Bug's Bleat - - GCF: Indian Scout

Volume 7, Issue 43 Friday, October 28, 2005

Hello All,

One of my favorite stories is when my cousin Polly was sitting in the Teacher's break room while her co-workers discussed the abuse they'd suffered as children.

Polly spoke up and said; "I feel very fortunate. I grew up in a close family and my aunts, uncles and cousins all lived close. We didn't know anything about abuse. In fact, I was an adult before I ever heard of such."

He coworkers sat there stunned. Then one of them whispered; "It must have been so horrible that she's blocked it out of her mind."

Now, I know many who grew up in what we'd call "rough" childhoods. And, I sure don’t want to minimize the horrors of abuse.

But the fact is that we had the privilege of growing up in a family that loved us.

My cousins and I played up and down West Hearn Street in Taylor, bathed in the love of our parents and extended family. How can I ever look back without feeling grateful? How can I ever look forward without feeling optimistic?

No matter what happens, I've read the end of the book and we win.
~~~~~
With hurricanes, tornados, flooding and severe t-storms tearing up the country from one end to another, the quote of the month is from Jay Leno:
"Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"
Thanks to Norma Kay & Daphne
Who knew Jay Leno could be so profound?
~~~~~
Speaking of taking God out, Harriet Ellan Miers asked President Bush to withdraw her nomination for the Supreme Court. Miers was attacked as being unqualified, a Presidential crony, and too much of a cipher. I really think this was a GIANT mistake on the part of Christians who failed to support the President’s choice.
Why? Well, President Bush is a Christian who’s known and worked with this lady for years. Do you really think he didn’t know what kind of Supreme Court Justice she’d make? I think we missed a great opportunity to fill that vacancy with a born again believer.
~~~~~
Central Baptist Church is again the relay station for Operation Christmas Child. Shoeboxes may be dropped off at the church activity building 9 to 5 Monday - Friday, 9 to noon on Saturday and 1 to 5 on Sundays. For details go to http://www.samaritanspurse.org/OCC_Index.asp
~~~~~
Two fans have encouraged us to see "Serenity" the "sleeper" Sci-Fi hit. So I've got it reserved on Netflix. I'd appreciate any reviews y’all could share.
~~~~~
This weekend were enjoying “Hondo” John Wayne’s classic 1953 Western staring Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, and James Arness among others. This movie has been out of sight for years, held close by Wayne’s family. Half-breed Hondo, companioned only by an antisocial dog, tends to be more sympathetic toward the Apaches than toward the white society he occasionally scouts for. He falls into uneasy friendship with a New Mexico farm woman (Geraldine Page) whose son (Lee Aaker) is blood brother to the local Apache chieftain. A good, spare frontier tale--Louis L'Amour via James Edward (Angel and the Badman) Grant--in which danger and solace come in unexpected ways. It was always one of my favorites and watching it now is a real pleasure.
~~~~~
Columbia Sewing Company of Magnolia has been awarded a $2.9 million contract to produce 120,000 Iraqi National Guard uniforms.
The Press Release quoted in the Banner News said that Columbia Sewing began seeking government contracts after customers such as Bass Pro Shops and Cabelas moved their purchases to China. With the help of U.S. Rep Mike Ross, they got this contract and will add 20 to their current work force of 143 in Magnolia and Hope.
~~~~~
I don’t believe in isolationism but I do believe in level playing fields. Unfortunately, the levelizing is going in the wrong direction. Instead of lifting up the countries overseas, companies who want to compete have been lowering their standards in a misguided effort to meet the low price of overseas labor.
How can we compete against companies who use labor as a easily replaceable resource? If welders in India or China burn their eyes out, there are plenty more where those came from. Not to mention that these countries have few, if any, environmental laws.

But instead of supporting our hard won standards, we’re shipping jobs overseas. And I’m not talking about the CEOs. I’m talking about all of us who purchase cheap products produced by people in sweat shops overseas.
Just a few years ago, there would have been an uproar but today, there’s nary a whimper.
Maybe it’s time you looked at the label on your possessions. If they were all made overseas, whom are you supporting?
~~~~~
Arkansas Commissioner of Education, Ken James, announced Thursday that Waldo will go on the consolidation list on January 1 because they fall below the 350 student enrollment requirement.
Waldo is seeking a merger with the Magnolia School District.
~~~~~
The current U.S. schedule for Daylight Saving Time changes:
2005: DST begins April 3, ends October 30
2006: DST begins April 2, ends October 29
2006: DST begins March 11, ends November 4
Thanks to Terry's Computer Tips. blog: http://www.TheNextWindow.com main website: http://www.TerryStockdale.com tips and newsletter site: http://www.TerrysComputerTips.com All websites and my newsletter are hosted at Powweb.
~~~~~
A word from one of our favorite missionaries in Tanzania; Today my spirit-filled Masai guard was taken by surprise when some people tried to enter our property. He got a huge stick and fiercely chased them all away. And later we got a huge belly laugh when we discovered he had chased away the electric company. Ha!
Love you all Paul
~~~~~
It’s never too early to start making your Christmas list. I’m going to keep this one running here for the benefit of my family.

1 Gig USB Key
GPS
$49 office chair from SAMS (5 of them)
AA Batteries
9 volt batteries
AAA Batteries
Digital Video Recorder (Pioneer DVR-533H-S $333 at Beach Camera)
VHS - DVD Recorder (Lite-On LVC-9006 $219 @ Buy.com)
Rechargeable Batteries for the following “Ham” radios: Kenwood TH-22-AT (9.6 volts, 600 mAh battery, 2 each (for our two radios)), Yaesu FT-50 (it takes a FNB-83 7.2V1400mAh battery), Yaesu, VX-1 (it takes a FNB-52LI 3.6V 700mAh Lithium-Ion battery).
New “Rubber Ducky” antennas for the following “Ham” radios: Kenwood TH-22-AT (two radios)


This will grow as the season approaches.
~~~~~
Cancer myths

Misinformation is infectious. And when it comes to the causes of cancer, there is no exception. From cell phones to grilled meats to bug spray, the myths surrounding the causes of the disease seem to be everywhere. These myths are enough to drive anyone to the brink of paranoia. So what's real and what's myth?
The Discovery Health Channel and Prevention Magazine, in conjunction with the American Cancer Society, polled 1,000 adults to uncover the most common myths surrounding cancer. We've taken the 10 most popular misconceptions and asked Dr. Ted Gansler, director of medical content at the American Cancer Society, to lay out the facts. Find out where they originated and if there is any truth behind them.
cancer myths
Cancer Myth 10 .-. What someone does as a young adult has little impact on their chances of getting cancer later in life.
Cancer Myth 9 .-. There is currently a cure for cancer, but the medical industry won't tell the public about it because they make too much money treating cancer patients.
Cancer Myth 8 .-. Electronic devices, like cell phones, can cause cancer in the people who use them.
Cancer Myth 7 .-. Some injuries can cause cancer later in life.
Cancer Myth 6 .-. Living in a polluted city is a greater risk for lung cancer than smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.
Cancer Myth 5 .-. Treating cancer with surgery causes it to spread throughout the body.
Cancer Myth 4 .-. Household bug spray can cause cancer.
Cancer Myth 3 .-. You can prevent skin cancer by putting on one application of sun screen at the start of each day.
Cancer Myth 2 .-. Regularly eating meat cooked on a charcoal grill won't increase cancer risk.
Cancer Myth 1 .-. The risk of dying from cancer in the United States is increasing.
Copyright © 2005 Discovery Communications Inc.
~~~~~
RELAY FOR LIFE - HALLOWEEN BAKE SALE - MONDAY, 10/31
~~~~~
Don't forget ... "Da Bleat" is now on the web. Just go to http://bugsbleat4q.blogspot.com
~~~~~
Feel free to share the "Bleat" with any and all. That's why we publish it.
~~~~~
We received this update from Patty Clary; "I now have a new job...I have gone to work for Community Hospice. Community Hospice is part of the Share Foundation in El Dorado. It is a coordinated home-care program for terminally ill patients and their families. I am saying every day "this job is just to good to be true"
The service I have seen given to the terminally ill and their families over this past month and been so rewarding.
I am also available for public speaking on this program to let the good folks of Columbia know just what we have to offer. The good news is no one every gets a bill!!!! Sound too good to be true???? Well trust me, it is all true. I can be reached at 870.904.6885."
~~~~~
www.aaa.com Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current Avg. $2.552 $2.709 $2.809 $3.169
http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/
Wal-Mart in Texarkana is selling Regular for $2.15
~~~~~
Recipe(s) of the week - Bronco Bob's Chili - - Recipe courtesy Robert Wetzel

Recipe Summary

Difficulty: Easy
Prep Time: 12 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
Yield: about 2 quarts



1 cup chopped onion
1 canned green hatch Chile, chopped
1 tablespoon minced garlic
½ cup tomato sauce (recommended: El Patio brand)
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 (14-ounce) cans chicken broth, divided
8 tablespoons California chili powder, divided (recommended: Sespe Creek Chili Potters)
2 teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoons adobo seasoning blend, divided (recommended: Accent)
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
2 ½ pounds beef tri tip, cubed
4 ounces pork sausage
2 tablespoons mild New Mexico chili powder (recommended: Sespe Creek Chili Potters)
3 tablespoons cumin, divided
1 tablespoon hot New Mexico chili powder (recommended: Sespe Creek Chili Potters)
2 teaspoons lime juice


In a chili pot, combine onion, green Chile, garlic, tomato sauce, tomato paste, chicken broth, 6 tablespoons California chili powder, salt, 1 teaspoon adobo seasoning blend, and hot pepper sauce. Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook for 1 hour. After chili has simmered for 1 hour, add the remaining 2 tablespoons California chili powder.

In a large skillet, brown beef and sausage together over medium-high heat. Add beef and sausage to chili and simmer for 30 minutes, adding more chicken broth as needed. Add the mild New Mexico chili powder and 2 tablespoons cumin and simmer another 45 minutes. Add the remaining ½ teaspoon adobo seasoning blend, 1 tablespoon cumin, 1 tablespoon hot New Mexico chili powder, and the lime juice. Cook for another 30 minutes, adding more chicken broth as needed. Season with additional salt, to taste.

