Philosophy of Hope

Choices -Mid Week Epistole

2008-04-23T11:04:00.001-06:00

Choices

Many times in my life I have been confronted with choices. Not just the daily ones of where to go or what to eat or what to wear, but difficult choices. Ones that require me to stop and evaluate everything that I am and have dreams of becoming in the future. It is at times like this that I am reminded of a poem by Horatius Bonar.

Choose Thou For Me

Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be!

Lead me by Thine own hand;

Choose out my path for me.

I dare not choose my lot:

I would not, if I might;

Choose Thou for me, my God,

So shall I walk aright...

The kingdom that I seek

Is Thine: so let the way

That leads to it be Thine,

Else I must surely stray.

Take Thou my cup, and it

With joy or sorrow fill,

As best to Thee may seem;

Choose Thou my good and ill.

Choose Thou for me my friends,

My sickness, or my health;

Choose Thou my cares for me

My poverty, or wealth.

Not mine, not mine the choice,

In things both great and small;

Be Thou my Guide, my Strength,

My Wisdom, and my all.

What would happen in your life if this was to become one of the guides for you? Would it change anything, or would it affirm the path that you are walking with God right now.

Take a moment and prayerfully consider what these words might mean to you today. Then please lift your heart and hands to God and offer Him all that you are.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will share a special witness together.

Ghost of the past

2008-03-13T10:24:00.000-06:00

Ya know, once in a while I will get an email from someone I had not heard from in forever. And sometimes, I will search out those people. It is still weird when I get someone email me from back in my College days though. On myspace, there is a small group of us auggie people who still chat to each other. That group is small, but it is still nice to read thier pages and see what is happening in thier lives. Another small group of auggie people who I email often. It is so strange that those wild and crazy kids are now parents. EEK. What an idea.

Last night, I was searching around the web though...and I found the name of a very old friend. She used to live with me when I was in Middle school. And I hate it...because I have this name, her husband's name...and still no way to contact her. We were best of friends, and my mom's foster daughter. I wish that I could talk with her...we lost touch during one of the many moves...the last time I talked with her was right after my mom died. I just miss her a lot. She is an awsome person.

I have decided I like Ghost from the past. It is nice to hear from old friends and reminders of what life once was.

Me

2008-02-25T21:04:00.000-07:00

*TELL ME ABOUT YOURSELF - The Survey*
Name:	Sabrina
Birthday:	February
Birthplace:	Maryland
Current Location:	Exiled in Louisiana
Eye Color:	Cat Green
Hair Color:	Brownish Red
Height:	5 foot nothing
Right Handed or Left Handed:	Both
Your Heritage:	Irish, Scottish, American Indian and a little bit German
The Shoes You Wore Today:	slip ons
Your Weakness:	Ice Cream
Your Fears:	Too many to list. Water, heights, etc..
Your Perfect Pizza:	Sausage, onions, tomatoes, green peppers
Goal You Would Like To Achieve This Year:	Move out of Louisiana
Your Most Overused Phrase On an instant messenger:	lol
Thoughts First Waking Up:	Why is it morning already?
Your Best Physical Feature:	Eyes
Your Bedtime:	10ish
Your Most Missed Memory:	My Mom
Pepsi or Coke:	Diet coke
MacDonalds or Burger King:	Mcdonalds I guess..Prefer Wendys
Single or Group Dates:	Single
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea:	Lipton Ice Tea
Chocolate or Vanilla:	Chocolate
Cappuccino or Coffee:	Neither. yuck
Do you Smoke:	No. yuck
Do you Swear:	Sometimes I let one slip
Do you Sing:	Yes. Love to
Do you Shower Daily:	LOL yes
Have you Been in Love:	Yes
Do you want to go to College:	Did already...would like to go to grad school though
Do you want to get Married:	already am
Do you belive in yourself:	sometimes
Do you get Motion Sickness:	yes
Do you think you are Attractive:	i am me
Are you a Health Freak:	LOL no
Do you get along with your Parents:	I am parentless
Do you like Thunderstorms:	yes
Do you play an Instrument:	violin
In the past month have you Drank Alcohol:	no. cant with my meds
In the past month have you Smoked:	no. yuck
In the past month have you been on Drugs:	prescription drugs
In the past month have you gone on a Date:	no
In the past month have you gone to a Mall:	yes
In the past month have you eaten a box of Oreos:	no
In the past month have you eaten Sushi:	no
In the past month have you been on Stage:	no
In the past month have you been Dumped:	no
In the past month have you gone Skinny Dipping:	no
In the past month have you Stolen Anything:	no
Ever been Drunk:	yes
Ever been called a Tease:	yes
Ever been Beaten up:	yes
Ever Shoplifted:	yes
How do you want to Die:	when I am old
What do you want to be when you Grow Up:	LOL. I do not know. at 35 I should huh?
What country would you most like to Visit:	hmm...Ireland
*In a Boy/Girl..*
Favourite Eye Color:	Brown
Favourite Hair Color:	Brown
Short or Long Hair:	Not long but not too short either
Height:	Taller then me. not too hard
Weight:	does not really matter
Best Clothing Style:	casual dress
Number of Drugs I have taken:	no clue
Number of CDs I own:	too many
Number of Piercings:	2 in one ear, 3 in another
Number of Tattoos:	none
Number of things in my Past I Regret:	too many to list.
CREATE YOUR OWN! - or - GET PAID TO TAKE SURVEYS!

Mid Week Epistole

2008-02-19T21:46:00.000-07:00

TUNES IN THE CHURCH

Are you one of the people who cannot carry a tune in the proverbial bucket? Many times I hear people say those words when asked if they would sing in the choir or during church. Well, I have good news for you.

Donald Hustad once wrote: “Somehow, about 40% of churchgoers seem to have picked up the idea that ‘singing in the church is for singers.’ The truth is that ‘singing is for believers.’ The relevant question is not, “Do you have a voice?” but “do you have a song?”

Do you know the difference between the two songs? Or to you, are they the same?

Loving Father, we know you do not so much listen to the voice of Your church as it sings as much as You listen to the heart. We thank You for our song. In Christ’s blessed name. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will read a journal entry from a servant of God who soared over the mountains.

This song Reminds me of Brianna

2008-02-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

Brianna is a huge Hannah Montana Fan....but this song..

It reminds me of her for many reasons. My Little Ms. Independent.

Billy Ray Cyrus Ready Set Don't Go Lyrics

(BILLY RAY:)
Shes gotta do what shes gotta do
And I've gotta like it or not
Shes got dreams to big for this town
And she needs to give 'em a shot
Wherever they are

(MILEY:)
Looks like I'm all ready to leave
Theres nothin' left to pack

(BILLY RAY:)
Aint no room for me in that car
Even if she asks me to tag along
(Both:)
Gotta gotta be strong

(MILEY:)
I'm at the startin line of the rest of my life
As ready as I've ever been
Got the hunger and the stars in my eyes
The prize is mine to win
(BILLY RAY:)
She's waitin' on my blessins
`Fore she hits that open road
Baby get ready
(MILEY:)
Ohh Im ready
(BILLY RAY:)
Get set, don't go

(MILEY:)
Looks like things are fallin in place

(BILLY RAY:)
Feels like theyre fallin apart
Im paintin this big ol' smile on my face
To hide my broken heart
If only she knew

(MILEY:)
This is where you don't say
What you want so bad to say

(BILLY RAY;)
This is where I want to
But I wont get in the way
Of her and her dream
And spreadin her wings
(MILEY:)
I'm ready to fly

(MILEY:)
Im at the startin line of the rest of my life
As ready as I've ever been
Got the hunger and the stars in my eyes
The prize is mine to win
(BILLY RAY:)
[Ready Set Don't Go lyrics on http://www.metrolyrics.com]

She's waitin' on my blessins `fore she hits that open road
(MILEY:)
gotta hit that open road
(BILLY RAY:)
Baby get ready, get set
(Both:)
Don't go

(CHORUS)
(MILEY:)
Im at the startin line of the rest of my life
As ready as Ive ever been
(BILLY RAY:)
It'll be alright
(MILEY:)
Got the hunger and the stars in my eyes
The prize is mine to win
I'll be okay
(BILLY RAY:)
She's waitin' on my blessings
'Fore she hits that open road
Baby get ready
(MILEY:)
Oh oh oh
(BILLY RAY:)
Get set, please don't go
Don't go

(MILEY:)
Lemme go now
I'm ready

(BILLY RAY:)
Hmmmm Dont go

(MILEY:)
I'll be alright
I'll be okay
Know that I'll
Be thinkin of you
Each and every day

(BILLY RAY:)
Shes gotta do what shes gotta do

(MILEY:)
lemme go now

(BILLY RAY)
Shes gotta do what shes gotta do

(MILEY:)
I gotta do what I gotta do

(BILLY RAY:)
Shes gotta do what shes gotta do

9 years and Counting

2008-02-14T19:27:00.002-07:00

Artist: Williams, Vanessa
Song: Save the Best for Last

Sometimes the snow comes down in June
Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon
I see the passion in your eyes
Sometimes it's all a big surprise
'Cause there was a time when all I did was wish
You'd tell me this was love
It's not the way I hoped or how I planned
But somehow it's enough

And now we're standing face to face
Isn't this world a crazy place
Just when I thought our chance had passed
You go and save the best for last

All of the nights you came to me
When some silly girl had set you free
You wondered how you'd make it through
I wondered what was wrong with you

'Cause how could you give your love to someone else
And share your dreams with me
Sometimes the very thing you're looking for
Is the one thing you can't see

And now we're standing face to face
Isn't this world a crazy place
Just when I thought our chance had passed
You go and save the best for last

Sometimes the very thing you're looking for
Is the one thing you can't see

Sometimes the snow comes down in June
Sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon
Just when I thought our chance had passed
You go and save the best for last

You went and saved the best for last

Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2008-02-12T14:58:00.001-07:00

WHICH ONE DO YOU TRY TO TAKE CARE OF?

Yesterday was Monday, the dreaded day of the work force. How did your Monday go? Was it rewarding or filled with all kinds of disruptions?

When difficulties come into your life, how do you deal with them? Do you let them control you or is it the reverse?

Well, let me give you a very simple prayer to pray: “Lord, you take care of the gnats -- I can take care of the elephants.” The only thing you have to decide is which of your problems elephants are. Usually it is the one that is right in front of you. The gnats are the ones that seem to buzz around and make us think we are failures.

I think how true this prayer is today while I sit at home with the ice on the ground. I look out the office window and the beautiful Bradford Pear trees that we have enjoyed since we moved here are now split apart will have to be taken out. The birds are sitting in the branches still looking for their seed, and still I feel like God will provide for both of us as we wonder what to do now.

Lord, was that another gnat that you conquered for me? If so, would you mind coming and helping me with this elephant? Together we can win a victory for You. In the name of the Living Christ we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will find the power of having a song to sing with your voice.

Quick Let's Pray -Mid Week Epistole

2008-02-06T09:29:00.000-07:00

QUICK! LET’S PRAY!

Dr. W. E. Sangster once wrote about what he called “minute prayers.” It’s not known if by “minute” he meant “tiny” or prayers that could be prayed in 60 seconds; it probably amounts to the same thing. Prayers do not need to be lengthy. Here are some little gems of prayer that can be used at any time, anywhere:

“O Lord, let me not live to be useless.” (John Wesley)

“Protect me, my Lord; my boat is so small, and your ocean so big.” (Briton fisherman’s prayer)

“Lead kindly light, amid the encircling gloom; lead Thou me on.” (J. H. Newman)

“O God, help me to be master of myself that I may be a servant of others.” (Unknown)

What “minute prayer” could you create for God today?

O God, hear us. Amen!

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Today we talked about short prayers, next week we will look at the text of a prayer.

Letter to Me Lyrics

2008-01-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

I am really stuck on this song right now. Reminds me of all those times I thought my life was just over, and it was really just a passing phase.

Letter to Me by Brad Paisley

If I could write a letter to me
And send it back in time to myself at 17
First I’d prove it’s me by saying look under your bed
There’s a Skoal can and a Playboy no one else would know you hid
And then I’d say I know its tough
When you break up after seven months
And yeah I know you really liked her and it just don’t seem fair
All I can say is pain like that is fast and it’s rare

1st Chorus
And oh you got so much going for you going right
But I know at 17 it’s hard to see past Friday night
She wasn’t right for you
And still you feel like there’s a knife sticking out of your back
And you’re wondering if you’ll survive
You’ll make it through this and you’ll see
You’re still around to write this letter to me

At the stop sign at Tomlinson and Eighth
Always stop completely don’t just tap your brakes
And when you get a date with Bridgett make sure the tank is full
On second thought forget it that one turns out kinda cool
Each and every time you have a fight
Just assume you’re wrong and dad is right
And you should really thank Mrs. Brinkman
She spent so much extra time
It’s like she sees the diamond underneath
And she’s polishing you ‘til you shine

2nd Chorus
And oh you got so much going for you going right
But I know at 17 it’s hard to see past Friday night
Tonight’s the bonfire rally
But you’re staying home instead because if you fail Algebra
Mom and dad will kill you dead
Trust me you’ll squeak by and get a C
And you’re still around to write this letter to me

You’ve got so much up ahead
You’ll make new friends
You should see your kids and wife
And I’d end by saying have no fear
These are nowhere near the best years of your life

I guess I’ll see you in the mirror
When you’re a grown man
P.S. go hug Aunt Rita every chance you can

3rd Chorus
And oh you got so much going for you going right
But I know at 17 it’s hard to see past Friday night
I wish you’d study Spanish
I wish you’d take a typing class
I wish you wouldn’t worry, let it be
I’d say have a little faith and you’ll see

If I could write a letter to me
To me

I Want to Move!

2008-01-20T21:07:00.000-07:00

I want to move. Have I mentioned that lately? I want to move, I want to move, I want to move.

Did I mention I want to move?

Argh. Dorkboy is going out of town. fun fun.

