gentle breezes,

bright sunshine and soft puffy clouds.

I made it a day of outside work.

Have a happy weekend folks.

And ...

Funny Friday ~ Affordable Golf Club Act

 Affordable Golf Club Act

        The administration has passed a new law titled: "The Affordable Golf Club Act" declaring that every citizen must purchase a new set of golf clubs, before April 2014.

       

        This law has been passed, because until now, typically only the wealthy or financially responsible have been able to purchase new golf clubs without the assistance of their government.

       

        This new law ensures that every American can now have "affordable" golf clubs of their own, because everyone is equally entitled to new golf clubs. And if you want to keep the golf clubs you already have, you can do that, until April 2014.

       

        These affordable golf clubs will cost from $1,000 to $3,000 each depending on your income level. This does not include taxes, pull cart, electric cart fees, green fees, membership fees, balls, tees, gloves, range finders, storage fees, maintenance, or repair costs.

       

        In order to make sure everyone participates and purchases their affordable golf clubs, the costs of owning golf clubs will increase 50% each year up to 400% by year 2018. This way, wealthy people will pay more for something that other people don't want or can't afford to maintain. People who can't afford or refuse to maintain their golf clubs will be fined. However, children under the age of 26 can use their parents’ golf clubs until they turn 27 at which time they must purchase their own golf clubs.

       

        If you don't want or think you don't need golf clubs, you are still required to buy them. If you refuse to buy a set or make claims that you can't afford them, you will be fined $800 until you purchase a set or face imprisonment.

       

        People living in farming areas, ghettos, inner cities, Wyoming, or areas with no access to golf courses are not exempt. Age, health, prior experience or no experience is not acceptable excuses for not buying, maintaining, and using your golf clubs.

       

        A government review board that doesn't know the difference between a hook and a slice will decide everything. This includes when, where, how often and for what purposes you can use your golf clubs along with how many people can ride in your golf cart. The board will also determine if participants are too old or not healthy enough to be able to use their golf clubs.

       

        They will also decide if your golf clubs have outlived their usefulness or if you must purchase specific accessories, like a range finder with slope adjustment or a newer and more expensive set of golf clubs.

       

        Those that can afford memberships at expensive golf country clubs will be required to buy memberships. If you are already a member and you like your membership you can keep your membership. After April 2014, a different country club will be assigned for you to purchase a membership.

       

        Government officials are exempt from this new law as they and their families and some of their friends and a few of their friends can obtain golf clubs at taxpayers expense.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A Friendly Reminder

It’s time to file your income tax, so pull out the cancelled checks and the shoe box full of receipts and get started.

There is some good news this year.

The government won't tax hen’s teeth and fish hair. 

Aren’t we lucky?

Our chickens are toothless and our fish are bald.

This Day Has Just Flu By

I'm down with a mild 24 hour something ...

or other.

Poor Hubby had it first, now me.

I keep dozing off in front of the computer.

What treatments do you recommend when you have the flu?

Opps, gotta run ... *lol*