Zest factor: medium hot

A viewer, who may not be a professional cook, provided this recipe. The Food Network Kitchens chefs have not tested this recipe and therefore, we cannot make representation as to the results.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_28346,00.html
~~~~~
BreakPoint - With Chuck Colson - - October 28, 2005 - - Casting a Spell - - The Appeal of Wicca

On Halloween night, and in Salem, Massachusetts, revelers gather at Gallows Hill, the site of the infamous witch hangings of 1692. Today—three centuries later—modern witches arrange an altar, form a circle, and begin to chant.

“Hear us, O great Goddess! Thou Great Mother whom we adore, grant us our passions,” one woman shouts. Four hundred witches then join in. They link arms and dance to the beat of drums, as wide-eyed sightseers watch.

Welcome to witchcraft, twenty-first century style.

It’s not just on Halloween that witches come out. Wicca has become hugely popular in recent years, attracting hundreds of thousands of young people. Our culture drives this interest through TV shows like Charmed, about three witch sisters, and through films like The Craft and Bewitched. Many teen novels now feature witchcraft themes. Even pre-teens can get into the act through summer witch camps. The Internet makes it easy to seek out more information—or contact other witches across the country. And Wicca has been mainstreamed, with the military appointing Wiccan chaplains.

In her new book, titled Wicca’s Charm, Christian journalist Catherine Edwards Sanders writes that Wiccans and other neo-Pagans draw on a range of symbols and rituals to create a personal spirituality. Most hold the pantheistic belief that all living things are of equal value. They believe that humans possess divine power unlimited by any deity, and that consciousness can be altered through the practice of rite and ritual. They believe that through the casting of spells, they can tap into the power and energy of the spirit world.

And shockingly, reports Sanders, many Wiccans grew up in Christian homes. Good grief! What was it about Christianity that led these folks to reject it in favor of such bizarre beliefs?

Spending a year talking with Wiccans all over America, Sanders discovered that many feel that Christianity, as practiced in the twenty-first century, failed them. For example, many Wiccans care deeply about the environment and believe that the Church has largely ignored the command to care for God’s creation.

Second, women who embrace Wicca say that in churches, all too often, their gifts were confined to teaching Sunday school and making coffee. So they came to believe that Christianity was a patriarchal religion that demeaned the status of women.

Third, the followers of Wicca say that they are looking for a spirituality that is real. In their religious practice, they want to feel that a supernatural transition is going on. According to the book Wicca’s Charm, spiritual seekers “not only want to know things intellectually; they also want to supernaturally sense spiritual truth.” When churches ignore the reality of an unseen world or focus only on this world, the author warns, they lose people to alternative religions that do offer supernatural experiences. For many, “Wicca’s emphasis on magic and altered consciousness fits the bill.”

Clearly, Christians must lovingly reach out to neighbors who practice witchcraft. But what do you say and do if you actually run into a witch? Read “BreakPoint” on Monday, Halloween, and learn how to witness to those lost in Wicca—to show them that the only way in which their spiritual hunger can be fed is not through casting spells, but through a relationship with Christ.

For further reading and information:

Today’s BreakPoint offer: Shop early for Christmas! Get a friend or family member a gift subscription to BreakPoint WorldView magazine! Call 1-877-322-5527.

Catherine Edwards Sanders, Wicca’s Charm: Understanding the Spiritual Hunger behind the Rise of Modern Witchcraft and Pagan Spirituality (Shaw Books, 2005).

Anastazia Skolnitsky, review of Wicca’s Charm, Townhall.com, 19 September 2005.

Matt Newton, “The Wiccan way of Halloween,” Herald-Mail (Hagerstown, Md.), 25 October 2005.

Kim Lyons, “Wiccans turn witch myths upside down,” Pittsburgh Tribune, 18 October 2005.

Cathleen Wereszynski, “Wicca Casts Spell over College Students,” FOX News, 12 December 2002.

Andrew Stuttaford, “Strange Brew,” National Review, 12 July 1999.

Lauren Winner, “How My Pentacle Pointed to God,” Boundless, 29 September 2005.

Roberto Rivera y Carlo, “Pagan Chic,” Boundless, 2002/03.

John Fischer, “Home for Halloween,” BreakPoint Online, 31 October 2003.
~
Americans Seeking Witchcraft
(For a Reason You Might Not Expect)

By Catherine Edwards Sanders

In early October, former Clinton pollster, Dick Morris wrote a column about how the issue of environmentalism, long consigned to the sidelines, was about to take center stage in American politics. And, he said, politicians—especially Republicans—had better take notice lest they be caught flat-footed.

Morris delineates three reasons why average Americans will soon be demanding a coherent environmental policy from their candidates running for office: Rising gasoline prices, oil and home-heating fuel costs make looking for alternative fuel seem necessary; hurricanes like Katrina and Rita make Americans worry seriously about global warming; and the global focus on terrorism and the need for oil from the most volatile region for terrorists—the Middle East—makes Americans want to reduce a reliance on oil.

While politicians will hash things out on the national level, many Christian legislators might be surprised to learn that environmental issues have long been one reason why spiritual seekers leave the Church and embrace Pagan witchcraft, or Wicca.

I spent a year traveling the country interviewing Wiccans and Pagans for my book, Wicca’s Charm: Understanding the Spiritual Hunger behind the Rise of Modern Witchcraft and Pagan Spirituality and found that witchcraft in America is not relegated to dress-up at Halloween or scary movies anymore

The Covenant of the Goddess, the nation’s largest organization of Wiccans and Pagans, estimates from its polling that there are almost 800,000 Wiccans and Pagans in America, although academic research puts that number a little lower, at 150,000. Nonetheless, hundreds of thousands of Americans doing anything should get our attention, especially since Harvard University lists more than one hundred Wiccan and Pagan groups on college campuses nationwide. Wicca was declared a religion by a U.S. Appeals Court in 1986, and some universities now allow Wiccan students to take their holidays in the same way Jewish students celebrate Yom Kippur and Christians celebrates Christmas.

Wicca, or modern witchcraft, is a modern pagan, earth-based religion with a philosophical lineage in pre-Christian paganism. Wiccans are generally pantheistic or polytheistic and believe in a Divinity expressed in nature as having both masculine and feminine aspects—in other words, they believe in a God and a Goddess as twin halves of the Divine. Wiccans believe in the manipulation of the supernatural through rite, ritual, and spell-casting.

Since Wiccans essentially deify the earth, a key element of Wicca is having a positive impact on the environment. Wiccans have become active in environmental circles, and I discovered that many Wiccans had been spiritual seekers or raised as Christians but felt that the Church had little to say about the care of the environment. Many felt that conservative Christians were downright hostile to the issue. Wiccans view Christianity as the oppressor religion, whose followers care only about saving souls, while paying scant attention to stewarding our planet’s resources. When considering American evangelicalism, the question that troubled me was: Are they right? Has the Church engaged the culture on this issue?

While I was researching my book, I came across a story in the Los Angeles Times.

It described an incident where a group of Wiccans in Orange County had woken up early to welcome the sunrise with a ritual on Midsummer’s Day.

They had set up in an empty parking lot, and events were peacefully underway when a group of Christians surrounded the group with their cars. One gentleman blasted loud Christian rock music out of his SUV car stereo and called on the Wiccans to repent. Unfortunately, the very fact that Christians were driving gas-guzzling SUVs would have been the first turn-off to these earth-loving people, plus it is simply rude to blare loud music at anyone early in the morning. The Wiccans complained, and the event came to be known locally as “Wiccagate.”

“Wiccagate” only reinforced the stereotypes Wiccans have of Christians as being completely unconcerned with caring for the environment. In thinking about this, I had to admit that I couldn’t remember many sermons about creation care. But if this lack of attention is turning people away from Christianity toward witchcraft, should we not take notice? As Christians, don’t we have a responsibility to care for creation? What does Scripture say about this?

The Bible tells of a God who delights in the act of creation, makes humanity from dust, and has a covenant with earth itself. In the ultimate act of solidarity with His creation, God takes on material, earthly flesh, undergoes a bodily resurrection, and promises renewed heavens and earth. In his letter to the Colossians, Paul says that through His Son’s sacrificial death on the cross, God brought back to Himself all things both on earth and in heaven. In Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis writes that there are “strange, exciting hints in the Bible that once we are drawn in, a great many other things in Nature will begin to come right.” In Romans 8, Paul talks about creation groaning and waiting to be set free from its slavery to decay that it too would share the glorious freedom of the children of God. God cares about creation, and we ought to as well.

But do Christians need to be involved in the politics of this? Some will be called to craft policy. But the rest of us should consider what this might mean for us in our daily lives. Christians themselves are the only Bible many people will ever read, says British evangelist J. John. Christians who can speak authentically and thoughtfully on environmental matters will be noticed.

One group that carefully considers these issues from a Christian perspective is a Christian conservation group called A Rocha, which means “The Rock” in Portuguese. Started by an evangelical British vicar named Peter Harris in the 1980s, A Rocha is committed to recovering a biblical approach to the study and care of creation. Its first project was a field studies center and bird sanctuary on Portugal’s Algarve coast. Since then, A Rocha’s work has expanded to Lebanon, Kenya, Canada, United States, England, and other countries. Members are motivated by their biblical faith and by God as Creator to focus on the conservation of God’s planet through the scientific study of plant and animal life. A Rocha seeks to work with the local community to balance its needs with sound conservation. All scientists, students, and conservationists who live and work at the project live in community with one another, sharing much of what they have.

It doesn’t take much to care for creation and begin to be good stewards of God’s resources. Simple projects like Sunday school lessons or working to restore a local wilderness area are small things we can do. Unlike Wiccans, we don’t have to worship creation to care for it.

During my travels, I met a young woman, who was a college senior and member of her university’s Pagan club. She was raised by dedicated Baptist parents and baptized at age 14. But she had a deep concern and love for nature that simply wasn’t shared by her fellow congregants, and no one ever explained to her the biblical view of creation stewardship. She found witchcraft in college, eventually embraced Druidism, majored in wildlife conservation, and hasn’t looked back.

Whether or not environmentalism takes center stage in national politics, as Dick Morris predicts, Wicca will continue to grow as people seek an “earth-friendly” religion. Christians should be able to articulate what our God says on the matter.

Catherine Edwards Sanders is the author of Wicca’s Charm: Understanding the Spiritual Hunger behind the Rise of Modern Witchcraft and Pagan Spirituality (WaterBrook Press/Shaw Books September 2005).

http://www.pfm.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=BreakPoint1
The BreakPoint Web site and BreakPoint WorldView Magazine feature Colson’s commentaries as well as feature articles by other established and up-and-coming writers to equip readers with a biblical perspective on a variety of issues and topics.
© 2004 Prison Fellowship.
~~~~~
Words of the Week:

umbrage: offense; resentment.
orotund: full in sound; also, bombastic.
loquacious: very talkative.
bruit: to report; to noise abroad.
virago: an ill-tempered, overbearing woman; also, a woman of great strength and courage.
mawkish: sickly or excessively sentimental.
malediction: a curse.

from Dictionary.Com
~~~~~
"I am so convinced of the advantages of looking at mankind instead of reading about them, and of the bitter effects of staying at home with all the narrow prejudices of an Islander, that I think there should be a law amongst us to set our young men abroad for a term among the few allies our wars have left us." - Lord Byron

"Money often costs too much." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Iron rusts from disuse, stagnant water loses its purity, and in cold weather becomes frozen, even so does inaction sap the vigors of the mind." - Leonardo Da Vinci

"When you have nothing to say, say nothing." - Charles Caleb Colton

"Is the relinquishment of the trial by jury and the liberty of the press necessary for your liberty? Will the abandonment of your most sacred rights tend to the security of your liberty? Liberty, the greatest of all earthly blessings - give us that precious jewel, and you may take every thing else!… Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect every one who approaches that jewel." - Patrick Henry

"To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous." - Confucius

"Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just recognize them." - Edward R. Murrow

"You lose it if you talk about it." - Ernest Hemingway
~~~~~
"We can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough." - Helen Keller (1880-1968)

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GCF: Indian Scout

Emailed to me from another humor list (Cascade Express E-zine) -Tom
To subscribe to Cascade Express E-zine, send a blank email to:
Cascade_Express-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

If this was forwarded to you, please consider your own subscription to Good Clean Fun. It's free! A smile will enhance the quality of your life. Just send an email to: good-clean-fun-subscribe@egroups.com or visit the Good Clean Fun web site http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor/ UNSUBSCRIBE INFO for Good Clean Fun is at the end of this email. This email was scanned by Norton AntiVirus 2005 before it was sent.
-----------------------------------

An old Wild West fort is about to be attacked. The wily old General sends for his trusty Indian Scout. "You must use all your years of skill in trying to estimate the sort of army we are up against here."

The trusty Indian Scout laid down and put his ear to the ground... "Large war party," he says, "maybe three hundred braves, four chiefs, two on black stallions, two on white stallions. All have war paint ... many, many guns. Medicine man also with them."

"Good grief!" exclaims the General, "you can tell all of that just by listening to the ground???"

"No, General," replied the Scout, "I can see under the gate."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Fire Test

Emailed to me another humor list (Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh List) -Tom
Subscribe to Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh list at the website:
Subscribe
-----------------------------------

Joey and his classmates had just finished a tour of the local fire hall.

Before each student could leave, the fire chief quizzed him.

The fire chief asked little Joey, "What do you do if your clothes catch on fire?"

Joey replied promptly, "I don't put them on."
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: How Important?

Emailed to me by a friend (Thanks, Anelia) -Tom
-----------------------------------

I was watching a British detective story on TV. The local group was gathering in their hunting best for a fox hunt. In the opening scene my 9 year old daughter wanted to know what the people were doing, noticing the formal hunting outfits and well groomed horses. I replied that they were looking for a fox. There was a short stunned silence and then she asked: "Is it a very important fox?"
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Nutrition

Emailed to me from another humor list (Marty's Joke of the Day) -Tom
To subscribe to Marty's Joke of the Day, send a blank email to:
martysjotd-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
(Attributed there to Jay Leno)
-----------------------------------

According to a recent article I just read on nutrition, they said eating right doesn't have to be complicated. Nutritionists say there is a simple way to tell if you're eating right. Colors. Fill your plates with bright colors. Greens, reds, yellows. In fact, I did that this morning. I had an entire bowl of M&M's. It was delicious! I never knew eating right could be so easy.
_ ____________________________ _

GCF: Water Hazard

Emailed to me from another humor list (Marty's Joke of the Day) -Tom
To subscribe to Marty's Joke of the Day, send a blank email to:
martysjotd-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
-----------------------------------

A buddy and I were golfing one afternoon and getting somewhat bored with the round; so when we came upon the water hazard with two ducks sitting quietly on the water, I bet him ten bucks he couldn't hit a duck and five dollars he couldn't even get one to move. Being a guy, he took the bet. He launched four tee shots toward the ducks, & even threw two by hand, & the ducks still wouldn't budge. Only after he lost six golf balls did he realize the ducks were decoys.
_ ____________________________ _
/ )| Thomas S. Ellsworth |( / / | tellswor@slonet.org | \ _( (_ | http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor | _) )_
(((\ \>|_/ )_____________________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Junk: stuff we throw away. \ /
\ _/ \_ /
/ / Stuff: junk we keep. \ (((\ \>|_/ )_____________________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / If a parsley farmer is sued, \ /
\ _/ can they garnish his wages? \_ /
/ / \ (((\ \>|_/ )_____________________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Someday, we may discover how \ /
\ _/ to make a magnet that \_ /
/ / can point in all directions. \ (((\ \>|_/ )_____________________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / If a book about failures \ /
\ _/ doesn't sell, \_ /
/ / is it a success? \ (((\ \>|_/ )_____________________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
\ / Why do they lock gas station \ /
\ _/ bathrooms? Are they afraid \_ /
/ / someone may clean them? \ _ ____________________________ _
/ )| Thomas S. Ellsworth |( / / | tellswor@slonet.org | \ _( (_ | http://www.slonet.org/~tellswor | _) )_
(((\ \>|_/ )_______________________( \_| \\\\ \_/ / \ \_/ ////
_ ____________________________ _
(((\ \>|_/ )_______________________( \_|Stop for a visit, leave with a smile! To join Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-subscribe@yahoogroups.Com To leave Good Clean Fun, email: good-clean-fun-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.Com Or visit the Good Clean Fun web site at http://www. slonet.org/~tellswor/
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[GCFL.net] Operating Procedure

A family was on its way to the hospital where the 16-year-old daughter was scheduled to undergo a tonsillectomy. During the ride, the teenager and her parents talked about how the procedure would be performed.

