Midnight Road Trip

A few nights ago Cosme, Lynn & Kim, the love birds ( a.k.a. Jason & Julie, ), and I all went on a sight-seeing trip around Wichita county looking at all the old churches... don't ask why. In all honesty, now that I actually write it down it sounds very 'old' folksish (also Elmish).

Anyway, I happened to snap a few pictures of that evening. Only two actually came out. Since everyone seems to be in a 'post a funny pic of someone other than you mood' (a.k.a. Gene Holley Jr.), I decided to post these. Enjoy!

My Over Tech-ed Life

The recent wind storm in Wichita Falls did something horrible. It knocked out the tower that beams my internet service to the little modem that sits by my bay window- very disheartening. It is times like these that I realize how much of a role technology plays in my existence. I am specifically speaking of communication technology.

On my computer is a small program that downloads the latest weather information for me by the moment. It is only offline if my modem is offline. Each morning before I go to work I have the ability to pull up my personal weather center and figure out exactly what I need to expect in the way of temperatures.

When I arrive at school, the first thing I always do is turn on my computers. As a ‘modern’ teacher, I have never had a ‘lesson plan book.’ All of my lesson plans have always been done on computer. My grades are also on computer. In fact, never have I had to manually figure grades for my students.

My student’s projects, homework assignments, and a good portion of class work are delivered via computer. I have a continuous power point presentation that runs in my room informing my students of various important things that concern my class.

My ‘overhead’- the things that used to only project black-line masters- is connected to my LCD projector and classroom laptop computers to display images and streaming video from the internet for various lessons and topics that are being discussed where technology can provide some aid.

In fact, today we used our graphing calculators with my screen displayed on the wall for any student who might not know exactly what to do or how to do it.

All of that is only half my day. Then I come home…

I check e-mail messages, work on Sunday school lessons, and children’s church lessons all on my computer. In fact, I don’t think I have ever hand written a message for any type of lesson I was doing outside of school either.

I pay my bills using my computer, keep up with local and national news using my computer, and a host of various other activities. Tonight, right before I go to bed, I will most likely watch a ‘webcast’ of the NBC Nightly News from MSNBC.

To think what I did without a computer is absolutely mind boggling. However did I survive? O well, regardless, the tower has been repaired, (Thank God!) my service has been restored, and my over tech-ed life can continue uninterrupted… for now anyway.

The Blood

I had wholly intended to blog about my contaminated Peanut Butter. Yes, I was a victim of the 2111 Peter Pan Peanut Butter Contamination of 2007; however, I am not going to do so. (There are pictures at the right for those of you who are interested.) I hate to be over-spiritual, but the supernatural is so much of who we are. (It seems so weird to say it like that but it’s true.)

Several months ago Sis. Nona Freeman, a powerful woman of God, preached at our church. One of the things she talked about was praying in the ‘blood’ of Jesus. I, probably like you, have always heard about praying in the ‘name’ of Jesus- but never really the blood- or at least I did not remember at the time.

A few nights ago I was listening to one of Bro. Vernon Brite’s messages he preached at Men’s Conference. He also spent some time talking about the ‘blood’ and praying in the ‘blood’ of Jesus. At the time of the conference, I guess I just didn’t really comprehend what he was speaking about.

I do need to stop right here and give a plug for recorded messages. When I was a young person I started buying tapes of messages that really touched me and those that I felt like God had spoken to me personally. I am so glad I started such a wonderful habit.

Many times I have put in a ‘jarred’ message when I was really in need of something and I have received it. I have found that the Word cleanses no matter what medium is used to receive it.

I really believe that if more people would buy and listen to messages that have been recorded they would find such strength- not to mention all the previously ‘undiscovered’ jewels hidden in those messages that they missed the first time around.

Back to my previous thought…

My life lately has been such that all I can do is pray in the ‘blood’ of Jesus. I have spent entire days where I would constantly stop and plead the blood. I have pleaded it countless times on my mother, my brothers, my car, my family, my church, my friends, and my children who I minister to.