Mid Week Epistole -Positive Thinking by Jim Massey

2008-01-20T21:05:00.000-07:00

Positive Thinking

Do you have a problem today thinking positively? It seems as though we are encouraged to look at everything in the world in a negative way. It always reminds me of the famous song from Hee-Haw: "If it weren't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all..."

There once was a shoe company that transferred one of its salesmen to Africa. After arriving he wired: "Am coming back; they don't use shoes here."

The company replaced him with a more positive salesman who immediately wired: "Start shipping shoes; no competition!"

What do you see in your world today? Lost opportunity or golden moments? When you look through the eyes of God, you see all His glorious promises and not the temptations of the devil.

Father, let us look with loving eyes and find the truth you have for us. Then let us turn every moment in the day to a blessing filled with Your glory. In the name of Christ, we lift this prayer. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. I hope this devotional will encourage you to look for all the blessings that God gives you every day of your life. Join me next week when we look at what we put in to be paid from.

Disney and the Beach

2008-01-05T13:02:00.000-07:00

and

Pictures

2008-01-05T12:21:00.001-07:00

2 Thoughts

2007-12-20T07:22:00.000-07:00

I was listening to the radio when I took the kids to school and was coming home. We have been listening to the Christmas Channel that is just playing Christmas Music.

1. There was a song on about a little girl who wanted her daddy for Christmas, but he was "at the war". It was as though a gentle reminder to me to pray for the families of those soldiers fighting over seas this Christmas. Everyday I make time to pray for our soldiers in harms way...But I can not imagine spending the Christmas without them. In 1990, My brother was stationed in the middle east as the build up to the first gulf war. His son had been born just 6 months earlier...and he missed his first Christmas. I will never forget how it felt like part of our heart was missing.. So, Please join me in praying for our troops families this Christmas.

And 2. There are 3 bridges that connect the "twin cities" here...and there were accidents on 2 of them. This lady called in and said she was stuck in traffic and to avoid that area if you could....and when the guy asked her if she could just rewind and start over...she said "Nah, not really. I am just enjoying listening to the Christmas music this morning in my car." What a wonderful attitude to have this Christmas. It makes me feel guilty for my bah humbug mood lately....but it reminds me that really....nothing is that important. May we all find joy just in the being of Christmas this year.

Leaves

2007-11-06T08:35:00.001-07:00

Leaves

2007-11-06T08:33:00.000-07:00

The Darkest Hour -Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2007-09-11T17:26:00.000-06:00

The Darkest Hour

Today is the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York City. I imagine everyone remembers where they were when the tragedy happened. I recall many people saying it was one of America’s ‘Darkest Hours.”

I remember the days that I watched people relived the event over and over through the news media and table conversations everywhere. The cry went up from people to “Remember 911!”

And then I think of another “Darkest Hour.” It was during the time that terrorist struck at the heart of the world in a garden near Jerusalem. The Son of Man was betrayed by a kiss and evil motives of others. He was judged guilty by angry crowds, scourged and crucified.

Now people may not see the similarity of these two events, but look closely and you can begin to see ways in which they are. The difference is found in what happens after we stand through such trying times. If we are not careful, we will remain forever caught in the pains of the tragedy.

For Christians, it is the days afterward that we begin to see new visions. In both the tragedy of the Twin Towers and the Crucifixion God was present fighting hatred with the power of His grace and love. He never gives sin and evil power in the midst of tragedy, but the strength and resolve of His people show forth in new ways of care and compassion. You see, the answer becomes visible afterwards. In 911 we should now be a nation of strong resolve toward freedom and truth. In the Resurrection we should have a strong individual resolve toward God’s love and salvation for all.

I find new strength in life’s darkest hours in the words of the Psalmist: “If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand. I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” (Ps. 37:23-25)

May God bring His light to your in your darkest hour.

Heavenly Father, today we pray for everyone who faces dark hours in their lives. Though they feel despair, may they know the strength of your children as they encounter them everywhere. You ask us to be a light set upon a hill as a beacon of hope. Let us remember before we can be the light, You must shine in our own heart. Come into our hearts Lord Jesus! Amen. This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week for another mid-week Epistle.

Invisible Mom

2007-09-07T10:10:00.000-06:00

This is for those times when you feel like you haven't accomplished much, or when you feel, like I do sometimes, that what you do really doesn't matter so much.

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work: No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Great Job, MOM

Adequate Shoes

2007-09-07T10:08:00.000-06:00

Adequate Shoes

With all the disasters in our world today, we need to hear some words of encouragement. Without such words, we can fall victim to something beyond our understanding and our hearts seem to break completely into and we begin to lose sight of the ways in which God can still come to us.

We are reminded in Romans 8:28 - "...in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." When I read that Scripture, I once again reclaim the promise of Christ when He said, "I am with you till the end of the age."

Then I remember something I read years ago. "God will not send you down a path without adequate shoes." That means His love and assurance will always be with me. Prayers, presence, and friends will affirm it. Nothing will be left out of our situation that is needed. All we have to do is claim it in the name of Jesus Christ.

When you walk in the world today, praise God for the "adequate shoes" that He has supplied for you.

Holy Father, to all who have great need this day, let our words lift fallen spirits and help our presence reaffirm Your glory. We pray this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen. This has been Rev. Jim Massey.

Pray for the nations this day that are caught in hurricanes. Many people will be left homeless, pray that they will not be hopeless. See you next week in our Mid-week Epistle when we talk about naming.

Love Me If You Can

2007-08-29T18:48:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I think that war is necessary.
Every night I pray for peace on Earth.
I hand out my dollars to the homeless.
But believe that every able soul should work.

My father gave me my shotgun that I'll hand down to my son, try to teach him everything it means.

(chorus)
I'm a man of my convictions. Call me wrong, call me right. But I bring my better angels to every fight. You may not like
where I'm going, but you sure know where I stand. Hate me if you want to, love me if you can.

I stand by my right to speak freely. But I worry 'bout what kids learn from TV. And before all of debatin' turns to angry
words and hate, sometimes we should just agree to disagree. And I believe that Jesus looks down here and sees us, and if you
ask him he would say

(chorus)
I'm a man of my convictions. Call me wrong, call me right. But I bring my better angels to every fight. You may not like
where I'm going, but you sure know where I stand. Hate me if you want to, love me if you can.

(chorus)
I'm a man of my convictions. Call me wrong, call me right. But I bring my better angels to every fight. You may not like
where I'm going, but you sure know where I stand. Hate me if you want to, love me if you can.

The Mayonnaise Jar And 2 Cups of Coffee

2007-08-24T09:55:00.000-06:00

When things in your life seem
Almost too much to handle,
When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
Remember the mayonnaise jar
And 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
And had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
He picked up a very large
And empty mayonnaise jar
And proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students
If the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles
And poured them into the jar.

He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open
Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked
The students again
If the jar was full..
They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand
And poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded
With an unanimous
"yes."

The professor then produced
Two cups of coffee from under the table
And poured the entire contents
Into the jar, effectively filling the
Empty space between the sand.
The students laughed.

"Now," said the professor,
As the laughter subsided,
"I want you to recognize that
This jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things -
Family, children, health,
Friends, and favorite passions --
Things that if everything else was lost
And only they remained,
Your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter
Like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --
The small stuff.

"If you put the sand into the jar first,"
He continued,
"there is no room for
The pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time
And energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for
The things that are
Important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things
That are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.
Play another 18.

There will always be time
To clean the house
And fix the disposal.

"Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand
And inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.
"I'm glad you asked".

It just goes to show you that no matter how full
your life may
seem,
there's always room for
a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Mid Week Epistole -Leave the Stinker Alone

2007-08-22T12:55:00.000-06:00

Leave The Stinker Alone!

A mother in Darlington, Maryland was returning home one Saturday afternoon when she noticed how quiet things were around her house. This was a rare occasion since she had eight children. As she walked up to the house and peeked through the screen door, she noticed five of her children sitting in a circle in the kitchen floor. They were huddled close together and staring intently at something in the middle of the circle.As she crept closer to them, she could not believer her eyes. Smack dab in the middle of the circle were five baby skunks. She screamed at the top of her voice, "Quick, children: RUN!

"Each child grabbed a skunk and ran.

Many times we are told in the Bible to flee from sin. We are to resist evil at all cost and even then the devil will flee from us. (James 4:7) and the very next verse then says to "come near to God and He will come near to you."

If there is something in your life that is making you miserable and causing you grief and you know it is sinful, then leave it alone quickly. Maybe a good admonition would be, "if something stinks in your life, then leave the stinker alone."

Loving Father, help us to see once again the way sin can enter our lives and make our pains unbearable. Only by continually finding the purity of Your love and grace can we know the pure joy of a life filled with the fragrance of heaven. In Christ's name. Amen This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week for another Mid-week Epistle.

I Remember

2007-08-21T12:10:00.000-06:00

Yesterday was 12 years since my mom's passing. It was a very hard day for me...And honestly, I was not sure I could even type the words without crying. Add in Kate's first day of school. She missed so much of my life. The first third of my life, she was trying to get it together, so she could actually be a mom. The second third she was my best friend, and the last third...I have had to live without her.

I just can not seem to get passed all that she has missed. This week would also be my Grandma's birthday. She died almost 2 years ago. I just...Sometimes I feel so alone. I feel so jealous of Brian, because he has this great family who loves him. I have nobody...but him. Today, his mom called me because she wanted to see how I was doing. She wanted to make sure I was ok because she knew how hard this week was for me. Wanted to see what I was doing with the kids all at school. I can not be sure, but I think she might just be an angel sent for me.

Letting Go

2007-08-20T10:02:00.000-06:00

Today was the first day of PreK for my youngest.

I am very proud of her. She was so excited about today. When we got to the school, I walked her to class. I held her hand while we waited for our turn to check in with the teacher. Then she took the teachers hand, and never looked back or even kissed me goodbye.

I have to go buy her a cake today for her first day of school. Where has the time went? They just keep growing so quickly.

Mid Week Epistole Harmony Know how by Jim Massey

2007-08-15T09:18:00.000-06:00

Harmony Know-How!

A beautiful scripture is found in Romans 12:16: "Live in harmony with one another." Six simple words that can be filled will either difficulty or rapture.

Being a musician most of my life, harmony is something that is exciting to the ears. The most common form of harmony comes in the form of notes that for a cord that is made up of intervals of a third. That is simple to do and pleasing to the ear. There are also other intervals that sound mellow or somber those are called "minor chords". And there are chords that are filled with dissonance that must be resolved to make it sound pleasing once again.

There is one rule that is necessary though. It takes at least two to make harmony. You cannot do it by yourself. When two people begin making harmony, you find that one usually sings the lead and the harmony is placed as a second sound below it. That teaches me that there must always be someone who is willing to not be the lead in the music and in a way become a "second fiddle."

Are you willing to do that in your life? What about your family? Are you willing not to be in the spot light, but share it to make something that is so harmonious that people will be amazed at the depth of your love and friendship for one another? That is what harmony means.

What about your relationship to God? Are you willing to let Him sing the leading part in your life knowing that the harmony that comes in that music from heaven is also filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God. We have moved from harmony to a symphony that will make the gates of heaven ring.

Lord, help us make the harmony of our lives be filled with the music that can only come from your Holy Grace. We ask this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

What's On the Backside by Jim Massey Mid Week Epistole

2007-08-08T20:37:00.000-06:00

What's On the Backside?

A man was driving his sports utility vehicle when he came to a detour sign that read, "Road Under Repair." A little construction was not going to stop this man and his S.U.V. from getting to where he wanted to go. So he drove around the sign and navigated the construction site with good success. His success continued for about twenty miles until he came to the end of the road beyond which there was a gorge over which there was no bridge.

The man and his S.U.V. had to turn around and retrace his route. When he approached the back side of the same construction sign, he read what someone had written on the back of the sign: "WELCOME BACK DUMMY!"

How many times in our lives has God tried to warn us about dangers and paths that we have taken that are desperately needing repair? Sin makes us feel invincible and when we try to prove it is right, it turns on us and shows us how silly we can be.

God does not do that to us. In all our ways, He is waiting for us to come to Him and ask forgiveness and guidance. He will open His arms and welcome us home. That is why Jesus tells us so many times of the great joy in heaven over one lost soul that has found it way. If you are looking for that joy today, come to the Christ. If you have found it, show it to others.

Holy God. in the midst of Your love we find that we have joy that can come only from You. Thankfully, we are given such abundance; it overflows from our lives into others. That was Your plan from the beginning, and to affirm it You sent Christ to us. Praise be to Your glory and power. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Methodist are notorious for their love of food. Join me and see what food is to die for.

A favorite picture of the kids

2007-08-03T15:48:00.000-06:00

Jake Saying...Please Mom...Rescue me from my sisters. LOL

and another one full of smiles....

4400

2007-08-03T14:01:00.000-06:00

I am addicted to this tv show. I am a bit of a geek about it. I even post on 4400 message boards. Talking about what will happen next. It is kind of sad. But anyway...

I love this show...and I love the theme song.

you can hear it here

A Place In Time written by Robert Phillips & Tim Paruskewitz, performed by Amanda Abizaid

Original Air Dates: 2004 - (USA)

So long ago, Another life
I could feel your heart beat
It's not a dream, remember us
I can see it in your eyes

We'll find a place in time
A place in time beyond the sun

We'll find a place in time
A place in time to call our home

A Forward - The Soldier

2007-08-01T20:34:00.000-06:00

You stay up for 16 hours.
He stays up for days on end.

You take a warm shower to help you wake up.
He goes days or weeks without running water.

You complain of a "headache", and call in sick.
He gets shot at as others are hit, and keeps moving forward.

You put on your anti war/don't support the troops shirt, and go meet up with your friends.
He still fights for your right to wear that shirt.

You make sure you're cell phone is in your pocket.
He clutches the cross hanging on his chain next to his dog tags.

You talk trash about your "buddies" that aren't with you.
He knows he may not see some of his buddies again.