"Dad," the teenager asked, "how are they going to keep my mouth open during the surgery?"

Without hesitation, he said, "They're going to give you a phone."

Received from L. Scott Brooksby.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Wrinkles

My wife and are approaching our 76th birthdays, and for the most part, we feel fine. A few weeks ago we had just gotten into bed when I noticed my wife taking an extra amount of time smoothing out her nightgown, then pulling up the covers and smoothing them out, and then finally going to work smoothing out her pillow. After watching all this activity for a while, I finally asked, "What are you doing?"

"Well," she replied, "I don't like to sleep on wrinkles."

"Ha!" I replied. "At our age, how can you avoid it?"

Received from Max Jerman.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Perfect Matches (Some real groaners)

1. He's a chiropractor, and she is a pain in the neck.
2. He's a funny old goat, and she's a great kidder.
3. He doesn't have a dollar, and she has no sense.
4. He sells balloons for a living, and she's full of hot air.
5. He's bow-legged, and she's as straight as an arrow.
6. She's a math teacher, and he's a guy with a lot of problems.

Received from Larry Sourbeer.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Mr. Toad

On my four-year-old daughter's first trip to Disneyland, she couldn't wait to get on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. As the car zoomed through the crazy rooms, into the path of a speeding train, and through walls that fell away at the last second, she clutched the little steering wheel in front of her.

When the ride was over, she said to me a little shakily, "Next time, you drive. I didn't know where I was going."

Received from Steve Sanderson.

(-:][:-)

[GCFL.net] Day Off From School (Almost)

On Monday a call came in to the school receptionist. "Hello, please mark William absent today," said the man.

"Why?" asked the receptionist.

"He is sick," said the man.

"Ok, may I ask who is speaking?" asked the receptionist.

"My uncle," said William.

Received from CleanLaugh.

(-:][:-)

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– NEW! Go to http://www.gcfl.net/archive.php?funny=20050124 to rate this funny from 0 to 5.
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Brought to you by GCFL.net: The Good, Clean Funnies List "A cheerful heart is good medicine!" (Prov 17:22a) Go to http://gcfl.net/mlfrontend.php to change your subscription options or unsubscribe. To email this funny to a friend, go to http://gcfl.net/emailit.php?funny=20050107 The latest GCFL funny can always be found on the web at http://gcfl.net/latest.php
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Welcome to You Make Me Laugh, a free newsletter from Crosswalk.com, the world's largest Christian website.
Today's Clean Laugh

Honeymoon Toast

One of my daughter's wedding presents was a toaster oven. Soon after the honeymoon, she and her husband tried it out. Almost immediately, smoke billowed out of the toaster.

"Get the owner's manual!" my daughter's husband shouted.

"I can't find it anywhere!" cried my daughter a short time later.

"Oops!" came a voice from the kitchen. "Well, the toast is fine, but the owner's manual's burned to a crisp."

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

"Eye Laugh"

Nascar 3

http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=168

(-:][:-)

Hashing It Out

I was working as a short-order cook at two restaurants in the same neighborhood. On a Saturday night, I was finishing up the dinner shift at one restaurant and hurrying to report to work at the second place, but I was delayed because one table kept sending back an order of hash browns, insisting they were cold. I replaced them several times, but still the customers were dissatisfied.

When I was able to leave, I raced out the door and arrived at my second job. A server immediately handed me my first order.

"Make sure these hash browns are hot," she said, "because these people just left a restaurant down the street that kept serving them cold ones."

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

"Eye Laugh"

Obedience School

http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=165

(-:][:-)

Waiting For Years

We had built our dream house some years ago, and furnished it with quality pieces as we could afford them. Now the delivery truck carrying the last purchase, a new bedroom suite, was pulling into the driveway.

"Finally!" I exclaimed, flinging open the front door as the driver walked up to the house. "I've been waiting twelve years for this!"

"Don't blame me, lady," he said. "I just got the order this morning."

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

"Eye Laugh"

Car Wall

http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh/carwall.htm

(-:][:-)

Seen in the Cafeteria

At work, my dad noticed that the name of an employee was the same as an old friend. He found the man's e-mail addy and sent him a message.

When Dad received a reply, he was insulted and fired back another e-mail: "I have put on some weight, but I didn't realize it was that noticeable."

His friend's hastily typed message, with an apparent typo, had read:

"Hi, Ron. I didn't know you worked here, but I did see a gut that looked like you in the cafeteria.

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

"Eye Laugh"

Cat Static

http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=163

(-:][:-)

Where's The Beef

The newly-married husband came home from the office to find his young wife in floods of tears. "Darling, whatever is the matter?" he asked.

"Sweetheart," she sobbed, "the most terrible thing has happened! I cooked my very first Beef Bourguignon for you, and I got it out of the oven to season it, and the phone rang. When I came back from answering the phone," she sobbed again. "I found that the cat had eaten it!"

"Don't worry, darling," said her husband. "Don't cry. We can get a new cat tomorrow."

*Thanks to Pastor Tim for this joke!*
http://www.cybersalt.org/cleanlaugh

"Eye Laugh"

Onward Soldiers

http://www.cybersalt.org/g05.php?id=142

(-:][:-)

-=+=-
Daily devotionals are available at http://link.Crosswalk.Com/UM/T.asp?A1. 39. 17757. 1. 494611 You can access more information on Crosswalk's Fun page http://www.Crosswalk.Com/fun/! Crosswalk gives credit to the author of a joke when author is known. Feel free to send notification to admin@cybersalt.org in cases where credit has not been given to the author! -SUBSCRIPTION INFO- * Copyright2004 Crosswalk.Com, Inc. and its Content Providers. All rights reserved. Introducing www.Crossguide.Com Where Christians find Products, Services & Ministries.
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"Don't strive for recognition, but work for achievement." -- Vanessa Malone
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Madeleine Begun Kane Latest Columns - - http://www.madkane.com/jumpjivesweat.html - - Jump, Jive, & Sweat "You're gonna swing dance in this weather? Are you insane?"
I've been asked that a lot lately, which isn't surprising when you consider this summer's humidity and heat wave. New York City's weather has been so unbearable, that felons have switched from car theft to stealing AC's...
http://www.madkane.com
http://www.madkane.com/notable.html (Notables Weblog)
http://www.madkane.com/bush.html (Dubya's Dayly Diary)
Subscribe to MadKane Humor Newsletter (weekly) here:
http://www.madkane.com/email.html
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FirstGov for Kids - - http://www.kids.gov/ - - Welcome to the U.S. government interagency Kids' Portal. This site was developed and is maintained by the Federal Citizen Information Center. It provides links to Federal kids' sites along with some of the best kids' sites from other organizations all grouped by subject. Explore, learn, have fun and don't forget to add us to your favorites!
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Everyday Science - - http://www.nsls.bnl.gov/about/everyday/ - - The National Synchrotron Light Source is a scientific facility that is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. Each year, more than 2500 scientists from all over the world come to perform experiments at the NSLS. This website describes some of the everyday science that goes on at the NSLS and how it may impact your everyday life.
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America's Most Livable Communities - - http://www.mostlivable.org/ - - America's Best Places to Live, Work and Play! Each of this year's 30 Most Livable Communities have developed innovative approaches to prepare for the New Economy through the creative strategies, actions, and visions of their leadership.
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National Sex Offender Registry - - http://www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/cac/states.htm - - The Pam Lychner Sexual Offender Tracking and Identification Act of 1996 (Lychner Act), requires the Attorney General to establish a national database at the FBI to track the whereabouts and movements of certain convicted sex offenders under Title 42 of the United States Code Section 14072. The FBI's Crimes Against Children Unit coordinates the development and implementation of the National Sex Offenders Registry. This FBI site provides a listing of State Sex Offender Registry Web Sites.
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Confusing Words - - http://www.confusingwords.com/ - - Confusing Words is a collection of 3210 words that are troublesome to readers and writers. Words are grouped according to the way they are most often confused or misused. Some of these words are homonyms (words that sound alike but are spelled differently) and some are just commonly confused.
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First Lady's Gallery - - http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/firstladies/ - - This White House Web site presents information on the lives of all U.S. President's wives, from Martha Dandridge Custis Washington through Laura Welch Bush, our current first lady."
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Encyclopedia of North American Indians - - http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/naind/html/na_000107_entries.htm - - This site provides the 1996 online edition of the Encyclopedia of North American Indians published by Houghton Mifflin. Information includes descriptions of over 100 tribes, languages, biographies of Native American leaders and "draws people and places together around nearly one hundred interpretive entries that present brief overviews of significant topics, historical eras, and cultural traditions."
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Walking with Dinosaurs - - http://www.bbc.co.uk/dinosaurs/index.shtml - - A comprehensive, easy to navigate collection of "Dino Fact Files" that provide detailed text and graphic information on dinosaurs. This site is sponsored by the BBC in conjunction with their television series "Walking with Dinosaurs".
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"Now that hurricanes have left the Gulf Coast in ruins and gasoline has spiked to $3 a gallon, Americans are more likely to name domestic problems as the most important ones facing the United States these days, AP-Ipsos polling found. Homegrown problems - including worries about fuel costs and political leadership - now rank about even with overseas concerns such as the terror threat and war. Public concerns about Iraq remain high. 'Things at home are in peril, and we're spread thin throughout the world,' said Nick Tepsic, a surgical technician in Boynton Beach, Fla., who is a political independent. 'We need to be worrying about things at home. We have a terrible debt going on; we need to improve education; we had two terrible natural disasters here. Our money could best be spent in other ways.' People were asked in an open-ended question last week to name the nation's most important problem."
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"Americans are heavier now than 40 years ago but have lower cholesterol levels mainly because of the introduction of statin drugs in the late 1980s. Still, doctors responding to the new government findings say keeping the heart healthy requires more than just popping cholesterol-lowering pills. The declining levels for adults aged 20 and older occurred from the 1960s to 2002, fueled mostly by cholesterol reductions in older adults and thanks mostly to medication including statins, the researchers said. Statins - which include such widely used medicines as Lipitor, Zocor and Pravachol - can dramatically reduce levels of LDL cholesterol, the bad kind that can clog arteries and lead to heart attacks. The drop in Americans' overall cholesterol levels resulted from a decline in LDL, according to the study." -
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"Months before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck, volunteer searchers found 6,251 homeless people living in the coastal areas of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. The search was part of an unprecedented count of the nation's homeless population that the federal government asked cities and counties to conduct. Months before Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck, volunteer searchers found 6,251 homeless people living in the coastal areas of Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. The search was part of an unprecedented count of the nation's homeless population that the federal government asked cities and counties to conduct. That snapshot tally was 727,304 homeless people nationwide, meaning about one in 400 Americans were without a home, according to a USA TODAY survey of all 460 localities that reported results to the Department of Housing and Urban Development in June." -
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"Winter heating bills will be a third to a half higher for most families across the country, with the sharpest increases expected for those who heat with natural gas, the Energy Department forecast October 12, 2005. The department said natural gas users can expect to pay an average of $350 more during the upcoming winter compared to last year, an increase of 48 percent. Those who heat their homes with fuel oil will pay $378 more, or 32 percent higher than last winter. Propane users can expect a percentage jump in their bills similar to those of fuel oil users. In its winter fuels outlooks report, DOE's Energy Information Administration assumed a normal winter and steady progress in restoring oil and natural gas production and refinery output from the damage inflicted by hurricanes Katrina and Rita." -
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"Fewer than half of cigarette smokers quit after experiencing a first cardiac event, according to a survey of Europeans. One in five continue to light up despite personal advice from their doctor to stop smoking, the survey shows. It is 'unbelievable' that so many people continue to smoke after a life-threatening event for which smoking is a major risk factor, Dr. Wilma Scholte op Reimer said in a statement. She wonders whether they are 'truly aware of the risk that they are taking.' Clearly, there is still a need to develop effective smoking cessation programs, she and colleagues note in the latest issue of the European Heart Journal. For the survey, researchers interviewed 5,551 heart patients in 47 hospitals in 15 European countries more than one year after the event or condition that landed them in the hospital, namely heart bypass surgery, balloon angioplasty (for clogged arteries), a heart attack, or a type of worsening chest pain called unstable angina." -
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"Director Max Mayfield has become a virtual house guest in millions of homes over the past 15 months, sharing critical information on destructive storms that have torn up much of the southern United States. A veteran of 33 years as a forecaster with the National Weather Service, the soft-spoken, Oklahoma native is too busy to think about retirement despite the demands of a job that frequently robs him of sleep. Mayfield, who became permanent director in 2000, managed four hours sleep Saturday night and a couple more early Monday morning as Hurricane Wilma bore down on Florida. Twenty-two storms have formed in the Atlantic this season. 'Our mission statement is to save lives," said Mayfield, 57, who also oversees a staff of 41 and handles scores of television interviews to keep the public abreast of a storm's progress. And frankly, that's what I focus on." -
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"Astronomers say the mysterious, massive black hole in the center of the Milky Way helped give birth to new stars, challenging earlier theories that black holes are solely destructive forces. Scientists peering through NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory found that disks of gas near the black hole actually helped spawn a new generation of stars. Their observations, announced October 13, 2005, will be published in a future issue of the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 'Massive black holes are usually known for violence and destruction,' said Sergei Nayakshin of the University of Leicester in England, who made the discovery. 'So it's remarkable that this black hole helped create new stars, not just destroy them.' Black holes are believed to be the invisible remains of collapsed stars with gravitational pull so powerful not even light can escape the vortex." -
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"Social Security checks for nearly 50 million Americans are going up next year an average of $39 a month, the biggest boost in 15 years, although rising energy bills and higher Medicare premiums will erase a big chunk of the gain for many. The 4.1 percent cost of living adjustment announced Friday by the Social Security Administration is the biggest increase since a 5.4 percent gain in 1991. Last year's increase was 2.7 percent. The average Social Security check will increase from $963 to $1,002 in January. Rising energy prices, including a record-breaking surge in September, were the driving force behind the big cost of living increase, which is based on changes in the government's Consumer Price Index. The inflation figure rose 1.2 percent in September, the biggest monthly increase in a quarter-century, mostly because of a huge hurricane-linked rise in energy costs." -
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"Americans' fast-paced, high-tech existence has taken a toll on civility. From road rage in the morning commute to high decibel cell-phone conversations that ruin dinner out, men and women behaving badly have become the hallmark of a hurry-up world. An increasing informality - flip-flops at the White House, even - combined with self-absorbed communication gadgets and a demand for instant gratification have strained common courtesies to the breaking point. 'All of these things lead to a world with more stress, more chances for people to be rude to each other,' said Peter Post, a descendent of etiquette expert Emily Post and an instructor on business manners through the Emily Post Institute in Burlington, Vt."
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|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
October 27, 2005
Today's Safety From the Heart message was submitted by Scott Wells.
+---------------------------------------+
Halloween Safety Tips

