Our day was good. The Spirit of the Lord was evident today as we worshiped and listened to the message. Brother Robert gave an exceptional message on being saved and staying saved; with many scriptures included that certified and verified the point. Too many use the Baptist doctrine of 'once saved always saved' to their advantage and don't actually refer to the Word for what is really the truth about it. 

God is very specific about 'enduring to the end' when it comes to salvation, but man has distorted that belief and I'm sure there are those in jeopardy because of it.

 I pray that our minds are clear on this because it means life and death to us when we misinterpret the Word and 'bend it' to our own selfish wills. God is not mocked. His truth is truth and there is no exceptions to the rule.

How we treat the Word has everything to do with obedience and peace in our lives. We must be in line with the Word or we separate ourselves from God and bring about a whole new set of circumstances that are detrimental to our whole existence. 

I listened intently to the message, knowing Robert had done his homework on the subject. His 'take' on things has a very insightful touch. It's easy to see why God has blessed him with this gift. I'm sure he will reach many souls for Christ in his ministry. I will continue to pray for him to mature in the Word and in his relationship with the Master.

Dianna has cooked for the first time in the new house. I could feel her delight and I could feel her slight frustration in not having things 'in order' as she was preparing this first meal.

We are both excited to see what God will do with this ministry here in our new location. We have longed to get back to full time ministry but we believe that will take a bit longer to accomplish unless God does things faster than we expect; and that's always possible.

Our friends have been a huge asset to us in this move; sacrificing time and resources to help us 'move the world' once more. I can't believe how much 'stuff' we have. It's like it multiples overnight and grows more as each day progresses.

I can't wait to assemble the studio furniture. We have a new desk and two new shelves to put things on. the look is totally modern and slimmed down to a much sleeker look. I don't know where everything is right now but I will tackle both trailers with a vengeance and unpack as swiftly as I can in order to get back up and 'running' again. I can't believe it's been 3 months since I 'signed off' and began breaking down the equipment in order to transport it here to the new house. So much work to get it packed and loaded and so much to go before it's reassembled and working again.

The day is closing out now and the sun is retreating in the western sky. Di is resting on the couch after a day long effort to prepare and serve and clean up. Bless her heart. I see the zeal in her eyes as she watches the people go through the line, getting plates full of her delicious food. So many others are bringing in their favorite dishes as well, to share amongst the church members as our lives are enriched with love and fun and with learning things about each other. It's easy to see the blessings God is pouring out here. We have been through a great deal these past few years and to see how far we have come; it's amazing. A lot of churches have crumbled and no longer exist, but this one is thriving because two people heard the call and answered. God has truly blessed us.

 I am looking into the future. It looks bright and sunny and flowering with new blooms each day. 

Of course, I am being frivolous. Only crazy people can see into the future, right? Not necessarily. I can think of several that have successfully seen into what is coming and recorded it for posterity. 

The Book of Revelation comes to mind instantly. God gave John insight into the future and instructed him to record what he 'saw'. Our interpretations of his writings have certainly changed over the years; many of whom declared the end of the world coming at one point or another. 

For one thing, I don't think we 'listen' very well when God is speaking to us. I think I would be so afraid, that I dare say, I don't know if I could even stay conscious. I would most likely just faint on the spot!

The future is pretty much a constant topic in one way or another. People plan their schedules around the future when they watch the weather each day. 

"It's going to be rainy and storms will come in a 'this  time' and end at 'this time'." People 'bet' on what will happen in the future all the time. The stock market pretty much lives in the future. Supposition is common.

I have determined to not bank on the future. Too many variables. Too many circumstances changing without notice. I'm just gonna sit back and take things as they come. Now that doesn't mean that I'm being lazy. No, I just don't trust what man says anymore. There are too many of them out there that are only out for selfish gains and have ulterior motives. I think I'm better off trusting in 'a higher power' than man. God's a lot smarter.

We are sitting in a local coffee spot enjoying some 'down time'. I like these places. No one bothers us. We can visit or work online and pass the time away as we see fit. I like it. I know the days ahead are going to be filled to the brim with activity. As we begin the moving in process, our schedules will fill up with 'have tos' and 'honey dos', so these quiet times are at a premium for now. And, I get to spend them with Dianna; that's the best part.

Once we actually do make the move our lives will change significantly. We had been driving an hour one way to church when we were out in Piedmont. The distance has shortened to a 25 to 30 minute trip, but once we get into the new place, our distance drops to a few short blocks. That was definitely an answer to a prayer. the savings in fuel alone will be a big plus. I think it was near or over $200 per month to make the trips from Piedmont and back.

Our time is precious. The way we spend it is crucial to our spiritman. If we waste time on frivolous things, we lose time we could be spending with the Lord. We could be learning 'how' to do things His way and be quite a bit more successful.