You walk down the beach, staring at all the pretty girls.
He patrols the streets, searching for insurgents and terrorists.

You complain about how hot it is.
He wears his heavy gear, not daring to take off his helmet to wipe his brow.

You go out to lunch, and complain because the restaurant got your order wrong.
He doesn't get to eat today.

Your maid makes your bed and washes your clothes.
He wears the same things for weeks, but makes sure his weapons are clean.

You go to the mall and get your hair redone.
He doesn't have time to brush his teeth today.

You're angry because your class ran 5 minutes over.
He's told he will be held over an extra 2 months.

You call your girlfriend and set a date for tonight.
He waits for the mail to see if there is a letter from home.

You hug and kiss your girlfriend, like you do everyday.
He holds his letter close and smells his love's perfume.

You roll your eyes as a baby cries.
He gets a letter with pictures of his new child, and wonders if they'll ever meet.

You criticize your government, and say that war never solves anything.
He sees the innocent tortured and killed by their own people and remembers why he is fighting.

You hear the jokes about the war, and make fun of men like him.
He hears the gunfire, bombs and screams of the wounded.

You see only what the media wants you to see.
He sees the broken bodies lying around him.

You are asked to go to the store by your parents. You don't.
He does exactly what he is told even if it puts his life in danger.

You stay at home and watch TV.
He takes whatever time he is given to call, write home, sleep, and eat.

You crawl into your soft bed, with down pillows, and get comfortable.
He tries to sleep but gets woken by mortars and helicopters all night long.

If you support your troops, the click "reply to poster" copy all the codes, and repost the bulletin.

If you don't support your troops well, then don't re-post. You won't die in 7 days, your love life won't be affected, and you won't have the worst day ever. You don't have to repost. It's not like you know the men and women that are dying to preserve your rights.

Only God can Fill Your Vessel - Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2007-08-01T10:43:00.000-06:00

Only God can Fill Your Vessel

I once read a statement by Alexander McLaren: "God's mercy, like water, takes the shape of the containing vessel." What a wonderful affirmation of the way God comes into our heart when we surrender all to Him.

He does not take just the things that the world recognizes as good, but He takes everything and fills it with His goodness. There is not a corner or cave that sin can hide in that God does not come and sweep it clean and fill it anew.

But yet, the only way He will do this miraculous feat is that you give Him permission to do so. Strange isn't it, the one who designed the universe, created mankind and all around us, still waits for us to invite Him into our hearts? Will you do so today?

Holy Father, come to every part of our lives this day. Take our thoughts, our words, our emotions, our very desires and fill them full of Your Spirit. Then we will be able to offer truth to others in this world today. We desire all that we need, what we must realize is that You are all we need. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will see what is important on the backside.

Me

2007-07-27T13:32:00.001-06:00

Me

i look in the mirror
and yet, ...do not see my own reflection
my image of me is one of the past
i see before someone i do not know
yet fear all the while
she is my mother in so many ways
that it makes me weep
and i float away on my own tears

back to a land of memories
of old and young and good and bad
i see myself then and imagine myself now
a grown up me still....searching for that lost childhood

the mirror image tells me she is me.
and i am confused and alarmed
my panic rises and my thoughts are lost
i begin the ride of my own fears

i see flashes of my past within the new
the past pain floods my being and overwhelms me
my heart races like a speeding bullet
and yet, the old ways to calm myself are there

the image has eyes to make you cry
within thier depths lie pain and sorror
her feelings and pain a symbol of her life
and yet....all the while she crys

i do not know the image i see
my fear hides her away
the tears i cry blur her vision
and the memories escape to a childhood of long ago
once again the saddness rules
and the image is no longer mine

slthomas

To My Angels

2007-07-27T13:25:00.000-06:00

To My Angels

though you may not walk among me
your always by my side
your never from my thoughts
from you my tears i do not hide
you will never walk with others
and no one else will know your touch
you were so alive to me
and i love you very much
today i sat and thought of you
i cried a mothers tears
i dreamed of holding you in my arms
of lifes hopes and fears
but you walk among the angels
you sing thier joyful song
you touch my heart when i need you
and never leave me long
i walk lifes bitter path
and count my angels three
i shut my eyes and see
in my heart your always with me
s.l.thomas

How Quick 11 Years Goes By

2007-07-26T12:50:00.000-06:00

Tomorrow is a sad anniversary for me. It will be 11 years since I miscarried my first baby. I was 11 and 1/2 weeks along, when I started bleeding and miscarried. I was home alone at the time. I have never felt so alone as I did that morning. And Even though I have had 3 other children...They do not really replace that child, or the other children I would lose after that one. It doesnt erase the hurt of that one baby, Who I dreamed of. Who I made plans for. I would have a 10 year old right now. It is suppose to hurt less as time goes on, but it doesnt. That hurt just stays right there.

Life Is All Wrong -Mid Week Epistole By Jim Massey

2007-07-25T13:06:00.001-06:00

Life is All Wrong

An older gentleman was driving down the freeway, and his cell phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, "Herman, I just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on Highway 280. Please be careful!"

“Hey," said Herman, "it's not just one car. There are hundreds of them!"

Maybe if it seems like you are going the wrong way in life, you need to look at the direction you are taking. Maybe you are going against God's guidance and love.

Loving Father, turn our hearts back to the way that You have for us. Do not let us destroy all that You have blessed us with because we have made a wrong turn in life. Come and guide us once again, in Christ's name we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will see about the way God fills a vessel.

A New Future

2007-07-19T21:19:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, a whole new generation was born. Chloie Rafferty Entered the world. She was 6lbs and 12.5oz.

A few Pictures.

Aunt Kaylyn and Chloie

Aunt Brittany and Chloie

I remember when they were just that small. *sniff sniff* doesn't seem like Matt Should be a dad. What a Blessing from God.

Stuck

2007-07-19T12:56:00.000-06:00

Well, I guess we are going to be here another year. A year ago, I said I would not stay here past a year. I was so unhappy with the school, with just everything. And now, I am looking at going onto another year here. I can not say I am happy about it. Actually, I would describe it close to uncontrollable panic and fear and anger.

I just want to get in my car and drive away. I feel like the walls are closing in on me. I do not have anyone I can talk to about it. I do not want Brian to feel bad about us being stuck here. He has made an honest effort to get us out of here. He applied for 2 different transfers in the last month. Both times the company had a person picked to fill the job before it was even posted. And nothing has been opening up. I just did not want to be here when school starts. And now, school starts in less then a month.

At church on sunday, the lady was trying to be nice....But she was asking about us moving so much, and we basically told her we just dont know when or if we get to move. She said, you could always leave your industry to find another job to stay here. I swear, I felt the panic swell up in my chest. I just want to get out of here so bad.

Maybe I just need to go home. I wonder how much it would cost to just take the kids and go home to see my family. Just a little time there. Brian is afraid everytime I get in the car I wont come home lately. I do not blame him. I have a hard time making myself come home.

I just want to fly away. I feel like there is no hope, no future, no nothing. Just this darkness that has moved in and sat on my chest and is keeping me from really breathing. I so hate that feeling of depression. That sinking feeling that feels like it is a beast coming in and taking over my body. I just want to start running now, and maybe I can outrun it before it totally grips me. I just want to run fast and far. I just want to out run the darkness.

Mid Week Epistole - Desert Enticement by Jim Massey

2007-07-18T12:09:00.000-06:00

Desert Enticement

A new translation of Hosea 2:14 says: "I will entice you into the desert and there I will speak to you in the depths of your heart."

What could God entice you into the desert with? Material things would slowly waste away. Much like an old prospector that is dying of thirst, the sun parches your throat and will eventually bleach your bones.

What about Ezekiel looking out over the valley of dry bones? What would God use to entice him into the desert? God used the action of the Holy Spirit. When Ezekiel prophesied to the bones, God brought bone to bone and sinew to sinew and then he blew into them the breath of life.

That is what happens to people in the Bible when God comes into their lives. In the desert wanderings of life, they become more than just an empty bag of old bones, rattling around with no meaning or purpose. What God used to entice His children into the deserts of time was Himself.

O God, entice us into the deserts of our souls. There are so many places in our lives where we feel empty and alone. Come there and breathe a new breath into our spirits. Draw us deeper into Your love and will for we ask this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will see the way in which life seems all wrong.

Parable of the Old Mule

2007-07-14T13:50:00.000-06:00

Once there was a farmer who owned an old mule. One day the mule fell into the farmer's well and the farmer heard the mule 'praying' or whatever mules do when they fall into wells.

After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.

Instead, he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back HE COULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!",

He repeated this to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him actually helped him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT'S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity ...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE VERY REAL POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT US! "Never be afraid to try something new.

"Remember that amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic."

Also, remember, more importantly, that when God is for us, who can be against us

A Blog Thing -What's your Love Style

2007-07-13T10:23:00.000-06:00

This one is kind of freaky because it is really me. I am friends with almost every one of my ex's.

Your Love Style is Storge

For you, love and friendship are almost the same thing

And your love tends to be the enduring, long lasting kind

(You've been known to still have connections with exes)

But sometimes your love is not the most passionate

Leap before you look, and you'll find that fire you crave

What's Your Love Style?

How do you think?

2007-07-12T12:37:00.000-06:00

My score on The 4-Variable IQ Test:

Your brain: 120% interpersonal, 120% visual, 40% verbal, and 120% mathematical!

Congratulations on being 400% smart! Actually, on my test, everyone is. The above score breaks down what kind of thinking you most enjoy doing. A score above 100% means you use that kind of thinking more than average, and a score below 100% means you use it less. It says nothing about how good you are at any one, just how interested you are in each, relatively. A substantial difference in scores between two people means, conclusively, that they are different kinds of thinkers.

Matching Summary: Each of us has different tastes. Still, I offer the following advice, which I think is obvious:
Don't date someone if your interpersonal percentages differ by more than 80%.
Don't be friends with someone if your verbal percentages differ by more than 100%.
Don't have sex with someone if their math percentage is over 200%.

Link: The 4-Variable IQ Test
(OkCupid Free Online Dating)

Pictures

2007-07-12T10:45:00.000-06:00

This is my great great grandfather and his 2 sisters and his mother.

This is my Great Great Grandfather and Great Great Grandmother.

This is my Grandma and Grandpap. My Grandpap is the grandson of the Great great Grandparents featured in these photos.

Where We Come From

2007-07-12T10:36:00.000-06:00

I have been spending a lot of time lately looking into my ancestory. I can go back in many cases to the early 1700's...and in a few cases much earlier. It amazes me to see where I came from, who I am, and who those before me were. What they did, How they lived, etc.

My family can trace its roots back in my hometown to the first settlers in the area. They crossed back and forth between that area from West Virginia, to Maryland to right on the border in Pennsylvania for over 200 years. I feel lately a little guilty for being the one to break away from that. But there are just not jobs there. No way to make a living. I would do anything to go home again...But atlast, that is one place we all can never go.

Some pictures to share...

My Great Grandma Gallagher with 3 of her siblings. She is the 3rd woman pictured. Madeline Wyndham Gallagher

Mid Week Epistole By Jim Massey - Are You Waving Your Lantern?

2007-07-11T23:23:00.000-06:00

Are You Waving Your Lantern?

In 1891 a train company was being sued because a person had been killed at a train crossing. The plaintiff's lawyer interrogated the night watchman at the crossing. When asked if he was on duty, he responded in the affirmative.

"Did you have a lantern?" Again the answer was yes.

"Did you wave the lantern?" Again the same answer. His testimony was so convincing that the plaintiff lost the case. Afterwards, the president of the company congratulated the watchman, telling him that his testimony had saved the company a great deal of money, and that he would be compensated accordingly. The president then asked the watchman, "Were you nervous on the stand?"

"Well, sir, I was a bit afraid they would ask if my lantern was lit." There are many people in the world today trying to wave the Word of God in the face of danger, and what we find is that the light of God is not lit in their own hearts. That is the true danger - telling others about Christ and not knowing Him yourself.

Loving Father, do not let our words ring empty, but let them be filled with all the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells in our hearts. Let our lives be true lights for all to see, and let us help others turn from danger to salvation through Your Son Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will talk about the way the desert can entice us.

Moments and My own life

2007-07-11T23:04:00.000-06:00

Title: Emerson Drive - Moments lyrics

Artist: Emerson Drive

I was coming to the end of a long long walk
When a man crawled out of a cardboard box
Under the E. Street Bridge
Followed me on to it
I went out halfway across
With that homeless shadow tagging along
So I dug for some change
Wouldn't need it anyway
He took it lookin' just a bit ashamed
He said, You know, I haven't always been this way

I've had my moments, days in the sun
Moments I was second to none
Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do
Like that plane ride coming home from the war
That summer my son was born
And memories like a coat so warm
A cold wind can't get through
Lookin' at me now you might not know it
But I've had my moments

I stood there tryin' to find my nerve
Wondering if a single soul on Earth
Would care at all
Miss me when I'm gone
That old man just kept hanging around
Lookin' at me, lookin' down
I think he recognized
That look in my eyes
Standing with him there I felt ashamed
I said, You know, I haven't always felt this way

I've had my moments, days in the sun
Moments I was second to none
Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do
Like the day I walked away from the wine
For a woman who became my wife
And a love that, when it was right,
Could always see me through
Lookin' at me now you might not know it
But I've had my moments

I know somewhere 'round a trashcan fire tonight
That old man tells his story one more time
He says

I've had my moments, days in the sun
Moments I was second to none
Moments when I knew I did what I thought I couldn't do
Like that cool night on the E. Street Bridge
When a young man almost ended it
I was right there, wasn't scared a bit
And I helped to pull him through
Lookin' at me now you might not know it
Oh, lookin' at me now you might not know it
But I've had my moments

I've had my moments
I've had my moments

Everytime I hear this song lately it leaves me reflective of my own life. I have not been all that happy lately. I feel kind of stuck here in Louisiana. I hate the school system. I want so much better and different for my kids. The house we are renting is falling down around us. We dont care for our church, so we found a new one. Only, they got a new preacher and we are not real thrilled with him. In the year we have been here, Not one person has really made us feel welcomed here. They are all friendly enough, the south is known for thier friendly people....but Making a person feel welcome is not the same as being friendly enough.