Halloween is just around the corner and most people think of it as a time for fun and treats. However, approximately four times as many children aged 5-14 are killed while walking on Halloween evening compared to other evenings of the year. Falls are the leading cause of injuries for children. In addition to the injuries there is also concern for, although rare, tainted goodies and even goodies containing such things as razor blades. Please do not forget criminals that may prey on children.
Halloween is especially easy for perpetrators since they can wear a disguise and not be considered unusual. Any other day of the year these criminals would draw attention to themselves wearing a disguise or costume.

Parents and others can help reduce the possibility of injuries or other unfortunate events by following the below listed safety tips. Have a wonderful time and BE SAFE!

COSTUMES
 Choose costumes that are bright and reflective and make sure that shoes fit well and costumes are short enough to avoid tripping, entanglement or contact with flame. Mother's high heels are not a good idea.
 Choose flame-retardant costumes.
 Consider adding reflective tape to costumes and Trick-or-Treat bags for greater visibility.
 Consider using makeup instead of a mask which can block or limit eyesight. Hats or other costume pieces worn on the head should fit snug so they don't slip down over the eyes.
 Face paints should be nontoxic and nonflammable.
 Any costume accessories that are carried such as swords, canes, pitchforks, wands, etc. should be made of soft or flexible materials in case the child stumbles.
 Children and escorts should carry flashlights with new batteries. Consider attaching small battery operated LED strobe lights or glow sticks to their costumes.
 Secure emergency identification (name, address, phone number) discreetly within Halloween attire or on a bracelet.
 Think twice about allowing children to carry authentic looking props such as guns, knives, swords, explosive devices, etc.
 Avoid carrying props or setting up porch decorations that include dry ice.
 NO NOT carry real candles.

Trick-or-Treating
 Have children eat a good meal before going Trick-or-Treating so they won't be so tempted to eat their treats until they have been inspected. Teach children not to eat any treats until they have been inspected by their parents, at home.
 Plan your route ahead of time and stick to it. Let others know your route.
 Young children should be escorted by an adult not by "older" children that are also Trick-or-Treating.
 Never Trick-or-Treat alone or in a neighborhood you are not familiar with.
 If you are with a group make sure the group stays close together and be sure not to get mixed up with another group.
 Walk on sidewalks or walking paths not in the street, across yards or between buildings or parked cars.
 If there is no sidewalk then walk at the furthest edge of the roadway facing traffic.
 Walk slowly and stay in a group, never run.
 When crossing streets cross in groups at appropriate crossing areas and always yield to vehicles. Use your flashlight to get a drivers attention but do not shine it in their eyes.
 Never enter homes or buildings, receive your treats at the door.
 Only approach homes that are well lit.
 Stay away from pets and other animals you don't know.
 Avoid strangers.
 DO NOT accept treats from someone on the street or outside of a house.
 DO NOT get into cars with others.
 Parents or escorts should carry a cell phone.
 If a cell phone is not available carry quarters to use a pay phone.
 Establish a curfew and be sure at least one in the group has a watch.
 Give children a plastic bottle of water to carry with them and tell them not to ask for or accept drinks.
 Do not allow children to ride their bicycles or to use skates or skateboards to Trick-or-Treat.

Other Safety Tips
 Inspect all treats before children eat them. Discard any spoiled, open or unwrapped treats or ones that appear to be tampered with. Inspect all fruit, popcorn balls, etc. for tampering. Cut them into quarters for inspection if necessary.
 Review with children the principal of "Stop-Drop-Roll", should their clothes catch on fire.
 Discuss appropriate and inappropriate behavior with children before they leave.
 Avoid placing any decorations that have candles where they can be bumped or knocked over or otherwise cause an injury or fire.
 Keep pets confined.
 Do not allow children to take pets with them to Trick-or-Treat.
 Be sure your yard is clear of things such as ladders; hoses, leashes or other objects children can trip on.
 Keep your porch well lit.
 Make sure children understand not to play with chew or break open glow sticks. Although the contents are not highly dangerous if contact is made with the skin, eyes or ingested they should seek medical attention.
 Advise children not to smell or stick their hands into bowls or pots that have "smoke". The smoke is usually made with dry ice and water and can cause serious skin damage if touched.

|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
October 26, 2005
Health Tips
+---------------------------------------+
Health and Diet
Need treats for those trick-or-treaters? Try something a little different for Halloween this year! The American Dietetic Association suggests you set a healthy example by handing out low-fat treats like single serving cereal boxes, pretzels, dried fruit, sugar-free gum, low-fat granola bars, or fortune cookies. Make the treats tasty and healthy!

Fitness
In a recent study of 13,500 people, those who climbed up and down about 100 steps a day reduced their risk of death by nearly 20%. This reduction is equivalent to walking about 2 miles a day and is equal to the calorie burn of a 30 minute brisk walk, so pass up the elevator for the stairs.
Health and Diet
In addition to water, milk, juice and soup also count toward your daily fluid intake. Don't include alcohol, coffee, tea and soft drinks that contain caffeine because they have a mild diuretic effect. Caffeine can hold water back from the tissues that need it. Since your body is nearly two-thirds water, it is important to avoid fluids that may cause dehydration!

Fitness
Here are a some good reasons to take up road cycling. You burn about 475 calories per hour. It tones your butt and leg muscles, you can enjoy the scenery, it always sounds impressive when you say you did "20" this morning, you can still have fun flying down hills.
"Diet" teas often contain natural diuretics, substances that promote the elimination of sodium and water from the body. Much of the weight loss resulting from the consumption of these teas is water weight, not fat. Excessive use of diuretics in any form can cause dehydration and decrease your body's stores of electrolytes. A healthier alternative is to drink more water!
Regular exercisers who stay active after having a heart attack cut their risk of having a second attack by 60%. Those who exercise more after their first heart attack lower their risk of a second heart attack by 80%. You can even benefit if you've been previously sedentary.
Health and Diet
According to the National Weight Control Registry, people who are most successful at losing weight and keeping it off have four things in common: they follow a low fat carbohydrate rich diet, eat breakfast almost every day, exercise regularly, and monitor their weight loss closely. Take one step at a time and work to incorporate all four strategies into your lifestyle.

Fitness
The five components of fitness are: muscle strength, muscle endurance, cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and body composition. It is important that your exercise program has a combination of components for you to have a balanced, athletic body.

Health and Diet
Start your day with an orange! Oranges are packed with nutrients and fiber. Oranges are rich in potassium, folate, thiamin, vitamin B6, niacin, riboflavin and magnesium. Plus, they're low in sodium. They're portable and make a great on-the-go snack. You can also get calcium-fortified orange juice which helps build strong bones and prevent osteoporosis.

Fitness
The best piece of exercise equipment to buy is the one you are going to use. Consider renting one for a month from a store that sells reconditioned equipment. This way you can try before you buy. When you are ready to buy, check out our company store for some specially priced items for eDiets' members.
Health and Diet
Eat up culture. Music feeds the soul. French fries only fill your tummy. If you've been listening to the same Beach Boys album for twenty years, hit the record store and sample some new music. Remember what it's like to really love a song? Put your feet up and listen to your new selections instead of flipping on the tube to unwind. And check out your area performing arts centers for live events.

Fitness
Doing too much too quickly is why weekend warriors become couch potatoes during the week. Start out your exercise program slowly. Walking is one of the easiest ways, but any activity you enjoy will do. Your heart rate is one good indicator to determine if you are working too hard. Start out with 10 ? 15 minutes and after a week or two gradually increase your time.

Health and Diet
Eat smaller, frequent meals. The magic number of meals for the study participants seemed to be five. Rather than consuming three large meals and trying not to snack in between -- which may make you hungrier by the end of the day and more likely to binge -- spread out your food intake over the course of the day.

Fitness
If you have arthritis, here are some tips for relief. Maintain good posture to equally distribute stress throughout the joints. Don't overdo it as arthritis is an inflammatory condition and overuse can cause flare-ups. Use proper muscle groups when lifting. Store things at a comfortable level. Exercise frequently to prevent muscles and joints from getting stiff. Remember to rest.

|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
October 26, 2005
Safety for Children

Today's Safety From the Heart message was submitted by Ellen Hartzog.
+---------------------------------------+
This is to remind people with children when taking them to Disneyland or the Fair that little children love to ride the the rides and get excited just being there.

When I was in Disneyland last week, a child got separated from his parents and was hysterical. My sister and I tried to get him some help and the people working there were really on the ball. They took over and in no time they had found the boy's parents. So if you go to the Fair or any place like it be careful with your children.

ELLEN

|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
October 24, 2005
Today's Safety From the Heart message is from Pam Kemp.
+---------------------------------------+
SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder

A serious depression that recurs each year at the same time, starting in the fall or winter and ending in the spring. Some of the symptoms typical of depression are sadness, anxiety, irritability, inability to concentrate, withdrawal into solitude and loss of interest in life. Other symptoms are unusual sleep patterns, increased appetite and weight gain. Lethargy (feeling extremely tired) is such an important feature of the disorder that the term "Seasonal Energy Syndrome" has been proposed.

Causes
In people who suffer from SAD, the short daylight hours of winter seem to play havoc with the body's clock, somehow upsetting their circadian or physiological and psychological functions. There are three main theories to explain this disruption:

MELATONIN. Most researchers have focused on this hormone, which reaches its highest blood levels between dusk and dawn. It may be that SAD stems from an overproduction of melatonin during the long winter nights. This theory is supported by studies showing that effective light therapy stops the flow of melatonin. Recently, news reports have suggested that taking melatonin pills might actually relieve SAD, but this has not yet been proven.

SEROTONIN. Production of this chemical wanes in the winter. Deficiency is known to cause depression, as well as a craving for carbohydrates, another symptom of SAD. Studies show that light therapy increases blood levels of serotonin.

EYE ABNORMALITIES. Preliminary evidence suggests that the eyes of people with SAD are less sensitive to light and never fully adjust to dim winter days as normal eyes do. That could disrupt the body clock by making short days seem even shorter.

Treatment
Although there have been no controlled studies, it is clear that SAD can be effectively treated with antidepressant drugs. But the standard tricyclic antidepressants, imipramine (Tofranil) and its relatives, tend to cause drowsiness and increased appetite, which are obviously unwanted. Fluoxetine (Prozac) is preferable because it does not have these side effects. Another treatment that may be just as effective, with fewer disadvantages, is light therapy (phototherapy). The use of bright light as an antidote to lethargy and gloom has been known for thousands of years but explored systematically only in the past decade. The device most often used today is a bank of white fluorescent lights, mounted on a metal reflector and shielded with a plastic screen. Known as light boxes, these are increasingly available for purchase by those who experience SAD. The improvement associated with using light boxes begins in two to four days and is complete within a week or two. There is some evidence that light therapy and drug treatment in combination are better than either one alone.

|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
October 21, 2005
Prepared by Preeti Chugani, BRT Employee
+---------------------------------------+

You're all about safety? you use the right tools for the job, you SCAN, you're aware of the hazards in your environment?

