Thanksgiving

There was a question I saw the other day. Is there too much emphasis on God when it comes to Thanksgiving? Afterall, isn't Thanksgiving all about Family, Food and Football? People ask why so many people have to make it a holiday that God comes into the picture.

It is true, we tend to get together with more family members on that day. It is true we tend to make a rather large meal to have for the family. It is true we tend to watch, at least, a little more football on that day. Thanksgiving is always reserved to watch the ultimate turkey, the Detroit Lions, play football.

I am sure the pilgrims did not say about that the first meal of thanks, "Hey lets have the first annual festive dinner and we can call it Thanksgiving". They actually were thankful that they lived through the trip across the Atlantic, they got through a harsh winter and could begin a new life in a new land. They left their homes to worship God. they left a land they could not openly worship God. They actually were thankful, uh,er to God.

I am glad we have Thanksgiving. I am glad we take extra care to thank God for the blessings He gives us. I am glad those Christians put too much emphasis on God during this time of year.

Good Bye Soupy

The flag at The Spales Swoy is at half mast today. Soupy Sales died last night. There will never be another like Soupy. Fun, Frolic and wisdom shared that all shouldlive by. Good bye Soupy, Pookie, White Fang, Black Tooth and I will miss you greatly. I will never forget the advice he gave, such as.. Don't bite your nails, especially if you are a carpenter.

Reminders From The Past

I was looking through some old papers yesterday and came across my dad's birth certificate and the program from his memorial service. The service was held at the Falconer Funneral Home. The following was poem was on the program. I thought it has so much meaning even now as I am going through a not-so-high point in my life. It is just a reminder that I have an advantage, even now, over those who do not know God, that I do have the faith that God will provide for my every need. I am thankful I have friends and a wife from heaven to remind me of that each day.

Here is the poem:
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not not promised sun without rain,
joy without sorrow, peace without pain.

But God hath promised strength for the day,
rest for the labor, light for the way,
grace for the trials, help fromabove,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love...

WHAT? I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE

One thing about this social network thing is that it allows you to find old friends. After a special friend from high school saw my last entry, she wrote to give me support and words of hope. Here is some of what she wrote....

It used to be easier for me when my kids were young and I literally had no money. My husband at that time made $4000.00 one year and $4500.00 another and I think $5000.00 another. He got us through at every turn and honestly, we didn’t feel poor because we had all of our needs met and the kids never lacked for anything. Now we are both working and I struggle daily to live within my means to get out from under a tremendous amount of debt. The three principles of God are to tithe, give offerings, and live within your means. He says in Malachi that if we will bring in our tithes and offerings into the house of God he will open a window and pour out a blessing that will overtake us. That is paraphrased of course, but that is the jest of it. Sometimes it is so hard to make that choice, but I am trying. I think that you will see Him move in a mighty way in your circumstances over the next six months and however long it will take because you have no choice but to trust in Him. Aren’t you glad we have someone to trust like that? We don’t have to despair like those that don’t know Christ, even though it is hard for us sometimes to trust, we ultimately know that we are not alone in this. The harder part comes when we are not lacking. Sometimes it is harder to look to heaven.
Anyway just my thoughts on your heartfelt writing. I pray for the best for you Greg, you will always have a special place in my heart.

Thanks to my friend Darla for those words. I wonder how many others are facing, either not enough or, more importantly, too much. Either way, we do need to depend on God.

NOW COMES THE TEST

The last day of administrative leave. The slim possibility of finding another position has taken reducing pills, the pipe dream of a chance to be placed on from the rehire list has been stopped up and the many resumes sent out to any other employer have been sent with, lets call it, not much response. All the waiting is over.
Now that the door to ASU is all but closed, I can barely see light at throughthe bottom of the door, it is time to really see if i am faithful in allowing God to provide. Lets see if I stay selfish and think I can do things on my own or really trust Him to get us through this season. I can not begin to share all the good things and the many blessings that have come our way in the past six months. So the question I never can answer is this.. If God has done so many great things for us in the past six months, why cant I trust Him to do even greater things as I surrender. Now the real test comes.

GALATIAN 6:2

It is oe of the toughest things to do as a Christian. Trusting someone else with your thoughts, hurts and burdens. We just have been burned so many times that we find it so hard to trust another, even if they go to the same church as us.

This is what I gathered from what Cal shared Friday night.
GALATIANS 6:2

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.


CARRY EACH OTHER

KNOW WHAT WEIGHS US DOWN

WE NEED TO SHARE WHAT WEIGHS US DOWN

WE NEED TO TRUST EACH OTHER TO SHARE WHAT WEIGHS US DOWN

FOR ME TO TRUST YOU, I MUST GET TO KNOW YOU

TO GET TO KNOW YOU, WE NEED TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER

BY SPENDING TIME, WE CAN LEARN TO TRUST EACH OTHER AND THEN I CAN LET YOU KNOW ME AND I CAN TRUST YOU SO I FEEL COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO SHARE…..
WHAT WEIGHS ME DOWN AND YOU CAN…..
CARRY MY BURDENS.

I think it is a cool thing when we get that close to be able to ALLOW someone else carry our burdens.

STOP ME IF YOU HAVE HEARD THIS ONE BEFORE.....

A guy walks into an interview. Feels good about what is discussed and leaves pleased with how it went. A few days later, a member of the search committee calls the guy to tell him he did great. They really liked him. However, their boss tells them he wants to change the title of the position and to do new interviews. Now, our man probably will not qualify for the new job title even though they wanted him to do the job with any title attached. So, he probably will nt be called to be re-interviewed for the job he was almost chosen for in the first interview.
I really dont know what to tell this guy. He and I spent 20 years watching the Cardinals come away with so many "moral victories" only to lose the game. I guess that is a start.