I'm reminded of a story I tell about our son, Michael. He was about 11 or 12 and had an issue with his bicycle chain coming off.

"Dad, can you help me get the chain back on my bike?"

"Sure son, bring it up onto the porch and get the plyers out and I'll be right there." I arrived a minute or two later to find the bike turned upside down, wheels in the air and him feverishly twisting and turning the nut on the wheel, not getting anywhere.

I said, "Son, if you give me the plyers and step back, I'll have you back on the road in no time..."

He said, "I think I've almost got it Dad", and kept right on twisting without success. I just stood there and watched until he finally stopped and looked up and handed me the tool; stepping aside so I could fix it. I grabbed the wheel and pulled back, tightening the chain in the sprocket and gave the nut a few quick turns and flipped the bike back onto it's wheels and said, "There ya go, Son." 

He was ready to ride once again.

Isn't that how we do things with God? We twist and turn to no avail when we could have given Him control all along and been 'back on the road' in no time. If only we let Him do His thing from the beginning, everything will work out better and faster.

 Almost 40 years ago God answered my prayer and saved my life from a trip to hell. 

Yes, I was headed down a road that would surely have ended up in my total destruction. I was doing Cocaine, smoking weed everyday and contemplating various and sundry ways to self destruct. It was a pitiful life filled with defeats and depression and super low self esteem. No one was there for me; I thought.

However, the Lord was there. His hand was on my life even then; through all the depravity and self hatred. I hated myself so much that I transferred it all onto everyone around me to lighten the load. I did whatever I could to hurt and harm those around me; even to the extent of plotting ways to do things that would bring about as much pain and suffering possible. The depths that people like me, at that time, will go through cover a wide range of mental illnesses. We have no boundaries or stop gaps to keep us in check. That makes 'the ill' even more dangerous. To make things worse, modern medicine only 'covers up' the symptoms. I know now, how and why people turn to crime when they are in such a state. The desperation is huge. It pressurizes everything around you and squeezes the world you live in to the extent that anything and everything around you is a negative, bearing down on you with tremendous weight. My heart goes out to the hurting. I don't think others that exist outside of that lifestyle have any idea how dangerous it is to be in this condition and be in public. No wonder so many people are freaking out and shooting others for no other apparent reason than they are 'there'. 

The Bible speaks to this in more than one place. God has more than adequately provided for our healing and wellness but how do others find it without someone showing them the way? A cloud doesn't just open up and rain down healing. There has to be a messenger. There has to be an avenue that people can walk that brings them to 'safety' and peace.

But God has provided that in more ways than one. "His mercy is new every morning".

I prayed a prayer one day as I drove along the interstate on my home to an empty apartment.

"God, I just want someone to love me for 'me'; not for what I can do for them or what they can do for me. I just want a real love".

I ended the prayer with a little 'kicker' for good measure. "...and I want a son..."

Now I don't know about you but there are times when God has done extraordinary things in my life; some of which I knew about at the time, and other things that happened unbeknownst to me and then later became evident. I call them "God things".

The miraculous events all worked their way into a healing weave that began the changes. Less than 10 days after 'the prayer', a beautiful young woman came into my life and began the transformation. And she had a 4 year old boy with her.

She was so invested in her faith that I began to have hope for the first time since I was a young boy.

As you may suspect, I was suspicious at first. Everyone around me had betrayed my love and confidence, including family . I was more than 'gun shy'. But her love was real and simple and healing. I began to open up and I could feel the healing taking root, growing inside.

We moved from Dallas to Oklahoma City and took jobs at a local mission and started helping others. It was refreshing and gave us a spontaneity of sorts. The people responded to our actions and we formed a heavy bond of trust with the homeless and hurting of the city. We knew hundreds by their first names and knew their families and ages and issues. It was incredible. God took a hateful, dangerous man and began to transform him, a little at a time, into a caring, helpful person that didn't have 'an agenda' or 'an angle'.

Here we are almost 40 years later and the flame still burns brightly. Our love has grown into a security for me. I no longer want to harm others. I see the pain and trials they go through and instead, I want to help them in some way.

The beautiful young woman has been at my side through it all. Her deep abiding faith reaches and has reached hundreds. There is no alternative for real. She 'is' real. I love her with a love that far surpasses all of my weak efforts to show her. It's like her love for the Lord that she taught me. I love my God and want to serve Him like never before. She was His messenger. I prayed a simple prayer and God sent me a life saving solution. Happy Anniversary My beautiful bride. Here's to 40 more.

 Where do we go from here?