You don't make a habit of
 Visiting deserted areas alone
 Parking next to large, windowless, unmarked vans
 Running/walking outdoors wearing headphones

But could you
 run that errand under better conditions?
 leave your previous engagement earlier?
 ask someone to accompany you to your destination?

I'll never forget the creepy deserted gas station with the monotone announcement warning us to pay for our gas. It was the perfect setting for a horror movie. My friend realized she had no gas about 11PM in the middle of nowhere, after she'd been running errands all day.

You're returning to your car from an evening activity downtown; you're parked several blocks away and it's dark outside. Ever done that before? I know I have. Rather than walk alone, you could offer friends a ride to their car or continue a conversation as your group walks generally toward your cars.

But sometimes, you're unavoidably alone? Head up, back straight, eyes alert? isn't someone? family, friend, pet, house plant? expecting you any moment now? If you don't look like a victim, you're much less likely to become one.

In late 2003 in Houston's Galleria parking garage, a serial rapist assaulted three women over the course of a couple months. His fourth intended victim punched him in the gut? he ran off, figuring she wasn't worth the trouble. She broke her hand, but better that than the alternative.

Are you rushing thoughtlessly because it's cold or rainy or late? Did you leave your jacket or umbrella in the car because it was too much trouble to carry around? Bet you'd be paying more attention now if you weren't focused on staying warm or dry?

Are your keys ready? Or are you going to fumble in your purse or pocket when you get there? "Excuse me, Mr. Attacker, could you hold these packages while I find my keys/mace/cell phone?"

Would you keep better track of your keys if they were precious gems? If someone can get to your keys, they can get to you and your family, who are the real jewels. Don't give valets your full set of keys? anyone could make imprints and obtain valuable address information off the insurance documents in the glove compartment.

Do you carry mace? Has it expired? Is it on your key chain? What if your keys are in the ignition when you're attacked? Do you have a panic button? When's the last time you checked the batteries? I have a whistle on my key chain? no batteries, no expiration dates, and lots of noise.

If you notice suspicious activity or even get that prickly sensation that something isn't quite right, get out of there! Get to a safe location and call for help. It may turn out to be nothing, but if you're afraid to call because you'll look silly if it was your imagination, just think how much more silly (or, likely, worse) you'll feel if you were right.

|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
October 19, 2005
Changing of the Seasons
Today's Safety From the Heart message is from Allen Smoak.
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Everyone by now can sense the changing of our seasons . . .

The advent of Fall is evident by our cool mornings and low humidity afternoons.

Now is the time to check a few things before the on-set of winter....

1. Check the freeze point of your automobile's anti-freeze . . .

2. Inspect outside spigots and insulate as needed . . .

3. Check your wood stove for cracks, especially the flue before starting a fire . . .

4. Run your home heating system through a few cycles . . . Better to find a problem now when we do not need heat, instead of waiting until there is 'frost on the pumpkin' and the repairman puts you on a list . . .

A timely inspection now may prevent more serious consequences later.
Enjoy the changing of the seasons.

|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
October 18, 2005
Passing a School Bus
Today's Safety From the Heart message is from Marie Rast.
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During a recent morning safety meeting, the subject of passing school buses came up. The conversation was focused on when you should stop (on a four lane highway) for a school bus. The group was split about 50/50 on what the law actually says...since the law has changed a couple of times over the past three years. We contacted SC DOT and got the scoop.

The gist of the current law is as follows:
(A) The driver of a vehicle meeting or overtaking a school bus from either direction must stop before reaching the bus if the bus has the red lights flashing. The driver must NOT proceed until the bus begins moving or the red lights are no longer flashing.

(B) The driver of a vehicle need NOT stop when meeting a stopped school bus when traveling in the opposite direction on a multi-lane highway or multi-lane private road (where "multi-lane" means there are four or more traffic lanes with at least two traveling in each direction).

(C) The driver of a vehicle must NOT overtake a school bus when the amber (yellow) lights are flashing.

(D) A school bus route that requires passengers to be loaded or off-loaded along a multi-lane highway or multi-lane private road must be designed so that a student is NOT required to cross the multi-lane highway or multi-lane private road to reach the bus.

Stopping when you do not need to can result in rear end collisions (because the other people on the highway do not expect you to stop). So, make sure you understand these rules of the road for your own safety AND the safety of our school children.

|------------ Safety From The Heart ----------|
October 17, 2005
Today's Message is from Doug Thompson (a Houston Albemarle employee).
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Your Wife and Blood Pressure
By: Bill McCartney
Content from Promise Keepers

Did you know that men have lower blood pressure when they're with their wives than when they are away or doing other activities? It's true. Previous studies I've cited here on 4th and Goal have noted the connection between the emotional health of our marriages and our physical health.

This latest study sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, notes that a man's blood pressure goes down when he is with his wife more than in any other circumstance--more than when interacting with friends, even more than when he's all alone.

And, get this: Men who reported an overall "less satisfying" relationship with their wives still experienced a lower blood pressure in their wives' company! In addition, when meeting or talking to someone else, having your wife present actually has a calming effect on your blood pressure, the study found.

This new study is noteworthy, but obviously, men should have motivation to spend time with their wives already. Our marriages are nurtured when we take time to spend with our wives. And, on top of that, our health is improved. . .seems we were created that way. Perhaps a wise man named Solomon was on to something, some 3,000 years ago, when he wrote the exhortation, "Enjoy life with your wife."

Make it a point to spend some time with her. Ask her (if you don't already know) what she likes spending time doing with you, then do it. Schedule it in place of some other activity, if you have to. Relax, and let your blood pressure go down-- both figuratively and, likely, literally, too!

I'm Coach Bill McCartney.

Sources: "Love can lower blood pressure," Rocky Mountain News, May 22, 2001.
Proverbs 18:22, Ecclesiastes 9:9, Proverbs 4:23
http://family.ibelieve.com/content.asp?CID=15987
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TOURBUS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -:) - :)- :)
Volume 11, Number 21 -- 25 October 2005
Tourbus Home - http://www.TOURBUS.com
Best of Tourbus -- http://tourbus.com/best.html

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TODAY'S TOURBUS TOPICS: Backups / Internet History

Beep, beep, beep... That's the sound of the TOURBUS backing up. In today's issue, we'll get a little retrospective, but with an eye toward the future. I'll share my strategy for painless hard drive backups, then we'll take a peek at the Internet of yesteryear, and the people who made it all possible. Read on...
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----------------------------
Oatmeal, Floss and Backups
----------------------------

What do they have in common? With apologies to Wilford Brimley, each of them is just the right thing to do. Nobody gets excited about backing up their hard drive, but sooner or later, something terrible will happen to your hard drive. That's not a very happy thought, but the good news is you can survive a hard drive failure with only minimal inconvenience -- if you back up your files. Learn how to stop worrying and put your backup on auto-pilot...
http://www.askbobrankin.com/backing_up_your_files.html

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A Walk Down (Random Access) Memory Lane
-----------------------------------------

The history of computing and the story of how the Internet came to be are fascinating subjects to me. After doing some reading and research on early computers and Internet history, I've put together some excellent links that you can explore to learn more at your leisure.

See what computers looked like in the 1620s. Peer back through the lens of cyber history and see what the Yahoo home page looked like in October 1996. Find out why we all owe a debt of gratitude to Vint Cerf and J.R. Licklider.
http://www.askbobrankin.com/internet_history.html

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Internet Innovators
---------------------

Back in 1995-96 I worked for BoardWatch Magazine, covering the world of bulletin board systems and the fledgling Internet. One of my favorite parts of the job was interviewing prominent netizens of the day.

Some may boast about being self-made men, but Dave Taylor is one guy who could honestly call himself "net-made." Still very much active in online ventures, you may find his comments and predictions from ten years ago quite interesting.
http://www.askbobrankin.com/internet_innovators_dave_taylor.html

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The Next Best Thing
---------------------

Linda from Marlinton, West Virginia recently wrote and said "The next best thing to Tourbus is the Smart Computing magazine that you guys recommend. I've been getting it since last summer and it has solved numerous problems for me and my friends." Thanks, Linda!

We hope other Tourbus riders will discover the Plain English answers to their computing questions that Smart Computing delivers every month. Do you want to speed up your PC? Eliminate the threat of computer viruses? Get rid of spyware and keep hackers out? Try Smart Computing today -- get your FREE TRIAL issue NOW!

http://www.tourbus.com/smart.htm

That's all for now, see you next time! -- Bob Rankin
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Number 3 -- 28 July 2005
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How to Update Firefox / Google Maps Hybrid

Howdy, y'all, and greetings once again from deep behind the orange curtain in beautiful Irvine, California, the landing place of Caesar's army during the Roman conquest of Britain.
+---------------------------------------+
On with the show...

---------------------------
How to Update Firefox
Audience: All Firefox users
---------------------------

[This part of today's Tourbus post is also available as a free (albeit overmodulated) on-screen movie at http://netsquirrel.com/ ]

There are so many security holes in Internet Explorer that I simply no longer use it. I use Mozilla Firefox instead. While Firefox is a significantly safer browser--we Firefox users don't have to worry about the drive-by spyware and adware installations that constantly plague Internet Explorer users--Firefox is not without its own share of security problems. In fact, in the last eight months or so, there have been a BUNCH of vulnerabilities found in Firefox. Check out http://tinyurl.com/7xxt4 if you don't believe me.

RELATED NEWS: http://www.tourbus.com/firefox-news.html

That doesn't mean that Firefox is a lousy browser. Rather it just means that, just as you need to update Windows to make sure your computer has all of the latest Microsoft security patches, you also need to update Firefox from time to time.

There are three ways to do this:

1. Download and install the newest version of Firefox.
2. Click on the hidden "Check Now" button inside of Firefox.
3. Click on the red update arrow icon whenever it appears in Firefox.

First, you can just go to mozilla.org, download the latest version of Firefox, and install it. You don't have to uninstall your old version --the Firefox installer automatically upgrades your old version to the new version and it also keeps your old Firefox bookmarks and settings intact. Hopefully.

The second way to upgrade is to, while in Firefox, go to Tools > Options. Under "Advanced," scroll down and under "Software Update" click on the "Check Now" button. [And between you and me, could they have made this button any harder to find?] This causes Firefox to call home and check to see if you have the latest version. Just follow the on-screen prompts to upgrade.

The third way to upgrade to the latest version of Firefox is the easiest: look in the upper right corner of your Firefox screen. If there is ever a security update for Firefox, you'll see a really small red arrow icon up in that corner. Click on that arrow icon and it's just as if you clicked on the "Check Now" button in Tools > Options. Firefox calls home and automatically gets the updates.

All three of these methods--downloading and installing a new version, going to Tools > Options > Advanced, or clicking on the red arrow whenever it appears--check not only Firefox but also your Firefox extensions for any security updates you may be missing. The upgrade process itself is pretty straightforward. Click on "Install Now," sit back a bit while Firefox downloads the necessary updates, and then follow the on-screen prompts. That's it.

Since there have been a bunch of patches since Firefox was first officially released in November 2004, I strongly recommend that you update Firefox as soon as possible. You're going to be a LOT happier in the long run if you do. Once you've updated, just keep your eye out for that little red arrow icon and you should be okay.

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Google Maps Hybrid
Audience: Everyone
------------------

Yeah, yeah, I know. We've already visited Google Maps twice this year. What can I say? The folks at Google keep adding cool, new features.

RELATED NEWS: http://www.tourbus.com/google-news.html

A little while ago, Alan Taylor at Kokogiak.com was playing around with the Google Maps programming interface [available free of charge to programmers at http://www.google.com/apis/maps/ ] and he stumbled upon a way to combine Google's street maps and satellite images on the same screen. You can find Taylor's "Google Maps Transparencies" page at

http://www.kokogiak.com/gmaps-transparencies.html

Just as if you were at Google maps, you can drag the image [in this case either the foreground or background image] to scroll around the map. Taylor also added some new features of his own including a way to toggle views, change the level of foreground transparency, and even key in your own latitude or longitude. I was so impressed with Taylor's "Google Maps Transparencies" page that I added it to my ever- growing list of potential Tourbus stops.

And then, last Friday, Google introduced Google Maps Hybrid which is "Google Maps Transparancies" on steroids. Just point your web browser to

http://maps.google.com/

search for something, and then in the upper right corner of the map click on the "Hybrid" button. Google Maps will show you a satellite image with street names and points of interests laid on top of that image. For example, if you go to

http://tinyurl.com/8tqs7

you'll see Tower Bridge--and the surrounding street names--in London. And, yes, like all Google maps this map is draggable.

Google Maps is still in beta, so some of the hybrid maps are still a little off [like Tower Bridge Road or streets north of Ground Zero at http://tinyurl.com/7banf .] Still, the Hybrid maps feature is an amazing addition to a tool that is already amazing.

