| November Post: Radical! Yeah, It's me! A friend is having his rugs cleaned ,I'm off work and he has HIGH SPEED so , I can look at other great photogs and post some thoughts.
After one year and 2 months with no back issues, I got cocky and swung the axe for too long and tweaked my back for the last 2 weeks.(hence no October post) Our relaxing Tahoe vacation was relaxing, as I could do nothing but ice my back and lay on the floor. I watched more TV in those last 6 days than I have in the last 5 years! College football, a Star Trek episode from the 80's, TONS of political ads and weather reports. Exciting huh? Photo biz has wound down(with the economy) I should start posting more now that I, seemingly, have some more time. In case you didn't know, I love firewood. I love splitting it, stacking it, burning it. You can also see on www.xanga.com/mommyfish, how I almost crippled my wife with a wood wedge! We have about 4 cords of wood to be split and stacked for next season. Any of you who need a practical workout and the satisfaction of helping a semi-crippled older man(me!) come out for some country fun! Tommy's shoulder is healing after his bike accident, and Nancy is still the awesome love of my life, fully intact and welds a mean wheelbarrow! Want to know why Jesus rocks? Check out Foxe's Book of Martyrs. Who has changed lives so radically,That they would gleefully and confidently go to their death than deny their Christian faith.? Read what Constantine did. Constantine was the good and virtuous child of a good and virtuous father, born in Britain. His mother was named Helena, daughter of King Coilus. He was a most bountiful and gracious prince, having a desire to nourish learning and good arts, and did oftentimes use to read, write, and study himself. He had marvellous good success and prosperous achieving of all things he took in hand, which then was (and truly) supposed to proceed of this, for that he was so great a favorer of the Christian faith. Which faith when he had once embraced, he did ever after most devoutly and religiously reverence. Thus Constantine, sufficiently appointed with strength of men but especially with strength of God, entered his journey coming towards Italy, which was about the last year of the persecution, A.D. 313. Maxentius, understanding of the coming of Constantine, and trusting more to his devilish art of magic than to the good will of his subjects, which he little deserved, durst not show himself out of the city, nor encounter him in the open field, but with privy garrisons laid wait for him by the way in sundry straits, as he should come; with whom Constantine had divers skirmishes, and by the power of the Lord did ever vanquish them and put them to flight. Notwithstanding, Constantine yet was in no great comfort, but in great care and dread in his mind (approaching now near unto Rome) for the magical charms and sorceries of Maxentius, wherewith he had vanquished before Severus, sent by Galerius against him. Wherefore, being in great doubt and perplexity in himself, and revolving many things in his mind, what help he might have against the operations of his charming, Constantine, in his journey drawing toward the city, and casting up his eyes many times to heaven, in the south part, about the going down of the sun, saw a great brightness in heaven, appearing in the similitude of a cross, giving this inscription, In hoc vince, that is, "In this overcome." Eusebius Pamphilus doth witness that he had heard the said Constantine himself oftentimes report, and also to swear this to be true and certain, which he did see with his own eyes in heaven, and also his soldiers about him. At the sight whereof when he was greatly astonished, and consulting with his men upon the meaning thereof, behold, in the night season in his sleep, Christ appeared to him with the sign of the same cross which he had seen before, bidding him to make the figuration thereof, and to carry it in his wars before him, and so should we have the victory. Constantine so established the peace of the Church that for the space of a thousand years we read of no set persecution against the Christians, unto the time of John Wickliffe. So happy, so glorious was this victory of Constantine, surnamed the Great! For the joy and gladness whereof, the citizens who had sent for him before, with exceeding triumph brought him into the city of Rome, where he was most honorably received, and celebrated the space of seven days together; having, moreover, in the market place, his image set up, holding in his right hand the sign of the cross, with this inscription: "With this wholesome sign, the true token of fortitude, I have rescued and delivered our city from the yoke of the tyrant." Page 48 states: Constantine, with Licinius, set forth their general proclaimation NOT constraining any man to any religion, but giving liberty to all men, for Christians and for other men freely to adjoin with them. The Believers of the first 300 yrs. were cruelly tortured just for believing and NOT denying Jesus. I want to have the same confidence and to proclaim Him. Good luck president elect Obama, but true CHANGE can only happen with the UNCHANGING gospel of Jesus. |