I do not like the person I am most days. I was reading a book earlier, and it made me realize that I have not been real crazy about the person I have been for a while. The person my kids see, is not that person who used to shine. I just do not know how to fix it. To be that person again.

I had my moments in the sun. The first time I sang a solo in church on Christmas Eve, with the church barely lit during midnight mass. Singing about the birth of our Lord and Savior. Graduating from high school, and getting a special award from the school. An Award, I or my parents had no clue I was getting. The Principal stood there and said the nicest things about me, Telling everyone how much I had done. Standing on the stage doing social issues improv theather. Having all those people watch me and be focused on me and know from things they said, it made a differance. Talking to someone about rape, and helping them through it, and knowing I made a differance. The day my children were born, holding them in my arms, watching them grow...knowing everything they needed to survive they took from me.

Sometimes I regret deeply putting my health ahead of having more children. I wanted more. I really did. But the last pregnancy was so hard with my arthritis. Instead of going into remission, it got worse. They wanted me to start these new drug thearpys to fight it....the numbness in my arms. I was afraid all the time of dropping the kids. I had to do something. And the bedrest during the pregnancies. It put so much on everyone else. Not having a family ready to jump and help of my own...it put a lot on Brian's family. His mom, Dad...and expecially him. I started to feel like a burden...sometimes I guess I still do.

Sometimes, that seems to stop me from having any special moments. Sometimes, I think it is the fear of everything that has happened. Losing my mom, worrying that I will die like her. Those babies I lost in the 2nd trimester of my pregnancies. A future I had all planned out and never reaching that goal....and now too afraid to try. The babies I will never have or hold. I love my 3 wonderful children. They are blessings to my life. But I mourn for those babies that died, and those that wont be because of my RA too. The depression lately has just wrapped around me and taken hold. I know it is just that it is July. 12 years since my first baby died at only 11 and 1/2 weeks into the pregnancy. 12 Birthdays for my mom since she died. She would of been 53 this year.

Since she died, The only moments have been about the kids. Maybe that is the way it is suppose to be. Please, God....dont let me miss one of thier moments.

The West

2007-07-05T11:36:00.000-06:00

This poem is one of my favorites. It was written by E. A. (Earl Alonzo) Brininstool, who was born in 1870. Something about this poem calls to my soul and expresses a feeling that I hold deep inside my heart.

The Poem is called, The West.

The West

When you have lived out in the West,
Till it becomes a part of you,
And you've a feeling in your breast
No other spot on earth will do;
When you can call the desert home,
And love the ranges vast and drear,
Then every butte and rocky dome,
And stretch of sage will grow more dear.

When every flaming sunset seems
To hold you by a magic spell,
And you have visions in your dreams
Of mesa tops and chaparral;
And when the rolling prairie land
You love more than the city street,
Then shall you know and understand
The charm which draws your eager feet.

When all God's great out-of-doors
You worship with a new delight;
When rocky ridge and canyon floors,
Show added wonders day and night;
When wide, free plains seem reaching out
To welcome you with open arms,
You will have learned, without a doubt,
The secret of the great West's charms.

When you can ride each lengthening trail
Without a sense of loneliness;
When every coulee, draw and swale
Hold beauties which you may possess;
When you can read the starry Skies
Beneath which you lie down to rest,
Then shall you know and realize
The fascination of the West!

From Trail Dust of a Maverick, 1914

Understand Freedom -Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2007-07-05T11:35:00.000-06:00

Understand Freedom!

As we once again draw near to celebrating the birth of our great nation, I am reminded of the witness of the men and women who have gone before us in the cause of freedom. Some have been warriors on the field of battle and others may have worked behind the scenes giving strength and sustenance to all as it was needed.

We were founded as a nation upon an idea of freedom that may seem strange to some because they do not truly understand what it can mean. Abraham Lincoln once said: “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves; and under a just God, cannot long retain it.”

You see that is the key of freedom, the justness of a Creator God who looks at this world as the fulfillment of His love. He wanted His creation to come before Him and love and care for others. Yet, we as a people become confused and sometimes find ourselves deeply in war just like today. We create new words such as “terrorists” and “improvised explosive devices” because we cannot find words that will describe the fear and pain we find in the darkness of days shattered with pain and suffering of such depths.

I once read a wonderful statement of trust: “And I said to a man who stood at the door of the year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied, ‘Go out into the darkness, and put your hand into the hand of God. That will be to you better than a light, and safer than a known way.’”

That is the answer to our lives today. Putting our hand in God’s and knowing that His guidance will bring us to a new understanding of freedom. You see, there are two freedoms: The false, where we are free to do what we like, and the true, where we are free to do what we ought.

O God of the nation, come into our hearts this hour and give us strength. Let these prayers for our soldiers in harm’s way bring calmness to their hearts so they can begin to see what the cost of freedom can be. Give those of us who live in this great nation an assurance that Your Holy presence is truly guiding this land to a place where our children will love and care for all Your children everywhere. We know this is possible because Your Son came and told us that the light of the Kingdom is seen in the children. O God, bless the children. Give them Your freedom. We pray this in the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week for another Mid-week Epistle.

A Joke To Share

2007-07-03T14:40:00.000-06:00

A Montana cowboy was overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him.

The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, Ray Ban Sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, Will you give me a calf?"

The cowboy looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers, "Sure, why not?"

The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, Connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cell phone, and surfs to a NASA Page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite navigation System to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.

The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany.

Within seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data stored.

He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel Spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response.

Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the cowboy and says, "You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves."

"That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves," says the Cowboy.

He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.
Then the cowboy says to the young man, "Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?"

The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, "Okay, why not?"

You're a Democrat Congressman for the U.S. Government", says the cowboy.

"Wow! That's correct," says the yuppie, "but how did you guess that?"

"No guessing was required." answered the cowboy. "You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you don't know a thing about cows...this is a herd of sheep.
Now give me back my dog.

Feel the Nails

2007-06-28T14:44:00.000-06:00

Click Here to watch the video.

Artist: Ray Boltz
Song: Feel The Nails
Album:

1st verse
They tell me Jesus died
For my transgressions
That he paid that price a long, long time ago
When he gave his life for me
On a hill called Calvary
But there's something else I want to know

Chorus
Does he still feel the nails
Every time I fail
Can he hear the crowd cry "Crucify" again
Am I causing him pain
Then I know I've got to change
I just can't bear the thought of hurting him.

2nd verse
It seems that I'm so good at breaking promises
And I treat his precious grace so carelessly
But each time he forgives
What if he re-lives
The agony He felt on that tree

Chorus 1x

Holy, holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy Holy
Holy is the Lord

Do you still feel the nails
Every time I fail
Have I crucified you Jesus with my sins
Oh I'm tired of playing games
I really want to change
I never want to hurt you again

Holy, Holy
Holy is the Lord
Holy, Holy
Holy is the Lord

Revenge is So Sweet! Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2007-06-28T14:00:00.001-06:00

REVENGE IS SO SWEET!

It is amazing how many people in this world today would love to have a bit of revenge. I know you have seen them, the people who feel anger when they are cut off by an individual driving down the freeway and nearly cause an accident. Or someone cutting in front of you in a parking place that you have tried to get to from the other side of the parking lot.

That happened once to a driver of a Rolls-Royce who was carefully backing into a parking space when a teenager in a snazzy sports car zipped in and stole the space.
Getting out of his car, the youth grinned and said: “You’ve got to be young and quick to be able to do that, Pops.”

The older gentleman smiled as he continued to back up his Rolls, crunching the tiny sports car into a total wreck. “And you have to be old and rich to be able to do that,” he retorted.

Can you imagine the look on the teenagers face and the tremendous feeling of satisfaction that came to the driver of the Rolls? Maybe that is what they mean by the cliché “Revenge is so sweet.”

Would you care to hear God’s way? Psalm 94:16-19: “Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, ‘My foot is slipping,’ Your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul.”

It is God who is allowed to gain the revenge, what we seek is His love.

O God, when I feel betrayed and alone, remind me of the cross. You overcame those feelings without revenge, but the power of love. Grace me in the same way, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. One of my greatest loves is my wife and she is an only child. Next week, we will celebration the birth of our nation. May God gloriously guide it for His peace.

Fred Thompson and those who bash Him

2007-06-22T17:41:00.000-06:00

This week there was an article that appeared out of Newsweek.

The article is misleading but shows the fear that people have over Fred Thompson running for President.

From the Article

The Monica Lewinsky scandal was dominating Washington that year and Thompson, like every other Republican, was critical of Bill Clinton in public. But away from the cameras, he quietly reached out to the president in a letter sent through Clinton's chief of staff. "If the President is going to have any good cigars left over," he relayed to Clinton, who had once sent him a stogie, "in the spirit of bipartisanship I might be willing to help him out."

Intimate correspondence like this usually doesn't see light until long after a politician is dead and gone, or at least done with politics for good. Thompson apparently believed he had forever traded Washington for Hollywood when he agreed to put his eight years of Senate records, including personal correspondence, in a public archive at the University of Tennessee. The papers, which have gone largely unnoticed, offer an unusual glimpse at his life as a Washington fixture, and clues about how he might lead as a president—hints that might not please conservative voters who are intrigued by him but who know little about him.

Real shame he reaches apart cross party lines and all to try to be a civil human being.

But if Thompson was conflicted about the issue, his voting record didn't show it. He joined with conservatives to block federal funding for abortions and supported a partial-birth-abortion ban. National Right to Life, an anti-abortion group, gave him a 100 percent rating. Recently, Thompson has suggested a personal shift on the issue. He told Fox News that he's always been against abortion, but that the issue has "meant a little more" since he saw the sonogram of his 3-year-old daughter. "I'll never feel that same way again," Thompson said. "Not only is it in my head, it's in my heart now."

Votes Conservative...still trying to figure out what is wrong with him...

Like McCain, Thompson showed he was willing to buck his party, even if it meant making enemies. In 1997, he was appointed to lead hearings into Democratic fund-raising abuses in the 1996 campaign. It was a starring role for a first-term senator and a nod at his popularity within the GOP. But the warm feelings didn't last. When Thompson broadened his investigation to look into alleged abuses by Republicans, he became an enemy to his party. "Fred was under considerable pressure to turn up and publicize evidence of wrongdoing [by Clinton], but his goal throughout was to be thorough and fair, and that didn't endear him to either side," says Sen. Susan Collins, a friend of his.

Goes after the bad in government no matter where he finds it? What is wrong with Fred Thompson? Nothing. That is why people are so scared of him.

Lucky Man

2007-06-22T17:36:00.000-06:00

Click Here

Montgomery Gentry

Artist: Montgomery Gentry
Song: Lucky Man

I have days where I hate my job
This little town and the whole world too
Last Sunday when the Bengals lost
Lord it put me in a bad mood

I have moments when I curse the rain
Then complain when the sun's too hot
I look around at what everyone has
And I forget about all I've got

But I know I'm a lucky man
God's given me a pretty fair hand
Got a house and a piece of land
A few dollars in a coffee can
My old trucks still running good
My ticker's ticking like they say it should
I got supper in the oven, a good woman's loving
And one more day to be my little kid's dad
Lord, knows I'm a lucky man

Got some friends who would be here fast
I could call em any time of day
Got a brother who's got my back
Got a mama who I swears a saint
Got a brand new rod and reel
Got a full week off this year
Dad had a close call last spring
It's a miracle he's still here

But I know I'm a lucky man
God's given me a pretty fair hand
Got a house and a piece of land
a few dollars in a coffee can
My old trucks still running good
My ticker's tickin' like they say it should
I got supper in the ove, good woman's loving
And one more day to be my little kid's dad
Lord, knows I'm a lucky man

My old trucks still running good
My ticker's ticking like they say it should
I got supper in the oven, a good woman's loving
And even my bad days ain't that bad
Yeah, I'm a lucky man
I'm a lucky lucky man

THE NEW DAY - Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2007-06-22T17:34:00.001-06:00

THE NEW DAY

Did you see it? Did it just overwhelm you with it’s glorious presence or quietly steal into your heart? Or tragically, did you just rise this morning and begin working and never look for it?

“What is it?” you say. It is the beginning of a new day! It is the rising of the sun upon a world that was battle weary the night before. It is the coming of the new possibility of conquest and celebration.

What if today was the day when a new and dynamic cure for cancer was discovered? Would you quickly arise and await the good news or would you simply drag out of bed?
Many of us would have a hard time answering these questions if not for Jesus Christ in our lives. He is the promise of today written upon our hearts and spirits. He is the One who comes victoriously every new day. And He is the one who offers us to the world. Did you hear? He offers us to the world, and not the world to us. We are the continued promise of God that was made in the very beginning - the new creation of God and the descendants to fill this world with God’s Good News. Come and rejoice this day and show the world how glorious it is to be caught in God’s love.

Dr. Heartsill Wilson once wrote: “This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it! When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something that I have traded for it. I want it to be gain, and not loss; good, and not evil; success, and not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I have paid for it.”

Come Lord Jesus, bring this bright new day to us so we can bring the Son to the world to hear and see His glorious salvation. We ask this in the glory and power of our Heavenly Father. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Next week we will find the sweetness of revenge.

Fred Thompson on Leno

2007-06-13T14:38:00.000-06:00

Thompson on Leno Last Night

Just tidbits from Fred Thompson on Leno.

He mentions us "fredheads".

Are You Dead? Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2007-06-13T14:23:00.000-06:00

ARE YOU DEAD?
I once read a very challenging statement: “Jesus came to raise the dead.” What an interesting comment. The only qualification for the gift of the Gospel is to be dead. You don’t have to be smart. You don’t have to be good. You don’t have to be wise. You don’t have to be wonderful. You don’t have to be anything. You just have to be dead. That’s all.”