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New TPS Cover Sheets
Audience: Fans of the movie "Office Space"
------------------------------------------

Finally, if you have never watched the movie "Office Space," our last stop will make absolutely no sense at all to you. Please accept my apologies in advance. If you *ARE* a fan of the movie this next stop, which is a link to an Adobe Acrobat file, needs no introduction:
http://www.chrisglass.com/journal/downloads/TPSreport.pdf

Yeeeeaaaaaah. :P
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That's it for today. Have a safe and happy week, and we'll talk again soon.
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==[ Tourbus Rider Information ]==
The Internet Tourbus - U.S. Library of Congress ISSN #1094-2238 Copyright 1995-2005, Rankin & Crispen - All rights reserved Tourbus News Service - http://tourbus.com/news.html Subscribe, Signoff, Archives, Free Stuff and More at the Tourbus Website - http://www.TOURBUS.com
========================
.~~~. ))
(\__/) .' ) )) Patrick Douglas Crispen
/o o \/ .~
{o_, \ { crispen@netsquirrel.com
/ , , ) \ http://www.netsquirrel.com/
`~ -' \ } )) AOL Instant Messenger: Squirrel2K
_( ( )_.'
---..{____} Warning: squirrels.
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Our Church, Magnolia Christian Center, has the following mission statement. Our purpose is to build a great church for the glory of God through the great commission and the great commandment. MCC' Vision - That MCC will be a place hopping with children, energized with teenagers, balanced with diversity and transformed by the power of God! We want to turn uninterested people into interested people and win the lost to make fully devoted followers of Christ.
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Planning and Decision-Making: A Biblical Perspective

by Os Hillman

Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts. (Proverbs 24:3,4 LB)

Owning and operating an advertising agency meant I was required to develop strategic plans for companies. This meant developing plans several years ahead. I have always believed in planning ahead. I have written many strategic plans for companies over the years. However, there was a time when I experienced a constant state of uncertainty in my business and personal life, and I realized I could only plan so much. Things changed from day to day. This inability to plan more than a week, or in some cases a day in advance, caused me to rethink the whole idea of planning as it relates to life and work.

God was doing something in my life that could not be planned. So, if I sought to develop specific plans around what I thought God was doing, I ran adrift. It was only when I knew what God was leading that I could plan effectively. It's a problem of using a human, logical approach versus a Spirit-led approach. I have discovered in working with so many Christian organizations over the years, and even in my life, that human planning without the Spirit of God leading in that planning leads to presumption, failure and disappointment. The people of Israel often fell into the habit of their own reasoning apart from the spirit of God. This frustrated God because He actually desired to accomplish things in a shorter timetable, but was unable to due to Israel's disobedience.

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it. "But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices. "If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! (Psalm 81:10-14)

God can accomplish more in six months through a people yielded to Him than we could accomplish in 70 years without Him. God wanted to accomplish His plan for the people of Israel a lot faster, but their disobedience prevented them from allowing Him to move on their behalf. I must confess that it is a whole lot easier to develop a written plan for my life and execute that plan than to depend on God each day. Total dependence is a humbling condition. Unfortunately, that is exactly how God wants us to walk with Him -- in total dependence on Him day-by-day. God is tearing apart the plans of many men and women in the workplace today because He wants to rebuild them in the way they operate in life and work. He wants total dependence upon Him, not just an occasional prayer of guidance.

George Mueller

George Mueller was a pastor in England during the nineteenth century. He was concerned that God's people had become very discouraged. They no longer looked for God to do anything unusual. They no longer trusted God to answer prayers. They had lost their faith.

Mueller began to pray as God led Him. His prayers were for God to lead him to a work that could only be explained by the people as an act of God. George wanted the people to learn that their God was a faithful, prayer- answering God. He came upon the verse in Psalm 81:10 -- "Open wide your mouth and I will fill it." God began to lead him in a walk of faith that became an outstanding testimony to all who hear of his story.

When he felt led of God to do some work, he prayed for the resources needed and told no one of the need. He wanted all to know that God had provided for the need only in answer to prayer and faith. During his ministry in Bristol, Mueller started Scriptural Knowledge Institute for distribution of Scripture and for religious education. He also began an orphanage. By the time of his death, George Mueller had been used by God to build four orphan houses that cared for 2,000 children at a time. Over 10,000 children had been provided for through the orphanages. He distributed over eight million dollars that had been given to him in answer to prayer. When he died at 93, his worldly possessions were valued at $800.

Oswald Chambers made an observation about planning. "Much of modern Christian enterprise is 'Ishmael.' Born not of God, but of an inordinate desire to do God's will in our own way - the one thing our Lord never did."

The LORD foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Psalm 33:10-11)

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. (Isaiah 55:8)

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21)

Our biggest problem with planning is that we plan and carry out things in our own wisdom that only God has a right to determine. We cannot know the when, or where, or how of God's will until He tells us. God's whole method of directing us is designed for us to experience Him in the process of walking with Him. It is process-based versus outcome-based. The methods that God used to accomplish His purposes were creative and often illogical to the human mind. Consider God requiring Joshua to walk around the city of Jericho seven times, or standing at the waters edge of the Jordan before God parted the waters for the people to pass on dry ground. Consider the blind man being told to wash his eyes with mud in order to receive sight. Consider Gideon being charged to fight with only 300 against many thousands. The stories are numerous. They all demonstrate one undeniable fact about how God operates and plans. He does not want us depending on our own resources in any area of our lives. He wants us to depend on Him for every area. He wants us to live in the supernatural as compared to the natural.

Confirming Decisions

Now that we have established some guidelines for planning, we need to discuss ways to confirm our plans. There are times when we must make quick decisions during the course of a day and we need to have the freedom to use our God-given wisdom to make those decisions. God speaks through many different ways and as we become one with Him, we become more integrated in our ability to move and be led by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14).

The scriptures do not indicate that God was constantly communicating moment by moment with His people. However, God does encourage us to seek Him moment by moment in our lives. Not every decision we must make can afford, nor is it necessary, to be confirmed. Jesus encourages us to abide in the vine, which means we should be walking in close fellowship with Him and know that He is guiding us throughout our day. However, the scriptures also convey a principle of confirmation that can greatly reduce the frequency of making poor decisions and allow us to make good plans. I would highly recommend that any major decision be confirmed through a few different sources.

F. B. Meyer's Formula

One night as the famous Bible teacher F.B. Meyer stood on the deck of a ship approaching land, he wondered how the crew knew when and how to safely steer to the dock. It was a stormy night, and visibility was low. Meyer, standing on the bridge and peering through the window, asked "Captain, how do you know when to turn this ship into that narrow harbor?" "That's an art," replied the captain. "Do you see those three red lights on the shore? When they're all in a straight line I go right in!" Later Meyer said: "When we want to know God's will, there are three things which always occur: the inward impulse, the Word of God, and the trend of circumstances. Never act until these three things agree."

The Role of Spouses in Making Decisions

When John Benson decided to make some financial investments in a new business venture, he was very excited about the possibilities for a handsome financial return. His business and financial background had served him well. John felt strongly that his wife Jenny would not understand the complexity of his investment, so he casually mentioned it to her. When she asked a few simple questions, John became defensive and justified his investing in the venture. Jenny felt uneasy about the investment, but since he had been so successful in the past, she laid aside her reservations and left the responsibility up to John. A year later, after investing a large sum of money, John received a phone call from the investment company. It seems that the principals of the company had fled the country and were not to be found. All the investors who had put money in the company were going to lose their investment with no ability to recoup it. Many astute investors had been taken in on the scam.

This story could be retold repeatedly across the world. God's principles for making decisions require input from both spouses, regardless of their level of expertise. I learned this lesson the hard way after making many independent decisions outside the counsel of my wife. Today, whenever I am faced with a major decision, I first consult the Lord, and then I consult with my wife. She may disagree totally with something that seems very straightforward to me, but I have learned not to not move forward if she is not in agreement. She does not need to know all the details, nor does she have to have expertise. God has placed in her a "chip" called "intuition". That intuition cannot explain why she feels the way she does, she just knows when something is not right. Conversely, husbands bring a totally different perspective that may give an alternative side to a situation that the wife has never considered. God has called married couples to be one. If we seek to make decisions independently, then we are benefiting from only 50% of the intended resource God has placed within our grasp. In marriage, this stewardship of decisions requires two people. God blesses this union by honoring the decisions made with the motive of glorifying God and relying on His Spirit to lead in our decision-making process.

Confirmation Through Others

The scriptures encourage us to seek advice and counsel from others. This counsel needs to be from other Godly people who share the same values and goals that we have.

Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22)

The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. (Proverbs 12:15)

Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. (Proverbs 13:10)

Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise. (Proverbs 19:20)

Make plans by seeking advice; if you wage war, obtain guidance. (Proverbs 20:18)

Keeping A Balance With Counsel from Others

We should strive to maintain balance when seeking input from others and making decisions as we feel God is leading. This process is designed to confirm direction for which we are seeking confirmation. Paul was sensitive to getting too heavy-handed in the confirmation process. He offered advice but was not the enforcer of someone's decision.

And here is my advice about what is best for you in this matter. (2 Corinthians 8:10)

There is a principle of agreement among two or three individuals throughout the scriptures to confirm a decision, but even this does not negate a person's right to make independent decisions. The requirement for efficient administration frequently requires single points of decision-making. Where there is willingness and trust to receive input, there is probably also humility, faith, and grace for God to work His pleasure in His servant. Where there is unwillingness, the opposite is true.

There have been times in my life where I have felt strongly about a certain issue only to receive feedback from those close to me which revealed that I was not accurate in my assessment of the situation. I have learned to yield in such situations, trusting that God is working through those in whom I am accountable.

Peace of Mind

Peace of mind is another important confirmation for decisions. If you do not have peace about a decision, you should wait until God gives you peace. This does not mean your decision may not have some tension due to the faith aspect of it, but deep down you should have a peace that it is the right decision.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)

I hope these thoughts will help you as you seek to plan and make decisions through the power of the Holy Spirit.

***************

Want to learn more? My book, Making Godly Decisions, How To Know and Do the Will of God, has been helpful to thousands of people around the world. You can order this book at-- http://www.faithandworkresources.com/store_items_view.asp?itemid=813
Marketplace Leaders
475 Tribble Gap Rd, Suite 110
Cumming, GA 30040 USA
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Isaiah 65:24

This story was written by a doctor who worked in South Africa

One night I had worked hard to help a mother in the labor ward; but in spite of all we could do, she died leaving us with a tiny premature baby and a crying two-year-old daughter. We would have difficulty keeping the baby alive, as we had no incubator (we had no electricity to run an incubator).

We also had no special feeding facilities. Although we lived on the equator, nights were often chilly with treacherous drafts. One student midwife went for the box we had for such babies and the cotton wool that the baby would be wrapped in.

Another went to stoke up the fire and fill a hot water bottle. She came back shortly in distress to tell me that in filling the bottle, it had burst (rubber perishes easily in tropical climates). "And it is our last hot water bottle!" she exclaimed. As in the West, it is no good crying over spilled milk so in Central Africa it might be considered no good crying over burst water bottles. They do not grow on trees, and there are no drugstores down forest pathways.

"All right," I said, "put the baby as near the fire as you safely can, and sleep between the baby and the door to keep it free from drafts. Your job is to keep the baby warm."

The following noon, as I did most days, I went to have prayers with any of the orphanage children who chose to gather with me. I gave the youngsters various suggestions of things to pray about and told them about the tiny baby. I explained our problem about keeping the baby warm enough, mentioning the hot water bottle, and that the baby could so easily die if it got chills. I also told them of the two-year-old sister, crying because her mother had died.

During prayer time, one ten-year old girl, Ruth, prayed with the usual blunt conciseness of our African children. "Please, God" she prayed, "send us a water bottle. It'll be no good tomorrow, God, as the baby will be dead, so please send it this afternoon."

While I gasped inwardly at the audacity of the prayer, she added, "And while You are about it, would You please send a dolly for the little girl so she'll know You really love her?"

As often with children's prayers, I was put on the spot. Could I honestly say, "Amen". I just did not believe that God could do this. Oh, yes, I know that He can do everything, the Bible says so. But there are limits, aren't there? The only way God could answer this particular prayer would be by sending me a parcel from homeland. I had been in Africa for almost four years at that time, and I had never, ever received a parcel from home. Anyway, if anyone did send me a parcel, who would put in a hot water bottle? I lived on the equator! Halfway through the afternoon, while I was teaching in the nurses' training school, a message was sent that there was a car at my front door.

By the time I reached home, the car had gone, but there, on the veranda, was a large twenty-two pound parcel. I felt tears pricking my eyes. I could not open the parcel alone, so I sent for the orphanage children.

Together we pulled off the string, carefully undoing each knot. We folded the paper, taking care not to tear it unduly. Excitement was mounting.

Some thirty or forty pairs of eyes were focused on the large cardboard box. From the top, I lifted out brightly colored, knitted jerseys. Eyes sparkled as I gave them out. Then there were the knitted bandages for the leprosy patients, and the children looked a little bored. Then came a box of mixed raisins and sultanas - that would make a batch of buns for the weekend. Then, as I put my hand in again, I felt the ... could it really be? I grasped it and pulled it out - yes, a brand-new, rubber hot water bottle. I cried. I had not asked God to send it; I had not truly believed that He could. Ruth was in the front row of the children. She rushed forward, crying out, "If God has sent the bottle, He must have sent the dolly too!"

Rummaging down to the bottom of the box, she pulled out the small, beautifully dressed dolly. Her eyes shone! She had never doubted!