The days are finally ticking down to the 'moving days' and I'm beginning to get more and more excited about the move. Small things keep popping up that could delay us but our minds are set on seeing this through to completion with God's Hand overseeing everything so we keep moving forward no matter what. We have left everything in His care from the beginning, and we couldn't be more satisfied with how things have fallen into place so nicely. My normally impatient manner has been replaced with a more trusting and learning spirit, so things have developed with a grace in motion effect rather than my normally awkward way of doing things. I have watched the hinderances fall away one by one and I marvel at the way He does things. This has all worked out well, especially since we have stayed out of the way better than ever and learned about His strategies. I am a much more patient person than I was 3 months ago. Thank you Father.

Dianna has stressed more with Michael's business affairs than with our trials and tribulations so the outcome is totally God...as it should be.

How often do we 'take back' the controls and mess up a perfectly good plan by being impatient? Too often I suspect. However, our minds are human minds, not the mind of Christ, which we have been instructed to 'take on', so there is a major learning curve there if we're not careful. 

I look forward to learning now. As I have said before, I was always a poor 'student' and didn't take seriously for the most part, those things that lend themselves to higher learning. I am better at 'seeing' something done rather than reading about it. I actually don't know why I am so stubborn about reading. After so many failures you would think that I would welcome the chance to learn new things, but alas, I am not that pliable. Yet.

As I said in a previous post, I learned something important , AGAIN, and it has spurred me on to more 'watching' and observing than before. I have, sadly, been too quick to speak and less likely to listen as the processes unfold. I do believe I'm finally become a much better student. Again, thank you Father.

"Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus..." Much easier on the ego as well. Not nearly as much embarrassment, with half the pain. LOL

When you sign up as a soldier, you agree to following orders and the person giving those orders. That's definitely not my strong suit, but I can see where it's necessary to the success and completion of the mission. If we do things God's way we win. Easy, right? Not always, but still the best plan of action. No one likes to lose and more often than not, everyone wants to have a say in what's being done.

I am thinking about what God is going to do in the next few weeks and months. I have a lot of new material to work on as well as some 'old stuff', so I see a lot of fun on the horizon. The character voices will play a large part in what's going to transpire. God has given me 'inklings' of ideas, but I have to be setup to pursue them properly, so again, setting up will be key to how much we can accomplish and how quickly.

 By the way, if anyone out there is interested in doing 'character voices' and children's stories, please get in touch. I need help. We will produce everything including the music beds for the backgrounds, so 'come one, come all', lets 'create'!

Anyone interested in doing some radio production is welcome to join in as well. We are thinking big and praying for direction. Speaking of prayer. Please keep us in your prayers. We have a big task in front of us and prayer will be key to our success in the new adventure God is setting up for us. 

Thank you for reading and following our little blog. It means a lot. Blessings

The Time is now 

 It's time. We 'have to' pay closer attention to what's happening around us. Sadly, I'm seeing a pattern in the way things are being presented. When the left loses an argument or court case, they cry foul by saying, "American Democracy is being  destroyed". 

Two wrongs most certainly do not make a right. I don't care how you look at an issue. 

Our country is a Republic. That means that the majority rules, not the minority. We elect certain people to represent us and do the 'right thing' on our behalf but that isn't happening. The minority is holding power for themselves and twisting the truth into a pretzel of lies that leave a horrible taste in the mouths of regular Americans. We have been poisoned by the powerful to the extent that our very rights are being used against us to get things done for 'the whoever' that can pay the elected leaders to get what they want for a certain amount of money or leverage. How much longer do we have to wait on justice? The facts are so evident even the crooked can see they aren't 'covered' any more and yet they stand defiant in the face of the facts and still double down on their lies. 

The Bible speaks directly to what's going on.

 

READ IT FOR YOURSELF. Isaiah 5:20 

"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!"

That's pretty plain to reasonable, honest people.

No more are we allowed the freedom to speak out about the perverted lawbreakers that have seized control of most public places without the threat of being censored or 'canceled' by the 'powers that be'.

I am appalled at the over abundance of evidence being discarded by the authorities with no charges being filed for undeniable infractions; some of which are outright felonies. What  is wrong with us? We are asleep ay the wheel and going off the road full speed ahead.

And I know the ranting doesn't really help either, so what am I contributing? Maybe nothing. Would that I, or someone like me, could spur everyone into action with speeches like these and begin the return to real; the return to normal. It doesn't look likely at this juncture.

I can however, rest in the knowledge that I know the end of the story. Evil cannot and will not win in the end, so we can breathe easier with that promise to come. But as has been quoted time and time again...that "the only thing necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do nothing."

Our actions speak much louder than our weak words. Let us rise to the occasion and return our great land to its former glory and hear and obey the soveriegn God Jehovah.

Old Dogs....