You see Jesus said we must die to our sins. In fact one time he was speaking to Nicodemus, one of the leaders of the Jewish people who came to Him in the dark of the night, and he told him, “You must be born again.”

Is there any thing you need to die to? What about jealousy or your feelings of inadequacy to do the bidding of the Master? Or what about your feelings of superiority toward others or your feelings of distress in the face of gossip and untruths?

You see, there is no one on this earth who will not die at one time or another. The main difference between dying right now and when your final breath comes, is that you consciously chose to gain new life and serve God here on earth and not wait until you are offered a home in glory.

Almighty God, do not let us insist on holding only a life that destroys us. Come to us in Your love and grace and then we will know without a doubt that we are alive and not dead. In the blessed name of Christ we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will look at a New Day.

Fred Thompson

2007-06-13T14:22:00.000-06:00

You can visit Fred Thompson's Presidental Run Website.

Join me in Supporting Him for President of the United States. It is time for a politics to be shaken up.

Fred Thompson

2007-05-21T09:08:00.000-06:00

We need someone like Fred Thompson for President of the United States. You can read and listen to his commentary at abc radio. It is called the Fred Thompson Report.

I have little doubt he will be the next President of the United States.

Strength for Daily Living by Rev Jim Massey

2007-05-21T09:03:00.000-06:00

Strength for Daily Living

Have you ever had things go wrong in your life? You know what I mean, the washing machine breaks down, the dog runs away, the children are rebellious, and everything that you touch seems to fall apart.

Well, we all have days like that. They can become moments in our lives when we feel so out of control and helpless that it is heart-breaking.

I once found a beautiful prayer that seemed to answer a lot of what I feel at times in my own life and maybe in yours as well. It goes like this:

"Lord, things are as they are. My richly embroidered daydreams do not alter them any. Some things just are.

So...now what? Do I spend the next thirty years, or the next thirty days, or even the next thirty minutes blubbering about it?

I could, Lord. You'd listen. But it wouldn't change things.

Except me.

It would diminish me.

It would leave me spent.

And frustrated. And less than I was meant to be.

Better I should use my next thirty years -- yes, and my next thirty minutes -- working with the situation, as it is.

Better I should look it square in the face and accept it and then pick life up and start from here. God, give me the serenity to accept those things which cannot be changed. Amen."

That prayer came from a book by Jo Karr. She must have experienced many of the same things in her life that you and I have as well. Or perhaps, maybe her life is normal, just like yours and mine.

Loving Father, let us claim this day in the name of Jesus Christ. Let nothing happen to us this day that Your loving presence is not clearly a part of it. Let us not become discouraged, but encouraged as we offer ourselves to your loving grace and power. We pray this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Remember to share your love with a very special mother this Sunday and join me next week and we will share ten ways to conquer worry.

How To Deal With Worry by Jim Massey

2007-05-21T09:01:00.000-06:00

How to Deal with Worry

Have you ever tossed and turned at night, worrying about something that you are sure is going to happen tomorrow and it never does? Then you are probably one of those people who this will really help a lot. I found a wonderful article once about the way to conquer worry. Let me list some of them for you.

l. Recognize that there is a big difference between nervous worry and healthy concern.

2. Get plenty of rest. Your problems look so much bigger when you are tired than when you are relaxed and refreshed.

3. Do not forget that problems have a way of diminishing in size as you get closer to them. Tomorrow's troubles look so much bigger today than they will look tomorrow.

4. Remember there is just as much chance it will not happen, as that it will.

5. Count on your hidden reserves. You have deep within you sleeping power which come forth in hours of crisis.

6. Learn to distinguish between those parts of life which you can control and those parts which you cannot.

7. Be wary of jealousy. Other people only look like they do not have a worry. Do not get the idea that worry has singled you out for its victim.

8. Check your goals. You may be worrying over false ambitions which really are not worth the effort.

9. When you are anxious, stop and something for someone, for a shut-in or a troubled friend. In extending yourself you will lose your frustrations.

10. Count on God. He has handled problems like yours long before you came along. There is just as much Divine power for you as for anyone else. Use His daily help and strength.

Now that may seem like a long list of things to do, but as you hear these things, the worry seems to begin to fall away. And please do remember that God is with you, so you have a strength that is greater than any trouble this world may bring to you.

Let us pray: Heavenly and eternal Father. Today we ask that you grant us the patience to wait on Your grace in our times of trouble. If we will do so, then Your power will fill our lives and we will not be caught in our worries.

Calm our Spirits and guide our lives. We pray these things in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week and we will talk about living a life of Risk.

Video's

2007-05-21T08:24:00.000-06:00

Just Wait! Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2007-04-05T14:52:00.000-06:00

Just Wait!

Have you ever felt like your life was in a state of suspension? You don't know what to do because you feel as though your world has ceased to exist? That must have been the feelings of many in Jerusalem the day after the crucifixion of Jesus. The day before three men hung on crosses together, was the height of amazement and curiosity for everyone gathered on Golgotha.

Two of these were thieves and some people said their punishment was justified. One of them mocked and hurled insults at Jesus saying "Are you not the Messiah? Then save yourself and us!"

The other thief said, "Have you no reverence for God. You have been sentenced to the same punishment as He has been, and we with justice, for we are getting what we deserve for our misdeeds, but He has committed no crime. Jesus," he said, "remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

And then Jesus replied: "Very certainly you will be in Paradise with me today." Can you imagine speaking of Paradise while hanging from a cross? That must truly have been hell on earth!

There were so many questions during the hours that followed. Questions that were of the earthly realm: "Where do we bury the body? Who will be responsible? What now of the disciples who were called the faithful followers? Where did many of them disappear to? Now, what do we do?"

Those are questions we would all be asking if we were there, but God's answer to all of them is the same that was given then: "Wait, Something glorious is about to happen!"

Father, at times in our lives we feel as though no one has control of this world. It is running away with all the things that we would call sacred and we cannot stop the maddening pace with which it is happening. Help us to realize even in the times when we feel lost; You are in control of Your Kingdom. Evil will never win because you have proven that even the most horrible of man's evil schemes will be defeated by the power and love of God. Let us remain in prayer and meditation until the glory of Your Resurrection Day surrounds us with the light of Thy salvation. Then we shall rise and rejoice in the glorious power of Your Risen Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

I pray that you will go to God's House this coming Easter Day to celebrate the Glorious Resurrection of His Son! May His love shine in your heart this day.
Grace and Peace

Jim Massey

April Fool

2007-03-28T08:02:00.000-06:00

APRIL FOOL

young boy had a fiery temper and it often caused him to do and say unkind things. One day, after an argument had sent one of his friends home in tears, his father told him that for each thoughtless, mean thing he would do from now on, he would drive a nail into their gatepost. Every time he did a kindness or good deed, a nail would be removed.

Months passed, Every time the child passed the gate, he was reminded of the reasons for those ever-increasing nails, until finally; getting them out of the gate post became the challenge for his life.

At last the wished-for day arrived -- only one more nail! As his father pulled it, he danced around exclaiming, "See Daddy, the nails are all gone." The father gazed at the gatepost and then thoughtfully replied, "Yes, the nails are gone -- but the scars remain."

In the coming days, sin will drive nails into the hands of Our Savior. The sound of the nails piercing both the hands and our heart will be strong and painful. But there will come a day when the nails will be removed, and all that will be left is scars. They are as necessary as the nails for people to know the depth of Jesus’ love.

Will you continually try to remove the nails from your hearts? Will you look deeply at the scars of your life and see so fully that God has fooled the devil. Satan tried to claim you, but Jesus shows the scars so you will know for sure the depth of the battle that God was willing to do for you and me.

Loving God, come into our hearts today and encourage us. Many times we see the scars and feel they are times of destruction and failure, but in the depths of the scars we find the energy of Your love. In Christ's blessed name we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Next week we will talk about waiting. I know for some of us it is the most difficult thing we have to do. Maybe this will help?

WHO KNOWS YOUR NAME?

2007-03-28T08:01:00.000-06:00

WHO KNOWS YOUR NAME?

A middle-aged woman went into an apartment building and took the elevator to the twelfth floor. When she arrived at her destination, she rang the doorbell impatiently. The door opened slowly, almost mysteriously, and she was welcomed by the smell of incense and smoke.

She entered and was greeted by a young woman in a long white robe who announced her presence by striking a huge gong. With this the young woman said, "Do you wish to the see the WONDERFUL one -- the All-Knowing, all-powerful, Maharishi Narru?"

"Yeah," the woman said, "Tell Sheldon his mother is here."

No matter the titles we may gain from studies or duty in this world, there is one who will always come and call us by our name. The reason we will allow that to happen is because that person has been with us in our life struggles, and has helped us grow and become who we are. They have earned the right to call us by our first name, and it would truly seem strange for them to do otherwise.

The wonderful truth about God is that He knows all our names. The question of life is do we know the power of His? Paul said in Romans 10:13 - "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Why not try saying the name of Jesus today and receive His wondrous love.

Loving God, come and fill our minds with the power of Your Holy name. Let us be bold and faithful in our desire for the love only You can offer when we simply call upon Your name. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me again next week and we will draw closer to Easter as we talk about empty nail holes.

LITTLE BLUE BICYCLES

2007-03-28T08:00:00.000-06:00

LITTLE BLUE BICYCLES

Every day a man would ride a blue bicycle through a customs checkpoint. The basket held three jars: one filled with sand, one filled with water, and one filled with nuts and bolts. The customs agents were suspicious and knew he was smuggling. They would open all the jars -- but the sand was just sand, the water was just water, and the nuts and bolts were just nuts and bolts.

They would search the man, and occasionally even take the bicycle apart but no contraband was found. Every day he would come back and forth and the knowledge that he was smuggling grew more and more, but they could not find how he was doing it.

Several years later one of the customs agent stopped the man on the little blue bicycle and said: "Today is my last day. I am going to retire. I have no desire to catch you but for the sake of my piece of mind, could you tell me what you've been smuggling all these years?"

The man replied, "I've been smuggling little blue bicycles."

Many would applaud the ingenuity of the man. Imagine putting something so obvious right under the noses of the customs agents and they never find what it is that you are doing. What a laugh!

Yet I recall the words of 1 Peter 1:13: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled, set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do…”

When we come to the season of Lent, we must realize that in a unique way that God has been doing the same with the evil of this world. Every day Jesus comes into the lives of people and brings the one thing that we need the most. Some people feel like they need an answer to the questions of life, while others need a reason to continue. But in God’s way, He smuggles in the same thing every day. The grace and love of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Almighty God, continue to touch our lives with the Your special power. Remove the doubts from our minds and affirm the power of Your strength in the face of evil. Change our lives continually we pray, in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me again next week for our Mid-week Epistle and we will see who knows your name.

Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey Harmony Know-How

2007-03-07T15:46:00.000-07:00

HARMONY KNOW-HOW!

A beautiful scripture is found in Romans 12:16: "Live in harmony with one another." Six simple words that can be filled will either difficulty or rapture.

Being a musician most of my life, harmony is something that is exciting to the ears. The most common form of harmony comes in the form of notes that for a cord that is made up of intervals of a third. That is simple to do and pleasing to the ear. There are also other intervals that sound mellow or somber that is called "minor chords". And there are chords that are filled with dissonance that must be resolved to make it sound pleasing once again.

There is one rule that is necessary though. It takes at least two to make harmony. You cannot do it by yourself. When two people begin making harmony, you find that one usually sings the lead and the harmony is placed as a second sound below it. That teaches me that there must always be someone who is willing to not be the lead in the music and in a way become a "second fiddle."

Are you willing to do that in your life? What about your family? Are you willing not to be in the spot light, but share it to make something that is so harmonious that people will be amazed at the depth of your love and friendship for one another? That is what harmony means.

What about your relationship to God? Are you willing to let Him sing the leading part in your life knowing that the harmony that comes in that music from heaven is also filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God? We have moved from harmony to a symphony that will make the gates of heaven ring.

Lord, help us make the harmony of our lives be filled with the music that can only come from your Holy Grace. We ask this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week for another Mid-week Epistle.

Pictures!!

2007-03-03T17:53:00.000-07:00

Here are two slideshow links....Today was my youngest 4th birthday. Sniff sniff...

The 2nd slide show was pictures i took yesterday after school.

Slide Show 1

Slide Show 2

Watch the Lamb

2007-02-28T15:39:00.000-07:00

Lent is the season to prepare...a time to ready ourselves for the Holy week...the time for Easter. Yesterday, My children and I were talking about lent and easter on the way to school....and my 7 year old son said Mama, "why do we call it Good Friday if that is the day they killed Jesus? That is not good. " I have spent a lot of time thinking about how to explain to him in terms he can understand....in words that my heart can wrap him up in.

I have been thinking about this song too the last few days. (there are some images from passion in this...and it is graphic to some degree)

I love music. I think in so many ways it touches us, and moves us to faith. It is a beautiful expression of our love, and God's love for us. But this song.... It sum's up easter in such a way... During Lent...as we prepare...May we remember to Watch the Lamb.

Watch The Lamb

Walking On the Road
To Jerusalem,
The time had come to sacrifice,
Again,
My two small sons,
They walked beside me on the road,
The reason that they came,
Was to watch the lamb...

"Daddy daddy,
What will we see there,
There's so much that we don't understand,"
So I told them of Moses,
And Father Abraham,
Then I said dear children,
"Watch the lamb....

There will be so many,
In Jerusalem today,
We must be sure the lamb,
Doesn't run away,"
And I told them of Moses,
And Father Abraham,
Then I said "Dear children,
Watch the lamb...."

When we reached the city,
I knew something must be wrong,
There were no joyful worshippers,
No joyful worship songs,
And I stood there,
With my children,
In the midst of angry men,
Then I heard the crowd cry out,
"Let's Crucify Him!"

We tried to leave the city,
But we could not get away,
Forced to play in this drama,
A part I did not want to play,
Why upon this day were men condemned to die?
Why were we standing here,
Where soon they would pass by?