Looking up at me, she asked: "Can I go over with you and give this dolly to that little girl, so she'll know that Jesus really loves her?"

That parcel had been on the way for five whole months. Packed up by my former Sunday school class, whose leader had heard and obeyed God's prompting to send a hot water bottle, even to the equator. And one of the girls had put in a dolly for an African child - five months before, in answer to the believing prayer of a ten-year-old to bring it "that afternoon."

"Before they call, I will answer" (Isaiah 65:24). This awesome prayer takes less than a minute. When you receive this, say the prayer, that's all you have to do. No strings attached. Just send it on to whomever you want - but do send it on. Prayer is one of the best free gifts we receive. There is no cost but a lot of rewards.

Thanks to Julie Morris
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Thank Interstate Batteries for its good works

On occasion, a company shows its commitment to faith and family values in such a way, it deserves to be thanked in a special way.

Interstate Batteries is such a company.

This fall, Interstate Batteries and Care Net have teamed up to launch "Charged for Life," a new fundraising campaign to help support the work of pregnancy centers across the U.S. and Canada.

Fifty percent of the proceeds from the campaign's battery sales (AAA, AA, 9-volt, hearing aid batteries, etc.) will go to support the work of Care Net pregnancy centers. Care Net is a faith-based organization that supports a network of 900 pregnancy centers.

To bolster support for the campaign, Interstate Batteries sponsored a special paint scheme this past weekend on its NASCAR #18 car, driven by championship driver Bobby Labonte.

But there are more reasons to appreciate Interstate Batteries. In addition to helping save unborn children:

The mission statement for the company starts with "To honor God..."

The company has a corporate Chaplaincy program that ministers to employees, vendors, and customers.

Chairman Miller serves as a board member for Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas Seminary Foundation, and the Overseas Council.

Chairman Miller personally offers the plan of salvation to those who visit the company's website. Click Here to read his powerful personal testimony. Please take a moment to let Chairman Miller know how much you appreciate his company's bold stand in helping protect unborn lives and for openly sharing his faith.

Click Here To Email Chairman Miller Now! - - http://www.onemilliondads.com/TakeAction.asp?id=244

Sincerely,

Donald E. Wildmon, Chairman
OneMillionDads.com
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To "Today's Seed" subscribers:

A special message on E-MIN's 7th Anniversary from Randall Vaughn

"Today's Seed" turned seven years old this month! The first message went out to about 100 people on October 7, 1998. Today, we reach over 50,000 around the world every day.

So much happened in these seven years that I would like to tell you about! But because E-MIN is web-based, I cannot meet you in person and express my passion for this ministry or tell you about the many lives that have been changed.

So I ask you that if "Today's Seed" has been a spiritual encourage- ment to you, please take a few minutes to read this message. >> This is the only means I have to share my heart with you.

We want to continue to grow:

Over these seven years, E-MIN has faithfully provided a daily word of encouragement free to anyone who wants to receive it, and we want to continue doing so. That is a blessing to you, but it is becoming difficult for us because, as we grow, our technical needs grow.

Just to keep pace with growth and remain dependable, we need to replace old computers, add more, upgrade software, peripherals, network, telephones, electrical, and more. We want to continue developing new web-based ministry services, begin several new messages, acquire custom software, office space, and the list goes on.

Upgrading this ministry is not an option. It must happen if we are to be able to keep pace with growth and remain dependable in the ministry service we provide every day. Our goal is to raise at least $20,000, in addition to regular contributions, to purchase equipment, software, and cover development costs and other needs.

Don't give "something" for "nothing":

I am telling you this because we do not have the resources to upgrade and we need your financial help now, but please understand:

   I am not asking you to give "something" for "nothing"   

I mean that if Today's SeedT is not an encouragement to you, do not respond. I mean that sincerely.

But if you have found Today's SeedT to be a source of spiritual nourishment and encouragement in your life, please help us upgrade what we need to remain "alive and well" in this technical environment (this mission field) in which we are called to minister.

Many and few...

If E-MIN was not effectively reaching the people, I could not, in good faith, ask for your help. But we are reaching them. You are one of them. And we want to reach more. We just cannot do it without your support.

Compared to the tens of thousands of subscribers, those who support this ministry regularly are only a few, but those few make it possible for so many to be blessed each day. I deeply appreciate each and every one and what they do for this ministry! But many - literally thousands - who have benefited from E-MIN for years have never done anything in support.

This has been a problem, and I sent an email last year explaining E-MIN's crisis. Many responded, and our outlook is brighter; however, many that could respond did not. If you did not, please consider helping us now.

What you can do:

There are several ways you can help:

1. You can pray for us. We need your prayer "cover" as much as you need the "word" we provide daily.

2. You can give financially in several ways:

 You can make a check to "E-MIN", and mail it to E-MIN, ATTN: Upgrade Project, P. O. Box 559, Hayden, AL 35079

 You can give with a debit/credit card or your PayPal account at http://www.e-min.org/ppl01.htm. It is a safe and easy way to give.

 You can set up a regular automatic monthly donation. More information is at http://www.e-min.org/ppl01.htm

We will send you an annual receipt for your giving. Donations are tax deductible in the United States.

Thank you in advance for your prayers and support of this pioneering missions ministry .

In His service, Randall Vaughn

Today's Seed is published daily (M-F) by E-MIN Global Ministries, P. O. Box 559, Hayden, AL 35079 (USA) http://www.e-min.org Copyright Terms/Permissions/List Privacy http://www.e-min.org/tp.htm Today's Seed(tm) © 2005 Randall Vaughn All Rights Reserved.

Internet services provided exclusively by http://www.VentureNet.net
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TGIF-Today God Is First


Seeing What Others Cannot See
by Os Hillman, October 28, 2005

And Elisha prayed, "O Lord, open his eyes so he may see." Then the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. - 2 Kings 6:17

Several years ago, a movie was made called Field of Dreams. The story is about a man who had a vision to build a baseball field in the middle of a cornfield on his rural farm. He did not know why; he just knew he was to do it. To the chagrin of his neighbors, he built the baseball diamond in the farm community. One night some players showed up. The man realized these were no ordinary players, but were actually the great players from the past. When the skeptical neighbors came to view this phenomenon, they were unable to see what the farm owner could see. This made it even worse for him. Now he was really a lunatic in their eyes.

This fictitious story has a spiritual application for us. First, if God tells us to "build a ball field," we should do it. It is not for us to determine the reason we are instructed to do it. Once we are obedient, God will allow us to see what others cannot see. It is the rite of passage for those who are willing to risk all for God's purposes. God increases the spiritual senses to levels we never knew before. Those around us will observe this.

Do you want to see what others cannot see? If so, it will require a level of obedience that will go beyond human reason. It may require risk and ridicule from others. But you will see what others cannot see.

-=+=-

Going Without Jesus
by Os Hillman, October 27, 2005

...they were unaware of it. - Luke 2:43

Mary and Joseph traveled to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. Jesus was 12 years old. They were evidently very distracted by the excitement and business of the Feast. In fact, Mary and Joseph began their return trip to Nazareth only to realize well into the trip that Jesus was not with them. It would be three days before they would be reunited with their 12-year-old son. It caused quite a scare in Mary and Joseph, and they reprimanded Jesus for "wandering" off.

As a parent, I find this story truly amazing. How can parents of the Son of God not know their son is not in their presence? Yet this story illustrates how each of us can become so busy that we continue to operate not realizing that Jesus is no longer with us. Obviously, there was very little fellowship taking place between Jesus and His parents during the trip.

Are you experiencing daily, even moment-by-moment, fellowship with Jesus? If not, you will wake up one day and realize Jesus is not with you in your endeavors. It may, like Mary and Joseph, create a certain fear in you that you may have lost a very important relationship. Doing business without Jesus' presence leaves us powerless and prone to live in fear. Jesus said He would never leave or forsake His children. However, we can walk away from His fellowship by refusing to be with Him. Do not let this happen to you. He longs to have daily fellowship with you because He loves you.

-=+=-

The Isolation Chamber
by Os Hillman, October 26, 2005

Be still and know that I am God.... - Psalm 46:10

There is a time and place in our walk with God in which He sets us in a place of waiting. It is a place in which all past experiences are of no value. It is a time of such stillness that it can disturb the most faithful if we do not understand that He is the one who has brought us to this place for only a season. It is as if God has placed a wall around us. No new opportunities--simply inactivity.

During these times, God is calling us aside to fashion something new in us. It is an isolation chamber designed to call us to deeper roots of prayer and faith. It is not a comfortable place, especially for a task-driven workplace believer. Our nature cries out, "You must do something," while God is saying, "Be still and know that I am God." You know the signs that you have been brought into this chamber when He has removed many things from your life and you can't seem to change anything. Perhaps you are unemployed. Perhaps you are laid up with an illness.

Most religious people live a very planned and orchestrated life where they know almost everything that will happen. But for people in whom God is performing a deeper work, He brings them into a time of quietness that seems almost eerie. They cannot say what God is doing. They just know that He is doing a work that cannot be explained to themselves or to others.

Has God brought you to a place of being still? Be still and know that He really is God. When this happens, the chamber will open soon after.

-=+=-

How and Where God Speaks
by Os Hillman, October 25, 2005

The hand of the Lord was upon me there, and He said to me, "Get up and go out to the plain, and there I will speak to you." - Ezekiel 3:22

God speaks in many different ways to His children. He spoke through a bush to Moses. He spoke through a donkey to Balaam. He spoke through prophets to His kings. He speaks through other believers. He speaks directly to us through the invisible Holy Spirit. And He speaks even through circumstances.

When God wants to speak a very important word directly to us without interruption from the noise of our busy lives, he will take us "into the plain." The plain is a place of no distractions and no other persons. It is a place of silence. It can be a place of great need as it often fails to have the normal provisions we are accustomed to. It can be a place we go to voluntarily to seek His face, or we can be moved there without choice by His supernatural ability. More often, it is the latter method that brings us into the plain. In modern times, it often means a separation from our normal activities such as jobs or families.

The plain can also be a place where we discover afresh that God's hand has been on us all the time. When we are so busy with life, we sometimes forget that God's hand is still there, gently leading our path. When our lives get so busy that we are not listening or responding to His gentle touch, He must take more aggressive measures to get our attention. Thus, the plain is one of those appointed times of one-on-one communication with our heavenly Father. No distractions, no people, no beautiful surroundings to capture our thoughts. It is a barren place designed to allow us to seek and hear clearly. When He speaks, we need to be able to listen. We hear much better in the plain.

Do you need to hear God's voice today? Is your life such that you cannot even hear His voice? Each day God calls us to our own mini-plain in order to speak to us and for us to hear. If we neglect this time of open communication, we may be invited to His plain in order to hear without distraction. Pray that you might make time to hear.

-=+=-

Are You God's Next Deliverer?
by Os Hillman, October 24, 2005

But when they cried out to the Lord, He raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them. - Judges 3:9

Have you ever heard of a man named Othniel? Probably not. He was Caleb's nephew. When the people of Israel went into the Promised Land, they were victorious through the courageous efforts of Joshua and Caleb. As this generation grew older, a new generation began to emerge. Israel again fell into sin by worshiping idols. The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He allowed them once more to be enslaved by their enemies. However, the people again cried out to the Lord and God heard them.

Whenever God's people cry out to the Lord, He hears them. When they are truly repentant, He responds. He responds by rising up those whom He has prepared for such a time. Every soldier looks forward to the day he can use the training he has received. God had been preparing a nephew for such a time as this. He had the same Spirit as his uncle, Caleb.

The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, so that he became Israel's judge and went to war. The Lord gave Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into the hands of Othniel, who overpowered him. So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died (Judges 3:10-11).

Has God been preparing you for a time when you will be called upon to deliver God's people? Millions of men and women are enslaved to the god of mammon and idolatry in the workplace. Has He placed you there to be a deliverer? Pray that you will have the same Spirit as Joshua, Caleb, and Othniel.

-=+=-

A Remnant That Prays
by Os Hillman, October 23, 2005

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." - Luke 11:1

God is calling out a remnant of workplace believers throughout the world who understand the role of prayer in their work. These people have learned that prayer is not a five-minute exercise in the morning devotion time, but it is a vital strategic tool to discern and know God's will and purposes in their work lives. You see they have learned that their business lives are their ministries to God and others.

These men and women have entered into covenant relationships with intercessory prayer partners who help discern the activities they should be involved in. Some even have paid staff, who intercede for the decisions and activities in which they will be involved. They are a small remnant of workplace believers who know that skill and technique are not enough to fulfill God's purposes.

A servant of the Lord has well said: Prayer is the rail for God's work. Indeed, prayer is to God's will as rails are to a train. The locomotive is full of power: it is capable of running a thousand miles a day. But if there are no rails, it cannot move forward a single inch. If it dares to move without them, it will soon sink into the earth. It may be able to travel over great distances, yet it cannot go to any place where no rails have been laid. And such is the relation between prayer and God's work. Without any doubt God is almighty and He works mightily, but He will not and cannot work if you and I do not labor together with Him in prayer, prepare the way for His will, and pray "with all prayer and supplication" (Eph. 6:18) to grant Him the maneuverability to so work. Many are the things, which God wills to do, and would like to do, but His hands are bound because His children do not sympathize with Him and have not prayed so as to prepare ways for Him. Let me say to all who have wholly given themselves to God: Do examine yourselves and see if in this respect you have limited Him day after day. [Watchman Nee, Let Us Pray (New York, New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers, 1977), 11.]