On Sunday afternoon I visited my cousin in the hospital with her oldest son. I saw the x-ray of his lungs that afternoon. I saw how one lung was completely blocked with sickness. Before I left, we joined hands and prayed in the ‘blood’ of Jesus. I pleaded the blood on his lungs, not just any blood; I specifically called for the blood that flowed from my Savior’s stripes.

His surgery was not anywhere near as long, nor was it anywhere near as bad, as the specialist they had called in previously thought that it would be. I believe it was the blood.

The things that God is doing in my family are remarkable. After years of living this life in front of them, sometimes with disdain on their part- there has been a softening like never before. It IS the blood. I believe in His blood!

So many times I have heard the saying, “You’ve come to late to tell me He can’t heal/deliver/save.” Today I feel the same way.

In my flesh I feel a little worn out and I know that my mother also feels a little worn out with everything that has been happening; however, you’ve come to late to tell me that my God cannot heal! It’s too late to try and tell me that my God cannot still deliver! It’s too late to tell me that my God cannot save the most wretched sinner from the most wretched sin! (Let’s have a little audience participation-, stop right here and laugh out loud!)

I want my life and everything about my life to be saturated with the blood of Jesus. I want it to be ‘sopping wet’ with the blood. Thank God for the blood! Thank God for the precious blood!

“Would you be free from your burden of sin? / There's power in the blood, power in the blood / Would you o'er evil the victory win? / There's wonderful power in the blood

Would you be whiter, much whiter than snow? / There's power in the blood, power in the blood / Sin stains are lost in its life-giving flow / There's wonderful power in the blood

Would you do service for Jesus your King? / There's power in the blood, power in the blood / Would you live daily His praises to sing? / There's wonderful power in the blood

There is power, power, wonder-working power / In the blood of the Lamb / There is power, power, wonder-working power / In the precious blood of the Lamb”

Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout

I have always loved poems. One of my favorite whimsical poets is Shel Silverstein. He is most known for his poem entitled “The Giving Tree”- which is perhaps my least favorite of his works.

My favorite poem of his is the one I am sharing with you. I like to read it because of all the wonderful words. This poem has to be read with absolute clarity of diction and enunciation. It is best, as most poems are, when read to kids- with funny faces, moans, and gags as if you are about to vomit at the real disgusting parts. Enjoy!

Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout Would Not Take the Garbage Out
Shel Silverstein 1974

Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout

Would not take the garbage out!

She'd scour the pots and scrape the pans,

Candy the yams and spice the hams,

And though her daddy would scream and shout,

She simply would not take the garbage out.

And so it piled up to the ceilings:

Coffee grounds, potato peelings,

Brown bananas, rotten peas,

Chunks of sour cottage cheese.

It filled the can, it covered the floor,

It cracked the window and blocked the door

With bacon rinds and chicken bones,

Drippy ends of ice cream cones,

Prune pits, peach pits, orange peel,

Gloppy glumps of cold oatmeal,

Pizza crusts and withered greens,

Soggy beans and tangerines,

Crusts of black burned buttered toast,

Gristly bits of beefy roasts. . .

The garbage rolled on down the hall,

It raised the roof, it broke the wall. . .

Greasy napkins, cookie crumbs,

Globs of gooey bubble gum,

Cellophane from green baloney,

Rubbery blubbery macaroni,

Peanut butter, caked and dry,

Curdled milk and crusts of pie,

Moldy melons, dried-up mustard,

Eggshells mixed with lemon custard,

Cold french fried and rancid meat,

Yellow lumps of Cream of Wheat.

At last the garbage reached so high

That it finally touched the sky.

And all the neighbors moved away,

And none of her friends would come to play.

And finally Sarah Cynthia Stout said,

"OK, I'll take the garbage out!"

But then, of course, it was too late. . .

The garbage reached across the state,

From New York to the Golden Gate.

And there, in the garbage she did hate,

Poor Sarah met an awful fate,

That I cannot now relate

Because the hour is much too late.

But children, remember Sarah Stout

And always take the garbage out!

The Source of Strength

There are days when you feel totally exhausted. There are days when you feel like your body is in a nose dive headed for a collision with bottoming out. You feel as if you can’t take on one more job, or do one more thing, until you have had at least a weeks worth of rest.