I looked and I said,
"Even now they come,"
The first one cried for mercy,
The people gave him none,
The second one was violent,
He was arrogant and loud,
I still can hear his angry voice,
Screaming at the crowd.

Then someone said,
"There's Jesus,"
I scarce believed my eyes,
A man so badly beaten,
He barely looked alive,
Blood poured from His body,
From the thorns upon His brow,
Running down the cross,
And falling to the ground.
I watched as He struggled,
And I watched Him when He fell.
The cross came down upon His back,
And the crowd began to yell.
In that moment I felt such agony.
In that moment I felt such loss.
Till the roman soldier grabbed my arm and screamed,
"YOU! Carry his cross!"

At first I tried to resist him,
But his hand reached for his sword,
So I knelt and I took
The cross from the Lord.
I placed it on my shoulders
We started down the street
And the blood that He'd been shedding,
Was running down my cheek...
They led us to Golgatha
They drove nails,
Deep in His feet and hands,
And yet upon the cross,
I heard him pray,
"Father, forgive them..."

Never have I seen such love
In any other eyes
"Into thy hands I commit my spirit,"
He prayed,
And then He died.

I stood for what seemed like years,
I lost all sense of time,
Then I felt two tiny hands
Holding tight to mine
My children stood there weeping,
And I heard the oldest say
"Father, please forgive us,
The lamb,
Ran away...

Daddy, daddy,
What've we seen here?
There's so much that we don't understand."
So I took them in my arms,
We turned and faced the cross
Then I said
"Dear children
Watch the lamb..."

Mid Week Epistole - Toot and Pray by Jim Massey

2007-02-27T07:52:00.000-07:00

“TOOT” AND “PRAY”

There was a man who was having trouble with the brakes on his car so he took it to a local mechanic. When he returned for his car, the mechanic told him he couldn't fix the brakes so he made the horn on the car louder.

Sometimes I think that is the way the world tries to solve its problems. We just make a louder noise and perhaps you will not notice that we are hurting or do not have an answer or desire to search for a pathway that will bring us to a solution to our problems. We simply talk more, play music louder, and get angrier.

For the Christian, the answer to a challenge is to return to the loving arms of Jesus Christ. Paul tells about the two parts of our life - the good and the sin that seem to live side by side. One is simply a loud horn type response to life, the other is life itself. Which do you chose?

Loving Father, give us the strength this night to find the desire to not be "noisy gong and clanging cymbal" that Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 13, but let us be a part of the glorious praise for Your glory for the world to find strength and truth in all we do. In the blessed name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Everyone hears music from many sources. Next week we will talk about understanding the work of “Harmony” in life?

A SALVATION QUESTION -Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2007-02-21T15:11:00.000-07:00

A SALVATION QUESTION

A man was returning home after a night on the town with a few of his friends in a small Pennsylvania town. A visiting evangelist stopped him and asked, "Brother, are you saved?"
The long-bearded gentleman did not respond verbally immediately. He pulled out a piece of paper and wrote on it, then handed it to the stranger. "Here," he said, "are the names and addresses of my family, neighbors, and the people I do business with. Ask them if they think I am saved. I could tell you anything."
How would you answer that question if it were posed to you today? Or perhaps there is a friend that you have wanted to ask this question for years? It is one that has plagued mankind forever.
God knew it would be difficult, that is why he had the Apostle Peter write: "...in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (I Peter 3:15)
That is the answer - gentleness and respect from the one who gives us life. "Brother, are you saved?"

Lord, come into our hearts this day. We have such a need to know the words of hope that we long to hear. The world would tell us of despair and doubt, but when we hold onto You, we have the promise and assurance of Your saving grace. Give us the power to touch a life this day as You have touched ours. In the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me next week when we talk about the way to “toot” and “pray”.

PROBLEM CONSISTENCIES -Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2007-02-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

PROBLEM CONSISTENCIES

One day I was visiting with a lady that seemed to be deeply distressed. She was telling me all the things that had gone wrong in her life and when she came to the end of her list, I asked her: "Is there one thing consistent in all these things?" Her reply was, "Yes, problems!" To her with the rising of the sun, she was certain the problems of the day would arise as well.

One of my favorite cartoons is Peanuts. One day Linus and Charlie Brown were walking along and chatting with one another. Linus says, "I don't like to face problems head on. I think the best way to solve problems is to avoid them. In fact, this is a distinct philosophy of mine. No problem is so big or so complicated that it can't be run away from!"

No problem will be defeated by desertion of the battle. For Christians, the opportunity to battle the trials of our daily routines can be the most glorious battle of all for we have Christ on our side. Only by desertion can we be defeated. When Christ is present the victory is certain.

A wise man once said, "We can lose the victory by flight but not by death. Happy are you if you die in battle for after death you will be crowned. But woe to you if by forsaking the battle you forfeit at once both the victory and the crown."
Maybe this is a day of battle for you. If that is true, invite Christ to join you and I promise you the victory.

Loving Father, today we promise to meet the problems of our living with new zeal. You have promised us that nothing can defeat You, so we lay claim to that glorious Word. Remove from our hearts the anxiety and frustrations that we might feel and place there the warmth and assurance of Your holy love. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Mom and Birthdays

2007-02-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

What power that word holds. Only one person can ever be that person, and no one can come along and fill that space no matter how hard they try. And yet, we are shaped by the person who fills that role. Who is mom.

I would like to say that only the last 12 birthdays have been hard, but that would be a lie. I dont know what it is about this time of year that makes me feel so miserable and hopeless. Most people enjoy thier birthday, but I hate it. Every year it becomes one terrible disappointment after the next. This year is lining up to be no exception. The only good memories I have of any parts of my birthday involve my mom. She always tried to make it so great....but yet, it seems like there was always something.

When I was turning 5, My mom was planning this party for me. My parents had finally divorced the year before...and for my first birthday, minus my father's responisibility...she was trying. Then she got sick, ended up in the hospital during my birthday. Her best friend Bev came and hosted my little party. Bev got me a little satin and lace purse and hat. Funny how you remember the little things. But, she wasnt there.

Then there was the year I was in the hospital for my 8th birthday. On my 9th it was really sunny outside. My grandpa fixed the car that day. 10, 11, ....For my 12th i had a sleep over. It was the only time in my whole childhood I was allowed to invite any friends into my grandparents house. My 14th, I had my first girl/boy party. The boy I like lied to me. I can not believe how much that lie still hurts all these years later. My 19th, my mother bought me a lace nightie and informed me...I needed it to make her grandbabies. She did not care for son-in-laws...but she wanted grandbabies.

It was my 21st that was the rock bottem. It was 5 days after it, I took a bottle of pain pills and a bottle of sleeping pills and washed it down with a fifth of Vodka. My dad showed up with my stepmom in tow...first time i had seen him in years. I had been raped a few months earlier...and my life was so out of control. My dad proceeded to make my birthday hell. The next day, mom and johnna were suppose to come down to spend the day with me. Only, Johnna showed up. Mom had a headache. Johnna stopped and picked up a cake, with whip cream icing i hate. Fought with me for an hour, and then turned around and left. It was a hell of a birthday.

I spent the next one in a psych ward for depression...my mom in the hospital for a drug reaction she was given for her migraines. Then by the time a year rolled around and I was 23, my mom was dead.

I hate this time of year. God, Please do not let me fail my kids when it comes to birthdays and please, let them remember good things.

Love and Trust

2007-02-13T03:19:00.000-07:00

Trust is such a fragile thing. Even when you do not mean to hurt another person, you do. Just not thinking about the consequences of your actions. And sometimes, we find ourselves hurt by something ...that was never even meant for us to find out. But we do. And it causes us deep pain.

Why do people not think about how they are hurting those around them before they do things? I know that I tend to over think everything. But isnt that better then hurting someone when they told you not to do something because it hurts them and you do it anyway because you think they wont find out?

Love hurts too much. It really is better not to give your trust to anyone...because people just abuse that trust when you do. I am so tired of just hurting. Of being set up to fail. Of being the one that people walk on just because they can.

I need a long vacation from life right now. A very long vacation.

Some People Change

2007-02-09T12:22:00.001-07:00

I dont know what it is about this song (some People Change) or the group (Montgomery-Gentry)...But it seems like every song they sing I like...and this song. Maybe it is because I have seen so many people in my life who need someone to believe they have in them the ability to change. Maybe because so many times, it was me....

I dont know.

two links to youtube...

Link One...song on MSNBC

Link Two...the actual video for the song

Adequate Shoes Mid Week Epistole By Jim Massey

2007-02-07T12:20:00.000-07:00

Adequate Shoes
With all the disasters that are happening in the world at the present time, I want to offer some words of encouragement. Many times when we fall victim to something beyond our understanding our hearts seem to break completely into and we begin to lose sight of the ways in which God comes to us at all times.
We are reminded in Romans 8:28 - "...in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." When I read that Scripture, I once again reclaim the promise of Christ when He said, "I am with you till the end of the age."
Then I remember something I read years ago. "God will not send you down a path without adequate shoes." That means His love and assurance will always be with me. It will be affirmed by prayers, presence, and friends. Nothing will be left out of our situation that is needed. All we have to do is claim it in the name of Jesus Christ.
When you walk in the world today, praise God for the "adequate shoes" that He has supplied for you.

Holy Father, to all who have great need this day, let our words lift fallen spirits and help our presence reaffirm Your glory. We pray this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Next week we will talk about consistency. What happens continually in your life?

Two for One

2007-01-27T17:34:00.000-07:00

I cant hear song's about child abuse without being a little freaked out. I have to be honest. But this one ....a teacher played this for her class...and she had 6 students...two of which were removed from thier homes after she played this for her class. They came to her...seeking her help. We live in such a messed up world.

"Alyssa Lies" by Jason Michael Carroll
1st Verse My little girl met a new friend just the other day
On the playground at school
Between the tires and the swing
But she came home with tear-filled eyes
And she said to me, 'Daddy,Alyssa lies'

2nd Verse Well, I just brushed it off at first'
Cause I didn't know how much
My little girl had been hurt
Nor the thing that she had seen
I wasn't ready, when I said, 'You could tell me'
And she said,

ChorusAlyssa lies to the classroom
Alyssa lies every day at school
Alyssa lies to the teachers
As she tries to cover every bruise

3rd Verse My little girl laid her head down
That night to go to sleep
As I stepped out' the room,
I heard her say
A prayer so soft and sweet,
'God bless my Mom and my Dad
And my new friend Alyssa
Oh, I know she needs you bad, because'

(Repeat Chorus) Bridge

I had the worst night 'a sleep in years
As I tried to think of a way to calm her fears
I knew exactly what I had to do
But when we got to school on Monday
I heard the news

3rd Verse My little girl asked me why everybody looked so sad
The lump in my throat grew bigger
With every question that she asked
Until I felt the tears run down my face
And I told her that AlyssaWouldn't be at school today

Tag Chorus'
Cause she doesn't lie in the classroom
She doesn't lie anymore at school
Alyssa lies with Jesus
Because there's nothin' anyone would do

Tag Tears filled my eyes
When my little girl asked me whyAlyssa lies
Oh DaddyOh Daddy, tell me whyAlyssa lies

Stupid Boy

2007-01-27T17:29:00.000-07:00

I love this song. I often hear a song and it just sticks with me for a week or two. There have been a few lately. But this is one of them.

KEITH URBAN - Stupid Boy Lyrics
Well, she was precious like a flower She grew wild, wild but innocent A perfect prayer in a desperate hour She was everything beautiful and different Stupid boy, you can't fence that in Stupid boy, it's like holdin' back the wind.
Chorus: She laid her heart and soul right in your hands And you stole her every dream and you crushed her plans She never even knew she had a choice And that's what happens when the only voice she hears Is telling her she can't, stupid boy Stupid boy.
So what makes you think you could take a life And just push it, push it around I guess to build yourself up so high You had to take her and break her down. Well...
Chorus: She laid her heart and soul right in your hands And you stole her every dream and you crushed her plans She never even knew she had a choice And that's what happens when the only voice she hears Is telling her she can't, stupid boy Stupid boy.
You stupid boy You always had to be right And now you lost the only thing That ever made you feel alive.
Chorus: She laid her heart and soul right in your hands And you stole her every dream and you crushed her plans She never even knew she had a choice And that's what happens when the only voice she hears Is telling her she can't, stupid boy Stupid boy.
You stupid boy Oh, I'm the same old, same old stupid boy It took a while for her to figure out she could run But when she did, she was long gone, long gone...

Mid Week Epistole By Jim Massey

2007-01-24T08:23:00.000-07:00

Understand Your Despair

The past few weeks here in Missouri have been very hard on people. We had an ice storm three weeks ago that crippled the town for a few days, and then 12 days ago, we had another one that destroyed many trees and left almost all of Springfield without power. Even as I write this article, they report that there are 20,000 people still without electricity and they do not know for sure when it will be back on. Today I was reading in 2 Corinthians these words: “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.” (2 Cor. 4:6)

Out of this darkness, I have seen the light of neighbors opening their homes to others. I have watched strangers become friends as they cut away limbs and try and bring relief in other ways. I have watched houses of worship become homes of safety in the darkness. All of this came from some of the darkest times in the sight and life of many.

That scripture continues: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us n eternal glory that far out-weighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” In the darkness of your life, look to the unseen. You will truly find the glory of God on the way.

Heavenly Father, we pray for all those this night who struggle in the cold and darkness of both home and soul. Send your workers to bring light and warmth by the workers and neighbors. Teach us that there is more than pain that we can conquer by Your glory. We pray this in the blessed name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. I pray that God continues to bless all you do for Him. Never doubt His presence, it is everywhere. See you next week in our Mid-week Epistle.

Christ is...

