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Hello everyone . . . . or atleast those who have stumbled upon this page. 

Last night my wife and i played cranium with another couple after dinner.  Finally a relaxing evening . . . and the beginning of a relaxing weekend.  Did i say relaxing . . . . it was boys against girls . . . and yes the testosterone way rampant.  The women were ahead the whole game.  Factoid questions like " true or false . . .more people died from the Zeppelin crash then on the Titanic (yes some are morbid questions).  Obvious answer - False!!!  since u could quaruple the number of people who died on the Zeppelin 5 times and still have room to stow away.  There were many funny moments for instance : acting out the character "Kramer" from the T.V. show "Senfield"; trying to guess the word "lava Lamp, aas my partner was emphatically trying to gesture to me like in Charades when u can not talk.  Of course u can see the possibilities of trying to get your partner to guess volcano so that u can go to lava.  It looked more like the birthing of a butterfly or or like he was trying to swim. 

The difference this game was a turn around of events within the last 15 minutes.  All of a sudden we got hot and made it to the center of the circle only to get stuck on the yellow square for 3 turns and the final question, which of course our wonderful significant other chose, wisely, from the yellow questions again.  All in all we finished 2 turns ahead and of course the male maucho gunting and chanting ensued.  Much like a Tim the tool-man Taylor and Randy the Maco Man savage (wrestling for those of you of the older persuasion) duet, and no, we were not inebriated.  Of course after such an outbust, u finish up by eating some ice cream and drinking coffee.

At this point it iss hard to decide what the highlight of my week was.  I may need to go back to Sunday night where we we learned about the different names of God.  On of my favorite's is "Ancient of Days".  As well as "Lord our Righteousnes" and "Lord is There" and the "Lord is my Banner".  I would write them in the greek and hebrew, but i would be spelling them  phonetically, and in the process butchering them.  However some references are Hos 3:5, Ez. 30, Jer 30:9, Ez. 4:14.  Oops - one more - The Lord of Hosts (saba) commanding the armies of angels Ps. 46 and and in the garden when Jesus says if he wanted he could call down legions of angels.  I guess i will just have to deal with having a couple of good highlights and not so much narrowing it down to one.  

After much deliberation and thought . . . i do believe that this sight will be updated tonight!

After a long week with much grieving i have no more sorrow to feel.  no more weekness to show.  Hitting the point of exhaustion .  .trying to do something that i do not have control over.  Don't get me wrong, there are things we have power over.  I rule over my dog.  My car as i am driving (unless i am at Jimmy's house - we never know if the car is ok or not there).  The paperwork at work ( wait . . there is organization there?)  However, you will always find your hands tied behind your back especially going against another's will.  This has happened time and time again.  Oh well . .  .just a thought . . . . The only thing that i can possibly have control over is my mind . . .and well . . . it is a wip - work in progress.  Hmmmm . . this is turning into my diary - so i read Corinthians today ( hi doug). 1 cor where it talks about divisions . . .i am of paul  . . and i am of apollos . . . . and i am of Doug  . . .uh . .ya .. . Paul, such a man of God.  He brings unity through his teaching.  Apollos seemed to be a very intelligible orator.  In fact probably a good one.  But Paul pointed out that it was absurd to idolize preachers - intellectual conceit and pride of men.  Paul reminded them that they themselves had been chosen by God's grace not because of their wisdom or nobility.  His primary task - preaching the gospel, in the power of the Holy Spirit, not in persuasive words persuading people by his arguements. 

To quote a book we are studing right now -

"So what is your responsibility?  God has made you an ambassador of Christ.  He has given you the privaledge of being a messenger.  Don't try to impress people with your own wisdom.  That is just pride.  Instead, tell them what the Bible says.  Let the word of God flow through you. ( not yoda - remember- direct quote) Remember, you can't save them.  Only the Holy Spirit can do that.       

so there you go.  Lets try for another update a little sooner! 

Something I read today, out of The Green Letters, by Miles Stanford.

"Faith must be based upon certainty. There must be a definite knowledge of God's purpose and will.  Without that there can be no true faith.  For faith is not a force that we exercise, or a striving to believe that something shall be, thinking that if we believe hard enough it will come to pass."

This may be positive thinking, but certainly not Biblical faith.

"Faith needs facts to rest on. Presumption can take fancy instead of fact.  God in His word reveals to us the facts with which faith has to deal."

"Therefore,... real faith is always increased by opposition, while false confidence is damaged and discouraged by it."

--I Peter 1:7 "That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perisheth, though it be tried by fire, might be found unto the praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ."

George Mueller once said, "We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise before patience, to be willing to take them from God's hand as a means. I say, and say it deliberately, trials, obstacles, difficulties, and sometimes deafeats, are the very food of faith."