I learned something today. They say it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks, but this old dog isn't looking for tricks.

I hate to admit to being hardheaded but that's been a trait since I was a young boy. Over and over I repeat some of the same old mistakes almost religiously. You would think my nose would be permanently bruised from falling on my face so much. But God is good and rightly to the praised. I am so glad He hasn't given up on me yet. That would be more than a disaster.

Tomorrow is the 4th of July. I am seeing a lot of flags and bunting across the landscape. It's encouraging to see the faithfulness to the flag, but at the same time disheartening to see so many desecrate Old Glory.

They certainly do not understand the sacrifices that were made for our freedom or they wouldn't do the horrible things they do. It might do some of them some good to spend time in a country that has no freedom. They could see the things that go on in countries like Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, and the other dictatorships.

I know it's easy to get on a soapbox if you don't have to do anything pro-active. It's easy to complain if you have no solutions, no plan, no real answers. Speaking out is a right, but how we speak out is just as important as saying something.

On the other hand, there are those that go completely overboard with their actions. How are we supposed to reconcile all of the opinions and beliefs and prejudices without hurting others? We are too often heavy-handed and reckless with our actions. I see only one answer that solves every problem and that, my friends is what I learned today. I already knew it. I had already experienced it. It had already been proven over and over. And yet, somehow, I strayed away from that belief, that simple reality, and found myself "guilty again". No excuse; none.

I had taken back 'control' after telling God that I would leave everything to Him. A message by a well known speaker reminded me of my mistake and I immediately repented and turned my thinking around.

It's not easy to give God complete control of your life but it can be done. And successfully. The alternative is living a much less successful life with difficult decisions that ultimately lead to failure and depression. Some people kill themselves because they can't 'win' at anything; not even the smallest things. Thinking we can 'control' everything in our lives is a mistake. It's pride and 'pride cometh before a fall', and it's one of the mainstays the enemy uses to discourage people and take their joy and peace.

I felt much better right away and my peace returned. There's nothing like peace. No twisting and turning and worrying about what's happening or what's going to happen when God has the 'reins'. He always works things out in our favor; just not exactly how or when we think it is supposed to happen. Once we fully trust the Lord, the events in our daily lives settle down and come to completion in the best possible way.

I really encourage you to try it. It might take a little effort or maybe even a huge effort, but I know without a doubt that it works. You will never know unless you try.

 T minus 9 and counting

It's nine days away if everything falls into place. We should sign the closing papers on the house on the 6th and begin moving in. I know there are a lot of things that need to happen before it actually does happen, but I believe it's very possible. I am recovering from some sort of stomach issue. I spent almost all night on my knees in the bathroom; a very unpleasant experience to say the least. I can't believe how fast it came on. One moment I'm fine and the next moment I'm sick as a dog. Thank goodness Dianna didn't have the same issues.

The weather is really going to be something to overcome in the coming days. The near 100-degree days are early this year and timing couldn't be any worse for the move. We have two trailers, two storage units and a van filled to overflowing with our belongings. All the housewares, both offices and both bedrooms and clothes; the full Monty. I hate to ask our friends to help again but that's the only way we can do it. They worked their butts off getting everything out of the house and shop and in a rainstorm for part of it, asking for help again is tough. They are so giving, it makes one wonder how much they can stand before they say, "That's all I can do". No way to pay back these kinds of sacrifices. Love is a great equalizer.

I'm excited to find out what a new microphone can do. I bought it after seeing its advertised versatility and possible assets. I have never seen a mic with built in software and multiple connections. With the advent of podcasts, I can feature us doing some live streaming. Dianna has really come on strong with her devotionals. Her insight has grown to a much greater depth these last few years. I am amazed at the insight and wisdom God is imparting to her of late. The podcast may just be a favorable option; a good way to get the Gospel out to a larger audience.

One thing I definitely won't miss is the 'cell like' room we are in for the time being. I feel much like a caged animal, but I can look forward to the open space of the kitchen, living room, dining room space of the new house. 

I'm still feeling a bit spoiled after 'living' on that deck at the lake. I really miss the bird symphony each morning and the uninhibited prayer time and so many other things. Oh well. Our new deck will make up for that pretty soon.

I'll be excited to see what the new studio will look like. I am paring down to minimums and keeping all the bells and whistles to the barest minimums in order to make the best use of the limited space I have now.

Not having the woodshop is painful but I understand why it needed to go. I probably had invested somewhere around $12K to $15K, some of which I never got to use. I was pleased to see Todd get it. He is the best candidate for it and I'll still get to make some use of the tools for specialty projects.

Please let me know if you have any ideas as to discussion of topics. I'm open to open forum sharing, hit me up.

I will be ecstatic Su