2007-01-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

Adam, the second ... 1 Corinthians 15:45-47
Advocate ... 1 John 2:1
Almighty ... Revelation 19:15
Alpha and Omega ... Revelation 21:6
Ancient of Days ... Daniel 7:9
Angel of his presence ... Isaiah 63:9
Angel, Mine ... Exodus 23:20-23
Anointed above His fellows ... Psalm 45:7
Anointed of the Lord ... Psalm 2:2
Apostle of our profession ... Hebrews 3:1
Arm of the Lord ... Isaiah 51:9,10
Author and Finisher of our faith ... Hebrews 12:2
Author of eternal salvation ... Hebrews 5:9
Babe ... Luke 2:16
Beginning and End ... Revelation 21:6
Begotten of God ... Matthew 12:18
Beloved ... Ephesians 1:6
Beloved of God ... Matthew 12:18
Beloved Son ... Mark 1:11
Bishop of Souls ... 1 Peter 2:25
Blessed and only Potentate ... 1 Timothy 6:15
Branch ... Zechariah 3:8
Branch, a righteous ... Jeremiah 23:5
Branch of righteousness ... Jeremiah 33:15
Branch of the root of Jesse ... Isaiah 11:1
Bread ... John 6:41
Bread of LIfe ... John 6:35
Bridegroom ... John 3:29
Bright and Morning Star ... Revelation 22:16
Captain of salvation ... Hebrews 2:10
Captain of the Lord’s host ... Joshua 5:15
Carpenter’s Son ... Matthew 13:55
Chief Cornerstone ... 1 Peter 2:6
Chief Shepherd ... 1 Peter 5:4
Chiefest among ten thousand ... Song of Solomon 5:10
Child Jesus ... Luke 2:27
Chosen of God ... 1 Peter 2:4
Christ, the ... John 1:41
Christ a King ... Luke 23:2
Christ Jesus ... Romans 8:2
Christ Jesus our Lord ... Romans 8:39Christ of God, the ... Luke 9:20
Christ, the chosen of God ... Luke 23:35
Christ, the Lord ... Luke 2:11
Christ, the power of God ... 1 Corinthians 1:24
Consolation of Israel ... Luke 2:25
Counselor ... Isaiah 9:6
Covenant of the people ... Isaiah 42:6
Dayspring ... Luke 1:78
Day star ... 2 Peter 1:19
Deliverer ... Romans 11:26
Desire of all nations ... Haggai 2:7
Diadem ... IIsaiah 28:5
Door ... John 10:9
Door of the sheep ... John 10:7
Elect ... 1 Peter 2:6
Eternal life ... 1 John 5:20
Everlasting Father ... Isaiah 9:6
Faithful and True ... Revelation 19:11
Faithful Witness ... Revelation 1:5
First Begotten ... Hebrews 1:6
First Begotten of the dead ... Revelation 1:5
First-born ... Psalm 89:27
First-born among many brethren ... Romans 8:29
First fruits ... 1 Corinthians 15:23
First and Last ... Revelation 22:13
Foundation laid in Zion ... Isaiah 28:16
Friend of publicans and sinners ... Luke 7:34
Glorious Lord ... Isaiah 33:21
God ... John 20:28
God blessed forever ... Romans 9:5
God of Israel ... Isaiah 45:15
God, our Saviour ... 1 Timothy 2:3
God with us ... Matthew 1:23
God’s dear Son ... Colossians 1:13
Good Master ... Mark 10:17
Great God ... Titus 2:13
Great High Priest ... Hebrews 4:14
Great Shepherd ... Hebrews 13:20
Habitation of the Godhead ... Colosians 2:9
Head, even Christ ... Ephesians 4:15
Head of all ... Colosians 2:10
Head of the body, the church ... Colosians 1:18
Head of the corner ... Mark 12:10
Head over all things ... Ephesians 1:22
Headstone of the corner ... Psalm 118:22
Heir of all things ... Hebrews 1:2
Holy Child ... Acts 4:27
Holy One ... 1 John 2:20
Holy One and Just ... Acts 3:14
Holy One of God ... Luke 4:34
Holy One of Israel ... Isaiah 37:23
Hope of glory ... Colosians 1:27
I Am ... John 8:58
Image of God ... 2 Corinthians 4:4
Image of the Invisible God ... Colosians 1:15
Immanuel ... Matthew 1:23
Jesus ... Luke 1:31
Jesus Christ ... Romans 1:3
Jesus Christ our Lord ... Romans 6:23
Jesus Christ our Saviour ... Titus 3:6
Jesus of Nazareth ... Luke 24:19
Jesus, the Son of Joseph ... Luke 3:23
Judge of Israel ... Micah 5:1
Judge of the quick and the dead ... Acts 10:42
King ... John 12:13
King eternal ... 1 Timothy 1:17
King of glory ... Psalm 24:7
King of Israel ... John 12:13
King of kings ... 1 Timothy 6:15
King of the Jews ... Matthew 27:37
King of Zion ... Zechariah 9:9
King over all the earth ... Zechariah 14:9
Lamb ... Revelation 13:8
Lamb of God ... John 1:36
Life ... John 14:6
Light ... John 1:9
Light of the Gentiles ... Acts 13:47
Light of the World ... John 9:5
Lily of the valley ... Song of Solomon 2:1
Lion of the tribe of Judah ... Revelation 5:5
Living bread ... John 6:51
Living stone ... 1 Peter 2:4
Lord ... John 21:7
Lord Christ ... Colosians 3:24
Lord God Almighty ... Revelation 4:8
Lord Jesus ... Acts 19:17
Lord Jesus Christ ... 2 Thessalonians 2:1
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ... 2 Peter 2:20
Lord both of dead and living ... Romans 14:9
Lord of all ... Acts 10:36
Lord of glory ... 1 Corinthians 2:8
Lord of hosts ... Isaiah 54:5
Lord of Sabbath ... Luke 6:5
Lord our righteousness ... Jeremiah 23:6
Lord over all ... Romans 10:12
Lord, your Redeemer ... Isaiah 43:14
Man of sorrows ... Isaiah 53:3
Master ... Mark 12:14
Mediator ... Hebrews 12:24
Messiah ... John 4:25,26
Mighty God ... Isaiah 9:6
Mighty one of Jacob ... Isaiah 60:16
Most Holy ... Daniel 9:24
Most Mighty ... Psalm 45:3
Nazarene ... Matthew 5:23
Only begotten of the Father ... John 1:14
Only wise God ... 1 Timothy 1:17
Our Passover ... 1 Corinthians 5:7
Our Peace ... Ephesians 2:14
Physician ... Luke 4:23
Power of God ... 1 Corinthians 1:24
Priest ... Hebrews 5:6
Prince ... Acts 5:31
Prince of life ... Acts 3:15
Prince of peace ... Isaiah 9:6
Prince of the kings of earth ... Revelation 1:5
Prophet ... Deuteronomy 18:15,18
Propitiation ... Romans 3:25
Rabbi ... John 6:25
Rabboni ... John 20:16
Ransom ... 1 Timothy 2:6
Redeemer ... Isaiah 59:20
Resurrection and the life ... John 11:25
Righteous Judge ... 2 Timothy 4:8
Righteous servant ... Isaiah 53:11
Rock ... 1 Corinthians 10:4
Rock of offense ... Romans 9:33
Root and Offspring of David ... Revelation 22:16
Root of Jesse ... Isaiah 11:10
Rose of Sharon ... Song of Solomon 2:1
Saviour ... 1 Timothy 4:10
Saviour, Jesus Christ ... 2 Peter 2:20
Saviour, God our ... Titus 1:3
Saviour of the world ... 1 John 4:14
Seed of David ... John 7:42
Seed of Woman ... Genesis 3:15
Shepherd ... John 10:11
Shepherd of souls ... 1 Peter 2:25
Son of the Blessed ... Mark 14:61
Son of David ... Matthew 9:27
Son of God ... Romans 1:4
Son of man ... Acts 7:56
Son of Mary ... Mark 6:3
Son of the Highest ... Luke 1:32
Son of Peace ... Luke 10:6
Star out of Jacob ... Numbers 24:17
Stone ... Daniel 2:45
Stone rejected ... Luke 20:17
Stone of stumbling ... Romans 9:32,33
Sun of righteousness ... Malachi 4:2
Sure foundation ... Isaiah 28:16
Teacher from God ... John 3:2
True Vine ... John 15:1
Truth ... John 14:6
Unspeakable Gift ... 2 Corinthians 9:15
Very Christ ... Acts 9:22
Way ... John 14:6
Wonderful ... Isaiah 9:6
Word ... 1 John 1:1
Word of God ... Revelation 19:13
Word of LIfe ... 1 John 1:1

How Useful are Your Words? -Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2007-01-05T12:30:00.000-07:00

How Useful are Your Words?

A man asked to borrow his neighbor's rope. The neighbor said, "I'm sorry, I can't loan it to you. I have a pile of sand tied up with it in my back yard." Surprised, the first man said, "But you can't tie up a pile of sand with a rope!" To which his neighbor replied, "It's amazing what you can do with a rope when you don't want to loan it."

Doesn't that remind you of the New Year’s resolutions many people make? Some of them are as useful as a rope tying up a pile of sand. They really had no intention of keeping the resolutions or of changing their lives.

Please be careful with the faith of your life. Don't make it as poorly intentioned as the use of the neighbor's rope. Don't let things destroy it that should be crushed by the way you as a Christian are willing to stand against the evils of this world. If you intend to do something for God, then do something! You will find He will join you in the effort with great zeal and strength.

Come, Heavenly Father, as we stand at the beginning of a New Year. Let our words not be empty promises, but ways in which we can truly change from the people we have become into the people You need the world to see - proclaiming Your glory. In the blessed name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. I pray that you truly plan to do something great for God in the year 2007. Don't start your days with excuses, but the acceptance of the love of God for your daily journey.

Anyway by Martina McBride

2006-12-31T15:53:00.000-07:00

Anyway by Martina McBride

You can spend your whole life building
something from nothing
one storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway

You can chase a dream
that seems so out of reach
and you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
and when I pray
It doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
I do it anyway

This world's gone crazy
and it's hard to believe
that tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway

You can love someone with all your heart
for all the right reasons
and in a moment they can choose to walk away
love 'em anyway

God is great
But sometimes life ain't good
when I pray
it doesn't always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway
Yeah I do it anyway yeah

You can pour your soul out singin'
a song you believe in
that tomorrow they'll forget you ever sang
Sing it anyway
Yeah sing it anyway
Yeah yeah

I sing
I dream
I love
Anyway.
Yeah.

The Hand of Faith -Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2006-12-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

The Hand of Faith

One of my favorite preachers was Peter Marshall. He once wrote about God's hand of faith: "God speaks sometimes through our circumstances and guides us, closing doors as well as opening them. He will let you know what you must do, and what you must be. He is waiting for you to touch Him. The hand of faith is enough."

To many people today, we feel that God is reaching down to us as He sends His Son to be born as a baby in a manger in Bethlehem. But yet, when you go to Bethlehem, even that sacred spot, has been filled with struggle and despair as war rages between neighbors. People are fighting and filled with anger. How do you think He could change Bethlehem today? Did He change it in the time when Jesus was born?

Strangely enough, even in Bethlehem and Jerusalem, or where you are or anywhere in the world, God is still waiting for us to take His hand. He will not force us to accept Him, but He continually offers His love in a special way. The greatest way is by giving us the freedom to choose His love or reject it.

What do you need in your life today? Isn't it truly the power of God in a new and wonderful way? Then, reach out and take His hand of faith.

Loving Father, come into our hearts today. Touch everything that causes us to not hear Your voice as it speaks to our hearts. Clear away the blindness of our eyes so we can see Your miracles and grace all around us. Come to us as fresh as the love of the baby in the manger. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Next week is New Year’s and the beginning of 2007. What are you planning to accomplish that is great for God in the coming year. Join me next week and we will share another word together.

Hark the Harold Angel's Sing

2006-12-21T05:52:00.000-07:00

What Kind of Methodist would I be if I did not include this tune by Charles Wesley, brother and friday to his Brother John Wesley, Founder of the Methodist Faith. It is also one of my favorite Christmas Hymns.

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Words By Charles Wesley, Music by Felix Mendelssohn

Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled."
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!

Christ, by highest heav'n adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the favored one.
Veil'd in flesh, the Godhead see;
Hail, th'incarnate Deity:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!

Hail! the heav'n-born Prince of peace!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sone of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!

The First Noel

2006-12-20T07:55:00.000-07:00

The First Noel.

The first Noel, the angel did say,
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the the East, beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

And by the light of that same star,
Three wise men came from country far;
To seek for a King was their intent,
And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

This star drew night to the northwest,
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest;
And there it did both stop and stay,
Right over the place where Jesus lay.
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

Then entered in those wise men three,
Full reverently upon their knee;
And offered there in his presence,
Their gold, and myrrh, and frankincense
Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Born is the King of Israel.

How Do You Answer the Question? by Jim Massey

2006-12-20T07:52:00.000-07:00

How Do You Answer the Question?

One of the most familiar phrases this time of year is "How Long?" We ask the sales clerk, "How long before that present will be wrapped?", or "How long before you get the next shipment in so I can buy this present for my child?" And you can even hear children saying, "How long before we can open the presents?", or "How long before we can go to a movie and have our friends come and visit?" No matter where we go, the question seems to follow us everywhere, "How long?"

This is not a seasonal question that has been developed for this time of year. Other questions have been asked that are even more profound: "How long must we suffer?", "How long must we wait for the Lord?"

In Hebrews the apostle Paul offers an answer: "For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draws back, my soul has no pleasure in him." It is not a question of "how long?", but of our desire to be faithful to the Lord no matter when He chooses as His coming. Paul continues: "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved." (Hebrews 10:37-39)

Holy Father, come into our hearts this day and find the true desire that is hidden there. Let us be willing to go to the world continually and tell the Good News of the One who is coming in the form of a tiny child. Let the strength of this faith grow in our lives this day. In the blessed name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Next week is Christmas and we pray that your family has a wonderful celebration of the birth of God’s Son. If your family is apart, know that God links them together in a special way and if you recognize that, your family will truly be blessed this year.