Yesterday I was reminded about a conversation I had with a co-worker in the break room at work one day during lunch a few years ago. She was commenting on how she was so busy she was not going to do any volunteering at church this year. Apparently her church sent out a sign-up list for ministries you could sign-up to be a part of. She was determined not to sign-up for anything.

I remember thinking to myself how it would be nice to pass our ministry ‘list’ on to someone else as well. It was then that I felt the ‘gentle’ but definite jerking of the Holy Ghost. You know what I mean. The kind that says, “O really, so that’s how you feel?” It was almost instantly and really took me by surprise. I felt sudden regret.

How could I think such a thing? The ministries I was involved in at church were what kept me sane! When I can put everything else in my life on hold and do something for the Kingdom of God that is when I am at my most satisfied. It’s really amazing how it seems to work.

Lately I have been feeling almost overwhelmed with different projects and things that seemingly have to be done. There are things at church, at school, and at home that are really pulling for my attention. In fact, last night I came home from a meeting at church feeling totally drained. The whole way home and in the shower I fought with myself over even taking time to pray. Of course, I knew I had to do so, I just really didn’t want to.

When I finally did stop to pray, I was not surprised to find the strength that I had been looking for. It is so funny how much I fight my flesh to pray until I actually start praying. Once I start I hardly ever hear the clock chime or the pull of other projects that can wait to get finished. The world just seems to fall away.

A song has been in my mind recently:

“Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine / O what a fore taste of glory Devine / Heir of salvation purchased by God / I’m born of His Spirit and washed in His blood / This is my story, this is my song / Praising my Savior all the day long!”

Of all the things we do for God, nothing fulfills us like doing what we were created to do: have a relationship with our Savior. Our greatest strength comes when we are praising Him, when we are worshiping Him, and when we are spending time with Him.

HAPPY SUPER SUNDAY

The day has finally arrived! SUPER SUNDAY! Contrary to the many opinions of people I know- I can’t think of a better day for the Supper Bowl than a Sunday. Furthermore, I can’t think of a better day than the day immediately following my Birthday. (Having it the day of my Birthday might not be such a good thing because it might not get as much attention.)

I LOVE THE SUPER BOWL! That’s right. I, the author of this page, love the Super Bowl. Now for all of you who actually know me, that statement demands some explanation- especially since I really hate football.

There are many reasons to hate the game of football- not the least of which being that an actual game takes about ten hours. Where else can you see grown men bulked up with fake muscles jumping on each other and slapping each others butt all over a ball? (Kinda weird when you ask it like that!)

What really kills me, are the die hard fans. You know the ones I refer to. In fact, you might be one yourself. I am talking about those of you who refer to everything in the second person. For example: “We have played a really good game this year” and “Our offence is on fire” or “Ya’ll are going to get smeared on the grass”. As if anyone other than the actually players of the team can use this type of language.

How about the ones who have to wear and buy ANYTHING with a team name or logo? Aren’t they the stupid ones who are wasting all of their money? Somewhere someone is making BILLIONS of dollars over a giant foam finger that has a horseshoe on it. Can you imagine? Let me say that again: Billions of dollars over something as ridiculous as a giant foam finger.

As an avid fan I really enjoy those who can talk of nothing else but football as the day nears. It’s as if they are so excited about what is happening they are about to explode with anticipation. They can think or do nothing that does not involve football. It’s like a whole room of giant pimples just waiting to be POPPED! (That one may have been over the top, but I liked it!)

The new fangled fans are the ones who actually blog about the teams. (I put this one in for two people, who happen to be related, and they know who they are!)

So here it is… the big day… the Super Sunday of them all- Super Bowl Sunday! At long last the agonizing ending to endless football conversations. It is the day that heralds the beginning of the rest of American existence. For all of use who cannot stand football, it is the day of our salvation. What better day to be saved from football then Sunday?

To all of you who are similar. To all of you sometimes feel that the people around you are on the brink of falling off the deep end. Sometimes you look at them and think they just might care a little too much. Have no fear- our salvation is near! Tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday and the long awaited end to idiots making money from foam fingers and those really crazy fan blogs. Happy Super Sunday to YOU!