Is prayer a vital part of your strategic business practices? Put prayer on the front lines, instead of making it an afterthought. You will begin to see renewed power in your work life.

-=+=-

God's Double-talk
by Os Hillman, October 22, 2005

The Lord said to Moses, "When you return to Egypt, see that you perform before Pharaoh all the wonders I have given you the power to do. But I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go." - Exodus 4:21

Have you ever had a boss tell you to do something only to have him sabotage your ability to complete the task? Nothing is more frustrating than to begin to carry out a task and have your superior thwart your effort to do what he asked you to do.

Moses must have felt this way after God told him to go to Pharaoh and tell him to release the people of Israel. He said, "I am going to give you the power to release the children of Israel by the miracles I will do through you." Yet at the same time, He told Moses they would not be released because He was going to put a hard heart in Pharaoh. How do we reconcile this?

In my own life, I knew God called me to certain endeavors. Yet every time I turned around, a roadblock stood in my way. It took years of plodding along before the light came on as to why there was such a distance between what God called me to do and the manifestation of that calling. When David was anointed king of Israel, it was years before he realized the manifestation of that calling. There were a number of reasons for these delays.

In the case of Moses and Israel, God wanted to demonstrate His power in such a way that generations would be able to hear the story of their deliverance from their ancestors. God wanted greater glory from the situation. God also wanted to deal with Egypt by sending specific plagues. Finally, the very process built character in Moses and tested Moses to see if he would stay the course.

There is a time for everything. If God has called you to some endeavor and you are frustrated that it has not manifested, know that times of preparation and simmering are required before the vision can be achieved. Seldom does God call and manifest something at the same time. There is preparation. There is testing. There is relationship building between you and God that must take place. Once this is complete, you will see the vision materialize.

-=+=-

Copyright 2005. www.MarketplaceLeaders.org
---------------------------------------------------
To contact Os Hillman, request reprint permission, or to book Os to speak in your town write to os@marketplaceleaders.org. Marketplace Leaders Website: http://www.marketplaceleaders.org/ Copyright 2005
--------------------------------------------------
Please recommend this TGIF daily devotional to everyone interested in applying their faith to their worklife. Tell them to subscribe at http://www.TodayGodIsFirst.com

Os Hillman Copyright 2005
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Activities and Events of Interest
~~~
Albemarle Kids' Christmas Party - Saturday, December 3, 10 am to 1 pm - SAU Skating Rink
~~~
Albemarle Christmas Party - December 6 and December 8
~~~
The Emancipation Proclamation will be on display at the Clinton Library September 22-25, 2007.
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"September 11 WDYTJWD" W. P. Florence
Justice first, then peace."
"September 11" Never forget.--Tony Moses
"ONE NATION UNDER GOD ...the only way"--Phillip Story
"We have nothing to fear but fear itself." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Keeping my head down but face toward Heaven" - - Jody Eldred, ABC News Cameraman in Kuwait
"Remember Pearl Harbor? Remember 9/11!" --"Bug"
Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. - - George Carlin
"Stop telling God how big your storm is. Instead, tell the storm how big your God is!" - - Queen E. Watson
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NEVER FORGET! We're listing the names of our soldiers killed weekly. These records can be found at http://www.defenselink. mil/releases/

The Department of Defense announced the death of three Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
01. Staff Sergeant Richard T. Pummill, 27, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
02. Lance Cpl. Andrew D. Russoli, 21, of Greensboro, N.C.
03. Lance Cpl. Steven W. Szwydek, 20, of Warfordsburg, Pa.
All three Marines died Oct. 20 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Nasser Wa Salaam, Iraq. They were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

04. Staff Sgt. Dennis P. Merck, 38, of Evans, Ga., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Oct. 20, of a non-combat related injury. Merck was assigned to the Army National Guard's 878th Engineer Battalion, Augusta, Ga.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
05. Lance Cpl. Kenneth J. Butler, 19, of Rowan, N.C., died Oct. 21 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Amariyah, Iraq. He was assigned to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
06. Cpl. Seamus M. Davey, 25, of Lewis, N.Y., died Oct. 21 from an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in the vicinity of Haqlaniyah, Iraq. He was assigned to Marine Forces Reserve’s 4th Force Reconnaissance Battalion, 4th Marine Division, Reno, Nev. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

07. Sgt. Jacob D. Dones, 21, of Dimmitt, Texas, died in Hit, Iraq, on Oct. 20, when his forward operating base was attacked by enemy forces using indirect fire. Dones was assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Fort Irwin, Calif.

08. Staff Sgt. George T. Alexander, Jr., 34, of Clanton, Ala., died at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 22, of injuries sustained in Samarra, Iraq, on Oct. 17, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Alexander was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

The Department of Defense announced the deaths of five soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on Oct. 15, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle during combat operations. The soldiers were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 69th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga. Killed were:
09. Staff Sgt. Vincent E. Summers, 38, of South Haven, Mich.
10. Spc. Thomas H. Byrd, 21, of Cochise, Ariz.
11. Spc. Jeffrey W. Corban, 30, of Elkhart, Ind.
12. Spc. Richard A. Hardy, 24, of Newcomerstown, Ohio.
13. Spc. Timothy D. Watkins, 24, of San Bernardino, Calif.

14. Lance Cpl. Jonathan R. Spears, 21, of Molino, Fla., died Oct. 23 from enemy small-arms fire while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. He was assigned to 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Twentynine Palms, Calif. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, his unit was attached to 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).

15. Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher W. Thompson, 25, of N. Wilkesboro, N.C., was killed in action on Oct. 21, from an IED explosion while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq.
Thompson was assigned to Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 8th Regimental Combat Team, 2nd Marine Division, Fleet Marine Forces Atlantic, based in Camp Lejeune, N.C.

The Department of Defense announced the deaths of two Marines who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
16. Cpl. Benny G. Cockerham III, 21, of Conover, N.C.
17. Capt. Tyler B. Swisher, 35, of Cincinnati, Ohio
Both Marines died when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device while conducting combat operations against enemy forces near Al Amariyah, Iraq on Oct. 21. Their vehicle was traveling beside a canal when the attack occurred and the two Marines were thrown from the vehicle into the water. They were assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

18. Cpl. Benjamin D. Hoeffner, 21, of Wheat Ridge, Colo., died in Ali Al Salem, Kuwait, on Oct. 25, of a non-combat related cause. Hoeffner was assigned to the Army Reserve's 324th Psychological Operations Company, Aurora, Colo.

19. Sgt. Michael T. Robertson, 28, of Houston, Texas, died at Brooke Army Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas, on Oct. 25, of injuries sustained in Samarra, Iraq, on Oct. 17, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle. The incident fatally injured another soldier and was reported on Oct. 25. Robertson was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Benning, Ga.

20. Staff Sgt. Daniel R. Lightner, Jr., 28, of Hollidaysburg, Pa., died in Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on Oct. 27, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during combat operations. Lightner was assigned to the Army National Guard's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Washington, Pa.

21. Sgt. James Witkowski, 32, of Surprise, Ariz., died on Oct. 26, near Ashraf, Iraq, of injuries sustained there earlier that day when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during convoy operations. Witkowski was assigned to the Army Reserve's 729th Transportation Company, Fresno, Calif.

22. Lance Cpl. Robert F. Eckfield Jr., 23, of Cleveland, Ohio, and Lance Cpl. Jared J. Kremm, 24, of Hauppage, N.Y., died Oct. 27 from an indirect fire explosion in Saqlawiyah, Iraq. Kremm died at the scene while Eckfield succumbed to his wounds at a nearby medical center. Both were assigned to 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

23. Spc. Christopher T. Monroe, 19, of Kendallville, Ind., died on Oct. 25, in Basra, Iraq, when his 5-ton truck was involved in an automobile accident with a civilian vehicle. Monroe was assigned to the Army Reserve's 785th Military Police Battalion, Fraser, Mich.

24. Sgt. Evan S. Parker, 25, of Arkansas, Kan., died at Landstuhl Army Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany, on Oct. 26, of injuries sustained in Balad, Iraq, on Oct. 23, when his dismounted patrol was attacked by enemy forces who threw an explosive device from their moving vehicle. Parker was assigned to the Army Reserve's 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery Regiment, 20th Brigade Combat Team, Honolulu, Hawaii.

The Department of Defense announced the death of two soldiers who were supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. They died in Rustamiyah, Iraq, on Oct. 26, when an improvised explosive device detonated near their HMMWV. Both Soldiers were assigned to the Army's 3rd Forward Support Battalion, Division Support Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga. Killed were:
25. Master Sgt. Thomas A. Wallsmith, 38, of Carthage, Mo.
26. Sgt. 1st Class Ramon A. Acevedoaponte, 51, of Watertown, N.Y.

27. Capt. Michael J. Mackinnon, 30, of Helena, Mont., died on Oct. 27, in Baghdad, Iraq, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his HMMWV during convoy operations. Mackinnon was assigned to the Army's 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx
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Please remember to pray for the American soldiers stationed everywhere around the globe and especially in Iraq. Times have been and are very tough and it would be nice if you would all just say a prayer for their safety and for their families.
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Scheduled Activities
~~~
Alcoholics Anonymous meets at 8 p.m. Monday - Friday. At noon on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and at 7 p.m. Sunday at 914 N. Vine
~~~
Columbia County Amateur Radio Club meets Every second Thursday @ 7:00 p.m. Union Street Station. And YOU'RE invited. Net is every Sunday at 20:30 on 147.105.
~~~
Columbia County Diabetes Support Group - Every third Monday, 7:00 p.m. room 222, Magnolia Hospital
~~~
"Focus on the Family" with Dr. James Dobson weekday afternoons at 1 PM on KVMA am 630 it's a great show!
~~~
MCC - Abraham Prayer - Sunday at 5:00 p.m and Wednesday from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm
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MCC - Early Morning Prayer - Monday - Friday, From 6:30 am to 8:00 am
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MCC - "Beth Moore" Video Class - Thursday nights at 5:45 pm
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MCC - "Faith Builders" Small group meets at 1051 Columbia 36 the second and fourth Tuesdays, 6:30 pm to 7:45 pm.
~~~
MCC - Firm Foundations Class, Sunday 9:30 to 10:15 a.m
~~~
MCC - Meadow Brook Nursing Home Ministry Tuesday from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m
~~~
MCC - Mom's Day Out - Every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 to 2.$10 for the first child, $5 for the second. Call 234-3225 for reservations.
~~~
MCC - Nursing Home Ministry - Meadowbrook Every Tuesday from 10 to 11 am. Taylor, the last Thursday each month.
~~~
MCC - Over comers: Fridays @ 7:00 p.m- Director, Traci Foster invites you to a 12 step Christian support program. For anyone with a life controlling problem. Child care is provided.
~~~
Men's Prayer Breakfast held every Tuesday morning at 6 AM in Miller's Cafeteria. If you aren't a regular participant at the Men's Prayer Breakfast, you're missing some great food, fellowship and inspired teaching of the Word. Hope to see you there.
~~~
Narcotics Anonymous 5-6 pm every Monday at 220 Pine street.
~~~
TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) 5 pm every Tuesday in the Magnolia Hospital break room.
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Emergency Phone Number 911
(Fire, Police, Ambulance, Sheriff, etc. )
Central Dispatch 234-5655
(Non - Emergency Number)
Direct Numbers
Ambulance - 234-7371 (24 Hour)
Jail - 234-5331 (24 Hour)
Poison Control - 800-222-1222 (24 Hour)
http://www. aapcc. org/
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"Fight till you win!" - - Mark Brazee
"Bring 'em on!" - -President George W. Bush
"There is not enough darkness in the world to put out the light of one candle."
"Laugh whenever you can and cry if you need to." -- "Bug"
"I read the end of the book. We win!" -- "Bug"
"We may not be able to cure the world, but we don't have to make it sicker." -- "Bug"
"There just ain't enough fingers for all the holes in the dike." - - "Bug"
"It's no big deal doing what God tells you to do. A big deal would be NOT doing what God tells you to do. Just ask Jonah." - - Paul Troquille
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want in ... and how many want out." - - Tony Blair
"Information is the currency of democracy." - Jefferson
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - - Margaret Mead
~~~~~
Hope you enjoy the newsletter.
Again, thanks to all our contributors this week.

God bless and GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!
2 Th 3:14-15 Gal 6:8-9 Luke 6:46 Luke 3:8 Mark 1:32-35
God is Good and Faithful CU 73 IC JFM CSP NREMT-I KC5HII

P. S. If you'd like to be added to the distribution, just drop us E-mail at KC5HII@Magnolia-Net.Com. We offer "Da Bleat" as text, a "Blog" and as a newsletter with pictures in Word and PDF format. For the "Blog" version just go to http://bugsbleat4q.blogspot.com/ to see the latest issue. This week, "Word" and "PDF" subscribers get to see photos of our DMAT folks and their spouses.
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