Join me next week when we share the blessing of the hand of God.

The Telephone Music Box

2006-12-18T15:54:00.000-07:00

When I was a pre-teen I collected Music Boxes. They got lost in one of our moves...the same move that we did not get any of our stuff and the moving company kept it, when my mom couldnt pay them. That move also lost my Great Grandmothers Hutch. It was a bueatiful peace of furniture.

Anyway...The music box. It was a gift from my Stepdad. He got it for me because I used to talk so much on the phone...so for Christmas that year...he got me a telephone I so desperatly wanted. Only it was only a music real phone, just a music box. I loved that music box. It was a prized posession, and at that age I did not have many. But that music box was so special to me. Maybe because it came from my stepdad. He was more like a dad then my own dad had ever been. But more because it was a gift that showed, He knew who I was. He appreciated who I was.

I dont know why today of all days, I got to thinking about it. The only thing I collect these days is nativity sets and that is a rather new collection. I was always afraid in amove it would all get left behind again.

I hope they are not what gets lost in the next move.

Christmas is Coming

2006-12-18T15:30:00.000-07:00

Johnna sang this in a Christmas program in 6th grade when we lived in Mechanicsburg PA. She went to school in Shermanstown...and this was one of thier songs from thier Christmas Program.

Tonight is my children's Christmas Program...we may not make it as they are both really coughing bad and Brianna got sent home from school. But I have been thinking about this song all day...it is an adaption from a nursery rhyme.

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat
Please to put a penny in the old man's hat
If you haven't got a penny, a ha'penny will do
If you haven't got a ha'penny then God bless you!

7 Year Olds and Things that Hurt

2006-12-17T20:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, My son turned 7. And it has been a week at school. The thing I will remember about this place when I look behind it and run as fast as I can the other way is how only 2 children from the 35, He invited showed up. This is the most awful place ever. I am really disappointed in what I have found in people here. They have this way of being so rude, while being so nice about it.

There has not been much good about our life here, and I will not regret looking the other way and moving as fast as I can the opposite way as soon as I get the chance.

O COME, O COME, EMMANUEL

2006-12-17T20:44:00.000-07:00

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.

Refrain

Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who orderest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.

Refrain

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory over the grave.

Refrain

O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

Refrain

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.

Refrain

O come, O come, great Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.

Refrain

O come, Thou Root of Jesse’s tree,
An ensign of Thy people be;
Before Thee rulers silent fall;
All peoples on Thy mercy call.

Refrain

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
And be Thyself our King of Peace.

Refrain

Hallelujah Chorus (From Messiah)

2006-12-15T12:32:00.000-07:00

In college the Hood Choirs and the USNA combined choirs sing the Messiah. I miss that time. It was an amazing experiance. I can not think of Christmastime without thinking back to that time.

To sing that piece of music in the USNA chapel...it is truely amazing. To be part of the music with a live orchestra and full choir with soloist added to it. Truely amazing.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah
For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth
The Kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of the Lord
And of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever
King of Kings and Lord of Lords
And He shall reign forever and ever
Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah

Mom's Letter To Santa

2006-12-15T10:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned, and cuddled my two children on demand, visited the doctor's office more than my doctor, sold 62 cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground, and figured out how to attach nine patches onto my daughter's Girl Scout sash with staples and a glue gun.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don't flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you're hauling big ticket items this year, I'd like a car with fingerprint resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, "Yes, Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with one potty-trained toddler, two kids who don't fight, and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, "Don't eat in the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

And please don't forget the Playdoh Travel Pack, the stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in three fluorescent colors and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet making the In-laws' house seem just like mine.

If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family; or if my toddler didn't look so cute sneaking downstairs to eat contraband ice cream in his pajamas at midnight.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don't catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don't eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

Mom

Prayers for Sen Johnson

2006-12-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

Many prayers are going up for Sen Tim Johnson of South Dakota.

There is no partisian politics here. I feel so bad for this man's wife and children and young grandchildren. May God hold them in His mighty Hand. Hopefully, Sen Johnson will have a very speedy recovery.

My name is Christmas Carol

2006-12-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

I love this song... So I am making it the Christmas song of the day... If you click HERE you can hear it.

I was playing Santa Clause downtown on Christmas Eve,

when a little girl of 3 or 4 climbed up onto my knee,

I could tell she had a Christmas wish behind those eyes of blue,

so I ask her what's your name and what can Santa do for you?

She said my name is Christmas Carol, I was born on Christmas Day.

I don't know who my daddy is and mommy's gone away.

All I want for Christmas is someone to take me home!

Does anybody want a Christmas Carol of their own?

Well all that I could say was Santa would do the best he could.

Then I sat her down and told her now remember to be to be good.

She said "I will" then walked away, turned to wave good-bye.

And I'm glad she wasn't close enough to see Ole Santa cry!

She said my name is Christmas Carol, I was born on Christmas Day.

I don't know who my daddy is and mommy's gone away.

All I want for Christmas is someone to take me home!

Does anybody want a Christmas Carol of their own?

Early Christmas morning I got up and dialed the phone.

I made a few arrangements at the County Children's home.

They told me it would be alright to pick her up today.

Now my little Christmas Carol won't ever have to say,

She said my name is Christmas Carol, I was born on Christmas Day.

I don't know who my daddy is and mommy's gone away.

All I want for Christmas is someone to take me home!

Does anybody want a Christmas Carol of their own?

WELL MERRY CHRISTMAS CAROL,

I LOVE YOU, WELCOME HOME

Carol of the Bells

2006-12-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

Carol of the Bells

Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away

Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold,

Ding dong ding dong
that is their song
with joyful ring
all caroling

One seems to hear
words of good cheer
from everywhere
filling the air

Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o'er hill and dale,
telling their tale,

Gaily they ring
while people sing
songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here,

Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
On on they send,
on without end,
their joyful tone
to every home
Dong Ding dong ding... dong! Bong!

Rich Is What You Have Beside You -Mid Week Epistole by Jim Massey

2006-12-13T07:18:00.000-07:00

Rich Is What You Have Beside You

The story is told about four young American soldiers who had been on the front lines of battle for some time in World War II. They were sent back away from the fighting to a small French village for a little R & R. When they arrived safely in the village, they suddenly realized that it was Christmas Eve and they began to discuss how they would like to spend Christmas. They had passed an orphanage on the way into town and they decided they would like to be with the children on this special day. So they went out and bought all kinds of toys and candy and clothing, food and books and games, and early the next morning, they showed up at the front door of the orphanage with wonderful Christmas presents for all the children.

The orphanage director was pleased and all the children were delighted as they opened their gifts. All the children that is, except for one little girl who stood quietly off to the side. She appeared to be 5 or 6 years old and her face looked so very sad. One of the American soldiers noticed that she was not participating, and he asked the orphanage director about the little girl. “O, bless her heart,” said the director, “We just got her last week. Both of her parents were killed in a car wreck. There was no one to take her in, so we brought her here.”

The soldier went over to the little girl and gently said to her, “Its Christmas morning and we have wonderful Christmas presents here: toys, clothes, candy, food, books, and puzzles. Which would you like? What do you want most for Christmas?” And the little girl said, “I want somebody to hold me.”

God understood that need then just as He does now. He cares so much that He sent His Son Jesus to be in the manger so He could hold us in His loving care today and forever. All we need to do is come to the manger and look into the loving eyes of God and we will know that He has held our hearts in a special way.

Holy Father, as we near the manger today we hesitate to look inside because we might feel unworthy of your Holy love. We might feel the need to explain the pain and sadness in our hearts and do not want you to see the tears that are welling up inside. It is when we take the first step that we begin the journey to free our souls from the pains of the past. It is at the manger and at the foot of the cross that we finally understand the depth of Your Holy Grace. Bid us come to You, O God, and we will know peace. In the blessed name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

This has been Rev. Jim Massey. Join me again next week as we draw closer to the birth of Jesus.

Abu Ghraib/60 Mins & How MUCH I HATE THE MEDIA

2006-12-12T13:20:00.000-07:00

My hometown gets on national TV and it is so terrible... Not that any of the Abu Ghraib stuff has been good for Cumberland. it is kind of funny in a sad way..Jack Abromoff goes to jail in cumberland and the abu Ghraib scandel is centered around a military police unit from the area. Always bad stuff.

The VFW person... a childhood friend. I have known Colin since ....well i was born. They lived across the street one house up. Colin is a good guy. He is not the evil SOB 60 mins makes him out to be. And Cumberland is not the Evil place full of hateful rednecks they make it out to be. Why does the media do this? I have more thoughts on this..but I am wondering if anyone else watched this.

Is the media really making it seem so terrible..or am i over sensitive because these are people I know and care about and a hometown I love? They make the people there seem like they are gonna blow the guys head off because they do not agree with the way he went about doing things...argh.

Click Here and

Mary Did you Know

2006-12-12T13:19:00.000-07:00

MARK LOWRY | Mary Did You Know

Mary did you know that your baby boy would some day walk on water?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.

Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
And when your kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God.

Oh Mary did you know---

The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again.
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb---.

Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
This sleeping child you're holding is the great--I--- AM---.

Moby's Small Town Soap Box--THE SANDS OF CHRISTMAS

2006-12-11T18:08:00.000-07:00

I was fixing my kids lunches this morning, as I listened to the radio. The channel listen to plays Moby in the Morning...and well..His small town soap box just really got to me this morning. I wanted to share it here too..
http://www.mobyinthemorning.com/soapbox.cfm

THE SANDS OF CHRISTMAS

I had no Christmas spirit when I breathed a weary sigh;
And looked across the table where the bills were piled too high.
The laundry wasn't finished and the car I had to fix;
My stocks were down another point, the Chargers lost by six.

And so with only minutes till my son got home from school;
I gave up on the drudgery and grabbed a wooden stool.
The burdens that I carried were about all I could take;
And so I flipped the TV on to catch a little break.

I came upon a desert scene in shades of tan and rust;
No snowflakes hung upon the wind, just clouds of swirling dust.
And where the reindeer should have stood before a laden sleigh;
Eight Humvees ran a column right behind an M1A.

A group of boys walked past the tank, not one was past his teens;
Their eyes were hard as polished flint, their faces drawn and lean.
They walked the street in armor with their rifles shouldered tight;
Their dearest wish for Christmas, just to have a silent night.

Other soldiers gathered, hunkered down against the wind;
To share a scrap of mail and dreams of going home again.
There wasn't much at all to put their lonely hearts at ease;
They had no Christmas turkey, just a pack of MRE's.

They didn't have a garland or a stocking I could see;
They didn't need an ornament--they had no Christmas tree.
They didn't have a present even though it was tradition;
The only boxes I could see were labeled "ammunition."

I felt a little tug and found my son now by my side;
He asked what it was I feared, why it was I cried.
I swept him up into my arms and held him oh so near;
And kissed him on his forehead as I whispered in his ear.

There's nothing wrong my little son, for safe we sleep tonight;
Our heros stand on foreign land to give us all that right.
To worry on the things in life that mean nothing at all;
Instead of wondering if we will be the next to fall.

He looked at me as children do and said it's always right;
To thank the ones who help us and perhaps that we should write.
And so we pushed aside the bills and sat to draft a note;
To thank the many far from home, and this is what we wrote.

GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND KEEP YOU SAFE, AND SPEED YOUR WAY BACK HOME; REMEMBER THAT WE LOVE YOU SO, AND THAT YOU'RE NOT ALONE.

THE GIFT YOU GIVE YOU SHARE WITH ALL, A PRESENT EVERY DAY;
YOU GIVE THE GIFT OF LIBERTY AND THAT WE CAN'T REPAY.

The Friendly Beasts

2006-12-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

A few years back, the kids sang this song for Christmas in front of the church. Such a wonderful song to mark the season.

The Friendly Beasts

Jesus our brother, kind and good
Was humbly born in a stable rude
And the friendly beasts around Him stood
Jesus our brother, kind and good.

"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown,
"I carried His mother up hill and down;
I carried her safely to Bethlehem town."
"I," said the donkey, shaggy and brown.

"I," said the cow, all white and red
"I gave Him my manger for a bed;
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head."
"I," said the cow, all white and red.

"I," said the sheep with curly horn,
"I gave Him my wool for His blanket warm;
He wore my coat on Christmas morn."
"I," said the sheep with curly horn.

"I," said the dove from the rafters high,
"Cooed Him to sleep that He should not cry;
We cooed Him to sleep, my mate and I."
"I," said the dove from the rafters high.

"I," said the camel, yellow and black,
"Over the desert, upon my back,
I brought Him a gift in the Wise Men's pack."
"I," said the camel, yellow and black.

Thus every beast by some good spell
In the stable dark was glad to tell
Of the gift he gave Emmanuel,
The gift he gave Emmanuel.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

2006-12-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

Brian has to sing this song tomorrow at his regional meeting. All new GM's for this region have to sing it. So, I thought I would post it tonight.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
A partridge in a pear tree.

On the second day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

On the third day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Four calling birds,
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds,
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds,
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds,
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds,
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds,
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds,
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds,
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas,
My true love gave to me:
Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings!
Four calling birds,
Three french hens,
Two turtle doves,
and a partridge in a pear tree.

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer

2006-12-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

Another one that is being sung a lot in my house. The kid's Christmas Program at school is on Dec 18th. Tonight is Pizza party for football team. A week from tomorrow is church sunday school class party, Birthday party next saturday night. Christmas dinner for work is on the 22nd. Dinner with inlaws for holidays is tomorrow after church. Can this month get busier?

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then all the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
you'll go down in history!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

2006-12-08T13:09:00.000-07:00

Brianna can not stop singing this song...she knows all the words too. So for her...today..

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

Now bring us some figgy pudding
Now bring us figgy pudding
Now bring us figgy pudding
And a cup of good cheer!
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
So bring it out here!
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!

We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
We wish you a Merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.
Glad tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Glad tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!